Founded in 2003

Location: 1220 Outer East Main Street, Carmi IL.

Mailing address: P. O. Box 142, Carmi IL 62821.

Email address: [email protected].

Our Purpose:

The purpose of this Corporation shall be to promote genealogical and historical research and education through:

1. Promoting an interest in persons and families who migrated and settled in White County, Illinois and surrounding communities;
2. Bringing together persons who are interested in genealogy and White County, Illinois family history;
3. Promoting and encouraging exchange of mutual family information and research;
4. Preserving, safeguarding, and publishing genealogical records, primarily in White County, Illinois and the surrounding areas;
5. Aiding others in the publication and dissemination of genealogical records, and material s pertaining to White County, Illinois and the surrounding areas;
6. Organizing exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Our Organizational Structure:

The Society is made up of its membership and six Board of Directors. The Directors are elected to serve a three-year term and are the: President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Director, Newsletter/Publications Director, and Nominations/Publicity Director. The Board of Directors meet on a bi-monthly basis in January, March, May, July, September and November. All meetings are open to the public. Click on the "Meetings" link above for the dates, times and location of meetings.

Our Newsletter and Other Publications:

The newsletter, Roots & Branches, is published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October and December. The newsletter is delivered free of charge by postal mail or e-mail to all of those with paid annual memberships. Click on the "Newsletter" link above for more information.

Other publications, including genealogy research books published by the Society are available for purchase by the general public. Click on the "Publications" link above for more information.

The newsletter, "Roots & Branches" is published bi-monthly in February, April, June, August, October and December. Issues of the newsletter are available free of charge with all paid memberships. It can be delivered by postal mail or e-mail. Click on the "Membership" link above to subscribe to the newsletter

Back issues from 2003 through 2014 can be purchased for $10.00 per year (six issues). Each December issue contains an annual Name Index of everyone listed in all six of that year's issues. Below are the available December issues (or the annual Name Index for pre-2010) in PDF format.

Mail the check payable to the "Genealogical Society of White County" and send to:

Genealogical Society of White County
P.O. Box 142
Carmi IL 62821-0142

Be sure to include which year(s) you are purchasing.

The Board of Directors meets at 4:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday in January, March, May, July, September and November at the Society office and library at 1220 Outer East Main Street in Carmi, next to Ginny's Restaurant. The public is welcome to attend. The meeting schedule for 2015 is:

I am trying to get information on Jane Cameron, born 1775, in South Carolina, and died 1822, in Enfield, White County, Illinois. She married Joshua Fields, born 1771, in Virginia, and died 1820, in Enfield, White County, Illinois. These people were my 4th great-grandparents.

Please contact Thom Adams, P.O. Box 461, Tell City, Indiana 47586 or [email protected].

I am researching a couple of Cain families in White County around the time of the Civil War and earlier, and I found the names of three men with that surname who likely were two brothers and a cousin. I am wondering if you can help me discover their relationship.

The particulars (from the White County Historical Society book, Veterans of White County, Illinois):
George CAIN, Enfield, private, Co. C 40th Illinois Infantry; August 26, 1861 -- July 24, 1865.
Joshua CAIN, White County, pvt, Co. G, 87 Illinois Infantry, August 14, 1862 -- June 16, 1865. Kitty Sweeten Cemetery. GHS (what does GHS mean?)
William J. CAIN, Shawneetown, pvt, Co. F, 87th Illinois Infantry, Oct 1, 1862 -- June 16, 1865. Born 1831, died 1909. Kitty Sweeten Cemetery. Family.

Notice that William and Joshua were in the same infantry regiment, different companies, and were discharged on the same day.

I believe that Joshua and George were cousins, sons of Alexander and William P. Cain, respectively, so what I need to know is whether William was the brother of George or Joshua. Census returns show that both Alex and William had sons named William.

Thank you. Zoe Lappin ([email protected])