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Full text of "A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people"

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CJASPER Co 
LIVINGSTON 






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ssJC&y 



A HISTORY 

OF 

JASPER COUNTY 

MISSOURI 

and Its People 



BY 

JOEL T. LIVINGSTON 



VOLUME I 



ILLUSTRATED 



PUBLISHERS : 

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 

CHICAGO, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO 
1912 

1 



INTRODUCTION 



In presenting this volume to the public, the writer begs leave to make 
the following introductory announcements and explanations. 

In gathering the data for the history, a vast amount of interesting 
matter was collected, and had we utilized it all, a book would have 
been created twice the size of the one offered. It was thought, there- 
fore, that a more condensed history giving a sufficient number of stories 
in each of the several periods to correctly represent the habits, manners 
and customs of the people during each of the epochs and the events which 
helped to mold the destinies of the county, would be most appreciated 
by the public. It was difficult at times to determine just which facts 
to include and which to omit, and some events which we desired to 
mention at length were omitted because we were unable to secure ac- 
curate and complete data for their narration. 

The matter for the history has been obtained from the following 
sources: Personal interviews with old-time citizens of the county; 
replies to letters addressed to different well informed citizens; scrap 
books saved by lovers of historic information and the newspaper files 
that were preserved. 

To each and all who have so kindly given us data for the work, we 
wish to here return our most sincere and heartful thanks. We are es- 
pecially indebted to the following: To John Nelson, of Carl Junction, 
for the loan of a file of the Weekly Carthage Banner covering the 
period of the later sixties, the seventies and the early eighties; to the 
Carthage Press and the Joplin Daily Neivs-Herald, whose editors both 
kindly placed their valuable files at our disposal; to the Joplin Public 
Library for the loan of the early files of the Daily Herald covering the 
later seventies and the eighties ; to Charles Ebert, of Los Angeles, Cali- 
fornia, who forwarded to us from the far golden west, a most excellent 
and systematically kept scrap book of Webb City and Carterville events 
which happened during the eighties and early nineties. We found 
this information invaluable for the reason that the early files of the 
Webb City and ('arterville papers had not been preserved. 

There is one feature of our work which is not as complete as we had 
originally intended it to be, to-wit : the lodge and church chapters. In 
view of this we deem it proper to make a special explanation relative to 
these two important parts of the history. The statement briefly made 
is this: In May. 1911, we mailed out something like fifty letters to the 



iv INTRODUCTION 

pastors of different churches in the county, asking them to assist the au- 
thor in collecting the historic material for the church story. To these 
letters less than one-half replied and not having access to the records, 
we could not make as complete a church story as we had hoped to do. 
In like manner, some of the lodges of the county failed to provide us 
with desired information and mention of them was necessarily abbre- 
viated. However, we did not neglect the important part of the history, 
but obtained much information regarding the societies that did not re- 
spond to our request from the newspapers, mention being made of their 
several organizations. 

We believe that the information herein contained is authentic, — at 
least, we have used every effort to make it so, and if inaccuracies have 
crept into the book, it is because we have been misinformed. 

Again thanking the many persons who have assisted us in gather- 
ing the materials for the stories herein contained, we beg to be 

Respectfully, 

Joel T. Livingston. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I 
COUNTY TAKING FORM 

Early Explorations — Edmund Jennings — Civil Divisions Prior to 
County Organization — The County Named — The First Settlers 
— Cave Springs — A Few op the "Firsts" — Pioneer Life — Log 
Raising — The Spanish Caravan — Early Method of Filing on 
Land — Game and Wild Animals :> 



CHAPTER II 

CIVIL AND POLITICAL 

The Original Jasper County — First Township Organizations — 
Commission to Locate County Seat — Court House Built — First 
Carthage Houses — Early Provision for Good Roads — No Snap 
to Hold Office — First Session of the Circuit Court — Conspiracy 
or Riot Case — A New Court House Built — Early Political His- 
tory — County Officer, 1841-61 14 



CHAPTER III 

PIONEER SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES 

First School Section Sold — Pioneer School Districts — First School 
Described — First County School Commissioner — School Fund 
Greatly Augmented — The Carthage Female Academy — Organi- 
zation of the First Church — Building of the First Church — 
First Church and Rev. Greenville Spencer — Old-Fashioned 
Camp-Meetings — Rev. Harris Joplin and Rev. Anthony Bewler — 
Peace Church of Galena Township 22 



v i CONTENTS 

CHAPTER IV 

VARIOUS PIONEER EVENTS 

Mining Commenced at Leadville Hollow — First Lead Found in Jop- 
i.ix Cbbee Valley — Discovery of Lead Near Oronogo — The Freeze 
of 1848 — The Dragon* Fly Pest — Burning of Two Negroes — Go- 
ing to Mdll — Social Amusements — A School Teacher Tarred and 
Feathered — First Newspaper in the County — Old Sherwood — 
Towns in Jasper County- Before the War — First Census of the 
t Jounty 31 



CHAPTER V 
PRECEDING ACTUAL WARFARE 

Civil Organization Destroyed — Molding Influences — Armed Neu- 
trality Urged — Votes to Remain in the Union — Divided Senti- 
ment and Action — The Border Guakds — Fruitless Conferences — 
First Engagement at Boonville 45 



CHAPTER VI 

THE WAR IN JASPER COUNTY 

Confederate Forces — Movements of the Union Army — Battle of 
Carthage — Notes of the Battle — Price and McCollough Enter 
Carthage — County Raises a Confederate Regiment — County Rec- 
ords During the War — Medoc Skdjmish — The Corn Creek En- 
gagement — Shirley Ford 51 



CHAPTER VII 

THE WAR CONTINUED 

The Fourth MISSOURI and Jackman's Si-outs — Fisher's Company of 
United States Volunteers — The Sixth Kansas Scouts into the 
County — Two Skirmishes at French Point — Negro Regiment and 
Burning of Sherwood — a Girl's Daring and Bravery — Kath; 
Sill's Biscuit — Captain Burch's Scouts on Turkey Creek — 
Shelby's Raids — Removal of Confederate Famildxs — The Return 
of the Veterans 58 



CONTENTS vii 

CHAPTER VIII 

REORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY 

Cave Springs, Temporary County Seat — Honest John Onstott and 
the Treasury — Carthage Reestablished as the County Seat — 
Substantial New-Comers — Registration Under "Test Oath' - — 
County Officers (1865-70) — The Court of Common Pleas — Bus- 
iness Enterprises at the County Seat — Carthage Banks — Estab- 
lishment of the "Carthage Banner" — Towns Founded in the 
'Sixties — Town Population in 1869 67 



CHAPTER IX 
OP GENERAL COUNTY MOMENT 

Jasper County Votes Railway Bonds — Railroad Meetings — Why 
Railroad Bonds Were Destroyed — Reopening of the Mines — How 
the Name was Changed to Oronogo — The First Jasper County 
Fair — Churches During Reorganization Period — Township Sun- 
day School Conventions — Colony of Swedes 77 



CHAPTER X 

CARTHAGE HISTORY 

Carthage as a City — Public Schools Organized — County Teachers 
Better than Schoolhouses— " The Carthage Patriot "—County 
Celebrates July 4, 1869, at Carthage— The Masonic Fraternity 
— The Independent Order of Odd Fellows 83 



CHAPTER XI 

POLITICS AND RAILROADS 

Confederate Soldiers Reenfranchised (1870)— Township Organiza- 
tion Adopted (1872)— County Redistricted and Township Lines 
Changed— Judicial Districts— The Campaign of 1874— The New 
Constitution— Campaign of 1876— The Republican Rally— Demo- 
cratic Barbecue and Procession— Township Organization Abol- 
ished — The Campaign of 1878— Railroad Matters 89 



viii CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XII 
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS 

County Supervision of School — J. \Y. Jacob (1871-2) — "Spelling 
Down'' — Jasper County Teachers' Institute (1871) — School 
Exhibition — U. R. Webster (1872-3) — Jasper County Teachers' 
Institute (1873) — The Sixth District Teachers' Association — 
County School Commissioner (1875) — S. A. Underwood (1877-9) 
— State Teachers' Association (1878) — Singing School — Uni- 
form Text Book Law — Miscellaneous Notes 96 



CHAPTER XIII 

COUNTY SOCIETIES 

Objects of the Grange — Great Harvest Home Celebration — Pomo- 
logical and horticultural society — mcdonald township farm- 
ERS' Club — Jasper County' Sheep — Jasper County Immigration- 
Society — The Southwestern Medical Society — County Jail — 
Jasper County Old Settlers' Association — Colonel Young and 
the County of '65 109 



CHAPTER XIV 

MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS 

A Surprised Metropolitan — The Flood of 1872 — The Grasshoppers 
— Jasper County Ring Hunt — A Remarkable Jury 115 



CHAPTER XV 

CARTHAGE IN THE 'SEVENTIES 

Organized as a City — First Official Document — City Officers. 
1873-9 — Organization of Fire Department — Industries of the 
'Seventies — The Carthage Gas Works — Newspapers — Banks and 
Banking — The Kakr Hotel — TnE Carthage Opera House — Board 
of Trade — Railroad Rates — Building of the First School — High 
Scnooi. Course of Study — First Pupils — The Carthage Library 
120 



CONTENTS ix 

CHAPTER XVI 

CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES 

The Congregational, Church — The Methodist Church (South) 
— Grace Episcopal, Church — The Swedish Church — Colored 
Churches — The Methodist Church (North) — Presbyterian and 
Baptist Churches — Red Ribbon Movement — Knights op Pythias 
— The I. 0. 0. F. Lodges — The Masons — Carthage Light Guard — 
The Carthage Pioneer Club . 132 



CHAPTER XVII 

FOUNDING OF JOPLIN 

The First Settlers — Blytheville Postoffice — John C. Cox — First 
Mining at Joplin — Mr. Cox Plats Joplin — Rev. Harris Joplin 
— The Franklin School — Moppet and Sergeant — First News- 
paper Mention — Town op Joplln Platted — Murphysburg, or West 
Joplin — Clark Craycroft Arrives — First Meal at Joplin 's Hotel 
— Murphysburg Makes Rapid Growth — Joplin-Murphysburg 
(Spring of '72) — Joplin as a Mining Camp — The "Reign of Ter- 
ror" — The Man op the Hour — Union City — Early Legislation — ■ 
Dissolution — Lone Elm — Early Newspapers — Postoffice for 
Union City — Joplin 's First "Fourth op July" — The Miners' 
Union — First Odd Fellows' Lodge — First Election — Organiza- 
tion op Schools — School of West Joplin — East Joplin Literary 
Society — First Church — The M. E. Church South — St. Peter's 
Roman Catholic Church — The African M. E. Church — Joplin 
and Baxter Stage Line — Amusement Halls — Race Track — Value 
op Zinc Discovered 1 41 



CHAPTER XVIII 

JOPLIN IN 1873 

Union Movement Started — Joplin 's Birthday — The Spirit op Joplin 
— E. R. Moffet — Joplin City Script — Main Street Graveled — 
Joplin and Galena Townships — Mining and Smelting — Zinc — 
Exhibit at World's Fair, Vienna— The First City Election 
— Opening of East Joplin Schools — Churches Organized During 
1873 165 



x CONTEXTS 

CHAPTER XIX 

JOPLIN IN THE MIDDLE 'SEVENTIES 

Saloons in 1875 — Schifferdicker's Garden in 1876 — The Lupton 
Riot — Blowing up of Hannibal Lead and Zinc Company's Plant 
— City Election of October, 1874 — Patrick Murphy — Township 
Elections in 1874: — Destructive Fire in November, 1874 — The 
Joplin Hotel, — Court of Common Pleas — Land Owners' Asso- 
ciation — Joplin 's First Circus — First Theatre — Fourth of 
July, 1875 — Hugh Dyer & Company, Boiler Works — Hack Lines 
to Carthage and Neosho — Board of Trade — Fire Department — 
City Election, 1875 — East Joplin Public Library — Bruce 
Younger — Joplin at the Centennial — City Election, Centennial 
— F. E. Williams — Presidential Election, in 1876 — Society 
Mask-ball December 28, 1876 — The Riseling Building — The East 
Joplin School — The West Joplin Schools — Lone Elm School — 
The Christian Chuech — Catholic Church — The Baptists — Build- 
ing of the Tabernacle — First Church Wedding — The Fraterni- 
ties — Joplin Turnverein Germania 174 



CHAPTER XX 

IN THE LATER 'SEVENTIES 

Joplin and Girard Railway — -The Missouri and Northwestern — 
Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf — A City of Holes — Death of 
Joshua P. Taylor — Something About Black Jack — Board of 
Trade — Building of the Presbyterian Church — The Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows — Ancient Order of United Workmen — The 
White Lead Works — The Granby Smelter — The Joplin Opera 
House — The "Herald" — The Miners' Bank — Joplin Gas Works 
—The Francis Murphy Movement — Old Skating Rink — Fire De- 
partment Reorganized — Joplin Expositions — Harmon's Foundry 
— Schools — City Politics — Willie Watson's Christmas Sock- 
Webb City — G. P. Ashcraft — Webb City as a Town — As a 
Fourth-Class City — First Church — The Blunt Raid — Carter- 
ville — Oronogo — Other Towns 199 

CHAPTER XX [ 

COUNTY POLITICS 

The "Boys in Blue"— "329" Presentation to Col. W. F. Cloud — 
Campaign of 1882 — 1884-8 — Local Option Election 1887 — Court 
House Elections — Campaign of 1888 — Webb City Democratic 
Flambeau Club — County Schools in the 'Eighties — J. M. Stev- 
enson 1887-93— Tin-; Jasper Counts Teachers" Norm w 225 



CONTENTS xi 

CHAPTER XXII 

CITY OF CARTHAGE 

Officers and City Politics — Temperance and Local Option — The 
Harrington Hotel— Carthage Woolen Mill — White Marble and 
Lime — Volunteer Fire Department — Schools — The Allen Ora- 
torical Contest — Carthage Collegiate Institute — M. E. Church 
— -Major Cole's Revival — Carthage Light Guard — -Christmas 
Postoffice Surprises — Firemen 's Tournament, June 12-14, 1888 — 
Entertains the Grand Lodge, K. of P. — Jasper Commandery No. 
31, K. T. — The Skating Rink — Carthage City Hall 233 

CHAPTER XXIII 

JOPLIN, CIVIC AND BUSINESS 

The White Lead Works — Zinc Factory — Woolen Mill — Joplin 
Flouring Mill — First Street Car Line — Water Works — Build- 
ing and Loan Association — -The Joplin Club — Introduction of 
Telephone — Electric Lights — City Politics and Affairs — Fire 
Department — Banks and Banking — The North Road — The 
Splitlog (Kansas City & Southern) Railway — Schools During 
the 'Eighties — Formal Adoption of High School Course — Arbor 
Day — First Commencement — High School Library — District 
of Joplin Organized — College of Physicians and Surgeons. .255 

CHAPTER XXIV 

JOPLIN, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL 

First M. E. Church — Methodist Church South — Temperance Re- 
vival — First Society of Christian Endeavor — Young Men 's Chris- 
tian Association — Mite Socdsties — Among the Lodges — 0. P. 
Morton Post, No. 14, G. A. R. — Knights of the Golden Eagle — 
Odd Fellows' Anniversary Day — Southeast Kansas Pythian Ex- 
cursion — Germania Society — First Observance of Labor Day — ■ 
Knights of Pythias Ball, 1889 — Chautauqua Societies — Found- 
ers' Day — Joplin 's Society — In Honor of Ex-Mayor Williams' 
Bride — Visit of General Sherman 273 

CHAPTER XXV 

MILITARY AND SPECTACULAR 

The Joplin Rifles — Joplin Zouaves — Mardi Gras in Joplin — Joplin 
Exposition — Fourth of July, 1885 — The Procession — Sham Bat- 
tle — A Story of Spanish Adventure 285 



xii CONTENTS 

CHAPTEK XXVI 
WEBB CITY 

Business in the 'Eighties— " Webb City Times"— City Politics— 
Among the Lodges— The Fire Department — Destructive Fire 
(1883)— Leap Year Parties (1884)— K. P. Masquerade Ball— In 
Honor of Mr. and Mrs. W. C Stewart— Webb City's Second Bank. 
207 

CHAPTER XXVII 

CARTERVILLE AND OTHER MATTERS 

Carterville During the 'Eighties — First Modern Mining Mill — City 
Government Reorganized — The Churches — Schools — Volunteer 
Fire Department — Among the Lodges — Carterville 's First Paper 
— Cadets — Jasper County's Military — Fifth Regiment. Missouri 
State Guard — Regimental Camp at Carthage — Ben D. Earing 's 
Camp Meeting — Cold Winter of 1884 — Makket Reports in 1885 — 
Mineral Township Railway Bonds — Oronogo Cyclone — I. 0. 0. F. 
Celebration, 1886 — Lehigh — Belville-Zinate — The Sarcoxte Fair. 
307 

CHAPTER XXVIII 
COUNTY AT LARGE 

County Politics — Exciting Campaign o» 1896 — Building of the 
County Court Houses — Corner Stone Laid of Joplin Court 
House — The Court House at Carthage — Dedication of the Court 
House — At the South West Missouri Teachers' Association of 
1890 — The Teachers' Normal — At the World's Fatr, Chicago 
(1893) — The Inter State Chautauqua Assembly — Building of 
the Inter Urban Street Railway System — Annual Banquet of 
the Jasper County Electric Club — The Good Roads Movement — 
Jasper-Newton County Old Settlers' Association — The Grippe 
in Jasper County 319 

CHAPTER XXIX 
MINES AND MINIXC 

New Prospecting and Mechanical Bra — Duenweg — Neck City — 
Reeds — Prosperity — Mining Around Carthage; — Alba. Sarcoxxe 

\\r> Elsewhere — Output <>f District for Decade -W> 



CONTENTS xiii 

CHAPTER XXX 

MILITARY MATTERS 

Second Regiment Organized into Two Battalions — Letters Replace 
Old Names — First Appearance at St. Louis — The First Regi- 
mental Camp — Camp Cunningham, August 15-22, 1897 — Sham 
Battle — Carthage Honors Her Dead — The United Confederate 
Veterans — Semi-Military Societies — The Third Regiment, U. R. 
K. P.— Patriarchs Militant, I. 0. 0. F 340 

CHAPTER XXXI 

CARTHAGE IN THE 'NINETIES 

Local Politics and Municipal Affairs — Building of the City Light 
Plant — City Park — Newspapers — Banks and Banking — Orator- 
ical and Declamatory Contests — Carthage Federation of Wo- 
men's Clubs — Whist Contests — Reunion of the Sixth Kansas 
Cavalry,' U. S. V 350 

CHAPTER XXXII 
LODGE AND SOCIAL EVENTS 

T. M. C. A. Permanently Organized — Congregational Church Cal- 
endar Fair — I. 0. 0. F. Natal Day — The Uniform Rank, Knights 
of Pythias — Knights of Pythias Decoration Day — Knights of 
Pythias Columbian Ball— Oglesby Camp, Sons of Veterans, 
Memorial Monument— The Grand Army of the Republic — 
Ascension Day, 1891 — Thirtieth Anniversary of Blue Lodge — 
Department Encampment, G. A. R 356 

CHAPTER XXXIII 

JOPLIN IN THE 'NINETIES 

Local Politics and Municipal Affairs — The Opening of Wall 
Street — Opening and Building of East Seventh Street — Build- 
ing of the City Light Plant — Banks and Banking — Joplin Re- 
covers from the Panic of '93 — South Jolpin — Joplin Special 
Road District — Joplin Electric Railway — Cunningham's Grove 
Becomes a City Paek— The "Joplin Daily Globe"— Joplin 
Telephone Company — Redell's Deep Well — Volunteer Fire- 
men's Tournaments — The Paid Department 363 



xiv CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XXXIV 

JOPLIN EDUCATIONAL TOPICS 

New High School — School District Enlarged — High School 
Alumni — First Alumni Banquet and Reunion — On the Ap- 
proved List — Public School Cadet Corps — Columbian Parade — 
Arbor Day, 1893 — Joplin Teachers Visit Kansas City — Manual 
Training — School Officials (1890-9) — Alumni of High School 
— Joplin Students at Baird College — Joplin Business College 
— Beginning of the Library Movement — Club Women — The 
Emerson Club — 1872 Board Entertains 1892 Board — Old Set- 
tlers' Association 375 

CHAPTER XXXV 

SOCIAL, BENEVOLENT AND CHARITABLE 

The Masons — Knights Templar — In Honor of John Gillis — A. 0. U. 
W. 4th of July, 1894 — Canton Lincoln No. 17, Partriarchs Mil- 
itant — The Rebekahs — The Woodmen — The Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows — Knights of Pythias — M. W. A. Log Rolling — 
The Germania Society — First Elks Street Fair— Young Men's 
Christian Association — Entertains the State Y. M. C. A. Con- 
vention — The Joplin Chakitable Union — Potato Day — A Novel 
Entertainment — The Joplin Children's Home 386 

CHAPTER XXXVI 

MUNICIPAL AND MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS 

Joplin Club Assumes City Problems — Club House and Theater Ded- 
icated — Other Joplin Club Topics — Company G, Second Regi- 
ment, N. G. M. — Relief Association — The "Herald's" Company 
G Box — Grand Army Encampment of 1893 — The Parade — The 
Camp Fire — Election South West Missouri Protective Associa- 
tion Picnic — The Joplin Cycle Club 39;t 

CHAPTER XXXVII 

WEBB CITY 

Political History During the 'Nineties — School System for Twenty- 
five Years — The Webb City College — Newspapers — Building of 
the Newland Hotel — Reception by Webb City Lodge, No. 1 1 -"> . 
K. P.— Webb City Division, No. 11, U. R. K. P.— The Eberts- 
Wright Stag Party 415 



CONTENTS xv 

CHAPTER XXXVI11 

CHAPTER XXXVIII 

Newspapers — The Carterville Bank — Public Schools — Churches — 
Among the Lodges — Carterville Bands — Carl Junction — Sar- 
coxie — Oroxogo — Asbury 424 

CHAPTER XXXIX 

GENERAL COUNTY TOPICS 

County Politics — The County Schools — State Course op Study — 
Jasper County Teachers' Institute — State University S. W. 
Missouri Alumni Association— Purcell — La Russell — Building a 
Church in a Day — Semi-Military Societies — Railroads — Visit of 
the Geological Society op America — The Drought op 1901 — The 
Other Extreme — Waters on a Tear 437 

CHAPTER XL 

MINING AND BANKING 

Fifteen Years' Mineral Output — Prices for Twelve Yeabs — Strike 
at Oronogo — Banks and Banking — The Panic of 1907 — Business 
Carried on by Checks — Jasper County Bankers' Association — 
The Joplin Clearing House 449 

CHAPTER XLI 

OLD-TIMERS FROM EVERYWHERE 

Last Reunion of Joplin Old Settlers Association — President Car- 
ter's Address— "Old Settlers' Ode to Joplin"— The Toasts and 
Speakers— Personnel of Those Present— Oldest Living Pioneer 
— State Picnics and Organizations 4-55 

CHAPTER XLII 

(iEXERAL JOPLTX MATTERS 

Extension of City Limits— City Census in 1905-10— The City Park 
System — East Joplin Improvement Association — Joplin 's Fire 
Department — Municipal Officers, 1900-11 — Joplin as a Conven- 
tion City— Republican State Convention, 1902 — Democratic 
State Convention, 1904— Newspapers— Railroads and New Union 
Depot — The Heim Street Car Line 464 



xvi CONTENTS 

CHAPTEE XLIII 

EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS 

.Manual Training, Music, and Summer Normal, — Inculcating Love 
of the Beautiful, — Size of Joflin District and Teaching Force 
— Compulsory Education — The Truant School, — The Play 
Ground Idea — Recent Additions to School Work — Visitors' Day 
— The High School Alumni — Alumni Banquets — School Offi- 
cials — The Joplin Public Library — The Churches of Joplin — 
First Congregational Church — Three Colored Churches Built 
— Billy Sunday — The Brotherhood Movement — The Young 
Men's Christian Association — Joplin Churches in Brief.... 474 



CHAPTER XLIV 

THE NEGRO LYNCHING AND THE RIOT 

Murder of Policeman Leslie — Capture of the Murderer — The Jail 
Battered in — Awful Lynching of Gilyard — Clearing Out the 
Negro Quarters — Law and Order in Control — Final Result. .496 

CHAPTER XLV 

JOPLIN 'S FRATERNITIES 

The Red Man — The Eagles — The Elks — Knights of Pythias — 
— Rathbone Sisters— El Plomo Temple, No. 126, D. 0. K. K. — 
The Scottish Rite Masons — Joplin Chapter Rose Croix, No. 3 — 
Joplin Council, No. 3, Knights of Kodosh — The Consistory — 
Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons — W. 0. W. Log Rolling — 
Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias — Grand Commandery, Knights 
Templar — Ball in a Mine — State Encampment, United Con- 
federate Veterans — Grand Army of the Republic Matters — 
Company F, Second Regiment, M. N. G 503 

CHAPTER XLVI 

GENERAL CLUB AND SOCIAL LIFE 

Joplin Club's Social Session. January 1, 1900 — Presidents. 1900- 
1911 — Missouri Bankers' Association — Joplin Women Entertain 
Federated Clubs — The American Mining Congress — The Salt and 
Pepper Ci.ru Joplin Choral Union 522 



CONTENTS xvii 

CHAPTER XLVII 

CITY OF CARTHAGE 

Local Politics and Municipal Affairs — Municipal Water Works 
System — Board of Public Works — Central Park — Carthage 
Schools During the Last Decade — Superintendent J. M. White 
Returns — Teachers' Reception by President Logan — School 
Children Help Beautify Carthage — Arbor Day, 1903 — Carthage 
High School Alumni — The Free Public Library — Eastern Star 
and Its Silver Anniversary — The M. W. A. Log Rolling — Knights 
of Pythias — The Chautauqua — The Missouri State Bankers ' As- 
sociation — Company A, Second Regiment, N. G. M. — The Knell 
Fair 533 



CHAPTER XLVIII 

WEBB CITY AND CARTERVILLE 

Political History During the Last Decade — The Public School 
System — The New High School Building — Public Schools' 
Teaching Staff — Church Edifices and Church Work — Jane 
Chinn Hospital — Salvation Army Hospital — The Young Men's 
Christian Association — The Odd Fellows — Fourth of July 
Celebration in 1904 — Webb City Centenarian— A Reminiscence 

Party — Company , Second Regiment, N. G. M. — Newspapers 

of Webb City — The "Carterville Record - ' 551 



INDEX 



A. A. S. l;., Joplin Lodge of Perfection, No. 

5, 510 
Abernethy, Elbert C, 70'i 
Adams, A. V., 3 12 
Adams, Jesse. 22s 
Adkins, Henry, 437 
Aebuff, ,1. G.,*234 
African M. E. church, Joplin, 161 
Alba. 821, 33S 

Alba school, 100, 104 

Alcott school, 475 
Alderman, J. K., 30 
Aldrich, Joseph E„ 771 
Ale, Andrew C. 941 
Allen, Mrs. A. V„ 172 
Allen, C. ('.. '.'2. 122, 2 17. 249 
Allen, Henry, :I40 
Allen. Mrs. M. C, 373 
Allen oratorical contest, 236 
Allen, T. R.. 109 
Alexander, Robert X.. 438 
Allington, John, 158 

Allison, William A.. 7 5 

American Minim.' Congress (1907) at Joplin, 

528 
Amity district school, 104 
Ammerman, .lack (.'., 735 
Amsdcn. Mis. .1. \V. B., 492 
Amsden. Lucius, 11 1 
Amusements. :;; 

Ancient Order of United Workmen— Car 
ville, 130; Joplin, 278, 279, 388 

Andrews, William, 438 
Andrews. William X., 590 
Antics, A. A.. 125, 127, 128 
Arbor Day | L903) Carthage, 540; Joplin, 

179 
Armstrong, John, 437 

Arnold, Mercer. 657 
Arnold. Philip, 190, 195, 231, 207, 15S 
Arnold, W. Philip, 383 
Arlington, C. C, 30 
Asbaugh, TF. II.. 80 

isbury, 133 

Ascension Commandery, No. 39, K. T., . 
lin, 276 

Vscension day, 1891, celebrated by Knij 
i emplar, 360 

Vsh. Joseph 1 1., 910 
Ashcraft, 1).. 227 

Ashcraft, Granville IV. 212. 219, 21::. 857 
Ashcraft, Lon I... 137, 138 
Asl, craft. W. A.. 215 

Uhley, G. 11.. [33 



ter- 



568, 



lop- 
■llts 



Usessors, 226, 22;. 229, -I;'. 321, 4..7 
Atherton, II. A., 319 
Atkinson, Walter, 266 

Automobile lire-righting apparatus. ■.Inplin, 467 
Avilla, 41, 42, 7b 
A\ lor, lien (.'.. 558, 560 
Axline, Theodric, 416 

Axton. Jesse, 410 

Babst, C. W., 1SS 
Bailey, John C, 227 
Bailey, John, 344, 550 
Bailey, J. H., 1042 
BaileV, J. 1!.. 220 
ltaines, E. \\'„ 238 
Baird, Arch M.. 1010 
Baird, Ernest II., 42s. S46 
Baker, Alvin J., 649 
Baker, Mrs. Beekie (Sharp). 4sT 
Baker, s. A.. 4S4 
Baker, Theodore B.. 1047 
Bank of Carl Junction, 431 
Bank of Cartilage, 352 
Bank of Carterville, 125 
I '.a nk of Joplin, 170-264 
Bank of ( >ronogo, 132 

Banking— In Carthage during tin seventies, 
125 — Bank of Joplin, 170; Joplin banks es- 
tablished in the eighties, 264; Webb City's 
second bank (1SS9), 306; in Carthage during 
I lie nineties, 252: in Joplin during the nine- 
ties. 367 ; at Carterville during the nineties. 
125; in Jasper county during 1900-11, 151; 
panic of 1907, 151 ; business carried on b\ 
checks. 152: Jasper Comity Banker,' Asso 
ciation, 153; the Joplin Clearing House 
Association, 153 
Ball, John I'... 1030 
Bale, Hardy II., 1065 
Ballard, Charles. 333 
Ballard, D. 1'.. 177 
Balsley, Martin 'I'.. 346, 670 
Baptist church, Carthage, si. 
Barbee, Fred,. rick II.. 175. 588 
Barbee. Gilbert, 259, 172. 491 
Barber, V. II.. 185 
Barker, George, L5 
Barker, .1. Will. 688 
Barley, John ('.. 319 
I'.arnctt, .1. .1.. 512 
Barr, A. c. 287 
I'.arr. (Mrs.) C. E., 395 192 
Bartlett. Eayre 0., 205 
592 



:v: I. Mic, 4 56. 522, 524, 



Will 



INDEX 



Bartlett, Nellie, 413 

Barton, Frank, 476 

Batcheller, Henry I., 559 

Bateman House, 151 

Bates, Leslie E., 837 

Bates, Sardis W., 829 

Baxla, W., 72 

Baxter, Annie W.. 319 

Bayne. George C, 510 

Beach, E. W., 270, 410, 520 

Beach, S. W., 158 

Becker, Julius, 529 

Becker, Julius A., 739 

Beckman, Martin, 863 

Beddingfield, J. W.. 427 

Beeiiier, J. C. 93 

Bell, Mrs. J. W., 492 

Bell. Robert, 445 

Bell. T. H., 333 

Bellas, Thomas R., 1029 

Belden. Charles H„ 370, 621 

Belville, 315 

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Jop 

lin Lodge No. 501, 391 
Bennett. Josiah, 337 
Benoneine, E., 161 
Benton, M. E., 540 
Berry, George R., 1063 
Besse. Furrow. 962 
Belts, James P., 90 
Bewler. Anthony, 29, 30 
Billick, O. D., 476 
Bistline, Viola, 557 
Black, George H.. 1037 
Block. William II.. S68 
Black. William L., 1034 
BJackwell, Amsel T., 764 
Blackwell, Henry, :;:; 
Blackwell (Joplin') Opera House. 205 
Blackwell. Z. T., 74S 
Blakeney, George, 91 
Blair, David E„ 43S, 600 
Blankenship, James B.. 521 
Blendville, 372 
Blockwell, Henry, 146 
Blood, Cable, 81 
Blood district school, 104 
Blow. Peter E.. 282 
Blowing up of the Hannibal L. & Z. Co.'i 

plant, Joplin, 178 
Blunt raid (The), 218 
Blythe, Billy. 142 
Blytheville, 142, 156 
Bobbitt. Arthur N., 692 
Bodkin, W. A., 95 
Boggess, Samuel C, 855 
Boggs, E. J., 410 
Bolen. James A., 91, 196 
Bolton, Dan. 1074 
Bond. Ray, 811 
Bonhan.. R. C. 1001 
Boonville, battle of, 50 
Border Guards, 49 
Botkin, Mrs. E. R.. 519 
Botkin. Mary H., 1013 
Boucher, Leon S.. 759 
Bourne, Edgar A.. 607 
Bowman, A. B., 206 
Bowman, D., 164 
Bowman, F. A., 194 
Boyd. George A.. 988 



Boyd, Harry T., 598 

Boyd, Henry B., 993 

Boyd, J. Jay, 994 

Boyd, John B., 429 

Boyd, Richard C. 989 

"Boys in Blue," Carthage, 225 

Bradbury, Alonzo, 151 

Bradbury, Jacob N., 963 

Brader, Mrs. Mary, 526 

Braeckel, Frank 11., 742 

Bradford, George H., 320 

Bradshaw, Thomas S., 521 

Brand-Dunwoody Milling Company, :.:.">? 

Bray, W. L., 308 

Brewster, C. H., 206 

"Brick Hotel," 181 

Bright. Henry L., 438 

Briggs, J. L..' 202-261-276 

Briggs, Mis. .1. L., 409 

Bright, Samuel B., 14. 23 

Brinkerhoffer, W. E.. 353 

Bristow, Barney. 226 

Broadhurst, James. 5:: 

Brock. James W., 903 

Broekman, W. L., 512 

Brooks, Charles, 476 

Brooks. William ('., 1 111 

Brookshire. William H., 1011 

Brotherhood of the First Presbyterian ( hurch 

of Joplin. 489, 558 
B. P. 0. E„ Joplin Lodge, 504 
Brown, Charles. 243 
Brown, Daniel, 234 
Brown, H., 95 
Brown, J. A.. 512 
Brown, Lyman F., 225, 234 
Brown. Marion, 321 
Brown, Paul, 327. 4S4. 4S8 
Brown. R. P.. 466 
Brown, W. B.. 380. 429 
Brownsell wagon factory. 121 
Bruce, Lelia, ">."j7 
Brunnet, George. 3r!. r : 
Brunnin. L. 215 
Bryant, John. 101 
Buchanan, .Miss D. Lorane. :;■_'"> 
Buchanan, George V.. 475, 185 
Buchanan, J. P... 235 
Buck. Evan S„ 901 
Buckbee. Thomas. 225. 234 
Buckhanon, Andrew. S. 26 
Budlong, D. 11.. SO. 83, 95 
Building a church in a dav at Alba. 442 
Bulgin, W. <:., 67 
Bullock. Charles L.. 623 
Burch. E. M., 72 
Burch. Edward .1.. 1002 
Burch, J. W.. 94. 238 
Burch, Milton. 62 
Burch, William C, 60S 
Burgess, Charles, 761 
Burgess, George W., 100S 
Burkhalder. W. T.. 227 
Burning of two negroes. 35 
Burning of Sherwood, 59 
Burns, R. C, 476 
Burns. W. O.. 176 
Burr. L. B., 266 
Burr. L. Z, 193. 267 
Burris, J. II.. 159 
Burton, Perlee E., 791. 879 



XX 



INDEX 



Butcher, I . E., (-'.< 
Butcher, Frederick E., 1076 

Butler. R. 1 •'.. 234 

Hints, Willard I... 823 

Units, William I... 517 

Byers, William. 94, 146 

Byers Avenue church, Joplin, 188 

Byera school, 4?.". 

i abbanis, John I!.. 76 

Cadet s\ -triii in Joplin public schools, 477 

Caffee, A, II.. 71. 220, 233. 237. 247. 352, 546 

i Eaffee, Amu- II.. Jr., S47 

Caffee, W. K.. 71, 138, 243, 312, 340, 342, 407 

Calm. Al, 125, 249, 360, HM 

( aldwell, C. C, 132 

i aldwell, S. II.. 67, 196 

i aldw ell, Thomas, 67 

i air. Harvej A.. 918 

Calhoun, W. W.. 237. :;:, i 

Calhoun, William L.. :>40. '.Mi.'. 

Calvary Baptist church, Joplin, 488 

Cameron, E. 1'.. 673 

Cameron, Robert A., s::, s.-,. 93, 119, 176 

Camp Allen, '■'■i\ 

Camp Caffee, 341 

Camp Cunningham, :;-4 1 

Camp Fire at Joplin Club Theatre, 412 

1 amp meetings, 29 

Campbell. Mrs. Alex (nee Josie Cox). 144 

Campbell, D. K.. 204, 218 

Campbell, I. C. 237 

Campbell, James, .'S33 

Campbell, J. W\. 225 

1 a tnpbell, Lee. 46.S 

Campbell, M. V.. 332 

Cant. .11 Lincoln No. 10. Patriarchs Militant. 

T. O. 0. F., 277, 388 
Carey. .Mrs. A. A.. 409 
I 'airy. Jessie. 5.">7 
Carl' Junction, 148, 221. 431 
Carl Junction Commercial Club. 131 
Carlisle, S. II.. 30 
Carlton, E. W\. 424 
Carmean, A. F.. 437. 43s 
1 arnegie, Andrew. 486 
1 arpenter, S. D„ 85, 108 
Carson. A. W. (Kit). 206 
Carson, Gib W., 515 
Carson. W. S., 227 
Carter. A. G., 321 
Carter. John A.. 12.1 
Carter, W. M.. 153, 383. 384 
Carter. William. 1">2, 161, 431 
I'artn villi- Mention, 210. 220, 307-10; in 
corporated, 220; city government reorgan- 
ized. 307; tire department. 308 
Carterville Cornet Band. 431 
Carterville Female Band. 431 
Carterville high school building, 425 
•Carterville Journal," 424 
Carterville Lodge No. 314, I. O. 0. F.. 309 
"Carterville Mining News," 424 

Carterville Mining Review," 309 

"Carterville Record," 566 

Carthage Mention. 10. 11. 42. 115, 70, 70. 
338: as a city, 83; public Bchools organized, 
84; county teachers better than school- 
house-. 34; Hi.- "Carthage Patriot," 65; 
county celebrates Julj t. 1869, 85; tin- Ma 
sonic fraternity. 85; Independent Order of 



Odd Fellows, sti ; organized as a city 
(1872-31. 120; city officers (1873-9), 121; 
organization of tire department, 122; in- 
dustries of t he seventies, 122; the Carthage 
gas works, 124; banks and banking, 125; 
the Kan Motel, 126; the Carthage Opera 
House. 127; Carthage Board of Trade, 
127; railroad rates. 127; building of the 
first school, 127; high school course of 
study. 120; first pupils. 130; Carthage 
Literary Soriet.\. L30; the Carthage library. 
130: in the eighties, 233-254; in the nine- 
ties. 350-362; during 1900-1, 534-550. 

Carthage court house. 324 325 

Carthage City Hall, 254 

Carthage city light plant, 352 

Carthage city park. 352 

Cartilage market reports (1885), 312 

Carthage woolen mills. 122, 234 

Carthage white marble. 235 

"Carthage Banner." 75, TO. 98, 140. 226. 243, 
250 

Carthage, battle of, 52 

Carthage Blue Lodge, thirtieth anniversary. 
361 

Carthage Board of Trade. 126 

Carthage Collegiate Institute. 230 

"Carthage Democrat." 3:>2 

Carthage Division No. 34 of the U. R. K. P., 
; ; J - 

Carthage Encampment, I. O. O. F.. 137 

Carthage Federation of Women's Clubs. 353 

Carthage Free Public Library. 546 

Carthage Female Academy. 20 

Carthage high school course of study, 128 

Carthage High School Alumni. 540 

Carthage Light Guard, 137. 249. 243. 247. 250. 

310. 340 
Carthage Literary Society, 130 
Carthage Lodge No. 197, A. 1'. & A. M.. 85. 137 
Carthage Opera House. 126 
■Carthage Patriot." 85 
Carthage Pioneer Club, 138 
Carthage skating rink. 253 
Carthage volunteer tire department, 235 
Carthage waterworks, 534 
Case, George A.. 130. 264. 367 
Casebolt, Job, 945 
Casebolt. William. 0SO 
Casner, E. S.. 606 
Cassel, Edward, 234 
Cassel, G. A.. 352 
Cassell, C. A.. 71. 75. 77 
Cassil, Ed. P.. 247 
Catholic church, Joplin, 194 
Catholic church, Webb City, 559 
Catron. C. C, 346, 535 
Caulkins, Frank W., 560 
Caulkins, Colonel W. R.. 516 
( lave Springs, 8, 67 
Cawswell. Ceorge B., 342 
Cedar Bluffs school. 101 
Census reports, 42, 88. 221. 318. 567 
Center district school, loo 
Center Creek (Minersville). 79 
I enter Creek valley. 79 
Centerville (Sarcoxie), 9 
Central Christian church. Joplin, 4vs 
Central National Bank, Carthage. 352 
Central Park, Carthage. 535 
Century Club, Joplin, 382 



INDEX 



xxi 



Chaddle, Miss M. E., 98 

Chaliee, Jerome B., 438, 533 

Chamberlain, Jock, 422 

Charter Oak school, 99 

Chatelle, Napoleon B., S21 

Chenault, John R., 8, 15, IS, 23. 24. 47, 55 

Chenoweth, Charles F., 565 

Chenoweth, L. C., 560 

Chiekering, Henry I.., 712 

Children's Home of Joplin, 491 

Chinn, Charles R., 565 

Chinn, Mr. and Mrs. Charles R.. 555, 560 

Chinn. C. R., Jr., 560, 830 

Chinn, W. S., 229 

Chinnourth, F. M., 208 

Chitwood, Ed. H., 438 

Chitwood, S. J., 437 

Chitwood, 464 

Christian church, Webb City, 559 

Churches — Organization of first, 26; building 
of the first church, 27; old-fashioned camp 
meetings, 29; Rev. Harris Joplin and Rev. 
Anthony Bewler, 29; Peace church of Ga- 
lena township, 30; during reorganization 
period, 80; Carterville in the eighties, 308; 
at Carterville. during the nineties. 429; 
Carthage in the seventies, 132-135; organ- 
ized in Joplin (1873), 172; in Joplin during 
the seventies, 191-195; in Joplin during 
1900-11, 487-491; organized in Webb City 
in the later seventies, 217; in Webb City 
during 1900-11, 558-560 

Circuit court — Mention of. 17, 67. 73; judges, 
1841-61, 21, 226 

Circuit clerks, 94, 227, 319, 321 

Civil war — Civil organization destroyed, 45; 
molding influences, 45; armed neutrality 
urged, 46; votes to remain in the Union, 
47 ; divided sentiment and action, 47 ; the 
Border Guards. 49 ; fruitless conferences, 
49; first engagement at Boonville, 50; Con- 
federate forces, 51; movements of the 
I'nion army, 51; battle of Carthage, 52; 
Price and McCollough enter Carthage, 54; 
county raises a Confederate regiment, 54; 
Ihe Livingston Scouts. 54; county records 
during the war; Medoc skirmish. 55; the 
Coon creek engagement, 55 ; Shirley Ford, 
57; Fisher's company of United States 
Volunteers, 58; two skirmishes at French 
Point, 59; negro regiment and burning of 
Sherwood, 59; a girl's daring and bravery, 
60; Katie Sill's biscuit, 61; at Diamond 
Grove, 62; Captain Burch scouts on Turkey 
creek, 62; Shelby's raid, 62; removal of 
Confederate families. 63; the return of the 
veterans, 63 

(lark. Albert P., 665 

Clark, Charles, 321 

Clark, Joseph A.. 620 

Clark. W. M.. 512 

Clark. Samuel F., 438 

Clark, S. T.. 551 

Clav. George R., 644 

Claycomb, S. H.. 227, 472 

Cleaveland. Winfield M., 331. 4S9. 650 

Cleveland. William P., 413, 1050 

Clehouse, J. W.. 162 

Cline, Harmon C, 287 
Cloe. William. 75 
Cloud. W. F.. 226 



(-•loud, W. H.. 71, 72 

Club women of Joplin, 382 

Cochran, W. B., 193 

Coffee, W. K., 324 

( toffin, Dennis, 93 

Coghzer, Samuel W., 785 

Cohenour, W. ( .'.. 229 

( lohenour, W. s.. :;i<i 

Cold winter of 1884-5, 311 

Cole, Herman C, 1072 

Cole's (Major) revival. Carthage, 243 

Coleman. Lyman M., 7S4 

Coleman, Norman J., 109 

Collectors, 94, 226, 227, 229, 319, 321 4:;r 

Colley, Walter, 475, 1057 

Colley, W. B., 439 

Colley (negro), 35 

Collins, Daniel, 177, 182 

Colly, Walter B., 441 

Colman, A., 134 

Colored churches built in Joplin (1903). 489 

( 'oiler, J. E., 394 

i Columbia, J. C. 216 

Columbia school. 475 

Columbian parade. Joplin. 37s 

Common pleas court, 73, 181 

Company A, Fifth Regiment, X. G. M., (see 

Carthage Light Guard) 
Company F. Second Regiment. M. X. G., 520 
Compton, H.. 43S 
Compton, H. Clyde. 517 
Compulsory education. 476 
Conditional Union party, 47 
Congregational church. Cartilage. 132 
Congregational church calendar fair, Carthage, 

356 

Connor. Thomas. 185, 259, 489 

Conrad. C. 91, 352 

Conspiracy or riot case. 18 

Cook. Frederick S.. 793 

Cook. S. A., 1061 

Cook. W. L, 512 

Cooke, Lawrence F., 565 

Cooley. George T.. 886 

Cooley, Samuel B.. 23, 24 

Cooley, S. M.. 14 

Coon, Byron H., 43S, 1032 

Coon Creek engagement. 55 

Cooper, Bennett J.. 977 

Coplen, Isaac E.. 923 

Corl, G. F. C, 417 

Oorlett, Eva, 475 

Corn. S. B„ 156 

Cornish, Harry E.. 800 

Coroners, 93, 226, 22S. 229, 319, 321, 437 

Coulter, J. E., 490 

Coulter, Mrs. J. E.. 4»o 

County clerks, 21, 67, 73, 91. 227, 319. 321 

County commissioners. 227 

County court, 67. 72. 91. 93, 94 

County court houses, 3.21-324 

County officers— From 1841 to 1861, 21: from 
1865 to 70, 72 

County jail built, 112 

County judges (1841-61), 21 

County school commissioners. 73, 102. 231 

County seat — Located, 15; Cave Springs tem- 
porary county seat, 67; Carthage re-estab- 
lished as the county seat, 70 

Countv surveyors, 93, 220. 227. 229. 321. 137 



XXI 1 



INDKX 



Count; treasurers, 21, 67, "3, 91, 93, 94, 220, 

227." 229, 319, 381, 437 
Court house, lti. 18 
Court house elections, 228 
Oowan, Andrew E., 1000 
Cowan, William G., 342 
I DWgill, H. C, 237 
Cowgill and Hill mill. 124 
Cox, B. F., 144 
Cox, C. F... 457 
Cox, John C, Jr., 144 
Cox John ( .. 141. 142. 143. 1 Hi 
Cox, .1. Gilbert, 562 
"Cox diggings," 372, 373 

( n\ ne, T. F., ,">61 
Cragin, John A., 204, 454, 584 
i raig, Charles H., 658 
Craig, i larence T.. 1003 
Crane. A. K.. 359 
Crane. II. \\\. 319 
"Crane. R. II.. 320 
Crane. W. S., 320 
( Iravens, Jeremiah, 14. 23 

Crawford. C, 3.42 

( rawford, Robert \\ .. 18 

Craven. ft. Clark. 148, 237, 2(13, 285, 286, 310, 

322. 384, 456, 457, 487 
Creech, Ira, 158 
Creller, Frank T., 831 
Crocker, Fred. 234 
Crossman, P. L.. 324, 336 
Crossman, W. B.. 119 
c irowther, t leorge J., 514 
Crothers, \V. II.. 23s 
I row, I'.. C.. 130, 231. 249 
(row. G. W., 71 
Ouch, Mrs. Lou. 159 
Crum, Benjamin F., 1029 
Cullum, Francis, 905 
Cummings, James, 314 
Cunningham, .1., 193 
Cunningham, L. C. 72 
Cunningham. Leonidas P., 94. 209. 255. 258, 

458. 464. 523, 571 
Cunningham. Thomas W., 264. 324. 364, 369. 

370, 373, 410, 132, 465. 472. 524 
Cunningham's grove. 370, 465 
Cunningham Undertaking Company, 728 
Currant. David, 216 

Dale. II. T.. 975 

Dale. II. C. 337 

Dale. John A., 324 

Dale, 1 Mi-- John A., 324 

Dale. John 1!.. 35 

Danford, Maggie, 389 

Dangerficld, II. Edward, 698 

Dangerneld, J. II.. 394 

Daniels, Mrs. Dona C, 492 

Daughertv, James A., 231, 319. 320, 321, 573 

Daughertv. W. A.. 219. 220. 425 

Daughters of the Grand Army of the Repub 

lie. 520 

Davey, P. \.. 510-511 
Davidson, G. K.. 322 
Dav is, C. B., 129 
Davis, Eugene A., L025 
Da v is, Franklin, 72 
Davis, I. VV., 153, 151. 166 
Davis, W. P., 95, 1 16, 182 
Davison, II. TV". 



Davison. Orville B., 727 

Dawson, C. C, 39 

Dawson, Lola. 389 

Day, James, 321 

Deagan, James, 235 

Dearing, Ben, 311 

Dealing's (Ben) eamp meeting, Carterville, 
311 

Decker. Per] D., 465, 1019 

Deer Creek district school. 105 

DeGarmo, W. F., 431 

Deggins. A. B„ 340, 342 

Democratic state convention (1904), Joplin, 
471 

Demuth, H. G, 342 

Denison, E. B., 326, 441 

Dennison. E. D.. 439 

Department encampment. G. A. It., at Car- 
thage (1898), 361 

Destructive fire. Webb City (18S3). 302 

Deutsch, A. B.. 247, 341, 342 

DeVore. E. C, 234 

Diamond. 75 

Diamond Grove. 62 

Dickey, S. M.. 128 

Digby, Henry. 520 

Dixon district school. 104 

Dixon. Allen. 369. 437, 438, 578 

Dodd. E. E.. 236 

Dodson. William J.. 953 

D. 0. K. K.. F:i Plomo Temple X.>. 126, Joplin, 
509 

Dolan, Thomas. 459 

Donehoo, Mrs. John J., 528 

Dorsey, T. M., 166 

Doty. E. T.. 394 

Doughty. J., 30 

Downing. Mrs. M. T.. 109 

Downing, R. J.. 308 

I hagon lly pest . :;:. 

Dragoon, James. 234 

Drake. A. M.. 71. Lis 

Driver. William J.. 985 

Drought of 1901. 445 

Drye, Mildred. -175 

Dryden, .lame- A.. 319 

Dryden, J. II.. 229 

Duckett, E. E., 410 

Dudman. William 11.. 900 

Dug. ill. Dan F.. 172 

Dumars, Charles, 288 

Dumbald, W. A.. 437 

Duncan, W. I'.. :::.'l 

Dunham. Orson \\\. 7s; 

Dunlap. Cyrus II.. 204 

Dunning. John II.. 949 

Dunwoody, J. T., 466 

"Dutch Pete," 153 

Dutton, Dean C, 558 

Dykeman, Charles W.. 137, 138, 575 

l>\\ m, Daniel, 699 

Dyer, Hugh, 185 

Dyer, 1'. D., 92 

Eagles of Joplin. 50 1 

Games, C. A.. 1 ;; 

Fail. Harvej C, 996 

Eas1 Joplin. 165 166, L87 

I'ast Joplin Congregational church, 188 

Bast Joplin fire (November, 1874), 180 

Fast Joplin Improvement Association. 466 



INDEX 



xxm 



East Joplin Literary Society, 159 

East Joplin schools, 190, 209, 478 

East Joplin Union high school, 159 

Bast Seventh street (Joplin) opened, 360 

Eastern Star and its Silver Anniversary 

(1900) Carthage, 547 
Eastridge, James, 918 
Ebert, Charles, 422 

Eberts-Wright Stag Party, Webb City, 422 
Eckart, J. Hermann, S05 
Ellington. John. 226 
Edmondson, Cieorge S.. 342 
Educational (see Schools) 
Edwards, John, 990 
Eighth Missouri Cavalry, 59, 62 
Electric lights introduced to Joplin. 259 
Eleventh Regiment, Missouri State Guard. 54 
Elks Club House, Joplin, 504 
Elks' Fair, Joplm (1904), 504 
Elks' First Street Fair (1899), Joplin, 391 
Ellitf, A. C. 466 

Ellill. J. D., 3S0. 474. 529, 4S4, 485, 486 
Filing. Alonzo, 333 
Elliott, Charles E.. 314. 437. 603 
Elliott, Charles W., 50, 71, 72, 79. 146, 320, 

354 
Elliott. Kos, 93, 98, 226 
Ellis. S. O., 257 
Biting, Alonzo, 942 
lilting, Isaiah, 943 
Emery. C. A., 321 
Emery, S. A., 321 
Emerson Club, Joplin, 382 
Emerson school, 475 
Empire District Electric Light and Power 

( lompany, 259 
Empire Zinc Company, 256, 373 
I'.ndrickson, D. H.. 216 
Enrolled Militia of Missouri, 58 
Erwin. Virgil C, 1069 
Estus. Joseph, 67 
Etter, C. M., 228 
Etter, John H., 841 
Eugene Field school, Joplin. 475 
Evans, J. M., 489 
Evans, Milton H., 967 
Evans. W. P., 439 
Ewing, Thomas, 62. 63, 68 
Exchange Bank, Webb City, 300 
Exciting campaign of 1896, 320 

Fairbanks, W. H., 276 
Pales, E. F., 133 
Pallia, William, 153 
Fallis, W. H.. 155 

Farlow. Frank, 563 

Farmers Alliance of Jasper County, 431 

Farmers and Drovers P>ank. Carthage. 125 

Fausht, B. F.. 234 

Paulkender, J. C, 394 

Fellowship Lodge No. 345 (formerly of Fidel- 

ity), A. F. *. A. M., Joplin. 196 
Fercuson. A. B., 274 
Fetters. Joserdi, 299 
Pewel, W. W.. 430 
Fidelity, 75. 76 
Field, Frank A., 743 

Fifth Reeiment, Missouri State Guard, 310 
vnincr land. 11 
Fillmore. L. A.. 20S. 320. 366. 384. 459. 51*. 

520 



Fillmore, (Mrs.) I.. A., 396 

Fingerlec, Christian, ss:; 

Finkc, Julius, 345 

Finn, Frank J., 954 

First Baptist church, Joplin, 194 

First Baptist church of Webb City, 559 

First Christian church, Joplin, 191, 488 

First church at Carterville, 220 

First church in Webb City, 21S 

First Church of Christ Scientist, Joplin, 4SS 

First church wedding, Joplin, 195 

First commencement exercises, West Joplin 

schools, 268 
F'irst Congregational church, Joplin, 48S 
First election in Joplin, 158 
First Jasper county fair, SO 
First Joplin street improved, 168 
First M. E. church, Carthage (in the 'eighties), 

241 
First Methodist Episcopal church, Joplin, 160, 

488 
First M. E.. Church of Webb City, 55S 
First National Bank, Carthage, 125 
First National Bank, Carterville. 425 
F'irst National Bank, Joplin, 264 
First Odd Fellows' lodge, Joplin, 158 
First Presbyterian church, Joplin, 172, 4S7 
First Presbyterian church, Webb City, 218 
First Presbyterian church, West Joplin, 204 
Fisher, C. W., 235 
Fisher's company of United States Volunteers, 

58 
Fitner, F. E.. 559 
Fitzer, Harry, 549 

Flannigan, James, 234 
Flannigan, John, 229 

Flannigan, John H., 234, 359 

Fletcher, George T., 1046 

Fletcher, Walter R., 638 

Flohr, A. W.. 163 

Flood, Henry. 206 

Flood (of 1872). 116; (of 1902), 446 

Florance, F. C. 407 

Flower, Mrs. Mary, 548 

Follow, Frank L., 646 

Forsyth, Newton M., 1021 

Fosk'en, William J.. 1040 

Foster, Orrin E.. 71:: 

Foster, W. E„ 417 

Founders' day in Joplin, 281 

Fountain. Joseph, 220. 22!) 

Fountain. Isaac. 59, 226. 227, 229 

Fourth of July (1S75), in Joplin, 1S4; (1885), 
293 

Fourth of July 1 1904). Webb City, 563 

Francis, David R., 401 

Frank. J. IT.. 231 

Frank. John P., 756 

Franklin. Frank, 2S7 

Franklin school, 143. 475 

Fraser, H. B.. 319 

Fraternal Lodge No. 14. K. of P.. Carthage. 136 

Freedom Baptist church, 28 

Freeman, Arthur B., 463, 653 

Freeman, John W., 259. 368. 760 

Freezes (of 1848), 34; (of 19051. 446 

French, A. P.. 84 

Frey, John W.. 1017 

Frickelton, William H.. 747 

Friek. Jacob. 324 

Friend. R. C. 227 



INDEX 



Fry, H. K. 132, 
Frye (Mrs.), 314 
Fugitt, George \\\, 1075 
Fullerton, George H., 561 
Fullerton, J. H., 67 
Fuiierton, John M., T 
Fullerton, Lee. 4 - . < 7 
Funk. Frank A., 807 
Funk, J. J., 415 

Gaddie, William R.. 1010 

Galbraith, William, 320 

Galbreath, R. L.. 238 

Galena township, 169 

Galesburg, 76 

Galesburg district school, 103 

i iamble, Hamilton R.. 58 

Game and wild animals, 11 

Gammon, James, 299 

Gammon & Henderson, 298 

Gant, James B., 517, 51S 

Garden Dell school. 100 

Gardner, I. F„ 133 

Garfield School, 475 

Garland, Edward. 350 

Garland. G. P., 267 

Garland, John, 229 

Garland, Thomas. 319 

Garland, Thomas M„ 234 

Garland. W". H., 72, 75 

Garm. J. A.. 454 

Garrison. Benjamin F., 137 

Garrison, Russell. 344 

i.;i", L. D., 521 

Gaston. H. C., 417 

Gaston, -I. ('.. 70, 75. 151. 166 

Gaston. .1. G.. 86 

Geiger. George W., 836 

Geldmacher ("Moneymaker") H., 147 

Gerw itz. ( lharles J., "252 

Gentry. Colby <'.. $50 

Gentry. William II.. 854 

Geological Society of America Visit, 445 

i ieorgia City. 75, 76 

Georgia City district school, 106 

Germania Social and Literary Society. Joplin. 

197 
Germania Society, Joplin. 391 
Gilbreatb, J. B., 429 
Gilliland, Jennie. 266 
Gillis, John, 387 
Gillis, John W., 263 
Gilmore, G. W'., 765 
Gilyard, Thomas. 497 
Rivler, I. H., 333 
i .i\ ler, Isaac II.. 929 
Glarrell. J. W\. 193 

Glassford, \V. A.. 130 

Glenn. W. ('.. .Mil 
Gh.ver. C. W'.. 156 
Glover, J. P... 387 
i Iraeiner, John. 389, B64 
Gonley, Robert, :i i 

i I roads, it. 333 

II t. Salem. 77", 

Goodwin, J.. 314 

Gut t fried. Charles F.. 520 

Goucber, T). R.. 125 

Gould, Wiv I... 192 

Grace Episcopal church, Carthage, Bl, 134 

GralT. Jaooh F . 945 



Grafl', William G., '.'47 

Granam, Kichard N., 437. 4s4 

Granby Mining ana smelting Company, Lone 

Elm, 205, 269 
Grand Army of the Republic, 360, 41U, 519 
Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Joplin, 

511 
"Grangers" (see Patrons of Husbandry 
Grasshoppers, 118 
Gravelle. J. Silas, 
Graves, George A., 70 
Graves, William, 156 
Gray, Carl, 325. 345 
Gray, C. E., 206 
Gray, C. 1... 429 
Gray. Howard. 234, 350. 895 
Gray, Howard E., 799 
Gray. John W\. 377 
Gray. Thomas E., 238, 5 
Grayston, George J., 813 
Great Western Business College and Normal 

School. Webb City, 56 
Glebe, T. V., 437 
Green, Leander, 91, 297 
Green. William P., 681 
Gregg, H. H.. 327. 399, 406, 528, 626 
Gregory, Clay, 528 
Grippe in Jasper county, 334 
Grisham. A. C, 119 
Guengericli. Christian. 170, 369, 382, 166, 528, 

697 
Guinn, John C. 75. 20S 
Guinn, J. M., 380 
Gulick, J. P., ion 
Gwinn, .1. M.. 483, 4-4. 185 

Hackney, Benjamin F.. 227, 234, 908 
Hackney, H. M., 358 

Hackney, Thomas, 437 

Hagerman, F\ M., 307 

Haggart, James T., 746 

Hahan, James, 30 

Haines. Kmmet. 314 

Haines iMrs. i Emmet, 314 

Haines. Mollie, 314 

Hall. Berv, 30 

Hall. Elizabeth J... 896 

Hall. Joseph E., 851 

Hall. J. I.. 226 

Hall. L. J.. 475. 184 

Hall. W". E.. '.14. 346, 

Hallburton, J. W., 234 

Halliard, .Wis. W. F.. 40n 

Halliburton. John W., 277. 341. 342, 346, 347 

Halyard. W. B., 227, 364, 384 

Hamilton. I.. C. (Cass), '-7 

Hamilton, W. B.. 67 

Hamlin, t). B.. 270. 394 

Hammer, W. T.. 268 

Hancock & Lowe, 297 

Hand, C. II.. 465 

Hand. Ecu 71.. 166 

Hannibal Lead and Zinc Company. Joplin. 178 

Hardawav. Luther, 441. 465 

Harding, H. IL. 121. 54'.> 

Harmon, W. S., 208 

Harmon foundry. Joplin, 208 

Harper. E. W'.. 71. 75. 125 

Harper (Mrs.) J. W".. 327 

Harper. Waldo H.. 910 

Harper. W. E„ 509 



INDEX 



XXV 



Harrington, Charles O., 122, 234, 233, 243, 325, 

351 
Harrington, Robert E., 1028 
Harrington, T. J., 298, 299, 415 
Harrington Hotel, 234 
Harris, Charles, 24 
Harris, E. S., 884 
Harris, Joseph D., US2 
Harris, 0, A., 557 
Harris, \\\, 133 
Harrison, E. M., 130 
Harrison, J. C, 809 
Harrison, J. T., 534 
Hart, J. W., 121 
Hart. Truman R., 757 
Harvev, Austin, 773 
Harwood, J. H., 133 
Hattel, A. H„ 227 
llatten, Amos D., 616 
Halyard, W. B., 227 
Haughawaut, T. B., 226, 227 
Haughawout, Wilbur F„ 610 
Haughton, Aaron, 322, 372, 511 
Haven, H. H., 205 
Hawkins, W. J., 485 
Hayden, T. C, 301 
Haynes, J. W„ 314 
Hayseed mine, 338 
Hazen district school, 105 
Head, Louie, 909 
Heckathorn, Simeon C. S90 
Heim street car line, Joplin. 473 
Helm, Ella, 416 
Helman, J. W., 119 
Henderson, Charley G„ 634 
Henderson, S. C, 208, 406 
Hendrickson, U. B., 91, 119 
Hendrickson, W. B., 319 
Henney, H. C, 112, 130131 
Henry, J. W., 267 
Henson, Henry C, 873 
Herrington. Charles 0„ 310, 333 
Herron, Thomas. 669 
Hesslemyer, George H., 163, 164 
Hiatt, Ed., 550 
Hibbard, (Rev.), 240 
Hickman, James M., 321 
Hicks, W. G., 472 
Higgins, J. F., 226 
Higgins, J. J., 234 
High Hill district school, 104 
Hilburn, William. 299 
Hill, G. R., 346 
Hill. Hiram, 135 
Hill, Peter, 121 
Hilliard, E. W., 226 
Hinkson, W. C, 201 
Hinton, Marsh, 322 
Hire, Mrs. S. J., 389 
Hoag, David D., 694 
Hobbs, T. B„ 437 
Hobbs, Mrs. T. B„ 353, 535 
Hodge, A., 7 
Hodson, I. C. 227 
Hodson, Mrs. I. C, 353 
Hodson, I. N., 226 
Hodson. W. L., 429 
Hosrle, Judge. 179 
Holiday, G. M., 536 
Holly, 'William M.. 778 
Holmes. John H.. 252 



Holmes, John R., 470 
Holsey, Martin, 67 
Hole, David, 236 
Holyard, W. B., 260 
Hood, Norris C, 55, 72, 83 
Hood, Stephen, lu 
Hood, Taylor, 951 
Hoofnagle, William, 907 
Hooker, Louis E., 521 
Hopkins, David. 228 
Hopkins, J. E., 72 
Hornback, George, 14, 15, 16, 17 
Hottle, Robert H., 227 
Houghton, Janette, 2GG 
Howanstein, George C, 350, 351 
Howard. W. L., 485 
Howe. John, 157 
Hoyt, A. P., 285. 286 
Hubbard. Edward E., 438. 987 
Hubbard. Henry, 30, 226 
Hubbell, C. J„ 229 
Hudson, George, 218 
Hughey, George H., 241 
Hughs, T. J.. 342 
Hulett, A. A., 328, 417 
Humes, Guy T.. 469, 520 
Humphreys. Henry C, 737 
Hunsicker. William, 314 
Hunt, Rice, 370 
Hunter, J. A.. 4!l 
Hunter, Mrs. L. A., 507 
Hurlbut. William K., 719 
Hurley, J. M., 225 
Hurst, Asa, 350 
Hurty. A. M., 243 
Huston, James A., 523 
Hutchens. J. B., 225 

Illinois Zinc Company. 486 

Improved Order of Red Men, Joplin, 50,"> 

Independent Candy and Manufacturing Com- 
pany, The, 1023 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 86. 136. 
204, 277, 314. 358, 507, 562 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mineral 
Lodge. Joplin, 389 

Ingham, E. T., 380 

Inland Lead and Paint Company, 256 

Inman. John H., 866 

Irvin. J. G., 238 

Irving school, Joplin, 475 

Isherwood, H. L., 320 

Interstate Bank, Joplin, 367 

Interstate Chautauqua Assembly, 327, 549 

Interurban Street Railway system, 328 

Jaccard, Elizabeth, 557 

"Jack," 199, 203 (see also Zinc blende) 

Jacks, John, 426 

Jackson, Claiborne, 46, 50 

Jackson, Henry A., 862 

Jackson, Mrs. Laura, 50S 

Jackson High school, Joplin, 375, 475 

Jacob. J. W.. 96. 98. 125 

Jacobs, Ernest B., 130, 234. 325. 350. 351, 525. 

596 
Jacobs. Mrs. E. B., 353 
James, Elwood B., 14 
James, J. T„ 320, 406, 420 
James, M. M„ 121 
James. Robert M.. 676 



XXVI 



INDEX 



Jammison, Mrs. K. A., 61 

Jane Chirm Hospital, Webb City, 3iiu, 561 

Jasper, 221 

•Jasper, Sergeant, 

Jasper Commandery No. 31, K. I., Carthage, 

252 
Jasper county at the World's Fair, Chicago, 

(1893), 327 

Jasper County Hank, Carthage, 125 

Jasper Count; Bankers' Association, 4.'.;; 

Jasper County (amp No. ;>:.':.'. of United Lou- 
federate Veterans, 317 

Jasper County Electric Railway Club, :::;o 

Jasper County Electric Railway Company, 329 

Jasper county fair, 80 

Jasper County (lid Settlers' Association, 11::. 
139 

Jasper County Pomological and Horticultural 
Society. Ill 

Jasper county ring hunt, lis 

Jasper County Sunday School Association, 81 

Jasper County Teachers' Association. 441 

Jasper County Teachers' Institute, 98, 102, 
440 

Jasper County Teachers' Normal, 231, 440 

Jasper • Newton County Old Settlers' Associa- 
tion, 333 

Jasper school, 100 

Jeans. Frank, 253 

Jefferson school, Joplin, 47". 

.Jenkins creek, 8 

Jenkins, Eleven, 789 

Jenkins, Ephraim, 8 

Jenkins. George, 971 

Jenkins, M., 192 

Jenkins, M. P., 320, 321 

Jenning, I). Estaing, 81 

Jennings, Edmund, I 

Jesse, R. H.. 485 
lesBe, R. V.. 1 1 1 

John. \V. K.. 175 

John, W. II.. 353 

J.Jui oratorical medal, 353 

Johns, Emma i Mrs. De Armond I, :28 

Johns, Frank. 734 

lohns. Henry ('.. 1039 

Johnson. i labe, Ifi 

Johnson. Oooi"ia. ::s9 

Johnson. Jacob, 970 

Johnson, J. Weslej . 27 1 

lohnson, Milton S., 931 

Johnson, V. 1... 342 

Joiner. \\ . I'... 382 

Jones. I). \V.. 153 

Jones. Robert B., 624 

Jones, rhomas, 3 i i 

Joplin, Harris. Z9, 1 13 

Founding of, l 1 1 164; in is;::, in:,- 
173: ill the middle seventies. 174-198; in 
the later seventies. L99-211 ; in 1876. 173: 
during the eighties, 255-296; in the nineties. 
ifi ,M; ill 1900 1 1. 164 531 

Joplin A Baxter State and Transfer Line, lfil 

i.ipiin Board of Trade, is:,. 20 I 

Joplin Building and Loan Vssoeiation. 25S 

Joplin Business College, 

Joplin < Ihapter Rose 1 Iroix, No. 3, 510 

Joplin < lharitable Union, 395 

Joplin Chautauqua societies »ao 

loplin Children's Rome 

Joplin ( Tioral Union, 



Joplin National Bank, 361 

Joplin churches ill brief, 4'.HI 

Joplin city census (1905-10), 4i">4 

Jophn city light plant built. 360 

Joplin City Park system. 465 

Joplin City school district organized, 270 

Joplin city scrip. 10s 

Joplin Clearing House Association, 453 

Joplin Club, 259, 399, 400, 401, 522 

Joplin (luh Theatre building. 4(MI 

Joplin Club's social session (1900), 322 

Joplin College oi Physicians and Surgeons, 

271 
Joplin Commercial Club, 528 
Joplin court house. ;;:.'l 
Joplin ( ycle Club, 413 

"Joplin Daily Id.. be." 330, 370, 172, 181, 50S 
"Joplin Daily Herald," 379, 410 
Joplin "Daily News." 202, 515 
Joplin 'Daily Tribune.' ' 472 
Joplin district school 1 1911), 473 
Joplin Electric Railway, 370 
"Joplin Evening Times." 47:; 
Joplin exposition. 292 
Joplin Exposition Company, 208 
Joplin tire department, 207, 263, 466 
Joplin Souring mill, 256 

Joplin fraternites in tl ighties, 275-80 

Joplin gas works, 206 
Joplin Uermania Society. 279 
Joplin & Girard Railroad, 95 
"Joplin Herald." 288 
Joplin ■llerald's' Company G Box, 410 
Joplin High school, 47ii 
Joplin High school alumni, 376, 380, 479 
Joplin Hotel. 181 

Joplin Land Owners' Association, 182 

Joplin Legion No. 2, Select Knights, A. <). U. 

W., 276 
Joplin Light Infantry, Company G, 340 
Joplin Lodge No. 3 1." A. 0. C. W., 204 
Joplin Lodge No. 40. K. of P., 197 
Joplin .Mining & Smelting Company, 149 
■ loplin's Municipal Officers (1900-11), 407 
Joplin National Hank, 3('>7 
Joplin "News Ibrahl." 206, 472, 493, 879 
• loplin's new union depot. 472 
Joplin Old Settlers' Association, 383, 384. 

155, 156 
Joplin paid lire department, 372 
Joplin Public Library. 485 
Joplin Public Librarv Movement Inaugurated, 

382 

Joplin Public Sei I Library, 2(i9 

Joplin Railway Company, 201 

Joplin Liil.s 285 ;. 3 10, 310 

Joplin saloons in 1 s 7 .", . 17( 

Joplin School Board (1872) entertainers 1892 

Board, 383 
Joplin school officials 1 1900-11), 18 1 
Joplin skating rink. 201 
Joplin Special Road District, 368 
Joplin students at Baird College, Clinton. 381 
Joplin Summer Normal. 471 
"Jonlin Sunday Herald." 20c, 
Joplin Telephone Company, 371 
Joplin Temperance Union, 274 
Joplin Temple No. 78, Rathbone sisters, 508 
Jonlin township. 169 
Joplin Truant •School. 47fi 
Joplin Tiirnveiein Oerinania. 197 



INDEX 



XXVll 



Joplin water works, 257 

Joplin white lead -works, 255 

Joplin woolen mills, 256 

Joplin Young Ladies' Seminary, 210 

Joplin Zouaves, 287 

Joplin's lirst circus (Dan Kice's), 182 

Joplin's first "Fourth of July,'" 157 

Joplin's rirst street car line, 257 

Joplin's first theater, 183 

Judges county court. 226, 228, 229. 310, 321, 

437 
Judges probate court, 321 

Kaiser. J. W., 512 

Kane. W. B., 424, 425 

Kansas City & Southern (the Splitlog) Rail 

way, 265 
Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf Railway 127. 

95 
Karbe. William, 15S, 198 
Karr Hotel. Carthage, 126 
Keeler, E. H.. 553 
Keer, D. D., 320 
Keim, Henrv, 3 a r: 
Keith, M. F.. 466 
Kelley, G. W., 58 
Kelley, James, 4 in 
Kellogg, Charles A.. .Mil 
Kelsey, Fred W., 999 
Kelso, N. H., 438 
Kelso, Robert S., 689 
Kennel, A. D., 889 
Kentucky Association. -4 f '» : ; 
Kerns, Jesse, 301 
Kerr, William, 16 
Kershaw, Frank, 206 
Kessler, Benjamin F., 939 
Keystone Hotel, 399 
Kier, Clarence H., 826 

Kilburn, H. C, 475 
Kilgore, W. H., 185, 227. 94 

Kinell, R. B., 559 

King district school. 105 

King, F. M.. 416 

King, Francis M.. 982 

King, Herbert R.. 979 

King. W. G., 1024 

Kirkham, Louise, 475 

Kissel, David H., 961 

Knealand, Samuel M., 26 

Knell, Edward, 550. 869 

Knell. Emma, 871 

Knell Fair, Carthage, 550 

Knight, L. G., 475 

Knight, W. S., 237. 135 

Knights of Kodash, Joplin Council, Xo. .".. 511 

Knights of Pvthias. Carthage. 135, 359, 548 

Knights of Pvthias. Grand Lodge. 251, 54S. 
514 

Knights of Pythias, Joplin. 278, 279, 507 

K. P. masquerade ball. Webb City, 305 

Knights of Pythias, Progress Lodge 216, Car- 
terville, 430 

Knights of Pythias, Uniform Rank during tin 
rally nineties, 358 

Knight s of Pythias reception, Webb City 
Lodge, Xo. 115, 421 

Knights of the Golden Eagle. Joplin, 277 

Knights Templar. Ascension Commandery Xo. 
DO. 3K7 



Knights Templar Grand Commandery of Mis 

souri convention (1906), Joplin, 515 
Koehler, G. W., 384, 457 
Kohlman, W. H., 438 
Kost, L. W., 441 
Kyle, Charles W., 958 

Labor day first observed in Joplin, 279 

Lafayette school, Joplin, 475 

LaForce, Samuel B.. 53, 71 

LaForce, William. 234 

Lamb, Frank, 338 

Lamb, Isaac X.. SO. 208 

Landauer, S., 198 

Landers, Abel, 15 

Landon, A. C. 342 

Landreth. William H., 139, 140, 745 

Lane, Josiah, 93 

Lane, Mclvina, 162 

Lang, J. E., 352 

Lanyon, William IT.. 803 

Larrimore, W. T., 563 

La Russell, 442 

Latimer, Maude. :,;,7 

Lauderbach, If. 0.. 287 

Lauderbach. William L.. SOS 

Lauderbaugh. Isaac, 947 

Lauderbaugh, William F.. 944 

Laurel school, Joplin. 476 

Lead — Discovered at Webb City. 212; sales of 
Jasper district for 1890-9, 339 

Learning, Clay. 907 

Leap year parties (18S4), Webb City, 304 

Lease, Mary Ellen. 431 

Leathers. J. R., 429 

Le Bow, Loy T.. 731 

Leckie's (Joplin) Machine Works, 208 

Lee, Frank IT.. 755 

Leedy, P. A.. 391 

Leeming. Clay, 319. 320 

Leffen. William J. J.. 716 

Legcrett. J. P.. 534 

Lehigh, 315 

Leidy, John G.. 902 

Lentz. E. J.. 352 

Leonard. James M., 466, 800 

Leon, M.. 1035 

Leslie, Theo. 496 

Lester & Avlor, 298 

Lewis, A. F.. 75, 250. 546 

Lewis, C. J.. 206, 258 

Lewis. George T.. 205 

Lichliter, L. L.. 482, 4S-1 

Lichliter, Oscar E., 726 

Lincoln school. Joplin. 476 

Linnland school. 101. 104 

Linton. Ida, 475 

Linwick. George. 465 

Litteral. Jacob. 346. 7 7'J 

Lively, Melvin R., 825 

Livingston, Chancellor. 262 

Livingston. Joel T.. 345, 377. 384, 40S, 441, 
444, 445. 4S3, 501. 507, 1078 

Livingston, Mrs. Joel T.. 507, 508 

Livingston Scouts. 54. 57 

Livingston, Thos. R.. ;:.!. 54, 59. 60 

Lloyd, E., 147 

Lloyd, John B.. 471 

Local Option — In Carthao-e (1SS4). 23 1: elec- 
tion in 1SS7. 22S : election 1910. 438. 

Lochrie, William. 437 



INDEX 



Locke, J. E., 232 

Logan, Frank 13., 438 

Logan, \V. K., 437, 536 

Log raising, 10 

Lone Elm, 187 

Lone Elm school district, 191, 266 

Longfellow school, Joplin, 470 

Loop, D. J. -M., 179 

Lowdermilk, Z. H.. 346, 347 

Lowe, Joseph R., 861 

Lowry, George B., 964 

Lucas, Harold K., 724 

Lupton, J. W.. 153, 154, 166, 1S7 

Lupton riot, 176 

Luscomb, T. T., 233 

Lute, Henry, 198 

Lyon, C. A*, 468 

Lyon, C. W.. 31)7, 517 

McAbee, Charles W., 618, 1023 

McAntire, Bertha, 381 

McAntire. John W., 04, 171, 177, 277, 459, 510 

McAntire. W. B„ 160. 399, 403. 458 

McBride, C. E., 417, 560 

McBride, J. S.. 94 

McCalley, A. L.. 463 

McCarn. L. C, 371 

McCarthy, L. C, 509 

Met a it v. A. B.. 260 

McCartv, Mrs. L. C. 507 

McClelland, T. A.. 166, 208 

McCollough, Ben. 54 

McConnell. Arthur B.. 635 

McCoy, Archibald. 67 

McCoy. J. H., 166. 171, 383 

McCracken, W. B., 176 

McCune, John A.. 781 

McDaniels, C. W., 259 

McDermeit, James A., Ss4 

McDonald. Arch. 438 

McDonald, Cora, 475 

McDonald, J. A.. 366 

McDonald Township Farmers' Club. 112 

McDowell, Douglas E„ 615 

McElrov. F. C. 237 

McEntee. Patrick, 552 

McEntee, Peter. 299 

McC.ehee. Luther, 587 

Mci loon. Frank L.. 308 

McGregor, M. C. 77. s:s. 84, 91, 139, 226 

McGregor. M. G.. 71, 80. 119, 234. 237 

McGuier, William. 112 

Mclndo, Hugh. 4::7. 470. 471. 4*7 

McKay. John C, 899 

McKee, Andrew. 33. 40 

McKee, Mrs. S. J.. :,us 

Mackey, Noah A., oil 

Mackey, William ('.. '.is:: 

McKelvey, John, 926 

McKelvey, Mary B., 969 

McKiearnan, A. E., 1045 

McKinley school, 476 

MeRinncy. (i. W.. 266 

McKinney, Thomas K., B96 
McLane, W. R., ins 
McManamy, John A.. 501, 1049 
McM sham, R, L.. 32o 

MrMillcii. John A.. 342 
McMillcn. J. M., 341, 342 
Mi Milieu. William, 238 
McNair. James V... 215. 216 



McNallev. Thomas, 229 

Mc.Neal." Henry H.. 583 

McNeill, Roxie C. 686 

McNeill, William W., 685 

McNew, William B., 333 

McPherson, S. D., 10P, 216 

McJReynolds, Samuel, 332 

McRevnolds, Mrs. Samuel, 353 

Maderie, J. M., Sr.. 181 

Magoffin district school, 105 

Magoon, Frank. 425, 427 

Maids of Honor, 518 

Ma it land, Albert E., 998 

Mallory, J. E., 632 

Mallory, William II.. B17 

Malloy, T. C, 493 

Manchester, F. W.. 520, 521 

Manker, C. S., 415 

Manker, Hewlett and Company, 297 

Manual Training, Joplin High School, :;sn 

Marcum, James G., 663 

Marcus, Ross A., 1051 

Mardi Gras in Joplin, 288, 290 

Maret, J. M„ 1015 

Mark, L., 215 

Markham, W. J., 30 

Marmaduke, John S.. 247, 249 

Marquer, H. E.. 552 

Marquiss, Elza. 301 

Marshall, W. M., 466 

Martin, Ankrim. 796 

Martin. G, B., 475 

Martin. J. F.. 266. 267. 275 

Martin. .1. J., 413 

Martin, J. T., 271, 272 

Mason, J. C. 107. 128, 209. 26" 

Mason, W. A., 342 

Massev, Benjamin P., 8 

Matthews, D., 236, 238 

Matthews. L. I.. 356 

Maurey, D. B.. 309 

Mayna'rd, W. E., 210, 257. 259 

Mead. James P.. 512, 714 

Medoc, 41, 42. 75, 76 

Medoc district school. 104 

Medoc (now Joplin) Lodge Xo. 335, 196 

Medoc skirmish. 55 

Mehan, M., 352. 54s 

Meinhart, Julius E.. 844 

Meister, F. W., 163 

Meloy, 0. P.. 371 

Melton. John H.. s:;:; 

Memphis, Carthage & Northwestern Railroad 

Company, '.14 
Mercer. Henrietta. 195 
Meredith. .1. W.. 852 

Meridian Sun Chapter. Carthage, I!. A. M.. 137 
Merwin, J. P.. 375 
Metcalf. Charles. 216 
Methodist church, Carterville. 220 
Methodist church, Carthage, 80 
Methodist church, Medoc, so 
Methodist Episcopal church (South), Joplin. 

161 
Methodist church (South), Carthage. 133 
Methodist church (South), Fast Joplin, 173 
M. F. church (South). Webb City. 558 
Midway (Jasper). 221 
Miles. Charles M., 1038 
Miles. E. 0., 227 
Milholland * single. 298 



INDEX 



Military Matters — Second Regiment, X. G. M., 
organized into two battalions, 340; letters 
replace old names, 340; first appearance at 
St. Louis, 341; the first regimental camp. 
341; sham battle, 342; Carthage honors her 
dead, 344; semi military societies, 344; the 
Third Regiment. U. R. K. R. 345; Patri- 
archs militant. I. O. O. F., 341; the United 
Confederate Veterans. 341: roster of officers 
and members, 347; Company G, Second In- 
fantry, X. G. M., 407; Company G Relief 
Association, 409; Grand Army of the Re- 
public encampment (1S93). at Joplin, 410; 
Company I. Second Regiment. X. G. M., 565; 
1890 reunion of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry. 
U. S. V.. at Carthage. 354; (See also Civil 
war and Spanish-American war.) 

Miller. A. 11.. 247 

Miller, D., 242 

Miller. George W., 066 

Miller. H. R., 135 

Miller. H. S.. 529 

Miller, Mrs. H. S. (Miss Cora Liehliter), 483 

Miller, .7. C. 229 

Miller, Julius. 2S5, 286 

Miller. Walter. 208 

Miller. William A.. 724 

Mix. Xewell. 225 

Mineral township railway bonds. 312 

Miners' Bank. Joplin, 206 

Minersville (Oronogo), 33, 34. 41, 79 

Miners' Union, Joplin, 157 

Mines (see Mining) 

Mining- Commenced at Leadville Hollow, 31; 
first lead found in Joplin creek valley, 33; 
discovery of lead near Oronogo, 33; reopen- 
ing of the mines. 7!) ; Joplin as a mining 
camp. 150; Joplin smelters and market 
(1873). 169; in the later seventies. 199; 
lead discovered at Webb City, 212; new 
prospecting and mechanical era, 336; Duen- 
weg. 337; Neck City (Hell's Neck), 337: 
Reeds, 338; Prosperity. 338; mining around 
Carthage. 338; Alba. Sareoxie and elsewhere. 
33s : output of district for decade (1890- 
99). 339; first shipment of zinc to Europe. 
374: fifteen years' output (1897-1911), 
449; prices for twelve years (1900-11), 
450; exhibit at Louisiana exposition. 450; 
strike at Oronogo. 450; meeting of Ameri- 
can Mining Congress at Joplin (1907). 528 

Missiek. James. 2 is 

Missouri Department Grand Army of the Re- 
public (1909). Joplin, 519 

Missouri, Kansas & Fort Worth Railway, 445 

Missouri. Kansas & Texas Railway. 472 

Missouri Pacific Railway. 264. 472 

Missouri State Bankers' Association Meeting 
(1900) Carthage. 549 

Missouri State Teachers' Association. 107 

Missouri & North Arkansas Railway, 445, 472 

Missouri & Western Railway, 95 

Mitchell. H. H.. 342 

Mite societies. Joplin. 275 

Mock. D. R., 229 

M. W. A.. Joplin Camp No. 3039, 389 

M. W. A. Log Rolling (1898). at Joplin. 390 

Moffet. E. R., 95, 144. 166, 167. 209 

Moffet & Sergeant. 146. 170. 201. 205 

Molloy, Timothy C, 640 

Molyneau, Ted.," 420 



.Montague. E. J., 350 

Monteith, John, 102 

Montgomery, Charles H., 188, 270, 321 

Moon Range, 150, 151 

Mooneyham, R. A., s I.". 

Moore" A. D., 193 

Moore, D. W.. 444 

Moore. Mrs. F. L., 525 

Moore, George W., 552, 750 

Moore, Harry C, 64 s 

Moore, J. L., 125, 233, 237 

Moore, Joseph ("Buckrock"), 299 

Moore, L. L., 511 

Moore, Melanchthon, 193 

Moore, R. F., 956 

Moore, Robert, 466 

Moore, W. II., 71 

Morgan, Charles It., 344, 361 

Morris, O. B., 321 

Morse, E. I., 549 

Morsman, Charles A., 753 

Moseley, George, 301 

Moss, Samuel T., 927 

Mt, Pleasant district school, 107 

Municipal affairs (see Politics) 

Murphy, L. M., 229 

Murphy, Pat., 71, 95, 146. 147. 152-4, 165, 

177, 179, ISO, 206, 208, 257 
Murphvsburg (West Joplin). 146, 149, 150, 

156," 159, 165, 166 
Murphysburg Town Company. 146. 149 
Murray, Hendrickson, 298 
Murray, Robert, 633 
Myers, Frank, 867 
Myers, Mrs. Frank, 507 
Myers, (Mrs.) Dr., 314 
Myers, Peter, 71, 111, 121 
Myers. Sidney A., 777 
Myers. William B., 122. 233, 235, 350. 651 

Xapier, (Mrs.), 314 

Nash, Harvey W., 770 

Xational Savings Bank of Joplin, 156 

Xeck City, 337 

Xegro lynching and the riot, Joplin (1903), 

496 
Nelson. J. J., 344 
Xesbit, Fred H., 445, 565 
Xeumeyer, Willis C, 932 
Xew Year's day (1891), Joplin, 398 
Newell, J. P., 227. 352, 432 
Xewland Hotel. Webb City, 420 
Newman, Henry. 367, 37o" 
Ney, Frank, 319 
Nichols, F. B.. 67 
Nichols, James, 15 
Nichols, R. S.. 557 
Nicholson, Frank, 701 
Nickell. I. F.. 892 
Nickell, Maude, 186 
Nickell, Mrs. W. A., 186 
Xickell, W. A., 376, 394, 475 
Xilson, Mrs. S.. 558 
Xix, Simpson S., 476. 774 
Nordberg, David A., 971 
Norris, Edward A., 924 
Xorsworthv. Thomas J., 55S 
Xorth Fork district school, 105 
North Heights Presbyterian Chapel, Joplin, 

487 
Xorth road (Joplin to Spring river), 264 



\\\ 



INDEX 



Northcott, W. A., 389 

Norton, P. B., 321), 321 
Norton, W. s., 170, 187 
Nunn, Charles \\\. 1059 

O'Donnold, Edwin. 321 

Oglesby Camp, Sons of Veterans, Memorial 

Monument, 359 
O'Keif, Eugene, 125, 233 
"Old Sacramento," 53 
"Old Settlers' Ode to Joplin," 457 
Oldest Living Pioneer (J. X. U. Seela), 460 
Oldham, Alva, 937 
Oliver, Mrs. Tina. 508 
Onstott. Abraham \V.. 7. 13. 68, 69 
Onstott. John, 7. 13. 55, 67, 6S, 69, 91, 93, 94. 

324 
o. 1'. Morton Tost No. 14, G. A. R., 276, 518 
Oran, Alfred T.. 220 
Order (if Eastern Star. Kminence Chapter No. 

93, Carthage, .".47 

Ore. J. \V.. 394 

Ormsby, S. B., 90. 225. 266 

Ornduff, Samuel AY., 720 

Orner, G. D.. 166 

Orner. J. C, 156 

Oronogo, 33. 79. 220, 221, 432 

Oronogo cyclone, 312 

Osborn, Albert B., 321 

Osborn, J. F., 468, 469. 525 

Osborne. John P., 14. Is 

our Lady of Mercy Convent School, -l<i]>lin. 27 1 

1 Iversheet, J. B., 29s 

Owen, James T.. 13; 

Owen, Wilbur .1.. 661 

Owens; J. B., 635 

Ozment, Ferdinand, 894 

Pacific Hotel, 297 

Page, 1). M., 322 

Paige, Nathaniel, dr.. 763 

Pape, d. M., 30 

1'arkell, A. B.. 1 2 1 

Parker Bros. & Sinclair, 297 

Parker, Chinn & Company, 298 

Parker, C. J... 488 

Parker, John, 940 

Parker, Philo \\ ., 973 

Parr Hull school, Joplin, 176 

Pate, W. W., 276 

Patriarchs Militant. I. o. o. 1-'.. 34 

Patrick, M II., 196 

I'at inns ol Industry. 109 1 I 

Patterson, II. t '.. 193 

Patterson. Thomas, sss 

Patterson, \V. I'.. 1067 

Patton, Israel, L92 

Paxton, 1 ieorge B., 510, 

Paj ton, George W., 263, 2; i 

Pearson, Edward .1., 675 

Pi arson, Pea 1 1, 676 

P( a rson, Robert A.. 816 

Pennington, A. 0. T.. 265 

Perkins, Joseph I).. 234, 320. 1:;- 

Perkins, Paul B., 257, 258 

Perry, .lames \\'.. ; 

Peny school, 101 

Peterson, John .V. 886 

Peterson, Leah, 386 

Peterson, w . G., 

Pettit, 1. 1 . 2; 1, 280 



Petty, J. \V.. 328 

Phelps, Henry, 266. 276, 413 

Phelps, -Mrs. "S. A., 492 

Phelps, W. 11., 7 1. 72. 91. 119. 140 

Picher, O. H., 71, 72, 73, 128, 13.9. 131, L40, 
402, 524 

I'ieher. O. S., 204 

Picher, \V. 11.. 71. 136, 401, 406, 529 

Picher Lead Company of Joplin, 205. 327. 

