Harrison County, Missouri Genealogical Records Information

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Harrison County History and Information

Harrison County Facts

Harrison County was organized February 14, 1845, from Daviess County and named for Albert G. Harrison, Missouri congressman. The County Seat is Bethany. Courthouse burned in 1874. See also County History or Courthouse History for more historical details.

Harrison County has records of genealogical interest available: Clerk of the County Court: Permanent record of births, 1883-1889; Permanent record of deaths, 1883-1893. Clerk of the Probate Court: Index to probate records, 1857-1865 and 1869-1893; Probate records, 1853-1883; Index to administrator’s executor’s letters, bonds and records, 1859-1898; Administrator’s executor’s letters, bonds and records, 1859-1898; Inventories, appraisements and sale bills, 1858-1885; Settlement records, 1869-1887; Guardian’s/curator’s records, 1876-1879; Index to will records, (no dates); Will records, 1879-1922. 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 Harrison County are Ringgold County, Iowa (north), Decatur County, Iowa (northeast), Mercer County (east), Grundy County (southeast), Daviess County (south), Gentry County (southwest), Worth County (northwest). Cities and Towns include Bethany, Blythedale, Cainsville, Eagleville, Gilman City, Hatfield, Martinsville, Mount Moriah, New Hampton, Ridgeway

Harrison County, Missouri History Books at Amazon.com
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Harrison 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.
Fire destroyed the Courthouse January 7, 1874.

All Departments below are in the Harrison County Courthouse located at P.O. Box 189, Bethany, MO 64424; Telephone: (660) 425-6425 , unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.grm.net/bethany/harrison.htm . See also Courthouse History. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Harrison County Clerk of the Court has Birth & Death Records from 1883-93.
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.”

Harrison Register of Deeds / Recorder has Marriage Records from 1845 and Land Records from 1845.
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.

Harrison County Probate Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1845.
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).

Harrison County Circuit Court Clerk has Court Records from 1845.
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.

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 Harrison County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Harrison County Court Records by clicking the link below:

Harrison 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.

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

Harrison County, Missouri Tax Books at Amazon.com

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

Harrison County Genealogical Society, 2307 Central Street, Bethany, MO 64424; Phone: (660) 425-2459
Harrison County Historical Society, 2205 Oakland Avenue, Bethany, MO 64424; Phone: (660) 425-3367
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

Harrison 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 Harrison County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Harrison 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 Harrison County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Harrison 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.
Harrison County, Missouri Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
Harrison 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 Harrison County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Harrison County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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County History

The settlement of Harrison County began around 1838, although the land was not surveyed and opened for entry until 1842. The county is named after Albert C Harrison who was a Missouri politician during the 19th century. Many of the early pioneers in the county settled along Sugar Creek and in the Bethany area. Three commissioners deliberated for several days to determine a site for the county seat and finally came to the decision to place it in the southern part of the county. The original name for the community was Dallas.

In June of 1845, John S. Allen was appointed commissioner to survey the town into lots and offer the same for sale. The plat which was completed on June 27, 1845 consisted of 19 total acres.

The name Dallas apparently did not meet with the general approval of the residents of the community and the issue was brought before the county court. It was decided that the court and county officials present would select a new name by ballot. The names of Bethany and Carthage were proposed. The Votes showed a majority favored the name of Bethany and accordingly the name of Bethany was given to the town. It was officially incorporated as a city by an act of the General Assembly on January 6, 1860. The first mayor was T.H. Templeman.

The first home constructed in the community was built by John S. Allen and although it was built as a residence it was primarily used to store the first stock of goods brought to the community. Like many original landmarks it was completely destroyed by fire in 1864.

The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad reached Bethany in October 1890. Eventually, two other railroads also served the county. The railroad would influence the economy and environment of the community for the next century until in the early 1980's when the last train pulled out of the Bethany Depot and the tracks were removed permanently. Transportation was an important industry to the community and the population grew to its greatest level around the turn of the century when over 24,000 persons lived in Harrison County.

Industry played a vital role in Bethany's growth starting with Colonel C.L. Jennings who erected the first steam mill around 1854 in the northwest part of town. This was a combination mill which produced both lumber and flour. Because the country was so new, little need for towns existed. For several years, only a few retail shops existed and development and growth of the town was slow but by 1855, Bethany was known as one of the best trading places in Northwest Missouri. An industrial park was established in the 1960's by the Harrison County Industrial Development Authority and the Bethany Memorial Airport was opened in 1968. The first tenant in the industrial park was Calhoun Manufacturing, a company which manufactured agriculture machinery. Lambert Manufacturing opened a facility in 1971 and Place's Discount Stores also became a resident of the industrial park until 1999 when they sold to Pamida, with the distribution center remaining active with-in the park until 2002 when it closed. The 120,000 square foot building was purchased by the home grown Bethany business Gumdrop Books immediately following Pamida's closure. Newest additions to the park include Superior Waste, and Tri-State Carports which opened for business in 2001. The 1990's seen period of aggressive growth, especially within the service industry with the addition of several motels and restaurants. There has been several million dollars investment each year during the 90's and an increase of nearly 100 jobs annually.

