Eileen I would recommend planning on visiting both the Montgomery County Courthouse and the State Capitol in Springfield. When you go to the Montgomery Cty courthouse, wear something you don't mind get getting dirty - they let you handle the records yourself. These are large heavy books with red binders (it washes out though). I found quite a few land purchases and marriage records in Montgomery. There is also a Montgomery County Historical Society located in Litchfield (address I think is at Montgomery Cty web site off of http://www.usgenweb.com) They do have a public library, though I didn't think they had an awful lot. There is a "new state capitol" and an "old state capitol" in Springfield. Personally, I found the "old" to have more info - It's a huge library - wall-to-wall books with all kinds of stuff. They do have newspapers on microfilm going quite a ways back. If you go the IL Geneaology Society from http://www.usgenweb.com on the IL home page, there's a link and a search engine for newspapers. The staff at each is very nice. Your drive from St.L. I believe is 1 hour and then Springfield is 2 hours from Hillsboro. I'd visit all three - I allowed two days for both of these and it seemed adequate. There is a place called "Red Rooster Inn" right across the street from the courthouse in Hillsboro - about $35 for one night. Happy Hunting! Cory, OKC