Independence Historical Research Center

08/09/2026

6 for 6 ... 👍

The kind of childhood I hope they always remember… 🤍

Muddy boots, catching bugs, picking flowers, splashing in puddles, and spending more time outside than in.

Sometimes the simplest moments become the biggest memories. 🌿

What’s one outdoor memory from your childhood you wish every child could experience?

03/14/2016

Ancestry DNA is 10% off through March 17

02/19/2016

I just have to put in a plug for Ancestry's DNA registry. They are running a special right now for $79. Imagine if you register your DNA with Ancestry and when you get your results you discover a new Aunt or Uncle?? A sibling?? What if there is actually something or someone you have been searching for your whole life? DNA has always been so unattainable to the average person, I think some are hesitant to believe it can now be this easy. I have done it (Cherilyn) and I can say, it is completely legit! :)

01/22/2016

It's important to note that some of the staff here at IHRC are versed in all sorts of genealogical research...not just for Montgomery County.

It's much faster and easier to send a message with a request or question, than to call.

We provide PUBLIC ACCESS and assistance to Ancestry.com, with a worldwide membership, which is no longer available at the local library.

No more fumbling with microfiche. We have access to nearly all Kansas newspapers and some other states, available online with searching capability.

Most all services are free for walk-ins, although small donations are sometimes requested and always appreciated, as we are run 100% by volunteer and donation. When we do request fees, they are tiny and simply to cover paper, ink, etc.

01/22/2016

AREA RESOURCES FOR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH

Montgomery County Clerk's Office (620-330-1200) has many birth and death records from 1886 to 1911 before the state required the recording of these events.
Montgomery County Register of Deeds (620-330-1340) has information pertaining to property deeds from 1870 to the present. Contact them to find out what information they need to do a search.
District Clerk's office (620-330-1070) has marriage licenses from 1870 to the present, probate records from 1870 to the present, and civil and criminal cases from 1870 to the present.
Independence Public library (620-331-3030) has Independence and some area newspapers on microfilm dating back to 1871, city directories from 1923 to 1991 (not all inclusive), and school yearbooks. Many other resources are also available.

01/22/2016

Various resources about the history of Montgomery County and the state of Kansas and its' people are available for research. Included are:
Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, 1883, which includes historical and biographical sketches of people who lived in Montgomery County.
Duncan's History of Montgomery county, 1903, which includes organizations, events, cities, counties, and biographical sketches of pioneers.
Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, 1912, which includes a history of prominent persons in Montgomery County.
The 1881 and 1916 Plat Books of Montgomery County listing township landowners by name and property location.

01/22/2016

Marriage records from 1870-1925 are indexed in the nine binders by name of the bride and groom, and give the ages and places of residence of the couple. Additional records can also be found in the original county Marriage Affidavit and Marriage License ledger books dating from 1870 to 1984.

Another source of valuable historical information can be found in the records from the Montgomery County Public Schools, including the 113 rural school districts going back as far as 1903. There is information about the schools, the teachers, and the students, including teacher term reports, district reports, and programs for commencement, normal school institutes, and teachers' associations back to the late 1880's. Various school yearbooks and reunion books are also available. All information is not all inclusive.

01/22/2016

Cemetery records for all the rural cemeteries in Montgomery County and most of the city cemeteries are indexed by names of the persons buried in the cemeteries. Burial records for Webb Rodrick (1935-2011), Jackson (1927-1929 and 1939-1941), and Denbo (1928-1957). Funeral homes are indexed by the deceased's last name and include the date and place of birth, father's name, mother's maiden name, date and place of birth, and place of burial when the information was available on file. Over 10,000 names are indexed. Potts Funeral Home records are in the process of being indexed. There are also over 40 binders containing obituaries of area people who have died since 1871. These obituaries are not all inclusive.

01/22/2016

Information about Montgomery County can be extremely useful in locating family history. Three primary collections compiled by volunteers are a good place to begin research. 1. Old Settlers of Montgomery County (five binders), 2. Civil War Veterans of Montgomery County (eleven binders), 3. Pioneer Women of Montgomery County (over 3,000 listings). These collections include biographical sketches, obituaries, and other information about individuals and families. A vertical file of family names and histories is also maintained, as well as a miscellaneous file containing local items of interest throughout the county's history. Boxed family files of information collected and donated to the center by specific families is also available for research.

01/22/2016

Information about the townships (Caney, Cherokee, Cherry, Drum Creek, Fawn Creek, Independence, Liberty, Louisburg, Parker, Rutland, Sycamore, and West Cherry) and cities (Caney, Havana, Cherryvale, Tyro, Independence, Liberty, Elk City, Coffeyville, Wayside, Sycamore, Crane Station, Larimer, LeHunt, and Radical City) in Montgomery County, including Population Schedules back to the 1920's, Voter Registration Records back to 1910, census records, cemetery records, city directories, and other relevant local information is available. All records are not all inclusive.