| Henry County | |
| Organized December
13, 1834, from Lillard (now Lafayette) County and named for Patrick
Henry, Revolutionary patriot. Originally organized on October 15, 1841,
by an act of the Legislature.
County Seat: Clinton Address: Henry County |
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| Photograph | |
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| History | |
| Henry County has had two
courthouses. The first dates from 1837 when the county was called Rives.
The court appropriated $2,500, and commissioners presented a plan for a
brick courthouse in December 1837. John Mercer received a contract for
the work, which he completed in 1839. Final cost of the building
was $2,565.
In 1853 the court appropriated $1,500 to improve and complete the structure. By the 1880s this courthouse was considered unsafe; it was condemned in 1884 and razed in 1887. After several unsuccessful attempts, residents of Henry County passed a $50,000 bond issue in 1891 for construction of a new courthouse. The court accepted plans of Kansas City architects Frederick C. Gunn and Louis S. Curtiss, and gave the contract to D. J. Hyde (or Hayde) and Co. of Sedalia for $47,221 in February 1892. Cornerstone ceremonies for Henry County's present courthouse took place June 24, 1892. The three-story building, constructed of Warrensburg sandstone, measured 96 by 71 feet. The tower, originally 127 feet tall, was made with impermanent material; the steel framework was covered with copper and a stucco shell. It began leaking a few months after it was completed in June 1893; architect Gunn was recalled in 1896 to make repairs. Repairs on the tower plagued 20th century courts. Finally, in 1969 the judges suggested removal and sought the county's opinion in a straw vote. Of 20,000 residents, 532 cast ballots; 425 voted for removal of the tower, 107 favored restoration. The judges voted unanimously to remove it on February 21, 1969, amidst the protests of historic preservationists Copyright 2002 University of Missouri. Published by University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia. |
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| Additional History | |
| In December of 1837, $2500 was appropriated for the purpose of building a brick courthouse. The brick was fired right on the square, of clay dug in Clinton that was naturally mixed with iron, which made it a dark color. Henry County's first courthouse was completed in August, 1839. | |
| Records at Courthouse | |
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Recorder
of Deeds:
Index to deeds, 1837-1886; Deed records, 1835-1939; Mortgage deeds,
1875-1887; Index to marriage records, 1871-?; Marriage
records, 1835-1916. Clerk
of the
Circuit Court: Circuit court records, 1835-1885. Clerk of the Probate Court: Index to probate records, 1836-1973; Probate records, 1836-1886; Index to records instruments, (no dates); Administrator’s/executor’s letters, bonds and records, 1854-1887; Inventories, appraisements and sale bills, 1854-1886; Will records, 1854-1917. |
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| More Links | |
| Birth
& Death Records Database Search
for Henry County on Archives' Online Catalog Roll
by Roll Listing of Microfilm Missouri Birth & Death Records Database: Search & Record Availability Local Records Inventory Database |
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