The McDonough County Genealogical Society takes pride in offering the McDonough County Lineage Certificates Program to honor early McDonough County families.  Your work in proving your ancestor’s early years will be preserved for future generations by the MCGS.

Your application and accompanying documentation will make a significant contribution to the record of our county’s heritage and your family’s participation in that heritage. Upon approval of your application, your paperwork will be sealed for restricted access to ensure information about living individuals is not accessible to the general public.

Pioneer Family

Ancestor proven to have resided in McDonough County by 1850 and prove all steps of descent from the pioneer to the applying member.

Legacy Family

Descendant can prove an ancestral line has continuously lived in McDonough County from 1860 to the present day.

Civil War Citizen

Ancestor was a Civil War Veteran either from McDonough County or a veteran that later resided in the county.

Veteran Citizen

Ancestor was a veteran of any of the following wars as defined by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs AND was a citizen of McDonough County at some time during their lifetime. a. Revolutionary War b. War of 1812 c. Mexican War d. Civil War e. Spanish-American War f. World War I g. World War II h. Korean War i. Vietnam War j. Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Applying members must show proof of veteran’s status and residency in McDonough County at some time during the veteran citizen’s lifetime.

In order to comply with genealogical standards of evidence, we ask that all applications include a complete set of the supporting documentation for all generations from yourself to the ancestor you are honoring. Please send only photocopies of the documents. The application may be shared with other genealogists, however, information on living persons and those born within the past 100 years will be withheld.

 Century Family

Honors ancestors proven to have resided in McDonough County 100 years before the current year.

 All applications and supporting documentation become the property of the McDonough County Genealogical Society. Applicants need not be members of MCGS. Each application must include a non-refundable fee of $20.00 U.S.

McDonough County Lineage Certificates Form

McDonough County Lineage Certificates (Updated 2025)