Jefferson County Library - Genealogy

Jefferson County Library - Genealogy The Della Lang Local History and Genealogy Room of the Jefferson County Library-Northwest Branch. https://linktr.ee/jclgenealogy

03/11/2026

Did you hear our big announcement at RootsTech? Using handwriting recognition technology, we've just transcribed 2.4 million pages of Revolutionary War pensions! These manuscripts, written in quill and ink, contain amazing firsthand accounts of service and family details. They are now easy to read and fully searchable! Just select 'Show Transcription' on any page to unlock these amazing records: https://f3.social/6y0i

Here is what's coming up for genealogy and local history programming in March:Historian Chris Naffziger will take us on ...
03/01/2026

Here is what's coming up for genealogy and local history programming in March:

Historian Chris Naffziger will take us on a deep dive into the true origins of St. Louis’s most legendary brewing dynasty with his new book, Adam Lemp and the Western Brewery. Saturday, March 21st, 10:00 AM.

Genealogy staff will guide you through the steps to get started with tracing your tree with a Family History for Beginners class on Thursday, March 26th, at 4:00 PM.

These programs are held at the Northwest Branch in High Ridge. Please visit our event calendar to learn more and register!

At the 102nd Annual Agriculture Conference hosted by MU Extension in Hillsboro last weekend, we had the opportunity to p...
02/27/2026

At the 102nd Annual Agriculture Conference hosted by MU Extension in Hillsboro last weekend, we had the opportunity to provide property history lookups for attendees, and it was a huge success! Exploring the county's historical plat maps is a fun and interesting way to learn who used to own the land, how property lines shifted through time, and the evolution of roadways. You can uncover hidden gems and surprises, like discovering generational farm ownership or that your property was once a part of a larger estate.
We were excited to share our knowledge and expertise with the attendees, and happy to see so many people engaged and fascinated by the stories that these maps tell. Property history research is a free service we offer at the Northwest Branch, and our staff can show you how it's done. We'll guide you through the process, step by step, and help you uncover the secrets of your property's past. Whether you're a history buff, a genealogist, or simply curious about your property, our property history research service is an invaluable resource that can help you learn more about your land and your community.

Our lead genealogist, Ginger Brickey, was awarded an Excellence in Historic Preservation medal and certificate by the Lo...
02/14/2026

Our lead genealogist, Ginger Brickey, was awarded an Excellence in Historic Preservation medal and certificate by the Louisiana Purchase Chapter, NSDAR in De Soto today!

Photo shows Ginger (second from left) with several members of the chapter.

Who What When Where? Digital archives style!This is a digitized black-and-white photograph of crowds walking along a row...
02/11/2026

Who What When Where? Digital archives style!

This is a digitized black-and-white photograph of crowds walking along a row of vendor booths. A carnival ride can be seen in the background. The information provided states that the photograph depicts the High Ridge Homecoming. The photograph was taken by Pat Hanes.

The photograph is part of a collection of newspaper photographs. These photocopies were donated to the Jefferson County Library by Dave Hallemann. He received them from Kevin Carberry of the Suburban Journal.
The photos are from the era of 1978 – 1994.

What else can you tell us about this image or the event? Can you identify any of the people? Did you attend?

In honor of Black History Month, we are pleased to host Dr. Jeff Smith to learn about concrete and handmade grave marker...
02/10/2026

In honor of Black History Month, we are pleased to host Dr. Jeff Smith to learn about concrete and handmade grave markers that are unique to Black cemeteries. This event is co-sponsored by MO Humanities.
Plan to attend on Friday, February 27th at 2 PM in the Northwest Branch Meeting Room. Get registered through the library's event calendar!

Alt text: Event flyer with photo of Dr. Jeff Smith. Topic: "Cement Grave Markers and Segregated Burial Spaces." Includes date, time, and location details. Colors and logo celebrating Black History Month. Co-sponsored by Missouri Humanities and Jefferson County Library.

📚Book recommendation with a bit of truth mixed with historical fiction!If you've visited the Genealogy Room or attended ...
01/28/2026

📚Book recommendation with a bit of truth mixed with historical fiction!
If you've visited the Genealogy Room or attended some of our local history programming, you may have overheard someone here say that Jefferson County is the center of the Universe. And we mean it!

Recently, I was reading a historical fiction based on the tragic 1928 dance hall explosion in West Plains, Missouri. The book is titled The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson. When I went to Newspapers .com and searched for details about the tragedy, one search result from Jefferson County included an article about Elbert C. and Mary (Downer) White, former residents of De Soto, who lost a 19-year-old son to the horrific blast and fire. Elbert, who worked as an editor of The Jefferson Republic, and Mary were married in Jefferson County in 1901, and at least one of their children was born here before the family moved to Carter County, and later were residents of Doniphan, Missouri, at the time of their loss.

