IGHS & Foundation

IGHS & Foundation Illiana Genealogical & Historical Society, the first Illinois genealogical society chartered in 1964 Conducts research at a reasonable cost.

Publishes Illiana Genealogist, a quarterly Illiana Genealogical and historical publication provided to all members. Operates a comprehensive and independent genealogical library at 215 North Street, Danville, IL 61832.

100% volunteer-run. Repository of all Vermilion County, Illinois, probate files from c1829-1970. Please check our website and visit us at the IGHS library!

Did you know…that the Old Covered Bridge crossed the Vermilion River in Danville, Illinois? Built in 1857, it was about ...
06/02/2026

Did you know…that the Old Covered Bridge crossed the Vermilion River in Danville, Illinois? Built in 1857, it was about 50 yards west of the present Memorial Bridge. The stone abutment on the left is still standing. Before the Old Covered Bridge was built, individuals crossed the river via a rope ferry on which a wagon and yoke of oxen could cross for a $.25 toll. The ferry was established by Samuel Gilbert in 1828. Below please find a photograph of the Old Covered Bridge and its history - both provided by the Second National Bank of Danville in 1956.

Did you know…that the Catlin Heritage Museum in Catlin, Illinois, is located in the house built by Amos Woodin, a cooper...
05/26/2026

Did you know…that the Catlin Heritage Museum in Catlin, Illinois, is located in the house built by Amos Woodin, a cooper, in 1827? It will be 200 years old next year. This photo of the home was taken in 1911.

Did you know…that Danville’s Palmer American National Bank was once located on the southeast corner of the square, origi...
05/26/2026

Did you know…that Danville’s Palmer American National Bank was once located on the southeast corner of the square, originally the site of the first store in Danville operated by Guerdon Hubbard in the 1820s? The photo below is an early photo of the Palmer American National Bank, then known as the Palmer National Bank.

Did you know…that Miss Ruth Sandeson (1890-1958) was the head of the social studies department at Danville High School f...
05/19/2026

Did you know…that Miss Ruth Sandeson (1890-1958) was the head of the social studies department at Danville High School for 38 years (1917-1955)? She also served as senior class adviser for all of her 38 years at DHS - helping each senior class prepare was its graduation. In this photo below, she is pictured with two of the DHS senior class presidents she worked with - Clinton Sandusky (Class of 1929) and her last class president, Charles Zanin (Class of 1955). On the chalkboard in back of her, all 38 DHS class presidents were listed.

Did you know…that Milton John Wolford (1844-1928) and his wife, Maud Blackwell Wolford (1848-1929), resided in this hous...
05/19/2026

Did you know…that Milton John Wolford (1844-1928) and his wife, Maud Blackwell Wolford (1848-1929), resided in this house at 204 N. Hazel in Danville, Illinois? Wolford was president of the Palmer American Bank and the Wolford Insurance Agency. The Hotel Wolford was constructed on this site and opened its doors in 1926.

05/16/2026

Did you know…that Nancy Reffitt of Indianola celebrated her 100th birthday on January 18, 1921? The event was celebrated with five generations of her family present at the home of her grandson, Charles High. She listed her daily activities as having three square meals a day, making beds, sweeping floors, playing with her great-great-great-grandchildren, and looking after her son with whom she resided. Born Nancy Fox in Kentucky in 1821, the daughter of Jesse and Ruthie Fox, she married James Reffitt and they had 12 children. She died several months after her 100th birthday, dying on November 17, 1921. She was buried at Michael Cemetery in Oakwood Township.

This is a follow up to the last post about the unknown veteran whose grave was marked in 1937 at Spring Hill Cemetery’s ...
05/16/2026

This is a follow up to the last post about the unknown veteran whose grave was marked in 1937 at Spring Hill Cemetery’s Soldiers’ Circle in Danville, Illinois, after his 1898 su***de at Douglas Park. Below is an article about the man’s death in the July 7, 1898, issue of The Danville Democrat. While there was no identification found on his body, he was wearing a Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) pin. The GAR was a veterans group of Civii War Union veterans.

Did you know…that local veterans organizations and Spring Hill Cemetery of Danville, Illinois, marked the grave of an un...
05/16/2026

Did you know…that local veterans organizations and Spring Hill Cemetery of Danville, Illinois, marked the grave of an unknown soldier in 1937? The unknown veteran was found deceased in Douglas Park on July 6, 1898. It was believed that he had taken his own life. Spring Hill records indicate that he was about 55 years old. He was buried in Soldiers Circle at Spring Hill where his grave was unmarked for many years. It is not clear how this unknown man was ascertained to be a veteran. The article below is from the November 11, 1937, issue of The Commercial-News.

05/12/2026

Did you know…that the Georgetown, Illinois, Post Office was established in 1828? The first postmaster, Benjamin Canaday, who opened the post office in a corner of his log shop, presumably on South Second Street. He later built a large store and moved the post office into a corner of the new building. He did not officially become postmaster until May 24, 1831, and served to April, 1839. In 1828, a post route was commenced “from Georgetown South via Carroll to the McDonald neighborhood to Paris,” according to an old Vermilion County history. It was remembered that when the carrier stopped for a meal at a way-station, others read the newspaper while the carrier ate and spread the news to anyone who came by. The mail went through two or three times a week, depending on the weather, the carrier riding horseback.

Did you know…that in the late 1800s, the Ellsworth Park Sanitarium was located at the corner of Pine and West Main Stree...
05/12/2026

Did you know…that in the late 1800s, the Ellsworth Park Sanitarium was located at the corner of Pine and West Main Streets in Danville, Illinois? Founded in 1891, it was operated by Warren D. Scott, M.D. As this newspaper ad details, he treated chronic and nervous diseases; performed surgical operations; cured cancers, tumors, and piles without the knife; provided baths for rheumatism, neuralgia, paralysis, and blood poisoning; offered oxygen treatment by inhalation for catarrh, throat, and lung diseases: and cured drunkenness in three to five weeks through the Gold Treatment with 50 cures and just one failure.

Address

215 West North Street
Danville, IL
61832

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm
Saturday 10am - 1pm

Telephone

+12174318733

Website

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