William Baker edits a new radical Union paper The Missouri Tribune, Warrensburg, Mo
The Border Times
Weston, Missouri
27 May 1864, Fri page 3
Started in 2008 as a 1973 class reunion page by Bruce Uhler, passionate about sharing Warrensburg and Johnson County, Missouri's history. I’m an 8th generation Johnson Countian. GG Grandson of Sheriff HH Russell © Copyright 2025
Showing posts with label MO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MO. Show all posts
December 26, 2022
December 16, 2018
1907 Mother of 5 killed in a Whiskey Quarrel - Whiskey Picked Up in Knob Noster Shipment
STABBED BY SISTER-IN-LAW.
The Mother of Five Children Dead in a Johnson County Quarrel.
Warrensburg, Mo., June 29 Mrs. James Heard, a mother ot five children, was stabbed to death Thursday night by Mrs. Walter Heard, her sister-in-law. The news of the stabbing did not reach here until early Friday morning, when Deputy Sheriff Faulconer, accompanied by Prosecuting Attorney Cockrell, Coroner Bradley and Constable Brewer, drove to the scene ot the affair, the home of Walter Heard, in the Burtvllle neighborhood, eleven miles southeast of here.
 |
| Burtville, MO store Otto Achterberg General Merchandise Store |
CAUSED BY WHISKY.
Warrensburg, Mo., June 29 The coroner's jury found that Mrs. Elizabeth Heard, who was killed at the home of her brother-in-law Walter Heard, Thursday night, came to her
death from a wound caused by a case knife in the hands of Mrs. Alta Heard. The latter, who is only 24 years old, has two children, and on this account she was permitted to give bail to her appearance at the preliminary hearing; next Tuesday.
The funeral of the dead woman was held Friday afternoon.
The coroner's inquest thought out the fact that whisky was responsible for the trouble. William Heard, who lives a few miles from the scene of the killing went to Knobnoster Thursday and brought back a gallon of whisky, his share In a shipment from Cincinnati. Other members of the family assembled at Walter Heard's and drank whisky. The women, especially, seemed to feel the effects of the liquor and when Mrs. Elizabeth Heard joined the party the bad feeling which existed between her and Alta Heard broke out in a quarrel.
 |
| Burtville, MO |
Alta Heard asked her sister in law to go home The latter, who was the larger of the two, followed Mrs. Alta Heard to the house. In the meantime, Alta Heard had taken an old case knife from the kitchen.
When the quarrel was renewed at the door and Mrs. Ellzibeth Heard struck her, she sprang at her with the knife. It is remarkable that the slender wornout blade, with no handle, should have penetrated so far. It went straight to an artery aud the victim died in a few minutes. The Heard family and nearly all their relations live out In the Bristle Ridge country, a wild and sparsely settled region.
From The Nace Brothers Website several years ago, the following...
While Jimmy plays guitar, brother David plays drums and percussion. Tim Williams, another local musician, plays bass and fiddle and the newest addition, T.J. Erhardt, is on keyboards. All perform vocals.
Talking about a couple of the tracks, Jimmy called Miss Arzetta “good people.” And he said as soon as they heard the tale of murder involving their grandfather’s sister, they knew it had to be turned into a song.
The story is that Lizzie Lamb and Alta Nace had married brothers named Heard.
The murder occurred one June evening two miles northeast of Burtville when Lizzie Heard was fatally stabbed with a case knife by her sister-in-law, Alta Nace Heard.
Jimmy said the rumor was that Lizzie was married to one brother and sleeping with the other.
According to the history of Burtville compiled by Mary Brown Rainey, Alta Heard was freed after the coroner’s jury ruled that Alta Nace Heard had killed the other woman in self defense.
The Burtville history states, “As well as we can learn the murder is the result of a drunken brawl. A jug of whiskey had been received by express the day of the tragedy and the occasion was being celebrated.”
The women quarreled, the account said. It said Alta was afraid of her sister-in-law and tried to avoid her, but the other followed her about her home and attacked her. When Lizzie struck at Alta with an old boot, Alta reportedly struck Lizzie twice with a case knife, cutting her arm and also striking her just below the collar bone and above the rib, severing an artery. The victim expired immediately, bleeding to death.
The account at the time said the knife hardly looked that is could be made to “do such a deed. It is simply an old, worn case knife, worn very thing and without a handle.”
Although self-defense had been ruled by the coroner’s jury, a trial later was held and Alta Heard was acquitted. The account said when the verdict was returned, the parents of the victim cried bitterly.
Just as it did with this story that was turned into lyrics, sometimes the music comes almost automatically. Jimmy said they already have almost enough material for another CD.
August 1, 2018
Alfonso XIII of Spain - Portrait - Retrato - In the Collection at McClure Archives, UCM, Warrensburg, MO
 |
| El reinado de Alfonso XIII es el periodo de la historia de España en el que reinó Alfonso XIII de Borbón |
University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri USA Collection
 |
Alfonso XIII of Spain |
Reign of Alfonso XIII of Spain
The painting, seen full size in this image, was donated to the McClure in 1974 by Catherine Haymaker, an expert in Spain and a frequent traveler to Spain in the 1920s and 1930s. As Catherine used to tell it, she had dinner with Francisco Franco, and likely brought this painting back from Spain personally. Want to know more about Reinado Alfonso XIII?
