Scope and Contents: This collection consists of the original court documents that were transcribed into the volumes held in the Madison County Courthouse. Included were receipts and notes that documented local businesses and epidemics as well as materials on the county poor house and infirmary. In the early 1900s there are dozens of receipts asking the court for burial expenses for individuals who couldn't afford them. These are pre-death certificates and may be helpful for genealogists to find death information. Local elections are documented with petitions and documents relating to polling places. Jail records offer a look into the early judicial system. Moonshiners in the post-prohibition era are documented along with smallpox epidemics, small businesses, and local roads, making this collection especially important for early 20th century Madison County history.