History of Cape Girardeau County
Recorder of Deeds
Brief history of the Cape Girardeau County Recorder’s office
Missouri was admitted to the union in 1821. At that time land records were recorded with circuit clerks as ex-officio recorders.
In 1906 the county court voted to separate the office of Circuit clerk and Recorder of Deeds.
Here is the entry in the record of the County Court.
Monday, May 7th 1906, First day of the May Term.
Office of Circuit Clerk and )
Recorder of Deeds )
Divided by County Court )
Whereas the office of Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds is held by one officer in this County and it being the opinion of this court that said office should in justice to the public be divided as is provided in section 9079 Revised Statutes of Missouri 1899.
Therefore be it ordered by this Court that said office of Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds be separated and divided, creating a new officer to be known as the Recorder of Deeds in this County; that this order take effect after 31st day of December A.D. 1906, and not until then.
Recorder entry
In 1984, the Recorders office moved from a small space in the Jackson Courthouse to the Administration building next door. With the limitation of space, some records are kept in the Archive Center across the street. Most land records recorded after 1989 can be accessed remotely through the Tapestry website.
History of Recorders
|
Year
|
Recorder of Deeds
|
Party
|
Notes
|
|
1821
|
Joseph McFerron
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1821-23
|
John Juden
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1823-25
|
Claiborne S. Thomas
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1825-28
|
Ralph Daugherty
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1828-42
|
Henry Sanford
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1842-46
|
Robert Brown
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1846-61
|
Henry Sanford
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1861-63
|
James F. Edwards
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1863-68
|
Leopold Horston
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1868-1979
|
N.C. Harrison
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1879
|
H.R. English
|
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1881
|
Henry R. English
|
Dem
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1883
|
H.R. English
|
Dem
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1885
|
H.R. English
|
Dem
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1887-88
|
H.R. English
|
Dem
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1889-90
|
H.R. English
|
Dem
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1891-92
|
H.R. English
|
Dem
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1893-94
|
Henry R. English
|
Dem
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1895-1902
|
Christopher F. Betten
|
Rep
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
1903-1906
|
Joseph E. Schmuke
|
Dem
|
*Circuit Clerk
|
|
The office of Circuit Clerk ex-officio Recorder is separated
|
|
1907-1918
|
George F. Siemers
|
Rep
|
|
|
1919-1930
|
Fred H. Schrader
|
Rep
|
|
|
1931-1934
|
Silas P. Lail
|
Dem
|
|
|
1935-1938
|
S.P. Lail
|
Dem
|
|
|
1939-1946
|
EW Hink
|
Rep
|
|
|
1947-1954
|
Arthur A Schade
|
Rep
|
|
|
1955-1958
|
Charlston A Bohnsack
|
Rep
|
|
|
1959-1966
|
Hope E. Morton
|
Dem
|
|
|
1967-1974
|
Leonard Schumacher
|
Rep
|
|
|
1975-76
|
Pauline Young
|
Dem
|
**Resigned
|
|
1977-78
|
Janet F. Robert
|
Dem
|
***Appointed
|
|
1979-2010
|
Janet F. Robert
|
Dem
|
|
|
2011-present
|
Scott R. Clark
|
Rep
|
|
Missouri Blue book served as the primary source for all information. |