Reign of Alfonso XIII of Spain
King of Spain
• 1885-1931 Alfonso XIII
President of the Council of Ministers
• 1885-1890 Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
• 1931 Juan Bautista Aznar-Cabañas
Legislature Cortes (until 1923)
• High camera Senate
• Low camera Congress
Historical period Centuries xix - xx
• Death of Alfonso XII November 15, 1885
• Regency of María Cristina 1885 - 1902
• Constitutional period 1902 - 1923
• Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera 1923 - 1930
• Dictablanda de Berenguer 1930 - 1931
• Proclamation of the Republic April 14, 1931
Currency Peseta
The reign of Alfonso XIII is the period in the history of Spain in which reigned Alfonso XIII de Borbón , who from the moment of his birth in May 1886 and was king, since his father Alfonso XII had died five months earlier. During his minority , the head of the State was played by his mother María Cristina de Habsburgo-Lorraine as regent until May of 1902 when he turned sixteen years of age and swore the Constitution of 1876 began his personal reign that was It lasted until April 14, 1931, when he had to go into exile after having proclaimed himself the Second Republic .
The reign is usually divided into several stages:
The regency of Maria Cristina de Habsburgo (1885-1902) was "a particularly significant period in the history of Spain , since in those years of the end of the century the system knew its stabilization, the development of liberal policies, but also the appearance of great fissures that in the international terrain were shaped by the colonial war , first, and with the USA, later, provoking the military and diplomatic defeat that led to the loss of the colonies after the Treaty of Paris of 1898 . On the inside, Spanish society experienced a considerable mutation, with the emergence of political realities as significant as the emergence of regionalisms and peripheral nationalisms , the strengthening of a worker movement of double affiliation, socialist and anarchist , and the persistent persistence, although decreasing, of the republican and Carlist opposition ». 1
The constitutional period (1902-1923) is the period of his personal reign in which King Alfonso XIII accepted the role conferred by the 1876 Constitution that governed during the Bourbon Restoration in Spain , although he did not limit himself to exercising a role symbolic but actively intervened in political life, especially in military matters, thanks to the relatively broad powers enjoyed by the Crown. The political king , the politician on the throne , was thus an obstacle to the transformation of the political regime of the Restoration into a parliamentary monarchy , and his intervention "became more pronounced in the moments in which the parties (of the turn) showed little internal cohesion and the opinion did not opt for a leader in a clear way. In these circumstances, the decision of the monarch to hand over power to one or another political leader constituted a decisive participation in the internal politics of the parties. " 2
The dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-1930) was the second period of the personal reign of Alfonso XIII in which the king did not oppose the coup d'état of Primo de Rivera that ended the liberal regime. In this way Alfonso XIII united his destiny to that of the Dictatorship, so when Primo de Rivera failed in his attempt to establish an authoritarian regime and submitted his resignation in January 1930, the monarchy itself was questioned.
The dictablanda of General Berenguer (1930-1931) could not prevent the growth of the republican option that led to the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic on April 14, 1931 and Alfonso XIII was forced to go into exile.
February 18, 2018
1861 Dr. Judson G. Stewart Found Lynched at Rose Hill Township, Johnson County, MO
REPORTED HANGING OF A KANSAS
OUTLAW
The Marshall (Saline County) Democrat learns that Dr. Judson G. Stewart, who
was tried by a court of inquiry in Johnson County for the murder of Miles
Carry, not long since, and acquitted of the charge was seen, a few days after
his release, hanging dead to a tree, near Rose Hill, Johnson County. The same
paper learns also on good authority, that this Stewart was no less a personage
than the notorious Dr. Jennison, the Kansas outlaw, who figured in Missouri
border raid last November. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 6,
1861)
Note: Dr. Stewart was not Dr. Charles R. Jennison as Doc Jennison lived until 1884. Charles Rainsford Jennison also known as "Doc" Jennison (June 6, 1834 – June 21, 1884) was of the anti-slavery faction during the Bleeding Kansas Affair and became even more famous as a Union colonel and as leader of Redlegs during the American Civil War. He was dishonorably discharged later for his many, many offenses.
On December 19, 1861,
charles-r-jennison link
 |
| Doc Jennison |
On December 19, 1861,
Major General Henry Halleck wrote a letter to General-in-Chief Major General George B. McClellan complaining about the jayhawking perpetrated by Jennison's regiment:
“The conduct of the forces under Lane and Jennison has done more for the enemy in this State than could have been accomplished by 20,000 of his own army. I receive almost daily complaints of outrages committed by these men in the name of the United States, and the evidence is so conclusive as to leave no doubt of their correctness.”
