269 – 1932, and a Birth

Mark Jarvis

If there was a worse year in the Depression than 1931, it was 1932.

Unemployment rose to 23.6%. 13 million people, almost 1 in 4, were unemployed. Many had lost their savings, and many had lost their homes and farms.

The economy shrank another 13%.

Bank failures

1,700 more banks failed. By 1932, more than 10,000 banks, 40% of all banks, had failed.

In Sedalia, Citizens National Bank had failed. That caused nervous depositors to withdraw their funds from other banks in town while they still could. The surge of withdrawals caused two more banks to close in February, Sedalia Trust Company and Sedalia National Bank.

Dow hits bottom

On July 8, 1932, the Dow Jones hit bottom at 41.22. That’s the lowest ever recorded, and a 90% loss from its high in September 1929.

Cole’s Women’s Shop

Somehow Cole’s continued to survive. In February 1932, Tom Gallagher reported to the Sedalia Democrat that sales were better than the previous year. He also reported that Cole’s had joined a cooperative that would improve their purchasing power and choices.

The Sedalia Democrat – February 11, 1932

Everyday life

The Depression affected many, but people still performed their everyday rituals. If they had a job, they went to work. If they were in school, they attended.

People still celebrated the events of life – birth, birthdays, marriage, childbirth, and death.

A birth

Josephine Jane Gallagher was born at 11:20 am on Monday, July 25, 1932. The name Josephine honored her grandmother, Josephine Pensa Riley, Mama Riley.

The Sedalia Democrat – July 25, 1932
The Sedalia Democrat – August 3, 1932

A week in the hospital was normal. Mary Agnes and her new baby Jane were released so that Jane could be baptized on Sunday, July 31. Reverend Christian Daniel presided. Will and Josie Riley represented John and Vera Riley as godparents at the baptism.

For whatever reason, the Rileys and Gallaghers had numerous bouts of illness in 1932.

Another move

819 West Fourth Street – Sedalia, Missouri

In October 1932, the Rileys and Gallaghers moved yet again, from 1303 West Fourth Street to 819 West Fourth Street.

1932 elections

The 1932 US elections presented a choice among widely different political viewpoints. Americans blamed President Herbert Hoover for everything bad. Democratic candidate Franklin Roosevelt promised government solutions. And there were factional parties – Socialist, Prohibition, Communist, etc.

1932 Presidential ballot choices – The Sedalia Democrat – October 28, 1932

Roosevelt elected

In November, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President. He defeated Hoover in a landslide. Democrats won majorities in both houses of Congress.

Prohibition?

The Sedalia Democrat – April 29, 1932

Let’s mention one more seismic topic – Prohibition. It had been a fact of American life since 1920. It had caused Will and Josie Riley to lose their liquor and beer distributorship business in 1920.

Now, after a decade, public sentiment was overwhelmingly in favor of repealing the 18th amendment. In one national poll, only Kansas and North Carolina favored keeping Prohibition.

This growing anti-Prohibition sentiment placed enormous political pressure on Congress.

The repeal of prohibition was going to happen. It would have a profound impact on the lives and careers of our Riley and Gallagher families.

Merry Christmas

No matter the Depression, families still gathered for holidays.

1932 was the first year of many that the Gallagher family was all together. Lee and Nell Gallagher Donahoe hosted Christmas at their home in Sedalia. Tom and Mary Agnes Gallagher and children from Sedalia were there. Jim and Nell Gallagher and family from Smithville, Texas were present. Mother Ellen Dugan Gallagher was there, as was brother Henry Gallagher from Lawrence.

Timeline

Sources

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