Pierce, Henry, 16 

Pierce, J. N., 135 

Pierce, J. V., 411, 520 

Piercy. F. 11., 612 

Pile, Joseph K., 704 

Pilot Grove (Mount Hope Cemetery), 144 

Pinkerton, Jobn W., 81, 135 

Pioneer period to the Civil war — Early explo- 
rations, 3; civil division prior to county 
organization. 4; the county named. 6; the 
first settlers, 7: Cave Springs. 8; a few of 
the "firsts," 8; pioneer life, 9: log raising. 
10; the Spanish caravan. 10; early method 
of tiling land. 1 I ; game and wild animals. 
11; the original Jasper county, 14; first 
township organizations. 15; commission to 
locate county seat. 15; court house built. 
16; first Carthage house. 16: no -nap to 
hold ollice, 17; the first session of the cir- 
cuit court, 17: conspiracy or riot case. Is: 
a new court house built, 19; early political 
history, 19; county officers, 1841-61, 21; first 
school section sold. 22; pioneer school dis- 
tricts, 22; first school described. 23.; first 
county school commissioner, 24; school 
fund greatly augmented. 25; tin- Cartilage 
Female Academy, 26; organization of the 
first church. 26; building of the first church, 
27; old fashioned camp meetings. 29; Rev. 
Harris Joplin and Lev. Anthony Bewler, 
29; Peace church of Galena township, 30; 
mining commenced at Leadville Hollow. 31; 
first lead found in Joplin Creek valley, 
discovery of lead near Oronogo, 33; the 
freeze of 1*48; the dragon lly pest. 35; 
burning of two negroes. ..5; going to mill, 
36; social amusements. :;7; a school teacher 
tarred and feathered, 39; first newspaper 
in the county. 39; old Sherwood, 39; a great 
exhibition of fraternity. 1 1 ; towns in das 
per county before the war. 41 ; first census 
of the county. 42 
Pinkerton, John YV., 1 la 
Pitman, L.. I39 
I'ixlev. R. 0., 13(1 
Piatt, C. If. 5 
Piatt. John I!.. 361 
Play ground idea in Joplin, 177 
Plumb, Carlton IL. 741 
Plumb, J. C, 194 
Plummer, John, 15 

Politics Confederate soldin- n enfranchised 
(1870), 89; township organization adopted, 
90; count] redist ricted and township lines 
changed. 91: campaign of 1874, 91; new 
constitution, 92; the campaign of 1876, 92; 
township organization abolished, 93; cam- 
paign of 1878, 93; firsl election in Joplin, 
158; fust Joplin city election, 171; Joplin 
city election (1874), 178; township elec- 
tions (1874), IsO: Joplin city election 
1875), 186; Joplin city election I 1876), 



INDEX 



XXXI 



ls7; presidential election in Joplin, 1870, 
189; Webb City s first election, 214; Webb 
City's spring election (1877), 210; presiden- 
tial campaign ot lbbO, 225; "Roys in Blue," 
Carthage, 225; presentation to Col. \V, E. 
Cloud, 220; the campaign of 1882 and 
1S84-6, 227; Local Option election (1887), 
228; court house elections, 228; campaign 
of 1888, 229; Joplin city oliicials (1.877- 
1880), 210; court house elections, 228; in 
Carthage, 1881-9, 233, 234; Joplin city elec- 
tions (1880-90), 259-262; Webb City elec- 
tions in the eighties, 298-9; of the county 
in the nineties, 319-21; in Carthage, during 
the nineties, 350-2; in Joplin during the 
nineties, 363-7; in Webb City during the 
nineties, 415; in Carthage (1900-9), 533 

Pollard, J. W., 94 

Poncot, Uus, 949 

Poole, Charles, 90 

Poole, C. S., 471, 4S4. 524 

Pope, W. C, 558 

Porter, E. D., 177, 197. 304 

Porter, (Mrs.) E. IX, 390 

Porter, Edward, 802 

Potato day, Joplin, 396 

Potter, David, 333 

Powell, Joseph, 988 

Powelson, Benjamin F.. 172 

Powers, Everett, 680 

L'owers, Herbert C, 749 

Poynor, A. J., 814 

Pratt, Elroy J., 511 

Presbyterian church, Carthage, 80 

Presbyterian church, W r ebb City, 55S 

Preston, 41, 42 

Preston, D. A., 226 

Preston school, 101, 105 

Price, C. H., 463 

Price, Imo, 483 

Price, John C, 18 

Price, John H., 67 

Price. S. C, 384 

Price, W. II., 426 

Probate judges, 94, 227 

Prosecuting attorneys, 1. 21, 67. 73, 91, 93, 
94, 226, 227, 229, 319, 324, 437 

Prosperity, 338 

Proudfoot, W. II., 259 

Pryor, Tarlton F„ 934 

Public administrators, 93. 226, 227, 229, 321, 
t:;7 

Public School Cadet Corps. Joplin, 377 

Public School system, Webb City, 553 

Purcell, 442 

Purcell, James, 319. 320. 442 

Pyle, A. C, 210 

Quaker Church school. 100 
Quails. Sherman, 437 

Race, James A., 209, 266, 47S 

Haider, George, 71 

Railroads — Jasper county votes bonds to Tebo 
& Xeosho Railway, 77; why railroad bonds 
were destroyed, 79; Joplin ' & Girard Rail- 
way. 201 ; the Missouri & Northwestern 
Railway, 201; Kansas City, Fort Scott & 
Gulf Railroad. 202: present, in Jasper 
county, 445: Joplin's new union depot, 472 

Ralston] F. C, 627 



Ralston, J. M., 226-227 

Ralston, Laura, 98 

Ralston, Lemuel 1'., 954 

Ralsion, Wesley, 22s 

Kamsay, K. K., 485 

Ramsey, Henry M., 597 

Randall, W illiam, 227 

Range Line school, 101 

KaiiKcn, William, 119 

Rathbone, Justin H., 136 

Latin c Sisters, 507 

Raupp, \\". A., 342 

Reassieur, Leo, 360 

Ktbekah Lodge, Carterville, 430 

Rebekahs ol Joplin, 389 

Recorders, 91, 94. 227, 319, 321 

Redburn, Francis M., 276, 520, 641 

Redding, A. II., 437 

Redell, George 11., 371 

Reding, Matthew 1)., 664 

Reding & Clark, 664 

Redpath Club, Joplin, 383 

Red Ribbon movement 135, 207 

Reed, Daisy, 353 

Reed, John R., 1004 

Reeder, E. P., 226 

Reeds, 338 

Reeds school, 100 

Regan, Charles, 510 

Regan, Timothy, 71, 121 

Registers of votes, 73 

"Reign of Terror," 152 

Reinmiller, John, 709 

Relief Association, Company G, 409 

Religious (see Churches) 

Reminiscence party, Webb City, 564 

Reorganization and reconstruction — Cave 
Springs, temporary county seat, 67 ; honest 
John Onstott and the treasury, 67 ; Car- 
thage re-established as the county seat. 70: 
substantial new comers, 70; registration un- 
der the "test oath," 71; the fall elections of 
1S66, 71; the issue, 72; county officers 
(1865-70), 72; the court, of common pleas. 
73; business enterprises at the county scat. 
73; Carthage banks, 72; establishment of 
the "Carthage Banner," 75; towns founded 
in the sixties, 75; town population in 1869, 
76 

Reeser, J. G., 237 

Revis, C. B„ 287 

Reynolds, John S„ 71, 147, 384 

Reynolds, Thomas C, 46 

Rex City, 373 

Rex Mining Company. 373, 374 

Rhodes, Daniel H., 814 

Rhodes. Jesse. 226, 227. 234 

Rice, Mrs. Hattie Ruddy, 486 

Rice, J. M., 316 

Rice. T. 0., 135 

Rich, Ab„ 231, 437 

Rich, Mrs. Eva, 508 

Rich, L. S., 551, 552 

Richardson, J. G., 509 

Richardson. J. M., 25, 140 

Rift'er, T. H., 266 

Riley. John. 157 . 

Riseling, Levi, 190. 510 

Riseling building, 1S9 

Kistine. J. A„ 437 

Ritchart. Alvin E., 957 



XXX11 



INDEX 



Ritchart, frank L., 957 
Koach, Cornelius, 352 
Roach, George H., 342 
Koach, James, 438 
Kobens, R. M., 227 
Roberts, K. M., 210, 22G 
Roberts, W. P., 266, 474, 484 
Robertson, William R., 834 
Robinson. Charles, 15 
Robinson. Charles A., 670 
Robinson, Emma, 557 
Robinson, tieorge, 417 
Robinson, Griffith, 85 
Robinson. .Mark, 30 
Robinson, William, 227 
Robyn, Robert, 345, 432 
Rogers, A. H.. 328, 329, 332 
Rohan, F. E., 499 
Roney, T. J., 560 
Rood, John B„ 119 
Roos, Charles, 134 
Roper, George K., 921 
Rose, James S., 984 
Rose, Joseph F., 613 
Rose, R. H., 139 
Rose, S. R. H., 72 
Ross, James 8., 533. 535 
Ross, Joseph M„ 973 
Ross, Stantield, 55 
Rotseh, Adolph, 938 
Roulet, Paul, 107 
Rouseh, John, 186 
Rowe. Freeman, 344 
Royce, 0. D„ 529 
Royer, Frank H„ 933 
Royer, William H., 922 
Rozelle, Arthur, 880 
Ruddy, George H., 151 
Ruffin. L. B., 81 
Ruffins, J. T.. 138 
Rural (Sherwood), 40 
Rush, William, 91 
Russum. I. F.. 320 
Ryus, C. J., 840 

Sabert, Henry, 992 

Sailor, W. J.', 320 

Salt and Pepper Club, Joplin, 529 

St. John, A. W.. 352 

St. John's Hospital. Joplin, 493 

St. Louis & San Francisco Railway, 201 

St. Paul's Episcopal church, Webb City, 559 

St. Peter's Roman Catholic church. Joplin. 

161. 488 
St. Philips' Episcopal church. Joplin, 193, 488 
Sallie. W. D., 309. 424 

Salvation Army Hospital, Webb City. 561 
Sanderson. Minnetta. 476 
Sanders. William A., 710 
Sandford, Washington A.. 466, 524 705 
Sarcoxie. 9, 41. 42. 76. 338. 433 
Sareoxie, Chief, 7 
Sarcoxie fair. 316 
Sarcoxie Spring. 7 
Sarcoxie Strawberry Growers' Association, 

433 
"Sarcoxie Vindicator," 316 
Sauls. Thomas, 563 
Saunders. J. I... 342 
Sanz. George. 928 
Scherl, IT. 510 



Schools — First school section sold, 22; pioneer 
school districts, 22; first school described, 
23; first county school commissioner, 24; 
school fund greatly augmented, 25; the 
Carthage Female Academy, 26; Carthage 
public schools organized, 84; county super- 
vision of, 96; J. W. Jacob (1871-2), 96; 
"spelling down," 97; Jasper County Teach- 
ers' Institute (1871), 98; U. B. Webster 
(1872-3), 99; Jasper County Teachers' In- 
stitute (1873), 102; organization of Sixth 
District Teachers' Association, 102; county 
school commissioner, 102; S. A. Underwood 
(1877-S3), 102; State Teachers' Associa- 
tion (1878), 107; uniform text book law, 
108; first public school of Carthage, 127; 
Carthage High school course of study, 128 ; 
East and West Joplin, 158, 159; East Joplin 
school opened (1873), 172; Joplin schools in 
the seventies, 190, 191; in Joplin, during later 
seventies, 209, 210; in Carthage during the 
eighties, 236; in Joplin during the eighties, 
265-272; Carterville during the eighties, 
308; new Joplin High school, 375; Joplin 
High school alumni, 376; placed on the ap- 
proved list, 376; Joplin public school cadet 
corps, 377; Joplin school children's parade 
(Columbus day). 378; Arbor day, Joplin, 
379; school officials of Joplin (1890-9), 380; 
Joplin High school alumni, 380; of Webb 
City for twenty-rive years, 416-20; county 
schools (1899-1910), 428-441; in Joplin dur- 
ing 1900-11, 474-85; during the last decade, 
Carthage, 535; in Webb City during 1900- 
11, 553-7 

Schooler, Isaac, 94 

Schooler, J. K„ 981 

Schooler, W. R., 319, 321 

Schooler district school, 106 

Schifferdecker. Charles. 264, 369. 406, 466. 692 

Sehifferdecker's Garden, 175 

Schneider. Joseph, 788 

Schoenherr, Adolph, 577 

Schnur, Harry A., 643 

Schnur, Herbert, 1006 

Schnur, Peter, 155, 156, 515 

Schmuck. Gabriel, 402 

Scotland, 221 

Scott, O. W., 94 

Scott, Tzora, 232 

Scott, John, 67 

Scott. S. J„ 314 

S. R. SI., Joplin Consistory, 510 

Sealey, J. X. V.. 8 

Searl] A. P., 81 

Searl, E. P.. B0, no. 108. 112, 139 

Secession party, 47 

Second Baptist (colored), Carthage. 134 

Second Baptist church, Joplin, 4Ss 

Second Church of Christ Scientist, Joplin. 488 

Second Regiment. X. G. M., 340, 341 

Seela, John X. ['.. 460. 936 

Seigler, James A.. 320 

Semi-military societies in the eighties, 344 

Sennett. J. \V„ 121, 233. 239. 437 

Sergeant. John B.. 95, 144. 148. 152. 153. 159, 
182, 256. 257 

Sergeant. W. G., 257 

Seventh District Association of Women's Fed- 
erated Clubs. 525 

Sewell. W. J.. 352 



INDEX 



XXXlll 



Shannon, H. L., 320, 321 

Shannon, R. D., 268, 270, 326, 3T6, 380 

Shannon, Will F.. 509 

Sharp, Delia A.. 438. 630 

Shaw, George II.. 37 7 

Shaw, Mrs. J. B., 38!) 

Sheehan, Daniel. 261 

Sheep raising, ,s2, 112. 

Shelby. Joe. 62. 68 

Shelby, W. S., 512 

Shelton. B., 566 

Shelton, Robert H., S97 

Shelton, T. .7.. 309 

Shepherd. C. L., 197 

Shepherd. Edward 1... 696 

Sheriffs. 21. 67. 72. 91, 93, 94, 226. 227. 229. 

319. 321. 437 
Sherman, A. I... 236 
Sherman. W. T.. 2S4 
Sherrill. Riley. 960 
Sherwood. 39, 41. 42, 59 
Shields. .1. K.. 234 
Shirley Ford engagement, 57 
Sholl,' David V.. 1070 
Shortess, Jesse. 153. 154. 159 
Sides. Franklin. 75 
Sieb, W. IT.. 530 
Sieber. W. J.. 84 
Sievers. Charles H.. 728 
SiVars, John C. 804 

Sill. Katie (nee Katie Pennington). 61 
Silver Creek district school. 99. 103 
Singer, C. TT.. 314 

"Six Bulls" (Boils), country of the. 4. 7. 142 
Sixth District Teachers' Association. 102 
Sixth Kansas Cavalry, 48 
S'^'+h Kansas Volunteers, 59 
Skinner, M. J.. SO 
Skinner, W. G., 82 
Slaughter, Melville S„ 836 
Sloan, R. L.. 438 
Sloan. Robert M., 438, 843 
Smith, Charles D.. 565 
Smith. C. J.. 437 
Smith, D. A.. 315 
Smith, Jasper A., 220 
Smith, J. E.. 512 
Smith, M. W. F., 159 
Smith, R. G., 247 
Smith, Sardius. 798 
Smith. William IT., 1026 
Smithfield district school, 107 
Snapp. Fletcher T., 586 
Snapp, T. T.. 466 
Snyder, (Mrs.), Dr. A. R., 396 
Snyder, Levi E., 904 
Snyder brothers. 374 
Society mask-ball, Joplin (1876), 189 
Society of Christian Endeavor, Joplin, 274 
Sombart, J. E., 253 
South Joplin, 368 
Southeast Kansas Pythian excursion to Joplin 

(1887), 278 
Southwest Missouri Electric Railroad, 328, 329, 

330 
Southwest Missouri Protective Association 

Picnic, 413 
Southwest Missouri Teachers' Association 

(1890), 325 
Southwestern Medical Society, 112 



Southwestern Missouri Electric Railway Com- 
pany, 370 
Southwestern Volunteer Firemen's tournament 

—Carthage, 263; 251; Joplin. 371. 372 

Spaid. C. L., 475 

Spanish caravan, 10 

Spear, James II.. 559 

Spear, Robt. A., 322, 342. Ids 

Speck, J. R„ 193 

"Spelling down." 97, 1S6 

Spence, James, 234 

Spence. .lames M., 227 

Spencer. A. C. 130 

Spencer. ('. ('.. 4H2 

Spencer, Curran C, 976 

Spencer, Galen, 93. 259, 260, 276, 286, 4 11. 
520. 523 

Spencer. Greenville, 27 

Spencer, J. II.. 406, 467. 364 

Spencer. Pelig. 16 

Spencer, W. V. K.. 552 

Splitlog. Mathias, 265 

Splitlog railway (see Kansas City & Smith 
ern) 

Spracklin, E. E.. 229. 231. 297. 301, 416, 444 

Spriggs. M. Luther. 1004 

Spring, C. M.. 1020 

Spring. Mrs. C. M.. 492 

Spring 1 T ill district school. 10:, 

Spring River Baptist Association. 431 

Squire. ( '. W., 382 

Squire. E. C. If., 319, 320, 472 

Stafford, D. M.. 234 

Stafford. M. W.. 156. 285, 310 

Stagg. William. 1012 

Stalter, John C, 982 

Stanton Post Xo. 16, G. A. R.. Carthage. 252, 
361 

Staples. Marion, 524. 613 

Stark. Henry, 1007 

Starkweather, Bert, 843 

Star, Levi, 125 

"Star of the West and Southwest News." 311 

Stair, Jesse <i.. 732 

State Bankers' Association convention, Jop- 
lin. 524 

State Encampment, United Confederate Vet - 
erans (1906). Joplin. 517 

State picnics and organizations. 462 

State representatives, 73, 91, 93, 94, 227, 228. 
229. 319, 321, 437 

State senators, 319, 321 

State University Summer Normal, Joplin, 4S5 

State Young Men's Christian Association, Jop- 
lin, 394 

Steadly, F. B.. 321 

Stearns, F. E., 730 

Stebbins. Ludwig IT.. 1058 

Steele. John T.. 859 

Stemmons. A. Clay. 438 

Stemmons, J. W., 229 

Stemmons, James B., 622 

Stephens. S. IT.. 740 

Stevens, Mrs. C. T., 547 

Stevens, W. J.. 535-536 

Stevens, Mrs. W. J., 536 

Stevenson. J. M.. 266. 231. 326 

Stevison, Lewis J.. 594 

Stewart. D. J., 327 

Stewart. James P.. 417, S27 
Stewart, 0. M., 135 



XXXIV 



IXDK.X 



Stewart, Robert !•'.. 83 1 

Stewart, \V. I .. 30S 

Stewart i Mathews, 298 

Stiekney, C. 1!., 234 

Stickney, R; !■'■. 549 

Stillwell, A. K.. 201 

Stony Point (Boyd's i school, 11)0 

Storms, J. W., 55.'! 

story of Spanish adventure, 295 

Straight, J. M., 307 

St roup school, 100 

Stroud, J. \Y.. 43 1 

Stuckey, S. A., 320, 321, 324, 431 

Stults, J. \V., 432 

Stults. J!., 432 

Stultz, licit. 314 

Summerville, Jay F., 783 

Summit school. 101 

Sunday school conventions (township), 83 

Sunday. William A., 48!). 138 

Sutherland, 0. P., -Vis 

Sutton, Henrv ('.. 1076 

Sutton, O. D., 1036 

Sutton. Thomas. 186 

Swanwick, Mary ]!.. 487 

Swarts, P. L., 520 

Swedish church, Carthage, 134 

Swedish colonists. s| 

Swingle, Sampson, '.i 72 

Switzer, Harry ]., 1052 

Tabernacle church of Joplin. 195 

Tabernacle (The!. Joplin. 194 

"Tag Day," Joplin. 492 

Talbott, A. J.. 40. 54 

Talmage, Randolph ])., 1016 

Tamldyn, Harry. 511 

Tamblyn. Samuel T., B60 

Tax litigation in Webb City. 211", 

Taylor, George AY.. 885 

Taylor. John ]]., 150. 150. 100, 171, 17:;. 182, 

204. 327, 384, 402. 701 
Taylor, Joshua 1'.. 202 
Taylor, Ix-e. 171. 107, 166 
Taylor, \Y. I... 200 
Taylor. Willard 1'.. 787 
Taylor. W. S., 144, 320 
Teacher's reception by President Logan 

(1000). Cartilage. 536 ' 
Tebo & Neosho Railway Company. 77. 01 
Telephone introduced to Joplin. 259 
Temperance (see Local Option) 
Temperance Cadets. Joplin, 274 
Templars' ball in Yellow Dog mine (19061 

5 1 
Terry. M. (.. 321, I2'.i. [064 
Thacker, Jesse, 01. 125 
Tholborn, Walter. Ms 
Thomas, A. I'... 7sn 

Th as, Al. 71. 01. 23fi 

Thomas, li. !■'.. 2:;:'.. 321 
Thomas, I). 1!.. 215 
Thomas, D. L.. 125. 112 
Thomas, David S., s::. si, 139 
Thomas, GSeorge II.. 235, 21;. 344 
Thomas, John 1!.. sr, 1 
ThomaR, L. H.. 43R 
Thomas, 1!. I... 215 
Thompson, ( iharles 1 1.. 82 1 
Thorn] 1. P. 1... isr, 



Thompson. II. Edward, 822 
Thompson, J. A. c, 100 
Thompson. J. T., L34 
Thompson, Philo, 101; 
Thompson, S. 11., 107 
Thompson, William, 420 
Thomson, R. A., 193 
Thornburg, \Y. W„ 121 
Thornburg, W. V„ on 
Thornton. Joe, 201 
Thornton, It. A., 769 
Thorp, F. M„ 342 
Thralls. Richard, 683 
Threlkeld, 1. X.. 667 
Thudiuni. Medie D.. 1007 
Tibbs, Nellie, 557 
Tilton, Josiah, 930 
Tingle, William, S, 31 
Toepper, C. G. P., 510 
Toms, William, 214 
Toms smelter, 214 
Tousley, 0. H., 186 
Touslev, Walter, 483 
Tower, W. L., 112 
Tower, W. S., SO 

Township organization adopted (1s72), 00; 
township lines changed. 02: township or- 
ganization abolished, 03 

Transient House, 297 

Trigg, Jerome B., 524 

Trigg, John C, 450. 407, 366, 106 

Trigg. Mayor. 500 
Troutman, Mrs. Mary, 526 
Turk, James, 144 
Turk, James A., 300 
'Turk. James T„ 882 
Turner, Benjamin, 23 

Turner, Nathaniel A., 935 
'Turner. W. A„ 535 
Turner, W. P., 442. 4S2 
Tuttle, T. B., 00. 112. 121. 137. L38, 225. 213. 

325, 302 
'Tuttle. W. T., 300 
Tutty, Edward J.. 734 
'Twelfth Pythian District Association. 5 is 
'Twelfth Regiment Select Knights, A. 0. U. 

W.. 344 
'Twin Grove district school, 106 

Tyler. May. 476 

'Tyler, Robert B., 304, 202. 412. 717 
Tyzzer, Walter <•■. 395 

I'liner. Jacob. II.. 055 

Unconditional Union party, 47 

Underwood, S. A., 102. hi::. L07, 161, 190, 

100. 107. 231. 200. 27(1. 271. 277. 320. 380, 

387 
Underwood, Tealie, 267 
Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, Firs< 

Battalion, 444 
I . K. K. P., Joplin Division No. 40. 390 
U. 1:. K. P., Webb City Company No. 11. 415 
U. R. K. 1'.. Wcbl, City Division 'l 1. 122 
Union City. 153. 150 
Cnion Rank of the Woodmen of the World 

Webb City, 444 
Union Sunday school picnic, Joplin. 27 1 
Cnion Valley district school. 100 
United Confederate Veterans, ::tl 
Unity Club. Joplin, 382 



INDEX 



XXXV 



Vanal, A. J., 369 
Van Hoose, James H., 855 
Van Idour, Isaac H., 819 
Van Idour, Isabell, 819 
Vaughan, Sherman, 752 
Vawter, V. L., 380 
Vermillion, John W., 216 
Vernon, L. M., 80 
Vert, Edmund J., 475. 485 
Viernow, M. F., 952 
Vincil, John D.. 239, 325 
Visitors' day (190.'!} Joplin, 
Vivion. Eliza, 60 
Vivimi, Thackery, 7 



478 



Waco, 221 

Wadleigh, G. A., 366 

Wagner, C. E., 559 

Waite. A. H., 331, 367, 394, 520, 524 

Walden, Charles S., 708 

Walker. Alice. 26 

Walker. Jesse L.. 135 

Walker, John P.. 660 

Wall. R. C, 193 

Wallace. A. V., 353 

Wallace, Richard L., 1062 

Wallace. William S., 677 

Wallar, Clyde R.. 1019 

Wallower. F. C, 561 

Wall street (Joplin) opened. 365 

Warden. Hall, 356 

Waring. William G.. S39 

Warren, W. H., 321 
Washington school. 476 

Watkins. Joseph C. 672 

Watson. Claude L.. 1054 

Watson. William. 211 

Wangh, William B.. 510 

Webh. Albert. 467 

Webb. E. T.. 560 

Webb, Mrs. E. T.. 558 

Webb, John C. 211, 219 

Webb, John W„ 941 

Webb City. 211-218, 297-307, 415-423, 551-566 

Webb City-Carterville water works, 308 

Webb City centenarian, 563 

Webb City College, 420 

Webb City Commercial Club, 420 

Webb City fire department. 300 

Webb City Democratic Flambeau Club, 229. 

230 
Webb City High school, 416, 553, 555 
Webb City Hospital Association, 560 
Webb City Lodge No. 512. A. F. & A. M.. 300 
Webb City National Bank, 306 
"Webb City Register," 420 
"Webb City Record," 566 
Webb City school district, 218 
"Webb City Sentinel," 566 
"Webb City Times," 298 
Webster, Elmer, 1055 
Webster, George B., 407 
Webster, Mrs. George, 536 
Webster. U. B., 98. 99, 99, 102, 186 
Weed, Charles A., 629 
Weeks, J. M., 321 
Weil, Lyda, 536 
Weiler, Mose, 28S 
Wells, Campbell, 515 
Wells, E. P. F., 135 
Wells. J. J.. 234 



Welty, J. B., :::.'? 

Wenrich, Daniel K., 270, 167, 654 

Wenrich, Percy, 459, 52:; 

Wenzel, Frank M., 1045 

Werks, J. M., 228 

Wertz, D. F., 551 

Wesley Chapel Methodist (colored), Carthage, 

134 
Wist, Robert, Hi;, 
West Joplin, 187 
West Joplin High school. 267-'.) 
West Joplin schools, 190, 209, 267 
West Joplin (Murphysburg), 159, 165, 166 
Western Hotel, 297 
Westmoreland. William, 4S5 
Wetherill, W. C, 406 
Wetzel, S. E., 875 
Weyman, G. A.. 3S9 

Weyman, Henry, 16:;, 164. 425, 524, 913 
Whaley, Isaac W.. 476 
Wharton, W. M„ 232, 326, 327 
Wheatlcy, W. A.. 218, 238 
AVheatley, Mrs. W. A., 21 S 
Wheatley. Walter. 531 
Wheeler," Arthur G., 850 
Wheeler. I. (.'., Building Materia! & Fuel Co., 

849 
Wheeler. Willis I. S4V 
White. C. H.. 193' 
White, J. M., 536 
White, Orville T.. 768 
White Lead Works, Joplin. 205 
White River railroad, 445 
White, S. IT., 15S 
Whitehead, C. W.. 410 
Whitley, William. 321 
Whitmere. Obe. 437 
Whitsell, Mrs. J. M., 526 
Whitsett. George, 344 
Wickstrom. John. 893 
Wicks. H. S„ 404 
Wig Hill. 14 1 
Wi^eins, H. A.. 611 
Wilbur, Josiah G, 1043 
Wild, J. B., 333 
Wild animals, 11 
Wiley, O. P. M., 510 
Wilk's, Hamilton S., 382 
Wilfley, 0. T. A., 1053 
Willar'd. William G, 959 
Willev. Riley. 609 
Williams, F.' E.. 1SS, 197, 210, 270, 282, 286, 

287, 322, 324. 340, 342, 384, 388, 406, 412 
Williams Frank, 278 
Williams, Fred L., 820 
Williams, George, 1014 
Williams, S. G., 119, 234 
Williams, W. A., 94 
Williamson, George H., 133 
Willim, Mrs. J. W., 492 
Willoughby, E. Franklin, 910 
Willoughby, J. C, 84 
Willoughby, John T., 320 
Wills. Dr. E. A.. 275 
Willson, L., 128 
Wilson, Abner, S 
Wilson, B. T., 406 
Wilson, Bracken, 372 
Wilson, Charles L., 995 
Wilson, D. B.. 267 
Wilson, J. A.. 220 



INDEX 



Wilson, John X.. 227 

Wilson, J. S.. 220 

U ilson, Robert A., 437, 510 

Wilstead, Lambert, 368 

Winchester, Albert N., 792 

Winchester, J. M., 1022 

Wingert, Joseph K.. 722 

Winter, Leslie W., 1071 

Wise, David, 97S 

Wise, 1). W.. 30 

Wise, John F„ 581 

Withrow, William II.. 025 

Wolfe, George E., 521 

Wolfe. Henry, 198 

Wolfe, John J., 879 

Wolfroth, Max, 524 

Women's Christian Temperance Union. 

274, 397, 491 
Women's Federated Clubs of Carthage, 
Woman's Relief Corps, 520 
Wonner, Henry, 301, 444, 445 
Wood. Charles', 344 
Wood. C. C, 405 
Wood. John D., 161 
Woodmansy, W. H„ 94 
W. O. W. Log Rolling (1903). Joplin. 5 
Woodward. W. S„ 133 
Workizer. C. J. G., 154,, 159. 177. ISC. r: 
Wright, ,T. A.. 438 
Wright. Matilda, 353 
Wright. Will IT.. 422 
Wright. W. T.. 397 
Wright. Charles and Brothers. 297 



loplin. 



W. W. A., Interstate Log Rolling Associatii n 

(191)2 1. Cartilage, 548 
Wyatt, Charles, 314 
Wyatt, J. V., 1004 

Yale, Frank L., 471, 595 

Yale, F. L., 524 

Yancey, Charles S., 17, 18 

Y'aryan, .T. B., 438 

Yaryan, James T. H.. 67S 

Yates, Charles E., 767 

Yates. ,1. R., 394 

Young. A. G., 419 

Young, Greenberry I!., s7t', 

Y'oung. G. B., 328 

Young, .1. Morris. 11. 12, 7(1. 113. 144 

Young, .1. W.. 84, 112. 122 

Young, Lillian, 877 

Y. M. C. A. organized at Carthage. 356 

Young Men's Christian Association, Joplin. 

274, 394, 490, 492 
Young Men's Christian Association. Webb 

City, 562 
Younger, Bruce. 187 

Zane. Samuel L.. 600 

Zcllars, Frank. .".72 

Zinc blende ("jack"). 163. 164. 170. 199. 203 

Zinc — first shipment of, to Europe, 374; sales 

of Jasper district for 1S90-0. 339 
Zincite. 316 

"Zincite Morning Star." 316 
Zook. Jesse. 420 
Zook. Jesse A.. 6R4 



Pioneer Period 



to 
Civil War Era 



History of 

Jasper County 

CHAPTER I 
COUNTY TAKING FORM 

Early Explorations — Edmund Jennings — Civil Divisions Prior to 
County Organization — The County Named — The First Settlers 
— Cave Springs— A Few op the " Firsts "—Pioneer Life— Log 
Raising — The Spanish Caravan — Early Method op Filing on 
Land — Game and Wild Animals. 

The history of Jasper county covers five distinct periods of growth 
— the pioneer period, the county during the Civil war, the reconstruc- 
tion days, the reopening of the mines after the war and the subsequent 
development of the county's resources. 

It is full of exciting incidents and is important because it tells a 
story of progress, and in perpetuating the names and deeds which have 
helped to mold the destinies of the great middle west, we serve the fu- 
ture generations by holding high the lamp of experience which has 
guided an active and energetic people along the pathway of success. 

Early Explorations 

Tradition has it that DeSoto spent the winter of 1541 in the terri- 
tory north and west of the Ozark mountains and during his stay in this 
region camped in and around Jasper county. It is believed by many 
that lead was discovered by the Spaniards and there is evidence that 
mining was carried on in southwest Missouri many years before the 
discoveries of David Campbell, but there is no authentic account of the 
movements of the great explorer and his discoveries counted for naught, 
because he left no record, save the old trail which served as a path to 
lead the hardy pioneers in search of homes westward to the land of 
promise. 

3 



4 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Edmund Jennings 

The first, white man to explore southwest Missouri, and whose ex- 
plorations led to the settlement of the great region beyond the Ozarks, 
was Edmund Jennings, a native of North Caroline but later a eitizen of 
Tennessee. Jennings came of a splendid family, but was of a roving 
and adventuresome disposition. He loved excitement and enjoyed the 
strenuous out-of-door life which gives endurance and nerves man to 
combat danger. He had read of the adventures of Daniel Boone and 
Simon Kenton and resolved to go to the undiscovered country beyond the 
"Father of Waters" and there answer the "call of the wild." So bid- 
ding his friends in Jackson county, Tennessee, a fond farewell, he 
crossed the .Mississippi and pushed westward along the old trail until 
he crossed the Ozarks and came to what was called by the Indians the 
"Country of the Six Bulls." 

The origin of the name "Six Bulls" is shrouded in uncertainty, 
some of the old settlers holding that it was so called in honor of a 
mighty hunter who had once here killed six monster buffaloes all noted 
for their size and strength, but Judge John C. Cox one of the first 
settlers of Jasper county and an intimate friend of Edmund Jennings, 
says that the name was incorrectly called bulls, but in broken English 
the Indians had called it "The Six Boils" (pronounced like "bulls"), 
meaning the land of the six rushing rivers. The Indian name for river 
being boil and that the six boils or rivers referred to were the Cow- 
skin river, Shoal creek, Indian creek, Center creek, Spring river and 
the North Fork. 

Edmund Jennings lived with the Indians and trapped and hunted 
over the Country of the Six Bulls for about fifteen years. At length 
(the date is not certain), about the close of the 'twenties, he began to 
long for the friends in the Old North state and turned his footsteps 
eastward and after a perilous journey reached his Tennessee home. He 
had been so long away from civilization that it was with difficulty he 
could make himself understood. His friends who had long supposed 
him dead did not at first recognize him as he approached them, clothed 
in fur-skins and leather moccasins. The news of his arrival soon spread 
over the county and friends came for miles to see him and hear of his 
adventures. 

The hearty welcome given him by his old companions gave him a 
new lease on life and memories of the old days soon brought back the 
mother tongue, and he told them of the wonderful beauty and richness 
of the Country of the Six Bulls, and as a result of his description of the 
region a colony of Tennessee people came to this county early in the 
'thirties. 

Civiu Division Prior to County Organization 

When Missouri became a state all of southwest Missouri was made 
a county and was called Crawford county, the seat of justice being at 
Little Pliny on the Gasconade river. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 




Three op the Six "Bulls" (Boils) 



6 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

Later Greene county was carved from Crawford and embraced all 
of the territory from the Osage river on the north to the Arkansas line 
on the south and from the present eastern limits of Greene to Kansas 
on the west. The county seat of Greene county, then as now, was at 
Springfield. 

Harry county was next taken from Greene and included the seven 
southwest Missouri counties. The county seat was at Mount Pleasant 
mar the present site of Pierce City. 

As civilization moved west Jasper county was organized and in 
time outshone its mother county in wealth and importance. 

The old settlers of Jasper county used to say in a joking way that 
they had lived in four counties but had never moved once. 

At the general election in August. 1838. Littlebury Mason was 
elected representative for Barry county in the general assembly and 
secured the passage of a bill dividing Barry county into four divisions, 
taking out of Barry. Dade, Newton and Jasper. Jasper county in- 
cluded in its territory Barton on the north and Newton county included 
the present county of McDonald on the south. 

Jasper county was not at this session of the legislature raised to 
the full dignity of a county, but was for civil and military purposes 
attached to Newton county which was at once fully organized. 

In 1840 John Wilson was elected to represent Newton county. 
Among the first bills introduced by him was one to complete the or- 
ganization of Jasper county by designating proper officials and courts 
to put the machinery of county government in operation. This bill 
passe. 1 the legislature January 29. 1841. and the county was fully or- 
ganized as a civil division March 8th which will be more fully treated 
in su eding pages. 

Tin: County Named 

That the pioneer Missourians were patriots is shown by the names 
n!' the municipalities and other civil divisions given by the early set- 
tlers. .Many of the historic incidents dear to the hearts of every Ameri- 
can and the names of the heroes who made freedom a reality are daily 
kept in mind by the names of the counties of the state. Among the 
Revolutionary patriots we find the names of Washington. Franklin. 
Schuyler. Marion. Putnam, Greene, Jasper and others. 

The story of Sergeant Jasper and his gallantry at Port Moultrie is 
one of the incidents of the Revolution which lends a charm to the re- 
cital of that splendid light for freedom. At the close of the day and 
after several hours of fierce cannonading, the staff from which floated 
the old pine tree flag was severed by a ball and the colors fell on the 
outside of the fort. Sergeant Jasper sprang over the ramparts and 
amidst a veritable hail-storm of bullets from the British fusileers se- 
cured the flag and. fastening it to a cannon rammer, placed it securely 
on the ramparts again and with a shout of triumph regained the breast- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 7 

works while the cheers of his comrades proclaimed him the hero of the 
day. 

The First Settlers 

The first permanent settler in Jasper county was Thackery Vivion 
who came from Kentucky in 1831 and located near the Sarcpxie Spring, 
a romantic spot where the Indian Chief Sarcoxie had during the later 
days of the Indian period made his headquarters and which no doubt 
was the gathering point of the "noble red men of the forest" from the 
Country of the Six Bulls and where perhaps the warriors in council 
decided the fate of many a luckless traveler who fell into their hands. 
The word Sarcoxie in the Indian vernacular means "the Rising Sun." 
And it is significant that the sun of a new civilization which rose with 
the coming of Thackery Vivion should have made its first appearance 
at the tepee of a chief who was the last of his race. 

And although the Indian supremacy faded away with tin- coming 
of the white man a new sun rose to shine for them ; a sun of education, 
civilization and progress which made many of them in the sister state 
of Oklahoma, citizens and, in some cases, officeholders and statesmen, 

Thackery Vivion built his log house near the spring at the foot of 
the hill just east of the Sarcoxie depot. He soon had a nice farm in 
cultivation. He built a small water power log mill on the present site 
of the Victor Mills. He also built a saw-mill. He took an active part 
in the political life of the county, being a member of the first grand 
jury assembled at the organization of the county and in many other 
ways took a part in public enterprises. In 1838 he moved from Sar- 
coxie to the western part of the county and entered the land where 
the famous Lehigh mines were afterward opened. He left the county 
in 1844 on an exploring expedition into the lands of the south and died 
while on this trip. His descendants still live in the county, honored 
and respected citizens, who, like the founder of the family, are shrewd 
business men and women. 

A few months after Thackery Vivion came to the county John M. 
Fullerton. also a native of Tennessee, came to the Sarcoxie Spring and 
settled near Mr. Vivion. Mr. Fullerton lived on a farm near Sarcoxie 
for eighteen years, dying in 1850. 

Samuel Powers, another Tennesseean, came to the neighborhood in 
1^32. Jackson Mills and A. Hodge both from Kentucky, also came to 
the settlement in 1832. 

During 1833 a dozen families joined the colony and gave it an air 
of permanency. 

Among the settlers who came in 1833 were the following — E. V 
Beasley. Joseph and Samuel Melugen, Dr. Abner Wilson, J. P. Boyd, 
Ephraim Beasley, Hiram Handford, E. Jenkins, Thomas Boxley, Tyron 
Gibson. William Gibson; Abraham Onstott. the father of "honest John 
Onstott." who won this title during the Civil war by his acts relating to 



8 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

the county treasurer's office; and J. N. U. Sealey. Mr. Sealey still re- 
sides in the county and is the oldest living settler. 

Jenkins creek is named for Ephraim Jenkins who settled at the 
head of that beautiful little stream. Tyron Gibson made his home on the 
present site of the High Hill sehoolhouse. The Onstotts settled in 
Jackson township on Center creek. 

1834 saw a considerable growth; among the new comers were Will- 
iam Tingle of Maryland and Ben F. Massey from Kentucky, both of 
whom exerted an influence in a business way which gave the new settle- 
ment importance as a trading center. 

Messrs. Massey and Tingle opened a general store at Sarcoxie which 
catered to the trade for miles around. They bought the Vivion log 
mill and greatly enlarged its grinding facilities. The old mill was used 
up to 1872 when the Victor mills were erected on the old mill site. 
Mr. Tingle built the first lead furnace in the county. He was a busy, 
active man up to the time of his death. 

Cave Springs 

In the early settlement of the county. Cave Springs, east of Sar- 
coxie, was the great camping point, and sometimes as many as twenty 
families would be camped there while the head of the family went in 
search of a good location for the new home. 

A Few op the "Firsts" 

The first marriage celebrated in the county was that of Moses Pow- 
ers and Miss Boyd which occurred in 1834. 

The first child born in the county was John Powers, a son of Sam- 
uel Powers. 

The first minister was Andrew Buckhanon, a member of the Chris- 
tian denomination. The first church to be organized, however, was the 
Freedom Baptist church in Union township. A more extended mention 
of this church will be found elsewhere. 

The first lawyer was John R. Chenault. Mr. Chenault became cir- 
cuit judge in 1857. During the agitation which preceded ithe Civil war 
he was an advocate of the cause of the south. He was a member of 
the convention called to consider 'the relations of the state with the 
Federal Government. During the war he espoused the cause of the 
Confederacy. 

The first store was :kept by Dr. Abner Wilson and the first post- 
office was opened at Sarcoxie in 1833. Mail was brought at long inter- 
vals from Little Pliny on the Gasconade, one hundred and fifty miles 
away. I It is hard for us who are accustomed to the railroad, the elec- 
tric cars and automobile to comprehend what a journey of one hundred 
and fifty miles across the country in those days meant. Then, with 
only a trail for a road, no bridges, and streams sometimes impassable 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 9 

except to swim, with only the patient oxen or the faithful horse, a trip 
to the county seat and return was a week or ten days' journey. 

Up to this time Sarcoxie was called Centerville, being then at almost 
the geographical center of old Barry county, i 

When the application was made for the establishment of the post- 
office it was found that there was another town in Missouri i called Cen- 
terville, and that it would be necessary to select another name. 

The old spring was known as the Sarcoxie spring, and the old 
Chief Sarcoxie had lived there before the days of the white man's 
supremacy; so it was thought to be an appropriate name for the i new 
town, which was accordingly christened Sarcoxie. 

Pioneer Life 

There is something romantic about the life of the pioneer. 

Here noble deeds and unobtrusive acts of bravery are counted the 
standard by which men are measured. 

Here, as a matter of necessity, neighbors are friends and the com- 
radeship which comes of having braved dangers together is warmed 
into a bond of sympathy which makes friendship akin to love. 

Here, too, nature is seen in all of its grandeur. The broad prairie 
with its wealth of fragrant flowers and sweet scented grasses ; the hun- 
dreds of little friends in feather and fur ; the forest with its monarch oak 
and its stately pine ; the pure air and the clear waters, all lend a charm 
and a beauty that compensate for the lack of the comforts of the old 
home and give an individuality to the life of the new settler, which cul- 
tivates a love of freedom and at the same time makes him more loving 
and tender because of the kindness of his friends. 

Until the 'forties not a single house in Jasper county had been 
built more than two miles from the timber; this was very natural, as 
there was no lumber with which to build ; the houses were built of logs 
and as a matter of convenience were erected near the timber. 

Ordinarily the log house of the 'thirties and 'forties consisted of 
two large apartments with a large fireplace in each room. The fire- 
place was an immense affair and before the advent of stoves was used 
for both heating and cooking purposes. Every woman was a good cook 
and the corn bread was the delicacy which every housewife prided her- 
self on being able to make ; so good that it would tempt even the gods. 

In the home was found the loom where a very good quality of but- 
ternut jeans was woven, and this was the cloth of quality. 

Every man and most of the women were expert shots, and in the 
first season before the crop was raised almost the entire family sub- 
sistence consisted of the wild game which was abundant and con- 
veniently brought itself to the door. During the 'thirties there were 
no schools or churches. What little learning was had was by private 
instruction, and the Gospel was preached at intervals, either in the 
home of some good man or at an occasional camp-meeting. 



lo HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The Indians, during the 'thirties, were plentiful but were for the 
most part friendly, and made war on nothing except the smoke-house 
and the corn-erib. 

Log Raising 

As a matter of necessity the people of the pioneer period were 
sociable, and it was customary among the old timers to help the new- 
comer build his home. These occasions were called "log raisings," 
and at these the neighbors assembled at the place where the house was 
to be built and helped cut the trees and hew the logs that were to go 
in the structure. When they were put in form they helped raise the 
logs in place. Up to as late as the 'fifties these gatherings were popu- 
lar, and many a man felt kindlier to his neighbor for these demonstra- 
tions of good will. 

The Spanish Caravan 

The following little story is one of the traditional incidents which 
has been handed down to us from the pioneers and although unauthen- 
ticated by any written evidence is still interesting because it illustrates, 
in a way, the dangers that were encountered by the explorers who first 
invaded the hunting grounds of the Indians. 

During the rule of Delassus. the last of the Spanish governors for 
the Louisiana Territory, a party of fortune hunters was organized at 
St. Louis for the purpose of making a trip to Mexico hoping to secure 
some of the wealth of the Moute/.umas. 

The caravan left St. Louis in great pomp and made its way to Mex- 
ico, passing through the Country of the Six Bulls en route. 

The expedition was successful and a goodly sum of the Mexican gold 
was secured, after which the party started on its return trip. Arriv- 
ing in the southwest country in the early spring, they stopped for 
a while to rest and refresh themselves by one of the picturesque springs 
near the present site of Sarcoxie and believed by many to be the beau- 
tiful spring on the farm of Stephen Hood in Sareoxie township. 

While here the explorers were attacked by a large band of Indians 
and almost exterminated, only a few escaping with their lives. This 
stop in the Country of the Six Hulls was one of many such rests, it 
being necessary at times to halt and secure food and repair the equip- 
ments. It was tlie custom on these stops to secrete the treasure and it 
is believed by many that it was buried or safely hidden in one of the 
numerous ledges overhanging the Big spring. The few who made their 
escape, after weeks of perilous journey on foot, made their way back to 
St. Louis and there told the story of the awful massacre. In 1837 a 
party came from St. Louis to hunt for the gold but none was ever found 
and Mr. Hood, who owns the farm, never gave credence to the story, 
believing that the Indians took all of value that was left in the cam]). 

The Spring on the Hood farm is one of the most romantic and pic- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 11 

turesque spots in the county and its location could easily be described ; 
it is an ideal place for a camping party — the cool water from the 
spring running out from the hillside forming the headwaters of one 
of the numerous spring-fed streams that flow into Center creek; the 
great trees making a veritable canopy of green overhead and the steep 
embankment rising on the south and west making a cool and quiet re- 
treat ; while the wide plateau sloping away to the southwest makes an 
excellent place for the sentinel to guard against the approach of an 
enemy from that direction. 

Early Method op Filing Land 

The first settlers who came to the county could not perfect title 
to their lands on which they settled because the land had not been sur- 
veyed by the government, nor offered for sale to the public. In 1836 
a partial survey of the county was made which included the land as far 
west as range 30. about three miles east of Carthage: thereupon quite a 
bit of land was entered in the eastern portion of the county and in due 
time the title perfected. 

The survey was completed in 1844 and it was at this date that the 
settlers began in great numbers to make the proper tilings to secure 
title to their lands. 

The government land office was at Springfield and to go there and 
back required from a week to ten days, depending on the weather, the 
streams to be crossed, and the condition of the roads which were then 
hardly more than trails. 

In order to save expense and time the people in a neighborhood 
would join together and select one of their number to make the trip 
and file on all of the lands selected. On his return he would execute 
the proper release or deed to the rightful owner who would pay to the 
government the appraised price of the land and perfect the title. The 
patent from the government would be issued to the party who did the 
filing and subsequently to the party who paid the money. The price 
paid for the land at the time of the first entries ranged from twenty- 
five cents to one dollar twenty-five cents an acre according to the loca- 
tion and worth, the appraisements being fixed by an officer appointed 
by the land department for that purpose. 

Game and Wild Animals 

Up until the later 'fifties southwest Missouri was the hunters' para- 
dise. There was an abundance of wild game such as deer, turkey and 
wild geese, and these furnished half the living for the first settlers. 
There also were many. wild animals not so desirable and often the sturdy 
pioneers were obliged to leave their work to fight some wild beast which 
was terrifying the neighborhood. Wolves came in packs and killed the 
sheep and other small domestic animals. Wild cats and panthers came 
lurking around at night and so in every home the trusty rifle always 



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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 







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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 13 

was loaded and ready for use. Everybody old enough to carry a mus- 
ket was taught to shoot and learned to brave danger. 

The following little story, told the writer by A. W. Onstott, illustrates 
the common cause which all the neighborhood made against these ene- 
mies of mankind which made life a burden to new comers. 

One morning, during the early 'fifties, John Onstott saddled his 
horse intending to go to Carthage on some business and, taking his 
little son Abe up with him, started on his journey. After traveling a 
few miles he noticed his neighbor. John Dale, chasing a wolf across 
the prairie and, perceiving that his friend's horse was nearly winded 
from a long run, put spurs to his horse and took out after the animal. 
His steed was a most sensible one and after a few miles of racing with 
the wolf overtook it, and jumping on it with his fore feet, knocked it to 
the ground. Quickly dismounting Mr. Onstott unfastened the stirrup 
from the saddle — one of the old iron stirrups so much used in that day 
— and with one or two well directed blows killed the wolf. 

Sometimes hunting parties would be formed to search for panthers 
or other carnivorous beasts which ventured too near to civilization. 
Nearly all of the wild animals were exterminated before the war. 

Among the popular amusements for the pioneer hunter were the 
shooting matches, the prizes for which being usually either a steer, a 
good fat hog or a sheep. When the animal contended for was as small 
as a hog or sheep a number of matches were arranged. When the prize 
was a steer or a heifer the plan of the match was as follows: A number 
of the best shots would enter for the contest, each one paying so much, 
depending on the value of the game, for his right to enter. Usually 
each contestant had five shots in which to display his skill. 

Every man brought with him to the shoot a board from which all 
marks were erased save the "bull's eye" or mark and these were placed 
at a certain distance, fifty, one hundred or two hundred yards away, 
according as the rules for the day were made, and served as targets. 
After the shots were fired the judges inspected the targets and decided 
which of the shooters had won the honors. 

At a match for a steer there were five winners, the four best shots 
having the choice of one of the four quarters of the beast and the fifth 
man taking as his part the hide and tallow. 



CHAPTER II 

CIVIL AND POLITICAL 

The Original Jasper County — First Township Organizations — 
Commission to Locate County Seat — Court House Built — First 
Carthage Houses — Early Provision for Good Roads — No Snap 
to Hold Office — First Session of the Circuit Court — Conspiracy 
or Riot Case — A New Court House Built — Early Political His- 
tory — County Officers, 1841-61. 

The bill authorizing the organization of the county passed January 
29, 1841. contained the following general provision: "All that terri- 
tory included within the following described limits, to-wit : Beginning 
at the southwest corner of section one, in township twenty-seven, of 
range twenty-nine ; thence running parallel with the line dividing 
townships twenty-seven and twenty-eight, westwardly to the western 
boundary of the state ; thence north on the line of the state to the line 
dividing townships thirty-three and thirty-four; thence east on said 
line to the northwest corner of section one, in township thirty-three of 
range twenty-nine; thence south to the place of beginning, is hereby 
created a separate and distinct county, to be called and known by the 
name of Jasper county." 

Tin: Original Jasper County 

It will lie noted that the original limits of tin' county contained all 
the territory now in Barton county hut did not extend as far south as 
the present southern limits, the base line dividing townships twenty- 
seven ami twenty-eight being the southern limit. 

The territory which includes the greater pail of Joplin, Duenweg, 
Scotland and Sarcoxie was not in the original Jasper county. 

In 1845 three miles was added to Jasper county on the south, and 
in IS.").") Barton county was taken from its northern sections. 

I'lirsuant to the provision of the above hill the Hon. S. M. ( 'ooley. 

Jeremiah Cravens and Samuel B. Bright, who had been appointed mem- 
bers of the county COUrt, and John 1'. Osborne, who had been appointed 

sheriff, met at the residence of George Hornback on Spring river, took 
the oath of office and entered upon their duties. 

Elwood I'.. James was appointed county clerk and the bonds of the 
sheriff and clerk were approved. The court then adjourned to meet 
March S. 1841. 

II 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 15 

At the meeting of the county court on .March 8th, the following of- 
ficers were appointed: Assessor. John Ilaskins; public administrator, 
Chas. Robinson: treasurer. George Hornback and county surveyor. 
John Chenault. 

Justice Samuel M. Cooler was chosen as president of the court and 
by virtue of that office became the first probate judge. 

First Towns hip Organizations 

At the meeting of the county court on .March 8th the county was 
divided into three townships: North Fork township, which included 
all of the territory north of the North and Dry forks of Spring river; 
Spring River township, the east half of the county south of the Dry 
fork and Center Creek township, which included the western half of 
the county south of the North fork. Officers for the townships were 
also appointed. On March 14th North Fork township was divided, 
the western half being designated as Newton township. On November 
3rd of the same year Marion township was organized and included in 
its territory the east half of Center Creek township and the west half 
of Spring River. No further changes were made in the township limits 
until August. 1847. when a portion of the North Fork and Spring River 
townships was stricken off and Jasper township organized. Marion 
township was divided into a north and south township, the southern 
township being called Robinson. On March 29, 1848, the name of Rob- 
inson was changed to Jackson. In 1854 McDonald township was carved 
out of the northeast portion of Spring River township and the northern 
part of the county (now Barton county) was organized as Barton town- 
ship. It remained thus until after the war, except that township (Bar- 
ton county) was stricken off of the northern part of Jasper county. 

Commission to Locate County Seat 

John Plummer, George Barker and Abel Landers, all of the county 
of Newton, were appointed commissioners to select the permanent seat 
of justice for the county. The bill provided that the said commissioners 
should make their location as near the center of the inhabitable part 
of the county as practicable, without a survey, due regard being had 
to the situation. Abel Landers and George Barker qualified as com- 
missioners to select the permanent seat of justice and after making a 
most thorough canvass of the situation chose the site where now stands 
beautiful Carthage, for the future county seat. Mr. Landers was paid 
twenty dollars and Mr. Barker fifteen dollars for their services as com- 
missioners. 

At a meeting f the county court held March 28. 1S42. the county 
seat was formally named Carthage. 

James Nichols, the surveyor who made the first temporary plat of 
the county seat, was paid ten dollars for his work. 

The land on which Carthage was built was at the time of its selec- 



lfi HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

tion as the county seat a part of the public domain, being then unsur- 
veyed by the government. In 1844 a survey was made by the govern- 
ment and the corners regularly located. The county court then ap- 
pointed George Hornback as commissioner to enter and perfect title 
to the land for the county, and the section where the town was being 
built was bought from the United States for the county at the regular 
price, one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and thus the deeds 
which had already been made by the county to purchasers of lots were 
made good. 

At a meeting of the county court April 10, 1842, Pelig Spencer was 
appointed commissioner of the seat of justice and superintendent of 
public buildings and as such was authorized to contract for the build- 
ing of a suitable court house which w-as to be paid for as follows: One 
hundred dollars when the building was completed and the balance in 
bonds received in payment for the lots sold in the town of Carthage. 

The commissioner was also authorized to employ a surveyor to lay 
off the new town. The plat of the future Athens of southwest Missouri 
was exhibited to the court May 15th and formally approved and or- 
dered placed on record. 

Court House Built 

The superintendent of buildings contracted with Levi H. Jenkins 
to build the court house, the contract price being three hundred and 
ninety-eight dollars and fifty cents. It was a one-story, one-room build- 
ing, on the north side of the public square. The door faced the south 
and at the north end of the room was a large old fashioned fireplace. 

The first sale of the lots took place on the 13th day of June, 1842, 
and twenty-eight lots were disposed of, ranging in price from $10.50 to 
$44.00. The highest priced lot was No. 24, the corner w 7 here now stands 
the Harrington Hotel. The first man to pay for his lot was William 
Kerr who purchased lot 3 on the east side of the square, paying $18.50 
in the coin of the realm. 

The court house was completed and formally turned over to the 
county, June 29, 1842, and the official records were ordered moved to 
the new county seat. 

First Carthage Houses 

The first house built within the present limits of Carthage was 
erected by Henry Pierce in 1833 near the Big spring by the old wool- 
len mill, this was of course in the days of squatter sovereignty. The 
first house erected in Carthage after it became the county seat was by 
Dr. Cabe Johnson in 1842 on the lot just east of the Harrington Hotel. 
George Hornback built the next house, a two-story frame, situated on 
the north side of the square which served as a residence and store com- 
bined. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 17 

Early Provision for Good Roads 

At the first session of the county court after the court house was 
completed that body transacted a large volume of business, one of the 
most important acts being the taking of steps toward establishing a 
system of roads. 

A commissioner was appointed in each township to map and plat 
the county roads necessary for the public travel, and the court also 
took steps leading to the building of three great roads, one leading from 
Carthage to Springfield, another leading from Carthage to Greenfield, 
and the third from Carthage to Neosho. 

This was a most important act and showed that the members of the 
first county court were far-seeing in their judgment for good roads, and 
convenient modes of transportation are as essential in the building of a 
state as a system of education. 

No Snap to Hold Office 

The reports of the several offices for 1842 show that it was no snap 
to hold a county office in that day — that is, as far as remuneration is 
concerned. 

The total revenue collected from tax on property was $437.47, for 
state and county purposes, of which sum the county received two- 
thirds or $291.62. The amount received for merchants' licenses was 
$20.00, thus bringing into the county treasury $311.62. 

The members of the county court received two dollars per day and 
drew from the treasury about twenty dollars during the year. 

The treasurer was paid one and a half per cent of the funds pass- 
ing through his hands and received for his year's pay $4.81. 

The treasurer gave bond in the sum of $1,500. 

The sheriff and county clerk fared a little better, however, as they 
were paid in fees, and the sheriff made about $100 out of his office and 
the clerk about $75. 

The First Session of the Circuit Court 

The bill providing for the organization of Jasper county also made 
provision for the organization of a number of other counties, and an- 
other bill passed at the same time to redistrict the state into judicial 
circuits, Jasper and other southwest Missouri counties being in the 
Thirteenth judicial circuit. On February 8, 1841, the governor ap- 
pointed Hon. Charles S. Yancey as the judge thereof. 

The first session of the Jasper county circuit court was held Feb- 
ruary 25th at the residence of George Hornback. 

The opening of the court was both unusual and romantic and shows 
how easily the pioneer overcomes what at first seems to be an insur- 
mountable difficulty. 

The residence of George Hornback was one of the pioneer log 

houses, twelve bv sixteen, and besides a table contained half a dozen 
Vol. i-i ■< » '■* 



18 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

split-bottom chairs; also was furnished with a couple of old fashioned 
beds. 

It will be readily seen that the one room was somewhat crowded 
with the family, but this was nothing to the pioneer; and so when the 
morning of the 25th of February (the day set for the opening of the 
court) dawned clear and bright it found some twenty-odd men at this 
hostelry to participate in the opening. At the hour set for the open- 
ing of the court, His Honor, Judge Yancey, ordered the sheriff, J. P. 
Osborne, to formally open the court, and that officer stepping to the 
door of the house, after taking a large quid of tobacco from his mouth, 
said, "Oh yes. Oh yes, the Honorable Circuit Court of Jasper County 
is now in session." 

Robert W. Crawford was appointed circuit attorney pro tern, and 
the court was opened for business. 

The following gentlemen were empaneled as the grand jury: George 
Hornback. foreman ; Henry H. Zackery, David Hawkins, Daniel Smith. 
James Hornback. John Oxford. David Broehus, Thackery Vivion. 
Thomas J. .Mills, Daniel M. Hopkins, Samuel Teas. John F. Mills, Du- 
bart Murphy, Levi Dickerson, Leander Messit, William Laxon and Rob- 
ert Neal. 

After the jury was charged, for the want of a jury room retired to 
a large log in the yard and there entered upon their deliberations, 
after listening to the testimony returning a true bill against David 
Lamaster for forgery. At the trial the case was nolled for some irregu- 
larity in the drawing of the indictment. 

At this session of the court John C. Price, afterward a distin- 
guished lawyer and later circuit judge, was admitted to the bar. Court 
was held at this place until June, 1842, when the new court house at 
Carthage was ready for occupancy. 

At the October term of the court Robert W. Crawford, the acting 
prosecuting attorney, and John R. Chenault, afterward judge of the 
circuit court, engaged in a heated war of words over some matter that 
came up during a trial and concluded the argument with a rough-and- 
tumble fight, which was with great difficulty ended by the sheriff. 

Judge Yancey promptly fined the belligerents ten dollars for con- 
tempt of court. Mr. Crawford paid his fine, but Mr. Chenault made a 
motion that the fine be set aside on the ground of self-defense, but Judge 
Yancey overruled the motion. Mr. Chenault appealed the case to the 
supreme court, but for some reason it was never reached and the case 
was finally dropped. 

Conspiracy or Riot Case 

The most important case tried while the sessions of the court were 
held at the Hornback residence was the famous Conspiracy or Riot 
case, as it was called. A man by the name of Skidmore had incurred 
the displeasure of the community on account of gambling, horse-racing 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY ill 

and other irregularities, and one night some eleven men constituted 
themselves a committee to wait on him and inform him that he was 
not wanted in the county. Mr. Skidmore concluded to stand his ground 
and the committee returned and gave him a severe horse-whipping and 
again ordered him to leave. Skidmore stood his ground and defied the 
committee. A few nights later they returned and Skidmore opened fire, 
killing one of the besieging party; after winch they retired leaving him 
in full possession of the fort. 

Skidmore then had the entire party arrested, but for various reasons, 
inability to secure an impartial jury, absence of witness, etc., etc., the 
case dragged along for several terms and was then dismissed. 

A New Court House Built 

By the close of the 'forties the business transacted by the county 
had grown to such proportions that the one-room court house at Car- 
thage would not accommodate the county officers and on July 29. 1849, 
an architect was employed to draw plans for a court house which was 
built in 18.51. 

The new structure was a two-story brick building, the lower part 
being used for the circuit court and other offices and the upstairs being 
set apart for county and jail purposes. This building served as a hos- 
pital for the wounded soldiers of both the Union and Confederate 
armies after the battle of Carthage, and in 1863 was burned during one 
of the frequent raids that took place in the county. 

Early Political History 

When Jasper county was organized in 1841 the first officers were 
appointed by the governor and at the first election in 1842 political 
lines were not closely drawn, the voters usually voting for the friend 
or neighbor they most liked, but at the election of 1844 the people be- 
gan to divide into the two great parties of that day, the Democratic and 
Whig. The Democratic party was that which advocated the doctrines 
of Jefferson and Jackson ; the Whig, the Hamiltonian theory of gov- 
ernment. Both parties were well organized in 1844 and made a hard 
fight for victory, but the Democrats were mostly successful. 

In the campaign of 1852 the American, or Know Nothing party, 
made a vigorous campaign and elected a few of its candidates. The 
American party was so called because it opposed the holding of office 
by foreign-born citizens. This party spread its doctrines largely by 
means of lodges which were organized in nearly every community. It 
unsettled both of the old parties, but drew most of its strength from 
the Whigs. 

The anti-slavery agitation, which began with the organization of the 
Republican party, made a new political alignment in the county and 
at the election of 1856 found three contestants — the Democrats, the 
Benton Democrats and the Know Nothings. 



20 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



The Republican party made no showing in Jasper county at this 
time, but the men opposed to slavery supported Thomas H. Benton for 
governor. The greatest political gathering of this campaign was at 
Sarcoxie, then the leading town of the county, where the distinguished 
ex-senator and silver-tongued orator spoke on the issues of the day. 
The occasion was a great event in the county and brought to the place 
people for miles around, and it is told by the old settlers who attended 
the meeting that it was the largest assemblage up to that time that 
had ever gathered in southwest Missouri. 

Although Benton w-as regarded as an able man, he had lost his po- 
litical prestige and made but a feeble race for governor as an independ- 




IP Tn FrU iiP 



Old Jasper County Court House 

Used as a hospital followlnp the Itattle of Cartbage. Built in 1849 of brick and etone. 
Destroyed l\v Are In October, 1863. 



ent candidate. The vote in the state was: Polk, regular Democrat, 
47.000; Ewing, American, 40,500; Benton, independent, 27,600. 

At the election of 1860 party lines almost completely went to pieces, 
and the voters again lined up at the battle of the ballots as Breeken- 
ridge Democrats or those whose sympathies were with the slave-holding 
interests; Douglas Democrats, or those who opposed the further ex- 
tension of slavery ; the remnant of the Whig and American parties, 
who called themselves Constitutional Union men, and the Lincoln Re- 
publicans. Lincoln received seventeen votes in Jasper county. 

This was a bitter campaign and arrayed in many instances brother 
against brother. Old friendships were severed and a bitterness was 
engendered which was not healed over until years after the white 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 21 

winged dove of peace had proclaimed the War of the States at an end 
and the America of our forefathers was a reunited country. 

County Officers 1841-61 

We append herewith a list of the county officers from the organiza- 
tion of the county to the breaking out of the Civil war, when the county 
was for a time in a chaotic condition and without local government. 

Sheriffs -.—John P. Osborn, 1841-6; Samuel B. La Force, 1846-50; 
John Patts, 1850-52; T. F. Thompson, 1852-6; X. C. Hood. 1856-60; 
Thomas J. Haskell, 1861. 

County Court: — Jeremiah Cravens, 1841-2, 1846-9; Samuel M. 
Cooley, 1841-6; Samuel B. Bughr, 1841-2; Henry M. Zackery (to till 
vacancy), 1841-2; Moses Anglin, 1842-5; Wm. S. McGinnis, 1842-6; 
Jebson M. Keith, 1842-6; Andrew M. McKee, 1846-50; J. H. McPar- 
tridge, 1846-9; A. M. Dawson, 1849-50; Joseph Daugherty, 1849-50; 
Thomas G. Walton, 1850-8; John M. Fullerton, 1850-5; Milton Steph- 
enson, 1850-5 ; George E. Ward, 1855-6 ; Rice Challis, 1855-8 ; John On- 
stott, 1856-8; Josiah Boyd, 1858-61; John B. Higdon, 1858-61; Daniel 
Hunn, 1858-60; John B. Martin, 1860-1. 

County Clerks :— Elwood B. James, 1841; A. Ferris, 1841 (died 
after serving one month); Elwood B. James, 1841-59; Stanfield Ross, 
1859-61. The county clerk was ex officio recorder and circuit clerk 
prior to the war. 

Treasurers: — G. E. Hornback, 1841 (resigned) ; John Scott, 1841-3; 
Henry H. Zackery, 1843-6; Lewis H. Scruggs. 1846-52; Wm. Chenault, 
1852-60; Archibald McCoy, 1860-1. 

Prosecuting Attorneys: — Robert M. Crawford (acting first term of 
court) ; James McBride, 1841-4; Wm. C. Jones, 1844-5; John T. Coffee, 
1845-54; E. B. Borne, 1854-7; Andrew T. Hann, 1857-60; Joseph Crav- 
ens, I860-'; William M. Cravens. 1861 

Circuit Court Judges: — Chas. S. Yancy. 1841-56: Wm. C. Price, 
1856-7; John R. Chenault, 1857-61. 

Representatives: — Samuel Melugin, 1842-4. 1848-50; J. M. Richard- 
son, 1844-6; Thos. Mansfield, 1846-8; Samuel B. La Forse, 1850-2; 
Archibald McCoy, 1852-4; David Norris, 1854-6; James Cravens. 1S."><;- 
8; Wm. N. Warren, 1858-60; John B. Dale, 1860-1. 



CHAPTER III 

PIONEER SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES 

First School Section Sold — Pioneer School Districts — First School 
Described — First County School Commissioner — School Fund 
Greatly Augmented — The Carthage Female Academy — Organi- 
zation of the First Church — Building of the First Church — 
First Church and Rev. Greenville Spencer — Old-Fashioned 
Camp-Meetings — Rev. Harris Joplin and Rev. Anthony Bewler — 
Peace Church of Galena Township. 

The act of congress receiving Missouri into the Union provided 
among other things that for the purpose of creating a school fund in 
each county of the state, to be used exclusively for the payment of 
teachers in the public schools, the sixteenth section of land in each con- 
gressional township should be donated to the state, and all moneys re- 
ceived from the sale of such land were to be placed in the school fund 
of the several counties when organized and the same loaned out at in- 
terest which was to be annually apportioned to the districts according 
to their school population. 

First School Section Sold 

The first sixteenth section of school lands sold in Jasper county was 
paid for in May. 1842. The land sold for $1.25 an acre and netted the 
county school fund $800. During 1842 the school fund was swelled to 
$870.48 by the payment of fines, donations and interest on the $800, 
which was at once loaned out. The interest collected for the year 1842 
was $38. 

Pioneer School Districts 

The first school district to be organized was in congressional town- 
ship 28 and range 2!), in the east-central part of the county. The for- 
mal organization occurred in November, 1844, when the county court 
appointed William Maxwell school commissioner for the township and 
ordered that the same be divided into three school districts. District 
No. 1 embraced all of the territory north of Spring river: No. 2 the 
west half of the territory south of Spring river and No. :i the east half. 

School District No. 2 was the first to build a schoolhouse and hence 
has the honor of being the oldest school district in the county. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 23 

First School Described 

Judge Jeremiah Cravens was one of the first school directors for this 
district and Samuel Teas was the first teacher. We give herewith a 
description of this first school written by H. M. Boyd, formerly of Sar- 
coxie and a pupil in the school back in the 'forties: "Samuel Teas taught 
the first school in the county. The house was built of rough logs un- 
hewn and was covered with clapboards held down on the roof with 
poles, as nails could not be obtained at this early day. The house had 
but one door ; this was in the south side. In the west end one log was 
cut out the full length of the room for a window and this was left open 
summer and winter. Under this window there was a plank running the 
full length nailed to pins driven into the wall. This served as a writ- 
ing desk. The fireplace was in the east end of the house and was wide 
enough to take a log a foot and a half thick and eight feet long. 

"The jams on each side and the back were made of rough rock and 
the balance of the chimney was made of sticks daubed with red clay. 
The house was seated with split logs, the fiat side up and the ends rest- 
ing on chunks. 

"In the side of the door a nail was driven into the wall and on this 
was suspended a little forked stick about six inches long, which every 
scholar took with him when he went out during the hours of study. No 
scholar was allowed to go out till this little fork was returned. This 
house stood on the east side of the road that ran from the Haskins house 
to the old ford on Center creek, known as the Boyd ford, and was about 
midway between the two. I attended this school and here I learned 
my ABC and received here my first Hogging. The school was patron- 
ized by the Cravens, the Mills, the Brittons. the Boyds, the Haskins, 
Beasley and Prigmons. 

"Mr. Teas was regarded as a successful teacher in that day and a 
fine scholar. He wrote a good hand and could cipher as far as the 
rule of three. The school was what might be called an old fashioned 
school; that is. all the students used the old blue back spelling book 
and studied it aloud. 

"The school on each evening closed by the students standing in a 
line and spelling the words as they were given out by the teacher. Ten 
minutes were given to get the spelling lesson and as the announcement 
was made every boy and girl got his blue-back book and spelled aloud 
with all his might and they could easily be heard a quarter of a mile 
away." 

The second township to be organized was township 29, range 33, 
in the west-central part of the county. 

The order creating this district was made at the May term of the 
county court in 1845. Benjamin Turner was appointed the commis- 
sioner for the township and Samuel Bright and John R. Chenault, in- 
spectors. 

Samuel B. Cooley was the first teacher. It will be noted that all 



o 4 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

three members of the first county court participated in the organiza- 
tion of the school system, Judge Samuel B. Cooley, the first presiding 
judge, being a teacher, and Judges Bright and Cravens, members of 
the first school board in their respective districts. 

This district was fortunate in having for its first teacher and lead- 
ing spirit, Judge Cooley, for he was a man of great integrity and his 
influence on the rising generation was felt long after he had passed 

away. 

The school was one of the pioneer log houses and at first, for the 
want of lumber, had no floor, the door and two openings for windows 
letting in the light. We are told by one of the old settlers that in win- 
ter time these windows were covered with gunny sacks, glass being a 
luxury known only to the most prosperous of the farmers and mer- 
chants. 

The fireplace was an immense affair, where great logs five or six 
feet long were thrown in, and here the fire sparkled and roared through- 
out the cold winter day. The furniture was all home-made and scant 
at that; the seats, like those at the Teas school, were made by cutting 
a large log in two and driving pegs in the rounded parts. 

Other districts soon were organized and when the war came on 
twenty-three school houses had been built. Among the districts organ- 
ized in the 'forties were the Franklin school, near Castle Rock on 
Turkey creek, with Charles Harris as its teacher; Peace Church school, 
later called Enterprise; Spring River school, Carthage; the Black Jack 
in McDonald township ; the Duval in the northwestern part of county 
and White Oak school, near Avilla. 

The course of study was confined principally to the three R's, but 
as the county grew in population, wealth and importance, new branches 
were added and during the later 'fifties several of the schools included 
in their curriculum history, civil government, algebra and like studies. 

In those days the rod was freely used and teachers were usually 
men, the school authorities holding to the old-fashioned theory of "no 
licking, no learning;" and muscle was as much needed by the teacher 
as a good certificate, in securing employment. 

The modus operandi of conducting the school was quite different 
from the law and usage of today. In each township there was appointed 
a commissioner who exercised a supervision over the school. He em- 
ployed the teacher, mapped out the course of study, made the rules 
and regulations and, in short, performed the duties now exercised by 
the school board. 

There were also appointed two inspectors whose duty it was to 
visit the schools (at least once during the term) and report on the pro- 
ficiency of the teacher and the progress made by the pupils. 

The First County School Commissioner 
On December 3, 1853, the county court appointed John R. Chenault 
county school commissioner and asked him to prescribe a suggested mii- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 25 

form course of study for the county schools. Judge Chenault accepted 
the position but did not hold it long for two reasons — first, it interfered 
with his law practice, and secondly and principally, because its com- 
pensation was not enough. 

School. Fund Greatly Augmented 

On September 28, 1850, congress passed a law in the interest of pop- 
ular education providing that where there were swamp or overflowed 
lands in a county, the same were to be condemned and sold for the 
benefit of the school fund. At the next session of the Missouri legisla- 
ture laws were passed providing the manner that such lands in Missouri 
should be disposed of. 

A bright idea now came to one of the members of the county court. 
During the spring rains Spring river and Center creek sometimes over- 
flowed and left their banks. Why not call the lands adjacent to these 
two streams "swamp or overflowed lands." and have them sold for the 
benefit of the school fund ? The scheme savored a little of trickery, but 
the county officials figured that by doing so they would serve the future 
generations and accordingly on the third day of December. 1853, they 
entered into a contract with J. M. Richardson, ex-secretary of state, to 
act as agent, for the county in taking the necessary steps to have the 
lands adjacent to these streams condemned. Mr. Richardson was to 
receive for his services as attorney one-fourth of the amount obtained 
from the sale of the lands less the expenses incurred ; in other words the 
County School fund would get three-fourths net, and he the balance after 
the expenses had been paid. 

Mr. Richardson secured the appointment of a commissioner to view 
and condemn the swamp and overflowed lands and agreed to give them 
twelve and a half cents for each acre condemned. 

The commission condemned practically all of the government do- 
main that was left unsold and the county came into possession of more 
than 300,000 acres of land, which was placed on the market the latter 
part of 185-4 and sold at ninety cents an acre. 

The land was at first offered on the following terms: — One seventh 
down and time on the balance. The interest however was paid annually. 
In 1856 the court, ordered a payment of one-third of the purchase price. 

About one-half of this land was disposed of during the 'fifties. To 
give an idea of the bigness of this coup d'etat we present the following 
figures. In 1854, the year the lands were placed on the market, the 
school apportionment was seven cents per child, but. in 1856 the interest 
paid in on the sales that had been made the first year ran the school 
apportionment up to twenty-five cents per child. Jasper county people 
often refer with pride to our magnificent County School fund, but there 
are but few who know the inside history of how it was acquired. 

The amount, of money secured from the sale of the swamp lands 
was in round numbers $200,000. The school fund has grown until today 



26 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

it is $235,000 and the annual interest gives to the several school dis- 
tricts sixty-four cents per child of school age. in addition to the amount 
received from the state apportionment. 

The coming on of the Civil war soon after the swamp lands were 
placed on the market stopped for a time the sale, but after the reor- 
ganization of the county the lands were again put on the market and 
rapidly sold. 

As the county was completely disorganized during the war the schools 
were closed, and after the war new laws were passed governing the sev- 
eral school districts, so that with the coming of peace a new regime in 
school matters came on; and we will therefore take up the subject later 
and treat it under the head of the "Reorganized School System." 

The Carthage Female Academy 

In 1855 the citizens of the county began to plan for larger things in 
an educational way and the Carthage Female Academy was organized 
and chartered by the state. The following gentlemen constituted the 
first board of trustees: John R. Chenault. David Guthrie, A. M. Dawson, 
Archibald McCoy, Elwood B. James and William Chenault. 

The county court sold to the seminary a building site for the con- 
sideration of one dollar and also donated to the trustees a forty-acre 
tract of land from the "school lands." This tract of land was sold and 
the proceeds added to a $1,000 loan which was obtained from the county 
out of the school fund and was used for the construction of the building. 

The academy was patronized by the best families of the county and 
a good course of study was mapped out, and had the war not come just 
then as the school began to flourish it no doubt would have been a power 
in an educational way. The war brought the career of the institution 
to an end, and after the public schools were reorganized the building 
and site were sold to the school district of Carthage for one dollar. 

On the site now stands the pride of Carthage, the $200,000 High 
School. 

The teachers in the academy were Samuel M. Knealand, principal, 
assisted by Mr. Hurley and Miss Alice Walker 

Organization of the First Church 

The first organized religious work done in this county was by the 
Cumberland Presbyterians in 1834, when the Center Creek Presbyterian 
church was organized at the Sarcoxie Springs by the Rev. Andrew Buck- 
lianon. Among those who assisted in its organization were B. L. Pear- 
son, J. Blair and A. A. Young. 

Mr. Young, who was at this time a licentiate afterward became a min- 
ister of the gospel, and not only labored hard for the evangelization of 
the Sarcoxie neighborhood but assisted in the organization of the work 
in southwest Missouri. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



27 



The organization, during the pioneer period, had no church home, 
but worshipped at the homes of its members and annually conducted a 
camp-meeting where most of its effective work was done 

At the time of its organization the nearest church to Sarcoxie was 
at Mt. Pleasant, eighteen miles away, and the Center Creek church in- 
cluded on its roll members for ten miles around, being the pioneer 
Presbyterian church in southwest Missouri. 

Out of the Center Creek congregation grew the following Presby- 
terian churches: Clear Creek, Pierce City. Richey. Alt. Comfort, New- 
tonia. Bethel. Spring River. New Salem (now Neosho), and the reor- 
ganized Sarcoxie church (after the war). 

For many years the Rev. Young conducted the camp-meetings of the 
Center Creek church and is said to have converted hundreds of the pio- 
neers. During the war, in the fall of 1864. Mr. Young conducted a 
camp-meeting at Sarcoxie which was attended by the Union soldiers 
then encamped at that point, and during his two weeks' meeting — 
which, by the way, was one of his most, successful — some sixty of the 
soldiers professed Christ and during their temporary sojourn were 
members of the Center Creek congregation. 

Building op the First Church 

As mentioned in the preceding article, the first church organized in 
Jasper county was the Centerville Presbyterian church, which carried 
on its work at the home of some good brother or at its annual camp- 




Old Freedom Baptist Church on Jones Creek, Union Township 



meeting held at the old Sarcoxie Spring. Thus the work of the 
Master went on until 1841 when the Rev. Greenville Spencer, a Baptist 
minister, came to the community and commenced labor in the southeast- 
ern part of the county, then the most thickly settled and most important 



28 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

part of the new settlement. He was a man of action and an indefatigable 
worker and at once set about to organize a church and build a house of 
worship. 

The church was called the Freedom Baptist and was built on Jones 
creek in what is now Union township. As will be seen from the picture 
of the old church which we here present, this first house of worship was 
built of logs and furnished with the home-made furniture then in use 
by the pioneers. 

The building of the church was a great event in the early history of 
the county and was the occasion of one of the old-fashioned log raisings 
so popular in those days. The logs were cut and hewed on the farms 
of the members and hauled to the spot chosen for the church home, and 
on the day appointed put in form by the pastor and his followers. The 
church was thirty-four by twenty-four feet and the height to the top 
of the roof twenty feet. The ceiling was eight feet high ; the floor was 
made of oak and ash planks and the door, which swung on the old strap 
hinges was fastened with wooden buttons. 

"When the church was first built it was among the giant forest trees 
so plentiful in those days, but now, with the thousands of feet used for 
mining timbers, railroad ties, etc., they have almost disappeared. 

Back of the church is an old cemetery and the stones, now crumbling 
with age, tell the story of a pioneer people who came and blazed the 
way for a splendid civilization which their children and their posterity 
should enjoy. 

The following are the names of some of the men who helped to build 
this church and thus erected the first temple of worship in the third 
county of the state : The pastor, Rev. Greenville Spencer, Samuel Spence. 
Daniel Spence, Jerry Gillstrap, Ephraim Jenkins, Jacob Hammer, Lewis 
Jones, John Jones, James Jones, William Cloud and Woodson Angel. 

For more than forty years services were held in this old log church 
and many a man and woman, like John Bunyan, first saw the new light 
there and felt the burden of their sins fall away to trouble them no more. 
The church has not been used since the early 'eighties and is now al- 
most a ruin, the roof having fallen in and nothing being left to tell the 
story of the early religious activities in the county except the four walls 
which have been left as a sacred relic to mark the spot where the white 
banner of the Prince of Peace was first planted. 

Here, too, under the protecting branches of the monster forest trees 
near the church, were held some of the greatest camp-meetings and the 
people for miles around came to these gatherings. 

It might not be out of place here to give for the younger generation, 
not acquainted with those wonderful gatherings, a description of the 
old fashioned camp-meetings which were held not only here, but all 
over the county, in the pioneer period. The last one of the great camp- 
meetings having a county-wide influence was held in 1883 on the site of 
beautiful Lakeside Park. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY -29 

Old-Fashioned Camp-Meetings 

The old camp-meeting was an out-of-door revival where the people 
gathered to stay for several days and camped out while attending the 
meetings, which were sometimes continued for several weeks. The pul- 
pit or preacher's stand was built under some monster tree whose wide- 
spreading branches made a canopy for the shelter of the speaker and 
those who came to the mourner's bench. 

Each family usually brought several chairs which were carried back 
and forth from the meeting to the camping place, and sometimes impro- 
vised benches were made by cutting down a few trees and using the logs 
for seats. 

The campers' wagons were scattered around in all directions from 
the meeting place and at night served as a shelter. In summer-time beds 
were made up under the wagons and trees and if, perchance, the meet- 
ing was held in the fall, around the camp fires which were kept burning 
through the night. 

At meal time and between services the children frolicked and the 
people made new acquaintances and renewed old friendships. The good 
house-wife, before coming to this meeting, cooked a great quantity of 
food and brought it along, together with a few cooking utensils which 
would be needed for quick service on the ground. 

There were usually three services during the day. morning, after- 
noon and twilight. Darkness put an end to the services, because in 
those days only candles were used and these, of course, would not go 
far in lighting up a quarter of a mile of forest. 

These meetings were of great importance in the early day — first, 
because the Gospel was preached ; secondly, because they had a tendency 
to better the morals of the community, and. thirdly, because they served 
as a means of bringing the people together and thus making them better 
acquainted ; and as friendships were made and the bonds of sympathy 
became greater, the people became interested in each other's welfare 
and were neighbors in every sense of the word. 

Rev. Harris Joplin and Rev. Anthony Pewler 

Contemporaneous with the Rev. Spencer was the Rev. Harris Joplin, 
who located in the western part of the county on the banks of the creek 
which was named for him and where afterwards was commenced the 
mining activities of the future metropolis of southwest Missouri. 

Mr. Joplin was the pioneer Methodist and labored among the people 
of West. Jasper from 1840 until about 1845, when he moved to Greene 
county where he died in 1847. During his sojourn here he organized a 
Methodist church which worshiped at his cabin, but after his departure 
meetings were discontinued and the church rolls and other evidence of 
its existence was lost. 

The Methodist church was permanently planted in the county in 
1844 when the Sarcoxie circuit was created and the Rev. Anthony Bew- 



30 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

ler assigned to the charge. At that time there was no church building 
save the Freedom Baptist and Mr. Bewler was commissioned as a trav- 
eling minister to preach the Gospel, organize churches and urge them to 
build a church home. 

The first church organized by the Rev. Bewler was at Cave Springs, 
in the extreme eastern part of the county. He was what was known in 
the early days of Methodism as a circuit rider. lie rose to the high po- 
sition of presiding elder of the Springfield district in 185(1 and completed 
his ministerial labors in Texas in 1860. He met with an untimely death 
while on the way home to join his family in Missouri. 

The .Methodist church, as is well known, divided on the slavery ques- 
tion, and the Rev. Bewler cast his lot with the Anti-slavery party and 
boldly expressed his views here and in Texas on the great question which 
a few months later brought on the War between the States. His Texas 
congregation became enraged at his speech and an anonymous letter 
was sent to him giving him a certain number of hours in which to leave 
the state. Feeling was so high, however, that he was sie/.ed while re- 
turning home and hanged at Fort Worth, on September ti. 1860, 

The following are the Methodist ministers who labored in Jasper 
county before the war : Rev. Mark Robinson, Rev. W. J. Markham, Rev. 
•I. K. Alderman; Rev. S. H. Carlisle, who organized the work in Car- 
thage; Rev. .1. M. Pape. Rev. D. W. Wise. Rev. J. Doughty, Rev. C. C. 
Arrington, Rev. James Hahan, Rev. Bery Hall and the Rev. Henry Hub- 
bard. 

Peace Church of Galena Town-ship 

Among the historic old churches of Jasper county was the Peace 
church in Galena township southwest of the Snapp farm. It was organ- 
ized by the Rev. Greenville Spencer, the same minister who founded 
the Freedom church and like it. was built by the eongregation, each man 
furnishing a certain number of logs. The church building served for a 
time also as a schoolhouse, when the old Enterprise school district was 
organized. The old church was torn down in 1909 and all that now re- 
mains of that once famous church is the old cemetery and the memory 
of the good that it has done. 



CHAPTER IV 

VARIOUS PIONEER EVENTS 

Mining Commenced at Leadville Hollow — First Lead Found in Jop- 
lin Creek Valley — Discovery of Lead Near Oronogo — The Freeze 
op 1848 — The Dragon Fly Pest — Burning of Two Negroes — Go- 
ing to Mill — Social Amusements — A School Teacher Tarred and 
Feathered — First Newspaper in the County — Old Sherwood — 
Towns in Jasper County Before the War — First Census of the 
County. 

In the spring of 1849 David Campbell of Neosho, who was an ex- 
perienced miner, was visiting William Tingle at his Turkey Creek farm 
and while walking about with his friend noticed a number of shallow 
depressions on the south side of the creek which to the casual observer 
had no special significance. They had the same appearance as the rest 
of the surface covered with a thick growth of underbrush and trees, but 
they excited the curiosity of Mr. Campbell and, on a close examination, 
appeared to be excavations of some sort which had been abandoned many 
years before. It occurred to him that these depressions might have 
been the mines which had been worked by the Spaniards or the Indians, 
and he concluded to look more closely for indications of mineral. He 
proceeded up the picturesque little valley now known as Leadville Hol- 
low, popularly known in those days as "Shakerag, " and while walking 
along the banks of what was then a silvery stream (but now filled with 
sediment and refuse from the many mining plants along the banks of 
the little brook) he discovered half a dozen little chunks of lead on the 
banks of the ravine. Working loose one of the chunks he carried it to 
Mr. Tingle who at once went to his home and, procuring a spade, re- 
turned with Mr. Campbell to the spot; and in half an hour they threw 
out more than a hundred pounds of pure galena, all within a foot or 
two from the surface and free from rock or other foreign substance. 

Mining Commenced at Leadville Hollow 

Mr. Campbell and Mr. Tingle, who were related, immediately con- 
eluded to mine the tract, and Mr. Tingle at once set out for Springfield 
to enter the land where the mineral was found. Mr. Tingle was a shrewd 
business man and realizing the value of the discovery entered the entire 
section, and on his return commenced mining in real earnest with Mr. 
Campbell who had discovered the treasure. 

31 



32. HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Mr. Tingle also interested in the enterprise John Fitzgerald, of Car- 
thage, who with him erected a small furnace at the month of the hollow 
and here the lead was smelted and made ready for the market. This 
smelter, compared with the mammoth lead factory of the Picher Lead 
Company where daily is smelted many tons of lead, was a quaint and 
primitive piece of mechanism. 

The power for the blast was furnished by two monster bellows, each 
about twice the size of those seen in the ordinary blacksmith shop. Be- 
tween the two bellows was erected a shaft from which was suspended a 
pump beam fastened to the bellows sweep. The pump beam was kept 
in motion by a horse power whim and as one bellows was filled the other 




Leadville Hollow — AYiiere First Lead Was Discovered 



was emptied; thus a constant blast of air was kept blowing on the tire. 
The fire was made of wood charcoal burned near the furnace and the 
lime used in the smelting was also burned at a kiln alongside of the 
creek and built for that purpose. 

The pig lead made at this furnace was freighted overland to Boon- 
ville where it was placed on the market. An interesting story is told 
of taking the lead to Boonville. Mr. Tingle had a trusty slave Pete 
(who, by the way, had been given him by his father when he left Mary- 
land for the west and whom his father had raised from a boy). Pete 
was an exceptionally bright colored man and a shrewd trader and Mr. 
Tingle frequently entrusted him with important business transactions, 
often sending him alone to Boonville with a four-horse wagon load of 
freight. Pete always sold his goods to advantage and upon his return 
accounted to his master for every penny. 

