Benton County, Missouri Genealogy
Guide to Benton County, Missouri ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
The county was named for Thomas Hart Benton. The county is located in the west central area of the state. [2]
County Courthouse
Benton County Courthouse
PO Box 1238
Warsaw, MO 65355-1238
Phone: 660-438-7326
Benton County Website
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1883 and marriage records from 1839.
Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and court records.
Probate Court has probate records.
Recorder has deeds and land records.[3]
Benton County, Missouri Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1883 | 1839 | 1883 | 1835 | 1837 | 1836 | 1830 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places in Benton County, MO, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator.
The State Historical Society of Missouri has information on historical Missouri place names for all 114 Missouri Counties.
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6] [7]
| Cities | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
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History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- Biographies from The History of Benton County, Missouri (1889) published by Goodspeed are available free on the My Genealogy Hound website.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
- Missouri Cemeteries Missouri Genealogy Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 4,205 | — |
| 1850 | 5,015 | 19.3% |
| 1860 | 9,072 | 80.9% |
| 1870 | 11,322 | 24.8% |
| 1880 | 12,396 | 9.5% |
| 1890 | 14,973 | 20.8% |
| 1900 | 16,556 | 10.6% |
| 1910 | 14,881 | −10.1% |
| 1920 | 12,989 | −12.7% |
| 1930 | 11,708 | −9.9% |
| 1940 | 11,142 | −4.8% |
| 1950 | 9,080 | −18.5% |
| 1960 | 8,737 | −3.8% |
| 1970 | 9,695 | 11.0% |
| 1980 | 12,183 | 25.7% |
| 1990 | 13,859 | 13.8% |
| 2000 | 17,180 | 24.0% |
| 2010 | 19,056 | 10.9% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Missouri denominations, view the Missouri Church Records wiki page.
Court Records
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Missouri Land and Property for information about records of land transfers from the government to private ownership. After that transfer, transactions were usually recorded and are currently housed at the county courthouse.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Benton County, Missouri Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the Wiki page section Missouri Local Histories.
- History of Benton County, Missouri in two parts. 1912. By James Henry Lay & George C. Worth. Warsaw, Missouri: Warsaw Times. Online at: Missouri Digital History
- History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries and Osage counties, Missouri. 1889. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Company. Online at: Missouri Digital History
- History of Missouri's Counties, County Seats, and Courthouse Squares. 1983. by Marian M. Ohman. Missouri: Missouri State Library. Online at: Missouri Digital History
- A Sketch of the History of Benton County, Missouri. 1876. By James Henry Lay. Hannibal, Missouri: The Winchell & Ebert Printing and Lithographing Company. Online at: Google Books; and at Missouri Digital History
- State of Missouri: an autobiography. 1904. By Walter Williams. Columbia, Mo: Press of E. W. Stephens. Online at: Missouri Digital History
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Missouri (1804-1889)
- Map of Benton County townships (Histopolis)
- Missouri As It Is In 1867. 1867. by Nathan II. Parker. Philadelpia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. Online at: Missouri Digital History
- The University of Missouri Digital Library has digital copies of Missouri county plat books (ca. 1930) for all Missouri counties including Benton County. The city of St. Louis is not included in this collection.
- Map of 1904 Benton County with numerous small settlements (My Genealogy Hound) *Book of Benton County, Missouri at Missouri Digital Heritage
- Standard Atlas of Benton County at Missouri Digital Heritage
- Plat Book of Benton County, Missouri at Missouri Digital Heritage
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
- 1900-1941 Missouri, Pre-WWII Adjutant General Enlistment Contracts, 1900-1941 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection
Civil War
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Missouri, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 Missouri, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1911-1938 Missouri, Confederate Pension Applications and Soldiers Home Applications, 1911-1938 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
Regiments
Service men in Benton County, Missouri served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are ompanies that were specifically formed in Benton County, Missouri:
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World War II
- 1940-1945 Missouri, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1941-1946 Missouri, Reports of Separation Notices, 1941-1946 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Newspapers
- Missouri Digital Newspaper Project at Missouri State Historical Society
- Newspaperarchive.com ($) has historical newspapers available online. Their database has Sedalia newspapers from the late 1800's and early 1900's that sometimes included Benton County residents.
