On this day, Lemma Barkaloo was admitted to the Missouri Bar and became the first woman to practice law in the state. However, she died a few months later from of typhoid fever.

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.