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Ray County Missouri Genealogical (Genealogy) Association, 901 W Royle Street, Richmond, MO (2026)

09/07/2026

The last photo taken from an old Shotwell family photo album.

Lizzie Shotwell (1868-1965) was the daughter of Ward & Julia Shotwell. She was born in the log Shotwell home, near the northwest corner of Main & Wilson. When she was a baby the large brick Shotwell mansion was built and she was raised there.

She graduated from Richmond High School with the class of 1888. She then attended Howard-Payne College in Fayette, Missouri, receiving her teachers degree and studied English Literature.

Lizzie was hired in 1897 to teach 6th grade at the Richmond Public School. She taught 6th grade through the till the Spring of 1905. When she returned in the Fall of 1905, she was now teaching 1st grade.

During the summer of 1915, her father, Ward, sold part of his farm to build a school just west of the Shotwell mansion. This was part of a plan to open 3 elementary schools in Richmond. When school opened in the fall of 1915, Lizzie was now teaching 1st & 2nd grade at the Central Ward elementary school, behind the high school.

The West Ward School, sometimes referred to as the Shotwell School, opened in 1916. But, Lizzie remained at Central Ward, teaching 2nd grade that year.

In 1917, she got her wish to teach at the school next to her home. She could now just walk next door to teach 2nd grade at West Ward Elementary.

The next year, in the summer of 1918, the 1st principal of West Ward, Clyde White, resigned to become assistant Postmaster at the Richmond Post Office.

Lizzie would be hired as the 2nd principal of West Ward, while continuing to teach 2nd grade. She would hold this position for 15 years.

Lizzie was reportedly a great principal and teacher. In 1930, she reported that West Ward had 211 students, a new record for the school.

After the school year ended in May 1933, the school board revealed it was struggling with funds in the midst of the Great Depression, and many teachers were not returned, as they hired new, younger, and cheaper teachers.

This included Lizzie Shotwell, who was surprised to lose her job, as Cleora Dear was hired to be the new principal. Lizzie then took a job in the High School library, and was able to find some work in the schools by funding through the C.W.A.

She also substituted at West Ward for any teacher that needed a break or was sick over the next few years.

In 1938, after a teacher resigned there was an opening to teach 6th grade at West Ward and Lizzie took the job. Thanks to another resignation in 1939, she was able to get her 2nd grade classroom back.

In 1946, at the age of 78, as Lizzie was finishing her 44th year of teaching, Missouri passed a law allowing teachers to receive a pension. Lizzie announced that this would be her last year and she was the 1st Richmond teacher to retire with a pension.

She bragged about teaching 4 generations of Richmond students, as she retired to the Shotwell Mansion.

Lizzie had never lived alone in the big family home. After her parents died, it was her and a cousin, Mary Joy, who continued to live in the home. Mary had been adopted by her aunt Julia (Devlin) Shotwell and was raised in the Shotwell home, and Mary was often referred to as a sister.

Mary Joy taught 3rd, 5th, & 8th grade, at Richmond from 1904 to 1920. She then taught History at the High School from 1920 to 1930. In 1944, because of a shortage of teachers during World War 2, she taught at the Rayville High School. She then taught 4th grade at the West Ward School from 1946 to 1949, when she officially retired.

Lizzie Shotwell's siblings would often return and stay at the family home. After her brother Horace returned to the home to die in 1948, Lizzie let his widow continue to live there with her and Mary.

In early December 1957, Mary Joy died at the age of 79. Then at Christmas 1957, Lizzie's last remaining sibling Will Shotwell showed up and moved in with her.

Will had left Richmond in 1900 for Kansas, where he ran a clothing store. He was now 88 years old, a year younger than Lizzie. In May 1961, Will died at the age of 92.

In July 1961, Elizabeth (Magee) Shotwell, widow of Horace, moved out and into a nursing home, leaving Lizzie alone for the first time.

In January 1962, Lizzie moved out of the Shotwell Mansion, where she had lived 93 years of her life and into the McKown Rest Home, located at 508 North Thornton Street (current address). It had been opened and operated by Beulah McKown since April 1958.

