I found got about posting here the first time on my search for people that were at the Poor Farm/Poor House/etc.

I am looking for anyone that was at the Ray County Poor Farm, old or new location. If anyone has any info on, doesnt matter how big or small the clue is, people that stayed at the Poor Farm.

I am researching for anybody that stayed at the Poor Farm, doesnt matter if they were their for a week or years. Right now I have a list of over 400 names, but my goal is for every name. I know I can find most of the names myself, but I would like more, I would like to know the person.

Sorry for the long post but if you have any clue that might help me in my research please let me know.

Donald Ford if you get this please email me because the last addy I have for you bounced back to me.

Rod

I have lots of Ray County relatieves in the 1800's-1900's time frame (McGaugh's, Swafford's, Paulson's, Mayes). Might I suggest if you're wanting to get to know the people better, you might post a list of the names you do have either here or somewhere else with a link; I'm sure many of us would be willing to try and help fill in some blanks but may not be aware we had relatives stay at the poor house.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of mine did, because I know a few of the families were dirt poor; but I've just never run across it during my research.

My Ray County names are ADAMS, THOMAS, SHANKS, TEAGARDEN, CUMMINS. Are any of them in your book?
Rose ADAMS

My Ray County names are ADAMS, THOMAS, SHANKS, TEAGARDEN, CUMMINS. Are any of them in your book?
Rose ADAMS

I will update here since there were a few email posts that would not have been seen here.

I have had a couple of request for me to post the names that I have so far. I will search for the best way for me to post at least some of the names that I have, but before I do that it has to be away for me to easily update the name list as by the time I post the list it will be out of date and I do agree with Lisa this list I need to feel a lot more comfortable with it, want to make sure I have most if not all of the mistakes out of it.

Now to help people better understand what the poor farm was, it wasn't just for the poor. I just got an article yesterday where a guy was admitted because he was sick and needed a nurse. You have to remember Ray County outside of a few years before WWII did not have a hospital until 1956, this was three years before the poor farm closed as being the poor farm. If anyone has done much research on Ray County families will know the name Vanderpool, not a poor family, Carrie Vanderpool was admitted in 1912 and died after the rest home was opened in 1960 (I think I have this date correct. At this time I am not sure why she spent most of her adult life there.
I have a couple of articles on the poor farm on http://www.raycountyhistoricalsociety.com/ and when I am ready to post the names this is where it will happen.
If you would like you can email me directly and I will check my lists to see if I have any of your family at the poor farm.

Again sorry for the long post.
Rod

Hi, my 3xgreat grandparents lived in Ray County. The names I am researching are Rider, Ridenour, Stilts(z) and Baker. I know that my 3xggfather, George W. Rider and his son, John W. Rider are buried in Blue springs Cemetery.