encyclopedia/jennison-charles-rcharles-r-jennison link
 |
| Rose Hill Township. Johnson County, Missouri The Township Of Rose Hill is a County Subdivision of Johnson County. The subdivision has a Z1 Census Class Code which indicates that the Township Of Rose Hill is a nonfunctioning county subdivision. |
Source: "History of Johnson County, Missouri" by Ewing Cockrell, 1918
Transcribed by Karen Hammer -2009
ROSE HILL TOWNSHIP
Total number of organizations in the township is eleven.Rose Hill township, located in the southwestern corner of Johnson county, was originally a part of Madison township when that subdivision was organized in 1835 and subsequently was part of Chilhowee township, and was organized August 17, 1869. from Chilhowee township. It was named from Rose Hill village, and the village is said to have been named from the abundance of wild roses that grew on the little hillsides of what came to be called Rose hill, and greeted the first settlers in the spring of 1832. In 1842 the town was laid out by Garrett J. Wood and named Rose Hill.Geography.-Area, about 72 square miles, or 46,080 acres. Geographically, Rose Hill township is intersected by Big creek running from the northwest corner to the southeast corner and by Bear creek, a tributary of Big creek, running south on the east side.Early Settlements.-The first settlements made in what is now Rose Hill township were in 1832. There were two distinct settlements made in this vicinity at about the same time, one of which was known as the Rose Hill settlement and the other the Bear Creek settlement.The following is said to be a complete list of all the settlers before 1850. Some names are doubtless misspelled:Among the early settlers here were Nicholas Turner, Col. Henry McCarty and sons, Hiram Helm, Jonas Turner, Daniel Quick, Mr. Brumfield, Chesley Quinlan, John, George and James Bradshaw, Watson Lynch, Obadiah, James and O. W. Strange, Frank and Richard Jackson, Aikin, William, Nicholas and John Doak, J. G. Cocke, George Burnett, Isaac A. Hanna, William Bigham, Samuel Reid, Arch. Beard, Richard Anderson, John S. Anderson, James Dolan, John Scaggs, Daniel Scaggs, and Joseph Scaggs, their father; Albert Hall, William Hill, Moses, William and Morris Hodges, John Hunt, Samuel Hunt, George Hammer, Ike Dunaway, James Ross, John Oldham, James Oldham, Henry Gray, Smith and William Phroffit, William Horner, Thomas Anderson, R. Scott, Judge Umstadt, Garrett J. Wood, Letch Brooks, Sidney and Leonard Scott, Daniel Fisher, Benjamin Derrit, Ike Hines, Squire Thompson, Berry Summers, Hansel Green, William Crattic, Jesse Dixon, Martin Foster, Perry Foster, James Cox, Squire John Baker, Peter and Wilson A. Campbell, Coleman F. Shamlin, John and Watson Ham, William Payne, Squire Ashby, George Gilliland, Sloan, Jones and Kavanaugh Gilliland, Berry Strange, Maj. William Wood, Alfred White, Benjamin McVey, Elder Abraham Stout, William T. Hulse, John and Martin Orr, Julius, David, James, Garrett and Wilson Davenport, Z. Moore, Daniel Ramey, John Priestly, Marion, Hannah and John Bailey, Harry and Nat Baker, and Elijah Gates. In 1854, C. L. Farnsworth came from Tennessee, where he was born May 1, 1829. Henry Pemberton, a Virginian, came here in 1843. He had several sons, viz: Jerome B., L. W., William A., Thomas H. and John H. James Harris, from Tennessee, was also an early settler.First Mills.-The first mill within the present borders of what is now Rose Hill township, was owned by Enoch Fedit and located on Scaly Bark creek. This was a horse mill. Welcome Scott built the first water-power mill. This was located in the western part of the township. John Baker purchased this mill from its owner in 1849. The mill stood near the old bridge which crossed Big creek about a mile west of old Rose Hill. The mill and the bridge were both burned by the militia in the Civil War.First Enterprises.-Arch H. Gilkeson operated a carding machine here at an early day and John Tygert kept a distillery and furnished the old settlers with their whiskey without the intervention of the middleman. James Bones was the first blacksmith in the vicinity.First Settlement.-The old town or Rose Hill, which was one of the first settlements in this section, was laid out by Garrett J. Wood, who was also one of the first business men in the place. The little town grew and prospered until the Civil War. Farmers came from a radius of many miles here to mill and also to do their shopping. After the war the Pacific railroad was built through Holden, and the rapid development of that new railroad town drew the trade from the southwestern part of the county and from Rose Hill. In 1881 there were only J. D. Plum, merchant; Henry Fort, blacksmith, and J. A. Haller, physician. It is now the site of an excellent school and church, but no business buildings are there at all.First Post office.-The first postoffice within the present borders of Rose Hill township was established about 1840 under the official title of Big Creek. In 1860, the name was changed to Rose Hill and the first office was kept on Scaly Bark creek and Garrett J. Wood was the first postmaster. Other early-day postmasters were Henry F. Baker, N. Baker, E. R. Ashby, Dr. Charles Thornton, George Hodges, Lon Hunt, W. M. Shepherd, James O. George and Mrs. Etta Plum.Early Towns.-Rose Hill bears the distinction of having three railroads, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; and the St. Louis & San Francisco railroad. The Missouri, Kansas & Texas was built across the northwestern corner of the township in 1872. The Rock Island, which was constructed under the name of the St. Louis, Kansas City & Colorado railroad, was built in 1905. It enters the township on the eastern side and runs in a northwesterly direction and out of the township about a mile east of the northwestern corner. The St. Louis & San Francisco railroad enters the township near the southeastern corner and runs in a northwesterly direction into Cass county about three miles south of the northwestern corner of the township. It was built in 1885.When the Missouri, Kansas & Texas road was built a little town was started on this line in section 35, in the northwestern part of the county. The town was named Benton City and the postoffice was named McClurg in honor of ex-Governor McClurg. It had several stores, but in a few years was abandoned.When the Rock Island railroad was constructed, the town of Medford was established on this line on section 34, township 45, and range 28. This town was platted by M. R. Snyder and the original plat recorded January 31, 1905.Latour, a prosperous village on the St. Louis & San Francisco railroad, was laid out when that road was built in 1885. This town is located on section 3, township 44, range 29. The original site was owned by Howard and Emily Stitt and the town plat was recorded July 21, 1885. Latour is a prosperous village with one bank, good school, church and several stores.Quick City, another station on the St. Louis & San Francisco railroad, located about a mile from the Henry county line, south of the center of the township, was platted by Morris Quick, from whom it takes its name and the plat was recorded February 3, 1886. It has a postoffice, store, school house, two churches and several residences.Early Churches.