August 16, 1817
The first duel between lawyers Thomas Hart Benton and Charles Lucas was fought on Bloody Island near St. Louis. At 30 paces both men were wounded.
August 15, 1904
76 year old Geronimo was roping calves at the World's Fair on this day. He did very well and got a good round of applause from the audience.
August 14, 1936
It might have been a good idea to sleep on the porch or in the park. On this day the temperature in Kansas City was 113 degrees.
August 13, 1801
On this date the “Mother of Kansas City” was born. Bernice Therese Menard Chouteau and her husband Francois Chouteau came from St. Louis to establish a trading post in 1821. They were the first white settlers in what is now Kansas City.
August 12, 1927
Country music legend Porter Wagoner was born in West Plains on this day. He worked for years in Springfield on Radio and TV.
August 11, 1872
An astronomer predicted that a comet was coming and would hit St. Louis. Many people panicked and many left town. Young boys added to the problems by standing on street corners and occasionally yelling, "Here she comes!"
August 9, 1869
Birthday of Annie Malone, the founder of Poro University, Annie Malone Children's Home, and a cosmetic empire that made her America's first black millionaire. This St. Louis resident helped thousands of black women to earn financial security. Read more about her in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.
August 8, 1978
Military personnel and others in the Belton area watched a UFO spend 45 minutes in the air above them. Local air bases followed it on radar.
August 7, 1862
Anti-Irish rioting was sweeping through St. Louis. For three days local toughs roamed through Irish neighborhoods to keep the Irish-Americans from voting. Ten people died in those three days.