Ray County, Missouri
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |
Ray County Missouri Map

Ray County was organized November 16, 1820, (effective January 1, 1821) from Howard County and named for John Ray, member of the first state constitutional convention. The County Seat is Richmond. See also County History or Courthouse History for more historical details.

Ray County has records of genealogical interest available: Recorder of Deeds: Index to deeds, 1820-1886; Deed records, 1821-1908; Quitclaim deeds, 1882-1891; Mortgage deeds, 1858-1892; Deeds of trust, 1874-1879; Marriage records, 1820-1920. Court of Common Pleas: Index to common pleas, 1867-1874; Common plea records, 1867-1 870. Clerk of the County Court: Register of births and stillbirths, 1883-1890; Permanent record of births, 1883-1889; Permanent record of deaths, 1883-1889. Clerk of the Circuit Court: Index to circuit court records, 1821-1888; Circuit court records, 1821-1882. Clerk of the Probate Court: Index to probate records, 1823-1922; Probate records, 1838-1886; Administrator’s/executor’s letters, bonds and records, 1821-1905; Inventories, appraisements and sale bills, 1853-1886; Will records, 1821-1915. The Health Department has Birth & Death Records from 1910-Present. See Court Records for more details on whats available from the courthouse.

Counties adjacent to Ray County are Caldwell County (north), Carroll County (east), Lafayette County (south), Jackson County (southwest), Clay County (west), Clinton County (northwest). Cities and Towns include Camden, Crystal Lakes, Elmira, Excelsior Springs, Fleming, Hardin, Henrietta, Homestead, Lawson, Orrick, Rayville, Richmond, Stet, Woods Heights

  • Ray County, Missouri History Books at Amazon.com
  • Search Historical Newspapers from Missouri (1808 - 1922) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
  • Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
  • Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.
  • Search Missouri Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

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Ray County Court Records

See Also Missouri Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

All Departments below are in the Ray County Courthouse located at P.O. Box 167, Richmond, MO 64085; Telephone: (816) 776-4500 , unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at ? . See also Courthouse History.

PLEASE READ FIRST: Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Ray County Clerk of the Court has Birth & Death Records from 1883-90. In this office in each county is located an index to common pleas, records of all extant proceedings, chancery minute books, records of births and deaths, county court records, right-of-way and road records, as well as surveyor's records (including field notes and plats made by the county surveyor). This office usually holds the county treasurer's notes, bonds and commissions, records of marks and brands, wolf scalps, stray notices, real estate assessments, and tax books. In some counties, early terms for this court included “Chancery” or the “Court of Common Pleas.”

Ray Register of Deeds / Recorder has Marriage Records from 1820 and Land Records from 1820. The Office of Recorder of Deeds records and files instruments of writing affecting real property or personal property, subdivision plats, federal and state tax liens, and other instruments of writing. Also, the Recorder’s Office issues marriage licenses, and in accordance with the Uniform Commercial Code files termination statements. All recorded instruments are available for public research.

Ray County Probate Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1821. In the smaller counties, probate matters are handled in the same office as the associate circuit court office. (In larger counties, there will be a separate probate court clerk's office and separate probate judges/commissioners).

Ray County Circuit Court Clerk has Court Records from 1821. This office holds the direct index to records such as divorces, debt, dissolution of partnerships, adoptions, judgment, and tax fee books including direct and indirect indexes. They also retain the index to criminal records and criminal files of the circuit court. Adoptions are under the jurisdiction of the circuit court. Naturalization records, including petitions, declarations of intention, certificates, and certificates of allegiance, and granting of citizenship are also located in the clerk's office, as well as an index to civil case files. Some naturalization records have been found with the deeds.

Below is a list of online resources for Ray County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Ray County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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Ray County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Missouri

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Please allow up to approximately 6-8 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

  • Birth & Death Certificates: Birth records maintained by Bureau of Vital Statistics, Dept. of Health since 1903 through the present. For births that occurred within the past 75 years, copies can be requested only by the immediate family of the person whose name is on the birth certificate.
    • Cost: The cost of a birth record is $15 per record, $15 for each additional copy. The cost of a death record is $13 per record, $10 for each additional copy. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $22.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 6-8 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
    • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: To request a certified copy of a marriage license contact the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was obtained.To request a certified copy of a divorce decree contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the decree was granted.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

Order In Person:To request a birth or death certificate from a local health department, you may download the application and submit it in person or by mail to the nearest local health department.

Order By Mail: Make check or money order payable to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. A money order must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. Do not send cash. Mail to the following address:Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

Below is a list of online resources for Ray County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Ray County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Ray County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Missouri

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Ray County, Missouri are 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Ray County, Missouri are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, , 1870 and 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms

Below is a list of online resources for Ray County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Ray County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Missouri Census, 1830-70: This collection contains the following indexes: 1830 Federal Census Index; 1830-39 Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1850 Slave Schedules; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1860 Slave Schedules; 1870 Federal Census Index; Early Census Index.
  • Ray County, Missouri Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
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Ray County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Missouri and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Missouri showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps.

