September 4th- Veterans
Appreciation Day picnic. Bring the family, good ‘ole picnic on the
grounds. rain or shine. We’ll use Eagleton’s if needed, hope not, it’s
GREAT on the grounds!
Live music, talk’n, touring and showing our support for Veterans AND their families! If you’re a vet or a family of a vet, PLEASE come and have a fun day ! Even if you’re Not a vet, come and show your appreciation!! 11:00, September 4th. Ray County Museum
SECOND EVENT of the month:
September 25th, ALL day Saturday. Living History Festival and Re-enactment. Civil War re-enactment, 3 Ray County Battles including good ‘ole Bloody Bill Anderson and the Battle of Albany and the Jesse James Bank Robbery, along with Battle of Fredricksburg. Bring the family and see the grizzly ‘ole soldiers, horses, tour the museum and eat the good Eats! Starts at 10:00 a.m. so be there early!
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VOLUNTEERS FOR RE-ENACTMENT/LIVING HISTORY FESTIVAL
RAY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, RICHMOND, MISSOURI
SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2010
Battle of Fredricksburg, Battle of Albany, Jesse James Bank Robbery- Richmond, Missouri
EMAIL- raycountymuseum@yahoo.com or 816-776-2305
901 West Royle, Richmond, Missouri 64085
Donations are very much appreciated toward this event-
Please click on to download the PDF file for volunteer sheet
MUSEUM OPEN WED-SATURDAY
10:00 TO 4:00
YEAR AROUND!
Proud Member of
Old Trails Regional Tourism Partnership
Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Kansas City Historical Society
Pony Express Museum
Civil War round Table of Western Missouri
Legends of America
American Association for State and Local History
Triple A Travel Guide 2010
Days Open- Wednesday through Saturday- 10:00-:400 p.m.
901 West Royle Street, Richmond, Missouri 64085
Open Year Around
Mission Statement
Our mission is to collect, preserve and present the history and culture of the people of Ray County, Misouri and the families who pioneered the area to make it the County it is today.
Through our exhibits, research facilities and many other services and eents, the museum seeks to inspire visitors in matters of local history.
* * * * *
The Ray County Historical Society was established in the 1950’s. It became a large group of the community who wanted to not only preserve our history of Ray County, Missouri, but to educate the next generations of our past.
In 1973, we found a home for our Ray County Museum. Built as a Poor farm in 1910, this stately Georgian, brick building was standing on its original 25 acres on a small bluff and looking out toward our town square. The County owned the building and willingly agreed to allow us to use this for our museum.
In 1974, we had our ground-breaking of our ‘ gem’ in the heart of Ray County. Governor Kit Bond and several other State Representatives helped us celebrate that day in October. When we first opened, there were four displayed rooms. All restored to their natural beauty, and furnished with special artifacts. Now, we have 37 rooms displayed and more coming!
From the early 1800’s to the 1940’s, we have special artifacts, the history of Ray County displayed in one building.
Three floors of displays, varied in themes, and guided tours, walking tours, visitors from around the globe!
We offer a ‘full service’ to our guests. From booked teas in the formal parlor, to costume rental, gift shop and historical publications for sale, and, of course events.
The museum is open year around. The tours are free, but a donation is always appreciated.
Make your plans to include coming to the beautiful grounds and tour our ‘themed’ rooms to let your children and yourselves enjoy the peace and calm of yester-year.
Please feel free to contact me at:
FREE TOURS/ADMISSION- (DONATIONS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED)
FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT 
CONTACT THE CURATOR
KAREN BUSH
TO BOOK THE FORMAL PARLOR. TEAS, MEETINGS, RECEPTIONS
RED HATTERS, SORORITY, ORGANIZATIONS
816-776-2305-MUSEUM
If you belong to a group, organization, schools, please contact me and we will be more than happy to accommodate!
DAYS/HOURS
WED-SATURDAY- 10:00-4:00
SPECIAL TOURS- PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL
We have a full time curator and volunteers are there to help with tours.
