There is no bigger thrill than finding your family history. I have spent hours walking cemeteries, going to courthouses, reading microfilm, and enjoying every minute of the exploration. It all began 35 years ago when I uncovered a cementery belonging to my family. In order to keep the family history available for generations to come, I began recording the information including names and dates. The local library agreed to maintain a copy of my research and asked if they could give copies to other libraries. As I contintued to research into my own geneaology, I began to realize that there wasn't much in print to help. What began as personal research has turned into something so much more. I hope you find these books useful tools for your own family geneaology quest.
My research includes 4 counties surroung my Lawson, MO home (Caldwell,
Clay, Clinton,
and Ray.
If you require further research beyond what my publications offer, please
feel free to contact me for a more personalized journey.
All items are available for order online via PayPal. If you prefer to send check or money order, please print the Order form found here Click here for printable Order Form.
According to the Missouri Secretary of State the County was named by
Alexander Doniphan to honor an Indian fighter who his father knew in
Kentucky. for whom Caldwell County, Kentucky is named.
Robert L. Ramsay who wrote books about the placenames in Missouri says
the county was named for Matthew Caldwell "commander of Indian
Scouts in Kentucky" in the War of 1812.
|
1870 Federal
Census |
$58.00 |
The county was organized in 1822 and was named in honor of U.S. Representative Henry Clay from Kentucky, later member of the United States Senate and United States Secretary of State.
Hope Funeral Home
This funeral home was located in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. It is no longer in existence.
| Hope Funeral Home Index | $25.00 |
Prichard Funeral Home
These books give: name of deceased, race, residence, who gave the order for burial, wife or husband, birth date and location, death date and location, father, mother, and where buried. These are a great aid in proving parents and finding burials that have no tombstone.
| Vol. 1, 1934-1940 | $16.00 | Vol. 17, 1967-1968 | $9.00 | ||
| Vol. 2, 1940-1942 | $16.00 | Vol. 18, 1968-1970 | $9.50 | ||
| Vol. 3, 1942-1946 | $16.00 | Vol. 19, 1970-1971 | $9.50 | ||
| Vol. 4, 1946-1947 | $ 5.75 | Vol. 20, 1971-1972 | $9.00 | ||
| Vol. 5, 1947-1949 | $ 5.75 | Vol. 21, 1972-1974 | $9.00 | ||
| Vol. 6, 1949-1952 | $16.75 | Vol. 22, 1974-1975 | $11.00 | ||
| Vol. 7, 1952-1954 | $10.00 | Vol. 23, 1975-1976 | $9.00 | ||
| Vol. 8, 1954-1957 | $16.00 | Vol. 24, 1976-1978 | $9.00 | ||
| Vol. 9, 1957-1958 | $ 8.00 | Vol. 25, 1978-1979 | $9.00 | ||
| Vol. 10, 1958-1960 | $ 9.00 | Vol. 26, 1979-1980 | $9.00 | ||
| Vol. 11, 1960-1961 | $ 9.00 | Vol. 27, 1980-1981 | $9.00 | ||
| Vol. 12, 1961-1962 | $ 9.00 | Vol. 28, 1981-1982 | $9.00 | ||
| Vol. 13, 1962-1963 | $10.00 | Vol. 29, 1982-1984 | $18.00 | ||
| Vol. 14, 1963-1965 | $ 9.00 | Vol. 30,1984-1985 | $9.00 | ||
| Vol. 15, 1965-1966 | $ 9.00 | Vol. 31, 1985-1987 | $14.00 | ||
| Vol. 16, 1966-1967 | $ 9.00 | ||||
The county was organized in 1833 and named in honor of the first Governor of New York and the first Vice President of the United States to die in office, George Clinton . The county seat of Plattsburg derives it name from a town of a similar same which is the county seat of Clinton County, New York, which was also named for the Vice President.
| 1860 Federal Census | $33.50 |
The county was organized in 1820 and named for John Ray, Missouri state legislator.