Lizzie's mind was still great, but her body was not. People often came by to visit with her and show old photos. When asked what advice she would give to young people to live as long as her she said, "behave yourselves and work hard".

In July 1962, Lizzie sold her family home to West Grade School, to use it for whatever they needed. She was a little shocked the following month to discover that they planned to tear it down for a parking lot and playground, but she was just happy that the students would get something out of it.

In September 1962, the school board officially changed the name to Shotwell Elementary School in honor of the contributions to the school from the Shotwell family.

In January 1965, Lizzie died at the McKown Rest Home at the age of 96, from pneumonia. She was buried in the Shotwell Cemetery. She was the last resident of Ray County with the last name Shotwell.

Her nephew, Herbert Shotwell, was the last Shotwell to be buried in the Shotwell Cemetery, when his body was brought here from Illinois in 1995. The only other burial in the cemetery since then was Jean Mansur in 2000.

In 1987, the parking lot & playground that had replaced the Shotwell mansion was replaced with a car wash that was built by Steve Smith, Larry Bice, & Jim Dorton.

The Shotwell School is still standing at 506 W. Main Street, now the Shotwell Apartments.

09/07/2026

Brothers, Ben & Horace Shotwell.

Ben graduated from Richmond High School with the class of 1891 and Horace with the class of 1899.

Ben immediately joined his father Ward's law firm. In 1894, he was admitted to the Bar and the firm name was changed to Shotwell & Son. In 1911, Ward would retire and Ben would run the firm by himself for the rest of his life.

Horace was one of the earliest football players in Richmond and would go on to coach the Richmond High School football team for a few years between 1900 & 1910.

Horace's first job was working for the Megede Jewelry Store on the south side of the square. In 1903, he started working at McDonald's (the family mercantile store).

In 1906, Horace was hired to work at the Richmond Hotel as the night clerk, for the Magee family. He married their daughter, Elizabeth. In 1908, the Magee's sold the Hotel, and Horace moved to Kansas City to work as a bookkeeper.

In 1903, attorney Ben Shotwell married Edna Taylor from Orrick. He also entered politics for the first time, running for Richmond City Police Judge, but lost. In 1904, Ben was appointed Richmond City Attorney, as A.P. Hamilton resigned.

In 1905, Ben won re-election as City Attorney in his own right. In 1908, he chose not to run for re-election as he ran for Ray County Probate Judge, but lost that election.

In 1912, Ben ran for Justice of the Peace of Richmond Township, and he won with over 1,000 votes, and his opponent J.T. Reyburn only receiving 1 (most likely his own).

In 1914, Ben ran for Probate Judge again, but came in 2nd out of the 3 candidates. He continued to be re-elected as Justice of the Peace. Though in 1918, he only won by 6 votes.

In 1919, Ben was elected to the Richmond School Board as Secretary and clerk. Ben's family lived just south of the home at 312 S. Thornton until 1925, when they moved to the Mansur home on East North Main.

In 1922, Ben ran for Probate Judge a third time and finally won, defeating Russell Farris.

Horace Shotwell had moved from Kansas City to Norborne to work at the Commercial Hotel, which was ran by his in-laws, and he would take over managing it.

In January 1923, as Ben takes office as Probate Judge, he hires his brother, Horace to be his Clerk. Horace moves his family from Norborne to the Shotwell mansion on West Main Street.

Ben does a great job as Probate judge and is re-elected in 1926. But, the performance that was more noted and complemented was that of Horace, who took it upon himself to organize all of the Probate records since the beginning of the County in 1820.

Horace put all estate files into neat envelopes and filed them in alphabetical order in steal drawers. He also indexed all the records so they would be easy to find. It took him 2 years to complete and this organizational system and index is still in place at the courthouse (in the room held hostage by the Sheriff's department).

In 1930, Ben decided to run for a 3rd term, but this was considered out of the norm and he was easily defeated. In January, Ben returned his focus to his law practice, but Horace's performance was noted and Anna Hunt, the Circuit Court Clerk, hired him as her deputy.

In 1934, Hunt resigned and Horace was appointed Circuit Court Clerk. When the new Judge and clerk took office in 1935, they kept Horace on as deputy.