The little camp which sprang up in this valley was called Leadville 
and at one time before the war numbered a hundred miners. The lead 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



33 



in those days had a standing value of ten dollars per thousand delivered 
at the furnace. 

It is interesting, too, to contrast the manner of cleaning the lead then 
and now. The mineral was cleaned with a tool which the miners called a 
pickawee, a small hand pick about the size of an ordinary hammer. Wash 
places were then unknown. All small particles of mineral which could 
not be separated with the pickawee were thrown out on the dump pile 
and left until the more recent days, where the great mills at an up-to- 
date mine save almost one hundred per cent of the mineral which comes 
from the ground. 

First Lead Found in Joplin Creek Valley 

The same year in which lead was discovered in Leadville Hollow 
mineral was also discovered in the Joplin Creek valley, and in a manner 
even more romantic than the discovery at Leadville, for it was purely 
accidental. 

The following story was told the writer by Henry Blackwell, the 
man who built the first house in East Joplin and who assisted Judge 
Cox in surveying the original town. 

Judge Cox owned a little negro boy, Pete, who was very fond of 
fishing and loved this sport even more than hunting the opossum, or 
eating the luscious red water-melon. On every occasion when oppor- 
tunity presented he would hike to Turkey creek or the Joplin Creek 
branch, which was much nearer the judge's home, and there fish, gener- 
ally with good success. 

On one occasion he went to Joplin creek in what is now called Kansas 
City bottom and began digging for fish bait. While thus engaged he 
turned up a good size chunk of lead and, being curious to know what 
such a heavy thing was. he carried it to Judge Cox who at once recog- 
nized its value. After digging around some at the spot where the little 
negro turned up the chunk and finding large deposits of mineral he 
at once went to Springfield and entered the entire section. 

Little mining was done on this tract until after the war, when Mof- 
fett and Sergeant came from Oronogo, took a lease on the tract and 
commenced to mine. The opening of the mines by Moffet and Sergeant 
was the commencement of Joplin. 

Discovery of Lead Near Oronogo 

Almost simultaneously with the discovery of lead in Leadville Hol- 
low, good pay dirt was also found near the present site of Oronogo; 
mines were opened up by Judge Andrew McKee, Thomas Livingston, 
Messrs. French, Ringnold and others, and a thriving camp was soon in 
full blast. 

The new town was called Minersville. Thomas Livingston was the 
leading spirit in the new camp and, being a man of great energy, erected 
a smelter quite similar to the Tingle Furnace and also conducted a gen- 



34 HISTORY OF JASPEE COUNTY 

eral store. Mr. Livingston had been raised in the west and his school- 
ing had been neglected, but he was a shrewd business man and amassed 
what in those days was called a considerable fortune. .Many fabulous 
stories are told of him and the gold he buried before going to the war. 

Mr. Livingston was a man of great bravery, impetuous to a high 
degree, and knew not the meaning of the word fear. Yet with this firey 
nature he had a tender side to his make-up, and was as chivalrous as he 
was brave. He was a most devoted father to his two children, who had 
been bereaved of their mother during their tender childhood days. 

A considerable quantity of lead was mined both at Minersville and 
Leadville until the breaking out of the war. when all commerce came to 
an end. There is a tradition that at the approach of the Federal troops 
a large quantity of lead at the Livingston Smelter was thrown into Cen- 
ter creek to prevent its use by the Union soldiers. 

There is an old story handed down by the pioneers that the lead in 
these parts was known by the Indians long before the discoveries above 
mentioned, and that they would dig out a small quantity for hunting 
purposes and then carefully conceal the mine to prevent discovery. 
The lead taken by them was smelted in crude chip fires, made hot 
enough to melt the metal. The melted lead would be allowed to trickle 
down to a small clay pot and there be taken up and east into molds for 
bullets. We do not vouch for the truthfulness of this story, but give 
it for what it is worth. 

Minersville at the breaking out of the Civil war contained about 
twenty-five houses and was quite a thriving camp. The history of Min- 
ersville, now Oronogo, will be taken up later and the development of 
this important mining district brought down to date. 

The Freeze op 1848 

Jasper county, as a rule, has a most delightful climate, and her win- 
ters are usually open. It is seldom that the thermometer gets very far 
below zero and a severe cold spell hardly ever lasts longer than a week, 
but the winter and spring of 1848 was an exception. In January of that 
year there came a drizzling rain which afterward turned to sleet and 
snow, which froze as it fell. This continued for a full week and when 
the storm was over the entire earth's surface was a great skating pond, 
and the trees, underbrush and dried prairie grass were also coated with 
ice. 

It did not thaw until the latter part of March and during all this 
time the trees and shrubs sparkled and glistened all through the day 
and by moonlight, making a scene like a fairy garden. The grass stood 
up like miniature palisades and was with its icy coat swelled to an 
inch thickness. 

The sumach bushes resembled crystal pendants and the monarch 
oaks and stately sycamores were one solid mass of ice and made a fitting 
retreat for the Storm King. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 35 

The Dragon Fly Pest 

During the early 'fifties the county was visited by a plague in the 
shape of large swarms of dragon flies, described by old settlers as being 
as large as ordinary bees and as their size corresponded to the ordinary 
fly just that much more annoying. These flies became so annoying to 
the settlers that it was necessary to plough at night and leave the horses 
and oxen blanketed in the barn during the day time. 

One can imagine the inconvenience of trying to tend a crop when the 
greater part of the work had to be done during the moonlight season, 
and rainy weather at times interfering with this kindly light that was 
the farmers only hope. 

Burning op Two Negroes 

In August. 1854, there occurred in this county one of the greatest, 
tragedies of the pioneer period, the burning at the stake of two colored 
men for the double crime of rape and arson. 

Dr. Fisk who lived on a farm near Carthage had some business deal- 
ings with John B. Dale and had received a considerable sum of money. 

A negro named Colley belonging to Mr. Dale knew of the transac- 
tion and conceived the idea of enticing the Doctor from his home that 
night and robbing him of the money, thinking that he would carry it 
on his person. He took into his confidence another negro named Bart 
who belonged to John Scott and the two men set about to carry out this 
design. 

That evening about dusk Colley came to Dr. Fisk's house and told 
him that Mr. Dale's child was very sick and that the family wanted him 
to come at once to the bedside. Dr. Fisk at once saddled his horse and 
taking his medicine case set out for Mr. Dale's house. 

After the Doctor had gone a short distance Hart came out of the 
brush and pulled him from his horse. Colley who had followed, came 
up and knocked the Doctor in the head with an axe, killing him with a 
single blow. Not finding the coveted treasure on their victim the two 
colored men prowled around until about midnight when they went to 
the house and after outraging Mrs. Fisk killed her and the little baby. 
They then plundered the house, securing about thirty dollars and a 
watch, and, no doubt with a view of covering their crime, set fire to the 
home. They then hid the plunder in a corn crib and fled, Colley re- 
turning to his cabin on Mr. Dale 's farm and Bart, becoming frightened, 
fled to the timber and hid. 

The next morning when the terrible crime was discovered the neigh- 
bors gathered in and public feeling ran high. Every man constituted 
himself a committee of one to hunt and bring to justice the perpetrators 
of the deed. 

Mr. Dale noticed that Colley had changed his clothing and going to 
his cabin found blood stains on the clothes that he had worn the day 



36 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

before, and at once communicated his suspicions to his neighbors. In 
order to test Colley, Mr. Dale sent him to watch by the corpse of Dr. 
Fisk and help prepare it for burial. Colley, although he had helped 
prepare a number of bodies for burial before, could not look at the 
body and begged to be excused saying that he was sick. He was at once 
arrested and for a time declared that he was innocent, but after a day 
made a full confession in which he told the details of the awful crime. 
The money was found, as he said it would be. in the corn crib. 

A posse at once started in pursuit of Bart who, being ignorant of 
the country, had made little progress toward his escape. In traveling 
at night and on unknown roads and not daring to ask anyone the way, 
he had never gotten beyond the confines of Jasper county and was cap- 
tured in the brush near where Georgia City was afterward built. 

An examination was had before a committee of citizens, the infuriated 
people not being willing to wait for the law to take its course and await 
the convening of the court. It was agreed to put the two negroes to 
death. Some were in favor of hanging them, while others thought they 
should be burned at the stake as a warning to others. A vote was taken 
on the public square in Carthage and fully two to one voted to burn them. 
The day of execution was fixed as three days from the date. 

The largest crowd of people that had ever gathered at Carthage up 
to this time came to witness the execution. Farmers came for many 
miles bringing their slaves with them. About 2 :30 on the day set, the 
two negroes were brought out and chained to a stake. The burning took 
place in a hollow in the northwestern part of the town. About a cord 
of dry faggots were piled around the men, reaching up to their waists. 
Two colored men lighted the fire and in a short time the two culprits 
were burned to death. 

Mr. Dale's negi'o, Colley stood the test bravely and sang songs while 
the flames leaped about him, and continued to do so until he was suf- 
focated by the smoke. Bart, the other negro, however, screamed and 
begged for them to liberate him and shortly fainted away and died long 
before Colley did. 

The incident was long after talked of and perhaps caused more ex- 
citement than any other event prior to the Civil war. 

Going to Mill 

In the pioneer days every farmer took his wheat and corn to the 
mill to be ground and waited until the grist was turned out, the miller 
receiving for his pay a portion of the flour or meal. 

At the mill every one had to take his turn and during the busy sea- 
son would sometimes have to wait all day. At the mill the settlers 
swapped yarns or discussed the public affairs of the day. The following 
description of the old Sarcoxie mill is given us by one of the early set- 
tlers: "When a very small boy I used to carry a bag of corn or wheat 
on horseback every week to the old Sarcoxie mill to have it ground for 
bread. The house in which the grain was ground stood a little east of 
the present commodious mill. It was a frame building sixteen by 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 37 

eighteen feet, weatherboarded by rough oak plank, neither ceiled plas- 
tered or painted, and was one story high. It set east and west and 
opened on the south side fronting on the pond. The cast and west corn- 
ers on the south side rested on the bank of the pond. The east and west 
corners of the north side rested on pillars made of stone built down in the 
water. By this arrangement the house was so high above the water that 
one could easily ride horseback under it. ' ' 

Social Amusements 

Until after the war there were no large towns in Jasper county and 
the community was strictly an agricultural one, save the two little mining 
camps of Leadville and Minersville. The social amusements consisted 
principally of spelling, apple and husking bees. 

It is hardly necessary to describe the spelling bee. or spelling match, 
as it is more properly called in our day, because we have all participated 
in these during our school days; but it might be said that the spelling 
was better mastered perhaps by our fathers and mothers than it is in 
our day. Webster's Blue Back Speller was the standard in those days, 
and many a boy and girl mastered it so completely that it was a difficult 
task to spell them down. There was great rivalry among the communi- 
ties over the championship at a spelling bee and it was no uncommon oc- 
currence for people to go ten and sometimes twenty miles to attend a 
spelling bee. 

The apple and husking bees occurred in the fall and were great 
events. 

At a husking bee the people gathered together and helped each other 
husk the corn and, of course, this function took place in the big log barn 
or corn shed near by. Both men and women attended and as they husked 
the corn stories and jokes were told, songs were sung and a spirit of 
jollity prevailed. 

The finding of a red ear entitled the finder, if a man, to kiss the pret- 
tiest girl at the bee and, of course, the finding of a red ear was the occa- 
sion of great excitement and mirth, especially if the girl was bashful, 
for then it frequently happened that the man had to chase her around 
the barn several times, or perhaps sprint half over a forty-acre field 
before he could claim his reward. 

The apple bee was a trifle more dignified than the husking bee, for 
the reason that it was held in the house, and it mattered not whether the 
weather was fair or stormy because the fire in the massive fireplace drove 
away the cold and lent a comfort and a cheer to the participants. 

The apple bee resembled the husking bee in that the neighbors gath- 
ered to help the good house-wife prepare the apples and care for the 
dried fruit and preserves. 

Sometimes as high as ten or twenty bushels of apples would be emp- 
tied on the floor and all hands would peal and slice the apples and make 
them ready for drying. After the apples were sliced they were spread 
out on boards and the next day, provided the sun was shining, carried 



38 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 




LADY'S HOOD 




ORGANDY SLIT 



THE DIEGO 



A Well-Dressed Woman ok the Fifties 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 39 

out to dry ; usually three days were required to thoroughly dry the ap- 
ples, after which they were packed away in boxes, barrels or other con- 
venient receptacles. 

The only part the neighbors took in the process was paring and 
slicing the fruit and making it ready to dry. 

After the apples were cut and sliced, then came the fun. Old-fash- 
ioned games were played until the wee small hours of the morning, when 
the party went home — only to repeat the same thing at another neigh- 
bor's house at a near date in the future. 

A School Teacher Tarred and Feathered 

Sarcoxie was perhaps the strongest proslavery settlement in the 
county, practically the entire community favoring the holding of slaves. 
We are informed that there were but six families in the entire town who 
were not southern sympathizers. 

In 1858 a man from Kansas was employed to teach the Sarcoxie school 
and he, being a strong abolitionist, expressed himself freely on the great 
question. He read the story of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" to his pupils and 
in many ways taught the evil of slavery. He was asked to resign but 
did not do so, and one night a body of citizens waited on the teacher 
and ordered him to leave. On his refusal they escorted him to the 
woods and gave him a coat of tar and feathers. 

First Newspaper In the County 

In 185!) a publication entitled The Shir of the West <ut<! Southwest 
\i ws was commenced at Carthage and at the breaking out of the war 
had, for that date, a good circulation, exerting quite an influence in 
molding public opinion. C. C. Dawson was the editor. 

The paper advocated the cause of the slave-holding interest. During 
the campaign of 1860 it took a unique position, endorsing all candidates 
except Abraham Lincoln. At that election there were three factions of 
Democrats in the county and for policy's sake it antagonized no one 
save the great champion of the Anti-slavery movement. 

After the battle of Carthage the printing press of this paper was 
turned over to General Price and his army and was used by the Confed- 
eracy in printing enlistment contracts, muster rolls and other forms 
used in the southern army. 

Old Sherwood 

Among the historic old towns of Jasper county which were destroyed 
during the war, and are now remembered only for what they once were, 
is the tow T n of Old Sherwood which was built at the junction of the 
main traveled road running west from Webb City and the road running 
north from what is now called Bell Center. This town was founded in 
1847. In 1856 it was formally platted and at the beginning of the Civil 
war had perhaps two hundred inhabitants, several good stores and a 
good brick school house in course of erection. The town of Sherwood, 



40 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

or Rural as it was first called, grew up around the farm and store build- 
ings of Judge Andrew McKee, who came to the county in an early day 
and wielded great influence in making the western part of the county 
a commercial as well as an agricultural center. 

A lew words about the life and acts of Judge McKee will show the 
reason for Sherwood's making such an exceptional growth and the rea- 
son why it was at one time the chief commercial center of Jasper county. 
Mr. McKee, who was a native of Tennessee, like most new comers, on 
coming to Jasper county, first settled at Sarcoxie, but soon moved to the 
western part of the county and homesteaded the land on which the town 
of Old Sherwood was afterward built. And it was here that he built up 
a large fortune. Shortly after coming to the western part of the 




Typical Country Home of the 'Fifties 

county he erected a large brick store and put in a complete line of gen- 
eral merchandise. He also secured the appointment as Indian agent, or 
"Major Domo" as they were then popularly called in the west, for five 
tribes of Indians. This brought to his place at certain times during the 
year large numbers of Indians who traded with the settlers, and this 
made Sherwood the scene of great activity. We are informed that as 
high as a thousand Indians have been camped in and around Sherwood 
at one time. 

As his business grew Mr. McKee became a wholesale as well as a 
retail merchant, and during the winter bought great quantities of hogs 
and similar produce for shipping to the south in the spring. His sales 
were usually made at either Fort Smith or Little Rock, Arkansas. One 
dollar and fifty cents was the standard price paid for hogs delivered at 
the store, killed and cleaned. 

Mr. McKee had at times as high as twenty helpers who cut, salted 
and packed this pork away in a building constructed solely for that pur- 
pose. In the spring two or three flatboats were constructed and floated 
in Center creek which, at that point being so near to its mouth, could 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 41 

be floated on to Spring river and thence, by way of the Grand and Ar- 
kansas rivers, to the point of destination. The boats were loaded with 
pork, tallow, hides, etc. When the boats were loaded and on their way 
Mr. McKee traveled overland and usually arrived at the point of des- 
tination several days before the cargo and arranged with some commis- 
sion merchant for its sale. The entire cargo was usually disposed of in 
bulk, flatboats and all. The cargo disposed of. it was necessary for the 
men who had brought the boats down stream to walk home. One of 
the hands, Harrison Jackson, was so fast a walker that lie would beat 
Mr. McKee (who was on horseback) home a lull day. 

Mr. McKee was elected a member of the county court in 1846 and 
held this position until 1850. He was also interested in the develop- 
ment of the mines at Minersville, now called Oronogo. 

A Great Exhibition of Fraternity 

An incident which occurred at the time of his death, shows the high 
esteem in which Judge McKee was held. He was a member of the 
Springfield Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and was a great lover of the order, 
having many times stated that he desired his Masonic lodge to bury him. 
His death occurred in August. 1852. and a trusty slave Reuben, who 
had been all his life in the Judge's family, at once saddled the fastest 
horse and rode to Springfield to advise the craft of the event. It so 
happened on the day that Reuben arrived the lodge had arranged to go 
to a distant part of Greene county and bury another member. Knowing 
that the body could not be kept until after the other funeral, the master 
of the lodge told Reuben to return and request the widow to make a 
temporary burial and that on a certain day the lodge would be present 
and perform the last sad rites over the body of the deceased. Reuben 
hastily returned and the body was given temporary interment. 

On the day fixed the lodge was present, having come a hundred miles 
overland, and the impressive Masonic ceremonies were performed at 
the grave in the presence of friends and neighbors who had come for 
miles around to show their respect for their old neighbor. This cer- 
tainly was a most extraordinary exhibition of fraternalism. 

Sherwood continued to thrive until 1862. when it was completely 
destroyed, a mention of which will be made in the Civil war chapter. 

Towns In Jasper County Before the War 

From the time that Thackery Vivion built his cabin near the Sar- 
eoxie Spring, in 1831, until the breaking out of the war in 1861, a period 
of three decades, seven towns were founded in the order named. 

Sarcoxie — The first settlement. 

Carthage— 1842. 

Sherwood— 1846, platted 1856. 

Minersville— 1848, platted 1856. 

Medoc — 1848, not platted until after the war. 

A villa— 1856. platted 1858. 

Preston— 1860, platted I860. 



12 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

There was no organized form of municipal government in any one 
of the towns, the peace being preserved by the constable of the town- 
ship and the justice of the peace therein. As there were no municipal 
regulations, there was no uniformity in building. The streets were not 
graded or sidewalks built, except where some enterprising and beauty- 
loving property owner did so. In short, each of the several towns were 
country villages. Carthage being the only place that made a pretense at 
being a city. 

Since the several towns had no municipal government, they were 
not recognized by the United States census officers as separate divisions, 
and hence were not enumerated separately in the census of 1860. 

The population of the several towns is estimated in 1861 to have been 
as follows :— Carthage, 500; Sarcoxie, 400; Sherwood, 250; Avilla, 100; 
Minersville, 100; Medoc, 50; Preston, 50. 

The First Census op the County 

The census of 1850, taken nine years after the organization of the 
county showed the population to be 4,223; the second census, in 1860, 
indicated 6,883. The population of Marion township, including Car- 
thage, was 1.177. Sarcoxie township, with the town of Sarcoxie, num- 
bered 1,405. 



The Era 

of the 
Civil War 



CHAPTER V 
PRECEDING ACTUAL WARFARE 

Civil Organization Destroyed — Molding Influences — Armed Neu- 
trality Urged — Votes to Remain in the Union — Divided Senti- 
ment and Action — The Border Guards — Fruitless Conferences 

First Engagement at Boonville 

Jasper was one of the counties in the state where sentiment on the 
slavery question was divided and as the great strife came on, old friend- 
ships were broken, neighbors and frequently families took different 
sides on the question which was soon to plunge the nation into the War 
between the States. 

It is estimated that at least eight hundred men in Jasper county 
took up arms during the Civil war, some of them in the Union army and 
others following the fortunes of the Confederacy. 

Civil Organization Destroyed 

One great battle and numerous small engagements and skirmishes 
were fought within its confines. The county during the first three years 
of the war was occupied alternately by the armies of both the north 
■ and the south and in securing substance for their soldiers each took a 
liberal share of the crops that were raised, so that those who stayed at 
home had a hard time to exist; and when it is remembered that many 
of the families were political enemies, holding allegiance to different 
governments, it will be readily seen that the people during this period 
were in a constant state of excitement. As a result the civil organization 
of the county was completely destroyed. 

Molding Influences 

In order that the reader may have in mind the condition in Mis- 
souri at the breaking out of the war and therefore be better able to 
understand the reasons why southwest Missouri came to be the theater 
of action at the beginning of hostilities, we give here a brief recital of 
the important events which transpired in the state and helped to mold 
public opinion and influenced the acts of its citizens. 

45 



46 HISTORY OF JASPEK COUNTY 

On December i!u. L860, South Carolina, through her legislature, 
passed an ordinance of secession, and almost within a month, six other 
states — .Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Texas — 
withdrew from the Union and a call was made for the formation of the 
Confederate States of America. The other southern states were invited 
to join with them and help organize the proposed Southern Union. 

At this time .Missouri was the largest in population of the slave- 
holding states and it was very much desired by the promoters of the 
organization of the Confederacy that she should cast her lot with the 
new government. 

When the news came that South Carolina had seceded. Governor 
Stewart, who was bringing his administration to a close, sent a special 
message to the legislature and expressed himself as sincerely desirous of 
keeping Missouri in the Union, but as opposed to the use of force to 
bring South Carolina back into' the Union. lie also opposed sending 
troops into Missouri, either to wrest her from the Union or to keep her 
in it. and gave it as his opinion that the only proper course for Mis- 
souri to puisne was to maintain "an armed neutrality." 

Armed Neutrality Urged 

Governor Stewart, who had been born and reared in New York 
state, sympathized with the north, hut. living as he did in a slave-hold- 
ing state and having heard the arguments put forth by the leaders of the 
south, he desired if possible to avert war and bring about a solution of 
this great question in some other way. He was very much respected by 
the people of the state and his idea of maintaining an armed neutrality 
met. with popular approval. 

Governor Claiborne Jackson, who took his seat as the chief executive 
of the state January 3, 1861, unlike Governor Stewart had been reared 
in the south and believed that Missouri's interest was with the Con- 
federacy. He did not. however, think it proper for the south to take 
the aggressive and held that they should not fight until the Federal gov- 
ernment attempted to force them back into the Union. His plan was 
for Missouri to be prepared to repel invasion from the north, but to 
make no aggressive movement unless attacked, lie declared that if the 
Federal government attempted to force South Carolina and other south- 
ern states back into the I'nion. the proper course for Missouri to take 
would be to secede and join the Confederacy. 

Governor Jackson at first advocated secession, but after the state 
decided to remain in the I'nion took Ex-Governor Stewart's position 
of an "armed neutrality" and urged that Missouri defend herself but 
take no part in the conflict between the stales. 

Lieutenant Governor Thomas C. Reynolds, who presided over the 
senate and through the appointment of committees helped in a large way 
to mold the sentiment of that body, favored secession, believing thai 
an armed neutrality was impossible. He urged an enlargement of the 
organized militia and a complete equipment of the state's troops in 
order to be in a position to light should occasion demand it. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 47 

Governor Jackson urged the calling of a. convention to determine 
the relations of the state to the Federal government and, acting on his 
advice, a bill passed the legislature January 18th calling for a conven- 
tion of ninety-nine delegates to meet and determine the question of 
secession. A majority of the members of the legislature favored it. 
The vote in the house on the bill was 105 for and 18 against. The law- 
provided that should the convention pass an ordinance of secession that 
it should not become effective until it was ratified by a majority of the 
voters at an election held for that purpose. It will be observed that 
whatever might have been the individual wishes of the members of the 
legislature they did not want to take Missouri out of the Union with- 
out the people of the state by their vote declaring in favor of that act. 
The election was held on February 18th and the convention was called 
to meet at Jefferson City on the 28th of that month. 

The people divided into three parties. Secessionists, Conditional 
Union and Unconditional Union men. The Secessionists desired to see 
Missouri join the Confederacy. The Conditional Union men favored 
.Missouri remaining in the Union, providing the Federal government did 
not attempt to force the southern states back into the Union, General 
Sterling Price, who afterward joined the Confederate army, and John 
S. Phelps of Springfield, who raised a regiment for the Union army, 
were among the leaders of this party. The Unconditional Union party 
was headed by Frank P. Blair of St. Louis. 

Among the prominent Conditional Union men in Jasper county were 
J. R. Chenault; identified with the I'nconditional Union men, Norris 
Hood, Colonel McCoy, J. K. Stemmons (although a slave holder), J. A. 
Hunter, John Crow, Samuel B. LaForce and others. The leaders of 
the secession movement were Colonel A. J. Fallion. Tom Livingston, 
A. J. Talbott, C. C. Dawson, General Raines and William Cravens. 

Judge John R. Chenault was elected to represent Jasper county in 
the convention. He thought very much on the subject as General Jack- 
son did and favored, if possible, Missouri taking no part in the ap- 
proaching conflict, but in the event of being drawn into a war between 
the states for her to secede. 

Votes to Remain in the Union 

The convention met at Jefferson City on February 28th, and after 
electing General Sterling Price, ex-governor of the state, president, ad- 
journed to meet in St. Louis on March 4th, the day on which Lincoln 
was to be inaugurated president. Lincoln's inaugural address appealed 
very much to the delegates, imbued them with a spirit of his fairness 
and had much to do with influencing the action of the convention. On 
March 8th that body by an almost unanimous vote decided against seces- 
sion, and determined that Missouri should remain in the Union. 

Divided Sentiment and Action 

Excitement now subsided until the fall of Fort Sumter, when Presi- 
dent. Lincoln called for 75.000 volunteers. Missouri's quota of this call 



48 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

was four regiments, and the secretary of war telegraphed Governor 
Jackson to enlist these for service in the Union army. Jackson de- 
clined to do so and declared that Missouri would not furnish a dollar 
or a man for the war. 

Frank P. Blair, of St. Louis, and Captain Lyon (afterward General 
Lyon) began recruiting men at St. Louis, tendered their services to the 
government and soon had ten regiments enlisted and drilling daily ; nine 
of these were recruited almost entirely from the German citizens and 
Colonel Franz Sigel 's regiment took part in the battle of Carthage which 
will be mentioned more fully hereafter. On account of the refusal of 
Governor Jackson to furnish the four regiments called for by President 
Lincoln when Fort Sumter was fired upon and his subsequent acts re- 
lative to the state troops, there was no organized effort put forth in Jas- 
per county to enlist volunteers for the Union army until after Hamilton 
R. Gamble assumed charge of the governor 's office. 

Many Union men, however, went to Kansas and enlisted with the 
troops from the Sunflower state, others went to the larger towns in the 
state where recruits were being enrolled, and quite a few returned to 
their former homes in other states and there enlisted with the soldiers 
from their home towns. 

A considerable number of Jasper county Union men enlisted in the 
Sixth Kansas Cavalry, which was mustered into the service at Fort 
Scott. 

The southern sympathizers began organizing companies of minute 
men and began drilling for active service. Companies were drilling 
nightly at Sherwood, Medoc, Minersville and other places. 

On April 20th the government arsenal at Liberty, Missouri, was 
captured by a company of southern sympathizers organized in Clay 
county and 15,000 stands of arms and 11,000 pounds of powder carried 
away, and it was believed that Governor Jackson secretly desired the 
United States arsenal at St. Louis seized and the 40,000 stands of arms 
held for emergency. 

General Frost, commanding the Missouri State Guard with 700 men 
went into camp near the arsenal, ostensibly for the purpose of drill, but 
Captain Lyon believed they were there awaiting a favorable opportunity 
to capture the arsenal. 

On the 9th of May General Frost, having received a report that Cap- 
tain Lyon intended making an attack on him, sent a letter to that officer 
disavowing any intention of making an attempt to capture the United 
States arsenal and invited the Union commander to meet him in con- 
ference and come to an understanding that would, if possible, keep the 
war out of Missouri. 

General Lyon, however, refused to receive the letter and the next day 
made an attack on Camp Jackson and took the militiamen prisoners, re- 
leasing them however on their agreeing to take no part in the war. Many 
of the Conditional Union men now felt that Missouri should prepare for 
defense and General Sterling Price, who was the president of the con- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 49 

vention which voted against secession, offered his sword to Governor 
Jackson for service and was appointed major general commanding the 
Missouri State Guards. 

Governor Jackson called for 50,000 volunteers to defend the state and 
also appointed brigadier generals to command the several brigades to 
be organized. James S. Raines, of Sarcoxie, was appointed one of the 
brigade commanders and a company of eighty men was recruited at Sar- 
coxie and entered the state service. 

It is said that the first Confederate flag ever raised in Missouri was 
flung to the breeze at Sarcoxie, the day when the company was mustered 
into the state service. 

The Border Guards 

In the northwestern part of the county a company was formed and 
known as the Border Guards, being organized for the purpose of pre- 
serving order and protecting the lives and property of the citizens of 
Jasper county. The company was a cavalry command, every man hav- 
ing his own horse and small arms. They had no sabers and for the pur- 
pose of drill used wooden swords. The men met for military instruc- 
tion every Saturday afternoon at the little town of Medoc. The officers 
of the Border Guards were A. J. Talbott, captain ; J. A. Hunter, first 
lieutenant ; Tip Margraves, second lieutenant. 

After the call for volunteers by Governor Jackson, Judge Chenault 
made a visit to Medoc on one of the drill days of the Border Guards and 
urged them to join Governor Jackson's army to defend Missouri, and 
Captain Talbott announced that the company would make a formal re- 
quest for arms from the state. Lieutenant Hunter, who was a Union 
man, in most vigorous language opposed the company becoming a part 
of the State Guard, and after a heated discussion of the matter the mem- 
bers departed for their several homes to meet no more as the Border 
Guards. Lieutenant Hunter and the Union men in the company left the 
county and enlisted in the Union army, most of them joining in Kansas, 
while Captain Talbott and the southern sympathizers went into the State 
Guard. 

Fruitless Conferences 

General Harney, commanding the Missouri military division of the 
United States army, and General Price, of the Missouri State Guard, 
met in St. Louis and entered into an agreement that they would use their 
best endeavors to keep the war out of Missouri, and as a part of the 
agreement General Price dismissed the state troops at Jefferson City and 
stopped for a time the organization of the State Guard. 

General Harney was relieved by the president of the command of the 
division of Missouri and Captain Lyon, now promoted to brigadier gen- 
eral placed in command. Governor Jackson, at the solicitation of a 
number of citizens accompanied by General Price and Thomas L. Snead, 
went to St. Louis to confer with General Lyon on the matter of preserv- 



50 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

ing peace in Missouri. A conference between General Lyon and Gov- 
ernor Jackson took place at the Planter's Hotel on June 11th. Gov- 
ernor Jackson proposed to disband the Missouri State Guards and use 
his best endeavors toward keeping peace, providing General Lyon would 
disband the Missouri volunteers (Union troops). General Lyons 
promptly answered that he would make no concession to the governor 
and sent an aide to escort Governor Jackson and General Price out of 
the Federal lines in St. Louis. 

Governor Jackson hastily returned to Jefferson City and after or- 
dering the commanders of the several military districts to assemble their 
commands for active service issued a call for the legislature to meet in 
special session at Neosho. He then abandoned Jefferson City and started 
for Newton county, gathering his army as he went. At Boonville he was 
met by General John B. Clark, with 700 of the State Guards. General 
Price, realizing that time would be required to drill and discipline the 
army, advised a mobilization of the state troops at some place in the 
southwestern part of the state near the temporary capital which had 
been selected by Governor Jackson. General Lyon was active and or- 
dered Colonels Sigel, Salmon and Brown with their regiments to proceed 
to southwest Missouri and intercept Governor Jackson's army and pre- 
vent a junction of it with other troops from the south. 

Brigadier General Thomas Swinney was placed in command of the 
expedition and at once set out for Springfield, while General Lyon with 
two thousand well armed men came up the Missouri river. 

First Engagement at Boonville 

At Boonville a battle was fought between Colonel Marmaduke, of 
the State Guards, and General Lyon, and resulted in a decisive victory 
for the Union forces. Governor Jackson now hastily retreated to the 
south, and General Price was sent to Arkansas to persuade General 
Ben McCollough of the Confederate army to come to the relief of Gov- 
ernor Jackson, who was marching toward Neosho with the state troops, 
most of whom were raw recruits and fresh from the farm. General 
Price expected to drill and prepare the volunteers for service at some 
point in southwest Missouri. 



CHAPTER VI 

THE WAR IN JASPER COUNTY 

Confederate Forces — Movements op the Union Army — Battle op 
Carthage— Notes op the Battle— Price and McCollough Enter 
Carthage — County Raises a Confederate Regiment — County Rec- 
ords During the War— Medoc Skirmish — The Corn Creek En- 
gagement — Shirley Ford. 

After the engagement at Boonville Governor Jackson retreated to 
tlic south and at Lamar was joined by General Raines of Sarcoxie, with 
the recruits from southwest Missouri. Jackson's army now consisted of 
about 5,000 men, about 2,000 of whom were expecting to be equipped 
when the army arrived at Neosho. Many of the companies had only 
such arms as they had brought from home and they presented a motley 
array — some with rifles, some with shot guns and some with the old- 
fashioned squirrel rifles. 

Confederate Forces 

The regiments which came from Clay county were equipped with the 
rifles from the United States arsenal at Liberty and were well drilled and 
disciplined. The first regiment organized from the companies raised in 
the counties around Jefferson City were also well armed, having been 
furnished with rifles purchased at St. Louis and with the equipment 
received at Jefferson City. 

Governor Jackson also had two batteries in his army, six of the guns 
having been taken from the Liberty arsenal. The cannon that did him 
the most efficient service however was the ' ' Old Sacramento ' ' under com- 
mand of Captain Hiram Bledsoe, a veteran of the Mexican war. 

Movements of the Union Army 

On arriving at Springfield the main body of the Union army halted ; 
Colonel Sigel who was in command of the Third Brigade, Missouri 
United States Volunteers, was ordered to proceed to southwest Missouri 
and arrived at Sarcoxie on June 28th. Learning here that General Price 
with a force of f)00 men was encamped on Pool's Prairie, Newton county, 
he set out at once for that place intending to rout the southerners there 
and also to prevent a juncture of Governor Jackson's and Price's armies. 

51 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Rattle of Carthage 

On arriving at Pool 's Prairie Colonel Sigel found that Price had al- 
ready gone to Arkansas and that Governor Jackson and his men were 
at Lamar, he therefore hurried north to prevent a juncture of Jackson's 
army and other troops, marching to meet him at Neosho. The two 
armies met at Coon creek about twelve miles from Carthage and a line 
of battle was drawn on the ledge that gently inclines toward that stream, 
July 5, 1861. 

Governor Jackson placed Weightman's brigade and Rledsoe's bat- 
tery with "Old Sacramento," on the right. Slack's brigade, Kelly's 
regiment and Gubor's batteries were in the center and General Raines 
with the cavalry, a body of men armed mostly with revolvers and about 
1,000 strong, were on the left. 

Governor Jackson with the unarmed troops constituted the reserves 
or as General, then Captain Joe Shelby happily put it, "the line of 
spectators. ' ' 

Colonel Sigel 's command consisted of 1,100 men including Rickof's 
and Essig's batteries and although plainly outnumbered he moved his 
column forward until he came within eight hundred yards of the state 
troops when he threw his men in line of battle and Captain Essig quickly 
unlimbered his guns, eight in number — six six-pounders and two twelve- 
pounders — and opened fire. The tire was returned by Rledsoe. The 
cannonading was kept up for some time until General Raines with his bri- 
gade moved off to the right intending to outflank Sigel and cut off his bag- 
gage train. Colonel Sigel, perceiving this move, changed front and or- 
dered two guns to the rear and opened fire. His infantry was formed 
in a hollow square around the wagon-train, which now had come up, 
and retreated in good order until they reached Dry fork where a second 
engagement took place. 

The road on the north side of the creek is surrounded by two bluffs 
and Raines with his men had ridden on either side around Sigel, having 
placed themselves on the opposite side of the stream to prevent the ad- 
vance, while Jackson witli the infantry came on in the rear. Sigel at 
once unlimbered his eight guns and opened fire on the state troops who 
thereupon fell back and the Union commander, ordering a double-quick, 
crossed the creek under cover of his death-dealing cannon. 

Colonel Sigel now moved rapidly toward Carthage, while General 
Raines and his men harassed him with a continuous fire with their small 
arms. 

At Carthage the Federal commander found the city in possession of 
the state troops and, finding himself greatly outnumbered, decided to 
take to the woods on flic Sarcoxie road which would, together with the 
darkness, protect him from Raines' cavalry which was surrounding him 
on all sides and from the Confederate infantry pressing him hard in the 
rear and making a capture possible. Unlimbering his guns again he 
poured a deadly volley into the troops in front of him. He formed his 
regiments into a hollow square again and made through the opening. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY .-,3 

The hottest fight now took place and was kept up without a moment's 
hesitation, from half past six until darkness Drought the battle to an 
end, and under the cover of the darkness Sigel gained the Sarcoxie road 
and continued his retreat until he reached that town. 

Notes op the Battle 

Although man}' shots were fired in this battle the loss was not great 
and has been often erroneously reported on both sides. We glean from 
the official reports of both commanding officers that the loss of Sigel's 
army was 13 killed and 36 wounded and Jackson's loss was 10 killed and 
64 wounded. 

"Old Sacramento," Bledsoe's best gun, had in its makeup a consider- 
able quantity of silver and when it was fired had a ring like a bell, being 
easily distinguished from the other guns in Jackson's command. 

Captain Bledsoe displayed great bravery during the fight and when 
the men who were manning the gun were disabled he loaded and fired it 
himself. 

Essig's battery did most efficient work and no doubt saved Sigel's 
army from capture. 

James Broadhurst of Joplin who took part in the battle and was in 
Slack's brigade says that Sigel displayed great skill in handling his 
men on the retreat and used his batteries to the best advantage, always 
bringing the artillery into action at the critical stage of the fight. 

Governor Jackson's army, excepting a few companies was not uni- 
formed; its men wore only the every-day clothing which they had on 
when they left home. 

General Slack was a dignified young southern gentleman and wore 
during the battle a plug hat, which, by the way, was his every-day hat, 
and such as the gentlemen of quality who dressed with care used to wear 
in those days. 

General Raines wore a red sash and this distinguished him from 
the other officers. 

The members of Captain Joe Shelby's company were the heroes of 
General Raines' cavalry and here, like the Light Brigade, charged into 
the thickest of the fight and displayed that daring and bravery that 
afterward made his brigade famous. 

Colonel Sigel's brigade was composed almost entirely of Germans, 
many of whom had seen service in the army in the old world, and their 
precise military movements made a beautiful and impressive scene. The 
notable feature in his command was the quiet attention given to the com- 
manding officer and the quick and precise manner in which the orders 
were executed. 

Samuel B. LaForce of Carthage, acted as a guide for Sigel on his 
march from Neosho to Carthage and his knowledge of the roads and 
topography of the land were of great value to Sigel. 

The strength of the Union army was as follows: Third Regiment Mis- 
souri Volunteers, U. S. A., 550 ; Seventh Regiment, Missouri Volunteers, 
U. S. A., 400 ; two batteries, 150 ; total, 1,100. 



54 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

In his official report of the battle Colonel Sigel complimented his 
troops by saying that not a man in the entire brigade left the ranks dur- 
ing the twelve hours in which they were under fire, save those who were 
killed or wounded. 

The state troops engaged were as follows: First brigade, including 
battery, 1,204; second brigade, including cavalry, 1,812; total, 3,016; un- 
armed men (not taking part in the fight) about 2,000. 

Price and McCollough Enter Carthage 

The next day after the battle General Price and General Ben Mc- 
Collough, with the Confederate troops that had come up from Arkansas 
to help Governor Jackson, arrived at Carthage too late to participate in 
the battle but in time to participate in the great rejoicing in Jackson's 
army over the result of the fight with Sigel. McCollough 's men were 
uniformed in the Confederate gray and were well equipped, their steady 
march and neat appearance greatly impressing the citizens of the county 
who flocked thither to see the real Confederate soldiers. General Price 
now led the army to McDonald county where he began drilling and or- 
ganizing his men. 

County Eaises a Confederate Regiment 

After the battle of Carthage there was great activity among the 
southern sympathizers, and the companies of minute men which had 
been formed in the western part of the county formed the nucleus for 
a regiment of State Guard which was recruited almost entirely in Jas- 
per county. The regiment when formally mustered into service was 
known as the Eleventh Regiment. Missouri State Guard. A. J. Talbott 
who had been the captain of the Border Guards was chosen colonel. 

The regiment went the early part of August to join Price's army 
which was moblizing on Cowskin prairie in McDonald county. 

The Livingston Scouts 

The volunteers were enlisted for a term of six months and the en- 
listment of the Eleventh Regiment. Missouri State Guard, expired in 
February, 1862, and a large number formally entered the Confederate 
service. Perhaps half of the regiment returned home, intending to take 
no further part in the war, but on returning to the county conditions 
were very much unsettled. Families were arrayed against one another ; 
troops were passing and repassing through the county; Carthage had 
been fortified by a small garrison of United States troops and the hatred 
and bitterness between the sympathizers of the two armies was most 
intense. Finding it impossible to remain at peace at home, T. R. Liv- 
ingston called together the fragment of the regiment which had returned 
and organized a battalion of scouts and tendered its service to the Con- 
federacy. 

This body of men, like Marion of Revolutionary fame, camped in se- 
cluded places in the wood, traveled the unfrequented roads, appearing 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 55 

and disappearing at unexpected times and places. They would make 
a quick dash for a wagon train or cut off a small detachment of troops 
from the main army. They frequently scouted the country in small 
bands, for the purpose of securing information as to the movement of the 
enemy and then reassembled at an appointed time and place to report. 
They participated in a number of engagements, making their last stand 
at Stockton where their leader was killed. 

A number of Jasper county citizens who were southern sympathizers 
were in Colonel Coffey's regiment, later in Shelby's brigade and also in 
Captain Jackman's Scouts, a band similar to Livingston's command. 

County Records During the "War 

At the breaking out of the war Hon. John R. Chenault was the judge 
of the circuit court, and has been stated before, was a conditional 
Union man. 

When the war came on he linked his fortune with the south and after 
the battle of Carthage ordered Stanfield Ross, the circuit clerk, to take 
the records of the court into the lines of General Jackson's army for 
safe keeping. The court records were accordingly taken to the Missouri 
state army, then drilling on the Cowskin prairie and later placed in 
the vault of the Newton county court house, at Neosho. John Onstott 
learned that the records had been taken away and feared that they 
would be lost or destroyed, as his informant told him that the Con- 
federates were using the blank pages of the books for stationery and 
for the printing of the necessary blanks used by the temporary gov- 
ernment set up by Governor Jackson. 

Mr. Onstott happily met Norris C. Hood and to him told the incident 
of the removal of the records. Mr. Hood was "the man of the hour" 
and, perceiving that quick action was necessary, secured an escort of 
United States soldiers, went to Neosho and recovered the records which 
he took to Fort Scott and placed in the vaults of the court house for 
safekeeping. After the war Mr. Hood took his team and went to Fort 
Scott after the books and brought them back, not a volume missing. 
Many of the loose papers and court documents were lost, however, en 
route to Neosho, and these were not recovered, but the proceedings of 
the courts and the books of record were preserved intact, and thus the 
citizens were saved endless litigation. 

Medoc Skirmish 

The first little skirmish after the battle of Carthage occurred at 
Medoc, on August 23, 1861, between a company of Confederates who 
were being organized and a company of Union sympathizers en route 
to Fort Scott to enlist in the United States army. 

The Coon Creek Engagement 

In June, 1862, Captain Joe Shelby, who was afterward General, was 
commissioned by the Confederate government to raise a cavalry brigade 



56 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

in Missouri for the southern army. The recruits were to he assembled 
at Newtonia, four miles east of Neosho, in Newton county and there to 
be formally mustered into the Confederate service. 

The first regiment of this afterward famous brigade was organized in 
Jackson and Cass counties and on the 15th day of June started south for 
Newton county. After a hard ride of three days the command was 
halted at a quiet shady spot on Coon creek, in the northern part of Jas- 
per county, for a much needed rest. The horses were corraled in a 
nearby field and the men set about to cook their meal. Colonel Cloud, of 
the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, a regiment which, by the way, contained 
quite a number of Jasper county men, had been sent into Missouri to 
protect the lives and property of the citizens. On this same day the 
regiment named also camped on Coon creek and not more than two miles 
from Shelby's men. It so happened that the Union soldiers were also 
very tired, having been in the saddle the greater part of two days and 
having had a small engagement with Livingston's men at Pilot Grove 
the day before. By a strange coincidence this beautiful retreat had been 
chosen by both commanders as an ideal place for a short rest. 

As is customary on such occasions, Colonel Cloud put out his scouts 
to patrol the roads and byways adjacent to the camp, and soon one of 
these returned and reported "that a bunch of bushwackers" were en- 
camped in the field nearby. Supposing them to be a small detachment of 
Livingston's men whom he had encountered the day before and thinking 
they had taken refuge in this secluded spot, the Colonel ordered the 
captain of Company C to take a detachment of twenty-four picked men 
and surprise the Confederates. Company G was ordered to make a 
detour to the rear and to capture the southerners as they came out of the 
brush. The captain and his men proceeded quickly through the wood 
until they came to the fence which enclosed the field, where Shelby's men 
were encamped. As the Union men were climbing over the fence Shelby 
and his men rose and began firing, killing or wounding fourteen out of 
the twenty-four men in Company C. The Union men, perceiving that 
they had far underestimated the strength of the Confederates, retreated 
to the main command, taking their wounded with them. 

Charles W. Elliott, of Oronogo, was a sergeant in Company C and 
one of the attacking party. On the retreat he and another member of 
the company carried a wounded comrade who had been shot four times 
back to the regiment. Men who are fierce in battle are often kind and 
tender to a wounded enemy. The wounded man was left by Sergeant 
Elliott and his comrade at the home of a country doctor with the re- 
quest that he be cared for. The doctor was a strong southern man but 
was touched with pity for the unfortunate soldier whom he had known 
well as a former neighbor. His professional obligations also demanded 
that he treat the wounded man. and so tenderly did he nurse the Union 
soldier that he recovered and lived to a ripe old age. lived to see the 
bitterness of the war healed; lived to see a reunited nation and the boys 
from the north and the south fighting together in the Spanish-Ameri- 
can war. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY .-,7 

Shirley Ford 

In September, 1862, Colonel Ritchie with the Second Indian Territory 
Home Guard was sent into southwest Missouri counties and was en- 
camped at the old mill near what is now Lakeside Park. 

A regiment of Texas soldiers, together with the Livingston Scouts, 
planned an early morning attack on the red men. At about 4 o'clock on 
the morning of September 20th, the Texans and the Scouts came to their 
camping place, but, although the camp fires were burning brightly, they 
found no Indians ; they had quietly retreated to the west. Putting spurs 
to their horses the Confederates gave chase and overtook the Indian reg- 
iment at Shirley Ford on Spring river, where an engagement took place. 
On the first charge of the Confederates, the Indians began what at first 
seemed to be, as Colonel Ritchey in his report expressed it, a Bull Run 
retreat ; but his men rallied and, corraling their horses in the brush, dis- 
mounted and returned a vigorous fire. A number of times the Con- 
federates charged them, but could not drive their horses into the thick 
brush. At length Major Livingston proposed to fight them Indian fash- 
ion and, in place of a charge from the front, to ride down the main road 
at full speed and separate the regiment from the wagon train which had 
been taken across the river to a place of safety. This plan did not meet 
with the approval of the Texas commander, and in a hasty word-en- 
counter between the Texan and Livingston the latter said: "Colonel, if 
you will give me command of your regiment for thirty minutes I will 

capture the whole regiment, wagon train and all." The Colonel 

haughtily ordered Livingston and his men to the rear. Livingston, quick- 
tempered and impetuous, said: "Colonel you can take your regiment and 

go straight to and I will take my command and go where I 

please." 

This ended the fight and the Texan without exchanging another 
word wheeled with his regiment to the right and rode off the field, leav- 
ing Livingston and his men who, after the last of the Texans were out of 
sight, moved his command to the south. The Indians were left in pos- 
session of the field. The next day on returning to bury his men who had 
been killed in the engagement, Livingston found that Ritchey and his 
men had gone west into Kansas. 



CHAPTER VII 

THE WAR CONTINUED 

The Fourth Missouri and Jackman's Scouts — Fisher's Company op 
United States Volunteers — The Sixth Kansas Scouts into the 
County — Two Skirmishes at French Point — Negro Regiment and 
Burning of Sherwood — a Girl's Daring and Bravery — Katie 
Sill's Biscuit — Captain Burch's Scouts on Turkey Creek — 
Shelby's Raids — Removal of Confederate Families — The Return 
of the Veterans. 

On November 18, 1862, Major G. W. Kelley, commanding the Fourth 
Missouri State Militia (Union), was sent into Jasper county for the pur- 
pose of dispersing Colonel Jackman's Scouts (Confederates), who were 
foraging in Jasper county ; an engagement took place November 20th 
near Carthage. 

The fight was of short duration but a desperate one, the men engag- 
ing in a hand to hand combat. The result was a Union victory. Several 
prisoners were taken by Major Kelley 's command, together with a num- 
ber of horses. 

During the same month Quantrell, with a thousand men, passed 
through Jasper county en route to McDonald county. With a view of 
protecting the people of southwest Missouri from Quantrell, United 
States troops were thrown into that section of the state in great num- 
bers, a garrison being placed at both Sarcoxie and Carthage. 

Fisher's Company of United States Volunteers 

After Hon. Hamilton R. Gamble was chosen as the provisional gov- 
ernor of Missouri a call was made for volunteers, and these were at first 
called Enrolled Militia of Missouri, serving in conjuncture with the 
United States volunteers and regular army. Captain Fisher, of Mc- 
Donald township, raised a company of men for this service and the en- 
listments were almost entirely from Jasp >r county. The company par- 
ticipated in a number of engagements. Lptain Fisher was killed in a 
skirmish with the Livingston Scouts ot Spring river near the present 
site of La Russell. After the term of enlistment had expired most of the 
members joined the Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry and served to the end 
of the war. 

58 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 59 

The Sixth Kansas Scouts into the County 

On Sunday. March 8, 1863, the Sixth Kansas Volunteers entered Jas- 
per county on a scout and passed through the section from Diamond 
Grove to Sherwood, which place the Federal troops occupied. On March 
9th, south of Sherwood and not very far from the present western limits 
of Joplin, the scouting party met Livingston's men about one hundred 
strong and a short fight ensued, in which Sergeant Isaac Fountain of the 
Sixth Kansas and a Jasper county citizen was wounded. The Confed- 
erate scouts sustained a severe loss. 

Two Skirmishes at French Point 

In May, 1863, Colonel Crittenden sent a scouting party into Jasper 
county from Newtonia, Newton county. The command divided into 
three companies, or bands, scouting along Center and Turkey creeks. 

Captain Cassair of the Eighth Missouri United States Volunteer Cav- 
alry, took the north side of the creek and Captain Hensley, of the 
Seventh Missouri, took the south side. They proceeded west until they 
came to the home of Major Livingston at French Point, west of Oronogo, 
where a severe hand-to-hand fight took place, the Federal troops being 
repulsed. Returning, however, on the 18th the attack was renewed and 
Livingston driven from his position with a considerable loss of men on 
both sides. 

The first fight at French Point took place on May 14, and for the next 
six days a number of small skirmishes occurred, both commands sleeping 
on their arms by night and fighting during the day. Major Enos, of the 
Eighth Missouri Regiment United States Volunteers, in his report of the 
first fight at French Point pays a high compliment to Private Horace 
Palmer of his command. When the retreat was ordered Palmer ex- 
claimed "I did not volunteer to run, I volunteered to fight. Right here 
I die," and dismounting from his horse coolly commenced shooting at 
the Confederates, firing eighteen shots before he was captured. 

Negro Regiment and Burning of Sherwood 

During the third year of the war the government began enlisting the 
negroes in the army of the United States. This greatly enraged the south 
and when the southern soldiers came in contact with a negro regiment 
they fought them with all the fury that the high-spirited southerners 
could command. 

A regiment of colored soldiers was being organized at Baxter Springs, 
Kansas, and quite a number of Jasper county colored men were enlisted. 

June 15th, 1863, Colonel Williams, commanding the regiment, sent a 
foraging party into Jasper county and they fixed temporary headquart- 
ers at the farm house of Captain Rader, who was away from home serving 
with the southern army. The Rader home was at that time the finest 
house in the western part of the county, being a two-story ten-room 
structure. Captain Rader 's mother and sisters were driven from the 
house. 



60 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

On the 19th of May, the next day after the second engagement at 
French Point, Major Livingston surprised the negroes, killing twenty- 
three and wounding seven in a running fight which was kept up from 
the Rader place to the Spring river crossing, a distance of about eight 
miles. The train of six wagons and thirty mules also fell into the hands 
of the Confederates, together with a large quantity of ammunition 
which was in the wagons. The next day a detachment of three hundred 
Federal soldiers came over from Baxter and burned the town of Sher- 
wood, together with the farm houses of the southern sympathizers in the 
neighborhood. 

*Major Livingston in his official report of the affair to General Price 
states that eleven of the negroes (those who fell at the farm house) were 
taken by the United States troops together with a man named Bishop, 
a southern citizen whom they had killed, and placed in the Rader house, 
after which the structure was fired and the bodies of the eleven dead 
colored soldiers and the white man cremated in the burning building. 

The town of Sherwood was strongly southern, a company of the 
Eleventh Missouri State Guard and later a part of Livingston's com- 
mand having been recruited there. 

After the burning of Sherwood many of the southern families, feeling 
that their safety demanded it, left the county, most of them going to 
Texas and remaining there until the war was over. 

A Girl's Daring and Bravery 

Eliza Vivion, a granddaughter of Thackery Vivion, the first settler 
in Jasper county, at the breaking out of the Civil war was a pretty miss 
of thirteen. Born and raised in Jasper county and used to the hard- 
ships of pioneer life, she early learned to brave danger. Her people were 
strong southern sympathizers and her brother enlisted in the Confederate 
army — first in the Eleventh Missouri State Guard and later, after the 
first term of enlistment had expired, in the Livingston Scouts. Miss 
Vivion often acted as a messenger for the southerners and we are told 
that she frequently would ride during the darkness of the midnight 
hour to apprise the southern troops of the movements of the northern 
army. She was an expert horsewoman, could take a fence on her fiery 
steed as well as a man, and went on many a wild ride to bring news to 
Livingston's command or to carry a message from him to the main army. 
She rode many a time through the woods, and when necessary swam the 
swollen streams in order to take a shorter route to her point of destina- 
tion. 

After the burning of Sherwood Miss Vivion and her mother gathered 
together what small effects that could be taken in a wagon and she drove 

•The report <>f Major Tom Livingston was contradicted by the Federals, 
who lay the Maine of the burning of the negroes to the Confederate partisan 
hands who retaliated. In his official Statement, however. Colonel Williams 
reports the destruction of the town. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY ,-,, 

the ox team to Texas, thus saving enough household effects to furnish a 
bed-room and the kitchen. 

After the war the Vivions returned to Jasper county and few people 
of today would recognize, in dignified Mrs. E. A. Jammison, the girl who 
in the days that tried the hearts of brave men and noble women per- 
formed so many daring deeds for the southern cause. 

Katie Sill's Biscuit 

Among the pioneer settlers of Jasper county was Mrs. Katie Sill (nee 
Katie Pennington), who came to Jasper county in 1840 and who has 
been a resident of it, excepting a short time during the later part of the 
Civil war, up to this time. Although eighty-five years old, she is an ex- 
ceptionally well-preserved woman and relates with much pleasure the 
happenings of the early days of the county. 

Mrs. Sill was a famous cook and noted throughout the western part 
of the county for the excellency of her biscuit, which according to the 
old settlers, who ate at her table, were so good "that they would melt in 
your mouth." During the first year of the war small detachments of 
soldiers of both armies frequently passed her house — Union sympathizers 
going to Port Scott or Baxter to enlist and those who followed the Stars 
and Bars, going to their rendezvous for drill or departure for the south. 
(Four full companies of the regiment of Missouri State Guards were re- 
cruited in the western part of the county). 

It was no uncommon occurrence for these detachments to stop at 
Mrs. Sill's house and ask her to cook them some of her good biscuit. At 
first she willingly complied, for although a southern sympathizer her 
people endeavored to remain neutral and take no part in the conflict. 
But the second year of the war it was difficult to keep enough in the 
house to feed the family, and so one day when a troop of Confederate 
scouts dismounted in front of the Sill homestead and asked for biscuit 
such as only she could make her heart sank within her, because the lar- 
der was nearly empty and a look in the pantry told her that to cook for 
that troop would empty the flour barrel and there would be nothing left 
for the family. Yet she dare not refuse lest she would gain the ill will 
of the troopers who were tired, thirsty and hungry. So she set to work, 
and just as she was taking the first batch from the oven (the bread filling 
the house with an aroma that made the men smack their lips with joyful 
anticipation of the good things in store) a bugle call was heard and look- 
ing up over the hill a regiment of Union cavalry was seen approaching 
at a quick gallop. The Confederates, perceiving that to stop to eat 
would let them fall into the hands of a much larger force, quickly 
mounted and rode away leaving the biscuit. Mrs. Sill, perceiving that the 
biscuits might be saved for the family, hastily threw them into a cradle 
and covered them up with a blanket. The Union soldiers stopped when 
they reached the house but did not look in the cradle, and so the biscuit 
which had been cooked for the troop of Confederates were saved and the 
family ate them with great relish. 



62 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

At Diamond Gkove 

Ou May 26, 1863, a fight occurred near Diamond Grove between 
Colonel Cloud, commanding the Sixth Kansas Cavalry and Colonel Coffey 
with his Confederate band of one hundred men. The notable feature 
of this engagement was that Coffey's men fought Indian fashion, hiding 
iu the brush and behind the big trees, thus keeping out of the way of the 
Kansans when they charged. 

Captain Burch Scouts on Turkey Creek 

On the evening of November 29, 1863, Captain .Milton Burch, of the 
Eighth Missouri Cavalry, United States Volunteers, stationed at Neosho 
with a detachemnt of his men, made a scouting expedition into Jasper 
county for the purpose of capturing a number of southern sympathizers 
who were members of the Livingston Scouts and who were at home on a 
furlough. 

The party scouted along Turkey creek from near its head to the 
western limits of the county. They went to the houses were the Con- 
federate soldiers lived, surprised and captured them in their beds. At 
one place a soldier attempted to escape by raising a couple of boards in 
the floor and going under the house. When the Union soldiers entered 
his wife endeavored to attract their attention and keep them away from 
the opening. She succeeded in getting them out of the house but after 
going a short distance they returned, feeling sure that the southerner 
was at home, and feigned to set fire to the house. The ruse was success- 
ful, for the woman screamed and the man came from his hiding place 
and surrendered. Six southern men were captured on this scout and 
two killed. 

Shelby's Raid 

In October, 1863, General Joe Shelby's brigade made a raid through 
the western part of Missouri, and on this 1500-mile ride passed twice 
through Jasper county, each time securing forage and other supplies 
from the farmers for his command. A considerable damage was done to 
property in the east central part of the county, particularly in the neigh- 
borhood of Bowers' mill, where an engagement took place. 

General Thomas Ewing was sent into Jasper county with two thou- 
sand men in pursuit of Shelby, and a skirmish occurred near Carthage 
with a considerable loss of men on both sides. Although the fight could 
hardly be called a battle it was sometimes referred to as the second battle 
of Carthage. 

During Ewing's occupancy of Jasper county a considerable quantity 
of fresh meat was required for the army and it will be readily seen that 
after feeding two great armies not much was left for the people. 

An interesting story is related by one of Shelby's men, now a resi- 
dent of Joplin, who says that on this raid most of the Confederate sol- 
diers were clothed in the blue uniforms of the northern soldiers, whom 
they had captured, their grey uniforms being worn out. and having no 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 63 

money with which to buy more. In order that the Confederate soldiers 
might know their comrades, each wore in his hat a red sumach plume. 

Removal of Confederate Families 

After the Quantrell raid at Lawrence, Kansas, General Scofield 
adopted the policy of removing the Confederate sympathizers from the 
state, with the view of ridding the border counties of partisan bands by 
destroying the sustenance for their support and leaving no sympathizers 
to shelter or help them. 

General Ewing, at Kansas City, issued his much talked-of Order No. 
11. General Scofield, of Springfield, commanding the Southwest Mis- 
souri district, issued similar orders for that part of the state, but they 
were not so stringent as General Ewing 's. 

All families not loyal to the government were ordered to leave and 
many who held their fealty to the Confederacy went to Arkansas, Texas 
and other southern states. Some of them never returned but after peace 
was declared; some of them returned to their old homes. 

The Return of the Veterans 

It was thought by many that when the war was over and the sold- 
iers returned home that much lawlessness would result because of the 
intense feeling of hatred that had been engendered during the few years 
preceding and during the war. 

But the world now witnessed one of the greatest achievements of mod- 
ern times, a million soldiers, men of the north and south, laid down their 
arms and returned to their homes and at once began rebuilding the towns 
and villages that had been destroyed ; the fields that had been furrowed 
by cannon shot and shell were cultivated again; the old homes were re- 
built and, in many instances, from the ruins and ashes that came from 
that bitterly fought war, arose new towns and new homes greater and 
grander than the ones built by the fathers. 

In an incredibly short time the old friendships were renewed, and 
the families that had been arrayed against one another were reunited. 



Reorganization 

and 
Reconstruction 

1865-1870 



CHAPTER VIII 

REORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY 

Cave Springs, Temporary County Seat — Honest John Onstott and 
the Treasury — Carthage Reestablished as the County Seat — 
Substantial New-Comers — Registration Under "Test Oath" — 
County Officers (1865-70) — The Court of Common Pleas — Bus- 
iness Enterprises at the County Seat — Carthage Banks — Estab- 
lishment of the "Carthage Banner" — Towns Founded in the 
'Sixties — Town Population in 1869. 

The revised constitution of Missouri went into effect on July 4, 1865, 
and immediate steps were taken by the governor to reorganize the coun- 
ties which had been disorganized during the war, and the following offi- 
cers were appointed to assume the reins of government in Jasper county : 
County court — W. B. Hamilton, F. B. Nichols and Thomas Caldwell; 
sheriff — S. H. Caldwell; county clerk — W. G. Bulgin; treasurer — J. H. 
Fullerton ; prosecuting attorney — Joseph Estus. Hon. John H. Price was 
judge of the circuit court. 

Cave Springs, Temporary County Seat 

As Carthage had been destroyed during the war and the court house 
burned, the governor named Cave Springs in the east-central part of the 
county as the temporary county seat, and here the newly appointed 
county officers assembled October 10, 1865, and assumed their respective 
offices. They at once began the task of reorganizing the county. 

Officers were appointed for the several townships and road districts. 
Steps were taken to collect the interests on the school fund, to forfeit 
lands where payments had not been made and to collect the several notes 
which were due in payment for swamp lands with the view of reorgan- 
izing the schools of the county. 

Honest John Onstott and the Treasury 

At the first session of the county court held after the reorganization, 
the closing act of one of the heroic incidents of the Civil war took place — 
the final transaction in the saving of the county treasury. 

At the election 1860 Archibald McCoy was elected county treasurer 
and entered upon the duties of the office January 1, 1861, with John On- 
stott, John Scott and Martin Holsey as bondsmen. 

Early in the war Mr. McCoy became alarmed and decided to flee 

67 



68 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

for his life. He called his bondsmen together and announced his in- 
tention of leaving the state, and asked them to take the money belonging 
to the county and relieve him of the responsibility before his departure. 
John Scott was chosen by the bondsmen to take the money. The next 
day Mr. McCoy was killed. A few days later Mr. Scott decided to leave 
the state, his life also having been threatened, and accordingly came to 
Mr. Onstott and turned over the money to him, two hundred and fifty 
dollars in Missouri state bank notes and about thirteen hundred dollars 
in gold. 

Mr. Onstott placed the money in a large glass candy jar and buried 
it on his farm. After the county funds had been buried for about a year, 
fearing that the bills would decay he dug up the money and after re- 
moving the bank notes, which were almost decomposed, he replaced the 
gold in the hiding place. Shortly after removing the paper money to his 
house a company of Pin Indians, members of a United States Volunteer 
regiment, swooped down on the Onstott house and carried away the two 
hundred and fifty dollars besides other property. 

In the spring of 1863, seeing that local conditions were most deplor- 
able — the county being the scene of activity for numerous foraging 
parties from both armies — also that the hatred and bitterness caused by 
the war was most intense and feeling that his own life was in danger — 
Mr. Onstott took his son Abraham (A. W. Onstott, mining superintend- 
ent, Joplin), who was then a boy of about twelve, and confided to him the 
secret of the county treasurer. After showing him the hiding place he 
told his son that in the event of his death he wanted him to guard the 
treasure as a sacred trust and, when the war was over and the county re- 
organized, to restore it to the proper officers. Shortly after this, feel- 
ing that his safety was in danger the father secured a pass for himself 
and family for safe conduct through the Federal lines and went north- 
east into Dade county, with instruction for his wife and son to follow 
should conditions seem to demand it. 

In 1863 General Thomas Ewing entered Jasper county in pursuit of 
General Joe Shelby, the famous Missouri cavalry leader of the southern 
army and after several short skirmishes went into camp in and around 
the Onstott farm, using the old farm place as his headquarters. 

Young Onstott and his mother seeing that this was an opportune 
time to remove the money to a safer place, also to join Mr. Onstott, se- 
cured an escort from General Ewing's army and after digging up the 
money, which was safe and sound and not a dollar missing, placed it in 
a sack with some produce and started to join the elder member of the 
family, whom they met in Dade county and with him went north to 
Pettis county where they lived until the close of the war. 

While in Pettis county the money was securedly hidden under the 
floor of the house and there remained until Mr. Onstott returned to Jas- 
per county in the spring of 1865. On his return, however, he found 
things still in an unsettled condition, the county court house had been 
burned ; some of the county records had been lost and those that had 
been preserved were in the court house at Fort Scott, Kansas, where 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 69 

they had been taken for safe keeping. The county was completely dis- 
organized; there were no officers or county records and so Mr. Onstott 
again buried the county money where it remained until shortly after 
peace was declared and the county was reorganized. 

On the day the court opened its session at Cave Springs Mr. Onstott, 
accompanied by his son, Abraham, went to the place designated for the 
assembling of that body (a tumble-down store building), and when 
the court was ready for business appeared before them and informed 
them that he had come for the purpose of restoring the county funds. 
Then, opening a sack in which he had brought the treasure the honest 
man emptied it on the table, while the court and other officers looked on 
in amazement not knowing that a dollar had been saved, the treasurer's 
book having been destroyed when the court house was burned. 

The court then questioned Mr. Onstott sharply as to the amount of 
money which the bondsmen had received from the treasurer before he 
had been killed, and demanded that the two hundred and fifty dollars 
which had been taken from the Onstott home by the Indians be made 
good. Mr. Onstott said that he felt in honor bound to return every cent, 
but thought it only right that he be allowed to return to the county two 
hundred and fifty dollars of Missouri bank notes, the same kind of money 
which he had received. The court decided, however, that as the Missouri 
bank had failed during the war and the money had little or no value that 
the two hundred and fifty must be replaced with two hundred and fifty 
dollars of United States legal tender notes. 

Mr. Onstott said if that was the way they felt about it that he would 
bring in two hundred and fifty dollars of legal tender to take the place of 
the stolen two hundred and fifty Missouri state bank notes. 

The court then passed a resolution demanding that Mr. Onstott pay 
the county the interest on the money for the time it had been in his pos- 
session. At this he became righteously indignant. For four years he 
had guarded the county fund as a sacred trust ; he had risked his life to 
save this money ; and now to be asked to pay interest for the use of money 
which he had so carefully guarded from spoliation was more than he 
could stand, and so he rose hastily from his seat and placing the money 
back in the sack said, "gentlemen I had done what I thought was right, 
but as for the interest I will law you to the last court before I will pay 
one dollar of your unjust demand. 

The court perceiving that they had made a blunder quickly decided to 
accept the money. Mr. Onstott then reopened the sack and left with 
them the money he had brought. Returning home he sold his wagon 
and horses for two hundred and fifty dollars and took to the court this 
money, to replace the state bank notes which had been stolen from his 
home during the war. After Mr. Onstott had turned over to the county 
court the two hundred and fifty dollars of paper money they reopened 
the question of interest and brought suit against him to recover the 
same. 

The suit on coming on for trial was dismissed. The old timers, who 
appreciated the honesty of Mr. Onstott, often referred to the incident as 
the case where the treasurer was indicted for being an honest man. 



7(1 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Carthage Reestablished as the County Seat 

There were no conveniences for holding court or caring for the county 
offices at Cave Springs. The sessions of the court were held in the old 
schoolhouse and there was no place that could be used for a jail, or a 
safe place in which to keep the records, and the people clamored for the 
removal of the county seat back to Carthage, which was not only centrally 
located but had the advantage of a fairly good system of public roads 
which had been worked before the war. 

The few remaining citizens of Carthage and the surrounding neigh- 
borhood at once began to rebuild. We are informed by J. C. Gaston, of 
Joplin, one of the first new-comers to Carthage after the war, that in the 
spring of 1866 there were less than a dozen families in Carthage. He 
and his estimable wife arrived there in April of that year. 

Mrs. Gaston made the ninth woman residing within the radius of 
one mile from the square. We cite this incident to show how completely 




Former Chubch Used as a Court House in the 'Sixties 

the town had been depopulated and how thoroughly the old town had 
been razed during the battle of Carthage and the numerous raids and 
skirmishes which took place in and around the county seat. 

From the ruins of the old county court house enough bricks and lum- 
ber were collected to build a small court house on the northwestern part 
of the lot on which now stands the county jail, and to this building were 
brought the records in September, 1866, and with the holding of court 
there on the 24th of that month, the reestablishment of the county seat 
at Carthage was completed. 

Substantial New-Comers 

The opportunities in Jasper county were exceptionally great. There 
were yet unsold 100,000 acres of the school lands, counting those which 
had been forfeited during the war, and these tracts were on the market 
at a small figure. The opportunity to get splendid farms at exceptionally 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 71 

low prices brought in a large number of new settlers, and it might be 
here remarked that the new comers, for the most part, were energetic, 
intelligent and enterprising citizens and that their thrift, enterprise 
and education built up a splendid social structure and gave the county 
a prestige which at once pushed her to the front. 

We note among those who came to the county during the later 'sixties 
the following named gentlemen, each of whom has played an important 
part, in the history of the county: 0. H. and W. H. Picher, W. H. Phelps, 
Al Thomas, M. G. McGregor, A. H. and W. H. Caffee, A. M. Drake, J. C. 
Gaston. John Reynolds, Pat Murphy, C. W. Elliott, J. M. Young, G W. 
Crow, W. H. Cloud, Peter Myers, C. A. Cassel, E. "W. Harper, T. Regan, 
\Y. H. Moore and George Raider. 

Registration Under "Test Oath" 

The revised constitution of Missouri went into effect July 4th, 1865, 
and contained among other provisions that as a precedent to exercising 
the right of franchise, serving on juries and holding office, ' ' a test oath ' ' 
should be taken and subscribed to in which the party make affidavit that 
he had been loyal to the Union. The law also provided that ministers, 
teachers and lawyers could not follow their vocation unless they had 
taken the Iron-Clad oath and a copy of such was on file in the county 
clerk's office. 

To enforce this law a register was appointed in each county to make a 
list of the qualified voters and to administer the oath to such as desired 
to be registered. 

Samuel B. LaPorce was the first register and held his office from 1866 
to 1868. He was succeeded by Thomas Buckner. 

The general assembly of 1869 passed a law providing for a board of 
three registrars who sat for three days and examined all who appeared. 

This law, of course, disfranchised all of the citizens of the county 
who had been in the Confederate army, and quite a number who 
had taken no part in the war were not able to prove their loyalty and 
their names were stricken from the registration books. 

There was a light vote polled in the county at the election of Novem- 
ber, 1866, for two reasons — first, because only the loyal citizens could vote 
and, secondly, because most of the new-comers who might otherwise have 
registered had not yet gained their citizenship by the required one year's 
residence. 

The Fall Election of 1866 

The only party in 1866 was the Republican party, and not much inter- 
est was manifested in the election excepting for the nomination of candi- 
dates, but in 1868 a new local party came into existence and, although not 
victorious, polling less than one-third of the vote of the county, put up a 
good fight and made the 'campaign both exciting and interesting. 



72 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The Issue 

Many of the Republicans when the war was over advocated the policy 
of extending the hand of fellowship to the defeated party of the south, 
granting them the right of suffrage and restoring to them all of their 
civil rights. This faction was called the Liberal Republicans and those 
who opposed restoring the rights of citizenship were called Radicals. 

The Liberal Republican party in Jasper county formed the People's 
Club and the few Democrats in the county who were eligible to vote 
affiliated with the Liberals. 

The leaders of the two factions in Jasper county were for the Radi- 
cals, Colonel W. H. Cloud, ex-colonel of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry; W. 
H. Garland, editor of the Banner; J. M. Young, superintendent of the 
Granby Company ; J. S. Rhoades, 0. H. Picher, Charles W. Elliott and 
E. M. Burch. 

The leaders of the People's Club (Liberal Republicans) were Norris 
C. Hood, L. C. Cunningham and W. Baxla. S. R. H. Rose and J. F. Hop- 
kins were neutral, and W. H. Phelps and Franklin Davis, Democrats. 

The campaign was hotly contested and was closed on October 25th 
by the Radicals with a rally at Carthage which was attended by three 
thousand people. One of the features of the rally was a horseback par- 
ade which contained ten marching clubs, some from out of the county. 
The registration of the county in 1868 was as follows: McDonald town- 
ship, 209 ; North Fork township, 90 ; Preston township, 167 ; Jasper town- 
ship, 91 ; Center Creek township, 97 ; Mineral township, 173 ; Jackson 
township, 143 ; Marion township, 499 ; Sarcoxie township, 228. Total, 
1,697. 

So hotly contested was the campaign that 1,643 votes out of the 
above registration cast their ballots. 

The principal interest centered in the election of representative, the 
Radical candidate being Colonel J. Morris Young of Minersville and 
the People's Club candidate. Norris C. Hood of Carthage. 

The presidential vote in the county was as follows: U. S. Grant, Re- 
publican, 1,199; H. Seymour, Democrat, 444. 

On account of the activities of the People 's Club Mr. Hood, the candi- 
date of the Liberal Republican party, polled a good vote, but he was de- 
feated by Colonel Young by a considerable majority running slightly be- 
hind General Grant, the presidential candidate. 

County Officers (1865-70) 

During the later 'sixties the following officers served the county from 
the reorganization until 1870 which was designated the reconstruction 
period. 

Sheriffs— S. H. Caldwell, 1865-8 ; C E. Spencer. 1869-72. 

County Court— W. B. Hamilton, 1865-7; F. B. Nichols, 1865-7; 
Thomas Caldwell, 1865-7 ; John Hornback, 1867-8 ; John Percell, 1867-72 ; 
\Y. J. Cameron, 1867-8; William B. Hamilton, 1868; Isaac E. Koring, 
1868-73; J. T. Willoughby, 1868-71. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 73 

County clerks— William J. Bulgian, 1865-7; Samuel B. LaForce, 
1867-71. 

County Treasurers — Jess H. Fullerton (three months), 1865; James 
F. Spencer, 1866; George Rader, 1867; Norris C. Hood, 1868; Josiah 
Lane, 1869-70. 

Judges of Common Pleas Court — Hon. 0. H. Picher, 1867-73. 

Prosecuting Attorneys — Joseph Estus, 1865; Jas. Allison, 1866; G. 
W. Randolph, 1868-9 ; John Q. Page, 1867-70. 

Judges of Circuit Court — Hon. John C. Price, 1865-8; Hon. B. L. 
Hendrick, 1868-74. 

Representatives — Edmund Burch, 1866-8 ; J. Morris Young, 1869-70. 

County School Commissioners— J. T. Willoughby, 1867-9; W. J. 
Sieber, 1869-71. 

Registers of Votes— S. B. LaForce, 1866-8, 1869-70. 

The Court of Common Pleas 

On March 4. 1869, the legislature passed an act creating the court of 
common pleas for Jasper county. The court exercised probate jurisdic- 
tion ; appellate jurisdiction in appeal cases from the mayor of Carthage 
and from justices of the peace, and original and concurrent jurisdiction 
in cases where the amount involved did not exceed one thousand dollars. 
Hon. 0. H. Picher, of Carthage, was appointed the first judge and re- 
elected in 1870. 

Business Enterprises at County Seat 

In 1866 A. M. Drake established in Carthage a hardware store, and 
for years his was the largest hardware and implement store in the 
county. 

The same year A. H. & W. H. Caffee, with J. C. Young, established 
the drug business which before the death of the senior member of the 
firm had grown to be the largest store of the kind in the county. 

T. Regan established a saw-mill at Carthage and advertised to saw 
lumber on shares. In the 'sixties and early 'seventies, this was a great 
mill and did a thriving business. One dollar and a half per one hundred 
feet was paid for logs and the mill turned out laths, dimension lumber 
and plain oak boards. 

Gaston and Reynolds were the principal architects and builders of 
Carthage. 

Louis Gerkey was the boot and shoe man. 

Ruffin & McDonald were general merchants and carried a large line 
of all kinds of wares; Grey & O'Keif and S. B. Corn were the leading 
dry-goods firms and Mars & Cahn were clothiers. 

At the close of 1869 Carthage had fully two thousand inhabitants 
and twenty good stores of various kinds. 

Carthage Banks 

Two banks were established in Carthage in 1867— the Bank of Car- 
thage and the private bank of Peter Myers & Company. 



74 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



"— 1 > " PIH HUM 

. f CUKMIH- iv 

.AW LANOOmCC 




_r»sc orfTtr 








Jasper County's First Bank and Its Founder 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 75 

C. A. Cassell was the president and E. W. Harper cashier of the Bank 
of Carthage. Both banks did a good business, enjoyed an extensive pa- 
tronage and lent a financial dignity to the county. 

Establishment op the "Cakthage Banner" 

A good newspaper has much to do in shaping the destinies of any 
community. Before the war the Southwest News had exerted a great in- 
fluence in creating a secession sentiment in Jasper county and so, in 1866 
when W. H. Garland founded the Carthage Banner, he brought into the 
community a great force for the Republican party. It was for years an 
exponent of Republicanism and a paper of the fighting kind. Mr. Gar- 
land was a fluent writer and forceful in argument. 

The Banner was also a newspaper and in its columns were chron- 
icled all of the important happenings. It was later edited by A. P. Lewis 
and continued to be a power in the county until 1888, when it was sold. 

In compiling this history of Carthage we have had the use of a file of 
the Carthage Banner kept by John Nilson, of Carl Junction, who be- 
came a subscriber to the paper in 1868 and was one of its readers until 
it passed to the Carthage Press. 

Towns Founded in the 'Sixties. 

Franklin Sides laid out an addition to Fidelity (a village which had 
been founded in 1856 by William Cloe) and erected a large store build- 
ing. S. H. Caldwell, on closing his term of office as sheriff, began the 
erection at Fidelity of a large mill and for a time this little village gave 
promise of being a town of importance. Fellowship Lodge No. 345, A. 
F. & A. M., now of Joplin, was founded here in 1869. 

There is nothing now left of the town save the memory of its great 
promise and speculation as to what it might have been. 

The same year (New) Medoc was laid off, about a quarter of a mile 
west of the old trading point, by William A. Allison, and at once grew 
to be a town of importance. 1868 saw the town with approximately two 
hundred people and the following industries: One saw-mill, two dry- 
goods stores, one general store, two hotels, one meat market, one grocery 
store, one cooper shop and two blacksmith and wagon shops. 

Medoc Lodge No. 335, A. F. & A. M. (now Joplin Lodge No. 335), was 
organized at Medoc on June 18, 1869. During that year also four 
churches carried on the work of evangelization. 

Among the leading merchants at Medoc were Williams & Green, 
Holen & Son and Allison & Bell. 

The leading spirit of the town was Dr. Thomas Donehoo. 

Georgia City was laid out January 18, 1868, by John C. Guinn and 
named after his native state. William A. Fugit, John C. Cox & Son 
started stores there, and Georgia City for a time was a flourishing town. 
Some years ago the town plat was vacated and is now farm land, there 
remaining of the original town only a store and a blacksmith shop. John 



76 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

C. Guinn, the founder of the town, is rated the largest real estate owner 
in the county, possessing 17,000 broad acres of Jasper county land. 

In 1868 Franklin Side laid off the town of Diamond, in northern 
portion of Diamond Grove, and erected thei-e a large store building, haul- 
ing the lumber overland from Sedalia. Like Fidelity the business of this 
town did not flourish after the founding of the mining town of Scotland 
and is now only a memory. 

Galesburg was platted 1869 by John R. Cabbanis on the site of the 
old Talbott mill, which was burned in 1861. Mr. Cabannis rebuilt the 
property, making it larger and placing therein better and more improved 
milling machinery. He also added to this a carding plant and his mill 
at once became famous. A postoffice was established at the town and 
Mr. Cabannis was appointed postmaster. The Galesburg dam across 
Spring river is one of the best in the county. The water has a free fall 
of some nine feet and furnishes a water power sufficient to run a much 
larger plant. 

During the 'sixties Sarcoxie was incorporated as a village, the date 
being August 29, 1868. After a short period the government was discon- 
tinued for a time, the people feeling that the additional advantages to 
be gained did not compensate the extra cost of government. It was not 
reincorporated, therefore, until the 'eighties. 

Sarcoxie was rebuilt during the reconstruction period, but did not at 
once attain to its former importance. 

Town Population in 1869 

In March, 1869, the Carthage Banner published a statement giving 
the estimated population of the several towns of Jasper county, based 
upon an actual count in Carthage (a special census) and an estimate of 
the other towns based on the number of families residing in the same. 
The Banner's figures on the population were as follows: Carthage, 1,782; 
Minersville, 350 ; Sarcoxie, 300 ; Medoc, 225 ; Georgia City, 200 ; Avilla, 
160; Galesburg, 100; Fidelity, 50; New Sherwood, 30. 

Sarcoxie and Carthage both had a regular stage-line making connec- 
tions with Springfield, and there was also a considerable overland travel 
from Carthage to Neosho, Baxter Spring, Fort Scott and Sedalia, the 
latter point being the principal base of supplies. Most of the mer- 
chandise and other freight came to Jasper county overland, via Sedalia. 

It will be readily seen how anxious the people were for a railroad and 
how eagerly they took up with any proposition looking to a better means 
of transportation. 



CHAPTER IX 

OF GENERAL COUNTY MOMENT 

Jasper County Votes Railway Bonds — Railroad Meetings — Why 
Railroad Bonds Were Destroyed — Reopening op the Mines — How 
the Name was Changed to Oronogo — The First Jasper County 
Fair — Churches During Reorganization Period — Township Sun- 
day School Conventions — Colony of Swedes. 

Jasper county's natural resources, its mineral wealth, its broad acres 
of splendid timber and the richness of its soil, early attracted the atten- 
tion of capital from St. Louis and the older communities of the east and 
on September 20, 1868, a party of fifteen men interested in the building 
of a railway from St. Louis to the south and west visited Carthage with 
a view of interesting the citizens of Jasper county in the project. 

After the matter had been explained to a number of the leading citi- 
zens a mass meeting was called to discuss the project. C. A. Cassel pre- 
sided at the meeting and M. C. McGregor acted as secretary. 

Speeches favoring financial aid to the road were made by R. T. Blow 
of the Granby Company, O. H. Picher and Norris C. Hood and a com- 
mittee was appointed to discuss the matter with the county court and 
citizens. 

Jasper County Votes Railway Bonds. 

In the spring of 1869 the Tebo & Neosho Railway Company proposed 
to build from Sedalia to Fort Scott, Kansas— also to Carthage and 
Neosho — provided, the people of the counties through which the road was 
to pass would vote bonds to assist in the construction of the same. A 
mass meeting was called at Carthage and a committee of twenty-four 
appointed to secure the road for Jasper county. The Carthage Banner 
supported the proposition and in its issue of March 25th had the follow- 
ing editorial relative thereto. 

What the Tebo & Neosho Railway Would Do for Jasper County. 

At the present the people of our county are paying $60 per ton for freight 
from the railroad 143 miles, by wagon. A railroad, charging the highest rates, 
would not ask more than $12 for the same freighting. Thus we are paying five 
times as much for our freights under the present rule, as we would with a rail- 
road. 

Then let us remember that a railroad is ever ready to take freights and 
passengers, and will not put off their delivery for an indefinite time, or until 
the roads get better, as has been the case this winter, and we find the real worth 
of railroad transportation much enhanced. 

77 



78 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Now why is the Tebo and Neosho a more desirable route than the South- 
west? Because it will he an opposition line to the Kansas City and Galveston 
road, and we have a most effectual check on exorbitant rates, to the St. Louis 
market, in the Pacific road and the Missouri river, both of which will be crossed 
by the Tebo and Neosho railroad. Thus, this line will give an outlet to St. Louis 
and Chicago, and have parallel freighting lines all the way as wholesome checks, 
while the Southwest Pacific has no opposition, and gives us an entreport to only 
one market. The Tebo and Neosho railroad, extended to the pineries in Ar- 
kansas, would be worth a million dollars to this county alone, since the amount 
saved in the price of lumber, would amount to that in ten years. 

The Banner also printed the following April 22, 1869 : 

Rallkoad Meeting. 

Pursuant to motion a Railroad Meeting was held at the Court-house in 
Carthage, on Tuesday evening, April 20th, Capt. Josiah Lane was chosen Chair- 
man of the meeting and A. B. Parkell Secretary. 

Col. Cloud was called upon to state the object of the meeting, which he 
did by stating that the meeting was called to consider the best means for carry- 
ing on the campaign preparatory to voting on the railroad question in Jasper 
county. 

Ool. Picher was called and made a few practical remarks upon the railroad 
interests of Jasper county and the means necessary to be employed in carrying 
forward the coming election. 

Mr. Garrison moved that a Finance Committee, consisting of three persons, 
be appointed to raise funds for carrying on the railroad campaign. Chair ap- 
pointed D. S. Thomas, I. N. Lamb and W. S. Tower as said Committee. 

Col. Cloud moved that a committee of ten he appointed from different town- 
ships in the county, to assist in conducting the canvass. After remarks by several 
gentlemen Mr. Lamb moved to amend motion, increasing the number of said com- 
mittee to seven in Carthage and two in each township in the county. Some re- 
marks followed, after which a vote was taken and resulted in carrying motion 
as amended by Mr. Lamb. 

On motion a committee consisting of Col. Cloud, Col. Picher, and M. G. Mc- 
Gregor, to select suitable men in the several townships to act as committee in 
conducting the canvass through the county, in addition to the original railroad 
committee of three. After consultation the nominating committee reported as 
follows : 

Members of the committee appointed, residing in Carthage : Messrs. Caldwell, 
List, Phelps, Cassil, Davis, Ray, J. W. Young. 

Marion Township — I. E. Koontz and S. B. Orinsby. 

Mineral Township. — J. M. Young and John Elliott. 

Preston Township. — N. M. Smith and Williamson Price. 

Jasper Township.— W. O. Callison and J. C. Cox. 

North Fork Township. — Abraham Fleet and Geo. Chapman. 

McDonald Township. — E. M. Burch and J. C. Willoughby. 

Sarcoxie Township. — Harrison Ilubbart and Amos Hoag. 

Jackson Township. — Lazarus Spence and David F. Moss. 

Centre Creek Township. — Jonathan Busk and Richard S. Stuckey. 

A vote was taken on the railroad question which resulted in a unanimous 
vote of all present in favor of the railroad. 

Moved that these minutes be published in the Banner. 

On motion the meeting adjourned to meet again on Friday evening next at 
the Courthouse. 

A. B. PARKELL. See'y. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 7y 

Why Railroad Bonds Were Destroyed 

A special election was held on May 18, 1869, which voted $250,000 
to the road, providing the line was completed to Carthage by July 4 
1872. 

In August, 1871, the road withdrew its proposition to build to Jasper 
county because the county would not deliver the bonds in aid of con- 
struction before the road was built. The bonds were destroyed, and thus 
Jasper county was saved the trouble and litigation which vexed the citi- 
zens of St. Clair and other counties who delivered the bonds prior to the 
building of the road. 

Reopening of the Mines 

In 1867 the Granby Lead and Zinc Company, realizing the richness 
of the mines at Minersville and along Center Creek valley, acquired the 
title to a large tract of land near the old French and Livingston mines 
on Center creek and began the development of the ground on a large 
scale. Colonel J. Morris Young was sent out as the superintendent of 
the company and soon a red-hot mining camp was thriving on the north 
bank of peaceful Center creek. Colonel Young was, of course, the lead- 
ing spirit among the miners. Chas. W. Elliott and R. M. Stults, the 
veteran merchants of Oronogo, were among the live-wires of the camp. 
A large quantity of lead was mined and a smelter erected. 

How the Name was Changed to Oronogo 

In 1869 a postoffice was established at Minersville and Charles W. 
Elliott appointed postmaster. It was now discovered that there was a 
town in Christian county called Minersville and as it was necessary to 
give the place another name, the postoffice was called Center Creek. The 
name Minersville, however, still clung to the camp and letters were fre- 
quently addressed to Minersville, Center Creek postoffice, and were al- 
most always sent to the Minersville, Christian county. In order to avoid 
this confusion the postoffice department asked Mr. Elliott to select a new 
name for the postoffice and a public meeting was called at the Granby 
office to discuss the subject and agree upon a suitable name. 

A number of names were proposed — among them Leadville, Galena 
and Mineral Point — it being the universal desire to have a name that in 
a way indicated the business of the town. After a considerable discus- 
sion without agreement, some one suggested that they name the place 
after some great historic person and drop the idea of associating the town 
with the mining industry. Thereupon a man in the back of the room 
(who, by the way, had imbibed quite freely of the grape that makes joy- 
ful) arose and said "Boys, by , its Ore or no go." This was a happy 

thought and Colonel Young who was well educated, and spoke fluently 
several languages, offered this compromise : Oro was the Spanish word 
for ore and to drop the or from this sentence would make a euphonious 
word, meaning Ore-or-no-go. So the name was agreed to and the town 
of Minersville became Oronogo. 



80 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The First Jasper County Fair 

During the summer of 1869 the matter of holding a county fair was 
discussed and the most enterprising citizens of the county decided that 
an enterprise of this kind would not only advertise the county and its 
many natural resources, but would bring the citizens together and make 
them better acquainted. After several meetings were held to talk over 
the time and place it was decided to organize a Fair Association at once 
and hold the first fair during the fall of 1869. 

The Association was formed by twenty-five of the leading citizens 
and the following gentlemen were elected to the first board : I. N. Lamb, 
president; W. S. Tower, A. J. Balsney and M. J. Skinner, vice presi- 
dents; E. P. Searl, secretary; W. P. Davis, N. P. Smith, George Wolf, 
G. A. Cassell, H. S. Hanks, William Hays, N. C. Hood and F. M. 
Daniels. 

