Howard County, Missouri Genealogy

Guide to Howard 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 Benjamin Howard. The County is located in the center area of the state.

County Courthouse
Howard County Courthouse #1 Courthouse Square Fayette, MO 65248 Phone: 660-248-2284 Howard County Website Clerk of the Circuit Court has birth records 1870-1955, marriage and court records from 1870, land and burial records from 1820, military and divorce records from 1900. Probate Court has probate records from 1835. County Health Nurse has death records from 1870.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, 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:

Cemeteries

 * Missouri Cemeteries Missouri Genealogy Cemeteries

Census Records

 * 1732-1933 at FamilySearch — index and images

Church Records
Catholic Immaculate Conception, Richmond


 * 1870-1876 Immaculate Conception, Richmond, Baptism Index 1870-1876. Batch at FamilySearch.

Court Records

 * 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images

Local Histories

 * The Boon's Lick Country: a guide for the William Clark Society second annual field trip, June 15 and 16, 1940. By Charles Van Ravenswaay. 1940. [St. Louis, Mo.? : s.n.]. Available online at FamilySearch
 * History of Chariton and Howard Counties, Missouri. By Thomas Berry Smith. 1923. Topeka [Kansas] : Historical Pub. Available online at FamilySearch
 * History of Howard and Cooper Counties, Missouri. By National Historical Company. 1883. St. Louis : National Historical Co. Available online at FamilySearch

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Missouri (1804-1889)
 * Map of Howard County townships (Histopolis)
 * The University of Missouri Digital Library has digital copies of Missouri county plat books (ca. 1930) for all Missouri counties including Howard County. The city of St. Louis is not included in this collection.

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

Regiments

Service men in Howard 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 Howard County, Missouri:

Civil War Battle The following Civil War Battle was fought in Howard County:


 * October 15, 1864 Glasgow


 * Map showing Civil War battles in Missouri.

World War II

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

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index

Newspapers

 * Newspaperarchive.com ($) has historical newspapers available on-line. Their database has Moberly newspapers from the early 1900's that covered local news on residents from Howard County communities.
 * Missouri Intelligencer, 1819-1835 (Franklin, Howard County, Missouri) Searchable online at the State Historical Society of Missouri’s Digital Collections, Index to Selected Missouri Newspapers.

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1750-1988 at FamilySearch — images
 * 1766-1988 Missouri Wills and Probate Records 1766-1988 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

Birth

 * 1817-1939 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1827-1935 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1851-1910 Missouri Birth Records, 1851-1910 at Ancestry — index/images ($)
 * 1883-1893 Howard County Birth Index 1883-1893. Batch at FamilySearch.
 * 1865-1878 Howard County Birth Index, Volume 4A, 1865-1878. 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 ($)
 * 1816-1861 Howard County Marriage Index 1816-1860. Batches and  at FamilySearch.
 * 1850 Missouri Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1865-1885 Howard County Marriage Book 4A Index 1865-1885. Batch at FamilySearch.
 * 1881-1885 Howard County Marriage Book 1 Index 1881-1885. Batch at FamilySearch.

Death

 * 1834-1910 Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 at Ancestry — index/images ($)
 * 1867-1976 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883-1888 Howard County Death Index 1883-1888. 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.

Libraries

 * List of Missouri Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Societies

 * Howard County Genealogical Society 201 South Main Street Fayette, MO 65248 Phone: 660-248-3348
 * Howard County Missouri Genealogical Society 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
 * . 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 ($)