Book excerpt: This amazing compilation contains the records of 16,000 marriages from fifty-one Missouri counties formed before 1840. The majority of the marriage records in this work were copied from the original marriage books on file in various county courthouses. Others were copied from previously published compilations; some were copied from both sources. All Missouri counties with marriage records prior to 1840 are covered except St. Louis County and City, which have been adequately covered elsewhere. The marriages listed here are arranged in alphabetical sequence by the surname of the groom. A bride's index at the back of the book contains the names of all 16,000 women mentioned in the marriage records.