Through the years, development continued and included the construction of a lake in 1935 to serve the water needs of the community. In 1960, a second lake was added so that Bethany could meet the increasing water needs. The Harrison County Lake was completed in 1994 and provides a third source of water for the community. In 1954, residents voted to issue bonds to build a municipal swimming pool. Numerous other utilities were upgraded from 1930 to 1970 including the construction of a water tower in 1989 to serve growth along the north side of tow. In 1996, residents approved a sales tax to extend water lines from the new tower to the south side of town which resulted in a looping of the system and improved water pressure for many areas of town. The sales tax also funded the reconstruction of Main Street from Highway 69 to the square.

Transportation, which played an important role early in Bethany's history, came to play an even bigger role in the 1960's when Interstate 35 was proposed and later constructed. This north-south 4-lane highway connects Canada with Mexico. The interstate ran along the east side of town and since the completion of the interstate in the early 1970's, the communities growth has been in that direction with a number of retail establishments appearing in the 1980's and that growth continues today.

Courthouse History
An order issued by the Harrison County Court on June 14, 1845, commissioned John S. Allen to procure plans and superintend the construction of a courthouse in Bethany, on a site northeast of the public square.

The County Court Record described the new courthouse as a 24-by-20-foot frame, 1-1/2-story building, with the lower story 9 feet and the upper story 5 feet. There were to be two windows in the upper story, seven in the lower, all to have 12 panes. The specifications did not mention a door. Presumably this was left to the discretion of the builder.

Elkana Grover contracted to build for $194. In December 1857, as a new courthouse was being constructed on the square, the court offered this building for sale; Charles J. Blackburn bought it for $500.40. The building continued in Private Use until razed in 1881. The material was then reused in another building constructed on the same site.

In February 1856 the court appropriated $8,000 for the second courthouse, which was constructed on the square. William G. Lewis superintended the building; the contract was let to Asbury Allen and Allen S. Meek for $9,732. They made the brick in 1856 and began construction in 1857. It was two stories and measured 65 by 40 feet. A hall divided the building lengthwise on the first floor, with four rooms on the south, three on the north. The courtroom and jury rooms were on the second floor. Fire destroyed the building January 7, 1874.

Immediately the court appointed Charles J. Blackburn to get plans and superintend construction of the replacement; W. Angelo Powell, St. Joseph, has been identified as architect. The court appropriated $9,000 on January 22, 1874; citizens donated $3,000 to the fund.

Benton Edwards and Isaac Hayes of Macon were awarded the contract for the two-story, brick, 80-by-45-foot building, which they began in May 1874. The court received the completed courthouse in November 1874. Part of the existing walls of the old courthouse may have been incorporated in the new building; all possible material was reused.

This courthouse was more spacious than the previous one, but it was based upon a similar plan that placed offices on the first floor and the Circuit Court room on the second. After the turn of the century, a grand jury reported the courthouse inadequate and unsafe, but it was not until 1939 that Harrison County got a new courthouse.

There had been several attempts to move the county seat to a more central location: In 1870, 1874 and 1880, voters defeated proposals to move to Lorraine; in 1892 and 1912 Ridgeway was the losing contender.

The Kansas City firm of Keene and Simpson worked with Harrison County Court officials preparing plans for the 1938-40 Work Projects Administration funded courthouse (see Figure 3). Supervising architect was William L. Perkins from Chariton, Iowa. Bonds in the amount of $90,000 were voted in October 1938. The courthouse committee carefully examined other courthouses. They visited Princeton, Unionville, Chillicothe, Linneus, Marshall and Neosho. A government engineer sent plans of DeKalb County for their consideration. The final plan called for an 87-by-83-foot building with full basement, assembly room and some offices on the first floor; on the second floor were the Circuit Court room and additional offices. The third floor contained jails for men and women and living quarters for the sheriff.

The court awarded the $124,000 contract to Thomas H. Dawson of Kansas City in February 1939. Cornerstone ceremonies on August 11 used the same trowel which had been used for the 1874 ceremony. This trowel had come to America from Holland 200 years before.

Problems in construction delayed the completion date. Dawson's bid, $11,000 below the others, had raised a question about the accuracy of his figure at the time. Midway through the project seven superintendents had already been in charge. The architects were summoned because the building inspector found the contractors had not adhered to the blueprints and specifications.

Finally the building was ready for occupancy in March 1940. Landscaping plans included no large trees, but called for smaller shrubbery and more than 3,000 bulbs. Honeycombed in the lawn was a copper sprinkling system; floodlighting illuminated the building at night.

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