Missouri Genealogy

This Missouri state page of our website provides direct links to major databases and historical titles and information found on Missouri genealogy and history, whether they exist on our site, or across the web.

Black Genealogy

Missouri African American Records

Missouri, Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (often called the Freedmen’s Bureau) was created in 1865 at the end of the American Civil War to supervise relief efforts including education, health care, food and clothing, refugee camps, legalization of marriages, employment, labor contracts, and securing back pay, bounty payments and pensions. These records include letters and endorsements sent and received, account books, applications for rations, applications for relief, court records, labor contracts, registers of bounty claimants, registers of complaints, registers of contracts, registers of disbursements, registers of freedmen issued rations, registers of patients, reports, rosters of officers and employees, special and general orders and circulars received, special orders and circulars issued, records relating to claims, court trials, property restoration, and homesteads. This collection corresponds with NARA microfilm publication M1908, Records of the Field Offices for the State of Missouri, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872.

Register of the First Presbyterian Church of Marion College
Marion College was incorporated in 1831 in Philadelphia, Marion County, Missouri, for the purpose of educating young men for the ministry. The registry contains the church’s membership and baptisms from 1836 to 1853. The ledger also includes the names of slaves and often states their owner’s name.

African American History Collection Guide
Guide to African American history resources at the Missouri State Archives.

African American Portrait Collection
Collection of 129 photographic portraits of African Americans primarily from the Moberly area, but also from Hannibal, Louisiana, Macon, St. Joseph, Jefferson City, St. Louis, and Kansas City. The portraits date from approximately 1880 to 1920. Few are identified by name.

African Americans in Northeast Missouri
Hannibal Free Public Library received a grant to preserve and document the history of the African American Community of Northeast Missouri. Collections shown here are held by the library and also by others in the community.

Greenwood Cemetery Funerary Art
Grave markers and funerary art displayed here is from the Greenwood Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. This collection is of special interest for those researching African-American lineages.

Black Families of the Ozarks
Digital copy of Greene County Archives Bulletin Number 45: Black Families of the Ozarks with information missing for some pages.

St. Louis Palladium
Issues from this African-American newspaper document St. Louis in 1904

Missouri Cemeteries

Missouri Cemetery Records

Pulaski County Cemeteries

Mayes Ranch Cemetery

Missouri Census Records

Missouri 1910 Census Edition Map

Missouri State and Territorial Census Records, 1732-1933
Index and digital images of extant state and territorial censuses for early counties in Missouri. This collection includes records from the Missouri State Archives and from FamilySearch. Images and index data will be added to this collection as they become available.

Missouri Church Records

Guadalupe Center Scrapbooks
The Guadalupe Center in Kansas City began in 1919 when the Catholic Diocese asked the Agnes Ward Amberg Club for Women to establish a settlement house primarily for Mexican immigrants. Photographs include the Guadalupe Center Building, events like festivals and fairs, band concerts, athletic teams, camping and outdoor activities, folk festivals, and family activities.

Kansas City Churches
Comprised primarily of photographs from Olive Hoggins’ Centenary History of the Churches and the Westminster Congregational Church Records, this group highlights many of Kansas City’s churches and their pastors.

Missouri Court Records

Missouri Judicial Records
This database of circuit and probate court files is currently searchable by name, county and year for Greene County Circuit Court, Jasper County Circuit Court, New Madrid County Probate Court, St. Charles County Circuit Court, and St. Louis Probate Court.

Missouri Naturalization Records Database (1816-1955)
Abstracts of citizenship records from 22 Missouri counties.

Missouri Probate Records, 1750-1998
This collection includes probate records created by county courts including wills and records of estates. Most of the records in this collection fall between 1840 and 1930, but the content and years of the court records varies by county. In a few instances, if the court heard other cases in addition to probate, such as civil disputes or even some criminal matters, the records are mixed in with the probate records. In addition to this collection of images of records filmed by FamilySearch, estate files from Cole and Andrew counties scanned at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City, Missouri are published in a separate collection, Missouri, Andrew and Cole County Estate Files, 1826-1945.

Case Files of the Adair County Circuit Court
In collaboration with the Missouri Secretary of State Local Records Preservation Program, the Truman State University Digital Library has incorporated a selection of cases from the Adair County Circuit Court into the collection. These court cases offer an engaging look into the judicial system of Adair County in the late 1800’s, containing cases that range from the heinously criminal to the simplest of civil suits.

Missouri County Histories
Numerous institutions around the state contributed books for digitization to the Missouri State Library’s County History project. These books detail the history of the majority of Missouri’s counties.

Missouri County Plat Books
The Missouri County Plat Books collection is a selection of county atlases and plat books from all over the state published from 1875-1930.

Missouri County & Municipal Records on Microfilm
Listing of microfilm reels, by county, office, and municipality, held by the Missouri State Archives.

Andrew County Missouri Genealogy

Missouri Deaths, 1883-1930
Images of death records from Andrew, Audrain, Buchanan, Cape Girardeau, Clinton, Cole, Howard, Jefferson, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Scotland, Texas, and Warren counties.

Missouri, Andrew and Cole County Probate Records, 1826-1945
Digital images of probate estate files from Cole and Andrew County. These records were scanned at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Audrain County Missouri Genealogy

Buchanan County Missouri Genealogy

Cape Girardeau County Missouri Genealogy

1803 Inhabitants in Cape Girardeau County

Revolutionary War Cape Girardeau County Soldiers

Spanish American Cape Girardeau County Soldiers

War of 1812 Cape Girardeau County Soldiers

Civil War Cape Girardeau County Soldiers

World War 1 Cape Girardeau County Soldiers

Clinton County Missouri Genealogy

Clinton County Missouri Marriage Records, 1833-1870
This valuable collection of marriage records survived a courthouse fire in 1895. The 1595 marriages documented in Clinton County Missouri Marriage Records, 1833-1870 are taken from Books A and B. While parental information is sometimes missing, the author has supplemented the records with additional research from historical sources to aid further investigation. A “Key to Ministers and Justices” is included to identify the officiants of each marriage.

Cole County Missouri Genealogy

Missouri, Cole County Circuit Court Case Files, 1820-1927
Digital images of case files primarily regarding disputed estates and divorces.

Dent County Missouri Genealogy

Charles Elliott Gill Photographs
Photographs documenting the Ozarks (especially Dent County) and the travels of Charles Elliott Gill.

Greene County Missouri Genealogy

History and Directory of Springfield and North Springfield • 1878
Provides a good history of first fifty years of the city, biographical sketches of many citizens and a directory of inhabitants in 1878. North Springfield was formed in 1871 along the recently completed Southern Pacific railroad that had bypassed the city of Springfield. The towns were consolidated in 1887.

History of Greene County, Missouri • 1883
Generally known as Holcombe’s History of Greene County. It is the most comprehensive history of the county, covering many details overlooked by other histories. The book follows a chronological order and includes numerous biographical profiles of individuals and a few illustrations.

Springfield, Missouri, and Surroundings • 1889
A 35-page illustrated booklet containing numerous engraved prints of Springfield scenes and notable individuals as they appeared at the time of publication.

