County Poor Farm Cemetery

COUNTY POOR FARM CEMETERY

(County Poor House)

(Potter's Field)

Richmond Township

Ray County, Missouri

Township 52, Range 27, Section 4

Records have been found that the first County Poor Farm was located at the east ½ of the southwest ¼ of Section 4, Township 52, Range 27 containing 80 acres and also for a part of the west ½ of the southwest ¼ of Section 4 Township 52 Range 27 containing 58 acres suitable in said county of Ray except for 14 acres line on the southwest quarter of said tract near the camp ground. The record is dated March 7, 1855 and the land was purchased of William W. McDonald by the county. As for what the camp ground refers to is unclear. The 1877 Ray County Atlas shows "Cumb Pres Ch." (Cumberland Presbyterian Church). In 1882 the Poor House burned, but was rebuilt. It was in operation until May of 1910 when a new building was erected southwest of Richmond, which is now the Ray County Museum.

The year that this cemetery was no longer used has yet to be determined. As with many Poor Houses, tombstones were not erected.

The names listed have been found in the county clerk records, which most are for reimbursing someone for making a coffin for the individual who died. Other cemeteries have been checked to see if they are listed as being buried somewhere else, and not on the "poor farm". At this time it is unclear the exact location of the cemetery on the property.

Surname

Name

Date of Birth

Date of Death

Comments

Other info

DANIEL

Suckey, Aunt

before 24 Jun. 1874

MORGAN

?

before 22 Jun. 1874

record states: "Morgans wife"

FARIS

Mary

before: 2 Nov. 1872

HICKS

James

before: 3 Sep. 1867

_D_LET

Obediah

before: 25 Oct. 1871

BROWN

Infant

before: 9 Nov. 1871

Silas Brown's infant

FRITZPATRICK

James

before: 15 Sep. 1869

FORNEY

John

1871

Courthouse record: states paying Isaac Riffe for making a coffin

NICKS

Thos.

1871

Courthouse record: states paying Isaac Riffe for making a coffin

ANDERSON

John

1873

Courthouse record: states paying Isaac Riffe for making a coffin

BOYER OR BRYAN

Alex

1873

Courthouse record: states paying Isaac Riffe for making a coffin

GREEN

child

1873

child of Mrs. Green: Courthouse record: states paying Isaac Riffe for making a coffin

WINNER

Eva

26 or 27 Oct. 1896

Newspaper articles

WINNER

Infant

26 or 27 Oct. 1896

See above article link

WINNER

Child

26 or 27 Oct. 1896

See above article link

WINNER

Jesse

6 Dec. 1896

Per Dec 1896 newspaper article. He was lynched for the murder of his wife and two children, but later was found not quilty. Newspaper articles

Turner

Mathew

29 Dec. 1901

Per obituary

Obituary

The county house burnt Tuesday morning The county poorhouse burnt, having caught fire from a defective flue and all the household goods were destroyed. The wind was favorable for the fire and it spread from one house to another until all were burned. The loss thus inflicted is about $3000.00 and we learn no insurance. An old deranged woman who was chained to the floor, had to be broken loose with an ax, as they were unable to find the key in the excitement. None were injured as far as we can learn. It also to be hoped that the county may replace the shed like structure burned with a substantial brick, as the county farm of a county like old Ray should be the foremost in the county.
May 12, 1882

Ray Co Mo Genealogy and History

December 15, 2007

Updated: August 9, 2008

Copyright Notice
All information on this site are copyrighted by the transcriber. They may not be reproduced on another site without specific permission. Although public information is not in and of itself copyrightable, the format in which they are presented, the comments and notes, etc., are.

Surname	Name	Date of Birth	Date of Death	Comments	Other info
DANIEL	Suckey, Aunt		before 24 Jun. 1874

MORGAN	?		before 22 Jun. 1874	record states: "Morgans wife"

FARIS	Mary		before: 2 Nov. 1872

HICKS	James		before: 3 Sep. 1867

_D_LET	Obediah		before: 25 Oct. 1871

BROWN	Infant		before: 9 Nov. 1871	Silas Brown's infant

FRITZPATRICK	James		before: 15 Sep. 1869

FORNEY	John		1871	Courthouse record: states paying Isaac Riffe for making a coffin

NICKS	Thos.		1871	Courthouse record: states paying Isaac Riffe for making a coffin

ANDERSON	John		1873	Courthouse record: states paying Isaac Riffe for making a coffin

BOYER OR BRYAN	Alex		1873	Courthouse record: states paying Isaac Riffe for making a coffin

GREEN	child		1873	child of Mrs. Green: Courthouse record: states paying Isaac Riffe for making a coffin

WINNER	Eva		26 or 27 Oct. 1896	Newspaper articles
WINNER	Infant		26 or 27 Oct. 1896	See above article link
WINNER	Child		26 or 27 Oct. 1896	See above article link
WINNER	Jesse		6 Dec. 1896	Per Dec 1896 newspaper article. He was lynched for the murder of his wife and two children, but later was found not quilty. Newspaper articles

Turner	Mathew		29 Dec. 1901	Per obituary	Obituary