Sarah Rector is known for becoming a millionaire by the time she was 10 years old
Sarah Rector is known for becoming a millionaire by the time she was 10 years old. Her life later on, however, became more of a mystery. (Contributed)

curiousKC: The Forgotten Life and Wealth of Sarah Rector

July 6, 2020  |  Anna Gonzalez  |  1 min read

You may recognize the Rector Mansion, but do you know about who once lived in it? Though the odds were stacked against her, Sarah Rector’s story is one of great luck.

curiousKC dug through old newspaper clips, maps that show plots of land and photos of Rector herself to answer the question: “Who was Sarah Rector and why was she considered the ‘richest Black girl in Missouri?'”

Watch the video above for a brief history of the woman behind the mansion.

Find more of these curiousKC stories by visiting our archive or look for a new one every Monday.


Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.

Nick’s Picks | Soccer, Elections, Entertainment and More …

June 22, 2026

It’s a soccer extravaganza in Kansas City, with the city reaching its halfway point as a host city and the City Council set to consider a bond package to expand the Kansas City Current stadium.

Related Stories

exterior of old metcalf south shopping center

A Black Friday Romp Through the Metro’s Shoplifting History

Not long ago a woman walked into an Oak Park Mall bath and body store carrying two shopping bags. She lingered for two hours, examining the scented candles. Then the phone of Detective Byron Pierce of the Overland Park Police Department buzzed. The caller was an employee of the store.  “Everything okay?” Pierce asked. No….

Read More >
A view of the Big Blue battlefield now that parks and recreation has cleared it.

A Better Big Blue Battlefield in Kansas City | Part III

Editor’s note: This is the final installment of a three-part series on the restoration of the Big Blue Battlefield in Kansas City, Missouri. The engagement on the Big Blue Battlefield was pivotal in the larger Battle of Westport, an October 1864 clash that effectively ended organized Confederate military operations in Missouri. As the years receded,…

Read More >
Photo in Kansas City Star of battle of westport veterans gathered in Kansas City

A Better Big Blue Battlefield in Kansas City | Part II

Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a three-part series on the restoration of the Big Blue Battlefield in Kansas City, Missouri. In the mid-19th century, overland trail teamsters driving wagons west sometimes followed a branch of the Santa Fe Trail out of Independence, using the shortcut to reach fields where the animals used…

Read More >