You can view rotating animated maps for Missouri showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries.

Below is a list of online resources for Ray County Maps. Email us with websites containing Ray County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Ray County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Missouri

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Ray County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Ray County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Ray County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

The Missouri Historical Society has some original tax records; others can be found in the Western Historical Manuscript Collection at the University of Missouri, but most extant records remain in the office of the clerk of the county court. The Missouri State Archives has microfilmed some tax records for the counties of Boone, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Chariton, Clay, Cooper, Franklin, Howard, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, St. Charles, St. Francois, and Ste. Genevieve.

Prior to 1850, purchasers of the federal lands in Missouri were exempt from land taxes for five years after purchase. If one finds an ancestor on a Missouri tax list with livestock, etc., but no land being taxed, the individual may have purchased his land from the government within the preceding five years.

Some early delinquent tax lists were sent to the state auditor's office and are now located in the Capitol Fire Documents held by the Missouri State Archives

Below is a list of online resources for Ray County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Ray County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Ray County, Missouri Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Ray County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Missouri Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Ray County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Ray County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Ray County Historical Society & Museum, 901 W Royle Str, Richmond, MO 64085; Ph: (816) 776-2305
  • Ray County Genealogical Association, 901 West Royle Str, Richmond, MO 64085; Ph: (816) 776-2305
  • Heart of America Genealogical Society and Library
    c/o Kansas City Public Library, 311 East Twelfth Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
  • Family Tree Climbers, P.O. Box 422, Lawson, MO 64062-0422
  • Missouri State Archives, Missouri State Information Center, [EMAIL]
    P.O. Box 1747, 600 West Main Str, Jefferson City, MO 65102; Phone:(573) 751-3280, Fax: (573) 526-7333
  • State Historical Society of Missouri, 1020 Lowry Str., Columbia, MO 65201-7298; (573) 882-7083, [EMAIL]
  • Missouri State Genealogical Association, P.O. Box 833, Columbia, MO 65205-0833
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • See the Society page for more statewide Societies and archives
  • Missouri Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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Ray County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Missouri

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Ray County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Ray County Tombstone Transcription Project.

The Missouri State Archives has published A Brief Guide to Church Records on Microfilm which is a county by county listing, but it is currently out of print. The available church records can be located by using the Archives' Manuscript Register. Church microfilm rolls are not available for purchase, without written consent of the individual church, and must otherwise be used at the Missouri State Archives. The Western Historical Manuscript Collection on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus holds some church records. These can be located by using their descriptive catalogue or microfiche guide. Most church records in Missouri are scattered and remain in private hands

There is no central registry for cemeteries located in Missouri. The following national cemeteries are located in Missouri:

  • Springfield National Cemetery, 1702 E. Seminole Street, Springfield, Missouri 65804. All known soldiers buried there, including those transferred from towns throughout southwest Missouri were published in Ozar'kin
  • Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 101 Memorial Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63125. There is a card file reference to persons interred there. Inquiries may be made by phone or mail.
  • Jefferson City National Cemetery, 1024 E. McCarty Street, Jefferson City, Missouri 65101. The researcher may phone or write the Jefferson Barracks for information.

Below is a list of online resources for Ray County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Ray County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Ray County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Ray County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

Ray County was organized as a county by an act approved on November 16, 1820. It was named for John Ray of Howard County who served as a delegate to the Missouri Constitutional Convention in June, 1820, at St. Louis.

The area to constitute Ray County was first designated by a division of Howard County. It was defined as “all the territory west of Grand River, east of the west line of the State and North to the Iowa line shall be Ray County”, Worth, Gentry, DeKalb, Clinton, Clay, Ray, Harrison, Mercer, Grundy, Daviess, Livingston and Carroll.

The first white family known to settle in what is now Ray County was the family of John Vanderpool which moved from Tennessee to a site near the present town of Hardin in August, 1815.

A legislative commission was selected to locate the first courthouse and jail in Ray County, shortly after the approval of the act providing for the organization of the county. The commissioners were : Isaac Martin, James Wells, John Harris, John Turner and Jonathan Liggett. The commissioners chose a temporary site at Bluffton, an extinct town which was located between the present communities of Camden and Fleming.

The first term of the Ray County circuit court was held at Bluffton on Monday, February 19, 2821. Circuit Judge David Todd appeared on that date with a commission from Governor Alexander McNair (Missouri’s first Governor) as judge of the first judicial circuit. Hamilton R. Gamble was present as the first prosecuting attorney for the first judicial circuit. John Harris was appointed the first sheriff of Ray County and William L. Smith was named the first clerk of the circuit court. Ray County residents evidenced predilections for strong drink at an early period in the history of the county as the first case tried in circuit court was that of the State vs. Lewis Richards, charged with selling whiskey without a license. The Ray County circuit court continued to meet at Bluffton in the tavern of Timothy Riggs until the Novmber term, 1828, when the court was adjourned to meet in Richmond.

