The Montgomery County Historical Society (MCHS) is a 501(c)(3) corporation. The Society owns two buildings in Montgomery City that house an extensive genealogical library and a museum of artifacts and antiques. All research requests replies, building staffing/maintenance and website management are donated by volunteers.
If you like what you find here, please become a member and/or make a donation to help us continue our mission. We also welcome contributions of your own research, be it family history or documented historical articles that would interest other visitors.
Pioneer Days, a 96-page illustrated history of the County, has been well-received by both those new to our history as well as long-time residents.
John Brooks Henderson - Missouri Politician
John Brooks Henderson actions in the 1860s continue to reverberate into  the 21st century. Born in Virginia, this attorney served in the Missouri legislature and U.S. Senate. He played an important part in Missouri’s and the nation’s history. At the outset of the Civil War he helped prevent Missouri from seceding from the Union by trying to represent the views of conservative Unionists in his state. Over the course of the war, he modified his position on emancipation and wrote the original draft of the Thirteenth Amendment. He then had the courage to vote his conscience in the Johnson impeachment trial although it proved to be political suicide. He may have been forgotten but his influence continues to this day. Click here for full article.
Search Missouri Court Records
The Missouri's Judicial Records database can be searched by name. Historic court records  offer tremendous insight into the daily lives of the past. Probate files offer insight into lives and relationships through wills, inventories, settlements, and even debts and credits. Additional Probate Records (Montgomery Probate 1889-1900 and Wills 1889-1922) are found on Family Search. Click here for more details on Montgomery County Probate records. Guardianships reveal details about a minor’s education, what they wore and ate and even apprenticeship information.
In an era when reputation was the basis for social standing, the only legal recourse was litigation. The opportunities for research into social history, commerce, freedom, architecture and other topics are tremendous. Missouri’s circuit courts heard cases dealing with everything from fur trade to the Civil War, steamboats to railroads and agriculture to urbanization.
The Supreme Court of Missouri Historical Database provides an index and abstract of the criminal and civil court cases that were appealed to the territorial Superior Court and state Supreme Court of Missouri up to 1874, and a partial listing of cases to 1889. Digital images are available for some case files dating from 1821 through 1865.
For a better understanding of our States judicial system, click here.
Where is Daniel Boone Buried?
Everyone agrees that frontier hero Daniel Boone died at  his son’s home near Defiance, Missouri in 1820. Everyone agrees he was buried about fourteen miles west of Marthasville in the Bryan Family Cemetery near the grave of his beloved wife Rebecca. He was so particular about being buried here that he told friends that if he died away from home, he wanted them to bring his remains to this spot on a hill near Terque Creek. That, however, is where the story gets confusing. The people of Marthasville say he still lies in Missouri soil, his home for the last twenty years of his life. The people of Frankfort, Kentucky, will tell you that in 1845 the remains of Daniel and Rebecca were exhumed and reburied at the Frankfort Cemetery on a scenic spot overlooking the Kentucky River. So what is the true story–where is Daniel Boone buried?
Missouri Digital Newspaper Project
 The State Historical Society of Missouri is pleased to present a growing collection of digitized historic newspapers. These images are freely available to the public and are keyword-searchable.
Focused on merging meaningful historic content with innovative modern technology, newspapers in our collection are digitized to National Digital Newspaper Program specifications. Many of Missouri’s digital newspapers are also available through the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America site, which ultimately aims to include newspaper pages from all states and U.S. territories in its collection.
Prussian Immigrants & Letters Home
Much has been written to answer “Why emigrate from Germany?” The common reply is “avoidance of military conscription,” but that is far too simplistic. Recall that the first arrival of Nordrhein-Westfalen immigrants into Loutre was in 1845. More appropriate responses to “Why?” include these historical facts, further explained in Modern Prussian History:
- Population growth in Prussia (58% between 1816 and 1849); recall there was no “Germany” until 1871 (1850 map)
- Bad weather and crop failures; 1845-47 are called “the hunger years”
- Industrialization and cheap British imports replaced the handicraft home-based production; impoverishing the weavers in Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Conflicts regarding land use; aristocratic and bourgeoisie ownership
- Mass poverty and “pauperism” due to all of the above
- Disenchantment with the promised reforms of Frederick Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia, whose reign began in 1840
If such "personalized history" appeals to you, also consider Our Daily Bread, German Village LIfe by Teva Scheer, to better understand the challenges our ancestors faced and feel what it was like to live (and starve to death) in the German states prior to 1850.
Thanks to a member for sharing this article. If a reader has additional information regarding source or references, please share with the webmaster. If your personal files include such letters home (or similar treasures) please share a copy with MCHS.
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August 18
Old Threshers Annual Show
Experience the “Way it Was” with antique farm machinery, flea market, games, food, antique cars, music, and more. Click here for more info. ...
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August 27
MCHS Board Meeting
The MCHS Board meets monthly on the fourth Saturday at the Senior Center while under COVID restrictions.
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September 24
MCHS Board Meeting
The MCHS Board meets monthly on the fourth Saturday at the Senior Center while under COVID restrictions.
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October 22
MCHS Board Meeting
The MCHS Board meets monthly on the fourth Saturday at the Senior Center while under COVID restrictions.
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