198 online plat books and atlases organized by county and ordered by date for the State of Missouri. At the bottom of the page are two items that can help you use these documents in your genealogy research. The first is a blog post Plat Books Revealed: Mapping Generations of History and the second a video where Ben Clark explains what plat maps are used for, how to navigate them, and pulls out a few interesting stories from them.
John B. Williams was born on August 11, 1844, in Callaway County, Missouri. He moved with his family to Montgomery County and later to Gentry County, where he enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War. After the war, he pursued a career in the drug business with his brother before transitioning to jewelry and musical merchandise. He married Mary E. Poe in 1868 and they had six children, actively participating in the Christian Church in Gallatin.
George Tuggle, born on September 19, 1848, in Daviess County, began his adventurous spirit at fifteen when he attempted to travel to Colorado but returned home after his wagon train was stranded. Educated in local schools and Westminster College, he worked on the farm and taught school before becoming deputy county clerk in 1876, a role he continues to fulfill. Tuggle married Emma R. Davis in 1876, and they have one son, Virgil K. He is also a Master Mason affiliated with Gallatin Lodge No. 106.
Wilburn K. Nation was born on July 1, 1817, near Lexington, Kentucky. His family relocated to Tennessee and then to Missouri, where he participated in significant historical events, including the expulsion of Mormons and the battle at Honns Mill. He married Nancy Tarwater on November 8, 1841, who hailed from an early settler family in Daviess County. Together, they had eleven children, and Mr. Nation dedicated his life to farming.
Nathaniel Maughs, originally from Loudon County, Virginia, relocated to Fleming County, Kentucky, with his children: David, William, John, Moses, Elijah, Stephen, Vinson, Mary, Sally, and Eli. His sons David and William became Baptist preachers. After Nathaniel’s death, his widow married his brother Stephen, who settled in Montgomery County. Their son Mordecai became a physician with three marriages and sixteen children. Other family members included Sophronia, who married Dr. William Proctor, and George, a prominent physician in St. Louis.
Jacob Patton and his wife, Rebecca Barnett, moved to Loutre Island, Montgomery County in 1810, raising four children: James, Thomas, Mary, and Rebecca. James’s family included several children, with Jesse residing in Boone County and Amelia a widow in Callaway County. Thomas tragically died in 1816 from hydrophobia after being bitten by a mad wolf. His widow lived until 1867. Rebecca married John Gibson, while Mary wed Thomas Patton, who also had numerous descendants.
Peter Nunnelly, originally a bound boy to a horse doctor, served in Lord Cornwallis’s army during the Revolutionary War’s pivotal Yorktown campaign. After settling in America, he married twice, first to Elizabeth Smart, with whom he had a large family, including Peter Jr. and Ephraim. His descendants contributed to the Nunnelly lineage through various marriages, intertwining with families such as the Williams and the McMahans, with several members residing in Montgomery County and Callaway County.
Abraham Snethen, a German immigrant, settled in New Jersey with his wife, Elizabeth Stewart, and raised eleven children. After various relocations, including Kentucky and Missouri, he became a prominent pioneer figure. His children included notable individuals like Aley B., a Baptist preacher, and John, Jr., a successful merchant. Abraham participated in the community’s defense during conflicts with Native Americans and was known for his long life, witnessing the growth of his family, which included eighty-one grandchildren before his death in 1859.
Peter VanBibber, originally from Holland, settled in Botetourt County, Virginia, prior to the Revolutionary War. He married Marguety Bounds and had a large family, including sons James and Joseph, the latter a surveyor in Missouri. Peter’s brother, Isaac VanBibber, a captain killed at the Battle of Point Pleasant, was raised by Daniel Boone. He later settled in Missouri, creating a profitable hotel on a Spanish land grant. Isaac’s descendants included Matilda and Ewing, and he passed away in 1836.
Col. John Smith, a figure of the Revolutionary War, resided in Franklin County, Virginia, and wed Frances Burk, with whom he fathered eight children. His son William married Elizabeth Ferguson, leading to a large lineage, while daughters married prominent figures, influencing settlements in Callaway County, Kentucky, and Alabama. Notably, Martha’s husband, Thomas J. Holland, served in the State Legislature and as Justice of the Peace in Warren County before his death in 1862. The family’s connections sustain a legacy across several states.
