| Moniteau County | |
| Organized February
14, 1845, from Cole and Morgan counties and named for Moniteau Creek.
The name Moniteau is the French spelling of the Indian word meaning
"spirit of God". It has been said that the creek was named by
the Indians for the painted figure of a man "spirit of God",
that was on a rock at the mouth
County Seat: California Address: Moniteau County |
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| Photograph | |
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| History | |
| The first session of Moniteau
County Court took place on February 27, 1845, a few miles north of the
present-day county seat. In May of the same year, Mr. and Mrs. A. T.
Byler donated 50 acres in Boonesborough, an early name for California,
which was designated as the county seat. The square was to contain one
acre. In May 1846 the court ordered the sheriff to sell the old building
on the public square.
In September 1846 the court appropriated $2,500 for a two-story, brick courthouse with stone foundation to be built on the same site. The building contained two small offices on the south side, a large room on the north (apparently the courtroom), and one large room on the second floor, which was leased to a lodge in 1852. Albert Byler contracted the building of the 50-by-70-foot courthouse for $2,176.85. In April 1867, as the court prepared to build a second courthouse, they ordered the building sold to the highest bidder. H. C. Finke bought it for $550 and removed it. The court made an order in January 1867 for a new courthouse. William Vogdt was appointed to superintend construction, which the court estimated to cost about $45,000-$50,000. A new site was briefly considered, but in February 1867 the court chose the site of the previous courthouse. The commissioners received bids for construction of a 54-by-89-foot building in March 1867. The Illinois firm of Underwood and Conn submitted a bid of $40,433.75, which the court accepted in April 1867. Contracators completed construction in February 1868. Seven rooms were on the first floor; double stairways leading to the 54-by-54-foot courtroom on the second floor were later reduced to one stairway by enclosing the well on the east. In 1905 O. E. Sprouce directed an extensive remodeling that included alteration of the roof, which had caused so much leaking. He increased the height of the dome 20 feet, replastered the walls and added a metal ceiling to the Circuit Court room. Minor repairs and alterations were made in 1934 under a federal Civil Works Administration project. The curved portico design is similar to the 1826 St. Louis County courthouse designed by Morton and Laveille. It is also reminiscent of the Missouri State Capitol, designed by A. Stephen Hills in 1837, remodeled in 1888. Moniteau County's courthouse is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Copyright 2002 University of Missouri. Published by University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia. |
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| Additional History | |
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The Moniteau County Courthouse, built in 1867, replaced a 20-year-old brick building and is now one of the oldest courthouses in Missouri. Nearly all of the county’s business is still conducted inside this one building. The interesting semicircular front portico very closely resembles the same feature of the former State Capitol built in 1840. Note the square mounted abaci on top of the brick columns. The same features on the State Capitol were oriented in a curved line with the portico. Here the abaci are in line with the courthouse walls. The only major interior change over all the years has been the removal of one side of the double staircase. The courthouse is nearly unchanged from its original design and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The marker on the lawn describes the origin of our county’s name. The first floor contains two interesting museum displays by the historical society. One is a history of the county from pre-settlement, including natural features and Indians, to the days of early settlement. The other display describes the participation of Moniteau County servicemen in our nation’s wars. Items pertaining to the county’s history are offered for sale including books, postcards, audio tapes, atlas, and cemetery records. The courthouse lawn and sidewalk is named "Heritage Square" and has been landscaped with tree plantings, benches, period lighting and brick sidewalks. The bricks in the sidewalks are engraved with the names of citizens, events, and organizations associated with Moniteau County. A granite paver has the engraved image of the Manito and names of Moniteau County towns. Personalized bricks may be purchased through applications available at the courthouse. The funds received from the development of this "Heritage Square" are used to restore and landscape the courthouse. The Moniteau County Courthouse is located on the square in Downtown, California, MO. |
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| Records at Courthouse | |
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Recorder
of Deeds: Index
to deeds, 1845-1882; Deed records, 1845-1895; Marriage records,
1845-1917; Negro/colored marriage records, 1865-1891. Clerk
of the County Court: Permanent record of births, 1883-1889; Register of births and
stillbirths, 1883-1894; Permanent record of deaths, 1883-1887; Federal
census, 1850; State census, 1876; Justice of the peace docket books,
1870-1956. |
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| More Links | |
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Birth
& Death Records Database Search
for Moniteau County on Archives' Online Catalog Roll
by Roll Listing of Microfilm Missouri Birth & Death Records Database: Search & Record Availability |
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