| Lewis County | |
| Organized January
2, 1833, from Marion County and named for Captain Meriwether Lewis,
governor of the Missouri Territory.
County Seat: Monticello Address: Lewis County |
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| Photograph | |
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| History | |
| Lewis County built three
courthouses in the 19th century. The first, built in 1834, was a
one-room log building about 100 yards northwest of the present
courthouse site. The 1887 History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland
Counties described it as neither spacious nor comfortable, but the
court intended it to be only a temporary courthouse. J. W. Buckley
contracted the building for $210, but the court needed to borrow $100 to
pay him. In September 1839, as plans for the next courthouse progressed,
county officials ordered the building and the lot on which it stood sold
at the courthouse door to the highest bidder.
At the December term in 1838, the court appointed William Ellis commissioner. His assignment was to draft a plan then let the bid by public auction after giving one month's notice in area newspapers. The court appropriated $3,200 in February 1839 for this two-story, brick building. William S. Pemberton and James A. Richardson apparently shared responsibility for the construction. The courthouse was on the square, facing west. No known illustrations exist. The third and present courthouse dates from 1875. J. T. McAllister, architect, prepared plans for the two-story, brick building with patterned mansard roof. A small, unusual overtop rises above the roof, marking the entry. Decorative brick work and paired brackets enrich the cornice. The building measured 75 by 50 by 30 feet. At the time it was built, there were six offices and a large hall on the first floor; the courtroom, three offices, library, judge and jury rooms were on the second. S. J. Vandiver was superintendent for the county. George Barnes contracted the building. Costs ran slightly over $10,000. Additions have been made, but they did not significantly alter the original design. Lewis County's is one of the few remaining courthouses in Missouri dating from the 1870s. Copyright 2002 University of Missouri. Published by University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia. |
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| Additional History | |
| Records at Courthouse | |
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Recorder
of Deeds:
Index to deeds, 1833-1889; Deed records, 1833-1895; Quitclaim deeds,
1842-1891; Mortgage deeds, 1872-1907; Deeds of trust, 1872-1887; Patent
records, 1920-1969; Index to marriage records, 1833-1848; Marriage
records, 1833-1919. Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas and Chancery Court: Chancery
records, 1834-1856. Clerk
of the County Court: Permanent
record of births, 1883-1887; Register of births and stillbirths,
1883-1887; Permanent record of deaths, 1883-1887; Register of deaths,
1883-1887. Clerk
of the Circuit Court: Circuit
court records, 1833-1888. Clerk of the Probate Court: Index to probate records, 1833-1971;Probate records, 1833-1887; Administrator’s/executor’s letters, bonds and records, 1833-1914; Inventories, appraisements and sale bills, 1855-1893; Settlement records, 1857-1887; Index to will records, 1833-1976; Will records, 1833-1917. |
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| More Links | |
| Birth
& Death Records Database Search
for Lewis County on Archives'
Online Catalog Roll
by Roll Listing of Microfilm Missouri Birth & Death Records Database: Search & Record Availability |
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