In January 1936, Horace was hired by Richmond resident, Forrest Smith, who was serving as Missouri State Auditor in Jeff City, and moved his family there.

During the Depression of the 1930's, Ben Shotwell was appointed by the Federal Government to be Commissioner for Ray County on the new program under the Frazier-Lemke Act that prevented farms from being foreclosed on. He was active with the Odd Fellow's Lodge and a former President of the Richmond Rotary Club.

Ben Shotwell died in 1941, at the age of 69, from pneumonia. He was survived by his wife and 3 children, Herbert, Anna Faris, & Julia Kemker. This ended the Shotwell law firm that had operated in Richmond since 1856, as Herbert offered the entire Shotwell law library for sale to anyone in Richmond who wanted it.

Horace Shotwell worked in Forrest Smith's auditors office for 12 years, when in September 1948, his wife brought him back to Richmond, to the Shotwell mansion, where she and his sister, Lizzie, could help care for him.

Horace died shortly after from pneumonia, in the home he was born in. He was 68 years old. He was survived by his wife and son, Warder Shotwell.

Horace & Ben are buried in the Shotwell Cemetery in Richmond.

09/06/2026

An 1896 photo of Mamie (Conrow) Farris (1861-1943) and her youngest son, Cecil Farris (1895-1947).

Mamie's father, Aaron Conrow, was elected to the Confederate Congress, and fled to Mexico after the Civil War ended, where he was killed by bandits. When her mother died in 1901, a headstone with both of their names was placed in the Shotwell Cemetery, though Conrow's body was never found.

In 1884, Mamie married James Farris Jr. And they purchased the Dougherty Auditorium, renaming it the Farris Theatre. After Mr. Farris died in 1920, she sold the Farris Theatre to F.G. Weary Jr.

In 1939, Mamie sold the Farris mansion at the northwest corner of Main & Whitmer, to form the first Richmond Hospital. It was torn down in 1965 and is now a basketball court/parking lot.

She then moved into the home owned by her son Eugene Farris, at the southwest corner of Thornton & Summit.

Cecil was a graduate of Richmond High School in 1914. He then attended Central Business College in Kansas City. He worked as a stenographer for his lawyer father and brothers.

He joined the army in World War 1, where he was made Captain of Company G of the 140th Infantry, 35th Division. He fought in the Battle of Argonne Forest in France. He served as Richmond City Clerk and Ray County Circuit Court Deputy Clerk.

In 1941, Cecil who worked for the W.P.A. was sent to Booneville to run the State Employment Office. After a couple months he was then transferred to Sedalia. He died there in 1947 from a heart attack.

Mamie & Cecil are both buried in the Sunny Slope Cemetery in Richmond.

09/06/2026

A late 1800's photo of Ward Shotwell (1828-1915). He came to Richmond with his father, Jabez, in the fall of 1835. During the Civil War, he fought for the Union, while continuing to operate his law practice in Richmond.

In 1869, he had a large Shotwell mansion built at the northwest corner of Main & Wilson, where the car wash is today.

In 1915, Ward sold some of his land between the house and the family cemetery, to have a new elementary school built. It was called West Ward, but everyone knew it at as the Shotwell School.

In 1962, the Shotwell mansion was demolished so a playground could be put in.

09/06/2026

A June 1883 photo of 13-year-old Mamie Shotwell.

The back of the photo reveals it was taken at the gallery shop of J.K. Dean. He had bought the gallery in March 1882 from W.D. Fisher. It was located over the Dearneal store, which was located at the southwest corner of the square, where the Edward Jones building is today. In September 1883, Dean sold the gallery to W.E. Longan and left town.

Mamie was raised on the W.M. Shotwell farm just west of Richmond. She was an 1887 graduate of Richmond High School. In 1894, she married Dr. L.D. Greene and they moved in with her brother, Dr. C.B. Shotwell, who lived at the northeast corner of Main & Wilson, where Casey's is today.

In 1900, they moved to a brick house across the road from the Richmond "City" Cemetery. In 1905 it burned down and a new brick house was completed in 1906, which is the house still standing at 605 W. Main.

