THIS DAY IN MISSOURI HISTORY - • February 20, 1789 – William Lindsey Long was born on this date. He bought 400 acres along the Meramec River and developed it into a town, Fenton, Missouri, which he named for his grandmother. • February 20, 1833 – Legendary botanist, naturalist and medical doctor, George Engelmann, came to Missouri on this day. He did most of the work in establishing what is now the Missouri Botanical Garden for Henry Shaw. • February 20, 1848 – Birthday of Uriel Sebree, in Fayette, Missouri. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, Arctic Explorer, Governor of American Samoa. • February 20, 1872 – Birthday of Herbert S. Hadley, attorney, prosecutor, Governor, and Chancellor of Washington University. Read more about him in Tobias and the Governor. • February 20, 1882 – The “wet blizzard” in Camden County saw incredible amounts of rain swell the Osage, Glaize, and Niangua Rivers causing great loss life and property. • February 20, 1890 – At Lead Mine in southwest, MO it was reported, “Grip, Grip; here, there and in every nook and corner, until big, little, old and young have all had the grip.” (influenza) • February 20, 1908 – St. Louis’ first automobile fire truck was rushing to a fire on this date and rounded a corner at 50 mph, struck a curb, and threw seven men from the truck. • February 20, 1913 – The U.S. Postal Authority declared that skunk hides were not suitable items to be sent through the mail. TRIVIA: Skunk hides were sold as “American sable” and skunk farms were big business in southwest Missouri at this time. Read more about this in my book, The Monett Nine. (At the publisher now.) • February 20, 1925 – Moviemaker, Robert B. Altman was born in Kansas City. He was educated in Kansas City and in the Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington. He made industrial films in KC before leaving for Hollywood.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 11:52:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015