Pictorial and Genealogical Record of Greene County, Missouri • 1893
The Goodspeed history of Greene County, Missouri, compiled in 1893. Consists almost entirely of biographical profiles of citizens. Several business profiles are also included.

Past and Present of Greene County, Missouri • ca. 1914
Compiled by Fairbanks and Tuck ca. 1914, the first volume includes the history of the county and its institutions. The second volume consists entirely of biographical profiles of leading citizens of the day. This work contains objectionable characterizations of ethnic groups.

Personal Reminiscences and Fragments of the Early History of Springfield, Missouri • 1914
A collection of speeches and letters presented at a series of “Old Settlers” dinners held in Springfield between 1907 and 1911. Events and people are described.

Greene County Courthouses • 1988
A brief history of the courthouse buildings that have served as the seat of Greene County Government through the years. Much of the information is taken from the minutes of the county court.

An Index to the Register of the Alms House 1875 – 1923

An Index to the Register of the Alms House 1916 – 1955

Index to Coroner’s Record Book
Records included here are abstracts of the coroner’s record books for 1875 – 1972. The abstracts include name and age of victim, book number, page and date of inquiry.

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books 1833 – 1839

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books 1840 – 1845

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books 1846 – 1852

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books 1853 – 1856

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books February 1857 – June 1860

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books August 1860 – December 1862

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books January 1863 – August 1863

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books August 1863 – June 1864

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books June 1864 – January 1865

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books 1865

Abstract of Circuit Court Record Books January – July 1866

Chronological Listing and Index to Divorce Records 1837 – 1899

Chronological Listing and Index to Divorce Records 1900 – 1910

Chronological Listing and Index to Divorce Records 1911 – 1920

Chronological Listing and Index to Divorce Records 1921 – 1928

Chronological Listing and Index to Divorce Records 1929 – 1935

Chronological Listing and Index to Divorce Records 1942 – 1946

Chronological Listing and Index to Divorce Records 1947 – 1950

Index to the Justice of the Peace Docket books
The majority of cases that came before justices involved disputes over money. Justices were authorized to decide minor cases, commit persons to a higher court, issue warrants, perform marriages and record reports of stray livestock found by persons in their jurisdiction.

Index to Naturalization Records in the Greene County Circuit Court
The index presented here represents those naturalizations that were filed with the Greene County Circuit Court 1868-1906. Each entry includes the name, country of origin, date of action, type of document (whether a Declaration of Intention or Certificate of Citizenship), and book and page number in the original circuit court record books.

Index to Greene County Stray Records
These are records of stray livestock. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Missouri statutes provided specific guidelines for individuals finding and harboring lost cattle, horses, mules and other livestock. Before a person could take possession of the stray, he was required to post a notice of intent for at least thirty days and pay a bond to ensure that the animal would not be disposed of in that time. After notices had been posted in public places for thirty days, the finder was required to file a notice with a justice of the peace, who determined if the proper procedure was followed and collected a bond equal to the appraised value of the animal. After one year, if the animal remained unclaimed, half of the bond was returned to the finder. The justice of the peace submitted lists which were provided to the county clerk, who posted the information in the stray books.

Howard County Missouri Genealogy

Jackson County Missouri Genealogy

Plat Books of Jackson County, Missouri
This collection includes four Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri plat books. The plat books in this collection are held by the Midwest Genealogy Center of the Mid-Continent Public Library. These heavily used plat books have been digitized to prevent further deterioration and to make them available to a wider audience.

Missouri, Jackson County Voter Registration Records, 1928-1956
This collection is digital images of voter registration books from Jackson County, Missouri. The information in the registers includes the voter’s name, address, birthplace, race (color), term of residence, township and voting precinct. This collection is being published as images become available.

Jefferson County Missouri Genealogy

Lafayette County Missouri Genealogy

History of Concordia Missouri, 1860-1960
The History of Concordia Missouri comes from the manuscript published in 1960 by the Concordia, Missouri Centennial Committee in celebration of about 100 years of history. The committee fixed 1960 for their centennial celebration when the only significant event to occur in 1860 was the coming of Pastor Blitz. Their reasoning was the town fathers felt that this date was significant enough for a celebration. What it provides you, the researcher, we hope, are some tangible morsels of information found within its pages about your Concordia ancestors. This book is free to read and download.

Livingston County Missouri Genealogy

Livingston County History
Collection of resources of Livingston County history.

Lifelines 1987-2001
Newsletter of the Livingston County Genealogical Society.

Macon County Missouri Genealogy

Marion County Missouri Genealogy

Marion County Atlas, 1875
1875 Atlas of Marion County and its township.

Monroe County Missouri Genealogy

Morgan County Missouri Genealogy

Pemiscot County Missouri Genealogy

History of Caruthersville Missouri
Many cities and towns across America celebrated their centennials with festive parades, picnics, fairs, and other sources of entertainment. This history of Caruthersville Missouri was written as a result of the 100th birthday celebration of Caruthersville Missouri. This unique publication enables the researcher to obtain an overall history of the community (always shown in a favorable light) with photographs and names of citizens and businesses at the time of the centennial, 1957 in this case. Replete with photographs from the 20th century, genealogists with ancestors who resided in or nearby Caruthersville will certainly want to peruse its pages. Free to read or download.

Pulaski County Missouri Genealogy

Old Stagecoach Stop
Images of Pulaski County and the historic structure in Waynesville, Missouri known as the “Old Stage Coach Stop”

St. Charles County Missouri Genealogy

St. Charles County Historical Society Archives and Photo Gallery
Photographs, objects and archives documenting people, wars, African-American culture, agriculture and many other subjects from St. Charles County history. Also includes genealogical indexes.

St. Charles County in the World War
Materials documenting men in military and naval service, war activities at home, and a brief chronology of the Great War.

Scotland County Missouri Genealogy

Texas County Missouri Genealogy

Warren County Missouri Genealogy

Missouri Historical Societies, Libraries and Archives

Local Historical Societies Newsletters
Local historical and genealogical societies in Missouri provide a wealth of information about the history and culture of the people in their communities.

White River Valley Historical Quarterly
Digital copies of White River Valley Historical Quarterly volume 1-37 (1961-1998) with some issues missing.

State Historical Society – Civil War eBook Collection
This collection contains various documents related to the Civil War in Missouri.

State Historical Society of Missouri – Civil War Manuscripts
A selection of Civil War era documents from various collections at the State Historical Society of Missouri.

State Historical Society of Missouri Images of Missouri Collection
The Photograph Collection consists of thousands of images of Missouri’s people, urban and rural communities, transportation, and industry digitized from collections of print, negative, and glass plates.

Missouri History

Centennial History of Missouri
This is the second volume from this set and contains 363 biographies and photographs of leading men of the first century of history in Missouri (1820-1921). Though this manuscript covers the entire state of Missouri, a good portion of the individual biographies are on people who had resided in St. Louis at some point in their life.

Biographies of Daviess County, Missouri

A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri

Missouri: Its History, Geology, Culture
Digital book collection of Missouri’s history, geology, literature and agriculture at University of Missouri Libraries.

