William Jewell, an important character in the development of the cities of Columbia and Liberty died on this date in 1852. He founded the first church of any denomination—a Baptist church—in Columbia, and he donated land for the private William Jewell College, among many other accomplishments, according to the Missouri Encyclopedia.

Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith’s America Project in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.