Remarkable Missourians

Samuel Clemens—who later changed his name to Mark Twain—was born in Florida, Missouri.  Haley’s Comet was seen across the night sky at that time, and Twain later told people that he rode in on Haley’s Comet and he would someday ride out.

Reported birthday of the "King of Ragtime," Scott Joplin. When a musician's work is still popular a century after his death, he did it right.

Today is the birthday of statesman John Brooks Henderson from Lincoln County, MO. He was appointed a Senator and, after Lincoln's death, Henderson co-wrote the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution which prohibited slavery in the U.S.

News anchorman Walter Cronkite was born in  St. Joseph. He grew up in Kansas City until he was ten until he moved to Texas. You can learn more about his life here or by visiting the Walter Cronkite Memorial in St. Joseph. 

This is believed by some to be the birthday of a true legend, Daniel Boone. Boone and the people he brought may have done as much as any other people to give Missouri its unique and distinct character.

Colonel Thomas Fiveash Riddick was an influential banker who helped create the St. Louis public schools, was a founder of the Thespian Society and was a delegate to the original Missouri Constitutional Congress. On this date he founded the first Episcopal Church west of the Mississippi.

Ewing Marion Kauffman was born in Garden City. He went on to found Marion Laboratories, the Kauffman Foundation, and the Kansas City Royals. He is also the namesake for Kauffman Stadium.

The Golden Rule Merchant, James Cash Penney was born in Nettleton, near present day Hamilton. 

Cartoonist Mort Walker, creator of Beetle Bailey, and loyal University of Missouri Alum was born on this day. Beetle Bailey’s Camp Swampy was modeled after Missouri’s Camp Crowder where Mort Walker had been stationed.  

“The Children’s Poet,” Eugene Field was born on this day in St. Louis.  His boyhood home is now a the Eugene Field and Toy Museum at 634 South Broadway in St. Louis.