It is highly unlikely there was ever a birth certificate. In 1884 the newspaper in Atlanta was the Argus. The Illinois State Library might be a source for that. "The Library's 4,900 newspaper titles are preserved on nearly 73,000 microfilm reels. As the mandated newspaper repository in Illinois, the Library holds titles from all 102 counties. Many of the newspapers date from the early and mid-nineteenth century, and more than 300 newspapers are currently received through subscription." http://www.state.il.us/hpa/lib/default.htm I note their link to genealogical information requests is broken. <g> As I recall the fees are different for Illinois residents and non Illinois residents. There is a John P. Hornbeck who served in Company G of the 106th in the Civil War. If you look him up on the CW lists in the state archives it should tell you where he enlisted from. The 106th was heavily Logan County. I realize that is years before but it could be a clue. http://www.sos.state.il.us/depts/archives/datcivil.html Cheryl Rothwell clrothwell@mindspring.com