The county court likewise met for the first time at Bluffton. Its members were John Thornton, Isaac Martin and Elisha Camron. They first held county court on April 2, 1821.

The first public road in Ray County was established in April, 1821, extending from Bluffton to John Thornton’s mill, by order of the court of which Thornton was a member. Isaac Martin also a member of the first county court, was named by the court as the first road overseer.

A census of the inhabitants of Ray County was first taken in September, 1821, by John Harris. He reported an enumeration of 1,789 persons. He received $34 for taking the census.

A commission was selected by the county court in April, 1827, to locate a site for building a county courthouse. They chose the present site of the Richmond courthouse square. The present site of Richmond was then a part of the farms of John Wollard, William B. Martin and William Thornton. The site was adopted by an election. The Richmond town lot auction was held on October 15, 1827. The plat was accepted on October 22 of that year. It required approximately twelve months to erect the necessary public buildings in Richmond. William S. Miller was appointed commissioner of the public property.

The first county court held near the site of Richmond on May 5, 1828, at the residence of George Woodard. The members of the court at that time were William P. Thompson, Sebourn J. Miller and Isaac Allen, George Woodard served as clerk.

The first courthouse at Richmond was completed on March 5, 1829. The first county jail at Richmond was completed in November, 1828.

The first marriage certificate in Ray County was that of Owen Thorpe and Elizabeth Hiett on June 10, 1821.

The first coroner’s inquest was in August, 1823, on the body of James Buchanan.

Fishing River Township was one of the three original townships in Ray County which was established in 1829. It originally included all of what is now Knoxville township, the greater part of Camden township, a part of the present Grape Grove township and area which now constitutes a part of other counties. Captain Jacob Riffe was the first white settler in this township in 1818.

Grape Grove township was established on July 2, 1838. The boundaries of this township have not been changed to the present date. It is believed there were no permanent settlers in the limits of Grape Grove township prior to 1830.

Camden township was established on July 5, 184l. In 1880, it contained post offices at Camden, Albany, Orrick and Henry.

Knoxville township was likewise established in 1841. It is believed to have been the first settled in 1833. The town site of Knoxville was settled early in 1834. It was first called “Buncombe”.

Polk township was established on July 19, 1845, by a division of Fishing River township. The first settlers were reported in the area of that township in 1825.

Orrick township was the last of the eight townships to be established, although the town of Orrick was established on May 15, 1869, on which date the Wabash railway station at that place was opened. It was named for John Cromwell Orrick, who served as a captain in the Federal army during the Civil war.

The first probate court for Ray County was held at Richmond in 1853. James B. Turner served as the first probate judge from 1853 to 1864.

A court of common pleas was established for Ray County on March 5, 1855. Aaron H. Conrow was appointed by the governor as its first Judge. The court of common pleas in Ray County was abolished by an act of the general assembly which was effective on January 1, 8175. The records of that court were turned over to the Ray County circuit court.

William B. Martin was the first representative in the general assembly elected from Ray County in 1826. Ray County’s most capable representative in the Missouri general assembly was probably the late Captain James L. Farris, who was elected to that body in 1876.

Ray County furnished one governor to Missouri, when Austin A. King of Richmond, at that time circuit judge of the fifth judicial circuit, was elected governor in 1848. When he resigned as circuit Judge, George W. Dunn was appointed his successor, serving the longest tenure of office that any judge has served in this circuit.

In the fall of 1838, the Mormon war caused considerable excitement in Ray County. A company of Mormons from Far West in Caldwell County marched into Ray County and a skirmish was fought with a company of Ray County militia under the command of Captain Samuel Bogart on November 15, 1838, at “Bogart’s battlefield” on Crooked River. The militiamen were repulsed and retreated, leaving the Mormons in control of the scene of the encounter. Captain Patton of the Mormon forces was among those killed. Four companies of Ray County militia were among the troops under the command of Alexander W. Doniphan, brigadier-general of the Missouri militia, at the surrender of Joseph Smith and his followers at Far West on November 1, 1838.

A company of volunteers was recruited in Ray County for service in the Mexican war in 1848. The company was mustered into service on August 1, 846, as company “G” of the Missouri mounted riflemen under the command of David Willock, lieutenant colonel. A portion of this company accompanied Doniphan’s regiment on its march to Santa Fe, Monterey and the gulf and participated in the battles of Bracito and Sacramento. Captain Israel R. Hendley of Richmond, who commanded “G” company, was killed in action at Moro, New Mexico on January 15, 1847.

