Hickory County Obituary

Hickory County obituary records are available through the courthouse in Hermitage, the county health department, and Missouri state archives. Hermitage is the county seat, a small town in the Ozarks area of central Missouri. Death records at the clerk level go back to 1883 and are preserved on microfilm at the Missouri State Archives. This page covers each source for finding obituary records, death certificates, and historical death information in Hickory County.

Hickory County Courthouse Records

The Hickory County Courthouse is at 23645 Polk Street, Suite 203, PO Box 101, Hermitage, MO 65668. Call them at 417-745-6833 or email recorder@hickorycountymo.org. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, closed from 12:00 to 12:30 PM for lunch. The County Clerk has a Register of Deaths from 1883 to 1890. The Court of Common Pleas has Chancery Minutes from 1845 to 1887. The Recorder keeps marriage and land records.

The Register of Deaths from 1883 to 1890 is the only local death record file at the Hickory County Courthouse. After 1890, the county stopped keeping local death records until statewide registration started in 1910. That gap means you need state archives or other sources for deaths in Hickory County during the 1890s and early 1900s.

The Chancery Minutes from 1845 to 1887 are indexed and can be useful for obituary research. Court records from that era sometimes mention deaths in connection with property disputes, guardianship cases, and estate matters.

Hickory County Records at State Archives

The Missouri State Archives holds Hickory County Clerk records on microfilm. Reel C 69369 has the Register of Deaths from 1883 to 1890. Reel C 2719 has the Chancery Minutes from 1845 to 1887, which are indexed. These microfilm records can be viewed at the State Archives in Jefferson City or ordered through interlibrary loan at some libraries.

The Missouri Digital Heritage website has death certificates for Hickory County from 1910 to 1969. Each record links to a scanned image of the original certificate. Under RSMo 193.225, death records more than 50 years old transfer to the Archives for public access. Copies cost $1 each. FamilySearch also has Hickory County records available.

The Missouri Census Data Center provides population data that can help narrow down Hickory County obituary searches by time period and location.

Death Certificates in Hickory County

The Hickory County Health Department serves as the local registrar for all births and deaths in Hickory County. Birth certificates for Missouri births after 1920 cost $15.00. Death certificates for Missouri deaths after 1980 cost $14.00 for the first copy and $11.00 for each extra. Same-day printing is available. Payment by cash, checks, or debit and credit cards.

For earlier records, contact the Missouri Department of Health in Jefferson City. Under RSMo 193.255, you must have direct and tangible interest to get a certified death certificate. For Hickory County obituary research on older records, the State Archives is the best option since records more than 50 years old are open to the public.

Hickory County Historical Society

The Hickory County Historical Society focuses on local history preservation in the Hermitage area. They have a limited online presence, so reaching them through the county offices is the best approach. For Hickory County obituary research, local historical groups sometimes hold cemetery records, church files, and family histories that are not in any database.

The Hermitage Public Library has basic local history collections. For a small county like Hickory, local resources can be thin. The state-level databases and archives tend to be more productive for most obituary searches here.

Online Obituary Search Tools

For Hickory County obituary research, these free online tools are your best options:

• Missouri Digital Heritage for 1910-1969 death certificates
• Missouri State Archives microfilm for 1883-1890 death registers
• Missouri Death Index for 1954-2024 records
• FamilySearch for Hickory County genealogical records
• Find a Grave for cemetery and burial records

The Missouri Death Index covers Hickory County deaths from 1954 to 2024 with over 3.8 million statewide entries. The Missouri State Library genealogy guide links to additional databases. The State Historical Society of Missouri holds newspaper collections that may include papers covering the Hickory County area.

Note: Hickory County's small population means fewer records overall, but the microfilm at the State Archives preserves what exists in good condition.

Public Access to Hickory County Records

Under Missouri's Sunshine Law (RSMo Chapter 610), public records are open for inspection. Vital records have restrictions under RSMo 193.245. Recent death certificates require proof of direct and tangible interest. But death records more than 50 years old are open to anyone. For Hickory County obituary research, the State Archives databases and cemetery records are available to the general public without eligibility rules.

Genealogists representing a family member and professionally recognized genealogists can get copies of more recent Hickory County death certificates. If you are requesting a death certificate at the health department in Hermitage, bring a photo ID and know the name and approximate date of death. Same-day printing speeds up the process for in-person visits.

Cities in Hickory County

Hermitage is the county seat and the main town in Hickory County. All obituary and vital records for Hickory County residents are filed through county offices in Hermitage. The Hickory County Health Department handles death certificate requests for the entire county.

Nearby Counties

Hickory County is a small county in central Missouri. If you cannot find the record you need, check neighboring counties where the person may have lived or died.