County Seat: Chillicothe

Address:

Livingston County
700 Webster St., Suite 6
Chillicothe, MO 64601

The court arranged for the first permanent courthouse to be built on the square. An initial appropriation of $4,000 in September 1839, later supplemented by an additional $1,600, provided funds for the two-story, brick courthouse with cupola.

In February 1840 the court awarded the building contract for $5,600 to Moses Burton. He completed the building November 2, 1841. An early postmaster in Livingston County drew an eyewitness rendering of the courthouse in 1840. 

In 1864 the court condemned the building as unsafe and ordered it razed. For many years the square remained open and available to the public. Townspeople called the area "Elm Park." County officers occupied quarters in different buildings around town until the 20th century courthouse was built.

Voters in Livingston County rejected several bond issues to finance a courthouse. Finally, a direct tax of 25 cents per $100 valuation passed in April 1912, providing funds for a $100,000 building.

The question of where to locate the courthouse caused some disagreement. Many in Chillicothe wanted to keep the pleasant park atmosphere on the square, but the park was county property, and apparently the judges felt the majority of county residents favored a courthouse site on the square.

The court visited Carroll, Boone, Vernon, Jasper, Barton and Monroe counties to examine their recently constructed courthouses. The commissioners were not favorably impressed with Jasper and Barton; the exterior of Carroll they found acceptable, but they did not care for the plan. They liked Vernon; Boone was closer to what they had in mind, and they were impressed with City Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.

Eighteen architects presented plans before the court; one brought a model of his work. Late in July 1912 the court accepted the proposal of Warren Roberts and George Saase for a three-story building, 80 by 100 feet, of Bedford stone.

The general contract was let to L. W. Dumas, Jr. Construction Co. of Columbia, Missouri, for $97,890. Ground was broken in April 1913. Cornerstone ceremonies were conducted June 28, 1914, and the court accepted the completed building July 25.

This was a popular courthouse design in Missouri from 1910-1930. Ray County officials visited Livingston County during construction of this courthouse, talked with architect Roberts, then chose him to design their 1914 courthouse. Both buildings continue to serve the counties, excellent examples of Warren Roberts' work.

1838, when the first furniture was ordered purchased at public expense - a table 4 x 3 1/2 feet, with a large drawer, and six chairs. In March, 1841, the citizens of Chillicothe used this building for a school-house.
The first jail was ordered built in the fall of 1838. No recorded particulars of this building can now be obtained, save that the commissioner was directed " not to go higher than $1,000" in contracting for its construction.
SECOND COURT-HOUSE.
The second court-house in this county was completed November 2, 1841. Its construction was ordered by the county court in August, 1838. The order directed that the contract be let the following November; that the cost should not exceed $5,000, and that the contractor might have two years to complete his work. In November, however, the letting of the contract was ordered suspended until March, 1839, but when that time came the court again ordered the postponement of the contract. Old Thomas R. Bryan, the county clerk, and some others claimed that this action of the court was illegal, and moved to appeal the decision to the circuit court, but the motion to appeal was overruled. The grounds of the second postponement was "lack of funds at present, and no good prospects for any soon."
In September (1839) the court appropriated $4,000 to build the house; in November the plan of the superintendent for the same was received, and he was ordered to receive proposals for undertaking the work till January following. In February, 1840, the contract was let to Moses Burton, Esq., of Fayette, Howard county, Messrs. Majors, Garner, Black, Collier and Settle, of that county, being his sureties. The contract price was $5,600, of which $1,600 was an additional appropriation. The building was of brick, two stories high, and stood in the center of the public square, Chillicothe. The height of the first story was 13 feet. At first, all the rooms were warmed by fire-places. The house was painted and had a cupola (or, as the record says, a "cupelow "), and was not an unattractive structure. It stood until after the Civil War. Mr. Burton was not paid the cash in full when his work was done - "no funds." He was given a warrant for near $4,000, with interest at ten per cent, and this was not paid for some years later.
Livingston County’s first courthouse was built in 1838, but because of an oversight in the plans it had no windows. A second courthouse was built in November, 1841, on the southwest corner of Webster and Cherry Streets. It was a two story brick structure with all rooms warmed by fireplaces. The original courthouse without windows was used as a school.

Recorder of Deeds: Index to deeds, 1837-1895; Deed records, 1837-1909; Index to marriage records, (no dates); Marriage records, 1837-1915.

Clerk of the County Court: Register of births and stillbirths, 1883-1891; Record of births, 1883-1890; Register of deaths, 1883-1890.

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Circuit court records, 1837-1886.

Search for Livingston County on Archives' Online Catalog

Roll by Roll Listing of Microfilm

Missouri Birth & Death Records Database: Search & Record Availability