 Brig. Gen. Francis Marion Cockrell is pictured during the Civil War, when he commanded Missouri troops in some of the conflict’s fiercest campaigns, including Vicksburg and Franklin. Wounded multiple times, he later transitioned from battlefield leadership to a distinguished 30-year career in the U.S. Senate. This image, dating to the 1860s, reflects the early military chapter of a life that would later shape Missouri’s political legacy. Library of Congress, Brady-Handy Collection (public domain) Few Missourians have traveled a path as complex and consequential as Francis Marion Cockrell. His experiences became part of a life spanning the divisions of the Civil War and the reconciliation that followed, rising from Confederate general to one of Missouri’s longest-serving United States senators. Born on Oct. 1, 1834, near Warrensburg in Johnson County, Missouri, Cockrell came of age in a state deeply divided in the years leading up to the Civil War while his education began in a one-room log schoolhouse. The son of a county sheriff, he later pursued an education at Chapel Hill College before studying law and entering practice in his hometown. By 1861, however, the nation—and Missouri—stood at a crossroads. When war came, Cockrell joined the Confederacy, organizing a company of pro-Southern militia and entering service as a captain. Rapidly rising through the ranks, within a year he had was promoted to colonel. By July 1863, following the brutal Vicksburg Campaign, he was elevated to brigadier general. Cockrell earned a reputation as one of the Confederacy’s most capable field commanders. His leadership during the western campaigns brought him distinction, but the war came at a heavy cost. At the Battle of Franklin in 1864, his brigade suffered devastating losses. Years later, he wrote, “I lost two-thirds… this was by far the fiercest and bloodiest… battle I have ever been in.” Wounded multiple times and captured near the war’s end in 1865, Cockrell returned to Missouri to rebuild both his career and his place in a nation seeking reconciliation. Unlike many former Confederate officers, Cockrell transitioned successfully into public life during Reconstruction. He worked as an attorney and in 1874, was elected to the United States Senate, beginning a remarkable 30-year tenure from 1875 to 1905. His election reflected the changing political landscape of post-war Missouri. As historian Edwin C. Reynolds noted in Missouri: A History of the Crossroads State, “The Assembly elected Francis M. Cockrell over Schurz for the United States Senate. The Republicans were divided in this balloting and the Democrats united in the choice of a former Confederate general.” While in Washington, Cockrell became known not as a firebrand, but as a steady and respected legislator. He served on major committees, including Appropriations, where he influenced federal spending and policy. His extensive Senate career also placed him at the center of national debates at the turn of the century. During the lead-up to the Spanish-American War, Cockrell aligned with those urging stronger American support for Cuban rebels. Historian Duane Meyer, in The Heritage of Missouri: A History, wrote, “In Washington, Missouri's congressmen reflected by their actions the feelings of many of their constituents. Both Senator Cockrell and Senator Vest urged the immediate recognition of the rebel government in Cuba, and joined their Democratic associates in castigating Republican President McKinley, whom they felt to be acting too slowly to assist the rebels.” His public service extended beyond the Senate. After leaving office in 1905, Cockrell continued to serve in federal roles, including an appointment to the Interstate Commerce Commission by Theodore Roosevelt. It was a career that reflected a broader national pattern of reintegrating former Confederate leaders into positions of influence in a reunited nation. Part of his legacy also extended into his family. The christening of the battleship USS Missouri (BB-11) gave the Cockrell name a place in a moment of national pride. Reporting on the launch at Newport News, the Virginian-Pilot wrote on Dec. 29, 1901, “The battleship Missouri, designed with her sister ships, the Ohio and the Maine, to be the fastest and most powerful of the heaviest type of fighting craft afloat, was launched at Newport News yesterday....” The paper added that “....Miss Marion Cockrell, daughter of Senator Francis M. Cockrell, of Missouri, and one of the acknowledged belles of the nation's capital, swung the bottle of Missouri wine against the massive prow of the Marine giant....” Closer to home, Cockrell’s name nearly became permanently tied to Missouri’s military history in another way. Years later, when plans emerged for a military training installation in southwest Missouri, his name was among those considered. The Carthage Evening Press reported on Aug. 6, 1901, “The Neosho army camp may be named Camp Cockrell, for Senator Francis Marion Cockrell, of Warrensburg, according to dispatches from Washington. The two Missouri senators, Bennett Champ Clark and Harry S. Truman have recommended that name to the War Department.” Even though the installation would ultimately be named Camp Crowder, the consideration itself reflects the enduring prominence of Cockrell’s name in Missouri’s military and political circles. Throughout his life, Cockrell remained closely tied to Missouri. Though he spent decades in Washington, his identity was rooted in the state where he was born, practiced law and first rose to prominence. He died on Dec. 13, 1915, in Washington, D.C., closing the chapter on a life that had bridged one of the most turbulent periods in American history. In reflecting on his life, the Kansas City Star shared a quote made by Cockrell prior to his death: “My heart is back there in Missouri, and when I die I want my resting place to be in that grand old state. It won't make any difference to the dead, but I will have my friends around me.” Francis Marion Cockrell’s story is one of transformation. He was a soldier who fought for a cause that was ultimately defeated yet later became a national leader in the reunited United States. His journey symbolizes the complicated legacy of the Civil War and the generations that followed, including men who carried the scars of conflict but helped shape the country’s future. From the battlefields of Vicksburg and Franklin to the halls of the U.S. Senate, Cockrell’s life traced the arc of a divided nation finding its way forward. And in that journey, from war to governance and from Missouri soil to national leadership, his legacy remains as one of the state’s most significant and complex historical figures. Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the historical compilations “Moments on the Moreau” and “Beyond the Moreau.”
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More than baseball - “Secco” Brockman was a Small-Town Star in Missouri’s Golden Age of Baseball6/26/2026  August F. “Secco” Brockman of Concordia, Missouri, shown in his playing days, was regarded as a gifted all-around baseball player—equally effective as a pitcher, slugger and fielder. A standout during the golden age of small-town baseball in the early 1900s, Brockman later remained active in the game as an umpire and coach, while also serving his community through business, music and civic leadership. Courtesy of Beverly (Tising) Meyer In the early twentieth century, before radios brought distant voices into farmhouses and professional sports became a national spectacle, baseball thrived in small-town America. On summer afternoons, communities gathered around dusty diamonds to watch neighbors and friends compete for pride as much as victory. In central Missouri, few players embodied that era more than August F. “Secco” Brockman.
