Franklin County, Missouri Genealogy
Guide to Franklin County, Missouri ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Tax Records
- 2.27 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Benjamin Franklin. The County is located in the east central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Franklin County Courthouse
Courthouse Square
PO Box 311
Union, MO 63084-0311
Phone: 314-583-6355
Franklin County Website
County Clerk has birth records 1883-1892 and death records 1883-1887.
Recorder of Deeds has marriage and land records.
Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce records.
Probate Judge has probate records.[3]
Franklin County, Missouri Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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 | 1819 | 1883 | 1819 | 1819 | 1819 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating Missouri county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Missouri County Boundary Maps" (1804-1889) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places in Franklin 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 | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
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Census-designated places | ||
Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Family Biographies from The History of Franklin County, Missouri (1888) published by Goodspeed are available free on the My Genealogy Hound website.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- Missouri Cemeteries Missouri Genealogy Cemeteries
Census Records[edit | edit source]
- 1732-1933 Missouri State and Territorial Census Records, 1732-1933 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1920 Franklin County, Missouri Census, 1920 at Ancestry ($)
Church Records[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
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.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Franklin 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.
- Historical review of Franklin County, Missouri, 1818-1968. By Melvin B. Roblee. [1968?]. Franklin County Sesqui-centennial Corp. Available online at FamilySearch
- History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford & Gasconade Counties, Missouri. 1888. Chicago : Goodspeed Pub. Available online at FamilySearch
- One Hundred Years for God and Country : St. John's, the Church and the Community, 1839-1940. By George John Hildner. 1940. Washington, Mo. : Printed by the Washington Missourian. Available online at FamilySearch
- Sesquicentennial 150 Years Young, 1818-1968, Franklin County and Pacific, Missouri. August 6-17, 1968. Pacific, Mo. : Pacific Press. Available online at FamilySearch
- Two invaluable sources of early Franklin County history are Goodspeed and Kiel histories. "Goodspeed" is an 1888 history published by Goodspeed Publishing Company of Chicago, Illinois, correctly called "History of Missouri, Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford, & Gasconade Counties. The "Kiel" history, correctly referred to as "The Centennial Biographical Directory of Franklin County, Missouri" compiled and published by Herman Gottlieb Kiel", 1925, is basically a book of lists, but the lists are a great tool for the researcher.[7]
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Missouri (1804-1889)
- Interactive map of Franklin County townships (Histopolis)
- The University of Missouri Digital Library has digital copies of Missouri county plat books (ca. 1930) for all Missouri counties including Franklin County. The city of St. Louis is not included in this collection.
- Map of 1904 Franklin County with numerous small settlements (My Genealogy Hound)
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- 1900-1941 Missouri, Pre-WWII Adjutant General Enlistment Contracts, 1900-1941 at FamilySearch — images
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Missouri, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 Missouri, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1911-1938 Missouri, Confederate Pension Applications and Soldiers Home Applications, 1911-1938 at FamilySearch — index and images
- USCT Volunteers who enlisted in Washtington, Franklin, Missouri
Regiments
Service men in Franklin 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 Franklin County, Missouri:
World War II[edit | edit source]
- 1940-1945 - Missouri, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1941-1946 - Missouri, Reports of Separation Notices, 1941-1946 at FamilySearch — index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Franklin County, Missouri Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Franklin County, Missouri Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
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 Records
- 1750-1988 Missouri Probate Records 1750-1998 at FamilySearch — images
- 1766-1988 Missouri Wills and Probate Records 1766-1988 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
School Records[edit | edit source]
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 1817-1939 Missouri Births, 1817-1939 at FamilySearch — index
- 1827-1935 Missouri, Births and Christenings, 1827-1935 at FamilySearch — index
- 1842-1875 Franklin County Birth Index 1842-1875. Batch C515101 at FamilySearch.[8]
- 1848-1863 Franklin County Birth Index 1848-1863. Batch C515102 at FamilySearch
- 1851-1910 Missouri Birth Records, 1851-1910 at Ancestry — index/images ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1750-1920 Missouri, Marriages, 1750-1920 at FamilySearch — index
- 1776-1988 Missouri, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1805-2002 Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002 at Ancestry ($)
- 1819-1875 Franklin County Marriage Index 1819-1875. Batch M515101 at FamilySearch
- 1850 Missouri Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1864-1881 Franklin County Marriage Books C and D Index 1864-1881. Batch M515102 at FamilySearch
- 1881-1890 Franklin County Marriage Books E and F Index 1881-1890. Batch M515103 at FamilySearch
- Brian Oster Missouri Marriage Records Site Missouri Marriage Records
- The marriage records of Franklin County, Missouri at Ancestry ($)
- Franklin County Recorder of Deeds Marriage Search
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1834-1910 Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 at Ancestry — index/images ($)
- 1867-1976 Missouri, Deaths and Burials, 1867-1976 at FamilySearch — index
- 1883-1930 Missouri Deaths, 1883-1930 at FamilySearch — index and images
- Missouri State Archives provides on-line access to Missouri Death Certificates more than 50 yrs old starting in 1910.
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.
- For current information about a center near you, go to the Family History Center Map
Libraries[edit | edit source]
- List of Missouri Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies
- Genealogical Friends Of The Library
507 W. Hickory
Neosho, MO 64828
Website
(Largely for Newton County, but links to general genealogical websites are also available here)
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
- Four Rivers Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 146
Washington, MO 63090 - Franklin County Historical Society
P.O. Box 293
15 North Oak Street
Union, MO 63084-0293
Phone: 636-583-3247
Websites[edit | edit source]
- 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
- RootsWeb resources. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
- Linkpendium. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
- CyndisList. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
- StateofUS. Free. family history resources and government records
- Missouri Genealogy. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Missouri. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Franklin, Missouri," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_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); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Franklin County, Missouri. Page 397-407 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL 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); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Franklin County, Missouri," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, Franklin County Missouri, accessed Sep 2019.
- ↑ http://franklin.mogenweb.org
- ↑ 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.
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