Carroll County, Missouri Genealogy Trails

Carroll CountyHistory

The Early Families of Carroll County

In studying the history of Carroll County I have found that one of the earliest settlers was before the county was formed, and that was the Kentucky family of Jonas Casner, his wife, sons: Henry, John, Eben, and William, daughters: Charlotte and Judy.  It is noted that Judy Casner died in 1819.  I have found that the first white child born was that of Jesse Mann who was born May of 1819.
In 1819 two North Carolina families: John Standley and William Turner entered the area that would become Carroll County, settling near what would eventually be Carrollton.  They were joined the same year by Jesse Tevault; H. Bert; John McGraw; W. Beatty; John Mayberry; John Riffe; John Wollard; Ned Munson and Malicah Lyle.  It is noted that the first burial in Carroll County was that of Mrs. Nutting in 1820 in the Woolsey Cemetery.  Nehemiah Woolsey and his son, Noah entered the county in 1823.  The founding fathers of the town of Carrollton were that of John Standley and William Turner (both mentioned above) and Joseph John, Humphrey Smith, and Joseph Fowler.

Missouri State Flag

A design by Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver was adopted as the official Missouri State Flag on March 22, 1913; almost 92 years after Missouri became the 24th State to join the union.  This design was for a rectangular flag, consisting of three horizontal red, white and blue stripes. These stripes represent valor, purity and vigilance and justice. A circle is centered on the flag surrounded by a band of blue enclosing the Missouri Coat of Arms on a white background. The blue band displays 24 white five-pointed stars representing Missouri as the 24th State.  The shield of the Missouri Coat of Arms shows, on the right, a Bald Eagle grasping the olive branches of peace and the arrows of war in its talons. This represents the strength and powers of the Federal Government. On the left side of the shield (the state side) are a grizzly bear and a crescent moon. The grizzly bear symbolizes the strength and bravery of the citizens of the State. The crescent moon symbolizes the State of Missouri at the time of its induction into the union; a State with a small population and wealth and huge potential. The crescent moon also symbolizes the "second son." Missouri was the second State to be carved from the territory acquired with the Louisiana Purchase. The shield is encircled by a belt inscribed "United we stand, divided we fall" indicating the advantage of the union of the United States.  Two more grizzly bears, one on each side of the shield, echo the bravery and strength of the State's citizens. They are standing on a scroll displaying the Missouri State Motto, Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto (Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law). Below the scroll are the Roman Numerals for 1820, the year that Missouri became a member of the United States.  Above the shield a helmet is depicted, representing Missouri as a sovereign State. A large star surrounded by 23 smaller stars signifies Missouri's status as the 24th State. A cloud around the large star represents the difficulties that Missouri endured on its way to Statehood.

• Ninth District/Ninth Division: St. Louis, Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and Crawford.

  
  Carroll County Courthouse

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• The town of Carrollton and the future county of Carroll was donated 80 acres of land by the John Standley family and the James Standley family in 1833.  On this 80 acres the County County Coursthouse was built at the highest point within the 80 acres.  The first courthouse was built in 1834 according to the specifications in the County Court Record filed in July 1834.  This building was eighteen foot by twenty foot made out of hewn logs and had a 1 1/2 story chimney with either brick or stone chimney, and under pinned with rock and mortar.  William Glaze the contractor completed the building in November 1835 at a cost of only $273.50.  The building and lot were later sold for $450 in May 1841.  The second courthouse built was a forty square foot, two story brick building which occupied the center of the square.  Work began September  1839 and the exterior was to be completed by November 1842, the interior continued into 1843.  According to tradition, the building was unsafe and was razed in 1865.  In 1867 they began construction of the third courthouse.  This construction was completed in December 1867.  This building was razed in 1901 and was bought for $900.  Many of the counties citizens came together in a meeting in 1901 and came to three conclusions: 1. Carroll County needed a new courthouse at a cost under $60,000 2.  It should be built in the center of the square, 3.  It should be financed by direct tax.  They eventually accepted a plan submitted by Robert Kirsch and they accepted his bid in December 1901 to built this plan by John Scott and Sons, Lancaster at a cost of $45,900.  The cornerstone ceremonies took Place in June 1902 and was completed June 1904, this building continues to serve as the Carroll County Courthouse.  The Carroll County Courthouse Square is also listed with the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 Building #95000858.

