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.

Civil War room

Period Doctor’s office
One Room School Room representing the 90+ schools in the area in this period

Authentic parlor

Old Farmers Shed complete with a “Go-Devil”

Wildlife room

Conservation Room

Clothing displays of beautiful gowns and men’s clothing. We have one of the best displays of vintage costumes in the country. Displayed for easy viewing and study.
Climate controlled Quilt room

Lower floor is a beautiful open Reception area where you will be treated with period pieces along with fully accessible historical library. Books containing family histories, County history, etc.

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:

raycountymuseum@yahoo.com

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

raycountymuseum@yahoo.com

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

raycountymuseum@yahoo.com

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

—————————

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.

Tags: ray county missouri, richmond chamber of commerce, western missouri

About

Posted by: admin in Miscellaneous

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

Ray County Museum Facebook

Twitter

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.

Civil War room

Period Doctor’s office
One Room School Room representing the 90+ schools in the area in this period

Authentic parlor

Old Farmers Shed complete with a “Go-Devil”

Wildlife room

Conservation Room

Clothing displays of beautiful gowns and men’s clothing. We have one of the best displays of vintage costumes in the country. Displayed for easy viewing and study.
Climate controlled Quilt room

Lower floor is a beautiful open Reception area where you will be treated with period pieces along with fully accessible historical library. Books containing family histories, County history, etc.

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

raycountymuseum@yahoo.com

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

raycountymuseum@yahoo.com

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

—————————

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.

Tags: Albany Missouri, antique farm equipement, artifacts, black bear, chamber of commerce kansas city, civil war, costume rental, cougar, county governor, Cox, doctors office, exhibits, farm room, genealory, gift shop, Hankins, Historical, historical publications, individual membership, Jesse james, local history, medicene ball, Mirror, museum, Old Albany, orrick, parlor, Parlor Teas, ray county, ray county missouri, raycountymuseum, red hat society, Richmond, richmond chamber of commerce, Shelby, State, state representatives, tea, tourist site, victorian, victorian wildlife, walking tours, war room, western missouri, William T. Anderson, winter hours

The Donner Party and the Connection to Ray County, Missouri

Posted by: admin in Miscellaneous, Richmond, Ray County History

(Names are in all spellings)

THE DONNER PARTY, 1846-47

FORMER RESIDENTS OF EASTERN RAY COUNTY WERE INVOLVED IN THE RESCUE

In the spring of 1846, Thomas Rhoads, Sr., his wife, Elizabeth Forster Rhoades, thirteen of their children and 35 members of their extended family which included their daughter-in-law, Amanda Esrey and three of her brothers, left Ray County, Missouri, for California. Family tradition has it that Thomas Rhoades, Sr., was a Mormon and had been asked by Brigham Young to assess possible route the Mormons could use to travel west.

The Rhoades group split into two parties at Big Sandy River in Wyoming with one group taking the Greenwood Cutoff route to Ft. Hall and then turning onto the California Trail at Raft River. Thomas, Sr., took the rest of his family over the new Hastings Cutoff by way of Great Salt Lake and rejoined the California Trail just below Elko on the Humboldt River in Nevada. This was the same route the Donner Party traveled two weeks later. When the Rhoades family learned the Donner Party was trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, John and Daniel Rhoades and the Esrey brothers were members of the group which went back to rescue them.

Several members of the Esrey family remained on property in Ray County near Hardin and have descendants in this area. Some related families are Holsinger, Grove, Stratton and Trenchard.

If you would like to learn more about these interesting Ray County people and historic events

Make a trip to the Ray County Museum and see the bound notes, pictures and reports of the events from the descendant, Daniel Esrey as told to him and his research.

Tags: Amanda Esrey, California, california trail, Daniel Esrey, daniel rhoades, DONNER, donner party 1846, Elizabeth Forster, hardin, humboldt river, ray county, ray county missouri, sandy river, sierra nevada, sierra nevada mountains, Thomas Rhoades, Thomas Rhoads

NEWSLETTER “MIRROR” FROM THE RAY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Posted by: admin in Civil War Ray County, MEMBERSHIP TO RAY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Miscellaneous, Ray County Poor Farm, Richmond, Ray County History, Veterans Resources

If you’d like to receive our newsletter “The Mirror”, you just need a paid subscription to the Ray County Historical Society. Go to the link on the right and sign up now, via Paypal or by snail mail and receive the newsletter either in PDF format or by s-mail!

Membership due on anniversary date. Thank you and Welcome to our website and, hopefully your membership to this great and busy historical society!

