Early Records of Harrison County

The first instrument on record in the circuit clerk's office is a letter of attorney by Prudence Fox of Whitley County, Kentucky, appointing "her friend James Faulkner of Livingston County, Missouri, to attend to all matters pertaining to the settlement of the estate of her son Sampson Fox" of the latter county and state, the writing bearing date November, 1845.

Following the above appears a warranty deed "for a certain track, piece or parcel of land situated, lying and being in the County of Harrison and State of Missouri, to-wit: the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section No. 5, Township 62, Range 28, containing forty acres more or less" sold by Benjamin Taylor to William Cummings for $200.00 and acknowledged February 26, 1846 before Elkanah Timmons, a Justice of the Peace.

The second deed bears date of January, 1846, and is for "ten acres of land off of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section Seven (7) Township 62 Range 28 in the district of land sold at Plattsburg, Missouri," conveyed by John G. Musick and his wife, Mary Musick, to J. D. Hardin for a consideration of $40.00.

The third conveyance of real estate was made by Reuben and Sarah Tilley, who, for a consideration of $1,000.00, sold to Michael Fleenor a tract of land containing 463 acres more or less, situated in the southern part of the county. Michael Fleenor then deeds to Reuben Tilley an equal number of acres in the same part of the county for $1,500.00 the last instrument bearing date February 23, 1846.

The first mortgage upon record in the county was given by Jeremiah Young to Reuben Tilley for $100.00 on the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 31, Township 63, Range 29, dated November, 1846.

Among the earliest instruments of record was the bond of Henry Fuller as collector of Harrison County, made on August 10, 1846, and recorded during the ensuing month. The material part of the bond is worded as follows: Know all men by these presents, that I, Henry Fuller, principal and Thomas Tucker, E. S. Hughes, James Fuller, David Harris and William Allen, securities, are held and bound to the State of Missouri in the sum of $1,000.00 to the payment of which we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, etc.; the condition of the obligation being such "that the said Henry Fuller does faithfully and punctually collect and pay over all the state and county revenue for the two years next ensuing the first day of September thereafter. And that he will in all things faithfully perform all the duties of the office of collector according to law, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and effect."

The following is a list of the earliest marriages solemnized in Harrison County during the first two years of its history.

David C. Bryant and Permelia Edmiston married November 6, 1845, by Rev. L. Morgan.

Benjamin Casner and Nancy Miller were united in the holy bonds of wedlock on December 26, 1845, by Ivan Lane, Justice of the Peace.

Willis Harper and Eleanor Williams were on November 11, 1845, made man and wife by Charles L. Jennings, a Justice of the Peace.

Thomas H. Poynter and Susan S. Jenks were married on December 24, 1845 by C. L. Jennings.

Other early marriages were:

Elkanah Ratcliff and Catherine Prewet
John Spencer and Emily Safter
Matturn Taylor and Mary M. Henson
John Taylor and Mary E. McDaniel
Alfred Williams and Sarah Vanderpool
William Allcock and Rebecca Allen
Joshia J. Allen to Mary Hogan
David Blaketer and Harriet Lawson
Core Houk and Melinda Dolson
Levi Hunt and Caroline Cummins
George W. Hanners and Elizabeth Bullington
Jesse Haunn and Saulda Booth
Archibald M. McDaniel and Jane Daniels
Harden Casmen and Elizabeth Hulse
Frank M. Brown and Saulda Poynter
John W. Brown and Irene Higgins
Samuel Corister and Nancy Miller
William Carver and Tainer Condry
Tobias Deboice and Mary Garner
Peter C. Dowell and Hester W. Brown

At the August term, 1888, of the County Court action, among other things, was had as follows: the record showing, Comes now J. Walker and more than 100 householders of Harrison County, Missouri, and petition the court to cause to be submitted to the qualified voters of said county at the next general election the question of enforcing in said county the provisions of an Act of the Thirty-Second General Assembly of the State of Missouri in relation to restraining domestic animals from running at large as follows:

Restraining from running at large all species of cattle, horses, mules, asses, swine, sheep and goats in said county. It is therefore ordered by the court that the question of enforcing said Act in said county be submitted to the qualified voters of said county at the next general election to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 1888, at the usual voting places inlaid county and that at said election all ballots voted bearing the written or printed words 'For enforcing the law restraining all species of cattle, horses, mules, asses, swine, sheep and goats from running at large' shall be counted in favor of the provisions of said Act, and that all ballots voted bearing the written or printed words 'against enforcing the law restraining all species of cattle, horses, mules, asses, swine, sheep and goats from running at large' shall be counted against enforcing the provisions of said act. And it is further ordered by the court that public notice be given that such vote will be taken by publishing a notice of the same in a newspaper published in said Harrison County for three weeks consecutively, the last insertion to be at least ten days before the day of such election, and by posting up printed notices thereof at three of the most public places in each township in said county at least twenty days before said election, and the sheriff of said county is hereby ordered and directed to post said notices as above stated."

The record of the November term, 1888, of the County Court shows that at the election on November 6, 1888, the law restraining all species of cattle, horses, mules, asses, swine, sheep and goats was voted upon with the following result:

For enforcing said Act 2,157 votes
Against enforcing said Act 1,832 votes
Majority for 325 votes

 Harrison County| AHGP Missouri

Source: History of Harrison County, Missouri, by Geo. W. Wanamaker, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, 1921