April 3, 1882
Jesse James was shot dead by Robert Ford, who was secretly working with Missouri Governor Thomas T. Crittenden. The assassination took place in St. Joseph, Missouri.
April 2, 1935
Kansas City jazz great, Bennie Moten died during a tonsillectomy. His band member, Count Basie took over as leader and introduced the world to "The Kansas City Sound."
March 31, 1919
People across the state were protesting prohibition. A crowd of 10,000 assembled at the St. Louis Coliseum.
March 27, 1848
This is the birthday of Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard. She taught at Central Female College in Lexington then founded Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. She served for decades as Cottey's President.
March 25, 1905
A teachers training college was founded at Maryville. Today it is called Northwest Missouri State University.
March 24, 1911
Legislation was signed and bond issues awarded on this day for the building of our present Capitol Building.
March 23, 1903
Automobile license plates came to Missouri on this day. The same legislation set a state speed limit of nine miles per hour and required automobiles to sound a horn or a bell before passing a horse-drawn vehicle.
March 22, 1913
Missouri's state flag was adopted. Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver of Cape Girardeau's D.A.R. designed the flag.