-The early settlers of this section of the county took a keen interest in the cause of religion and soon several denominations were firmly established. Services at first were held in the residences of the pioneers. The Methodists were probably the first to have services in this township, which were attended by the early-day circuit riders. The Cumberland Presbyterians, Baptists and Christians were also established in this section at an early date. Camp meetings were held at an early day on Bear creek near where the church was later built. This building was owned jointly by the Cumberland Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodist Episcopal and Christian churches. It was a log structure and existed until the time of the Civil War. Early-day services were held at the home of Isaac Hanna. Scaly Bark school house was used for church services until 1840.Among the early ministers here were Revs. Daniel Capell, William Horn, Mr. Parker, A. H. Stout, A. A. Moore, David Hogan, A. Van Ausdol, B. F. Thomas, J. B. Morrow, J. Whitsett, Rev. Hulse, John Marr, Thomas Johnson, Robert King, Frank Moore, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Leaper and Mr. Burgess.The Bear Creek Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized in 1837, at the residence of Obadiah Strange, with the following list of members: Sarah Strange, W. Strange, E. C. Strange, Mary Strange, Polly Strange, Mrs. D. F. Profitt, Sarah Profitt, Mr. and Mrs. Homer. Services were later held at Union Bear Creek church. Judge A.G. Beard, James Strange, Mahala Strange, A. A. Doak, Mary Doak, George Barnett, Mary F. Barnett, George Strange and Winnie Strange were also prominent among the early members.Bear Creek Cumberland Presbyterian church worshipped at the Union church and was organized at an early day. J. G. Atkins, J. G. Cocke and S. V. Turner and family were early members of this denomination. Rev. David Hogan, one of the pioneer ministers of this denomination, is said to have preached one year for two dollars and fifty cents and to have ridden ten miles to his appointments.Bear Creek Christian church was a reorganization of old Lost Creek congregation, which was effected in 1860. Among the prominent and active members of this denomination were Samuel Reid. Abraham Stout, B. F. Smith, Richard Anderson, John Graves and Judge Umstadt.The Bear Creek Baptists had an organization in this township prior to the war but they later became identified with the organization of that denomination in Chilhowee township. Among the members of the old Bear Creek Baptist organization were Rev. William Owsley, Sally Owsley and Anthony Owsley.The Rose Hill Cumberland Presbyterian church had an organization and a church building here, prior to the Civil War, and among its first members were Leonard Renick, John Newton, Lloyd Gilliland, Dennis Dunham, Mrs. Melissa Gilliland and Mrs. Elizabeth Baker. They also organized a Sunday school which flourished for a time.The Methodists and the Cumberland Presbyterians built a church in 1881 known as Union chapel. The Cumberland Presbyterians were organized here in October, 1880, and among the charter members appear the following names: B. F. Lewis and wife, Mollie Lewis, Newton H. Horn and his wife and two daughters, D. L. W. Baston, Martha and Betty Baston, Joel Thomas and wife, John W. McElvaine, Mrs. Fannie Hultz, Mrs. Ella Redford and Mrs. Cecil and daughter.The Methodist Episcopal church of Union Chapel was organized in 1881 and among the early membership we find the names of Bigelow Buzzard, L. Gibson and wife, Elbridge Myers and Milton Eaves. This congregation was served for a time by Rev. J. Paye, an early-day circuit rider. A small class of Methodists met at Mt. Xenia school in the Terrapin Neck district for a time.Other later ministers who labored in this township after the Civil War were J. H. Houx, M. H. Burnett, A. F. Smith and W. S. Woodard.Early Cemeteries.-Among the many small cemeteries of Rose Hill township the Strange cemetery is perhaps the oldest, having been established in 1838. Quick cemetery is also an old burial place. Daniel Quick, Jr., was the first buried here. Priestly graveyard is also a family burial place, Mrs. Priestly being the first to be interred here. Baston cemetery is among the old graveyards of the township and takes its name from D. W. L. Baston. who was a prominent pioneer of the early days. Rose Hill cemetery was established about the time that the town of Rose Hill came into existence. The Wall family cemetery is located on section 13, and here rest the remains of a number of that name. The first to be interred in this burying ground was Mildred B. Wall. There are a number of other small burial places and graves scattered throughout the township, many of which are unknown. It is said that a Mr. Scaggs was the first person to be buried in the township.Early Schools.-At an early day a log school house was built on Bear creek near Bethel church. This was built after the fashion of the ordinary frontier log cabin and a subscription school was taught here for several years. Other log school houses were built in the township as the settlers came, and were succeeded by frame buildings.Among the old-time teachers, in the early days, were Richard Anderson, W. W. Sparks, Abraham Stout, Charles Wingfield, Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Massey, A. Van Ausdol, M. Palmer, Alfred Hocker, A. B. Sanders, Benjamin Howell, George Harrison, William Kirkpatrick, Dr. Thomas Jones, Louis McCoy and Benjamin Turner. At Rose Hill school were Calvin Reifsnider, William Coates, John Garl, Vincent Jones, Amos Metzler, William R. Gist, Wilson Naylor, James Stufflebean, Henry Wood, H. A. Stitt, S. Cook, Misses Alice Hunt, Kittie Renick, Emma Wallis, Delia Wallis, and Sallie Young, Mrs. Anna Stockell, Misses Belle Davis, and Hattie Sheller, A. M. Gloyd, Rev. D. H. Craiger. At Quick school were W. C. Rowland, John Cass, P. Stubblevain, Nannie Metzler, Nannie Graham, Flora Hall, Mrs. Franklin, Mrs. McCrabb, Harriet Quick, Cyrus Anderson, William Peake, Lucy Umstadt and Fannie Narron.In addition to the schools named, other early school districts were Doak, Scaly Bark, Boston, Fink and Mt. Xenia. Among their teachers were Miss Nora Pemberton, Professor Reynolds, A. J. Sparks, and George E. Roff.
