Welcome to Clay County Illinois Genealogy and History   Volunteers Dedicated to Free Genealogy This website is part of the Genealogy Trails family. This site is available for adoption Our Group's goal is to help you track your ancestors through time by transcribing genealogical and historical data and placing it online for the free use of all researchers. We gratefully accept contributions of raw data such as census information, marriage/birth/death records, obituaries, county histories, biographies, old newspaper items - anything that would help someone build their family tree!! If you are interested in joining our group as the host of this site, learn more about joining our group and then Contact Us (Knowledge of how to make a basic webpage and a desire to transcribe data is required) WE REGRET THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DO PERSONAL RESEARCH FOR YOU.  All data we come across will be added to this website, so please keep checking back. Founded 1824 Seat: Louisville Largest city: Flora County Seat: Louisville Clay County was formed in 1824 out of portions of Wayne, Crawford, and Fayette counties. Its name is in honor of Henry Clay, famous American statesman, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century. Clay was an unsuccessful candidate for President in the year the County was named. (wikipedia.org) It is located in South Central Illinois.         The first settler in the county was John McCawley.  He is said to have traveled the Vinsans Trace, as the old Vincennes, St. Louis & Kaskaskia Indian and buffalo path was known in the early days.  The next documented settlers were Philip Devore, Seth Evans and a Mr. Circles.  Mr. Circles' given name is unknown, but he was remembered well by the very early settlers, because of the fact the he put up a horse mill east of Flora, and for some time furnished bread, or the means of grinding their own corn.  Many more settlers arrived--some stayed others moved on further West.  Those who stayed all made their marks on the county, and on the towns within the county. Cities, Towns and CDP's Cities * Flora Villages * Clay City * Iola * Louisville * Sailor Springs * Xenia Clay County is divided into these twelve townships: * Bible Grove * Blair * Clay City * Harter * Hoosier * Larkinsburg * Louisville * Oskaloosa * Pixley * Songer * Stanford * Xenia  Our Online Data Biographies Birth Records Cemeteries Census Church Histories / Records County Records Death Records Bible Records County History Marriages Military Miscellaneous Data Newspaper Data Obituaries Schools Wills/Probate Records Website Updates: Marriages for SMITH; Burials in Burke Cem for SMITH Apr 2013: Marriage info for CONNELLY-SMITH; birth record data for SMITH Jan 2013: bios for SONGER, FALLEY Dec 2012: Obit for RAYMOND Aug 2012: Obit for BURKETT, REEDER List of Graduates of Flora High School If you have any comments, questions or data contributions, Contact Us Search Engine   search this site the web search engine by freefind Search the whole Genealogy Trails Domain We also have mailing lists set up so that you can read about updates, discuss your families and connect with other researchers who are looking in the same area as you. Don't Miss Another Update! Join our Mailing Lists to be notified of website updates Surrounding Counties: * Jasper County - northeast * Richland County - east * Wayne County - south * Marion County - west * Fayette County - northwest * Effingham County - north Visit our Illinois State Site Remember to bookmark us and keep checking back for new additions to the sites.     Visitors since May 13, 2009 Copyright © Genealogy Trails ©Sue Eskew and Gary Phillips, 2009-2011 All data on this website is Copyright by Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters.