January 24, 1967
A tornado ripped through ten communities in east central Missouri from Chesterfield to Spanish Lake.
January 23, 1851
Birthday of John R. Kirk, attorney, educator, and leader in Missouri's schools. He is remembered in Kirksville with the Kirk Auditorium (now the Kirk Building), Kirk Academy, Kirk Society, and his portrait in the President's gallery.
January 22, 1955
The first national country music show on television was broadcast by ABC from Springfield from 1955 until 1960. The show is credited with popularizing country music and featured well-known performers, including Red Foley, Speedy Haworth, Brenda Lee, Porter Wagoner, and Slim Wilson.
January 21, 1791
Birthday of pioneering Ann Hawkins Gentry of Columbia. Wife of soldier and adventurer, Richard Gentry, mother of thirteen children, widowed in war, and only the second woman in American history to serve as a postmistress (which she did for twenty-seven years in Columbia).
January 20, 1872
Governor B. Gratz Brown and his family become the first to occupy the new Governor's Mansion.
January 19, 1864
Missouri was under marshal law and selling liquor was prohibited. In Central Missouri, Lt. Franklin Swope was on a crusade to seize illicit liquor and he seized brandy in three different places including the property of a miller, an army sergeant, and a local judge.
January 18, 1808
William Ray was born on this day. He operated an important blacksmith shop on the Santa Fe Trail in a spot which is today named for him—Raytown.
January 17, 1952
Birthday of Joplin-born Darrell Porter who was a standout player and MVP for both the Royals and the Cardinals. He played in three World Series with those teams.
