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Ripley County, Missouri

County Court, Probate, Land & Tax Records  •  County Census Records
County Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
County Cemeteries & Graveyards  •  County Church & Bible Records
Ripley County Missouri Map

Ripley County was organized January 5, 1833, from Wayne County and named for Eleazar W. Ripley, a soldier in the War of 1812. The County Seat is Doniphan.

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Ripley County Court, Probate and Tax Records

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

All Departments below are in the Ripley County Courthouse located at 100 Courthouse located at Square, Doniphan, MO 63935; Telephone: (314) 996-2818 , unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://ripleycountymissouri.org .

Ripley County Clerk of the Court has Birth & Death Records from 1883-97.

Ripley Register of Deeds / Recorder has Marriage Records from 1833 and Land Records from 1833.

Ripley County Probate Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1856.

Ripley County Circuit Court Clerk has Court Records from 1867.

Because most of the population was in the southern half of the county, voters decide to move the county seat to the newly platted Doniphan, nearer to the center of population and a wooden courthouse was built. This building served the county until Union troops burned it, and most of Doniphan, in 1864. Fortunately, William Russell, a county official, had earlier removed the county's record books from the courthouse and placed them in a cave south of town. They remained hidden until retrieved by the county clerk in 1867.

Because of the chaos and destruction brought about by the Civil War, Ripley Countians did not replace the courthouse until 1871. A two-story brick courthouse resulted from the $10,000 bond passed by the county's citizens and housed the administrative offices until destroyed by fire in January 1898.

Ripley County's current courthouse was designed by William F. Schrage of Kansas City and built in 1898 - 1899. A central tower, later destroyed during a 1929 tornado, dominated the two-story brick structure. Federal relief workers undertook some repairs and renovations of the courthouse during the 1930s.

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

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Ripley County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Research In Vital Records or Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death 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
  • 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.
  • Ordering Vital Records - You can also order
  • Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail.

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 Ripley County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Ripley County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Ripley County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Links 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 Ripley County, Missouri are 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940.Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Ripley 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 Ripley County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Ripley County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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Ripley County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

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

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Ripley County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Missouri

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

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Ripley County Cemeteries & Graveyards

See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Statewide Cemetery Links for Missouri

There are many churches and cemeteries in Ripley County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Ripley 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 Ripley County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Ripley County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

Below is a list of online resources for Ripley County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Ripley County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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