Burned Counties of Missouri Below is a list of Missouri Counties and the years the Courthouses were subjected to a disaster. This does NOT mean that ALL RECORDS were lost. Often, folks took their documents again in for recording after a disaster and later deeds will contain long chains of title, etc. ***** Bates County - Courthouse burned in 1861, some records destroyed ***** Bollinger County - The courthouse burned in 1866 and 1884 ***** Barton County - Courthouse burned in November 1862 ***** Caldwell County - Fire consumed most county records when suspected arsonists set the courthouse ablaze April 19, 1860. On November 28, 1896, fire once again consumed the Caldwell County courthouse. ***** Cape Girardeau County - Courthouse was destroyed by fire July 18, 1870 *****Crawford County - Courthouse burned February 15, 1873, and again on January 5, 1884. *****Chariton County - A fire in the clerk's office, apart from the courthouse, destroyed all County Court records November 11, 1861, and fires set by Confederates on September 20, 1864, destroyed the courthouse. The brick courthouse, painted white in 1969, was destroyed by fire August 27, 1973, during a renovation project. *****Christian County - Arsonists destroyed the building and all court records on August 20, 1865. *****Dade County - The courthouse was destroyed in the Civil War, October 6, 1863. Some records were destroyed *****Dallas County - Confederate troops burned the building October 18, 1863. Fire also destroyed two subsequent emergency quarters during 1864 and 1867, consuming most county records. *****Dent County - Courthouse burned in 1864 The next courthouse, built in 1864, also fell victim to fire in May 1866. The fire destroyed county records. *****DeKalb County - The Courthouse was destroyed by fire on Christmas night in 1878. Some early records were destroyed. *****Douglas County - Vandals burned the Militia Springs courthouse, destroying many records in July 1872. On April 26, 1886 the store building used for courthouse purposes was destroyed by fire, and again all records were destroyed. *****Dunklin County - Fire destroyed this courthouse during the Civil War. Courthouse burned again in April 1872; this was the fire that destroyed all records. *****Gentry County - The Courthouse was destroyed by windstorm on July 13, 1883. Some Early records lost. *****Greene County - A fire that destroyed the Courthouse on October 28, 1861 *****Harrison County - Fire destroyed the Courthouse January 7, 1874. *****Hickory County - Fire destroyed the courthouse in 1852. A storm damaged part of the roof and upper story in April 1879; fire destroyed the building January 8, 1881. The 2 courthouse fires destroyed many records. *****Holt County - Courthouse Fire in February 1965. Records saved. *****Howard County - Fire destroyed the courthouse December 1, 1886. No recorde were lost. *****Howell County - In the fall of 1863, guerrillas burned West Plains and the Courthouse. Most records were destroyed. The county reorganized in 1866. *****Jasper County - Courthouse was destroyed by fire in October 1863. County records were saved by moving themto Neosho, Missouri *****Knox County - fire destroyed the courthouse on Christmas Eve 1885. No records were destroyed *****McDonald County - In 1856 a log courthouse, reportedly built in Rutledge, was demolished by Rioters. Bushwackers burned the courthouse in 1863, destroying most records; Deeds before 1863 recreated. *****Mercer County - Fire destroyed the Courthouse March 24, 1898. Some Records were destroyed. *****Morgan County - Courthouse burned in the general town fire of March 12th, 1887. *****Mississippi County - Courthouse reportedly burned in 1891, Record loss unknown. The Courthouse burned, Monday, Feb. 10, 1997. Extensive damage done to records. Record loss is unknown at this time. *****Maries County - A fire, believed to have been set intentionally, destroyed the courthouse and most records November 6, 1868 *****Montgomery County - Damaged by fire in the Civil War, the Courtgouse was later razed; The Courthouse burned April 12, 1901, destroying many county records. Copies of early original deds are in Jones Abstract Company in Montgomery City *****Newton County - Courthouse burned in 1862, destroying many county records. *****Oregon County - In October 1863 this courthouse was burned in a Civil War incident, destroying many county records. *****Osage County - A fire on November 14, 1880, damaged the courthouse. Fire destroyed the courthouse October 30, 1922. *****Ozark County - Courthouse destroyed by fire in 1858 or 1859, all early records were destroyed. 2nd Courthouse destroyed by fire sometime before February 1864., some records were lost. 3rd Courthouse destroyed by fire November 28, 1934. *****Pemiscot County - Courthouse burned December 2, 1882, most records were destroyed; Deed index from 1833 survived *****Pulaski County - Courthouse Fire destroyed most Pulaski County Court records June 13, 1903. *****Randolph County - Courthouse burned on August 12, 1882, the fire began in the second story between the two towers, consumed the courthouse.; Some records were destroyed. Deed index from 1829 survived *****Reynolds County - The courthouse has burned twice. The first time was in December, 1863, when the confederate army burned it. A new courthouse was built in the fall of 1867 on the same foundation as the prior one. This courthouse was burned in late November, 1871. Both times all records were destroyed. Temporary quarters again burned May 27, 1872, while a new "fireproof" courthouse was being built. *****Ripley County - The courthouse burned during the Civil War and again January 1, 1898, some records were destroyed. *****Saline County - In August 1864 the courthouse burned as a result of Civil War activity. *****Stoddard County - During Price's raid in September 1864, the courthouse was burned by some stragglers, but fortunately the records had been removed. *****Shannon County - Courthouse was burned by Federal soldiers in 1863 destroying this early courthouse along with all county records;, Fire destroyed the Courthouse December 31, 1871; An arsonist set fire to the courthouse and both clerks' offices in March of 1895. The courthouse was not seriously damaged, although all county records were destroyed; On May 23, 1938, fire destroyed the courthouse, *****St. Clair County - The Courthouse apparently was burned in September 1861 by Gen. James Lane. One account claims that Lane's raid only partially destroyed the courthouse; by some accounts it was rebuilt and used until November 1864, when it was again burned in Civil War activity. Probate Court records were destroyed. *****Sullivan County - Fire destroyed the Courthouse June 26, 1908. *****Taney County - The courthouse was burned in 1863 by Union troops trying to keep the fortress out of the hands of Confederates. Fire destroyed the courthouse and most records December 19, 1885 *****Texas County - Courthouse was destroyed during the Civil War. February 12, 1881, fire damaged the courthouse. On December 14, 1930, fire destroyed the Courthouse. *****Vernon County - Both the courthouse and clerk's office were destroyed when the town was burned in 1863, County Court records are missing from 1861-65. *****Washington County - In 1906 the Courthouse burned, but before the building was completely destroyed the officials were able to carry the records out safely. *****Wayne County - Courthouse burned in 1853 or 1854, destroying all records. The records in the courthouse were stolen in 1866. Courthouse damaged by fire December 14, 1892, some records destroyed. Few official county records prior to 1893 survive. *****Webster County - Courthouse courthouse was accidentally burned by Federal Troops in 1863; The second story was damaged by a tornado on April 18, 1880. Minor record loss. *****Worth County - Fire destroyed this Courthouse in February 1866. No records loss *****Wright County - In 1849 courthouse was burned and partially destroyed in 1862. The courthouse burned, reportedly January 11, 1863. A tornado damaged the building in 1888 .County Court records for Wright County were destroyed in an 1896 fire. Courthouse burned in 1864 and 1897. Information found at http://www.mymissourigenealogy.com/index.html#4