Rice County Resources

Offices and resource people in Rice County and its towns are happy to help you in supplying information you may find useful in your genealogical pursuits.  There are a few things you should remember, however:

• The staff of county and municipal offices are primarily hired to conduct official business and genealogical requests can only be handled as time and other duties allow.  Please do not get impatient.
• Most offices are reluctant and generally will not answer genealogical information requests on living persons.  There are different procedures and fees for such requests, which are usually concerned with location of individuals or credit reports.

Rice County Clerk
101 W Commercial St
Lyons KS  67554
620-257-2232

Lyons Public Library
217 East Avenue S
Lyons KS  67554
620-257-2961

Sterling Free Public Library
138 N Broadway
Sterling KS  67579
620-278-3191

Young Historical Library
201 Main St
Little River KS  67457
620-897-6236
Library/archives/museum collections:  local newspapers from 1886 - present, cemetery records, genealogical material, and local history.
Hours:  9 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., Friday, and by appointment.

Mid-Continent Public Library

Birth Records

As in the rest of Kansas, birth records after 1911 are located at the Bureau of Vital Statistics, Topeka, KS, 66620.  A copy can be obtained by filling out an Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate.  It is suggested you call the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 913 862-9360 to find out costs.  Some birth records prior to 1911 are available from the Lyons City Clerk who has a county-wide book of births from about 1890 to 1911.  Some older records from the City of Sterling are also available from the Lyons City Clerk, 217 East Ave. South, Lyons, KS, 67554, 620 257-2320. 

Marriage Records

Rice County Marriage Records beginning Jan.1, 1872, are available from the Clerk of the District Court, Rice Co. Courthouse, Lyons, KS 67554 by mail request only.  Marriage records are usually a single sheet and there is a charge of $1.00 per record requested.  Each request should be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope capable of holding the number of records requested.  Please be certain postage is adequate.

Death Records

After 1911, death records were filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Topeka.  However, the Rice County Registrar of Deeds has some recorded copies of death certificates filed after 1911.

There are a number of cemeteries in Rice County, some no longer in use.

• Books for the Lyons Cemetery are with the Lyons City Clerk.
• Books for the Sterling Cemetery are with the Sterling City Clerk.

Land Records

The Rice County Registrar of Deeds office in the Rice County Courthouse has cemetery plot records IF a deed was recorded, land and school records (prior to district consolidation in the 1960's) dating back to 1872.  Approximately ten years of school records from the late 1800's to about 1900 are lost.  They can locate these records by name and, while they do not do "research", they can do some searching.  It is best to have the FULL NAME of the person for whom you are seeking records.  Your requests should be as specific as possible and include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.  The fee is $1.00 for the first page of each instrument you have requested and .25 for each additional page.  If you've received a copy of an old deed or land record and can't make head or tail out of "SE1/4,E1/2,28-14-5", check out this page for an explanation of the federal township and range system.

Funeral Homes

Sillin Funeral Home
214 West Ave
Lyons KS  67554
620-257-2211

Sillin Funeral Home
203 N 7th St
Sterling KS  67579
620-278-3531

Heritage Funeral Home
528 N Main St
Hutchinson KS 67501
620-662-6720

Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home & Crematory-Hutchinson Chapel
300 E 30th Ave
Hutchinson KS  67502
620-662-1201

Newpapers

Lyons Daily News
210 W Commercial St
Lyons KS 67554
620-257-2368
620-257-2496

Bee The Inc.
14 W 6th Ave
Hutchinson KS 67501
620-662-2202

Chambers of Commerce

Lyons Chamber of Commerce
116 East Ave S
Lyons KS  67554
620-257-2842

Sterling Chamber of Commerce
112 S Broadway
Sterling KS  67579
620-278-3360

Museums

These museums do not specifically mention that they have genealogical material but they may have access to materials of interest.

CORONADO-QUIVIRA MUSEUM of the Rice County Historical Society
105 West Lyon
Lyons KS  67554
620-257-3941
Library/archives/museum collections:  History of Coronado, Native Americans, local trade, and Rice County.
9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Saturday
1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday.

Many genealogical requests can be handled through the Coronado-Quivira Musuem in Lyons, the museum of the Rice County Historical Society.  Staff experienced in handling such requests are available and much work has already been done on some families and is available to other requesters.  The museum has copies of many records including old marriage records, affidavits, etc.

The museum also has a list of Rice County cemeteries from 1800 to the present with a special booklet for the Sterling and Little River cemeteries as well as some county newspapers from the early 1900s and some in the late 1800s.

AT & SF Depot
PO Box 158
Alden KS  67512
620-534-2425
Library/archives/museum collections:  railroad items in a ca. 1872 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad building.
Hours:  by appointment.

Geneseo City History Museum
708 10th
Route 2
Geneseo KS  67444
Museum, 907 Silver Avenue
620-824-6250
Library/archives/museum collections: local history, book about Geneseo, and photographs.
Hours:  by appointment.

Bushton Museum
218 S Main
Bushton KS  67427
620-562-3411

 

Mid Continent Public Library	Located in and around Kansas City, this library has excellent online informational help for genealogists.
Cyndislist.com	A site every genealogist should know

Updated 11 Nov 2010