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.
E. J. Phillips was born on May 18, 1831, in Chesterfield County, Virginia. He learned carpentry and worked in various trades before settling into farming after moving to Missouri in 1852. He acquired a 200-acre farm in Platte County by 1877. Phillips married Eupha Beim in 1854, with whom he had eleven children, six surviving him. After her passing in 1877, he remarried Cora A. Bowen in 1881.
S. L. Doty, born on August 13, 1831, in Greene County, Tennessee, was the son of Jesse and Rebecca Doty. His grandfather, Azre Doty, served in the Revolutionary War. Educated in local schools, he trained as a cabinetmaker before transitioning to farming in 1865. Doty moved to Missouri in 1853, initially settling in Liberty, before relocating to Platte City and later establishing a farm in the county. He married Mary M. Wills on February 21, 1858, and they had three children.
James W. F. Owens, born in Missouri in 1842, moved to Oregon as an infant. He grew up in the Umpqua Valley, where he thrived as a successful stock-raiser. Despite limited formal education, he was well-read and politically active, serving in the Oregon legislature and the Good Templar lodge. In 1877, he helped organize the State Grange. However, a poorly managed wool business led to financial distress, culminating in his tragic suicide. His integrity was later vindicated, and he is remembered for his contributions to Oregon’s progressive politics and social causes.
Thomas Jones, born on September 12, 1827, in Cocke County, Tennessee, exemplified resilience and character through his life’s trials. Orphaned early, he worked on farms and ventured into mercantile business before migrating westward. Despite hardships, including illness during his journey to Oregon in 1864, he eventually prospered in farming. Married in 1854, he fathered several children and remained a respected member of the Methodist Church. Though not politically active, he showed concern for good governance, navigating the complexities of frontier life with integrity.
Albert F. McFarland, born on August 5, 1838, in Platte County, Missouri, pursued education at local schools and Pleasant Ridge College before studying medicine in St. Louis. He began practicing at a general army hospital during the Civil War. After a journey across the plains to Utah and Montana in 1866, he settled in Daviess County in 1867 and started his medical practice. McFarland was elected clerk of the Circuit Court in 1874, a position he was re-elected to in 1878, fulfilling his duties effectively.
George H. Keller, a key founder of Leavenworth, Kansas, was celebrated for his bravery, generosity, and integrity. Born in Kentucky in 1801, he migrated through Indiana and Missouri before helping establish the Town of Petaluma, California. By 1854, he settled in Weston, Kansas, and subsequently founded Leavenworth, where he built the notable Mansion House. An outspoken abolitionist, he served in the first free-state Territorial Legislature and became the first warden of the Kansas State Penitentiary. Keller passed away in 1876, leaving a legacy of patriotism and hospitality.
James Franklin O’Daniel, born in Kentucky in 1840, became a notable pioneer in Kansas after settling in Pottawatomie County in 1859. From humble beginnings, he advanced as a prosperous farmer and stockraiser, eventually accumulating 5,000 acres of land. Married in 1867 to Julia Ann Spalding, they prioritized education for their seven children, moving to Manhattan in 1893. O’Daniel served as a bank president and was active in community welfare while maintaining a life of integrity and fairness. His contributions significantly shaped Kansas’s development.
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.
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.
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.
Dr. Charles R. Jennison, born in New York in 1834, was a significant figure during the Civil War as a brigadier general. His medical studies began at nineteen, leading to a medical practice in Wisconsin before he settled in Kansas in 1857. A staunch ally of John Brown, he commanded the Seventh Kansas Cavalry, known as Jennison’s Jayhawkers, focusing on clearing guerrillas from the border. Post-war, he served in local governance and the state legislature. Jennison passed away in Leavenworth in 1884.
George W. Pearcy, born in 1848 in Platte County, Missouri, emerged as a prominent businessman in Thornfield, MO. He served in the Forty-sixth Missouri Infantry during the Civil War and later pursued a career in teaching before establishing a successful mercantile business in 1877. Pearcy also operated a sawmill and managed nearly 900 acres of land. A self-made entrepreneur, he has served as the Thornfield postmaster for over 17 years and is an active member of the local I.O.O.F., remaining a dedicated Republican throughout his life.
Dr. Ira Puderbaugh, born on March 5, 1878, in Ozawkie, Kansas, has been a significant medical presence in the area for over fifteen years. He is the son of Dr. Aaron Puderbaugh, a pioneer physician who transitioned from trade to medicine, graduating from the Kansas City Medical College in 1882. Ira followed in his father’s footsteps, earning his M.D. in 1901 and expanding his influence as a drug store owner and public servant. He married Jennie Low and has three children.