James Fulkerson, originally Volkerson from Germany, immigrated to America and settled in North Carolina before moving to Virginia. He married Mary VanHook and had twelve children. His son, Robert C., a War of 1812 veteran and former Sheriff of Lee County, later relocated to Missouri. He served as Treasurer of Montgomery County for a decade and was a devoted family man, marrying twice and having seven children. Fulkerson passed away in 1876, leaving a legacy marked by service and faith.
Benjamin Ellis established his home on South Bear Creek in 1815, working as a wheelwright and chair maker while operating a hand-mill. He fathered ten children, contributing to the region’s early development. In 1819, his son James Ellis settled nearby with his wife Elizabeth Bowen, and together they raised six children: Edmund, Benjamin, Leeper, William, Fanny, and Martha. Benjamin later married Catharine McGarvin and relocated to Callaway County, continuing the family’s legacy in the area.
George Godfrey resided in Ritford, England, and with his wife Mary Ostick, settled in several locations in Pennsylvania and Missouri during the early 19th century. His lineage includes several sons, notably Thomas, who moved to Canada, and John, who ventured to California. Godfrey’s contributions extended to his active role within the Methodist Church, reflecting a strong commitment to his faith. His family also spread across the United States, with branches in Kentucky and Missouri, showcasing a diverse and widespread legacy.
Jabez Ham, born in 1797 in Madison County, Kentucky, moved to Missouri in 1817. Largely uneducated and fond of hunting, he began preaching in 1824 after receiving basic instruction. He founded New Providence Church on Loutre Creek in 1826 and humorously likened his sermons to a shotgun. Jabez balanced his ministry with powder manufacturing and hunting for sustenance. He died in Callaway County in 1842, leaving behind fourteen children with his wife, Hannah Todd. His brother, Rev. Stephen Ham, also became a Baptist preacher in Missouri.
Stephen Ham, a Madison County, Kentucky resident, was the father of John, Jabez, and Stephen Ham, Jr. John, born in 1786, moved to Missouri in 1809, becoming one of the first settlers in Callaway County. A Methodist preacher and skilled hunter, he had notable exploits, including smoking a bear from its cave. After two marriages, he had eight children and faced adversity such as a devastating flood in 1824. He eventually relocated to Illinois, where he passed away in 1869.
Samuel Gill relocated from Maryland to Virginia, where he had two marriages, including one to a Miss Kidwell. His sons, James and Presley, moved to Missouri in 1831; James established himself in Callaway County with his wife Matilda Darnes and had eight children, while Presley settled in Montgomery County, New Florence. Presley became a gunsmith and pursued a career in medicine.
Richard Jones, originally from England, settled in Botetourt County, Virginia, after marrying Miss Love. A member of the Baptist Church, he supported the Episcopal Church through tobacco contributions. His children, William, John, and Silas, carried on the family legacy, with William relocating to Missouri, where he established a horse-mill that served as a Baptist meeting place. William’s descendants contributed significantly to the community, with notable figures such as Judge Robert W. Jones emerging among them, highlighting the family’s lasting influence in the region.
William Hudnall, originally from England, married Fannie McGeorge from Ireland and had four sons: John, Thomas, William, and Richard, a Revolutionary War soldier. Richard’s son Jack moved to Missouri in 1835. William had two marriages, with his first wife bearing daughters Polly, Catharine, Lucy, and Elizabeth, while he had additional children with widow Nancy Williams. Notable descendants include Samuel, who experienced a humorous mishap in Loutre Creek and recalled his first deer hunt, and Susannah, who married William Elliot, also a Missouri settler.
Presley Anderson and his wife, Elizabeth Steele, moved to Montgomery County, Kentucky, in 1779, raising a family of six children. Notably, their son John A. S., or Captain Jack, earned local renown. Presley, Jr. married Euphemia Jones and relocated to Missouri in 1814, ultimately settling near Brush Creek. He participated in the Indian War and was a devoted Methodist, hosting services in his home. His descendants continued to settle in Montgomery County, with James and Eliza establishing families nearby.
Hugh Logan, originally from Ireland, ran away to sea at fourteen before settling in Kentucky. He married Rebecca Bryan, with whom he had five children. Tragically, he drowned in Flemings Creek after ignoring a premonitory dream. His sons, notably William and Henry Logan, ventured to Missouri, starting families there and contributing to early settler life. William’s widow still shares memories of early Missouri, while Henry gained a reputation for his eccentricity. Logan’s descendants reflected the adventurous spirit of their father amidst the challenges of frontier life.