• Historic Significance:	Event, Architecture/Engineering
  Architect, builder, or engineer:	Scott, John, & Son, Kirsch, R. G.
  Architectural Style:	Romanesque
  Area of Significance:	Architecture, Politics/Government
  Period of Significance:	1900-1924, 1925-1949
  Owner:	Local Gov't
  Historic Function:	Government, Recreation And Culture
  Historic Sub-function:	Courthouse, Work Of Art (Sculpture, Carving, Rock Art)
  Current Function:	Government, Recreation And Culture
  Current Sub-function:	Courthouse, Work Of Art (Sculpture, Carving, Rock Art)

  Excerpts taken from The Missouri Courthouses, Carroll County by Marian M. Ohman, Coordinator, Art History Programs and Published by University of Missouri-Columbia Extension Division.   National Register of Historic Places.

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The Carroll County Sheriffs and Jail was also listed with the National Register of Historical Places  in 1979 building #79001355.

Farmers National Bank
also known as the Citizens Bank of Norborne

The above was listed with the National Register of Historical Places in 1994 building #94000702

Historic Significance:	Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer:	Unknown
Architectural Style:	Romanesque
Area of Significance:	Architecture
Period of Significance:	1875-1899
Owner:	Private
Historic Function:	Commerce/Trade
Historic Sub-function:	Business, Financial Institution
Current Function:	Commerce/Trade
Current Sub-function	Financial Institution

United States Post Office at Carrollton

This was added to the National Register of Historic Place in 1977 Building #77001570

Wilcoxson and Company Bank
also known as Farmers Bank of Carrollton
This building was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1983 building # 83000975

Norborne, Carroll County, Missouri History: Norborne was started as a railroad town. The first railroad to play an important part in the history of the area was the North Missouri. In 1862 the North Missouri was consolidated with the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern Railroad. In 1879, another consolidation took place with the Wabash. The Santa Fe started its expansion east to Chicago in 1874 and completed the route in 1878, forming the double tracks in Norborne. (Running from Carrollton in the east to Hardin in the west.)   The town or Norborne was named after Norborne B. Coates who was born in Randolph County, the son of Captain Thomas Coates, one of the earliest pioneer families of the Randolph County area. In 1868, Mr. Coates secured the position of Land Agent and Surveyor for the North Missouri railroad. He was also a notary public (with his signature on many old abstracts in Norborne). He came to the area in 1867 to contact owners of land and start negotiations for a right-of-way for the railroad. He surveyed land owned by John and Catherine Deitrich, purchased the railroad rights, then used his shrewd business talents to help plat a town on the site. Hence the name, NORBORNE. The town was incorporated in 1874 and reorganized under a new state law in 1878 to become a city of the fourth class. Source: Norborne Centennial Book-1868 to 1968

DeWitt, Missouri is a river town, not far from the mouth of the Grand River in the west central part of the state. In the 1830's, a few Mormon members were encouraged to settle here, they ran a ferry and assisted those gathering to far west and Adam-ondi-Ahman as they came up the Missouri River. Today, DeWitt is a tiny little town near the river, centering around a city park.  DeWitt was also a stop gap for the Potawatomie Indians on Tuesday, October 23, 1838 after traveling 10 miles from Brunswick to Thomas's encampment, neat DeWitt, Missouri  This morning was early employed in ferrying the remainder of the wagons. By 12 o'clock all were across, and we prepared for the continuation of our journey. The bottom lands of the Missouri being too flat and wet to encamp upon an hour longer than was essentially necessary, at 1 o'clock we left Grand River encampment and passing over prairies (the cold being severe) arrived at Thomas Encampment at a little after 4, a distance of 10 miles. Subsistence beef, flour and corn. Forage corn and corn fodder.

Carroll County, Missouri Genealogy Trails
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