Audrain County, Missouri Genealogical Records Information

Start your family tree. We'll start searching. It's FREE. - Enter a few simple facts about recent generations of your family. We'll use what you enter to try and find more about your family in the world's largest online collection of historical records and family trees.

SEARCH THIS SITE

SEARCH FOR YOUR ANCESTORS IN THESE Missouri GENEALOGICAL DATABASES:

MO Court, Land & Wills

MO Public Records

MO Birth, Marriage & Death

Audrain County History and Information

Audrain County Facts

Audrain County was organized December 17, 1836, from Callaway, Monroe and Ralls counties and named for James H. Audrain, a state legislator. Mexico, centrally located and the oldest town in Audrain, was designated the county seat. It was founded by two early settlers, James H. Smith and the Reverend Robert C. Mansfield. They chose the town's name because of widespread excitement over Texas, then fighting for independence from the country of Mexico; it was the place to go to make your fortune and they were confident that the name would bring the new village good luck and "popularity."

The first county court met at Mexico in February, 1837. Within two years the first court house was built on the Public Square. See also County History or Courthouse History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Audrain County are Monroe County (north), Ralls County (northeast), Pike County (east), Montgomery County (southeast), Callaway County (south), Boone County (southwest), Randolph County (northwest).

Cities and Towns include Benton City, Farber, Laddonia, Martinsburg, Mexico, Rush Hill, Thompson, Vandalia, Vandiver

Audrain County, Missouri History Books at Amazon.com
Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.

There are free downloadable and printable forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms, U.K. Census Extraction Forms, Research Calendar, Ancestral Chart, Research Extract, Correspondence Record , Family Group Sheet , Source Summary Form.

Audrain County Court Records

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

PLEASE READ!! 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.

All Departments below are in the Audrain County Courthouse located at 101 N. Jefferson St., Room 105, Mexico, MO 65265-2769; Telephone: (573) 473-5830 , unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.audraincounty.org/ . See also Courthouse History.

Audrain County Clerk of the Court has Permanent record of births, 1883-1885; Register of births and stillbirths, 1883-1885; Permanent record of deaths, 1883-1885; Register of deaths, 1883-1886; County court records, 1837-1863; County treasurer’s records, 1837-1849; Federal census, 1850; Bond and commission record, 1837-1871; Record of marks and brands, 1843-1971; Wolf scalp receipts, 1843-1854; Estray records, 1837-1851; Assessment records, 1838-1864 and 1876; Tax Books, 1869.
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.”

Audrain Register of Deeds / Recorder has Index to deeds, 1837-1900; Deed records, 1837-1891; Index to marriage records, 1837-1975; Marriage records, 1837-1917; Negro/colored marriage records, 1865-1890; Military discharge records, 1865.
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.

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).

Audrain County Probate Court Clerk has Probate court records, 1839-1897; Administrator’s/executor’s letters, bonds and records, 1875-1897; Inventories, appraisements and sales bills, 1865-1919; Settlement records, 1863-1888; Guardian’s/curator’s records, 1871-1920; index to will records, 1880-1975; Will records, 1838-1925.

Audrain County Circuit Court Clerk has Circuit court records, 1837-1888.
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.

County Superintendent of Schools has Superintendent’s correspondence, 1940-1955; Reports to the superintendent, 1935-1973; Record of rural school districts, 1897-1964.

There are a few online databases for Court, Land and Probate Records which include:Missouri Marriages, 1766-1983, Missouri Marriages to 1850, Missouri Marriages, 1851-1900. You may also search the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or Land Patents: 1831 - 1969. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.

Click Here to Search Missouri Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records! - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

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

Audrain County, Missouri Court Books at Amazon.com
Missouri Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.

