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Early Pioneer Certificates

Early Pioneer Certificate        

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Orville & Alice Carr Thomas, son John and grandson Paul on their farm, located at 6214 Steward Rd, Rockton, IL. Orville arrived in Winnebago County in 1838 by covered wagon at age 9 months from Damascus, PA. Estimate this photo circa 1914
 
This barn was built in 1892 and is still standing today. John Thomas with his son Paul and a farmhand. Back in the day, folks took photos like this to show their wealth, ie: horses, car, chickens and large barn.
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Any direct descendant of an early pioneer who settled in the Illinois counties of Winnebago or Boone before 1880 may apply for an Early Pioneer Certificate. These certificates are awarded in either of two categories.
  1. The pioneer settled in Winnebago or Boone County before 1850 with the certificate bearing a gold seal with a blue ribbon.
  2. The pioneer settled in Winnebago or Boone County before 1880 with the certificate bearing a gold seal.

To qualify for an Early Pioneer Certificate, documented evidence must be furnished to confirm the lineage from the pioneer ancestor to the applicant. This evidence could be birth, marriage and death certificates, land records, census records, mention in city, county, and state histories, etc.

If you have more than one pioneer ancestor, you may wish to order a certificate for each one. 
There must be a separate application filled out for every certificate desired
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​To obtain a certificate, download the Pioneer Certificate Form, fill out and
mail to the address with a check or money order. The cost is $10.00 per certificate.
Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society
PO Box 10166
Loves Park, IL 61131-0166

      Please contact the Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society at wbcgensociety@gmail.com with any questions.

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William and Eliza Munday Carter were married in Bedfordshire, England, in November 1854. They traveled to America, coming specifically to Rockford to join William's siblings already here. For many years they lived at this home, on the corner of Corbin and Kent St. They raised five boys and two girls. All of them are buried in Greenwood Cemetery. (Used with permission)
PIONEER CERTIFICATE FORM
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  • Home
  • About
    • WBCGS Board
  • Resources
    • Past Meetings
    • Local Photo Gallery
    • Pioneer Certificates
    • Burials at Cedar Bluff Cemetery
    • Boone County
    • Winnebago County
    • Illinois and Beyond
    • Regional County Societies
    • Civil War
    • Major Libraries
    • Major Research Sites
    • Free Forms
  • Membership
  • Research Help
    • Beginning Genealogy
  • Publications
  • Contact Us
    • Support Us
  • Member Access
    • Previous Meetings
    • Newsletters
    • WBCGS Publications
    • Additional Resources