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.
Allen Thomas Brown was born on May 22, 1850, in Greenbrier County, Virginia. He moved to Cass County at age eight and later settled in Daviess County, where he received his education. Brown began farming until 1880, when he transitioned to the restaurant and confectionery business in Jamesport. Elected town marshal in April 1881, he has proven to be an effective officer. He married Mary T. Olinghouse in 1874, and they have three children, gaining respect from the Jamesport community.
John H. Rice, born in Tennessee in 1825, established a notable career across Georgia and Kansas. A lawyer by 1845, he became editor of the Cassville Standard and a major general in Georgia’s State Militia. An opponent of secession, he served as a purchasing agent for Federal cavalry in 1865. After moving to Kansas, he successfully managed several newspapers, including the Miami Republican and the Fort Scott Monitor. Active in public affairs, he promoted railroads and flood control, passing away in Fort Scott in 1904.
John Holt Rice, educated at Tusculum College, was admitted to the bar at nineteen and practiced law actively in Georgia. A Union candidate for major general of the Georgia Militia in 1856, he later founded the Franklin Printing Company. Despite a debilitating stroke in 1861, he opposed secession and served as a purchasing agent for Federal cavalry forces after Atlanta’s capture. He moved to Missouri and then Kansas, where he succeeded in newspaper publishing and politics. Rice’s later life included founding several newspapers and advocating for infrastructure improvements until his retirement in 1898.
Dr. Robert E. Hughes, M.D., was born on April 2, 1872, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. After early work in tobacco farming, he served as a bill clerk before attending Barnes Medical College, graduating in 1910. He practiced medicine in St. Louis, where he held notable academic positions, authored works on psychology, and advocated for a progressive state medical law. Married in 1905, Dr. Hughes actively participated in community service, including wartime efforts. His career reflects dedication to medicine, perseverance, and significant contributions to medical education and legislation.
John S. Kinkaid, born on September 9, 1833, in Indiana, hailed from a prominent Kentucky family with a legacy of military and religious service. Educated in Missouri, he married Caroline Frazier in 1859 and moved to Kansas in 1861. In 1883, he settled in Camas Prairie, engaging in stock-raising, especially graded Durham cattle and Percheron horses. Kinkaid and his wife had ten children, all surviving to adulthood. An ordained minister and devoted Christian, he is known for his strong humanitarian values and loyalty to the Republican Party.
Byron J. Thompson, born in 1848 in Gallia County, Ohio, pursued a career in teaching, achieving success as a principal in Austin and Louisville. Due to health issues, he transitioned to journalism by acquiring the Jewell County Monitor, where he has found success. An early settler of Jewell County, Thompson is recognized and respected for his honesty, integrity, and abilities.
William Henry Hite, born on March 20, 1869, in Wheatland, Missouri, demonstrated exceptional business acumen from a young age. After the early death of his father, he was raised by his grandmother and left school at twelve to work. He gained experience in retail before co-founding the Globe Clothing Store in Cherryvale in 1902. By 1909, he became the sole proprietor, leading the store to prominence. Active in politics and fraternal organizations, Hite is recognized as an astute businessman dedicated to community service and his family.
James A. Vaughan, M.D., born on October 21, 1868, in Arkansas, devoted much of his medical career to Kansas, notably practicing in Mound Valley for over ten years. After receiving his medical degree from Kansas City, he served various communities, including Neodesha and Cherryvale. Vaughan, a prominent figure in local medical circles, is the county health officer and vice president of the Labette County Medical Society. Married to Artie Inman, he has three children and is active in both his profession and the democratic political sphere.
Chester C. Houston, born on June 23, 1866, in Illinois, arrived in Elgin twenty-five years ago with dreams of prosperity. He worked various jobs before establishing the only distinctive clothing store in town. His entrepreneurial spirit stemmed from a strong background, with roots linked to colonial Virginia and a family history of service in the War of 1812. Active in community organizations, Houston was also a postmaster and a devoted family man, marrying Jessie Wait in 1897 and having two children.
John F. Richards, born in 1834 in Virginia, was a pivotal figure in the development of Kansas City’s wholesale hardware industry. After moving to Missouri as a child, he gained valuable business experience before establishing his own hardware store in Leavenworth in 1857. Over the years, he expanded his business into the successful Richards Conover Hardware Company. Active in community and civic affairs, he served on the Leavenworth school board and was a member of the city council. His contributions shaped local commerce and governance in his region.
Mrs. Sarepta M. Hansard, 75, passed away at her Lebanon home on June 18, 1931, after a prolonged illness. Born on March 23, 1856, in Cass County, Missouri, she journeyed west with her family in 1864, settling in Oregon. After marrying John Bilyeu in 1871 and later G. B. Hansard in 1887, she raised seven children. A member of the Pearl Rebecca Lodge, she was known for her kindness to neighbors. Her funeral on June 21 drew large attendance, with burial at the Masonic Cemetery.
Oscar G. Lee, a prominent realtor and hotelier in Oklahoma City, passed away on June 13, 1934, due to hardening of the arteries after nearly a year in St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City. A resident of Kansas City since 1913, Lee’s significant contributions included establishing the Lee Hotel and the Liberty National Bank Building, the first office building in the territory. Renowned for his civic involvement, he influenced local industries and railways. He is survived by two brothers, a sister, a nephew, and his stepmother.
John Dougherty, born in 1837 in Indiana, migrated to Missouri, where he farmed for several years before moving to Oregon in 1888. A pioneer in Wallowa County, he established himself as a successful stockman and a respected community member. He married Nancy Simson in 1858, and they had nine children, though many preceded him in death. After Nancy’s passing, Dougherty continued to contribute to his community, exemplifying the ideals of hard work and integrity throughout his life. He now resides in Wallowa.