Jackson County, Missouri - Chapter 8: County Officials, 1881

Chapter 8: County Officials

1827 - Lilburn W. Boggs, circuit and county clerk, and ex-officio recorder. 1828 - Samuel C. Owens, circuit and county clerk, and ex-officio recorder. 1842 - Samuel D. Lucas, circuit and county clerk, and ex- officio recorder. 1848 - John R. Swearingen, county clerk. 1867-7 - Ezra R. Hickman, county clerk. 1876 - W. Z. Hickman, present county clerk.

Circuit Clerks

1848 - Samuel D. Lucas, circuit clerk, and ex-officio recorder. 1865 - W. C. Ransom, circuit clerk, and ex-officio recorder. 1867 - Reuben Wallace, circuit clerk. 1871 - Wallace Laws, present circuit clerk.

Recorder School Commissioners

Jackson county was organized by an act of the General Assembly, approved December isth, 1826. It was attached to the 13th Senatorial District and in conjunction with Clay, Ray and Lafayette counties was authorized to elect one Senator in the year 1828.

By an act of General Assembly, approved December 23d, 1828, the senatorial districts were re-apportioned and Lafayette and Jackson counties were constituted the 14th Senatorial District.

During this session a new apportionment was made for the loth and nth General Assemblies, and the counties of Jackson and Van Buren, (now Cass,) were constituted the 26th Senatorial District.

At this session there was an apportionment and the counties of Jackson, Johnson, Van Buren and Lafayette were constituted the 25th District, with two Senators.

At the adjourned session of the 19th General x\ssembly which met October 19, 1857, there was are-apportionment and Jackson, Cass and Bates counties were constituted the 14th District.

R. T. Van Horn was also in the adjourned session which met November i, 1865, at \vhich there was an apportionment, but the 14th District remained unchanged.

1869 - 25th General Assembly. There was no one from Jackson county at the first session of the 25th General Assembly, and no election returns are on file in the office of Secretary of State from Jackson county. In October, 1869, J'acob G. Boarman and Sidney S. Neely were elected to fill a vacancy, and served in the adjourned session of 1870.

First Record Of Marriages

Cupid, who is everywhere busy, was at work here in the hearts of the youthful immigrants, and as no officiating priest could be had, the aid of the Justice was invoked. Records followed as a legal necessity, and the first marriage notice we have on the books, is that of David G. Butterfield and Nancy Grayham, February 26th, 1827. Herewith we insert a verbatim copy of a few of the earlier marriages.

' ' This is to certify, that on the fifteenth of February, I celebrated the writes of matrimony between Francis Prine and Eliza Daily, and joined them together as husband and wife, according to law. Given under my hand this i8th day of May, 1827. JOEL P. WALKER,

"This is to certify, that on the 15th day of February last, I celebrated the rites of matrimony between Silas Hitchcock and Margaret Patterson, and joined them together as husband and wife, according to law. Given under my hand and seal this i8th day of May, 1827. JOEL P. WALKER, J. P."

First Marriage

"STATE OF MISSOURI,! County of Jackson. [ "This is to certify, that on the 26th day of February I celebrated the writes of matrimony between David G. Butterfield and Nancy Grayham, and joined them together as husband and wife, according to law. Given under my hand this i8th day of May, 1827. JOEL P. WALKER."

" I do hereby certify, that I married David Reed and Timmy Brock in the holy matrimony on the ninth day of April. Given under my hand this twentyfirst day of April, 1827. WM. SILVERS." " Recorded 7th of July, 1827, recorded on same day.

" I do hereby certify, that I joined together William Butler and Margaret Warden, in the holy estate of Matrimony, on the first day of April last, this the 28thday of June, 1827. LEWIS JONES, J. P."

" This is to certify, that I, Caleb Weeden, a regularly authorized preacher of the Gospel, did on the 17th day of April, 1827, legally solemnized the rite of matrimony between Mr. James Chambers and Miss Margaret Johnson, of the county and State above mentioned. Given under my hand this i8th day of April, 1827. CALEB WEEDEN."

"This is to certify, that on the 27th day of May, 1827, I Celebrated the writes oi matrimony between Hyram Shears and Eliza Creek, and joined them together as husband and wife, according to law. Given under my hand this 2 2d day of August, 1827. ABR'M McCLELLAN."

