Pike County, Missouri Genealogy and History

Originally part of the Louisiana Purchase, Missouri was admitted as the 24th state in 1821 as part of the Missouri Compromise. The first U.S. Federal Census of Missouri was taken in 1830. A pseudo-census for 1820 was "reconstructed from portions of original records along with lists of settlers, tax lists, petitioner lists, voter lists, and other sources." The citation is Missouri 1820 Census Index ; Jackson, Ronald Vern; Bountiful, Utah : Accelerated Indexing Systems, c1981; [53] p., 51 leaves. Apparently, it is only available in hardcopy book form (libraries, etc.), is NOT available on FHL microfilm and has NOT been included in online databases (Ancestry.com, etc.).

White settlement of Pike County began in the early 1800's ... (more TBA).

Pritchard Photographer Louisiana, Missouri

I was attempting to date some old-time photos. The only markings indicated they were taken by "Pritchard" of Louisiana, Mo. A lot of research later I found that "Pritchard" was a pseudonym for William Handsome who went to Louisiana, Missouri in 1872 after being burned out by the Great Chicago Fire. His biography was recorded in the History of Pike County Missouri; Mills; Des Moines, Iowa; 1883; page 692-3. Transcript follows. The "Pike County, Missouri Deaths, 1878-1917" index shows a "Pritchard Handsome" died 26 Nov 1892. I subsequently found his wife, Hannah Handsome, in the 1900 census in Chicago living with her son John and his family. She was widowed. Also listed in the household was John's son and granddaughter, she born in Missouri Sept. 1894. Since a business directory listing and advertisement name a John Pritchard, William's son may have continued that business after 1892, but he had returned to Chicago by 1900. So far, I don't know whether the business may have been continued by someone else under his name after 1900, but this seems to narrow the range of his photography business in Louisiana from 1872 to at least 1895, possibly to about 1900. 

 William Handsome (Pritchard), artist and photographer, is a native of
England, and was born at Carlisle, Cumberland, July 20, 1827.  In his
infancy his parents removed to Glasgow, Scotland, where he lived with
them until he was seventeen, when he was employed in a cotton warehouse
until he was nineteen, when he was captivated by the nicely-uniformed
company of the Fourth Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, while passing through
the streets of Carlisle.  Following them, he enlisted and soon after became
orderly for General Arbuthnot, and served as such twelve months at Man-
chester, when he was promoted to corporal and sent to Maidstone to be
trained and qualified as drill instructor in the riding school, and after a
thorough drill of twelve months he joined the regiment at Birmingham.
In 1851 he purchased his discharge, when he accepted the position of receiv-
ing warden and physician's asistant in Birmingham borough jail, serving
as such until 1852, when he went to Liverpool and became hall keeper in
St. George's Hall, continuing as such until 1862.  Early in life he was fond
of oil painting, and being a natural artist, he soon became master of the
brush and palette.  On leaving St. George's Hall, he became associated
with Mr. Quillish in the firm name of Quillish & Handsome, and engaged
in photographing, and learned that art of and was with Mr. Quillish until
1864, when he emigrated to the United States.  He first settled at Chicago,
where he established a photo gallery, and pursued that business until the

great Chicago fire, in 1871, when he lost all he had by being burned out.
In 1872 he came to Louisiana, Missouri, where he was employed for a short
time as operator in the gallery of Samuel Rice.  He then engaged in giv-
ing instructions in oil painting, being for a time at Quincy, Illinois, where
he took the nom de plume of "Prof. Pritchard."  He also executed several
pieces of oil painting for citizens of Louisiana, thereby accumulating means
enough to again engage in photographing.  He established his present gal-
lery and studio, known as "Pritchard's," in 1873, and built up a lucrative
business.  His paintings that adorn the walls of his studio, and the sample
photos, shows that they were executed by the hand of a skillful master.
April 15, 1851, he married Hannah Cole, of Northfield, near Birmingham,
England.  They are members of Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church, of
Louisnana.

