There is an online database on which you can search for land purchases in Illinois Counties, as well as the following states: AL, AR, FL, IN, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, OH and WI. This website is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management and contains more than 2 million Federal Land Title records for the above states, issued between 1820 and 1908. (I found several for my family in Hancock County as early as 1818, however.) The main page also notes that records for other states will be added (at a different site, I believe) later this year. You can view and download tif images and/or order certified copies at a reasonable price. The URL is: www.glorecards.blm.gov/ Good Luck Marcia Farina