Daviess County

Organized December 29, 1836, from Ray County and named for Joseph H. Daviess, Kentucky soldier in the War of 1812.

County Seat: Gallatin

Address:

Daviess County
County Courthouse
P.O. Box 337
Gallatin, MO 64640-0337

Photograph

History

Philip Covington drafted a plan for the Daviess County courthouse and presented it March 26, 1838. Although the court appropriated $6,000, this project apparently did not proceed.

Next the court accepted the plans of Jacob Stollings and W. C. Lincy in March 1840. For this courthouse there is both documentary and visual evidence. A drawing from An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Daviess County, 1876, depicts this example at Gallatin, and County Court records supply specifications.

The foundation was to be 3 feet thick, the brick wall of the first floor, 18 inches, and the second story, 13 inches thick. The building was "to be four square." The walls and roof of the colorful building were Venetian red. Doors were beech yellow; white window casings and sashes were accented with green blinds.

Bids for construction were let in 1840, and the contractor was given two years to complete his work. L. Nelson took the contract but needed an additional year. The cost of $8,094.55 exceeded the original estimates of $6,000. The work was completed in May 1843.

Double doors on the west and south provided entries to the courtroom, which occupied the entire lower floor. The rostrum on the north was so high that the feet of those on it were above the eye level of spectators seated on wooden benches. A stairway at the southwest corner led to four rooms on the second floor. When celebrating special occasions, the observation tower at the base of the cupola was decorated with flags. It provided space for speakers or bands. The large cupola, topped by a large brass ball, attracted admiration, but maintenance was a constant problem; leaking began only a few years after construction, causing water damage. Finally, after years of complaints, the court ordered the building razed in 1886.

After several unsuccessful elections, a special election held December 9, 1905, finally produced a vote in favor of a $75,000 new courthouse. The court selected the plans of P. H. Weathers July 9, 1906. On August 29 the building contract was awarded to M. T. Lewman and Co., Louisville, Kentucky, for $69,650. Construction began the following November, and the cornerstone was laid May 23, 1907. Work was completed on the building and accepted by the court in August 1908; dedication ceremonies took place October 5, 1908. This courthouse resembles those Weathers designed for Cape Girardeau County, 1906, and Stoddard County, 1909.

Additional History

Daviess County Courthouse (added 1980 - Building - #80002350)
Public Sq., Gallatin

Historic Significance:	Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer:	Weathers,P.H., Lewman,M.T.
Architectural Style:	Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Other
Area of Significance:	Architecture
Period of Significance:	1900-1924
Owner:	Local Gov't

Records at Courthouse

Recorder of Deeds: Index to deeds, 1839-1887; Deed records, 1838-1909; Index to mortgages, 1860-1892; Mortgage Deeds, 1860-1895; Deeds of trust, 1873-1896; Plat book, 1898; Index to marriage records, 1837-1954; Marriage records, 1838-1920; Register of marriage licenses, 1883-1921; Negro/colored marriages, 1866-1904.

Clerk of the County Court: Permanent record of births, 1883-1891; Permanent record of deaths, 1883-1891.

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Index to circuit court records, 1837-1972; Circuit court records, 1837-1885; Circuit court files, 1839-1840.

Clerk of the Probate Court: Index to probate records, 1890-1919; Proof of publication, notices and affidavits, 1899-1925; Settlement records, 1890-1910; Guardian’s/curator’s records, 1890-1919; Will records, 1890-1920.