The first fair was held October 26, 27 and 28, 1869, on a twenty-acre 
tract of ground south of the city and was, taking into consideration the 
shortness of time in organizing and advertising, a splendid success. 
Agricultural and stock displays of all kinds were had and a goodly sum 
distributed in prizes. 

The fair was well attended and served the purpose for which it was 
organized. Nearly every one went away feeling in a happy frame of 
mind and feeling a little prouder of his grand county after having 
seen her splendid displays of farm products and other natural resources. 
The fair was attended by quite a number of people from out of the 
county, and no doubt did much to impress the visitors with the richness 
of Jasper county's soil and her prospects for future greatness. 

Churches During Reorganization Period 

In the fall of 1865 the Rev. L. M. Vernon, D. D., presiding elder of 
the Springfield District M. E. Church North, entered Jasper county for 
the purpose of reorganizing the work of that church. In 1866 Rev. J. 
C. Willoughby was called to the Carthage field and at once reorganized 
the Carthage church. He assisted in the reorganization of the old charges 
that had flourished before the war, as well as in the organization of new 
churches. In 1868 the Carthage district was organized, at which time 
the Methodist denomination had eighteen churches in the county and 270 
members. 

On March 11, 1868, Rev. D. II. Budlong was sent to the Carthage 
field and so faithfully did he work that the sum of ten thousand dollars 
was raised to build a church home. The Sunday school of the Methodist 
church was organized in 1866 with S. Cowgill as superintendent and was 
the commencement of the work of that great denomination after the war. 

The Methodist church organized at Medoc received substantial finan- 
cial aid from Dr. Donohoe and its history dates from 1868, when H. 
H. Asbaugh took charge of the work and organized the society. Rev. 
S. F. Haughawout succeeded to the pastorate in 1869. 

The second church to be established after the war, the Presbyterian, 
was organized at Carthage, on August 4, 1867, with a membership of 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 81 



eleven. Rev. John W. Pinkerton was the pastor in charge and was a man 
of fine Christian character. He labored in Carthage for five years, doing 
a splendid work for the Master and building up a church that to this 
day is a power in the community. 

As noted in our church article of the pioneer days, the Baptist rep- 
resented the first denomination to build a house of worship in the county, 
the Peace church of 1847. 

The Carthage Baptist church was first organized in 1845, and at the 
breaking out of the war had grown to be quite a power, but like the other 
religious bodies was obliged to suspend services during the ' ' unpleasant- 
ness." The first Baptist church of Carthage was reorganized in Septem- 
ber. 1867, with fifteen members. Rev. Cable Blood was the pastor and 
L. B. Ruffin was the first clerk of the church. Rev. Blood was a New 
Englander, a man of high literary attainments, and during his three 
years' pastorate made a number of additions to the church. 

On April 20, 1869. the Right Rev. C. F. Robertson, D. D., bishop of 
the dioceses of Missouri, held services in the Presbyterian Hall and there 
organized the Grace Episcopal church. In May the church purchased a 
building lot and began the erection of a chapel. On December 22nd Rev. 
D. Estaing Jenning, of New York, took charge of the work and preached 
his first sermon. M. Drake, A. H. Caffee, W. S. Tower and W. M. S. 
Judd were the leading men in the promoting of the organization. 

The Christian church was organized at Carthage in 1866, but the 
society was without a home until the 'eighties, meeting around at various 
homes and being without a regular pastor. The early records of the 
church are lost and we will take up the history of that church in 1882, 
at which time the church took steps to build a house of worship. 

Township Sunday School Conventions 

During 1868 Sunday school associations were organized in most of the 
townships and conventions held for the betterment of the Sunday 
schools. The first of the township meetings were held at Carthage, July 
21, 1869, and brought together not only the Sunday school workers of 
Marion township but many from the surrounding country. Rev. G. W. 
Quinn. of St. Louis, state agent of the Sunday School Association was 
the organizer of the several township conventions. 

In 1869 the several township organizations were merged into the 
Jasper County Association and a monster convention held at Carthage, 
during the month of May. Twenty-two Sunday schools were enrolled. 
A. P. Searl was elected president of the convention and was for several 
years reelected to the position, being a most enthusiastic Sunday school 
worker. 

Colony of Swedes 

In October. 1869. a colony of Swedes came to Jasper county direct 
from the old country, and bought land for farms. The colonists were a 
high class of immigrants, most of them being educated and bringing with 



82 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

them a good bank account. They have made most excellent citizens and 
some of them today are among the most influential people of the county. 

Sheep Raising 

Sheep raising was one of the features of the farm during the 'sixties 
and nearly every farmer had a small flock which netted him a nice sum 
as a side line. One of the successful wool-growers was W. G. Skinner 
near Georgia City. 



CHAPTER X 

CARTHAGE HISTORY 

Carthage as a City — Public Schools Organized — County Teachers 
Better than Schoolhouses— " The Carthage Patriot" — County 
Celebrates July 4, 1869, at Carthage — The Masonic Fraternity 
— The Independent Order op Odd Fellows. 

On March 12, 1868, a petition was presented to the county court by 
M. C. McGregor on behalf of two hundred and six tax-paying citizens of 




Carthage When Incorporated as a City 

Carthage praying that body to incorporate that place as a town, and ac- 
cordingly a decree was granted erecting the town of Carthage into a 
municipality, the original limits of the town being as follows: Com- 
mencing at the northwest corner of Parson & Case's addition to said 
town of Carthage, running thence north 800 feet ; thence east 6,110 feet ; 
thence north 2,120 feet, to the place of beginning, with the same narra- 
tions as the original surveys, heing 2,920 feet north and south by 6,110 
feet east and west. 

Carthage as a City 

David S. Thomas, Thomas E. Gray, Norris C. Hood, D. H. Budlong 
and Robert A. Cameron were appointed trustees and held until the first 

83 



81 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

.-lection in April. 1869, when the following were chosen: Alfred Cald- 
well. G. A. Cassell. Thomas E. Gray, William T. Cloud and Abraham 
Ray. The vote was very close. Mr. Ray and A. II. Caffee being tied for 
fifth place. Lots were drawn and Mr. Ray drew the longest straw and 
was declared elected. The board was organized by the election of Abra- 
ham Ray as president of the board and II. A. Terpenning. clerk. 

At the first meeting of the board six ordinances were passed. 

No. 1 prescribed the time and place of council meetings. 

No. 2 prescribed the kinds and classes of sidewalks. 

Xo. 3 made it an offense to block the sidewalk with wares and 
merchandise. 

No. 4 established a pound. 

No. 5 prevented stock from running at large. 

\o. 6 made it an offense to be intoxicated on the streets. 

Public School* Organized 

The School District of Carthage was organized in April. 1868, by the 
election of the following board of education: -I. \V. Young, president; 
I>. s. Thomas, treasurer and M. C. McGregor, secretary. 

School was opened in a double building on the south side of the pub- 
lic square with the following teachers: Principal. W. -J. Sieber; assist- 
ant principal. A. P. French — and these gentlemen began the foundation 
of the splendid public school system of the county seat. 

In 1867 the schools of the county were reorganized by the election of 
-I. ( '. Willoughby as county school commissioner and the several school 
districts that had been organized before the war again opened. The sale 
of the school lands was carried on and by 1868 most of them had been 
disposed of. On January 1. 1868, the County School fund resulting 
from the sale of the swamp lauds had grown to almost $150,000, which 
was loaned out at ten per cent interest netting the county $15,000 an- 
nually, beside the taxes raised for school purposes. 

County Tkvchers Bktter Than Schoolhousks 

This sum readily enabled the county districts to pay fairly good 
wages, and some of the best talent of that day entered the ranks of the 
pedagogues, so that the county although poorly supplied with school- 
houses (the school fund cannot be touched for building purposes) had a 
fairly good school system. 

Prom the close of the war to December, 1869, not quite live years. 
the school system had grown from 2:! districts to 79. and the teaching 
force consisted dt' 1n4. the greater portion of whom were men. The 
average salary paid was $42.75 per month. The number of children of 
school age was 4. V s and seventy-three per cent of these were enrolled 
in the schools. 

For the must part the schoolhouses which were built during the 
"sixties were one-room frame houses and the furnishings scant for the 
reason mentioned above. 

\V. J. Sieber, principal of the Carthage school, was elected county 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 85 

superintendent in 1869 and during his term of office the Jasper County 
Teachers' Institute was organized which, by its convention, greatly in- 
creased the worth of the teaching force of the county. 

The "Carthage Patriot" 

In March, 1869, the Carthage Patriot was established by S. D. Car- 
penter. The Patriot was a Democratic paper and locally opposed the 
issuance of railway bonds. It also boldly called attention to any de- 
linquency on the part of the county officers and built up a large circula- 
tion, being generally taken by both Democrats and Liberal Republicans 
on account of its advocacy of reform. 

County Celebrates July 4, 1869, at Carthage 

The ninety-third anniversary of the birth of American Independence 
was duly observed at Carthage on July 4, 1869, by a celebration which 
was largely attended by the people of the county. 

The following were the officers of the day: President. R. A. Cam- 
eron ; vice president, Patrick Murphy ; chaplain, Rev. C. J. Blood, and 
marshal of the day, J. C. Gaston. 

At 10 o'clock in the morning a parade was formed, headed by the 
Carthage band and participated in by the veterans of the War of 1812 
and of the Civil war, and the citizens of Carthage and Jasper county. 
The procession marched to La Force's grove where the oration of tin- 
day was delivered, after which every one partook of the good dinner and 
ate the lunch which had been brought by the thoughtful housewives. 
sweethearts and sisters. The afternoon was spent in games and social 
amusements. 

Patriotic celebrations always till men's hearts with noble thoughts and 
prompt them to do great and noble deeds, and the day was closed with 
a meeting of the leading citizens of Carthage to talk over plans to or- 
ganize a volunteer fire department. 

The Masonic Fraternity 

The first lodge to organize in the county after the war was Carthage 
Lodge No. 197, A. F. and A. M., which was instituted March 27. 1867. 
with the following officers in the chairs (under dispensation) : Griffith 
Robinson, Master; Joseph C. Gaston, S. W. ; O. D. Stinson, J. W. ; Norris 
C. Hood, Treasurer; Josiah Lane, Secretary; D. K. Hood, S. D. ; John 
S. Reynolds, J. D. ; A. M. Drake, Tyler. 

The Masonic lodge differs from most other fraternal societies in this. 
that the custom of the olden time are carried out and the order has no 
written rituals, but the work is "passed from mouth to ear" and can 
only be learned by the strictest attention. 

For this reason before a lodge is chartered the principal officers of 
the lodge must commit the work thoroughly and be able to exemplify 
the several degrees. 



86 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The Master and Wardens-elect therefore repaired to the nearest 
lodge, Greenfield in Dade county, and, after being instructed for two 
days by the brethren at that place, were placed in the chairs and went 
through the forms and ceremonies so well that the lodge gave them a 
recommendation, and at the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Missouri on 
October 19th the charter was formally granted. The membership at the 
date of the granting of the charter was seventeen. J. C. Gaston suc- 
ceeded Griffith Robertson as Master in 1868. During the same year he 
was appointed D. D. G. M. for this Masonic district and during his in- 
cumbency of that important office instituting a great number of lodges — 
among which were those at Medoc. Fidelity and Avilla, Peter K. Peard 
succeeded Mr. Gaston as Master in 1869, and served the craft so faith- 
fully that he was reelected for three successive terms. 

The Independent Order op Odd Fellows 

The second great society to be established in the country was the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which was organized at Carthage, 
May 20, 1868. Lyman J. Burch was the first Noble Grand. 

Odd Fellowship was also established at Avilla, the same year that 
Avilla Lodge No. 188 was instituted. Among the charter members were, 
H. G. McGown, Joel T. Belk. John W. Belk. S. W. Damon, Benjamin 
Rinney, John Tarter, Jacob Strieker, K. H. Brackman, N. H. Roberts, 
B. F. Skillen, A. C. Houser, E. Eader, J. A. Spencer, Calvin "Wester- 
man and Henry Homer. H. J. McGown was the first Noble Grand. 



Decade 

of the 

Seventies 



CEXSl'S OF 1870 

•Jackson Township 1,238 

Jasper Township 758 

McDonald Township 2,035 

Marion Township (including Carthage i M,%4 

Mineral Township 1,195 

Preston Township 1,174 

Sarcoxie Township 1 ,983 

North Pork Township 868 

Center Creek Township 76") 

( Georgia Township 948 

Total population 14,928 



NS 



CHAPTER XI 

POLITICS AND RAILROADS 

Confederate Soldiers Reenpranchised (1870) — Township Organiza- 
tion Adopted (1872) — County Redistricted and Township Lines 
Changed — Judicial Districts — The Campaign op 1874 — The New 
Constitution — Campaign of 1876 — The Republican Rally — Demo- 
cratic Barbecue and Procession — Township Organization Abol- 
ished — The Campaign of 1878 — Railroad Matters. 

The decade which was ushered in with the year 1870 was an impor- 
tant one for Jasper county. It saw the county doubled in population 
and quadrupled in wealth. It witnessed the ^enfranchisement of the 
citizen who had followed the cause of the Confederacy and saw a re- 
united people in fact, as well as in name. It saw the founding of three 
great cities — Joplin, Webb City and Carterville — and with their growth. 
marked the beginning of a new epoch, the coming into prominence of the 
mining industry. It saw the building of three railroads into the county 
and noted the passing of the old stage-coach. In short, the 'seventies 
were years of great activity in Jasper county and present a rich variety 
of historic experiences, and following the general plan mapped out in 
our introductory chapter, we will group together the important events 
of this decade in the following order. 

The county at large 

Political happenings 

Railroads 

Educational matters 

The Grangers; farms and farming 

Miscellaneous events 

Carthage 

Joplin 

Webb City and Carterville 

Other towns 

Confederate Soldiers Reenfranciiised (1870) 

The important political issue of the campaign of 1870 was the re- 
enfranchisement of the soldiers of the Confederacy and the restoration 
to them of all the civil rights of citizenship, and on this question the 
Republican party divided. 

At the State Republican convention held at Jefferson City, in August 

89 



90 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

1870, a warm debate was had relative to the proposition. The Radicals 
advocated postponing the restoration of citizenship and restoring the 
rights gradually, while the Liberals desired the immediate restoration 
of all rights and the extension of the right hand of fellowship to their 
countrymen who had fought for what they thought was right. 

The vote on the question of placing in the Republican platform a 
plank pledging the support of the party to the amendment to the con- 
stitution, which was to be voted on in November, was lost by a vote of 
349 to 342 ; whereupon the Liberals withdrew from the convention and 
nominated B. Gratz Brown for governor and a full state ticket, on the 
platform of restoring the ballot to the Confederates. The Radicals nom- 
inated Governor McClurg. The Democrats made no nomination for 
governor, but supported Brown. 

In Jasper county, both Republicans and Democrats nominated full 
tickets and the campaign was bitterly fought. The Radical Republicans, 
under the leadership of Judge 0. H. Picher as county chairman, were 
victorious, but many of them voted for the amendment to reenfranchise 
the men who had followed the "bonnie blue flag." The vote in Jasper 
county at this election was as follows: McClurg, Regular Republican, 
1,006 ; Brown, Liberal Republican. 716. 

The constitutional amendment to abolish the test oath, however, car- 
ried in the county and in the state by a tremendous majority. Brown 
was elected governor by 41,000 majority and the amendment carried 
by 111,000, only 16,000 votes being cast against the proposition. 

Township Organization Adopted (1872) 

In 1872 the Republican party in the county was again victorious, the 
vote on president being as follows: Grant, Republican, 2,092; Horace 
Greeley, Democrat, 1,333. At this election Hon. W. II. Phelps came into 
great prominence, being one of the delegates to the national Democratic 
convention. 

At this election the county voted on the proposition to adopt town- 
ship organization and the same was adopted by a majority of 1,892 the 
vote on the question being, for 2,340, against 448. 

Under the provisions of the law the several townships could, if they 
so desired, choose a name and became quasi-corporations, could sue and 
be sued and, in short, transact through the township officers the local 
business. The township officers under this law were: Supervisor, clerk, 
collector, assessor, constable, justice of the peace. The supervisor was 
the executive officer of the township and O. K.'d all bills and supervised 
.ill public improvements. 

The first township to elect officers was Marion, and the following 
persons were chosen to transact the township business: M. G. McGregor 
(later circuit judge), supervisor; W. I. Bullis, assistant supervisor; B. 
1'. Searl, clerk; S. B. Ormsby, collector; Charles Poole, assessor; W. V. 
Thornsburg, constable; T. B. Tuttle and James P. Betts. justices of the 

pence. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 91 

In 1873 the legislature amended the township organization law so 
that executive function devolved upon a board of trustees, which con- 
sisted of the supervisor and the two justices. The supervisor was also 
ex-officio treasurer. 

The same law also provided that the county court should consist of 
five members in place of three. The presiding judge was elected at large 
and the other four from judicial districts. 

County Redistricted and Township Lines Changed 

At the meeting of the county court, February 6, 1873, the county was 
divided into fifteen townships as follows: Jasper, Dural, Preston, Sher- 
idan, Lincoln, McDonald, Madison, Marion, Mineral, Spring Valley, 
later changed to Twin Grove ; Galena ; Dubuque, later changed to Joplin ; 
Jackson; Jenkins Creek, later changed to Union; and Sarcoxie. These 
lines are the same now as then, save that Joplin township has twice 
been reduced by a small territory which has been added to Galena. 

Judicial Districts 

The county was districted, for the purpose of electing members of 
the county court, as follows: District No. 1 — Sheridan, Lincoln, McDon- 
ald, Madison, Union and Sarcoxie townships. 

District No. 2 — Marion and Jackson townships. 

District No. 3 — Joplin and Galena townships. 

District No. 4 — Jasper, Dural, Preston, Twin Grove and Mineral 
townships. 

A special election was held June 3, 1873, to select a new county court 
and resulted as follows: Presiding judge, C. Conrad; District No. 1, 
Wm. Rush, of McDonald township ; District No. 2, M. C. McGregor, of 
Marion township ; District No. 3, John C. Cox, Joplin township ; and 
District No. 4, Leander Green, Jasper township. 

The Campaign of 1874 

The campaign of 1874 was a hot one and saw four parties contest- 
ing for honors grouped as Republicans, Democrats, Reformers and 
Grangers. The Grangers did not nominate a full county ticket, but had 
a candidate for governor, William Gentry, who was warmly supported 
and, while not elected, carried Jasper county. During the two years 
prior to this campaign there had been much excitement over the voting 
of railroad bonds and there were also quiet whispers relative to a graft 
among certain county officials which brought out the Reform party, 
composed of members of both old organizations "who wanted to see the 
books. ' ' 

Full county tickets were nominated by the Republicans, Democrats 
and Reformers and the contest was hotly waged, resulting in a Demo- 
cratic victory. The following were the successful contestants: Repre- 
sentative, W. H. Phelps; sheriff, U. B. Hendrickson; county clerk, 
George Blakeney ; recorder, James A. Bolen ; treasurer, John Onslott ; 
and prosecuting attorney, Al Thomas. 



92 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The above was an exceptionally strong ticket, each man having a 
local strength which brought him votes. The vote on the state officers 
was as follows: For governor, Hardin, Democrat, 1,493; Gentry, 
Granger, 1,686. 

The New Constitution 

At the general election of 1874 a proposition was submitted to the 
people and carried, calling for a convention to frame a new constitution 
for Missouri. 

Hon. John H. Taylor, of Joplin, was elected to represent Jasper 
county in the constitutional convention and discharged the duties with 
great credit to the county. The constitution was voted on at a special 
election in November, 1875, and was carried by a large majority, the vote 
in Jasper county being, for the new constitution 629, against 525. 

The Campaign of 1876 

By far the most exciting political campaign of the 'seventies was the 
Hayes-Tilden campaign of 1876. The Democrat and Republican par- 
ties at this election were almost evenly divided and made a most vigor- 
ous campaign. At this election there appeared a new party, the Green- 
backers, who advocated reforms in the currency and monetary laws; 
also more liberal laws in favor of the laboring classes. The party, al- 
though never victorious and living only through three presidential cam- 
paigns, contained many able men, and some of the doctrines they ad- 
vocated were later engrafted into the platforms of both old parties. The 
Republican candidate for president was Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio : 
th<' Democratic candidate, Samuel J. Tilden of New York; the Green- 
back candidate, Peter Cooper, the great philanthropist, of New York 
city. Colonel C. C. Allen, of Carthage, was the Republican candidate 
for lieutenant governor at the election. All three parties made a vig- 
orous schoolhouse speech-making campaign and at both Joplin and 
Carthage great rallies were had which included torch-light processions, 
barbecues, etc. The two largest political gatherings in the county oc- 
curred in Joplin. 

The Republican Rally 

At the Republican rally the attendance was variously estimated at 
from 12,000 to 15,000 people and the city was splendidly decorated for 
the occasion. The torch-light procession was fully two miles long and 
was a sight long to be remembered. The writer well remembers the oc- 
casion and feels now. as he writes, the thrill of excitement that came over 
him as he saw tin' marching clubs four abreast and some of them uni- 
formed (the Republican marching club was called the Hayes Light 
Guard) coming over the east Joplin hill and down Broadway into Main 
street, flags and banners gayly waving, and torches burning brightly, 
making the sky red with their light, the city wild with excitement. Hon. 
P. D. Dyer was the orator of the day and spoke from a platform on 
.Main street, and that thoroughfare was a solid mass of humanity from 
First to Fifth streets. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 93 

Democratic Barbecue and Procession 

The campaign was closed by the Democrats with an old-fashioned 
harbecue and torch light procession which rivaled, if not eclipsed the 
Republican demonstration. The Democratic rally opened in the morn- 
ing at Cox Grove, north of East Joplin, where an old-fashioned bar- 
becue and basket picnic was held. The author was a boy then and, like 
other urchins, right there on the ground and in the thickest of the 
excitement ; and remembers how the fatted calf was cooked and the 
feeling of good cheer that came from the splendid dinners which were 
served by the daughters of Democracy. The writer has sometimes 
thought that this was a great stroke of policy, and it is often said that 
the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and the memory of 
that dinner must have clung to the banqueters for many a long day. It 
might be added, in parenthesis, that Joplin went Democratic at that 
election. 

After dinner in the grove, speeches were made and a general good 
time was had. until evening. 

The torch-light procession at night concluded the celebration and 
marching clubs for twenty miles round participated in the demonstra- 
tion. Seven bands of music enlivened the occasion and numerous floats 
and banners added to the effect. The county was Republican by a small 
majority excepting county treasurer. Hon. John Onstott being elected 
to that office. 

The vote on president was as follows: Hayes. 3,139; Tilden, 2,905, 
and Cooper, 520. 

The following county ticket was elected by the majorities named : 
Representative, R. A. Cameron, 124; treasurer. John Onstott, 28; 
prosecuting attorney, Galen Spencer. 157; county judge. Josiah Lane, 
125; sheriff, J. C. Beemer, 168; surveyor. Kos Elliott. 201; coroner. 
Dennis Coffin, 100; and public administrator. Thomas Buekbee, 188. 

Township Organization Abolished (1877) 

The legislature of 1877 repealed the township organization law. The 
provisions of the constitution providing for three members of the county 
court, called for a redisricting of the courts into judicial districts and 
in April, 1878, the county was divided into an eastern and a western 
district. Jasper, Sheridan. Lincoln, McDonald, Madison, Marion, Jack- 
son, Union and Sarcoxie were in the eastern district, and Jasper. Dural. 
Twin Grove, Mineral. Joplin and Galena townships were in the western 
district. 

The Campaign of 187S 

In the campaign of 1878 the Greenback party made a most vigor- 
ous campaign drawing strength from both of the old parties, and. while 
not successful, made a formidable combatant and more than tripled its 
strength at the 1876 campaign. The interest centered on the choice 
of congressman who was elected by the Democrats. The vote in the 



94 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

county on congressman was: For Waddell, Democrat, 2,285; Burton, 
Republican, 2,006; Richey, Greenback, 1,722. 

In the county the Democratic ticket was elected, the successful can- 
didates being: Sheriff, J. S. McBride; judges of the county court, Wil- 
liam Byers, G. W. Scott, and Isaac Schooler; circuit clerk, W. A. Wil- 
liams; recorder, J. W. Burch ; treasurer, John Onstott ; probate judge. 
W. H. Kilgore; collector, W. E. Hall; prosecuting attorney, J. W. Mc- 
Antire, and representative. J. A. Pollard. 

Railroad Matters 

While the Tebo & Neosho Railroad proposition was still being 
discussed, a company composed of local capital was formed and pro- 
posed to build a railroad through Lawrence and Jasper counties, run- 
ning east and west and traversing the rich valley of Spring river. The 
company was called the Spring River Valley Railroad Company. The 
county court, in aid of the proposition and on petition of the people, 
called special elections in Sarcoxie, Marion and Mineral townships to 
vote bonds, and $100,000 was subscribed. The road was not built and 
the bonds which had been issued were burned, as already stated. 

L. P. Cunningham now interested some eastern capital in a railroad 
proposition and organized the Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern 
Railroad Company, which was composed of a number of enterprising 
Jasper county citizens and eastern financiers. 

The road first extended from Pierce City, the western terminus of 
the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (now the 'Frisco) to Oronogo and the 
several townships through which the road was to pass were again called 
upon to vote bonds to aid in the construction of the road. Although 
there was some opposition to voting bonds again, the proposition carried 
and $120,000 was subscribed. Sarcoxie township voted $40,000, Marion 
township $50,000 and Mineral township $30,000. The road was com- 
pleted to Carthage July 4, 1872, and the event was celebrated with a 
monster demonstration which was attended by 10,000 people who had 
come to see "the iron horse." The next year the road was completed 
to Oronogo, and Jasper county now had an eastern market for its farm 
and mineral products. 

While the road was in process of construction the company made a 
proposition to the city of Carthage and Marion township to locate its 
shops at Carthage, provided an additional $75,000 in bonds be voted. 
The project was warmly supported by the Carthage Banner but met 
with organized opposition from many substantial citizens. A mass 
meeting was held February 2, 1872, and was largely attended, Jesse 
Thacker presiding over the meeting and W. H. Woodmansy acting as 
secretary. R. H. Rose, D. J. Thomas, Dr. J. A. Carter, A. B. Parkell, 
Peter Myers and E. J. Montague spoke against lending further aid 
until the road was built and in operation. The proposition failed by a 
small vote, but the road was completed as per contract and was a great 
boon to the county. After the Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern 
Railroad was completed to Carthage, other capital was interested and 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 95 

the company was reorganized under the name of Missouri and Western 
Railway .and was extended to Oswego, Kansas, being completed to that 
point in 1876. 

In 1879 the Missouri and Western was sold to the 'Frisco and is 
now a part of that great system. 

The second railroad to be built was the Joplin and Girard, which 
was financed principally by E. R. Moffet, John B. Sergeant, Pat Mur- 
phy, W. P. Davis, H. Brown, W. A. Bodkin and Colonel Budlong, and 
was built for the purpose of giving an outlet for the mineral and smelted 
products of the Joplin mines. The first officers of this road were Col- 
onel Budlong, president; E. R. Moffet, vice president; W. A. Bodkin, 
secretary; and J. B. Sergeant, treasurer. The road was built from 
Joplin to Girard on the Gulf Road a distance of thirty -nine miles, work 
was commenced in February, 1876, and the road was completed in 
August, 1877. The last spike, which was appropriately made of lead, 
was driven August 20th amidst the cheers of the assembled multitude 
of people. This road was sold in 1879 to the 'Frisco Railway. 

The Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulp Railroad 

The above named popular line was built to Joplin in 1879, from 
Baxter Springs to Joplin, and was at first called the Joplin and Short 
Creek Railroad. Galena, Kansas, was at first called Short Creek. The 
first train ran into Joplin in October, 1879. The Kansas City and Gulf 
later became the Kansas City, Memphis and Gulf Railroad, and before 
it passed into the hands of the 'Frisco had grown to be a great system 
and, it might be added, a very popular one. 



CHAPTER XII 

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS 

County Supervision of School — J. W. Jacob (1871-2) — "Spelling 
Down" — Jasper County Teachers' Institute (1871) — School 
Exhibition — U. B. Webster (1872-3) — Jasper County Teachers' 
Institute (1873) — The Sixth District Teachers' Association — 
County School Commissioner (1875) — S. A. Underwood (1877-9) 
— State Teachers' Association (1878) — Singing School — I'ni- 
form Text Book Law — Miscellaneous Notes. 

Keeping pace with the growth of the country in population, the 
school system grew larger and more important during the 'seventies, 
as noted in our last chapter. January 1, 1870, found the county witli 
seventy-nine school districts and one hundred and four teachers. De- 
cember, 1879, found a few over a hundred organized schools and one 
hundred and sixty teachers. 

We will treat the city schools in a description of the several towns, 
and will, in this article, speak of the county schools and the matters 
pertaining to education in which the entire county had an interest, 
grouping together the important happenings which occurred during 
the administration of each of the county superintendents. 

County Supervision of Schools 

•lasper county was the first in the state to adopt county supervision 
and employ the entire time of a county superintendent, and the high 
standing of her schools attests the wisdom of this step along the line of 
progress. 

-I. \V. Jacob < 1871-2 i 

At the general election of 1870, J. YV. Jacob was elected county 
superintendent. Spelling was his hobby and during the early 'sev- 
enties the old-fashioned spelling matches were renewed and came into 
trivat popularity. We present here a paper written by one of the Jas- 
per county teachers and read before a teachers' meeting in February. 
1872. It is interesting because it describes the conditions of the 'sev- 
enties and a period when the public school system was in its infancy. 

96 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 97 

"SPELLING DOWN" 
An Old Custom Revived. 

"We met a sleigh-load of boys and girls the other night a few miles out of 
the city, on their way to a 'spelling match' in the sehoolhouse of a neighboring 
district, and the jingling bells and the merry laughter of the young folks made 
us forget for a season that we had passed the forenoon of life; and we joined 
the happy throng in imagination, and were back again among the scenes of 
years ago, when cares were few and the greatest sorrow of our life was to be 
compelled to stay away from spelling or singing schools and know that Bill 
Jones would go home with our girl after the exercises of the evening were ended. 

"Is there an individual living who does not at times brush the cobwebs away 
from his pictures of the past and revert fondly to the scenes of his youth? If 
so, let him be known, though we do not believe in the unmanly feeling that 
prompts one to look back for all his pleasures, and see only clouds and stormy 
weather in the future. 

"But we commenced to talk of spelling schools — the old-fashioned kind, held 
in our own or neighboring schoolhouses. The latter, however, were looked for- 
ward to with more pleasure, as the usual monotony of the occasion was relieved 
by the excitement of the meeting of a foreign foe. and the fun of a ride under 
the buffalo robes to the field of contest. 

"How 'big' we used to feel when in solemn manner the school master would 
step up on the rostrum, and after erasing all traces of the day's arithmetical 
exercises upon the blackboard that our minds might not wander from the even- 
ing's work, sing out in a well-remembered voice, a cross between a deacon's 
and a heavy tragedian's, our name, coupled with some member of the opposition 
side as the two upon whom fell the honor of choosing sides. 

"And what terrible suspense intervened while the two pedagogues drew 
cuts to see who should have his first choice, preparatory to selecting the chosen 
two dozen who were to try and spell each other down. 

"If the leader of the 'other side' happened to be a rival of ours in the suit 
for smiles from the rosy-cheeked girl who apparently had no thought for any- 
thing save the apples she was slyly eating behind the stove, the excitement was 
doubly great, until it was decided that we (just think of it!) had drawn the 
longest straw and were entitled to the first choice among all the bevy of young 
folks that were scattered around the schoolroom. 

"How high we lifted our cow-hide boots as we stepped off to the corner 
of the room where the line of orthographical battle was to be formed! Of 
course, the first name called was that of our sweetheart, though (must we say 
it?) she was the poorest speller in the school, and her formation of words would 
frighten the portrait of old Noah Webster from the title-page of his first-book. 
She was the handsomest young girl in the whole school ; her cheeks were as 
red as a Baldwin apple, and her curls, which had been elaborately twisted 
around a hot poker, were natural, and besides that she had agreed to go home from 
all the singing schools for a month ahead with us. and when we had a stone 
bruise on our heel in summer, who but she could tie a rag so tenderly around 
the spot ! So, we repeat it, we chose her at once, and while she was tripping to 
her place at our side, the other leader, as if to seek revenge and pay court to 
Mars instead of Venus, selected for his first choice the very best scholar in 
school, a girl who, though homely as Barnum's 'What is it.' could go through 
the spelling book like lightning, and was as much at home among words of 
seven syllables as those of two. When the work commenced and the quota of 
spelling was soon filled, though we must confess that our mind became slightly 
confused while holding 'our girl's' hand and choosing at the same time, our side 
was weak, mentally, compared with that of Bill Jones. 

"After order was obtained among the scholars and those who were not in 
the lists had brought their angry feelings under subjection, 'Old Jacket Duster,' 

Vol. I— T 



98 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

as we termed our teacher, would pull out a dog's-eared copy of 'Webster's Ele- 
mentary,' whose fly leaves had long since ascended heavenward in the form of 
'spit-halls,' and in a voice about three keys higher than his ordinary tone, pro- 
ceed to 'put out' the words alternately to the two sides. The contest waxed 
wanner, and down went all the 'small fry' on the simple words. We were only 
allowed one trial and the man who hesitated was irrevocably lost, until at last 
only a half a dozen were left on a side. 'Our girl' had come near going down on 
the word 'coffee.' (She always commenced it with a K). but we had set her 
right in a whisper, though Bill Jones saw the 'prompting' and would have in- 
formed the teacher had he not at that moment received a stunner in the shape 
of 'phthisic' which occupied his mind to the exclusion of all else, but which he 
would have mastered had not a wad of chewed paper struck him at that moment 
in the mouth, and so affected his utterance as to lead the master to think he 
had omitted one 'h ;' and he sat down swearing, and we had the satisfaction of 
seeing his ears slapped with a piece of rubber for his profanity. There were 
now five on the other side and six on ours, when the teacher of the other school 
took the floor, and we saw that there was blood in his eye the moment he said 
'We will now proceed to spell Bible proper names.' 

"This exercise soon thinned our ranks. Four at one shut, on 'Nebuchadnez- 
zar.' 'Our girl' let go of our hand and wilted on T'haroah' before we could in- 
form her whether it commenced with F or I', and finally we keeled over on the 
simple word Isaac, and the champion was a small buy of ten years, who was 
named after the son of Abraham, and the only Bible word which he could spell 
was that which he had won that day. 

"But the sorrows and troubles of our youthful days never lasted long, and 
we had soon forgotten our defeat in the happiness of having the rosy-cheeked 
girl to ourself in the back end of the sleigh, and with three buffalo robes that 
we had stolen to conceal our faces and render unintelligible the whispered words 
of sympathy and affection that we poured in under the 'kiss-me-quick' hood that 
covered her curls. Two mittens held our four hands, and the few strong pep- 
permint drops that we had been hoarding up for this occasion were dull and 
tasteless compared to the condensed extract of sweetness that we daringly 
snatched from her lips when crossing the bridge on our way home. She said she 
had 'forgotten that there were so many bridges on the road," while we — well, 
gentle reader, you cannot have forgotten how the old thing worked in those days 
before the war." 

Jasper County Teachers' Institute (1871) 

The third meeting of the Jasper County Teachers Institute was at- 
tended by oue hundred and ten teachers, which, considering that there 
were but one hundred and four schools, showed an interest both among 
the regular teachers and the prospective ones. The institute occurred 
on August 14th and the following officers were elected: U. B. Webster, 
of Medoc, president; K. Elliott, vice president; Laura Ralston, secre- 
tary; J. W. Jacobs, treasurer. 

The feature of this meeting was the appointment of Miss M. E. 
Chaddle, a noted linguist, as the critic for the meeting, and at the close 
of each session she made a report of the inaccuracies of speech, gram- 
matical errors, mispronounced words, etc. It is needless to say that 
after the first session everyone was on the qui vive and guarded his 
speech most carefully. During Mr. Jacobs' administration the school 
exhibition also came into popularity. The following clipping from the 
c<irlha<i< Banner, March 12, 1S7'_», describes one of many such, and 
shows, too, how the people of the early day overcame difficulties. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 99 

Jasper School Exhibition 

By urgent request we attended the school exhibition at Jasper school house, 
eight miles southeast of here, on last Tuesday night. We were well paid for 
doing so. The Jasperites are natural exhibitionists, as the following report will 
show. 

We arrived on the ground about sundown, and found the large exhibition 
tent well tilled, even at that early hour. Every road centering to the school 
house was lined with young and old, afoot, ahorse or in wagons. The grove by 
the school house was packed full of teams. People had come together from a 
radius of eight miles to see and hear the exhibition. The school house was used 
as a dressing room. The performers entered the stage through the windows. The 
stage, with the side curtains, covered the entire side of the schoolhouse, and was 
about 15x30 feet in size. This gave the actors plenty of elbow room. A large 
tent was put up, extending out sixty or seventy feet from the school house, capa- 
ble of seating five hundred persons. The seats were railroad ties, new aud 
hard. There were at least six hundred persons present. 

The exercises commenced about S o'clock, and continued until nearly 3 
o'clock, in the morning. Everything passed off smoothly. We have never seen 
better acting done in country places, than at Jasper, last Tuesday evening. All 
did well — a few did extra well. Much credit is due Mr. H. C. Warner, the 
teacher, for the excellent discipline and control, all evinced, from the least 
to the greatest. He was well assisted by Mrs. Smith, who seems to be perfectly 
at home in the bewilderments of an exhibition of that magnitude. The only 
unpleasant feature about the performance, was the cold weather. There being 
no fire in the tent many near the canvas were uncomfortably cold ; those near 
the center fared better. We did uot stay till the close, but we learn that the 
pieces grew better and better to the close. Had it been pleasent weather it would 
have been a real enjoyable occasion. 

U. B. Webster (1872-3) 

U. B. Webster succeeded to the superintendency in 1872 and intro- 
duced into the schools the plan of publishing reports giving an account 
of his works, visitation and his observation in the schools. These re- 
ports had the effect of causing each teacher to be on the alert and make 
the best showing possible, so that the printed report of the school would 
reflect credit on the district. During 1872 Mr. Webster made seventy- 
four visitations, and, for the purpose of giving the reader an idea of the 
conditions then, we print here the notes made at the schools, taking one 
or more from each township. 

Charter Oak school house, seven miles northeast of Carthage ; John Bryant, 
teacher; seventy pupils on the register, and an average attendance of thirty 
four ; public examination of the school every three months ; three cases of cor 
poral punishment during the term, all slight. The school had twelve visitors to 
day. One of them said he "was much pleased with the attention and general 
deportment of the school." Mr. Zinn said "the school is well regulated ;" Mr 
Brummint, was "well pleased with the order and attendance;" Mr. Walker said 
"the dismissal was the best and most orderly he ever saw ;" Judge Koontz said 
"the system of teaching is good and the order excellent." Charter Oak has a 
good school, and all seem pleased. The house is not equal to the requirements 
of the district, and must soon give place to a better one. 

Silver Creek school house, three and a half miles northwest of Medoc, Miss 
Alice Pickering, teacher. Wages $30. New district. Eighteen pupils on register, 
sixteen in attendance. House comfortable, but no seats or blackboard. Schoo» 



703828 



100 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

doing well. Good drill in reading, and first-rate order ; no whispering. A small 
school but a pretty good one. 

School house ou Blackberry Creek, three miles west of Medoc, Miss Nora Gray- 
son, teacher. Wages $30. Eighteen pupils on register, fourteen in attendance. 
Good little school house and everything in order. Good desks and teacher's desk, 
bell and black board. School doing well. Miss Grayson and Miss Pickering are 
both new teachers, and in their schools show good system. 

Jasper school house ; H. C. Warner, teacher ; wages $45 ; sixty pupils on the 
register, averaging an attendance of forty ; house seated with pine desks and fur- 
nished with maps, tablets, charts and globe ; school doing well. Warner is one 
of the "Old Reliables," "one of the working ones," and means business all the 
time. The directors and patrons are interested and harmonious, good feeling pre- 
vails, and, of course, the school is a success. 

Reed's school house, in sub-district No. 7, town 2S, range 30; Miss Carrie 
Ditto, teacher ; wages, $33 1-3 ; small, new house, and first term of school in this 
district. The people of this district have long needed a school. Thirty-two pupils 
on the register ; term three and a-half months. Miss Ditto is doing well, I 
think. I heard in this school the most perfect recitation in Geography that I 
have heard this winter, it was perfect — even to the exact locating of St. Peters- 
burg, Russia. 

Stony Point (Boyd's) school house, sub-district No. 4, town 27, range 30; 
W. T. Burkholder, teacher ; wages $35 ; about sixty pupils on register ; room 
clean, pupils quiet and order good ; house seated with pine desks along the 
sides of the room and facing each other ; good blackboard and plenty of chalk ; 
good average school. 

Garden Dell school house, six miles northwest of Carthage; Miss Mattie 
Higgins, teacher; good little house; well seated; teacher's table, maps and black- 
board ; forty-five pupils on register ; average attendance thirty-eight ; class exer- 
cises good, except third reader, in that recitation a lack of attention ; particular 
pains in spelling and pronouncing; some good essays in topical geography by the 
Misses Frise; small pupils print spelling lessons; Miss H. labors earnestly; two 
visits from directors. 

Alba ; Miss Emma Frise, teacher ; wages $33 1-3 ; seventy pupils on regis- 
ter ; average fifty-eight: house too small and out of repair. This is Miss Emma's 
first term ; and she has had a hard time, but she is one of the plucky ones that 
will "dare and do ;" she has fought it out on "that line," and her first school 
is a success; but it has required spirit, and muscle too. The Alba school is 
crowded ; the house is too small, and there is too much work for one teacher 
to do. The patrons of the school should look to the interest of the children in 
this matter ; a good set of pupils. 

Quaker Church school ; Jeremiah Hubbard, teacher ; wages $40 ; No. of pupils 
seventy ; average attendance forty-eight ; good school ; Mr. H. keeps good order, 
has good recitations; and is beloved by his pupils; his district will lose a good 
teacher when it lets him go ; he is faithful and earnest and has the welfare of 
his pupils at heart. The district has no school house at present, but have $500 
towards a new brick house, and have the site and the plan of their house, and 
are intending to build the coming season ; if they carry out the design, the house 
will be a credit to their district. 

Stroup school house, small log house. In "The name of God" what do men 
want to build a log school house for, in this day and age of the world? Dike 
the old maid who prayed for a husband; when the owl said "who. who" she 
answered "any body good Lord." This house don't fill the bill ; teacher A. J. 
Hubbard; wages $35; No. of pupils twenty; average fourteen. This is a small 
school ; cannot say much about it ; 1 like what I saw of it pretty well. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 101 

Perry school house, two miles north of Carthage. T. J. Dudman, teacher, 
wages $40. Forty-six pupils on register, thirty-nine in attendance. Messrs.' 
Conard, Thomas, and Armsby present. House well seated and furnished with 
black board, maps, globe and tablets. Pupils bright, intelligent and studious. 
Teacher in earnest, school a success. It is one of the schools of the county that 
fills the bill. Some of the reasons: 1st. It was started right when first or- 
ganized. 2d. The patrons are alive to their own interests. 3d. Directors do 
their duty. 4th. Teacher and pupils understand each other. School consid- 
erably advanced and A No. 1. Good singing. 

Preston school, Whitemore, teacher. Wages, $40. Sixty-five pupils on regis- 
ter, thirty-five in attendance, average forty-two. This school still retains its 
old name of being a hard school to manage. It is, and requires a teacher of 
experience and a thorough disciplinarian. Directors should employ some of the 
old '•Wheel horses" of the county, who would enforce discipline. Whitemore 
is a good teacher but this is his first term. He is doing well, considering all 
things. This house has blackboard enough, for every available space is covered 
with good wall black board. House well seated with cherry desks. Directors 
present. A good school, but lacks that great essential, discipline. An $S5 bell 
crowns the building. With good discipline this school would lie all right. Good 
singing. 

Cedar Bluffs, two miles west of Preston. Henry Hubbard, teacher. Wages 
$35. Forty-six pupils on register, average attendance twenty-seven. Small box 
house, cold and uncomfortable; good seats and maps, but insufficient black 
board. School just about an average. Cannot be much improved without a new- 
house, which is much needed. 

Linnland school house, four miles north and east of Preston. This is an 
awkward name, and not appropriate, but the school is all right, and a perfect 
success, for all are satisfied — parents, pupils and superintendent. T. A. Reming- 
ton, teacher. Wages $40. Fifty-six on register, average thirty-seven. Directors 
present. One of the good schools of the county. Please keep it so. Good singing. 

Coon Creek, Union Valley school ; two miles west of Midway, sub-district 
number 1; township 30; range 30; John Weed, teacher; wages $40; here I 
found a good school, good house, good desks, good blackboard, plenty of chalk 
and directors not afraid to have it used. Appearance of pupils good, clean, 
sprightly and intelligent ; recitations good. Weed is a good teacher, his pupils 
love him and the district appreciates his labors. The patrons of this school 
deserve credit for their mutual effort to sustain a good school. 

Summit school house; H. C. Parrich, teacher, wages $35; five months term; 
good house, large and comfortable, seated with pine desks ; sixty-two pupils. This 
Is sub-district No. 2, township 30; range 30. A very good class of pupils and 
pretty well drilled ; school a success, all seem interested In the support of a good 
school and as far as I could see labor to that end. 1 think tardiness a bad 
feature of this school ; also non attendance but on the whole the school is doing 
very well. 

Range Line school house. This is the smallest school and the smallest 
house in the county I guess. There is strong talk of disorganizing the district 
as it appears impossible to sustain a school ; but by disorganizing some must 
suffer, as they will then be too far from either Summit or Hackney. Miss Eva 
White is the teacher here at $25 ; fourteen pupils on register. 

During November and December of 1873, Mr. "Webster had a severe 
sick spell and during his illness John Bryant acted as superintendent. 



102 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Jasper County Teachers' Institute (1873) 

The meeting of the Jasper County Teachers' Institute at Joplin, 
October 1, 2 and 3, 1873, was a most successful gathering and drew out 
a large attendance, nearly every teacher in the county being present, 
The people of Joplin did the host splendidly and threw open their homes 
for the entertainment of the teachers. The meetings were held in the 
Methodist church. 

The following were the officers of the assembly : S. A. Underwood, 
president; W. H. Lister, W. J. Seiber, G. L. Jackson, vice presidents; 
Mrs. M. A. McCallum, secretary; executive committee — J. M. Wims, 
S. P. Ormsby and J. M. Stephenson. 

In the above list of officers appear the names of S. A. Underwood 
and J. M. Stephenson, both still in the teaching profession and prom- 
inent educators of Kansas City. 

Organization of Sixth District Teachers' Association 

On September 3, 1873, the teachers of the Sixth Congressional dis- 
trict, comprising practically all of the counties of southwest Missouri, 
met in Carthage and organized the Sixth District Teachers' Associa- 
tion and the following teachers were elected as officers: President, Hon. 
John Monteith; vice presidents, A. II. Parker (Newton county). A. J. 
Wray (Barton county), and U. P. Webster i Jasper county) ; secretary. 
George H. Smeltzer. 

This convention made the following recommendations: I. To teach 
Civil Government and Good Citizenship in the public schools. II. A 
compulsory educational law. III. A Southwestern Missouri Teachers' 
Normal. 

S. D. McPherSon succeeded Mr. Webster as county superintendent 
and during his administration nothing out of the ordinary occurred, 
save that a few new school districts were organized. 

County School Commissioner (1875) 

The constitution of 1875 contained in it a number of wise provisions 
relative to public schools and after its adoption many new school laws 
were passed. The time of electing the superintendent was changed from 
the fall election to the annual meeting in April and thus the election 
was in a way, taken out of politics. The name was also changed from 
Superintendent to County School Commissioner. 

s. A. Underwood (1877-83) 

S. A. Underwood of ihe Kast Joplin schools (now principal of the 
Westport, Kansas City High School | was elected first county commis- 
sioner and reelected in 1879 and 1881, being the first county superin- 
tendent to be reelected. During Air. Underwood's term of office, the 
county was honored by a meeting of the State Teachers' Association, in 
June. 1S78, and was also noted for the several enthusiastic meetings of 
the Jasper Comity Teachers' Association. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 103 

Mr. Underwood urged a uniform set of text books in the county en- 
deavored to establish a course of study to be pursued in the several 
county schools and in many ways raised the standing of popular edu- 
cation in the rural districts. lie also pursued the policy of publishing 
a report of his visits. We present here a score of his printed reports, 
with the view of showing the progress and changed conditions which 
has been brought about since the early 'seventies. The reports pre- 
sented here are extracted from the 1878 reports and show a marked 
contrast from the published reports of 1872. 




S. A. Underwood (1875) 



Jasper Township 



Galesburg District — Ed Mitchell, Frank Spouable and Ed McFerron, directors; 
John H. Bootou, teacher. Term began September 23d, and continues six mouths. 
Building and furniture second class. Seating capacity 46. District enumeration 
48, enrollment over fifteen years of age 7. total 40, present 32. Here we find 
order, the movements of the pupils to and from recitation regulated, and pupils 
who recite do not depend upon the teacher to perforin that duty for them. Too 
many teachers hold their pupils up and lead tliein through the recitation. Re- 
member that what the pupil does not recite independently is not recited. Mr. 
Booton is bringing the Galesburg school up to a level with other leading schools 
of the county. It pays to employ a good teacher even if to do so requires the 
payment of a reasonable sum for his services. Mr. Mitchell, one of the directors 
visited with me. 

Silver Creek District — Three miles north of Medoc : John Luster. M. K. Jones 
and Win. Row. directors; J. C. Orason. teacher. Term of six months began Oc- 
tober 21st. District enumeration 31. enrollment 14. present 13. Building and 
furniture second-class. Seating capacity 18. This is Mr. Grason's fourth term 
in Jasper county and he is teaching a good school. On the day of the recent 
election a prairie fire broke out in the neighborhood which destroyed a large 
amount of fencing and would have burned the school house but for the hard 
work of Mr. Grason and the entire force of his school. 



104 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Medoc District — R. G. Sloan, J. S. Enos and Ira Grayson, directors; Win. J. 
Sailor, teacher. Term began October 7th, and continues five months. District 
enumeration 97, enrollment over fifteen years of age 0, total 71, present 5S. 
Building and furniture second-class. Seating capacity 50. This is Mr. Sailor's 
sixth term in Jasper county schools and the Medoc school is doing thorough work 
miller his management. Not a single case of whispering was noticed during any 
visit. General deportment good. The examination passed by the different 
classes did credit both to pupils and teacher. Dr. Mcl'heters, and Mr. Welty, 
an ex-teacher, visited with me. 

Amity District — One and one-half miles east of Joplin ; Henry Moore. L. B. 
Osborn and S. A. Hopkins, directors ; E. B. Osborn. teacher. Term of six months 
began September 20th. District enumeration 50, enrollment over fifteen years 
of age 3, total 41. present 31. Building and furniture first-class. Seating ca- 
pacity 28. In addition to school house and site the district property inclules a 
good set of outline maps, a Webster's Unabridged, a nine-inch globe, a teacher's 
desk and nineteen Victor folding desks. 

Galena Township 
Dixon District — Three miles north of Joplin; A. Dixon, Henry Martin and 
Hiram Snapp. directors; James R. Thomas, teacher. Term of seven months be- 
gan September 2d. District enumeration 99, enrollment over fifteen years of 
age 12, total 65, present 42. Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 
54. Value of district property $600. This is Mr. Thomas' first term and he is 
doing good work for a beginner. This is one of the leading districts of the 
western portion of the county and always has "number one" schools. 

Jackson Township 

High Hill District — Four miles southwest of Carthage; II. Robinson, F. J. 
Hazelwood and John Hornback, directors; G. B. Lowery, teacher. Term began 
October 7th. and continues three months. District enumeration 103, enrollment 
over fifteen years of age 5. total 30. present 32. Building and furniture first- 
class. Seating capacity 40. Mr. Bowery is teaching his first term and as far 
as I am informed is giving his patrons satisfaction. High Hill is one of the 
largest and oldest districts in the county, and although it has a school house 
much larger than the average, yet it can only seat less than half the pupils 
enumerated in the district. 

Lynnland District — John Crandall. George Hille and John M. Peterson, di- 
rectors; Harrison Hunt, teacher. Term of five months began October 21st. Dis- 
trict enumeration 07, enrollment over fifteen years of age 8, total 40. present 
28. Building second-class, furniture third-class. Seating capacity 42. Mr. Hunt 
has taught in the county at intervals for several years. Lynnland School has 
a number of non-resident pupils and is making reasonable advancement under 
the charge of Mr. Hunt. 

Mineral Township 

Alba School — Henry Hubbard. James M. Haworth and Wm. John, directors; 
J. S. Rees, teacher. Term of five months began October 7th. District enumera- 
tion 70, enrollment over fifteen years of age 0. total 45, present 30. Building 
and furniture second-class. Seating capacity 30. The Alba school has been 
hard to govern and the pupils have been allowed to cut and otherwise injure the 
furniture. Tinier the management of Mr. Rees, who is now teaching his seventh 
term in the county, the deportment is rapidly improving and the recitations arc 
becoming more thorough. The directors have placed in some new furniture, 
improved the interior of the school house and propose to do their part toward 
having a good school. 

Blood District — O. II. Carpenter, M. A. Estey and E. Kerr, directors; O. W. 
Rose, teacher. Term began November 4th and continues four months. District 
enumeration 69, enrollment over fifteen years of age 5. total 32. present 29. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 105 

Building ami furniture first-class. Seating capacity 38. The school house is lo- 
cated near Salem Church nine miles north of Carthage and is one of the hest 
in Preston township. A good pine fence with cedar posts and a neat coal house 
are the improvements made during the summer. Deportment and recitations 
are good and show that Mr. Rose is master of the situation. Mr. Estey visited 
with me. 

King District — Isaac N. Johnsou, James 1'itts and Urville Frost, directors; 
Miss Alice Peterson, teacher. Term began November 4th and continues four 
mouths. District enumeration 72, enrollment over fifteen years of age S, total 
31, present 23. School house third-class, furniture first-class. Seatiug capacity 
24. This is Miss Peterson's third term and her school compares favorably in 
deportment and recitations with any in the township. The reading recitation 
witnessed was excellent. Mr. Pitts, member of school board, visited with me. 

Preston District — E. Pinney and I. Landerbaugh, directors ; Miss Delia M. 
Greene, teacher. District enumeration 55, enrollment over fifteen years of age 3, 
total 39, present 32. Building aud furniture have beeu first-class but are now 
greatly in need of repairs. Seating capacity 58. The school is without a daily 
register. The vacancy in the board should be filled without delay as the law 
requires. This is Miss Greene's fourth consecutive term in this district. The 
good understanding between teacher and pupils and the thoroughness of the 
recitations show the advantages arising from retaining a good teacher. 

North Fork District — J. \V. Underwood, Joseph Gather and Isaac Herring, 
directors ; J. W. Spaid, teacher. Term began September ltith aud continues five 
mouths. District enumeration 50, eurollmeut over fifteen years of age 15, total 
43, present 28. Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 48. This 
is Mr. Spaid's second term in Jasper county ; he has thus far secured employ- 
ment in our best districts and receives the highest wages paid in Preston town- 
ship. North Fork directors have "a number oue" school. 

Spring Hill District — J. J. Hall, D. N. Wood and Kees Williams, directors; 
W. H. Lester, teacher. Term began October 2Stb, and continues four months. 
District enumeration 83, enrollment 83, enrollment over fifteen years of age 15, 
total 04, preseut 58. Building aud furniture first-class. Seating capacity 64. 
This is the most spacious and best furuished school house owned by any rural 
district of the county and the Spring Hill people are justly proud of it. Mr. 
Lester has the school thoroughly systemized. Directors Hall and Wood visited 
with me and expressed their intention to strike the Eclectic primer, fifth reader 
and number three geography from the list of studies pursued in the school. 
This I consider a wise action and think other districts would do well to follow 
the example. 

Hazen District — Alfred Kellum. Dr. Hazen and Virgil Irwin, directors; Mrs. 
S. A. Phelps, teacher. Term of four months began November 18th. District 
enumeration 33, enrollment over fifteen years of age 14, total 42, present 41. 
Building and furniture first-class. Seatiug capacity 31. This is the only dis- 
trict in the township that owns an Unabridged Dictionary. The school is also 
supplied with charts and outline maps, and is making good progress under the 
charge of Mrs. Phelps, who is now teaching her fifth term in the county. George 
L. Learning one of Jasper county's leading teachers, visited with me. 

Magoffin District — W. F. Stemmons, Geo. McCormick and Peter Schell, 
directors ; Hiram Harry, teacher. Term of five months began October 7th. Dis- 
trict enumeration 45, enrollment over 15 years of age 5, total 39. Building sec- 
ond-class and furniture third-class. The directors will during the term supply 
the school with patent desks sufficient to accommodate 40 pupils. Willingness 
and promptness were noticeable merits in the classes examined aud the recita- 
tions and deportment were good. District Clerk Simmons visited with me. 

Shebidan Township 
Deer Creek District— Jesse Landerbaugh. Daniel Bishop and James Bin- 



IOC) HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

bert> directors; .1. T. Wolfe, teacher. Term of four mouths began November 4th, 
District enumeration 50, enrollment over fifteen years of age 5, total 31, present 
25. Building and furniture third-class. Seating capacity 28. Class in mental 
arithmetic organized and doing thorough work. Our schools need more mental 
work, more analysis in arithmetic and less prompting from the teacher. Mr 
Wolfe has taught twelve terms in Bates county, this State, and we are glad to 
give him a place in oar Jasper county schools. 

Madison Township 

Schooler District — John N. Schooler. A. Elting and Paul Girton, directors; 
<;. T Rhodes, teacher. Term began November 4th and continues four months. 
District enumeration 59, enrollment over fifteen years of age 13, total 50, present 
40. Building and furniture third-class. Seating capacity 30. Mr. Rhodes is 
an Ohio teacher of long standing and is now teaching his second term in Jasper 
county. Here are found order about the desks, a teacher who conducts a reci- 
tation but does not recite, and pupils who are required to think and express 
thought. The teacher may direct but the pupil must do the work. That which 
the pupil does not recite is not recited. Let us think of this at each recitation. 

Twin Grove District — Peter Samson. Allen Bobb and Reuben Kelly, directors; 
Miss Lizzie Rice, teacher. District enumeration 55, enrollment over fifteen years 
of age 4. total 43. present 30. Term of four months began October 28th. 
Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 56. Too many geography 
classes. We have no use for Eclectic No. 3. The Eclectic primary and No. 2. 
contain much more geography than we will ever succeed in having our pupils 
remember, and the use of the third book is unnecessary, and only shortens other 
recitations. Miss Rice has a model class in mental arithmetic. She is teaching 
her third term in this district, which is the extent of her experience. The 
school is doing well. The log house of a year ago has given place to an excel- 
lent and commodious school building of which the citizens of the district are 
justly proud. The people of Twin Grove believe in progress and have done the 
handsome thing in erecting and furnishing the building now occupied by the 

school. 

Jasper Township 

Georgia City District — Jacob Myers. J. M. Woolonies and Thomas Enos, 
directors; Miss Sue Gray, teacher. Term of five months began September 28th. 
District enumeration 103, enrollment over fifteen years of age 8, total 50, present 
20. Building second-class and furniture first -class. Seating capacity .">(». Miss 
Cray has taught eleven terms in the county and is now teaching her third term 
in this district. An exercise in phonetic Spelling witnessed showed that the 

pupils had been patiently ami thoroughly drilled in orthoepy which, though 
essentia] and Interesting, is overlooked in some of our schools. The district is 
the owner of n large and well bound I ii le, the only one. I believe, owned by any 
district of the county. Georgia City pays her teachers liberally and Invariably 

has g 1 schools. 

Center District In Cray. A s Atherton and J. A. Wilson, directors; Miss 

Josie Culpepper, teacher. Term began October 14th and continues five months. 
District enumeration 103, enrollment over fifteen years of age S. total 50, present 

25. Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 34. School is supplied 

with out-line maps and charts. .Miss Culpepper succeeds unusually well in 
teaching mental arithmetic. A class of young ladies in civil government ac- 
quitted itself creditably, Good order and thoroughness in all the work gone 
over characterizes ibis school. 

I nion Valley District— W. II. Rhoads, George K. Bowers and Isaac Hend- 
ricks, directors; A. R. Ilaughawout, teacher. Term of four months began Hot. 
2Sth. District enumeration 72. enrollment over fifteen years of age. total 46. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 107 

present 43. Building and furniture second-class. Seating rapacity 44. Tlie 
policy of the directors 1ms been to pay the best wages and employ the best teach- 
ers, and they have thereby given the district a school that in point of advance- 
ment and thoroughness, ranks with the first district schools of the county. Mr. 
Haughawout is teaching his fifth term, and is doing good work, especially with 
the "little ones" (who are too often neglected) in primary reading and mental 
arithmetic. Any teacher not in possession of good methods in primary work 
would do well to witness the exercises of this school. 

Galena Township 

Mt. Pleasant District — Six miles northeast of .Topi in ; S. B. Ilolden, T. W. 
Witten and C. J. Parker, directors; J. C. Weddel, teacher. Term of eight 
months began May 13th. District enumeration 7(1, enrollment over fifteen years 
of age 3, total 50, present 8. Building and furniture third-class. Seating capacity 
24. Mr. Weddel is a teacher of experience, having taught eighteen terms. The 
examination passed by the pupils present was satisfactory and showed that they 
were thorough in the work gone over. The daily register showed a large and 
regular attendance until late severe weather. 

Twin Gbote Township 

Smithfield District— David Hopkins. W. M. Temple and John R. Walters, 
directors, T. A. Stockslager, teacher. Term of six months began September 2d. 
District enumeration 104. enrollment over fifteen years of aire Id. total 07. pres- 
ent 31. Building second-class and furniture second and third-class. Seating 
capacity 32. This school contains wide-awake pupils, earnestly at work and 
respectful to their teacher who in turn treated them with merited kindness. 

These twenty reports the author selected from his one hundred 
printed reports and they represent the conditions of the county at that 
date. It will be noted that in a few of the districts the old house and 
furniture of the ante-bellum days was still in use, also that in most of 
these, laboring against such adverse circumstances, the schools were a 
success, showing that, after all, it is the teachers and the pupils that 
made a good school. 

State Teachers' Association (1878) 

The Missouri State Teachers' Association held its seventeenth ses- 
sion in Jasper county, honoring both Carthage and Joplin with a ses- 
sion, the visit to Joplin being largely of a sight-seeing tour and for 
the purpose of seeing the mines and twenty lead furnaces that were in 
full blast. 

The feature of this meeting was the organization of the teachers of 
the several portions of the state into local associations, the old Sixth 
District Association changing its name to the Southwestern Missouri 
Teachers' Association. 

The following were the officers of the Southwestern Missouri Teach- 
ers' Association at this organization meeting: S. A. Underwood, presi- 
dent; the county commissioner of each of the twenty-five counties em- 
braced in the association, vice presidents; J. C. Mason, secretary; Paul 
Roulet, treasurer. 

At the close of the meeting the citizens of Carthage tendered a re- 
ception to the visiting teachers, using the new opera house for the 
occasion. The reception was a brilliant affair. 



108 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Singing School 

During the early days it was quite common for the music-loving peo- 
ple of a county or village school to organize singing schools and they 
were very popular and largely attended. The largest singing school ever 
organized in a country school in Jasper county was at Preston during 
the winter of 1878-9. E. P. Searl of Carthage was secured as instructor 
and here one hundred singers gathered and sang away the cares of the 
day. This singing school became quite famous and contained some of 
the best singers of the county. 

Uniform Text Book Law 

In 1879 S. D. Carpenter, through the columns of his paper, the 
Patriot, advocated a uniform state text-book law, and we refer here 
with great pride to the fact that the agitation which finally resulted 
in the passing by the state legislature of a uniform text-hook law began 
in Jasper county. 

Miscellaneous Notes 

"W. R. McLane, a negro, was granted a teacher's certificate August 
23, 1877 ; was the first colored person in the county to successfully pass 
the examination, and was therefore the first colored teacher in the 
county. 



CHAPTER X[II 

COUNTY SOCIETIES 

Objects of the Grange — Great Hakvest Home Celebration — Pomo- 
logical and Horticultural Society — McDonald Township Farm- 
ers' Club — Jasper County Sheep — Jasper County Immigration 
Society — The Southwestern Medical Society — County Jail — 
Jasper County Old Settlers' Association — Colonel Young and 
the County op '65. 

During the early 'seventies there came into great popularity in Jas- 
per county a farmers' organization, the Patrons of Husbandry, but pop- 
ularly known as "the Grangers." 

Objects of the Grange 

I. To develope a better and higher manhood among its members. 

II. To cultivate a love of home. 

III. To preserve inviolate the laws and customs of the American 
nation. 

IV. To reduce the cost of living and discourage extravagance in 
local, state and national governments. 

V. To promote harmony and encourage patriotism. 

VI. To facilitate better and cheaper transportation. 

VII. To encourage cooperation and to bring together, in a stronger 
bond of union, the farmers of the land. 

In 1872 seventeen granges were organized and by 1874 the order had 
spread into almost every school district. 

Great Harvest Home Celebration 

On October 1, 1873, the Grangers had a great demonstration at 
Carthage, which brought together the farmers from both Jasper and 
Newton counties. The speakers of the day were Norman J. Coleman, 
editor of the Rural World, and T. R. Allen, grand master of the Mis- 
souri State Grange. We clip the following from the Carthage Banner, 
as it will give a vivid idea of the magnitude of the gathering and the 
importance of the event in farm circles. 

THE FARMERS' FEAST. 

A Procession Two Miles Long — Hundreds of Grangers Turn Out with their 
Families — Two Hundred and Sixty-Three Wagons in Line — They March 
Through the City with Flags and Banners — Speeches by T. R. Allen, 
Master State Grange, and Col. N. J. Colman. 

109 



110 HISTORY OP JASPEK COUNTY 

Yesterday was a gala day for the fanners of Jasper county. Although 
cloudy in the morning, by eight o'clock the sky was clear and by nine the crowds 
began to gather in the city from all quarters. Farmers with their wives and chil- 
dren came to enjoy the feast that had long been preparing for them. Everybody 
turned out — mechanics, artizaus, laborers, merchants, lawyers, printers, hankers 
and speculators, land sharks, bloated bond-holders, and persons bloated who are 
not bond-holders, office-holders, office seekers ami aspirin;.' politicians, fresh from 
the barber shops slicked up with hay seed hair dressing, all eager to swell the 
throng, ami anxious to be counted a "friend if not a lover." 

On the arrival of the train, a committee consisting of Judge Conard, W. I. 
I'.ullis. and .1. A. Bodenhanuner met the speakers with carriages and the band 
and escorted them to the City Hotel where ample arrangements had been made 
for their accommodation. By ten o'clock the city was full of spectators, and the 
Grangers waiting on the principal roads a short distance out for the signal of 
march which was soon given. Dashing Cutler, the railroad's greatest enemy, 
mounted on his fiery steed, led the van; following was the band wagon carrying 
the Carthage Siher Cornet baud, discoursing excellent music Grange after 
Grange followed, some with the Hag of our country gallantly streaming, and 
others witli I aimers with the name and number of the Grange ami mottoes 
significant and insignificant. 

First came the ".Marion Grange, No. 4. 1". of II. Motto — "Education, Re- 
trenchment and Reform." 

"Preston Grange, No. -•'!." "Good bye " per cent." "Mr. Bonds — No Post 
Dating in ours." 

"No more Sand Stone Steals." "The King is Broken." "1N74 — The fanners 
will run the machine." "How are you politicians." 

"Monopolies render Competition Impossible." 

"We Feed the World." 

"We foot the bills." 

"Farmer's Home Grange. No. 53. 1'. of II." — Ceres. "We will vote for no 
more robbers if we know it." 

On the People's Press banner was inscribed the words: "Live or Die. Sink 
or Swim. Survive or perish. We will Support the Farmer's Movement." 

"White Hall Grange, No. 356." "Down with Monopolies." "Justice to all." 

Judge Hornback's wagon carried a banner on one side of which was in- 
scribed in large letters: "Pay Back the Back Pay." and on the other. "We 
demand a full Overhauling of our County R< rds." 

"Jasper Grange, No. 119." "Justice to all men." 

"Union Grange, No. 4.'!." "Farmer's protect your Rights." 

"Sarcoxie Grange, No. 252." "Excelsior." Another belonging to the same 
grange inscribed with "Lei us Plough under the foul weeds of Corruption." 

"Spring River Grange." "United We Stand. Divided We Fall." 

"Pay back the Back Steal." "Farmers at your i>ost." 

"Prairie Dale Grange, No. 181." "United We Stand. Divided We Fall." 

"Lincoln Grange, No. 31." "Union is Strength." 

"Avilia Grange." 

"Equity before the law. Richland Grange. Live and let live." On the 
other side were the words: "For our country's welfare; For the enjoyment of 
our rights: For the elevation of agriculture; We cooperate against rings and 

monopolies." 

"Midway Grange. No. 24, p. of n." "Eureka." "Friendship, Truth and 

Charity." 

Mr. William Collins of Preston, ailed as Grand Marshal, and Ellis Serjean. 
James Spence, John Hornbaek. F. 1.. Cutler and Joshua Shafer as Assistant Mar- 
shals, who conducted them through (he principal streets of the city. It was a 
grand sight to look at. and fully as pleasant to the participants for the weather 
was plea8ant and the streets free from dust. After the parade the throng pro- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY ]]j 

(wiled to the public park where a stand had been erected and seats provided 
for the multitude. 

About 12 o'clock, Mr. T. R. Allen, of Allenton, St. Louis county, Master of the 
State Grange, commenced his address. 

His speech was confined principally to the objects and working of the order 
of Patrons of Husbandry. His work is organization. He wanted "it distinctly 
understood that we have no antagonism with any legitimate calling. Our war is 
with corruption and monopoly. We must first organize and by carrying out the 
principles of the organization we have monopoly by the throat." He said, 
"there is a wrong somewhere" and it is the farmers' fault. "We must lie educa- 
ted." "Banking corporations and all other organizations are endeavoring to 
crush us out." ••Farmers are the mere serfs of mankind." "This organization is 
co-extensive with the Nation." The farmers are equal to all others in number, and 
thus are powerful. There are too many people engaged in business. The num- 
ber must he reduced. Our action will not only do this in many lines, but will 
strengthen those that remain."— "Our motto is live and let live." He said ob- 
jections were made by some to admitting ladies but he thought it was the best 
feature of the order, and inquired if anybody knew anything to fail that the 
ladies took hold of. others object to paying $r> initiation and 10 cents monthly 
dues. He explained that grangers save $25 a piece on reapers and largely on 
plows and other implements in proportion. He claimed that the best features of 
the organization are its social effects: and emphatically stated— on his honor 
as a truthful man and a christian of forty years in the church. — that "this 
grange organization has done more for the brotherhood of man that the christian 
religion has in 1,800 years." Mr. Allen concluded by explaining that the princi- 
pal objects to be attained, are to educate the farmers that they may he better 
able to do their duty as citizens, and reform the abuses that now exist. That 
they may be able to do their own thinking and not follow leaders. Said farmers 
have been led too much that they must raise their own speakers, so as not, to be 
obliged to call on lawyers and politicians to do the speaking, lie also explained 
how a new system of crop reports can he gotten up for the whole country on a 
cheap plan, and one that will be reliable and practicable for ail. 

In 1874 the Jasper County Grange put under way a proposition to 
build an implement factory in Jasper county and the farmers proposed 
to subscribe $100,000 in stock for the enterprise. 

Mayor Regan, of Carthage, offered to donate five acres of land for 
a building site, but the cost of farm implements after this move coming 
down, the plan was abandoned. The Grange continued to be popular 
during the 'seventies and did much good in the way of bringing the 
farmers together in a fraternal way. It was a great social factor among 
the husbandmen and useful in many other ways. 

POMOLOGICAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 

On August 24, 1872, the first fruit growers of the county organized 
the above named society, having for its object the promotion of the 
science of pomology and the better raising of small fruit. 

During the organization meeting Peter Myers placed on the secre- 
tary's table a Crawford peach, measuring nine and three fourths inches 
in circumference and weighing seven and one half ounces. The peach 
was a product of his orchard and was one of many such. 

At the annual meeting of the society in 1875 Lucius Amsden, a 
farmer and fruit grower residing six miles north of Carthage, exhibited 
a peach which he called the June Amsden, a variety which was grafted 



112 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

by him and is a native of Jasper county. The June Amsden was said 
to be the earliest peach grown in the Southwestern Missouri climate. 

McDonald Township Farmers' Club 

One of the most popular and useful local organizations of the early 
seventies was the McDonald Township Farmers' Club, which was or- 
ganized January 20, 1871, and held meetings for a number of years. 
This club was organized before the Grange had come into popularity and 
its meetings were held weekly. The first officers of the club were : Wil- 
liam H. Rusk, president ; A. H. Ingersoll, secretary. 

The club was non-political and confined its work to the discussion 
of topics which would be of help in bettering the farming interests. In- 
teresting papers and discussions were had on stock and poultry raising, 
dairy products, the cultivation and care of fruits, the best and cheapest 
way to build a fence, etc. 

Jasper County Sheep 

At the Dade County fair in October, 1877, the Jasper county sheep 
belonging to William McGuier took the first prize, winning him a nice 
sum. The sheep were of the Cotswold breed. 

The Jasper County Immigration Society 

On February 25, 1872, a number of patriotic citizens met at Carthage 
and formed the Jasper County Immigration Society, having for its ob- 
jects the disbursement of literature and information concerning the 
county and its resources. More than a hundred men joined the so- 
ciety and paid an entrance fee of five dollars, together with an annual 
assessment with which to carry on the business of the association. Its 
first officers were : J. W. Young, president ; W. L. Tower, vice presi- 
dent ; D. L. Thomas, treasurer ; E. P. Searl, recording secretary ; Capt. 
T. B. Tuttle, and H. C. Henney corresponding secretaries. 

The organization accomplished much good and did a great work in 
advertising the county. 

The Southwestern Medical Society 

The Southwestern Medical Society, composed of doctors from Greene, 
Newton, Lawrence, Barton, Dade and Jasper counties, met at Carthage, 
April 15, 1875. Dr. J. A. Carter read an interesting paper giving the 
data collected by United States pension experts comparing the death 
rate of Southwestern Missouri with other localities, the conclusion being 
that this section of the state was then the healthiest portion of the 
United States, its death rate being far less than any other portion of our 
great domain. 

County Jail 

The county jail was built in 1872. It was originally intended to ac- 
commodate twenty prisoners, having eight cells besides corridors, sheriff's 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 113 

office, etc. At this writing the jail is much over crowded, having over one 
hundred prisoners and although all county offices, save the jailer's 
quarters, have been moved to the elegant court house and the old offices 
fitted up as cells, it is necessary for the prisoners to take turns at sleep- 
ing, two sets occupying the beds during the day. 

Jasper County Old Settlers' Association 

On May 5, 1879, the first annual reunion of the Jasper County Old 
Settlers' Association was held in the City Park at Carthage. At an 
early hour that morning people from the country commenced pouring 
into town and by noon there was a very large crowd. At ten o'clock 
Monroe's cornet band gathered the crowd to the park, where the day 
was to be spent. The roll-of-membership book was on the grounds and 
up to noon one hundred and fifty persons had registered their names as 
members of the organization. The people assembled in the park num- 
bered about four hundred. The assemblage was called to order by Judge 
Hornback, president of the association. Col. J. M. Young, of Oronogo, 
delivered the address of the occasion which occupied over an hour. 
After this dinner was announced. The multitude was not long in as- 
sembling around the long tables laden with all the luxuries of the season. 
After dinner an old settlers' experience meeting was held in which a 
large number of the pioneers made speeches relating interesting inci- 
dents of early life in Jasper county. 

Col. Young and the County op '65 

The following are the closing paragraphs of Colonel Young's most 
interesting address and it cannot help but be of interest to both old and 
new settlers, because of its vivid description of the early events of the 
reorganization period. 

The organizers of this Association were forced to consider facts — results. 
From 1S65 to 1S70 they found society formed from chaos, from a wilderness a 
commonwealth, and on the wreck of civilization a sovereignty already assured the 
peer and rival of any in the state. Youth is silvered with age where time has 
been annihilated by accomplishments and generations encompassed with events; 
here age had lost her prestige and experiences mark the line of time. Settlers 
prior to 1S70 may well be called old settlers who experienced those results. In 
1S65 traveling by team, camping out. we crossed the Osage river at Osceola. 
On our way down the divides southward, we followed the dim traces of former 
roads and when all trace was gone were guided by course alone. Deer were 
constantly in sight grazing like common kine. We shot them and wolves from 
our wagon seat. In our camp at the ford on Xork Fork of Spring river we 
were startled from supper by a herd of deer rushing past in apparent sportive 
wantonness and from the bank they bounded on the solid ice below, across 
which they slid in no very graceful shape till striking the opposite bank, up 
which they sprang and were soon lost in the bottoms beyond. 

It was on a December morning that we reached the site of ancient Carthage. 
The rain of the night before had frozen and each pendant bough and blade of 
grass sparkled and flashed in the sunlight. Nature was draped in bridal array 
awaiting and wooing civilization and development. The scene was brilliant 
nnd impressive. '\Ye found here Mr. Iiader, not "like Marius amid the ruins," 



114 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

but safely boused with his store of goods in a log cabin some twelve by four- 
teen feet. He was 

"Monarch of all he surveyed 

His right there was none to dispute; 
From the prairies all round thro' the groves 
He was lord of the fowl and the brute." 

For in his cabin and own proper person lie represented the total wealth, popula- 
tion and improvements of Carthage as we saw it at that time — except perhaps 
an old root' still standing supported on hare poles and situated somewhere in the 
rear of where the St. Charles Hotel now is. I>r. Bolen was living in a farm 
house out south and where Mr. I.amb since lived for a time. 

The county seat was at Cave Springs (a brick church or school house) on 
the eastern line of the county. Mail matter was delivered for that place from 
the post office at Sarcoxie some three miles distant. 

Historic Sarcoxie, celebrated for her military Rains, and as the once com- 
mercial emporium of the Ozark slopes whence was distributed intelligence and 
"store goods." still maintained her prestige. Here communication was had with 
civilization and the outer world by a weekly hack via Springfield and thence 
with the railroads at Rolla or Sedalia. Here was also the only running mill we 
saw, and the relics of three or four bouses in erne of which was quite a stock of 
goods. 

< >n our way from Carthage to the county seat we received our first Missouri 
welcome. Messrs. E. M. and Lyman J. Bureh received us with open house and 
hands. Here we obtained the assuring intelligence that there were at that time 
located in Jasper county as many as twenty-five or thirty men, and that should 
we desire to locate here they thought we could safely do so. provided, of course, 
we used necessary precautions. At Cave Springs we were hospitably entertained 
by Mr. Bulgin, the then county clerk. We there saw all the valuable Records 
of Jasper county carefully preserved in a safe, the inside measure of which was 
twelve by eighteen inches, which safe I afterwards purchased and valued at ten 
dollars. 

After dinner the "experience meeting" was held. John Prigmore, 
R. J. Dale, C. W. King, D. K. Hood and W. P. Cloud made short 
speeches narrating their early experiences in the county. These little 
talks were full of interest and we only regret that we are unable to give 
them to our readers in full. The music by a special choir was excellent; 
among the songs sung were "The Light of Home" and "On the Moun- 
tain Life is Free." It was four o'clock before the exercises were over 
and the crowd dismissed to gather again at some date to be named here- 
after this fall. On the whole the reunion was a grand success and we 
predict that the meeting next fall will be a still grander one. 



CHAPTER XIV 

MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS 

A Surprised Metropolitan— The Flood op 1872— The Grasshoppers 
— Jasper County Ring Hunt — A Remarkable Jury. 
In 1877 the Globe-Democrat sent a special correspondent to Jasper 
county to write up the mines and miners and had expected to find a wild 
and woolly sort of civilization. On finding a community not only noted 
for its thrift and energy, but for its high state of morals, he wrote a 
most flattering description of the county which we produce here in 
part. 

A Surprised Metropolitan 

"Carthage is, for a fact," says the surprised St. Louis man, "the 
most beautiful city in the West, having an enterprising population noted 
for taste and neatness in every kind of improvement. The residences 
are after modern architecture, surrounded by shrubbery of every de- 
scription. The streets are clean ; no stench of filth is permitted to re- 
main an hour upon any of the thoroughfares. Five or six handsome 
churches all built by the charity of the people, who have given every 
evidence of their liberality. The inhabitants are church-going people. 
Seven or eight hundred children attend the different Sabbath schools 
each Sabbath. 

"You will agree with me when I say no better evidence is desired 
to prove the character of the people. 

"Carthage is becoming quite a manufacturing city in several de- 
partments, and other manufactories will doubtless be established here 
at no distant period. Railroad facilities are good. The Missouri and 
Western Railroad is now completed from Pierce City to Oswego, Kas., 
making timely connections with the M. K. & T., at Oswego, and the St. 
Louis and San Francisco at Pierce City, Mo. Great credit is due the 
worthy Superintendent, Mr. Rombauer, for the courteous manner in 
which he treats every one with whom he has business and the manner in 
which he conducts the railroad. 

"Joplin, the great mineral wonder of the world, is situated in Jasper 
county, fourteen miles west of Carthage, having a population of 14,000 
and over 200 business houses, and possessing a wonderful trade. 

"Several wholesale houses have opened and supply the trade of the 
towns and villages that now surround it. It has been proved that Joplir 
possessed an inexhaustible amount of mineral, and that brings monej 

115 



116 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Then so long as the mines are worked, so long will Joplin advance. 

"In 1870 only a few huts in the vicinity of the present site of the 
city. In seven years she has a population of nearly 14,000 inhabitants. 
Joplin has had a bad name abroad, and, in behalf of her merits, let me 
say that I never saw a more law-abiding town anywhere, nor a better 
set of officials. She enforces a Sabbath ordinance, and her churches are 
crowded every Sabbath, morning and evening. Also the Temperance 
Club has a membership of over 300. The mineral land owners offer good 
inducements to good miners and a good miner will invariably succeed 
at Joplin. 

"We almost neglected to say that Joplin has erected gas works and 
she looks at night much like a city in fact, and they are beginning to 
agitate the question of water-works and street cars. Doubtless within 
the next two or three years she with have both. 

"The wheat crop in this locality is short — not over half a crop. The 
oats and corn particularly the latter, are quite good. This far corn 
never looked better than now. 

"The 'hoppers are gone to the satisfaction of every one. 

"Under the management of Prof. Underwood, the present Superin- 
tendent, the schools of Jasper county are already assuming a change 
for the better. Jasper county takes great interest in her schools. 

"Every district in the county is supplied with a good commodious 
schoolhouse. " 

The Flood of 1872 

On May 28, 1872, there occurred a most severe rain and as a result 
Spring river, Center creek and Turkey creek came out of their banks 
and flooded the lands which were adjacent. Spring river, at Carthage, 
was a mile wide. 

The following account, taken from the Banner will give the reader 
a good idea of the extent of the damage. 

GREAT FLOOD 

1'ni'recedented rise in spring rlvee immense destruction of property 

Thrilling Scenes and Incidents — Houses, Trees, Logs, Cattle, Hogs, 
Afloat — Men, Women and Children in Danger of Drowning — Reported 
Loss of Life. 

Not within tho recollection of man has Spring river cut up such a caper as 
it did last Monday, In the broad light of mid-day — swell from a quiet stream, 
not over ninety feet wide, and only about half hank full, to a raging torrent a 
mile in width, inside of one and a half hours' time. And hut once before was 
the water higher, which was in 1^4 4, when the river was some four feet higher 
than on last Monday. 

Sunday night had been a very stormy one — not so much rain in this section 
hut an unusual amount of lightning, as elsewhere detailed. The rain here had 
not been sufficient to raise the river half a foul. Monday forenoon was a quiet 
one — cloudy but no rain. About noon the skies became clear. No one suspected 
the impending deluge. Shortly after noon the roar of waters was heard up the 
river. Those who were on the bluffs northeast of (own, could see the breast 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 117 

of water, half a mile wide, and from four to six feet high, rolling down the 
bottom, sweeping everything before it. It was a grand sight, and but for the 
destruction that it was occasioning to fences, crops, and live stock, could have 
been enjoyed by any one. When it struck a fence there was a general muss, aud 
the next moment the fence would be no more. In a half hour's time the whole 
bottom was submerged, and the water was backing up the branches that lead 
to the river. 

By one o'clock crowds began to flock to the bluffs and hills, and edge of the 
water north of town, to see the sight. Men, women, and children were there 
by the hundreds, and the crowd kept up all afternoon. Many drove out in car- 
riages. Nearly the entire population of Carthage was out during the afternoon. 
The waters commenced falling about three o'clock, aud what had taken but two 
hours to raise, was forty-eight hours in going down. 

At two o'clock we visited the bluff upon which the Woolen Mill is located. 
The mills and banks were swarming with an excited populace of all ages. 
Every one expressed astonishment at the sudden and unaccountable rise of the 
river. The water was over the arch from which the big spring issues. The 
gentle, murmuring, lovely Spring River, in two hours' time had been transformed 
into a roaring, mighty river, a mile in width and thirty feet deep. Rails, boards, 
cord wood, debris of all kinds were floating down stream, while occasionally a 
resolute porker could be seen headed for the shore. Hundreds of horses, cattle, 
sheep and hogs were overwhelmed in the floods aud perished. Many persons, 
at work in the bottoms, had narrow escapes from being drowned. Several miles 
below, a number of men were obliged to climb into the tree tops to escape drown- 
ing, and were treed for nearly twenty-four hours. The railroad hands en- 
camped on the bottom north of town, were so surprised by the suddeuuess of the 
rise of water, that they saved nothing of their camp equipage, and were glad 
to escape, hurriedly with nothing in their bauds to impede their progress. 

No lives were lost in this vicinity, for a wonder, though mauy were the nar- 
row escapes that were made. How the settlers of Spring River above and below 
this point fared, we have not yet learned, but we know that the loss of horses, 
cattle, sheep, hogs, and fences, let alone crops — wheat and corn damaged — must 
be immense. We have heard it estimated at $200,000, in the county. The fol- 
lowing are only a few of the losses in this vicinity : McDaniel lost SO head of 
hogs. W. F. Steiumitz lost 100 cords of wood at his brickyard, worth $400; 
and the fence around 2S acres of ground, a total loss of about $500. Lamb lost 
a good fence, all swept away, and a field of wheat plastered over with mud. 
Myers & Son lost 80 cords of wood at their woollen mill. The improvements on 
the Fair Ground are all swept away, and the north trestle work on the lower 
bridge. The upper bridge is all safe and crossable. The flood did not reach 
Galesburg, 14 miles west of here, until the evening, and the loss of property was 
very heavy. The water raised to the second story of the flouring mill at that 
point, and as the first story contained a great deal of wheat and manufactured 
Hour, the loss is very heavy. The bridge at Georgia City is all safe. 

The above is but an outliue of this most remarkable freshet. The question 
naturally occurs — What caused the sudden flood? It was at first supposed in this 
vicinity that McDaniel's mill dam had broke, and that the flood would soon go 
down, but that notion was soon abandoned. The next supposition was that 
there must have been a water spout up the river somewhere, but we have not 
yet received any intelligence to that effect. The most probable account is that a 
sudden and long-continued shower among the hills of Lawrence county, on Sun- 
day night, occasioned the swift raising of the water. At any rate the flood of 
May 27, 1S72, will go down to posterity as one of the epochs of Spring River on 
a high old spree. 

Since writing the foregoing we have learned of the drowning of a man. 
woman, and child at Oregon, IS miles east of here, but no particulars, except 
that the sad news is not a canard. 



118 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Amusing Incidents 

Notwithstanding the seriousness of the immense loss of property by the sud- 
den rise of Spring river last Monday, there were many occurrences that look 
very amusing after it is all over with. Among the hundred funny incidents we 
can mention but a few. A Swede had just gone over on the island, north of 
town to set out cabbage plants, when the flood of water burst all around him, 
and in a few moments he was compelled to climb a tree for safety. He stuck 
to his cabbage plants, and roosted in the tree top until ten o'clock the next day. 

After the upper bridge was approachable, a pig was discovered on it, safe 
and sound, and glad see the folks that visited it in its Robinson Crusoe condi- 
tion. It had sought the bridge at the outburst of the flood. 

We noticed a wash line, reaching from one of the houses to a tree close by, 
under the brow of the hill, north of town, at the height of the flood, with some 
newly washed clothing dangling in the muddy water — not a very flattering pros- 
pect for a good clean dry. 

The railroad hands camping in tents in the bottom were so suddenly routed 
out, that they could not save anything, but had to flee empty handed to escape 
the flood. One of the ladies was so overwhelmed with the suddeness of the 
deluge, that she never thought of fleeing, and a strong armed man picked her 
up and carried her to a place of safety through water four feet deep. 

Dr. Jas. F. Wilson was approaching the upper bridge, on the other side of 
the river, just as the flood burst upon the bottom. He saw it was impossible to 
reach the bridge, and so he galloped down to the lower bridge two miles below, 
but really three the way he had to go and reached it just as the flood got there. 
Five minutes after he crossed the approaches to the bridge were past fording. 
He noticed a large charred ten foot saw log in the water at the upper bridge 
which passed under the lower bridge as he crossed over it. 

After the bottom was covered with water, a man across the river by the 
name of Widdom rigged up a skiff and went cruising through the waters for 
victims. He rescued quite a number of folks, among the rest an old man, woman, 
and baby, who had sought safety in a bush. The swift current carried the crew 
three-quarters of a mile down the stream before they landed on terra tirma. In 
one case he found two men in a treetop, with their horses hitched below in water 
nearly deep enough to drown them. The men preferred to stay with their team. 
Ed. St. John lost his stylish little pony by the freshet. It was in Bett's 
pasture field on the island in Spring River bottom. 

The Grasshoppers 

During the summer of 1874 Jasper county, in common with other 
western-border counties, was visited with a pest in the form of grass- 
hoppers. Jasper county was not devastated so much, however, as the 
.eastern portion of Kansas, but the crops were greatly damaged. The 
younger generation and people who did not live in the west during the 
early 'seventies cannot appreciate the extent of the damage done by 
the grasshoppers and the stories told by the farmers seem almost fabu- 
lous, although absolutely true. 

Jasper County Ring Hunt 

It will be remembered that the county lost fully two-thirds of its 
population during the war and as a result of the desolation and waste, 
the wild game which had almost been exterminated before the unpleas- 
antness returned to its old haunts and during the latter 'sixties, Jasper 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 119 

county was again the hunter's paradise, deer, wild turkey and the like 
being plentiful and sometimes bigger animals came prowling around, 
but as the population increased, these were either exterminated or driven 
out by the onward march of civilization. During this period large hunt- 
ing parties were quite popular, and occasionally a number of hunters 
would drive the game toward some point where the killing would take 
place. One of the most successful of these ring hunts took place Satur- 
day, January 20, 1872, under the direction of U. B. Hendrickson of 
Oronogo, assisted by W. B. Grossman, John B. Rood, "William C. 
Brooks, A. C. Grisham, J. W. Helman and William Ranken, as the com- 
mittee on arrangements. The center of the ring was designated as a 
point one mile east of Pilot Grove and the hunting limits included the 
territory from the Newton county line north to the section line run- 
ning through Oronogo, and from the section line two miles west of 
Carthage to a west line which would now run though the eastern por- 
tion of Carthage Junction. The hunt commenced at 1 o'clock A. M. 
and a hundred hunters participated in the sport. Two o'clock was 
designated as the hour to be in the center and the hunters approached 
from the four sides, each under the leadership of a captain who selected 
the marksmen from his party who at the appointed time were to bring 
down the game, and if perchance a deer or any other animal (and of 
course, there were many wild beasts killed only for their hides and skin) 
made its escape through the line, the file closest guarding the outposts 
brought them down. The day was long remembered by the sportsmen of 
the county. 