Born June 5, 1876, in Concordia, Brockman grew up in a town shaped by German heritage and Lutheran tradition. His father, a German immigrant, was a skilled carpenter who settled in the community and raised a family that included four sons and one daughter, though one son died in infancy. Like many children of immigrant families, Brockman’s early life was grounded in hard work, faith and civic responsibility—values that would later define his role on and off the baseball field. From a young age, Brockman displayed uncommon athletic ability, particularly in baseball. The game offered him and other local boys a chance to test themselves and bring recognition to their hometowns. For Brockman, baseball was not merely a pastime but a calling. Newspaper accounts from the era consistently described him as a gifted all-around player—equally capable as a pitcher, slugger and fielder. Small-town baseball teams in the early 1900s were the heartbeat of local identity. Victories were celebrated as community achievements, while standout players became local heroes. Brockman quickly emerged as one of Concordia’s brightest stars, anchoring the hometown team with a combination of control on the mound and confidence at the plate. On June 14, 1906, The Concordian chronicled one of Brockman’s most memorable performances. “The Concordia Team put it over the Blums at Blums Park, Kansas City, Kans., Sunday afternoon, shutting that team out…,” the paper reported. Of Brockman’s pitching, it added, “‘Secco’ was in fine shape and the Blums couldn’t do a thing to his curves.” The account captured not just a victory, but the pride carried home by a small town whose representative had bested a strong opponent on their turf. Brockman’s reputation soon extended beyond Concordia. He later played for teams in California and Jefferson City, facing increasingly competitive lineups and larger crowds. On August 27, 1908, the California Democrat recounted a road victory in Sedalia. “The California baseball team went to Sedalia Sunday and met the strong Clinton team at Liberty Park and before a crowd of about 750 people annihilated them to the tune of 7 to 5,” the paper reported. Once again, Brockman stood at the center of the story: “Secco Brockman had the game well in hand at all times and only once was in a tight place….” Such performances underscore how vital baseball was to rural and small-city life in Missouri. Games were social events, drawing hundreds of spectators and serving as gathering points for towns otherwise separated by miles of farmland. Players like Brockman became ambassadors of their communities, carrying local pride onto every field they entered. Brockman’s playing career came to an abrupt end in 1909 after a serious injury sustained while playing in Jefferson City. The Daily Post reported on July 19 of that year, “Secco Brockman, who suffered a dislocation of his left knee at Ruwart Park yesterday afternoon, returned last night to his home in Concordia, Mo. His limb was set by Dr. McDonald and he is able to be out on crutches.” With that injury, one of central Missouri’s most reliable athletes was forced to step away from competitive play. Yet Brockman’s connection to baseball did not end there. Back in Concordia, he remained deeply involved in the sport by umpiring games and coaching younger players, passing along both skill and sportsmanship to the next generation. His continued presence ensured that baseball remained a vibrant part of the town’s culture long after his own playing days had ended. On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1897, he married Ophelia Kruse, and together they raised a son and a daughter. Professionally, Brockman operated a wholesale poultry and egg business, from which he retired in 1957. He also served as president of the Concordia Bank for more than seventy years, a remarkable tenure that speaks to the trust he earned within the community. Music was another important thread in Brockman’s life. At just 11 years old, he played bass drum in the Concordia Municipal Band, later switching to snare drum. The band performed at concerts, picnics and local events, reinforcing the town’s sense of shared identity. In 1910, the band achieved statewide recognition by winning first prize at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Brockman went on to serve as president of the band for several decades, guiding its activities much as he once guided baseball teams on the field. His public service extended to local government as well, including time spent on the city council. August F. “Secco” Brockman died on April 23, 1960, at the age of 83. He is buried in the cemetery of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia, the town that shaped him and that he, in turn, helped shape for more than eight decades. In observation of his legacy, it is impossible to separate the man from the era he represented. He belonged to a time when baseball diamonds doubled as community stages and when local heroes earned their reputations not through contracts or headlines, but through steady excellence and service. During that golden age of small-town baseball, Secco Brockman stood tall—on the mound, in the bandstand and in the life of Concordia itself. Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the historical compilations “Moments on the Moreau” and “Beyond the Moreau.”  Ralph Sylvester Harvey is shown here in his baseball uniform during his early years in Eldon, Missouri, where he played first base on a successful local team. Born in Miller County in 1883, Harvey later built a career in business, from mercantile work in Eldon to a wholesale grocery operation in Tulsa and real estate ventures in California. His life reflected a broader American journey shaped by enterprise, service and westward migration. Courtesy of Beverly Tising Meyer Ralph Sylvester Harvey lived a life defined both by opportunities and mobility. It evolved from a journey that began in rural Miller County, Missouri, and extended westward to California, shaped by family enterprises, public service and community involvement.
Ralph Sylvester Harvey was born on Jan. 13, 1883, in Miller County, the son of Robert S. Harvey, a man whose name would become closely associated with business and banking in Eldon. Growing up in a region where agriculture and commerce intertwined, Ralph was raised in an environment that valued hard work and entrepreneurial spirit. His father’s reputation in the community was firmly established. As the Eldon Advertiser noted on Jan. 20, 1938, “Robert S. Harvey, for many years one of the most influential and the man of the greatest financial interests in the county, died at his home in Pomona, Calif., Tuesday morning at 5:30 o'clock.” The paper further recalled that “Mr. Harvey founded the Bank of Eldon September 20, 1894, and continued as president of the institution 38 years….” Beyond banking, Robert S. Harvey operated successful mercantile businesses in Eldon, contributing to the city’s commercial growth during a period of expansion. His influence extended into community life as well, including a lasting contribution to local recreation. After relocating to California later in life, he donated an eight-acre tract of land to the city of Eldon for use as a baseball park, which was an enduring reflection of his affinity for the game. Ralph Harvey grew up in this environment of enterprise and civic engagement, and like many young men of his generation, he embraced both work and recreation. Baseball, in particular, played an important role in his youth in addition to being an interest of his father’s. The Eldon Advertiser captured one snapshot of his involvement on Aug. 17, 1905, noting, “The following is the regular lineup of the Eldon team. In the last seven games, they have made 100 runs to their opponent’s 19. Will Brockman, Captain, Lloyd Tising, Pitcher, Joe Starling, Catcher, Ralph Harvey, 1st Base….” By 1902, Harvey, who had attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, had begun establishing himself in business. That year, he purchased an interest in the firm of N.E. Harvey and Company in Eldon. The company dealt in agricultural and transportation goods like plows, John Deere buggies and Studebaker wagons. His involvement in the business community quickly extended beyond commerce. In 1905, he helped organize the Eldon Fire Department, demonstrating a commitment to public service, and was elected assistant chief the same year. But by the end of the decade, Harvey’s life was already beginning to shift. In 1909, he married Norah Penn, a union noted in the Eldon Advertiser on Nov. 18 of that year. “The marriage of Ralph S. Harvey to Miss Nora Penn takes place at the bride's home in Kansas City this morning at 8 o'clock,” the newspaper reported. “Miss Penn was one of the teachers in the Eldon Public School last season and proved herself to be an excellent young lady of refinement.” That same year, Harvey sold his interest in the mercantile business, marking a turning point in both his personal and professional life. By 1910, the couple had relocated to Oklahoma, part of a broader migration as Americans sought new opportunities beyond their home communities. Harvey’s time in Oklahoma proved to be an important chapter in his career. As later noted in the Progress-Bulletin of Pomona, California, on May 3, 1954, “He … moved to Tulsa, Okla., where for a number of years he operated a wholesale grocery business.” His service extended beyond business as the same account noted that “During World War I and until after the armistice, he served as a Red Cross volunteer field worker at Camp Sheridan, Chillicothe, Ohio.” In that role, Harvey contributed to the war effort not as a soldier, but as a civilian volunteer supporting troops during a critical period in American history. Following the war, Harvey moved his family further west. In 1919, he relocated to California, eventually settling in Pomona, a city that was experiencing rapid growth as part of Southern California’s expanding economy. There, he entered into partnership with his brother, Bert Harvey, forming Harvey Brothers Real Estate and Investments Company. The firm positioned the brothers within one of the most dynamic sectors of the California economy at the time, as real estate development accompanied population growth across the region. For several years, he was also a stockholder and vice president of the Orange Belt Emporium, continuing his long association with commercial enterprise. Yet, as in Missouri, his life in California was not defined solely by business. He remained active in civic life, particularly through his involvement in the Pomona Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Chamber of Commerce. Harvey’s personal life also underwent change over the years. He and his first wife, Norah, had one son. After her death in 1938, he remarried in 1941, taking Lina L. Davis as his second wife and continuing his life in Pomona. Meanwhile, his father, Robert S. Harvey, had also relocated to California in his later years, closing the geographic circle between Missouri and the West Coast for the family. Though they had left Eldon, their influence and contributions there—particularly in banking, commerce and community life—remained part of the town’s history. Ralph Sylvester Harvey died in Pomona, California, on May 3, 1954, at the age of 71. His life had spanned a period of remarkable transformation in American society, witnessing the rural economy of late 19th-century Missouri transition into the urban and commercial expansion of mid-20th-century California. His was a life of movement, adaptation and continuity, spanning the baseball fields of Eldon to business ventures in Oklahoma and California. The journey of Harvey was not simply that of a single individual, but a reflection of opportunity that often lay just beyond the horizon and those willing to pursue it. Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the historical compilations “Moments on the Moreau” and “Beyond the Moreau.” Faith and Fairness - World War II veteran's legacy defined by ministry, education and equal rights6/21/2026  David O. Shipley served as a U.S. Navy coxswain during World War II after being inducted into the service in 1943. While stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., he challenged racial segregation on the base and completed educational coursework that inspired his lifelong pursuit of higher education and ministry. Courtesy of Douglas Shipley. The late Dr. David O. Shipley was known by many to be a man of faith, choosing to dedicate his life and energy to the ministry. This calling required focus and the pursuit of an education, much of which was inspired by a lieutenant who Shipley encountered while serving in a segregated environment during World War II. “My father talked about his (military) service in general terms,” said Shipley’s youngest son, Douglas, “such as where he was stationed and some of the things that he did. He was quite an influential and inspirational person,” he added. Born in Tipton, Missouri, in 1925, Shipley was raised in the world of Jim Crow laws and segregation, attending the all-Black Harrison School where his father was a teacher and principal. But in September 1943, before he was able to complete his high school education, the 18-year-old Shipley was inducted into the U.S. Navy at California, Missouri, then traveled to Great Lakes, Illinois, to complete his basic training. “In the early months of the war, the Navy Department designated Great Lakes as the site for training African Americans in boot camp, as well as Navy specialties,” noted an article found on the Navy’s website. However, the article further noted that this training was “completely segregated,” as was much of the country at the time. The experience Shipley encountered was not unique. During World War II, African Americans served in a segregated Navy where opportunities for advancement were often limited. Thousands of Black sailors answered their nation's call to service, yet many trained, worked and lived in separate facilities from their white counterparts. The conditions they faced reflected the racial divisions that existed throughout much of American society during the era. Following his initial training in Illinois, Shipley was sent to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, and, according to his Naval Training Course Certificate, trained as a coxswain. It was here, the document informs, he learned to operate 63-foot crash boats that remained on standby, prepared to respond to situations involving aircraft accidents or vessels in distress. The time he spent in the southern community would not be free of concerns related to racial discrimination and segregation; instead, Shipley felt compelled to stand up against the injustices he encountered on the base. “In the mess hall, white military men sat on one side, Negroes on the other,” wrote Shipley in his book Neither Black Nor White: The Whole Church for the Broken World. He added, “A friend and I stationed ourselves inside the door and entreated our men to mix it up.” Months later, noted Shipley’s son Douglas, “My father was apparently doing something between two boats and got his feet caught between them, crushing all ten of his toes. He could not walk for a while and spent several weeks recovering in the base hospital.” During his time in medical treatment, Shipley returned to the mess hall where he and a friend had previously confronted the issue of segregation. Upon noticing the situation had not changed, Shipley noted that he “refused to accept it, sitting alone in the white section to eat my meals.” “I continued my one-man protest until honorably discharged from the service after the war,” he wrote. Years before the modern Civil Rights Movement gained national attention, Shipley's actions represented a quiet but determined challenge to racial segregation. Though he never considered himself a political activist, his refusal to accept discriminatory treatment demonstrated a willingness to stand against injustice despite the social realities of the 1940s. Though Shipley was drafted into the service prior to graduating from high school, a lieutenant named Courtney Smith demonstrated an interest in his future and “insisted that (he) should finish (his) high school work through the United States Armed Forces Institute.” The officer also recommended that Shipley continue his studies after the war, explained the veteran in an article published in the Aug. 30, 1979, edition of The Tipton Times. Earning his GED, the inspiration provided by this naval officer would have long-term implications, especially in the years following Shipley’s discharge. When leaving the service in May 1946, he not only continued his educational pursuits but also went on to fulfill a lifelong wish. “My dad always wanted to be a minister,” said Douglas. “When he was a little boy, he had his younger sister sit in a chair while he would preach to her.” In 1948, Shipley graduated from Lincoln Junior College in Kansas City with an associate degree and received his license to preach the same year. He then enrolled at Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1950 and being ordained that same year. He later completed both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in divinity from Central Theological Seminary in Kansas City and eventually earned a doctorate of ministry in marriage and family counseling from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. Throughout his ministry, Shipley emphasized racial reconciliation, Christian unity and service to others. These themes were reflected in his book Neither Black Nor White: The Whole Church for the Broken World, which encouraged Christians to move beyond racial divisions and work together as a unified faith community. Although his work history is almost too lengthy to list, Dr. Shipley served as the first Black chaplain for the Kansas City Police Department and became pastor for churches of both the Presbyterian and Baptist denominations, including nearly a decade as pastor of Second Baptist Church in Jefferson City. His appointment as chaplain represented another milestone in a life characterized by breaking barriers. In that role, he provided spiritual guidance to officers while helping strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the broader community during a period of significant social change in American history. The author of several books and recipient of an Image Award from the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, Dr. Shipley—the married father of four sons—passed away on March 11, 2002, and was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City. The veteran’s account of dedication to faith and family is firmly rooted, if not inspired, by the brief time he served in the United States Navy. It was during this period that he was exposed to the disconcerting reality of segregation but later received the compassionate support of an officer who recognized his potential. The story of David O. Shipley illustrates the transformative power of education, faith and perseverance. A young man who entered the Navy before completing high school ultimately earned a doctorate, authored books, pastored congregations across denominational lines and became a respected civic leader. His journey from segregated classrooms and military facilities to positions of leadership reflected both his personal determination and the broader progress achieved by African Americans during the twentieth century. This, Shipley’s son notes, was a defining element of his father’s legacy. “I’ve always taken the approach to learn from my elders because it gives me a sense of who I am, where I come from … it comforts me,” said Douglas Shipley. “There were many Black men and women who served their country before my father and many have served since, but I think it is important to remember the struggles he and his counterparts—such as the Tuskegee Airmen—were forced to overcome. Or else,” he concluded, “we run the risk of it becoming a lost part of history to our current generations.” Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the upcoming historical compilation "Voices of the Moreau."  The Rev. Dr. David O. Shipley devoted his postwar life to ministry, education and community service. A pastor, author and the first African-American chaplain of the Kansas City Police Department, he earned a doctorate in ministry and became a respected advocate for racial reconciliation and Christian unity. Courtesy of Douglas Shipley.  Mitchell “Mitch” Tising (right) is pictured in 1954 after earning top honors at the Missouri State Fair for his cured ham, which was named grand champion and won the light ham division. A member of the well-known Tising family of High Point, he continued a tradition of excellence in agriculture that brought statewide recognition to the family’s work and reinforced their longstanding reputation in Moniteau County. Courtesy of Beverly (Tising) Meyer For generations, the Tising name was tied to two enduring traditions: the crack of a baseball bat on a summer afternoon and the J.F. Tising & Sons Store. For Mitchell “Mitch” Tising, those traditions were lived, not inherited.
