Madison County Genealogical Society

Minutes of the Meeting – May 9, 2019

 

The May 2019 meeting of the Madison County Genealogical Society was held at the Edwardsville Public Library on Thursday, May 9, at 7:00 pm.

 

President, Robert Ridenour, called the meeting to order.

GIFT MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE

Do you have a family member that is interested in (or even obsessed with) genealogy? A membership in the Madison County Genealogical Society would be a very thoughtful gift. A gift card will be sent to the recipient of any gift membership.

The following memberships are available:
Individual/Family Annual Membership $25.00
Patron Annual Membership $35.00
Life Membership $300.00

Contact our Secretary, Petie Hunter, at petie8135@att.net, about a gift membership.

May Meeting

 

On May 9, 2019, Tom Pearson presented a program titled Researching Ancestors in County Histories.

 

Tom Pearson is a Subject Specialist in the Genealogy room of the St. Louis Public Library.

 

County histories were published for many counties in the United States from 1880 – 1930. They can be good sources of historical and biographical information about a county, although the biographical information should be verified when possible by other sources, since it was usually furnished by the subject of the biographical sketch or his family.

 

[As an example, Tom gave detailed information about the contents of the History of Daviess & Gentry Counties, Missouri (1922).]

 

PART I  Daviess County

 

Index (index of subjects of biographical sketches only)

 

Contents  Early Settlement – Organization of Daviess County – County Buildings – Cities & Towns – Military History – Mormons in Daviess County – Pioneer & Modern Transportation – Medical Profession – The Press – Firsts –Officials – First World War – American Red Cross – Societies & Lodges

 

List of Illustrations (approximately 100 illustrations, mostly portraits)

 

PART II Gentry County

 

Index (index of subjects of biographical sketches only)

 

Contents  Introduction – Territorial History of Gentry County – Natural Resources & Topography – Early Settlements – Pioneer Life – First Courts – County Buildings – Cities & Towns – Agriculture & Allied Industry – Civil War Period – Railroads & Highways – Schools – Lodges, Societies, & Clubs – World War – County Officers

 

List of Illustrations

 

PART III Biographical Sketches

 

FEATURES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO GENEALOGISTS

 

Early Settlement: Analysis of birthplaces of residents of Daviess County (1882):

 

Missouri: 20%      Virginia: 19%           Ohio: 14%      Illinois: 10 %   Kentucky: 8%       

Indiana: 6%          Foreign: 5%             Pennsylvania: 4%   Tennessee: 4%       Maryland: 3%

 

Military History: Coverage of Black Hawk War, Heatherly War, and Mexican-American War.

              No rosters, but mention of military units in which Daviess County men served.

 

Civil War: List of military units (Union) in which Daviess County men served.

              Total men in Missouri Volunteer Regiments: 139

              Total in Missouri State Militia Cavalry: 481

              Total in Regiments of Other States: 8

 

Rosters of Daviess County men in various Union regiments, with separate lists of men transferred to other units, discharged, disabled, killed in action, or died of disease.

 

Roster of Daviess County men who served in Confederate units – names only, units & rank not listed.

 

Civil War happenings in Daviess County (summary)

 

Pioneer & Modern Transportation in Daviess County:

Listing of stage lines with rates (1837); Navigable waters; Roads, with construction dates; Railroads, with info about establishment & construction dates.

 

Churches in Daviess County: List of churches, with establishment dates and first preachers

 

Schools in Daviess County: List of public & private schools, with names of first teachers and superintendents

 

Bench & Bar in Daviess County: List of first attorneys, judges, & courts

 

Medical Profession in Daviess County: List of first doctors, dentists, and midwives

 

The Press in Daviess County: List of first newspapers, with names of first editors.

 

Firsts in Daviess County:

1st Coroner's inquest (Feb 1847); 1st grocer's license (Apr 1837);

1st license to reside issued to free person of color (1845); 1st cattle brand on record (May 1837)

1st newspaper printed (1853); 1st marriage (Nov 1837)

 

Officials:  Lists of U.S., state, and county officials representing or from Daviess County, including: County Treasurers; Probate Judges; Judges of Court of Common Pleas; Recorders; Sheriffs; Prosecutors; Circuit Clerks; County Clerks; & County Judges.

 

First World War:   Lists of WWI soldiers by town (names only – units not given). Separate lists for men killed in action or died of disease.

 

American Red Cross: List of organization officials.

 

Societies & Lodges (lists of officers and/or members):

GAR; Sons of Veterans; YMCA; Patrons of Husbandry;

United Confederate Veterans, with rank, company, & regiment;

PEO Sisterhood, charter members; Jamesport Fortnightly Club;

Daviess County Immigrant Society; DAR, charter members;

WCTU; Masonic Lodges; Knights of Pythias; Rebekahs; American Legion

 

Biographical Sketches: Biographical sketches are 1 – 5 pages in length (most 1 – 2 pages long), some with b&w portrait.

