Douglas County, Missouri Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Clerk of the Circuit Court and Recorder has marriage, divorce and court records; Probate and Magistrate Judge has probate records.

Parent County
1857 Douglas County was created 29 October 1857 from Ozark and Taney Counties. County seat: Ava

Boundary Changes
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.

Record Loss
1872 The Militia Springs courthouse burned in July 1872, destroying many records. 1886 Fire destroyed a building being used for courthouse purposes on April 26, 1886. All records were destroyed.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog




 * The State Historical Society of Missouri has information on historical Missouri place names for all 114 Missouri Counties.

Neighboring Counties
Christian •  Howell  •  Ozark  •  Taney  •  Texas  •  Webster  •  Wright

Cemeteries

 * Missouri Cemeteries Missouri Genealogy Cemeteries

Census

 * 1732-1933 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Court

 * 1800 - 1991 at FamilySearch — index and images

Local Histories

 * Selleck, Bessie Janet Woods. Early settlers of Douglas County, Missouri. Berkeley, Calif. : Professional Press, 1952.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)
 * Curry, J. E. A reminiscent history of Douglas County, Missouri, 1857-1957. Douglas County Herald (Missouri), 1957.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)

Maps



 * Maps of Missouri (1804-1889)
 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.


 * Map of Douglas County townships (Histopolis)


 * The University of Missouri Digital Library has digital copies of Missouri county plat books (ca. 1930) for all Missouri counties including Douglas County. The city of St. Louis is not included in this collection.

Military

 * 1900 - 1941 at FamilySearch — images

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

Regiments

Service men in Douglas 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 Douglas County, Missouri:
 * - 1st Regiment, Missouri State Militia Cavalry (Union), Company H

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

November 7, 1862 = Clark’s Mill also known as Vera Cruz

Map showing Civil War battles in Missouri

World War II

 * 1941-1946 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1800 - 1991 at FamilySearch — index

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

Births

 * 1827 - 1935 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1851 - 1910 Missouri Birth Records, 1851-1910 at Ancestry.com — index/images $

Marriages

 * 1750 - 1920 at FamilySearch.org — 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.com $
 * 1850 Missouri Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1877 - 1884 Douglas County Marriage Book 1 Index 1877-1884. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Deaths

 * 1834 - 1910 Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 at Ancestry.com — index/images $
 * 1867 - 1976 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * Missouri State Archives provides on-line access to Missouri Death Certificates more than 50 yrs old starting in 1910.

Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries

 * Douglas County Historical And Genealogical Society P.O. Box 655 Ava, MO 65608 Phone: 417-683-5799 or 417-683-2536


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

Family History Centers

 * Ava Missouri Family History Center Highway 5, Ava, MO 65608 United States Location Map