Come and join us, see why we’re so proud of the ‘old girl’!
Volunteers to help man the museum, or, just to help with an event are More than welcome.
Of course, we offer membership to our Historical Society with a newsletter (The Mirror) included.
You can send your subscription or donation by check or money order to:
Ray County Historical Society
PO Box #2
All back issues of our mirror are $5.00 per copy
We’re located on the West side of the town square.
901 West Royle Street (next to the Fairgrounds)
BOARD MEMBERS- 2009
Jim Carter- President-scrpnjc@hotmail.com
David Blythe-lawsonreview@juno.com
Karen Windsor Bush- Secretary, raycountymuseum@yahoo.com
Jan Jackson- Treasurer
Mac Proffitt
A.J. Phipps
Jean Hamacher
Hal Middleton
Don Forlow
Bruce White
Rod Fields
Terri McWilliams
Carter Rogers
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Disclaimer
This
website and the information it contains are provided as a public service.
Restriction of Liability
We make no claim, promise or guarantee about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this website. As history and history research goes, there are always different sides of an issue. We weren’t there and have to depend on written and oral history by others before us.
No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed or statutory for freedom from computer virus is given with respect to the contents of this website or its hyperlinks to other Internet resources.
Adding content by a contributor does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by RCHS.
TO THE READER- TO SAVE SPACE ON THIS HOME PAGE, EACH ARTICLE IS DIVIDED BY A HOT LINK STATING:
“READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY” THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO THE REST OF THE STORY. ENJOY.
JUDGE T.R. SHOUSE, AFTER 56 YEARS, EXPLAINS WHY JESSE JAMES WAS KILLED.
Aged and Respected Clay Countian Turns Over to Jewell Mayes and Elmer L. Pigg the Secret Statement of his father J.W. Shouse, Who planned to capture but Not to Kill Jesse James- A Dramatic yet True Account of the Final Breaking-up of the James Gang.
(Ray County Chapters)
(No 456 of “Ray County Chapters” January 9, 1939, the first of this special series in the Richmond Missourian)
As announced in the Richmond Missourian herewith is begun the publication of the unabridged manuscript of Judge Thomas Riley Shouse of Liberty, Missouri, making public in full the details of the final breaking up of the James Brothers gang.
Judge Shouse turned over his father’s statement (made to him 56 years ago) to Jewell Mayes and Elmer L. Pigg, who prepared it for publication. Mr. Pigg did most of the writing and research. Mr. Mayes submitted the manuscript to E.B. Garnett, Sunday editor of the Kansas City Star, version in the edition of December 18th. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Albany Missouri, Bill Anderson, Carthage, Chihuahua, Clay County, cole younger, Colonel A.W. Doniphan, Corinth, Coward, Cox, DONIPHAN, Frank James, Franklin County, General John T, General Slack, Governor Crittenden, Hankins, james gang, Jesse james, John N. Edwards, judge thomas, Kansas, kansas city, Kearney, Kentucky, Lexington, Liberty, liberty missouri, Mississippi, missourian, Mosby, New Orleans, Old Albany, orrick, personal account, POLK COUNTY, Ray, Remington, Rev. Robert James, santa fe, Shelby, southern Mexico, Springfield, thomas riley, true account, William T. AndersonTO THE READER- TO SAVE SPACE ON THIS HOME PAGE, EACH ARTICLE IS DIVIDED BY A HOT LINK STATING:
“READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY” THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO THE REST OF THE STORY. ENJOY.
4
THE RICHMOND MISSOURIAN, RICHMOND, MISSOURI
MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1938
(RAY COUNTY CHAPTERS)
Eye-Witness Describes the Battle of Albany and the Killing of Captain Bill Anderson
_____________________
The Diary of Lieutenant Thomas Hankins, late Banker of Rayville, Mo., Recast Correctly Into Conversational Style, Furnishes the Concisest Report of the Battle of “Old Albany,” one Mile North of Orrick in Southwest Ray County- A Series of Chapters Giving Exact Date of Important Local Civil War Fight- Chapter Five Ends Series With Additional Anderson Data from Other Sources.
