Books offer a glimpse of St. Joseph’s past
By NewsPress Now
St. Joseph is a community rich with history, and the librarians at the St. Joseph Public Library are offering a selection of books on local history in honor of the upcoming Community Read, “A Deceptive Homecoming” by Anna Loan-Wilsey. To learn more about the Community Read, which is sponsored by St. Joseph Reads, visit stjosephreads.org/weread. The books below can be checked out from any St. Joseph Public Library branch. Visit the library’s catalog at sjpl.missourievergreen.org to find these or other great books to enjoy.
“The Half Not Told: The Civil War in a Frontier Town” by Preston Filbert. Before the start of the Civil War, St Joseph was growing rapidly as a major starting point in the westward expansion. An economy driven by outfitting pioneers and largely supported by trade brought St. Joe ties to the northern cause. But populated by settlers primarily from the south, the city also had ties to the southern cause. In addition, more than 2,000 members of the St. Joseph population were slaves. This book is the story of St. Joseph and its citizens caught in the middle of conflicting interests.
“Old Saint Joe: Gateway to the West 1799-1932” by Sheridan A. Logan. Part one starts with a chronological presentation of St. Joseph’s history, beginning with a brief overview of its development after the settling of the U.S. St. Joseph’s growth is further divided into five periods starting with the Indian Trading Post and ending with Agri-Town. Part two presents individuals and families prominent in St. Joseph’s history through a series of brief sketches. Many black-and-white illustrations are punctuated by a few color plates.
“In Their Own Words, an Oral History of African-Americans in St. Joseph, MO” by Dr. William Church. This book includes stories told by real people of St. Joseph who experienced the days of segregation and moving toward integration. The calm, factual way these stories are told makes them relatable and digestible. “In Their Own Words” is well worth the read for people of all ages and races. Many of the people interviewed in this book have passed. They would have been good to talk with. Fortunately, this book is here to record their words.
“Behind the Headlines” by Harold M. Slater and George Sherman. Newspapers can’t always print everything. Slater, a reporter for the St. Joseph News-Press for more than 50 years, was privy to stories only some of which made it into the paper. Sherman, a former Gazette reporter, worked to help bring these stories to light. Part one is titled “Prohibition, Bootleggers, Madams and Other Colorful Characters of the bad ol’ Days.” Slater then moves through story after story of St. Joseph during his years as a reporter.
“A Darkness Ablaze” by Joseph Kinyoun Houts Jr. During the Civil War, young men from all areas of the country were thrown together, bringing with them various infectious diseases. Diseases, as well as the wounds suffered during the fighting, were the cause of many soldiers’ deaths. Dr. John Hendricks Kinyoun, great-great-grandfather of Joseph Houts, was a surgeon in the Confederate army and documented his service during the war in his diary. This book shares some of those memories.
