Lawrence County IL

Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1695-1956

Illinois Bellville Church Records

A help guide for accessing the images of parish registers recording the events of baptism, first communion, confirmation (to 1907), marriage (to 1930) or death (to 1956) in the Diocese of Belleville (Illinois), Roman Catholic Church. The index to some volumes may reference pages within a given volume beyond current publication dates. As such, these images are not currently available. In addition to traditional parish registers, this collection includes a small number of census, church history, family and financial records. To assist the researcher I have broken down the available registers by county and name of parish, including the years covered by those parish records.

Biographical Sketch of V. R. Bridges, M. D.

Dr. V. R. Bridges was born in Virginia in 1832 and moved to Ohio before settling in Illinois. He pursued education and began teaching at 17. His medical career began under Dr. H. H. Hayes, leading to his practice in Coles County and later Mattoon. During the Civil War, he served as a Surgeon in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Rush Medical College in 1877 and held various civic roles, including City Council member and Board President. He married Mary E. Boyd and had four children.

Biographical Sketch of George W. Benefiel

George W. Benefiel was born on July 18, 1817, in Lawrence County, Illinois, to Robert and Nancy Benefiel. He married Jane Ryker in 1838 and moved to Coles County in 1855. They had several children, but suffered losses, including the death of Jane in 1867 and their son John in the Civil War. Benefiel served as Wagonmaster and Battalion Sergeant during the war. He remarried Diantha F. Smith in 1868. An early settler of Lawrence County, he is notable for being its second white child.

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin G. Glenn

Benjamin G. Glenn, a farmer from Mattoon, Illinois, was born on June 10, 1832, in Lawrence County. He spent his early years with his parents before marrying Elizabeth Jeffries in 1855, who passed away in 1862. He later wed Elizabeth Wheatstone in 1869, having six children together. Glenn served as Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, and School Director, and fought in the Civil War with the 5th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, rising from private to Captain. His parents hailed from Kentucky.