OzarksWatch 1987-1996
The articles included cover a broad range of subjects as they relate to the Ozarks. Many issues are devoted to a particular subject. Theme issues have included; Indians of the Ozarks, the Civil War, the Farm, Resources, and Domestic Architecture.

Central Wesleyan College Archives
A collection of documents and ledgers containing correspondence; business, legal, and financial records; student organizations’ records; college publications; and institutional histories of Central Wesleyan College and Orphan Asylum and merging institutions, Mt. Pleasant German College and Ozark Wesleyan College.

Guerrillas and Outlaws
These 53 drawings feature members of William Quantrill’s Guerrillas, the James-Younger gang, and others associated with these men, like Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby. All but one of the drawings are done in charcoal by two artists, A. L. Dillenbeck and Elmer Stewart.

Journal of Reverend Benjamin Stevens
Reverend Benjamin Franklin Stevens kept a journal of his trip to California by covered wagon during the 1849 gold rush.

Mary Alice Hansen Postcard Collection
Collection of 200 postcards from the early 20th century featuring Missouri buildings, industry, and culture.

Bittersweet
Articles touch a wide range of subject areas. Included are such diverse pioneer craft and industry as wooden toy making and rope making. There are biographical profiles of Ozarkers’ reminiscences of life and recreation. Agricultural topics range from sheep shearing to bee keeping.

Savitar – The University of Missouri Yearbook (1895-1903, 1905-2005)
The Savitar is the University of Missouri yearbook, which began publication in 1894 and continues to the present.

Missouri Place Names, 1928-1945
The Ramsay Place Names File was compiled by students of University of Missouri professor of English, Robert L. Ramsay (1880-1953) during the first half of the twentieth century. The place name file includes all 114 Missouri Counties, and Kansas City. Many name places in the file are not associated with a county, or serve as a “see” reference. These names have been included under “None.” Note, some old place names in Missouri ARE offensive…

Missouri Immigration and Emigration Records

St. Louis Naturalization Records, 1816 – 1955
Immigrants to Missouri primarily emigrated from European countries, including England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Romania, Hungary, Switzerland, Prussia, Germany, and various German principalities including Hanover, Bavaria, and Saxony . They filed their naturalization papers to become citizens in county courts across the state. The information contained in the naturalization records includes name, native city and/or native country, date of record, court of application (county court, circuit court, Supreme Court), and microfilm location for copy of full entry (reel number, volume and page numbers).

Missouri, County Naturalization Records, 1883-1927
Digital images of naturalization records created by Missouri county courts. Addtional records will be added to this collection as digital images become available.

Missouri Land Records

Missouri State Land Patent Search
During the nineteenth century, the United States government, by various acts of Congress, donated some 6.5 million acres of federal land in Missouri directly to the state. This public domain land was then sold by the state, with profits designated for various internal projects or improvements. The state, rather than the federal government, issued the land patents, verifying title and ownership to the parcels sold, for purchased sections of this donated land. The patents list the name of the person(s) who acquired the land, the purchase date and patent date, as well as a legal land description including township and range, name of county, and number of acres sold. The Land Patents database contains over 35,500 transcribed patents containing information from the state-issued land patents which can be useful in placing an individual in a specific location at a specific time. The information contained in the land patent database includes name of purchaser, county, date of purchase, legal land description, and microfilm location for copy of full entry (reel number, volume and page number).

Registre d’Arpentage
The Registre d’Arpentage was created between 1798 and 1806 by surveyor Antoine Pierre Soulard (1766-1825). The purpose of the Registre was to certify and locate grants made by the French and Spanish governments. Some well-known settlers in Soulard’s Registre include Daniel Boone, Moses Austin, Jacques Clamorgan, and Auguste and Pierre Chouteau.

Missouri Land Records 1820-1969
Description of categories of land records available at the Missouri State Archives.

Missouri Platbooks, circa 1930
In 1930 W.W. Hixson and Co. of Rockford, Illinois published plat books of townships in counties throughout Missouri. These volumes document the ownership and locations of plots of land in Missouri counties, plot sizes, and the owner’s name for each plot of land within the townships.

Missouri County Plat Books
The Missouri County Plat Books collection is a selection of county atlases and plat books from all over the state published from 1875-1930.

Missouri Maps

Maps from the Kansas City Public Library
Digital images of maps in the public domain held by the Missouri Valley Room include state, county, and city maps as well as road, railroad, river, and other areas such as trails.
Maps of Missouri
A collection of Missouri and surrounding state maps covering various topics: cities, towns & counties; conservation & environment; discovery & exploration; cultural landscapes; military, battle & campaign; transportation & communications.
Missouri County Plat Books
The Missouri County Plat Books collection is a selection of county atlases and plat books from all over the state published from 1875-1930.
Missouri Platbooks, circa 1930
In 1930 W.W. Hixson and Co. of Rockford, Illinois published plat books of townships in counties throughout Missouri. These volumes document the ownership and locations of plots of land in Missouri counties, plot sizes, and the owner’s name for each plot of land within the townships.

Missouri Military Records

United States Military Records

Camp Crowder Photograph Collection
Established in 1941, Camp Crowder was a military installation near Neosho, Missouri named in honor of Major General Enoch H. Crowder. By 1942, the first soldiers arrived at the Signal Corps Replacement Training Center for training in forty different military communications specialties. The post also trained medical-corps soldiers and ground-force troops, established an Officer Candidate Preparatory School, and held a large prisoner of war camp.

Missouri Forts
List of colonial forts, trading posts, named camps, redoubts, reservations, general hospitals, national cemeteries, etc., established or erected in the United States from its earliest settlement to 1902.

Missouri Veterans Home (St. James) Inmate Registers
Admission registers and application files of the Federal Soldiers Home of Missouri, now called the Missouri Veterans Home (St. James). The collection, which currently consists of Volumes 1-3, includes registers for residents from June 25, 1897 through August 12, 1930. Additional volumes will be added to the collection as they become available.

Revolutionary War

Revolutionary War Records

1840 Pensioners Census

Revolutionary War Pension Records

War of 1812

Missouri Soldier’s Database: War of 1812 – WWI
Database presents the service cards of over 576,000 Missourians who served in twelve wars and military engagements in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Civil War

Civil War Records

Missouri Civil War Battlefield Map

Civil War Pensions Index Cards
Each card gives the soldier’s name, unit, the application number, the certificate number and the state from which the soldier served. In some cases, the soldier’s rank, terms of service, date of death and place of death are given. The index cards refer to pension applications of veterans who served in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917. The majority of the records pertain to Civil War veterans, but they also include veterans of the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, Indian wars, and World War I.

Missouri, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865
Confederate service records of soldiers who served in organizations from Missouri. The records include a jacket-envelope for each soldier, labeled with his name, his rank, and the unit in which he served. The jacket-envelope typically contains card abstracts of entries relating to the soldier as found in original muster rolls, returns, rosters, payrolls, appointment books, hospital registers, Union prison registers and rolls, parole rolls, inspection reports; and the originals of any papers relating solely to the particular soldier. For each military unit the service records are arranged alphabetically by the soldier’s surname. The Military Unit field may also display the surname range (A-G) as found on the microfilm. This collection is a part of RG 109, War Department Collection of Confederate Records and is National Archive Microfilm Publication M322. Index courtesy of Fold3.

