Find Records in Hickory County

Hickory County genealogy records date to 1845, when the county was created from Benton and Polk Counties in south-central Missouri. Researchers need to know upfront that the Hickory County courthouse burned twice, in 1852 and again in 1865. Those fires destroyed some early records. Surviving records at the Recorder of Deeds and Circuit Clerk in Hermitage, along with materials held by the Missouri State Archives, can still support solid genealogy research for families who lived in this county before and after those losses. This guide explains where the records are now and how to get them.

Hickory County Recorder of Deeds

The Hickory County Recorder of Deeds is located at PO Box 3, Hermitage, MO 65668, phone 417-745-6409. Marriage records and land records both start from 1845. Keep in mind that records created before the 1852 and 1865 courthouse fires may be incomplete or missing. In practice, this means some marriages and deeds from the late 1840s and early 1860s are lost. Researchers working on that period should supplement local office searches with older state archives microfilm, which may include copies made before or after the fires.

Land records that survived tell you where an ancestor lived, how much property they owned, and who they bought from or sold to. When land changed hands within a family, those transactions can reveal parent-child relationships or the settlement of an estate. Marriage records confirm identities and establish the timing of family events. Because records from the earliest years of Hickory County are incomplete, you may need to use neighboring county records and census data to fill gaps.

Note: Always contact the Recorder's office before visiting to confirm what records survived from specific years and whether they are available in the office or only on microfilm at the Missouri State Archives.

Hickory County Court and Probate Records

The Hickory County Circuit Clerk holds court and divorce records from 1845 and probate records from 1869. The gap between 1845 and 1869 in the probate records likely reflects losses from the courthouse fires. Records that do survive from 1869 onward are held at the Circuit Clerk's office in Hermitage. Probate files from this period can include wills, estate inventories, guardian appointments, and final settlements. All name the deceased and often list every heir by name, making them invaluable for building a family tree.

Court records from 1845 onward include civil case files, criminal proceedings, and any naturalization filings that passed through the circuit court. For cases filed after November 12, 2003, use the free online search tool at Case.net. Older records require a direct request to the Hickory County Circuit Clerk. The Missouri State Archives holds microfilm of many Hickory County court records and can be contacted at 600 W. Main St., Jefferson City, (573) 751-3280.

Vital Records in Hickory County

The Hickory County Health Department can provide certified birth certificates from 1920 and certified death certificates from 1980. The County Clerk holds earlier birth and death registrations from 1883 through 1887. These early records are sparse but worth checking if you are tracing a family in Hickory County before statewide registration began in 1910.

For records outside the county health department's date range, contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records at (573) 751-6387. The Bureau holds birth and death records statewide from January 1, 1910. Certified copies are $15 each. Missouri's central registry for marriages and divorces goes back to July 1948 and is also held by the Bureau. Death certificates for Hickory County deaths from 1910 through 1969 are available free through Missouri Digital Heritage, where you can search by name and county without paying a fee.

Hickory County Genealogy Research Resources

The Hickory County Historical Society at 205 Main Street, Hermitage, MO 65668, phone 417-745-6421, is the primary local genealogy resource. The society maintains files on local families, cemetery surveys, old maps, and donated research materials. Given the courthouse fires, the society's collection may include transcriptions or photographs of records that were made before documents were lost. It is worth contacting them early in your research to find out what they have for the specific families you are tracing.

The Hickory County Museum in Hermitage preserves artifacts and documents related to the county's history. Even when a museum's collection does not focus on genealogy directly, it often holds photographs, diaries, and local business records that can place an ancestor in a specific community. The Polk County Genealogical Society covers the region around Hickory County and may have materials on families who moved between Polk and Hickory Counties, which was common given that Hickory was carved from Benton and Polk in 1845.

Because of the courthouse fires, using alternate sources is especially important for Hickory County research. Federal census records, church records, and newspaper archives can substitute for official records that were destroyed. The State Historical Society of Missouri holds newspapers and manuscript collections that may fill gaps left by the fires.

Online Hickory County Records

The Hickory County MOGenWeb page at mogenweb.org/hickory is the main free online resource for genealogy research in this county. Volunteers have contributed cemetery records, transcribed documents, and local history information. Given the gaps caused by courthouse fires, any transcribed records on this site may represent the only surviving copies of some early documents.

The Missouri State Archives holds microfilm for Hickory County and is worth consulting before concluding that a record is lost. The Archives staff can tell you what reels cover Hickory County and whether they show records from the 1845-1865 period. Free in-person access to Ancestry.com is available at the reading room in Jefferson City. Missouri Digital Heritage at sos.mo.gov/mdh provides free access to death certificates from 1910 through 1969, land patents, and other digitized collections that include Hickory County.

The Hickory County MOGenWeb site is a free volunteer-maintained resource for genealogy records and research in Hickory County, Missouri.

The MOGenWeb project page for Hickory County includes transcribed records that are especially valuable given the courthouse fires that destroyed some original documents in 1852 and 1865.