New books at archive center detail court records

When Joseph McFerron jotted down court records in the early 1800s, he couldn't have known that 200 years later, he'd be giving headaches to a Cape Girardeau couple originally from New York.

McFerron, the first court clerk in Cape Girardeau County, had something of a handwriting flaw, but Bob and Ann Parkinson painstakingly decoded McFerron's unusual cursive and have helped make court records from 1805 to 1812 available to anyone who can read typed copy.

"Everything was wiggles," Bob Parkison said of McFerron's script.

The Parkinsons' work on the court records is included in one of three new historical books now available for sale at the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center.

One of the other books details the minutes from Jackson's Turner Society, or Turnverein, a German athletic club founded for the purpose of physical and spiritual education and progress and for support of the community. The minutes run from 1884 until 1899, but it is believed that the club started before 1884 and lasted after 1899.

The minutes reflect many of the last names that are still prominent in the area -- Koehler, Milde, Schaefer and Friedrich, for example.

The club was only open to men, but women were allowed to participate in social events at the club. The Jackson Turnverein built a gym called Turnhalle at the corner of Adams and Georgia streets in Jackson. The club offered the county the use of the gymnasium when the courthouse burned in 1870.

The club also bought and sold beer and cigars, according to the minutes.

As for the other two books that include court records, the Parkinsons said that life wasn't too much different then than now.

"Everybody was going to court," Bob Parkison said.

"They were suing people for everything," Ann Parkison chimed in.

The Parkinsons donate about three or four hours a week at the archive center. Originally from New York, they are genealogy enthusiasts who have traveled all over the country.

"We've been to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York state and they don't have facilities like that and if they do, the people aren't willing to help like they are here," Ann Parkinson said. "We're amazed at how great this archive center is. We just want to do our part to help people in this part of the country."

bmiller@semissourian.com

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