Clay County, Missouri Genealogy
Guide to Clay County, Missouri ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
The county is named after U.S. Speaker of the House Henry Clay (1777-1852).[2] The county is located in the northwestern area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Clay County Courthouse
1 Courthouse Square
Liberty, MO 64086
Phone: 816-792-7637
Clay County Website
Recorder of Deeds has marriage and land records.
Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and court records from 1822.
Probate Court has probate records.[4]
Clay County, Missouri Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1883 | 1822 | 1883 | 1822 | 1822 | 1821 | 1830 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places in Clay County, MO, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator.
The State Historical Society of Missouri has information on historical Missouri place names for all 114 Missouri Counties.
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton and Linn Counties, Missouri Index to Biographies at Ancestry ($)
- Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri: containing biographical sketches at Ancestry ($)
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
- Clay County, Missouri Cemetery Records, Volume I-II at Ancestry ($)
- Missouri Cemeteries Missouri Genealogy Cemeteries
Census Records
{{Historical populations |type = USA |heading = Census |footnote = Source: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_County,_Missouri#Demographics
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 1,780 | — |
| 1840 | 4,746 | 166.6% |
| 1850 | 7,514 | 58.3% |
| 1860 | 12,562 | 67.2% |
| 1870 | 19,136 | 52.3% |
| 1880 | 25,224 | 31.8% |
| 1890 | 26,254 | 4.1% |
| 1900 | 26,826 | 2.2% |
| 1910 | 23,503 | −12.4% |
| 1920 | 21,769 | −7.4% |
| 1930 | 19,588 | −10.0% |
| 1940 | 18,084 | −7.7% |
| 1950 | 14,944 | −17.4% |
| 1960 | 12,720 | −14.9% |
| 1970 | 11,084 | −12.9% |
| 1980 | 10,489 | −5.4% |
| 1990 | 9,202 | −12.3% |
| 2000 | 8,438 | −8.3% |
| 2010 | 7,831 | −7.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Clay County, Missouri Genealogy census records online, see: Missouri Census.
Church Records
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Missouri denominations, view the Missouri Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Catholic
St. James, Liberty
- 1847-1873 St. James, Liberty, Baptism Index 1847-1873. Batch C511941 at FamilySearch.
- 1847-1879 St. James, Liberty, Marriage Index 1847-1879. Batch M511941 at FamilySearch.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Missouri City
Court Records
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 7th Judicial Circuit Court, Clay County, Missouri
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
- Kansas City, Missouri City Directories, 1889-91 at Ancestry ($)
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans
- 1865-1885 Clay County Colored Marriage Index 1865-1885. Batch M514793 at FamilySearch.
Funeral Homes
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Missouri Land and Property for information about records of land transfers from the government to private ownership. After that transfer, transactions were usually recorded and are currently housed at the county courthouse.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Clay County, Missouri Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the Wiki page section Missouri Local Histories.
- A Civic History of Kansas City, Missouri. Online at: Ancestry ($)
- Clay County, Missouri Centennial Souvenier, 1822-1922. 1922. by Alexander Doniphan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Liberty, Missouri: Liberty Tribune. Online at: FamilySearch; and at Missouri Digital History
- Clay County Soldiers and Sailors. n.d. by G. A. Puckett. Liberty, Mo. : Liberty Pub. Co. Online at: FamilySearch
- History of Clay County, Missouri. by William H. Woodson. 1920. Topeka, Kansas: Historical Publishing Company. Online at: FamilySearch; and at Missouri Digital History
- History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri. 1885. St. Louis: National Historical Company. Online at: Missouri Digital History
- History of Missouri's Counties, County Seats, and Courthouse Squares. 1983. by Marian M. Ohman. Missouri: Missouri State Library. Online at: Missouri Digital History
- Kansas City, Missouri : its History and its People, 1808-1908. Online at: Ancestry ($)
- Simon Cockrell : Early Missouri Pioneer. s.n. by W. W. Ballew. S.l.: s.n. Online at: FamilySearch
- State of Missouri: an autobiography. 1904. by Walter Williams. Columbia, Mo: Press of E. W. Stephens. Online at: Missouri Digital History
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Missouri (1804-1889)
- Map of Clay County townships (Histopolis)
- Missouri As It Is In 1867. 1867. by Nathan II. Parker. Philadelpia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. Online at: Missouri Digital History
- The University of Missouri Digital Library has digital copies of Missouri county plat books (ca. 1930) for all 114 Missouri counties including Clay County. The city of St. Louis is not included in this collection.
- Map of 1886 Clay County with numerous small settlements (My Genealogy Hound)
- An Illustrated historical atlas of Clay County, Mo at Missouri Digital Heritage
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Early migration routes to and from Clay County, Missouri for European settlers included:
- Missouri River
- Oregon Trail 1830s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon[8]
- California Trail 1846 from western Missouri to northern California[9]
Military Records
- 1900-1941 Missouri, Pre-WWII Adjutant General Enlistment Contracts, 1900-1941 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection
Civil War
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Missouri, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 Missouri, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1911-1938 Missouri, Confederate Pension Applications and Soldiers Home Applications, 1911-1938 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
Regiments
Service men in Clay County, Missouri served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Clay County, Missouri:
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Civil War Battle
The following Civil War Battle was fought in Clay County.[10]
- September 17, 1861 - Liberty, also known as Blue Mills Landing, Blue Mills.
- Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.
World War I
- Clay County, Missouri biography & service record; soldiers, sailors & marines, ca. 1917-1918 Image 525
World War II
- 1940-1945 Missouri, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1941-1946 Missouri, Reports of Separation Notices, 1941-1946 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1843-1991 United States, Missouri, Naturalization Records, 1843-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers
- Liberty Tribune, 1860-1869 and Liberty Weekly Tribune, 1846-1860 Searchable online at the State Historical Society of Missouri’s Digital Collections, Index to Selected Missouri Newspapers.
- Missouri Digital Newspaper Project at Missouri State Historical Society
- 1800s-Current Missouri, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records include wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. For further information, see United States Probate Records.
In Missouri, probate records have usually been recorded by the clerks of the probate courts, but in some counties the common pleas or circuit courts handled this function. They are frequently indexed.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1750-1988 Missouri Probate Records 1750-1998 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection
- 1766-1988 Missouri Wills and Probate Records 1766-1988 at Ancestry — index & images $
- Abstracts of wills and administrations of Clay County, Missouri at Ancestry ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Missouri Taxation.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths. For additional guidance on researching and using vital records, see United States Vital Records or How to order Missouri Vital Records.
St. Louis and Kansas City recorded births and deaths starting as early as 1850 for deaths and 1870 for births. The Missouri Department of Health began keeping birth and death records in 1909. County records vary by year and the county. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Missouri Vital Records State Department of Health, the County Clerk's office or order electronically online.
Birth
- Pre-1910 Missouri Birth and Death Records Database, Pre-1910 at Missouri Digital Heritage - index.
- 1817-1939 Missouri Births, 1817-1939 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1827-1935 Missouri, Births and Christenings, 1827-1935 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1851-1910 Missouri Birth Records, 1851-1910 at Ancestry — index & images $
- 1855-1869 Clay County Birth Index 1855-1869. Batch C514791 at FamilySearch.[11]
- 1865-1885 Clay County Birth Index 1865-1885. Batch C514793 at FamilySearch.
- 1883-1884 Clay County Birth Index 1883-1884. Batch C514794 at FamilySearch.
- 1910-2022 Missouri, Birth Index, 1920-2015 at Reclaim the Records — index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1910-Onward Missouri Births at MyHeritage — index ($)
Marriage
- 1750-1920 Missouri, Marriages, 1750-1920 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1776-1988 Missouri, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1805-2002 Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002 at Ancestry $
- 1822-1878 Clay County Marriage Books A thru D Index 1822-1878. Batch M514791 at FamilySearch.
- 1850 Missouri Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry — index $
- 1852-1900 Clay County, Missouri Marriages, 1852-1900: Vol. 1-3 at Ancestry $
- 1877-1885 Clay County Marriage Books E thru F Index 1877-1885. Batch M514792 at FamilySearch.
Death
- 1834-1910 Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 at Ancestry — index & images $
- 1867-1976 Missouri, Deaths and Burials, 1867-1976 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1883-1884 Clay County Death Index 1883-1884. Batch B514795 at FamilySearch.
- 1883-1930 Missouri Deaths, 1883-1930 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1910-1960 Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969 at Missouri Digital Heritage - index & images.
- 1968-2022 Missouri, Death Index, 1968-2015 at Reclaim the Records — index; Also at: MyHeritage ($); Ancestry ($)
- 1968-Onward Missouri, Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)
- Missouri State Archives provides on-line access to Missouri Death Certificates more than 50 yrs old starting in 1910.
Divorce
Voting Records
- 1801-Onward Missouri, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Clay County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Missouri Archives and Libraries.
- Clay County Archives and Historical Library
210 E Franklin
Liberty, MO 64068
Phone: 816-781-3611; Fax: 816-781-3611
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 99
Liberty, MO 64069
Email: info@claycountyarchives.org
Website
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Clay County. For state-wide library facilities, see Missouri Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Clay County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Missouri Societies.
Clay County Archives and Historical Library
P.O. Box 99
Liberty, MO 64069
Phone: 816-781-3611
Website
Clay County Museum and Historical Society
14 N. Main St.
Liberty, MO 64068
Phone: 816-792-1849
Email: claycountymuseum@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Northland Genealogy Society
P.O. Box 14121
Parkville, MO 64152
Email: President@northlandgensoc.org
Website
Smithville Historical Society
P.O. Box 270
Smithville, MO 64089
Phone: 816-532-0255
Website
Websites
- Missouri Digital Heritage. Digital images of many types of records from institutions across the State.
- MOGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Missouri. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ "Henry Clay," Wikipedia.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Clay County, Missouri," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_County,_Missouri, accessed 9/06/2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Missouri. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Clay County, Missouri. Page 397-407 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 393-397.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Missouri. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Clay County, Missouri," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, Clay County Missouri, accessed 17 August 2019.
- ↑ National Park Service, "(Auto Tour Route) Maps" in Oregon National Historic Trail at http://www.nps.gov/oreg/planyourvisit/maps.htm (accessed 18 July 2011).
- ↑ National Park Service, "(Auto Tour Route) Maps" in California National Historic Trail at http://www.nps.gov/cali/planyourvisit/maps.htm (accessed 18 July 2011).
- ↑ National Park Service, Civil War Battles. Filter by state or battle name.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/5/5a/Igimissouria.pdf.