| De Kalb County | |
| Organized February
25, 1845, from Clinton County and named for Johann Kalb, Baron deKalb.
Baron deKalb was a German-born officer who served with the French Army
and was killed in the American Revolution.
County Seat: Maysville Address: De Kalb County |
|
| Photograph | |
|
|
|
| History | |
| After county organization in
1845, first courts met in homes. In 1848 DeKalb County residents
presented a petition to the County Court to build a courthouse, but the
court rejected it, preferring to purchase a log cabin on the east side
of the public square in Maysville. Three years later a new court looked
favorably on building a courthouse and respected the wishes of the
petitioners.
In 1851 the court ordered Abram Barger, superintendent, to submit a plan for the courthouse. His original design called for a cupola, but the court considered this an extravagance and eliminated it from the design. The 55-by-30-foot brick courthouse was built by George W. C. McPherson at a cost of approximately $3,750 and completed in 1852. The porticoed entry faced south; the courtroom and two offices were on the first floor, with additional offices on the second floor. The building was destroyed by fire on Christmas night in 1878. Several communities then contended for the county seat, but Maysville remained the choice of the people. The cornerstone of the next building was laid on August 27, 1885. It was designed by the St. Joseph architectural firm of Edmond J. Eckel and George R. Mann. Other northwest Missouri courthouses by this important firm include: Nodaway, 1881, Atchison, 1882, and Gentry, 1884. This brick building contained two wide halls on the first floor and a pair of stairs leading to the second floor. The cost of the building was $32,000. The jail in the rear of the building contained eight revolving cells and two rooms for hospital care. The spire of the corner tower was taken off after lightning severely damaged the tower in the early 1900s. The building was razed in 1938 when a new courthouse was built. Twice propositions for a new courthouse were defeated, but in August 1938 voters approved a $55,000 bond issue, which was matched by a $45,000 government grant. Eckel and Aldrich, St. Joseph, were selected as architects. George R. Eckel was the son of Edmond J. Eckel, architect of the previous courthouse. A contract for about $59,000 was awarded the J. E. Hathman Construction Company in December 1938 for a 110-by-55-foot, brick building trimmed with stone. Limited funds prohibited an all-stone structure. Offices and County Court room were on the first floor, Circuit Court room on the second, the jail and sheriff's quarters on the third. Cornerstone ceremonies were held April 10, 1939. The cornerstone from the old courthouse was placed in the entrance hall of the new. Dedication of the new courthouse took place October 20, 1939 Copyright 2002 University of Missouri. Published by University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia. |
|
| Additional History | |
| Records at the Courthouse | |
| Recorder of Deeds: Index to deeds, 1846-1886; Deed records,
1836-1922; Warranty deeds, 1866-1888; Quitclaim deeds, 1867-1890;
Mortgage deeds, 1866-1906; Deeds of trust; 1884-1895; Marriage
records and index, 1845-1928
Clerk of the county court: Register of births, 1883-1893 Clerk of the circuit court: Index to circuit court records, 1856-1893; Circuit court records, 1856-1887 Clerk of the probate court: Index to probate records, 1879-1889; Probate records, 1879-1887; Administrators/executors records, 1879-1918; Will records, 1877-1924. |
|
| More Links | |
| Birth
& Death Records Database Search
for DeKalb County on Archives'
Online Catalog Roll
by Roll Listing of Microfilm Missouri Birth & Death Records Database: Search & Record Availability |
|
