| Maries County | |
| Organized March 2,
1855, from Osage and Pulaski counties and named for the Maries River.
Maries is probably a corruption of the French "marias" meaning
"marsh" or "swamp". The Maries River, like the upper
reaches of the Osage River was once said to be called Le Marias de
Cygnes or "Marsh of Swans". It has also been suggested that
the Big and Little Maries Rivers were named for two French girls and
that the name is the plural of Marie.
County Seat: Vienna Address: Maries County |
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| Photograph | |
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| History | |
| Maries County organized in 1855
and built its first courthouse the following year. Robert McKin, of
California, Missouri, constructed the brick, two-story building, which
measured 40 by 44 feet, for $3,000. It faced east and stood close to the
street on the edge of the square. A fire, believed to have been set
intentionally, destroyed the building and most records November 6, 1868.
In March 1869 the court appropriated $10,000 for construction of a new courthouse, to be built in the center of the square. George A. Lett, of St. James, contracted to build the courthouse and completed his work in February 1870. The two-story building, with simple gable roof, resembled the previous structure. A double stairway on the north led to the courtroom on the second floor. The building continued in use until the 20th century courthouse was built. In December 1939 Maries County considered a new three-story courthouse, 115 by 80 feet, of Missouri stone and concrete. About $90,000 was the investment considered: Work Projects Administration funding $50,000, supplemented by a bond issue proposal for $40,000. The following month the Belle Banner urged community support; the editorial cautioned that federal aid would not last forever. County residents voted approval in January 1940. The architect was Macon C. Abbitt. Allan Bethel, Jefferson City, was foreman of construction. Excavations began in June 1940. It was built in two stages. County offices occupied the first unit, while the second unit, which extended to the south was finished. The jail occupied the top story. The September court term of 1942 met in the $76,000 courthouse. Copyright 2002 University of Missouri. Published by University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia. |
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| Additional History | |
| The courthouse burned on November 6, 1868. | |
| Records at Courthouse | |
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Recorder
of Deeds: Index to deeds, 1855-1886; Deed records, 1860-1864 and
1866-1889; Marriage records, 1881-1921. Clerk
of the County Court: Register of births and stillbirths, 1883-1884; Register of deaths,
1883; County court records, 1866-1872. Clerk
of the Circuit Court: Index to circuit court records, (no dates); Circuit court records,
1868-1894. Clerk of the Probate Court: Index to probate records, (no dates); Probate records, 1872-1886; Administrator’s/executor’s letters, bonds and records, 1869-1950; Inventories, appraisements and sale bills, 1854-1883; Guardian’s/curator’s records, 1879-1913; Will records, 1866-1940. |
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| More Links | |
| Birth
& Death Records Database Search
for Maries County on Archives' Online Catalog Roll
by Roll Listing of Microfilm Missouri Birth & Death Records Database: Search & Record Availability |
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