Here's a genealogy article from the Joplin Globe that may interest those needing area information. http://www.joplinglobe.com/archives/story.php?story_id=126025 2/19/06 - Genealogists delvew for diverse information Genealogists are not content with just collecting data on births, deaths and marriages. They also research the areas where their ancestors lived in order to learn why family members moved from one area to another, what they did for a living, the sites where they lived, the names of relatives who lived nearby, churches they attended, battles in which they fought, cause of their deaths and cemeteries where they are buried. To learn those diverse types of information, they first check the materials at the genealogy society located in the area where each ancestor lived. Researchers also look through local history books and files compiled by historical societies and county and city libraries. If the ancestors lived in the Ozarks, searches are done of online databases of the Mid-Continent Library at Independence and the State Historical Society at Columbia to learn of materials that can be ordered by interlibrary loan through a local library. The online database of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is also searched to learn about useful articles, documents and books. After those items are identified, microfilm copies of them are ordered at the nearest Family History Center. Researchers also visit the archives at the George A. Spiva Library at Missouri Southern University, which has hundreds of maps and books relating to local history. They check the local history collections at other colleges and universities in the Four State area, too. They visit places such as the Joplin Museum Complex, the Howard Litch Historical and Mining Museum at Galena, Kan., the Newton County Historical Museum at Neosho, the Dobson Museum at Miami, Okla., the mining museum at Picher, Okla., and the Bushwhacker Museum at Nevada. When Civil War records are needed, they travel to the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Library, which has one of the largest collection of Civil War resources in our nation. In addition, they check the online database at the National Park System's Web site. Another place that they check is the Jasper County Record Center, located at the Jasper County Courthouse Annex at Lincoln and Central in Carthage. Most people in this area are aware that the center is conservator of the old courthouse records of Jasper County, but few are aware that the center has files that provide other types of information. Some of the topics are: early towns, roads, families, battles, businesses, wars, epidemics, gangs, early newspapers, churches, schools, parks, military units, cemeteries and museums. The center has the set of files donated by Marvin Van Gilder, local historian and author. His files (which include an index) are housed in five, tall cabinets. The center also has several cabinets of historic files from the Carthage Press. Ward Schrantz, who served as historian for the Carthage Press before Van Gilder, has donated several scrapbooks that he compiled about World War I and World War II. Archivist Steve Weldon's personal files are also at the center. Those files contain extensive information on Civil War events that occurred in this area. A few examples of his topics are: Rader Farm Massacre at Sherwood, Missouri State Guard, Missouri Home Guard, and battles at Carthage, Baxter Springs, Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge and Newtonia. Weldon and his volunteers have started additional files on people of this area, and significant events that occurred in this area. Address correspondence to Frankie Meyer, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, Mo. 64802. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is a good source, for Jasper Co. MO. Everyone should write this information down somewhere. If you are interested in Jasper County these can be the folks to contact. They have been most helpful. For their records, they'd like a written request even though they do help over the telephone. They can find the needed information Book Page etc. to get your request at the courthouse handled more swiftly. Steve Weldon, who has helped me, is very good. Jasper County Records & Research Center 125 N. Lincoln ~ Carthage, MO 64836 (417) 359-1100 Orlena