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.

Biography of Paul Klein, Hon.

Hon. Paul Klein, born in Illinois in 1856, significantly impacted Allen County through his contributions to Iola’s growth and public service. A pioneer homesteader in Kansas, he transitioned from a sod house to a successful business career, establishing a general store and lumber yard. Klein served on the city council, as a county commissioner, and held a four-year term as a state senator. A dedicated Democrat, he was active in various fraternal organizations and the Kansas State Historical Society, reflecting his commitment to community welfare and civic engagement.