Putnam County Genealogy Records

Putnam County genealogy records are held at the Recorder of Deeds and the Circuit Clerk in Unionville, Missouri. The county was organized in February 1845 from Linn County and named for General Israel Putnam of the Revolutionary War. Marriage records and land records both begin from 1845, giving researchers nearly 180 years of documents to work with. The Putnam County Historical Society also keeps local genealogy files for families who settled in this corner of north-central Missouri.

Putnam County Recorder of Deeds

The Putnam County Recorder of Deeds at 1601 Main St. in Unionville, phone 660-947-2071, holds marriage and land records from 1845. For genealogists, the marriage records are the most direct source for confirming a union and pushing a family line back. Older marriage records sometimes name parents or witnesses, which helps when you're trying to identify the family a spouse came from. Land records track property ownership through generations, and when a deed names multiple heirs, it confirms family relationships not always found elsewhere.

Standard recording fees are $24 for the first page and $3 per additional page. Document copies cost $1.00 per page. Marriage licenses are $46.00 and valid for 30 days statewide. The Recorder's office also holds military discharge records filed by Putnam County veterans, which can supply important details about service history for 20th-century ancestors.

Putnam County Court and Probate Files

The Putnam County Circuit Clerk maintains court records and probate files from 1845. For genealogy research, probate files are among the most useful records. They name heirs, describe property distribution, and often identify the children and spouses of a deceased ancestor. A probate file from the 1860s or 1870s in Putnam County can confirm an entire family structure in a single document.

Civil case files, divorce records, and naturalization documents are also on file with the Circuit Clerk. Naturalization records filed before 1906 can help identify immigrant ancestors, their country of origin, and the date they became U.S. citizens. For cases after November 12, 2003, search free at Missouri Case.net. For earlier records, you will need to contact the courthouse in Unionville directly.

The Putnam County MOGenWeb page offers transcribed genealogy records and links to sources for family research in this county.

MOGenWeb volunteer pages like this one often include cemetery listings, obituaries, and donated family histories that are not found in official county records.

Vital Records in Putnam County

The Putnam County Health Department holds local birth certificates from 1920 and death certificates from 1980. Certified copies cost $15.00 per birth certificate and require a valid photo ID and eligibility documentation. For older or statewide vital records, the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City handles requests at (573) 751-6387. Certified copies cost $15.00 each. The Bureau website has mail-order forms for out-of-area requests.

The Putnam County Clerk collected some birth and death records between 1883 and 1892, though that coverage was not uniform. Death records from 1910 through 1969 are free to search at Missouri Digital Heritage. That database covers more than 9 million statewide records. Searching it by name is the fastest way to find a Putnam County death from that era.

Note: For births and deaths before 1883, researchers typically rely on church records, cemetery transcriptions, and census mortality schedules, which list people who died in the year before each census.

Putnam County Genealogy Research Resources

The Putnam County Historical Society in Unionville is the local repository for family files, donated genealogy records, and local history materials. For researchers working remotely, reaching out to the Society by mail can sometimes yield information on specific families not found in digitized records. Local historical societies in small counties like Putnam often hold unique materials donated by longtime residents.

Federal census records are the backbone of Putnam County genealogy research. The county appears in every census from 1850 onward, and FamilySearch at familysearch.org has indexed those records for free search. The 1880 census is particularly valuable because it names each household member's relationship to the head of household for the first time in U.S. census history. The 1900 and 1910 censuses add information about years of marriage and number of children born and living, which can confirm family relationships.

The Missouri State Archives holds microfilm of Putnam County records and can help identify which collections are available. The State Historical Society of Missouri holds digitized newspapers and county history volumes relevant to north-central Missouri counties including Putnam. "History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, and Schuyler counties, Missouri" from 1888 is one published source with biographical sketches and early family details.

Online Putnam County Records

Missouri Digital Heritage is the best free online platform for Putnam County genealogy. Death certificates from 1910 to 1969 are searchable by name at no cost. Pre-1910 birth and death records, land records, and digitized historical documents are also available there. FamilySearch adds census records, some probate files, and church records. Together these two free sites cover a broad range of what is available for Putnam County family research without a subscription fee.

The Missouri State Genealogical Association offers guides and connects researchers with local societies across the state. For courthouse records that predate the Case.net online system, a written request or in-person visit to the Unionville courthouse is necessary. The Missouri Recorders Association website can help identify specific recording offices and their contact information across the state.