In 1913, the Greene's had L. P. Garrett build them "the most modern home" in town. It was completed in November, with a new garage and barn, and the Greene's lived the rest of their lives there. This home is still standing at 306 E. Main Street.

Mamie died in 1953, at the age of 83, and is buried in the Shotwell Cemetery. Dr. Greene retired in 1944, after having delivered almost 5,000 babies in Ray County since arriving here in 1891. He then enteted politics and wss elected to serve in the Missouri Legislature in the 1944 election. He served from 1945 to 1951. He died in 1959 at the age of 91.

08/10/2026

100 Years Ago This Week in Ray County:

Over 10,000 people attended the annual Old Settler's Picnic at Hardin. The 2-day event celebrated the 111th anniversary of the first settlers in Ray County. Over 2,500 automobiles visited the small town. People from at least 6 different states had travelled here for the event. Congressman Milligan gave a speech.
Fred Holman won the award for the fattest man in attendance and was given a year's subscription to the Hardin News. Bud Fannon was the oldest man at the event (77) and was given a pound of coffee from the Lyons Restaurant. The two-week-old baby of Mrs. William Black was the youngest in attendance.
Charles Young won the fiddler's contest.
Orville Tracy won the largest family in attendance with 7.
The ladies nail driving contest drew the most attention, which Mrs. Henry Silkwood of Richmond won.
Sylvester Blankenship won the longest spit with 18 feet and was awarded a pound of Star Chewing To***co.
LeRoy Branson won the 50-yard-dash and won a bottle of Lucky Tiger Hair Tonic.
Mrs. Clare Hayes won the ladies walking contest.
Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Leuders won the newest married couple on the grounds and were given a rug. Mr. & Mrs. S.D. Thomas were the oldest couple and were given an electric toaster.
J.C. Wollard won the pony race. There was also a mule race.
The only drama at the picnic was when some of the Hardin ministers called Prosecutor Moody Mansur to the scene and had him shut down a few of the vendors, as the religious men did not like what they were selling. Because of this the vendors received their money back and a few other vendors after seeing this decided they wanted their money back as well and left. This left the event to most likely be a loss and the businessmen and organizers of the picnic will have to pay for the loss.

The County Court is discussing a suggestion by Prosecuting Attorney Moody Mansur to put the inmates in the County Jail to work.

The official election results are in after the 47 absentee ballots were counted, though they did not change any of the outcomes. A total 5,800 ballots were cast for the Democratic ticket and only 640 were cast for the Republican.

A new road has been created by the County to the new Fowler Resort on Sunshine Lake. It will start from the gas station north of the Lexington Bridge, then through the farms of H.M. Davis, A.B. Ritchie, Charles Acree, & Lulu Dillon, when it will hit the lake.

Also, the County Court approved a new public road to connect the Hardin-Henrietta Road and the Hardin-Rodman Hill Road. It will be 3/4th of a mile long (today Register Road). C.W. Schwensen & Yates Cole donated their land for free for the new road.

The County Court votes to not give any further funds to the Ray County Farm Bureau extension office.

County superintendent Otis Chandler states that Ray County schools will begin on September 6th.

A 7-piece orchestra performed at the opening of Spencer's Pharmacy on the east side of the square. Around 1,200 attended.

Harl L. Douglass has published the book "Modern Methods in High School Teaching". He is a professor of education at the University of Oregon. He was born & raised in Richmond, being a graduate with the class of 1908.

Bush Rust has given a report on the condition of his farm, 7 miles north of Hardin, where he has 47 acres of corn. He is growing an acre of sweet corn and a half acre of navy beans. He reports that wheat, oats, and hay are not doing well in the region up there. He has 300 chicks and 100 hens.

Thomas J. Wollard has sold 52 acres of land northeast of Richmond to Frank McDowell for $3,000.

Lawson is glad to report that they now have a "lady barber". Wilma Lockard will work on the hair of men and women at the barbershop of her father, John S. Lockard.

Benjamin J. Fitzwater has filed for divorce from his wife, Winnie, claiming indignities and desertion. They were married in Olathe, Kansas in November 1925 and separated in January 1926. He claims that she refused to cook meals or do any other household duties. He operates and garage and blacksmith shop at Orrick.

