Tag Archives: Missouri history

John Glenn Newbill’s Slaves

Posted on May 19, 2008 | 4 Comments

As told to Elsie Odell Bennette by Beth Gowdy about her mother, Anne Kemp Gowdy

John Glenn Newbill of Virginia was a slave owner but his slaves were well treated. When his daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Riley Kemp, moved to Pettis County, Missouri, he gave her a couple. Continue reading →

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Riley’s Bet

Posted on May 19, 2008 | Leave a comment

As told by Beth Gowdy

Riley Kemp was sheriff of Pettis County, Missouri, for eight years. Once before an election he and the other candidate made a friendly bet that the one who lost would give the other one an overcoat. Continue reading →

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Crossing the Plains

Posted on May 19, 2008 | Leave a comment

Personal Recollections of the Journey to Oregon in 1852, by Mrs. J. T. Gowdy of McMinnville

I was born Nov. 23, 1843, in Pettis county, Missouri, near where the city of Sedalia now is, but there was no city there then, the county seat, Georgetown, was the nearest town from where our farm was.

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The Sun Bonnet

Posted on May 19, 2008 | Leave a comment

Told by Anne Kemp Gowdy.

I was six years old in November, 1849. The next spring I went to school for the first time. We were living on a farm, near where is now the city of Sedalia, Missouri. My teacher was Mrs. Ferguson. She taught, or kept school, as we said then, in her home.

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