Audrain County was organized December 17, 1836, and named in honor of Col. James H. Audrain, of St. Charles county, Missouri, who was a member of legislature at that time. It was the 52nd county organized in the state.

The first while man, by all accounts reliably attained, who was a permanent resident of Audrain County was Robert Littleby, an Englishman, who settled upon what was afterwards called, "Little Creek" in 1816. He built a cabin in what is now known as Prairie Township, on the above named stream, near it's merger with Salt River. Littleby is said to have been an eccentric, unsociable man, and lived the life of a hermit until 1822, when he moved to Platte River, where he soon after died.

The next settler was Benjamin Young, an hold hunter, who located in Audrain County in 1821. Young's creek was named for him. He was a native of Stokes County, North Carolina. Col. Thomas H. Benton used to stop at Mr. Young's house, and pay him a visit whenever he was out on an electioneering tour, and the old hunter felt so honored by these visits that he named one of his sons, Thomas Benton, in honor of him. Mr.Young was killed by a pet bull in 1833.

The next earliest settlers were John and William Willingham, who came from Boone County to Audrain in 1825. In 1830, Joseph McDonald moved in and settled on the farm now owned by Garland Sims, and about the same time, a Mr. Wainscott came. Wainscott settled what is now known as the Clem Smith place, but soon sold to John Martin.

In that same year William Levaugh, John Barnett, Caleb Williams, Black Isam, Fiddler Isam, John Kilgore, and Richard Willimgham arrived. Richard Willingham was the first to build a mill in Audrain County.
Willingham took claim on the place known as the Kirtly Farm, but he sold this to Reuben Pulis in 1831.

John Kilgore settled on the north side of Davis' fork, on the place known as the McIlhany Farm. It was here early in the year 1831, Frank Kilgore, the first white person was born in the county.

The first deed recorded after the organization of the county was an indenture made on the 5th day of February between William and Isabella Wood and John Morris.

Early marriages include:

Samuel Riggs to Nancy Dollins , of Audrain County, 2 Feb 1837; Joseph A. Peery to Harriet Talley, both of Audrain County, 19 Sept 1837; John Pearson to Mary Barson, 21 Dec 1837; Lycurgus L. Ramsay to Jane Fenton, 8 Feb 1838; Daniel Patterson of Monroe County to Mary Smith of Audrain County, 21 Oct 1837 and Jesse C. Clarkson to Maryan Dicken, 16 April 1838.

The first County Courthouse for Adrain County was built in 1837, and made of oak logs. It was one story high, 10 x 36 x 18. The second was constructed of brick and was two stories high. The building began in November of 1838 and was finished in 1839. Construction was started on the third courthouse in June of 1868 and finished in 1869.

The County Poor Farm was purchased in July of 1870, and included the SW of NW and the NW of the SW of Section 21, and the NE of the SE of Section 20, Township 51, Range 9.

Extracted from Audrain County History Book.