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If I've learned anything since moving to Joplin, it is that Missouri has a rich history. More than that, our state's history has always been very influential on the history of our great nation.
Rather than learn our history in a linear fashion (in the order events occurred), I've plugged in the birthdays of some of our famous citizens below. In this manner, I hope to emphasize the achievements and individual motivations and intrigue that drive individuals to success, rather than just memorize a list of places and dates. Many have asked, "Why do we study a bunch of old, dead people?" The answer is simple: we learn from history. If we fail to study the mistakes of others, we are destined to repeat them. If we don't study the triumphs of others, we will waste our time repeating the same experiments that have already been accomplished. Instead, let's build on the strengths of our strongest, and eliminate their mistakes. There is an amazing poem by Linda Ellis. It is called The Dash. It causes one to appreciate the life that occurs between the two dates on a gravestone, and it urges us to reflect on the importance of the things we choose to do while we are alive on this planet. I hope that while we discover the wonderful contributions by the individuals in this list, we can also explore the possibilities and the potential that lie within ourselves. |
Watch The Dash on YouTube; the link will appear below:
Research Links
The State Historical Society of Missouri: Famous Missourians
Missouri House of Representatives: Hall of Famous Missourians Bellfontaine Cemetery: Interactive Map 
Recording Sheet
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Individuals in bold lettering have been afforded lessons with extended activity sets.
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January
January 1, 1832 - Thomas T. Crittenden January 2, 1716 - François Vallé January 4, 1839 - John Newman Edwards January 5, 1859 - Tom Bass January 6, 1896 - James M. Douglas January 8, 1881 - John Neihardt January 10, 1843 - Frank James January 11, 1854 - Marie Watkins Oliver January 15, 1844 - Cole Younger January 21, 1791 - Ann Hawkins January 29, 1825 - Zerelda Samuel January 29, 1850 - Mary Alicia Owen January 30, 1919 - Margaret Bush Wilson January 31, 1860 - Robert Ford 
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February
February 1, 1902 - Langston Hughes February 3, 1918 - Helen Stephens February 4, 1902 - Charles Lindbergh February 7, 1867 - Laura Ingalls Wilder February 12, 1893 - Omar Nelson Bradley February 13, 1794 - John Hardeman Walker February 17, 1924 - Margaret Truman February 23, 1892 - Vance Randolph
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March
March 1, 1914 - Harry Caray March 2, 1829 - Carl Schurz March 2, 1864 - Annie White Baxter March 2, 1781 - Nathan Boone March 5, 1891 - Daniel Robert Fitzpatrick March 6, 1889 - Nell Donnelly Reed March 7, 1850 - James Beauchamp Clark March 9, 1872 - Ella Ewing March 14, 1782 - Sen. Thomas Hart Benton March 20, 1811 - George Caleb Bingham March 26, 1911 - Tennessee Williams March 26, 1876 - Kate Richards O'Hare March 27, 1824 - Virginia Minor March 28, 1793 - Henry Rowe Schoolcraft March 29, 1918 - Sam Walton |
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April
April 4, 1806 - Claiborne Fox Jackson April 9, 1901 - Howard A. Rusk April 10, 1847 - Joseph Pulitzer April 11, 1859 - Enoch H. Crowder April 11, 1841 - John Stillwell Stark April 15, 1889 - Thomas Hart Benton April 19, 1812 - James S. Rollins April 27, 1822 - Ulysses S. Grant |
May
May 8, 1884 - Harry Truman May 12, 1937 - Jerry L. Litton May 14, 1932 - Gwen B. Giles May 15, 1776 - John S. Sappington May 17, 1864 - John W. "Blind" Boone May 28, 1826 - B. Gratz Brown 
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June
June 2, 1886 - Mary Paxton Keeley June 2, 1927 - Harriett Woods June 3, 1906 - Josephine Baker June 6, 1858 - Henry Kirklin June 7, 1843 - Susan Elizabeth Blow June 25, 1874 - Rose O'Neill 
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July
July 1, 1865 - Louis S. Curtiss July 1, 1911 - Lucile Bluford July 1, 1865 - Louis S. Curtiss July 2, 1864 - Walter Williams July 7, 1906 - Satchel Paige July 7, 1907 - Robert A. Heinlein July 9, 1808 - Alexander W. Doniphan July 14, 1818 - Nathaniel Lyon Jul. 17, 1818 - Robert Sallee James July 18, 1867 - Margaret Tobin Brown July 19, 1863 - Curtis F. Marbut July 21, 1845 - Zerelda "Zee" Mimms James July 22, 1875 - Green, A. P. July 22, 1872 - Thomas J. Pendergast July 24, 1923 - Warren Eastman Hearnes July 30, 1827 - Susan Shelby Magoffin July 30, 1890 - Casey Stengel |
August
August 1, 1770 - William Clark August 6, 1828 - A. T. Still August 9, 1869 - Annie Turnbo Malone August 18, 1774 - Meriwether Lewis August 18, 1849 - Morris Frederick Bell August 21, 1788 - Richard Gentry August 21, 1924 - Jack Buck August 25, 1965 - D. Ed. Hoggatt August 29, 1920 - Charlie Parker August 30, 1910 - Clarence Earl Gideon
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September
September 1, 1792 - Chester Harding September 5, 1847 - Jesse James September 8, 1772 - Manuel Lisa September 8, 1842 - Phoebe Couzins September 10, 1835 - William Torrey Harris September 11, 1809 - Sterling Price September 13, 1860 - John J. PershingSeptember 13, 1880 - Lucy Wortham James September 16, 1875 - J.C. Penney September 22, 1897 - Fred V. Heinkel September 25, 1847 - Vinnie Ream September 26, 1888 - T. S. Eliot 
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October
October 1, 1815 - Joseph LaBarge October 4, 1761 - Moses Austin October 12, 1904 - Lester Dent October 31, 1900 - Cal Hubbard
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November
November 2, 1734 - Daniel Boone November 4, 1916 - Walter Cronkite November 8, 1908 - Martha Gellhorn November 10, 1907 - Jane Froman November 16, 1899 - Mary Margaret McBride November 18, 1824 - Franz Sigel November 20, 1881 - Arthur Marshall November 21, 1920 - Stan Musial November 21, 1904 - Coleman Hawkins November 24, 1888 - Dale Carnegie November 25, 1846 - Carry A. Nation November 29, 1798 - Hamilton Gamble November 30, 1835 - Samuel Clemens |
December
December 1, 1876 - George Creel December 3, 1867 - Annie Fisher December 5, 1901 - Walt Disney December 9, 1922 - Redd Foxx December 11, 1884 - Nelle E. Peters December 12, 1830 - Joseph O. Shelby December 18, 1878 - Edna Gellhorn December 20, 1921 - Bud Walton December 23, 1769 - Daniel Morgan Boone December 29, 1874 - Tom Benoist 
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