Does anyone know if taxes were paid on property purchases in 1899?  (I don't mean annual taxes - which I know existed; I mean sales tax.)   Every time I see something like this, back to back - I wonder why Knorpp didn't just pay $1100 and Mueller pay $1 (assuming H.A Mueller and Rosina Mueller are related). I see other properties exchanging hands for $1, though most are between father/son or close family members, so $1 might just be the formality of changing names on deed vs avoiding sales tax?  Just curious...   Jefferson County, MO Conveyances - Feb 1899: Rosina MUELLER to Wm. J. KNORPP, 120 acres, S20 T40 R5….$2500. Wm. J. KNORPP to H.A. MUELLER, lot in DeSoto….$1400.