Listers: I can't give an answer to the inquiry about Peoria churches as early as 1860, but can help by stating that any that existed were under the jurisdiction of Chicago Archives. That was information I learned in trying to find an official record of my grandparents' marriage in 1871 by a Rev. Roles, as given in a Bible page and signed by the priest. There was a St. James Church in Rock Island (later divided and part of it named St. Mary; then St. James changed a few years later to become St. Joseph) but it was under jurisdiction of Chicago Diocese. There was no Peoria Diocese at that time, so presumably it also was under Chicago Diocese. I sent an e-mail to the Archdiocese Archives in Chicago and had a prompt reply. St. James was a missionary church sponsored by 2 churches in Chicago that still exist so if there were any records they might be at those parishes. I wrote to one which replied that they did sponsor St. James as early as 1871 but their records did not begin until a few years later. I am still waiting to hear from the second parish, but anticipate the answer will be the same or similar. You might try locating the Archdiocese through: http://www.archdiocese-Chgo.org/archives/home.htm or through www.google.com Any reply would be of interest to post it to the list. kayjay