Daviess County, Missouri Genealogy
Guide to Daviess 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 Major Joseph Hamilton Daveiss. The county is located in the northwestern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Daviess County Courthouse
102 N Main Street
Gallatin, MO 64640
Phone: 660-663-2641
Daviess County Website
Recorder of Deeds has land records.
Probate Court has probate records.[3]
Daviess 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 | 1837 | 1883 | 1837 | 1838 | 1890 | 1830 |
Record Loss
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
|
Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places in Daviess 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]
| Cities | ||
| Villages | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
- Daviess County Cemeteries has about 70 transcriptions of Daviess county cemeteries. Many of these transcriptions are current only to the 1970s. The page also includes a historical description of all known Daviess county cemeteries and directions to their location.
- Winston Cemetery Transcriptions and Muddy Cemetery Transcriptions; more Muddy Cemetery Transcriptions and more Muddy Cemetery Transcriptions.
- Daviess County, Missouri, Cemetery Records, Vol. 2 at Ancestry ($)
- Missouri Cemeteries Missouri Genealogy Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 2,736 | — |
| 1850 | 5,298 | 93.6% |
| 1860 | 9,606 | 81.3% |
| 1870 | 14,410 | 50.0% |
| 1880 | 19,145 | 32.9% |
| 1890 | 20,456 | 6.8% |
| 1900 | 21,325 | 4.2% |
| 1910 | 17,605 | −17.4% |
| 1920 | 16,641 | −5.5% |
| 1930 | 14,424 | −13.3% |
| 1940 | 13,398 | −7.1% |
| 1950 | 11,180 | −16.6% |
| 1960 | 9,502 | −15.0% |
| 1970 | 8,420 | −11.4% |
| 1980 | 8,905 | 5.8% |
| 1990 | 7,865 | −11.7% |
| 2000 | 8,016 | 1.9% |
| 2010 | 8,433 | 5.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1732-1933 Missouri State and Territorial Census Records, 1732-1933 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
The 1876 State Census for Daviess county is available at Ancestry.com or on microfilm ($15) from the Missouri State Archives.
For tips on accessing Daviess County, Missouri Genealogy census records online, see: Missouri Census.
Church Records
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.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- Daviess County Churches, USGS - Login required.
Baptist
- Daviess County, Missouri - Primitive Baptist Library in Carthage, IL
- Grand River Baptist Church, History and list of early members - Missouri Genealogy
- William Jewell College - William Jewell College, a major repository for Missouri Baptist records
Catholic
Methodist
- Missouri United Methodist Archives - Records at Central Methodist University
- American Methodism Project - Numerous books detailing the history of Methodism, which often contain biographies of ministers. The Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South both have a wide collection of searchable books available.
Gallatin
Court Records
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- Missouri Judicial Records from the Missouri State Archives
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.
There are two types of patents. Those issued by the state and those by the Federal Government.
The Missouri Secretary of State sponsors a site with land patents for Daviess county 1831-1969.
Patents issued by the Federal Government for land in Daviess County. Enter Missouri and your ancestor's surname. If you find a record for your ancestor you will be able to download a PDF of the patent. You should also consider ordering the associated case file.
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 Daviess 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.
- Daviess County Historical Society lists a variety of county and family histories and other resources.
- History of Daviess and Gentry Counties, Missouri.. 1922. By John C. Leopard & Buel Leopard. Topeka: Historical Publishing Company: Online at: FamilySearch; and at Missouri Digital History
- The History of Daviess County, Missouri. 1882. Kansas City, Missouri: Birdsall & Dean. Online at: FamilySearch; and 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
- Memories: being a story of early times in Daviess County, Missouri. 1904. By John F. Jordin. Gallatin, Mo: North Missourian Press. Online at FamilySearch
- 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
- Historical towns of Daviess County by Arthur Paul Moser
- Maps of Missouri (1804-1889)
- This map shows Daviess County townships and known cemeteries within each.
- Interactive map of Daviess 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 Daviess County. The city of St. Louis is not included in this collection.
- Plat Book of Daviess 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 Daviess County, Missouri served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Daviess County, Missouri:
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
- 1816-1955 Missouri Naturalization Records — index
- 1856-1942 Missouri, Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1942 at Ancestry — index & images
Newspapers
- Missouri Digital Newspaper Project at Missouri State Historical Society
- The Archives of The Chillicothe Constitution Tribune (1889-2009) provides free access to their newspapers online. Their newspapers covered local news that included residents from Daviess County communities.
- The Genealogy Department of the Daviess County Library, given a specific date, will do lookups in the newspapers listed on their website for a small fee.
- 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Missouri Taxation.
As of Mar 2013 neither the Missouri State Archives, nor the FS Library appear to have early tax lists in their microfilm collections for Daviess County. So if they exist, they are probably held by the county clerk's office at the courthouse.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths. For additional guidance on researching and using vital records, see United States Vital Records or How to order Missouri Vital Records.
St. Louis and Kansas City recorded births and deaths starting as early as 1850 for deaths and 1870 for births. The Missouri Department of Health began keeping birth and death records in 1909. County records vary by year and the county. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Missouri Vital Records State Department of Health, the County Clerk's office or order electronically online.
Birth
- Pre-1910 Missouri Birth and Death Records Database, Pre-1910 at Missouri Digital Heritage - index.
- 1817-1939 Missouri Births, 1817-1939 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1827-1935 Missouri, Births and Christenings, 1827-1935 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1851-1910 Missouri Birth Records, 1851-1910 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1883-1891 Daviess County Birth Index 1883-1891. Batch C514864 at FamilySearch.
- 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 ($)
- 1836-1855 Daviess County, Missouri Marriages, 1836-55 at Ancestry ($)
- 1837-1899 Daviess County Marriages 1837-1899
- 1838-1881 Daviess County Marriage Books A, C and D Index 1838-1881. Batch M514861 at FamilySearch
- 1850 Missouri Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1878- 1885 Daviess County Marriage Books E thru G Index 1878-1885. Batch M514862 at FamilySearch
Death
- 1834-1910 Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1867-1976 Missouri, Deaths and Burials, 1867-1976 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1883-1891 Daviess County Death Index 1883-1891. Batch B514867 at FamilySearch.
- 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 ($)
- The Missouri Secretary of State has Missouri Death Certificates more than 50 yrs old starting in 1910, a few earlier. Some certificates were never completed or filed, others have creative spellings. The information is only as good as the informant could recall at the time.
Divorce
Voting Records
- 1801-Onward Missouri, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Daviess 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
- Cameron Missouri FamilySearch Center
- Chillicothe Missouri FamilySearch Center
- Gallatin Missouri FamilySearch Center
- Trenton Missouri FamilySearch Center
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Daviess County. For state-wide library facilities, see Missouri Archives and Libraries.
Daviess County Library
Main Library
306 West Grand
Gallatin, MO 64640
Phone: 660-663-3222
Website
(birth and death records on microfilm 1883-1893 and local census for 1876)
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Daviess County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Missouri Societies.
Daviess County Genealogical Society
Website
Daviess County Historical Society
Website
Northwest Missouri Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 382
St. Joseph, MO 64502
Phone: 816-233-0524
Website
Websites
- Missouri Digital Heritage. Digital images of many types of records from institutions across the State.
- MOGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog - 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
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, "Daveiss County, Missouri," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daviess_County,_Missouri, accessed 9/10/2018
- ↑ 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), Daviess 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, "Daviess County, Missouri," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, Daviess County Missouri, accessed Sept 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.