Last updated
You Are Our Visitor.
Please Email Additions/Corrections to Webmaster


Woodford County established on 27 Feb, 1841, from pats of McLean and Tazewell Counties. It was named after Woodford County, Kentucky, because of the influence of early settlers from that county. In 1841, the temporary county seat was Versailles. In 1843, the county seat was Hanover and renamed Metamora in 1845. Eureka is the current county seat.


1849 Woodford Co, IL Land Records

Source: Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database

COMBS ALFRED NWFR 03 28N 01W 3 11/06/1849 WOODFORD
SIMPSON HARRISON NEFR 04 28N 01W 3 11/06/1849 WOODFORD
SIMPSON HARRISON SE 08 28N 02E 3 04/25/1868 WOODFORD


1860 Woodford Co, IL Census

Source: Heritage Quest, original image

Linn Twp

p. 71/697, June 16, 1860

491/497 Alfred Combs 30, m, w, Farmer, b VA, RE-$3200, PP=$800
Betsy, 34, f, w, b Ohio
John W, 14, m, w, b Ohio
Phebe J, 12, f, w, b Ill
Gilbert, 8, m, w, b Ill
Frank, 4, m, w, b Ill
Willery B Combs, 60, m, w, b Va
Phebe THORP, 64, f, w, b Va
Daniel DILLEN, 24, m, w, Farm laborer, b Va

NOTE: Woolery and Alfred previously found in 1850 Fulton Co, IL census. Illinois land records show that Alfred obtained a land grant in 1849 in Woodford Co. as did Harrison Simpson. This family appears to have migrated to Illinois from Pickaway Co, OH. Could Elizabeth be the same as Elizabeth Reynolds who married Alfred Combs Jan 8, 1846 in Pickaway Co, Ohio, as reported in marriages listed on Pickaway's Ancestry/Rootside website? Willery aka Woolery aka Woolsey was age 60 in the 1850 census. His wife appears to have been deceased by 1850. There is no information as to the identity of Phebe Thorp but with the name Phebe, she could have been related.

494/500 Harrison SIMPSON 40, m, w, Farmer, b VA, RE=$6000, PP=$1000
Maria 45, f, w, b Va
Wm H 19, m, w, Farm laborer, b Ohio
James A 17, f, w, Farm laborer, b Ohio
Catherine N 15, f, w, b Ohio
Willery C 12, m, w, b Ohio
George M [or W]10, m, w, b Ill
Benjamin F 8, m, w, b Ill
Laura J 6, f, w, b Ill
Charles T, 4, m, w, b Ill
Michael MOREHOUSE 45, m, w, Farm laborer, b England

NOTE: Harrison Simpson m Maria Combs 5 August 1840 Pickaway Co., Ohio, per researcher who states source was p. 21 (book or source not given) per Pickaway Co, Oh recorder Mar 1994). Per same researcher Harrison and Maria's son Woolsey C Simpson b: 30 Nov 1847 Pickaway Co., Ohio.


Important: All Records collected for this county may not have been added here as yet. See also the Combs Research List Archives