Vernon County, Missouri Genealogy

Guide to Vernon County, Missouri ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named for Colonel Miles Vernon, state senator, and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans. The County is located in the western area of the state.

County Courthouse
Vernon County Courthouse 100 W Cherry Street Nevada, MO 64772 Phone: 417-448-2500 Vernon County Website County Clerk has birth and death records 1883-1904. Recorder of Deeds has marriage and land records. Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and court records. Probate Court has probate records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places in Vernon County, MO, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTownLocator. 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:

Cemeteries

 * Missouri Cemeteries Missouri Access Genealogy

Census Records

 * 1732-1933 at FamilySearch — index and images

Where is present-day Vernon County, Missouri Found in the Federal Census? 1830: North of the Osage River: Jackson County, MO 1830: South of the Osage River: Crawford County, MO 1840: Van Buren County, MO except for the southern 1/4th of the county which was enumerated as Newton County, MO 1850: Bates County, MO 1860-present: Vernon County, MO

Court Records

 * 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images

Local Histories

 * History of Vernon County, Missouri. 1887. St. Louis: Brown. Available online at FamilySearch
 * History of Vernon County, Missouri. By J. B. Johnson. 1911. Chicago, Illinois: C. F. Cooper. Vol 2 available online at FamilySearch

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Missouri (1804-1889)
 * Map of Vernon County townships (Histopolis)
 * The University of Missouri Digital Library has digital copies of Missouri county plat books (ca. 1930) for all Missouri counties including Vernon County. The city of St. Louis is not included in this collection.
 * Map of 1904 Vernon County with numerous small settlements (My Genealogy Hound)

Military Records

 * 1900-1941 at FamilySearch — images

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1911-1938  at FamilySearch — index and images

Civil War Battles The following Civil War Battles were fought in Vernon County:


 * September 2, 1861 Dry Wood Creek also known as Big Dry Wood Creek, Battle of the Mules
 * October 25, 1864 Marmiton River also known as Shiloh Creek, Charlot’s Farm
 * Map showing Civil War battles in Missouri.

World War II

 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1941-1946 at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1750-1988 at FamilySearch — images
 * 1766-1988 Missouri Wills and Probate Records 1766-1988 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1855-1963 Vernon County Probate Index, 1855-1963. Index may be searched by surname of the deceased, the administrator or the heirs. Record copies may be ordered for a nominal sum. The index provides the following:

Birth

 * 1817-1939 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1827-1935 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1851-1910 Missouri Birth Records, 1851-1910 at Ancestry — index/images ($)
 * 1883-1897 Vernon County Birth Index 1883-1897. Batch at FamilySearch.

Marriage

 * 1750-1920 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1776-1988 Missouri, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1805-2002 Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1850 Missouri Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1855-1885 - Vernon County Marriage Index 1855-1885. Batches and  at FamilySearch.

Death

 * 1834-1910 Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 at Ancestry — index/images ($)
 * 1867-1976 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883-1897 Vernon County Death Index 1883-1897. Batch at FamilySearch.
 * 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.

Family History Centers

 * Nevada Missouri Family History Center

Societies

 * Vernon County Historical Society 231 North Main Street Nevada, MO 64772 Phone: 417-667-9602 Website

Websites

 * Missouri Digital Heritage. Free. digital images of many types of records from institutions across the State
 * Vernon County 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
 * . 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 ($)