| The Illinois State Archives has over 50 original fieldbooks and bound ledger books containing laborers' names and days of the month worked on the building and repair of the Illinois and Michigan Canal from 1840 to 1927. Some of the books have a higher interest value than others because building the canal is different in a historical sense from repairing the canal after it was opened to navigation in April 1848.
The timebooks were microfilmed in 1988. Fieldbooks (IMCFN) G-1 to G-22 and ledgerbooks (IMAr-P) 1 to 7, are the oldest timebooks: dating from May 1847 to May 1853 except for the first fieldbook, dated 1840, which is a general summary field book of the total number of men working on certain sections of the canal.
Unfortunately, some fieldbooks dating in the 1830's (in the "F" series in the same file drawer) show occasional names but do not contain the extensive name lists found in the "G" series.
The canal was constructed from July 1836 to April 1848. The oldest time books in the archives containing actual first and last names of laborers start in May 1847. There are 25 small field books dating from May 1847 to January 1851 and seven larger ledger books containing names from May 1847 to May 1853. (It could be said that these timebooks contain the names of men who finished the canal.) Then a gap in the time books occurs until 1859, whereupon the timebooks continue at various intervals until 1927.
It should also be noted that the timebooks appear to be for laborers working on different sections of the 100-mile long canal, not its entire length at any one time. (A correlation of section numbers with land locations should be investigated.)
Most of the field books have many blank pages. The front and back covers contain unique unrepeated information. Most of the pages are written in ink but there are several that are in pencil and they may not show up clearly on the microfilm. The same month-year appears in more than one timebook.
Please note: The indexing of these records on this website provides the name, month-year, then G-number, not an entire transcription. This allows genealogists to immediately date their ancestor's occurrence in Illinois. If desired, one could then buy the microfilm or read it at a library, which has bought it, or go to ISA in Springfield to look up the number of days the individual actually worked.
IMCFN #Small Field books listing Canal laborers.
G-1 List of men from Sections 45-68. March 1840 to July 1841. [no individuals named, only totals]
G-2 Laborers May, Jun, Jul, Aug. 1847.
G-3 Laborers on Summit Division. Z. Brooks timebook. June, July, August 1847.
G-4 Laborers on hydraulic works. August, October 1847.
G-5 Laborers in Lane's checkroll. August, September 1847.
G-6 Laborers. October 1847.
G-7 Laborers on Division 1. August, September 1847.
G-8 Laborers in A. Telfer timebook. October, November, December 1847 and January 1848.
G-9 Laborers in Wm Cronin timebook. November 1847.
G-10 Laborers repairing Sections 47-69. October, November 1847 and Jan, Feb, Apr, May 1848.
G-11 Laborers in Robert Wyatt timebook. Dec 1847; January,Feb, March 1848.
G-12 Laborers in B timebook. Nov, Dec 1847; Jan 1848.
G-13 Laborers in Wm Cronin timebook. Dec 1847, Feb. 1848.
G-14 Laborers in Wm Cronin timebook. Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr 1848.
G-15 Laborers in Thomas Ironside timebook. Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr 1848.
G-16 Laborers in Wm Cronin timebook. Jan, Mar 1848.
G-16a Laborers in Wm Cronin timebook. Mar, Apr 1848.
G-17 Laborers in John Clark timebook. Jan, Feb, Apr 1848.
G-17a Laborers in William Penley timebook. Apr 1848.
G-18 Laborers in Thomas Williams timebook. Feb, Mar 1848.
G-19 Laborers in Jno Clark/J. Holden timebook. Feb, Mar 1848.
G-20 Laborers in Joseph Lathrop Sec. 33?-37 timebook. Sections Mar, Apr 1848.
G-21 Laborers in John Harrington timebook. Apr 1848.
G-21a Laborers in Edwd McDonall timebook. May, June, July, Aug, Oct, Nov, Sept 1850.
G-22 Laborers Apr, May, June, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec 1850; Jan 1851.
G-23
G-24
G-25
G-26
G-27
G-28
G-29
G-30
G-30A
G-30B Laborers in 1869-70
IMCFN G-31 Timebook of Unidentified Timekeeper and Unknown Location 1870
IMCFN G-31a Timebook of Unidentified Timekeeper and Unknown Location 1871- July 1877
IMCFN G-32 Timebook of Unidentified Timekeeper and Unknown Location 1871-1872
IMCFN G-32a Timebook of Unidentified Timekeeper and Unknown Location June –Sept 1871
IMCFN G-32b Timebook of William J. Gooding 1871 Lockport
IMCFN G-32c Timebook of Unidentified Timekeeper and Unknown Location 1871-1875
IMCFN G-32d 1871-1880
IMCFN G-37c 1882-92 April 1890, April 1891, July 1891 April 1892, June 1892 Timebook
IMCFN G-38 1883-1892 March, Sep, Nov 1890, March 1891, July 91, Sept 1891, Nov 1891, April 1892, June 1892,
IMCFN G-39 Feb 1890, Apr 1890-Oct 1890, dec 1890, Feb 1891, Apr 1891, June 1891, Aug 1891,