Missouri, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865
Union service records of soldiers who served in organizations from Missouri. The records include a jacket-envelope for each soldier, labeled with his name, his rank, and the unit in which he served. The jacket-envelope typically contains card abstracts of entries relating to the soldier as found in original muster rolls, returns, rosters, payrolls, appointment books, hospital registers, prison registers and rolls, parole rolls, inspection reports; and the originals of any papers relating solely to the particular soldier. For each military unit the service records are arranged alphabetically by the soldier’s surname. The Military Unit field may also display the surname range (A-G) as found on the microfilm. This collection is a part of RG 94, Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917 and is National Archive Microfilm Publication M405. Index courtesy of Fold3.

Missouri, Confederate Pension Applications and Soldiers Home Applications
These records are digital images of Confederate pension files and applications for admission to the Confederate soldiers’ home acquired from the Missouri Department of Records and Archives in Jefferson City, Missouri. The applications are arranged in alphabetical order on 27 reels of 35mm microfilm. The pensions are for Confederate veterans who were living in Missouri, although they may have enlisted from another state. The Confederate Soldiers’ Home in Higginsville, Missouri, was open for infirm and dependent former Confederate soldiers and sailors, their wives, widows, and orphans.

Missouri-Kansas Conflict: Civil War on the Western Border, 1854-1865
Documents related to the hostilities that shook the Missouri-Kansas border region before and during the American Civil War. The collection includes photographs, letters, diaries, maps, and military records from over 25 contributing institutions.

American Civil War in Missouri
The American Civil War in Missouri collection includes manuscripts (letters and diaries) offering valuable insight into how Missourians – both civilians and those in the military – experienced the Civil War.

Boone County Historical Society Civil War Collection
This Civil War collection of personal letters, diaries and photographs is held by the Boone County Historical Society.

Civil War Collection (Guide)
Guide to Civil War records and resources at the Missouri State Archives.

Civil War in Missouri – Monographs
Books about the Civil War in Missouri from several University of Missouri libraries.

Community and Conflict: the Impact of the Civil War in the Ozarks
Documents and artifacts that depict life in the Ozarks between 1850 and 1875. The collection contains first hand perspectives of the Civil War through the eyes of soldiers, civilians, merchants and farmers, as told through letters, maps, diaries, court records and photographs.

Harrison Gleim Civil War Papers, 1860-1891
Papers of Harrison Gleim, who served in the Civil War as Lieutenant and quartermaster in the Missouri Light Artillery, and later as Major and aide-de-camp in the 2nd Missouri Cavalry. Includes military orders, personal and official correspondence, and quartermaster records.

Northwest Missouri State University Civil War Books
Collection of eight monographs dating from 1867-1920. Two are novels about the Civil War, while the rest are personal accounts and histories of various battles and events during the Civil War. Several are about Missourians or take place in Missouri.

St. Louis Area Civil War Digitization Project
Gathered from the Civil War collections of twenty-five historical and archival institutions across Missouri and the U.S., this database contains many unique documents that tell the story of St. Louis during the Civil War.

State Historical Society – Civil War eBook Collection
This collection contains various documents related to the Civil War in Missouri.

State Historical Society of Missouri – Civil War Manuscripts
A selection of Civil War era documents from various collections at the State Historical Society of Missouri.

World Wars

World War I Records

World War 1 Draft Registration Records

Over There: Missouri and the Great War
Over There: Missouri and the Great War contains letters, diaries, memoirs, photographs, postcards, and other materials documenting the lives of Missouri soldiers and civilians during the First World War.

World War II Records

World War II Casualty List

Missouri Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard World War II Casualty List

Missouri, Reports of Separation Notices, 1941-1946
Index and images of World War II Reports of Separation, 1941-1946. The records are located at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City.

Other War Records

Korean War Casualty List

Vietnam War Casualty List

Missouri Soldier Database
The Missouri State Archives holds nearly 1½ million pages that document the service of Missourians in domestic and foreign wars between 1812 and World War I. These military records primarily consist of individual service cards, but the extensive collection also includes muster rolls, special orders, reports, and more.

Missouri Native American Records

Missouri Indian Tribes
Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements of Missouri
Native American & Western Photograph Collection
This collection of 146 photographic images includes scenes of Native American peoples in Indian Territory, Oklahoma, “Boomer” settlers and settlements, and scenes from the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre. The principal tribes represented are the Ponca, Kiowa, Comanche, Pawnee, Apache, Cherokee, Sac and Fox, Otoe, and Sioux.

Missouri Historical Newspapers

Index to Selected Missouri Newspapers
Index to selected Missouri newspapers, compiled by The State Historical Society of Missouri. With the exception of the Liberty Tribune, which is available on Missouri Digital Heritage, the newspapers are not available online. Index entries include newspaper title, subject, description, and notes.

Bland Courier
The Bland Courier started its long history on May 6, 1904 with W. F. Phelps as its editor and proprietor. The paper is still currently being published. This collection covers issues published from 1914-1924.

Bolivar Free Press
The Bolivar Free Press was a weekly newspaper published at Bolivar, Mo. It was first published on June 04, 1868. This collection includes issues from 1868-1875.

Boonville Weekly Observer
The Boonville Weekly Observer was a weekly newspaper published at Booville, MO. The paper ceased publication in 1861, ending its run due to the Civil War. This collection includes issues from 1854-1856.

Border Star Newspaper
This collection includes issues of the Border Star newspaper published weekly in Westport, Missouri from the years 1858 to 1860, covering various concerns of Westport, especially slavery.

Brookfield Gazette
The Brookfield Gazette was first published on April 23, 1867 and continued its run until January 20, 1927 when it merged with the Linn County Budget to form the Linn County Budget-Gazette. This collection includes issues from 1867-1874.

Brunswick Weekly Brunswicker
The Weekly Brunswicker was published from 1853 to 1857. It was preceded by “The Brunswicker” and succeeded by “The Central City and Brunswicker”. This collection includes issues from 1854-1857.

Buffalo Reflex
The Buffalo Reflex began publication in August 1869. Although it changed hands and politics often over the years, the Reflex maintained its presence in Buffalo, Mo. This collection includes issues from 1869-1873.

Butler Bates County Record
The Bates County Record, the first paper established post-Civil War in Bates county, Missouri, presented its inaugural issue in 1866. This collection covers issues from 1868-1878.

Cape Girardeau Argus
A weekly newspaper for Cape Girardeau, Missouri, published by W. H. Hamilton. The paper runs from June 18, 1863 through June 1, 1871, covering the Civil War era. The physical issues were bound into four volumes. Please note that there are two missing issues (May 26, 1864 and September 16, 1869) and that the issues from June 15, 1865 to July 27, 1865 have received conservation treatment.

Columbia Missourian
This collection includes issues of the Columbia Missourian daily newspaper for the years 1908, 1909, 1929, 1966, and from January 2, 1966 through December 31,1985.

Daily Evening Herald and Commercial Advertiser
The Daily Evening Herald was an early newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. The materials in this collection cover June-October of 1835.

