Springfield-Greene
County LibraryThese are records of stray livestock. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Missouri statutes provided specific guidelines for individuals finding and harboring lost cattle, horses, mules and other livestock. Before a person could take possession of the stray, he was required to post a notice of intent for at least thirty days and pay a bond to ensure that the animal would not be disposed of in that time. After notices had been posted in public places for thirty days, the finder was required to file a notice with a justice of the peace, who determined if the proper procedure was followed and collected a bond equal to the appraised value of the animal. After one year, if the animal remained unclaimed, half of the bond was returned to the finder. The justice of the peace submitted lists which were provided to the county clerk, who posted the information in the stray books.
The original index is 144 printed pages and is arranged alphabetically by last name. Because of the size of the document, we have divided it into sections according to the alphabet to make it easier to retrieve and view via the internet. Please choose a section below to browse. You may also perform a keyword search on all of the documents in the Greene County Records site.
Explanations | Note from the County Clerk
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