Tags: membership historical society, Mirror, newsletter, newsletter format, pdf newsletter, ray county, ray county historical society, ray county missouri, society newsletter

TESTIMONY TO WOOD HITE’S DEATH-MARTHA BOLTON

Posted by: admin in Bob Ford, Charly Ford, Frank James, Jesse james

Richmond Conservator

Richmond, Ray County Missouri

April 1882

MRS. BOLTON’S TESTIMONY

The following is the testimony of Mrs. Bolton, before the jury that held inquest over the body of Wood Hite ? this Wednesday of last week.

“My name is Martha Bolton, sister of Robt. and Charles Ford. The man Hite was killed in my house in November, 1881, or December 1, 1881. Don’t know who killed him. He was killed on Sunday morning about an hour before sunrise in the dining room of my house. Dick Little, after a hard night’s ride, had arrived at my house before daylight on the morning of the difficulty. Before Hite, who was sleeping up-stairs, had come down, Little asked what Hite was doing here, and Robert answered that after escaping from authorities in Kentucky he had come here, and was now awaiting

THE ARRIVAL OF JESSE JAMES.

Little said he had no use for Hite, Hite came down to breakfast and met Little in the dining-room. Hite advanced toward Little, offering to shake hands. Little declined and Hite said, “Well, if you don’t want to you needn’t.” My back being turned, I was horror-stricken by a sharp report, instantly followed by another and another. (Next sentence is unreadable) I saw the two men standing together, they backed until Little stood in the southwest corner of the room and Hite in the northeast corner. My brother Robert had a pistol and stood in the northwest corner. The last shot was the only one I saw fired. Little fired it. When the smoke cleared away I saw

THE DYING BODY

of Hite lying in the northeast corner of the room. I raised his head, as he seemed to breathe with difficulty. I g?w faint and called my brother Robert to relieve me. The man died fifteen minutes after the shooting.

“I don’t know if my brother Robert fired a single shot. Hite was shot in the arm and over the right eye. Little was the shot in the upper part of the leg. I never saw Hite’s body any more after I left him dying. It was taken up stairs where it remained until dark, when my three brothers, Cap, Charles and Bob, took it away. Hite came to my house last May or June. He left in September and returned a week later. This killing occurred prior to the raid by the Kansas City officers. Little was in my house the morning of the memorable raid. He stepped out of doors, but returned as soon as the officers left the premises. Grimes, when killed, had on a gray suit of clothes and wore boots. Bob took his pistols and gave them to the Kansas City officers.

THE MYSTERY OF THE WOMAN IN BLACK

“Yes, I called on the Governor at the request of those who wanted pardons. He agreed to pardon all except Frank and Jesse James. I declined to answer who I wanted pardoned. I lived there for two years. Have been acquainted with Little for two years. He came here first with Jesse James. Frank James was here last September.

FRANK AND JESSE

have been here together. We moved from here the middle of February, 1882. Jesse James was here last on Christmas, 1881. Little lay ? eight weeks; he left the latter part of January, this year, for Kansas City. No doctor attended him. My brother Robert attended him. Hite has been to my house often. He was then awaiting Jess’s arrival, in order to go with him at the old trade of robbing. I never charged the robbers any board. Jesse was at my house twice in 1880 and three times in 1881. I went to Jefferson City only to see the Governor.

Willie Bolton, nephew of Robert Ford, aged twelve or thirteen years, took the stand.

“I think I have seen this man before; saw him often. At the time of the shooting I, was out milking. I went to the house. Saw Grimes alias Hite on the floor, dead, wrapped up in a blanket. Wilburr (since dead), Cap, and Robt Ford buried him. Little was in bed, shot. Robert one day showed me the grave. I don’t know who shot Hite. There was blood on the floor, Jesse James was known to the gang by the name of James Johnson, Frank James as Hall and Little as Anderson. Hite was killed at one house by him.

NOTE-Mrs Bolton called the dead man “Grimes” in every case where “Hite” is mentioned above and said she did not know the man as Hite.

* Transcribed by Rod Fields from the Richmond Conservator

Tags: charles ford, Dick Little, Frank James, Governor. Willie Bolton, Grimes, martha bolton, Mrs. Bolton, ray county missouri, wood hite

The Death of William T. Anderson (Bloody Bill)

Posted by: admin in William T. (Bloody Bill) Anderson

A young William T. Anderson, obviously before he joined up with Quantrill courtesy of John Crouch, 2008

Picture on the left- ??? Is it…or isn’t it?

