Amanda Isabelle “Mandy” Story

amanda-and-george-steen

Many Zimmermans always believed my great-grandfather Parker L. Zimmerman was married five times.  However, Parker was married three times to Victoria Harris, Mellie Bollinger and Lydia Margaret “Dollie” Story.  It was actually Parker’ sister-in-law Amanda Isabelle “Mandy” Story, who was married five times. Mandy was born in Illinois on July 16, 1877 to George Washington Story and Malinda Davis although

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George Baptiste’s Heartbreak

george-baptiste

During February 1901, St. Louis professional wrestler and local businessman George Baptiste reluctantly filed for divorce from his wife, Nellie May Baptiste, alleging desertion.  It was actually the second time, Baptiste filed for divorce from Mrs. Baptiste. During the summer of 1896, Baptiste was vacationing in Millford, Connecticut.  The 31-year-old was a powerful swimmer and all-around athlete in addition to

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Ira Cooper Unravels Money Order Theft

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On February 22, 1924, unknown suspects took $20,000.00 in American Express Company money orders from the Mercantile Trust Company in Downtown St. Louis.  Initially, the American Bankers Association hired private detectives.  After the detectives were unable to discover any serious leads, the association turned the case over to the St. Louis Police Department. When the bank association turned over the

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Marie H. “Babe” Johannpeter Kimker

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Marie H. “Babe” Johannpeter was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 17, 1903. “Babe” was the second child and first daughter born to my second great-uncle Julius “Uncle Jules” Johannpeter and his wife Bertha Johannpeter nee Horst. My grandfather Gilbert Ellis spent a lot of his time with Uncle Jules family, while he was growing up. Grandpa Ellis’ father

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Hannah McLaughlin Desmond (1879 – 1904)

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On January 7, 1903, St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond married 24-year-old Hannah McLaughlin in a ceremony he hoped to keep secret.  The 46-year-old Desmond always said he would never marry due to the dangers of his job.  However, he was clearly smitten with Hannah McLaughlin. In March 1897, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch printed the first rumors of an

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St. Louis Police Protect World’s Fair

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The Louisiana Purchase Exhibition, or 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair as it is more popularly known, is the most significant event in St. Louis, Missouri history.  While St. Louis was the largest city west of the Mississippi River, the World’s Fair put it on the international map.  While the fair would bring notoriety, tourists and increased revenue to the city,

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