Spotlight Stories
Preserving the BF Graves Funeral Home Records is an act of collective memory. It ensures that the individuals represented in these pages are not forgotten. It protects a vital chapter of St. Joseph’s heritage and strengthens our ability to tell a fuller, more accurate story of our city’s past. Here are a few of those stories
Monroe Ross and Maurice Ross
The lives of Monroe Ross and his grandson, Maurice Ross, span two very different chapters of St. Joseph's history. One lived more than a century, surviving slavery and witnessing extraordinary change. The other died at just six years old, his death drawing renewed attention to the inequalities faced by the city's African American community.
Believed to have been born in 1831 in Richmond, Virginia, Monroe Ross was reportedly enslaved until the end of the Civil War.
According to newspaper accounts, his enslaver, a native of Germany, taught him to speak German as fluently as English. Following emancipation, Ross came to St. Joseph with the Hall family, who later provided him with a home and land.
Ross spent many years working in grocery delivery for the Dubowsky Department Store before retiring. By the time of his death on December 10, 1937, he was believed to be 106 years old, making him one of the oldest and best-known African American residents of St. Joseph. Newspaper accounts also recalled his stories of hunting with Jesse James and remembered him as a living link to the city's earliest days.
Less than two years later, tragedy struck the family again.
On July 28, 1939, Monroe's grandson, Maurice Ross, drowned in the Missouri River at the age of six. Newspaper reports stated that Maurice had gone to the river intending to swim. When he failed to return, authorities searched for him until his body was recovered. The drowning came only two years after Maurice had survived being struck by an automobile at the age of four.
Maurice's death had an impact beyond the Ross family. In the days following the drowning, St. Joseph's African American community organized a public meeting to again press for the construction of a swimming pool for Black residents. Newspaper coverage noted that the issue had been before city officials for years, and Maurice's death renewed calls for safe recreational facilities for the community.
Together, the stories of Monroe and Maurice Ross reflect both the resilience and the challenges experienced by generations of African Americans in St. Joseph. Monroe's remarkable longevity connected the city to its nineteenth-century past, while Maurice's brief life became part of a broader conversation about public safety, equality, and access to community resources. Their lives, though separated by more than a century in age, remain connected through both family and history.
Howard Owen Hill and Stella May Hill
Howard Owen Hill and his wife, Stella May Hill, were longtime residents of 214 South 18th Street in St. Joseph and were among the many African American families whose lives helped shape the city's history during the early twentieth century.
Born on April 30, 1876, Howard spent many years employed as a boiler washer for the Burlington Railroad, an occupation that reflected the vital role African American workers played in the region's rail industry. He died on November 12, 1939, at the age of sixty-three.
While Howard's work supported his family, Stella became one of St. Joseph's most respected music educators. Following her death in 1949, a local newspaper described her as ranking "at the top among Negro musicians of the city as a teacher." For nearly four decades, she taught voice and piano, presenting annual recitals at churches throughout St. Joseph and inspiring generations of young musicians. Among her many students was Corporal Winston W. Mays, who later continued his musical studies at a conservatory in Italy.
Born in Columbia, Missouri, Stella lived in St. Joseph for approximately forty years. She was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, the St. Joseph Music Club, and an honorary member of the State Music Teachers' Association. Together, Howard and Stella raised three sons: Aloysius P. Hill of St. Joseph, Francis Hill of Des Moines, and Forrest D. Hill of Minneapolis.
Stella died in 1949 following an eight-week illness and was laid to rest in Mount Olivet Cemetery, beside her husband.
Together, Howard and Stella May Hill exemplify the lasting contributions made by St. Joseph's African American families. Howard's years of railroad service and Stella's lifelong dedication to music education reflect lives of hard work, faith, and community service—legacies that continue to enrich the history of St. Joseph.
Arthur Roy Turner Jr.
On the evening of February 28, 1940, sixteen-year-old Arthur Roy Turner Jr. was shot and killed by St. Joseph police detectives near the intersection of 16th and Charles Streets. Turner, who lived at 212 South 22nd Street, died instantly. His death certificate lists the cause of death as "Homicide – Gunshot wound by Police," with the contributing cause recorded as "Officer Attempting an Arrest."
The shooting occurred after weeks of complaints from residents about a "peeping Tom" prowling homes in the neighborhood. Detectives Hannibal Morrison and Glenn Thomas testified that they had been assigned to watch the Thompson residence at 1520 Charles Street. They stated they observed Turner crouch beside a window and appear to remove a screen. When they attempted to arrest him, Turner fled. The detectives testified they identified themselves as police, fired warning shots, and then fired at the fleeing teenager after he ignored commands to stop. They also stated they did not know the race of the suspect before the shooting because of the darkness.
The shooting prompted a coroner's inquest that drew significant public attention. Neighborhood residents testified about repeated prowler complaints, supporting the officers' account that they had been investigating an ongoing problem.
Other testimony, however, raised questions. William Perry, a young Black witness, testified that he saw two other boys run from the area after Turner was shot, contradicting the detectives' testimony that Turner had been alone. Coroner Dr. B. W. Tadlock recessed the hearing to allow additional witnesses to testify, including Mrs. Maggie Anderson, who was believed to have witnessed the shooting. Newspaper accounts also described a courtroom filled with members of St. Joseph's Black community, and Dr. Tadlock assured those present that Turner would receive "a square deal."
After hearing testimony from twenty-nine witnesses, the coroner's jury concluded that the detectives had acted "in the discharge of their duties" and cleared them of criminal liability.
Although the official investigation ended with that finding, the surviving records preserve differing eyewitness accounts and reflect the racial tensions surrounding the case. Together, they provide a glimpse into policing, race, and justice in St. Joseph in 1940, allowing readers to examine the historical record and draw their own conclusions.