- 1800s-Current Missouri, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records include wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. For further information, see United States Probate Records.
In Missouri, probate records have usually been recorded by the clerks of the probate courts, but in some counties the common pleas or circuit courts handled this function. They are frequently indexed.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1750-1988 Missouri Probate Records 1750-1998 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection
- 1766-1988 Missouri Wills and Probate Records 1766-1988 at Ancestry — index & images $
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Missouri Taxation.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths. For additional guidance on researching and using vital records, see United States Vital Records or How to order Missouri Vital Records.
St. Louis and Kansas City recorded births and deaths starting as early as 1850 for deaths and 1870 for births. The Missouri Department of Health began keeping birth and death records in 1909. County records vary by year and the county. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Missouri Vital Records State Department of Health, the County Clerk's office or order electronically online.
Birth
- Pre-1910 Missouri Birth and Death Records Database, Pre-1910 at Missouri Digital Heritage - index.
- 1817-1939 Missouri Births, 1817-1939 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1827-1935 Missouri, Births and Christenings, 1827-1935 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1851-1910 Missouri Birth Records, 1851-1910 at Ancestry — index & images $
- 1883-1892 Benton County Birth Index 1883-1892. Batch C514643 at FamilySearch - free.[8]
- 1910-2022 Missouri, Birth Index, 1920-2015 at Reclaim the Records — index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1910-Onward Missouri Births at MyHeritage — index ($)
Marriage
- 1750-1920 Missouri, Marriages, 1750-1920 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1776-1988 Missouri, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1805-2002 Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002 at Ancestry $
- 1839-1861 Marriage records, Benton County, Missouri, 1839-1861 at Ancestry $
- 1839-1880 Benton County Marriage Books A and B Index 1839-1880. Batch M514641 at FamilySearch - free.
- 1850 Missouri Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry — index $
Death
- 1834-1910 Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 at Ancestry — index & images $
- 1867-1976 Missouri, Deaths and Burials, 1867-1976 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1883-1890 Benton County Death Index 1883-1890. Batch B514644 at FamilySearch - free.
- 1883-1930 Missouri Deaths, 1883-1930 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1910-1960 Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969 at Missouri Digital Heritage - index & images.
- 1968-2022 Missouri, Death Index, 1968-2015 at Reclaim the Records — index; Also at: MyHeritage ($); Ancestry ($)
- 1968-Onward Missouri, Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)
- Missouri State Archives provides on-line access to Missouri Death Certificates more than 50 yrs old starting in 1910.
Divorce
Voting Records
- 1801-Onward Missouri, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Benton County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Missouri Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Clinton Missouri FamilySearch Center
- Sedalia Missouri FamilySearch Center
- Trails Regional Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Benton County. For state-wide library facilities, see Missouri Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Benton County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Missouri Societies.
- Benton County Historical Society
PO Box 1082
Warsaw, MO 65355
Phone: 660-438-2304
Email: admin@bencomo.com
Website Facebook
Websites
- Missouri Digital Heritage. Free. digital images of many types of records from institutions across the State
- MOGenWeb. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
- USGenWeb Archives. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
- FamilySearch Catalog . Free. - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records
- Linkpendium. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
- CyndisList. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
- Missouri Genealogy. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Missouri. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Benton County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benton_County,_Missouri, accessed 18 Sept 2018.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Missouri. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Benton County, Missouri. Page 397-407 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 393-397.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Missouri. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Benton County, Missouri," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, Benton County Missouri, accessed 24 August 2019.
- ↑ Hometownlocator, "Benton County MO Subdivisions", HomeTown Locator, accessed 24 August 2019.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/5/5a/Igimissouria.pdf.