This Month in Missouri History

St. Louisan's internet role, Mormon "extermination order"

Washington University professor Wes Clark was instrumental in the early technology that allowed routing of internet messages. Missouri Gov. Liliburn Boggs issued what became known as the Mormon "extermination order."

These are two Missourians who figure in the state's long and unique history and have anniversaries during past Octobers.

Others tied to October dates include:

The Wall Street crash of 1929 took down William Fox, the owner of 300 theaters, including the Fox Theatre in St. Louis.

Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, made a speech in St. Louis defending John Kennedy's run for president.

(Each month, Young Saint Louis.com meets with the Missouri History Museum staff to find unique anniversaries from the metro area's rich history. YSL.com provides internet links to allow you to find out more. Also, see www.mohistory.org.)

Washington U professor's role in internet

The beginnings of the Internet came on Oct. 29, 1969, when two remote computers transmitted the first computer-to-computer message.

Washington University professor Wesley Clark was instrumental in letting that happen with his work on the "interface message processor." He had suggested a redesign of the IMP earlier at a conference in 1967.

Actual message transfer was a major problem in establishing the Internet because of the wide variety of computers and software that would be connected. Clark's answer was to have a microcomputer at each site to handle the interface with the overall ARPANET network.

For a story of this breakthrough, visit: www.livinginternet.com/i/ii_imp.htm

"Extermination order" on Mormons

On Oct. 27, 1838, Missouri Gov. Liliburn Boggs issued what became known as the "extermination order." It called for all Mormons to be expelled from Missouri after armed clashes in northwest Missouri.

The order was carried out after the surrender, arrest and imprisonment of Mormon leader Joseph Smith. The expulsion of Mormons was carried out in the winter and early spring of 1838-39.

The legality of the order was debated heavily in the Missouri Legislature at the time. But, it remained the law until 1976.

On June 25, 1976, then Gov. Christopher Bond issued an executive order rescinded the order and recognized its illegality.

For more, visit www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/history/1831_1844/
extermination_eom.htm.

Fox Theatre owner loses his business

By the time William Fox opened the Fox Theatre in St. Louis on Jan. 31, 1929, he had developed a chain of 305 theaters.

Later that year, he acquired 500 more theaters from Lowe's Corp. and also bought the Metro-Goldwin-Mayer Picture Studios.

But, 1929 was also a year of tragedy. A car wreck seriously injured Fox and killed his chauffeur. He had barely recuperated when the Great Depression started in October.

A headline said: "Stock Market Crash Traps Movie Czar in $91,000,000 Debt."

Although he lived until 1952 and died with an estimated worth of $20 million, Fox was tabbed "the film industry's forgotten man."

For more, visit: www.fabulousfox.com/the_fox_empire.aspx.

Eleanor Roosevelt's support of John Kennedy

On Oct. 27, 1960, Eleanor Roosevelt addressed a Kennedy for President rally in St. Louis. The widow of President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the question of whether Kennedy's Catholic religion would influence his fitness to be president.

Mrs. Roosevelt told the rally that she personally had favored a Democratic ticket headed by Sen. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois.

But, she said, since Kennedy had been nominated, she wanted to address the religious question. She referred to a former presidential candidate Al Smith, who was a Catholic.

She said she didn't think Smith was defeated because he was a Catholic. "I think he (Smith) was too much a New Yorker. He knew only New York; he didn't know the rest of the country at all," she said.

For the text of the whole speech, visit: http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/mep/displaydoc.cfm?docid=jfk39

Boys' Club of St. Louis opens

Father Charles P. Maxwell launched the first affiliated boy's club in Missouri on Oct. 3, 1929. The club was housed on the second floor of the vacant St. Vincent's Parochial School building.

As a young man, Father Maxwell had been appointed by Archbishop Cardinal Glennon to serve as the first "Catholic youth director of St. Louis."

Father Maxell chose to open the boy's club in the Soulard Police District, which was said to have the highest number of young boys and the highest level of juvenile delinquency.

The boys club has moved a number of times and is now housed at 2524 S. 11th St., where it has been since 1959.

For more, visit: www.geneslaysboysclub.org/atc/our%5Fstory/father_charles_maxwell.html.

First Straub's grocery store

William A. Straub opened his first store in October, 1901, in Webster Groves. The store specialized in meat and dry goods.

After that, the family opened grocery stores in Clayton, the Central West End and Town and Country. It also has an online store where customers can order from the Internet.

The grocery store group is now owned by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Straub family, Jack W. Straub Jr. and J.W. "Trip" Straub III.

For more, visit www.straubs.com/about.html. For a history of grocery supermarkets: www.groceteria.com/about/history.html.

Titanic survivor was born in St. Louis

Elisabeth Walton Allen was born in St. Louis on Oct. 1, 1882. She would go on to become famous as being in one of the last lifeboats to leave the sinking ocean liner, Titanic.

She had been returning to St. Louis to collect her belongings before returning to England to marry.

She did return to England and was married to Dr. James Beaver Mennell in 1912. She lived in England until her death in 1967.

For more about her adventure, visit: www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/elisabeth-walton-allen.html.