Born on March 6, 1909, Mitch Tising attended the one-room High Point Grade School. It was there, alongside cousins and neighbors, that he developed an early appreciation for both hard work and community life. Baseball had long been woven into the identity of High Point. For the Tising family, the sport was passed through generations. Mitch’s father, Lloyd Tising, had earned recognition for his athletic abilities while his cousin, Johnnie “Jack” Tising, later reached the major leagues, pitching briefly for the Pittsburgh Pirates. For Mitch, the game was both a connection to family and a path toward possibility. After completing his early schooling in High Point, he continued his education at California High School, graduating in 1927. During his time there, he became part of a defining moment in the school’s history. In 1925, California High School adopted the “Pintos” as its mascot, a name that would endure for generations. Mitch was a member of the early basketball team associated with that era and later recalled being among those who first wore the Pintos name on their jerseys. Following high school, he attended Chillicothe Business College in Missouri, where he spent two years studying business. While there, he continued to pursue his love of baseball, playing shortstop for the school’s team. In 1930, he took his passion for baseball a step further by trying out for the Kansas City Blues, a prominent minor league team and a steppingstone to the major leagues. Though he did not pursue a long-term professional career, his connection to the game did not end there. The Moniteau County Herald captured one such moment in its May 27, 1937 edition under the headline “Kittenball Season Opens With Home Run,” noting, “May 24; The National League opened their 1937 season with a bang when Mitch Tising, 3rd baseman for the High Point Braves, banged the ball over the centerfield fence for a home run.” A significant milestone in his personal life came in 1933. The Moniteau County Herald reported on Sept. 21 of that year, “Mitchell James Tising, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Tising, and Miss Lillian Kays, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Kays of near High Point were married at the home of the officiating minister in California, Rev. A.M. Macdonnel, Wednesday evening, September 20, 1933.” Together, Mitch and Lillian built a life centered on family, community and shared responsibility. They became the parents of two daughters, Beverly Meyer and Saundra Wiser, both of whom would later play a role in continuing the traditions of the Tising family. If baseball represented aspiration, the family store represented responsibility. Established in the late 19th century by his grandfather, J.F. Tising, the mercantile had become a cornerstone of High Point life, serving generations of customers and adapting through decades of change. It was more than a business and had become a gathering place where neighbors met, exchanged news and built relationships. By the time Mitch came of age, the store had already endured significant challenges. It had survived fire, burglary and the economic strain of the Great Depression, when the Tising family extended credit to struggling customers, allowing them to maintain their livelihoods while ensuring the store’s continued operation. In 1949, Mitch and his brother-in-law, L.R. “Frenchie” Martine, purchased an interest in the business following the retirement of his uncle. When his father died the following year, Mitch became part of the next generation responsible for guiding the store forward. “He wanted to carry on the family tradition,” his daughter, Beverly Meyer, said. Inside, the store retained its familiar character, with rolling ladders for reaching high shelves and a potbelly stove that served as a gathering place during the winter months. All the while, Mitch’s influence extended well beyond the store. The Tising family had long been recognized for their agricultural success, particularly in cured ham competitions at the Missouri State Fair. As The Missouri Telegraph reported on Aug. 28, 1947, “The Tising family of High Point this year again took a lion’s share of the prizes in the cured ham contest at the Missouri State Fair. Seven members of the Moniteau County family exhibited 13 hams in the contest.... Out of 27 possible ribbons, the Tising entries won 19.” That tradition continued in the years that followed. The California Democrat reported on Aug. 26, 1954, “Mitchell Tising, High Point, had the grand champion ham at the Missouri State Fair, it was just announced Monday. The ham was also the winner in the light ham division.” Beverly Meyer recalled, “Dad’s family was very involved in the state fair for many years and for a while, it was the Tisings and the Burger family who were some of the most recognized names from the area when it came to hams. Because of this, I basically lived at the state fair for several days every summer while growing up.” Life on the family farm was equally formative. “The farm we lived on was about 200 acres and the house that was there basically fell down,” Meyer said. “In the early 1950s, my dad had the current house on the property built. While it was being built, we lived in a brooder house for chickens that had three rooms.” Like his father before him, Mitch served his community through the Moniteau County Fair, taking on leadership roles and helping organize the fair’s centennial celebration in 1966. He remained connected to education as well, serving as secretary of the High Point school board during the construction of a new consolidated school in the early 1950s. In 1974, Mitch became sole owner of the store after purchasing his partner’s interest, marking the culmination of decades of involvement in the family business. He continued to operate it for several more years, maintaining the traditions that had defined it for generations. When Mitchell “Mitch” Tising passed away in 1983, he left behind more than a business. He left a legacy deeply woven into High Point history. The store would continue for a time under the care of his family before closing in 1990, ending more than a century of continuous operation. For Mitch Tising, life was never about choosing between dreams and family commitment but honoring both. In doing so, the Tising family name carries on. Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the historical compilations “Moments on the Moreau” and “Beyond the Moreau.” Enduring resolve - Kathryn “Kate” Schubert’s life balanced between heritage, heartbreak, and family6/16/2026  Kathryn “Kate” R. Schubert Tobin stands behind her stepfather, Fred Edward Schubert, who is seated, in this family photograph taken near Centertown. Beside her is her taller brother, William Schubert, while her husband, Joseph “Bud” Tobin, rests a hand on her younger brother, Louis Henry Schubert, who later gave his life in World War I—an image capturing multiple generations of a family shaped by faith, migration, and sacrifice. Courtesy of Verna Menteer Kathryn “Kate” R. Schubert was born August 10, 1883, on her father’s farm near Centertown, Missouri, into a family whose story reflected both the promise and the cost of nineteenth-century German immigration to Mid-Missouri. She was the daughter of Johann Christoph “Christopher” Schubert and Anna Elizabeth Flessa Schubert, descendants of Bavarian settlers whose names became closely tied to the Lutheran churches, farms, and small communities of the region.