Audrain County Vital 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 Audrain County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Audrain County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

Audrain County, Missouri Tax Books at Amazon.com

Audrain 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 Audrain County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Audrain County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

Audrain County Historical Society, P.O. Box 398, 501 South Muldrow Street, Mexico, MO 65265
Phone: (573) 581-3910, E-mail: ach@swbell.net
Northeast Missouri Genealogical Society, 112 North Fourth Street, Canton, MO 63435; Phone: (217) 656-3853
Genealogical Society of Central Missouri, P.O. Box 26 3801 Ponderosa , Columbia, MO 65205; Phone: (573) 443-8936, [EMAIL]
Audrain County Area Genealogical Society (Mexico-Audrain County Library), 305 West Jackson, Mexico, MO 65265; Phone: (573) 581-4939
Local Missouri Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
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
Missouri Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
See the Society page for more statewide Societies and archives
Missouri Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

Audrain County Church & Cemeteries

Click Here to Search Missouri Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. 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 Audrain County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Audrain 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 Audrain County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Audrain County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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.
Audrain County, Missouri Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
Audrain County, Missouri Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Click Here to Search Missouri Family Tree Records! - 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 Audrain County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Audrain County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

Genealogical Document Search and Retrieval Service
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: [ Audrain 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.
Meet your ancestors. Learn their stories. Start your FREE family tree.
Missouri Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
Audrain County, Missouri Family Books at Amazon.com

County History

Early Settlers
Most of the county's early settlers came originally from Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. They first claimed land near woods and small streams, leaving the prairie to the east vacant. Prominent among them was John B. Morris, the first postmaster, owner of a general store, county official and operator of a tavern in Mexico.

The county saw little growth over its first three decades, the population by 1850 being only 3,508. Most were farmers, while a few were regarded as "mercantile men."

The one development in these early years that bore the mark of progress was the coming of the railroad. In 1856 the North Missouri, one of the state's earliest rail lines, was laid through the county, promoting trade for the county seat and a large surrounding area.

Civil War Activity
During the Civil War Audrain residents were politically divided. An estimated 600 men served in the Union Army, around 500 with the Confederacy. No official battles took place on its land; one skirmish occurred. The county's war record centers on the railroad, the occupation of Mexico and constant guerrilla warfare.

Because of the railroad, Federal troops made Mexico their headquarters for most of the war. The occupying army ousted elected officials, enforced martial law, with curfew and street patrols, damaged buildings and furthered unrest throughout the county. Ulysses S. Grant, then a Colonel, was among those assigned to the area for a short time early in the war.

Growing Agricultural Importance
The 1870s, 1880s and 1890s brought progress and prosperity to the county. More settlers came, particularly many Germans who settled on the eastern prairie, now more easily cultivated. Additional railroad lines were built. Vandalia, Laddonia and other towns were founded and along with Mexico saw growth during these years.

Farming, from its beginning the county's main occupation, now became of primary importance. Audrain was recognized as one of the state's leading agricultural counties. The chief crops were corn and oats; the main livestock were horses, mules, hogs and sheep.

From the 1870s into the 1930s, an important industry developed around the American Saddle Horse, with Audrain horses regarded as the finest in the United States. Raised for riding and for "show," they were the main attraction at area fairs, drawing national attention. Outstanding among horses was Rex McDonald; achieving international renown was local black trainer and showman, Tom Bass. Audrain was called the "Saddle Horse Capital of the World."

Click here to learn more about the history of agriculture in Audrain County.

The Firebrick Industry
Audrain also became known as the "Fire Brick Center of the World." The importance of fireclay lay in its capacity to withstand extremely high temperatures without changing form or deteriorating. It was used to build industrial furnaces and became essential to many basic industries.

As early as 1883 county leaders were promoting fireclay, but it was A.P. Green and his Fire Brick Company, established in 1910, that revolutionized the industry; by 1937 his firebrick were known around the world. The Mexico Refractories Company and other smaller firebrick companies strengthened the county's lead in this field.

Audrain's refractories companies played a major role in World War II and later in the exploration of space. Over the years the industry continued to expand and diversify, remaining a vital part of the county's economy.

Educational Advances
The county has always placed great emphasis upon education. The Mexico Board of Education built the first public school in 1873. By 1900 nearly one hundred country schools had been organized, serving all rural pupils. During the 1970s these were consolidated into three school districts.

For decades around the turn of the century two private institutions attracted students from across the nation. Hardin College for Young Ladies, founded in 1873, flourished until financial difficulties forced it to close in 1933. Missouri Military Academy for young men was founded in 1889. A century later it was named by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the nation's Exemplary Private Schools. It continues to be one of the county's valuable assets.

