Edgar County Genealogy Library

05/20/2026

A bit of local racing history: Thomas Benton "Benny" Shoaff was born in Paris in 1897. During his 15 years in racing, he drove on tracks in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Shoaff qualified in the 1927 and 1928 Indianapolis 500 races. Driving Duesenbergs both years, he completed 198 laps in 1927 (out due to mechanical issues) but in 1928 his car was out after a crash on lap 35.

04/23/2026

Just added to Edgar County Genealogy Library! Scottland High School yearbooks 1953-1959, 1962, and 1964-1971 join the 1946 and 1972 copies already on our shelves. Many thanks to former school secretary Martha Phillips for the gift of these 16 yearbooks and a Scottland Centennial 1872-1972 booklet.

04/16/2026

According to the writing on the back, this is Mayo School 8A Class, Room 5, in 1922.

04/14/2026

Jenny Barkley passed away on Monday, April 13. She was a former volunteer librarian and board member here at the genealogy library and an avid genealogist. Our sympathies to her family.

View Jennifer Holcomb Barkley's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

03/27/2026

This historic photo of a local drum & bugle corps in the 1930s or early 1940s was reprinted in a December 1999 issue of the Beacon News. The group is standing in front of the old Bishop-Morris Ford dealership that was on South Main (across from the old Goodwill building).

03/24/2026

02/21/2026

From the Paris Beacon News in June 1982

02/02/2026

Fenton was a familiar face around the Genealogy Library, often sweeping or shoveling the walks, when it was Judy's day to be in the library. Our sympathies to his family.

Fenton Eugene Cash Baldy, age 83, a lifelong resident of Paris Illinois, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones at 320 AM Sunday, February 1, 2026. He was born on November 11, 1942, the youngest son of Eugene Jefferson Cash and Alice Brown Cash. His strong work

01/31/2026

1912-1913 Paris High School Basketball team. First names included if listed on photo. Front: Dean? Arthur. Middle: Benton Shoaff, Stanfield, Walter Risser, Arthur Norman, Benson. Top: Rue Link, O.R. Jones - coach, Arthur Rhoades

01/08/2026

Paris High School track team of 1904. 1st row: Joe Dyas, Claud Pifer, Dan Dayton, Charles Kurtz, Edgar Collier. 2nd row: Stewart Failing, George Bergen, Herbert Boyd, James Shepherd. Top row: Lloyd Arthur, coach Will Shepherd, Arthur Risser.