Kate was raised and later confirmed in the German Evangelical Lutheran Church at Centertown, where faith reinforced the bonds of family and community. Her early years unfolded in a rural world defined by agriculture and tradition, but her early childhood was marked by tragedy. In 1884, when Kate was not yet a year old, her father suffered from severe mental illness and was committed to the state asylum in Fulton. On June 2 of that year, he died by suicide when only 32 years old. Widowed with young children, Anna Elizabeth Flessa Schubert faced the difficult task of rebuilding family stability. In time, Anna married her late husband’s younger brother, Fred Edward Schubert. The marriage blended households that included children from Anna’s first marriage as well as those born to the union with Fred. Kate grew up with two brothers and one sister, along with five stepsiblings who lived into adulthood. The family’s structure taught early lessons in resilience and adaptability. As Kate approached adulthood, her life followed a path common to many young women in rural Missouri at the turn of the twentieth century. Census records show that in the early 1900s she lived as a boarder with another local family who operated a general store. The household included a married couple and their two young children, and Kate was listed on the 1900 Census as a house servant. Such arrangements offered unmarried women modest income and independence while providing valuable experience in domestic management. This period marked an important transition between girlhood and adulthood. Living outside her immediate family, Kate had to balance hours of domestic labor with community life. On July 8, 1909, Kate’s life took a decisive and unexpected turn. The Jefferson City Post-Tribune reported, “The many friends of Kate Schubert will be surprised to learn that she was united in marriage this afternoon in St. Louis to Joseph Tobin, a train auditor of Parsons, Kansas.” The newspaper added that after a honeymoon trip to Galveston, Texas, and Seattle, Washington, the couple would reside in Parsons. Marriage carried Kate far from the farm fields of Centertown into the expanding world of railroads and commerce. Her husband, Joseph “Bud” Tobin, worked as a railroad auditor while his father was a locomotive mechanic. Life in Kansas introduced Kate to new rhythms shaped by timetables, ledgers, and travel. However, Kate and Joseph later moved to St. Louis, where her role shifted once again. While her husband began working in the insurance industry, she became a homemaker and raised their children in a city far removed from her rural beginnings. Despite living in St. Louis, Kate maintained close ties to central Missouri and her extended family. On Aug. 14, 1925, the Jefferson City Tribune reported, “Mrs. Joseph Tobin and son and daughter of St. Louis came up yesterday and are spending two days with the family of the County Clerk.” The notice added that they would also visit relatives “at Schuberts and Mrs. Tobin’s mother, Mrs. Fred Schubert, at Centertown, before returning to St. Louis in two weeks.” Joseph Tobin’s professional standing continued to rise. On Jan. 23, 1939, the St. Louis Star and Times reported that Joseph S. Tobin was serving as general manager of the Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company, placing the family within St. Louis’s business circles during a period of economic recovery following the Great Depression. Although their marriage appeared to have stability, it did not endure. Kate and Joseph divorced prior to World War II, a decision that carried social and personal weight during a period when divorce remained relatively uncommon, particularly among women raised in close-knit, church-centered communities. Joseph later remarried, while Kate chose a quieter path forward. Rather than uproot her life again, she remained in the St. Louis area, a decision guided by devotion to her children. With her son and daughter established there, staying nearby offered purpose during a period of personal transition. In a city that had once represented great change, St. Louis became a place where Kate could focus on family, maintain independence, and draw strength from daily routines shaped by motherhood and faith. Kate died on June 11, 1952, at the age of 68, and was buried at Sunset Memorial Park and Mausoleum in St. Louis County. Though far removed geographically from the Centertown farm where her life began, she never fully left behind the values formed in rural Missouri. Her upbringing, which was rooted in Lutheran faith, family responsibility, and perseverance through loss, remained evident throughout her life, guiding her responses to hardship and change alike. Kathryn “Kate” R. Schubert Tobin’s life was not marked by public acclaim or formal recognition, but reflects the experiences of countless women whose labor, adaptability, and strength sustained families through generations of unexpected changes. Living between old-world heritage and modern America, between rural beginnings and urban adulthood, Kate’s story is a testament to the resilience of women who carried family history forward ... steadily, faithfully, and with enduring resolve. Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the historical compilations “Moments on the Moreau” and “Beyond the Moreau.”  Charles E. Kieselbach of Jefferson City enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Great Depression. He later served as a carpenter's mate first class aboard the battleship USS Arizona and became the first known Cole County casualty of World War II when he was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Courtesy of the Kieselbach family. World War II was a historical period when citizens of this country overwhelmingly rallied in support of the war effort, often sending their offspring to fight the tyranny spreading overseas. In Jefferson City, the war exacted a toll in the loss of the lives of many local residents, including Charles Ermin Kieselbach, who earned the tragic distinction of becoming the first Cole County casualty of World War II when he was killed at Pearl Harbor. Born in Jefferson City on January 14, 1916, Kieselbach was the namesake of his father, a local bricklayer. When graduating from Jefferson City Senior High School in May 1934, he discovered that good jobs were elusive since it was the height of the Great Depression. Later that summer, after spending several weeks searching for gainful employment, he signed up for work relief with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a federal program providing single men between ages 18 and 25 with jobs improving public lands, forests and parks. “He worked in the CCC program from July 1934 to August 1935,” remarked his nephew, Wayne Kieselbach. “Still with no work to be had, so he made the decision to enlist in the U.S. Navy in September 1935,” he added. Beginning his four-year enlistment period, Kieselbach traveled to Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois, where he spent the next three months becoming a sailor. His training soon resulted in his rate of carpenter’s mate and assignment to the battleship USS Arizona in January 1936. The website of the Naval History and Heritage Command explained, “USS Arizona, a 31,400-ton Pennsylvania-class battleship built at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, was commissioned in October 1916.” The site further noted, “In 1929-31, Arizona was modernized at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, emerging with a radically altered appearance and major improvements to her armament and protection.” Throughout the late 1930s, Kieselbach remained with the USS Arizona while it continued operations with the battle fleet. A milestone year arrived in 1939 when the sailor reenlisted, earned the rate of carpenter’s mate first class, and married his sweetheart from Jefferson City, the former June Summers. As a carpenter’s mate, the young sailor’s duties found him working with issues related to the ship’s ventilation, painting, repairing lifeboats and, in times of combat, assisting in fighting fires and sealing any holes in the hull of the vessel. “The Arizona had teak decking and sometime in the late 1930s, the ship was re-decked,” explained Wayne Kieselbach. “Of course, as a carpenter’s mate first class, he would have been involved in this project.” He continued, “Apparently after the re-decking was completed, the carpenter’s mates were allowed to use some of the old decking on personal projects done in their spare time. My uncle made a pair of teak lamps which he gave to my grandmother, and which my cousin now has.” While stationed in Hawaii, Kieselbach also purchased a painting of the USS Arizona and shipped it home to his parents in Jefferson City. More than eight decades later, the artwork remains a treasured family heirloom. In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Pacific Fleet, including the USS Arizona, to remain based at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii as a demonstration of American resolve amid growing tensions with Japan. Diplomatic efforts continued, but relations between the two nations deteriorated rapidly during the following year. