St. Louis County History and Information

St. Louis County was organized October 1, 1812, as one of the five original counties; named for St. Louis (King Louis IX of France), patron saint of King Louis XV. The County Seat is Clayton. See also County History or Courthouse History for more historical details.

Organized August 22, 1876, under the 1875 Constitution of the State of Missouri. Until that date, St. Louis City and St. Louis County were one entity. After that time, St. Louis City became its own entity, maintaining its own courthouse and records. When the City of St. Louis split from St. Louis County the county courts "long-housed within city limits" were left without a home. After much consideration, county officials chose a site donated by two native Virginian farmers, Ralph Clayton and Martin Hanley.

Ralph Clayton, born in Virginia in 1788, came west in the 1830's, and eventually settled in the southeastern part of the modern city that bears his name. When the infant St. Louis County needed a new site for its seat, Clayton convinced county officials that his land "a half day's ride from the city" was a superior location than the more remote villages of Kirkwood and Mount Olive also under consideration. Clayton agreed to give the land to county, requiring only that the area surrounding the new courthouse bear his name.

Martin Hanley, another native Virginian, arrived in Missouri in 1834. After establishing himself as a blacksmith and merchant, Hanley built a two-story farmhouse that still stands on the north side of town. To augment Clayton's proposal, Hanley gave a small plot east of Clayton's land. Today, the 104 acres donated by Clayton and Hanley are covered by the city's central business district "despite the widow Hanley's attempts to reclaim her husband's gift several years after his death."

On December 4, 1877, county residents voted to adopt Clayton's and Hanley's land as the new county seat; a few months later 3,000 people gathered to see the cornerstone for the new courthouse laid. The building was completed at a cost of about $25,000.

St. Louis County has records of genealogical interest available: Recorder of Deeds: Index to deeds, 1804-1900; Deed records, 1804-1832; CoIlet’s index to French and Spanish archives, 1766-1854; French and Spanish archives, 1803-1848; Collet’s Index, 1804-1854; Index to marriage records, 1806-1865; Marriage records, 1808-1882.. The Health Department has Birth & Death Records from 1910-Present. See Court Records for more details on whats available from the courthouse.

Counties adjacent to St. Louis County, St. Charles County (north, northwest), Madison County, Illinois (northeast), City of St. Louis (east), St. Clair County, Illinois & Monroe County, Illinois (southeast), Jefferson County (south), Franklin County (southwest). Cities and Towns include Affton †, Allenton †, Ballwin, Bella Villa, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Bellerive, Bel-Nor, Bel-Ridge, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Black Jack, Breckenridge Hills, Brentwood, Bridgeton, Calverton Park, Carsonville ‡, Castle Point †, Champ, Charlack, Chesterfield, Clarkson Valley, Clayton, Concord†, Cool Valley, Country Club Hills, Country Life Acres, Crestwood, Creve Coeur, Crystal Lake Park, Dellwood, Des Peres, Edmundson, Ellisville, Eureka, Fenton, Ferguson, Flordell Hills, Florissant, Frontenac, Glasgow Village †, Glencoe, Glendale, Glen Echo Park, Grantwood Village, Greendale, Green Park, Grover †, Hanley Hills, Hazelwood, Hillsdale, Huntleigh, Jennings, Kinloch, Kirkwood, Ladue, Lakeshire, Lemay †, Mackenzie, Manchester, Maplewood, Marlborough, Maryland Heights, Mehlville †, Moline Acres, Normandy, Northwoods, Norwood Court, Oakland, Oakville †, Olivette, Overland, Pacific, Pagedale, Pasadena Hills, Pasadena Park, Peerless Park ‡, Pine Lawn, Richmond Heights, Riverview, Rock Hill, Sappington †, Sherman †, Shrewsbury, Spanish Lake †, St. Ann, St. George, St. John, Sunset Hills, Sycamore Hills, Times Beach‡, Town and Country, Twin Oaks, University City, Uplands Park, Valley Park, Velda City, Velda Village Hills, Vinita Park, Vinita Terrace, Warson Woods, Webster Groves, Wellston, Westwood, Wilbur Park, Wildwood, Winchester, Woodson Terrace ( † unincorporated; ‡ Times Beach was disincorporated in 1985, Peerless Park was disincorporated in 1999, Carsonville disincorporated)

• St. Louis County, Missouri History Books at Amazon.com
• Search Historical Newspapers from Missouri (1808 - 1922) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 125 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in more than 500,000 issues of over 2,500 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
• Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
• Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.

St. Louis County Court Records

See Also Missouri Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

All Departments below are in the St. Louis County Courthouse located at 41 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105-1719; Telephone: (314) 889-2189 , unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.stlouisco.com/ . See also Courthouse History.

PLEASE READ FIRST: Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

St. Louis County Clerk of the Court has Birth & Death Records from 1883. In this office in each county is located an index to common pleas, records of all extant proceedings, chancery minute books, records of births and deaths, county court records, right-of-way and road records, as well as surveyor's records (including field notes and plats made by the county surveyor). This office usually holds the county treasurer's notes, bonds and commissions, records of marks and brands, wolf scalps, stray notices, real estate assessments, and tax books. In some counties, early terms for this court included “Chancery” or the “Court of Common Pleas.”

St. Louis Register of Deeds / Recorder has Marriage Records from 1876 and Land Records from 1876. The Office of Recorder of Deeds records and files instruments of writing affecting real property or personal property, subdivision plats, federal and state tax liens, and other instruments of writing. Also, the Recorder’s Office issues marriage licenses, and in accordance with the Uniform Commercial Code files termination statements. All recorded instruments are available for public research.

St. Louis County Probate Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1876 . In the smaller counties, probate matters are handled in the same office as the associate circuit court office. (In larger counties, there will be a separate probate court clerk's office and separate probate judges/commissioners).

St. Louis County Circuit Court Clerk has Court Records from 1876. This office holds the direct index to records such as divorces, debt, dissolution of partnerships, adoptions, judgment, and tax fee books including direct and indirect indexes. They also retain the index to criminal records and criminal files of the circuit court. Adoptions are under the jurisdiction of the circuit court. Naturalization records, including petitions, declarations of intention, certificates, and certificates of allegiance, and granting of citizenship are also located in the clerk's office, as well as an index to civil case files. Some naturalization records have been found with the deeds.

Below is a list of online resources for St. Louis County Court Records. Email us with websites containing St. Louis County Court Records by clicking the link below:

• Local Records Inventory Database
• St. Louis County, Missouri Court Books at Amazon.com
• Missouri Marriages, 1766-1983
• Missouri Marriages to 1850
• Missouri Marriages, 1851-1900.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.
• Land Patents: 1831 - 1969.
• Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
• Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.

St. Louis County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Missouri

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Please allow up to approximately 6-8 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

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• Birth & Death Certificates: Birth records maintained by Bureau of Vital Statistics, Dept. of Health since 1903 through the present. For births that occurred within the past 75 years, copies can be requested only by the immediate family of the person whose name is on the birth certificate.
  • Cost: The cost of a birth record is $15 per record, $15 for each additional copy. The cost of a death record is $13 per record, $10 for each additional copy. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $22.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Processing Time: 6-8 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
• Marriage & Divorce Certificates: To request a certified copy of a marriage license contact the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was obtained.To request a certified copy of a divorce decree contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the decree was granted.
• Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

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Order In Person:To request a birth or death certificate from a local health department, you may download the application and submit it in person or by mail to the nearest local health department.

Order By Mail: Make check or money order payable to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. A money order must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. Do not send cash. Mail to the following address:Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

Below is a list of online resources for St. Louis County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing St. Louis County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

• VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
• Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
• Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Missouri newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
• Search Missouri Birth and Death Database, pre-1910
• Search Missouri Death Certificate Database, 1910-1956
• Missouri Marriages, 1766-1983
• Missouri Marriages to 1850
• Missouri Marriages, 1851-1900.
• Missouri Newspaper Death Index: Spanning over 150 years with over 50,000 records from three Missouri counties, this updated version of the Missouri Newspaper Index is a wonderful resource for the researcher with ancestors in this area.
• St. Louis County, Missouri Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
• Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.

St. Louis County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Missouri

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for St. Louis County, Missouri are 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in St. Louis County, Missouri are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms

Below is a list of online resources for St. Louis County Census Records. Email us with websites containing St. Louis County Census Records by clicking the link below:

• Missouri Census, 1830-70: This collection contains the following indexes: 1830 Federal Census Index; 1830-39 Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1850 Slave Schedules; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1860 Slave Schedules; 1870 Federal Census Index; Early Census Index.
• St. Louis County, Missouri Census Books at Amazon.com
• Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

St. Louis County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Missouri and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Missouri showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps.