____________
(No. 431 of “Ray County Chapters” in the Richmond Missourian of June 27, 1938, by Jewell Mayes; the 4th of the special series.)
The fourth chapter, full of military action of the eye-witness story of the battle of Old Albany, fought on Thursday, October 27, 1864, is told by Lieutenant Thomas Hankins as follows:
BY THOMAS HANKINS
Immediately behind the previously planned retreating line of Lieutenant Baker appeared Captain Bill Anderson and about fifty of his men, yelling and shooting “like the very devil.”
When within a few yards of the Federal line, Anderson was shot through the left temple, and after passing entirely through the Federal line, he was seen to pitch forward and fall of his horse. He fell with his read to the east.
The main body of the Confederates deployed to the north, the north column led by Captain George W. Hendley and the south led by Clell Miller. Captain Hendley made a charge, and attempted to pass to the rear Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 33rd regiment, Albany, Albany Missouri, Bloody Bill, Captain Bill Anderson, Captain Hendley, Captain John Hankins, Captain Tiffin, confederate forces, confederate guerilla, Cox, Daviess County, Frank James, guerilla soldier, Hankins, Haynesville, Jesse james, Lieutenant Thomas Hankins, Maj. Grimes, northfield minnesota, Old Albany, orrick, Quantrill, Shelby, Southwest Ray County, Thomas Hankins, William Anderson, William T. Anderson, wood hiteCharly Ford Shoots Himself Through The Heart
Richmond Conservator, Richmond, Ray County, Missouri
May 9, 1884
Front Page
The Last Of Earth
A report spread through the city Tuesday morning that Charlie Ford, one of the slayers of Jesse James, had committed suicide at his father’s residence, two miles east of the city by shooting himself through the heart.
Dr. W.W. Mosby Jr., was summoned to the scene of the tragedy and found that the unfortunate man had shot himself with a heavy revolver through the left breast making a small hole out of which poured the purple life drops and after laying about an hour in an unconscious condition he went to join his victim in the realm of shadows. His parents stated that he got up and eat his breakfast, showed no sign of depression, went up stair to his room and in a short time there-after hearing the report of a pistol they went up and found him laying in bed with his coat off and the blood pouring out of the wound made by the fatal shot. Dr. Gant, Coroner, and other went out, an inquest was held and the particulars as above was incorporated in the following verdict:
We, the jury, having been duty sworn, of Ray County, State of Missouri diligently to enquire and a true presentment make in whit manner and by whom Charles Ford, whose dead body was found at the residence of J.T. Ford, two miles east of Richmond, Mo, on the sixth day of May A.D. 1884, came to his death, after having heard the evidence and upon full inquiry concerning the facts and a careful examination of said body do find that the deceased came to his death by a shot from a pistol in his own hand, with suicidal intent.
G.W. Turner, Forman
G.N. Noding
J.W. Warnistad
S.G. Clement
R.D. Asbury
C.W. Brown
Slowly but surly the Almighty moves in the affairs of men. We might moralize on this tragic end of a man in the bloom of life, but the pallid corpse gaping wound and lusterless eye out weigh all sermons, the suicide has passed beyond the power of mortals he is before the bar supreme, there let him rest happier far no doubt that at any time since he took part in an act that gave him a wide notoriety. We learn that he had become an habitual opium eater, that he had used an ounce of morphine within the past week and had sent to town for a fresh supply, as he was suffering intense pain from catarrh of the bladder, which combined with a gloomy outlook for the future rendered him morbid, hence he resolved by a bold stroke to end all his troubles, his own hand pointing the shot that sealed his fate, thus soling the supreme problem of four thousand years.
