A reception for Georgia Maxwell, Daviess County Recorder of Deeds, will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Dec. 17 at the Daviess County Courthouse in Gallatin. The reception is to honor Georgia for 24 years of service to the citizens of the county upon her retirement. Cards may be sent to P.O. Box 132 or emailed to [email protected].
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Georgia was born in the small town of Raymondville, nicknamed “Timber Town U.S.A.” The family moved about every year because her father worked in the wood industry.
The family moved to Gallatin when Georgia was 15. She attended the last two years of high school at Gallatin. Her folks moved on to South Missouri, while Georgia stayed in Gallatin to marry Roger Maxwell after graduation.
Georgia and Roger have one son and one daughter. David lives at Gallatin. He and his wife Stacey have two children, Bailey and Kelsey. Dana Maxwell lives at Jamesport and has three children, Jerilynn, Taylor and Tye.
Georgia would have two fulfilling careers in her lifetime and both would start during high school. She spent one summer on a work program. She was employed by Lucille Drummond at the courthouse. She also went to work for Joe Snyder at the Gallatin Publishing Company while still in high school.
After graduating, she worked full time at the newspaper office. She set type and was the feature writer for 25 years.
“One of my biggest challenges working at the paper was traveling around the countryside doing interviews,” laughed Georgia. “I never was any good at directions and I’d get out in the country and get lost. That was before cell phones and GPS. I frequently had to get out and ask for directions.”
Georgia said her favorite feature was one she did on Danny Critten, in which he talked about his experiences as a young marine with “Hotel Company” in Vietnam; the battle of Hill 881 during which he was paralyzed by a bullet; and how he made a life for himself afterward.
Slim Riddling and his fish-bait place was another memorable story. “He was a character, but he was a real individual character,” Georgia said.
Georgia and husband Roger.
Georgia recalls Perry Bowers taking out full-page ads against abortion, which he paid for out of his own pocket.
Georgia retired from the newspaper and then went to work for Linda Adkins as deputy circuit clerk and recorder. When the offices were separated she ran for recorder and has served in that office since 2003. She was at the courthouse for 24 years.
“I was lucky enough to like both my jobs,” said Georgia. “The biggest disadvantage of the recorder’s job was having to run for office. But I did get to meet everybody in the county while I campaigned.”
She said her job at the courthouse was mainly clerical and involved land records. Over the years computers were added and everything was digitized. One unusual aspect of her work involved land records still being recorded although farms have been in the family for many, many years.
“Genealogists and historians have made Century Farms very popular,” she said. “In order to be a Century Farm, people have to trace the farm land back to the original patent.”
She and Roger have lived at their farm north of Jamesport for all 48 years of their married life. They built a new house and have lived there for four years.
Georgia began in the Recorder’s Office in 1990. She served 12 years as Deputy Recorder and three terms (12 years) as Recorder of Deeds. She also served 15 years on the Tri-County R-7 Board of Education. Her memberships have included Missouri Local Records Retention Board Member; Recorders Association of Missouri; Northwest Missouri Recorder’s Association; Jamesport Baptist Church; Learn and Do women’s Club; FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer; and Friend of 4-H award.
Be sure to visit Georgia at her retirement party from 2-4 p.m. on Dec. 17 at the courthouse.