A Remarkable Jury 

At the January term of the court of common pleas, held at Carthage 
in 1878, there occurred a most extraordinary proceeding, the trial of a 
case by a jury of lawyers. The trial was in the case of Wheeler vs. 
Johnson and was in the nature of a suit to enforce the collection of 
rent on a farm. 

The plaintiff attorney, S. G. Williams, asked that the case be tried 
by a jury of lawyers, as their knowledge of the law and court rulings 
would enable them to more quickly grasp the legal phase of the case 
and apply the facts accordingly. The defendant's attorney, R. A. Cam- 
eron, accepted the challenge and a jury of lawyers was impanelled, 
among them W. H. Phelps and M. G. McGregor. 

The case was ably presented on both sides and the plaintiff won, 
the jury granting Wheeler one hundred dollar damages in the way of 
rent. 



CHAPTER XV 

CARTHAGE IN THE 'SEVENTIES 

Organized as a City — First Official Document — City Officers, 
1873-9 — Organization of Fire Department — Industries of the 
'Seventies — The Carthage Gas Works — Newspapers — Banks and 
Banking — The Karr Hotel — The Carthage Opera House — Board 
of Trade — Railroad Rates — Building of the First School — High 
School Course of Study — First Pupils — The Carthage Library 

The election for town trustees of Carthage for 1871 passed off quietly 
and resulted in the election of the following gentlemen: H. F. Beebe, 
Peter Hill, "W. F. Stermontz, A. Cahn and D. G. Chase. The board was 
organized with the election of H. T. Beebe as president and George A. 
Case, clerk. 

Carthage Organized as a City 

During the winters of 1872-3 the question of organizing a municipal- 
ity was discussed. It was apparent that a better government could be 
had through a city government and, accordingly, at a special election 
held February 25, 1873, it was decided by a vote of 4 to 1 to petition the 
legislature for a special charter. Colonel C. C. Allen, of Carthage, state 
senator, pushed the matter in the legislature, and on the 7th day of 
March the bill granting the special charter passed the general assembly 
and was at once signed by the governor. 

At the first election the following officers were chosen : Mayor, Peter 
Hill ; city council, D. L. Thomas, H. C. Henney, J. W. Young and T. B. 
Tuttle. 

First Offical Document 

The following message of the mayor is the first official document of 
the new government. 

Cabthage, Mo., April S, 1S73. 

To the Honorable City Council of the City of Carthage: 

Gentlemen.— I congratulate you on our prosperity and growth, as evinced 
by our change from a village to an Incorporated City. In this our ability to still 
further and more rapid progress is increased. 

This brings with it increased responsibilities to those who the citizens have 

120 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 121 

entrusted with the management of our Municipal affairs, so much is needed to he 
done in the way of public improvements, and our means so limited, that it is 
only by a careful and impartial course, that the best interest of all will be pro- 
moted. The greatest amount of improvements should be made that will not 
work a hardship to our industrial and commercial interest. 

The taxation of the many, for the building up of the few, should be held iu 
its true light, as a wrong against the people. 

No revenue should be raised except for the public benefit, our expenditures 
should be limited to our means of paying. 

It is uot my purpose to point out especially the objects that will demand your 
attention, but it is well to bear in mind that our treasury is empty, that our present 
debt is between four and five thousand dollars, nearly all of which is to be paid 
out of our next taxes. 

Knowing the energy and enterprise of our people, and our great natural ad- 
vantages, I have an abiding faith in the future of the Queen City of the South- 
west, which is entrusted to our government. 

Yours respectfully, 

Peter Hill. 

The following appointments were made and the city was fully 
organized : Clerk, M. M. James ; treasurer, Peter Myers ; marshal, "W. W. 
Thornburg; assessor, M. M. James; collector, A. B. Parkell; supervisor 
of streets, J. W. Hart. 

Councilman T. B. Tuttle was elected president pro tern. 

The new council was confronted with a great work. Carthage was 
at this time a city of at least five thousand people and w-as growing rap- 
idly, and the council at once passed laws to regulate building, establish 
the grade of streets and provide better police and fire protection for the 
city. 

City Officers, 1873-9 

The following is a list of the city officers of Carthage from the date 
of organization until December, 1879. 

1873— Mayors, Peter Hill, T. Regan; aldermen, Thomas B. Tuttle, 
D. L. Thomas, J. W. Young, H. C. Henney; clerk, M. M. James; city 
treasurer, Peter Myers, marshal, W. W. Thornburg; assessor, M. M. 
James; collector, A. B. Parkell; street commissioner, J. W. Hart. 

1874 — Mayor, Timothy Regan; aldermen, J. E. Moberly, J. W. 
Young, E. Sherman, J. P. Betts; clerk, D. G. White; city treasurer, E. 
W. Harper; marshal, W. W. Thornburg; assessor, D. T. White; street 
commissioner, J. W. Hart. 

1875.— Mayor, H. H. Harding; aldermen, F. T. Welch, William B. 
Myers, C. C. Allen, Ezra Huntly; city clerk, F. A. Beebe ; city treasurer, 
A. M. Drake; marshal, M. Mix; assessor, D. G. White; street commis- 
sioner, J. W. Hart; city attorney, B. F. Garrison. 

1876.— Mayors. J. W. Sennet, Josiah Lane; aldermen, William 
Motherspaw, J. W. Sennet, G. B. McMerrick, M. L. Reid; clerk, F. A. 
Beebe ; city recorder, G. M. Robinson ; city treasurer, J. T. Ruffin ; mar- 
shal, W. W. Thornburg ; assessor, J. H. Grubb ; collector, W. Woodward ; 
street commissioner, J. W. Hart; city attorney, D. A. Harrison. 



122 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

1877.— Mayor, John T. Ruffin ; aldermen, M. Block, G. W. Stebbins, 
I. Perkins, Enos Myers; clerk, Jesse Rhoads; cit}' recorder, G. M. Robin- 
son; treasurer, J. L. Bottenfield ; marshal, B. F. Thomas; assessor, Jesse 
Rhoads, collector, W. Woodward ; street commissioner, J. W. Hart ; en- 
gineer, M. N. Randall; city attorney, W. H. McCown. 

1878.— Mayor, John T. Ruffin ; aldermen, W. H. Smith, George W. 
Stebbins, W. S. Bower, A. E. Gregory ; clerk, Jesse Rhoads ; city rec- 
corder, W. W. Thornburg ; treasurer, John L. Bottenfield ; marshal, B. 
F. Thomas ; assessor, Jesse Rhoads ; collector, W. Woodward ; street com- 
missioner, J. W. Hart; engineer, H. H. Cloud; city attorney, T. B. 
Haughawout. 

1879. — Mayor. George Rader; aldermen, J. W. Sennet, Charles Kes- 
weter, John F. Hampton, W. T. Soniers ; clerk, Jesse Rhoads ; city 
recorder, Daniel W. Brown ; city treasurer, T. M. Garland ; marshal, J. 
B. Buchanan ; assessor, Jesse Rhoads ; collector, Fred Crocker ; street 
commissioner, J. W. Hart ; engineer, H. M. L. Innes ; city attorney, F. S. 
Yager. 

Organization op Fire Department 

The Carthage fire department was organized in December, 1872, by 
the formation of Fire King Hose Company. The following were its first 
officers : Foreman, C. 0. Harrington ; assistant foreman, C. B. Woods. 

The first fire apparatus was a Babcoek engine and a book and ladder 
truck. The fire company was composed of the best citizens of Carthage 
and for many years gave an annual ball on January 1st, which event was 
always popular and largely attended. 

Industries of the 'Seventies 

The Carthage Woolen Mills, for twenty years one of the most im- 
portant industries of Carthage, was organized July 21, 1870, and made 
into yarn and cloth the wool of Jasper and neighboring counties. The 
company was organized with a capital stock of $20,000. William B. 
Myers & Son were the organizers of the company, who conducted the 
business very successfully during the 'seventies. The mill was located 
on north Main street and some forty hands were employed. It turned 
out a fine grade of yarn, woolen blankets and high grade jeans-cloth. 
At the St. Louis Fair in October, 1872, the products from this mill took 
first prize. 

On November 24, 1870, Thomas & Company completed the Globe 
Mill, a four-story frame. The mill had then a capacity of fifty pounds 
per day and made a high-grade flour. 

In May, 1873, a company was organised to build and operate a 
foundry at Carthage. The promoters were : J. W. Young, president ; 
J. Brownsell. vice president; C. C. Allen, secretary; T. N. Davey, late 
of Louisville, Kentucky, superintendent. The works were situated on 
Garrison avenue, three blocks west of the square. At the close of the 
'seventies the stock of this company was quoted at 260. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 



123 




IhardwarT! 




Business Streets in the Early 'Seventies 



124 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

On August 7, 1874, the Browiisell wagon factory was established and 
a two-story brick factory at No. 2 Main street was built. In connection 
with the wagon factory was also operated the Eagle Machine Works, 
where farm implements of all kinds were made. Messrs. A. T. Wheeler, 
Charles Weed, A. H. Merriss, H. J. Hervin and George Keib were as- 
sociated with Mr. Brownsell in the factory. 

In 1875 the company filled a large contract for wagons at Spring- 
field, showing that its reputation had gone beyond the confines of the 
county. 

The Cowgill and Hill Mill was built during the fall of 1874, and as 
the years went by grew to be a four-story six-burr plant. When first 
built it was a small structure twenty-six by forty-eight feet. In the later 
part of the decade the mill was enlarged and new machinery put in, the 
cost of the expanded plant being $35,000. 

Platts Plow Worke were established in 1875 and enjoyed a large busi- 
ness. The company was chartered with $20,000 capital and brought to 
Carthage large plow works from Des Moines, Iowa. 

The Carthage Gas Works 

On August 7, 1877, a proposition was made to the city council of 
Carthage for the const ruction of gas works by Messrs. Gray, Bowman & 
Lewis and at a special election, on the 16th of that month, a twenty- 
years' franchise was granted the company by a vote of 240 to 48. The 
plant was built at a cost of $40,000, July 3, 1878. The city was lighted 
for the first time with gas and the illumination presented a great con- 
trast with the old kerosene lamps. W. L. Carver, of Joplin was made 
superintendent of the company and managed its affairs for many years. 

Newspapers 

The People's Press, independent in politics, was founded in the spring 
of 1872, its first issue appearing April 13th. J. A. Bodinhammer was 
the editor. The paper advocated reform in finance and also was the ex- 
ponent of the Grange movement. 

On December 18, 1873, the office and fixtures of the Carthage Patriot 
was burned, the destruction of building, press, type and paper in stock 
causing a loss to .Mr. Carpenter of $3.5(10. The <'<irlli(Kj< Banner, with 
true courtesy, tendered the use of its press to the Patriot until its build- 
ing could lie rebuilt and the Patriot came out at the usual time of 
publication. 

In July. 1S77. Thomas II. Garland, the founder of the Carthage Ban- 
ner and for eleven years its editor, retired from the staff of that paper. 
.Mr. Garland was SUCC led by A. F. Lewis. The Banner was now in- 
corporated and issued stock for $6,000. The paper was enlarged and an- 
other column of telegraphic news added to its reading matter. 

The Carthagt Advance, a religious paper, was established by Rev. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



125 



J. W. Jacobs on July 12, 1877. 'Sir. Jacobs retired and was succeeded 
by Rev. Dodge as editor. 

Banks and Banking 

During the 'seventies three new banks were organized in Carthage 
and one failed, making a total of five banks which figured in the history 
of Carthage during the early day. 

Early in the 'seventies Al Cahn bought the interest of E. W. Harper 
in the old Bank of Carthage and was connected with the institution until 
1880. Its deposits ranged close to the $200,000 mark all during the 
decade. 

The pioneer National bank to be established in the county was the 
First National bank of Carthage, which opened its doors July 6, 1872, 
with the following officers and directors : President, Jesse Thacker ; vice 




Oakthage in the Early 'Seventies 

president, J. W. Jacob ; cashier, D. L. Thomas, and John A. Carter and 
Eugene O'Keif, directors. 

In 1878 the First National Bank surrendered its charter and reor- 
ganized as the Traders Bank, with a capital of $30,000, preferring to 
operate as a state rather than a national institution. 

The Farmers and Drovers Bank was chartered and commenced busi- 
ness in 1875. Levi Star was its first manager. In 1877 the controling 
stock was bought by Messrs. Goucher and Moore and the following of- 
ficers were elected to manage its affairs: D. R. Goucher president and 
J. L. Moore cashier. Mr. Moore was a very courteous gentleman and 
soon made the Farmers and Drovers as popular as any financial institu- 
tion and greatly increased its deposits. 

The Jasper County Bank was also organized during the year 1875. 
M. L. Reed was its president and Fred Crocker, cashier. The bank had 



126 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

a capital of $10,000 and did a nice business, its deposits reaching nearly 
$75,000. 

In February, 1876, after successfully having passed through the panic 
of 1873, and having maintained a most excellent reputation in a financial 
way, the banking house of Peter Myers and Company, which had been 
in existence since 1868. failed, and with its failure brought much finan- 
cial embarrassment to the business men of Carthage. 

The following were the principal losers: J. D. McCrillis, $5,000; 
Frank McCrillis, $1,000; Chaffee & McCrillis, $1,100; John Onstott, 
$3,100; John Gumbro, $3,000; F. M. Chaffee; $1,000; T. B. Tuttle, 
$2,200; W. C. Betts, $800; A. Scholwell, $2,000; C. TV. Piatt, $1,800; 
U. Hendrickson, $1,500; TV. P. Miller, $1,000; Ruffin & McDaniel, $1,000; 
S. B. Griswold, $700; Dr. Burns, $700; Thos. E. Gray, $900; T. 
C. Canaday, $200; Miss Brooks, $700; Mr. Countryman, $400; Mrs. O. 
S. Picher, $700; Mrs. Briggs. $200; Mrs. Ragsdale, $300; Mrs. Mastin, 
of Arkansas, $6,000. 

The Kai'k Hotel 

The Karr Hotel, southwest corner of Main street and Central avenue, 
was built in 1878 by J. C. Karr of Parsons, Kansas. The popular hos- 
telry was a three-story structure thirty-six by eighty feet. It was form- 
ally opened Thanksgiving day, 1878, with a ball and banquet which was 
attended by the leading people of Carthage. George TV. Rose was its 
first proprietor. 

The year 1879 saw another new and well-equipped hotel opened in 
Carthage. On .March 10th the City Hotel, under the management of 
Warner & South, threw open its doors to the public. The building was 
a three-story brick thirty-five by seventy feet and contained a parlor, 
office and commodious dining room. It was a popular and well patronized 
dollar-a-day house. 

The Cakthage Opera House 

During the winter of 1877-8 the Carthage Opera House was built by 
Messrs. Burlingame & Chaffee at a cost of $10,000. The Opera House 
occupied the second story of a business block on the south side of the 
square and was fifty-five by one hundred feet with 18-foot ceiling. It 
had a seating capacity of 900 and was for its day finely appointed. It 
was opened February 28, 1878, with a grand ball given by the manage- 
ment complimentary to the Carthage Light Guard. The ball was at- 
tended by 100 couples and the affair went down in history as the society 
event of the season. 

Some of the best traveling companies of the day appeared in this 
popular play-house, which was used as a hall until 1889. 

Carth use Board of Trade 

In ISTli the merchants and business men of Carthage organized a 
board of trade and the following were elected officers: Amos H. Coffee, 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 127 

president; S. B. Griswold, vice president; Julius Cahn, secretary and 
treasurer; A. B. Parkell, J. G. Leidy, J. T. Ruffin, Frank Hill and J. E. 
Mobley, executive committee. 

Railroad Rates 

One of the first important actions taken by the hoard of trade was 
the appointment of a railroad committee, which, in August, 1877, made 
a pilgrimage to North Carolina for the purpose of interviewing the of- 
ficers of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf Railway relating to a re- 
duction of freight rates and better connection with the Western at 
Columbus, Kansas. 

No definite promise was secured from the railway officials and on 
October -it]!, with the view of forcing the railroads to a compliance with 
the laws, Galen Spencer, prosecuting attorney, was asked to file proceed- 




Cabthage Central School 

ings against the agent at Carthage, which he did. After a brief legal 
battle the roads made some slight concessions to the merchants, and 
Jasper county profited as a result of the vigorous action of the Carthage 
Board of Trade. The board also accomplished much good for the com- 
munity and was a great help to the entire business community. 

Building of the First School 

On March 9, 1870, a mass meeting was held at Carthage to discuss 
the subject of building a public school. The meeting was presided over 



128 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



by Judge 0. H. Richer and a number of ringing speeches were made 
favoring the building of a schoolhouse in keeping with the growing 
needs of the Queen City. It was decided to ask the school board 
to submit the question to the people of voting $30,000 for the 
building of the new school, and the question carried by a large majority. 
At the succeeding spring election the following gentlemen were elected 
members of the board and looked after the details of the building: Jacob 
W. Young. D. S. Thomas, W. H. Phelps, C. C. Colby, S. B. McMerrick 
and J. Brownsell. The building was erected on a site containing two 
and one half acres of land and was patterned after the High School of 
Richmond, Indiana. 

The school was ready for occupancy for the fall term. The following 
were the teachers who first occupied this building and mapped out the 
course of study first pursued : S. M. Dickey, principal ; S. B. Ormsby, 
M. L. Boyden, S. E. Brooks, L. C. Merwin, Jennie Herrington, Leba C. 
Stephenson and J. W. Wilson, teachers. 

It will be noted that six of the eight teachers were men. J. C. Mason 
of Vermont became principal of the Carthage schools in 1875 and served 
two years. Professor Mason greatiy strengthened the schools, but re- 
signed in 1877 to accept the superintendency of the school at Joplin. He 
was succeeded by L. Willson, principal of the high school. 

High School Course of Study 
Under the superintendency of Mr. Willson a course of study for the 
high school was adopted and the pupils classified accordingly. The fol- 
lowing is the course of study adopted August 30, 1877 : 

First Year 



Latin 
Latin, (Grammar and Reader.) 
Algebra. 
Arithmetic. 



Algebra. 
Arithmetic. 
Physical <!e«>. 



English 



;raphy. 



Latin i ut supra ). 

Algebra. 

Rhetoric. 



Algebra. 

Physical Geography. 

Rhetoric. 



Latin (nt supra i. 

Algebra. 

Rhetoric. 



Algebra. 

Physical Geography. 

Rhetoric. 



Second Year 



Latin. (Csesar). 

Algebra. 

Civil Government. 



Algebra. 

Civil Government. 

Pniversal History. 



Latin (nt supra). 
Natural Philosophy. 
Civil Government. 



Natural Philosophy. 

Universal History. 
Civil Government. 



Latin ( nt supra). 
Natural Philosophy. 
Physiology. 



Natural Philosophy. 
Universal History. 
Physiology. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 129 

Third Year 

Latin (Virgil). English Literature. 

Geometry. Geometry. 

English Literature of Mental Science. Chemistry. 

Latin (ut supra). English Literature. 

Geometry. Geometry. 

English Literature or Mental Science. Astronomy or Geology. 

Latin (ut supra). English Literature. 

Geometry. Geometry. 

English Literature or Mental Science. Botany or Zoology. 

First Pupils 

The following monthly report shows the standing of the pupils of 
the school at the end of the first year of Prof. Willson's administration; 
100 signifies perfect, 90 very good, 80 good and 50 indifferent. 



c 
a 

■/. 

Names of Pupils. 

BOYS. 

Buttler, G. 90 

Crow, Ed S3 

Harrison, H. F 94 

Houghawout, A. R 95 

Jacobs, Jay 94 

Jacobs, E. B 97 

Pixlee, R. O SS 

Pixlee. Wm. E 93 

Pinney, John 82 

Pierce, Burt 95 

Dickey, Charles 95 

Gibson, G. M 79 

Case, C. J. 79 

Dickey, Frank 94 

Pierce, Frank 97 

Woodmansee, M 96 

Miles, Charles 95 

Miles, E. 93 

Chaffee, Frank S9 

Corwin, Miles 94 

James, Willie 97 

GIRLS. 

Brown, Louie SO 

Beasley, Nettie S7 

Chandler, Miriam 97 

Conwell, Edith 79 

Chase, May E S7 

Funk. Minnie 94 

Feathers, Clara 96 

Fisher, Katie 91 

Fogerson, Adda SS 

Vol. 1—9 



95 


9S 


93 


100 


98 


93 


100 


95 


90 


9S 


100 


90 


100 


100 


93 


95 


9S 


90 


95 


too 


90 


95 


60 


55 


93 


98 


90 


100 


100 


98 


90 


98 


95 


90 


98 


94 


85 


95 


80 


100 


98 


100 


95 


100 


95 


98 


95 


90 


93 


100 


65 


95 


100 


95 


93 


93 


85 


100 


98 


95 


100 


100 


100 


so 


100 


85 


100 


100 


90 


100 


100 


95 


98 


100 


90 


90 


90 


90 


65 


95 


95 


100 


93 


95 


100 


95 


95 


98 


73 


90 



130 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

-larrison, Ella SS 100 98 95 

Jenkyn, Annie 92 100 100 95 

Long, Mollie 95 100 100 95 

Millow, Amy 83 98 100 100 

Peterson, Alice 92 100 95 95 

Parkell. Florence 89 90 100 90 

Prigmore, Mattie 82 90 100 90 

Steininetz, Laura 88 75 95 90 

Stockton, Ella 92 98 98 95 

Young, Emma 97 100 100 95 

Chaffee, Anna 82 9S 95 95 

Eenner, Lizzie 84 95 100 98 

Kawson. Wellie 92 100 100 9S 

M. Wilson, Teacher. 

This class contains the names of several who have won state-wide 
reputation. Ed Crow was circuit judge in 1894- and was elected at- 
torney-general of Missouri in 1896. R. 0. Pixley was grand chancellor 
of the Knights of Pythias in 1909 and E. B. Jacobs, cashier of the First 
National Bank of Carthage and president of the Jasper County Bankers 
Association is one of the shrewdest financiers of the county. 

The first class from the high school was graduated May, 1878, and 
contained the following names: Frank Pierce, Ed C. Crow, Louie 
Brown, Ira I. McConnell, Florence C. Parkell, Nettie Beasley and Fannie 
West. 

The class of 1879 had five graduates — Charles L. Dickey, Ora M. 
Brummet. Nanie Dinsmore, Anna B. Spice and Ellen M. Chase. 

The Cartiiahe Literary Society 

One of the most popular literary societies at Carthage during the 
early 'seventies was the Carthage Literary Society, which was organized 
during the fall of 1870 and which, for several winters afterwards, held 
most interesting meetings. The officers for the season of 1870-1 were W. 
A. Glassford, president, and A. C. Spencer, secretary. 

We note among the Carthagenians who have achieved success in life, 
the following prominent members of the society: E. Jacobs, George A. 
Case, and F. M. Harrison. 

In 1872 this association was instrumental in seeming a lecture course 
at Carthage which included among others the following noted platform 
orators: lion. John Monteith, John linker, of Chicago, and Prof. Win- 
ehell of the Michigan University. 

The Carthage Library 

Carthage is often referred to as the Queen City and well deserves the 
compliment, not only on account of her many beautiful homes, but be- 
cause of the high moral tone and literary tendencies of its people. 

The first public library in the county was founded at Carthage in 
January, 1870. A number of literary and book-loving people met for 
the purpose of talking over plans for the establishment of a reading 
room. Judge 0. II. Picher was called to the chair and H. C. Henney 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 131 

acted as secretary. After a discussion of the matter it was decided to 
found a library, and the literary-loving people were asked to donate books 
and subscribe money for its benefit. On February 22nd the society event 
of the season, a grand ball, was given at Regan's Hall for the benefit of 
the library and a neat sum was netted. This was the beginning of a 
series of entertainment given for the library and by June 1st enough 
money had been raised with which to buy the first instalment of books 
and magazines. 

O. H. Picher and H. C. Henney and Mesdames Tower, Mitchell and 
Griffith were appointed a committee to select the same. The library at 
first was placed in the Banner Office and H. C. Henney, city editor of 
that paper, was made librarian. Wednesday and Saturday of each week 
were librai'y days and the books were widely read. At the end of the 
first year of the association, four hundred and thirty-seven books were 
in the library . 

This collection continued to grow and later formed the nucleus for 
the public school library. 



CHAPTER XVI 

CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES 

The Congregational, Church — The Methodist Church (South) 
— Grace Episcopal Church — The Swedish Church — Colored 
Churches — The Methodist Church (North) — Presbyterian and 
Baptist Churches — Red Ribbon Movement- — Knights of Pythias 
— The I. 0. O. P. Lodges — The Masons — Carthage Light Guard — 
The Carthage Pioneer Club. 

The year 1870 found Carthage with four organized churches — the 
Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist and Episcopalian. During the next 
decade five more churches were estabJished and one more was in course 
of formation. We present here a sketch, of the religious work of Car- 
thage during the decade of the 'seventies. 

The Congregational Church 

On the first Wednesday in January, 1870, twelve people met in coun- 
cil in one of the churches of Carthage. When a company of Christians 
desire to form a Congregational church they adopt their constitution and 
send invitations to two or more of the nearest Cougregatioual churches 
which elect a delegate who, with the pastor, responds to the invitation. 
When the delegation meet they examine the articles of faith the church 
has prepared and, if found consistent with the Word of God and the 
Congregational usuage, they are, by vote of this council, declared a Con- 
gregational church. The council called to meet at Carthage was com- 
posed of a delegate from the church at Neosho, Rev. C. C. Caldwell, and 
one from the church at Lamar, these being the only Congregational 
churches then organized in the southwest. This council examined the 
constitution and decided that the society should be known as a Congre- 
gational church. H. B. Fry, a graduate of Oberlin College and then the 
agent of the American Home Missionary Society, was chosen pastor and 
duly ordained, Rev. C. C. Caldwell of Lamar preaching the ordination 
sermon. 

The sermon of the Rev. Caldwell was the last he ever delivered, hav- 
ing exposed himself by the long drive from Lamar to Carthage in a severe 
storm and dying a few days after his return home from a sickness 
brought on by this exposure. 

The congregation rented the Methodist church for afternoon services 
where they worshiped for thirteen months, when they went to the Baptist 

132 



HISTOKY OF JASPER COUNTY 133 

church by invitation of that denomination which were then without a 
pastor. After occupying this building until the society secured a regular 
pastor they moved to the Presbyterian church, in response to an invita- 
tion published by the session of that church inviting the newly organized 
Episcopal and Congregational churches to worship with them until a 
house of worship was secured. 

In January, 1872, just two years after the organization of the church 
work was commenced on a chapel. Rev. Pry labored the entire year with 
the workmen helping to build the church, writing his sermons and mak- 
ing his pastoral calls at night. On November 24th the church was oc- 
cupied for the first time. A Sunday school was organized on December 
1st and had at its first meeting on attendance of forty-one. 

The congregation continued to worship in the unfinished building 
until 1874, when it was completed, the cost up to that time being $3,600 
—$600 for the lot and $3,000 for the building. 

Rev. Mr. Pry resigned the pastorate in July, 1873, and for the next 
six months the pulpit was filled by J. H. Harwood, special agent of the 
Home Missionary Society, and Prof. G. H. Ashley of Drury College. In 
1874 E. P. Pales from Andover Seminary was called to fill the pastorate 
and during his service the membership was greatly increased. An ad- 
ditional room called the Tabernacle was built and at the annual meeting 
of 1879 the church-roll showed one hundred members. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church (South) 

During the spring of 1874 I. F. Gardner and family, of St. Louis, 
located in Carthage. Mr. Gardner was a member of the South Church 
having been one of the prominent workers of the Centenary church in 
that city. On arriving in Carthage he set about to organize a church of 
Southern Methodists and by his ceaseless labor got together a congrega- 
tion of thirty-one who called, as their pastor, the Rev. W. Harris of 
Denver, Colorado. The date of formal organization was October 21, 
1877. 

Rev. Harris died after a year and a half of work and for a short time 
Rev. W. S. Woodward and Rev. J. B. Landreth filled the pulpit as sup- 
ply, when Rev. Geo. H. Williamson was called and took regular charge 
of the church. 

Mr. Williamson was a most zealous worker and a splendid Christian 
gentleman and soon drew about him a large congregation. The Carthage 
Patriot, in speaking of him, says : ' ' Mr. Williamson is a man of far more 
than passing power. His experience is wide, his sympathies true, his 
emotions deep, his diction pure, his voice cultivated, his Biblical study 
profound, and his thought clear. His utterance is unusually rapid, but 
his enunciation distinct. He speaks not to a class, but takes it for granted 
that, as Mark Twain says, 'there is a common chord of human nature 
running through the lives of all men, and that which is beneficial to one 
will not prove injurious to another.' He recognizes no classes in his 
work, but considers the whole earthly family as the children of God. Mr. 



134 HISTOEY OP JASPER COUNTY 

Williamson is too broad for a creed and too independent to be a hired 
man. He looks upon every man as his brother, the philosophy of his 
Christianity would swing inward the door of eternal felicity to all, and 
he speaks as one having authority and not as one who in a spirit of doubt- 
ing begs permission. He deals not in pyrotechnics of oratory, and labors 
not even by innuendo to make himself greater than the cause he pleads 
for or the Master he serves. He is one in life past the mile-stone labelled 
'popularity and notoriety,' but his pathetic earnestness and zeal will un- 
consciously win for him what is sought for by others less gifted, in vain." 

Grace Episcopal Church 

On Easter Monday, 1870, the members of the Episcopal church met 
at the residence of W. S. Tower and organized the parish in due form. 
The vestry consisted of the following: William S. Judd, senior warden; 
Thos. B. Martin, junior warden ; Thomas M. Garland, clerk, and Amos 
II. Caffee, treasurer. Rev. D. Estang Jennings, the missionary who had 
temporarily served the church, was ejected rector. On the 12th of the 
year the church building which was being erected was used for the first 
time, although not then completed. During the next decade the follow- 
ing reverend gentlemen served the church as rectors: Rev. John Serbold, 
S. Locke and Rev. Robert Wall. 

The Swedish Church 

The Swedish church was organized in .Tunc. 1877. the original mem- 
bers being John Carlson, Harland Peterson, August Modice. O. B. John- 
son and Christian Olson. A neat little frame church was built on Mound 
street costing $1,100. Charles Roos was the tirst pastor anil increased 
its membership to thirty-five. 

Colored Church es 

The first colored church to be organized in Carthage was the Second 
Baptist Colored. An organization was effected during 187:!. -T. T. 
Thompson was the leading spirit in the organization. A church build- 
ing was erected at a cost of $700 and the congregation at the close of 
the 'seventies numbered thirty-lour. 

Wesley Chapel M. E. (Colored) was organized in May, 1878. with 
twenty-five members. A. Column was ils first pastor and so zealously did 
he labor that $1,000 was raised for a church building. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church (North) 

The .Methodists opened the year 1870 with the most promising fu- 
ture. Their new church which had just been dedicated was the best re- 
ligious edifice in the city. During this year a parsonage was also built. 
The following pastors served the congregation during the 'seventies: 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 135 

1870, Rev. E. P. F. Wells; 1871-4, Rev. 0. M. Stewart; 1875, Rev. H. R. 
Miller; 1876-7, Rev. J. xN. Pierce; 1878-9, Rev. Jesse L. Walker. 

In March, 1875, this church entertained the annual conference of the 
denomination. During the 'seventies the Methodists was in point of 
numbers the strongest church in the city. 

The Presbyterian Church 

In August, 1872, Rev. John W. Pinkerton, after five years' service as 
pastor of the first Presbyterian church, resigned and accepted a call at 
Iola, Kansas. During his pastorate, ninety -eight new members had been 
brought into the church. Rev. Hiram Hill succeeded Rev. Pinkerton as 
supply until October, 1873, when Rev. T. O. Rice of Des Moines was in- 
stalled as pastor and remained with the church for two years, when in 
May, 1875, he was obliged to resign on account of ill health. 

Rev. W. S. Knight was invited to the pastorate and accepted, serv- 
ing for ten years. He was greatly interested in education and was a 
literary power in the city. 

The Baptist Church 

In 1872 the Baptists sold their church edifice to the county for $8,000 
and a new church was then commenced on a lot which had been donated 
to them by the North Carthage Land Company. The church at this 
time under the direction of Elder Cruther. In 1877 Rev. J. M. 
Smith was called to the pastorate and during his administration the 
church was completed and the society greatly increased in membership. 
Rev. Smith remained with the church for three years. 

f 

The Red Ribbon Movement 

During the winter of 3 877-8 a great temperance wave swept over 
Carthage and a society, known as the Red Ribbon Club, was organized. 
The club was so called in honor of Francis Murphy, the great temperance 
evangelist, who designated his crusades as the Red Ribbon Movement, his 
followers all wearing a little red ribbon as significant of their zeal for the 
temperance cause. 

Sixteen hundred men joined the Red Ribbon Club at Carthage. The 
following were the first officers of the club : President, D. A. Morrison ; 
vice presidents, R. A. Cameron, J. R. Smith and M. H. Clark ; secretary, 
Jesse Rhodes; financial secretary, A. W. St. John; treasurer, W. H. 
Smith ; executive committee — J. W. Campbell, W. H. Stewart, J. W. 
Miles, A. E. Gregory and John N. Wilson. 

Knights of Pythias 

The Knights of Pythias constituted the third great fraternal society 
to be organized in Jasper county. This fraternity has for its cardinal 



136 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



virtue, friendship, and in its initiatory ceremonies teaches the lesson by 
an exemplification of the beautiful story of Damon and Pythias. Justin 
H. Rathbone, the founder of the order, conceived the idea of forming 
this society while a country school teacher during the winter of 1859, 
and on February 19, 1864, while employed in the war department at 
Washington, called together a few of his intimate friends and read to 
them a ritual he had prepared and proposed the organization, hoping, 
through its medium, to help reunite in the bonds of friendship, the north 
and the south. After the close of the war the order grew rapidly and in 
1871 was established in Missouri. Fraternal Lodge No. 14 of Carthage, 
being organized early in 1872, with W. II. Picher as its chancellor 
commander. 

The Independent Order op Odd Fellow Lodges 

April 26th is the natal day of Odd Fellowship in America, and in 
1873 was appropriately celebrated in Carthage by the members of the 




Carthage i.\ the Early 'Seventies- Regan's Ham. 

order. Lodges from Neosho, Granby, Newtonia, Pierce City, Sarcoxie, 
Lamar. .Midway (Jasper), Avilla and Joplin participated in the parade 
and there were more than four hundred Odd Fellows in line. Al Calm 
was grand marshal and 0. II. Travis of Springfield, orator of the day. 

After tbe parade dinner was served in the Grove by the Carthage 
ladies to the visiting hosts and the following toasts were proposed and 
responded to: "Our Order," Peter .Myers; "The Day We Celebrated," 
L. I. Matthews; "The Sisters of Rebecca," R. Thornton; "Friendship, 
Love ami Truth," Al Calm; "Our Invited Brothers," R. P. Brooks. 

After supper a dance and genera] good time were enjoyed at Regan's 
Hall and prizes were voted to the most beautiful woman, the homeliest 
man and the most popular Odd Fellow. Mrs. T. A. Wakefield was voted 
the most beautiful woman and Al Calm captured the booby prize. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 137 

In 1876 Capt. T. B. Tuttle was elected to represent the Southwestern 
Missouri district in the Supreme Lodge of the order. 

On December 18, 1871, the Carthage Encampment of the Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows was organized, with seven charter members. 
During the first decade the lodge membership was increased fifty, mak- 
ing its membership at the close of the 'seventies, fifty-seven. 

The Masons 

Carthage Lodge, No. 197, A. F. & A. M., continued to prosper during 
the 'seventies and contained upon its rolls some of the most substantial 
citizens. The following gentlemen served the lodge as masters during the 
decade : Peter Beard, 1870 ; A. H. Caffee, 1871-2 ; Lyman J. Burch, 1873 ; 
Josiah Lane, 1874 ; John T. Ruffin, 1875-6 ; Charles C. Allen, 1877 ; Julius 
Cahn, 1878 ; Thomas Buckbee, 1879. 

Meridian Sun Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, was organized in 1870 
with Lyman Burch as high priest. 

The Carthage Light Guard 

The patriotism of our country is symbolized by the citizen soldiery. 
It was the colonial volunteers in the French and Indian War who made 
freedom a possibility and it was the volunteer patriot of the Revolution 
who made it a reality. It was the American volunteers in the War of 
1812 who made the United States Navy the mistress of the seas and de- 
feated the British veteran who at Waterloo had crushed the greatest 
military genius of his day, "Napoleon The Great." It was the Missouri 
volunteers under the gallant Doniphan who in the Mexican war marched 
eleven hundred miles across the almost uninhabited country of the south- 
west and gave to the United States a territory whose richness has added 
luster to the nation's greatness. It was the volunteers of both the north 
and the south who made the campaigns of the Civil war the most bril- 
liant military achievements of modern times. 

As the volunteers in our several wars have reflected the national 
spirit, so in the state does the organized militia stand for the highest 
type of citizenship and keeps alive the glorious memories of our military 
achievements. 

The Carthage Light Guard was organized January 3, 1876, and for 
years typified the flower and chivalry of the city. The following is a list 
of the original members, who composed this once famous military organi- 
zation : Captain, Benjamin F. Garrison ; first lieutenant, Albert Cahn ; 
second lieutenant, John A. Hardin ; first sergeant, James Degan ; second 
sergeant, W. K. Caffee ; third sergeant, M. Lawrence ; fourth sergeant, 
T. B. Tulle ; fifth sergeant, Eber Budlong ; corporals, L. M. Miller, C. H. 
Murry, W. B. Myers, Jesse Rhodes, W. B. Brobect, Chas. Brown, T. B. 
Haughawout, E. P. Cassell; privates, Miles Mix, C. P. Ball, Joseph W. 
Hall, J. B. LaForce, C. E. Mathews, Julius Mass, W. B. Farewell, R. P. 
Cassell, M. P. Keem, B. F. Gunneson, T. Wakefield. Warren Woodward, 



138 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Frank Chaffee, John F. Grubb, John N. Wilson, Robert Mitchell, R. C. 
Friend, Chas. 0.. Harrington, Frank Beebe, M. Wilson, C. C. Crippen, 
W. H. Smith, A. W. Onstott, A. T. Setterley, F. S. Yeager, Edward Mil- 
laid, Chas. Hub)). A. M. Hurty and James A. Bolen. 

Until the 'nineties there was no prescribed uniform for the State 
Militia and each organization chose and paid for its own equipment, ex- 
cept the rifles which were furnished by the state and were of the same 
pattern as the United States army used. 

The Carthage Light Guard uniform was of cadet gray and the com- 
pany presented a neat appearance. Capt. Garrison was a good drill 
master and the company attained a high state of proficiency under his 
captaincy. 

On July 6. 1876, a beautiful silk flag was presented to the Light 
Guard by the citizens of Carthage, A. L. Thomas making the presenta- 
tion speech. The company gave an annual military ball on the 22nd of 
February and it was always the social event of the year. 

Captain Garrison resigned in 1878 and was succeeded by T. B. Tuttle, 
who after serving as captain about fwo years resigned, and W. K. Caffee 
was chosen his successor. Further members of the company will be made 
in our chapter on the 'eighties. 

The Carthage Pioneer Club 

On January 1. 1878, a number of old settlers of Carthage met at the 
residence of A. M. Drake and formed the Carthage Pioneer Club. The 
first reunion of this society was held January 5th at the residence of J. 
T. Ruffins and was a very pleasant affair. 

According to the Constitution of the club those who had been resi- 
dents of Carthage for ten years were counted as pioneers and therefore 
included those who came to Carthage prior to January 1. 1868. The 
following were the members of the club who attended the first reunion: 
•I. 1). Kendrick. Elizabeth H. Kendrick, Emma E. Kendrick, Geo. Rader, 
Win. Huffer, II. II. Stewart, A. M. Drake. Sarah M. Drake, Charlie E. 
drake, Sherwood A. Drake. Harvey See, Chas. Weed. Cordelia Weed, 
Annie Weed, R. II. Rose. Doshea Rose. R. II. Rose. Jr.. G. A. Rose, Bessie 
Rose, G. Blakeney, Kate Blakeney, Robert I. Blakeney, Emily F. Blak- 
eney. John T. Blakeney, John Easton, Caroline Easton, W. II. Phelps, 
Lois Phelps, Man, I II. Phelps. Florence P. Phelps. ML Pearl Ruffin. Alta 
Ruffin, A. II. Caffee, Lacie A. Caffee, Wardie -1. Caffee, Edna E. Caffee, 
Isaac X. Lamb, Sarah -I. Lamb, Frank II. Lamb. Ettella Lamb. Thos. M. 
Garland, Alice V. Garland, Ceo. E. Garland, Ada I-'. Garland. Willie W. 
Garland, Jeremiah Casey. Ellen Casey, Josiah Lane. .Mary E. Lane, Leona 
B. Lane. Emma Lane. Joanna Lane, Jennie A. Lane, Thos. A. Wakefield, 
Carrie C. Wakefield, fm, E. Wakefield, Charlie Wakefield, Fred Wake- 
Held, G. A. Cassil. Emily Cassil. Lucy II. Cunningham. Birdie Cunning- 
ham. Esther V. Hood. Amanda Glass. Sterling Glass. Elvira B. Kend- 
rick. Electra A. Kendrick, Ellen Stockton. Nannie Stockton. I). .1. Bliss, 
Bettie Bliss ami Joshua Bates. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 139 

On the ] 1th day of December, 1878, in response to a call for a Jasper 
County Old Settlers Association, the following persons met at the court 
house for the purpose of organization : Enos Myers, 1868 ; John Ruffin, 
1866; J. B. Buchanan, 1869; I. N. Lamb and wife, 1866; M. H. Clark, 
1869; John Grubb. 1869; A. E. Gregory and wife, 1867; T. B. Tuttle, 
1869; T. M. Garland, 1866; D. S. Thomas, 1867; D. E. W. Smith, 1869; 
James Pattison, 1868; John Easton, 1867: John Hampton, 1868; J. W. 
Hart, 1868; Bennett Hall, 1867; E. O'Keefe, 1867; S. B. Ormsby and 
wife, 1868; E. W. Harper, 1867; G. P. Hedge, 1866; M. G. McGregor, 
1866; P. T. Welch, 1869; Mrs. F. T. Welch, 1863; A. M. Drake and wife, 
1867 ; George Blakeney and wife, 1867 ; G. B. McMerrick and wife, 1868 ; 
W. Bendict, 1870 ; C. Reiser, 1870 ; Charles Gardner, 1868 ; E. P. Searle, 
1867 ; Dr. Amos Caffee, 1866 ; Mrs. Mobley, 1868 ; Mrs. L. P. Cunning- 
ham, 1865; Josiah Lane and wife, 1866; T. A. Wakefield and wife, 1866; 
R, H. Rose, 1866 ; A. B. Parkell, 1867 ; Peter Hill, 1867 ; W. F. Cloud, 
1868 ; J. B. Hodge, 1869 ; I. W. Driesbach, 1869 ; E. R, Wheeler, 1867 ; 
D. C. Forbes, 1869 ; Thomas Buckbee, 1866 ; John Brownsill, 1869 ; John 
Keller, 1868 ; J. W. Sennet, 1868. 

M. C. McGregor was called to the chair and E. P. Searl was chosen 
temporary secretary. Upon taking the chair Mr. McGregor said it was 
with feelings of great pleasure and pride that he consented to preside 
over such a gathering as this, and to meet here so many of the early set- 
tlers of our beautiful city with whom he had lived from the first of the 
present growth of the place called back many fond associations of the 
past when they all used to live in tents upon the grounds now covered by 
the finest city in the southwest. He said his understanding of this meet- 
ing was that it was for the purpose of meeting to perfect an organiza- 
tion of the old settlers of this town. 

D. S. Thomas and E. W. Harper made lengthy speeches, advocating 
the good of a permanent Old Settlers Association. 

Judge Lane then stated that he was one of a committee from an or- 
ganization formed in January last for the same purpose as this meeting, 
appointed to confer with this meeting. He went on to state that the 
pioneer society which he represented w r as organized on January 1, 1878 ; 
that his opinion, and that of the first organization, was that there should 
be but one such society and that all should act in accord in this matter ; 
the first organization was willing to consolidate with any organization 
that this meeting might perfect and adopt any suitable name, consti- 
tution and by-laws. He insisted upon but one such society. 

After a lengthy discussion of this matter in which some feeling was 
shown, it looked as if the meeting would accomplish no good. 

R. H. Rose in a happy little speech of conciliatory terms poured oil 
on the troubled waters, by moving that a committee of five be appointed 
by the chair to confer with the like committee already appointed by the 
first organization, to the end that these ten persons might amicably ad- 
just all differences and place matters in such a light that nothing would 
hinder the successful and harmonious forming of one genuine perma- 



140 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

nent organization of the early settlers. Mr. Rose's motion carried 
unanimously, and the chair appointed the following as the committee: 
E. W. Harper, Peter Hill, John Brownsill, Mrs. I. N. Lamb and A. B. 
Parkell. The committee from the prior organization consisted of Josiah 
Lane, R. H. Rose, Amos Caffee, M. M. James and W. H. Phelps. 

At a meeting of the Pioneer Club held a few days later they unani- 
imously voted to accept the constitution of the Jasper County Pioneer 
Club provided that they accept the latter 's name, which was done, and the 
two societies united in an annual reunion January 1, 1879. The meeting 
was held at Regan's Hall and was presided over by Col. W. H. Cloud who 
acted as toastmaster. 

Addresses were made by O. H. Picher, W. H. Phelps and Col. J. M. 
Richardson. 

The constitution was amended so as to admit to membership all who 
came to Carthage prior to January 1, 1870, and after electing officers 
the society adjourned to meet on July -4th. all having had a most ex- 
cellent time and having done ample justice to the supper. 

The following were elected officers for the year: John Onstott, presi- 
dent ; J. M. Richardson, first vice president ; George Rader, second vice 
president; Mrs. M. P. Ruffin, treasurer; A. E. Gregory, recording secre- 
tary ; "W. F. Cloud, corresponding secretary ; M. M. James, A. H. Caffee, 
Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Cunningham and Mrs. Lamb, executive committee. 



CHAPTER XVII 

FOUNDING OF JOPLIN 

The First Settlers — Blytheville Postoffice — John C. Cox — First 
Mining at Joplin — Mr. Cox Plats Joplin — Rev. Harris Joplin 
— The Franklin School — Moffet and Sergeant — First News- 
paper Mention — Town of Joplin Platted — Murphysburg, or West 
Joplin — Clark Craycroft Arrives — First Meal at Joplin 's Hotel 
— Murphysburg Makes Rapid Growth — Joplin-Murphysburg 
(Spring of 72) — Joplin as a Mining Camp — The "Reign of Ter- 
ror" — The Man of the Hour — Union City — Early Legislation — 
Dissolution — Lone Elm — Early Newspapers — Postoffice for 
Union City — Joplin 's First "Fourth of July" — The Miners' 
Union — First Odd Fellows' Lodge — First Election — Organiza- 
tion of Schools — School of West Joplin — East Joplin Literary 
Society — First Church — The M. E. Church South — St. Peter's 
Roman Catholic Church — The African M. E. Church — Joplin 
and Baxter Stage Line — Amusement Halls — Race Track — Value 
of Zinc Discovered. 

The city of Joplin covers an area of seventeen and one half square 
miles and has grown from half a dozen families (who resided in the ter- 
ritory now covered by the city in 1870) to thirty-five thousand inhabi- 
tants at this writing. 

The history of Joplin properly begins with the coming of Moffet & 
Sergeant, but before we take up the narrative of the events which fol- 
lowed the digging of the first shaft in the Joplin Creek valley, we will 
mention a few of the happenings which occurred before the advent of 
these gentlemen. 

The First Settlers 

In 1838 John C. Cox settled on Turkey creek and homesteaded a 
half section of land where he began to farm. In 1841 he built a home 
near the present site of the old Cox homestead which is prominently 
located in the northeastern portion of the city on a picturesque eminence, 
which was called by the first settlers Wig Hill. In connection with his 
farm Mr. Cox also conducted a general store and built a log store build- 
ing near his home. It was in this store where the first postoffice in the 
western part of the county was kept. 

141 



142 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The Blytheville Postoffice 

In 1840 the people who lived in the western portion of the country 
of the Six Bulls petitioned the government to establish a postoffice at 
some point on Turkey creek for the accommodation of the settlers living 
between Spring river and School creek. The nearest postoffice then was 
Sarcoxie. After many overtures the postal authorities agreed to establish 
an office, provided the people would bear the cost of the same, as the 
business would not pay the expense of its maintenance and the carrier 
who would have to bring the mail from Sarcoxie. 

John C. Cox agreed to serve the people gratis and was, accordingly, 
on the 17th day of January, 1841, commissioned postmaster of the new 
office, which was christened Blytheville in honor of Billy Blythe, a 
wealthy Cherokee Indian who resided on Shoal creek and who was noted 
far and wide for his integrity and fair dealing. The government al- 



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Blytheville Postoffice 



lowed the earnings of the office to lie applied on the mail carrier's pay 
and the deficit was made up by the patrons of the office. 

The Blytheville postoffice was maintained, excepting during the war, 
until 1872, when the name was elianged to Union City and moved to 
Murphyshurg (West Joplin). 

Until the Civil war mail was brought from Sarcoxie and later from 
Carthage, once a week, and the arrival of the mail carrier was an event 
which broughl to Blytheville the farmers for miles around. During 
these three decades Mr. Cox was the central figure around which the 
business and social interests <if the community revolved and we present 
here a brief sketch of his life. 

John C. Cox 

John ('. Cox was born in Burke county. North Carolina, September 
6, 1811. His parents were David and Lucy Branch Cox. At the age 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 143 

of eight years young Cox moved with his parents to Tennessee and grew 
to manhood on the farm. In 1828 his father was elected sheriff of Jack- 
son county, Tennessee, and held the position for six years. During the 
last three years of his term Mr. Cox, then having reached his majority, 
served as deputy. 

Mr. Cox was married in 1837 to Miss Sarah Mercer and shortly after 
the marriage emigrated to Missouri, locating in Jasper county and mak- 
ing the long journey overland in company with a party of Tennesseeans. 

When Center Creek township was organized, in 1841, Mr. Cox was 
appointed one of the two justices of peace and filled the position for 
many years. In 1850, on discovering the value of the land in the Joplin 
Creek valley, Mr. Cox entered and perfected the title to a section of land 
and on this the first mining of the original town of Joplin was done. 
In 1852 Mr. Cox tilled the office of county surveyor. 

During the war. although a slave holder, Mr. Cox was loyal to the 
Union and took no part in the conflict. But it was almost impossible 
to live in Jasper county and be neutral during the war and in 1863, 
after having been burned out by one of the many raiding parties he 
moved to Neosho and remained there until the close of hostilities, when 
he returned to the old homestead. In 1870 Mr. Cox leased a tract of 
land to Messrs. Moffet & Sergeant for mining purposes and from the 
royalties on the lead taken from his ground amassed a considerable for- 
tune. 

Me. Cox Plats Joplin 

In July, 1871. Mr. Cox platted the original town of Joplin and thus 
took the first steps toward making the young mining camp a permanent 
town. In 1875 he was elected one of the judges of the county court and 
made a high reputation for his honesty and fair dealing. 

Rev. Harris Joplin 

In 1839 the Rev. Harris Joplin, a Methodist minister, came to Jasper 
county from Greene county and built a cabin where now stands the Jop- 
lin Children 's Home. There he entered about eighty acres of land lying 
on either side of the little stream which wends its way from the big 
Springs down to Joplin creek, which took its name because its head- 
waters ran through the reverend gentleman's farm (the course of Joplin 
creek at its head was changed by the digging of Picher's ditch). The 
Reverend Joplin organized at his cabin a Methodist church and con- 
ducted services here on Sundays until 1845, when he returned to Greene 
county, where he died in 1847, ignorant of the fact that his name and 
deeds would be perpetuated in the history of the great mining industry 
of Jasper county. 

The Franklin School 

During the 'forties a school district which embraced the greater por- 
tion of southwest Jasper county was organized and a log school built 



144 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



near Castle Rock. The school was on the south side of the creek and not 
far from the old Schifferdecker Garden. 

In 1870, when the mining activities of Joplin were commenced, the 
district extended from Pilot Grove (now Mount Hope Cemetery) on the 
north to the county line on the south, and from Harmony Grove on the 
east to where Schifferdecker Park is now on the west. This old log build- 
ing, although like most of the pioneer schools poorly furnished and 
without modern conveniences, housed a sturdy class of pupils, was pre- 
sided over by a number of good masters and sent out into the world a 
number of boys and girls who have achieved success. The following are 
some of the boys and girls who there learned their three R's: John C. 
Cox, Jr., capitalist ; B. F. Cox, attorney and retired capitalist ; Mrs. Alex 




Old Cox Homestead (Built in 1867), East Town, Jopmn 

Campbell (nee Josie Cox) who was, by the way, the champion speller of 
the school ; Mrs. Dr. Blackwell (nee Sadie Cox) ; "W. S. Taylor, ex-county 
assessor and James Turk, Villa Heights booster. 



MoFFET AND SERGEANT 

During the spring of 1870 J. Morris Young, superintendent of the 
Grantlby Company at Oronogo, offered a reward of five hundred dollars 
to the miner or company of miners who should mine the most lead from 
any one shaft during the four months from March 4th to July 4th, in- 
clusive. E. R. Moffet and John P. Sergeant won the prize. With this 
five hundred dollars for a capital they leased a ten-acre tract of land 
Prom John C. Cox in the Joplin Creek valley and commenced mining 
for themselves. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



145 




Old-Fashioned Windlass 




First Attempt at a Hoister (a Whip) 



146 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Messrs. Moffet and Sergeant pitched their tent in the Joplin Creek 
valley in August, 1870. Their first shaft was put down about five hun- 
dred feet north of the Broadway bridge over Joplin creek and after 
several weeks of prospecting, during which time their money was about 
all expended, they struck a fine body of ore. It is told by old timers 
that the shot which opened up this rich pocket of lead was borrowed, 
their stock of powder being exhausted. 

The news of the Moffet and Sergeant strike spread over the neigh- 
borhood and soon a dozen miners were prospecting in the Joplin Creek 
valley and the little camp which sprang up naturally was called Joplin. 

The Moffet and Sergeant strike proved to be a rich one and they 
soon erected a smelter to smelt their lead, the melted product having a 
more ready sale than the raw material. The smelter was built near 
their first mine and not far from the site of the new Union depot. 

January 1, 1871, saw about twenty prospectors in the Joplin Creek 
valley and by August, one year after the first strike, it was estimated 
that there were five hundred people in the camp, most of whom were 
men. 

First Newspaper Mention 

In its issue of June 22, 1871, the Carthage Banner makes this first 
mention of the new camp: "There is a new town in Jasper county. Its 
name is Joplin and it is located fourteen miles southwest of Carthage on 
the farm of J. C. Cox. It has lead in unlimited quantities under it. 
Everybody out of employment ought to go there and dig. That is bet- 
ter than doing nothing and it may lead to fortune." 

This first mention of the new bonanza attracted the attention of many 
and in an incrediblj' short time Joplin was a red-hot camp, the Creek 
valley being literally filled with tents and small-box houses. 

Town of Joplin Platted 

Seeing the richness of the mines on his farm and realizing the com- 
mercial value of a permanent town, John C. Cox decided to lay out a 
small town and platted on the hill, just east of the mining activities, 
the original town of Joplin. The plat was filed for record July 28, 1871, 
and lots were at once placed upon the market. The first lot was bought 
by Henry Blockwell, lot No. ">, block 2, northwest corner of Cox and 
Central avenue, on which he built a dwelling house. The lot is now 
owned by P. L. Grossman and the house, which was remodeled in 1887 
by Chancellor Livingston, the owner at that time, is one of the prettiest 
in East Joplin. 

.MrRPHYSBCRG, OR WEST Joplin 

During the month of July, 1871, Patrick Murphy of Carthage or- 
ganized the Murphysburg Town Company, consisting of himself, his 
partner, W. P. Davis, C. W. Elliott and wife of Oronogo, and William 
Byers. A forty-acre tract of land on the hill west of the creek was pur- 
chased and a town laid out and platted. The town west of the creek was 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



147 



called Murphysburg. In August Murphy & Davis commenced the erec- 
tion of a store, corner of First and Main streets and there opened up a 
general store on the completion of their building. 

The field notes and the survey of Murphysburg were completed the 
1st of September and the plat filed for record on September 4, 1871. 
The first lot in Murphysburg was sold to II. Geldmacher, better known 
among the miners as •'Moneymaker" — lot No. 4 on Main street, be- 
tween First and Second, on which lie erected a building which he used 
for a bakery and lunch room. 

The following story is told about the sale of the first lot in Murphys- 
burg. The lines were run by the surveyor, E. Lloyd, during the latter 
part of July, but the field notes and plat were not put in form until the 
latter part of August. As soon as the lines were run and a blue print 
of the new town made, lots were placed on the market and a number of 




First Joplin House, Built by Mr. Block well 

Picture taken in 1886- 

them sold, the deeds being formally signed and delivered after the plat 
was filed. 

On the 4th day of August Mr. Murphy and John S. Reynolds were at 
work putting up a store building at the southwest corner of Main and 
First, when Mr. Geldmacher, with three wagon loads of household furni- 
ture, baking utensils and confectionery stock, drove up and in broken 
German inquired for Mr. Murphy. Mr. Murphy asked what he wanted 
and on being informed by Mr. Geldmacher that he wanted to buy a lot, 
came down off the scaffold and showed him the blue print which had 
just been completed. They walked off to the south of the store a few 
feet and Mr. Geldmacher selected his lot and paid the price agreed upon. 
Returning to his teams he drove his effects to the lot and began unload- 
ing. As soon as the wagons were unloaded, Mr. Geldmacher began build- 
ing a bakeoven and after it was completed mixed a batch of bread and 
put in a bake. In the meantime, he put up a tent and lived in this until 



148 . HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

his house was built. Lumber for a two-story structure was purchased 
and carpenters were set to work to build a house which was to be used 
as a restaurant and bakery. 

Clark Craycropt Arrives 

Clark Craycroft ate the first meal in the new hotel and relates the 
following interesting story about his first trip to Joplin : In June, 1871, 
Mr. Craycroft was graduated from the State University at Columbia 
and was casting about to settle into some business or profession. A 
friend of his in Cooper county had inherited a farm in Jasper county 
near the present site of Carl Junction and was coming out to see it. 
He asked Mr. Craycroft to come with him on the trip. The drive over- 
land from Cooper county to Jasper took five days and they came to the 




Opening a New Camp in the 'Seventies 

Spring river country about the early part of August, One morning, 
about the middle of the month, he started out with his rifle for a hunt, 
hoping to scare up a deer. At that time Mr. Craycroft had never heard 
of Joplin. He walked along the Center Creek prairie where he came 
to the old Manlove ford and, taking off his shoes and stockings, waded 
across the creek and came out in the woods south of the stream, walking 
south half a mile or so. Reaching the prairie between Center and Turkey 
creeks, partly from curiosity and partly because he thought that he 
could scare up a turkey, he crossed it and came to Turkey creek. The 
water heinir shallow, he crossed and pushed on to the south, making his 
way up the valley now used by the Kansas City Southern Railway Com- 
pany for their tracks, came into the Kansas City Bottom and there dis- 
covered Joplin, which at that time was in the Joplin Creek valley. He 
walked on up through the mines and met John B. Sergeant at the old 
shaft where he and Mr. Moffet had first struck lead. He had a pleasant 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 149 

conversation with Mr. Sergeant, little dreaming that 'ere long he would 
be the son-in-law of the mining king. 

First Meal at "Money-maker's" Restaurant 

Mr. Craycroft inquired of Mr. Sergeant a place to get his dinner and 
was informed that Mr. "Money-maker" was building a bakery and res- 
taurant up on the hill. Arriving at "Money-maker's" place, he found 
that the building was not yet completed, or the furniture in place (two 
carpenters were then working on the building, one shingling the roof 
and the other making a table), and was informed that if he would wait 
awhile that he could be served, as one of the tables was almost completed. 
When the carpenter had finished the first able, he set it in place and 
wiped the shavings off with his carpenter apron. Mr. Craycroft drew 
up a chair, laid his hat on the floor, stood his rifle up against the wall 
and got a good square meal, the first one to be served in the eating 
house, which for twenty years after occupied a prominent place in Jop- 
lin history. 

Mr. Craycroft 's visit to the mining camp made a lasting impression 
on his mind and, after having read law and been admitted to the bar, he 
returned to Joplin, arriving there the second time in April, 1875. 

Mr. Craycroft, in relating his experiences to the author says: "I 
came to Joplin in 1875 with $4.65 in my pocket. My library consisted 
of two books and I possessed in addition, a silk hat and a long-tailed 
coat. The hat I lost in Shoal creek while saving a friend from drown- 
ing. The coat I wore out, but I still have the two books and the major 
part of the $4.65." 

Mr. Craycroft is now a retired lawyer and capitalist, having a goodly 
portion of the world's goods and being counted by most people as a rich 
man. 

MURPHYSBURG MAKES A RAPID GROWTH 

The Murphysburg Town Company adopted a most liberal policy in 
the disposal of the lots and offered such easy terms of payment that they 
sold rapidly, and before the close of the year there were either built, 
or being built, some fifty houses in the town on the west side of the 
creek. Among other inducements which were offered by the west side 
company were the following : Main street was widened, being made eighty 
feet wide, thus offering better opportunities for the transaction of bus- 
iness. Desirable lots were sold on a small payment down and long time 
on the balance; and perhaps the most attractive offer — when a lot was 
sold, if the purchaser would build a house the company would make him 
a deed to the lot next to it. 

In October, 1871, Messrs. Murphy and Davis built a smelter north 
of First street, about B and Joplin, and employed a large force of men. 

The Joplin Mining & Smelting Company 

During the same fall a company, the Joplin Mining and Smelting 
Company, capitalized at $200,000 (mostly held by Kansas City parties), 



150 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

was organized and began the development of the land in Joplin Creek 
valley north of the Moffet & Sergeant and Murphy & Davis mines. The 
northern portion of the Joplin Creek valley has since been known as the 
Kansas City Bottom. The organizer and leading spirit of the company 
was John H. Taylor, who from that time to his death, was identified with 
the mining interests of Joplin. The Joplin Mining & Smelting Company 
soon acquired a large tract of land extending along the entire east side of 
Joplin Creek valley to Fourth street on the south, and on this land a 
monster addition was platted, the lots in the valley and west side of 
Moon Range (the crescent shaped west side of East Joplin Hill) being 
reserved for mining purposes and the ones on the hill for residence 
property. 

1871 drew to a close with the two towns — Joplin and Murphysburg 
and the valley between them — containing approximately two thousand 
people, an increase of one thousand five hundred since the platting of 
the two burgs. Both of the towns had about the same population and the 
rivalry between them was intense; in fact, the rivalry led to much ill 
feeling and did not die out until many years after the two places had 
been united into one city. 

JOPLIN-MlJRPHYSBURG (SPRING OF 72) 

In January, 1872, there were in Joplin one general store, three groc- 
eries, one furniture store, one hardware store, one pawn shop, one cloth- 
ing store, one news stand, two liveries, one meat market, one boot and 
shoe store, one drug store, one dry goods store, one restaurant, one bak- 
ery, one doctor, one barber, one hack line, four saloons, smelters all in 
Valley Bottom. 

At Murphysburg were: Four general stores, one lumberyard, one 
clothing store, one livery, one meat market, one boot and shoe store, one 
drug store, three smelters, four hotels and restaurants, one billiard and 
pool room, one doctor, two barbers, one blacksmith, and two saloons. 

Joplin As a Mining Camp 

All of the capital that was required to become a prospector and if 
successful, a mine operator, in the early day of Joplin, was a pick, a 
shovel and two willing hands. The mining was almost entirely shallow- 
digging, and only lead was sought for, the value of zinc then being 
unknown. Every man who wished to prospect made application to one 
of the companies or laud owners for a mining lot and signed the register 
which contained the contract and record of sub-leases. The mining lots 
were usually two hundred by two hundred. The miner sunk at his own 
expense his shaft, and if successful paid to the land owner or company, 
;is the case might be, a royalty or per cent, of the mineral turned in. The 
royalty at first was f>0 per cent, but later was reduced as the number of 
mines and expense of mining increased. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 151 

Among the prospectors who came to Joplin during the first year of 
its existence were a man and his wife, who were residents of Arkansas and 
were attracted here by the fabulous story of the new El Dorado. The 
man took a lot on the Moon Range and began sinking a shaft ; when it 
was down about twelve feet he rigged up a rickety windlass and his wife 
hoisted the dirt to the top of the shaft— a willing worker with her hus- 
band and sharing with him the excitement and hardships of the pros- 
pect. When the shaft was down about twenty feet, he struck a rich 
pocket of lead and in two months' time had taken out $10,000 worth of 
mineral. When the mine was worked out, he and his good wife re- 
turned home and with their quickly amassed little fortune purchased a 
fine farm. 

Alonzo Bradbury was another lucky miner on the old Moon Range. 
In his mine he dug out a large chunk of lead, at about fifty feet depth, 




A HOESE HOISTER 

which weighed over 4,000 pounds and it was necessary, in order to get it 
out without breaking, to enlarge the shaft, put up a temporary derrick 
and to use a block and tackle to hoist it to the surface, which was ac- 
complished with no little trouble, because machinery was a scarce article 
in those days. 

The specimen was taken from the Moffet & Sergeant land, was placed 
on a sled and drawn to the American House (Murphysburg's first hotel, 
southeast corner First and Main streets) and there placed on exhibition. 

J. C. Gaston took out of his mine, also on Moon Range, a chunk of lead 
which weighed 1.080 pounds. 

In the fall of 1872 a hotel, the Bateman House, was moved from Bax- 
ter Springs to Joplin and rebuilt in East Joplin at the corner of Hill 
and Galena Avenue. The hotel was managed by George H. Ruddy, later 
of the Joplin and Keystone hotels, was a popular hostelry, and continued 
the leading hotel until its destruction by fire, in 1875. 



152 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



The Reign of Terror 

The two towns made a phenomenal growth and naturally where so 
many people were congregated, with no local government, "everything 
went." The miners ahout the camp living as they did in a constant state 
of excitement, and without the refining influence of the home (for in 
most instances the family was left behind), plunged into a continuous 
round of merry-making and the lawless element, unrestrained by the 
officers, had everything their own way. Men who lived on the excite- 
ment of frontier life flocked to the new town and gave the "future 
great" a bad name; and so the winter of 1871-2 came to be known as the 
Reign of Terror. 

It must not be understood that all of Joplin's citizens countenanced 
these unlawful acts, or participated in all of the vices that existed; for 
such was not the case. The great majority of the prospectors who came 




Joplin's First Hotel: George II. Ruddy and C. F. Taylor in 

Foreground 

in 1871-2 were from southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas. 
They came from the stores, the work shops, the factories and the farms 
and were from among the best citizens of Missouri and Kansas, and, 
while they lived amidst the wild excitement of the day and in a way par- 
ticipated in the revelry, they were good citizens and composed the sturdy 
yeomanry who laid the broad foundation of a great city. 

As mentioned before, most of the men who came to Joplin in its 
early day left the family at home, for there were but few who expected 
to live here longer than to make a quick fortune and then return, but 
there were a few men, like John l'>. Sergeant. Pat Murphy and William 
Carter, who saw far into the future and who had an unshattered con- 
fidence in the mining industry and built for a greater Joplin. 

During this period, when Joplin possessed all of the elements of a 
red-hot mining eamp, it was no uncommon sight to see "Reckless Pill," 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 153 

"Three Fingered Pete," and "Rocky Mountain Bob" attired in regu- 
lar western frontier style. Street fights were common occurrences and 
occasionally the excitement was heightened by a shooting scrap. It 
must be observed, however, that, considering the conditions that existed, 
there were but few murders, the lawlessness for the most part being 
good-natured revelry. 

The Man op the Hour 

During the latter part of January, 1872, a little incident occurred 
which helped to bring the Reign of Terror to a close. A desperado, who 
styled himself "Dutch Pete," the bad man from Bitter creek, was ter- 
rorizing the town of Murphysburg. J. W. Lupton, a miner, who was 
prospecting on the Moffet & Sergeant land, was a trained athlete, a good 
shot, and, in the right cause, a good fighter. He was one of the citizens 
who thought that the time had come to bring the Reign of Terror to a 
close, and, on hearing of the depredations of the wild and woolly cit- 
izen, proposed to subjugate him. Although warned not to take a hand, 
he walked boldly up to the unwelcome stranger, after a desperate strug- 
gle threw him to the floor and, after tying the bully, disarmed him. The 
incident proclaimed Bill Lupton the man of the hour, and brought 
forcible to the attention of the citizens of the towns, the necessity of hav- 
ing a local government and officers to enforce the law. 

A meeting of the good people was held and a resolution passed pray- 
ing the county court to make a municipal township of southwestern Jas- 
per county and to appoint J. W. Lupton as constable. At the February 
meeting of the county court Galena township was created. The town- 
ship included all of Galena township, as now organized, and the west 
half of Joplin township which was organized later. J. W. Lupton was 
appointed constable and I. W. Davis, late of Baxter Springs, and D. W. 
Jones, justices of the peace. 

It is told by old-timers that Judge Davis, at the time of his appoint- 
ment as justice in Galena township, held a similar position at Baxter 
Springs and did not resign his Kansas commission or move his family 
here until after he had assumed the judicial ermine in Missouri. It used 
to be said in a joking way that the judge would hold court one day at 
Baxter and the next day at Joplin. Laying aside jokes, however, Judge 
Davis was a well-informed lawyer and made a good justice, and until 
the 'eighties figured prominently in Joplin legal and social life. 

Union City 

The question was now agitated of consolidating the two towns and on 
February 27, 1872, a mass meeting of the citizens of both towns was 
held at Brazelle's store to discuss the advisability of incorporating as a 
town. The meeting, which was largely attended, was presided over by 
John B. Sergeant, and Messrs. P. Murphy, Jesse Shortess, W. M. Carter, 
Win. Fallis and others spoke in favor of incorporation. A committee, 



154 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

consisting of H. Campbell, W. M. Carter, and P. Schnur, of Murphys- 
burg, and Jesse Shortess and William Fallis of Joplin, were appointed 
to draft and circulate petitions praying the county court to incorporate 
tlic two towns under the name of Union City. 

The petition was presented to the county court March 14th and that 
body made an order incorporating the town of Union City, which in- 
cluded both Joplin and Murphysburg. 

The board of trustees appointed to hold until the general election in 
November, 1872, were Jesse Shortess. W. H. Fallis, Chas. A. Under- 
wood, E. R. Moft'et and John S. Workizer. 

On the 19th of the month the board went to the county seat, took the 
oath of office as trustees and organized by electing Jesse Shortess as 
president ; C. J. G. Workizer, clerk ; J. W. Lupton. marshal ; I. W. Davis, 
police judge and P. Murphy, treasurer. 

Jesse Shortess, the executive officer of Union City, was born January 
16, 1820, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. He received a liberal educa- 
tion and was especially gifted in mathematics. After the war he was 
elected a member of the legislature from Benton county, Arkansas, and 
served with distinction for two terms, advocating and championing, dur- 
ing his service in that body, laws in the interest of good roads and popu- 
lar education. He was by nature a peacemaker and endeavored, dur- 
ing his service as president of the board of trustees, to bring about a 
better feeling between the two towns. Mr. Shortess endeavored also to 
uplift the moral tone of the city. He died April 3. 1882. 

The incorporation of Union City brought the Reign of Terror to an 
end. and during the year 1872 many improvements were made. Many 
men who before had hesitated at bringing their families to the "future 
great," now felt that the camp had permanency and stability and 
brought their families to the new town. During the year also three 
new mining camps were opened up — Lone Elm. Parr Hill and Swindle 
Hill. 

Eakly Legislation for Union City 

The board of trustees immediately passed a number of ordinances 
Looking to the betterment of the town — enactments against disturbance 
of the peace, "pistol-toting," drunkenness, etc.. and a small jail was 
built on Broadway between the two towns. The jail was made of two 
by four oak timber and bad two apartments or cells. 

The Fire Patrols 

Perhaps the most unique law passed by the trustees of Union City 
(one. too. which showed the originality of the pioneer lawmakers and 
likewise carried out the idea that "necessity is the mother of invention") 
was the ordinance which was designated "the Fire Patrols." The law 

provided thai, for the purpose of protecting the town against fire, every 
man who operated a store or business house on Main street or Broadway 
should keep in front of his place of business a barrel of water and a 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 155 

bucket to be used in ease of fire. When a fire broke out in any house, 
every man got his bucket, filled it with water and rushed to the scene 
of the conflagration. This was called the Bucket Brigade. If the fire 
had not gained much headway, it was sometimes put out, but it will be 
readily seen that the fire-fighting apparatus was decidedly primitive. 
A destructive fire in East Joplin, on December 22nd. swept away a whole 
business block, including a large hotel. 

Dissolution of Union City 

While the organization of Union City brought the Reign of Terror 
to a close and helped to strengthen the confidence in the future of the 
mining district, it did not succeed in doing away with the rivalry and ill 
feeling betwen the east and west towns; many people in East Joplin 
clamored for a separate city government east of the creek, claiming that 
the east side did not have the same police protection as Murphysburg. 
The bitterness grew, and, feeling aggrieved, some of the merchants of 
East Joplin refused to pay an occupation tax and one of the saloon 
keepers took the matter into court, seeking to dissolve the town on 
the ground that it had not been legally incorporated, setting up that 
tlie petition which was presented to the county court contained the 
names of many who were not bona fide citizens of the town. The case 
was taken to Barton county on a change of venue and during the month 
of December, 1872, was tried and decided against the town. The in- 
corporation of Union City was dissolved, and the old names of Joplin 
and Murphysburg were resumed. The last act of the corporation of 
Union City was to provide for the taking of the census of the town. The 
count showed that East Joplin had a population of 1,364 and Murphys- 
burg 1,343, and total 2,707. 

W. H. Fallis, the census taker, reported that there were also 1,200 
outside of the city limits, but properly a part of the town, making ap- 
proximately 3,500 in the Joplin district at the close of the year 1872. 

Lone Elm 

Lone Elm was a thrifty part of Joplin situated on the hill and in the 
valley in the northern portion of the city west of Joplin creek, and was so 
called on account of a lone elm tree which stood by the roadside. Lone 
Elm, during the middle and later 'seventies, contained upward of 2,500 
people, and had some twenty business houses in addition to the big 
Granby Furnace. It was distinctly a mining community and, being 
built on mining land, as time went by the houses were moved away until 
now only a few of the old landmarks remain and only the old Lone Elm 
road is left to tell the story of its once busy life. 

Early Newspapers 

In March, 1872, Peter Schnur of Carthage, who, by the way, had 
been connected with the Carthagt Banner, came to .Murphysburg and es- 



156 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

tablished the Mining News. The first issue, a small four-page paper, 
appeared on March 7th and proved a popular publication and after the 
first month doubled in size. This paper had a great influence on the 
early life of Joplin. Peter Sehnur, its editor and proprietor, was a good 
writer and in the narrative of events as they happened from week to 
week, told the plain truth, avoiding the sensational and printing only 
so much of the news of the under-strata of society as was necessary to 
correctly chronicle the happenings of the day. 

Editorially he advocated a better local government and always was 
on the sjde of public improvement. He set out the needs of a good school 
system and encouraged the church in its early work. The early issues 
of this paper had much to do with molding public opinion. 

The paper was Republican in politics but not radically partisan, for 
it gave credit to the good acts of officers of the opposite political faith 
and criticised the wrongful acts of men of its own party. The people 
appreciated the value of the permanency of a newspaper of the right 
kind and the Murphysburg Town Company, with a view of encouraging 
the proposition, donated a lot on the corner of Second and Joplin streets 
on which to build a newspaper office. Mr. Sehnur built a house for his 
plant on the lot, the building which is still standing facing Second street 
and being just across the street from the city jail. 

The Daily Index, as a Democratic paper, was started in East Joplin 
and was published for a short time, the first issue appearing September 
19, 1872. The paper was ably edited and was a spicy sheet, but did not 
receive sufficient financial encouragement and suspended publication 
after a year of struggle against adverse circumstances. 

POSTOFFICE FOR UNION ClTY 

On April 1, 1872, the postoffice at Blytheville was discontinued and 
an office created for Union City. M. W. Stafford was appointed post- 
master and opened the office in Murphysburg. There was much dis- 
satisfaction in East Joplin over this change and after the dissolution of 
Union City an office was established in East Joplin. J. C. Orner was ap- 
pointed postmaster and opened the office for business December 18, 1872. 
Two separate offices were maintained until 1877, when the east-side office 
was abolished and the two offices combined and opened at Second and 
Main streets. 

The First Bank 

The National Savings Bank of Joplin opened its doors in July, 1872, 
with the following officers : S. B. Corn, president ; John II. Taylor, vice 
president; Win. Graves, cashier; John Hayes, assistant cashier. 

The new institution was capitalized at $5,000 and had its place of 
business in East Joplin, at the corner of Galena and Broadway. 

On January 1, 1873, John H. Taylor bought the bank, doubling its 
capital and also forming banking connections at St. Louis, Kansas City 
and New York, which greatly increased its influence. In 1874 C. W. 
Glover became cashier of the bank. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 157 

During the palmy days of 1874-6 the bank's deposits ranged around 
the $300,000 mark, but on the decline of lead in 1877 its business began 
to fall off, and in 1879 Mr. Taylor decided to close the institution and, 
after paying all depositors and meeting other obligations surrendered 
its charter. The loss of the bank was a great blow to East Joplin. 

Joplin's First "Fourth of July" 

July 4, 1872, was appropriately celebrated at the two Joplins by a 
day picnic at Grand Falls and by a liberal display of night fireworks. 
While Grand Falls is in Newton county, it has always been regarded as 
a part of Joplin, for until the building of the big dam in 1889 the Falls 
was Joplin's most popular pleasure resort. Before the building of "the 
dam the Falls was a most beautiful place. On the right side of the min- 
iature Niagara was a long ledge of rock which overhung the bank 
in the valley below and gave it the appearance of a cave. The ledge is 
some twenty feet above the valley, making a spectacular formation like 
the Palisades of the Hudson. (This romantic cave-like ledge has long 
since been tilled with cinders from the ice plant.) Over this ledge was 
built a pretty house, which served the two-fold purpose of a country 
inn and a speaker's stand, for the balcony-like porch made an ideal 
stand for a speaker to address the multitude in the valley below. 

The Miners' Union 

The first attempt at organized labor in Joplin occurred during the 
fall of 1872, when eighty men organized the Miners' Union and endeav- 
ored to regulate labor conditions among the miners. The object of the 
union was to improve labor conditions. John Riley was elected presi- 
dent and John Howe secretary. The organization attempted to enforce 
the following four rules: (I) No miner to hold more than one mining lot 
at a time. (II) Each miner prospecting a lot must employ at least 
one able-bodied man for help. (Ill) Twenty days' failure to work the 
ground forfeits the mine. (IV) All disputes to be settled by arbitra- 
tion. 

A Miners' court was established and M. F. Agers chosen miners' mag- 
istrate. All differences were referred to him and when he did not suc- 
ced in adjusting the dispute persons were chosen to arbitrate the case. 
The miners' magistrate corresponded to the walking delegate among the 
labor unions of today. 

First Odd Fellows' Lodge 

The first fraternal organization to plant itself in Joplin was the Odd 
Fellows, which contained then, as now, some of the best business men of 
the city. 

It is always a great event when any fraternal society is organized, 
because it means that, so far as the lodge's influences extend, so much 
more good will be done and the community accordingly bettered. 



158 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

• The influence of a great fraternity life the Odd Fellows, teaching 
and practicing friendship, love and truth among its members, could not 
help but have a refining influence on the men of the mining town, and 
the new city was fortunate in having among its citizenship men of the 
three-linked fraternity. The first meeting looking toward the forma- 
tion of a lodge was held July 21, 1872, and was attended by seventeen 
members of the society, holding membership in almost as many different 
lodges of the order. Jesse Shortess presided at the meeting and J. C. 
Maddy acted as secretary. After discussing the matter it was decided to 
petition the Grand Body for a charter, and the lodge was formally in- 
stituted November 1, 1872, being christened Joplin Lodge No. 287. The 
institutional ceremonies were conducted by Lyman J. Burch of Carthage, 
D. D. G. M., assisted by John \V. McAntire, of Scotland county, who had 
that day arrived in Joplin to make it his future home. 

The following were the first officers of the lodge : John Allington, 
noble grand: S. H. White, vice noble grand; Ira Creech, secretary pro 
tern: S. \V. Beach, permanent secretary; Wm. Karbe, treasurer. 

The first work done by the lodge was on November 22nd, when J. W. 
McAntire, J. W. Clehouse, J. A. Miller, Arnold Hogle and J. B. Thomas 
were initiated into the order. W. E. Johnson, who was initiated Febru- 
ary 7, 1873, is the oldest surviving member of the lodge, having had a 
continuous membership in the lodge from that date. The original char- 
ter members and the four initiated, who preceded him, have either 
moved away or gone to the Grand Lodge On High. 

First Election in Joplin 

The first election in Galena township which at that date included 
East and West Joplin resulted as follows: For president, Grant, Repub- 
lican, 354; Greeley, Democrat, 287 — showing the town on a strict party 
vote to be Republican by sixty-five majority. 

The township election was conducted along non-political lines and 
resulted as follows: Justice of the Peace — Clehouse, Democrat, 547; 
Norton, Republican. 367; Gaston. Republican, 137. Clehouse and Nor- 
ton, being the two who received the highest number of votes, were de-« 
dared elected. 

There were six candidates for constable and the votes varied from 55 
to 222. the latter cast for the lucky candidate William Brown, who was 
declared elected. 

During the campaign of 1872, Gen. John B. Henderson addressed 
the people lit' the two Joplins, speaking from a platform in front of the 

Southwestern Hotel. 

Organization of Schools 

As mentioned in our introductory article about Joplin, at the time 
of tin' coming of Moffet and Sergeant the Franklin school district em- 
braced all of the territory within the present limits of the city of Joplin 
and was officially known as District No. 1. township 27 and range 33. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 159 

In 1872 the board of directors of District No. 1 were John C. Cox 
Jeremiah Turk and D. P. Ballard. 

During the summer of 1872 a private school was established in East 
Joplin and called the Union High School. The school occupied the 
second floor of Hutchinson Hall and was taught by J. H. Burris and Mrs. 
Lou Cruch. It was formally opened September 9, 1872, and liberally 
patronized. Captain Hubbard also started a night school in Sanders 
Hall and enrolled a goodly number of students. The question was now 
agitated of building a schoolhouse and Messrs. John II. Taylor. S. B. 
Corn and John C. Cox offered to advance the money necessary to build 
an up-to-date building for that purpose in East Joplin. A special meet- 
ing of the qualified voters was called in October, bonds were voted in the 
sum of $6,000 and were purchased by John H. Taylor, S. B. Corn, and 
John C. Cox, each taking $2,000 at par. A contract was let for a four- 
room brick school and the work of building was commenced at once. 

Schools of West Joplin (Murphysburg) 

Early in the fall of 1872. the Mining News in a number of editorials 
set forth the necessity of a school organization for the portion of the 
town west of the Creek and the question was agitated by the leading citi- 
zens of west-town to organize a separate district. On September 20, 
1872, at a meeting of the voters of West Joplin, School District No. -4, 
township 27 and range 33 was formally organized, the territory embrac- 
ing that portion of the mother district lying west of Joplin creek. The 
board of directors elected at this meeting consisted of the following named 
gentlemen : John B. Sergeant, M. W. Stafford, C. J. G. Workizer. 

Mr. Sergeant was elected president of the board and Mr. Workizer 
district clerk. 

The board of directors of District No. 1 opposed the forming of the 
new district and claimed that it had not been legally organized. 

The township treasurer refused to turn over to the new district its 
quota of the school funds and for this reason no school was maintained 
in West Joplin during the fall and winter of 1872-3. 

East Joplin Literary Society 

During the fall of 1872 a literary society was formed in East Joplin 
and met weekly in Hutchinson's Hall. The meetings were largely at- 
tended and did much toward elevating the literary taste of the people. 
The officers of the society were : Jesse Shortess, president ; R. A. Bene- 
dict, vice president; Henry Houston, secretary; John W. McAntire, 
treasurer. 

Organization of the First Church 

The honor of organizing the first church in Joplin belongs to the 
Methodists. In February, 1872, Rev. M. W. F. Smith was sent to the 
Joplin field in the capacity of a home missionary. As mentioned be- 



160 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

fore, both Joplin and Murphysburg were red-hot mining camps and 
everything wide open. 

The reverend gentleman saw that there was great need of a church 
and set about to find a suitable place in which to hold a series of meet- 
ings. There were no vacant store rooms and nearly all of the residences 
were small, mostly two and three-room boxed houses, hastily put. up to 
accommodate the rapidly increasing population of the place. 

Hearing of the preacher and with a desire of encouraging the es- 
tablishment of a church, Messrs. Bullock and Boucher offered their saloon 
to Rev. Smith for a Sundaj r service. The offer was accepted and he 
preached in the bar of Bullock & Boucher, his first sermon. After the 
first service meetings were held around at the houses of a number of 
religiously inclined people. 

On April 14th an organization was perfected and the first Methodist 
Episcopal church began the crusade for a better Joplin. Among the 
original members of the church were 0. H. Coe and wife, William Har- 
low and wife and Mrs. Jennie Shortness. 

After the organization of the church all of the energies of the mem- 
bers were bent to the securing of a house of worship. Messrs. Porter & 
Dorsey donated a lot at the corner of Fourth and Kentucky avenue and 
a church home fifty by thirty feet was begun and hurriedly completed. 
Many of the citizens of the town (not members of the church) assisted 
in the work, some donating money, some lumber and others labor. The 
church was dedicated November 3, 1872, by the Rex. F. H. Hagerman, 
bishop of the diocese, the Rev. DeLamarter of Kansas City preaching 
the dedicatory sermon. The new church proved very popular and the 
Sunday school became so crowded that an afternoon school was also or- 
ganized as a sort of an overflow meeting. The Sunday school in the 
morning was the regular school of the First Methodist Church and the 
afternoon meeting was a non-sectarian union Sunday school, the late W. 
B. McAntire was the superintendent of the union school. 

The Church Organ and the Choir 

When the church was first built it had neither organ nor singing 
books. D. K. Wenrich, the bookkeeper for Moffet & Sergeant, was asked 
to take charge of the music and direct that important branch of the 
church worship. Learning that there were no singing books belonging 
to the church, Mr. Wenrich ordered a number of hymnals and organ- 
ized for the church a choir which furnished music, pending the arrival 
of the singing books for the congregation. 

A committee, consisting of Captain Libb3\ Dr. Fannie Williams and 
.Mr. Wenrich, was appointed to devise ways and means by which to pur- 
chase an organ for the church and the two Sunday schools. Mr. Wen- 
rich started out with a subscription paper and in an hour secured 
pledges for one hundred and seventy-five dollars, not a single person 
refusing. The organ (said to have been the first one brought to Joplin) 
was purchased of W. P. Owen, then of Neosho, but later one of Joplin 's 
substantial citizens. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 161 

The Methodist Episcopal Church South 

During the latter part of 1872 the Rev. J. F. Hogan, a South Meth- 
odist minister, came to Joplin and took steps toward organizing a class 
of that denomination, choosing East Joplin for his field and preaching 
his first sermon in an unfinished store building on Broadway. After 
considerable labor against adverse circumstances, a class was formed 
and at the next meeting of the conference John D. Wood, a young man 
of great energy, was appointed to the Joplin charge. Below are the 
members of the South Church when Mr. Wood began his labors : William 
< >uiek, John Allington and wife, R, A. Sterling, John Angel and wife, 
Mrs. Huddleston, and Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson. 

Rev. Wood was a gifted speaker and, being an untiring worker, 
quickly built up a large congregation. He commenced his labors in the 
spring of 1873 and continued with the church for two years. During 
his ministry a church was built in East Joplin at the corner of Hill and 
John streets, the structure costing $2,250. During 1874 the church sold 
a half interest in that building to the Presbyterians and the two de- 
nominations used it alternately until 1876, when the Presbyterians sold 
back their interest to the South church. 

St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church 

The work of inaugurating the Catholic church in Joplin was begun 
in 1872 by the Rev. Father Newman as attending missionary, with A. 
Chattell, John Ferguson and Barney Ferguson as members. 

After a short missionary career, Rev. E. Benoneine came to the Jop- 
lin parish and labored in the field until 1876, when the Rev. Father 
O 'Riley arrived and was assigned to this charge. 

The further mention of the St. Peter 's Church will be taken up dur- 
ing our narrative of the events of 1876 and the later 'seventies. 

The African M. E. Church 

In May, 1872, the African Methodists established a church in Joplin, 
the Rev. John Dorsey being its first pastor. The church did not have 
a home during the 'seventies, but met in a rented room, or at the houses 
of its members until 1881, when the congregation purchased the old 
Methodist church at Fourth and Kentucky. 

Joplin and Baxter Stage and Transfer Line 

In January, 1872, Messrs. William Carter and C. A. Underwood es- 
tablished a transfer line between Baxter Springs, Kansas, and Joplin, 
doing a heavy freighting business, as then all of the merchandise from 
Kansas City and the north came via Baxter and was freighted overland 
to Joplin. A stage line owned by Botkins & Company operated a stage 
line between these two points and it was a typical western sight to see 
the big four-horse overland stage roll into Joplin at noon each day, the 

Tol. I— 11 



162 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

boot piled high with trunks, the driver sitting on the big high front seat 
armed in true frontier style with his trusty '45, and the stage itself 
crowded to its capacity with excited fortune hunters coming to the new 
land of lead and excitement. 

Amusement Halls 

Early in 1872 two amusement halls were built in East Joplin, Hutch- 
inson and the Star Concert, the latter being given over to vaudeville at- 









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Joplin in Sprin ■• '72: Stack Coach from Baxter Springs 

tractions and run in connection with a saloon. Hutchinson Hall was 
used for lectures, literary meetings and concerts. 

Race Track 

During the summer of 1872 a race track was built south of the city 
and nearly every day during the summer and early fall there were a nnm- 
of exciting races at which much money changed hands. The track was 
a straight one half a mile long, extending from the northeastern entrance 
tn the cemetery in a northeasterly direction to about the site of the Byers 
school. 

A Unique Marriage Ceremony 

One of the earliest marriages in the new town, if not the first, was 
that of Squire J. W. Clehouse and Miss Melvina Lane. Justice Clehouse, 
who was one of the justices of the peace, on the afternoon of August 10, 
1872. placed in the hands of the constable a subpoena commanding a 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 163 

number of people, among them the several township officials, the mem- 
bers of the bar and others, to appear at the restaurant and ice cream 
parlor of Wagstaff & Teegles for the purpose of being witnesses in the 
case of Clehouse vs. Lane. The witnesses suspected that the ease was 
not one to be tried by the grave and impartial justice, but by Dan Cupid, 
for whisper had it that "wheresoever moved the fair, he was like her 
shadow there." In obedience to the summons, therefore, a large party 
gathered at the restaurant and at the appointed hour Judge Davis an- 
nounced that they were there for the purpose of celebrating the marriage 
of Justice Clehouse to Miss Melvina Lane and, in the presence of the wit- 
nesses, pronounced the happy couple man and wife. After the wedding 
services the witnesses and court officials partook of a bountiful feast 
which was presided over by the happy couple and to which they did 
ample justice. 