If you would like to learn more about the events that inspired the book, visit the library's website for free access to Newspapers and our online catalog to check out a copy of The Flower Sisters!

Image sources: Genealogy of the Descendants of John White of Wenham and Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1638-[1909] 4; Author: White, Almira Larkin, Ancestry. U.S., Family History Books [database online].

The Jefferson Republic, Thursday, April 26, 1928, page 1

Book cover: The Flower Sisters; Google image search

01/24/2026

Stay safe this weekend!

If you've looked at enough death certificates, the term "la grippe" may already be familiar, but did you know that it wa...
01/24/2026

If you've looked at enough death certificates, the term "la grippe" may already be familiar, but did you know that it was another term for influenza?

In the following local newspaper article (pre-influenza epidemic), a physician warns of this winter illness and urges precaution during snowy weather. Stay warm, safe, and healthy!

The Jefferson Republic, Friday, January 15, 1904, page 3

Precautions to Evade Grip.
"The so-called evidences of grip which usually appear every winter," said a well-known physician, "are more imaginary than real. Although this troublesome disease has never yet reached the dimensions of an epidemic, it shows a marked increase immediately after a fall of snow. This is entirely due to peculiar atmospheric conditions which follow a snowfall, and which affect the bronchial system in such a way as to bring about the unpleasant grip. After an unusually severe snow storm, a number of years ago, I had as many as eighty calls a day, all pure cases of the grip. It is the day after the snowfall that one must take the necessary precautions to evade the disease."
---
Image: MO death record of William Henry Beatte, whose cause of death was lobar pneumonia with a contributory illness of la grippe.
Source: Missouri Death Certificates, 1910 - 1974; Mo State Archives digital collection.

Family history researchers, I have a question for you! Which side of the family tree did you start with first -- materna...
01/22/2026

Family history researchers, I have a question for you!
Which side of the family tree did you start with first -- maternal or paternal? We all have reasons for beginning our genealogy journey with one side or the other, and I'm curious which one led you down the rabbit hole of research.

[black and white digitized photograph of Amelia Delbruegge Vornberg with a cow and old log structure, circa 1910s -- 2000.018.387 JCL digital archives]

On this day in 1919, Prohibition was ratified by the states, officially going into effect one year and one day later, on...
01/16/2026

On this day in 1919, Prohibition was ratified by the states, officially going into effect one year and one day later, on January 17, 1920, and lasting 13 years. But that didn't stop the new Biltmore Club from offering the most exclusive gambling, dining, dancing, and drinking establishment, opening its doors in 1929.

As reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Sunday, September 1, 1929, page 3), "With all the glitter of a Hollywood premiere, the Biltmore Country Club, on Gravois road south of Fenton, celebrated its opening last night. From the ornamental iron gates which barred the entrance, 600 feet up a steep slope to the rambling frame clubhouse, no swimming pool or golf course was visible, although the whole ten-acre tract was bathed in a glow of floodlights. The reason was that it isn't that kind of a country club. Limousines purred up to the gates and stopped. Membership cards were thrust out for the scrutiny of attendants in chauffeurs' attire, and members filed into the reception room of the most elaborate combination night club and gambling establishment around St. Louis."

You can read the entire article under the pictured headline on Newspapers.com through the library's website for free, using your JCL library card.
Images of the invitation to the "Formal Opening of the Biltmore Country Club" from the JCL Genealogy & Local History Room archives, viewable in our digital archives at jeffcolib.catalogaccess.com.

In honor of the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District celebrating 75 years of serving the community, here is an image from...
12/20/2025

In honor of the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District celebrating 75 years of serving the community, here is an image from our digital archives that shows the Cedar Hill Community Fire Association circa 1950, with volunteers gathered around the new 1950 Ford Pumper. The Cedar Hill Hotel can be seen in the background.
According to an article entitled "Cedar Hill Fire Protection District" by Bill Haggard, "The Cedar Hill Community Fire Association was the start of fire protection on August 7, 1950, for the communities of Cedar Hill, Byrnesville, Dittmer, Grubville, Oermann, and Morse Mill." The first Fire Chief was Adolph Bauer.

We do not have exact identification of those pictured, but some associated surnames may be: Radeacker, May, Kitchin, Stotz, Lintzsinger, Grupe, Bohle, Lynn, Bauer, and Butler.

Catalog record 2013.002.001
Ronald Short Collection
A similar image can be found in the Ron Mueller Collection: 2009.010.031

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5680 State Road PP
High Ridge, MO
63049

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Thursday 9am - 8pm
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