Far West
The Far West newspaper was published weekly in Liberty, Missouri from August 11, 1836 to October 6, 1836.

Franklin County Observer
The Franklin County Observer began publishing in 1861 in Washington, Mo. and ended 1926 when it was succeeded by the Washington Missourian. This collection covers issues published from 1893-1926.

Franklin County Tribune
Dr. William Moore started the Franklin County Progress, which later became the Franklin County Tribune, in Union, Missouri on May 15, 1865. This collection covers issues published from 1899-1916.

Gasconade County Republican
The Gasconade County Republican printed its first issue in 1905 in Owensville, Mo. This collection covers issues published from 1905-1922.

Hannibal Clipper
The issues from this Hannibal, Missouri newspaper are from 1874-1875 and 1877.

Hannibal Courier-Post
These images are from the October 1935 issues of this daily newspaper published in Hannibal, Missouri.

Hermann Advertiser and Advertiser-Courier
The Advertiser-Courier printed its first issue in 1873 under the name of The Hermann Advertiser. This collection covers issues published from 1875-1922.

Liberty Tribune
A newspaper from Clay County, Missouri covering the years 1846-1848, 1852-1867, 1869-1878, 1880, 1882, and 1883.

Lincoln University Clarion, 1935-1975
Published weekly during the fall and spring semesters, the Lincoln Clarion is the student newspaper of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. Begun in 1932, it continues to serve the campus community today.

M.S.U. Independent
The M. S. U. Independent was an early newspaper in Columbia, Missouri issued by students of the University of Missouri (March 1894-Dec. 1895, by a society known as the M. S. U. Barb). It was named M. S. U. independent from March 3, 1894 to May 27, 1904 and later named The Independent. This collection covers March 3, 1894-May 27, 1905 with some issues missing.

MSU Student Newspaper – The Standard
The Standard, Missouri State University’s student newspaper, began publication in 1912 and continues today. See The Standard’s website for the most recent newspapers and for most issues dating back to September 1998.

Marthasville Record
The first issue of the Marthasville Record was published in 1898 and the newspaper is still published today. This collection covers issues published from 1901-1922.

New Haven Leader
The New Haven Leader has a long history, the first issue was published in 1895 and it is still being published today. This collection covers issues published from 1903-1918.

Pacific Transcript
The Pacific Transcript is a weekly newspaper published at Pacific, Mo. This collection covers issues published from 1895-1921. Like most newspapers during World War One, the Pacific Transcript supported the war effort.

Phelps County New Era
Missouri University of Science and Technology has digitized the Phelps County New Era for 1875-1878; issues are displayed here.

Rolla Express
The Rolla Express newspaper was published from 1860 through 1875 in Rolla, Missouri. The bulk of the papers are from October 1860 through May 1863 and November 1872 through December 1873, with some missing issues. Issues are also available for July 17, 1865; June 17, 1867; June 27, 1868; and February 25, 1875.

Rolla New Era
The Rolla New Era was a newspaper published weekly in Rolla, Missouri. It was previously published as Phelps County New Era until it changed name to Rolla New Era on April 13, 1878. This collection includes issues from April 1878 – March 1897.

St. Louis Christian Advocate
The St. Louis Christian Advocate Newspaper was published weekly by a committee of ministers for the Methodist Episcopal Church South in St. Louis. This collection covers August 22, 1857 through October 22, 1879.

St. Louis Daily Missouri Republican, 1854-1869
The Daily Missouri Republican was one of the few daily Missouri newspapers publishing continuously through the Civil War. A leading urban newspaper, it covered developments in St. Louis as well as major state news items and national politics.

St. Louis Palladium
Issues from this African-American newspaper document St. Louis in 1904.

Sullivan News
On June 10, 1910 Thomas E. Dotter published the first issue of the Sullivan News. This collection covers issues published from 1910-1950.

Sullivan Sentinel
Thomas E. Dotter purchased the Sullivan Sentinel on January 1, 1899 from its founder, E. A. Pigg. In 1914 Sullivan Sentinel consolidated with Sullivan News. This collection covers issues published from 1901-1914.

Union Republican Headlight
The Union Republican Headlight commenced on March 4, 1904 and was published every Friday. The paper ran from 1904 to 1919 when it consolidated with the Franklin County Tribune and became the Republican Tribune. This collection covers issues published from 1904-1919.

Union Republican Tribune
The first issue of the Republican Tribune was published on March 7, 1919. The new paper was a consolidation of The Republican Headlight and The Franklin County Tribune. This collection covers issues published from 1919-1922.

Warrenton Banner
The Warrenton Banner was one of the first papers in the area and it is still published today. The paper started in 1857 as The Nonpareil. It changed publishers and names several times before becoming the Warrenton Banner in 1890. This collection covers issues published from 1902-1924.

Washington Citizen
The Washington Citizen presented its inaugural issue on August 25, 1905. The paper was published on Fridays and ran for almost 80 years. This collection covers issues published from 1905-1923.

Missouri Town Genealogy and History

Missouri Local Records Inventory Database
This database, produced by the Missouri Local Records Preservation Program, is a compilation of inventories of local government records identified as having permanent or enduring value and housed primarily in county and municipal offices, but includes some libraries, museums, and historical and genealogical societies that maintain government records. Not all Missouri offices have been inventoried. This database will be updated periodically as additional inventories are completed. Information found in the database includes detailed listings of series titles and date spans of permanent records as well as the name of the office or organization that maintains the records. A description of some series titles is available. The database does not contain names of individuals found in these records. Check the Microfilm Roll by Roll listing to determine if the records are available on microfilm at the Missouri State Archives. Otherwise, the local government maintains the records.

Carthage Missouri Genealogy and History

Carthage Picture Booklet
Carthage, Missouri: The Most Beautiful City in the West is a promotional picture booklet created in 1906 by the Newell family to solicit investments in the family’s various business enterprises including the Carthage Building Stone Co., Venango Royalty Co., Newell, Morse Royalty Co., and the Trinity Zinc, Lead and Smelting Company.

Columbia Missouri Genealogy and History

Stephensophia
Stephensophia, the yearbook of Stephens College, chronicles the rich history of a women’s institution in mid-Missouri. This collection contains the digital images of the Stephensophia beginning in 1900 and continuing until 1965. Through the use of photographs and essays, the yearbooks tell the story of Stephens College as it has evolved to meet the changing needs of women through the decades. The Stephensophia provides a glimpse into women’s lives beyond the college, describing such monumental events as women gaining the right to vote and the shift in women’s roles during World War I.

MSU Yearbook 1909-1992 – Ozarko
The Ozarko is Missouri State University’s yearbook, published 1909-1992 (with the exceptions of 1918-1921 and 1944-1946). See the finding aid for more information.

Frenchtown Missouri Genealogy and History

Frenchtown Postcards
Collection of postcard views of buildings at 2nd, 3rd, 5th streets of Frenchtown, Missouri.

Grand River Missouri Genealogy and History

The Herald
Local newsletter from the Grand River Historical Society and Museum.