Cost of Living 

The market reports published in the Mining News in November, 1872, 
show the cost of living to be as follows : 

Flour $5.00 per 100-lb. sack 

Potatoes 75e per bushel 

Apples 75c p er bushel 

Butter 25e per pound 

Eggs 20c per dozen 

Sugar (whole lump) $1.00 12-lbs. 

Wood $2.50 per cord 

Coal 15c to 25e per bushel, or $3.75 to $5.00 per ton 

Value of Zinc Discovered 

The discovery of the value and properties of zinc blende, or "jack" 
as it is commonly called among the miners, was made by a German chem- 
ist in 1848. In 1858 Messrs. Mattis & Hagler of LaSalle, Illinois, erected 
a small experimental zinc furnace and successfully reduced a quantity 
of blends from the Mineral Point, Wisconsin, mines. The coming on of 
the war shortly after the perfection of that smelting process stopped for 
a time the further development of this important industry. After the 
war, however, the manufacture of zinc products was resumed. 

In 1866 George H. Hesslemyer, late of Germany but then a resident 
of St. Louis, interested a number of his countrymen (among them F. W. 
Meister and A. W. Flohr) in a project to reduce and experiment with 
the blend in the dump piles of the Potosi lead mines, in Washington 
county, this state. A small three-retort furnace was built and success- 
ful experiments made. To Mr. Hesslemyer, therefore, belongs the credit 
of starting the mining and smelting of zinc in the great state of Missouri. 

In November, 1866, Henry Weyman, then a young man recently 
graduated from a German university, came to America at the solicitation 
of Mr. Meister and took a position with the Potosi Zinc Works as chemist 
and assistant superintendent. Mr. Weyman reported to his employers 
at St. Louis that the cost of hauling coal to Potosi ate up the profits of 
the manufactured article and, at his suggestion, the plant was closed at 



164 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

Potosi and rebuilt at Old Carondelet, in South St. Louis, where fuel was 
cheap. Zinc spelter was first used in making brass, alloy and zinc plate 
and. at the time of building the first plant, sold for twelve cents a pound. 

Mr. Weyman continued for a time to reside at Potosi and shipped 
the zinc blend from that point to St. Louis. Rev. Geo. H. Williamson, of 
the Bethany Presbyterian church of Joplin, then a resident of Potosi, 
superintended the cleaning of the first car of ore shipped to the new 
furnace. The Coyle Brothers, later of Joplin, were Mr. Weyman 's team- 
sters. 

Mr. Hesslemyer now organized a new company, the Missouri Zinc 
Company, and as its agent visited Granby in 1872 for the purpose of se- 
curing zinc silicate. The miners, not knowing its value, threw it out on 
the dump piles as waste material, and the German ore buyer had no 
trouble in securing two carloads of the jack to be used in his experiments. 
On learning that the zinc had a value, Henry T. Blow of St. Louis, pres- 
ident and general manager of the Granby Company telegraphed to give 
no more of the black jack away. The first price paid for jack at Granby 
was two dollars a ton. 

Miner's Learn "Jack's" Value 

In Joplin and at Orongo, ' ' jack, ' ' the same as at Granby, was at first 
thrown out on the dump piles and no attention was paid to it; in fact, 
the miners thought less of it than they did of tiff, because it was not so 
pretty and could not even be used for ornamental purposes, but in 1872 
two eminent mineralogists came to the Joplin field and told the miners 
and land owners that the supposed worthless "jack" was the highest 
grade of zinc blend. These two men were D. Bowman and Professor 
Swallow. Mr. Bowman came to Union City for the purpose of writing 
up the mining district for the Globe Democrat and Professor Swallow, 
who at that time was state geologist, was traveling through southwestern 
Missouri making notes relative to the geological formation and stratas of 
rock in Jasper and Newton counties and was compiling the data for his 
book, "The Rocks and Minerals of Missouri." 

Mr. Bowman, by the way, made a most complimentary write-up of 
southwestern Missouri and was so well pleased with Joplin that he de- 
cided to cast his lot with the young town. On the completion of his 
newspaper report he took up his residence in Joplin and for ten years 
was prominently identified with the mining industry of Jasper county. 

Messrs. Bowman and Swallow told the Joplin miners that the zinc 
industry would in time be of greater importance than the mining of lead 
and urged that more attention be given to its mining. At the suggestion 
of Mr. Bowman, Dorsey & Porter, Moffet & Sergeant and Murphy & 
Davis shipped to Mattis & Ilagler at LaSalle, Illinois, two carloads of 
zinc blend and they, realizing its value, at once sent an agent into the field 
to purchase the "jack." The first batch of zinc shipped from Joplin 
brought five dollars a ton. A continuation of the zinc story will be made 
in our notes of 1873. at which time permanent buyers came into the field 
and the zinc industry became a permanency. 



CHAPTER XVI II 

JOPLIN IN 1873 

Union Movement Started — Joplin 's Birthday — The Spirit op Joplin 
— E. R. Moffet — Joplin City Script — Main Street Graveled — 
Joplin and Galena Townships — Mining and Smelting — Zinc- 
Exhibit at World's Pair, Vienna — The Ffrst City Election 
— Opening of East Joplin Schools — Churches Organized During 
1873. 

January, 1873, found the two towns without a local government, save 
the constable and justice of the peace, and both East and West Joplin 
immediately took steps towards establishing a municipality. 

At a special meeting of the county court, held January 11, 1873, two 
towns were organized — Joplin, including the territory east of the creek, 
and Murphysburg, that portion which was west of the little stream that 
divided the two towns. 

The board of trustees of Joplin (East Town) comprised the following 
members: John Allington, J. A. Thompson, J. W. Clehouse, Lee Taylor 
and P. A. Luster. John Allington was elected president of the board, 
and G. D. Jackson was appointed clerk, D. P. Ballard, attorney and 
P. L. Thompson, treasurer. 

The trustees of Murphysburg were E. R. Moffet, I). M. Breazeale. J. 
C. Gaston, J. H. McCoy and John S. Workizer. G. D. Orner was ap- 
pointed attorney, J. W. Lupton, marshal. M. W. Stafford, treasurer and 
C. .J. G. Workizer, clerk. 

Union Movement Started 

During the meantime, however, a movement was launched to secure 
a special charter from the legislature and incorporate the two towns as 
one, many of the people feeling that as in "union there is strength," so, 
as the interests of the two towns were similar, better results could be 
obtained if all worked in harmony for the same ends. Accordingly a 
mass meeting was called to talk over the matter of incorporation and a 
united and better Joplin. 

Pat Murphy, the father of Murphysburg, suggested that the united 
city should be called Joplin, thus yielding gracefully to the east side the 
sentiment of a name. 

The following committee was appointed to draft a proposed charter: 

165 



166 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

East Joplin — J. A. C. Thompson, John Allington, Lee Taylor, P. A. 
Luster, J. W. Clehonse and John H. Taylor. 

Murphysburg— E. R. Moffet, J. H. McCoy, J. C. Gaston, J. S. Worki- 
zer, I). M. Breazeale and P. Murphy. 

The eoniinittee employed Judge I. \V. Davis to put in form their ideas 
relative to the government of the city and he drafted the law which gave 
to Joplin its corporate power. 

Joplin 's Birthday 

Hon. John H. Taylor and T. M. Dorsey presented the draft to the 
general assembly then in session and C. C. Allen of Carthage, state 
senator from the district, lent valuable aid in securing its passage. The 
bill became a law March 23, 1873, and from that date Joplin legally dates 
its birth. 

At the date of its incorporation Joplin had approximately four thou- 
sand inhabitants. To give an idea of its continued growth, we mention 
that during January and February four more smelters had been built, 
making seventeen lead furnaces then running at full blast both day and 
night. Up to that time no streets had been graded, or sidewalks built, 
and the general contour of the town was as nature had made it. In fact, 
like ancient Rome, Joplin sat upon its seven hills; but here the similarity 
ends, for there was no great Appian way or massive palaces of marble 
;iml bronze — only the well-beaten roads which necessity had made and 
a thousand or more small box-houses and tents. Save the East Joplin 
school building, a brick store on Broadway and the unfinished Cumber- 
land Presbyterian church, all of the buildings were of wood. 

It will be seen, therefore, that the officers who were to assume the 
reins of government had a mighty task. They must bring order out of 
chaos and give to the good citizens protection ; they must grade the streets, 
beautify the town and devise ways and means for the accomplishment of 
these great objects. 

The first officers of the new Joplin were appointed by the governor 
and he very appropriately named E. R. Moffet, one of the men who sunk 
the first shaft, as mayor. J. A. C. Thompson, Lee Taylor, J. H. McCoy 
and J. C. Gaston were named as councilmen. The other officers were: J. 
W. Lupton, marshal; I. W. Davis, police judge; G. D. Orner, city at- 
torney; Philo Thompson, treasurer and T. A. McClelland, city assessor. 
These officers held until October 14th (the second Tuesday), when the 
first general election occurred. 

The following article, published in the St. Louis Globe-DemoQrat, 
February 14th. very correctly presents the condition in Joplin as they 
existed at the time of the incorporation: 

The Spntrr of Joplin. 

i lie memorial which lias been prepared for presentation to the Legislature, 
to secure the Incorporation of the towns of Murphysburg and Joplin, illustrates 
better than any thing else the rapid development of the load-mining district 
of which these towns an- the center. Murphysburg and Joplin, as has heretofore 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 167 

been explained, are two thriving hamlets situated in the southwestern part of 
Jasper county. They are divided only by a narrow gulch, the valley of a mineral- 
washing stream, and for all practical purposes are one town. Jealousies over the 
name, and a struggle for priority of location, have, however, divided them, and 
to some extent injured their prosperity. By an overwhelming vote, these dif- 
ferences have now been buried, and as soon as the Legislature responds favorably 
to the petition for incorporation — which we hope will lie at an early day — 
there will be one city with a single and harmonious government. Within the 
Joplin mining district, which is less than two miles square, there has, in short 
space of fifteen mouths, grown up a settlement of more than five thousand per- 
manent inhabitants, besides a large transient population. The reason of the 
rapid growth of the towns appears from the fact that, while the entire amount 
of pig lead received in St. Louis for the year 1872. from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa 
and all Missouri, except Joplin, was about .$19,000,000, the yield of Joplin alone 
was $6,000,000, or nearly one-third of the entire receipts. In addition to this, 
new mines are being opened, old ones worked deeper, and richer and more ex- 
tensive deposits of the ore are being found. It is therefore reasonably expected 
that the products of these mines for the year 1873 will reach from $16,000,000, 
to $18,000,000, which will be a yield of at least one-half of the lead shipped to 
St. Louis, the great lead market of the United States, from four of the largest 
lead-producing States in the Union. Outside of this famous "Joplin district," and 
within a radius of five miles, taking the two towns as the center, there are not 
less than ten mines which lead is now being taken in paying quantities. 

This exhibit is not only interesting as an indication of what has already been 
accomplished, but is of incalculable worth as an example to other localities where 
the natural advantages are equally as great, but which lack the pluck and the 
industry that have been the conspicuous characteristics of the Joplinites. The 
latter have worked under more than ordinary disadvantages. The tract is shut 
in from the railroads and from the productive gardens by a wide belt of gloomy, 
sterile land. The people have lacked capital all along, and they lack it now. 
They need it to open the yet untouched mineral land ; they need mouey to bring 
in more steam engines for pumping purposes, to enable poor miners, who have 
rich prospects, to work their claims to an advantage below the water line ; they 
should have and at once, a white-lead factory in the midst of the mines to con- 
sume the lead produced to save the enormous sum annually paid for transporta- 
tion; they need ready funds to erect dwellings for labors, and to carry out a dozen 
other enterprises, for the lack of which the city suffers. But while they have 
lacked the capital tiny have possessed abundant nerve, and this has pulled them 
through. It is reasonable to expect that within a few years Joplin will be 
one of the wealthiest communities in Missouri. 

A score of other counties in this State need be Joplinized. There is lead 
elsewhere, there is coal ready to lie mined, there are acres upon acres of iron wait- 
ing to be coaxed from its half-hiding places, and the inexhaustless deposits of rarer 
ores which would richly repay development. 

B. R. Moffet, the first mayor of Joplin, at the date of his induction 
into the executive chair was in the prime of life. He was a man of vigor- 
ous action and thought and naturally acted quickly. Having seen the 
city grow from its infancy, he was greatly attached to its people and its 
industries. He strove to execute the law in such a manner that the town 
would be morally uplifted, and, at the same time appreciating the con- 
ditions which surround the mining industry, tempered justice with 
mercy. During his administration the foundation was laid for a number 
of public improvements, among them the organization of a fire depart- 
ment, the establishment of a system of street improvements and the de- 



16H 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 



vising of a plan for raising public funds, which was perhaps at this time 
After passing ordinances relative to disturbances of the peace and 
genera] welfare of the city, the first great t;isk was to provide for its 
finances. 

•Joi'lin City Script 

When the new city government was instituted, it had, of course, do 
treasury. There could not, until almost a year, be a collection of any of 
the taxes which would be assessed during the succeeding summer, and 
there was nothing immediately in sight in the way of revenue excepting 
licenses which could be collected from the merchants and the fines which 
would be assessed, from time to time, against the offenders of the law. 
For the two-fold purpose of raising money to meet the immediate ex- 
pense necessary to carry out the functions of local government and also 
to serve as a medium of exchange to replace the United States currency 




yiissof. 






CIYY^JOvrjTN 



.5*^ 




■ Vo44 



If in «*' 

ft!*- ■ 



Sample Script Issued ky Joplin i\ 1873 



which was rapidly going into hiding oxi account of the panic which was 
paralyzing the business interest of the county, the city council issued ten 
thousand dollars in city script ami used this in [laying its obligations. 
This substitute for money passed readily among the miners and business 
men of Joplin and was accepted at the Joplin financial institutions and 
big mining concerns at par, although the banks of Carthage, Baxter and 
other nearby towns refused to take it. 

The council had not full authority of law to issue tins script, but the 
necessities of the hour gave it a semi-legal force and a full moral sanction 
and after the panic the city redeemed every dollar of its outstanding, 
make-shift money. 

Main Street in West Joplin Gbaveled 

The first, street in Joplin to be worked was Main street in West .l<ui- 
lin. During the summer of 1873 the property owners petitioned the city 
council to grade and gravel Main street. The work was paid for by pop- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 169 

ular subscriptions, Messrs. P. Murphy and E. D. Porter each giving one 
hundred dollars toward the enterprise. 

Joplin and Galena Townships 

In May, 1873, the county court redistricted the county into municipal 
townships and the city of Joplin was divided, East Joplin being in Du- 
buque, later Joplin township, and West Joplin in Galena township. The 
dividing line between the two townships was the alley east of Main street 
in West Joplin. This arrangement caused great excitement in West 
Joplin, for the reason that at least one-third of the population of that 
place was in the east side township. To settle the controversy the county 
court visited Joplin and, after viewing the situation and seeing the con- 
ditions, changed the boundary line to Joplin creek. 

Mining and Smelting 

During 1873 seventeen lead smelters were operated, three of them 
being neutral smelters purchasing the lead in the open market. The fol- 
lowing were the principal smelters : Moffet & Sergeant, Joplin Creek 
valley. 

Davis & Murphy, A and Joplin; then a well defined valley and on 
either side a branch, which after a good rain swelled to the dignity of 
a creek. 

J. M. & S. Co. 's smelters, Kansas City Bottom; just east of the big 
hill where now is the residence of Chris Guergerich. 

Corn & Thompson, neutral smelter; furnace and railway at East 
Joplin. 

Hannibal L. & Z. Co., at the head of Pitcher ditch. 

Dorsey & Porter, at foot of Swindle hill. 

Granby smelter, Lone Elm. 

The Pitcher Furnace between Swindle hill and Parr hill. 

The Lone Elm Mining Co., smelter; now the White Lead Works. 

West Joplin L. & Z. Co. ; afterward the zinc works. 

In the fall of 1873 there was a slight decline in the ore market, due 
to the panic and general business depression, and lead took a slump from 
five to seven cents per pound. This was a great blow to the miners and. 
with the high cost of living, royalty and pump rent, many miners threat- 
ened to quit. 

The Pitchers were the first to relieve the situation and, with the far- 
sighted and liberal business policy which has characterized them in their 
dealing with the miners from the first, they reduced the royalty on their 
land and pumped the water from the mines free. The other companies 
quickly following suit and in an incredibly short time mining conditions 
were normal and the work of developing the district went merrily on. 

Zinc 

Early in the spring of 1873 C. F. Mugge, zinc buyer of LaSalle, Illi- 
nois, visited Joplin and urged the miners to pay more attention to the 



170 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

mining of "jack" and to save that which was being thrown out on the 
dump piles. He bought a small quantity of zinc at $5.00 per ton, but the 
price paid was a small inducement to the miners and little attention was 
paid to it until the fall of the year when Chris Guenerich, representing 
Matthiessen & Hegeler, and John Immel, agent for the Illinois Zinc 
Company, appeared in the field and a sharp competition for the blende 
was begun. Mr. Guenerich raised the price of zinc for first-class ore to 
nine dollars per ton and immediately the jack in the dump piles, which 
before had "looked like thirty cents," figuratively speaking, now was 
much sought for and it may properly be said with the coming of Messrs. 
Guenerich & Immel the zinc industry of Jasper county came into 
prominence. 

The Bank of Joplin 

In May. 1873. Messrs. Moffet & Sergeant and W. F. Botkins, a banker 
at Baxter Springs, organized the Bank of Joplin, E. R. Moffet was 
chosen as president and W. F. Botkins, cashier. Ralph Muir, the ice- 
man, was the first depositor. This bank continued in business until the 
early 'eighties, when the Miners' Bank absorbed the holdings of this 
institution. 

The establishment of the Bank of Joplin gave to the west side better 
facilities for the transaction of business and at this particular time 
played a most important part, for it saved Joplin from the financial 
disaster which swept the country generally in the panic of 1873. The 
Bank of Joplin accepted at par the script which the city had issued and 
also established a sort of a credit due bill which served as a medium of 
exchange. To illustrate : When the mouey went out of sight the com- 
panies were forced to give, due bills in part payment for the ore; these 
due bills were accepted as cash at the bank, and on these credits, drafts 
were sold, checks honored and the business of the community carried on. 

Another simple medium of facilitating trade was as follows: The 
miners had the lead and at this time the ore had a fixed value, five cents 
per pound. Every merchant had a lead box in his store and accepted 
small quantities of lead ore in payment for groceries, clothing and other 
accessaries. To illustrate: Mr. Jones, a miner, wanted to buy half a 
dollar's worth of sugar; he brought ten pounds of mineral to the store 
and thus paid for it. The grocer dumped this, with other mineral, into 
his ore box, and when he had 1,000 pounds or more sold it to one of the 
smelters and received in payment a check on the bank which he deposited 
and took credit for; and thus it happened that while all over the state 
and country fortunes were swept away, Joplin grew and prospered. 

Exhibit \t World's Fair. Vienna 

In March, 1873, Joplin was honored by the imperial government of 
Austria with an invitation to make an exhibit of its mineral products 
at the World's Fair to be held at its capital, Vienna. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 171 

Hon. John H. Taylor was selected by the United States government 
to represent it in the capacity of one of the commissioners representing 
the mining industry, and gathered from the district a fine display of 
mineral specimens which were sent to the fair, but owing to the illness 
of his mother Mr. Taylor did not attend in person. 

The First City Election 

On Tuesday, October 14, 1873, the first election for officers under the 
new charter took place, and, although uon-political, was hotly contested, 
some thirty candidates being in the field for the several offices to be 
filled. In the early days of the city, and until 1889, the political parties 
did not make nominations. There was an open field and the people voted 
for their personal friends, or for the man who, in their judgment, was 
best fitted for the place. 

The contest for mayor was very close and resulted in the election of 
Lee Taylor. Mr. Taylor was a mining superintendent and exceedingly 
popular with the people of East Joplin. Mr. Moffet was also much be- 
loved by the people of the west side. East Joplin voted almost solidly 
for Taylor and West Joplin almost solidly for Moffet. Lone Elm de- 
cided the fate of the day by easting a few more votes for Taylor than 
Moffet, and thus according to him the honor of being the first elected 
m;iyor of Joplin. Mr. Taylor made a vigorous executive and gave much 
of his time to the city. During the troublesome times of the Lupton riot, 
he stood firm, and, emulating the general he followed during the Civil 
war, stood like a stone-wall and held back the angry mob. Business 
conditions arose during the latter part of his administration which de- 
manded his full time and he resigned before the close of the term. Coun- 
cilman J. H. McCoy, of the Second ward, filled out the unexpired term. 

J. W. McAntire, the city attorney, was elected by the largest majority 
of any of the candidates, defeating four aspirants for the place. 

An incident is told relative to this campaign which shows how the 
miners of the early day, and for that matter those of the present, always 
help the young men of the legal profession who are struggling to rise. 
When J. W. McAntire first came to Joplin he took desk-room with D. P. 
Ballard and attended to the little odds and ends of the law business which 
came to the office. When East Joplin was organized as a town in Janu- 
uary, 1873, many of the friends of J. W. McAntire, then just admitted to 
the bar and a promising young lawyer, suggested his name for attorney 
of the new town and Mr. Ballard, in whose office Mr. McAntire had his 
desk, volunteered to present Mr. McAntire 's name to the town board. 
With that modesty which had always characterized Mr. McAntire, he 
kept in the background and as the politicians say "put himself in the 
hands of his friends." When the board met Mr. Ballard suggested Mr. 
McAntire "s name, but when one of the board called attention to Mr. 
McAntire 's youth and inexperience, in place of setting forth the energy 
and studiousness of his protege, he arose and said it was true that Mr. 
McAntire had no experience and was as yet an ''untried neophyte" and 



172 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

that if the hoard thought, in their wisdom, that an older head was more 
to he desired, he would take the appointment. 

The next day when Mr. MeAntire learned how his friend had taken 
from him the plum, he moved his office to another building and began 
the practice of law on his own hook and depended entirely on his own 
resources. When the story went round among the boys John MeAntire 's 
stock rose and likewise his law practice, and so at the election of 1873 
the citizens, by an overwhelming vote, expressed their confidence in the 
young attorney. 

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge, to which Mr. Me- 
Antire belonged, also voted for him almost to a man. 

Opening op Bast Joplin Schools 

The new schoolhouse was completed the middle of January, 1873. 
and was formally opened and dedicated January 21st by appropriate 
exercises. G. D. Jackson acted as chairman of the meeting and after 
invocation by Rev. Gutton, agent of the Congregational Home Mission- 
ary Society, remarks were made by U. B. "Webster (county superintend- 
ent,) J. A. C. Thompson, John H. Taylor, John C. Cox, D. P. Ballard 
and Professor Dickey, of the Carthage schools, who made the address 
of the evening. S. B. Ormsby, who had been selected by the board to 
be principal of the school, read an original poem depicting the life and 
activities of the mining town. A supper which was served by the ladies 
of East Joplin. for the purpose of purchasing desks for the school, netted 
$102.50. 

Churches Organized During 1873 

On Sunday, February 2, 1873, Rev. Gutton, of the Congregational 
Church Extension Society, preached in Joplin and began laying the 
foundation for a Congregational church. Mr. Gutton labored in and 
around Joplin the greater part of the year, preaching at the homes of 
members of his congregation or in public halls when they could be se- 
cured. A church organization was not effected, however, until 1876, a 
mention of which will lie made in the chapter on the Middle 'Seventies. 

The First Presbyterian church of Joplin was organized in East Jop- 
lin in December. 1873. The officiating minister was the Rev. Benjamin 
F. Powelson. The organization was effected in a little hall located on 
Mineral street. There were eleven corporate members of whom we are 
able at this writing to name the following: John H. Taylor, Mr. J. W. 
and Mrs. Delhi Gordon, Mr. II. A. and Mrs. M. A. Clippenger, Mrs. A. 
V. Allen, Mr. and Mrs, Thompson and Mrs. Adkins. 

Mrs. A. V. Allen is the only charter member now alive, and has been 
a most faithful worker in the church. For twenty-five consecutive years, 
save one. she was the president of the Ladies Society and during the 
thirty-eighl years of the church's existence has been a regular attendant 
at its services. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 173 

John H. Taylor did much for the church iu a financial way, and 
when the clouds hung dark over the little congregation always found a 
way to tide them over the rough seas of financial disaster. 

The minister placed in charge of the new church was 'Squire Glas- 
cock. He was commissioned by the Board of Home Missions and oc- 
cupied the place for about three years. 

About the time of the organization of the Presbyterian Society the 
people of the Methodist Church South built a house of worship in East 
Joplin at the corner of John and Hill streets. Not being able to pay for 
it, Mr. Taylor bought a half interest and presented it to the Presbyterian 
church. 

The two denominations occupied the building jointly, holding ser- 
vices alternate Sundays until 1876. 

The church building, which was used jointly by the South Methodists 
and Presbyterians, was a very pretty little church and stood on the north- 
ern slope of the East Joplin hill on John street. It was furnished with 
pews and appropriate church furniture. After the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian church disposed of its edifice to the West Joplin school district, 
most of the members of that denomination joined the first church and 
affiliated with them. 



CHAPTER XIX 

JOPLIN IN THE MIDDLE 'SEVENTIES 

Saloons in 1875 — Schifferdicker 's Garden in 1876 — The Lupton 
Riot — Blowing up of Hannibal Lead and Zinc Company's Plant 
— City Election of October, 1874 — Patrick Murphy — Township 
Elections in 1874 — Destructive Fire in November, 1874 — The 
Joplin Hotel, — Court of Common Pleas — Land Owners' Asso- 
ciation — Joplin 's First Circus — First Theatre — Fourth of 
July, 1875 — Hugh Dyer & Company, Boiler Works — Hack Lines 
to Carthage and Neosho — Board of Trade — Fire Department — 
City Election, 1875 — East Joplin Public Library — Bruce 
Younger — Joplin at the Centennial — City Election, Centennial 
— F. E. Williams — Presidential Election, in 1876 — Society 
Mask-ball December 28, 1876 — The Riseling Building — -The East 
Joplin School — The West Joplin Schools — Lone Elm School, — 
Tlif Christian Church — Catholic Church — The Baptists — Build- 
ing of the Tabernacle — First Church Wedding — The Fraterni- 
ties — Joplin Turnverein Germania. 

The years from 1874 to 1876, inclusive, form a distinct period, for 
during that time there was a steady and continuous growth, and these 
three years may properly be styled the "palmy days" of Joplin 's pio- 
neer period. 

Although the organization of the city government had brought the 
Reign of Terror to a close, Joplin was still about the liveliest place be- 
tween the Mississippi river and the Rocky mountains and, while the city 
was comparatively free from murders and robberies, about everything 
else was permitted. 

Saloons in 1875 

We note in an issue of the Joplin Mining news, published during the 
summer of 1875, that the city had seventy-five saloons open both day and 
night and in most of them a full orchestra giving free concerts every 
evening, with matinees Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. The fol- 
lowing are the names of some of the popular bars : Healthwood bar. 
Board of Trade, and the Steam Boat saloons, the Golden Gate, Miners' 
Drift. Bullock & Boucher's, the Bon Ton. the Palace, and the Brick Hotel 
bar. 

One of the popular places was Blackwells bar, and there something 

174 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 175 

new and exciting was always being pulled off. In November, 1876, Mr. 
Blackwell arranged for the entertainment of his patrons, a fight be- 
tween a Cinnamon bear which was brought up from the hills of Arkansas 
and six blooded bull-dogs. One thousand two hundred people witnessed 
the fight which was won by the bear. 

Schifferdicker's Garden 

On March 7, 1876, Schifferdicker's Garden, a popular picnic ground 
and pleasure resort was opened with a large attendance. The garden 
was located on Turkey creek about a quarter of a mile east of Castle 
Rock and was a most attractive natural wild. Joplin celebrated the 
Fourth there in 1876. 

The population of Joplin, based on the census of the three school 
districts taken in June, 1876, was 10,375, and it is probable that during 




Schifferdicker's Garden i.v 1876 

the summer of that year the place was at the height of its early-day 
prosperity. 

Excepting in East Joplin and West Joplin from First to Sixth 
streets, where the houses were built with some regularity, the majority 
of the houses were built in the Creek valley and around the mining 
activities at Lone Elm, Swindle hill and what is now North Heights, 
and all during the period mentioned houses were going up at the rate of 
fifty a week. 

The author remembers walking over Lone Elm one Sunday in the 
early part of August, 1876, and noting the activities of the day. Re- 
turning to that portion of the town, the following Sunday, he counted 
with his father one hundred new houses that had been built during the 
week. It must be kept in mind that the small box -house of that day did 
not require as much time to erect as the cottage and bungalow of today. 



176 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

The Joplin Daily Xews of August 1, 1876. says that "there are now- 
one thousand mines in the Joplin District being operated, and houses 
are being built at the rate of fifty a day. The weekly pay-roll for miners, 
smelters, teamsters, mechanics, etc., aggregates forty thousand dollars 
per week." 

The Lupton Riot 

During the month of May, 1874, Police Judge Jacob Hogle filed a 
charge with the city council, accusing the city marshal, J. W. Lupton, 
with malfeasance in office, setting up in his complaint that the marshal 
had arrested certain people who had not been brought before the judge 
for trial, and had collected from them money in the way of costs which 
had not been accounted for. The people referred to were gamblers and 
women of ill-repute. Mr. Lupton denied the charge. The council, sit- 
ting as a court, removed him from office and appointed W. B. McCracken 
as marshal in his stead. Mr. Lupton denied the right of the council to 
try the case and refused to vacate the office. 

Mr. McCracken, who had been appointed by the council to act as 
marshal, with a view of taking possession of the city jail, w T ent to the 
holdover and began trying to pick the lock. Mr. Lupton, who happened 
along about that time, asked him what he doing and Mr. McCracken re- 
plied that he had been appointed marshal and was there trying to open 
the jail door. Mr. Lupton said that he need not go to that trouble, that 
he would open the door for him; thereupon he took from his pocket a 
large brass key which opened the outside door to the calaboose. Open- 
ing the door, he shoved Mr. McCracken inside and locked the door again, 
with the newly appointed marshal as a prisoner. After being in jail for 
a few hours, Mr. McCracken told Mr. Lupton if he would let him out 
that he would resign; and after being let out of the jail tendered his 
resignation to the mayor, who accepted it. The city council in special 
session appointed W. S. Norton as marshal. 

Mr. Norton was a determined man and equally as muscular and 
athletic as Lupton and immediately proceeded to take possession of the 
jail. Taking two deputies with him to the jail, he proceeded to remove 
the hinges from the door and, leaving the two officers there to guard 
the building, he took the door to a blacksmith shop in East Joplin and 
had new hinges and hasps made. While he was away Mr. Lupton, with 
two friends, swooped down on the officers left in charge and overpowered 
them. Upon returning from the blacksmith shop and perceiving what 
had been done, Mr. Norton drew his revolver, a '45 Navy, and started 
toward Lupton. Mr. Lupton quickty drew his pistol and started to 
meet Norton. At this juncture, Judge Davis, of the common pleas 
court, rushed between the combatants and "commanded peace in the 
name of the state" and bloodshed was averted. 

Then the council through the city attorney, instituted ouster pro- 
ceedings against Mr. Lupton in the Jasper county court of common 
pleas at Carthage, and R. A. Cameron, acting as special judge, decided 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 177 

in favor of the city and issued a writ of ouster against Mr. Lupton, who 
at once appealed the case to the circuit court. 

That night a large hody of Mr. Lupton 's friends gathered in front 
of the city jail and were about to take possession. The crowd was in an 
ugly mood and it looked for a time as if there was going to be a battle 
between the ex-marshal's numerous friends and the law-and-order posse 
which was assembled at tbe city hall. 

Among those who were in the law-and-order party were P. Murphy, 
E. D. Porter, C. J. Workizer and others, armed for the fray and there 
to stand by the mayor and preservation of the city hall. 

At the suggestion of City Attorney McAntire, the riot act was read 
to the angered mob and after a speech from the city attorney, in which 
lie informed the people of the finding of the court, they disbursed, but 
not until D. P. Ballard, tbe attorney for Lupton, bad corroborated the 
statement of Mr. McAntire. 

The crisis came the next day, June 4th. In the meantime Mr. Lupton 
returned from Carthage, where he had filed his appeal bond, and an- 
nounced to his friends that the case was not disposed of and a mass 
meeting of his friends was called for 5 o'clock in the afternoon to pass 
resolutions condemning the city council and also to retake the city jail. 
The people stood around on the streets and discussed the matter and it 
looked as if trouble could not be averted. 

Mr. McAntire. the city attorney, told the people that the appeal of 
Mr. Lupton did not alter the matter ; that the finding of the court would 
stand until reversed by the higher court and urged them to go to their 
homes and abide by the law. Mr. Lupton 's Mends insisted that the 
court had not issued the writ of ouster, but that it was held in abey- 
ance pending the trial in the higher court. Mr. McAntire then asked 
the leaders if they would desist, if he brought them the records of the 
decree from Carthage, and they said, "Yes." It was then past one 
o'clock and a trip to Carthage and return must be made in less than 
four hours. 

Daniel Collins, the liveryman, said he had a team that could make the 
trip, and Wm, Byers, H. Gildmacher, P. Murphy and others volunteered 
to pay for the team should the hard drive on that day (the thermometer 
stood at 90°) kill the horses. 

Mr. McAntire made the trip to Carthage in one hour and ten minutes 
and, after securing a certified copy of the decree, started for Joplin, 
making the return-trip in one hour and twenty minutes, but in time to 
save the day, for the meeting had just organized. Driving up to the 
city hall and throwing the lines to a friend in the crowd, which was 
gathered in front of the city building, he rushed up-stairs to the meet- 
ing. When he entered the door someone called "Have you got the 
papers?" Pulling the legal document from his pocket, he walked up 
to the speaker's stand and said "Here they are," and, realizing that 
they had lost, one of the Lupton men moved an adjournment and the 
deposed marshal agreed to await the result of the appeal. Thus ended 



178 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

the riot and Mr. McAntire's ride went down in the early history of the 
town as the event which averted a crisis.* 

Blowing Up of the Hannibal L. & 7.. Company's Plant 

As mentioned before in our zinc story in the early mining operations, 
no attention was paid to jack. "When it began to have a value, a diffi- 
culty arose as to just how the zinc ore should be sold ; also to whom the 
zinc in the dump piles belonged. 

The early contracts made between the land owners and miners made 
no mention of zinc. The method of ascertaining the value of lead was 
as follows: When lead spelter on the St. Louis market sold for seven 
cents the raw material in Joplin was worth twenty-five dollars a thou- 
sand. In this way the price to be paid for lead at any time was fixed 
and it was a very easy matter to figure the royalty and the price ac- 
cording to this fixed rule ; but with the zinc included it had a different 
base. The several buyers paid for each lot what it seemed to be worth, 
taking into consideration the market and grade of mineral and so there 
was no fixed rule to determine its value. The price paid at different 
mines also varied. 

The miners contended that the zinc should be neutral and sold by the 
miner in the open market and to the best advantage, the miner being the 
judge of the time and place to sell. The land owners held that selling 
indiscriminately jeopardized the royalty for the reason that a correct 
record of the sales could not be kept unless the sales were handled from 
the general office. This difference between the miners and the land own- 
ers resulted in a riot which lasted for three days, during which time 
the men crowded the streets and held numerous little meetings to dis- 
cuss the proposition and ended in the destruction of the Furnace of the 
Hannibal Lead and Zinc Company in the Picher field on July 20, 1874. 

About two o'clock in the morning of that day a party of forty or 
fifty masked men made their appearance at the furnace and ordered the 
men to gether up their personal effects. After escorting the working 
force to a place of safety, a mile or so away, a large quantity of powder 
was placed in the building and an attached fuse lighted, when the mask- 
ers fled. About half past two the charge exploded, blowing the building 
and machinery to atoms and setting the debris on fire. The explosion 
awakened the people and the hook and ladder truck hurried to the scene, 
but no good could be accomplished, as the furnace was a mass of ruins. 
Some twenty odd citizens were arrested for complicity in the act, but 
no convictions were ever made, the evidence against the accused parties 
being insufficient. 

City Elections of October. 1874 

The city election following the Lupton trouble was an exciting one, 
great interest centering in the marshal contest. The officers elected to 

*Mr. Lupton won in the higher court and received from the city the fees which the 
marshal's office had earned during the time he was deprived of the office, and at the city 
election in October following he was again elected to the position by a large majority. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 179 

serve Joplin for the next year were : Mayor, Patrick Murphy ; council- 
men, P. E. Williams, Monroe Clark, P. L. Swartz, John Lewis, T. W. 
Cunningham, and J. A. Taylor ; marshal, J. W. Lupton ; city attorney, 
John C. Trigg; treasurer, A. E. Blackwell. 

The following were the appointed officers* : City clerk, J. A. Reed ; 
assessor and collector, T. A. McClelland; fire warden, J. W. McClehour; 
street commissioner, J. C. Gaston. 

Patrick Murphy 

Patrick Murphy, the fourth mayor of Joplin, was a native of Ireland 
and at the time of his election was thirty-five years of age, having been 
born January 6, 1839. 

Mr. Murphy came to America at the age of ten and was brought up 
on a farm in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. In 1859 he crossed the 
plains and in August, I860, struck a fine gold prospect in Colorado. 
After the war he engaged in the freight business and operated a large 
overland traffic. During his experience as a freighter he crossed the 
plains thirty-one times. Quitting the frontier in 1866, he came to Jasper 
county, settling at Carthage where he engaged in merchandising in 
partnership with W. P. Davis. Mr. Murphy was married at Carthage, 
November 19, 1868, to Miss Belle Workizer. His coming to Joplin and 
his early connections with the history of Joplin have already been men- 
tioned. 

Mr. Murphy was an exceptional man and perhaps did more for West 
Joplin than any other one man, and his liberal policy of disposing of 
town lots, his public spirit and large confidence in Joplin made him a 
fitting executive, so that his administration was marked by innumerable 
acts of civic progression. The late Judge Gaston, shortly before his 
death, in speaking of him to the author, thus describes Patrick Murphy : 
"He was a prince of good fellows and generous to a fault." 

It would hardly be justice to the part Mr. Murphy played in Joplin 's 
history to pass his name with a mere formal notice, and in order to show 
the character of the man and his great influence in the community, we 
will relate here the following stories which show him as lie was in private 
life. 

During his mining career Mr. Murphy took a lease on the Gordon 
land and was developing those diggings. One day Mr. Murphy came to 
the shaft where two men were working and calling to them said: "Well, 
boys, how is the ground looking?" "All right, Mr. Murphy, we think 
we shall strike good dirt soon, but if it is all the same to you we want 
to lay off for a couple of weeks and make a little grub stake, our money 
has given out." 

Taking two ten dollar bills from his pocket, he dropped them down 
in the mine and said: "If that will help out, I'd like to have you work 
on a little longer." They did, and the next week struck it big. making 

•Under the old city charter the police judge held for two years and Judge Hogle held 
over. Before his term of office was ended he died, and O. J. M. Tjoop was appointed to fill 
out the unexpired term. 



180 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

for themselves a little fortune and for the big-hearted son of Erin a 
nice sum in royalty. 

In the Leadville Hollow items, published in the Daily Nt ws in Au- 
gust, 1874, there was the following little comment about Mr. Murphy : 
"Pat Murphy favored the Shakerage Mine with a visit today and all of 
tin- miners feel encouraged by his words of comfort and cheer. 

"We appreciate advice from him because it comes from a man who 
had made his way up in the world. But the best thing about Pat Murphy 
is he acts the same as his words. 

• ' A few kind words followed by a little assistance has put many a 
miner on his feet, and if Joplin had more Pat Murphys this place would 
not only have the best miners in the state, but the happiest and most 
contented set of people in the whole land." 

Th.' above compliment was well deserved and shows how very popular 
he was with the miners of Joplin. 

Township Elections in 1874 

The township elections held in Joplin and Galana townships in April. 
1874. to elect township officers under the new township organization 
act resulted as follows. 

Joplin township : Justice of the Peace — L. R. Thomas. 

Constables — O. B. Hamlin and W. A. Lamkin. 

Trustee — J. C. Orner. 

Collector— W. H. Kilgore. 

Assessor. — J. M. Pickett. 

The vote of the First Ward School District was as follows : Commis- 
sioner — McPherson. 57 ; Webster, 52 ; Ormsby. 4. For director, Thomas 
and Ballard were elected. 

Galena township : Trustee — J. B. Sargeant. 

Clerk— J. W. McAntire. 

Assessor — D. K. Wenrich. 

Collector — J. G. Mathews. 

Justices of the Peace — Geo. Orear, and Jerry Clark. 

Destructive Fire in November, 1874 

On the morning of November 4, 1S74. at about 2 o'clock, a most 
destructive fire broke out in East Joplin in a small shed in the rear of a 
bakery on East Main street. The alarm was given and the citizens of 
both towns rushed to the scene of the conflagration and the fire com- 
pany, witli the new Babcock engine and the hook and ladder truck, hur- 
ried to the scene, but with all its heroic work it was unable to check the 
fire, as it had gained too great a headway and in less than two hours 
tbr entire block between John and Galena avenues was swept away, the 
loss being estimated at $75,000 and no insurance. The block was at once 
rebuilt.* 



•In Justic- to tin- fiii.' department, It must be mentioned that all of the fire fighting 
apparatus was drawn by members of the volunteer companies and citizens who came to their 
assistance, and it will readily be seen that by the time a company could be assembled the 
Are was well under headway: and pulling the big chemical engine and hook and ladder 
Inick up the east town hill was no small task. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY IHl 

The Joplin Hotel 

During the fall of 1874 J. H. McCoy interested a number of the lead- 
ing citizens in a project to build an up-to-date hotel, and the Joplin 
Hotel Company was organized. Work on the foundation was begun in 
November, 1874, and the building, a three-story brick was ready for 
occupancy the middle of April, 1875. 

J. M. Maderie, Sr.. was the first manager of the hostelry and it was 
formally opened to the public with a grand reception and ball. On 
Sunday, April 24th, the first Sabbath after the opening there were one 
hundred and thirty-five guests for dinner. 

The old Joplin Hotel was a historic building and until 1906, when 
it was torn down to make way for the Connor, it was the rallying place 
of all the old-timers. 




The Joplin Hotel 

The building of this hotel made Fourth and Main streets the center 
of the business activities of the early day. The old-time Joplinites al- 
ways spoke of the Joplin House as the "Brick Hotel." In the city elec- 
tions of the 'seventies and 'eighties the "Brick Hotel Ring" was a polit- 
ical bugaboo. 

The other popular hotels of the middle 'seventies were the Occi- 
dental, Broadway and Galena; the Southwestern, the Bateman, the Mc- 
Fall (later the St. James), the American House, both First and Main; 
and the Pacific House, Second and Virginia. The Pacific was a forty- 
room house and was the second hotel in size. 

The Coi'rt op Common Pleas 

By act of the legislature passed February 5, 1874, a court of com- 
mon pleas was established in the city of Joplin. This court had the fol- 
lowing .jurisdiction within the limits of Joplin and Galena townships: 



182 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

First, original and concurrent jurisdiction in all cases, both law and 
equity, with the circuit court of Jasper county, Missouri (except where 
the title to real estate was involved), and concurrent jurisdiction with 
justices of the peace, except where they have exclusive jurisdiction; 
second, power to issue injunctions, above named exceptions applying, 
and to hear and determine matters of habeas corpus the same as circuit 
courts ; also exclusive appellate jurisdiction from Joplin police court, 
and in ease of appeals from justices of .Joplin and Galena township. At 
this time there were four terms of the Jasper county common pleas court 
held at Carthage, and three extra terms for the transaction of probate 
business. Galen Spencer was elected judge of the court and served until 
January 26, 1875, when the legislature passed an act abolishing the court 
and providing that three terms a year of the common pleas court which 
was called at Carthage should be held at Joplin, and three terms of said 
court at Carthage, making six terms a j r ear in the county. This act, 
abolishing the Joplin court, also ordered the clerk (the judge of this 
court was by the act creating the court made, the judge, ex-officio clerk 
his court) of the Joplin court to transfer to the clerk of the Jasper 
county common pleas court the records of the Joplin court. Both the 
Joplin court and the Jasper county courts of common pleas were courts 
of record. 

In 1877 the legislature passed an act establishing a circuit court at 
Joplin each year, in June and December, and two at Carthage, in Sep- 
tember and March. The circuit clerk has since kept a deputy at Joplin 
and keeps an office there. 

The Land Owners' Association 

March 20, 1875, the smelters and land owners of Joplin formed an 
association for their mutual protection and mutual interests. The fol- 
lowing were the officers: John B. Sergeant, president; John H. Taylor, 
secretary; W. P. Davis, treasurer. 

The formation of this association was misunderstood by the miners, 
many of them believing that it was formed in the nature of a trust and 
with a view of crushing the labor interests, although such was not the 
case. But the agitation continued and did not abate until the McCorcle 
Smelter in East Joplin was burned, supposedly because of the forma- 
tion of the Land Owners' Association. 

Joi-lin's First Circus 

In June, 1875, Dan Rice's circus showed in Baxter Springs. A num- 
ber of Joplin people went over to see the performance, among them 
Daniel Collins, the Broadway liveryman. The show was on Saturday 
and at the close of the afternoon performances Mr. Collins presented to 
the management a proposition to take the aggregation of animals and all 
to Joplin for a performance the next day, Sunday afternoon. The prop- 
osition did not look good to the showman. The performances could not 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 183 

be advertised and it was necessary to take the tents, horses and animal 
cages overland to Joplin, fording two streams, Spring river and Shoal 
creek, and then return in time to load the show on the cars and make 
the next town in time for a show Monday ; but he said in a joking way 
to Mr. Collins, if he would like to undertake the venture, that he would 
rent him the show for a day. 

Mr. Collins knew a good thing when he saw it and accepted the prop- 
osition, agreeing to deliver the show in Baxter by 3 o'clock A. M. Mon- 
day and to pay all the performers the extra salary for the trip to Joplin. 
After the night performance, the tents were torn down and the entire 
aggregation started overland for Joplin, arriving in the mining metrop- 
olis about nine o'clock in the morning. It was not necessary to advertise 
the show, for in those days business houses were all open until noon on 
Sunday and some of them all day, and the streets were crowded with 
the miners and their families doing their week's trading. So when the 
red wagons began rolling down West Main street and heading for a 
vacant place between the two towns, half the population which thronged 
the street followed the circus to the show grounds and watched with in- 
terest the putting up of the big tent. 

Everything was in readiness by 1 o'clock and the ticket wagon 
opened. The circus, which, by the way, was a good one showed to an 
audience which taxed the capacity of the tent, and Mr. Collins reaped 
a rich reward for his show venture. After the performance the tents 
were again struck and the aggregation returned to Baxter in time to 
load and make the next town on schedule time. The big house at this 
performance established Joplin 's reputation as a show town, and each 
season since some one or more of the great traveling shows has visited 
"the city that Jack built." 

Joplin 's First Theater 

During 1875 a company was organized which erected the Joplin 
Theater building, on Main street between Fourth and Fifth where now 
stands the Bartlett building. The theater was a one-story structure 
forty by one hundred feet, and built out of oak lumber according to 
the prevailing style of architecture of that day, a plain box-house ar- 
rangement. The stage, however, was arranged with four different set- 
tings. 

1875-7 were the palmy days of this theater. Most play houses have a 
general fixed kind of amusement and have a reputation for the presenta- 
tion of some kind of play, such as tragedy, comedy, melodrama, vaude- 
ville, etc., but the Joplin was confined to no one class of amusements. 
Some very good attractions were presented, but the amusements for the 
most part were designed to please the floating population which made life 
in Joplin one constant round of excitement. 

The following interview, published in the Kansas City Globe in 
March. 1890. gives an idea of the unique manner in which the Joplin 



184 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

miners overcame the money question, following the panic of 1873. and 
also the popularity of the "show" in Jopliu during the pioneer days. 

"Way back in the 'seventies," says J. J. Lodge, of the Midland 
Theatre, "I was traveling through the southwest with Zera Seeman and 
Kit Clark. I had him out, and we were giving a gift show. Seeman 
did the sleight-of-hand and magic business, and we gave away every night 
gold watches, furniture, etc. During our trip we made a week's stand 
at Joplin. I lost a great opportunity to make a fortune prospecting, or 
rather digging a test shaft. The capital of the prospectors had given out 
and they wanted me to grub-stake them. I didn't think there was any- 
thing in it, but before we left town they had struck rich mineral and 
both made a fortune. 

"Well, that's neither here nor there. The strange thing about our 
Joplin engagement was the kind of admission fees we took at the door. 
The miners would come up wheeling a little barrow of ore, and ask if 
that would let them in. We had been told before what to expect, and 
had a man there to examine the dirt. If he said it was all right the 
barrow load would be taken around to the back of the building and 
dumped and the fellow who brought it got an admission check. When 
we got ready to come away we sold the pile that had accumulated, and it 
brought us a good deal more than the admission at regular prices would. 
That is one of the experiences managers in this day don't often have." 

Fourth of July, 1875 

The Fourth of July, 1875, was again celebrated by Joplin at the 
Grand Falls and the celebration was unique in its character. The games 
and amusements were fashioned after a tournament of the day "when 
knighthood was in flower." 

A number of young men organized for the occasion a company of 
knights and they, as in the day of Richard Coeur-de-Lion, contested for 
the honors of the day. 

The gallant knights carried lances and to determine their superiority 
rode at full pace past a certain spot where a ring was suspended and 
threw the lance which was carried through the ring ; that is, they threw 
the lance at the ring and the knight who won the most points in this 
contest was voted the champion and was privileged to name the Queen 
of Festivities, while the six next best named the Maids of Honor to the 
Queen. 

T. -I. Maupin was the winner and placed the laurel crown on the 
head of .Miss Julia Quick, now Mrs. William Fallis, while Daniel Gulley. 
E. D. Porter and F. E. Williams were among the knights-errant who 
chose the maids of honor. 

Besides this sport, other games and contests were had during the 
afternoon and at night the merry picnickers came home with as much 
pomp as Robin Eood and his archers returning from the tournament of 
Prince John. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 185 

Hugh Dyee & Company, Boiler Works 

In May, 1875, Hugh Dyer established at Joplin the Hugh Dyer & 
Company Boiler Works, the first plant of its kind to be established in 
the mining district. The founding of this machine works was of vast im- 
portance to the district, as it materially reduced the cgst of mining ma- 
chinery. 

Hack Lines to Carthage and Neosho 

In 1875 Messrs Thomas Connor and W. Kilgore established two hack 
lines, one making daily trips to the county seat and the other to Neosho. 
Both lines did a good business, but the Carthage line of course was 
the most used. During 1875-6 the fare to Carthage on the Connor-Kil- 




Joplin's First Foundry 

gore line was twenty-five cents, the same as now charged by the electric 
street railway. 

Board op Trade 

The first business-men's organization of Joplin was organized during 
1875 and called the Board of Trade. Club rooms were fitted up in the 
basement of the Heathwood building and here the meetings were had. 
There were seventy-five members of the organization. 

Organization op Fire Department 

After the fire in East Joplin in 1872, steps were taken to secure better 
fire protection and two hook and ladder trucks were bought early in 1873 
which were manned by volunteer companies. The records of these two 
companies have been lost and we are unable to give the personnel of the 
two organizations other than to say that they were composed of the best 
citizens of both towns. 

In 1875 a Babeock fire engine was purchased and a fire company or- 
ganized on March 10th with the following officers: Chief, C. J. G. Work- 



186 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

izer ; foreman, E. D. Porter ; assistant foreman, D. W. Cowan. The com- 
pany was named in honor of Joplin's first prospector, the E. R. Moffet 
Fire Company. 

City Election, 1875 

At the fall election in October, 1875, the following officers were 
elected: Mayor, F. L. Thompson; marshal. J. F. Hair; police judge, W. 
B. McAntire; city attorney, John C. Trigg; treasurer, A. E. Blackwell; 
councilmen, M. Clark, Ira Taylor and L. B. West, with F. E. Williams, 
P. L. Swartz and L. Adams holding over. 

The appointed officers were: City clerk, I. W. Davis; assessor and 
collector, J. W. Reed ; fire warden, George Merwin, street commissioner, 
E. F. Scudder. 

Old-Fashioned Spelling Match (May, 1875) 

The winter of '74-5 was a severe one and there was much suffering 
among the poor. To relieve the situation the charitably-inclined ladies 
of the city formed an aid society and gave a series of entertainments for 
the purpose of raising money. The last of these entertainments consisted 
of a series of spelling matches during the latter part of May. The first 
one of these was held May 22nd and was well attended. Miss S. S. Mc- 
Cracken, a teacher in the West Joplin schools, and Attorney 0. H. Tous- 
ley, of the east side, were the captains, and chose up. The winner in 
the contest was W. II. Calfee, Mrs. William Simpson taking second 
honors. 

At the next match, one week later, there was much interest mani- 
fested and quite a number of the old-time champions brushed up for the 
occasion. 

At eleven o'clock, the room had been spelled down save three, W. H. 
Calfee, the champion of the first match, U. B. Webster, and Thomas 
Sutton. 

At twelve o'clock the trio were still on the floor and the affair was 
called a draw, each sharing the honors of the evening. 

It might be added as an item of interest that Mr. Calfee 's daughter, 
now Mrs. W. A. Nickell, inherited her father 's faculty for correct spelling 
and during her school days seldom misspelled or mispronounced a word, 
graduating as the valedictorian of her class in 1887. Her daughter, 
Miss Maude Nickell, graduated from the Joplin High School in 1911 and, 
like her mother, was valedictorian of her class. 

East Joplin Public Library 

On the 22d of February, 1876, at a meeting of the literary and book- 
loving people of East Joplin, a Library Association was formed with the 
following officers : President, U. B. Webster ; vice president, Thomas Sut- 
ton ; secretary, O. II. Tousley; treasurer, John Rousch. 

During the month of March a series of entertainments were given and 
1 wo hundred and seventy-five dollars raised, which sum was spent in the 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 187 

purchase of newspapers, magazines and periodicals, and a reading room 
was maintained by the society until 1877. During that year there was 
a decline in the lead market and the temporary shutting down of a 
number of the mines brought on for a short time a financial unrest which 
caused the organization to close the rooms. 

Bruce Younger 

During the summer of 1876 Bruce Younger, brother of Cole Younger, 
came to Joplin and worked in the mines under an assumed name. 

On the evening of August 1st of that year a band of masked men 
rushed into a saloon where the young man was standing, and, seizing 
him, hurried to the street where the entire party mounted horses and 
rode rapidly out of town, almost before the lookers-on realized what 
was going on. On learning that the young man who had been kidnapped 
was a brother of one of the members of the James gang, it was thought 
that that body of marauders was in the neighborhood and had spirited 
Bruce away lest his identity become known. 

Joplin at the Centennial 

At the Centennial exposition at Philadelphia, in 1876, Joplin had a 
creditable display of minerals. The expense of maintaining the exhibit 
was defrayed by a fund contributed by the large mining companies and 
by the ladies of Joplin, who gave a series of entertainments and socials 
for the purpose. 

City Election, Centennial Year 

The city election in October, 1876, occurred during the midst of the 
presidential campaign and, although the party lines were not drawn, it 
was hotly contested. The two opposing candidates for mayor were P. E. 
Williams, druggist in East Joplin, and E. D. Porter, of the firm of Porter 
& Roberts, West Joplin. Both men were exceedingly popular, being 
held in the highest esteem by their fellow townsmen. During the cam- 
paign the old prejudice and jealousy between the two towns was re- 
newed and feeling ran high. East Joplin, as in 1873, voted almost solidly 
for her candidate. Porter carried West Joplin and Lone Elm, but the 
tremendous majority for Williams in East Joplin elected him by 111. 

The vote at this mayoralty election was as follows: East Joplin, F. 
E. Williams, 441 ; E. D. Porter, 44. 

West Joplin— Williams, 298; Porter, 570. 

Lone Elm— Williams, 176; Porter, 190. 

Much interest was also manifested in the contest for marshal. J. W. 
Lupton and W. S. Norton, who had figured so prominently in the riot 
in 1874, were both candidates and the feeling between their friends ran 
high. It was feared that the election of either one would cause trouble 
and L. C. (Cass) Hamilton, who was deputy under Mr. Bair, was in- 
duced to shy his castor into the ring. The result was: Hamilton, 1,119; 



188 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Lupton, 365; Norton, 226, Mr. Hamilton was for ten successive terms 
reelected marshal of Joplin, closing his political career in 1887. He was 
elected police judge in 1885 and served two years. 

The vote on city attorney was : C. H. Montgomery, 681 ; 6. D. Orner, 
632 ; J. C. Trigg, 355. 

The vote on treasurer was: C. "W. Babst (Lone Elm), 578: A. E. 
Blackwell, 538 ; P. L. Thompson, 354. 

The election for councilmen was also close in East Joplin. C. F. 
Taylor defeated William Quick by four votes. William Watkins in West 
Joplin defeated M. Clark by eight votes. I. W. Gilbert, of Lone Elm 
came into the aldermanic body as the representative of that thriving 
burg. 

F. E. Williams 

Frank E. Williams was a native of Michigan, being born December 
6, 1849. After graduating from the Ann Arbor High School in June, 
1866, he following the advice of Horace Greely, came "west to grow up 
with the country," and first settled at Lawrence. Kansas, clerking in a 
general store for three and a half years. 

The later part of 1869 Mr. Williams went to Granby, Newton county, 
where he opened a general store and was shortly after appointed post- 
master of that place. He came to Joplin in August, 1873, and opened a 
drug store in East Joplin in connection with his brother, Henry, who 
was a graduate of the pharmaceutical department of the University of 
Michigan. 

Mr. Williams at once became prominently identified with the public 
enterprise of the city and was elected a member of the city council from 
East Joplin in October, 1874. During his membership in that body he 
urged the building of sidewalks and a uniform system of grading the 
streets. He saw to it that East Joplin got all that was coining to it and 
it was this loyalty to the east side that gained for him the almost unan- 
imous support of the First ward at the election of 1876. During his oc- 
cupancy of the mayor's chair, however, he was fair and impartial and 
worked for the good of the whole town, carrying into vigorous execution 
his policies of civic improvement. 

Personally, Mr. Williams was a most popular man, having scarcely 
an enemy. His polite and polished manner and his many little deeds of 
kindness gained for him the title of "Lord Chesterfield of Joplin." 

Mr. Williams was president of the Board of Education in 1889 and 
took a prominent pari also in military affairs, being major of the Second 
Missouri Regiment, United States Volunteers, during the Spanish-Amer- 
ican war. During his second year as mayor he moved his drug business 
to West Joplin and was closely identified with the business interests 
of the city, being a director in the Miners' Bank and South Joplin Land 
Company. A mention of the reception given in honor of his wedding 
will be made in our notes of "Joplin During the 'Eighties." Major 
Williams died in 1901. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 189 

Presidential Election in 1876 

Very naturally the presidential campaign of 1876 caused much ex- 
citement in Joplin. Both the Democratic and Republican committees 
maintained club rooms and, in addition to having a number of speeches 
and ward meetings, had torch-light processions. A mention of the two 
monster torch-light processions and the Democratic barbecue has al- 
ready been made in the chapter on ''County Politics During the 'Sev- 
enties. ' ' 

The vote in Joplin at the presidential election of 1876 was as fol- 
lows : Hayes, Republican — East Joplin, 381 ; West Joplin, 538. 

Tilden, Democrat— East Joplin 523; West Joplin, 657. 

Cooper, Greenbacker — East Joplin, 47; West Joplin, 31. 

The successful candidates on the Galena township ticket were : Trus- 
tees — W. B. McCracken, Geo. Orear and J. P. Newell; assessor, P. L. 
Swartz; collector. J. J. Breazeale; constables — L. A. Short and John T. 
Hodshier. 

Society Mask-Ball December 28, 1876 

The society event of 1876 was the mask-ball at the Joplin Hotel, the 
close of the Centennial year. 

The following were among the jolly throng of dancers: Miss Fannie 
Davis, as Catharine Howard ; Miss Addie Stoddard, as Lady Jane Grey ; 
Miss Nellie Coyle. as Anne Boleyn ; Miss F. C. Burns, as Mary Queen of 
Scots; Miss Jo. Roberts, as Queen Elizabeth; little Lillie Henderson, 
as Daughter of the Regiment ; Miss Agnes Conway, as Anne of Austria ; 
Miss Beach, as Juliet; Mrs. Cronk, as Topsy; Jas. Wise, as Prince of 
Frisco; W. G. Baker, as Duke of Essex; E. D. Porter, as Cassius ; J. D. 
Rainwatter, as officer in Confederate Army; C. A. Powell, as Thomas 
Jefferson; Mayor F. C. Williams, as Hamlet; Mr. Coyle, as Brother Jon- 
athan; G. B. Young, as George Washington; P. H. Head, as Royal 
Guardsman ; M. W. Stafford, as Oxford Student ; Jas. M. Leonard, as 
Charles II ; W. E. Maynard, as King Henry VIII ; A. D. Coon, as Sir 
Peter Teazle; W. It. Picher, as Sitting Bull ; Mose Weiler and Joe Frank- 
lin, as Crusaders. 

The Riseling Building 

A few years ago there was a funny story that went the rounds about 
the Bingville school board. The story briefly told was as follows: The 
district had outgrown the schoolhouse and it was voted to build a new 
one and in order to economize, it was decided to use the bricks in the 
old school with which to build the new temple of learning, and to the 
end that no time be lost, it was further agreed to use the old schoolhouse 
until the new building was completed. Joplin, during the first boom 
days, had a parallel to the above and, although a larger and substantial 
house was not built from an old one, a new and larger store was actually 
built around an old structure while an extensive and profitable business 
was being carried on, without the loss of a single day's occupancy of the 
store. 



190 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

During the summer of 1876, Levi Riseling built at the corner of Third 
and Main street a two-story brick store room, fifty by one hundred feet, 
in and around a two-story frame building which he was using as a gen- 
eral hardware and furniture store. 

The shelving was first moved in from the north and south side of the 
room and a temporary wooden water-shed built. After placing props 
under the roof the side walls were torn down, the foundation dug and 
the massive walls of the brick store put up. The new building extended 
further back than the old house and the rear wall was built at the same 
time as the side walls. On the completion of these three walls, tem- 
porary center-pieces were put in and the roof built over the old "House. 

The old frame was then torn down and as much of the lumber as 
was available was used in the new structure ; in fact, almost every par- 
ticle of timber in the old building, excepting the shingles and siding, 
were put to some use. All the time that this work was going on, a large 
business was being carried on, some five or six clerks being employed in 
the store, besides a couple of delivery wagons which were in use all the 
time. Of course, during this time the stock of goods was shifted a great 
many times to accommodate the daily changing conditions. All of the 
men employed in building were paid off each night at the close of the 
day's work and out of the sales of the day's business. 

The East Joplin School 

Mr. Ormsby was succeeded as principal of the East Joplin school by 
S. A. Underwood. Mr. Underwood was a good organizer and brought 
the schools up to a high standard, retiring in 1877, when he was elected 
county superintendent of schools. For notes on his administration as 
county commissioner the reader is referred to the chapter on "Educa- 
tional Matters." 

The teaching force in East Joplin during the Centennial year com- 
prised the following, with the number enrolled by each on the first day 
of the term : S. A. Underwood, principal, 40 ; U. B. Webster, 60 ; Josie 
Culpepper, 70; Anna Whitwell, 80; total, 250. With two hundred and 
fifty pupils in the four rooms the first day, one can readily imagine the 
ingenuity it required to plan for the school when all the pupils are en- 
rolled. Mr. Underwood devised a system of hearing recitation under 
these trying circumstances. 

The West Joplin Schools 

Mr. Arnold continued in charge of the West Joplin Schools during 
1874-6, under the same conditions as at the organization, with one as- 
sistant in the brick building at 4th and Pennsylvania, and two assistants 
at the Methodist church, Fourth and Kentucky. 

At the close of the term in the spring of 1875, public exercises were 
conducted in the several rooms and the •/"/''"' /><"'/</ News published 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 191 

the names of the pupils who had made in, the closing examinations, a 
grade of 90 per cent, or more. 

The following were in the honor list: Emma Giles, 100; Artie Spencer 
(A. E.), 100; Ordie Allen, 99.5; Ethel Holman, 98; Emma Bingham, 
98; Ida Miller, 98; Millie Smith, 98; Gee Howell, 98; Elsie Mitchell, 
97.5; Mamie McClaren, 97.5; Phoebe Reubart, 97.5; Laura MeAdams, 
97.5 ; Clarence Franz, 97 ; Isabel Irwin, 97 ; Jack Dolan, 97 ; Wilson Me- 
Adams, 97; Prank Reed, 97; Prank Warren, 96; Prank Hobbs, 96; 
Addie Irwin, 96; Willie Henrichs, 95.5; Anna McClarren, 95; Caddie 
Goodwin, 94.4; Almanda Prewitt, 94; Joe Reibart, 93.5; Mamie Alley, 
93 ; Ella Weideuer, 92.5 ; Mamie Holman, 92.5 ; Mamie Norton, 92 ; and 
Martha Caldwell, 92. 

During the fall of '76 a new school for the west side was built at the 
corner of Fourth and Byers, the present site of the high school. The 
new building was a three-room frame. The building was completed dur- 
ing the winter and was opened for the spring term March 20, 1877. G. 
P. Garland was the first principal of the school and Messrs. Miles and 
Cornwell his assistants. These three new rooms gave to the west side 
schools nine teacbers for the term 1876-7. 

The Lone Elm School 

In 1875 the people of Lone Elm, now grown to a camp of approx- 
imately a thousand people, clamored for a separate school organization 
and steps were taken to detach a portion of the territory belonging to 
District No. 4 and unite it with a portion of the old Peace Church 
school district. In 1876 the organization was affected and Joseph Hos- 
tilter, P. Quinn and J. L. Harvey were elected the first board of directors. 

The territorial limits of the Lone Elm district included that portion 
of Joplin, west of Joplin creek north of what is now "E" street, and ex- 
tending north of Turkey creek to a quarter of a mile south of old Tuck- 
ahoe. R. T. Guinn was the first teacher of the district and he, with the 
directors, bent every effort toward building a school. In 1877, $1,000 was 
raised by popular subscription and a neat two-roomed frame school 
erected. 

The two rooms of the school were built so that they could be thrown 
into one room by opening the folding doors. On Sunday the building 
was used for church purposes and during the winter evenings for the 
meeting of literary societies. During the political campaigns it also 
served as a town hall. 

Mr. Guinn was a very popular teacher and the Lone Elm board paid 
him one hundred dollars per month for his services. 

The Christian Church 

We are indebted to Charles Miles for the following information con- 
cerning the early history of the First Christian church of Joplin, which 
was read at the time of the dedication of its new building, December 29, 
1901. 



M-l HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The First Christian Church of Joplin was formally organized in 1874, 
but a word as to the conditions existing prior to that time and leading 
to the organization may be instructive and interesting. As a river fre- 
quently has its origin in several places, so this church was made up from 
several different sources. 

In the fall of 1867 Mr. Israel Patton, lately deceased, led an emigrant 
train from Indiana to this county, finally settling just southwest of this 
city. He was an ardent member of the Christian church and he, with 
others, were soon holding religious services in the "Grove," which was 
God's first temple. The first building occupied was a log schoolhouse, 
which had stood the ravages of the Civil war. Messrs. Wells, Field and 
Starks were the names of the early preachers to this flock. The local 
elders were Mr. Patton and Mr. Carey. The deacons were Mr. Adams 
and Mr. Schumacher. The latter is still living in Blendeville. 

They next occupied a building especially erected for church pur- 
poses. It was a double room log house. The hewn logs and also pine lum- 
ber for ceiling and flooring, together with six windows and easing, were 
furnished by J. A. Miles, late of No. 224 N. Wall street. This building 
stood just north of what is now Central City and was known as Short 
Creek Christian church. 

There were also congregations tit Carthage, Diamond Grove and 
Five Mile, all surrounding points. Services were also held at various 
schoolhouses nearby, by Mr. M. Lane and Mr. Wells. In 1870 ore was 
discovered and in a year the town of Joplin had grown to a population 
of four hundred souls. Among the people who came from a distance 
were members of the Christian church. Members of the churches above 
mentioned were drawn to the rapidly growing city, especially from the 
Short Creek church, so that by 1873 there were some thirty or forty 
persons who found themselves of similar religious faith but without a 
church home. About this time Mr. M. Jenkins began to visit Joplin and 
preach as opportunity offered. 

In the month of May, 1874, he preached a sermon in the brick Pres- 
byterian church, northeast corner of Fourth and Pennsylvania avenue, 
at the close of which an organization was effected. Among the charter 
members were the following: Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Faulkender, Mr. and 
Mrs. L. E. Gillette, Mrs. Elizabeth Huffman, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Miles, 
Mr. W. L. Shumacher, Mr. and Mrs. Israel Patton, Mr. Eugene Poor, 
Mr. and Mrs. Harlan, Mr. and Mrs. Havill, Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland, 
Mrs. Moore, J. Groves and wife, Mrs. Pruitt. .Mr. L. Kay; Mr. and Mrs. 
Lampkin (now in Mexico), Dr. T. W. Miles (of Denver), Mr. and Mrs. 
Whitwell (of Diamond, this county), Mrs. Underwood (of Kansas City). 
Mrs. Lampkin (of Joplin), Mr. Lampkin (deceased), and possibly a 
few names may be overlooked. 

Mr. Jenkins was continued for some time as the regular preacher, 
making a visit monthly. For six months the congregation met in the 
Cumberland Presbyterian church, above mentioned. Then for six months 
they met in the old city hall on Broadway, near the site of the old gas 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 193 

works. Next, they met in a Baptist church at the corner of John and 
Hill streets, which was subsequently sold and removed to the country. 
Amos Buchanan then became pastor of the church. 

The next abiding place, but not for long was Howell Hall on Broad- 
way near Gillette and Liehliter's store. Prom here they went to Porbe's 
Hall, corner of Broadway and John street. This was sold for a medical 
institute and the church then found itself like many a wanderer upon the 
earth. 

For awhile meetings were held from house to house. The members 
then resolved that they would build a home of their own. Mr. Miles and 
Dr. Wells led in this movement. A lot was purchased at the southeast 
corner of Fourth and Pennsylvania avenue for fifty dollars. It recently 
sold for a consideration of three thousand dollars. On this lot was erected 
a modest building costing probably two thousand dollars. L. Z. Burr, 
now of Kansas City, was pastor while the house was being built and with 
the assistance of Mr. Lane dedicated it to the service of God. Mr. Burr 
was a teacher, as well as a preacher. At that time, as many times since, 
the city was short of school rooms and the church was used the first year 
as a school building. A curtain was hung from the ceiling, making two 
rooms. Thus the children were taught during the week and the people 
heard the gospel on the Lord's day. Mr. Burr was pastor five years. 

In November, 1877, the Rev. Cunningham assisted Rev. Burr in a suc- 
cessful revival, during which time sixty-eight conversions were made. 
Most of the converts were baptized in Joplin creek, just south of where 
the Broadway bridge is located and it was an impressive sight each after- 
noon to witness the ceremonies of immersion. (Joplin creek at that time 
was much deeper than it is now and, although much used for washing 
purposes, the water was still comparatively clear.) One evening, just as 
the ceremonies were about to conclude, a miner returning from his work 
stopped to witness the ceremony and becoming converted asked to be 
baptised. Wading out into the middle of the creek, he was immersed by 
the Rev. Cunningham in the clothes he wore at the mines that day. 

Following Mr. Burr came W. B. Cochran and R. A. Thomson as pas- 
tors. During the ministry of Mr. Thomson, a front vestibule was put in, 
a new flue built, the ceiling lowered to improve the acoustics, chairs re- 
varnished and the house overhauled in general. Then came T. E. Shep- 
herd, J. T. Boone, W. W. Blalock, W. W. Carter and J. M. Rudy. Mr. 
Rudy was unusually successful in his work and to accommodate the 
people the house was enlarged, a baptistry put in, two dressing rooms 
added, house carpeted, papered and partially seated with opera chairs. 

Then came Melancthon Moore, C. H. White and J. W. Glarrell as 
pastors. Besides these men the following evangelists have held meetings 
here : J. Cunningham, H. C. Patterson, A. D. Moore, and J. R. Speck. 

(The sketch of the Christian church will be continued in the chapter 

on the 'nineties.) 

Episcopal Church 

St. Philip's Episcopal church was organized February 22, 1874, by the 
Rev. R. C. Wall of Carthage. Services were held alternate Sundays at 



194 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

various rented places until 1877, when they were for a time discontinued 
on account of financial difficulties, the membership of the church being 
small. 

The Catholic Church 

In 1875 Rev. Father 'Riley came to Joplin and took the pastorate 
of the Catholic church, holding his first meetings in Howell's Hall, East 
Joplin. Services were continued there until 1877, when the parish moved 
to the church building which had been completed at the corner of Eighth 
and Wall streets. 

Father 'Riley was a zealous worker and labored faithfully for his 
church. The author remembers him well and recalls with pleasure the 
splendid advice he gave him and other school boys who were playing one 
day near the church. 

At the time of the dedication of the Catholic church the congregation 
had grown to one hundred parishioners. 

The Baptists 

On November 26, 1876, Rev. F. A. Bowman of the Spring River As- 
sociation, preached at Howell's Hall, East Joplin, and at the close of the 
sermon invited all who would assist in forming a Baptist church to come 
forward. The following were the original members of the First Baptist 
church : Amanda E. Fike, T. A. McClelland, Richard Walsh, Caleb 
Brooks, Cynthia Brooks, Win. B. Beasley, Caroline Beasley, Spencer 
Forshua, Martha Forshua, Sarah Martin, Robert G. Hyde, Elizabeth 
Hyde, May S. Pickett, Kate N. Tousley, and Andrew J. Martin. 

The Council of Recognition which was called to formally recognize 
the church comprised Rev. J. W. Wilkes. W. T. Thomalsen and Rev. 
Bowman. 

After the church was formally organized, Rev. Bowman was called 
as pastor and preached for the congregation one Sunday in each month. 
No church was built during the 'seventies, the services being held in a 
rented hall. 

Building of the Tabernacle 

During the fall of 1876 Rev. J. C. Plumb came to Joplin for the pur- 
pose of reorganizing, or more properly speaking, of gathering together 
tin' few members of the Congregationalist society in the city and estab- 
lishing a church of their denomination. The congregation gathered by 
the Rev. Gutton had never formally organized a church. 

Beginning October 2nd, Rev. Plumb began a series of meetings in the 
Joplin Theater, continuing for eleven weeks. These meetings were suc- 
cessful and a large congregation was built up. Rev. Plumb now saw that 
this was the opportune time to erect a church home, and accordingly a 
committee, consisting of John B. Sergeant, A. M. Haswell and W. L. 
Carver, was appointed to raise funds for a building. The congregation 
which attended Rev. Plumb's meeting was largely gathered from all 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 195 

denominations and it was decided to organize a non-sectarian society 
under the name of the Tabernacle Church of Joplin, $2,900 was raised. 
$600 was spent for a lot, corner of Fourth and Virginia, the site of the 
Landreth Machine Company, and $2,300 was used for building and fur- 
niture, a part of which was borrowed. The structure, a large one-room 
box frame building was sixty-six by forty feet, set off with a vestibule and 
a bell loft in front, which gave it a church-like appearance. 

The room was not at first finished on the inside. It was used for the 
first time Sunday, December 31, 1876, the Rev. Robert West of St. Louis 
preaching the dedicatory sermon. The following were among the mem- 
bers of the Tabernacle church: J. C. Plumb and wife; John B. Sergeant 
and wife; A. M. Haswelland wife; C. F. Jennings; Sarah Robinson; Geo. 
W. McCoy and W. R. Frobish. 

The church policy was liberal and the several members were permitted 
to think and freely express themselves on the several isms which divided 
the church relative to baptism, creed, dancing, etc. 

The old Tabernacle church was not a pretentious looking building, 
nor was it handsomely furnished, but it was very near and dear to the 
hearts of the great mass of Joplin people. For the want of a town hall 
the church was largely used for public gatherings of all kinds and the 
people came to look upon the old Tabernacle as a part of the home life 
of the city. 

In this old church the following came to life: The Francis Murphy 
movement in 1877 ; the first skating rink in June, 1878 ; the first school 
exhibition, June, 1878 ; the reorganization of the fire department, after 
the establishment of the water works, 1881 ; the organization of the first 
Y. P. S. C. E. in the city, 1886, and the preliminary meeting to organize 
the Y. M. C. A., 1887. We mention these few incidents to show how 
generally, the Tabernacle was used and for what a variety of purposes. 

The old bell at the Tabernacle was the biggest and best in the city, be- 
ing bought and paid for by public subscription. It now graces the city 
hall. When the Tabernacle burned, in 1893, the firemen worked hard 
to save the tower so that the old bell might not be injured. 

First Church Wedding 

The first church wedding in Joplin was that of Philip Arnold, princi- 
pal of the West Joplin schools and Miss Henrietta Mercer. The wedding 
was celebrated in the South Methodist-Presbyterian church, East Joplin, 
in October, 1874, the Rev. Robert Wall performing the ceremony. 

The Masonic Fraternity 

On the 10th day of August, 1873, a meeting of the Masons was held 
to take the preliminary steps toward forming a lodge of that order. The 
meeting was largely attended and a petition in due form was forwarded 
to the Grand Lodge of the state praying that a dispensation be granted 
for the organization of a lodge at Joplin. The grand master of the Ma- 



196 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

sonic fraternity at that time was Hon. R. E. Anderson, and he declined 
to grant the petition, saying in reply that he thought there were already 
enough Masonic lodges in the county. A little thing like the denial of 
the charter could not daunt the pioneer Masons of Joplin. It so hap- 
pened that at the little town of Fidelity, then on the decline, there was a 
Masonic lodge (Fellowship Lodge, No. 345) which had been instituted 
January 22, 1870. Among the members of the lodge who had moved to 
Joplin were S. H. Caldwell, ex-sheriff, and James A. Bolen, later county 
recorder and now the coal merchant prince of Kansas City. 

It was now proposed to move Fellowship Lodge to Joplin and a vote 
of the members taken resulted favorably. On February 19, 1874, the 
grand master approved the petition to move the lodge and it was accord- 
ingly transplanted to Joplin, the first meeting after the removal being 
held April 1st. The lodge room was the second floor of the building on 
the southwest corner of Second and Main streets. 

The officers of the lodge at the time of the removal to Joplin were : 
M. H. Patrick, worshipful master; J. W. Brook, senior warden; M. W. 
Halsell, junior warden; J. W. Burch, secretary; Jas. Ayler, treasurer; 
C. D. Tucker, senior deacon; Ei M. Burch, junior deacon, and W. W. 
Webb, tyler. 

The membership of Fellowship Lodge at the date of its removal to 
Joplin was nineteen. Twenty members were admitted by demit and six 
brothers were raised during the year. 

Most of the above officers lived in the county, in and around Fidelity, 
and at the election of officers held the following June the following were 
inducted into the chairs: Reuben Whitwell, worshipful master; S. H. 
Caldwell, senior warden; M. W. Stafford, treasurer; W. E. Maynard, 
secretary; E. D. Tucker, senior deacon; E. M. Burch, junior deacon, 
and W. A. Greenlee, tyler. 

In 1876 the lodge was moved to the second story of the brick building 
now occupied by the Ramsour bar, where it remained until 1877, when a 
two-story frame building was erected at No. 516 Main street, the lower 
portion being rented for a store room and the upstairs being used for a 
Masonic hall. 

Medoc (now 7 Joplin Lodge) No. 335 

After Fellowship Lodge was moved to Joplin the Masonic craft grew 
and prospered for a time, but during the year 1875 the jealousy and riv- 
alry between East and West Joplin crept into the lodge room and the 
East town brethren desired a lodge over on the East side. Accordingly, 
the major portion of the brethren who lived in East Joplin demitted 
and began casting about for the best method to pursue to secure a lodge 
on the east side of the creek. 

Medoc Lodge, No. 335, which had been instituted at Medoc in the 
northwestern part of the county, June 18, 1869, like the lodge of Fidelity, 
had for some months been dormant and quite a number of its members 
had moved to Joplin, among them C. A. Underwood, who was the senior 
warden of the lodge. A proposition was made to move the lodge to East 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 197 

Joplin and on December 21, 1875, the vote was taken and almost unan- 
imously carried. 

The first meeting held after the move was February 17, 1876, the 
meeting being in a frame building at the corner of Galena and Broadway. 
At the time of its removal to Joplin, Medoc Lodge had eighteen members 
in good standing and at this session (February 17th) some twenty Joplin 
citizens deposited their demits. 

The following brothers served the lodge as masters during the 'sev- 
enties: 1876, C. A. Underwood; 1877, Lee Taylor; 1878, C. L. Shepherd, 
and 1879, S. H. Thompson. 

Knights op Pythias 

The third great fraternity to be organized in Joplin was the Knights 
of Pythias. On June 15, 1876, Joplin Lodge, No. 40, was instituted by 
the Hon. C. J. Lucas, grand chancellor of the order. 

The charter list contained among the signers some of the best citizens, 
among them the mayor, F. E. Williams; city marshal, Cass Hamilton; 
P. Murphy, the father of Murphysburg; C. W. Glover, cashier of the 
Joplin 's Savings Bank; Peter Sehmur, editor of the Joplin Daily News; 
Postmaster M. W. Stafford and men of that character. The Knights of 
Pythias lodge was to Joplin during the early days what the Elk lodge is 
now, the social organization of the city. 

The following were the first officers of Joplin Lodge, No. 40, K. of P. : 
Past, chancellor, E. D. Porter; chancellor commander, F. E. Williams; 
vice chancellor, F. A. Miles; prelate, W. E. Maynard; master of ex- 
chequer, Chas. W. Glover; master of finance, R. T. Greer; K. of R. and S. 
Peter Sehmur; master-at-arms, M. W. Stafford; inside guard, Geo. W. 
Gore, and outside guard, Joe Murphy. 

Joplin Turnverein Germania 

Joplin contains among its citizens many splendid representatives of 
the German fatherland and their influence has been greatly felt in this 
city. The two pioneer "jack" buyers are Germans. It was a German 
who built the first bakery in the city and a German who interested in the 
organization of the first bank in Joplin. In many ways the sturdy sons 
of Germany have taken a great part in the building and developing of 
the city. The people of German descent have made most excellent citi- 
zens and, while they are loyal to the United States and take an active in- 
terest in our national government and local affairs, they still cherish, as 
they should, a kindly feeling for the home in the old world. For the pur- 
pose of keeping alive the tender memories of their native land, for the 
promotion of their mutual interests and for the education and general 
uplift of their fellow-countryman, the Germans have in every large city 
formed societies through which they mingle and spend a goodly portion 
of their social life. 

The Germania Social and Literary Society of Joplin was organized 



198 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

December 22, 1876, with a charter membership of fifty, the first officers 
being : Henry Lutz, president ; S. Landauer, vice president ; Henry 
Wolfe, secretary; William Karbe, treasurer. 

The purposes of the society are the cultivation of literai-y tastes and 
the social entertainment of its members, and its balls, picnics and enter- 
tainments have always been brilliant affairs, its singing society having 
a reputation which has gone beyond the limits of our ten-story county. 



CHAPTER XX 
IN THE LATER 'SEVENTIES 

JOPLIN AND GlBARD RAILWAY THE MISSOURI AND NORTHWESTERN 

Kansas City, Port Scott and Gulf— A City of Holes — Death of 
Joshua P. Taylor — Something About Black Jack — Board of 
Trade — Building of the Presbyteeian Church — The Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows — Ancient Order of United Workmen— The 
White Lead Works — The Gbanby Smelter — The Joplin Opera 
House— The "Herald"— The Miners' Bank— Joplin Gas Works 
— The Francis Murphy Movement— Old Skating Rink — Fire De- 
partment Reorganized — Joplin Expositions — Harmon's Foundry 
— Schools — City Politics — Willie Watson's Christmas Sock — 
Webb City — G. P. Ashcraft — Webb City as a Town — As a 
Fourth-Class City — First Church — The Blunt Raid — Carter- 
ville — Oronogo — Other Towns. 

During the later 'seventies Joplin did not make its former rapid 
strides, in the way of an increased population, for the following reasons. 

First — Toward the close of 1877 the price of lead took a tumble and 
the mining of this product was not as profitable as before. 

Secondly — Lead was discovered at Short Creek (now Galena) just 
across the Kansas line, and large numbers of Joplin people went to the 
new camp, which, like pioneer Joplin, was a live wire. The main business 
thoroughfare in Short Creek was called "Red Hot street" and the name 
told the whole story. 

Thirdly — The mines at Leadville, Colorado, were being opened up and 
there was a great exodus also to the Centennial state. 

Lastly — Many of the shallow pockets of lead had been mined out 
and the shafts abandoned, the prospectors not knowing that just a little 
deeper down would lie found the richer deposits of jack, abandoned the 
prospect to try their success in newer fields. 

While there was a slight falling off in population there was, however, 
a steady growth in a business way, the Joplin & Girard Railway being 
completed, the white lead works and two foundries built and a number 
of other industries established. 



Up to the close of the 'seventies lead was the standard — the highest price being paid 
for jack during the 'seventies was fourteen dollars a ton. While J'oplin lost a con- 
siderable floating number in 1.878-9. it held its own and rounded out the decade with 
only a slight decrease In population, as shown by the special census January 1, 1877, which 
showed a bona fide population (not counting the floating, or the couple of thousand just out 
of the city) of 7.544. 

199 



200 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 




02 



X 

V. 

v. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 201 

The Joplin and Girard Railway 

As mentioned in our article on railroads, the Joplin and Girard was 
the first road to enter the former city and the story of its building is 
unique and full of interest. In December, 1875, Messrs. Moffet and Ser- 
geant organized the Joplin Railway Company with a capital stock of 
$600,000, all of which was subscribed by local capital. It is related by 
old-timers that at the commencement of this railway project Moffet and 
Sergeant had lying idle in their safe $125,000 in greenbacks and that this 
was used as a nucleus with which to build the road. The purpose of its 
construction was threefold — to provide a cheaper and quicker mode of 
transporting the oar to the market ; to have a direct route to the Kansas 
coal field and thus bring the fuel to the smelters and to open a northern 
market. At this time St. Louis was the only market for the Joplin 
product. 

The first rail on the road was laid in May, 1876, \V. C. Ilinksou of the 
Halyard Hardware Company, this city, driving the first spike. As 
soon as the road was completed to Pittsburgh a box car was set out for 
a depot and the road began operations with one engine and a few cars, 
hauling freight and passengers between these two points and pushing out 
the construction gang as the road was completed to the south. This road 
was not bonded, but was paid for piece by piece as it was completed, the 
stockholders digging up successive assessments as the construction went 
on. In the fall of 1876 the road was finished to the McGee Crossing on 
Turkey creek and completed to Joplin the next summer, the last spike, 
appropriately made of lead, being driven August 26, 1877. The depot 
was located in Smelter Hill, just north of the Leckie foundry, and was 
occupied by A. E. Stillwell, a prince of good fellows, as agent, who 
moved the office stock from the box-car depot which had been moved along 
with the construction from Girard to the end of the line. The first train 
to run into Joplin was pulled by Pete Butterly as engineer and conductor 
W. C. Hinkson wielding the ticket puncher. It was the original design 
of this company to extend the road to Neosho and into north Arkansas 
and capital was at once subscribed to complete the line. A right-of-way 
was acquired and grading commenced and a road bed completed to be- 
yond Thurman, when in 1879 the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway 
bought the Joplin and Girard, which has since operated as a part of its 
system. The road to the south has never been completed and after the 
sale of the line the depot at Smeller was discontinued and later torn 
down. 

The Missouri and Northwestern 

In 1879 the Missouri and Northwestern Railway, now the 'Frisco, 
was built from Oronogo to Joplin and the cars were running before the 
close of the year. 

When the road was first built it was a branch line and was operated 
as such until the 'nineties when the main-line train began running 



202 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

through Joplin. J. L. Briggs was the first agent of the 'Frisco Railway 
Company in Joplin. 

The Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf 

During 1879 the Kansas City, Ft. Scott and Gulf, later the Memphis 
route and now a part of the 'Frisco system was built to Joplin and the 
train began running in October, 1879. 

A City of Holes 

As mentioned before, the early mining of Joplin was shallow digging 
and, too often, when the miner had mined out the first pocket struck he 
abandoned the shaft. In time this left the city with hundreds of aban- 
doned mines and the Carthage Banner very appropriately spoke of Jop- 
lin during the latter 'seventies as the City of Holes. It was not until a 
number of accidents had happened, and several deaths had occurred, be- 
fore the owners of the land and the miners were compelled to fill up the 
abandoned mines in close proximity to the streets and largely traveled 
roads. 

Death of Joshua P. Taylor 

The following article, clipped from the Daily News, August 12, 1S77. 
will illustrate how dangerous was the conditions of the locality during 
the 'seventies: "Never before have we been called upon to chronicle an 
affair with as great sorrow as we now record the terrible and sudden 
death of Joshua P. Taylor, the foreman of the Daily News. Saturday 
evening Mr. Taylor left the office in company with a fellow-craftsman, 
an old-time acquaintance, and to please him, who had heard so much of 
Joplin, they took a stroll over the city. They remained on West Main 
street until near ten o'clock, when they passed down on Broadway, 
merely through curiosity. The night was dark and they missed their 
way and Mr. Taylor who was in advance, fell head-long into a shaft 
which opened its cavernous jaws to receive him. His companion gave the 
alarm, and in a few moments the shaft was surrounded by sturdy miners, 
a windlass and rope were immediately procured, and they soon had the 
dying man at the top. He was taken to his residence on Joplin street, 
where a more careful examination of his injuries was made. His scalp 
was found cut in three places, and his skull slightly fractured. No bones 
were broken, but he received internal injuries to the lungs which showed 
that death was inevitable. His wife up to this time had been led to be- 
lieve that his wounds were slight, and when informed that medical skill 
could not save him her grief was indeed painful to witness. At half past 
two o'clock Sunday morning the spirit of Joshua P. Taylor took its flight 
and the circle of friends who stood about his couch beheld only the in- 
animate remains of one whom they had learned to love and admire for his 
noble qualities and goodness of heart. 

'•The remains were then taken charge of by the Masonic fraternity, of 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 203 

which the deceased had long been an honored member. His death will he 
learned with profound sorrow by his old associates both in the East and 
West, and many a printer who has been his companion in the past will 
drop a tear to his memory." 

Something About Black Jack 

Toward the close of the 'seventies zinc had come into considerable 
prominence in the mining district. We publish here a clipping from the 
Daily News, April 4, 1878, which gives an idea of the manner it steadily 
crept into prominence: "The dissatisfaction existing among many miners 
concerning the prices paid for black jack, arises in many cases from the 
fact that to us in the southwest zinc ore is but imperfectly understood, it 
having been a remarkable product here only within the past three or 
four years. Until within the last two and a half years the price paid for 
it was so small that but few miners cared to handle it ; in fact, it did not 
pay them to do so unless they had a solid face of the rosin ore on which 
to work. This being the ease, and consequently not being experts, they 
find it to be a difficult matter to distinguish between first class ores and 
those of lower grades. 

