Camden Photos

The Ray County Museum received some priceless photographs  when Don Rogers presented a book of historic photographs of Camden, along with the glass photo negatives they were produced from, to the Ray County Historical Society Board of Directors this past week.

Rogers told the board the photographic plates were given to him by Earl Frazier and  they are from the Alfred E. Thomas family.

The photos are very significant as they are of the  Camden area before the Missouri River changed course in 1917.

Rogers can trace a picture of a steamboat to around 1907 as the boat sank in 1908.

The new collection of photographs will become one of the many local treasures preserved at the Ray County Museum in Richmond.

It is located at 901 W. Royle Street in Richmond and contains three floors of Ray County artifacts along with a genealogical and historical research library.

The museum operates on donations and an annual commitment from the Ray County Commission.

The Ray County  Historical Society  welcomes any donation to the Annual Fund, regardless of size.  These gifts help support the exhibits  and  collection, maintain the building, and fund the many other events and activities presented through the year. 

Contributions to the Annual Fund may be made by contacting the Museum at 776-2305

All Ray County residents are encouraged to visit the museum and experience a piece of the past. 

Volunteers are always needed to help with the maintenance of the museum. Contact the museum if you would be interested in helping preserve Ray County history. 

 

 

A Mix of Camden Historytc "A Mix of Camden History"

Camden is situated on the north bank of the Missouri River, on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway, five miles west of Richmond and Lexington Junction, and six miles southwest of Richmond; was incorporated in May, 1838. Page  452

Wood, coal and water being convenient and abundant, Camden presents decided advantages for manufacturing. Population, according to United States census of 1880, five hundred and nine.  The bluffs in the rear, and on either side of Camden, rise to considerable height, and present a grand and picturesque appearance. 

The Lexington coal-bed is occasionally opened at points along the Missouri bluffs, from the east county line to Camden. Above Camden the formations dip strongly west, and the Lexington coal is no longer seen, but it is replaced by higher rocks. Around Richmond, on the waters of Crooked River, the coal is worked at many places. The mines near the east county line are worked by horizontal driftings.  Page  461

In the rear, and on the east and west sides of Camden, an old riparian hamlet, in sections twenty-six and twenty-seven, Township fifty-one, range twenty-eight, the “ bluffs “ rise to a considerable hight, and present a scene picturesque and beautiful—especially in the spring-time, when the trees that crown their summits, are freighted with exuberant foliage.  Page  200

Ash-blue hydraulic limestone is found two miles northeast of Richmond, and similar rock exists at most of the coal banks near Richmond and Camden. A strip of limestone country some five miles in width, and about eight miles in length, extends through Grape Grove Township, in the vicinity of Tinney’s Grove. On David Teagarden’s land in the northwest part of Township fifty-three, range twenty-eight, is a limestone quarry. The rock is excellent for building purposes, and when first taken from the quarry is easily” worked, but becomes hard on exposure to the air. * Page  201

In 1817, the settlers anticipating an attack from the Indians, and for their general safety and protection, built, on the Missouri, southeast of where Camden now stands, what they called a fort. A circular enclosure, made by setting cottonwood posts in the earth, formed the stockade. In the center of this was a block-house, made of heavy timber, and provided with loop-holes. The fort was called North Bluflton, and was the first village founded in Missouri territory west of Grand, and north of the Missouri River. It stood close to the river bank, but the stream has long since changed its channel, and the site of North Bluffton is overgrown with trees and herbage.  Page  209

In the year 1826, at its November term, the county court established Fishing River Township out of that portion of Bluffton Township lying west of range twenty-eight. It embraced what is now Polk, and the western part of Camden Township, besides that area which still retains the name Fishing River. In other words, Fishing River Township was then simply that portion of range twenty-nine north of the Missouri River. Page  239

Clay county, January 2, 1822, and, of course, Fishing River Township was no longer a part of Ray County. A new Township was established in Ray County in November, 1826, and named Fishing River Township. It is the present Fishing River Township, reduced to its present limits by the establishment of Polk and Camden Townships. Page  242