You can view rotating animated maps for Missouri showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries.

Below is a list of online resources for St. Louis County Maps. Email us with websites containing St. Louis County Maps by clicking the link below:

• Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: Missouri Maps
• Missouri State University Libraries: Map Resources
• St. Louis County, Missouri Map Books at Amazon.com
• Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

St. Louis County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Missouri

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for St. Louis County Military Records. Email us with websites containing St. Louis County Military Records by clicking the link below:

• Missouri Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
• Missouri Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
• National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
• Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
• Southern Claims Commission from the State of Missouri (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
• Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Missouri (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
• Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Missouri (The National Archives): NARA M322. View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from Missouri units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
• Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67 from the State of Missouri (The National Archives): NARA M1003. View, Print Copy & Save Original Applications for pardon submitted to President Andrew Johnson, 1865-67, by former Confederates excluded from earlier amnesty proclamations.
• Missouri Confederate Death Records: This list, originally published in the St. Louis Republic in the spring of 1895, reveals important information regarding many of these volunteers
• Missouri Confederate Volunteers: Taken from the History of the First and Second Missouri Confederate Brigades, 1861-1865 published in 1879, this database lists over 1600 men who volunteered to fight in the 1st and 2nd Missouri Confederate Brigades.
• Search the Soldiers Database: War of 1812-World War I
• Civil War Refugees in the Ozarks
• Civil War Provost Marshal Index Database
• St. Louis County, Missouri Military Books at Amazon.com
• Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.

St. Louis County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

The Missouri Historical Society has some original tax records; others can be found in the Western Historical Manuscript Collection at the University of Missouri, but most extant records remain in the office of the clerk of the county court. The Missouri State Archives has microfilmed some tax records for the counties of Boone, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Chariton, Clay, Cooper, Franklin, Howard, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, St. Charles, St. Francois, and Ste. Genevieve.

Prior to 1850, purchasers of the federal lands in Missouri were exempt from land taxes for five years after purchase. If one finds an ancestor on a Missouri tax list with livestock, etc., but no land being taxed, the individual may have purchased his land from the government within the preceding five years.

Some early delinquent tax lists were sent to the state auditor's office and are now located in the Capitol Fire Documents held by the Missouri State Archives

Below is a list of online resources for St. Louis County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing St. Louis County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