"Black jack at present is quoted at $11 a ton for 'strictly first-class' 
ore, and that is all that is paid for it. But there is ore which is graded 
even above ,' first class,' and which commands a premium in the market. 
Only two mines yielding such ore are found in the southwest, which are 
on Parr hill and operated by Hoffman & Saunders and Barbee & Mc- 
Clelland. This ore is much better than any other now mined and com- 
mands about thirty-three per cent, more in the market. Consequently, 
many labor under the impression that their ore should be worth as much 
as the Parr hill article because, not being experts, they cannot distinguish 
the difference in the grades. 

"Why the Parr hill ore should be any better than any other in the 
same locality is a matter which even the most expert geologists have not 
been able to explain. The presence of iron, salvage, mundic and other 
impurities tend greatly to reduce the value of the article, and we have 
noticed that those who take the most pains to clean their ore always re- 
ceive the highest price. It should be well cleaned, for if it is not the 
buyer must not only pay for cleaning it himself, but must pay freights 
to distant points on the dirt as well as the ore. This fact the buyer takes 
into consideration, and the result is, the miner who sells dirty ore must 
pay all those expenses, which reduces the value of his ore. As soon as 
southwest miners become as well acquainted with zinc ore as they are with 
lead ore and as able to grade it, then transactions between them and 
buyers will be far more pleasant than at present." 

Board op Trade 

On October 31, 1877, the Joplin Board of Trade was organized, its 
charter list representing nearly every line of business in the city. Shortly 



204 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

after its organization that body made a trip to Kansas City for the pur- 
pose of becoming better acquainted with the wholesale interests and to 
catch a few pointers on up-to-date merchandising. The trip was both 
pleasant and profitable. 

Building of the Presbyterian Church 

In 1876 the Rev. D. K. Campbell of Alleghany City, Pennsylvania, 
came to the Joplin field and took charge of the First Presbyterian church. 
Rev. Campbell was sent to the Joplin charge by the Presbyterian 
Board of Home Missions. West Joplin had now passed East Joplin in 
point of size and it was the sense of the new pastor that the church would 
cover a larger field of activity if the congregation was moved to West 
town, and, accordingly, the half interest which the Presbyterians owned 
in the East Joplin church was sold back to the South Methodists and the 
church moved to the west side, taking temporary quarters in Fergu- 
son's hall at Fourth and Main streets. 

Measures were now taken to erect a church building and Col. 0. S. 
Richer, father of 0. H. and W. H. Picher, of the Picher Lead Company, 
donated a lot seventy by one hundred and ten feet at the northeast 
corner of Seventh and Main streets, and there a brick church was erected 
in 1877, the edifice being dedicated the first Sabbath in September of that 
year. 

Rev. Cyrus H. Dunlap, of Springfield, preached the dedicatory ser- 
mon and was assisted by the Rev. W. S. Knight of Carthage. The bell 
(now in the belfry of the Bethany church, South Joplin) was a gift to 
the society of John H. Taylor, who, at that time, was a citizen of Carth- 
age. At the time the congregation entered its new home the church mem- 
bership was thirty-five. 

The Independent Order op Odd Fellows 

April 26, 1877. the natal day of the three-linked fraternity, was duly 
celebrated in Joplin. Tbe parade, which included the several lodges of 
the county and the encampments of Joplin and Carthage, was followed 
by the exercises at the Tabernacle. The oration of the day was delivered 
by John W. McAntire and those who heard the address pronounced it 
bis masterpiece. 

Tim'. Ancient Order of United Workmen 

Fraternal insurance, which now is exceedingly popular throughout 
the land, first came into prominent notice through the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen, and while that society is not the pioneer in fraternal 
insurance it may properly be said that it was popularized by this or- 
ganization. 

Joplin Lodge No. 34 was organized November 19, 1877, with the fol- 
lowing charter members: T. J. Howell, W. B. Halyard, J. C. Faulkender, 
L. C. Hamilton. H. L. Checkering. John Page, Ira Creech, H. C. Combs, 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 205 

John Gibbons, John Rousch, P. L. Combs, Jacob Schlars, W. J. Husted, 
A. E. McGregor, S. H. Caldwell, J. C. Gastos, Philip Arnold and L. A. 
Fillmore. 

The White Lead Works 

During the year 1877 the first plant of the White Lead Works was 
built and from then to now, the lead factory has been the pride of all 
Joplin and perhaps its most widely-advertised institution. 

Prior to the building of these works, lead was smelted by the old 
process and a considerable portion of the lead fumes went up in smoke ; 
in fact, the best and most experienced smelters would lose at least one- 
third of the lead in this manner. 

E. 0. Bartlett, of Philadelphia, conceived the idea of catching the 
lead fumes, extracting them from the smoke and thus save the millions 
of dollars formerly lost in the smelting process. 

For ten years, from 1866 to 1876, he experimented with a process 
which he had thought out. At length, in 1876, feeling certain that he 
had worked out the process satisfactorily, he came to Joplin and asked 
permission of Moffet & Sergeant to erect a small experimental lead fac- 
tory at the smelter of the Lone Elm Mining & Smelting Company. This 
firm, quick to see the value of an invention of this kind, granted the 
permission and the process was attached to all of the eyes in their lead 
furnaces. The experiment was a success and Mr. Bartlett patented his 
process. 

A company was now organized, consisting of Messrs. E. 0. Bartlett, 
Moffet & Sergeant and Geo. T. Lewis, to build white lead works using the 
new process. The first plant cost $80,000 and was a frame structure. 
This factory turned out a high grade of lead spelter and also manufac- 
tured pure and sublimated white lead which is sold in all the markets of 
the world ; the United States government is a purchaser from this factory, 
using the Joplin white lead to paint the battleships of the navy. The 
lead works are now owned and operated by the Picher Lead Company. 
A further mention of this wonderful process will be made in our notes 
of the last decade. 

The Granby Smelter 

During the fall of 1877 the Granby Mining and Smelting Company 
erected a large furnace in Lone Elm. This smelter employed a large 
force of men and smelted the lead from their lands, but during the 
'eighties the plant was abandoned and torn down. 

The Joplin Opera House 

The Blackwell (Joplin) Opera House was built in 1877, and was for 
its time a nice show-house. The amusement hall occupied the second 
floor of a business block between First and Second, and H. H. Haven 
was the manager of the theater. The house was opened September 17th, 
with Blanche De Barr in "Fair Women." The Joplin was a popular 



206 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

show house until the middle 'eighties, and a number of old-time stars 
appeared before its footlights, among them Pay Templeton and Blind 

Tom. 

The "Herald" 

On March -1, 1877. the Sunday Herald made its first appearance in 
Joplin and was published as a weekly until November, when it was 
changed to a daily and continued as such until 1901, when it consoli- 
dated with the Daily News under the name of the Joplin .Vi ws-Herald. 

The Hi raid was ably edited by A. W. Carson, more commonly known 
as Kit Carson, and from its beginning was a popular sheet. Mr. Car- 
son was quick to see the funny side of life and often chronicled the 
happenings of the day in a humorous vein, lie, too, had a faculty of 
knowing what was news and its columns were both interesting and spicy. 
Politically, the Ilindd was Democratic. In compiling the remaining 
pages of this book the author will quote frequently from the Herald, a 
full file of which is at the Carnegie Library, a gift to that institution by 
Mr. Carson some years before his death. 

The Miners' Bank 

In 1877 the private banking house of P. Murphy & Company opened 
its doors to the public. Patrick Murphy was its president and Prank 
Kershaw cashier. A year later Mr. Murphy became associated with T. 
K. Tootle of St. Joseph. T. K. Hanna of Kansas City, and C. H. Brew- 
ster of Boonville, and its name was changed to the Miners' Bank, which 
was chartered as a state institution. The officers of the reorganized in- 
stitution were: P. Murphy, president; C. II. Brewster, vice president; 
Prank Kershaw, cashier. 

The great confidence which the citizens of Joplin had in Pat Murphy, 
together with the financial reputation of the Tooles of St. Joseph brought 
to the bank a large business. 

Jopun Gas Works 

On September 111. 187(i, C. E. Gray. Henry Plood and A. B. Bowman, 
of St. Louis, met with the city council in special session and submitted 
a proposition to erect gas works in Joplin and pipe it through the city. 
The proposition seemed fair and was accepted, an ordinance granting a 
franchise being passed by that body. C. J. Lewis of Lawrence, Kansas, 
a construction engineer of ability, was engaged to superintend the 
work. Material for the construction was at once ordered and in Decem- 
ber the work of laying mains and building the plant was commenced. 
On March 4th, the same day that the Herald made its first publication, 
(ires were placed in the benches, and on the 24th day of the same month 
■ lo|iliii was illuminated for the Frsl time. The Herald in its issue of 
March 25th says: "The gas works were completed a few days ago and 
gas turned into the main for the first time last night. Considering that 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 207 

it is the first production of the works, it burns exceedingly well. This 
is the grandest feather that has ever been stuck in Joplin's cap. The 
speedy manner in which the works have been pushed forward to com- 
pletion merits for the company the thanks of the citizens of this city." 

The gas plant and reservoir were located between the two towns on 
Joplin creek just south of Broadway. C. J. Lewis, the superintendent 
of the works, remained with the company until 1887, when he accepted a 
similar position with the Hannibal Water Company, of Hannibal, Mis- 
souri. 

The Francis Murphy Movement 

The early months of 1878 saw in Joplin a great temperance revival 
in the Murphy Red Ribbon Movement which swept over the country that 
year. The meetings were held in the Tabernacle and for three months 
were nightly attended by thousands of people, the house not being able 
to hold the vast audiences that nightly crowded the old church build- 
ing. This movement resulted in a closing of the Sunday saloon for a 
time and was the beginning of a movement to close the stores on Sun- 
day. Twelve thousand men in Joplin signed the pledge and joined the 
Red Ribbon Club during this temperance crusade. 

The Old Skating Rink 

Early in the fall of 1877 the roller skate made its first appearance in 
Joplin and a rink was opened in the old Tabernacle, the chairs being 
carried out during the week and brought back for the Sunday services. 
One half of the proceeds of the skating rink went to the church. The 
amusement became very popular and was enjoyed both by old and young. 

On December 31, 1877, a skating contest was held, the following per- 
sons being entered: E. D. Porter, Mayor F. C. Williams, Wm. Pyle, 
George Good, Frank Bingham, Rev. J. C. Plumb, Marshal Cass Hamil- 
ton, Dorie Davis and C. W. Glover. 

Mesdames J. C. Shepherd, G. B. Revis, G. A. Case, J. C. Mason, A. C. 
Pyle and C. J. Lewis. 

Misses Sue Leonard, now Mrs. A. H. Warte, Fannie Davis and Miss 
Blackwill. 

E. D. Porter was voted the most graceful skater and was the social 
lion of the evening. 

Fire Department Reorganized 

On October 5, 1877, a fire broke out on the east side of West Main 
street between Third and Fourth and destroyed the entire block, the loss 
being estimated at $50,000.00. The fire department responded, but the 
only good that was accomplished was the saving of other buildings on 
the opposite side of the street. This fire impressed the city with the 
necessity for an improvement in the fire service and the department was 
increased and reorganized ; that is, more men were enlisted in the volun- 



208 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

teer companies, so that it would be easier to run with the apparatus to 
the fire. 

The following were the members of the new company: Foreman, F. 
M. Chinnourth ; first assistant foreman, E. Tschappler; second assistant 
foreman, W. J. Rusch. 

Truckmen: G. B. Carney. John Ilouk. Sol Wallace and Wm. Chappen. 

Pumpmen : J. Anderson, F. A. Taylor, S. Shellenbarger, F. Hiatt, T. 
Turtling, J. Grant, D. A. Fox, and C. Adams. 

Nozzlemen: D. Chennawith. A. L. Willia, J. X. Dunnigan and J. W. 
Johnson. 

Linemen : J. Shellenbarger, D. Hood, G. W. Mitchell and L. A. Hin- 
ton. 

Officers : President, Walter Miller ; secretary, A. 0. Tennis ; treasurer, 
L. A. Fillmore. The last named man, L. A. Fillmore, was a fire fighter 
of experience having been a member of the Elsworth famous Fire Zou- 
aves in Chicago, and was from the organization of the volunteer depart- 
ment in 1872 to the day the paid department was established in 1893 a 
member of the volunteer fire department. 

The Joplin Exposition 

In July, 1879, the Joplin Exposition Company was organized by the 
leading business men of Joplin and with the following officers : President, 
S. C. Henderson; vice president, John C. Guinn; secretary, T. A. Mc- 
Cleland; treasurer. P. Murphy; general superintendent, Isaac N. Lamb. 
A forty acre tract of land in the southwestern part of the city was pur- 
chased and a race track, agricultural hall, grandstand and stables were 
built. The first fair was held from October 14th to 18th inclusive and 
was a marked success. 

Harmon's Foundry and Leckie's Machine Works 

1877 also saw the building of another important industry, the Har- 
mon foundry. This institution was greatly welcomed in Joplin, because 
it brought to the mining district a plant where the mining machinery and 
heavy castings used in the mines could be made at home. The next year, 
William Leckie established the Joplin Machine Works and, in addition 
to a foundry, put in a complete machine shop and boiler works. These 
two plants gave Joplin excellent facilities for the making and quick re- 
pair of heavy machinery. 

The following little sketch of the old Harmon Foundry was written 
for us by the proprietor; the proprietor of the Joplin foundry was 
Mr. W. S. Harmon, who came to Joplin in June, 1877, from Vandalia, Illi- 
nois, where he had operated a foundry for eleven years, "In coming to 
Joplin I experienced trouble in getting a location to build a foundry. 
Xo land owners wanted to sell what I wanted, one acre, and told me that 
Joplin was not a manufacturing but a mining town. There was not a 
manufactory here outside of the lead smelters. I was about to abandon 
the idea of building a foundry and go to Wichita, Kansas, when I met 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 209 

Mr. E. R. Moffet, president of the Lone Elm Mining & Smelting Com- 
pany, on June 3. 1877. lie wanted to know what I was doing about 
building the foundry. My reply was 'I have the building contracted, 
but no place to put it.' Mr. Moffet 's reply was: 'If that's all you want, 
select your location and I will give you a lease free for twenty-five years.' 
I asked him, 'When will you do it?' He said 'Tonight. .Meet me at the 
company's office. Fourth and Main streets, and I will have our attorney, 
Mr. L. P. Cunningham, draw up the lease.' The lease being made, the 
first foundry building was commenced July 4. 1877. and the first iron 
was melted August 15, 1877. The first molders employed were John Fra- 
zer; John Rogers, now of the Rogers foundry; Lewis Lilley, apprentice; 
Robert Whittle, engineer. These men came with me from Vandalia, Illi- 
nois. The first patternmaker to work in Joplin was John McGuire. 

"The foundry continued in successful operation until April 3, 1880. 
The White Lead Works were burned April 3, 1880, and this fire de- 
stroyed my foundry after I had successfully demonstrated that a foundry 
could be run here and made to pay. Just as quick as I could count my 
dollars, I contracted with Mr. Joseph Wooten to build me a store and 
brick building, one hundred by sixty feet, which was finished and put 
in operation August 20, 1880. I continued to operate this foundry and 
machine shop until September 1, 1886, when I leased it to Mr. John 
Schellenbeck for three years. During the time I operated the foundry I 
thought I made so much money that I would have to go to California to 
invest it. I went and returned in time to take my foundry and machine 
shop back from Mr. John Schellenbeck, and then continued to operate 
it until September 1, 1893. I then sold it to Messrs. James McKinney and 
Ross King, and, under their management the property was again de- 
stroyed by fire and never rebuilt." 

The Schools 

East Joplin — At the spring election of 1877 Prof. S. A. Underwood, 
of the East Joplin school, was elected county school commissioner and 
was succeeded by James A. Race, who was a scholar of high attainments 
and whose administration was highly satisfactory. G. W. McKinney 
was principal of the school in 1878 and Theodore H. Riffey in 1879. 

West Joplin — Prof. J. C. Mason of the Carthage schools was employed 
as superintendent of the West Joplin schools in the spring of 1877 and 
at once organized a high school in the Ferguson hall. 

For the fall term the Christian church was rented and a canvas 
partition strung across the center of the church, thus dividing the main 
audience room into two parts. Professor Mason taught the high school in 
one end of the church and L. Z. Barr, the Christian minister, taught the 
seventh and eighth grades in the other end of the room. The Old Brick, 
the Fourth street frame and the Smelter Hill schools were also used, 
making a total of eight teachers in the West side school. 

In the spring of 1878 the first public school exhibition took place in 

Vol. 1—14 



210 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

the Tabernacle. One thousand people were in attendance. Miss Alma 
Sergeant, later Mrs. C. Craycroft, read the salutatory address and Jack 
Dolan, C. B. Revis and others who later became prominent in Joplin life, 
took part. Before the arranging of a regular high school course of study 
it was customary for the pupils to go, before the county school commis- 
sioner and take the regular teacher's examination, the certificate, if 
granted, taking the place of a diploma. The first pupils in the Joplin 
school to take the examination and successfully pass were James R. 
Thomas and Fannie Paddock. 

In 1878 Mrs. Milner established a Young Ladies Seminary and this 
was largely attended. In 1878 the original two rooms of the old Central 
building were constructed and Joplin closed out the first decade with 
five school buildings (in its three districts) and employed fourteen 
teachers. 



City Politics 

The following city officers served Joplin from October, 1877, to Oc 
tober, 1878: Mayor, F. E. Williams; councilmen— C. F. Taylor, C. J. G 
Workizer, I. W. Gilbert. W. H. Kilgore, M. Clark, George Parks, W. L 
Cole, E. Rayner (removed), L. M. Abbott (to fill vacancy) and A. W 
Pyle (to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Ira W. Gilbert). Marshal 
L. C. Hamilton; police judge. \Y. B. McAntire; city attorney, John C 
Trigg; treasurer. G. W. Alway ; clerk. J. P. Newell; collector, T. A. Mc- 
Clelland; assessor, P. L. Swartz; street commissioner, T. M. Fall. 

The election of October, 1877, was a hot one. Sixteen hundred yards 
of muslin were used for banners and every candidate had from five to a 
dozen hacks with which to carry the voters to the polls. 

Officers from October, 1878, to October, 1879: Mayor, R. M. Roberts; 
councilmen, W. H. Kilgore, C. T. Taylor, D. C. MeConey, Geo. Parker, 
Julius Hewitt, J. E. Guthrey, William Allen and W. E. Manard ; mar- 
shal, L. C. Hamilton, police judge. W. B, McAntire; city attorney. J. C. 
Trigg; treasurer, A. C. Pyle; city clerk, J. C. Chatterman ; collector. F. 
E. Williams; assessor. J. W. Davis, and street commissioner, F. M. Fall. 

A. C. Pyle, the treasurer, was a miner who had met with the mis- 
fortune of losing his eyesight by going back on a premature shot, and the 
boys in sympathy, although blind, elected him treasurer. The Miners' 
Hank kept the books for him and he drew the salary in the nature of a 
pension from the boys on the ground. 

Officers from October. 1879, to October, 1880: Mayor, W. E. Maynard; 
councilmen, C. F. Taylor (removed), Thomas Connor (elected to fill 
the vacancy), W. L. Harris, Hugh Dyer, L. Horr, P. J. Cyphert, J. A. 
Hewitt, L. A. Fillmore and J. E. Guthrey; marshal, L. C. Hamilton; 
police judge, W. B. McAntire ; city attorney, F. M. Redburn ; treasurer, 
A. C. Pyle; city clerk, J. P. Newell; collector. F. E. Williams, and 
street commissioner, T. W. Fall. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 211 

Willie Watson's Christmas Stockings 

The following little story illustrates the tender side of the miner's 
life and is one of hundreds of pathetic incidents which might be related 
of early Joplin. 

Among the men prominent in the early business life of Joplin was 
William Watson, who operated a bus and carriage line. During the 
quiet times of the later 'seventies his business fell off, and although not 
many people knew it, he was on the verge of financial ruin. For sev- 
eral days prior to Christian of 1879 he had been morose and down-hearted 
and his old-time friends missed his droll stories and side-splitting jokes. 
Christmas eve he was standing in front of Billy Teet's saloon and some of 
the boys asked him why he was so quiet at so merry a time, and he told 
them of his busines failure. Some one said, "Bill, why don't you hang 
up your stocking; maybe Santa will put something in it?" Bill replied 
that he believed he'd do it. It was a happy thought. A. B. McCarty, 
Matt Stafford, Kit Carson and a few others hurried out and got half a 
dozen gunny sacks and, making a large ten-foot stocking hung it in front 
of the Joplin Hotel and labeled it "Willie Watson's Stocking." What 
Bill intended for a joke now became a reality. His old butcher friend, 
Bill Beal, came by and dropped in the stocking several links of fresh 
bologna. A grocer came by and catching the spirit left a sack of flour. 
A feed man came and dropped by the stocking a couple of bales of hay 
and a hundred weight of chop. The fever was catching and every man 
who went by put something in the stocking, or on the ground near by, and 
Christmas morning Bill Watson took to his barn two wagon loads of feed, 
groceries and wearing apparel which had been given him, and he used 
to say that the little bit of a joke tided him over the crisis. 

Rivalry Between Joplin and Carthage 

During the 'seventies and the 'eighties there was consederable rivalry 
between Joplin and Carthage and the papers of each occasionally took 
a good natured dig at each other. The following little clipping from the 
News in August. 1878. illustrates the pleasure the papers took in com- 
menting on each other: "A couple of Joplin men went up to the county 
seat several nights ago, became somewhat hilarious and created an ex- 
citement second only to the hanging of Abies. The good old burg of 
Carthage makes a nine-day wonder over a little affair like the kicking 
over of a stove, smashing a few chairs, stopping telegraphic communica- 
tion for a few minutes, and a three-dollar fine in the police court. Wait 
until the M. & W. opens its heart and gives Joplin an excursion, and then 
call out the Light Guards." 

Webb City 

Webb City, the second city of Jasper county in point of population, 
like Joplin, had its beginning in the 'seventies and came into existence 
as a result of the great mining industry. John C. Webb was the founder 



212 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

of the city and around his name clusters the early history of that im- 
portant mining center. 

Mr. Webb was a native of Tennessee and the second of a large family 
of children. He was brought up on the farm and received his education 
in the log schoolhouses of that day. In January, 1849, he married Miss 
Ruth T. Davis. In 1856 he and his wife came to Jasper county and set- 
tled near the head of Turkey creek, the Webb cemetery east of Harmony 
Orove being on the old home place. 

In 1857 he entered two hundred acres of land where the original 
Webb City was later laid out. At that time, however, Mr. Webb never 
dreamed that the land for which he paid the government a few hundred 
dollars would ere long yield him a snug fortune. He gradually added 
to his original entry until he was, at the begining of Webb City, the 
owner of half a section. 

During the war he served in the Confederate army, responding to 
Governor Jackson's call for volunteers to defend Missouri and entering 
the southern army at the expiration of his term of service with the State 
Guard. After the war he returned home and again worked his farm. 

Lead Discovered 

Tn June, 1873, while plowing corn, he accidentally turned up a good 
sized chunk of lead and in the fall, when the crops were in, began pros- 
pecting, but with little success on account of the water. The next year 
he put in his crop as usual and after it was gathered purchased a pump 
and other necessary machinery and, in the parlance of the miner "beat 
the water." The pump worked to perfection and in a few days the water 
was out and the shaft drained sufficiently to go in the ground. The 
second day after he began work in the old shaft a chunk of lead weighing 
over one thousand pounds was hoisted. From then until now the mining 
industry has been pushed and today the mines of Webb City have a 
world-wide reputation. 

In July, 1875, Mr. Webb platted the original town of Webb City. In 
the original dedication Mr. Webb reserved a block for a church and pub- 
lic school site, the old Central building standing on the block donated by 
the founder of the city. Webb City grew so rapidly that the next year 
four additions to the city were platted and in 1877 six more additions 
were opened to the public. During that year the city had a building 
boom and at the close of its first five years growth had some two thous- 
and inhabitants — 1,588 within the city limits and from 400 to 600 just 
outside, but properly a part of the town. 

Mr. Webb did not mine the land on which he discovered the first 
lead, but leased it to a company, and before he died was one of the 
county's millionaires, made so by the royalties from the mines and the 
sale of town lots. 

G. P. Ashckapt 

G. P. Ashcraft was the first man to sink a shaft on the Center Creek 
land and also marketed the first carload of ore from the Webb City dis- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 213 

trict. The following little reminiscence which appeared in the Joplin 
Daily Globe, Sunday, July 30, 1875, illustrates the important part Mr. 
Ashcraft played in the early history of Webb City. 

In having the man who "windlassed," cleaned and shipped the first wagon- 
load of ore ever marketed from here, and then within less than forty years wit- 
nessing the growth of the mines on that particular bit of ground expand until 
now over ten million dollars' worth of ore has been shipped from the Center 
creek mines, probably gave Granville P. Ashcraft. the pioneer who died a few 
days ago, a much better chance to witness the activities and accomplishments 
of life than did Methuselah, reputed to have spent more years on earth than 
any other man on record. 

For in these days of modern achievement, the events of a man's life follow 
each other with such lightening-like rapidity that a single year in the century 
now passing has become much more than the equivalent of one hundred years 
in the patriarchal days when that oldest man of ancient history moved along 
his quiet and uneventful path. 

The distinction that came to Mr. Ashcraft, of making the first sale of lead 
from Webb City, was, however, like many of the events that make history for 
individuals and communities, more of chance than of design. For the writer 
well remembers how, in a conversation with this pioneer citizen whose death all 
Webb City mourns, he recalled how his coming to Webb City, instead of 
prospecting elsewhere, was very much the whim of a moment. 

"It was because I got mad," said Mr. Ashcraft, "over some things about a 
deal in Oronogo, that I threw up a lease for $50 when, only a few weeks before. 
I had paid $1,500 for it. That was how it happened that I came to Webb City, 
and have remained here the rest of my life, instead of working in the original 
shaft of what afterwards became the Oronogo Circle mines." 

Only a few of the older men of Webb City are still living to give their 
personal recollection of the beginning of the mines in Webb City. Benjamin 
F. Hatcher, who has been in Jasper county fifty-four years, is one of the few 
survivors, and he certainly had as good a chance of knowing as any of the 
pioneers of the early 70's, for he was the man who helped pull the water out 
of that first shaft from which "mineral" was hoisted, and thus assisted in the 
foundation work of the immense mining industry now so firmly established. 

"When Grant Ashcraft came over from Oronogo and undertook to sink 
the shaft on Center creek, where there had been the first lead find in this dis- 
trict," says Mr. Hatcher, "I started with him to run the pump. My recollection 
is that it took a relay of seven horses, working each horse for two or three 
hours at a time, to keep the pump going, and all we had then was literally 
'horse power.' It wasn't much of a shaft, as we should think now. It was 
something less than thirty feet deep, and some lead had been taken out, that 
was in the dump, but none had been sold. It looked very doubtful about getting 
any more, as the water was so strong it came out of the top of the hole within 
a few hours whenever the pump stopped. We kept at it until he got enough out 
to make several sales of lead, but under great difficulty, and when there was 
high water there was nothing doing. 

"People didn't know much about pumps in those days, not around here, 
anyway, and I remember that Thomas N. Davey, then and for a long time after 
in the foundry business at Carthage, devised a new kind of pump that he had 
hoped would prove adequate to the water proposition, as we should call it now, 
at Center creek. But it didn't work ; and for years there was little else but 
discouragement as to continuous work, for when the 'pump shaft' was down, 
none of the numerous prospectors were able to get in the ground. Among those 
Interested in working this shaft in the early days were Ben Webb and John 
C. Webb, on whose land the discovery was made; Thomas N. Davey, W. A. 
Daugherty. S. B. Corn, of Joplin. and a practical miner, named Mike Jones, 
who came here from Oronogo." 



214 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Being the first tuan to mine and ship lead ore from the locality that after- 
wards hecame Webb City was not Grant Asheraft's only distinction. When he 
came there was nothing in sight but the log house of John C. Webb, for whom 
the town was named. By the time Webb City was incorporated in 1875, Mr. 
Ashcraft had laid the foundation of his fortune to a sufficient extent to become 
the purchaser of the largest number of city lots, consisting of the greater part 
of the block bounded by Daugherty, John, Pennsylvania and Ball streets. At 
one corner of this tract of the original town site, he built the first frame house, 
adding others on the vacant lots later on, and living in one of them from those 
early days until within the last couple of years. He was, therefore, the first 
house-builder and lived on the site of his first choice nearly thirty-five years. 

While Mr. Ashcraft was a native of Missouri, being born in that part of 
the original Bates county which afterward became the county of Cass, he spent 
his early manhood in California, on a ranch belonging to Granville Swift. As 
Swift lived on the next farm to that on which Mr. Ashcraft's parents resided 
at the time he was born, and it was for him he was named Granville, although 
99 per cent of his friends knew him all through his life as "Grant." 

It was a visit that his brother. Samuel P. Ashcraft, made by stage to Cali- 
fornia in 1864, that brought "Grant" back to Missouri. The trip, from start 
to return, occupied from January 19 until March 4, and no time was lost in the 
journey. 

"It was while he was on Swift's ranch in California." says Sam Ashcraft, 
"that he acquired his love of horse flesh that became one of his characteristic 
hobbies all through life. ■Grant' knew a good horse as well as any man in Jas- 
per county, perhaps, and no end of stories could be told of his venturesome and 
daredevil exploits. 

"One day in the early days of the old 'Red riant,' a Frisco train was 
passing when he was on his way to Webb City. He made a bet with the man 
who was riding with him that he could beat the train to town. Xo doubt he 
did his best to win the bet. as was shown by the fact that in his mad race he 
killed a cow on the roadway and had to pay the owner for the loss of the 
animal, besides getting unmercifully 'joshed' by his friends for years afterwards. 

"One of my brother's characteristics was that he always backed his own 
judgment, rarely told any one what he intended to do in business matters and 
never asked advice of anybody. He was a hard man to persuade into any- 
thing, but when once he gave bis word, everyone knew that he could be relied 
upon to do just what he said." 

The Toms Smelter 

In 1876 Mr. William Toms built a lead furnace on Bens branch be- 
tween Webb City and Carterville and this was operated until 1880, when 
it was destroyed by fire. 

Webb City's First Election 

Webb City had grown to such an extent that during the presidential 
campaign of 1876 the county court designated it as a voting precinct and 
at its first election went Democratic, the vote being as follows: Hayes, 
Republican, 142; Tilden, Democratic, 195; Cooper, Greenbacker, 4. 

Webb City as a Town 

In December, 1876, the citizens of Webb City petitioned the county 
court to incorporate that place as a town and accordingly on the 11th 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 215 

day of December the court formally granted the petition and issued a 
decree to that effect, W. A. Ashcraft, 0. Jacobs, James Smith, J. E. 
McNair and R. A. Sterling were appointed the first board of trustees. 
The same evening the board was sworn into office and organized by the 
election of J. E. McNair as president ; I. Brunnin, as clerk ; W. A. Ash- 
craft, as treasurer, D. H. Thomas, as collector; L. Mark, city marshal, 
and R. L. Thomas as city attorney. The first ordinance of the city was 
drafted by Attorney Thomas. 

J. E. McNair 

James E. McNair, the first executive officer of Webb City, was a na- 
tive of North Carolina and of Scotch descent. He was born December 
13, 1833. His father was a Revolutionary patriot, having served in the 
Continental army during the entire seven years of hostilities. Mr. Mc- 
Nair 's boyhood was spent in the south, having lived in Mississippi and 
Tennessee before the War between the States. In the spring of '52 he 
caught the gold fever and started to cross the plains enroute for Cali- 
fornia. Arriving at Bates county, this state, he became ill and was 
obliged to leave the party of overland tourists, and remained in that 
county until 1854 when he had regained his health. Still determined to 
go to the gold fields, he hired to Henry Riggs as a cowboy and crossed the 
plains that summer, helping to drive a herd of cattle to Sacramento. He 
returned to Tennessee in 1859 and began the study of medicine. 

Mr. McNair had been brought up an Andrew Jackson Democrat, but 
when Fort Sumter was fired upon he cast his lot with the north and en- 
listed in the First West Tennessee U. S. Volunteers. On account of 
sickness he was discharged from the service in the fall of 1864 and the 
next year was elected a member of the legislature of Tennessee. In 1865 
he was elected a delegate to the Southern Loyalists convention which 
met in Philadelphia, and there urged the extending of the right hand of 
fellowship to the defeated states. During the war he was married to Miss 
Patience Flippen, a charming Tennessee belle. 

In 1869 he came to Missouri and worked for the St. Louis & San 
Francisco Railway in the capacity of a bridge carpenter, coming to Oro- 
nogo in that railway's employ in 1874. In 1875, when John C. Webb 
laid out the town of Webb City, Mr. McNair came to the place which then 
was only represented by the surveyor's pegs in the ground, and built for 
Mr. Webb the first house. On January 13, 1877, after having served the 
city as mayor for one month and two days, Mr. McNair was appointed 
postmaster of Webb City, which office had just been established, and re- 
signed his position as a member of the board of trustees. F. Ball was 
appointed trustee to fill the vacancy and (vice Chairman James Smith) 
filled out the remainder of the term as president of the board. During 
the administration of Messrs. McNair and Smith order was established 
and the preliminaries of the founding of a city government gone through 
with. 



216 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Spring Eiwtio 1877 

In April, 1877, the first regular e for trustees occurred and the 

following were chosen : George II. Sm H. Vincent, John Pratt, M. J. 

Faubin and W. A. Asheraft. 

The new board organized by electing George H. Smith, chairman; 
D. H. Endriekson, city clerk; Charles Metcalf, treasurer; David Carant, 
marshal, and William H. Metheny, city attorney. Mr. Metheny re- 
signed before the expiration of his term and L. A. Thomas, the first at- 
torney, was appointed to fill out his unexpired term. 

As a Fourth-Class City 

On the 28th day of February, 1878, the town voted on a proposition 
to incorporate as a city of the fourth class and the proposition carried 
by a majority of three votes. At the regular city election in April, 1878, 
the following officers were elected : Mayor, Ben C. Webb ; aldermen, H. 
L. Shafer, J. M. Whitworth, A. J. Sinclair and A. F. Scott; marshal, 
David Currant. 

The appointive officers were Charles Metcalf, treasurer; J. C. Col- 
umbia, collector; S. D. McPherson, attorney. Before the end of the 
year Mr. Metcalf resigued as city clerk and J. E. McNair, the first Elm 
board of trustees, was appointed. At the election in 1879 Mr. Webb 
was reelected mayor and the following gentlemen served as aldermen: 
Waller Tholborn, R. S. Gaston, D. J. Horn and M. Worden. 

John W. Vermillion succeeded Mr. Currian as marshal. The ap- 
pointive officers were the same as in 1878, save the collector, J. W. Cald- 
well, who succeeded Mr. Columbia. 

Tax Litigation 

The early city administration did not have all smooth sailing in 
building up and beautifying the young city. 

The first city council, or rather board of trustees, planned great 
things, among which were the thorough policing of the town and the 
improvement of the streets. On account of the many needed improve- 
ments, the young town levied a tax which was slightly in excess of the 
constitutional limit. The city taxes could not be levied and collected 
until the regular time of assessment, in the meantime anticipating returns 
from the tax levy, policemen were hired and they, with other help 
were paid in city warrants. When the time came for collecting the tax 
the levy was contested by some of the people and, at the trial, declared 
by the court to be illegal. As a result the city government did not receive 
the anticipated revenue for 1877 and 1878. City warrants went down 
to fifty cents on the dollar and the wheels of government for a time were 
almost stopped. It was then that the proposition was submitted to 
organize as a corporation of the fourth class, which would allow the 
levy necessary to carry on the business of the city. The proposition 
carried by three majority and in 1879. and the city collected its taxes for 
the first time. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 217 

First C ^trch in "Webb City 

The first work for the M r n Webb City was begun by a little 

band of Presbyterians— W. j "-eatley, C. S. Manker and Van 

Pelt, who with their good w. jrganized a union Sunday school at 
Webb's Hall in the latter partnof 1876. The school from the first day 
was a success, not only in point bf number, but in the interest manifested. 
W. A. Wheatley was its superintendent. 

The attendance grew so rapidly that it was necessary to secure a 
larger place of meeting and permission was given to use the new school- 
house that recently had been completed. And here the work was carried 
on during 1877-8. At the time the Sunday school moved to the school- 
house it numbered over two hundred regular attendants, the primary 
class, in charge of Mrs. W. A. Wheatley, containing forty-two little 
tots. 

The matter of organizing a church was now agitated and from this 
union Sunday school grew later the First Presbyterian church of Webb 
City, which was organized March 27, 1877, with eight members. Messrs. 
Wheatley, Manker and Van Pelt, who had taken the initiative in the 
organization of the Sunday school, were elected the first session of the 
new church. 

During the remaining 'seventies, the church did not have a regular 
pastor, but the Rev. D. K. Campbell, of Joplin, preached to the con- 
gregation, which grew slowly but surely, every Sunday afternoon, until 
after he closed his ministerial work in Joplin. In 1879 the society, 
which now had grown to twenty -six, purchased a building on Allen street 
which had been erected for a saloon, fitted it up for a church and there 
worshiped until the latter 'eighties. 

During the pioneer days of Webb City the church exerted a great 
influence. Its choir — the famous Stevenson-Wheatley quartette, con- 
sisting of W. A. Wheatley and wife and Prof. J. M. Stevenson and wife 
— won great distinction, singing at all of the principal gatherings over 
the county. In April, 1879, the Ozark Presbyterians met in the Webb 
City church. One other little incident might be mentioned which shows 
the influence that the church exerted on the community. 

During the winter of 1877-8 there was a great amount of sickness in 
Webb City, due partly to the inclemency of the weather and partly to 
the lack of proper shelter, and quite a number died of pneumonia. Mrs. 
Wheatley and Mrs. Hull, both active workers in the church, were min- 
istering angels who went out and helped care for the afflicted. Many a 
sick room was cheered by the kindly attentions of these two church 
workers. In those days there was no undertaker in Webb City, and 
when death entered the home of a friend they came and, with loving 
hands, helped prepare the body for burial. Thus, as they performed 
these kindly acts of love and tenderness, they reflected credit on the 
church, whose deaconesses they were. 



218 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

Organization of the School District 

The Webb City School district was organized in 1876 and a sub- 
stantial four-room frame schoolhouse was built during the winter of 
1876-7 on the site of the old Central High School building. 

Prof. Dickey, late of the Carthage schools, was the first principal, 
did a good work of organization and remained in charge of the school 
to the close of the 'seventies. 

The Blunt Raid 

A few weeks after the city government of Webb City had been or- 
ganized the town experienced an excitement, which, for a day, resembled 
a western cowboy raid. On January 25, 1877, James Missick of Car- 
terville came over to Webb City and, having imbibed too freely, became 
hilarious and was placed in jail by Marshal Marks and his deputy. 
Hearing of his incarceration a party of his friends came over to Webb 
City and attempted to take Missick from jail, but did not succeed. Later, 
however, bail was procured and the party returned to Carterville. The 
next, morning four of the friends of Missick came over to Webb City, 
bent on raiding the town, but nothing was done save to hang around the 
saloons and threaten the mayor and police. That afternoon the party 
returned, this time having been reinforced to seven, and galloped 
through the streets at full-speed, firing promiscuously at people on the 
thoroughfares. Uriah Fish burn, "Monkey wrench" Jones and several 
others were shot, but none of them were killed and a horse was shot 
from under one of the raiders by the marshal. The marshal then rode 
to Oronogo and telegraphed to Sheriff Beamer for help and in the 
evening the sheriff, with two hack-loads of special deputies, came to 
Webb City for the purpose of restoring order. Their presence was not 
needed, however, as the raiders had departed. A number of persons 
were arrested for complicity in the affair, but no convictions were ever 
made. Two of the raiders, who could not give bonds, were taken to 
Carthage and placed in the county jail and while they were confined 
there, at a time when all the deputies were away excepting the jailer, 
they overpowered him, escaped and were never retaken. 

George Hudson, one of the gang, gave bonds for his appearance and 
was discharged for want of evidence. The strangeness of fate, which 
allowed him to go unpunished, was as follows. Uriah Pishburn had 
been shot by Hudson during the raid and he was the principal witness 
for the state. On the morning of the trial, before going to the court 
room, Mr. Fishburn went out to his mine to give directions for the day, 
and while showing one of the miners how to do a certain piece of work 
was caught in a large wheel in the machinery at the plant and in- 
stantly killed. When the trial came on, there was no witness for the 
state and the case was dismissed. 

Oeorge Hudson was killed by a sheriff in Colorado while resisting 
an arrest. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 219 

Carterville 

Webb City and Carterville are often spoken of as the Twin Cities 
and very properly so, for they both came into existence the same year ; 
both are sustained by the same great industry and, except to those who 
are familiar with the dividing line between the two towns, it is hard to 
tell just where Webb City ends and Carterville begins; for Ben's branch, 
which is between the two towns, wends its way in its meanderings first 
one side and then the other of the imaginary line which divides the 
two municipalities. 

The land on which the original town of Carterville was built belonged 
to a farmer named Carter, who was a neighbor of Mr. Jno. C. Webb and 
who, with him, tilled the soil during the early 'seventies. 

The first business and mining activities in Carterville were com- 
menced by W. A. Daugherty, and to him, perhaps more than any other 
men, belongs the credit of developing the mines of the Carterville dis- 
trict during the early days of the town, where pluck and perseverance 
were required to make good. 

As related in our Webb City story, the first discovery of lead in the 
Webb City-Carterville district was made by John C. Webb and in the 
valley which lies between the two towns. 

The chunk of lead which Mr. Webb ploughed up was taken by him 
to W. A. Daugherty for inspection. That gentleman pronounced it 
lead and, at Mr. Webb's request, entered into a partnership with him 
to sink a shaft and develop the land. 

The task of "beating the water" was the great problem. Frequently, 
on coming to work in the morning, they would find the shaft filled with 
water almost to the top, so near, in fact, that it could be dipped out 
with a bucket. After a pump was secured and the ground well drained, 
they began the work of cribbing the shaft. In sinking the shaft to a 
considerable depth they struck no lead, excepting to pass through a 
strata of the ore not more than an inch thick. Mr. Webb was somewhat 
discouraged and sold his interest to G. P. Ashcraft. 

When Messrs. Daugherty and Webb were cribbing the shaft, at the 
place where they had passed through the strata of lead Mr. Daugherty 
took a hatchet and cut three crosses in the cribbing to mark the spot. 

When Mr. Ashcraft bought Mr. Webb's interest he inquired of Mr. 
Daugherty what signs of mineral he had noticed other than the chunk 
which Mr. Webb had ploughed up, and, on being told of the small vein 
which they had passed through, asked Mr. Daugherty to lower him in 
the tub to the place where the crosses were cut. 

Mr. Ashcraft, who was an experienced miner, took out a piece of the 
cribbing and, after first making a sort of a doorway in it drilled three 
or four holes in the side of the shaft and put in a charge of powder 
and a fuse. Before touching off the shot, however, a temporary platform 
was built just below the drill holes. The fuse was lighted and Mr. 
Ashcraft told Mr. Daugherty to "hist away." Searcelv had he reached 



220 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

the top of the shaft when the charge exploded, throwing lead and rocks 
ill all directions. When the smoke had cleared away Mr. Ashcraft de- 
scended the shaft and, finding the platform literally covered with great 
chunks of lead, called Mr. Daugherty to see the sight. This shot opened 
up an entrance to a cave-like pocket which was almost a solid mass of 
lead. This was the beginning of the mining activities ; the miners who 
first came to work the ground, settled on the land just east of the mines, 
and naturally the place was called Carterville. 

Mr. Daugherty secured land from Mr. Carter and platted a town, 
the field notes and plat being filed for record September 10, 1875. He 
also built the first store in Carterville. Two additions to the place were 
laid out in the spring of 1876, and by the close of the Centennial year 
the town numbered fully five hundred inhabitants. 

Carterville's First Church 

In the spring of 1876 the Rev. Jasper A. Smith, a Methodist minister, 
came to Carterville and organized the first Methodist church. The 
church met in a rented hall until 1882, when a lot was secured on 
Daugherty street and a church home commenced. On May 13, 1883, 
just as the building was nearing completion, it was demolished by a 
tornado. Three days later, however, the congregation met and laid 
plans for the rebuilding of the church, which was completed toward the 
close of the year. 

Town of Carterville Organized 

In the spring of 1877 the citizens petitioned the county court to in- 
corporate the town of Carterville as a municipality. The first board 
of trustees comprised J. A. Wilson, W. A. Daugherty, Joseph Manlove, 
A. N. McReynolds and J. O. Rose. The board was organized April 17, 
1877, with J. A. Wilson as chairman and J. R. Bailey, clerk. J. S. Wil- 
son was appointed marshal, E. S. Carries, treasurer, and Joseph Fount- 
ain, city attorney. 

After organizing the city government quite a number of people 
thought that the municipality was an unnecessary expense and the board 
of trustees did not meet again from September 6, 1877, until April, 
1882, when the municipality was reorganized. 

The history of Carterville will be taken up again in the chapter on 
the 'Eighties, when the town pushed rapidly to the front. 

Oronogo 

Oronogo continued to grow during the 'seventies. On August 4, 
1873. a single chunk of lead was uncovered only eight feet below the 
surface. It weighed 60,000 pounds, and sold for $5,000 making the two 
lucky miners rich in a day. 

On November 13th of this same year Alfred T. Oran was lynched 
by a mob of masked men. He had attempted to rob the house of a man 
named Hunter and was suspected of having committed a number of law- 
less acts in and around Oronogo. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 221 

In 1876, the Centennial year, Oronogo was incorporated as a town, 
W. T. Duncan being the first chairman of its board of trustees. 

During the same year the Masonic fraternity of Oronogo celebrated 
St. John's Day, June 24th. and a picnic and ceremonial was held in the 
grove. D. M. Whitworth, C. E. Elliott and J. W. Board were in charge 
of the exercises and every detail was carried out in a manner that re- 
flected great credit on the committee. 

Other Towns 

Beside the founding of Joplin, Webb City and Carterville, five other 
towns also sprang into existence— Midway, later called Jasper; Scot- 
land, Carl Junction, Waco and Alba. 

Midway was so called because it was midway between Carthage and 
Lamar. Scotland, eight miles east of Joplin was named in honor of 
Rev. Scott, who lived on the land where lead was first struck. During 
the middle seventies Scotland had upwards of 500 people and three 
lead smelters were in operation. 

Carl Junction and Waco came with the building of the Joplin and 
Girard Railway. Carl Junction was founded by Charles Carl and, being 
at the crossing of the 'Frisco and Joplin & Girard, was called Carl 
Junction. 

Alba situated on Spring River four miles northeast of Orongo was a 
Quaker settlement and at first distinctively a farming community. A 
more extended mention of Carl Junction and Alba will be made in our 
Inter chapters, when these places came into greater prominence. 



Decade 

of the 

Eighties 



Census op 1880 

Duval Township 946 

•Galena Township 6,966 

••Joplin Township 5,322 

Jackson Township 1,416 

Jasper Township 884 

Lincoln Township 815 

McDonald Township 1,181 

Madison Township 1,234 

***Marion Township 5,316 

••••Mineral Township 1,892 

Preston Township 1,048 

•****Sarcoxie Township 1,545 

Sheridan Township 913 

Twin Grove Township 1,110 

Union Township 1,431 



32,019 

Joplln City In Galena and Joplln townships, 7,038. 
•Including Webb City. 1.588. 
••Including Carthage. 4.167. 
•••Including Oronogo. 700. 
••••Including Sarcnxie. 341. 



CHAPTER XXI 
COUNTY POLITICS 

The "Boys in Blue" — "329" Presentation to Col. W. F. Cloud- 
Campaign of 1882—1884-8 — Local Option Election 1887 — Court 
House Elections — Campaign of 1888 — Webb City Democratic 
Flambeau Club — County Schools in the 'Eighties — J. M. Stev- 
enson 1887-93 — The Jasper County Teachers' Normal. 

The presidential campaign of 1880 was a most exciting one. The 
tariff question was a prominent factor and many members of the Green- 
back party voted with the Republicans on account of the peculiar interest 
of the miners and sheepraisers in that issue. Col. J. W. Campbell of 
Carthage, a prominent member of the Greenback party, went back to his 
old love and took with him many of the Greenbackers. 

Shortly before the close of the campaign a fusion was effected be- 
tween the Republicans and Greenbackers which resulted in a combina- 
tion ticket being elected. Colonel Cloud, the Republican chairman, 
pushed the work of organization and led his party to victory, the Repub- 
lican-Greenback county ticket being elected by 1,200 majority. The 
important features of the fusion were as follows: The Republicans 
supported Ira S. Haseltine of Greene county for congress, and placed 
on their ticket I. C. Hodson for member of the county court, Western 
district of Jasper county, and J. M. Ralston for assessor. The Green- 
backers, in turn, supported M. C. McGregor of Carthage for circuit 
judge. 

"Boys in Blue" 

One of the important factors in this campaign, locally, was the ' ' Boys 
in Blue" — a political marching club formed at Carthage by Col. J. W. 
Campbell, which participated in and created much enthusiasm at the 
Republican Rally and in Republican rallies all over the country, appear- 
ing at Carthage, Webb City, Joplin and other places. The organization 
numbered some 600 uniformed men and was officered as follows: 
Field and Staff Officers. 
J. W. Campbell, colonel commanding ; T. B. Tuttle, lieutenant colonel ; 
Thomas Buckbee, major; S. B. Ornisby, captain and adjutant; Newell Mix, 
captain and commissary ; J. M. Hurley, surgeon ; L. F. Brown, treasurer and pay- 
master. 

Rosteb of Companies. 
Company A — Captain J. B. Hutchens ; first lieutenant. Charles Pool ; sec- 
ond lieutenant, N. A. Floyd. 

Vol. 1—15 

225 



226 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Company B — Captain, Jesse Rhoads ; first lieutenant, J. \V. Hart; second 
lieutenant, D. E. W. Smith. 

Company ('—Captain. John Edgington; first lieutenant, James Blue; sec- 
ond lieutenant. Jerry Garnett, 

Company D— Captain. E. B. Reeder : first lieutenant. J. W. Taylor; second 
lieutenant, W. B. Wyman. 

Company E — Captain, J. F. Higgins; first lieutenant. J. J. Heim ; second 
lieutenant. Charles Smith. 

Artillery — Captain, E. W. Milliard. One six pound gun. 

The vote in Jasper county was as follows: Garfield, Republican, 
2,874 ; Hancock, Democrat, 2,532 ; Weaver, Greenback, 1,111. 

The following composed the successful county ticket: Circuit judge, 
Hon. M. C. McGregor; representative, D. A. Preston; prosecuting at- 
torney, T. B. Haughawout; collector, Harry Hubbart; assessor, J. M. 
Ralston; treasurer. A. II. Caft'ee ; surveyor, Kos. Elliott; public adminis- 
trator, Isaac Fountain; coroner, Barney Bristow; judges county court, 
(East district), J. I. Hall, and (West district), I. N. Hodson; sheriff, 
R. M. Roberts. 

After the election the Republicans of the county presented Colonel 
Cloud with a gold headed cane as a testimonial of their appreciation of 
the efficient work he had done for the party. The Carthage Banner 
makes the following mention of the presentation in its issue of Novem- 
ber 25. 1880. 

329* 
Presentation to Col. W. F. Clovd 

To-day, the 329th day of the year, a number of the personal and political 
friends of Col. Cloud took possession of his office, found him absent, sent a 
committee in search of him, found him after an hour's search, and pro- 
ceeded to the business of the hour. Among those present we noticed Col. Camp- 
bell. Mr. Cooper. Maj. Moore. Capt. Tuttle. ('apt. Ruekbee, John Brownsill. T. 
A. Wakefield, Henry Miller, Prof. Cabot, Mr. Cholwell, T. B. Haughawout. W. 
C. Bates, J. D. Clarkson and Mr. Chase. 

Col. Campbell advanced to the front and in a few very appropriate re- 
marks, presented to Col. Cloud a heavy and very finely engraved gold watch, 
and solid gold chain and charm, purchased from Messrs. Cooper and Kirke at 
one hundred and fifty dollars. On the inside case is the following inscription : 

"329. 
"Presented to W. F. Cloud, by Republican friends of Carthage. Mo. 

"Nov. 1880." 

Col. Cloud was visibly affected when the costly gift was placed in his 
hands, and his response was at times almost overcome by his feelings. He had 
been kept in ignorance of the intention of bis friends and was completely taken 
by surprise. He returned his thanks in a happy manner and distributed the credit 
which bad been ascribed to him. impartially among his party associates all of whom 
he regarded as having done their duty, and that he had done nothing more. The 
Colonel has endeared himself to his friends and richly merits the confidence which 
their action to-day implies. The Banner congratulates him upon his success, and 
the party upon his chairmanship. 



•The "329" engraved on the watch refers to the 320 delegates to the National Repub- 
lican Committee who voted for General Grant for a third term for the presidency, and who 
loyally supported Garfield after his nomination. Colonel Cloud had been originally a Grant 
man. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 227 

The Campaign of 1882 

In 1882 the Democrats and Greenbackers joined in the organization of 
a party which was known locally as the Anti-Monopoly party and 
elected the greater portion of the county ticket by small majorities. 

The following were the successful candidates, the figures given being 
their majorities: Circuit clerk, I. C. Hodson, Anti-Monopoly, 325; re- 
corder of deeds, J. P. Newell, Anti-Monopoly, 449 ; county clerk, John 
N. Wilson, Anti-Monopoly, 83 ; sheriff, R. M. Robens, Republican, 256 ; 
prosecuting attorney, T. B. Haughawaut, Republican, 83 ; probate judge, 
W. H. Kilgore, Anti-Monopoly, 375 ; county treasurer, W. S. Carson, 
Anti-Monopoly, 277. 

The straight party vote cast at the election, based on supreme judge, 
was as follows : Republican, 2,827 ; Democratic, 2,390 ; Greenback, 852. 

1884-6 

In 1884 the Republicans and Greenbackers in the state joined forces 
and nominated Hon. Nicholas Ford of St. Joseph for governor. The 
Greenback party did not nominate a full county ticket, but the members 
generally voted with the Republicans who elected their ticket with the 
exception of the two candidates for the legislature and the candidate for 
assessor. 

The following were the successful candidates : sheriff, John C. Bailey, 
.Joplin; collector, Robert II. Hottle. Sarcoxie ; prosecuting attorney, 
William Robinson, Webb City; county commissioners, J. M. Ralston, 
Madison township, and W. B. Halyard, Joplin; assessor, Ashcraft (D), 
Webb City ; county clerk, Jesse Rhodes, Carthage ; surveyor, E. 0. Miles, 
Joplin; public administrator, Isaac Fountain, Oronogo; representative 
(Eastern district), William Randal (D); representative (Western dis- 
trict), S. H. Claycomb (D). 

The vote on president was as follows : Blaine, Republican, 4,128 ; 
Cleveland, Democrat, 3,311. It will be remembered that at this election 
Cleveland was elected president the first time and the Democrats of the 
county, as elsewhere, went wild with excitement; jollification meetings 
were had in every city, town and hamlet W. II. Phelps of Carthage 
was this year chosen as one of Missouri's delegates to the national con- 
vention of the Democratic party and supported Cleveland for the nomi- 
nation. 

1886 was an off-year. Nothing especially out of the ordinary oc- 
curred during the campaign and a mixed ticket was elected, each of the 
two great parties securing a part of the important offices. 

The following gentlemen were victorious at the polls: Sheriff, John 
C. Bailey, reelected ; circuit clerk, B. F. Hackney, reelected ; county 
clerk, Jesse Rhodes, reelected ; recorder of deeds, R. C. Friend, re- 
elected ; probate judge, W. H. Kilgore, reelected ; prosecuting at- 
torney, William Robinson, reelected; collector, A. H. Hattel, reelected; 
assessor, W. T. Burkhalder, reelected; treasurer, James M. Spence, 



228 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

reelected ; presiding judge, county court, J. M. Werks ; associate justice, 
Eastern district, Wesley Ralston ; associate justice, Western district, C. 
J. Hubble; representative Eastern district, C. M. Etter; representative, 
Western district, David Hopkins; coroner, Jesse Adams. 

Local Option Election 1887 

At the session of the general assembly for 1887 the Local Option law 
now on the statute book was passed and Jasper county was one of the 
first counties to vote on the question of forbidding the sale of liquor in 
the county. The temperance people made a vigorous schoolhouse cam- 
paign and won by a majority of 1,514. 

Joplin, Webb City, Carterville and Carthage were not included in 
the totals as, under the terms of the law, they were not included in the 
territory affected. Carthage voted on the proposition and also shut out 
the saloon. 

The following was the official vote at this election : 

For Against 

license, license. 

Lincoln township 5 102 

Sheridan township 21 87 

Jasper City 27 92 

Preston 5 54 

Duval township 51 60 

Medoe 40 59 

Waco 37 21 

Lehigh 31 78 

Carl Junction 72 121 

Alba 13 65 

Oronogo 53 1S3 

Marion, west 16 152 

Marion, east 1 17 

Madison township 3 110 

McDonald township 37 122 

Sarcoxie, east 74 172 

Sarcoxie, west <> 42 

Union township 5 111 

Jackson township 12 80 

East Joplin prect 36 60 

Webb City prect 17 

Carterville 62 243 

Galena township, Fourth ward 39 33 

Lone Elm -1 4 

Howard 78 1S9 

Total 760 2.274 

Majority 1.514 

Court House Elections 

Twice during the 'eighties the people voted on a proposition to build 
a court house and each time the proposition was voted down. At the 
first election the proposition was defeated by Joplin because of the 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 229 

belief that the appropriation would not be sufficient to construct a suit- 
able building at Joplin. The county also voted almost solidly against 
the issue being opposed, especially in the eastern district, to two court 
houses. 

At the second election in 1887 Webb City defeated the proposition, 
it being their idea to have a criminal court at that place. The vote at 
the second election was "for," 1,813; "against," 3,116. 

Campaign op 1888 

The campaign of 1888 was by far more interesting than the last one 
and in point of excitement was more lively than any other election of 
the decade. 

Torch-light processions and rallies were had in all of the cities and 
a vigorous schoolhouse campaign was carried out. 

The following was the presidential vote : Harrison, Republican, 4,523 ; 
Cleveland, Democrat, 3,685 ; Streeter, Union Labor, 985 ; Fisk, Prohi- 
bition, 68. 

The following county ticket was elected: representative (Eastern 
district), John Flannigan, Republican; representative (Western dis- 
trict), Joseph Fountain, Republican: sheriff, J. C. Miller, Republican; 
collector, L. M. Murphy, Republican ; prosecuting attorney, J. H. Dry- 
den, Democrat; judge Eastern district, Thos. McNalley, Republican; 
judge Western district, C. J. Hubbell, Republican; treasurer, John 
Garland, Republican; coroner, J. W. Stemmons, Republican; assessor, 
W. C. Cohenour, Republican ; surveyor, George Bradford ; public ad- 
ministrator, Isaac Fountain. 

Webb City Democratic Flambeau Club 

In each of the presidential campaigns the two old parties usually 
held half a dozen or more great rallies at some point in the county, and 
in these the manceuverings and displays of the organized marching clubs 
always creates excitement and helps to stir the enthusiasm of the mem- 
bers of the party to the highest pitch. 

We noted in our chapter on the 'seventies the excitement caused by 
the. Hayes Light Guard and in this article, in narrating the happenings 
of the campaign of 1880, the enthusiasm caused by the marching club 
known as the "Boys in Blue." In the campaign of 1888 there appeared 
an organization known as the "Webb City Democratic Flambeau Club," 
which has been an important factor in every campaign from that time to 
this, the body never having been disbanded. 

The officers of the club were: Captain, A. A. Heulett; first lieuten- 
ant, D. R. Mock; second lieutenant, W. S. Chinn ; first sergeant and sec- 
retary, Dr. McBride; bugler, E. E. Spracklin. 

The Club had an attractive uniform of white duck with red helmets, 
leggings and other trappings to match. The Company numbered one 
hundred and fifty men and by nightly drills during the early part of 



230 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

the campaign they became a splendidly drilled organization and where- 
ever they went set the crowd of spectators wild with excitement. During 
the eleven campaigns in which they have participated they have 
marched in almost a hundred demonstrations. 

To illustrate the popularity of this organization as a political march- 
ing club, we relate the following incident which occurred during the 
campaign of 1892 : The Democrats of Columbus, Kansas, had planned 
to close the campaign with a monster rally on the Saturday night before 
the election, Saturday in a farming community being the day best fitted 
to get the people to town. The Webb City Flambeau Club was invited 
to lead this great procession, but had declined on account of its being 
Saturday night. Those living in the mining community will readily 
understand what Saturday night is, in a business way, to Joplin, Webb 
City, and Carterville. 

The Columbus Democracy were greatly disappointed at the declina- 
tion of the Webb City Flambeau Club and sent a committee to urge the 
attendance of that celebrated organization, but Captain Ileulett said 
that it would be impossible to get together enough men to make a cred- 
itable showing, as fully one-half would receive their week's pay after 5 
o'clock — and the business men themselves could not afford to leave their 
stores. 

R. A. Long, the great lumber dealer, then a resident of Columbus 
and chairman of the committee on parade refused to take "no" for an 
answer, and on Saturday morning, the day of the rally, a second com- 
mittee came from Columbus to Webb City bringing a personal and ur- 
gent letter from Colonel Long, the letter among other things stating 
that there would be a special train at the Memphis depot at 7 o'clock to 
carry the Webb City Flambeau Club to Columbus and that the parade 
would be held pending their arrival. At this third appeal Captain Heu- 
lett called his officers and a few of the members to his store for consulta- 
tion and it was agreed that if sixty men would promise to go that they 
would take part in the parade. Six men with bicycles started out to see 
the members; they went to the stores, shops and mines, and at noon 
reported that seventy-five men had agreed to go. Mine operators were 
seen and asked to pay off the men as early as possible; the good wives 
were commissioned to do the week's trading; as early as half-past six 
tin' club had started toward the depot and at 7 o'clock, when the train 
pulled out 125 members were on board. 

The division superintendent gave them a clear track to Columbus 
and the special seemed to hit only the high places and steamed into 
Columbus at twenty minutes after eight. The train was hardly at a 
standstill when the clear notes of ( Jolonel Spracklin 's bugle sounded " fall 
in." and in less than five minutes the pride of Jasper county's Democ- 
racy was at the head of the column and leading the southeast Kansas 
Democratic cohorts, ten thousand strong, through the streets and among 
the public squares of Cherokee county's seat of justice. After the parade 
the Wehl) City Flambeau Club were served a sumptuous repast by Colonel 
Long, who was the marshal of the day. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 231 

This club has contained on its roster quite a number of prominent 
men to whom political honors have come, among them : Congressman 
James A. Daugherty ; Ex-Attorney General E. C. Crow, Ex-Sheriff Ab. 
Rich, and Ex-Mayor E. E. Spracklin. 

County Schools in the 'Eighties 

S. A. Underwood, who had served the county as school commissioner 
since 1877, retired from the superintendent's office at the spring election 
of 1883, declining to be a candidate for reelection, and was succeeded by 
J. H. Prank, one of the strong rural teachers who resided in Carthage. 

Mr. Prank continued the policies mapped out by Mr. Underwood and 
kept up the high standard of the county schools. Mr. Prank was a 
famous walker and thoroughly enjoyed the exhilarating exercise of a 
country stroll and during his term of office, as a matter of choice, made 
nearly all of his visitations on foot. 

Philip Arnold, 1885-6 

At the spring election of 1885 Philip Arnold of Joplin was elected 
county school commissioner. Mr. Arnold paid especial attention to spell- 
ing and penmanship and a marked improvement in these two branches 
was noted. At the close of his first year as superintendent Mr. Arnold 
made a strong address before the County Teachers Association on the 
subject of uniformity in text books and compulsory education, setting 
forth at length the almost insurmountable obstacles of classifying the 
rural schools — with the great variety of text books in use. 

J. M. Stevenson, 1887-93 

Mr. Arnold was succeeded in 1887 by J. M. Stevenson of Carthage, 

and his administration was marked by the introduction of the County 

Normal. 

The Jasper County Teacher's Normal 

Perhaps the most important happening in the public school history 
of the county during the 'eighties was the organization of the Normal, a 
summer school for teachers of the county, instituted by J. M. Stevenson, 
county superintendent, in 1887-93. During the ten years this county 
Normal was conducted it was a great benefit to the teachers, for it 
brought to their door a summer school with advantages equal to any of 
the state normals ; for the same course of study pursued at the state in- 
stitutions was in use and the instructors were from the best which the 
county and state could furnish. 

The first session of the County Normal was begun July 29, 1887, at 
the high school building in Carthage, and was attended by 220 teachers 
and students. Among the instructors were Superintendent Stevenson, 
Superintendent Hawkins of Nevada, E. E. Dodd of Carthage, Superin- 
tendent Bray of Clarence. Mo.. V. L. Vawter of Medoc. and J. E. 



232 HISTOKY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Locke of Sinithfield. The Normal lasted four weeks, and at the close of 
the term the examinations showed a marked improvement. 

One of the features of the Normal was its Literary Society. At the 
first Normal Literary in 1887 J. E. Locke, then principal of the Smith- 
field school, was chosen its president, and set the pace for a high stand- 
ard. At the 1888 meeting' .Miss Izora Scott, teacher of elocution at Fort 
Scott, who was one of the instructors, was the president of the society, 
and in 1889 W. M. Wharton, afterward county superintendent, guided 
the destinies of the literary. The Normal News, a weekly paper read 
before the Society, was one of the most enjoyable features of the pro- 
gram. Its editorials on school management and its local witicisms were 
much enjoyed. 



CHAPTER XXII 

CITY OF CARTHAGE 

Officers and City Politics — Temperance and Local Option — The 
Harrington Hotel — Carthage Woolen Mill — White Marble and 
Limb: — Volunteer Fire Department — Schools — The Allen Ora- 
torical Contest — Carthage Collegiate Institute — M. E. Church 
— Major Cole's Revival — Carthage Light Guard — Christmas 
Postoffice Surprises — Firemen 's Tournament, June 12-14, 1888 — 
Entertains the Grand Lodge, K. of P. — Jasper Commandery No. 
31, K. T. — The Skating Rink — Carthage City Hall. 

Carthage during the 'eighties made the greatest gain, in point of 
numbers, of any of the cities of the county, growing from 5,316 in 1880, 
to 9,323 in 1890. This decade was a great period of activity in a business 
way and each of the ten years saw many building improvements. Many 
of the old landmarks were torn down, and new and modern residences 
and business blocks erected. In short, so many improvements were made, 
and the business activities were so great that in the limited scope of this 
chapter mention of all could not be made. We will, however, give a few 
of the important transactions and happenings of a general nature, to 
the end that the reader may form a correct estimate of the people and 
their business pursuits during this ten years of its important history. 

Officers and City Politics 

Below is a list of officers who served the city of Carthage during the 
'eighties: Mayors — A. H. Caffee (two terms), E. W. Harper, T. T. Lus- 
comb, J. L. Moore, Eugene O'Keif, J. W. Sennett (two terms), B. F. 
Thomas, and W. B. Myers. 

City Council— 1880 : A. G Milless, Charles J. Pool, I. F. Garner and 
Henry Haut. 

1881 : C. F. Hedreick, George W. Stebbins, A. W. Rogers and T. B. 
Tuttle. 

1882: John Dermott, R. C. Friend, W. E. Hall and John H. Taylor. 

1883: J. W. Miller, D. A. Smith, H. M. Gray, and John D. McCullis. 

1884 : I. W. Wheeler, H. C. Cogill, Frank Harrison and B. Heald. 

1885 : T. Wood, J. M. Nanson, George W. Payne and Reubin Kocssber. 

1886: H. C. Warner. William B. Myers. M. J. Jenkins and William 
II. Black. 

233 



234 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

1887: I. C. Hodson, \Y. L. Norris, W. B. Myers, and I,. E. Steinmetz. 

1888: G. B. Wood. Martin Leidy, Jasper Smith and S. (). Morrow. 

1889: C. 0. Harrington, P. B. Houston, J. W. Henderson and H. 
F. Beebe. 

Marshals— James Plannigan (two terms), James Dragoon (two 
terms), .lames Deagan (two terms), D. M. Stafford (two terms), and J. 
(I. Aehuff. 

Recorders (Police Judges) — Daniel Brown, C. B. Stickney, S. G. 
William (two terms), B. P. Hackney, J. J. Higgins, Thomas Buckbee 
(two terms), B. P. Faught. 

City Attorneys— M. G. McGregor, R. P. Butler, J. W. Hallburton, 
John H. Plannigan, E. C. De Vore, J. K. Shields, William La Force, J. 
D. Perkins, and Howard Gray. 

Treasurers — J. J. Wells, L. P. Brown, James Spence (three terms), 
Edward Cassel, Lyman P. Brown (two terms), and E. B. Jacobs. 

City Collectors — Fred Crocker (three terms), Thomas M. Garland, 
Jesse Rhodes (two terms), Fred Crocker (two terms), and Thomas 
M. Garland. 

In 1882 Carthage, by an almost unanimous vote, granted a franchise 
for the building of a city water works plant, and thus took a great step 
forward. 

Temperance and Local Option 

In 1884, when the Blue Ribbon movement was at its height, the tem- 
pearanee people put out a city ticket and won by a handsome majority. 
In 1887, after the passage of the local option law by the state legislature, 
Carthage voted on the question of shutting out the saloons and the Pro- 
hibitionists won by a majority of 354, thus, for a second time in the 
decade, showing that the temperance sentiment at the county seat was 
in the majority. 

The Harrington Hotel 

In 1882 C. O. Harrington, owner of the Aetna House (formerly the 
Carthage House and, by the way, the first hotel built in Carthage after 
the war at the northeast corner of the square) tore the building down 
and erected on the site of the old hostelry a magnificent up-to-date four- 
story brick hotel, modern and well appointed in every way. The build- 
ing, still the leading hotel of the county seat, was opened in September, 
1882, with a reception and banquet which pleasantly lingers in the 
minds of the guests who still survive. During the now almost thirty 
years of its catering to the traveling public the Harrington has made 
good, C. 0. Harrington, its proprietor, having always had the active 
management of the house. 

Carthage Woolen Mill 

On January 28, 1882. the Carthage Woolen Mill was burned; loss 
$50,000, insurance $35,000. The Company was at once reorganized and 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 235 

a larger factory built than the first one, both being operated during the 
'eighties. The importance of this industry cannot be overestimated, 
for its products were noted all over this and adjoining states and found 
their way to the wholesale houses of both Kansas City and St. Louis. 
This same year W. B. Myers, one of the original owners of the Carthage 
Woolen Mill, built the Missouri "Woolen Mill and operated it with a 
high degree of success. 

Carthage White Marble and Lime 

The Carthage White Marble, now so much used and far-famed, came 
into prominent notice in 1880. C. W. Fisher, a stone cutter in facing a 
piece of stone for a base to a monument noted that the white lime from 
the Carthage Stone Quarry was of an exceptionally high grade and, as 
an experiment, polished with great success a stone block and placed it 
on exhibition. From this small beginning the stone industry grew. W. 
B. Myers, late of the Carthage Woolen Mill, became interested in the 
stone industry and in 1885 shipped the first car of Carthage marble be- 
yond the confines of the county. 

Volunteer Fire Department 

When the Carthage Water Works were completed in 1882 the fire 
department was reorganized and three volunteer companies enlisted and 
equipped with hose carts and modern fire-fighting apparatus. Charles 
0. Harrington was the first chief of the reorganized department and in- 
augurated a system of drills and discipline which brought it up to a 
high standard of proficiency. The press of business, however, caused 
Mr. Harrington to resign after a year's service and J. B. Buchanan 
was elected chief and made a good officer. At the annual meeting of 
the department in 1887 Mr. Buchanan retired from the department on 
account of a press of business, which had prevented his punctual at- 
tendance of meetings as in the past, and Oeorge H. Thomas was chosen 
as chief. James Deagan was also elected assistant chief. The promotion 
of Messrs. Thomas and Deagan caused a murmur all along the line and 
the companies elected the following officers : 

President — Jas. M. Nanson. 

Vice-president — H. V. Philips. 

Secretary — Ben Strauss. 

Treasurer — James Deagan . 

Chief— Geo. H. Thomas. 

Assistant Chief — Jas. Deagan. 

Foreman Hose Co. No. 1 — H. H. Burge ; assistant, C. W. Stephenson. 

Foreman Hose Company No. 2 — H. V. Philips; assistant, Chas. 
Daily. 

Foreman Hook and Ladder Company — J. B. Buchanan ; assistant, 
Charles Tobias. 

Trustees— Moses Block, H. V. Phillips and M. H. Clark. 



236 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

During Mr. Harrington's administration as chief of the department 
a fatal accident occurred which brought sorrow to the members of the 
fire-fighting brigade. 

On the evening of July 3, 1884, when Hose Company No. 1 was 
making a practice run. David Holt stumbled and fell and was struck on 
the right temple by the cart. His skull was cut and the scalp badly 
lacerated. Dr. Brooks was immediately called, but found that the un- 
fortunate fireman was beyond human aid, and he died in a few hours. 
The funeral was largely attended and was under the auspices of the fire 
department and Knights of Pythias. 

Schools 

During the 'eighties Carthage doubled in size and her school system 
kept pace with the times and likewise expanded. $25,000 was spent 
in school improvements in 1886. Two very able educators guided the 
destinies of the public school system during this decade, Prof. Dan 
Mathews, during the first half, and Prof. J. M. "White during the last half 
of the period. Prof. B. E. Dodd, late of Cornell University, came aa 
principal of the high school in 1886 and made for the citizens a strong 
head of the institution. To illustrate his popularity, we recall the fol- 
lowing little incident. At the commencement exercises of 1887, over 
the stage was the following class motto: "In Dodd we trust." 

In our school story of the last decade will be found a list of the 
graduates from 1878 to date. 

The Allen Oratorical Contest 

In 1882 Col. C. C. Allen of Carthage offered a handsome gold medal 
to be contested for by the young men of southwest Missouri. 

The first contest was, from a literary standpoint, a complete success, 
as it brought to Carthage a number of young men who were the best 
debaters of their respective towns. 

A. L. Sherman, a law student in the office of L. P. Cunningham at 
Joplin, won the medal at the first contest. In 1884 the modal was again 
contested, but in 1885, on account of the lack of interest, the offer was 
withdrawn. 

The Carthage Collegiate Institute 

During September, 1883, just at the time when the young people of 
the county were going away to attend the State University, the Normal 
schools, and other higher institutions of learning, Rev. Dr. Knight of 
the First Presbyterian church of Carthage, called the attention of his 
congregation to some fifty or more young ladies and gentlemen of Car- 
thage and immediate vicinity who had gone that month to one of the 
several educational institutions of the state and suggested that it would 
have been a great saving of money to the community if these students, 
who annually go abroad for an education, coidd be schooled at home. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 237 

After an earnest plea for a higher education he closed his remarks with 
the suggestion that a college be built by the Presbyterians of the county 
and located at Carthage. 

A meeting was called for December 17, 1883, and was largely at- 
tended by the Presbyterians of Carthage. Rev. Dr. J. S. Reeser, of St. 
Louis, an educator of ability, was invited to attend the meeting and in a 
convincing talk pointed out the need of a college for the Empire county. 
A committee of ways and means was appointed and a considerable sum 
was pledged during the spring and summer of 1884. Rev. Dr. H. D. 
Ganse, of Chicago, secretary of the Presbyterian Board of College Aid, 
now visited Carthage and guaranteed $1,000 annually toward the sup- 
port of the school. On December 23rd, the formal organization of the 
school was perfected and the name Carthage Collegiate Institute chosen. 

The following gentlemen were chosen for the first board of trustees : 
W. S. Knight, H. C. Cowgill, M. G. McGregor, P. C. McElroy, J. L. 
Moore, I. C. Campbell, A. H. Caffee, W. W. Calhoon, W. H. Crothers, 
J. W. Burch, R. L. Galbreath, J. G. Irvin, W. A. Wheatley, A. L. 
Thomas, D. Matthews, Thomas E. Gray, Wm. McMillen and E. W. 
Baines. 

The charter for the school was issued on February 2, 1885, and on 
May 18th a beautiful site was selected on South Main street and work 
began in real earnest to finance the project. 

The grounds were purchased at a cost of $3,100 and the contract 
price for the college was, in round numbers, $14,000. While the build- 
ing was being erected the annex of the First Presbyterian church of 
Carthage was used temporarily for a school and there the Collegiate In- 
stitute opened its doors. 

In November, 1886, Rev. Dr. J. G. Reeser of Westminster College, 
Fulton, Missouri, accepted the presidency of the new college. On June 
6, 1887, the corner-stone was formally laid, and we reprint here the re- 
port, of the ceremonies published in the Carthage Banner. 

THE CORNER STOXE 

Op the Carthage Collegiate Institute Laid this Afternoon — With all the 
Tomp and Pageantry Known to Modern Times. 
No event has ever before transpired in the city of Carthage, of a like charac- 
ter, that has attracted so large a crowd of people from all parts of the south- 
west as has the laying of the corner stone of the Carthage Collegiate Institute, 
which took place this afternoon ; nor has this ceremony, which marks the literal 
foundation of a grand educational institution of the future for all this section 
of the Great West, ever been accorded in so royal a manner to any other like 
institution in the state of Missouri. Such an outpouring of people as has been 
seen on our streets today was not called together for the purpose of pleasure- 
seeking or in commemoration of any national jubilee. To-day men turned their 
backs upon the harvest fields ripe with golden grain, merchants closed their 
stores in the faces of clamoring customers, the miner left his drill and the 
lawyer his desk — all stopped suddenly in the greedy rush for the sordid gains 
of this world, to do honor to that greatest and grandest of American institutions — 
education. What more positive sign of an intelligent, prosperous and advanced 



238 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

people could le shown in any section of the inhabited globe, limn has been wit- 
nessed here to-day v Thousands of people, who, aside trom this common interest 
in education, have no interest in particular with Carthage, came from the sur- 
rounding counties and towns. They came as individuals and societies — all 
<lasses and all orders — to show their devotion to this great cause. Carthage is 
proud of this recognition of her enterprise and is also proud of the country in 
which she is built; proud of the position her schools, private and public, hold in 
the state; proud that this great school has been founded in her midst; proud 
of the distinction awarded her to-day; proud of the grand old fraternity and 
brotherhood that officiated in this ceremony; proud of all the benevolent and 
civic orders that honor her this day. 'this occasion will link bonds of friendship 
between our people and our neighbors that time will never sever. 

The early morning trains were well tilled with visitors and long before noon 
the streets were crowded. Joplin, Webb city. Carterville, Orouogo, Cherryvale, 
Oswego. Columbus and delegations from other towns arrived at nine o'clock on the 
Frisco. In uniform were the Knights Templar. Grand Army. A. ( >. U. \\\. Knights 
of the Golden Eagle, Select Knights and others. At 9:30 the train came loaded 
with the same orders from Sarcoxie, I'eirce City, Springfield and other eastern 
points. The Missouri Pacific broughi in the visitors from l.aniar. -Nevada and 
( 'linton. 

The Light Guard Hand and a delegation of Knights Templar met the in- 
coming trains on the Frisco aud escorted the visiting orders to their various 
headquarters. At 1 :30 the procession lormed on Fourth street aud marched 
around the square and south on Main street to the college grounds in the fol- 
lowing order, under command of S. E, Wetzel, marshal of the day: 

Carthage Band. 

Hoard of trustees in carriages. 

Officers and speakers in carriages. 

Mayor and city council in carriages. 

County officials in carriages. 

Members of the press in carriages. 

Fire Department. 

Knights of the Golden Eagle. 

Members Grand Army Republic. 

Select Knights A. O. F. W. 

Ancient Order Tinted Workmen. 

Fight Guard Hand. 

Knights Templar. 

Members of A. F. & A. Masons. 

Officers of Grand Lodge Masons. 

citizens in carriages. 

At the grounds Rev. W. S. Knight acted as president of the day, and the 

following is the order of the ceremonies: 
Music— Carthage Band. 

Address of Welcome— Mayor .1. W. Sennet. 

Deposit of relies. 

Ceremony. Placing of corner stone by Masonic Fraternity. 

Music i.ight Guard Band. 

Address— P. G. M., J. 1>. Vimil. 

Music ( 'a rthage Band. 

Historical Address- -Iiov. W. S. Knight. 

Music — Fight Guard Hand. 

Address -Kev. A. G. Hibhard. 

Closing Prayer — Rev. J. T. Chambers. 

The box deposited in the corner stone contained the following: 

A Rible. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 239 

Articles of association of the Institute. 

Minutes of the first meeting of the Board. 

A copy of each of the following newspapers: Church at Home and Abroad, 
Presbyterian Banner, St. Louis Evangelist. Interior, Carthage Daily and Weekly 
Banner, Press, Patriot, Democrat, and Feathered Home; list of subscribers to 
the building fund; report of Carthage public schools for 1SS5-S6 ; copy of the 
immigration pamphlet; a piece of continental money dated December 7, 1775. 
and another dated April lit, 1777: drafts for one dollar from each of the city 
banks: coins and fractional currency; catalogue of the Carthage Business Col- 
lege. 

The corner stone ceremonies were in charge of the Masonic fraternity of 
this city and were carried out according to (lie ritual of the order. The manage- 
ment of the occasion have been successful in carrying out the day's program in 
good style and are to be congratulated on the great success of the entire affair. 

The following are the addresses delivered this afternoon, except that of 
Past Grand Master Vinci], which it was impossible to obtain in time for this 
issue : 

WELCOME ADDRESS— MAYOR SENNET. 
Fei.t.ow Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

We are present to-day on no ordinary occasion and you have placed before 
me no ordinary task. 

In the name of the people of Carthage, and on behalf of her citizens, I 
most cheerfully welcome you to the work and labor of laying the foundations 
of an Institution in our midst, which we hope and believe will be, not only the 
pride and ornament of our city, but which will in time, send forth its repre- 
sentatives from our midst to advance the civilization of the world. 

We hope and trust that here, no dread edict "Carthago delenda est," will 
ever go forth to blight this fair spot and to send the ploughshare of ruin to 
obliterate and wipe out the place we now dedicate and set apart to become the 
pride and glory of our name and enterprise. 

It is difficult to over estimate the importance of the work you are now 
beginning. 

While we admire self made men. and hold them up witli pride as examples 
before our country of what personal energy and character may accomplish, yet 
as our great leaders, both in church and state, and in every department of 
literary and scientific enterprise lay aside their worldly honors and cares, and 
close their lives full of worldly greatness you will almost invariably see. in 
that short summary which foots up so concisely the record of a well spent life. 
"He graduated at Yale College, or Harvard, or Audover. or Dartsmouth. or Co- 
lumbia, or Athens, or Kenyon. and so on down through the bright and shining 
list of our Public Institutions, which so adorn this enlightened age. established 
and built up in every state in this free country. 

And all along the pathway of that great man's career, where ever he cast 
his lot and influence in life, the classic shades of his cherished "Alma Muter" were 
never forgotten. 

In long years to come, in the stormy conflicts of life: on every battle field 
of human progress and reform, this Institution will send her champions to the 
conflict and when the battle of life is fought and won and the summary is made 
up, the proud record before the world will be. as to many you shall send forth, 
"He graduated at Carthage." Guard well then, and cherish tenderly fellow 
citizens, the interests this day committed to your charge. May they be in your 
midst: what they are worthy to become; more cherished than the Sacred Penates 
of Ancient Mythology, more honored than the Star and (Tarter, or the Roman 
Lagles of ancient pride and glory, more durable than the monuments of ancient 
Power and Grandeur. 



240 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

For this, we invoke with humble benediction, that Overruling Power, which 
directs the destinies of man, of nations, and of the world. 

REV. HIBBAKD'S REMARKS. 

Mr. President and Fellow Citizens : While I fully appreciate the kindly 
consideration which has asked me to address you to-day, I also understand that 
it will not be becoming that I trespass long on your time nor exhaust the patience 
which has already been drawn upon by services and words that must pertain 
to such an occasion. 

It has occurred to me that some of you may be asking, Why this outlay of 
money, of care, of anxious interest, to provide such an institution in a state 
that makes complete provision for the education of her sons and daughters, and 
especially in a community remarkable for the excellence of its schools, and 
where fitting preparation may be had for higher grades of culture? I have not 
the time, nor is this the place to give careful answer to this honest query. But 
I would suggest that the very system upon which our public education is based 
is the reason why this institution is demanded. Instruction provided by the 
commonwealth must be adapted in its methods and in its rate of progress to the 
average ability of those whom it seeks to educate. The problem which our pub- 
lic school educators have sought to solve is something like this: Given, the 
average child, having the average constitution, the average natural ability to 
study and learn, the average opportunities, how may I do the most for, and 
make the most of that child with the money and time at my command?" 

The problem is a great one, and it requires a process of induction extend- 
ing through generations in order to answer it wisely and well. Meanwhile, our 
systems are largely experimental, and it is their glory that they are going on 
from good to better, and, as we hope, to best. 

But, pertaining necessarily to such a system, there must be an inflexibility 
which is a constant repression upon the scholar of ability above the average, 
and of wearying and perhaps exhausting strain upon those below it. The boy 
or girl coming from a home which is itself a school and which represents genera- 
tions of culture cannot do their best when held back to accommodate the slow 
progress of those who represent homes and families of precisely the opposite 
character. The active intellect will find vent somewhere, and the necessities of 
the system may explain that not infrequent expression of our teachers, "our 
brightest scholars make us the most trouble." 

Hence the academy, and never was it more needed than to-day. Its power 
to adapt itself to all grades of ability; its longer period in the class room; the 
tenure by which it holds its pupils ; the esprit <le corps which it ordinarily arouses, 
the closer contact between teacher and pupil — each and all of these things call 
it into being, and so far from making it a rival of the public school, in any 
rivalry which can be injurious, it gives the latter the relief that is needed in 
order that its greatest efficiency may be secured and its highest usefulness pro- 
moted. It takes each class of ability and attainment and grades it where it 
may do its best work, with as little repression or strain as possible. The experi- 
ence of centuries has demonstrated its usefulness, and, unlike our public schools, 
which are the outgrowth of present necessities, has proven the wisdom and 
utility of its methods. Our older states point with conscious pride to their acad- 
emics, and it is a glory to this new west that she is emulating the acquisitions 
of the older east, and will soon stand abreast of her in all that pertains to the 
best and highest intellectual culture. 

But we cannot pause here in our statement of reasons for the foundation of 
such an institution as this. The inception of this enterprise was in the minds 
of those who believe that in Jesus Christ and his religion is the most enduring 
foundation and the most powerful motive and active stimulant for intellectual 
growth and mental culture. The active promoters of this work are men and 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 241 

women who believe not only in the doctrine of mens Sana in corpore sano, but 
also in that grander, more far-reaching truth, omnia ad Dei gloriam. They rec- 
ollect that the glory of our land to-day and the hope of its future is largely 
in those institutions where both precepts of the Divine maxim are taught which 
enjoins that we "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God 
the things that are God's." It will be fostered by the gifts and embraced in 
the prayers of fathers and mothers who live as seeing those things which are 
invisible, and who would have the culture of their children reach upward beyond 
the intellect and beyond the purest morality, to the highest part of our human 
nature — the spiritual — which not only allies us with God but the culture of which 
shall prepare for Divine companionship when these objects about us shall have 
passed away. So they come here to-day with glad and trusting hearts, inter- 
ested in this institution because it is likely to become the crowning glory of our 
beautiful Queen City; interested in it because it is likely to exert a power which 
shall attract hither men of means who shall help forward all our enterprises; 
men who love learning and purity, whose presence shall exalt the moral tone 
about us and clarify the moral atmosphere we breathe ; interested in it, because 
here their sons shall be made strong to sustain and active to carry forward all 
that is good, and "their daughters may be as corner-stones, polished after the 
similitude of a palace." 

The church whose fostering care adopts it has shown by the history of 
hundreds of institutions like that which this is to become, that she knows how to 
be christian and not sectarian in their management ; that she knows how to 
exercise the largest toleration ; that she would not only "live, but let live ;" that 
she appreciates and can command, and is satisfied with nothing but the highest 
culture; that the work to-day commenced is a work to be carried on always; 
that every institution that is her pride had a commencement of less promise, 
perhaps, than this of ours. And so her honored representatives stand here to- 
day equipped with testimonials giving them the best of authority to call upon 
all good citizens for their continued interest and benefactions, and upon all true 
christians for their gifts and their prayers. 

As I look forward into the future years I see this beautiful campus covered 
with buildings devoted to high culture, filled with eager students and wise pro- 
fessors; I see our citizens bringing strangers here and pointing with pride to 
the then present, and with greater pride to the sacrifices through which the great 
things have been accomplished; I see pleasant homes all through this section of 
our state; I see better schools in every village — a high tone of intellectual life 
on farm, in workshop, store and office. I see our Sabbaths honored; I see a 
higher type of citizen, and all this because upon every building erected and upon 
the heart of every student educated there has been written the words so glowing 
with light and so full of holy uplifting power, (ire Christo et humanitate. 

First Methodist Episcopal Church 

The First Methodist church, during the 'eighties, as in the pioneer 
days, continued to be a great power in Carthage, and closed the decade 
with the building of a magnificent house of worship, costing $24,000. 
Dr. Stewart, who was assigned to the Carthage charge in 1881 con- 
tinued until 1885, when the Rev. Dr. George H. Hughey of St. Louis was 
sent to the First church and remained until 1888. Dr. Hughey was a 
splendid Christian gentleman, kind and pleasant in manner and elo- 
quent in speech. During Dr. Hughey 's pastorate the membership of 
the church was greatly increased. During 1881-2 additions were made 

to the church as a result of his earnest work, 
voi. i— ia 



242 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

Rev. Dr. A. R. Cronce was assigned to the church in 1888 and during 
his pastorate the handsome church edifice was built. 

A farewell meeting was held in the old church building March 7, 
1889, and was attended by seventeen members who were present at the 
dedication twenty years before: R. H. Rose and wife, Mrs. J. J. Hall, 
D. A. Harrison, Mrs. Sandige, Mrs. Ragsdale, John Easton, Bennett 
Hall, R. G. Seawell, Amelia Haughawout, Mrs. Hanna Potter, Mr. and 
Mrs. G. W. Fosdick, A. B. Parkell, Mrs. J. N. Stephenson and Nelson 
Damon and wife. 

The dedication of the new church took place Sunday, May 5th. The 
Right Reverend Bishop Bowman, of St. Louis, bishop of this diocese for 
seventeen years, came out from St. Louis to dedicate the church and oc- 
cupied the seat of honor in the pulpit. At his right sat Rev. Dr. Miller, 
of Kansas City, one of the most prominent and eloquent divines in the 
west and whose reputation as an orator, as well as a Christian worker is 
such that his church is alwaj r s filled to overflowing. On the left of the 
Bishop sat Rev. Dr. Tuttle, of Sedalia, a venerable gentleman who two 
years ago celebrated his half century in the Methodist ministry and has 
since been superannuated. Presiding Elder Ilamel and Rev. A. R. 
Cronce. pastor of the church, also occupied chairs in the pulpit. The 
benign countenance of Rev. Dr. Hughey beamed upon his congregation 
from the platform and an expression of pardonable pride was visible on 
his lace as he viewed the grand building which Ins efforts and influence 
had done so much toward securing for Cartilage. To the Doctor's in- 
domitable energy, more than any other one thing, are the Methodists of 
this city indebted for their magnificent building. 

There were present to assist in the services, Rev. J. J. Martin, of 
Marionville, Rev. C. V. Criss, of Lamar, and Rev. H. M. Hackney, of 
Joplin. 

