-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CCbHn68FRaVaMcltaePfIuuk1DK7B5HxoTFJ7QZeNX8PFYjW8zDz3kaTVnbflGdh
 auDqLSKgiYZfOOZmtA0LnQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000700565-03-000239.txt : 20031218
<SEC-HEADER>0000700565-03-000239.hdr.sgml : 20031218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031218113319
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000700565-03-000239
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031218

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST MID ILLINOIS BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000700565
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				371103704
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1515 CHARLESTON AVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 499
		CITY:			MATTOON
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61938
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2172347454

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1515 CHARLESTON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 499
		CITY:			MATTOON
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61938

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOWNS KELLY A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233427

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13368
		FILM NUMBER:		031061526

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1515 CHARLESTON AVE
		CITY:			MATTOON
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61938
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2172580487

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 HANCE DRIVE
		CITY:			CHARLESTON
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61920
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4_downs-121603ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-12-16</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000700565</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST MID ILLINOIS BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FMBH.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233427</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOWNS KELLY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 HANCE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLESTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>61920</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>VP, Director of Human Resource</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>224.20</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By 401K</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>27.25</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2004-01-01</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2012-12-16</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>46.50</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2005-01-01</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2003-12-16</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2500</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Options become exerciseable in 4 equal annual installments beginning on 1/1/2004.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> Options become exerciseable in 4 equal annual installments beginning on 1/1/2005.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> Not Applicable</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>William S. Rowland, Pursuant to a Power of Attorney filed on 05/29/2003</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-17</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----