Township of Blue. ) "I do hereby certify that I joined together in the holy state of matrimony Mr. William Warden and Mahulda Butler on the 27th of this instant, this the 28th day of June, 1827.

"STATE OF MISSOURI, County of Jackson. "I, William I. Baugh, a justice of the peace within and for said county, do certify that on the 17th day of August, A. D. 1827, I joined together as husband and wife, Moses Belcher and Eliza Richy.

WM. I. BAUGH, J. P." "The above certificate was received in my office on the 3d day of November, 1827, and recorded same day. Samuel C. Owens,

" I, Lewis Jones, a justice of the peace within and for said county, do certify that I joined together Mr. James Lewis and Miss Margaret Gregg, both of this county, on the 6th day of this instant, this 20th day of November, 1827.

LEWIS JONES, J. P." "The above certificate was received in my office on the 20th day of November, 1827, and recorded on same day. Samuel C. Owens,

This is to certify that I solemnized the rites of matrimony between Charles Johnston and Kisiah Trapp according to Law, on the i8th of October 1827.

Zachariah Linville

ZACHARIAH LINVILLE, Elder of the Christian Church." " The above certificate was received in my office on the 31st day of December, 1827, and recorded on the same day. Samuel C. Owens,

"I, William I. Baugh, a justice of the peace for Fort Osage township in said county , do certify that on the 18 of October, 1827, I joined together as man and wife Levi Russell and Nancy Bledsoe in the holy bands of matrimony.

" I, Lewis Jones, a Justice of the Peace within and for said county do certify that I joined together Mr. James Lewis and Miss Mary Gregg both of this county, on the 6th day of this instant, this 20th day of November, 1827.

"I, Lewis Jones, a justice of the peace within and for said county, do hereby certify that I, joined together in the holy state of matrimony on the i8th day of this instant, Mr. John Smith and Miss Sarah Fristo. both of this county, this 20th day of November, 1827. LEWIS JONES, J. P."

Fort Osage Township. " I, Jesse Lewis, a justice of the peace within and for the county aforesaid, do certify that on the 22d day of December, 1827, I united Jonathan Smith and Elizaan Dier in the holy estate of matrimony according to law. Given under my hand this isth day of February 1828.

JOEL P. WALKER, J. P." "The above certificate was filed in my office on the 27th of March, A. D. 1828, and recorded same day. Samuel C. Owens,

"I, Lewis Jones, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county aforesaid, do certify that on the 27th day of December, 1827, I united Joseph Keeny and Winny Chesney in the holy state of matrimony.

"I, Lewis Jones, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the county aforesaid, do certify that on the third day of January, 1828, I united Thomas Pitcher and Nancy Parish in the holy estate of matrimony. Given under my hand this first day of March, 1828. LEWIS JONES, J. P."

William Silvers, 1828

"STATE OF MISSOURI, I Blue Township. County of Jackson. ) "I, Lewis Jones, a justice of the peace, within and for the county aforesaid, do certify that on the 30th of January, 1828, I united Joseph Brown and Nancy King in the holy estate of matrimony. Given under my hand this I St day of March, 1828. LEWIS JONES, J. P."

' ' I, Jesse Lewis, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county aforesaid, do certify that on the 8th day of February, I united in the holy estate of matrimony James Linch and Mary Smith, according to law. Given under my hand this, the first day of May, 1828. JESSE LEWIS, J. P.

JOE P. WALKER, J. P." " The above certificate was filed in my office this 27th day of March, A. D. 1828, and recorded same day. Samuel C. Owens,

C. C. C. and Ex-Officio Recorder for Jackson county.'' " This is to certify that I joined together in the bands of matrimony Reuben Collins and Hannah Crisp, March 11, 1828. JOEL WALKER, J. P."

"I, Lewis Jones, a Justice of the peace within and for the county of Jackson, do certify that on the 20th day of March, 1828, I united John Gibson and Sarah Noland in the holy estate of matrimony. LEWIS JONES, J. P."

"I, William Silvers, a justice of the peace, within the county aforesaid, do certify that on the 25th day of May, 1828, I joined together as man and wife Hugh Parsons and Nancy Smith in the holy estate of matrimony. Given under my hand this day and date aforesaid

"I, Lewis Jones, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county aforesaid, do certify that on the 23d day of March, 1S28, I united James Townson and Hannah Smith in the holy bands of matrimony. LEWIS JONES, J. P."