Ironton Missouri Genealogy and History

John Albert Undertaking Ledger, Ironton, Missouri
Ledger of funeral records kept by undertaker John Albert, who operated his business in Ironton, Missouri from July 1, 1878 to June 6, 1921. Ledger is bound with pages from Wilson’s History and Directory for Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, 1875-1876.

Jefferson City Missouri Genealogy and History

Historical Postcards of Jefferson City
298 postcards of Jefferson City, Missouri that date from 1898-1960. Images include government buildings, street scenes, stores, banks, courthouses, schools and colleges, and residences.

Lincoln University Yearbooks 1915-1975
Yearbooks of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri from 1915-1975.

Joplin Missouri Genealogy and History

Joplin 1902 Picture Booklet
This book is one of the most complete photographic records of Joplin, Missouri at the turn of the 20th century. By 1900, Joplin had become a city of both millionaires and miners and one of the most important cities in Missouri. The 125 photographs include more than three dozen pictures of the private homes of these self-made men, as well as photographs of the businesses and industries that sprung up to support the mining industry.

Joplin 1913 Picture Booklet
This 1913 booklet of Joplin devotes the majority of its 44 photographs to businesses, manufacturing facilities, and other commercial enterprise in Joplin.

Joplin Historical Postcards
These postcards show the development of Joplin from rough mining camps into the mid-1900s. Pictured are mines and miners, extravagantly landscaped parks and public recreation areas as well as souvenir postcards of the little motels and motor courts that sprang up along the path of America’s most famous highway, Route 66.

Joplin Tornado of 1971
On May 5, 1971, a tornado struck Joplin, Missouri. It was near dusk. The tornado stayed on the ground for almost 40 blocks through the center of town, killing one man and injuring almost 50 people.

Klondike of Missouri
This small booklet, published in 1898 by the Kansas City, Fort Scott, and Memphis Railroad Company, paints an enticing and extravagant portrait of Joplin, Missouri, at the turn of the 20th Century.

Kansas City Missouri Genealogy and History

Judge Elmo M. Hargrave Photograph Collection
These images, taken circa 1920s-1940s, were used to document accident sites in Kansas City. They provide a unique perspective on the traditional views of streetscapes, businesses, residences, parks, and other locales.

Assorted Images of Kansas City
This collection, drawn from many smaller collections, consists of images of people and Kansas City places including schools, houses, churches, hospitals, street scenes, historical monuments, etc.

1951 Kansas City Flood
The 1951 flood was one of the most devastating natural events in the Kansas City area. The photographer of these 30 images is unknown.

Kansas City 1940 Tax Assessment Photographs
Over 40,000 images of 1940 tax assessment of Kansas City residences and buildings by Jackson County Tax Assessor’s office. Each photographic print is approximately 1″x1.5″, mounted on 12″x18″ cards, and organized by block. The collection does not include all photographs of the 1940 tax assessment project. Several hundred block cards are missing from the original survey.

Kansas City Deaconess
The Kansas City Deaconess was published by the Kansas City National Training School for Deaconesses and Missionaries (KCNTS) monthly from 1908 to 1943. The newsletter contains stories of young women who brought educational and social services to poor and immigrant populations of Kansas City in the early 20th century. Also Included are reports of the ministries of graduates of KCNTS in other parts of the United States and the world.

Kansas City Education
Kansas City schools and school children comprise the bulk of this grouping of over 470 images. Photographs come from multiple collections including the Kansas City School District archives.

Kansas City Photographs
Brookings Montgomery was a local Kansas City photographer who owned and operated Montgomery Foto Service for over 50 years during the twentieth century. Photographs are continually added to this collection that features people and places in Kansas City.

Kansas City Postcards
For some years, Mrs. Ray wrote a weekly column based on the some 16,000 postcards she owned for The Kansas City Star and The Kansas City Times called “Postcards from Old Kansas City.” About 700 of these cards with their accompanying historical articles have been digitized here.

Nineteenth Century Kansas City
These late nineteenth-century images of early Kansas City provide views of the Board of Trade building under construction, exterior and interior views of the glass Exposition Building, unusual weather events, hotels, and businesses. Early transportation is depicted by bridges, street cars, trains, railroad stations, etc.

Kirksville Missouri Genealogy and History

Chariton Collector
A magazine focused on local history and folklore that was produced bi-annually by the Kirksville High School Local History class between Fall 1980 and Spring 1989.

Kirksville Cyclone
Centennial photo exhibit of the destruction wrought by Kirksville’s April 1899 tornado.

Kirksville Photos by Drake
An album of 35 photos of Kirksville buildings, businesses and people created by “Drake, Fotografer” in Jan-April 1893 and originally owned by Clifford Elmore Henry.

Welcome to 1890s Kirksville
Photographs of Kirksville in 1890s including Adair County’s New Court House and other buildings, city map and street guide, 1899 Cyclone and portraits of Kirksville residents.

Liberty Missouri Genealogy and History

Tatler – The William Jewell College Yearbook
This collection contains the 1906, 1961, and 1995 yearbooks. The yearbook was originally published by the junior class.

Louisiana Missouri Genealogy and History

Preserve Louisiana’s Images
The collection focuses on Louisiana (Missouri) downtown buildings, street scenes and businesses, local businesses outside the downtown business district, historic homes, river scenes, and key citizens.

Palmyra Missouri Genealogy and History

Palmyra Massacre Collection
The Palmyra Massacre occurred in 1862 in Palmyra, Marion County, Missouri, when 10 Confederate prisoners were shot in retaliation for the abduction of a local Union sympathizer. This collection includes letters containing personal recollections of the Palmyra Massacre, as well as a booklet, “The Palmyra Massacre: A Short, Concise but True History of the Execution of Ten Confederate Soldiers, at Palmyra, Mo., October 18, 1862.”

Sprague Funeral Home Ledgers
The Sprague Funeral Home operated in Palmyra, Missouri, from 1922-1974; the ledgers span most of this time. Funeral record entries include detailed biographical information about the deceased, names and places of birth of the father and mother, and information about funeral arrangements.

Polk City Missouri Genealogy and History

Polk City Directories 1859 – 1925

Springfield Missouri Genealogy and History

Historical Postcards of Springfield, Missouri
A collection of 113 postcards displaying a variety of themes and periods in Springfield, Missouri.

Springfield, Missouri, and Surroundings 1889
35-page illustrated booklet containing numerous engraved prints of Springfield scenes and notable individuals as they appeared at the time of publication.

St. Charles Missouri Genealogy and History

Progressive St. Charles 1916
Digital copy of the book containing historical images of St. Charles County.

St. Louis Missouri Genealogy and History

St. Louis Genealogy

Lasting Impressions: German-Americans in St. Louis
An ongoing exhibit of pictures, family histories, recommended websites, suggested readings, and other resources highlighting German-Americans’ contributions to life in the St. Louis area.

Life in St. Louis: The Matthews Family 1811 – 2000
Life of Leonard Matthews (1828-1931) and his family in St. Louis at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries through letters, autobiographies, journals, and newspaper articles.

Missouri Vital Records

Missouri Vital Records Information

Missouri Births and Christenings, 1827-1935
Name index to birth, baptism and christening records from the state of Missouri. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. The year range represents most of the records. A few records may be earlier or later.

