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.
Benton Miller was born on December 26, 1838, in Sardis, Ohio. He moved to Missouri in 1855 and served in the First Missouri Cavalry Militia during the Civil War, achieving the rank of first lieutenant. Post-war, he engaged in general merchandising in Gallatin and contributed to the community as a tax collector and supporter of local enterprises. He married Mattie A. Robinson in 1866 and they had three children: Norman B., Virgil G., and Ida B., all born in Gallatin.
Napoleon Bonaparte Blanton, born in Missouri around 1830, had a name inspired by both familial connections and his father’s admiration for Napoleon Bonaparte. After settling in Wakarusa in 1854, he became involved in local politics and served as a captain in the Union Army during the Civil War. Blanton was a state legislator, facilitating the relocation of the land office to Humboldt. He spent his later years in Sulphur, Oklahoma, before dying in Wichita, Kansas, from an automobile accident in 1913.
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.
Col. James Montgomery, born in Ashtabula County in 1814, emerged as a prominent free-state leader during the Kansas conflict and later an officer in the Civil War. After teaching in Kentucky, he moved to Missouri, then to Kansas in 1854, where he became a key figure among anti-slavery settlers. He led a Self-Protective Company to defend against pro-slavery forces and later commanded the Second South Carolina colored regiment in the Union army. Montgomery passed away in Linn County, Kansas, in 1871.
Captain Joseph G. Waters, born October 18, 1837, in Kentucky, served with distinction in the Civil War, earning five wounds in battle. A prominent lawyer in Kansas for nearly fifty years, he was also a noted public speaker and author, although his writings remained largely private due to his modesty. Waters gave a celebrated address for Queen Victoria’s jubilee, recognized among thousands. He practiced law actively until well into his later years, leaving behind a legacy of service to both his country and community.
A. P. Fonda was born on March 30, 1878, in Leavenworth, Kansas. A dedicated citizen, he excelled as a farmer and lawyer, focusing on land and real estate following his admission to the bar in 1903. Fonda was actively involved during World War I, capturing a German spy and leading a successful Liberty loan drive. He served as food commissioner for Jackson County, where he advocated for the public against exploitation. Married in 1910, he is committed to community welfare, youth development, and his faith.
Thomas Harper Cobbs, born on August 26, 1868, in Lafayette County, Missouri, was a prominent lawyer in St. Louis, co-founding the firm Cobbs & Logan. He received degrees from Odessa College, Missouri Valley College, and Yale Law School. An active civic leader, Cobbs was instrumental in establishing St. Louis’s Zoological Society and served in various roles in educational and religious organizations. Married to Lucie Mae Jones, he valued home life despite the loss of their only child. Cobbs’s reputation for integrity and dedication to justice marked his professional and personal life.
Harry Jiencke, born May 27, 1858, in Germany, immigrated to America at a young age and established himself as a successful salesman in Kansas for 25 years. He then transitioned to the oil and gas industry in Independence, where he became a prominent businessman and held leadership roles in several companies, including the Independence Brick Company. A member of the Democratic Party, he ran for state senator and actively participated in organizations like the Knights of Pythias. Jiencke married Dick Kaschner in 1886.
James C. Shimer built a notable reputation over thirty years in the coal and feed business in Topeka, demonstrating exceptional ability and dedication. Born to a family rooted in Indiana, he migrated to Topeka in 1883, eventually establishing a thriving coal operation. His civic engagement was equally impressive, serving on the city council and as a county commissioner, where he championed infrastructure improvements. Married to Dora McElvain, he raised eight children, balancing business success with a commitment to community service, faith, and family.
Thomas Allen, born October 19, 1849, in St. Louis, Missouri, was a prominent American landscape and animal painter. He studied art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf and in France, returning to exhibit successfully in New York. Allen became an associate of the National Academy of Design and was active in several art organizations. He had two marriages, fathering two children, and was involved in the Boston art community, serving as president of the Paint and Clay Club and a patron of the Metropolitan Museum.
Lawrence Pembroke Browne, originally from Pennsylvania, established his career in Kansas City, Missouri, where he became a prominent businessman in general merchandise through his partnership with W. H. Chick. As the head of the Browne family business until his death in 1893, he significantly contributed to the Mexican trade and was influential in the expansion of commerce along the railroads. His son, Evan H. Browne, pursued a varied career in banking and manufacturing, demonstrating strong business acumen and community involvement, including founding the Mercantile Club.
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.
Andrew Calvin Sewell, born in 1856 in Tennessee, migrated with his family to Kansas at age fifteen. He began his teaching career in 1876 after attending a private school and later became principal at various schools in Elk City. In 1898, he ventured into merchandising and mining in Joplin before returning to Elk City to engage in business and politics, running for county superintendent in 1880. A lifelong Baptist, Sewell married twice and had several children. He spent his later years managing a wholesale goods line in Independence.
Shaler W. Eldridge, born in Massachusetts in 1816, was a prominent free-state advocate in Kansas. After a successful career as a railroad contractor, he arrived in Kansas City in 1855, purchasing the American House, a key site for free-state supporters. He later leased the Free-State Hotel in Lawrence, which was burned by pro-slavery forces. Active in political conventions, Eldridge influenced significant legislative actions and was integral in building the Eldridge House, which faced destruction during the Civil War. His military service included a role as paymaster for the Second Kansas Regiment.
Colonel John Conover, a significant figure in Kansas history, arrived in Leavenworth in 1857 as a pioneer merchant. Serving with distinction in the Union army during the Civil War, he later co-founded the Richards Conover Hardware Company, which became a leading wholesale business in the region. Born on November 27, 1835, in New Jersey, his journey exemplified the American spirit of determination and hard work. Conover’s legacy is marked by his contributions to both commerce and community, remembered fondly until his death in 1914.
Dr. Clyde Magill, born on December 6, 1887, near Wichita, Kansas, has established himself as a prominent physician in Clearwater after starting his practice in 1913. The son of a respected local farmer, he pursued his education at Fairmount College and graduated from the Kansas State University’s medical department in 1912. Following an internship at Kansas City’s General Hospital, he returned to Clearwater, where he quickly gained recognition for his skills. Married to Erma Keister, they have two children, Russell and Jean.
G. B. Glover, born on December 20, 1841, in Mississippi, is a prominent pioneer of Malheur County, known for his hard work and visionary approach to agriculture and stock-raising. After serving in the Confederate army during the Civil War, he moved to Oregon in 1875, establishing a successful estate on Cow Creek Lakes, now encompassing over 1,140 acres. Glover is also known for his active involvement in local politics. He married Elizabeth Shea Keenan, and they had six children, highlighting his commitment to family and community.
David Cary, born in Missouri in 1836, journeyed across the plains to Oregon in 1852, driving an ox team. After mining in California, he returned to Oregon to enlist in the fight against local tribes, later settling in Idaho. Cary married Rebecca Barr in 1865 and engaged in farming and merchandising before focusing on stock raising in Harney Valley. A pioneering settler, he cultivated 1,600 acres and served as road supervisor, earning respect for his integrity and contributions to the community.
Edward J. Curtin, born on August 9, 1875, in Jackson County, Missouri, is a distinguished attorney known for his clear and forceful legal advocacy. After his education at St. Joseph’s school, he worked in retail before pursuing a law degree from the Kansas City School of Law, graduating in 1904. Curtin has effectively practiced law in Jackson County, serving as assistant prosecuting attorney for twelve years. He is married to Margaret McKenna, enjoys outdoor activities, and is active in various professional organizations and the Democratic Party.