ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES

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Wayne County

Established
March 26, 1819 (Laws, 1819, p. 268)

Origin of the name of the county
Named for Anthony Wayne, a surveyor and politician of Pennsylvania, a Major General during the Revolution, Commander-in-Chief of the Army after General St. Clair, and successful Indian Fighter in the Northwest Territory.

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1815–1819 — Edwards
1812–1815 — Gallatin
1803–1812 — Randolph
1801–1803 — St. Clair
1790–1801 — Knox, Northwest Territory

County Seats
1819–   — Fairfield

History of county governing board
1819–1849 — County Commissioners’ Court
1849–1860 — County Court
1860–   — County Board of Supervisors

Documented Record Losses
November 17, 1886 — Fire. Total record loss (1819–1886).

Township Government
Adopted — November 8, 1859

Township Names
Arrington
Barnhill — Name changed from Fairfield to Douglas on June 9, 1860; name changed from Douglas to Barnhill on September 3, 1860.
Bedford
Berry — Formed from Arrington on December 12, 1905.
Big Mound
Elm River — Name changed from Newton to Elm on June 9, 1860; name changed from Elm to Elm River (date unknown, before 1921).
Four Mile
Garden Hill — Formed from Orchard (date unknown, before 1921).
Grover — Formed as Fairfield from Barnhill on December 14, 1888.
Hickory Hill
Indian Prairie — Name changed from Johnson to Franklin on June 9, 1860; name changed from Franklin to Indian Prairie on September 3, 1860.
Jasper
Keith — Formed from Bedford and Indian Prairie in June, 1906.
LaMard — Name changed from Jefferson on June 9, 1860.
Leech — Name changed from Wabash on June 9, 1860.
Massillon
Mt. Erie
Orchard — Name changed from Brush Creek on September 8, 1891.
Orel — Formed as Wayne from Four Mile and Arrington in March, 1886; name changed from Wayne to Orel in June, 1886.
Zif

Township Map

Pertinent Databases
Federal Township Plats of Illinois
Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916–1950
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
Local Governmental Records Database
Name Index to Illinois Local Governments
Wayne County Coroner's Inquest Record Index (1888–1960)