Leonard Mott has moved his family to Henrietta. He is a barber in the Henrietta filling station.

100 chickens were stolen from the Catherine Outersky farm, south of Richmond.

Siblings, Galen R. Clemens and Mrs. Allen Stratton are suing their uncle Sam Hogan of Hardin. Mr. Hogan was placed in charge of the estate of their mother Emma (Hogan) Clemens, who died in 1921, and last month Mr. Hogan attempted to do a final settlement of the estate. Clemens & Mrs. Stratton stated they were still owed $767 & $495 respectively. Hogan stated there was no money left in the estate and he didn't have the money to make up the shortage. Hogan used to operate the general store at Rockingham, but now lives in Hardin.

Clarence Hays of west of Richmond was pulled over for having his cut-out or his exhaust open and was arrested and taken to the County jail. He pled guilty and paid $12.50 in fines.

Walter Pence & Vivian Reyburn got to take a ride in an airplane at Kansas City.

Charles Thacker has finished his 90 days in jail for violating prohibition.

John Cowan, aged 83, has been admitted to the County Home ("Poor Farm") in southwestern Richmond.

Betty Lee Endicott of Richmond has been elected teach school in Puerto Rico.

A.V. Wallace is moving to Richmond to take over as manager of the A&P store on the west side of the square.

C.E. Traylor, Richmond postmaster, has been approved to accept young men to enlist in the U.S. Marines. They must be between 18 & 35, single with no dependents, and at least 5 feet 5 inches in height. Those enlisted will be sent to South Carolina for a 13-week training course and they will receive a free education in any field they desire.

The steep hill along the east side of the Crowley Cemetery, Rayville MO is being cut down by road overseer John R. Shelton and his crew, under the supervision of county highway engineer R.P. Estill. The County Court observed as the ravine on the north side of the cemetery was filled up.

Lydia Pearson, age 94, the county's oldest woman died at her daughter's home, near Camden.

The Severe barn, a historic relic that sat on Highway 10, 1 mile southeast of Hardin, burns down. The barn was built around 1826. It was here before the railroad and served as a stagecoach stop for many travelers. This barn was located in the center of what was Old Hardin. It appears that the barn was set on fire on purpose, but by whom is unknown. It had been used for machine storage by Ed Summers. Olan Lentz lost his clover huller that he left there. There was also 2 disc cultivators or "go devils" there. It was determined that someone set fire to Lentz's huller and that caused the entire barn to go up in flames. It is believed this was done so Lentz could not use it this farm season, but he informed the public that he will purchase a new one immediately and will still be available this season.

Delbert Crowley, age 17 of Lawson, mistakenly offered liquor to Lawson deputy marshall William Anderson, who arrested him and took him to Richmond.

Obituaries:
- William H. Darneal
- Josephine (Bruns) Wuttke
- Ed Mulligan
- George Priestly Albright
- Thomas Gant*
- Allie Louise Shumaker
- George R. Akers
- Thomas J. Gorham *Confederate Civil War veteran*
- Viola Octavia Maddox
- James Franklin Vanderpool
- Lydia Pearson
- Charles Van Gundy

08/07/2026

Sorry for the delay, but we didn't know what the program was going to be until today.

Our program is tomorrow, Saturday, August 8th, at 1pm, at the Ray County Museum. Refreshments will be provided, as it is open to the public.

The program will be on a 1938 3-hour shootout that occurred on East Lexington Street in Richmond, with a crowd of about 500 watching, that ended with 2 dead.

