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Ripley County, Missouri Genealogy

Ripley County, Missouri genealogy and family history research. Find links to record collections, history, and genealogy resources to help you trace your Ripley Co., ancestors.

Ripley County Quick Facts

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Ripley County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources

A list of Ripley County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Missouri Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.

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Ripley County Courthouse and Government Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of Ripley County court, probate, and land records as a source of genealogy and family history information. Buried away in Missouri courthouses and archives everywhere are the dreams and frustrations of many Missouri citizens. The chances are great that your ancestors have left a detailed record of at least some aspects of their lives in the Ripley County court records.

Please call the clerk’s department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. Even if your ancestor is not mentioned in a Court case, consider all of the other procedures which could have lead to him or her appearing in court records.

The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Ripley county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for each county which may include records of land, estates, taxes, vital records, divorces, naturalizations, court records, and so forth. The courthouse burned during the Civil War and again January 1, 1898, some records were destroyed.

  • Ripley County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
    • Address: 100 Courthouse Square, Doniphan, MO 63935
  • Ripley County Recorder of Deedsis the place where all transactions having to do with land are recorded and kept on file. They take marriage license applications, issues marriage licenses, files the license after the marriage, and maintains a permanent record of the marriage, surveys and plats of subdivisions, Armed Forces discharge papers for all veterans who reside in the county. Some naturalization records have been found with the deeds.
    • Phone: 573-996-7941
    • Marriage Records: 1833 (including Marriages and Index 1833-1922, Marriage Register 1833-1866)
    • Land Records: 1833 (including Abstract and Index to Deeds 1844-1888, Deed Records 1844-1896, Patent Records 1833-1858)
  • Ripley County Circuit Court Clerk / Probate Court Clerk has the direct index to records such as divorces, adoptions, judgment, and tax fee books including direct and indirect indexes. They also retain the index to criminal records and criminal files of the circuit court. Adoptions are under the jurisdiction of the circuit court. Naturalization records, including petitions, declarations of intention, certificates, and certificates of allegiance, and granting of citizenship are also located in the clerk’s office, as well as an index to civil case files. The County Probate Division has jurisdiction over the estates of deceased persons. The Division hears all litigation involving trusts, including those trusts established in wills. (In the smaller counties, probate matters are handled in the same office as the associate circuit court office)
    • Phone: (573) 996-2818
    • Probate Records: 1856  (including Probate Record Index 1882-1940, Probate Records 1856-1892, Probate Minutes 1883-1900, Probate Estate Files (no dates), Wills 1883-1927, Letters of Administration 1834-1853)
    • Court & Divorce Records: 1867 (including Circuit Court Index 1874-1931, Circuit Court Records 1867-1888, Proceedings 1834-1853)
  • Ripley County Clerk of the Courthas indexes to common pleas, records of all extant proceedings, chancery minute books, records of births and deaths, county court records, right-of-way and road records, as well as surveyor’s records (including field notes and plats made by the county surveyor). This office usually holds the county treasurer’s notes, bonds and commissions, records of marks and brands, wolf scalps, stray notices, real estate assessments, and tax books. In some counties, early terms for this court included “Chancery” or the “Court of Common Pleas.”
    • Phone: (573) 996-3215
    • Birth & Death Records: 1883–97 (including Register of Births and Stillbirths 1883-1897, Permanent Record of Births 1883-1891, Register of Deaths 1883-1893, Permanent Record of Deaths 1883-1891, County Court Records 1853-1868, State Census 1876, Assessment Book 1868, 1873, 1895, 1899, Business Ledger 1879-1881, Fee Bills 1857, Mark and Scalp Bounty 1848-1861, Poll Tax Book 1904, 1908, Proceedings 1841-1853)
  • Ripley County Tax Assessor Office is responsible for appraising and assessing real estate property and person property for the purpose of taxation as well as transferring ownership of real estate, and keeping real estate maps up to date. (including Assessment Book: 1868, 1873, 1895, 1899)
  • Missouri Office of Vital Records has copies of birth and death records reported from January 1, 1910. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Missourifor current fees and application process. Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Missouri Historical Records – Databases include Missouri Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Missouri Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Missouri Voter Lists & Census Records; Missouri Immigration & Emigration Records; Missouri Obituary Records; Missouri Military Records; Missouri Family Tree Records; Missouri Pictures; Missouri Stories, Memories & Histories; Missouri Directories & Member Lists and much more….
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Ripley County Genealogy Links

The following are links to Genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Ripley County. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some are have free access some require a payment.  This is just a list that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to submit your own favorite genealogy or family history related sites.

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