• St. Louis County, Missouri Tax Books at Amazon.com

St. Louis County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Missouri Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for St. Louis County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing St. Louis County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• Affton Historical Society, P.O. Box 28855, 7801 Genesta Avenue, Affton, MO 63123-4321; Ph: (314) 352-5654, [EMAIL
• St. Louis Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 43010, #4 Sunnen Drive, Suite 140, St. Louis, MO 63143-0010; Ph: (314) 647-8547, [EMAIL]
• Ballwin Historical Society, 14811 Manchester Road, Ballwin, MO 63011; Ph: (636) 227-8580
  Meramec Station Historical Society, 20 Fernridge Avenue, Valley Park, MO 63088; Ph: (636) 825-2711
• Missouri Historical Society, P.O. Box 11940, St. Louis, MO 63112-0040; Ph: (314) 746-4599
• General Daniel Bissell House And Fort Belle Fontaine Historic Sites
  10225 Bellefontaine Road, St. Louis, MO 63125; Ph: (314) 868-0973, Fax: (314) 868-8435
• Bridgeton Historical Society, P.O. Box 922, 4201 Fee Fee Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044; Ph: (314) 739-5599
• Missouri Province Educational Institute, 4511 W Pine Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108; Ph: (314)361-5122
• Campbell House Foundation, 1508 Locust Str, St. Louis, MO 63103-1816; Ph: (314) 421-0325, [EMAIL]
• Kirkwood Historical Society, 302 West Argonne, P.O. Box 220602; Kirkwood, MO 63122; Ph: (314) 965-5151
• Carondelet Historical Society, 6303 Michigan Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63111; Ph: (314) 481-6303
• Normandy Area Historical Association, P.O. Box 210208, Normandy, MO 63121, Ph: (314) 383-7937
• Chatillon-DeMenil House Foundation, 3352 DeMenil Pl, St. Louis, MO 63118; Ph: (314) 771-5828, [EMAIL]
• Old Trails Historical Society, P.O. Box 852, Manchester, MO 63011
• Civil War Round Table of St. Louis, 3930 Marietta Dr, Florissant, MO 63033; Ph: (314) 837-2458, [EMAIL]
• Overland Historical Society, 9711 Lackland Road, Overland, MO 63114; Ph: (314) 426-7027, [EMAIL
• Clayton Historical Society, 50 Gay Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105; Ph: (314) 290-8501
• Concordia Historical Institute, 801 DeMun Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63105; Ph: (314) 505-7900; [EMAIL]
• St. Louis Browns Historical Society, 111 Stadium Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63102; Ph: (314) 982-7334
• Creve Coeur-Chesterfield Historical Society
  1672 Redbluff Court, St. Louis, MO 63146-3915; Ph: (314) 878-3142
• Eden Archives, 475 East Lockwood Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63119; Ph: (314) 961-3627; [EMAIL]
• St. Louis Jewish Community Archives
  12 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146; Ph: (314) 432-0020, ext. 3720
• Ferguson Historical Society, 110 Church Str, Ferguson, MO 63135-2429; Ph: (314) 521-0977
• St. Louis Mercantile Library, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Thomas Jefferson Building
  8001 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121; Ph: (314) 516-7247
• St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive Str, St. Louis, MO 63103; Ph: (314) 241-2288
• Florissant Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 298, Florissant, MO 63032; Ph: (314) 521-1100
• St. Louis Regional Historical Societies, 2315 Woodson Road, Overland, MO 63114; Ph: (314) 427-4810
• Fort Belle Fontaine Historical Society, 10225 Bellefontaine Road, St. Louis, MO 63125; Ph: (314) 868-0973
• Sappington-Concord Historical Society, 5568 Homeward Lane, St. Louis, MO 63129; Ph: (314) 894-9555
• Shrewsbury Historical Society, 5200 Shrewsbury Ave, Shrewsbury, MO 63119; Ph: (314) 647-1003
• Soldiers’ Memorial and Military Museum, 1315 Chestnut Str, St. Louis, MO 63103; Ph: (314) 622-4550
• Historic Florissant, 1067 Dunn Road, Florissant, MO 63031; Ph: (314) 921-7055
• United Pentecostal Church International Historical Center, 8855 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042; Ph: (314) 837-7300, [EMAIL]
• Historical Society of University City, 6701 Delmar Boulevard , University City, MO 63130; Ph: (314) 726-4522
• Webster Groves Historical Society, 1155 South Rock Hill Road, Webster Groves, MO 63119; Ph: (314) 968-1857
• Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, 11 North Fourth Str, St. Louis, MO 63102; Ph: (314) 655-1600
• Wildwood Historical Society, P.O. Box 125, Wildwood, MO 63040; Ph: (636) 458-3306
• Jennings Historical Society, 8720 Jennings Road, Jennings, MO 63136-1047
• Meramec Valley Genealogical and Historical Society
  c/o Scenic Library, 140 West St. Louis Str, Pacific, MO 63069; Ph: (314) 257-2712
• Missouri State Archives, Missouri State Information Center, [EMAIL]
  P.O. Box 1747, 600 West Main Str, Jefferson City, MO 65102; Phone:(573) 751-3280, Fax: (573) 526-7333
• State Historical Society of Missouri, 1020 Lowry Str., Columbia, MO 65201-7298; (573) 882-7083, [EMAIL]
• Missouri State Genealogical Association, P.O. Box 833, Columbia, MO 65205-0833
• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
• Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
• See the Society page for more statewide Societies and archives
• Missouri Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

St. Louis County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Missouri

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in St. Louis County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the St. Louis County Tombstone Transcription Project.