Graves Found Near Orrick

Where the 1864 Was Battle Fought

By TOM BOGDON - Richmond News, Richmond, Ray County Missouri

Both tradition in the Orrick area and the facts of the battle point to a row of graves in an old cemetery a quarters mile northeast of J.D.’s Store in Orrick as the last resting place of 10 pr 11 Confederate guerillas killed with Capt. William T. “Bloody Bill” Anderson in a battle with Union troops on Oct. 27,1864., ‘ The action took place near Albany, which has virtually disappeared but in the 1860s included a grist mill, general store, blacksmith shop and one pr two churches and had a population of 150.

Albany was three quarters of a mile northeast of Orrick. The only remnants of the town are rock walls that run through part of the townsite.

The smoke still hung in the air at the Battle of Westport in what is now southern Kansas City when Bloody Bill Anderson met his demise at Albany along with 10 of his men.

The three-day Battle of Westport started Oct. 24, and the much smaller but significant Albany action occurred Oct. 27. The outcome at Westport was that Confederate forces under Gen. Sterling Price failed to break the Union hammerlock on Missouri. The outcome at Albany was that by killing Capt. Anderson Union forces were able to greatly reduce guerilla harassment in Central Missouri that had plagued them throughout the war.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 33rd regiment, 51st regiment, Albany, Albany Missouri, albany road, Anderson, anson tooliver, bloody bill anderson, capt. woodruff, confederate forces, confederate markers, Cox, Daviess County, donald hale, general craig, Guy Dennison, Hamilton, Hamilton Missouri, handk patterson, Hankins, headstone, james mulligan, James Mylan, japster moody, john mcllane, john pringle, johnson, lafayette county, leabo, levi cline, Lt. Baker, Maj. Grimes, Margaret Mayers, missouri badman, napoleon brown, Old Albany, orrick, paul debenhorst, pioneer cemetery, ray county, ray county missouri, S.P, s.p. 'cob' cox, samuel brown, Shelby, smith, sterling price, union troops, westport, William T. Anderson, william tarrington

The Donner Party= Revisited

Posted by: admin in Miscellaneous, Parlor Teas

THE DONNER PARTY, 1846-47

FORMER RESIDENTS OF EASTERN RAY COUNTY WERE INVOLVED IN THE RESCUE

In the spring of 1846, Thomas Rhoads, Sr., his wife, Elizabeth Forster Rhoades, thirteen of their children and 35 members of their extended family which included their daughter-in-law, Amanda Esrey and three of her brothers, left Ray County, Missouri, for California. Family tradition has it that Thomas Rhoades, Sr., was a Mormon and had been asked by Brigham Young to assess possible route the Mormons could use to travel west.

The Rhoades group split into two parties at Big Sandy River in Wyoming with one group taking the Greenwood Cutoff route to Ft. Hall and then turning onto the California Trail at Raft River. Thomas, Sr., took the rest of his family over the new Hastings Cutoff by way of Great Salt Lake and rejoined the California Trail just below Elko on the Humboldt River in Nevada. This was the same route the Donner Party traveled two weeks later. When the Rhoades family learned the Donner Party was trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, John and Daniel Rhoades and the Esrey brothers were members of the group which went back to rescue them.

Several members of the Esrey family remained on property in Ray County near Hardin and have descendants in this area. Some related families are Holsinger, Grove, Stratton and Trenchard.

If you would like to learn more about these interesting Ray County people and historic events, plan to attend the program given by Dan Esarey, currently of St. Louis, Missouri. Dan welcomes participation with the audience, questions and answers.

This program will be held at the Ray County Museum,

901 West Royle Street

Richmond, Missouri

1:00 P.M., Saturday, October 11

This program is jointly sponsored by the Ray County Genealogical Association and the Ray County Historical Society. The program is free and the public is invited.

Refreshments will be provided.

(information provided by Bernie Rhoades, great-great grandson of Thomas Rhoades,Sr.)

Tags: Albany Missouri, Amanda Esrey, Bernie Rhoades, Brigham, California, california family, california trail, Cox, daniel rhoades, DONNER, donner party 1846, Elizabeth Forster, esrey, Genealogical, genealogical association, great salt lake, Hankins, historical society, holsinger, Missouri, MORMON, Mormons, Old Albany, orrick, ray county, ray county missouri, richmond missouri, SALT LAKE, sandy river, Shelby, sierra nevada mountains, st louis missouri, Thomas Rhoades, Thomas Rhoads, William T. Anderson

Ray County Historical Society

Posts Tagged ‘ray county missouri’

Coal Mining in Ray County, Missouri

Don Rogers formerly of Camden, Missouri who has so graciously donated a huge amount of coal mining artifacts will be at the museum Wednesday, May 5th about 11:00 to help in tagging the artifacts. Come in and meet with him, ask questions, and see the artifacts!

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TESTIMONY TO WOOD HITE’S DEATH-MARTHA BOLTON

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