" I, William Silvers, Justice of the peace within and for the county aforesaid, certify that on the nth day of June, 1828, I joined together as man and wife Edly Garnet and Elizabeth Davis in the holy estate of matrimony.

"I, Lewis Jones, a Justice of the peace within and for said county, do certify that on the loth day of July last, I united Mr. Bretton Savage and Mrs. Rachel Linch in the holy estate of matrimony. LEWIS JONES, J. P."

"I, Lewis Jones, a justice of the peace within and for said county, do certify that on the 19th day of August last, I united Absolom Smith and Hilly Kinzly in the holy estate of matrimony. LEWIS JONES, J. P."

" I William Silvers, a justice of the peace for Jackson county, did on the 24th of August, 1828, join together as man and wife Benjamin Tucker and Clarissa Noland. WILLIAM SILVERS, J. P."

"I do hereby certify that Pierre Reualette was married to Mrs. L. Roi, both of the one said county, and that they were married in the presence of several witnesses by the undersigned Justice of the peace on the tenth day of September last.

" I, Lewis Jones, a Justice of the peace within and for said county, do certify that on the 25th day of December, 1828, I united in the holy estate of matrimony Mr. Hesekiah Warden and Miss Sarah Butler, by the consent of each of their parents. LEWIS JONES, J. P."

" Married by the undersigned justice of the peace .on the 25th day of December, 1828, Andrew Patterson to Elizabeth Hitchcock, both of this county, and were married in the presence of several witnesses.

In the year 1827 there were recorded seventeen marriages, in 1828 nineteen marriages. We have thus fully chronicled these first marriages because of the peculiarity of their style of expression, and because the names are now nearly forgotten and lost. Many, however, yet living in Jackson county and elsewhere will recognize in these their ancestral names. Marriages have rapidly increased, and, whereas, formerly nearly all the ceremonies were performed by justices of the peace, now it is the prevailing custom to call in a minister of the gospel to solemnize the matrimonial rite. In the year 1880 there were 557 marriages in Jackson county, and it is very probable that there will be a much larger list during the year 1881.

The First Warranty Deed

Greeting : Know ye, that I, John Baptiste James lonka, of Jackson county and State of Missouri, for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, lawful money of the United Sta,tes, to me in hand paid by Joseph Roi, of the county and State aforesaid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold and conveyed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Joseph Roi all my right, title and claim unto a certain tract or parcel of land containing six hundred and forty acres.

which land I hold as a half-beed of the Kansas Nation or tribe of Indians, by virtue of a reserve made said nation from the United States in the late treaty between the Kansas Nation and the United States, together with all and singular the rights, privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto him, the said Joseph Roi, his heirs and assigns forever ; and I do covenant unto the said Joseph Roi that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises, and that they are free from all encumbrances.

" On the twenty-fifth day of June, eighteen hundred and twenty-eight, John Baptiste James lonka, personally known to me, appeared before nie and executed and acknowledged the above and foregoing instrument of writing, as his hand and seal, for the purpose therein contained, this 2Sth June 1828. .

Samuel Johnson

" I Samuel C. Owens, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex-officio Recorder for the county aforesaid, do certify that the preceding instrument of writing from John Baptiste James lonka to Joseph Roi was filed in my office on the 5th day instant, and by me duly recorded same day, September 3, 1828.

Samuel C. Owens

This indenture, made and entered into this twenty-ninth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, between Abner J. Adair and Mary Adair, his wife, of the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, of the first part, and Joseph Adair, of the county of Fleming and State of Kentucky, of the second part; witnesseth, that the party of the first part, through natural love and affection, do give unto our brother, Joseph Adair, of the second part, all that lot or parcel of ground, situate lying and being in the town of Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, numbered twenty and twenty-one, with all the rights, titles, claim or interest of us or either of us inlaw or equity, of, in and to the above premises; to have and hold unto his own proper use, benefit and behoof; for which we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to the said Joseph Adair, his heirs or assigns, that the before recited tract of land and premises aforesaid, they will warrant and forever defend against the right, title, claim, interest or estate of all and every person or persons whatever. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and year aforesaid.