Federal Census
| 1880 Federal Census, Vol. 1 | $46.80 | |
| 1880 Federal Census, Vol. 2 | $59.20 | |
| 1870 Camden TWP | $21.50 | |
| 1870 Crooked River TWP | $10.50 | |
| 1870 Fishing River TWP | $10.50 | |
| 1870 Grape Grove TWP | $16.00 | |
| 1870 Knoxville TWP | $15.50 | |
| 1870 Polk TWP | $10.00 | |
| 1870 Richmond TWP | $35.00 |
1900 Ray County, Mo. Federal Census
Due to the large size of the 1900 census, it has been divided into eight Vol. umes, one Vol. ume for each township. These census contain: number of dwelling house in the order of visitation; number of family in dwelling; surname first, then given name; relationship of each person to the head of the family; color or race; sex; date of birth, month, year; age at last birthday; whether single, married, widowed or divorced; number of years married; mother of how many children; number of these children living; place of birth of this person; place of birth of father of this person; and place of birth of mother of this person. This census is indexed.
| Camden TWP | $13.20 | Knoxville TWP | $12.50 | ||
| Crooked River TWP | $17.60 | Orrick TWP | $13.00 | ||
| Fishing River TWP | $14.00 | Polk TWP | $12.00 | ||
| Grape Grove TWP | $17.50 | Richmond TWP | $46.75 |
1910 Ray County, Mo. Federal Census
Due to the large size of the 1910 census it has been divided into eight volumes, one volume for each township. These census contain: number of dwelling house in the order of visitation; number of family in dwelling; surname first, then given name; relationship to head of house whole; race; sex; age at last birthday; married number of times; how many years married; women, how many children she had; how many children she had still living; place of birth of person; place of birth of persons father; and place of birth of persons mother. This census is indexed.
Camden
TWP |
$16.00 |
Orrick
TWP |
$12.00 |
||
Fishing
River TWP |
$14.00 |
Polk
TWP |
$12.00 |
||
Knoxville
TWP |
$12.00 |
||||
1920 Ray County, Mo. Federal Census
Due to the large size of the 1920 census, it has been divided into eight volumes, one volume for each township. These census contain: number of dwelling house in the order of visitation; surname first, then given name; relationship to head of house whole; Owned, Mortgaged or rented home or farm; face; sex; age at last birthday; married; place of birth of person; place of birth of persons father; and place of birth of persons mother. These census are indexed.
| Polk TWP | $12.50 |
Good and Gowing Funeral Home Records
The Good and Gowing funeral home is located at Orrick, Ray Co., Mo. It is now called Gowing Funeral Home.
| Vol. 1, 1944-1958 | $13.00 | Vol. 2 , 1957-1968 | $13.00 |
Jarman Funeral Home Records
The Jarman Funeral Home is located at Lawson, Ray Co., Mo.
| Vol. 1, 1936-1953 | $13.00 | Vol. 3, 1965-1977 | $13.00 | ||
| Vol. 2,1953-1965 | $13.00 | Vol. 4, 1977-1985 | $8.75 |
Marriages
These marriages were type from microfilm and the original, which are located at the Richmond, Ray Co., Mo. Courthouse. These books are indexed both bride and groom.
| Book 3, 1850-1868 | $23.50 | Book 9 , 1894-1897 | $16.00 | ||
| Book 4 , 1868-1880 | $17.00 | Book 10 , 1887-1901 | $18.00 | ||
| Book 5 , 1880-1883 | $10.00 | Book 11 , 1901-1904 | $16.50 | ||
| Book 6 , 1883-1887 | $12.00 | Book 12 , 1904-1907 | $18.50 | ||
| Book 7 , 1887-1890 | $16.00 | Book 13 , 1907-1912 | $18.50 | ||
| Book 8 , 1891-1894 | $18.50 | ||||
Cemeteries
The Jarman Funeral Home is located at Lawson, Ray Co., Mo.
| Riffe & Union
Cemeteries Orrick, MO |
$10.00 | South Point Cemetery Orrick, MO |
$28.00 | ||
| Lawson Cemetery Lawson, MO |
$41.00 | Knoxville Cemetery Knoxville, MO |
$7.00 | ||
| Little Union
Cemetery West of Tinney Grove, MO |
$7.00 | Kincaide Cemetery South of Knoxville, MO |
$7.00 | ||
| Old Union Cemetery Near Lawson, MO |
$23.00 | Elmira Cemetery Elmira, MO |
$10.00 |
Probate Index
The Probate Index Books, list names of person the action was taken on, name of Administrator or guardian, page number in index, File # and Box number, and first date given. The years in these books do over lap, from one book to the next. Original Probate Index Books are located at the Richmond courthouse , Richmond, Ray Co., Mo. These books are indexed.
| Book 1 , 1823-1873 | $20.50 | Book 3, 1875-1898 | $13.00 | ||
| Book 2, 1865-1888 | $18.00 | ||||