Justices.-The following are the justices of the peace of the township as far back as the county records show, with dates of their election: 1870, William R. Littrell; 1878, J. O. George, J. E. Doak; 1880, George W. Stith; 1882, J. A. Doak, Robert F. West; 1886, J. A. Doak, Robert F. West; 1890, J. A. Doak, F. H. Anderson; 1892, T. E. Coleman; 1894, T. E. Coleman, Homer Anderson, Charles Atkins; 1898, T. E. Coleman, Charles Atkins; 1902, T. E. Coleman, Charles Atkins; 1910, John Sheller, Charles Atkins; 1912, T. G. Newhill; 1914, D. C. Surber.County Officers.-The following are the county officers who have been elected from the township since 1882, with the dates of their election:1880-82-Harvey Y. Hughes (Democrat), treasurer.1884-86-George R. Hunt (Democrat), treasurer.1890-94-Jerome B. Pemberton (Democrat), recorder.1902-I. G. Farnsworth (Democrat), county judge.1911-15-R. H. Boston (Democrat), superintendent of schools.1914-16-C. C. Atkins (Democrat), county judge.1916-R. O. Atkins (Democrat), county judge (appointed).County Road Improvements.-County road improvements made by Rose Hill township since this system was established in 1911, were up to January 1, 1918, seventeen in number, aggregating $1,060 furnished by the citizens of the township, and $986 furnished by the county. In the amount of this work Rose Hill ranks tenth among the townships of the county.The following is a complete list of all organizations of every kind in Rose Hill township. Full details of each organization are in this book in separate chapters on the different organizations.Churches-Baptist, Bear Creek; Baptist, Quick City; Baptist, Rose Hill; Christian, Quick City. Methodist, South, Medford; Presbyterian, Latour; Presbyterian, New Liberty.1917 War Organizations.-Red Cross, Latour Branch; Red Cross, Medford Branch; Red Cross, Quick City Branch.Business.-Bank of Latour.
May 23, 2017
1891 John Donaldson Born - One of the Greatest Pitchers Ever - Attended George Smith School in Sedalia and Played for Brown's Tennesse Rats in Holden, MO
Donaldson got his start by attending George R. Smith College in Sedalia. In 1911, he pitched for the Tennessee Rats based in Holden, Missouri and, on one day, Donaldson struck out 31 in an 18-inning game.¨
2017 - John Donaldson - Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Inductee May 25
2017 - John Donaldson - Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Inductee May 25
He climbed out of the quaint, central Missouri River town of Glasgow and chased his baseball dreams – and perhaps would have become a household name across America had he come of age in a different era.
And yet John Donaldson soldiered on. Despite Major League Baseball refusing to employ black ballplayers. Despite the little pay and little exposure. Despite it all.
In fact, Buck O’Neil, a Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee who later in life championed stars of the Negro Leagues, likened the flame-throwing left-handed pitcher to Satchel Paige, one of the greatest arms of all time. It sums up why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to posthumously induct Donaldson with the Class of 2017.
The honor is part of the Baseball Luncheon presented by the Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, set for 11 a.m. Thursday, May 25 at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield. (For tickets, call 417-889-3100, and see details below.)
Said O’Neil, the former Monarchs manager and baseball scout, “John Donaldson … showed Satchel the way, and the fact is, there are many people who saw them both who say John Donaldson was just as good as Satchel.”
Donaldson enjoyed a 33-year career (1908 to 1941) in baseball as he played for 25 teams, both in the Negro Leagues and barnstorming circuits – including on the inaugural Kansas City Monarchs team of 1920.
By pitching in 500 cities across the United States, Donaldson still opened eyes. He won more than 400 games – the most in segregated baseball history – and struck out more than 5,000 batters, according to the Donaldson Network, whose extensive research is building his case toward induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
However, those statistics likely could be far greater, considering that more than 150 of his known pitching performances have no published strikeout total and more than 200 wins by teams he played for report no pitcher of record.
But his impact was great, even after his playing days. You see, in 1949, Donaldson was hired by the Chicago White Sox as a scout, becoming the first African-American full-time scout in Major League Baseball. He passed away in 1970.
Overall, it’s an incredible story, given all roads to the big leagues were blocked for black players from 1889 until Jackie Robinson’s 1947 arrival with the Brooklyn Dodgers led to a desegregated game.
Donaldson certainly experienced those challenges.
 |
| John Donaldson, One of the Greatest Pitchers of All-Time Missouri Sports Hall of Fame 2017 |
“I am not ashamed of my color,” Donaldson was once quoted as saying. “There is no woman whom I love more than my mother; I am light enough so that baseball men told me before I became known that I could be passed off as a Cuban. One prominent baseball man, in fact, offered me a nice sum ($10,000 in 1917) if I would go to Cuba, change my name and let him take me into the country as a Cuban. It would have meant renouncing my family. One of the agreements was that I was never again to visit my mother or to have anything to do with colored people. I refused.”
Donaldson got his start by attending George R. Smith College in Sedalia. In 1911, he pitched for the Tennessee Rats based in Holden, Missouri and, on one day, Donaldson struck out 31 in an 18-inning game.