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor became ground zero for a devastating surprise attack by Japanese forces—the signature event that drew the United States into World War II. The assault resulted in more than 2,400 American deaths, nearly 1,200 wounded personnel, the destruction or damage of numerous naval vessels, and the loss of more than 300 aircraft. At approximately 8:06 a.m., a Japanese armor-piercing bomb struck the USS Arizona near one of its forward ammunition magazines. Moments later, a catastrophic explosion ripped through the battleship, destroying much of the vessel’s forward section and killing more than 1,100 officers and enlisted men almost instantly. Among those lost was 25-year-old Charles Kieselbach. The explosion was so violent that it lifted portions of the battleship from the water before the vessel settled to the bottom of the harbor. Although some sections remained visible above the surface, naval officials later determined that the wreck would remain where it sank. Today, the USS Arizona continues to serve as the final resting place for many of the men who perished aboard. “The USS Arizona Memorial is built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941,” explained the website of Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. “This loss of life represents over half of the Americans killed during the worst naval disaster in American history.” Kieselbach was among the first Missourians to lose his life during World War II and is generally recognized as the first Cole County resident killed in the conflict. Devastated by the loss of their son, Kieselbach’s parents quickly committed themselves to supporting the war effort. With two other sons still serving in the military, they encouraged fellow citizens to purchase war bonds and support American troops overseas. Throughout the years, communication was eventually lost with the young sailor’s widow, June. Nevertheless, his memory remained alive within the family and community he left behind. In 1959, Jefferson City participated in the observance of “USS Arizona Memorial Day,” presenting a check to a representative of Gov. James T. Blair for construction of “a suitable memorial over the sunken battleship at Pearl Harbor,” according to the Sunday News and Tribune on August 9, 1959. Contributions were made in honor of the sacrifice rendered by Kieselbach and his fellow sailors. Designed by architect Alfred Preis, the USS Arizona Memorial opened on May 30, 1962. Spanning the sunken battleship without touching it, the memorial has since welcomed millions of visitors seeking to honor the men who died during the attack. Nancy Snakenberg, a niece of Kieselbach’s, never had the opportunity to meet her uncle. However, she maintains that his legacy has been passed down through her family, providing an enduring appreciation for the sacrifices made on behalf of future generations. “The Kieselbach family were a hardworking, loving and patriotic family who taught respect and integrity,” said Snakenberg. “Their values are directly responsible for my quality of life and those my children have enjoyed.” She added, “I am thankful for the examples they set and that their memory is being honored, including that of our Uncle Charles Ermin Kieselbach.” More than eighty years after his death, Charles Kieselbach remains a symbol of the sacrifice made by ordinary Americans during one of the nation's darkest days. Like the hundreds of sailors who still rest aboard the USS Arizona, his story serves as a reminder that freedom often comes at a tremendous cost. Jeremy P. Ämick is a regional author and owner of Moreau Valley Press.  While stationed at Pearl Harbor, Charles Kieselbach purchased this painting of the battleship USS Arizona and shipped it home to his parents in Jefferson City. More than eighty years later, the artwork remains a treasured family heirloom and a reminder of the young sailor who perished aboard the vessel during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Courtesy of the Kieselbach family.  Following his service in World War I, Alfred Raithel returned to Cole County and began working for the Lohman Producer's Exchange after its establishment in 1920. He later married Antonia, and the couple became parents of one daughter, Gertrude “Gert” Strobel. Courtesy of Gertrude Strobel. Several years ago, Gertrude “Gert” Strobel of Lohman began sharing stories, photographs and documents regarding the legacy of her father, the late Alfred Raithel. Possessing many titles during his life, including World War I veteran, manager of the Lohman Producer's Exchange and active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, her father left an influence she believed deserved preservation before it passed into the fog of history. Alfred Raithel was born on November 23, 1895, and raised on a small farm near St. Martins. His father, Adam Raithel, was the father of eleven children and was regarded as a hardworking and respected farmer. As one of the early residents of the area, Adam helped establish the agricultural traditions that would define much of Cole County's rural landscape. “Although my father was raised in the St. Martins area, he moved to Lohman when he was a young man,” explained Gert Strobel during a 2013 interview. “His entire life, he attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church and was confirmed there in 1909.” For many years, Raithel worked at the Linhardt & Fischer General Store in Lohman. Later employed as a farm laborer, he was among thousands of young Missourians whose lives were interrupted by a conflict unfolding across the Atlantic Ocean. When the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, the nation was drawn into a war that had already devastated Europe for nearly three years. Sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, the conflict had evolved into a deadly stalemate of trenches, machine guns, poison gas, tanks and artillery barrages, which ultimately helped convince President Woodrow Wilson to ask Congress for a declaration of war. The announcement transformed communities throughout Missouri. Young men left farms, stores and factories to enter military service, while families at home supported the war effort through bond drives, food conservation and volunteer activities. Among those called to serve was twenty-one-year-old Alfred Raithel. According to military records, Raithel was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 20, 1917, and initially assigned to Company M, 356th Infantry Regiment. The regiment was part of the 89th Infantry Division, known as the “Middle West Division” because many of its soldiers came from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, South Dakota, New Mexico and Arizona. The division trained at Camp Funston, Kansas, located at Fort Riley. One of the largest military training facilities in the United States, Camp Funston prepared tens of thousands of soldiers for overseas service. There, recruits learned military discipline, marksmanship, field tactics and the skills necessary to survive modern warfare. Although Strobel recalled that her father rarely discussed his wartime experiences, military records reveal that he departed for overseas service on July 31, 1918. Serving as a cook, he remained in France through June 14, 1919. While cooks seldom received the recognition afforded front-line combat soldiers, their duties were essential. Army field kitchens often worked under difficult conditions, providing meals to hundreds of soldiers despite shortages, poor weather and the constant movement of troops. Maintaining a reliable food supply was critical to morale and combat effectiveness. The 89th Division arrived in France during the final months of the war and participated in the Allied offensives that ultimately forced Germany to seek peace. Combat officially ended with the Armistice of November 11, 1918, but many American soldiers remained overseas as part of the occupation forces tasked with maintaining stability in defeated Germany. Raithel was among those who continued serving until the summer of 1919. One of the most remarkable legacies of his military service was a collection of photographs he captured during his time overseas. Equipped with a camera, Raithel documented both the routine and extraordinary aspects of wartime Europe. Included among the photographs were images of American and French flying aces, damaged aircraft, military camps and French and German tanks. Particularly notable was a photograph of the grave of Quentin Roosevelt, an