Outstanding Audrain Countians
Among Audrain's outstanding citizens have been two Missouri governors: Charles H. Hardin (1875-77) and Christopher S. Bond (1973-77 and 1981-85). Bond, elected in 1986, is now serving in the United States Senate.

Three Audrain attornies have served on the Missouri Supreme Court: George B. Macfarlane, Ernest S. Gantt and Frank B. Hollingsworth. During World War II Admiral Samuel G. Fuqua was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism at Pearl Harbor. In the 1950s Walter G. Staley Jr. represented the United States in the Olympic Games. Many others have held prominent positions in commerce, medicine, politics and government, education, religion, business and agriculture.

After a Century and a Half
In 1986 Audrain County celebrated its 150th birthday. The 1990 census four years later listed seven incorporated cities besides its county seat, with a total county population of 23,599.

Still one of Missouri's leading agricultural counties, Audrain's chief crops in the 1990s are soybeans, corn, grain sorghum and wheat, with hogs and cattle the main livestock.

The firebrick industry, despite changes in company names and management, remains strong. In the 1990s the county claims four refractories companies, employing around 1,200 men and women.
Along with its three public school districts and several private schools, the county once again has a college in its Advanced Technology Center. A Telecommunication Community Resource Center also serves Audrain business and industry by providing access to the most modern technology.

Proud of its history, residents across the county have supported the restoration of old buildings and the preservation of significant artifacts through a number of private organizations, including the Audrain County Historical Society with its restored mansion, museums and library.

Courthouse History
When Audrain County was organized in December 1836, officials selected Mexico as the county seat. Two months later commissioners were appointed to build a temporary, one-story, 18-by-36-foot, hewn-log courthouse on the south side of the square. It was to be partitioned into two rooms, one 22 feet long. The order called for a brick chimney, two outside doors, four windows and a shingled roof. The County Court Record, vol. A, has a detailed description. The building was completed July 10, 1837.

Officials ordered this first courthouse sold while the second was being constructed. The Atlas of 1877 noted the building was still standing, and being used as a bakery and confectionery.

In November 1838 construction began on the second courthouse, a two-story, brick building located in the center of the square (see Figure 1). William White was the superintendent, later replaced by M. Walton, who completed the work in November 1840. The contract for the brick work went to Judge James E. Fenton; Norvell Harison (sic) was contractor.

The courtroom was on the first floor; on the second floor were three rooms for offices which occasionally were rented for lodge rooms or used for other purposes. The sale of lots from county-owned property at the county seat provided enough money to cover the $1,600 building costs. During the Civil War it was used as a barracks and sustained major damage. For the next four years the county had no courthouse building.

In May 1868, before deciding on new courthouse plans, commissioners went to Paris, Missouri, to examine Monroe County's courthouse. Impressed with what they saw, the commissioners chose a similar design for Audrain County.

The court appropriated $50,000 and appointed John M. Gordon superintendent, who was later replaced by E.P. Cunningham. The contracting firm for the project was Terrell and Hays, Macon City, Missouri. Work began in 1868 and was completed in 1869. Costs amounted to about $43,000. It was a two-story, brick building, measuring 102 by 60 feet at the base and 40 feet tall. It contained 10 rooms with the courtroom on the second floor.

In 1938 a Public Works Administration engineer spoke with a civic club in Mexico and tried to persuade them to take advantage of the government's offer of matching 45 percent of courthouse costs. Accompanying him was a Fulton firm that presented a drawing of a traditional design.

No action was taken until 1947 when the court considered a design from the St. Louis firm, Bonsack and Pearce. The county had voted $500,000 in bonds to build this courthouse, but since all bids exceeded the appropriation, the project was temporarily dropped.

Later, the court requested Bonsack and Pearce to revise the plans. Revision consisted of stripping the building of its historical detail, leaving the plan essentially the same. Again the court solicited bids; this time costs came within an acceptable range.

In May 1950 John Epple and Sons, Columbia, Missouri, contracted to build the new courthouse for $527,300. The contractors completed their work in the fall of 1951, and the courthouse was dedicated October 9 of that year.

Your user agent does not support frames or is currently configured not to display frames.