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Geneaology and Historical Documents

Highly Recommended
Geneaological or Historical Resources

To conduct a search type in the full name of the person you are researching, then click on the button "Keyword." If you find the name of the person you are searching in our system, then you will need record the Newspaper, the date published, and the page number in which the article was published on a piece of paper. The next step is to either contact the Journal-News for the article, or to physically come to the library to search our digital files of the newspapers in the Genealogy Room  to find and copy the actual article.

2. The Journal-News Folder (Digital Files)

Includes digital PDF files that are copies of actual newspapers from microfilm or in physical form. These newspapers date from Jan. 5th, 1900 to April 28th, 2011. These files are located in a folder on the computer in the Genaology Room.

3. The Montgomery County News Folder (Digital Files)

Includes digital PDF files that are copies of actual newspapers from microfilm or in physical form. These newspapers date from July 25th, 1857 to August 30th, 2004. These files are located in a folder on the computer in the Genaology Room.

4. Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and  Montgomery County, Volume 2 (1888-1914)

As a certified and trained librarian, I highly recommend this resource for anyone looking for more information on a family name. Turn to the very back of this edition to find family names are listed alphabetically.

5. Marriage Records

We have marriage records from Fayette County from 1821-1874 and records from Montgomery County from 1821-1870.

6. Montgomery County Census

Contains records and names from 1825 to apprixmately 1860

Hillsboro Library Family Name Records On File (physical files)

A-H

Achman

Aiken

Blackwelder

Boone

Boyd

Brown

Caldwell

Calfee

Caulle

Claypool

Clodfelter

Clotfelter

Cox

Debuht

Eddington

Fath

Finley

Flemig

Fogle

Frame

Fricsland

Grantham

Gresham

Huber

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J-R

Kessinger

Lewey

Lipe

Luke

Marks

McDavid

McLean

Meenen

Miller

Molloy-

Malloy

Moon

Mueller

Murray

Neagles

Neisler

Noyes

Nungent

Parnnell

Randall/Brown

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S-Z

Scherer

Sievert-Bahn

Spinner

Stemp

Stevens

Suits

Tilling

Titsworth

Traylor

Van Horne

Van Sickle

Vaughn

Vogel

Voyles

Ware

Warren

Wilson-Farley

Yes. Free for less than 1 hour of research. If the research requires more than 1 hour, we charge $15 due to the extensive amount of hours and energy it can take to conduct this type of research. 

(1-2 hours guaranteed.)

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What Kind of Information Can I Expect to Get Back?

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Family names including great-grandparents or ancestors. Birth, Wed, or Death Dates. Dates of specific articles mentioning family names or other information  from the Journal News or Montgomery County News.

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How Soon Can I Expect Results?

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Results can take anywhere from 24 hours to one week depending on the difficulty of the request.  The more information you can give us the faster we can get your results.

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When do I Pay?

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We prefer you pay up front, but we will not cash your check until we have at least SOME records on your family or on the event you are looking for.

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Will you do my search for Me?

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Additional Research and Fees

If we have already spent 2 hours researching your family history, but you need more information we will require you to pay the library another $15 for further research.

 

While I am more than happy to help, as the director I am a very busy person and believe I or my staff should be compensated for my time away from daily duties.

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MICROFILM OUT OF ORDER

How to Use Microfilm and the Microfilm Equipment

Loading the Microfilm

1. Find the microfilm you want to use located in the green file cabinets. 

2. Load the microfilm using the diagram shown on the machine. Place the microfilm on the spool.

3. Feed the microfilm UNDER the 1st roll and OVER the 2nd roll. (See picture left with arrows)

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Loading the Microfilm

4. Feed the microfilm UNDER the glass platlette

5. On the right side of the machine, feed the film OVER the 1st roll and UNDER the 2nd roll and into the spool.

6. You MUST feed the end of the film into the MIDDLE of the reel. (See picture left with arrows for details)

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Adjusting and Aligning the Newspaper

7. To adjust the newspaper until it can be seen on screen, grab the metal pull on the sliding plate and move the plate forward or back until you can see an image on screen.

8. Turn the nob on the right side of the machine to align the picture. (Shown in picture 2)

Focusing the Microfilm (Viewing Clearly)

9. To focus the microfilm and see it more clearly, use the nob underneath the machine monitor.

Turning the Pages and Film Removal

10. To go to the next page, turn the right crank.

11. To go to the previous page (or go back), turn the left crank.

12. IMPORTANT! If you are finished, continue turning the left crank until all of the film has returned to the first spool (original roll).

Helpful Reminders!

Do NOT remove film until you have cranked the left handle all the way.

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REFRAIN from touching the film except the ends to preserve the microfilm. Our hands have natural oils that can degrade the quality of the film.

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