Explore Your History

December 02, 2011

Dearborn has an interesting history that dates back to the late nineteenth century when it was platted for use by Rock Island Railroad. There's a lot of dispute over how the town got its name. Some took to calling it "Lick Skillet", but the townsfolk wanted a more dignified name. Whether it was dubbed Dearborn after Revolutionary War hero Henry Dearborn or because it was "dearly born," people are proud to call it home. The railroad line running through town was christened the Maple Leaf, which the street in front of the Dearborn Branch bears to this day. The location where the library sits used to be where coal was piled before it made its way onto the train.

In 1890, the Dearborn Democrat printed its first issue and printed stories about Buffalo Bill's return to America, the struggle to tame the West, and a cholera epidemic sweeping throughout Spain. Almost a hundred years later the Dearborn Branch received microfilm donations of the local paper dating from 1898 to 1945, along with four rolls of genealogy records. The current microfilm reader does not print, but viewing is possible by inquiring at the front desk. Births, deaths, politics, church news, and social events are featured in these issues of the now defunct Dearborn Democrat for patrons to view. Come to the Dearborn Branch to explore your history!

Microfilm available:

Dearborn MO Democrat-July 7, 1898-Dec. 28, 1900
Dearborn MO The Dearborn Democrat-Jan. 2, 1919-May 31, 1923 and Sept. 12, 1941-Dec. 25, 1942
Dearborn Democrat-5 Jan thru 28 Dec 1945
Dearborn Democrat- July 26, 1901-Dec. 27, 1907
Dearborn Democrat-Nov. 28, 1890, Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26
Dearborn MO The Dearborn Democrat-Jan. 1, 1943-Dec. 29, 1944

Iron Co, Box 4, Roll C2880, Misc. transcribed Deeds
Howell Co., Index to Deeds C2852
Iron Co. Box 1, Abstract, Index to Deeds C2877
Platte Co. Box 1, Index to Deeds C5379

Lynn C.
Dearborn Branch