Missouri History Today

This is the birthday of Joseph Rutherford Walker, one of the greatest of all the westward explorers and a Missourian from Independence.

Missouri’s “separate but equal” policy was struck down in the U.S. Supreme Court and Lloyd Gaines was admitted to the University of Missouri Law School.

Robert Pankey of Eldorado Springs was a model youth. He was said to never swear, smoke, or touch liquor. But, on this day, he held up the Bank of Washburn and took $12,850.

The St. Louis schools were overcrowded and the school board blamed the depression. They said the kids couldn’t find jobs so they were staying in school.

The Lebanon Rustic Republican reported that President William McKinley had received a barrel of big red apples from Absalom Nelson of Lebanon.

George A. Whiteman from Sedalia was shot down as his plane took off from Hawaii. He became the first pilot killed in World War II. Whiteman Air Force Base near Sedalia is named in his honor.

Birth of Albert Bond Lambert, the eighth balloon pilot in America and the person who bought, cleared, and leveled a flying field that is now an international airport at St. Louis.

This date in Missouri history: Schools and businesses closed while families stocked up on supplies. This date was predicted to see a gigantic earthquake along the New Madrid Fault. Nothing happened.

On this date in Missouri history: St. Louis Mayor Kiel signed an ordinance establishing a zoo in St. Louis in Forest Park. The idea was almost killed because of a lawn-mowing dispute.

This date in Missouri history: A new town with 25 houses was springing up in Taney County. The town called Camp Glover was for workers on the new hydro-electric dam.