Four years later, he pitched three consecutive no-hitters for the All Nations team operated by Monarchs owner J.L. Wilkinson, whose All Nations team of Chinese, Japanese, Cubans, Indians and Hawaiians proved players of any ethnicity could form a winning club.
His time there launched his career. Eventually, Donaldson became the highest-salaried black pitcher in baseball, earning $450 a month at his peak.
Along the way, he pitched for the Chicago Giants, Brooklyn Royal Giants, Detroit Stars, Indianapolis ABC’s, Los Angeles White Sox and the Satchel Paige’s All-Stars, earning much respect.
For instance, Wilkinson in 1940 made one of the boldest statements regarding Donaldson’s ability, saying “Satchel isn’t the best colored pitcher. He’s tied with John Donaldson. Satch hasn’t got a thing that old John didn’t have.”
Which helps explain why Donaldson was among 13 black “All-Time Greats” documented by the Pittsburgh Courier in 1952. (Donaldson is one of only two of that group not enshrined in Cooperstown – a list that includes four pitchers, notably Paige and 119-game winner Bullet Rogan.)
Nevertheless, one newspaper back in his heyday flat-out called him the best.
Wrote the Fairmont (Minn.) Daily Sentinel, “John Donaldson is – and there is no one that is qualified to speak authoritatively that will dispute it – the greatest colored baseball player of today and of all time.”
……………………………..
MAY 25 — BASEBALL CELEBRATION
BILL VIRDON STATUE UNVEILING
When: 8:30 a.m. continental breakfast, 9 a.m. unveiling
Where: Legends Walkway of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, 3861 E. Stan Musial Drive in southeast Springfield (about one mile east of the U.S. 60-65 interchange)
What: Unveiling of larger-than-life statue of West Plains grad and Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder making a game-saving catch in Game 1 of the 1960 World Series
BASEBALL LUNCHEON PRESENTED BY OZARKS COCA-COLA/DR PEPPER BOTTLING COMPANY
When: 11 a.m. Thursday, May 25 Where: University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in downtown Springfield
President’s Award: Hiland Dairy’s Mark Speight
Inductees: Mark Bailey (Glendale High School/Missouri State/Houston Astros), the late John Donaldson (Glasgow HS, Negro Leagues), former Westran and Sturgeon coach Kelly Odneal, sports writer Rob Rains (Kickapoo/St. Louis media), baseball coach Mark Stratton (Glendale High School/Drury University).
John Wesley Donaldson (February 20, 1891 – April 14, 1970) was an American baseball pitcher in Pre-Negro league and Negro league baseball. In a career that spanned over 30 years, he played for many different Negro league and semi-professional teams, including the All Nations team and the Kansas City Monarchs. Researchers so far have discovered 667 games in which Donaldson is known to have pitched.[33] Out of those games, Donaldson had at least 400 wins[34] and 5,002 strikeouts[35] as a baseball pitcher. According to some sources, he was the greatest pitcher of his era.
Statistics
Researchers have documented most of his career, from 1908 to 1940. Published totals from local newspaper accounts covering his 30-plus year career provide a glimpse at his prowess on the diamond. Despite what has been found regarding Donaldson's career, over 150 games that Donaldson pitched in state no strikeout game totals, consequently his overall totals are under-reported.
Printed box scores reveal 378 wins and 135 losses and a winning percentage of .737. He also notched 4,409 strikeouts, an ERA of 1.37, and 86 shutouts against all levels of competition. He completed 296 of 322 starts (92%) Donaldson can be credited with 13 no-hitters, a perfect game, and dozens of one-hitters. He also has two 30 strikeout games, 11 games with more than 25 strikeouts (including two back-to-back 25 strikeout games), 30 games with more than 20 strikeouts, 109 games with more than 15 strikeouts, and a total of 203 double digit strikeout games. Donaldson could also hit well, batting .334 in over 1,800 at bats.
Early years
Donaldson's early career was spent in and around his hometown of Glasgow, Missouri. He played for the Missouri Black Tigers of nearby Higbee, Missouri, in 1908, and subsequently for the Hannaca Blues, an all-black contingent from Glasgow during the 1909-10 seasons.
Tennessee Rats
He pitched for Brown's Tennessee Rats,[3] which were managed by W.A. Brown of Holden, Missouri. The team traveled with a complement called "Brown's Tennessee Minstrels". Together, the group of about 20 players crisscrossed the upper Midwest, playing ball during the day and providing an evening minstrel program for their mostly white ticket buyers.
Donaldson established himself as a stellar pitcher, posting a reported record of 44-3. Known highlights of that season include an 18-inning 31 strikeout game,[23] a 27 strikeout performance and on at least four separate occasions, he whiffed 19.
All Nations
He contracted to pitch for the World's All Nations team based in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1912,[4] for a reported sum of $150 per month. Donaldson went on to star for the team, which included a female player named Carrie Nation, as well as players of several different races. The experiment of an interracial ball club was successful as the All Nations thrived traveling throughout the Midwest and Upper Midwest from 1912 to 1917.
During Donaldson's 1915 season, he struck out an average of 18 batters a game and fanned 30 in a marathon 18-inning contest. Donaldson not only struck out more than 500 batters that season, but did it three years straight. Most of his accomplishments were against semi-professional competition, but Donaldson also did very well in his relatively few contests against highest level professional baseball teams, and there were a number of first-person reports of his talent from such opposing managers and players.