Be it remembered, that on this tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and twenty-eight, before me, a justice of the peace with- in and for the county aforesaid, personally came Abner J. Adair and Mary, his wife, both personally known to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument of writing, as having executed the same, and severally acknowledged the same to be their act and deed, for purposes therein mentioned ; she, the said Mary Adair, being by me first made acquainted with the contents thereof, and examined separate and apart from her husband, whither she executed the said, and relinquishes her dower to land and tenements therein mentioned voluntarily, freely, and without compulsion or undue influence of her said husband, acknowledged and declared that she executed the said deed, and relinquishes her dower in the said lands and tenements therein mentioned, voluntarily, freely and without compulsion or undue influence of her husband. Taken and certified the day and year aforesaid.

County of Jackson, ) ^^' I, Samuel Weston, deputy clerk of the Circuit Court, and ex-officio recorder for the aforesaid, do certify that the foregoing instrument of writing, being a deed from Abner J. Adair and his wife, was filed in the office on the tenth instant, and by me duly recorded same day, December lo, 1828.

Samuel Weston

SAMUEL WESTON, Deputy, ex-officio Recorder. This indenture made and concluded this 12th day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and twenty-nine, by and between Samuel Owens, commissioner of the seat of justice for the county of Jackson (the same being the town of Independence), in the State of Missouri, on the one part, and Abner J. Adair of the other part, witnesseth that the said Samuel C. Owens, commissioner aforesaid, for, and on behalf of the county of Jackson aforesaid, has this day for, and in consideration of twenty-two dollars, lawful money, to him paid by the said Abner J. Adair, the reseipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, bargained and granted, sold and conveyed, and do by these presents bargain, grant, sell and convey unto the said Abner J. Adair, his heirs and assigns forever, certain tracts or parcels of land lying and being in the town of Independence, the same being the seat of justice for the county of Jackson, containing each forty-five square rods and known as the plat of said town by the numbers of twenty and twentyone, together with all and singular the privileges and appurtenances to the said land, lots, parcels or pieces of ground of aforesaid thereto belonging or in any wise appertaining. To have and to hold the above granted premises to said Abner J. Adair, his heirs and assigns to his and their use and behoof forever. And I, the said Samuel C. Owens, commissioner aforesaid, for and on behalf of the county aforesaid, do covenant with the said Abner J. Adair, his heirs and assigns, that I the said Samuel C. Oivens commissioner aforesaid for and on behalf of the county aforesaid, am lawfully seized in fee of the afore granted premises that they are free from all encumbrances. That I, Samuel C. Owens, commissioner aforesaid for and on behalf of the county aforesaid have as such good right to sell and convey the same to the said Abner J. Adair as aforesaid. That I Samuel C. Owens commissioner aforesaid for and on behalf of the county aforesaid will, and that my successor or successors in office shall warrant and forever defend the same to the said Abner J. Adair, his heirs and assigns, against the lawful demands of all persons whatsoever.

In testimony whereof I, Samuel C. Owens, commissioner aforesaid, for and in behalf of the county aforesaid, have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal at the county of Jackson, this day and date aforesaid.

Be it remembered that I, Samuel C. Owens, the within named commissioner, and who was personally known to the undersigned, personally came and appeared before me, John Smith, a justice of the peace within and for the county aforesaid, and acknowledged the within deed of conveyance for and on behalf of the county aforesaid, and that the premises herein described to be the property of Abner J. Adair.

"I, Samuel C. Owens, of the Circuit Court, and Ex-OfEcio Recorder for the county aforesaid, do certify that the foregoing deed from Samuel C. Owens, commissioner on the part of said county to A. J. Adair, was filed and recorded in my office on the 18th of August, A. D. 1829. SAMUEL C. OWENS,

The several registering officers appointed to make registers of the qualified voters in the several election districts of this county, will be in session for the purpose of registering all persons entitled to registration as voters, in their respective districts, from 8 o'clock a. m. to 6 o'clock p. m. , on each and every Saturday, between the twentieth day of September, 1866, and the fifteenth day prior to the sixth day of November, 1866, said Saturdays being the twenty-second and twenty-ninth days of September, 1866, and the sixth, thirteenth and twentieth days of October, 1866, at the usual place of voting in each election district of said county as follows r