Alexander W. Doniphan was a resident of Ray County from 1868 until his death August 8, 1877, at Richmond. He was born in Mason County, Kentucky, on July 9, 1808. He moved to Missouri where he was admitted to the Missouri Bar Association in April 1830, locating at Lexington, on April 19, 1830. Three years later he moved to Liberty and in 1836, he was elected to represent Clay County in the Ninth general assembly. He served as brigadier-general of the Missouri militia during the Mormon war in 1836, preventing the execution of the Mormon leaders after the surrender of Far West. Doniphan’s leadership of the First regiment of Missouri volunteers into Mexico during the Mexican war has been ably chronicled by William E. Connelly in “Doniphan’s Expedition”.

Ray County furnished a comparatively large number of soldiers to both sides during the Civil war. It has been estimated that between 500 and 800 served with the Confederate forces and approximately 1, 200 with the Federal armies. Among the officers with the Confer ate troops from Ray County were: Colonel Benjamin A. Rives, Colonel Aaron H. Conrow, Colonel Benjamin Brown, Major William C. Parker, Major Robert J. Williams, Captain Finley L. Hubbell, Captain Kelsey McDowell, Captain Dick Early, Captain James L. Farris and Captain G. McCuiston. Among the Federal officers furnished by Ray County were: Colonel A. J. Barr, Colonel James W. Black, Major John Grimes, Captain Andrew Elliott, Captain George N. McGee, Captain Abraham Allen, Captain Dick Ridgell, Captain William E. Kelso, Captain Isaac N. Henry and Captain W.D. Fortune.

The first engagement of the Civil war in Ray County was called “McVeigh’s fight” about six miles northeast of Knoxville. On September 18, 1864, an engagement was fought as “Shaw’s shop” near Morton. Major John Grimes and Major Samuel P. Cox, leading a portion of regiment of Federal troops, defeated Bill Anderson’s guerillas near Albany in Ray County was about six miles northeast of Richmond when Captain Clayton Tiffin’s Federal soldiers routed Arch Clemens’ guerrillas.

The second courthouse at Richmond was built according to a contract which was let in the fall of 1856, which was used until 1914 when the contract was let for the present courthouse.

During World War 1, 904 men from Ray County volunteered or were conscripted for military service. Largely through the efforts of State Senator John F. Morton, a company was recruited as “G” company of the 140th infantry regiment, Captain, J.L. “Tuck” Milligan, later representative in Congress from the third district, served as captain of that company. Other Ray County men who commanded companies during the World war were Captain Cecil M. Farris and Captain R.K. Brady.

Courthouse History

Following six years of controversy, commissioners chose the site of Richmond in 1827 as the permanent location for the county seat of Ray county. It was a primitive site at the time and required more development before it could adequately function. Until that time, Bluffton, the first and temporary location, continued to serve as the county seat.

Money from the sale of lots funded the first courthouse in Richmond, which was completed in 1829. The hewn log structure was chinked with mulberry blocks, and the interior finished with oak. The fireplace at one of the gable ends was constructed of stone, but reportedly had a delicate wooden chimney.

The second courthouse, a temple-type design with Doric order, was copied after the one in nearby Lafayette County. The county commissioners appointed George W. Dunn as superintendent in July 1856. They instructed him to work out the plan and submit a cost estimate, making such suitable variations as the commissioners might suggest.

The court appropriated $25,000 for construction and asked that the work be completed by January 1, 1858. The court paid George A. Kice $40 for drafting plans and specifications, which originally called for a shingle roof and copper-covered dome. Specifications were changed in October 1857, calling for the roof and dome to be covered with tin instead.

A severe storm tore off the roof and weakened the cupola on June 1, 1878. Early in 1914 the United Mine Workers bought the courthouse and moved it to the corner of Franklin and College streets as construction began on the present courthouse. The 1856-58 courthouse was razed in the 1960s.

In the 20th century Ray County needed a new courthouse, better suited for a progressive, growing community. Voters authorized bonds totaling $100,000 in December 1913. The court traveled to several counties to inspect recently built courthouses. They narrowed the selection of potential architects to five before selecting R. Warren Roberts, whom they had visited in Chillicothe when they inspected Livingston County's courthouse.

L. W. Dumas was the successful bidder for contracting the Bedford-stone building at about $98,000. Cornerstone ceremonies took place September 24, 1914, and the building, which is still the Ray County courthouse, was dedicated Nov. 20, 1915. Specifications for the three-story, 75-by-100-foot building may be found in the County Court Record (Book W, pp. 602, 631).

James Oliver Hogg, an eminent Kansas City architect, had submitted a handsome design with a low dome and Doric portico. An extraordinary feature was the accompanying landscape plan with the columns from the previous courthouse integrated into a graceful pattern of walks leading from the four corners of the courthouse block.

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