Richmond Township was originally much larger than now. It has been reduced to its present area by the formation of new counties and of Knoxville, Grape Grove and Camden Townships; it having embraced at one time the greater portion of several counties, since organized, all of Knoxville, two tiers of sections on the west side of Grape Grove, and nearly all of Camden Township, east of range twenty-nine. Page  242

Camden Township was established July 5, 1841. Its boundaries are as follows: Beginning at a point in the middle of the main channel of the Missouri River, on range line, between ranges twenty-six and twenty-seven; thence north with said line to northeast corner of section thirteen, Township fifty-one, range twenty seven; thence with a tier of sections west to Clay county line; thence south, with said line to middle of main channel of Missouri River; thence with said river in middle of the main channel thereof, to the beginning. Page  245

The first election was held in Camden Township, August 2, 1841. At its May term. May 2, 1842, the county court, on petition of a large number of the inhabitants of Fishing River Township, praying for a change in said Township, made the following order: Page  245

Ordered: That a part of Fishing River Township be stricken off and attached to Camden Township, and that the line between said Townships, hereafter be as follows: Beginning on the range line between sections twenty-nine and thirty, at the Township line between Townships fifty-one and fifty-two; thence east to the northeast corner of section four, on said Township line; thence south to southeast corner of section nine; thence west to range line aforesaid. Page  245

In 1847 sections fifteen and twenty-two, in range twenty-seven, of Camden Township, were attached to Richmond Township. • Page  245

Camden, Albany, Orrick and Henry post offices are in this Township. It contained, June 1, 1880, 3,353 inhabitants. Page  245

That part of Camden Township, east of range twenty-nine, was originally in Bluffton  Township, and subsequently in Richmond Township; that west of range twenty-eight was formerly a part of Fishing River Township, hence, as already stated, the territory embraced in this Township was settled at a very early date—as early as 1818. Page  245

Frank Jackson, Ballard Hudgins and others. In the days of the first settlers a physician’s practice was co-extensive with the county. The same is true of a minister’s preaching; hence, many of the physicians, mentioned at different places in this work, practiced medicine in Camden Township, and the same is true of the ministers with respect to their preaching. Page  246

The New Hope Baptist Church building is located in Camden Township, about four miles north of Camden. The church was organized in the year A. D. 1827, and is, doubtless, the next oldest religious congregation, still existing, in the county. The names of the original members are as follows: James Holman, Nathan Smith, Joseph Ballew, John Bateman, and Aaron Linville. Page  325

This church was organized at a school house, then situated two miles east of South Point, in Camden Township, in April, 1840, with the following original members, viz: Jacob Warinner, Thomas Blair, John Riffe, Willis Warriner, George Blair, William Brockman, Joseph E. Brockman, Polly Warriner, Eliza J. New, and Mary Brockman. Page  328

The staple productions are wheat, corn, hemp and tobacco; great quantities of which are shipped annually from different shipping points of the county, the principal of which are Camden and Hughes’ Landing. A ready market can always be had at the different trading establishments at home for all kinds of produce. Page  376

