A Surprise In Deed!

I have been doing genealogy for many years and I learned long ago that it is always important to visit courthouses and city halls for the actual documents. I have also learned to expect the unexpected.

I had an opportunity to travel to Butler, Bates Co. Missouri recently and spent quite a bit of time in the Bates County Courthouse.

In the 1880's, a few of my Badgley ancestors followed Martin Jones Badgley and moved from Belleville, Illinois to Butler, Missouri.  Martin J Badgley officiated at the marriage of my great grandfather Henry Isaac Ogle to my great grandmother Barbara Caroline  Roos in Butler in 1882.  After the death of Barbara in 1896, Henry returned to Butler and married M J's daughter Martha Isabel Badgley in 1897. I wanted to find the specific areas where they lived in Butler.   I was searching the microfilms of deeds looking for land purchases and sales.  Sometimes, with luck, you can find out much more than the land location.

I spent a great deal of time looking at many microfilms.  They were organized by year and then by Grantor and Grantee.  I never did find exactly what I was looking for, but there was one record that was exciting.  I found a will for Martin J. Badgley! ¹  Since there was a land transfer in the will it was included in the deed books.  It was a pleasant surprise.

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¹ Missouri, Bates County. Deeds. Book 85: 379-380.  Grantor Martin J. Badgley, grantee Priscilla Badgley et al.  Recorded July 30, 1888. Register of Deeds Office, Butler.