Gurdon Gilmore Black, civil engineer and contractor, was born September 5, 1880, in St. Louis County. He was the grandson of a pioneering family to St. Louis, Samuel and Amanda (McCutchan) Black. Black attended Price School, Clayton Public School, and the St. Louis Manual Training School, and graduated from Washington University in 1901 with a B.S. in civil engineering. Following graduation, he worked as a civil engineer with the St. Louis Water Department. When war was declared in 1917, he resigned to enter the army and served in the 314th Engineer Regiment. When he returned from the war, he became an engineer for the McCormack Combs Construction Company, later becoming a member of the firm and its vice president and treasurer. On December 6, 1924, Black married Mattie Lou Maddox, whose forebearers had been pioneers and leaders in Callaway County, Missouri. In 1941, he joined the Fruin Colnon Contracting Company and the Fruco Construction Company. He died in 1953. Dr. John Kennedy was born in Ireland. He attended the University of Glasgow and Medical School. He graduated with his M.D. in 1814. In October 1814, Kennedy received his license to preach the gospel in Rathfryland, Ireland. He emigrated to America in 1819 and arrived in St. Louis the following year. By 1823, Kennedy had bought land in St. Louis County and was living in Bonhomme Township. Later, he and his wife Jane purchased a tract of land near Creve Coeur. John Kennedy died in January 1860. Jane Kennedy died July 7, 1858.