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.
Evan D. Roberts, born on June 19, 1847, in Hamilton County, Tennessee, was raised in a large family of twelve. He learned the blacksmith trade and initially worked as a farmer. In 1870, he moved with his family to Missouri, settling in Texas County before relocating to Oregon County, where he purchased a farm and built a notable water-powered mill. Married to Martha Jane Thomason in 1880, they had two daughters. A dedicated community member, Roberts was active in local politics as a Democrat and his wife was a Methodist Church member.
John Goldsberry, born on February 25, 1839, in Pulaski County, Missouri, was the son of William H. and Elizabeth Goldsberry, North Carolina natives who settled in various Missouri locations before establishing themselves in Howell County. Goldsberry served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War before returning to farming. He played a significant role in local commerce, establishing the first store in Mountain View and later engaging in the sawmill business. He married twice and became a well-respected figure in his community, known for his farming, hunting, and contributions to local politics.
James Martin, born in 1835 in Tennessee, became a prominent farmer and stock-raiser in Texas County, Missouri. He had limited formal education due to the absence of free schools in his area. Married to Nancy Sanders in 1856, they had eleven children. During the Civil War, he served in the Missouri State Militia and later joined the U.S. Army. After the war, he returned to farming, managing 279 acres. Martin also engaged in local governance and was active in the Masonic community, shifting his political allegiance from Democrat to Republican post-war.
Spencer Hugh Ware, born February 10, 1851, in Licking, Missouri, is a respected circuit clerk and recorder in Shannon County known for his efficiency, capability, and trustworthiness. The son of Henry and Martha Ware, he pursued law after initially aspiring to medicine and was admitted to the bar in 1874. He has held various positions, including prosecuting attorney and superintendent of schools. Active in the Democratic Party, Ware is also involved in community organizations and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He married Sarah C. Furling and has four children.
Dr. A. J. Stephens, born on November 22, 1853, in Clay County, Tennessee, emerged as a prominent physician and surgeon in Howell County, Missouri. After receiving his early education in Tennessee, he settled in Missouri, where he practiced medicine after graduating from Missouri Medical College in 1891. Renowned for his surgical expertise, particularly in women’s health, he performed notable operations, including the removal of large ovarian tumors. Actively involved in community and educational matters, Dr. Stephens is a respected figure in West Plains, known for his commitment to medical advancements and his Democratic values.
James A. Jadwin, born September 24, 1854, in Texas County, Missouri, is a notable figure in Shannon County, serving as the popular county treasurer. He was educated in Salem and became a teacher before transitioning to merchandising. Jadwin has been actively involved in local politics, serving as a representative and later appointed treasurer. He is a member of the Christian Church and I.O.O.F. He married A. Creagar, with whom he has two daughters, and has a deep commitment to the Democratic Party.
James McCaskill was born on February 13, 1854, in Maury County, Tennessee, and later moved to Shannon County, Missouri, with his parents in 1855. A Confederate soldier during the Civil War, he escaped capture and continued his service. After the war, he settled in Texas County in 1876, where he engaged in various business ventures and served as postmaster in Summerville. He married twice, first to Alcy Summers and later to Orpha Wekley, and was a prominent Democrat until his death on April 17, 1881.
George Washington McCaskill, born in 1856 in Shannon County, Missouri, is a prominent farmer and stockman who has significantly contributed to the region’s development. His parents, William and Mary McCaskill, originally from Tennessee, settled in Shannon County in 1855. George married Emily Jane Winningham in 1881 and initially engaged in merchandising before purchasing a 660-acre farm. Despite limited formal education, he prospered through hard work and business acumen, serving as county treasurer for nearly six years and remaining active in local organizations and the Presbyterian Church.
John C. McCaskill, born in 1860 in Winona, is a distinguished businessman recognized for his integrity and determination. The son of William and Mary McCaskill, he grew up in a family committed to hard work. After gaining education in Summersville, he entered business at twenty, initially with his brother and later independently, establishing multiple mills and enhancing the region’s development. In 1881, he married Talitha Summers, and they had three children. He is an active Democrat and a member of the I.O.O.F. and A.O.U.W.
Joseph Belsher passed away on January 1, 1919, at a Salem, Oregon sanitarium, where he sought treatment for tuberculosis. Born on July 16, 1898, in Missouri, he moved to Wallowa County in 1914 to live with his brother. He was interred in the I.O.O.F. cemetery in Salem and is survived by four siblings.
Joseph Belsher passed away on January 1, 1919, at an open-air sanitarium in Salem, Oregon, after seeking treatment for bone tuberculosis. Born on July 16, 1898, in Missouri, he moved to Wallowa County in November 1914, residing with his brother Forest on a homestead in Crow Creek Pass. He was interred in the I.O.O.F. cemetery in Salem and is survived by four siblings.