The Harrison County Genealogical Society began a fundraising campaign this week to purchase the vacated downtown Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri building.
Genealogy officials said the organization has outgrown its present building on Central Street, which is filled with family records, history books and newspaper collections. The society’s headquarters is a frequent destination for families doing genealogy research.
If the Farmers Bank can be purchased, the genealogy society will have enough room to become a repository for records from the courthouse as well as other county documents.
“The goal is to preserve and protect the history of Harrison County citizens,” said Linda Daniel.
The genealogical society’s library houses thousands of obituaries, hundreds of family histories, probate records, marriage records, newspapers dating back to the 1860s as well as pictures of people and places throughout the county.
“Volunteers have spent and continue to spend hours and hours collecting, organizing and ensuring that the county’s pioneers and citizens are not forgotten,” Daniel said.
She pointed out that Harrison County pioneers had many interesting stories.
“Thousands of documents provide insight of early life in the county,” she said. “There were murders, hangings, Indians, slaves, marriages, divorces, kidnapping, indentures, applications for citizenship and the building of businesses and homes.
“Life was not easy in the 1840s and 50s and our ancestors endured hardships beyond imagination but probably thought they were lucky to have property and a roof over their heads,” she said.
The society started the fundraising campaign asking for donations to help with the purchase of the former bank building.
The genealogical society is a 501 3© not-for-profit corporation so donations are tax deductible.”
Persons wishing to make donations are asked to stop by the genealogy library at 2307 Central or to visit with the volunteer staff about other plans for the building.