Malachi Isley III moved to Missouri no later than April 15, 1853; presumably from Texas where he was enumerated in 1850. On this date, 15 April 1853, he was granted a Land Patent in Newton County, Missouri. His first cousin, George Isley, son of Philip, moved to Johnson County, Missouri about the same time. The first known census records of Isley's in Missouri are 1860 census records. See my other Isley web site for a list of Isley land patents issued in Missouri.

In 1673, Marquette and Joliet were the first Europeans to set foot on land that would later become Missouri. On June 4, 1812, a portion of the Territory of Louisiana became the Territory of Missouri. On August 10, 1821, President James Monroe admitted Missouri as the 24th state. Missouri gets its name from a tribe of Sioux Indians of the state called the Missouris. The word "Missouri" often has been construed to mean "muddy water" but the Smithsonian Institution Bureau of American Ethnology has stated it means "town of the large canoes," and authorities have said the Indian syllables from which the word comes mean "wooden canoe people" or "he of the big canoe."

Missouri 1895

NEWTON COUNTY 1895 Organized December 31, 1838 from Barry County. Named for John Newton, Revolutionary War soldier.

JASPER COUNTY  1895 Organized from Newton County on January 29, 1841, and was named in honor of Sergeant William Jasper, a hero in the American Revolutionary War.

CLINTON COUNTY 1895 Organized from a part of Clay, January 15th, 1833. Named in honor of De Witt Clinton, of New York

CLAY COUNTY - 1895 map not avail Organized January 2, 1822. Named for Henry Clay, Kentucky congressman.

JOHNSON COUNTY  1895 Organized December 13, 1834. Named for R. M. Johnson, Kentucky senator and later Vice President.