G-40
G-41
G-42
G-43 Laborers in 1927
IMCFNG-44 Timebook of repairs, waste weir, various aqueducts December 1920
IMCFNG-45 Timebook of repairs, various gates December 1920
IMAr-P #Ledgerbooks listing Canal Workers
1 L-8 Laborers on Sections 34-42. May 1847 to March 1848.
2 L-8 Laborers on Sections 25-33. May 1847 toJan 1848.
3 L-8 Laborers on Sections17/18-24. May 1847 to April 1848.
4 L-8 Laborers on Sections 25-33. January 1848 to March 1848.
5 G-13 Laborers doing repairs on canal. June 1849 to December 1850.
6 G-9 Laborers doing repairs on canal. December 1850 to January 1852.
7 G-9 Laborers doing repairs on canal. October 1851 to May 1853.
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IMAr-P #Ledgerbooks listing Canal Workers
10 Cop 1 Payroll 5 Maintenance and Repairs at Ottawa Ill. December 1873
10 Cop 1 Payroll 24 Tolls and Rents (Collectors Locktenders Inspectors and Clerks January 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 25 Maintenance and Repairs State Yd Lockport and Watchmen January 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 26 Maintenance and Repairs Ottawa Ill January 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 43 Tolls and Rents Collectors Locktenders Inspectors and Clerks February 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 44 Maintenance and Repairs State Yd Lockport and Watchmen February 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 45 Maintenance and Repairs February 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 46 Maintenance and Repairs February 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 47 Maintenance and Repairs February 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 48 Maintenance and Repairs February 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 49 Maintenance and Repairs February 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 76 Tolls and Rents (Collectors Locktenders Inspectors and Clerks March 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 77 Maintenance and Repairs State Yd Lockport and Watchmen March 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 78 Maintenance and Repairs and Getting Dredge Ready March 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 79 Maintenance and Repairs Repairer No. 1 and Masons March 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 80 Maintenance and Repairs at Ottawa Ill. March 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 81 Maintenance and Repairs at Ottawa Ill. March 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 82 Maintenance and Repairs Repairer No. 3 March 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 83 Maintenance and Repairs Repairer No. 4 March 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 129 Tolls and Rents (Collectors Locktenders Inspectors and Clerks April 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 130 Maintenance and Repairs State Yd Lockport Supt and Watchmen April 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 131 Maintenance and Repairs (Dredge) April 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 132 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 1) April 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 133 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 2) April 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 134 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Ottawa and Watchmen) April 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 135 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 3) April 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 136 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 4) April 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 166 Tolls and Rents (Collectors, Locktenders, Inspectors and Clerks) May 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 167 Maintenance and Repairs State Yd Lockport Watchmen and Supt May 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 168 Maintenance and Repairs (Dredge) May 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 169 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 1) May 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 170 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 2) May 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 171 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Ottawa and Watchmen) May 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 172 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 3) May 1874
10 Cop 1 Payroll 173 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 4) May 1874
10 Cop 2 Payroll 149 Tolls and Rents (Collectors, Locktenders, Inspectors and Clerks) May 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 150 Maintenance and Repairs State Yd Lockport and Watchmen) May 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 151 Maintenance and Repairs (Dredge) May 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 152 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 1) May 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 153 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 2) May 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 154 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Ottawa and Watchmen) May 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 155 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 3) May 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 156 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 4) May 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 157 Maintenance and Repairs (Dayton Dam) May 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 158 Maintenance and Repairs (Dayton Dam) May 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 206 Tolls and Rents (Collectors, Locktenders, Inspectors and Clerks) June 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 207 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Lockport and Watchmen) June 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 208 Maintenance and Repairs (Dredge) June 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 209 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 1) June 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 210 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 2) June 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 211 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Ottawa and Watchmen) June 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 212 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 3) June 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 213 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 4) June 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 214 Maintenance and Repairs (Dayton Dam) June 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 215 Maintenance and Repairs (Dayton Dam) June 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 255 Tolls and Rents (Collectors, Locktenders, Inspectors and Clerks) July 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 256 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Lockport and Watchmen) July 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 257 Maintenance and Repairs (Dredge) July 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 258 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 1) July 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 259 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 2) July 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 260 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Ottawa and Watchmen) July 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 261 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 3) July 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 262 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 4) July 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 296 Tolls and Rents (Collectors, Locktenders, Inspectors and Clerks) August 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 297 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Lockport and Watchmen) August 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 298 Maintenance and Repairs (Dredge) August 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 299 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 1) August 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 300 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 2) August 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 301 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Ottawa and Watchmen) August 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 302 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 3) August 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 303 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 4) August 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 342 Tolls and Rents (Collectors, Locktenders, Inspectors and Clerks) September 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 343 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Lockport and Watchmen) September 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 344 Maintenance and Repairs (Dredge) September 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 345 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 1) September 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 346 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 2) September 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 347 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Ottawa and Watchmen) September 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 348 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 3) September 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 349 Lockage (Repairer No. 4) September 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 391 Tolls and Rents (Collectors, Locktenders, Inspectors and Clerks) October 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 392 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Lockport and Watchmen) October 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 393 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 1) October 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 394 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 2) October 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 395 Maintenance and Repairs (State Yd Ottawa and Watchmen) October 1873
10 Cop 2 Payroll 396 Maintenance and Repairs (Repairer No. 3) October 1873
IMAr-Ti Laborers in May, June and July 1857 written in German. Also 13 receipts dated 1856, 1857. (Not yet transcribed)
Copyright 2000-present Nancy Thornton
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