This was the birthdate of Luther Kennett who became Mayor of St. Louis. When the cholera epidemic hit, he is the one who established a quarantine island in the Mississippi and wouldn’t let people into the city until they had been cleared by medical staff.

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.