Isley Families in Missouri George Isley (son of Philip of Malachi) - born 1783-1786 - and wife Martha "Patsy" Atkinson. Migrated from North Carolina to Gwinnett County, Georgia to Jackson County, Alabama, and, finally to Kingsville, Johnson County, Missouri where they were enumerated in the 1860 census. Both George and Martha are believed to have died in 1864. Bartlet G. Isley (son of Malachi III) - born circa 1823 - and wife Margaret I. Migrated with his parents from North Carolina to Illinois circa 1833-34; Arkansas by 1840. Enumeratd with his wife in 1850 in Hopkins County, Texas. Enumerated in Newton County, Missouri in 1860, 1870 and 1880. I do not know when he and his wife died. Jacob Isley (son of Malachi III) - born circa 1824 - and wife Nancy Jane Smith. Migrated with is parents from North Carolina to Illilnois circa 1833-34; Arkansas by 1840. Married his wife 25 January 1849 in Jasper County, Missouri. Enumerated in Jasper County, Missouri in 1850 and moved to Kansas by 1860. Many members of the family are believed to have died of the measles prior to 1870. Catherine Nichols (daughter of Elenor Isley of Malachi III and Green Nichols[on]) - born circa 1833 - and husband Wilson Lea. Migrated with her parents from North Carolina to Illinois circa 1833-34; Arkansas by 1840. Enumerated with her husband Wilson Lea in 1870 in Shoal Creek, Newton County, Missouri and with her second husband Charles A. Powell in 1880 Shoal Creek, Newton County, Missouri. Emanuel Isley (son of Malachi III) - born circa 1828 - and wife Martha. Migrated with his parents from North Carolina to Illinois circa 1833-34; Arkansas by 1840. Enumerated with his wife in 1850 in Hopkins County, Texas.  Enumerated in 1860 Shoal Creek, Newton County, Missouri and moved to Kansas by 1870. George Milton Isley (son of Austin of George Isley and Mary Magdalene of Martin of Philip) - born circa 1832 - and wife Barbara Shoffner.  Enumerated in North Carolina in 1860 and 1870. He and his family were then enumerated in 1880 in Holt, Clay County, Missouri. John Nichols (son of Elenor Isley of Malachi III and Green Nichols[on]) - born circa 1834 - and wife Sarah. Enumerated in Shoal Creek, Newton County, Missouri in 1860. Malachi Will Nichols (son of Elenor Isley of Malachi III and Green Nichols[on]) - born January 1835 and wife Sely Perminta Harris. First enumerated in Kansas in 1870. Enumerated in 1880 in Jasper County, Missouri and in 1900 in McDonald County, Missouri. Philip Isley (son of George of Philip) - born 7 May 1840 - and wife Nancy King. Born in Georgia and initially migrated to Alabama by 1850 and onto Missouri by 1853. Granted a land patent on 1 May 1857 in Johnson County, Missouri. Enumerated in 1870, 1880 and 1900 in Kingsville, Johnson County, Missouri. Moved to Texas by 1910. Prior Harrison Isley (son of Jacob of Malachi III) - born circa 1854 in Missouri - and wife Lucida Kimbro.  Enumerated with his cousin John Isley in 1870 in Lost Creek, Newton County, Missouri. He married his wife on 18 February 1876 in Bond County, Illinois. In 1880, enumerated in Polk, Marion County, Missouri. James J. Lea (son of Catherine Nichols of Elenor Isley of Malachi III and Wilson Lea) - born circa 1857 in Missouri. Enumerated with wife Elizabeth Smallwood in 1880 in Shoal Creek, Newton County, Missouri and wife Mary in 1900 and 1920 in Shoal Creek, Newton County, Missouri. Thomas Isley (son of George Milton Isley above) - born circa 1858-1860 in North Carolina. Migrated to Missouri by 1880 with his parents. Enumerated in 1900 and 1920 in Clay County, North Carolina. Probably did not marry. John F. Felts (son of Nancy Isley of Stanford Isley of Malachi III and Charles W. Felts) - born circa 1861 in Illinois - and wife Rosella Bone. In 1900, enumerated in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. Augustus Isley (son of George Milton Isley above) - born September 1861 in North Carolina - and wife Ida L. Migrated to Missouri by 1880 with his parents. In 1910 and 1920 enumerated in Kearney, Clay County, Missouri. Walter Isley (son of George Milton Isley above) - born circa 1864 in North Carolina - and wife Maud. Migrated to Missouri by 1880 with his parents. In 1900 and 1920 enumerated in Jackson, Clinton County, Missouri. John Wilson Lea (son Cather Nichols of Elenor Isley of Malachi III and Wilson Lea) - born circa 1868 in Missouri - and wife Lillie. Enumerated in Shoal Creek, Newton County, Missouri in 1900. James Holmes Coble (son of Polly Moser of Molly Isley of George Isley and John Wesley Coble) - born 10 March 1873 in Indiana - and wife Mary Ellen Vincent. Migrated from Indiana to Kentucky and is then enumerated in 1920 in Ash Hill, Butler County, Missouri. Charley Isley (son of George Milton Isley above) - born circa 1875 - and wife Nellie.  Enumerated in Kearney, Clay County, Missouri in 1900, 1910, and 1920. Pryor Harrison Isley (son of Prior Harrison Isley above) - born 5 July 1885 in Springfield, Missouri - and wife Sara Dill. In 1910, enumerated in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri. Moved to Oklahoma by 1920 and died in Oklahoma in 1946. Philip R. Isley (son of Benton Isley of Philip Isley of George of Philip) - born 26 November 1892 in Missouri - and wife Flora May Suber. Enumerated with his parents in 1910 in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas in 1910. In 1920, enumerated in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. His daughter, actress Jennifer Jones, was born in 1919 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Philip eventually moved to Dallas, Texas where he died in 1976. Ernest M. Lea (son of James J. Lea above) - born July 1893 in Missouri - and wife Ruby. Enumerated in Shoal Creek, Newton County, Missouri in 1920. Milton Isley (son of Walter Isley above) - born May 1894 in Missouri - and wife Ruminta. Enumerated in Holt, Clay County, Missouri in 1920. Austin Isley (son of Joel S. Isley of Austin of Christian of Malachi II) - born 28 August 1895 in North Carolina. Enumerated in St. Louis, Missouri in 1920.