GIFTING WITH STOCK: The McDonough County Genealogical Society has an account with Seth Minter, Edward Jones in Macomb, IL to accept the gifting of stock. Please keep us in mind in your planning. ANY contribution to the Society is considered tax-deductible. If you are interested in donating, please email us at mcgs@macomb.com for instructions or contact Seth Minter at 309/833-3664.

2023 Monthly Meeting Dates and Topics

We meet on the 3rd Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Western Illinois Museum, unless otherwise noted. ALL our welcome to come to hear our wonderful speakers. There is NO CHARGE to attend our events.

February2/20/2023Zac Sutton“Historic Downtown Macomb”
March3/20/2023Ian FischerMcDonough County Circuit Clerk: “What’s available at the Circuit Clerk’s office”
April4/17/2023Lori Boyer“Finding my Adopted Mother’s Family”
May5/15/2023William Cook“Illinois Regional Archives Depository at WIU Library” NOTE TIME: 1 PM
June6/19/2023Ice Cream Social – Come Join Us!
July7/17/2023Julie Terstriep“The Cleaning and Preservation of Tombstones”, location TBD
August 8/21/2023Allen Nemec“Who Lived in My House – Researching your home’s past & applying for a Macomb Home Historical Plaque”
September9/18/2023To Be Announced
October10/16/2023To Be Announced
November11/20/2023Induction of Officers

Historic Maps

Please note the addition of a new “Historic Maps” page on our upper bar. We direct you to Sanborn maps, as well as a Digital Reconstruction of Historic Downtown Macomb map!

Local Newspapers

We have recently added a new page with local newspaper sources. See the top banner of this page for the link.

Please use the button below to donate or pay for research.

The McDonough County Genealogical Society is located at 201 South Lafayette,  Macomb, Illinois.  We meet the 3rd Monday of each month [February through November] at 6:00 pm at the Western Illinois Museum, 201 South Lafayette.  Each month a  program of genealogy interest precedes our business meeting.  The public is always welcome.  

 Our center is open 3 days a week — Tuesday afternoon, Friday all day, and Saturday morning.  Our center is staffed with volunteers who will gladly assist you in your research.

 Research Request Form

We are a Family Search Affiliate Library.

We are members of:

                                         National Genealogical Societt

Illinois State Genealogical Society                 National Genealogical Society

                                                                      

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Does your employer offer a matching gifts program?

  • Companies offer such programs to encourage employees to contribute to charitable organizations.
  • Some provide matching funds to support employee volunteer hours.
  • Most programs match contributions dollar for dollar; some will even double or triple the amount of your gift!
  • Does your company offer a matching gift program that will match your gift or volunteer hours to the McDonough County Genealogical Society?
  • Thank you to Pella Corporation and Caterpillar Corporation for their employee matching programs.
  • THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING CORPORATIONS/FOUNDATIONS FOR THEIR SUPPORT
  • Caterpillar Corporation
  • Pella Foundation
  • Prairie Farms Corporation

Blandinsville Masonic Temple
Baders Elevator of Macomb in the 1950s
Main Street, Bardolph IL
Bushnell Fire Department, Bushnell IL (Bushnell Historical Society)
Steam Locomotive in Bushnell, IL
Martha Bowlin – Was born Martha Ellen Wayland in Carroll County, KY 2 February 1842. Married in Missouri on 20 August 1859 to John S. Bowlin with whom she moved to Illinois in a short time location near Fandon. She Moved to a farm four miles north of Macomb in 1865. She later moved to Macomb in 1878. Martha Bowlin died on 24 June 1905
Frederick “Nibs” Clark grandson of John O. C. Wilson. Boyhood home at 341 S. Lafayette St., Macomb, IL