No, that date isn’t supposed to read “1861,” McDonald County set down a path that would lead to their seceding and becoming an independent territory on this date in 1961.
Weird History
Senator David Rice Atchison may have been U.S. President for one day on this date in 1849.
This date in Missouri history in 1857 was the scheduled execution date for a Mrs. Sarah Buckner, who, along with her daughter, was accused and convicted of killing her second husband with an ax.
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.
The folks in Lawrence County just got the news that the bond issue had passed and they would be building a new courthouse.
A new advertising strategy involving planes spelling out words with smoke had been developed, and for the first time a skywriter was seen over St. Louis spelling out “Lucky Strike.”
St. Louis residents were finding eels in their sinks. The water commissioner said that eels and minnows could easily pass through the filters when they were young and then would grow while they lived in the settling basins.
The Neosho Times reported that some Washburn, MO boys were working for a farmer when they plowed up about $80 worth of gold and silver which the farmer had buried there at the beginning of the Civil War.
Barton County Missouri filed a lawsuit against Wyatt Earp claiming that he did not surrender the tax money and fees he had collected for local schools.
Henry Dorman of Liberal celebrated his 114th birthday on this date in 1913.
The Cassville Republican reported high hopes for a Barry County man who was establishing a skunk farm near Madry, MO.
Today in Missouri history, it was reported that the rabbit market had been ruined by warm weather. They were selling for only two cents each in south Missouri.
On this date, Sikeston High School toppled Kennett in football, 147-0.
John Joseph Houghtaling was born on this day in Kansas City. He invented the Magic Fingers Vibrating Bed, a common feature in mid-priced hotels and motels from the 1960s to 1970s. “Hey, gotta quarter?”
This was the last day that Valentine Tapley shaved. He promised his Pike County friends that if Lincoln were to be elected, he would never shave again. His beard grew to over 12 ½ feet.
Doctor Andrew Taylor of Macon, Missouri founded the Osteopathic medicine movement on this day.
In an early attempt at networking before the days of broadcast networks President Warren G. Harding’s speech from the annual national assembly of Rotary Clubs in St. Louis was sent by telephone lines from KSD radio to other stations in the U.S.
Alberta Claire, “The Girl from Wyoming,” was back in Missouri and on her way to an extended ride through the Ozarks.
Students from Lee’s Summit got the crinoid named Missouri’s official fossil. The little animal that looked like a plant lived in the ocean that once covered Missouri.
The city of Kennett was attempting an alligator roundup. Two years earlier a traveling salesman sold about fifty gators in the town and the “pets” were growing larger and more dangerous.
Automobile license plates came to Missouri on this day. The same legislation set a state speed limit of nine miles per hour and required automobiles to sound a horn or a bell before passing a horse-drawn vehicle.
Runaway mules killed A.W. Bisby north of Brookfield.
A large number of federal marshals left Springfield for the wilds of Ripley and Oregon counties to break up some illicit stills. These were said to be the last in Missouri. The press releases, however, got out before the raids and they whole thing.
Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane. She took off from Bismarck, Missouri and flew to St. Louis.
The Mississippi was frozen over and a saloon keeper set up business in the middle of the river.
The exact northern border of Missouri was established thus ending the dispute which had led to the Honey War in 1839.
The national dance marathon was narrowing down at the St. Louis Coliseum. Eighteen-year-old Hilda Johnson dropped out after 147 hours. She got a world record and $700. Three men were still dancing.
The law enacting the ban on married teachers was lifted though many communities continued to have a de facto rule in place.
Tony Jannus made a historic trip on this date. He became the first person to deliver beer by airplane. He flew the bubbly cargo from St. Louis to the Mayor of New Orleans.
