I'm trying to find a source online where I can look up birth records for various members of my family who resided in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri. I see that there is a database for Missouri birth records, 1851-1910, however Buchanan County is not included in this database. Specifically I'm trying to find a birth record for my great-grandfather, named Raymond Isaac GORE or Isaac Raymond GORE. He was born September 5, 1899.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheryl Odette

I'm not related to this person.

MO birth and death registrations did not begin until 1910.

1900 -
Name: Isaac Gore Jr
Home in 1900: St Joseph Ward 5, Buchanan, Missouri
Age: 8/12
Birth Date: Sep 1899
Birthplace: Missouri
Race: White
Ethnicity: American
Gender: Male
Relationship to Head of House: Son
Father's Name: Isaac
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Name: Clemmie
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Marital Status: Single
Residence : St. Joseph City, Buchanan, Missouri

Isaac Gore 49, 5/51 TN - married 9 yr, teamster
Clemmie Gore 28, 5/72 TN
Edna B Gore 3, 2/97 Mo
Isaac Gore 8/12, 9/99 MO


1910 -
Name: Raymond J Gore
Age in 1910: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1900
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's Name: Isaac N
Father's Birth Place: Tennessee
Mother's Name: Clemmie B
Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee
Home in 1910: St Joseph Ward 10, Buchanan, Missouri
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male

Isaac N Gore 57, Tn - laborer @ packing house
Clemmie B Gore 34, TN - 1st marriage, married 18 yr
Edna B Gore 13, IOWA
Raymond J Gore 10, MO
Joseph T Gore 2/12, MO
Rony R Peschall 23, TN = b/inlaw, laborer @ packing house

Thomas, thanks for going to the trouble to post that information from the censuses. The information contained in them is what confuses me as to whether his name was Raymond Isaac GORE or Isaac Raymond GORE. In 1900 he was reported as Isaac Jr., but on the 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses he goes by Raymond. His WWI draft registration card lists him as Raymond. But it wasn't uncommon (even to this day) for family members to go by their middle names. I was just trying to find some type of document where my confusion might be resolved.

But I do have a question, if birth and death registrations didn't start until 1910, does that mean that the records contained in the 1851-1910 birth records were done on a volunteer basis, or perhaps whatever was the norm county by county during that time period? And is that why Buchanan County is not included in this database, because this county generally didn't keep birth records until it became offical statewide to do so?

Again, thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

It was not uncommon for people to flip/flop between their given and middle names on the census pages.

Since birth & death records in MO were not required until 1910, the registrations were most likely done by county law.
Also, remember it cost money to register a birth or death.
many people skipped the registration because of the cost.

Very interesting...thanks for your reply. This is probably why I'm unable to find a birth certificate or birth record for him. I'm also unable to find a death certificate for him, but then again I'm not sure where he died. I think he might have died in Cook County, Illinois, but it's possible he might have moved from the Chicago area. Anyhow, I digress. Thanks again for that information. It's very helpful.

There is a book "Index to the birth records of St. Joseph, Missouri, 1891-1909" by Phillip L. Sifers in the St Joseph Library, downtown branch which I have found some what helpful
in locating birth dates of my family members. It list birth date, sex of child and father's name & maybe address. The ladies at the reference desk are very good about looking in the book and even coping a page or two and mailing to you. While it does not give name of child it does give you an exact date of birth. Hope this helps.

Thanks for letting me know about that resource. I'm from Illinois so I'll see if I can get their number from the Internet. I never would have known about this potential resource unless you had shared that, so thank you very much!