American aviator and the youngest son of former President Theodore Roosevelt. Quentin Roosevelt was killed on July 14, 1918, when his aircraft was shot down behind German lines. His death received widespread attention throughout the United States, and he became a symbol of the sacrifices made by American families during the war. German soldiers reportedly buried him with military honors, and his gravesite became a destination for many American servicemen stationed in France. The fact that Raithel photographed the grave illustrates the significance such sites held for soldiers serving overseas. Rather than allowing the photographs to remain hidden away in a family collection, Strobel later donated them to the Museum of Missouri Military History, where they have been preserved and cataloged for future generations. “My father was reassigned to Headquarters Company, 323rd Infantry, where he continued to serve as a cook and remained until his discharge on June 24, 1919,” Strobel explained. “He then returned to Lohman and began working for the Lohman Producer's Exchange when it was established the following year.” According to a booklet published in 1976 highlighting Lohman's history, the Lohman Producer's Exchange was formally organized on July 29, 1920. “On July 29, 1920, the Lohman Producer's Exchange was formed by a number of interested clubs and local producers,” the publication noted. “The original five-man board consisted of William Scheperle, president, John J. Scheperle, William Niederwimmer, G. F. Sauerhage and Otto Linsenbardt, secretary.” Albert Heidbreider became the first manager of the exchange, while Raithel was hired as assistant manager. In 1943, after more than two decades with the organization, Raithel was promoted to manager. The exchange served as an important economic hub for area farmers. “Cream, poultry and eggs were bought by the Exchange from the farmers, also wool, which was packed in big wool bags loaned to farmers and later returned,” noted a history book published during Russellville's sesquicentennial celebration in 1988. “The wages were $65 per month for assistant manager and $75 per month for manager.” “Not long after he returned from the war and began working at the exchange, my father married my mother, Antonia,” Strobel said. “I was their only child, born in 1924.” In early 1929, Raithel experienced firsthand the hazards associated with grain elevator operations when he suffered a serious fall. Fortunately, he recovered from his injuries and returned to work. As the years passed, the exchange expanded its operations. A former restaurant building was purchased and supplemented with a new brick addition that served as a retail business. Customers could purchase a wide range of products, including household appliances, feed, seed and grocery items. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Raithel remained active in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, which had been a central part of his life since childhood. His commitment to both church and community reflected the values embraced by many members of his generation. After forty years with the Lohman Producer's Exchange, Raithel retired in December 1960. Retirement, however, was brief. Suffering from a heart condition that developed after leaving the workforce, he passed away on September 25, 1963, at the age of sixty-seven. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. His wife, Antonia, joined him in eternal rest nearly thirty-one years later. Many decades have passed since the death of the local World War I veteran. Yet through the efforts of his daughter, his story continues to be remembered. Gert Strobel lived until November 25, 2020, passing away at the age of ninety-six. Prior to her death, she expressed appreciation for the opportunity to preserve not only her father's military history but also his contributions to the community he served for so many years. “I just want history to be preserved because it was part of the time my dad grew up in that included many fascinating moments,” Strobel said. “Dad's story is so interesting, and I am glad that it can now be shared with so many other people who are interested in our past.” For Alfred Raithel, the journey from a small farm near St. Martins to the battlefields of France and back again represented a life shaped by service, perseverance and community. Whether remembered as a soldier, church member, husband, father or longtime manager of the Lohman Producer's Exchange, his legacy remains woven into the history of Cole County. Jeremy P. Ämick is an author, historian and owner of Moreau Valley Press.  While employed as a farm laborer in the Lohman area, Alfred Raithel was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War I. Serving overseas from 1918 to 1919 as a cook with the 89th Infantry Division and later the 323rd Infantry Regiment, he documented his wartime experiences through dozens of photographs preserved by his family. Courtesy of Gertrude Strobel.  Sgt. Joe Louis (left), the heavyweight boxing champion serving in the U.S. Army, spars with Pfc. Booker T. Laster of Company O, 804th Signal Service Regiment at Camp Crowder in December 1943. Stepping in for an injured sparring partner, Laster faced Louis before a crowd of more than 5,000 soldiers, creating a memorable moment within a segregated Army. Courtesy of the Missouri State Archives, Camp Crowder Photograph Collection, Jefferson City, Missouri. During World War II, thousands of American soldiers trained at installations across the country, preparing for a global conflict that reshaped the modern world. In southwest Missouri, Camp Crowder near Neosho became one of the nation’s most important training centers, particularly for Signal Corps troops. But for many Black soldiers stationed there, the fight for freedom extended far beyond the battlefield.
Established in 1941, Camp Crowder quickly grew into a massive military installation, housing tens of thousands of troops at its peak. Soldiers trained in communications, coding, and technical operations that proved essential to the nation’s success. Yet like much of the U.S. military at the time, the camp operated under segregation, reflecting the realities of American society in the 1940s. Black soldiers at Camp Crowder trained in separate units and often faced unequal conditions, but their contributions were vital. They were part of what became known as the “Double V” campaign—victory against fascism abroad and victory against racism at home. This dual struggle became highly visible in moments when their service intersected with national figures like heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis. By the time the United States entered the war, Louis was already one of the most recognizable figures in the country. His 1938 rematch with German boxer Max Schmeling carried significance far beyond the ring, widely viewed as a symbolic contest at a time when Nazi ideology was on the rise. Louis’ decisive victory helped cement his status as a national figure whose impact extended beyond sports. When Louis enlisted in the Army in 1942, military leaders recognized his value not on the battlefield, but as a symbol of morale and unity. Rather than assigning him to combat duty, the Army placed him in its Special Services Division, the branch responsible for entertainment and morale-building among troops. Through exhibition fights and appearances, Louis traveled extensively, raising millions of dollars for Army and Navy relief funds and lifting the spirits of soldiers across the country and overseas. As the National WWII Museum has noted, few figures were greeted with greater enthusiasm by American troops than Louis during the war. In December 1943, Louis brought that presence to Camp Crowder as part of his wartime tour. His visit was not limited to the ring. According to The Call, a weekly African-American newspaper published in Kansas City, Louis “arrived at Joplin airport at noon, visited several wards at the Camp Station hospital and gave talks and demonstrations before a large group of convalescent soldiers at the Red Cross building.” The visit underscored the broader purpose of his wartime role, which was not simply to entertain, but to connect with soldiers and offer encouragement, particularly to those recovering from illness or injury. It was during that same visit that Louis stepped into the ring with one of Camp Crowder’s own. Pfc. Booker T. Laster, an African American soldier assigned to Company O, 804th Signal Service Regiment, found himself facing the most famous boxer in the world. When Louis’ regular sparring partner was sidelined by injury, Laster stepped forward. The New Pittsburgh Courier captured the moment in its Dec. 25, 1943 edition: “A recent crowd of over 5,000 at Camp Crowder field house last week watched Sgt. Joe Louis spar three rounds with Pfc. Booker T. Laster, who