He made printers ink and, of all things, milk from a peanut. He also created 300 other useful products from peanuts. But when he was invited to address a luncheon meeting of the Peanut Grower’s Association, he had to enter by the back door and eat his lunch in his room. He was black, you see, and all of his great discoveries and contributions to society could not buy him equality. Missouri, however, has had fewer more distinguished citizens.
His story began before the Civil War, when Moses Carver of Diamond Grove, Missouri, took title to a slave girl named Mary. According to tradition Mary and a slave from another plantation had three children. One was named George. Once, during the Civil war, baby George was kidnapped by a band of guerillas who held him captive. He was finally rescued but his sister and mother were not. He lived with Moses and Susan Carver, a white couple, on their farm until he reached his teens. They never adopted him although he did take their last name.