Information furnished in many biographical sketches includes:

 

Occupation & Business History;

Birth date & birthplace;

Parents, with birth years & birthplaces of parents;

Siblings, with current places of residence and married names of the ladies;

Military history if a veteran;

Marriage dates with maiden names, birth years, and birthplaces of spouses;

Children with married names of girls and places of current residence;

Political affiliation;

Religious affiliation & church attended;

Photo (in some cases)

 

CASE STUDY: ANALYSIS OF A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

 

[Tom took one of the biographical sketches from this county history and showed all of the clues of where to look for proof of the printed information. That sketch and the clues follow:]

 

History of Daviess and Gentry Counties (1922), p. 394.

 

E. J. Harlow, a prominent farmer 1 and breeder 2 of Monroe Township, was born 3 Nov. 26, 1860, Shelby County, Ky., a son of James and Hulda (Nichols) Harlow. 4

 

James Harlow was a native of Kentucky, born Feb. 16, 1824. 5 He moved to Daviess County in 1867, locating on a farm in Monroe Township. 6 His wife, Hulda Nichols, was born Nov. 30, 1828, near Kokomo, Ind., 7 and was reared by her grandparents in Kentucky, her parents having died when she was a very young child. 8 She was educated in Kentucky, later teaching school in Shelby County, Ky. 9 Mr. Harlow died April 18, 1882, in Monroe Township. 10

 

Mr. and Mrs. Harlow were the parents of eight children, as follows: J. W., Gallatin; Sam., Monroe Township; Linsley, Montgomery County, Kans.; E. J., the subject of this sketch; P., Chillicothe; Wilmer G., Monroe Township; and two children who died in infancy. 11

 

E. J. Harlow came to Daviess County with his parents when he was six years old. 12 He was educated in the district schools 13 and has been a farmer all his life. 14 He, with his wife inherited 200 acres of land, and have made their home there since their marriage. 15 Mr. Harlow has made extensive improvements on the land, which is one of the best improved farms in Monroe Township. He uses acetylene lights. Mr. Harlow has been a breeder of Hereford cattle and Percheron horses and jacks. 16

 

E. J. Harlow was married Jan. 23, 1881, 17 to Mary A. Wilson, a daughter of McClain and Abbie (Green) Wilson, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, who first settled in Ray County, Mo., and later came to Daviess County. 18 Mrs. Harlow was born on the farm where she now lives and which she inherited. 19 To Mr. and Mrs. Harlow six children have been born: George Willard, a stock shipper, Hamilton; Earl, at home; Virgil, at home. 20 The two younger children are graduates of the Quincy and Kidder schools; 21 three other children are deceased. 22

 

Mr. Harlow is a Democrat. 23 He is a stockholder in the Gallatin Flour Mill, 24 and a director of the North Missouri Fair Association of Hamilton. 25 He is the owner of 746 acres of land in Monroe Township. 26 Mr. Harlow has made a success of stock raising and is one of the reliable and progressive citizens of the county, energetic and far-sighted in his methods of business and dependable in his dealings. 27

 

Places to Verify Data Given in Biographical Sketch

 

1 Land records, Tax records, Farm name records, Agricultural census;

2 Brand records, Estray records, Tax records, Agricultural census;

3 1850 & 1860 KY Census [parents & siblings];

41850 & 1860 KY Census [any Nichols in county]

5 History of Shelby County, KY;

6 Farmers & Breeders Directory, Newspaper mention of newcomers to county;

7 1820 IN Census [Nichols], 1830 KY Census [Nichols];

8 Will or estate record in Howard Co., IN; Guardianship record in Howard Co., IN or Shelby Co., KY;

9 School records of Shelby Co., KY; Marriage record in Shelby Co., KY;

10 Will or estate record in Daviess Co., MO; Newspaper mention of death, Cemetery listing

11 1900, 1910, & 1920 Census, Daviess Co., MO; 1900, 1910, & 1920 Census, Livingston Co., MO; 1900, 1910, & 1920 Census, Caldwell Co., MO; 1900, 1910, & 1920 Census, Montgomery Co., KS

12 Newspaper account of newcomers

13 School records

14 Farmers & Breeders Directory, Agricultural census

15 Will and estate records of Daviess Co., MO; Land records of Daviess Co., MO; Farm name register

16 County fair records, World’s Fair records [1904], Brand records, Tax records, Newspapers

17 Marriage records of Daviess Co., MO

18 1870 & 1880 Census of Ray Co., MO (McLain Wilson); 1870 & 1880 Census of Daviess Co., MO (McLain Wilson)

19 Will and estate records, Daviess Co., MO

20 1900, 1910, & 1920 Census of Daviess Co., MO

21 School records Newspaper accounts of graduation ceremonies

22 Death/stillbirth records, Cemetery listings, Newspaper death notices

23 Voter records, Political club records

24 Business records, Tax records

25 Fair records, Newspaper accounts of fair proceedings

26 Land records, Tax records, Farm name register

27 County history, Farm and breeder directory, County fair records

 

Mr. Pearson has a handout that lists many sources of county histories, both websites and books. If you contact him at tpearson@slpl.org, he will probably send you a copy of his handout by email.

 

This presentation was very well received and provoked many questions and comments.

 

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