 - The History of Pike County, Missouri; Des Moines, Iowa; Mills & Company;
   1883; page 692.


Pike County, Missouri Deaths, 1878-1917
  via Ancestry.com
  lists a "Pritchard Handsome", died 26 Nov 1892, issue date 1 Dec 1892.
    [died age 65]

------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Marilyn Moore" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 3:17 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPIKE-L] Pritchard Photographers, Louisiana, Mo.


> Here it is, I hope that it comes through this time. I think I just forgot
> to paste it on the last message.....Marilyn
> I have a copy of the "Louisiana & Clarkdale Missouri City Directory For
> 1875-1876
>
> There is a listing for Pritchard John, photographer and oil painter
> s 3d bet Georgia and South Carolina
> res e s Main s North Carolina
> In case you aren't familiar with the abbreviations meanings, they are
> s(south) and es (eastside).
>
> Also there was an advertisement:
> John Pritchard, Photographer Artist - This well known oil painter,from
> Chicago, has cast his lot with the people of Louisiana, and is
> acknowledged to be one of the best in the western country. Mr P. finishes
> pictures in oil, water, and india ink, and is also a landscape painter.
> His establishment is located on the north side of Georgia  between Third
> and Fourth, and is ornamented with pictures if the finest scenery, and is
> open for the inspection of everybody. Call and you will never regret your
> visit.
>

US Census 1870 - Illinois - Cook Co. - Chicago - Ward 18 - Page No. 320
Ancestry.com index / ED image 320/429
HQ: Can't find at all in their index
25 1554 2797 Handsome Wm     42 M W Photographist  England
26           ---      Hannah 43 F W Keeping House     "
26* Ancestry indexes as "Hannah Handsome"

US Census 1880 - Missouri - Pike Co. - Louisiana - ED 132/Page No 19 (480C)
Ancestry.com index / ED image 19/87
11 149 153 Pritchard Hansom W M 52  Photographer  England England England
12           ----    Hanna  W F 54  Keeping House England England England
11* Ancestry.com/LDS Familysearch indexes as "Hansom Pritchand"

US Census 1900 - Illinois - Cook Co. - Chicago - Ward 13 - ED 391/Sheet No. 9B
- "West Town"
Ancestry.com index / ED image 18/34
79  88 198? Handsome John            Head W M Mar  1882 48 M 31     England  England  England
80           ------  Mary F          Wife W F Sept 1850 49 M 31 4 2 N.S.     Germany  Germany
81           ------  Frederick _      Son W M Jan? 1870 30 M  +     Illinois Germany  N.S.
82          Handsome Hannah        Mother W F Mar  1828 82 W    1 1 England  England  England
83           ------  Thistle M G Daughter W F Sept 1894  5 S        Missouri Illinois Missouri
81* Years married appears to be a '1' with a horizontal line drawn through it
82* Age '82' clearly written, looks like the '2' in 1828 was overwritten with a '1'; s/b age 72

On This Website

External Links

Surrounding Counties Information

Counties adjacent to Pike County are Ralls to the north, Audrain to the west, Montgomery and Lincoln to the South and Pike, Calhoun and Jersey across the Mississippi River to the east in Illinois.

Over the decades, families routinely migrated among these counties, including those in Illinois. My own ancestors and relatives also lived at various times in Lincoln (MO), Calhoun, Jersey and Pike (IL). At one time there was even a ferry boat (Hamburg Ferry) that provided regular trips between the shores (not sure when it began or if still in service).

Links and brief information about surrounding counties is posted on the above Pike County, Missouri USGenWeb site. These sites vary as to quantity and quality of genealogical data.

E-Mail to Neal

Missouri Shuck Branches page

Andrew Shuck page

Lincoln County, Missouri page

Main Genealogy page

© Copyright 1997-2006. All rights reserved.