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The Douglas County
Recorder of Deeds have records of all land transactions back
to 1886. Earlier land transactions may be on file if
the parties re-recorded the transaction after the courthouse
fire of April 1886. The following sets of plat maps exist:
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1846-47 Survey Maps -- A
few surnames were recorded on this earliest survey map.
A copy is on file in the Douglas County Museum. |
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In the
1840s, the Federal Land Office in St. Louis, Missouri, contracted
with independent surveyors to go through the entire area that
included present-day Douglas County, Missouri. As the
surveyors completed the field work, they laid out the legal
townships, ranges, and sections that have been used since that time
to assign land title.
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No legal
claim to Douglas County land was documented prior to the completion
of these surveys. (According to Bessie Selleck, in her
1952 book, "Early Settlers of Douglas County," Sarah Lawrence was
the first homesteader in Mar. 3, 1847. Her land parcel was in
Twp. 25 - Rng 18. Using the map below, one can see that
Sarah Lawrence's was in the extreme southwest corner of the county).
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As
the surveyor conducted his work, he prepared maps that showed roads,
streams, mills, and the surnames of any residents he discovered
along the way.
Click
Here to see a listing of the
surveyor's notations listed by township, range and section.
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1886
July Plat Maps.
{prepared by the Federal Land Office in Springfield, these plat
maps show the original land patentee for each parcel as of
July 1886. The maps are indexed. A set of the
maps can be acquired from the
Douglas County Hist/Gen Soc. |
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In 2004, a set of old
plat maps was discovered in a vault in the Douglas County Courthouse
(by yours truly). Apparently, they were created by the Land
Office in Springfield, MO, after the Douglas County Courthouse fire
of April, 1886, which destroyed most county records including all
land records. With these plat maps, the county was able to
begin its land records system again. These 1886 plat maps show the
person to whom the U.S. Government issued each parcel of land as of
July 1886. (The maps DO NOT show subsequent land holders to
whom the original owner might have sold the land before 1886).
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Prepared by hand back in
1886, these maps show the original land holder's name, the date of
the acquisition, an indication of the type of acquisition and then a
reference number. The plat maps indicate three ways in which
these early settlers acquired land: (1) by "proving up" a homestead,
(2) by land warrants (issued to veterans), or (3) by cash.
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Cost: $15.00 + $2.00
shipping. Send orders to the Douglas County Historical and
Genealogical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 986, Ava, MO 65608.
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ca 1930 Plat Maps -- These plat
maps with indices, shows the land holders in the 1930 just before modern
roads came to the area.
A set of the maps can be acquired from the
Douglas County Hist/Gen Soc. |
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A few
years ago, Nancie Todd Weber prepared a fully indexed set of plat
maps (circa 1930) for the Douglas
County Historical and Genealogical Society. This publication is a 'must-have' for
any serious researcher of Douglas County history and/or families.
(Click here
to see how to acquire this
publication).
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The University of Missouri has placed 1930
plat maps online that appear to be the same ones (without index) as
those of Nancie Todd Weber.
(Click here to see those online 1930 maps)
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In the 1920s, the current state highway system was not
in place. Besides showing all the land holders in the 1920s time period, the maps show some of the old roads that our
ancestors used.
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1964-65 --
The Douglas County Landowners 1964-65 Book is available from the
Douglas County Hist. & Gen. Society.
CLICK HERE to view their
publications list, and order instructions. |
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2001 Plat Maps
-- This is the latest plat map available from the County
Clerk's office in the Douglas County Courthouse. |
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Family Maps of
Douglas County, Missouri, Deluxe Edition (2006), published by Arphax
Publishing Co. -- www.arphax.com |
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By Gregory A. Boyd. 344 pages, with 77 total maps. There are
3 maps for each of the 24 Congressional townships that make
up Douglas County. Each Township has a Patent Map, Patent
Index, Road Map, and a Map we call an Historical Map, which
includes Waterways, Watercourses & Railroads. The Road and
Historical Maps also include the City-centers and cemeteries
that can be found at NationalAtlas.gov. There is also a
Surname/Patent Index and a Surname/Township Index to help
you dive into the right area of the County. Included
Appendices identify multi-Patentee buying groups and also
list the numerous Aliquot (section) parts you might find.
This book is constructed to last with a plastic spiral
binding, acid-free paper, and a tough, laminated cover.
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