Williamson County Illinois Historical Society

Preserving Williamson County History – A 501(C)3 Organization

What’s New

  • Index to Williamson County Miscellaneous Court Records Added to Site

    The index to “Williamson County Miscellaneous Court Records, 1840-1903” published in 2002 by Mary Jo Moore has been posted on our site in the Master Misc. County Records Index and contains court records taken from the circuit clerks office found in the miscellaneous files. First forty pages are Coroner’s inquests and verdicts and the rest are varied cases ranging from divorces to adultery and murder. The index contains 616 new references.

  • Williamson County Will Book A & B Indexes Added to Site

    The indexes to two Williamson County Will books have been added to our Master Misc. County Records Index. Both books were re-indexed to add familial connections (i.e, Smith, John, son of James & Martha) where available and contain 1,538 references to people.
     
    County Will Book A was published in 1998 by Violet Grisham and contains records dating from 1847-72. Will Book B was published in 2001 by Mary Joe Moore and contains records from 1867-97. Both books were transcribed from the county clerks office. The Will Books appear to have three basic functions: 1) Establish a last Will & Testament. 2) Establish an estate administrator or 3) Establish a guardian for your children in case of your demise.
     
    The books can be telling in that wills not only reveal what a person owns but can also expose family rifts. The books can also point out who a person would trust not only with their estate but with the care of their children as well, which in itself can be revealing. Who would you trust with your children’s lives after you’re gone?

  • WCHS Ex-Board Member Passed Away

    Clarence De Mattei, 87, passed away Thursday, March 1, 2018, at 3:42 am at Heartland Regional Medical Center.

    Clarence was born in his home in Benton, Illinois, on July 10, 1930, to Aldo Giuseppe Angelo (Joe) and Ernestine (Lovati) De Mattei from Cuggiono, Milano, Italy.

    He graduated from Benton High School in 1948 and enlisted in the Navy. He returned and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Southern Illinois University in 1952.  His passions were woodworking, craftsmanship, drafting, construction, and athletics, and he had a positive impact on hundreds of students, athletes, and colleagues.  He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Mary Jean O’Hara De Mattei, in 1954.  He was blessed with six children, eight grandchildren, and great-grandbaby soon to be born.  Clarence relished every minute that he spent with his family.

    Clarence was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jean, after 63 years of marriage. Also, preceded by his parents, sister Theresa (De Mattei) and her husband William Barminski, sister Josephine (De Mattei) and her husband Richard Nash, brother Aldo De Mattei, brother William “Chick” De Mattei and his wife Vera (Austin), and one nephew Tommy Barminiski. (more…)

  • Museum Going Back to Six Day Week

  • Index to “Herrin, The Brief History of an Infamous American City” Added to Site

    The index to the book “Herrin, The Brief History of an Infamous American City” has been added to our Master Local History Index. The book was published in 2009 by John Griswold and covers geology of the area, local Native American culture, and the early development of the county going into settlement of Herrin’s Prairie and the development of Herrin.

    The text adds 499 references to people, places, events, schools, churches and businesses.

  • Index to The Story of Carterville Added to Site

    The index to the book “The Story of Carterville: It’s Hundred Years, 1871-1971” by Maranda Cavanas Scoby and published in 1972 has been added to our sites Master Local History Index. The volume contains 1,341 references to people, places, churches, schools, businesses and acts of God.

     

  • Index to Carterville, Cambria & Crainville Book Added

    The Index to the book “Carterville, Cambria & Crainville, A Look Back At Our Towns” put together by Jennifer Spence & Sheri Hunter and published in 2011 has been added to our Master Local History Index.

    The book contains references to 3,390 people, places, churches, schools, businesses and events.

     

  • Index to The Magic City of Egypt, Johnston City Added

    The book “The Magic City of Egypt” published in 1991 by William N. Macfarlane has been re-indexed to contain 1,089 references to people, schools, churches, places, businesses, organizations and events. Primarily a reference about Johnston City’s history the book also contains a wealth of information about the coal mine industry and operational mines throughout the area. It itemizes a list of miners who lost their lives between 1897 and 1951, how they died and in which mines they worked in addition to how most miners lived and what wages they earned.

    The title of the book was derived from Johnston City’s growth explosion due to coal mining from 1900 to 1920 with a population jumping from 787 to 7,137 in 20 years. The book was edited and photos secured by Pearl Roberts. The index has been added to our local history book master index.

  • Storme Funeral Home Volume 2 Indexes Added

    The indexes to the Herrin Storme Funeral Home records Volume 2, Books 1 & 2,  covering 1920 to 1959 containing 9,700 references have been added to the Master Funeral Home Index.

  • Storme Funeral Home Volume 2 Published

    Our society recently published Volume 2 of Storme Funeral Home records from Herrin in two books covering the dates from October 1920 to January 1959. The references are available for viewing at the historical society and the indexes are currently being prepared for online access. Volunteers Colleen Norman, Ursula Richey, Ann Gammon and Sharon Vansaghi spent countless hours prepping these books for publication.