Missouri Birth & Death Records Database Pre-1910
The Missouri Birth and Death Records Database is an abstract of the birth, stillbirth, and death records recorded before 1909 and that are available on microfilm at the Missouri State Archives.

Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920
Name index to marriage records from the state of Missouri. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. The year range represents most of the records. A few records may be earlier or later.

Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991
Index and digital images of microfilmed marriage records from Missouri counties including recorded marriages, marriage applications, licenses, and certificates. This collection includes records from the microfilm collections of FamilySearch and of the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City, Missouri. This project is being published as images and index data become available.

Missouri Deaths and Burials, 1867-1976
Name index to death and burial records from the state of Missouri. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers. This set contains 58,813 records. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. The year range represents most of the records. A few records may be earlier or later.

Missouri Death Record Database
Index of death certificates, linked to digital images of the original death certificate. Updated annually.

Missouri Coroner’s Inquest Database
Index of coroner records from seven Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis, dates range from 1842 to 1932. The Coroner’s Inquest Database is an abstract of records that have been indexed and are available for online research. The original records are available on microfilm at the Missouri State Archives.

Missouri Yearbooks

Truman State University Echo
The Echo yearbooks are a record of each school year for Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, beginning in 1901 and ending in 2007. Due to various reasons, the yearbook was not published during some academic years.

New Missouri Genealogy

Treaty of June 1, 1816

A treaty of peace and friendship made and concluded at St. Louis, between William Clark, Ninian Edwards, and Auguste Chouteau, commissioners plenipotentiary of the United States of America, on the part and behalf of the said states, of the one part, and the undersigned chiefs and warriors, representing eight bands of the Siouxs, composing the three tribes called the Siouxs of the Leaf, the Siouxs of the Broad Leaf, and the Siouxs who shoot in the Pine Tops, on the part and behalf of their said tribes, of the other part. The parties being desirous of re-establishing peace and friendship…

Treaty of November 7, 1825

Articles of a convention made between William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and the undersigned Chiefs and Head Men of the Shawonee Nation of Indians, residing within the State of Missouri, duly authorized and empowered by said Nation, at the City of St. Louis, on the seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five. Whereas the Shawnee Indians were in possession of a tract of land near Cape Geredeau, in the State of Missouri, settled under a permission from the Spanish Government, given to the said Shawnees and Delawares by the Baron…

Treaty of August 4, 1824

To perpetuate peace and friendship between the United States and the Sock and Fox tribes or nations of Indians, and to remove all future cause of dissensions which may arise from undefined territorial boundaries, the President of the United States of America, by William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and sole Commissioner specially appointed for that purpose, of the one part, and the undersigned Chiefs and Head Men of the Sock and Fox tribes or nations, fully deputized to act for and in behalf of their said nations, of the other part, have entered into the following articles and conditions,…

Treaty of September 13, 1815

A treaty of peace and friendship, made and concluded between William Clark, Ninian Edwards, and Auguste Chouteau, Commissioners Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, on the part and behalf of the said States, of the one part; and the undersigned Chiefs and Warriors of that portion of the Sac Nation of Indians now residing on the Missouri river, of the other part. Whereas the undersigned chiefs and warriors, as well as that portion of the nation which they represent, have at all times been desirous of fulfilling their treaty with the United States, with perfect good faith; and for…

Biographical Sketch of Ebenezer E. Cunningham

Ebenezer E. Cunningham was born April 6, 1839 in Marion County, Missouri. He received his education in the public schools of Iowa. At the age of 18 years he emigrated to the Territory of Nebraska. He enlisted in the Civil War and served as 2nd Duty Sergeant in Co. C, 2nd Nebraska Cavalry and in the 48th Missouri Infantry as 1st Lieutenant of Co. K. In 1868 Mr. Cunningham was elected to the Nebraska State Senate from the first district (Richardson County) and re-elected in 1870, was elected President of the State Senate and presided at the impeachment trial of…

Biography of Joab Woodruff

Joab Woodruff was born in Johnson county, Indiana, near Nineveh, October 25, 1825. His parents Joab and Sophia Woodruff lived upon a farm, and there the subject of our sketch grew to manhood, giving most of his time and attention to work upon the farm, and having little opportunity to enjoy the advantages of education, receiving only three months schooling, during the winters, from the time he was of school age until he was sixteen years old. The school houses were of the most primitive pattern of the old log variety, sad the three months sessions during the winters were…

Biography of Robert C. Williams

The subject of this sketch was born in Surry (now Yadkin) county, North Carolina, December 21, 1817. He lived with his father, who was a farmer in moderate circumstances, until nineteen years of age, and than left the farm to engage at school-teaching, and thereby secured the means to complete his education. In June, 1839, Mr. Williams immigrated to Missouri and located in Ray county, where he taught school until 1842 and then removed to what is now Harrison county. After living there one year our subject came to Daviess county, and has resided here ever since. On the 31st…

Biographical Sketch of John B. Williams

John B. Williams was the son of Cordey and Mary Williams, was born upon a farm in Callaway county, Missouri, August 11, 1844. When he was two years old his parents removed to Montgomery county and settled on a farm near Danville, where he lived until seven years of age. In the spring of 1853 his parents again changed their place of residence, this time moving to Gentry county, near Albany, where he lived until he reached his seventeenth year, when, in 1861, he enlisted in the Union army, joining Colonel Manlove Cranor’s regiment of six months militia. At the…

Biographical Sketch of Joseph A. Wickham

Joseph A. Wickham was born in Monroe, Michigan, November 14, 1844. When he arrived at the age of ten years his father died, and he left his native place and went to Brunswick, Chariton county, Missouri, to live with an uncle. There he lived for five years and attended the common schools of that place. In 1861 he served in the Missouri State Guards under General John B. Clark, and in 1862 went to Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio, to finish the jeweler’s trade under James A. Wilkinson, with whom he worked a year before leaving Brunswick. In 1863 he enlisted…

Biography of Ebenezer West

Ebenezer West was born near Parkersburg, in Montgomery county, Indiana, February 9, 1829. He lived in his native county until he reached the age of eight years, when his parents removed to Boone county, same State, and settled near Lebanon, where he lived with them until attaining his majority. On the 28th of November, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Julia Ann Robinson, and began farming upon a farm he had previously purchased, in Boone county, and there continued to live until 1853, when he sold his farm and removed to Lebanon. There he was employed for two…

Biographical Sketch of George Tuggle

The subject of this sketch, George Tuggle, is a native of Daviess county, and was born September 19, 1848. He lived with his parents on the farm until he reached his fifteenth year, when the spirit of adventure taking possession of him, he ran away from home and started out to seek his fortune in the wild West Denver, Colorado, was to be his destination, but before reaching the boundary line of that great mineral State, the wagon-train which he accompanied became snow-bound and was forced to abandon the trip. Nothing daunted at this disastrous turn of affairs, George bravely faced…

Biography of John H. Townsend

John H. Townsend was born at Smyrna, Costa (now Kent) county, Delaware, March 16, 1843. When seven years of age his parents removed to Madison county, Indiana, and settled at Collinsville, where he lived with them until he reached the age of eighteen years, and was there educated. On leaving home in 1861 he went to Placerville, California. On his arrival there he had but six dollars. On the first day after his arrival he was employed as a clerk by B. Meacham, a dry goods merchant, at a salary of six hundred dollars per year and board, and remained…