substituted for the champ’s sparring partner, First Sgt. George Nicholson, temporarily disabled due to a nose injury.” For those in attendance, it was more than a boxing exhibition. It was a rare and powerful moment in which a Black enlisted soldier shared the spotlight with a national icon. In a segregated Army, where opportunities for recognition were often limited, Laster’s brief time in the ring represented something larger—the visibility and dignity of Black service members. It also reflected the broader reality of Camp Crowder. While segregation defined daily life, the shared purpose of wartime service created moments of connection and mutual respect. Soldiers trained for the same mission and events like Louis’ visit offered a glimpse of unity that many hoped would extend beyond the war. For Black troops, the symbolism of seeing and meeting Joe Louis was profound. He was not only a champion in the ring, but a figure who navigated the same racial barriers they faced. His presence at military installations signaled that their contributions mattered and were part of the American story, even when that story was incomplete. Meanwhile, soldiers like Booker T. Laster carried out the essential work of the Signal Service. Communication units formed the backbone of the military and ensured information moved efficiently across battlefields and between commands. They rarely received the recognition of front-line combat units, but their role was indispensable to Allied success. The 804th Signal Service Regiment itself reflected the shifting nature of wartime needs. As the Carthage Evening Press later reported on Feb. 26, 1946, “…the 804th was deactivated in October, 1944,” marking the end of its role as the Army adjusted its training and deployment priorities. Black soldiers at Camp Crowder wore the uniform of a nation fighting for democracy while living under a system that denied them full equality. Their service, however, helped lay the groundwork for change. In the years following the war, the contributions of Black veterans influenced the desegregation of the armed forces in 1948 and energized the growing civil rights movement. Joe Louis returned to civilian life as one of the most celebrated athletes in American history, but his wartime service left a lasting mark. Through his work with Special Services, he helped redefine the role of athletes in military service, showing that morale, representation and visibility were powerful tools in their own right. The story of Camp Crowder is not just one of military training or wartime preparation. It is a story of individuals who navigated the complexities of service in a divided nation while contributing to a greater cause. A footnote in that story is the image of Booker T. Laster standing across from Joe Louis, which remains a powerful symbol. For a few rounds in a Missouri field house, the barriers of rank, race and recognition were momentarily set aside. What remained was something simpler and more enduring: two soldiers, one famous and one not, sharing a moment that reflected both the challenges and the possibilities of their time. Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the historical compilations “Moments on the Moreau” and “Beyond the Moreau.”  John Ward Heskett (1859–1921) rose from farm beginnings in Saline County to become proprietor of Jefferson City’s New York Racket Cash Department Store at 232 East High Street. Under his management, the business expanded into one of the largest department stores in the county by the turn of the twentieth century. Later engaged in regional sales work, Heskett’s career reflected the ambition and mobility that defined Missouri commerce in his era. Courtesy of Jeremy P. Ämick John Ward Heskett’s life traced the arc of many ambitious Midwesterners of his generation and is rooted in the soil, refined by education, and ultimately defined by enterprise. From farm beginnings in Saline County to the bustling storefronts of Jefferson City, his story reflects the determination, adaptability and commercial spirit that helped shape Missouri communities at the turn of the twentieth century.
Born May 6, 1859, in Ohio near Chillicothe in Ross County, Heskett was still a boy when his family moved west to Missouri, settling on a farm near Malta Bend in Saline County. It was in this small community that he attended country schools and absorbed the steady work ethic of rural life. On March 18, 1886, he married Mary Emma Blosser, born in Saline County on March 27, 1861. Their marriage united two established Missouri families and anchored Heskett firmly within the region’s agricultural and social networks. After teaching school and managing farm interests, Heskett briefly assumed charge of the Marshall post office in 1897 at the request of the Post Office Department and several bondsmen. Later that year, he relocated to Jefferson City and opened what would become one of the capital city’s most prominent retail establishments — the New York Racket Cash Department Store. The store eventually occupied 232 East High Street, and its rapid expansion drew notice. The Cole County Illustrated Sketch Book observed, “The business, under his judicious management, soon outgrew his quarters on Main street.” In September 1899 he moved into his “present commodious store” at 232 East High Street, where the enterprise firmly established itself. Though it may have begun with only a small stock, the publication noted that it eventually grew to become the largest department store in Cole County. By the summer of 1901, the business was thriving. The Cole County Democrat, in its July 18, 1901 edition, announced, “On July 23rd the New York Racket will celebrate its fourth anniversary as a business enterprise in this city.” The article further emphasized the store’s impressive scale, noting, “Today the New York Racket store occupies 7,200 square feet of floor space and every inch of the space is taken up with goods.” At the turn of the century, the store represented a substantial operation for a city the size of Jefferson City. The store reportedly employed seven or eight assistants in ordinary seasons and as many as thirty during holiday rushes. Its inventory ranged broadly, reflecting the department-store model that was reshaping American commerce — wider selection, sharper pricing, and a constant turnover of goods. Behind the counters and sales ledgers stood not only Heskett, but Mary Emma, who maintained the home and raised their children during the busiest years of the High Street enterprise. The couple endured both joy and sorrow; of their five children, two died in infancy. By 1912, daughters Allie and Anna remained central figures in the family. Tragedy struck that autumn. Mary Emma Heskett died in Jefferson City on October 5, 1912, at just 51 years of age, after several weeks of illness with typhoid fever. The Jefferson City Tribune reported on October 7, 1912: “The death of Mrs. Heskett, which was so unexpected, was a great shock to the members of the family and her many friends. She had been ill for several weeks with typhoid fever and was at St. Mary’s hospital for the past two weeks.” The newspaper noted that daughters Allie and Anna were at her bedside when she passed. She was buried at Union Cemetery in Malta Bend, returning to the Saline County soil where her life had begun. In later years, Heskett’s business activities extended beyond Missouri. The Central Missourian reported on Feb. 25, 1921, that he was serving as sales manager of a firm in Lincoln, Nebraska, and had traveled to Simla, Colorado, to conduct a sale. While there, he was stricken with paralysis and died approximately an hour later. He was reportedly engaged in the millinery trade at the time. John Ward Heskett died on February 18, 1921. His body was returned to Saline County, and he too was buried at Union Cemetery in Malta Bend, beside Mary Emma. Today, the storefront at 232 East High Street has long since changed hands, as businesses inevitably do. Over the decades, enterprises rise, expand, relocate, and close, their names fading from daily conversation. Yet the legacy of their founders endures, not only in surviving newspaper columns and cemetery markers, but in the civic memory of the communities they helped build. The New York Racket may have occupied 7,200 square feet of floor space in 1901, every inch filled with goods. But its larger footprint was measured in opportunity and is a testament to the ambition of a farm boy from Ohio who made his mark in local commerce, and to the family who stood beside him. Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the historical compilations “Moments on the Moreau” and “Beyond the Moreau.” |
AuthorJeremy P. Ämick is an award-winning author and historian dedicated to preserving music, military and local histories. Archives
July 2026
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