97. Miller, Grace; 1902 - 1909; 7; 

98. Mosby, W.M.; 1817 -; 

99. Mosby, Sarah; 1847 - 1911; 64; 

100. Mosby, Martha; 1819 - 1888; 69; 

101. Moss, A.P.; 1837 - 1897; 60; 

102. Myers, Baby Son; 1902 -; Baby Son Rev. W. Myers

103. McCanless, Ashley; 1897 - 1899; 2; 

104. McCanless, Lucy; 1912 - 1918; 6; 

105. McCullough, Baby Son; -; Baby Son of W.M. McCullough

106. McGaugh, Louisa; -; 

107. McCullough, Lilla; 1899 - 1970; 71; 

108. McGaugh, Kalcola; 1870 - 1890; 20; 

109. McGaugh, John; 1846 - 1908; 62; 

110. McGaugh, Mary; 1841 - 1900; 59; 

111. McGaugh, Nellie B.; 1888 - 1889; 1; 

112. Mcginnis, Carl; 1905 -; Baby

113. Mcginnis, Lee; 1878 - 1958; 80; 

114. Mcginnis, Ida; 1875 - 1929; 54; 

115. Riggs, Carl; 1877 - 1894; 17; 

116. Rimmer, Thomas; 1860 - 1932; 72; 

117. Rimmer, Lucinda; 1865 - 1907; 42; 

118. Samples, Vivian; 1886 - 1910; 24; 

119. Seek, Charle; 1860 - 1933; 73; 

120. Seek, Martha; 1865 - 1923; 58; 

121. Seek, George; 1858 - 1863; 5; 

122. Seek, Louise; 1823 - 1887; 64; 

123. Seek, Jennie; 1856 - 1883; 27; 

124. Seek, Jacob; 1817 - 1888; 71; 

125. Seek, J.M.; -; 

126. Seek, E.A.; -; 

127. Seek, D.; -; 

128. Seek, E.; -; 

129. Sensibaugh, Absolom; 1810 - 1881; 71; 

130. Sensibaugh, Manerva; 1820 - 1900; 80; 

131. Sensibaugh, Martha; - - 1887; 

132. Sensibaugh, Julia; 1819 - 1865; 46; 

133. Sensibaugh, Martha A.; 1842 - 1864; 22; 

134. Sensibaugh, Adam; 1770 - 1871; 101; [1770-1871]

135. Shirley, Daniel; 1825 - 1890; 65; 

136. Shirley, Sallie; 1832 - 1900; 68; 

137. Shoemake, S. Fletcher; -; 0; died 19 yrs

138. Shoemake, Lawrence; -; 0; died 20 yrs

139. Shoemake, Monnie; -; 0; died 17 yrs

140. Shoemake, John B.; 1854 - 1922; 68; 

141. Smart, Norma; 1935 - 1939; 4; 

142. Smart, Ray D.; 1922 - 1923; 1; 

143. Stone, Millard; 1922 -; 

144. Smith, Elizabeth; 1888 - 1922; 34; 

145. Smith, Guy; 1830 - 1887; 57; 

146. Starks, Benjamin; 1853 - 1864; 11; 

147. Starks, Benjamin; 1828 - 1909; 81; 

148. Starks, Mary; 1840 - 1884; 44; 

149. Starks, Joseph; 1865 - 1901; 36; 

150. Starks, Edith; 1894 - 1910; 16; 

151. Tomilinson, Charles; 1907 - 1908; 1; 

152. Tomilinson, Clay; 1903 - 1926; 23; 

153. Tomilinson, Emma; 1907 -; 

154. Tomilinson, Jennie; 1874 - 1962; 88; 

155. Tomilinson, Louisa; 1870 - 1930; 60; 

156. Tomilinson, Olin; 1915 - 1927; 12; 

157. Tomilinson, Willis; 1866 - 1924; 58; 

158. Tomilinson, W.A.; 1858 - 1907; 49; 

159. Tomilinson, Betty; 1903 - 1986; 83; 

160. Turnage, Amilia; 1881 -; baby

161. Turnage, Lillian; 1886 -; baby; I.M.

162. Turnage, Jesse C.; 1825 - 1864; 39; 

163. Turnage, Cornelia; 1857 -; baby

164. Turnage, Virginia; 1861 - 1865; 4; 

165. Colley, Samuel; 1813 - 1884; 71; 

166. Colley, Ester; 1828 - 1922; 94; 

167. Turnage, Melvina; 1826 - 1907; 81; 

168. Turnage, Morgan; 1811 - 1888; 77; 

169. Underwood, Henry; 1833 - 1900; 67; 

170. Underwood, Eliza; 1848 - 1886; 38; 

171. Vanderpool, Harley; 1905 -; baby

172. Vanderpool, Baby Son; 1907 -; Baby Son Vanderpool F.E.

173. Williams, Edith; 1881 - 1910; 29; 

174. Williams, Virginia; 1877 - 1908; 31; 

175. Williams, Ben, Rev.; 1845 - 1887; 42; 

176. Williams, Mintex; 1811 - 1896; 85; 

177. Woods, Luther; 1898 - 1908; 10; 

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by County Coordinator <moraycc@hotmail.com>