Bob Ford came down from Kansas City and the dead man’s wife from St. Louis to attend the funeral, and were much affected, his wife fainting and her grief seemed insupportable. The remains were interred in the city cemetery Wednesday, a large number of persons being in attendance, many drawn thither through curiosity. After the funeral Mrs. Chas. Ford and Bob left for their respective homes, and thus ends another chapter in the annuals of the bandits of the border.
Correction- the headstone of Bob Ford should read 1861 as the birth date
The following article can be found in Richmond Conservator Newspapers dating January 7, 1892- December 27, 1894 on Microfilm Roll No. 13 at the Ray County Library.
Richmond Conservator
June 9, 1892 (page 3)
BOB FORD SHOT
Yesterday (Wednesday) evening Cap Ford received a telegram from South Creede , Colorado that his brother Bob had been shot. It was understood from dispatch that he had been killed and that he would be sent here for burial. An answer was immediately forwarded to Creede to get full particulars, but up to time of going to press no answer had been received.
A telegram in Kansas City Times this morning gives full particulars of the killing of Ford and from it we glean the following:
Ford had quarreled some months ago with Deputy Sheriff Kelly and yesterday morning the quarrel was renewed in Ford’s dance hall at Creede when Kelly shot him with a shotgun killing him instantly. Ford was standing with his back to Kelly scarcely five feet away. He turned and as he saw who called him his hand went for his six shooter, but he had no chance on earth. Kelly had only to raise his shotgun and let it go. Ford’s hand never reached his revolver.
Richmond Conservator
June 16, 1892
By Cy Warman
BOB FORD’S DEATH
The killing of Bob Ford was not the act of a brave man- it was like the killing of Jesse James; in a well regulated community it would be called a murder. The coroner’s jury made no apology for the killing and the fact that Ford was exonerated murderer does not excuse his slayer. The love of notoriety would tempt a man with a weak mind ballated (unreadable) to commit such a crime as that at which Kelly stands charged. When killers are allowed to go free so easily it is bad for the community- it encourages killing and by and by editor or minister is killed who can and will be spared
Life is buried at both ends and should not be abbreviated in the middle. If the Lord could afford to let Ford live, Kelly should not have put up with it, perhaps the Lord meant to make something of him after a while. Kelly stands charged with murder and should be tried as Ford would have been if Kelly’s gun had failed to fire. 
Richmond Conservator
July 14, 1892 (page 5)
Ed O’Kelly, who killed Bob Ford at Creede a few weeks ago, has been convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to Colorado Penitentiary for life.
Richmond Conservator
Thursday, August 18, 1892 (page 1)
BOB FORD
HIS BODY BROUGHT FROM COLORADO TO RICHMOND FOR BURIAL
The body of Bob Ford, who was killed in Creede , Colorado some weeks ago was exhumed and brought to Richmond and buried Tuesday ( August 16, 1892 ) where the remains of a member of his family now rest. At was the request of the deceased made to his mother when he last visited Richmond that should he die she would have his remains brought to Richmond for burial. True to her promise his mother never forsook him under any circumstances of life availed herself of the first opportunity that presented itself and had his remains brought to his old home for burial.
Funeral services were held at the residence Tuesday morning, only a few of the relatives and friends being present. At the conclusion or services the remains were conveyed in the city cemetery and placed in their final resting place and will perhaps not be disturbed again until the final and great summons for all graves to give up their dead.
(Bob Ford was only 20 years old when he shot Jesse James on April 3, 1882 in St. Joseph, Missouri after knowing him only ten days)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Early years
Robert N. Ford was born in Ray County, Missouri to James Thomas Ford and his wife Mary Bruin. As a young man, he became an admirer of Jesse James for his war record and his daring career in crime. In 1880 he finally managed to meet James. Ford’s brother Charles Ford is believed to have taken part in the James gang’s Blue Cut train robbery near Glendale, Missouri on September 7, 1881.
Assassination of Jesse James
Robert Ford in an undated photograph with the weapon he used to kill Jesse James.