The Missouri State Archives has published A Brief Guide to Church Records on Microfilm which is a county by county listing, but it is currently out of print. The available church records can be located by using the Archives' Manuscript Register. Church microfilm rolls are not available for purchase, without written consent of the individual church, and must otherwise be used at the Missouri State Archives. The Western Historical Manuscript Collection on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus holds some church records. These can be located by using their descriptive catalogue or microfiche guide. Most church records in Missouri are scattered and remain in private hands

There is no central registry for cemeteries located in Missouri. The following national cemeteries are located in Missouri:

• Springfield National Cemetery, 1702 E. Seminole Street, Springfield, Missouri 65804. All known soldiers buried there, including those transferred from towns throughout southwest Missouri were published in Ozar'kin
• Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 101 Memorial Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63125. There is a card file reference to persons interred there. Inquiries may be made by phone or mail.
• Jefferson City National Cemetery, 1024 E. McCarty Street, Jefferson City, Missouri 65101. The researcher may phone or write the Jefferson Barracks for information.

Below is a list of online resources for St. Louis County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing St. Louis County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Missouri obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Missouri newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Missouri.
• Missouri Bible Records, Volume 1: The database is the first volume in a series of Bible records that includes such information as births, marriages, probate information, and deaths of individuals who settled in Missouri.
• St. Louis County, Missouri Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• St. Louis County, Missouri Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for St. Louis County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing St. Louis County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Search for Local Missouri Researchers or Earn Money by becoming a Local Missouri Researcher!
• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• Sites on USGenweb: [ St. Louis County ] [ Missouri ] [ Main Page ]
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
• The Missouri Family Group Sheet Project
• Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
• Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
• Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
• St. Louis County, Missouri Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

 

Founded in 1764 by Pierre Laclede, St. Louis was located in the territory owned by Spain and France prior to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The Spanish governmental records were retained in 1803 and moved to Havana, Cuba, and then to Seville, Spain. Those records are on microfilm as part of the Cuban Collection housed at the Clayton Library in Houston, Texas. The records are not currently available at any other U.S. library.

The City-County Separation

The most unique aspect of St. Louis history was the separation or divorce between St. Louis County and St. Louis City that occurred in 1876. Prior to 1876, what is today St. Louis City and St. Louis County was all under the jurisdiction of St. Louis County. The county courthouse was in-sight of the river. There were several small communities in the county, to the north, south, and west of the City of St. Louis. The City fathers decided they did not want to support the outlying communities, thus forming an independent City of St. Louis establishing the current boundaries of the City. To learn more about mayors in the City of St. Louis, click here. The remainder of St. Louis County formed its own government in 1877 and established its courthouse in Clayton.

Therefore, when researching a St. Louis ancestor, it is often necessary to check both the City and County records for events that occurred after 1876. The records for all events that occurred before that date remained with the City and are available through the appropriate office in the City of St. Louis.

There are many good histories of St. Louis listed below. Some of these books and additional information are available online.

Courthouse History

After the separation of the city of St. Louis from the county, the seat of justice moved about eight miles west where first courts met in temporary quarters. County commissioners accepted a site of 104 acres donated by Ralph Clayton and M. F. Hanley in the wooded, undeveloped area that became Clayton. Even when the cornerstone ceremony took place May 9, 1878, the St. Louis Globe Democrat reported the courthouse was represented only by an unsightly hole in the center of a forest.

A resolution in January 1878 provided funds from the sale of county land for building the courthouse. Plans for the courthouse, which county architect F. A. Renick prepared, were contracted by the firm Rude and Luke (see Figure 5). The courthouse measured about 110 by 205 feet and contained 17 rooms and two courtrooms. Costs came to approximately $38,000. County officials occupied their new quarters during December 1878, only seven months after the cornerstone was laid. The court authorized a 110-by-69-foot addition April 19, 1912, which extended on the south and cost $75,000.

Between 1925 and 1945 St. Louis County voters defeated six courthouse elections, the last in May 1945 for a $4,250,000 complex; given the alternative for a $2,000,000 courthouse in December of the same year, voters gave their approval. Preston Bradshaw, a St. Louis architect, prepared a plan for a four-story, red brick building with white stone trim. A judge asked for a design complementing that of the recently completed city hall and post office. Construction was contracted by H. D. Deal and Co. for $1,155,415. The building was completed in December 1949, five months ahead of schedule.

March 28, 1950, St. Louis voters approved a charter permitting home rule for St. Louis County, replacing the three-member County Court with a seven-member council and a county supervisor as the county's chief administrative office.

By the 1960s county government had become so vast a single building concept was replaced by a county government complex designed by the St. Louis firm, Murphy, Downey, Wofford and Richman. Voters approved a bond issue in 1967. Construction began in November 1968 and was completed in late 1971. The cost was $18,602,266.