08/06/2026

100 Years Ago This Week in Ray County:

Primary Election results (almost 5,700 votes were cast, compared to the 5,000 from the last primary):
- for County Collector, Hevner Hoover of Hardin won, defeating J.J. Pardue, Ray Lile, & 7 other candidates.
- for Presiding Judge of the County Court, Hannibal Harris won re-election, defeating former Presiding Judge W.R. Patton, & 2 other candidates. Harris fought in the Civil War with the Confederacy, was part of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, and was present at Appomattox, getting to see Lee surrender his sword to Grant. He is said to be possibly the last Confederate soldier to hold office in Ray County.
- for County Clerk, R.K. Nutter was re-elected, defeating D.C. Hamilton.
- for Circuit Clerk, R.K. Brady was re-elected, defeating R.C. Elliott by only 42 votes.
- for Prosecuting Attorney, Moody Mansur was re-elected, defeating Eugene Farris, who formerly held the position.
- for Recorder of Deeds, young bachelor John E. Joiner defeated the incumbent M.R. Waller. G.N. Robertson came in 3rd.
- for Probate Judge, Ben Shotwell was re-elected, defeating W.T. Thompson.
- Bud Hutchison was re-elected Richmond Township Constable, defeating 2 opponents. He is known as "Hutch".
(these results are for the Democratic primaries. This is considered the real election, as a Republican is never expected to win in November, and the results of the Republican primary is not even reported in any of the 3 Richmond newspapers).

Hardin reports that this had election had the most female voters in the town's history.

The Richmond Telephone Company has finished a survey and printed a map that is the first of its kind in Ray County. They found that Richmond has 1,254 houses, with 51 of them vacant, and 50% of the homes had a telephone. They also found that Richmond has 235 businesses, and only 4 buildings are vacant. 72% of businesses have a telephone.

The C.C. Lillard building, just west of the Trust Bank building is being renovated with a new front and steam heat will be installed. There will now be a door in the center, with large display windows on each side. The contractor is M.W. Alnutt. (This is the building currently located at 203 W. Main Street).

Land owned by the failed Richmond Trust Bank was sold. 227 acres located 3 miles south of Henrietta was sold to Harry M. Davis. 120 acres of land south of Camden was sold to T.C. Smithy of Lexington.

At coal mine #17, just outside Richmond city limits and owned by the Mercantile Coal Company, a new 60 horsepower motor hoist is being installed.
At mine #21, near Richmond and owned by the Ray County Coal Company, 15 horsepower coal conveyor and dirt hoist is being installed.
The Martin & Hubbell Coal Mine is installing a 75-horsepower motor generator to power their new electric mining machines and electric trolleys.

S.H. Owen has purchased a lot in the Sunny Slope Cemetery.

Richmond's newest store the Biles Family Shoe Store has its grand opening. It is located in the Lillard building on West Main that is going through renovations. Jimmie Rimmer & Pat Wall are managers of the store.

The Wabash Railroad is planning to rebuild the depot at Orrick that was recently destroyed by fire. The new one will be made of brick and cement and located in the same location. (near intersection of Creason & Front Streets).

In the Probate Court, the W.H. Darneal estate has been appraised at $18,000.

Paul Farabee had the bones in his right wrist broke while he was trying to crank a tractor on the Charles Hedrick farm near Henrietta, and the engine backfired.

Nine miles northeast of Richmond, the Bob Dixon farm was raided by the Sheriff's department. Several bottles of beer were found in the smokehouse, and several pints of whisky were found hidden in brush near the home. Dixon was not home at the time, but officers saw 22-year-old Sam Sportsman on the premises and arrested him instead, charging him with possessing intoxicating liquor and confined him to the County Jail.

The officers then made a raid on the Swanwick farm of a black man, Frank Carter, and found a gallon of beer. He was also not home, but they located him later and placed him under arrest. The 70-year-old man was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Next, the home of Ad Sisk, just east of the Excelsior Springs golf course, was raided. They found 2 gallons of wine and 10 gallons of mash. He was arrested and charged with violating prohibition.

Lenvil Elliott was married to Gladys Nelson, both of Richmond.

James Sutton, Richmond High School Principal, announces that he will offer to teach 1st year French this upcoming school year, the first time such a class has been offered. It is open to any Sophomore or Junior who wishes to enroll.

Mary Frazier celebrated her 84th birthday at the Perry Fravel home 5 miles northeast of Richmond.

Paul Evans of Camden has purchased a new Chevrolet car.

Vic Walker was injured in Mine at Camden.

Virgil Thomas is calling all members of the East Camden Cemetery to meet and help clean up the cemetery of weeds.