1914 All Nations Team
Donaldson and his ball-clubs prior to the organization of the Negro National League in 1920 played ball all year round, both in the Midwest and venues as far west as Los Angeles[6] as far east as Palm Beach, Florida.[5]
In an interview in the Kansas City Call in 1948, J. L. Wilkinson said Donaldson was "one of the greatest pitchers that ever lived, white or black." [36] He also said Donaldson suggested the name "Monarchs" when Wilkinson was preparing a team for the Negro National League in 1920.[36]
Tumultuous times, 1918 to 1920
During the time of World War I, the 1918 flu pandemic and many of the nation's racial unrest such as the Red Summer of 1919, John Donaldson was present in many of these same cities during those dates, playing and pitching in some of the United States' most populous cities like Indianapolis,[7] Brooklyn,[8] Detroit,[9] and Chicago.[10]After being in the middle of all that turbulence, Donaldson made his way back to Kansas City, Missouri to play again for J. L. Wilkinson.[11]
Kansas City Monarchs
After World War I, J. L. Wilkinson formed the Kansas City Monarchs in 1920, where 29-year-old John Donaldson worked as a pitcher and center fielder.[11] In fact, it has been reported that Donaldson came up with the name "Monarchs." A Kansas City newspaper even reported that Donaldson would manage the Monarchs, but it appears there was a change in the 11th hour, and José Méndez was chosen as the Monarchs manager. Donaldson played with the Monarchs at different times through much of the 1920s.
He also played in at least one pre-season game with the All Nations in 1920,[12] and in 1921.[13]
Donaldson also played part-time with various semi-pro barnstorming teams during this era. However, for at least two years, Donaldson managed and played on the revamped All Nations baseball team,[14] which now served as a way to train, recruit and make money for Wilkinson's "parent club", the Kansas City Monarchs. Players for the All Nations would show up on the roster one week, then appear on the Kansas City Monarchs roster in the next week. Crowds of over 5,000 people sometimes watched these exhibition games, well into the mid-1920s.
Post-Negro league playing career
Perhaps most impressive, Donaldson played in towns in Minnesota,[15] the Dakotas,[18] and Canada,[17] sometimes as the only black player on a small-town semipro team. This was at a time when the Ku Klux Klan was active in the state, and three years after the notorious lynchings of three black circus workers in 1920 in Duluth, Minnesota, Donaldson led a barnstorming troupe into Duluth. Here, he pitched and beat a team of white all-stars from the Iron Range, 6-3.
Donaldson made a comfortable living traveling through rural America, even during the Depression. Like many black barnstormers of the time, Donaldson faced white Major Leaguers and fared well enough to prompt New York Giants manager John McGraw to say, "I think he is the greatest I have ever seen." McGraw is also alleged to have said about Donaldson: "If I could dunk him in calamine lotion, I'd sign him."
Baseball historian Pete Gorton has said that Donaldson's charisma, composure and stellar character were a countermeasure to the deep-seated prejudices of the time, "But I don't want anyone to look at the career of John Donaldson and think 'Oh, here's another poor black ball player exploited by the "Man" or by the times he lived,'" the writer noted. "This is a story of a man who was covered by the media and adored by the fans and had an outstanding career on the baseball diamond."
A May 17, 1928, Letter to the Editor in Melrose, Minnesota tells of one fan's appreciation of watching Donaldson: "Two-thirds of the attendance at Melrose wanted to see Donaldson, the great. They did not come because they wanted to see the Melrose or Scobey ball teams, but they wanted to see Donaldson, the master of base ball."
Donaldson was playing mostly semi-pro ball in the mid- to late-1930s, and by the end of 1939 was asked by Satchel Paige to play again in the Upper Midwest as the star pitcher on the days when Paige wasn't pitching. Local papers reported the 39-year-old Donaldson lacked speed, but that he still had enough experience to "fool the batters." [21] Newspapers and ball players often lied about their age throughout their career, for birth, marriage, and other government records show Donaldson was about 48 years old at the time. Currently, the last known game Donaldson pitched in professionally, was in a 1940 game against the House of David baseball team.[22]
After more than 30 years as a player, Donaldson retired in 1941. Settling in Chicago, some historians believe he worked for the U.S. Postal Service.
He made appearances on the mound in far less serious games, as late as 1949. However, by then Donaldson was in his late 50s.
Major League scout
Although Donaldson never gained the full recognition for his pitching skills during his lifetime and was never admitted into Major League Baseball during his career, he made history by becoming the first full-time black talent scout in the big leagues,[37]for the Chicago White Sox of the American League, in 1949, working into the 1950s.[38] He pursued Willie Mays and Ernie Banks for the team and is credited with the signing of several prominent Negro leaguers of the time, including Bob Boyd and Sam Hairston.
Anecdotes
Research also suggests that Satchel Paige owes much of his style and acumen to Donaldson, whose barnstorming efforts pre-dated Paige's by two decades.[21]
Elden Auker, a former major league pitcher, who had played against Donaldson, related this anecdote when he (Auker) was 95 years old, in 2006: "I played against Donaldson in 1929. I was in college and we played at an Arapaho Indian reservation in Kansas. I pitched against Paige and I won, 2-1. Donaldson played center field. Donaldson got out in center field and squatted like a catcher", Auker related. "The Monarchs had a catcher named Young, and he squatted behind home plate and they played catch from 300 feet. They threw the ball on a line. If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have believed it."
