The Friends of the Historic Columbia Cemetery will be hosting their second annual History Comes Alive event on Memorial Day, May 28 from 1-4 p.m. Seven different “well-knowns” who are buried in the cemetery will come alive in monologues given by local actors. Chris Campbell, executive director of the Boone County History and Culture Center, wrote the scripts for these actors. In charge of costuming for the event is Monica McMurry of the Stephens College Theatre Department.
We have discussed Victor Barth and John B. Lange, Sr. and Odon Guitar and James L. Stephens in previous posts. In this installment we will be touching on the lives of R. B. Price and Richard Henry Jesse.
Robert Beverly (R. B.) Price was the founder of Boone County National Bank, which was first called Prewitt and Price. Born in Charlotte County, Virginia on October 17, 1832, his family brought him to Missouri when he was 7-years-old. He arrived in Columbia at age 18 to attend the University of Missouri where he studied engineering and geology. After four years of working in that field, he began the firm Prewitt and Price with a local merchant, Moss Prewitt (who would become his first father-in-law). He was well revered when he died in Columbia in 1924 at the age of 92, his second wife Evaline (Hockaday) Price having preceded him just two years prior. There were eight active pallbearers to carry him to his final resting place along with 32 honorary pallbearers.
Richard Henry Jesse was an educator at the University of Missouri and served as the President from 1891 to 1908. He was born in 1853 in Lancaster County, Virginia and died in Columbia on January 21, 1921. He was married to Addie Henry Polk in July of 1882. His tenure at the University was an interesting one that endured not only the burning of Academic Hall and its aftermath, but also the success of changing to four-year degree programs as opposed to two-year terms. He is known for being the “Renaissance President.”
Parking for the event will be available at the RE/MAX parking lot across the street from the cemetery (north of Broadway) and all three lots of the Columbia Public Library. With safety in mind, please use the crosswalks.
We hope you will want to come walk the tour and hear about some of our city’s forefathers who are buried in the city they spent a lifetime in. The Friends of the Historic Columbia Cemetery is a non-profit organization whose goals are to preserve the Cemetery’s past and educate the public. The Columbia Cemetery is the oldest continuous business in the City of Columbia. This event is sponsored in partnership with the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department and the Daniel Boone Regional Library.
Help is needed in setting up and taking down for this event. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact cindymustard2@gmail.