Elliott Self is selling off his farm equipment as he is leaving his farm 6 miles southwest of Richmond, in the Friendship community.

The rental home of Sue Darneal, located at the corner of Royle & Camden Streets is being re-shingled.

Robert Lile has moved Jim M. Francis from his home in Rayville to the home of Frank Q. Proffitt on South Camden Street in Richmond. Francis has lived in Rayville for over 25 years. It is claimed that in 1896, Mr. Francis, a staunch Republican, went with other Ray Countians to Chicago for the Democrat Convention. After a speech by William Jennings Bryan, Mr. Francis cheered first and when Bryan asked who was that, Mr. Francis reportedly shouted, "Sallie O'Dell of Rocky Fork" to play a joke on him.

Mrs. Emmett Smith is offering her home for rent, located at the corner of Institute & North Main Streets. She says it is 4 rooms with a bathroom and modern heat.

Emily Clarke of the Hickory Grove community has been hired as a music teacher at a college in Jacksonville, Illinois.

County Clerk Nutter reports that only 19 of the 38 candidates in the recent election followed the law and turned in their expense reports. He stated that one candidate sent in a postcard stating, "about $60 as near as I can figure". Nutter states this is not allowed, that it must be an itemized list.

T.J. Wollard was named the tomato king of Ray County after showing them off at a meeting of the Richmond Kiwanis Club.

There are 30 Ray Countians on the state blind pension, and they have been informed that they will not receive their pensions until next year.

Lawson will have 182 students this year, compared to 170 last year.

The annual Old Settlers Picnic at Hardin has begun. It is a celebration of the 111th anniversary of the settlement of this community. The Richmond Boys Band performed the opening ceremonies, and there will be loads of entertainment and vendors over the weekend.

Obituaries:
- Mary (Melling) Pifer
- Mildred Melling
- Elizabeth (Crowdice) Booker Smith
- Clifford Parks
- J.W. Milligan
- Thomas H. Phipps
- John Daugherty
- G. Priestly Albright
- George C. "Doc" Clark

07/31/2026

100 Years Ago This Week In Ray County:

Ethel Bowlin is un-married and pregnant, and was living with her mother, Mrs. Ham Bowlin, in Hardin. Ethel was sent to the insane asylum recently, but was turned away because she was pregnant. She apparently gave birth to the baby and buried it in the Bowlin yard. Mrs. Bowlin found the body and reported everything to the authorities. It is unknown if the baby was born alive or dead, and/or why Ethel buried the baby, and her current mental condition is so bad that they can't get any answers out of her.

The residence of John Denning in western Richmond near Mine #10 was raided by the Sheriff's department. It was discovered that he had a beer garden setup in his back yard, with a 50-gallon barrel full of bottles of his own brew. He along with a parishioner, Jess Carper, were arrested. Denning pled guilty and was fined $200.

Henry Richards, a World War 1 veteran, who lost his leg in the war, became intoxicated and broke into the home where his separated wife was living, and luckily no one was home. It was a home off Whitmer Street, owned by Jeptha Reynolds. He made a mess of the home, and had left with his wife's pocketbook, which had $8 in it. As he was backing out in his vehicle the sheriff pulled up, but he refused to stop, so the sheriff jumped on the longboards and was able to get Richards out of the vehicle. He was placed in the county jail. He pled guilty to driving while intoxicated and was given 60 days in the county jail.

For the upcoming election there will be changes to how voting is done because of the new sod and bushes that have been planted on the courthouse lawn. Now, about 20 voting booths will be placed inside the courthouse, with each precinct having its own section in the lobby. The elections judges and clerks will be in their normal room, but instead of handing your ballots to them through the window, they can be turned in through the inside door.
The ballots will be a strip of paper for each party. Voters will have to announce which party they belong to and will only be able to vote for candidates from that party. Instead of a square or circle to fill in next to the candidate's name, they will have to mark out the names of the candidates they do not wish to vote for, leaving only the candidate they are voting for.
Absentee voting is said to mean that if you are outside your home state you cannot vote. However, if you vote at any precinct outside Ray County, in Missouri, on election day, they will forward your ballot to Ray County. As long as it arrives by Friday, the week of the election, it will be counted.
Sheriff Frank Williams has been busy handing out ballots to all the precincts in the County.