Biographical Sketch of Wesley Thurlow

Wesley Thurlow was born in Morgan (now Noble) county, Ohio, June 10, 1822. His father was Silas Thurlow, of Newbury, Massachusetts. His mother’s maiden name was Susannah Swett, and she was a native of New Hampshire. Mr. Thurlow was reared in his native State and pursued the occupation of tailoring until about fifty years of age, and was then engaged in the hotel business at Olive, Ohio. He immigrated to Missouri, and has since engaged at various times and places in farming, merchandising and hotel-keeping. He came to Jamesport in April, 1880, and has conducted the Sherman House since that…

Biographical Sketch of George Brethard Thomas

George Brethard Thomas was born in Hancock, Washington county, Maryland, on the 29th of March, 1842. His father died when the subject of this sketch was twelve years old, and he continued to live with his mother at the old homestead until he reached the age of eighteen, and then migrated to Missouri, arriving in St. Joseph in the spring of 1860. He remained in that city some two months, then came to Gallatin, where he secured employment as clerk in the hotel owned by Thomas Clingan, and remained in that capacity until February, 1861, when he engaged in farming…

Biographical Sketch of Oliver A. Smalley

Oliver A. Smalley was born on a farm near Wayne Center, Wayne county, New York, June 16,1848. When he was eight years of age his parents, Silas H. and Almira Smalley, removed to Manchester, Delaware county, Iowa, and there he lived until he was seventeen, receiving his education in the common schools of that place, supplemented with a course in the Commercial College of Dubuque, Iowa. Leaving home in 1865 he entered the office of the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad Company, at Manchester, as assistant freight agent and baggage master, and remained in the employ of that company until…

Biographical Sketch of Thomas R. Shaw

Was born near Decatur, Macon county, Illinois, June 19, 1845. In 1846. his parents removed to Iowa and settled near Mount Pleasant. He completed his education in the Mount Pleasant high school under Prof. John. A. Smith, in 1861. From that time until 1864, he was employed as a clerk, excepting one year spent in visiting relatives at Lexington, Kentucky. In 1864 he enlisted in Company A, Forty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry for a term of 100 days. At the expiration of his enlistment he returned home and soon after made a prospecting tour to the Missouri River, visiting Omaha, Plattsmouth,…

Biographical Sketch of Orville M. Shanklin

Was burn in Trenton, Missouri, September 16, 1854. He is the son of Colonel John H. and Kitty Shanklin; was educated in the Trenton high school, and in 1873 began the study of law in his father’s office. Was admitted to the bar in 1877 and immediately began the practice of law at Jamesport, Missouri, where he remained until July, 1879, and then returned to Trenton and engaged in teaching in Grundy county. In 1881 he engaged in the life insurance business, and became district manager of the Centennial Mutual Life Association, of Burlington, Iowa. September 19, 1877, he married…

Biographical Sketch of George Washington Schaffer

The subject of this sketch, George Washington Schaffer, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, July 4, 1847. His parents removed, during his boyhood, to Galesburg, Illinois, where they resided several years. Returning to St. Louis, Mr. Schaffer engaged in the butcher business, and continued there until the fall of 1868. His next field of operation was Kansas City, where he followed his trade for some time. From Kansas City he went to St. Joseph, where he remained until 1874, and then returned to St. Louis. He lived in St. Louis one year, during which time he had a rib broken while…

Biography of Hon. Samuel A. Richardson

Samuel A. Richardson was born in Anderson county, Kentucky, July 26, 1826. He was the second son of Colonel John C. Richardson, who was a native of Virginia, but in early life moved from that State to Anderson county, Kentucky, and in the spring of 1831, with his family, moved to Missouri and settled in the Missouri River bottom, above Camden, in Ray county, and afterwards removed to near Lexington. The family are descendants of the numerous family of Richardsons, from Virginia and Kentucky. Judge Nathaniel Richardson, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, moved from Kentucky and settled in…

Biographical Sketch of Dr. John N. Raley

John N. Raley is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, and was born April 11, 1829; his parents were natives of Virginia. He was educated at the Mount Pleasant Seminary, of Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and lived upon a farm until he was twenty-two years old, then began clerking on a steamboat on the Illinois River, where he was engaged for two years. He was next employed in keeping books for grain merchants on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, in Illinois, and after a few years there moved to the State of Iowa and engaged in farming for two years. In…

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Franklin Pugh

Benjamin Franklin Pugh was born in Daviess county, Missouri, January 31, 1842. His parents, S. W. and Elizabeth Pugh, came to this county in 1838. Benjamin was reared upon a farm and educated in the common schools. He enlisted in John McNeill’s company in September, 1861, and was with Price’s army four months; then returned home and was one year in the Enrolled State Militia. Mr. Pugh was married, October 11, 1865, to Miss Abigail Mills, who was born April 8, 1843, in this county. By this union they have two children; namely, Miles O., born August 18, 1867; and…

Biography of Seth H. Powers

Seth H. Powers was born at Long Point, Canada, June 26, 1843. He is the son of Richard Powers, a farmer and stock-dealer of Vermont. His mother’s maiden name was Phoebe Howard, a native of Canada. His parents died when he was very young, and he then came to the United States and was educated in Ohio and New York. He served a long apprenticeship at the blacksmithing and machinist trade in Buffalo, New York, and has since followed that business in various States of the Union without interruption, except during the time he was in military service during the…

Biographical Sketch of E. J. Phillips

E. J. Phillips was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, May 18, 1831. His parents, Edward and Elizabeth Phillips, were also natives of Virginia. The subject of our sketch learned the carpenter’s trade when he was twenty-one years old, and was employed in that business for seven years; next worked as a millwright for a few years, then began farming, which has been his occupation ever since. In 1852 he came to Missouri and settled in Platte county, and in 1877 came to this county, and now owns a fine farm of 200 acres. Mr. Phillips was united in marriage, September…

Biographical Sketch of Francis M. Parker

Francis M. Parker was born in Howard county, Indiana, May 23, 1852, and there received his early education. In the fall of 1866 he came with his parents to this State and county, and settled in Washington township. Here he completed his education, farming in summer and attending school in winter. On attaining his majority he began farming for a livelihood, and continued until the fall of 1873, when he went to Kansas. He made the trip to the “grasshopper kingdom,” overland, and was fifteen days on the road. Arriving at his destination, he again resumed farming, but only stood…

Biographical Sketch of Charles E. Orcutt

Charles E. Orcutt was born in Middletown, Rutland county, Vermont, February 15, 1845. His parents were Erasmus and Philena (Edgerton) Orcutt, natives of Vermont. While our subject was yet an infant his parents removed to Allegany county, New York, and after living there two years the family removed to Massachusetts, and there, in the Deerfield Academy, our subject received his education. After leaving school be worked on a farm until twenty years of age, when he immigrated to Missouri and located at the city of Chillicothe, where he clerked for a number of years in a drug and book store.…

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