Efforts to resurrect his career after his death
At age 60, Donaldson was voted a first-team member of the 1952 Pittsburgh Courier player-voted poll of the Negro leagues best players ever.[32]
John Wesley Donaldson's Grave Marker
Donaldson died of Bronchial Pneumonia at age 79 in Chicago and is buried in Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.[1] He was buried in an unmarked grave at the cemetery, until Jeremy Krock, of Peoria, Illinois, raised enough money for a proper headstone[39] via the Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project. He started the project with Jimmie Crutchfield and lead to Donaldson, and has continued to more than 20 other unmarked graves.[37]
Donaldson was nominated for a special ballot of pre-Negro leagues candidates for inclusion in baseball's Hall of Fame. A 12-member voting committee, appointed by the Board of Directors and chaired by former Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent, however, did not choose Donaldson for membership in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, in a vote in February 2006.
As of 2016, researchers working as a networking team calling themselves "The Donaldson Network", living and working in several states around the United States, have located Donaldson's 4,942 career strikeouts and 399 career wins as a pitcher.
Film footage
Amateur film footage made on August 16, 1925, of Donaldson at a game in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, was uncovered in 2010.[40] Thirty-nine seconds exist. Donaldson faced off that day against Joe Jaeger, who made two relief appearances for the Chicago Cubs in 1920, and advertisements for the game called Donaldson "the colored wonder pitcher."
References
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, IL., Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Location 12612). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
"A GOOD GAME" Bayard News Gazette, Bayard, Iowa, June 1, 1911
"All-Nations Beat Johnsons" Sioux City, Iowa May 19, 1912
Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach, Florida, January 25, 1916
"DONALDSON TO PITCH TODAY" Los Angeles Times, February 18, 1917
"Cuban Stars Will Meet A.B.C.s in Two Games Today" The Indianapolis Freeman, Indianapolis, Indiana, Sunday, May 19, 1918, Part 4 Sports, Page 1, Column 5
DONALDSON TO PITCH FOR ROYAL GIANTS, The New York Age, New York, June 29, 1918, Page 6, Column 3
"Hilldale Team Wins" Philadelphia Inquirer, August 6, 1919, Page 12]
Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri, October 18, 1919 Page 14]
"Monarchs will play K. of C. This Afternoon" Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri, April 25, 1920
"No-Hit Contest for Andy Graves" Omaha World Herald, Omaha, Nebraska, May 8, 1920, Page 5, Column 2
"Murphy Did-Its Take Two from All-Nations" Omaha World Herald, Omaha, Nebraska, April 17, 1921, Page 7, Column 2
"Donaldson Hurls No-Hit Game for All Nations" Corning, Iowa July 1, 1922
"Struck out, by Bishop 1, by Donaldson 20." Bertha, Minnesota May 31, 1924
"Merrill-Lismore Game, 11 Innings" LeMars Globe-Post, LeMars, Iowa, Monday, June 28, 1926, Page 8, Column 1 and 2
"no hits, no runs off Donaldson" Regina, Saskatchewan July 23, 1925
"Struck out: by Donaldson 9, by Lindblom 4." Fargo, North Dakota September 6, 1927
"Slugging Monarchs Humble Rapids Club, 5 to 2" Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, Saturday, July 11, 1931, Page 7, Columns 2, 3, and 4
"Hampton, Giants Into Semifinals" Omaha World-Herald, Evening Edition, Omaha, Nebraska, Saturday, September 24, 1932, Page 10, Column 2
"Famous Monarchs Play Copper Sox Tonight" Montana Standard, Butte, Montana, Saturday Morning, July 1, 1939, Page 8, Columns 1 and 3
"Locals Tie Up Series by 5-2 and 3-2 Wins" Benton Harbor News Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, Friday, July 5, 1940, Page 10, Column 3
"Humboldt Loses Long Game" Humboldt, Iowa September 15, 1911
"All Nations 8; Stumppullers 0" Centerville, Iowa May 18, 1914
"Donaldson likewise pitched his most noteworthy game Sunday." Sioux Falls, South Dakota June 21, 1914
"Austin Wins, 1 to 0, in Fine Slab Duel" Austin, Minnesota August 17, 1914
"Schmelzers Beaten in No-Hit Game" Kansas City, Missouri May 3, 1915
"Schmelzers Held Hitless 12 Innings by Donaldson" Kansas City, Missouri May 24, 1915
"Julesburg, Colorado, July 16" Denver Post, Denver, Colorado, Monday, July 16, 1917, Page 8, Column 6
"Donaldson Pitches No-Hit, No-Run Game and Beats Crosby" Ironton, Minnesota June 29, 1923
"Donaldson Pitches Good Game of Ball" Boyd, Minnesota June 18, 1926
"Sports Light" Kansas City Call, Kansas City, Missouri, May 28, 1948
"Negro Leagues project marks history" ESPN's Outside the Lines, ESPN Network, Updated February 20, 2011
"Major League Scouts to Watch East-West Game" The Plain Dealer, Kansas City, Kansas, Friday, July 27, 1951, Page 4, Columns 7 and 8
"Visiting Negro League Greats at Burr Oak Cemetery" Chicago Tribune video, July 25, 2011
Sources
Pete Gorton, contributed a chapter to the book Swinging for the Fences: Black Baseball in Minnesota,' which chronicles Donaldson's career and is available here: http://johndonaldson.bravehost.com/pdf/00235.pdf
Shades of Glory: The Negro Leagues and the Story of African-American Baseball, Lawrence D. Hogan (National Geographic 2006)
"Donaldson greatest baseball player ever? He played in southwest Minnesota", by Doug Wolter, Forum News Service, Aug 10, 2015
External links
Negro league baseball statistics and player information from Seamheads.com, or Baseball-Reference (Negro leagues)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)