The Richmond Post Office has been ordered to reduce the number of rural routes from 10 to 9. Route 6 is the one being gotten rid of and taken over by 4, 7, & 8.

Two girls who were found intoxicated in a field north of Richmond a few weeks ago were found to be delinquent minors and have been ordered under the care of the County Court until they are 21. Minnie Allen was ordered to stay with her father James Allen. And Gladys Chittick was ordered to stay with her aunt Mrs. Elmer Hixon.

Ben Sullard & Milo Seek were both sentenced to 2 years in prison for breaking into a Hardin farm home. County Prosecutor Moody Mansur says that this now makes 18 people he has sent to prison in the year and a half since he took office.

A new dance pavilion has been built on the property of T.L. Cooper, on the Missouri River cut-off lake, 3 1/2 miles from Camden, and 1 mile from the new Elks Club Lodge. The co-owners are Al Rex, R.H. Hudgins, & Thomas Gibson. They plan to hold a dance at least twice per week. The name will be Cooper's Lake-view Camp.

Mr. & Mrs. Lonnie Proffitt have returned from their honeymoon, and will be living with his parents, Mr. & Mrs. L.A. Proffitt of the Friendship community. 75 friends gathered at the Proffitt house to welcome the newlywed's home.

Thomas Y. Mason has been appointed in charge of the estate of his brother, Keith Mason, who died 8 years ago while in service in World War 1. There is a $10,000 government insurance policy that is needing to be paid out.

Ernest Dale has moved from Hardin to Richmond, to take over as sales representative for the Burnett Motor Company, in Orrick & Camden.

The Davis & Child Ford Motor Company has sold their branch in Hardin back to the Hardin Motor Company, now owned by Roy Linville, Emmert Hogan, R.H. Tudor, & W.A. Ferguson. These young men will continue the Ford dealership and gas station.

Gerald Davis was sent to the VA Hospital in Excelsior Springs, as he was suffering from nervousness.

Mr. & Mrs. J.M. Marshall of the Richmond Hotel are re-opening the Richmond Hotel Cafe.

Rayville now has oiled streets.

Over 100 people attended the 93rd birthday of Lou Lillard, of 4 miles southwest of Richmond. She was born in 1833 and came to Ray County in the summer of 1854, landing at Camden.

The Richmond Missourian newspaper is celebrating its 28th anniversary. It was founded in 1898 by W.L. Stewart & Jewell Mayes. In January 1903, Stewart retired, and since Mayes has had sole ownership. Charles F. Bassett has been the business manager for many years. The current editor is J.J. Roark.

The Halstead building in Lawson, formerly home of the Lawson Review newspaper, is being renovated to be a Chevy dealership.

T.E. Sisk of Lawson has completed building a modern home for Dr. Edwin Shouse in Lawson. It will also serve as his office. There are 12 rooms and hardwood floors throughout. There is a sunroom with French windows. There is a breakfast room and a closed in porch. The 3 bedrooms upstairs have built in closets and mirrored doors. The large basement has a coal room and there is also a garage. This is said to now be one of Lawson's best-looking homes.

F.E. Lamb has filed a lawsuit against Harry Lillard, saying Lillard still owes him $450 for installing plumbing and heating at the new Lillard Creamery. Lillard states he will fill a countersuit, saying that the heating is unsatisfactory.

Mary Shaw and her son, Harvey, have placed a small headstone at the grave of Icey Shaw in the Hardin Cemetery.

John McMullin, a former Ray County teacher, has returned to Orrick, as spending 11 years in the Philippines doing educational work. He is here on 11-months leave, and will then return to the Philippines.

Neville Tinsley of Hardin has been elected superintendent of the Millville High School.

Nannie Stigall celebrated her 72nd birthday in the Sunshine community.

Obituaries:
- Vickie (Williams) Love
- Lenora (Gorn) Faulkner
- Allen Milo Fowler
- Nellie Rowland

Ray County Missouri Genealogical (Genealogy) Association

09/07/2026

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07/31/2026

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