The dedicatory address was delivered by Rev. D. Miller of Kansas 
City and his address was pronounced by many to have been the ablest 
sermon ever delivered in Carthage. 

The vast congregation sat as if spell-bound for over an hour and were 
so en rapport with the speaker that when at his final outburst of glorified 
eloquence, a genuine Methodist shout was heard from a happy, sympa- 
thetic old man, the majority of the congregation felt as though they 
would like to join him in his hallelujah. 

The Influence op Jesus 

Dr. Miller said in part on this topic, to which his sermon was devoted: 

"His name shall be called wonderful." — Ism. 9:G 

More than eighteen hundred years ago there was born in Bethlehem, of 
Judea, a being who lias shaped tiie progress of the centuries until now— a being 
sustaining the most marvelous relations to all things. Lei any one read the bio- 
graphical sketches as given by the evangelists, Matthew. Mark, Luke and John, 
and then let him say whether Jesus of Nazareth is not the most wonderful per- 
son of history. Rut the wonder lies deeper. It is not merely the historical 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 243 

Christ that engages the world's attention. It is the perpetually present Christ; 
the Christ who went away from the outside only to come back on the inside. 

After discussing with great vividness and power the energy, extent 
and variety of Christ's influence in the world, Dr. Miller said: 

Christ's influence is as permanent as it is varied. If we test the continued 
potency of the influence which has come down to us from Bethlehem and Calvary 
by the extent to which they have become incorporated in the thought and life of 
our times, we shall be compelled, whether disciples or critics, to recognize in the 
teachings and example, and above all the death of Jesus of Nazareth the reser- 
voir of moral and intellectual force from which mankind have been continually 
drawing their highest forms of energy, and on which the whole world is becom- 
ing more and more consciously dependent for its renewal and reformation. I 
know that social and national ethics are still as far front the gospel ideal as is 
the practical morality of every day life. But I know, too, that both social and 
national standards tend to approximate that ideal, and that men, whether in 
public or private life, are commended or censured just in proportion as they con- 
form to it or depart from it. The critics and enemies have been at work like 
sappers and miners to subvert the truth on which the church is founded; but 
they have only disclosed the Gibraltar like strength of her foundations. I would 
as soon fear the digging down of the Rocky mountains, with their hundreds of 
miles of granite base, with a penknife, as to fear for all the petty assaults of 
infidelity on the mount of God's revealed truth. 

"Immovably founded in grace 

She stands as she ever hath stood. 
And brightly her builder displays 
And flames with the glory of God," 
while the more portentous but foundationless structure which her enemies have 
tried to rear in her stead have been swept, one after another, by the tempests of 
a common sense judgment out of existence. According to all rules and logic, 
the church, as a mere human institution should long since have disappeared from 
the earth, destroyed, if in no other way by the weakness and infidelities of her 
own children. But of all powers, whether of light or of darkness, she remains 
the ^perpetual and immortal mistress. Statesmen must heed her voice, philan- 
thropists must invoke her aid and follow her as an infallible guide ; moralists 
must recognize her ideals and standards, and reformers must draw the support of 
their cause from her ample and exhaustless bosom. 

The influence of Jesus never grows old. It is as young as the sunshine, which 
is no older this morning than when it brightened on the hill-tops of Judea on the 
morning of the nativity. Book at the ship on yonder ocean ; the toughest oak 
will rot and the staunchest ships will lay their decayed timbers on the strand. 
That is the fate of all human systems, but the religion of Christ is like the 
ocean itself, stretching away to the far shores of an eternity and bearing all 
ships, whether little or large, that venture on its sunny bosom, to the desired 
haven. 

The dedicatory services were brief and to the point and in a fervid 
prayer the venerable Bishop dedicated the handsome structure to the 
Glory of God. 

Major Cole's Revival 

In February, 1888, Major Cole, a noted revivalist of the 'eighties, be- 
gan a series of meetings in Carthage, which stirred the county seat to 
great religious activity. His meetings were held in the skating rink and 
the first one for men was attended by 800. Before the close of the 



244 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 





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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 245 

revival the great audiences which nightly gathered at the rink taxed its 
capacity and overflow meetings were necessary to accommodate the 
throng who came to hear the gifted preacher. Many united with the 
several churches as a result of these meetings. 

The Carthage Light Guaed 

It would hardly do justice to the splendid military organization 
which Carthage maintained during the 'eighties to pass it with a formal 
mention of its officers and the several military encampments which the 
company attended ; for the Light Guard, during the 'eighties, was not 
only the pride of all Carthage on account of its military achievements, 
but it was the center of the social life of the county seat. 

On the retirement of Captain Tuttle, in 1880, the following officers 
were elected : Captain, W. K. Caffee ; first lieutenant, C. 0. Harrington ; 
second lieutenant, Charles Brown; first surgeon, A. M. Hurty. 

The company now procured new uniforms and equipments and their 
fine appearance excited the admiration of every one. During July 3-5, 
1881, the company went, into camp at Cassil's Place, with two com- 
panies from St. Louis and the Fort Scott Company of the Kansas State 
Guard as their guests. On July 5th a sham battle was fought to com- 
memorate the battle of Carthage on July 5, 1861. 

Washington's birthday was the time set apart for the company's 
annual military ball and it was the society event of the year in Carthage. 
Preparations were made weeks in advance for these functions and the 
memories of those happy occasions are pleasant recollections to this day. 
We describe at length the Light Guard ball of 1884, as it will give an 
idea of the Company in a social way. We print here the Banner's ac- 
count of the affair: 

"ON WITH THE DANCE." 

The Eight Guard Ball, a Complete Social Victory for Our Soldier Boys. 

Washington's birthday was never honored by a more brilliant and enjoyable 
occasion than the Light Guard ball at the Opera House last night. The gas jets 
of a military ball at the Nation's capital could scarcely have lighted up a more 
bewildering array of "fair women and brave men." The room was very hand- 
somely decorated and in the best of taste. The columns and chandeliers were 
draped with bright colored decorations artistically blended. The walls were cov- 
ered with evergreens, mottoes and flags. Every point of advantage was occupied 
by something bright and beautiful and the scene was brilliantly lighted by numer- 
ous gas jets under red, white and blue shades. There were upward of one hun- 
dred guests present, comprising large delegations from Joplin, Springfield, Lamar, 
Peirce City, Nevada. Neosho and Kansas City. The large number in attendance 
forbids even an attempt to name all, or to describe the many rich and beautiful 
costumes. It was made a full dress occasion and there were numerous magnifi- 
cent toilets. Bright silks and satins, gauzy laces, gold, pearls and the sparkle of 
diamonds. 

The gentlemen were in conventional black excepting that large proportion 
of the company whose manly forms were covered by the gray uniforms of the 
Carthage, and Springfield Light Guard, or the blue and gold of the Joplin Rifles, 



246 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Peiree City Guard and Lamar City Guards. The grand march began at nine 
o'clock and was participated in by at least one hundred couples. This was fol- 
lowed by the regular program of dances. At half past ten o'clock the Carthage 
Light Guard entered the hall, led by the L. G. Land and gave their 

SILENT MANUAL DEILL. 

They went through the manual of arms and all the evolutions without a word of 
command and with the utmost precision. The performance was repeatedly and 
enthusiastically cheered and even our own people who know so well the pro- 
ficiency of the Guard were surprised and felt a new pride in our "crack military 
company," and many were the words of praise and commendation from the 
visitors from neighboring towns. 

At 11 o'clock, supper at the Harrington was announced and for an hour or two 
the ball room divided the attractions of the evening with the banquet hall. Mr. 
Criley, of the Harrington, had prepared an elegant oyster supper, with all its un- 
usual accessories, and presented the homely but popular bivalve in its most attrac- 
tive forms. Mr. Criley is always equal to the occasion whether it be of a special 
nature or merely the provision of the every day comfort of hotel life. When the 
more sedate and elderly people had taken supper, they called it quits and went 
home, but those who attend a ball to dance had merely been taking their pre- 
liminary exercise, and as the departures left a good free space in the hall, the 
business of the evening began in good earnest, and as nearly as we can learn the 
musicians earned their money before their night's work was over. The music 
by the way is worthy of special comment. 

The L. G. Band played excellently, and the music furnished by the Kansas 
City Orchestra was an entertainment in itself. This orchestra has the reputation 
of being one of the best in the state, and the reputation is deserved. 

THE FLOOR MANAGERS. 

Messrs. A. M. Hurty, A. B. Deutsch, Ben Allen. J. D. Perkins and C. O. Har- 
rington were ubiquitous throughout the evening and untiring in their efforts to 
make the occasion enjoyable for everybody. Too much cannot be said of their 
skillful and energetic work, to which the splendid success of the ball is largely due. 

Besides nearly all the society people of Carthage, too numerous to name, we 
noticed, 

FROM ABROAD, 

James Bolen and wife, Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Stockton and Lew Miller, of Kansas 
City. 

Harry Moore and wife. E. Wilcox and Frank Morse, of Nevada. 

Johu H. Taylor, Miss Marcie Webb, Miss Bertha Brader and Miss C. Good- 
win, of Joplin. Also Lieut. F. F. Williams, Sergeant F. A. Franklin, Lee Carerter, 
E. C. Summertield, Harry Laudback. Ben Landauer, L. G. Houard, W. W. Pate, 
Jr., and Arthur Leonard, of the Joplin Rifles. 

Miss Hayes, Arthur J. Weir and Falcon L. Weir, of Neosho. 

Mr. Chas. Neiswager and wife, Miss Addie Boyden, Mr. Dan Herman, of 
Springfield, besides Capt. Geo. Townsend, Lieut. J. Hastings, Lieut. R. C. McMil- 
lan, Gus Clements, S. McGregor. A. B. Diggins, W. S. Purcell, Chas. H. Hanan 
and Pratt Saylor, of Springfield Light Guard. 

dipt. Bennett. Elmer Tomlinson and Charlie Stevenson of Lamar. 

Mrs. J. Gillette, Mr. Ben LaFayette, and Lieut. J. Gillette, J. L. Johnson, 
Albert Newman, R. S. Crebs, W. A. Duncan. F. 0. Stellhorn. Jas. B. Davis of the 
City Guard, rein e City. 

Miss Peachy Railey, of St. Louis, Miss Marsh, of Wisconsin ; Miss Campbell, 
of Clarksville, Tenn. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 247 

BALL NOTES. 

They all say it— that the ball last night was the finest thing of the kind 
that ever occurred in Carthage. 

There were costumes at the Opera House last night that would have graced 
the President's reception or Vanderhilt's ball. 

Thomas Summerfield, the irrepressible of the Joplvn Herald, enjoyed him- 
self among the Carthaginians at the Opera House. 

The Joplin Rifles in their blue uniform with gold lace trimmings presented 
a fine appearance and were much admired. 

The Springfield Light Guard sent up a delegation whom the girls declare, 
first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of their country women. 

A lady, who last year witnessed the prize drill in Chicago, was heard to re- 
mark last night that she saw nothing there to equal the silent drill of the Carth- 
age Light Guard. 

Col. C. C. Allen of the "Gallant Fifth" made his first public appearance in 
his new uniform last night. He looks every inch a soldier which gives him more 
soldierly inches than many a bigger man. 

Mr. Arthur J. Weir and his brother, Falcon L. Weir, of Neosho, who were at 
the ball, are connected with the Scotch Land Company of Newton county, the 
former being assistant manager and acting superintendent of the company. He 
has been a commissioned officer in the British army, and says he has seen a good 
deal of fine drilling but that the performance of the Light Guard will compare 
favorably with any of it. 

The Light Guard's Tenth Anniversary 

On January 5, 1886, the Light Guard celebrated the tenth anniver- 
sary of its organization with a banquet at the Harrington Hotel which 
was a brilliant success. The arrangements had been placed in the hands 
of a competent committee consisting of Lieutenant Ed. P. Cassil, Ser- 
geants G. H. Thomas and A. B. Deutsch, Corporal R. G. Smith and Priv- 
ate A. H. Miller, and nothing had been omitted which was calculated to 
increase the enjoyment and success of the occasion. The tables in the 
spacious dining room of the Harrington Hotel were very handsomely 
arranged, and the supper, under the liberal and skilful direction of Mr. 
Pabyan, the courteous landlord, and his efficient lieutenant, Mr. Poss, 
left nothing undone to make it the crowning event of the Guard's ten 
years of success. 

Among the guests were Governor John S. Marmaduke, Labor Com- 
missioner 0. Von Kochtisky, R. Roche, of the adjutant-generals' depart- 
ment. The field officers of the Fifth regiment, namely, Col. C. C. Allen, 
Maj. Clark Craycroft, Adjutant Harrington, Surgeon Crebbs and Quar- 
termaster Hillyer ; Ex-mayors Harding, Caffee, Harper, Luscombe and 
Moore, Mayor 'Keefe ; ex-officers Capt. Tuttle and Lieut. Cahn ; mem- 
bers of the press, A. W. St. John, A. P. Lewis, and S. D. Carpenter; 
vocal quartet consisting of Dr. L. I. Matthews, Geo. Blakeney, S. S. Wells 
and W. Mitchell, with Mr. Cort Hill as accompanist. Prof. Dumar and 
his orchestra were also in attendance and furnished some excellent music. 

The most interesting feature of the evening was the after-dinner 
speeches. "Sketch of Our Ten Years' History" was responded to by 
Capt. W. K. Caffee, in the following able and interesting speech, which 
is given in full. 



•248 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Our company is, I lielieve, the out-growth of a convention held between Mr. 
Deagan and myself upon a Sunday in December, of the year 1S75. The interest 
we excited communicated itself to others and upon the 3d of January, 1S76, in 
the then Regan's Hall, was held the meeting whose tenth anniversary we are 
commemorating so pleasantly tonight. 

The Carthage Light Guard, though a ten years' existence is but a compara- 
tively brief one, is venerable in the roll of similar organizations in our state, for 
change has so wrought among them that we now rank as the oldest. 

Our earlier years were uneventful beyond the incidents, which we still par- 
tially experience, of a struggle for existence. Our first and most ambitious trip 
was to the Grant reception at Kansas City in 1SS0; it is now most memorable to 
many of us as our last sight of the grand commander, whose honest simplicity of 
character, inflexible purpose and military genius, carried him up to and through 
the honorable and glorious career which is so bright a page in the country's 
history. To that trip we are indebted for the impetus which has carried us 
through the succeeding years, for comparing our uniforms, worn, seedy and shab- 
by, with the bright and handsome outfits of so many other commands we were 
spurred to the exertion which made us equal in appearance at least, to any other. 

We have visited Fort Scott twice; Cherryvale, where we found it possible to 
provide too liberally against suffering from the peculiar draught supposed to 
exist within the borders of our sister state, and in consequence the unwise amount 
of preventive absorbed caused the introduction of many startling and unknown 
manoeuvers in our exhibition drill to the astonishment of a few posted, but to 
the wild delight of the greater number of uninitiated spectators; twice Xevada, 
whose whole-souled hospitality and cordial welcome yet warms our hearts and 
claims from us a fitting requital in the future; Springfield twice; Joplin, whose 
kind citizens have entertained us more than once; twice Peirce city, whose people 
proved to our regiment, as well as ourselves, their right to be numbered among 
the most genial and capable of hosts, and last Pittsburg. 

Our camp in Cassil's Place was one of the pleasantest events of our history; 
we there first had the happiness of the presence of this evening's most honored 
guest; the warm expression of appreciation from our St. Louis visitors, so often 
since extended to us individually, has amply repaid us; that they were sincere 
in their declarations the beautiful medal presented to us through Capt. Bull and 
Sergeant Gareschie amply testifies. There crosses my mind a faint recollection 
of an entertainment offered these gentlemen on the banks of Spring river, but the 
details are obscured beyond the memory that the affair was wildly-joyful. 

To the ladies we owe as an organization, what all men do as individuals, 
much of that inspiration, which leads to success. Our flag is their gift, and the 
graceful act was worthy of their tender hearts. Their bright smiles and approba- 
tion are prizes we have ever striven for, and from our rapidly increasing number of 
Benedicts, I think not altogether in vain. 

Of the gentlemen who have officered the company, our first Captain, Garrison, 
lives far away. My predecessor, Capt. Tuttle, ex-Lieutenants Calm, Brown, and 
Deagan, the latter now through modesty most faithful of privates, we have with 
us to-night. Hardin, the faithful and efficient officer, the courteous and polished 
gentleman, is no more. 

We have borne upon our roles the names of two hundred men. Of these 
forty-eight are now active members; fifty are still our townsmen, but no more of 
us; five have joined that greatest army, and "Bivouac with the dead;" the re- 
mainder are scattered, many. I know not where. 

Through all our existence we have enjoyed the well wishes of our people. 
At first many smiles greeted our awkwardness, but increased proficiency brought 
its corresponding respect, and 1 believe few of our citizens but think we have 
measurably succeeded in our endeavor to build up an organization, which, by its 
efficiency in drill and the conduct of its members, redounds to the credit and 
honor of Carthage, we all love so well. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 249 

My sketch would hardly be complete without allusion to the phenomenally 
small amount of friction which has existed among us. Other companies in the 
state have had much larger membership, more money, more elaborate equip- 
ments and better armories, but have lacked that something, I know not what, to 
preserve their existence. Dissensions have arisen, factions formed, disgust fol- 
lowed and then, the end. Even in our own regiment, organized but two years 
ago, there is but one company, besides our own, in which as great changes have 
not occurred in that time as in our ten years' life. We have had our little do- 
mestic quarrels and strife, but have gotten bravely thro' or over them. We have 
never had factions ; we could not even stay mad at our state long enough, when 
the last legislature failed to "appropriate." to stick out our intention of dis- 
banding; but are here tonight celebrating the completion of one decade of our 
company's being, and looking forward to unnumbered ones to follow. 

Governor Marmaduke answered to the toast, "The State of Missouri," 
in a very interesting manner. He complimented the Light Guard, and 
expressed the hearty wisli that the state of Missouri might come to ap- 
preciate its gallant militia, by making a proper appropriation for its 
support. 

"The Fifth Regiment" was the topic to which Colonel Allen re- 
sponded with all his characteristic ability, and his remarks were among 
the best and most entertaining of the evening. 

"The Rank and File" was the sentiment which Private Ed. Crow 
was allotted. He made an eloquent and able speech, and concluded with 
the presentation, in behalf of the company, of a magnificent sword to 
Captain Caffee, accompanied with the roster of the company handsomely 
written out and framed. 

Ex-Lieutenant. Al Cahn made a most humorous response to the toast 
"The Ex-Officers on half pay and short rations." 

Major Craycroft of Joplin did the honors for the Joplin Rifles and 
referred eloquently to ' ' our better five-eighths, the ladies. ' ' 

The Light Guard Disbanded 

At the session of the state legislature in 1887 that body made no 
appropriation for the National Guard and the companies all over the 
state disbanded, among them the Light Guard. The Carthage Banner, 
speaking editorially of the matter, said: "Company A, Fifth Regiment 
N. G. M., is no more. This means that the Carthage Light Guard, the 
flower of the regiment, the pride of our people and the oldest company in 
the state, has, like many other companies throughout the state, laid down 
its arms to the legislative cowards who fear the threats of a secret organi- 
zation that defies the law whenever opportunity offers, and to the de- 
mands of the mossback element from the back counties. It is a most 
humiliating surrender after nearly eleven years of faithful service. 
While our people feel most keenly the loss of the Light Guard and are 
chagrined beyond measure that this step has been forced upon the com- 
pany, they all unite in approving of the action taken Wednesday night. 

"The meeting was largely attended and the motion to disband was 
carried unanimously. A resolution of thanks was tendered to the gov- 



250 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

ernor, the adjutant-general, the chairman of the senate and the house 
committees on militia for the efforts they made for the success of the 
bill; also to the citizens of Carthage for their support and encourage- 
ment in the past. The arms will be returned to the state, and the uni- 
forms and other property carefully stored and kept in good condition 
for the future, in case another company should ever be organized under 
more favorable legislation. It was decided that after the debts of the 
company are paid, the surplus remaining in the treasury shall be donated 
to the Board of Trade. This amount will probably be between $180 and 
$200. The first prize medal held by the company was voted to Capt. 
Caffee, and the second medal to Capt. Harrington. The company flag 
was voted to Lieutenant Deutsch. ' ' 

Reorganized 

At the 1889 meeting of the general assembly a liberal appropriation 
was made for the state guard and Company A was reorganized, fully 
one half of the old members going into the reorganized company. The 
company will be spoken of again in our military article covering the 

'nineties. 

Christmas Postoffice Surprises 

In 1880 Maj. A. F. Lewis, editor of the Carthage Banner, was ap- 
pointed postmaster of Carthage and under his able management many 
new and business like innovations were made. So thoroughly did he sys- 
tematize the work and so quickly and satisfactorily was business trans- 
acted that before the end of the year the office had been raised from third 
to second class, which brought with it more and better mail service and 
postal accommodations. This was greatly appreciated by the citizens of 
<'arthage and it was decided by the business and professional people of 
Tlif county seat to present the postmaster with an appropriate testimonial 
of their appreciation. Christmas day was selected as the most appro- 
priate time for the presentation. 

Major Lewis was not aware that he was to be the recipient of a 
Christmas present and himself had planned a Christmas surprise. At 
about eleven o'clock Christmas day, 1S80, the postmaster called all of his 
help to his desk and in a neat speech related the raising of the office 
from a third to a second class station, stating that he desired to give full 
credit to the office force for this important designation. He said that 
howsoever well he might plan, if there was not perfect accord and loyal 
support from the "men behind the guns" he could not succeed, and in 
testimony of his appreciation of their loyalty and faithfulness he pre- 
sented each with a handsome Christmas souvenir. He had scarcely fin- 
ished his remarks when one of his intimate political friends asked him to 
step over to the restaurant and get an oyster stew. Now oysters were 
Major Lewis's long suit and he accepted. On arriving at the oyster par- 
lor he found there assembled some hundred or more of the business men 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 



251 



and leading citizens and before he had time to ask the meaning of the 
assemblage Attorney Al Thomas, a most ardent Democrat and political 
adversary, as spokesman for the people, told Mr. Lewis that regardless of 
their political affiliations they were loud in their praise of his manage- 
ment of the postoffice and desired to show him in some tangible way 
their feeling of commendation and on behalf of the business men of 
Carthage presented him with a gold watch appropriately engraved. The 
watch was a beautiful one, costing one hundred and fifty dollars. It is 
needless to say that Major Lewis was overcome with feelings of gratitude 
and thereafter on account of the two Christmas surprises, the postoffice 
work was improved still more. 

Firemen's Tournament June 12-14, 1888 

The Southwestern Volunteer Firemen's Association held their an- 
nual tournament at Carthage and it was a great success, being attended 
by some twenty-five companies and $3,500 was distributed in prizes. 




First-Prize Winner* at Firemen's Tournament. June, 1888 

The firemen were quartered at Camp Thomas, in Central Park. One 
of the features of the tournament was a band concert, the opening night 
being attended by twelve bands combined for the occasion into one mon- 
ster organization of one hundred pieces. 



Carthage Entertains the Grand Lodge K. op P. 

In October, 1882, the Missouri Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias, 
honored Carthage as the place of holding the annual legislative assembly. 

The people of the county seat always entertain with a lavish hand 
and on this occasion did themselves proud. The business houses and many 
residences were beautifully decorated with the flag of the nation and the 



252 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

colors of the order. The session lasted for three days and brought to the 
Queen City a thousand visitors including, besides the delegates to the 
grand body, eight divisions of the uniformed rank. Among these were 
drill corps from St. Louis, Sedalia, Moberly, Nevada, Port Scott and 
Columbus, Kansas, as well as the uniformed divisions of Joplin and Car- 
thage. The parade of the Uniformed Rank escorting the representatives 
to the place of meeting was an imposing affair and gave to Jasper county 
and Southwestern Missouri its first glimpse of the red-plumed Knights 
who, during the latter 'eighties and 'nineties created such wild excite- 
ment at the national encampment of the order. 

One hundred and fifty dollars was given away in prizes. The cham- 
pionship prize open to all divisions was won by the then celebrated 
Tancred Division of Columbus, Kansas, winners oi the second prise 
at New Orleans in 1884 and the first prize at Toronto, Canada, in 1886. 
The first prize, open to Missouri drill teams, was won by the Sedalia 
knights, where the divisions from Moberly and St. Louis also carried 
off honors. 

At the close of the first day's session a grand ball was participated in 
by the members of the order. At this meeting of the grand lodge, John 
II. Holmes, now for twenty years reelected grand keeper of records and 
seals came into prominent notice, making a taking speech in present- 
ing a jewel for faithful service to Charles J. Gelwitz, then holding that 
office, and being designated by the grand chancellor as the leader of 
the grand march at the military ball. 

Jasper Commandery, No. 31, K. T. 

What St. John's day is to Masonry, so Ascension day is to the 
Knights Templar. The occasion is the one day during the year when an 
appropriate celebration is always had. 

This important annual event was three times publicly observed by 
the Carthage commandery. until during the 'eighties the exercises of 
1885 were perhaps the most elaborate of its public gatherings. Ascension 
commandery of Joplin, and Mount Olive of Lamar were the guests of 
the mother commandery and participated in the parade and other ex- 
ercises. The day was concluded by a banquet at the Harrington Hotel. 
Among the speakers at the banquet were D. A. Preston, of Joplin, who 
spoke eloquently on the subject "Ancient Knighthood." Col. A. A. 
llulett of Webb City spoke of "Templarism of Modern Times" and 
paid a glowing tribute to the work of the temple as exemplified now. 

S. S. Wells, on behalf of Jasper commandery, responded to the 
toast "Carthage," while S. Wells, of Lamar, spoke of the tender mem- 
ory of the Mount of Olives. II. II. Barns of Joplin told of the wondrous 
charm of lady fair, and paid a glowing compliment to the Eastern 
Star. 

The Grand Army op the Republic 

St, niton Post No. 16, Grand Army of the Republic, was mustered 
July 19, 1882, by Major William Warner, of Kansas City, then depart- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 253 

merit commander of that organization. As will be noted from the num- 
ber, the Carthage Post was one of the first to be organized in the state 
and has always been a strong organization, both in point of numbers 
and good works. It has exerted a great influence in Carthage and has 
cared splendidly for its members. The feeling of comradeship has 
been strong and has brought the brothers-at-arms closer together as 
neighbors and friends. 

The following were the Charter members of Stanton Post No. 16 : 
Thomas Buckbee, second lieutenant, Company B, ±3th Mo. Cav. ; G. M. 
Hurley, ass't surgeon, Medical Staff; "W. S. Bower, quarter gunner. 
United States Navy; T. A. "Wakefield, first lieutenant. Company A, 8th 
Mo. Cav.; C. P. Phillips, private, Company A, 17th U. S. Col. Inf.; H. 
Armstrong, captain. Company A, 2d Mass. Cav. ; Bennett Hall, sergeant, 
Company E, 129th 111. Inf. ; Amos H. Caffee, surgeon, 13th Kas. Inf. ; 
Benton Tuttle, private, 1st N. Y. S. S. ; Frank Hill, private, Company 
H, 5th Mass. Vol. ; Jesse Rhoades, corporal, Company H, 30th 111. Inf. 
Vol. ; E. J. Montague, second sergeant. Company B, 9th 111. Inf. Vol. ; 
A. Pettyjohn, private. Company E, 88th Ind. Inf. Vol.; J. W. Burch, 
private, Company E, 107th 111. Inf. ; S. S. Riley, private, Company C, 
23rd Ind. Inf.; E. R. Wheeler, private. Company E, 22nd 111. Inf.; 
J. P. Hubbart, private, Company A, 2nd 111. Cav. ; A. B. Parkell, major, 
4th Iowa Cav. ; Dr. Miller, corporal, Company H, 9th Ind. Inf. ; J. G. 
Irwin, first lieutenant. Company K, 18th Ohio Inf.; J. H. Coffman, 
second lieutenant, Company B, 126th 111. Inf.; M. Shupert, 
private, Company D. 24th Ohio Inf. ; II. Hubbart, private, 
Company F, 2d 111. Cav. ; R. L. Galbreath, second sergeant, Company 
L, 14th Pa. Cav. ; Theo. F. Gray, second sergeant, Company I, 169th 
Ohio Inf. ; J. H. Ralston, private, Company A, 16th 111. Inf. ; A. J. 
Crandall, private, Company C, 51st Wis. Inf. ; Walter Benedict, private, 
Company B, 100th 111. Inf. ; R. G. Seawell. corporal, Company D, 100th 
111. Inf.; J. E. Twitchell, corporal. Company E, 6th Mo. Inf.; A. F. 
Lewis, lieutenant, Company I. 13th Kans. Inf. ; John C. Gill, private, 
Company B, 40th 111. Inf.; G. Rose, private. Company G, 15th 111. 
Cav. ; Charles Pool, corporal, Company B, 24th Ind. Inf. ; Sam Wetzel, 
captain, Company B, 29th Ind. Inf. ; John T. Hodsheir, private. Com- 
pany E, 4th Mo. Cav. ; E. Edwards, private. Company C, 12th Mo. Inf. ; 
J. C. Bridges, private. Company K, 21st 111. Inf. ; Charles Bovard, 
private, Company G, 11th Pa. Inf. ; Josiah Tilden, paymaster, U. S. A. ; 
C. W. Botkin, private. Company H, 1st Ala. Cav. ; H. P. Sloan, captain, 
Company C, 74th 111. Inf. ; E. C. Stephenson, private, Company D, 
36th Wis. Inf. ; Andrew Russell, private. Company I, 14th Iowa Inf. ; 
W. O. Robinson, second sergeant, Company F, 16th Iowa Inf. 

The Carthage Skating Rink 

In 1884 Messrs. J. E. Sombart and Frank Jeans built a skating 
rink which at that date was the finest institution of the kind west of the 
Mississippi. The structure is one hundred and fourteen by sixty-six feet, 



254 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

the auditorium beiug oue hundred by sixty-six. The building, since 1890, 
has been used as an armory for the Carthage Light Guard and is ad- 
mirably fitted for drill purposes. The old rink has been the scene of 
many a brilliant military ball and other social functions where space was 
a factor. The building originally cost $5,000. 

Carthage City Hall 

In 1884 Carthage built a commodious city hall, and we clip, from 
the Banner of June 6, 1884, the following description of the building: 
' ' Certainly no fault can be found with the contractors for the new city 
hall with reference to their promptness in completing the building 
Their contract called for its completion by the 13th of July, 1884. The 
structure was today turned over to the city for examination and ac- 
ceptance. Another feature of the business upon which the city is to be 
congratulated is that the city hall is a fixed fact without having ex- 
ceeded the .$7,000 voted for the purpose. 

"It is a building of which our city may be proud. It is not par- 
ticularly magnificent, but is neat, commodious, conveniently arranged 
and in every way fills the bill. 

"The ground floor contains the city jail, which is subdivided into a 
corridor and five cells, six by eight feet each, besides the iron cage 
which is seven by fourteen feet, the remainder of the ground floor, 
twenty-two by forty-three feet is intended for the fire department, and 
is connected by an archway in one corner with the hose tower. 

"The second floor is divided by a hall way running the full length 
of the building north and south. On the west of the hall is the record- 
er's court room, eighteen by forty-five feet in dimensions, with a stair- 
way at the south end leading to the jail department, for the convenience 
of those lodging below who are called upon to meet His Honor. On the 
east side of the hall are three rooms for the use of the various city 
officers. Water, gas and every convenience are admirably distributed 
throughout the building. A broad stairway from the front on Grant 
street, which goes up between the city hall and Harrington & Sander- 
son's new block, affords the main communication of the offices with the 
outer world, besides which however the hallway extends clear across 
the block and the building is accessible from Harrington's front stair- 
way opening on the public square. 

"The city council this morning thoroughly inspected the building 
and found it in every particular up to contract. Messrs. Harrington & 
Sanderson will receive due credit from the public for the promptness 
and thoroughness with which they performed their obligations to the 
city." 



CHAPTER XXIII 

JOPLIN, CIVIC AND BUSINESS 

The White Lead Works — Zinc Factory — Woolen Mill — Joplin 
Flouring Mill — First Street Car Line — Water Works — Build- 
ing and Loan Association — The Joplin Club — Introduction of 
Telephone — Electric Lights — City Politics and Affairs — Fire 
Department — Banks and Banking — The North Road — -The 
Splitlog (Kansas City & Southern) Railway — Schools During 
the 'Eighties — Formal Adoption of High School Course — Arbor 
Day — First Commencement — High School Library — District 
of Joplin Organized — College of Physicians and Surgeons. 

Joplin during the 'eighties made a steady and continuous growth, 
although there was no period that could have been designated as a boom. 
The following business ventures figured prominently in the upbuild- 
ing of the city. 

The White Lead Works 

As mentioned in our chapter on Joplin during the 'seventies, the 
white lead works revolutionized the manner of handling that ore, and 
when it became a fixture in the mining district the other lead furnaces, 
one by one, suspended operations and the smelting industry centered 
in the lead factory of Moffet & Sergeant. 

The original plant of the lead works was destroyed by fire on April 
3, 1880, and was rebuilt at once, the new factory being double the size 
of the old works. 

During the middle 'eighties the lead works were sold by Moffet & 
Sergeant to a company composed of L. P. Cunningham and others and 
they, in turn, sold the plant to the Pielier Lead Company, the present 
owners of the works. 

The white lead from the Picher factory is now sold in all the markets 
of the world, the United States government being a purchaser, using the 
Joplin sublimated lead to paint the battleships. 

The Zinc Factory 

Another institution which was of vast importance to Joplin during 
the 'eighties and the 'nineties was the zinc works located on west Ninth 
street, just north of the cemetery. The company was organized in 
December, 1881, by P. Murphy, William Byers, Thomas Connor, T. A. 

255 



256 HISTORY OF JASPEB COUNTY 

McClelland, 0. H. Picher, L. P. Cunningham, C. H. Brewster and Ed. 
Zil liken. Here a number of furnaces were built for the reduction of 
zinc and a large amount of the mineral of the Joplin district was there 
made ready for the market. A hundred or more men were employed 
and its influence was greatly felt in a manufacturing way. The works 
later became the property of the Empire Zinc Company, and when the 
natural gas fields of Kansas offered a cheap fuel were torn down and 
moved to the sunflower state. 

The Woolen Mills 

The later part of 1882 a number of the leading business men of the 
city conceived the idea of making Joplin a manufacturing, as well as 
a mining center, and organized the Joplin Woolen Mills Company with 
a capital of $25,000. 

Tin- mill was built in 1883 at the corner of Eleventh and Main 




Broadway, East Joplin. in 1883 

(Old muln cars making first trip.) 

streets and for four years was operated with a fair degree of success. 
In 1884 the capital of the company was increased to $50,000. 

During the later 'eighties the operations of the mill were not suc- 
cessful and the plant was leased to the Inland Lead and Paint Company 
and turned into a paint factory. 

Joplin Flouring Mill 

In 1882 John B. Sergeant built the Joplin Flouring mill, a three- 
story brick building on the site of the Brand-Dunwoody Milling Com- 
pany's plant. Eleventh and Wall streets. 

This was Joplin 's first mill and proved a great boom to the city, 
as it brought, to Joplin many farmers, with their grains, who previously 
had gone elsewhere. 

The mill when first built had a capacity of grinding one hundred 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 257 

barrels a day, and its elevator had a capacity of 40,000 bushels. Dur- 
ing the first year of business the mill ground 20,000 bushels of wheat. 
This mill was destroyed by fire in 1892 and was rebuilt by W. G. Ser- 
geant, a son of the original builder. The mill now belongs to the Brand- 
Dunwoody Milling Company who have since doubled its capacity, mak- 
ing it a 300-barrel a day plant. 

First Street Car Line 

John B. Sergeant, after having made a fortune out of the mines, 
did not go elsewhere to seek investment, but used the large capital he 
had made to further build up and develop Joplin. We noted during 
the 'seventies his connection with the first railway that was built by 
the City of Lead, and so, in the 'eighties, we find him organizing a com- 
pany to build a street car line. 

On November 15, 1882, a franchise was granted to John B. Sergeant 
to build a street car line in the city. The Joplin Street Car Company 
was organized with a capital of $20,000 and a mule car line built, the 
road extending from East Broadway to the zinc works on West Ninth 
and traversing Broadway in East Joplin and Main and Ninth streets in 
West Joplin. The car barns were on Broadway in the old Collins stable. 
The company operated four cars and owned eighteen span of mules 
which were used as the motor power. Clark Craycroft was the super- 
intendent and general manager of the road. With the advent of elec- 
tricity as a motive power of the old mule cars passed off the stage and 
made way for the up-to-date mode of transportation. 

The Water Works 

As mentioned in our section devoted to the 'seventies that the great 
majority of the people who came to Joplin in its early day did not ex- 
pect to remain longer than to make a quick fortune. Consequently the 
early improvements were not of a permanent character. The houses 
were quickly put together, but few people dug wells or cisterns, and the 
main water supply was from the water wagon. S. O. Ellis, of East Jop- 
lin, had a deep well from which he secured a fine supply of water which, 
was sold to his customers, but the great majority of water haulers ob- 
tained their supply from the mining pumps. With these conditions 
the establishment of a water works system was hailed with delight. 

Shortly after his election as mayor W. E. Maynard appointed a com- 
mittee of citizens and the city council to act jointly and to investigate 
and report a feasible plan to build a water works system for Joplin. 
The committee consisted of L. A. Filmore, P. Murphy, J. Hewitt, O. H. 
Richer, A. B. McCarty, Dan Collins, C. J. Lewis, P. E. Blow, W. L. 
Harris, and A. C. Blakey. 

The committee held a number of sessions and during their settings 
listened to three propositions by C. E. Gray of St. Louis, Charles H. 
Fuller of Decatur, Paul B. Perkins of Geneseo. Illinois. The one sub- 



258 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

mitted by Mr. Perkins seemed the most feasible and on the 22d of De- 
cember, 1880, the committee submitted its report to the city council 
recommending that a franchise be granted to that gentleman and that 
the system of water works proposed by him be adopted. 

The matter was submitted to a vote of the people and at a special 
election held on January 11, 1881, was carried by a tremendous ma- 
jority — 1,229 votes being cast in favor of the proposition and only 31 
against it. 

The Joplin Water Works Company, successors of Paul B. Perkins, 
was incorporated April 9, 1881, with a capital of $124,000. The officers 
of the company were 0. H. President, president ; P. Murphy, vice pres- 
ident and treasurer; L. P. Cunningham, secretary, and C. J. Lewis, 
superintendent. 

The works were built during the summer and fall of 1881 ; a public 
test, which proved highly satisfactory, was made October 20th, and 
the plant was formally accepted by the city and opened to the public 
on November 1st. 

The building of the water works was perhaps the most important 
event of the 'eighties and marked the beginning of the passing from an 
overgrown mining camp to an up-to-date city. With their building 
came a modern fire department and adequate fire protection. It lessened 
insurance rates and supplied the city with a quantity of fresh water 
from beautiful spring-fed Shoal creek. It made possible a water sup- 
ply for factories, mills and mining plants. In short, it paved the way 
for a greater Joplin. 

The building of the water works also gave a confidence in the stabil- 
ity of the city and was one of the factors in its real establishment. In 
1882, the first year after the construction of the water works, some 
$500,000 was spent in buildings of various kinds — not much for today, 
but then a considerable sum. 

The Joplin Building and Loan Association 

Perhaps no other society did more toward building up Joplin than 
the Building and Loan Association, which was organized April 10, 1883. 
The capital stock was $200,000, consisting of 200 shares of $1,000 each. 
At the organization of the association it was agreed that no one should 
own or control more than ten shares, and in this way a large number of 
people were interested and the possibility of a few controlling the as- 
sociation was precluded. 

During the 'eighties and later years this association was the means 
of assisting a great many people to build homes, and also benefited the 
city as a whole by starting the home-building boom which commenced 
in the 'eighties. 

The association also fostered a love of the beautiful and inaugurated 
an era of better building. 

The first board of directors in the Joplin Building and Loan Asso- 
ciation, comprised John H. Taylor, Clark Craycroft, W. B. Holyard. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 259 

C. J. Lewis, G. B. Young. A. H. Warle, 1). C. McConny, W. H. Fair- 
banks and J. C. Gaston. 

The Joplin Club 

The Joplin Club (now the Joplin Commercial Club) was organized 
in October, 1888, and from then to now has been a great factor in the 
building of the city. The following were its first officers: President, 
Galen Spencer; vice president, Thos. Connor; secretary, W. H. Proud- 
foot; treasurer, Gilbert Barbee. 

The objects of the club, when organized were two-fold — first, to 
foster and encourage whatever would build up or improve the city of 
Joplin and, secondly, to promote a better spirit of friendship among 
the business men of the city, and to this end the social feature was cul- 
tivated. 

The first place of meeting was in the Barbee building, where a beau- 
tiful suite of rooms was fitted up and used until the building of the 
Club Theatre building in 1890. when the present quarters were oc- 
cupied. 

Introduction op the Telephone 

In 1881 a telephone exchange was installed in Joplin and neighbor- 
ing towns by C. "W. McDaniels, and put in operation in October of that 
year. The interests of Mr. McDaniels were later absorbed by the Bell 
Telephone Company. The telephone, which then was regarded as a great 
curiosity, is now in this twentieth century day of progress almost a 
necessity. The total number of 'phones in use in Joplin now — includ- 
ing those of both the Bell and the Home — number over 7,000. 

Electric Lights 

The electric light was first seen in Joplin in 1882 at the Cole circus, 
where the tent and grounds were illuminated with lights generated from 
a dynamo and apparatus carried by the show. In 1887 G. W. Sergeant, 
son of J. B. Sergeant, and like his father, a man of great energy, built 
an electric light plant on Joplin street, between Fourth and Fifth, the 
site of the present office of the Empire District Light and Power Com- 
pany. The first exhibition light was erected at Fourth and Main 
streets, and after its power and excellence had been demonstrated a 
contract was awarded his company to light the streets in the business 
district. The Empire District Electric Light and Power Company the 
successors to the franchises granted Mr. Sergeant and John W. Free- 
man, et al.. has a total capacity of forty 2,000-candle power lig-hts. 

City Politics and Affairs 

At the city election in October. 1880, W. E. Maynard was reelected 
mayor, being petitioned by the citizens to accept the chair a second 



260 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

lerra. The other officers chosen were: L. C. Hamilton, marshal; W. B. 
McAntire, police judge; George Oreor, city attorney; A. C. Pyle, treas- 
urer; S. O. Elles, G. B. Young, A. P. McCarty, W. L. Harris. L. Hare. 
Hugh Dyer, L. A. Pilmore and W. B. Holyard, members of the city 
council. J. P. Newell was appointed city clerk and F. E. Williams, 
collector. The important event of Mr. Maynard's administration was 
the building of the water works, already mentioned. 

1881 

In October, 1881, the city election passed off quietly, Galen Spencer, 
then one of the leading lawyers of the city, being elected mayor and, 
like his predecessor, being brought out by a petition signed by numer- 
ous friends. With Mr. Spencer the following gentlemen came into the 
council: M. F. Downy, S. Landauer, John C. Bailey, Charles Gaide, 
M. Clark and J. C. Mason, with Messrs. Elles and Fillmore holding 
over. 

The other officers elected were : L. C. Hamilton, marshal ; F. M. Red- 
burn, police judge ; Thomas Dolan, city attorney ; G. B. Carson, treas- 
urer; B. T. Webb, city clerk, and F. E. Williams, collector. 

Mr. Spencer was reelected mayor in 1882. 

1883 

At the city election in October, 1883, there was but one candidate 
for mayor, W. B. Holyard, and with him were elected the following 
officers: City council — H. Petitt, J. C. Gaston, J. C. Bailey, and W. 
V. White ; marshal, L. C. Hamilton ; police judge, F. M. Redburn ; city 
attorney, J. W. McAntire; treasurer, G. B. Carson. 

1884 

At the election in 1884 the following were inducted into the official 
chairs : Mayor, A. B. McCarty ; city attorney, J. W. McAntire ; treas- 
urer, Jas. B. Glover, Jr.; marshal, L. C. Hamilton; city council, Alex- 
ander Campbell, J. L. Briggs, W. H. Warren and J. A. Shepherd. 

1885 

Mayor— A. B. McCarty. 

Marshal-*-L. C. Hamilton. 

Police judge — F. M. Redburn. 

Treasurer — J. B. Glover. 

Attorney — J. W. McAntire. 

It will be noted that the entire administration was reelected. The 
following new members came into the council: Chancellor Livingston, 
Charles Sehifferdecker, J. W. Gill and Sidney Hire 

The interesting feature of the election was the choosing of a coun- 
cilman in the First ward. Four candidates were in the field, all of 
them receiving about the same strength. Messrs. Chancellor Livingston 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 261 

and Bracken Wilson tied, and the matter was decided by lot, Mr. Liv- 
ingston drawing the lucky ticket which gave him the seat. 

Murder and Lynching 

After the adoption of the prohibitory law in Kansas and the closing 
of the saloons of Galena, Joe Thornton, a desperate character, erected 
on the state line a double building, located half in Missouri and half in 
Kansas. On the Missouri side was a saloon and on the Kansas side a 
gambling house. Joe Thornton and his hangers-on were a source of an- 
noyance to the officers of both Jasper and Cherokee counties. 

On July 19, 1885. Thornton came to Joplin and Deputy Sheriff J. 
C. Miller, Constable H. H. Haven and Officer Daniel Sheehan, of the 
Joplin police force, went to Swarts' famous 144 (one of the popular 
dry goods stores), where Thornton was making some purchases, for the 
purpose of arresting him. Deputy Sheriff Miller walked up to Thorn- 
ton and informed him that he had a warrant for his arrest. Thornton 
wheeled and quickly drew his revolver. The three officers grappled 
with him, and endeavored to take his revolver away. In the scuffle 
Thornton discharged the weapon and killed Sergeant Sheehan. Deputy 
Sheriff Miller and Constable Haven then overpowered him and safely 
lodged him in the city jail. 

Sergeant Sheehan was exceedingly popular, and during his long 
service on the police force had discharged his duties faithfully, and that 
night a large number of citizens came to the jail, took Thornton out 
and hung him to a tree at the corner of Second and Joplin streets. 

The people of Joplin, in order to commemorate the memory of the 
brave police officer, erected a handsome marble monument at his grave 
in Fairview cemetery. 

With the lynching of Thornton the lawlessness on the border came to 
an end. 

1886 

At the fall election, in 1886, Mr. McCarty declined to be a candidate 
for a third term and J. L. Briggs, the popular agent of the 'Frisco 
Railway was elected mayor. L. C. Hamilton, who for ten years had 
served the people as marshal, also declined to be a candidate for re- 
election and was succeeded by Calvin Nickel, who won over four other 
candidates by a margin of 39 votes. M. T. Downing was elected treas- 
urer and Thos. Dolan city attorney. 

The councilmen chosen at this election were J. M. Sackett, J. M. 
Wise, James Roach and M. G. Harris. 

1887 

The city electors of 1887 was an exceptionally interesting one, inas- 
much as there were many aspirants for honors and also because it was 
exceptionally close for three of the important positions — mayor, attorney 
and marshal. 



•26-1 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

Chancellor Livingston, of the First Ward, was elected mayor by one 
vote; J. J. Cofer, city marshal, by twenty-eight, and Messrs. Thomas 
Dolan and J. W. McAntire being tied for city attorney. 

L. C. Hamilton, who for so many years was city marshal, was elected 
police judge, mid M. F. Downing reelected treasurer. 

The following gentlemen were elected to the city council : Alexander 
Campbell, Charles Schifferdecker, J. B. Minor and J. V. Hibbard. 

During this administration the city surrendered its special charter 
and organized as a city of the third class. The proposition which had 
been defeated at the regular election in October, '87, carried at the 
special election on May 8th by a nice majority. 

The vote on the question was as follows : For the new charter — 
First ward, 84 ; Second ward, 289 ; Third ward, 48 ; Fourth ward, 211. 

Against surrender — First ward, 99 ; Second ward, 48 ; Third ward, 
65 ; Fourth ward, 54. 

Majority for the charter, 326. 

It will lie observed that the heaviest vote cast against the new charter 
was in Lone Kim. where the people lived almost entirely on un- 
platted ami mining lands and where it was thought that, with the 
adoption of the new charter, more stringent laws would prevail relative 
to stock running at large, building of streets, sidewalks, etc. The heavy 
vote for the proposition was in the down-town district, where laws 
providing for public improvements were greatly desired. 

Next to the building of the water works the adoption of the third- 
class charter was the most important happening of the 'eighties, be- 
cause it opened up a way for public improvements, such as street pav- 
ing and the construction of sewers, as well as many police regulations 
not provided for in the old charter. 

With these regiilations and renewed confidence in Joplin's future 
greatness a building boom came on which did not abate until the panic 
of 1893. During 1888 the area of the city was increased, extending 
from the original southern limits at Tenth street to Fourteenth. South 
Joplin built up very rapidly, two additions being laid out and quickly 
sold that year. The next year, 1889, five more additions were placed 
on the market and the city limits extended to Twentieth street. 

1889 

Tin- election of this year was notable because it was the last one held 
without nomination from the several political parties, and also the 
first one held under the new charter, the time being by the new laws 
changed from October to April. 

The following were the successful candidates: Mayor, R. B. Tyler; 
recorder (police judge), W. B. McAntire; city attorney, J. W. McAn- 
tire; marshal, -I. -I. Cofer; treasurer-collector, J. W. Calvin; council- 
men. First ward, Harmon ('line and .las. A. Sherwood: Second ward, A. 
P. Iloyt and Frank Geier; Third ward, Z. A. Norris and J. A. Roach; 
Fourth ward, T. J. Field and W. V. White. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 263 

Joplin Fire Department 

After the completion of the water works the matter of organizing a 
fire department was taken up by the city council and a call was issued 
for a meeting at the Tabernacle on November 6, 1882, to perfect the 
organization. The meeting was largely attended and a volunteer depart- 
ment organized from among the best citizens of Joplin. 

Clark Craycroft was chosen chief and G. W. Payton assistant. Four 
companies were organized, one for each ward, as follows: Hose Com- 
pany No. 1, G. W. Payton, foreman ; Hose Company No. 2, A. P. Hoyt, 
foreman; Hose Company No. 3, Jno. C. Bailey, foreman; Hose Com- 
pany, No. 4, L. A. Fillmore, foreman. 

The companies were equipped with hose carts, each carrying 2,500 
feet of hose, and as an inducement for proficiency the company which 
threw water first on a fire was given a prize of ten dollars, in addition 
to $1.50 which each firemen attending received. 

In 1884 Major Craycroft retired from the department and George 
"W. Payton of Company No. 1 became chief. Excepting one year he 
served as such until 1890. Aaron Haughton became assistant. 

When Mr. Payton became chief Companies 1 and 2 were named in 
honor of two of the citizens who had won the favor of the community 
on account of their public spiritedness. No. 1 took the name of 
the S. C. Henderson Hose Company, in honor of Joplin 's first whole- 
sale grocer, and No. 2 became the C. J. Lewis Hose Company, Mr. Lewis 
at that time being superintendent of the water company and having been 
prominently connected with many other public enterprises. 

During the 'eighties the volunteer fire department attained a high 
state of proficiency and at the tournament of the Southwestern Fire- 
men's Association carried off a number of prizes. 

At the Southwestern firemen's tournament held in Carthage in June, 
1888, and attended by 1.400 firemen from ^Missouri, Kansas, and Arkan- 
sas, S. C. Henderson Company No. 1, carried off first prize in the 100- 
yard contest, making the run, laying 100 feet of hose and throwing 
water. C. J. Lewis Company No. 2 won first prize in the 200-yard con- 
test, their time being 1 :18. 

In April, 1889, John W. Gillis was appointed chief and L. A. Fill- 
more assistant chief. The head of the department secured from the 
eity council an appropriation of $500 for uniforms for his men. At the 
tournament at Clinton that year the Joplin department made a most 
elegant showing and won the prize offered for the best appearing de- 
partment attending the meeting. During this year Capt. C. J. Lewis, 
after whom Company 2 was named, moved to Hannibal and the mem- 
bers of the company presented him, on the eve of his departure, with an 
eleeant silver loving cup as a testimonial of their regard for him. 

Banks and Banking 

During the 'eighties two new financial institutions were launched in 
Joplin and both were successful to a high degree. 



264 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

In February, 1882, Thomas "W. Cunningham established the Bank 
of Joplin. George A. Case, who had been the cashier of the Moffet & 
Sergeant bank of Joplin, was made the cashier of the new concern, and 
remained with it until the middle 'nineties, when he retired on account 
of ill health. The Bank of Joplin had a most unique history. Its cap- 
ital was $5,000. At the end of the first year the greater portion of the 
earnings was carried into the surplus ; and at the close of each suc- 
ceeding year the surplus was increased and continued to grow until 
1907, when it reached $300,000, sixty times the capital. During the 
panic of 1907, Mr. Cunningham, with the view of helping relieve the 
financial stringency, nationalized his bank, thus converting $200,000 
of bonds into ready cash and materially assisting in reestablishing con- 
fidence in Joplin. 

The First National Bank of Joplin was organized in January, 1888, 
with the following officers and directors: President, Chas. Schiffer- 
dicker ; vice president, D. A. Preston ; cashier, J. A. Cragin ; directors. 
E. Lloyd, Galen Spencer, L. Riseling and J. C. Stewart. 

The bank opened for business during the following March. One 
of its first important transactions was the purchase of thirty thousand 
dollars of the City of Joplin funding bonds, issued on the occasion of 
the surrender of the old city charter and the organization of a city of 
the third class. 

This bank showed its faith in Joplin by building a three-story brick 
bank building during the early 'nineties. It has recently acquired the 
Empire Building between Fifth and Sixth streets, on Main street, and 
will shortly move into larger quarters. 

The North Road 

One of the important factors in the building up of Ancient Rome 
was her magnificent system of public roads. The imperial government 
recognized Rome as the hub around which the commerce of the nation 
revolved, and so, like spokes in a wheel, well built and splendidly ma- 
cadamized roads were constructed in all directions from the city and an 
easy mode of transportation provided, so that all business would center 
in the city on the Tiber, "All roads lead to Rome.'" 

In 18S6 the business men of Joplin recognized the importance of 
more and better-built roads leading into Joplin, and a committee, con- 
sisting of C. J. Lewis, Charles Schifferdecker, A. F. Donnan, and others, 
was appointed to devise ways and means to build a road running north 
from Joplin to Spring river. Some $3,000 was subscribed, the right-of- 
way obtained across the Kansas City Bottom and a fine road worked 
from First street ami .Main to Galesburg. This was the beginning of 
our splendid road system. 

Missouri Pacific Railway 

The Missouri Pacific Railway was built to Joplin in 1882, the first 
train from Kansas City running into the city on June 19th. A. O. T. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 265 

Pennington, a most accommodating and pleasant gentleman, came to 
Joplin as agent for the road and his affable manners soon built up for 
the road an extensive patronage. 

This line was of immense value to Joplin and the entire mining 
district, because it gave another competing line to both St. Louis & Kan- 
sas City. The Missouri Pacific Railway also brought to the city another 
express train — the Pacific Express Company — and materially facilitated 
transportation facilities. 

The Splitlog (Kansas City and Southern) Railway 

In 1887 a wealthy Indian, Mathias Splitlog, living in McDonald 
county, conceived the idea of building a railway from North Arkansas 
to Kansas City, and put up a considerable sum toward organizing a 
company which was formed, having for its object the building of a 
line from the Gulf of Mexico to Kansas City. 

The line was first built from the Cowskin river in McDonald county, 
to Joplin, and formally opened January 1, 1889. On January 3rd 
Mayor Livingston, the city council and about 200 business men as the 
guests of the railroad visited Neosho and were royally entertained by 
the people of that place. On January 7th Neosho gave Joplin a 
surprise party, coming up en masse, to return the visit. 

These two friendly visits were the beginning of a friendly business 
relation between the two cities which has existed to this day. The 
name of the road was shortly afterward changed to the Pittsburg & 
Gulf, and on its completion to Kansas City became the Kansas City & 
Southern. 

Schools during the 'Eighties 

As mentioned in our school story of the 'seventies there was three 
separate school districts in Joplin — East Joplin, West Joplin and Lone 
Elm. The schools were operated separately until 1889, when they were 
consolidated into a city district, but before taking up the narrative of the 
organization of the school district of Joplin we will touch briefly the im- 
portant happenings of the three districts up to the consolidation. 

In East Joplin the course of study was divided into eight years' work, 
but the eight years were equivalent to the course of study mapped out 
for the graded schools and most of the branches in the first two years in 
the high school, as now arranged. There was no attempt at a formal 
graduation, but on the completion of the work nearly every pupil went 
before the county school commissioner and took the examination for a 
teacher's certificate and the passing of this examination was equivalent 
to a completion of the course of study. Of course many of the pupils 
who secured certificates did not intend to teach, but secured them as a 
matter of personal pride and for the purpose of having something to 
show for their school work. Of the seventeen pupils in the A class, room 
1, for 1884, every one successfully passed the teacher's examination and 



266 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

was granted a certificate. A high standard was maintained in East Jop- 
lin until 1886, when a crisis came which detracted from the thoroughness 
of the school work. 

The general assembly of 1885 passed a law forbidding the issuance 
of a warrant when there was no money in the treasury to meet the same. 
It so happened that at the close of 1885 there was a deficit and warrants 
had been issued to pay salaries and incidental expenses of that year and 
had to be taken care of out of the revenue of 1886. This necessitated a 
short term, brought the schools to a close at the end of four months and 
a half and prevented the class of 1886 completing the course mapped 
out. During the winter of 1886 the pupils gave several entertainments 
to raise money for coal, one of which, by the way, was a money maker. 
It was given in an improvised theater — a store room half filled with baled 
hay. This was no drawback however, for where there is a will there is 
a way. A stage was made by piling up one tier of baled hay ami cover- 
ing it with planks brought in from a lumberyard. On either side of the 
wall the bales were extended to the ceiling giving a stage-like effect and 
also serving the purpose of wings. Chairs were brought in and the en- 
tertainment was given to a packed house, enough money being raised to 
buy coal the rest of the winter. 

We append below a list of the gentlemen who served the district as 
members of the school board and the teaching force when it was the East 
Joplin School District. 

Members of tin- school board: -lolm C. Cox, Jeremiah Fink, D. P. 
Ballard, G. D. Jackson, H. J. Blackwell, J. C. Maddy, D. Y. Moore, F. 
A. McClelland, G. W. Payton, W. L. Harris, T. K. Medder, O. B. Ham- 
lin, J. B. Thomas, T. B. Samules, Calvin Nickell, James Woodward, E. 
M. Nash, J. W. Henry, J. T. Martin. B. Wilson, 1). S. Lutman, J. W. 
Newton and N. B. Lichliter. 

Principals: S. B. Ormsby (1874-5), S. A. Underwood, James A. 
Race, G. W. McKiuney, T. H. Riffer, L. B. Burr, J. M. Stevenson, Miss 
Janette Houghton, J. F. Martin, Walter Atkinson, W. P. Roberts, Mrs. 
Jennie Gilliland, Henry Phelps and W. L. Taylor. 

Teachers: Anna Heath, Georgia Gates, W. B. Webster, Geo. 
II. Smeetzer, Josie Culpepper, W. H. John, Tealie Underwood, Emma 
Shorter, Mrs. Fannie Hays, .Mrs. Emma Young, Fannie Nickell, Joel T. 
Livingston, Jennie Robertson, Rebecca Snyder. W. A. Nickell and Kate 
Reid. 

Lone Elm School District 

In 1SSO the Lone Rhn school began to decline, not in efficiency, be- 
cause it continued up to the consolidation to lie a strong school, but in 
point of cumbers. 

Tn 187!) a dispute arose between the citizens of Lone Elm and the 
Granby Company, the owners of the fee to the land on which the great 
majority of the bouses were built. Up to that date no ground rent for 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 267 

the space occupied by the houses, had been charged to the miners work- 
ing their land, and many of them owned the houses in which they lived. 
The later part of 1879, however, the company changed its policy and de- 
cided to charge a monthly rental for the ground. The miners felt that 
as they were developing the land and making for the company handsome 
royalties they were entitled to live near the mines aud that ground rent 
should not be imposed. About the time that this controversy was started 
Messrs. Byers and Murphy laid out an addition to the city west of the 
'Frisco railway tracks and placed them on the market at an exceptionally 
small price. 

A hundred or more families from Lone Elm bought lots in the new 
suburb and moved their houses to this new haven of refuge, which was 
called Byersville. As a result of this exodus, the school enumeration of 
1880 showed a decided falling off and the apportionment of the public 
funds gave to Loue Elm a greatly reduced sum. 

The following served in the Lone Elm schools during the 'eighties: 
L. Z. Burr, Tealie Underwood, D. B. Wilson, J. W. Henry, G. P. Gar- 
land, H. Phelps and Philip Arnold as principals; and Mrs. L. Z. Burr, 
Mrs. Sue Phelps, A. W. Mitchel, Rachel Shaw, William H. Lee, Amanda 
Wilson, Helen Jones, and several others whose names are not obtainable 
on account of the failure to preserve the old records, as under-teachers. 

West Joplin Public Schools 

The year 1880 found the population of the three school districts as 
follows:* East Joplin, 1,712; West Joplin, 4,526; Lone Elm, 1,200.* 

It will be noted by these figures that West Joplin had outstripped 
both East Joplin and Lone Elm and contained a population of approx- 
imately 1,500 more than the other two districts combined and was by this 
time counted the main part of the town. Naturally, therefore, the West 
Joplin schools grew in importance — and West Joplin was the first district 
to establish a high school. 

During the fall of 1879 -J. C. Mason resigned the superintendency to 
take up the practice of law and the Rev. J. F. Martin filled out the un- 
expired term, teaching the High School, as the highest room was called, 
in the study of the Tabernacle. For the term of 1880-1 Philip Arnold 
was made superintendent and served until 1884, when Mr. Mason was 
again recalled and the high school placed in charge of Mr. Arnold. Dur- 
ing Mr. Arnold's incumbency and as superintendent, Messrs. C. H. 
Lethbridge. Henry Phelps and J. M. Stephenson had charge of the High 
School. 

The Building op the Central School 

At a special election held February 7, 1883, the West Joplin School 
District voted $20,000 in bonds for the erection of school houses; $16,200 
was apportioned for the Central school building: $2,500 for a two-room 

•These figures represent the entire population and include a few hundred residing on 
the outskirts of the city, but a part of the several school districts. 



268 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

school at Byersville ; $400 for the moving of the Byersville school to Per- 
kins avenue (now the Garfield) and $900 for a colored school. 

The teaching force was increased and the pupils nicely taken care of 
until after the consolidation of the three districts in 1889, when a build- 
ing boom came on. 

Mr. Mason was succeeded, in 1886, by W. T. Hammer of Lamar and 
he, in 1888, by R. D. Shannon, late state superintendent of schools. 

Formal Adoption of a High School Course 

Until 1886 the school board had not formally adopted a specific course 
of study for the high school, or prescribed the standard of excellency for 
graduation, but had left the course of study and the rules and regula- 
tions largely to the superintendent and high school teachers. New 
branches had been added from time to time until the course of study 
pursued equalled that of Carthage, Springfield and other southwestern 
Missouri cities, but no attempt had been made at graduation. On the 
coming of Superintendent Hammer, however, the board formally promul- 
gated a high school course and the pupils, who heretofore worked at ran- 
dom — that is, so far as graduation was concerned — were classified and 
began to work toward a definite end, the first class graduating in 1888. 

The first high school course consisted of three years' work, as fol- 
lows: First year — Higher arithmetic, United States history, grammar, 
zoology, composition, physiology and botany. 

Second year — Algebra, general history, physiology, geology, physics, 
elocution and natural philosophy. 

Third year — Geometry, rhetoric, English and American literature, 
mental and moral philosophy. 

Arbor Day 

Arbor day was first observed in the Joplin schools, April 16, 1886, 
when a large number of trees were planted and the school yards beauti- 
fied. At the Central school, in April, 1887, appropriate exercises were 
held and a large number of trees planted by the pupils, each room pur- 
chasing and planting a tree which was named after some great citizen 
of the nation. The two trees planted by the High School were named 
Peter Cooper and Lafayette, while other rooms in the grade planted trees 
commemorating Washington, Jefferson, Garfield and other noted states- 
man. Many of these trees lived and to this day furnish shade in the old 
school grounds. 

The First Commencement Exercises 

This first class from the West Joplin schools was graduated May IS, 
1888. The following are its members and the grades made at the final 
examination : Ida Coffee, 96.8 ; Cora Lichliter, 96.7 ; Mamie Robertson. 
96.5; Johanna Becker, 96; Tillie Hamilton, 95.6; Lee Lichliter, 95.1; 
William A. Nickell, 94.5; Blanche Sergeant, 94.4; Taylor Snapp, 91.9; 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



2t59 



Cora Hoyt, 90.9 ; Leroy Lapsley, 90.8 ; Olivar P. Simpson, 90.2 and Will- 
iam Lackie, 89. 

Of this class the first seven became teachers ; one of them, "W. A. Nick- 
ell, principal of the Jackson school, is still connected with the schools 
and is the oldest teacher of the corps in point of continuous service. 

Two, T. F. Snapp and Olivar P. Simpson, became bankers and are 
still prominent in the financial world. 

Leroy Lapsley became an electrician of note and William Lackie, 
later a graduate of Cornell, a skilled mechanical engineer. Miss Cora 
Hoyt entered the drygoods house of Christman & Blendurg, and later 
married one of the firm, while Miss Sergeant, rich in her own right, did 
not enter the business world other than to look after her real estate hold- 
ings. 

fin the section of this work devoted to the last decade will be found a 
list of the graduates from 1888 to 1910, together with such data as is 
obtainable from the superintendent's report for 1910.] 

The High School Alumni was organized the week following the grad- 
uation of the first class in 1888, with W. A. Nickell as president and 
Johanna Becker as secretary. 

The High School Library 

The honor of founding the Joplin Public School Library belongs to 
Philip Arnold, and connected with its establishment is the following 
incident. 

In 1881, when the high school occupied but one room in the original 
Central school the library was founded. 

One day the topic in history was about the founding of Yale. The 
lesson was a reminiscence of the struggle undergone in the establishment 
of the Yale college library, and related at length how eleven preachers 
had each brought a book, and dedicated it to the founding of that famous 
collection. 

The next morning Mr. Arnold brought a book to the school, and pre- 
sented it as the initial volume for the founding of a high school library. 
Some of the pupils followed his example and thus was the nucleus 
formed for the present magnificent collection of works on all scientific 
and educational topics. 

This small collection of books gradually grew and in 1888, on the 
22nd of February a library entertainment was given by the public 
schools and annually thereafter for a number of years on that date, a 
library benefit was had. In 1890 the school board made an appropria- 
tion for library purposes and from then until now a library fund has 
been a part of the annual taxation. In 1891 the library work was ex- 
tended to the grade schools and a number of good books placed in each 
room in the city. Previous to the building of the public library the high 
school list of books had grown to 3,000 volumes, but now, with the mag- 
nificent collection at the public reading rooms, the school library is not 
as much used as formerly. 



270 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

School District of Joplin Organized 

During the middle 'eighties the matter of consolidating East Joplin, 
Lone Elm and West Joplin into a city district was agitated, but local 
jealousies prevented the union, the matter having twice been voted down. 
But during the winter of '88-9 a campaign of education was formally 
taken up by the school boards of East and West Joplin and the voters 
were made acquainted with the benefits to be derived from an abandon- 
ment of the county school district system. 

The matter was submitted to a vote of the three districts in April, 
1889, and resulted as follows: For consolidation — East Joplin, 124; 
West Joplin, 252 ; Lone Elm, 5. 

Against — East Joplin, 1 ; West Joplin, 24 ; Lone Elm, 33. 

Lone Elm having voted against the consolidation, made it necessary 
to refer the matter to the county commissioner for decision, and Com- 
missioner J. M. Stevenson decided in favor of the union and formally 
issued his proclamation organizing the school district of Joplin and 
calling for an election of six directors for the new district. 

The following is a list of the directors who served the West Joplin 
district up to the consolidation: J. B. Sergeant, M. A. Stafford, C. J. 
G. Workizer, J. H. McCoy, William Carter, J. E. H. Chapman, R. L. 
Stiles, Y. J. Howell, William Byers, J. G. Mathews, Galen Spencer, W. 
J. Haslett, C. W. Dykeman, W. S. Harmony, S. C. Price, J. C. Mason, 
A. W. Stillwell, J. A. Shepherd. W. B. McAntire. W. V. White. W. P. 
Owen, L. A. Fillmore. 

First Board of Education of New District 

At the special election for members of the board of education there 
were sixteen candidates and the voting was heavy. The following re- 
ceived the higher number of votes and were declared elected: F. E. 
Williams, W. B. Halyard, George W. Payton, 0. B. Hamlin, D. A. Pres- 
ton and W. V. White. The board organized by the election of F. E. 
Williams as president, 0. B. Hamlin, vice president and D. W. Wenrich. 
clerk. 

The enumeration of the consolidated district showed 2,634 boys and 
girls between the ages of six and 20. 

The First Corps of Teachers 

The new board of education selected the following corps for the con- 
solidated school district of Joplin : Superintendent, R. D. Shannon ; 
principal High School, S. A. Underwood; assistant High School, V. L. 
Vawter. 

Central School teachers: Clara Ditte, Lola Spear, Laura Snyder, 
Jennie Shannon, Cora Lichliter, Virgie Van Meeter, Mrs. S. J. Haven 
and .Mai tie Greere. 

East Joplin School — Principal, L. W. Kost; teachers, V. Lectie 
Peaks, Kate Reid and Mamie Robertson. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 271 

East Fourth Street School— Principal, Maggie Murphy; assistant, 
Willie FranJjlin. 

"West Fourth Street School— Principal, Mollie Robertson; teachers, 
Addie Ellison and Emma V. Shorters. 

Byersville School— Principal, Joel T. Livingston; assistant Ida 
Colfre. 

Lone Elm School— Principal, W. A. Nickell; assistant, Tillie 
Hamilton. 

Perkins Avenue School — Mrs. Addie Wood. 

Colored School — W. T. Greene. 

With the consolidation of the schools, the high school curriculum was 
revised and made a full four-years' course and for the past twelve years 
has been recognized by the State University and State Teachers' Normal 
Schools, its graduates being admitted without examination to those 
institutions 

Crowded Condition, Fall of 18811 

The boom which came on in 1889 brought to the city a great number 
of people and the public schools were crowded from the very beginning. 
In many of the primary rooms more than a hundred pupils were en- 
rolled and it became necessary to resort to half-day sessions in ten of the 
twenty -six rooms. 

We will continue the school record in our section of the '90s. 

The Convent 

In 1885 the Our Lady of Mercy Convent was established in Joplin by 
the Sisters of Mercy. The school was formally opened in the fall of 1886 
and was patronized by some of the best families of Joplin, irrespective 
of religious belief. 

The first commencement exercises of the convent occurred in May, 
1887, and the following pupils received honorable mention for excellence 
during the school year : Ida Murphy, Tillie Collins, Tamson WorMzer, 
John Workizer, Maggie Shelhan, Maggie Ryan, Maggie Furgison, Helen 
Spencer, Annie Furgison, Carrie Crane, Maude Vangrundy, Belle Staf- 
ford and Belle Gillis. 

The convent has always been a most excellently conducted school and 
has sent into the world graduates well-grounded in mental attainments 
and with a special training in good morals and gentle manners which 
makes them honorable as well as useful members of society. 

Joplin College of Physicians and Surgeons 

In 1880 Dr. J. C. Petit conceived the idea of organizing a medical 
college for southwestern Missouri and interested in the scheme a number 
of the best educators and business men of the city, among them S. A. 
Underwood, county superintendent of schools; Prof. J. T. Martin, later 



272 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

principal of the West Joplin school; C. H. Montgomery and others. On 
September 20th a charter for the school was issued by the secretary of 
state. 

J. F. Martin was chosen president of the college and the institution 
was opened with a faculty which contained a number of men high up in 
the medical world. The college building was located on the East Joplin 
hill, at the corner of Broadway and John streets, an old hotel building 
being fitted up for the purpose. This building was burned in March, 
1884. 



CHAPTEK XXIV 

JOPLIN, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL 

First M. E. Church — Methodist Church South — Temperance Re- 
vival, — First Society op Christian Endeavor — Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association — Mite Societies — Among the Lodges — 0. P. 
Morton Post, No. 14, G. A. R. — Knights op the Golden Eagle — 
Odd Fellows ' Anniversary Day — Southeast Kansas Pythian Ex- 
cursion — Germania Society — First Observance op Labor Day — 
Knights of Pythias Ball, 1889 — Chautauqua Sockties — Found- 
ers' Day — Joplin's Society — In Honor op Ex-Mayor Williams' 
Bride — Visit of General Sherman. 

In our chapter of the 'seventies we treated at length the organization 

of the churches and their early work. In this and succeeding chapters 

we will treat the church as a whole, mentioning only the more important 

happenings of the several congregations and noting, from time to time, 

the organization of other denominations and the extension of the church 

work. 

First Methodist Episcopal Church 

In 1880 a very eloquent man, Rev. Philip Krohn from New York, 
was sent to the Joplin field and during his pastorate a new church was 
built at Fourth and Wall streets. The building was for its day a hand- 
some edifice and was furnished with modern church furniture. 

Methodist Church South 

In 1882 Rev. Campbell of Neosho came to Joplin and took charge of 
the Joplin church. During his pastorate the church in East Joplin was 
sold to the Baptists and a neat frame chapel built on West Fourth street, 
just across the alley from the North church. This building was, during 
the early 'nineties sold to the Colored Methodists and a pretty frame 
church built at the corner of Seventh and Moffet. 

The old East Joplin church was sold by the Baptists to the Christian 
congregation at Diamond Grove and in 1885 torn down and rebuilt in 
that historic grove, which, during the war and early 'seventies, was the 
scene of great activity. 

Temperance Revival in 1884 

In the fall of 1884 there was inaugurated in Joplin a temperance 
revival by Messrs. Joseph Critchfield and Chas. J. Holt. The move- 

Vol. 1—18 

273 



L , 7 , HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

incut gained a strong foothold in Joplin and like the campaign of 
'77-8 when the Red Ribbon movement swept the county, created great 
excitement. The renewal of 1884 was under the auspices of the State 
Christian Temperance Union and had for its emblem the blue ribbon, 
denoting loyalty. The movement resulted in the organization of the 
Joplin Temperance Union (non-sectarian). The Woman's Christian 
Onion and the Temperance Cadets, an organization of boys and girls 
pledged to the cultivation of good manners and good morals. 

The officers of the Joplin Temperance Union were as follows : Presi- 
dent, A. B. Furgison; vice president, J. E. Sackett: secretary. Jennie 
Broadley; treasurer, .Mrs. J. B. Sergeant. 

First Society of Christian Endeavor 

The Christian Endeavor movement, which was popularized during 
the later 'eighties and early 'nineties was first organized in Joplin by 
the Rev. J. Wesley Johnson of the Congregational church. The society, 
which at first was a Union Endeavor, included the young people of all 
churches and was fully organized February 26, 1886, with the following 
officers: President, Rev. J. Wesley Johnson; vice president, Emma 
Sellars ; secretary, C. P. Johnson ; treasurer, Grant Jones ; organist, Miss 
Frances Blair, and editors of the Y. P. S. C. E. Advocate, Thomas Dolan 
and Mamie McClaren. 

Young Men's Christian Association 

This popular and useful organization, like the Endeavor, had its birth 
in the old Tabernacle. A preliminary meeting leading to the organiza- 
tion was held at the Tabernacle December 1, 1888, and well attended 
by the young men of the city. At this meeting a membership committee 
was appointed and arrangements made for the perpetuation of a young 
men's organization. The society did not at first maintain a reading 
room, but later a meeting was called at the residence of A. H. Waite, 
where some fifty or more men met Geo. T. Coxhead, who explained the 
system and workings of a Young Men's Christian Association, and here 
the permanent organization was planned. The real work of the Young 
Men's Christian Association may lie said to date from this meeting. 

Union Sunday School Picnic 

One of the most delightful Sunday School gatherings occurred 
August 18, 1885, when the Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist and Con- 
gregational Sunday schools joined in a visit to the Sunday schools of 
Baxter Springs, Kansas. Five extra coaches were put on the regular 
morning "Memphis" train, making eight in all, and these were loaded 
to the guards with Sunday school children and workers. The excur- 
sionists were royally treated by the Baxter people and the day was spent 
on the hanks of Spring river where, after an exchange of welcomes and 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 275 

the usual response, a basket lunch was enjoyed. The remainder of the 
day was spent in boating, swimming and the playing of various games. 

Mite Societies 

During the entire 'eighties the Christian and Congregational churches 
had among their auxiliaries a mite society that provided most excellent 
social entertainment for the members, and also were the means of bring- 
ing a considerable sum of money into the church treasuries. The plan 
of the mite society was as follows: The society met once a week either 
in the church parlors, or at the residence of some one of the members. 
At these meetings the church members, with their friends, gathered for 
a literary and social session. A program, consisting of recitation, de- 
bates and vocal and instrumental music from the best local talent, was 
carried out, after which the plate was passed and each put in his ' ' mite ' ' 
— so called in commemoration of the "widow's mite." After the program 
and collection, games and other amusements were indulged in. These 
mite societies were exceedingly popular, brought the church people 
closer together and materially strengthened their friendships. 

The Christian Mite Society was the first one formed, being organized 
at the residence of W. B. Lamkin, on November 7, 1879, with the follow- 
ing officers for the winter of 1879-80: Dr. E. A. Wills, president; Mrs. 
L. Z. Burr, vice president; Emma Shorters, secretary and Mrs. Susie 
Blakey, treasurer. 

The Congregational Mite Society was organized November 12, 1879, 
in the church parlors, seventy-five people attending the initial meeting. 

The following were its first officers: President, J. P. Martin; vice 
president, Mrs. O. H. Bender ; secretary, Olio Harrington ; program com- 
mittee — Clara Crayeraft, Anna Young and Janette Houghton; editor 
literary paper, Col. D. A. Preston. 

Among the Lodges 

The fraternal field was extended in Joplin during the 'eighties by 
the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Patriotic Order 
Sons of America, Sons of Veterans, Woman 's Relief Corps, Knights of 
the Golden Eagle, Knights and Ladies of Honor and the American 
Legion of Honor — the last two insurance societies. The Masonic field 
was enlarged by the organization of the Royal Arch Chapter and Ascen- 
sion Commandery No. 39, Knights Templar. Odd Fellowship was 
strengthened by the mustering of Canton Lincoln No. 16, Patriarchs 
militant, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen by the organiza- 
tion of a Legion of Select Knights. 

We mention here a few of the fraternal happenings of the 'eighties 
with the view of showing the extent and nature of the operations of the 
several orders. 



276 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

0. P. Morton Post No. 14, G. A. R. 

The Grand Army of the Republic brought together in a closer bond 
of comradeship the Union veterans of the Civil war. It inaugurated in 
Joplin the public observance of Memorial day and by its exercises on flag 
day and other patriotic demonstrations taught a truer love of country. 

0. P. Morton Post No. 14, G. A. R., took a prominent part in the 
planning and carrying to a successful end the celebration of the 4th of 
July, 1885. It entertained General Sherman, on the occasion of his visit 
to Joplin, in 1883, and on the day when the great soldier, U. S. Grant, 
was laid to rest the post conducted in Joplin a special memorial which 
was participated in by patriotic and military societies of Joplin and by 
the great majority of the people. 

The following were the charter members of 0. P. Morton Post No. 14 : 
Post commander, W. H. Fairbanks ; senior vice commander, F. M. Red- 
burn ; junior vice commander, Jno. C. Barley ; adjutant, J. W. Lupton ; 
quartermaster, S. B. Williams; chaplain, C. J. G. Workizer; officer of 
the day, C. G. Wheeler ; officer of the guard, II. C. Combs, B. F. Joslin, 
F. E. Eberhart, J. H. Minton, W. E. 0. Rush, W. S. Leatt, Ira Creech, 
Peter Bitner, W. B. Adair, A. F. Cloud, F. P. Hyde, W. W. Pate, William 
Sergeant, W. G. Williams, Edwin Whipple, J. H. Shoat, M. F. Down- 
ing. Samuel Lake, F. D. Owen, M. L. Barner, E. W. Beach, G. 0. Boucher, 
J. T. Evert, J. Lurwick, Samuel Ramsey, M. W. Stafford and Ira W. 
Gilbert. 

The following were the Post Commanders during the 'eighties: W. 
H. Fairbanks, W. W. Pate, Galen Spencer, E. W. Beach, F. M. Red- 
liuin. Henry Phelps and J. L. Briggs. 

Ascension Commandery No. 39, K. T. 

Ascension Commandery made its first trip to a biennial conclave of 
the Knights Templar in 1886, when it went to St. Louis, seventy strong, 
to participate in the parade and exercises of that great gathering. John 
Gillis, then captain general of Ascension Commandery and later grand 
commander of the state, drilled the organization for the conclave and 
the white plumed knights made a most excellent appearance as they 
marched down main street en route to the railway station. A heavy 
downpour of rain at St. Louis, on the day of the grand parade, greatly 
marred the exercises and the pleasure of the trip. 

Joplin Legion No. 2, Select Knights, A. 0. U. W. 

The Joplin Legion of Select Knights, Ancient Order of United Wood- 
men, won many laurels during the 'eighties on account of their splendid 
drilling. At the Sareoxie fair in October, 1886, the Twelfth regiment 
of Select Knights held its annual encampment and in the drill contests 
Joplin Legion No. 2 won the first prize. The following were the mem- 
bers of the victorious team: Captain, A. P. Hoyt; Ira Creech, John C. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 277 

Faulkender, I. Zamboni, J. L. Davenport, A. L. Fairbrother, H. C. Sut- 
ton, S. A. Underwood, John Bauer, Charles Dorrize, H. H. Jennings, H. 
L. Chickering and I. M. Dennis. 

At the meeting of the grand lodge, A. 0. U. W., February, 1888, S. 
A. Underwood of Joplin Lodge No. 34 was elected to the office of grand 
foreman and two years later Philip Arnold of the same body was sim- 
ilarly honored, the city having been thus twice distinguished in a decade 
by the five hundred delegates who annually attend these state conventions. 

Knights op the Golden Eagle 

The Knights of the Golden Eagle, a fraternal society having for its 
object the teaching and practicing of friendship and loyalty, was or- 
ganized in Joplin in February, 1886, with George W. Payton as the exe- 
cutive officer. This society became very popular and numbered in Joplin 
more than two hundred members. In 1887 representatives of the order 
from Carthage, Webb City and Joplin (the order in the state was first 
founded at Carthage) met in Joplin and organized a grand lodge. Geo. 
W. Payton was the first presiding officer of that body and as the repre- 
sentative of the supreme commander visited New Orleans and intro- 
duced the order there. 

At the meeting of the grand lodge, April 18, 1888, now having ex- 
tended to some twenty southwestern Missouri cities, the following grand 
officers were elected, Jasper county being greatly honored upon the oc- 
casion : John Foster, Carthage, grand commander ; C. W. Evans, Webb 
City, vice commander; Herman Ecart, Joplin, representative to the 
supreme lodge. 

Canton Lincoln No. 16, Patriarchs Militant, I. O. 0. F. 

This camp was formally mustered January 20, 1888, with the follow- 
ing officers: Ira Creech, captain; John II. Enrichs, lieutenant; N. J. 
Street, ensign. Eighteen members were present at the muster-in. G. 
W. Koehler of Joplin was honored by the lieutenant general command- 
ing by an appointment as major and adjutant general on the general 
staff. 

Odd Fellows' Anniversary Day 

On April 26, 1888, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Joplin 
and vicinity celebrated the sixty-ninth anniversary of the founding of 
the order. 

A parade participated in by three hundred Odd Fellows was a fea- 
ture of the day. The Carthage Light Guard band, the Joplin Military 
band and the Galena Fireman's band enlivened the line of inarch, on 
which occasion Canton Lincoln made its first public appearance and by 
its splendid manoeuvres won the applause of the spectators. Hon. J. W. 
Halliburton of Carthage and Hon. J. W. MeAntire of Joplin were the 
orators of the occasion. The celebration was concluded by a ball at 



278 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

ll.nvin Opera House at night and went down in the history of Odd 
Fellowship as a gala day in Joplin. 

The Southeast Kansas Pythian Excursion 

During the summer of 1887 the Knights of Pythias of Parsons, Kan- 
sas, conceived the idea of an excursion to Joplin, having in mind the 
strengthening of the bond of friendship between the members of the 
order of southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas. The Ancient Order 
of the United Workmen lodge of that city was invited to join in the 
outing and when the joint committee of the two lodges met to discuss 
arrangements it was reported that other lodges in southeastern Kansas 
would like to go ; and so it was determined to make the excursion a south- 
eastern Kansas affair and extend an invitation to all of the lodges of 
Knights of Pythias and Ancient Order of United Workmen in the six 
southeastern counties of that state. 

August 15, 1887. was the day chosen ami it was a red-letter day 
for Joplin, for the City of Lead was fairly alive with brave men who 
wore the red, yellow and blue and with the members of the then great 
fraternal insurance society. 

The Joplin lodge of Knights of Pythias and Ancient Order of United 
Workmen had invited the members of the two fraternities of Jasper 
county to help entertain and make Jasper county the hosts of the day. 
The Kansas special of ten coaches was literally jammed with men, women 
and children. They brought with them two fine brass bands, which with 
the Joplin band furnished plenty of music during the day. In uniform 
from Kansas were the Select Knights, A. 0. U. W., of Parsons, number- 
ing thirty men ; the Erie Division Knights of Pythias, twenty men ; and 
the Parsons Division Knights of Phythias, thirty men. These with the 
different uniformed orders of Joplin formed a handsome procession. 
Mr. Frank Williams delivered an address of welcome at Fairbanks hall 
al'tcr which everybody "struck out" for dinner. The afternoon was 
spent as the visitors saw fit. At two o'clock the Erie Division K. of P. 
gave a drill on the street in front of the Joplin hotel, which was one of 
the finest drills ever put up by a civic order in the southwest. It was the 
admiration of every one. After this the ball game between Webb City 
and Joplin was the center of attraction. At six o'clock Main street was 
again a lively scene. The bicycle contest and tournament, in which some 
twenty expert wheelmen of Joplin and Galena, among whom was the 
famous Tom I lard wick, gave exhibitions of fancy riding and hill climb- 
ing. The Henderson and Lewis hose companies made three runs of a 
hundred yards each and gave very good exhibitions of their skill. Then 
the Joplin Zouaves gave one of their splendid drills, which was a most 
pleasing close to the day 's sports. The captain of the company was out 
of town and the boys had not intended drilling, but Lieutenant Lowder- 
back got eight men together and put up a drill that captivated the vast 
crowd. About three o'clock something like one hundred and fifty ladies 
and gentlemen had assembled in the lodge room of the two orders, 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 279 

and were having a delightful time in conversation and music, when 
the assemblage was called to order and Mr. John Gillies, on behalf of 
the Select Knights of Joplin, presented to the Sigel Legion No. 36 of 
Parsons, a most elegantly arranged and designed cross, emblematic of 
the order, made entirely of specimens of Joplin lead and zinc ore. 

Joplin Returns the Fraternal Visit 

The fraternal visit of the Kansas Ancient Order of United Work- 
men and Knights of Pythias was returned by Joplin August 23, 1888, 
when 575 Joplinites reinforced by some 200 citizens of Galena visited 
Parsons, Kansas. The excursion was under the auspices of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen lodge of Joplin and was managed by the fol- 
lowing committee : S. A. Underwood, O. B. Hamlin and H. C. Sutton. A 
round-trip fare of one dollar to Parsons and return was secured and a 
special train of nine coaches left Joplin at 7 :30 A. M., returning at 
midnight. 

The following organizations with their wives, daughters and sweet- 
hearts, participated in the day's pleasures: The A. 0. U. W. lodges of 
Joplin ; Joplin Legion Select Knights ; Canton Lincoln, I. 0. O. F. ; 
Patriotic Order Sons of America ; Knights of the Golden Eagle ; Joplin 
Zouaves; the Joplin Fire department and the Joplin Military Band, 
together with the A. 0. U. W. lodge of Galena and the celebrated Galena 
Boom Brigade, a most excellently drilled organization of Galena belles 
under the command of the prince of drill masters, Col. L. C. Weldy. 

At Parsons the guests were welcomed by the Rev. Elerby, in behalf 
of the citizens and lodge men of that city, and after dinner exhibition 
drills were given by the Select Knights, Canton Lincoln, and the Zouaves, 
the last one of which brought from the Kansans round after round 
of applause. 

A contest between the hose companies of Joplin and Parsons resulted 
in a victory for Joplin — the time of the two companies on a 200-yard 
run, laying 100 feet of hose and throwing water, being : Joplin 1 :30, 
Parsons 2 :02. 

Germania Society 

The Joplin Germania Society has since its organization given an an- 
nual ball to which the friends who are not members of the organization 
are invited. 

The annual ball of 1887 was given on Valentine's day and the guests 
and dancers appeared in fancy dress and masks. Two hundred and 
fifty dancers were on the floor for the grand march and the immense 
throng thoroughly enjoyed the evening, the famous Carthage Light 
Guard band furnishing the music. 

First Observance op Labor Day 

Labor day was first observed in Joplin Monday, September 6, 1886, 
under the auspices of the Knights of Labor which, in the middle 'eighties 
was a strong organization in Joplin and Jasper county. 



280 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

At 10 o'clock in the morning a parade was had and participated in 
by the following organizations: J. C. Petitt, grand marshal, and staff; 
Joplin Military Band ; fire department ; drum corps ; Knights of Labor ; 
carriages with orator of the day ; reception committee and city officials. 

The exercises were held at Castle Rock, and after dinner G. P. Oar- 
land, chairman of the day, introduced the orator of the occasion, Hon. 
Jesse Harper, of Danville, Illinois. 

Knights of Pythias Ball, 1889 

We clip the following from the Herald of February 26, 1889, as it 
will give an idea of the character and popularity of the annual Knights 
of Pythias ball, which occurred on the natal day of the order, Febru- 
ary 19: "The annual ball of the Knights of Pythias, an event that is 
always a central point of interest in society circles for weeks, came off 
last night at the Havin Opera House. The present ball, like its pre- 
decessors, was a realization of all that was anticipated by the most san- 
guine notaries of social pleasure. The attendance was large and com- 
prised the crcme dc la arena of Joplin society, witli a generous repiv- 
sentation from neighboring towns. 

"The hall was elaborately and tastily decorated with the emblems of 
the order. Eighty couples participated in the dance. Among the ladies 
who graced the ball the Herald reporter noted the following: The Missrs 
May Hunt, Helen Rauschenbach, Florence Fillmore, Corinne Allington, 
Mattie Campbell, Stella Thurman, Kate Roberts and Ella Lamb, of 
Carthage; Ida Babst and Dottie Williams, of Neosho; Libbie Palmer 
and Amy Warren, of Baxter Springs; Laura Cooper, also of Baxter 
Springs; Frank Broadley, Cora Flenniken and Mina Roberts, of Neosho; 
Addie Ellison and Kate Conard, of Carthage; Martha Roberson and 
Mamie Roberson, of Des Moines, Iowa; Delia Sapp and Jennie Lauder- 
bach ; also the Mesdames J. A. Cragin, G. B. Young, Eva Richardson, 
J. W. Calvin, J. F. Wise, C. W. Witman, L. C. Hamilton, E. D. Porter, 
F. E. Williams, Elmer Webster, L C. McCarty, V. L. Petraeus (of Phil- 
adelphia, Pa.), H. Weymann, A. Weymann, L. C. Clark, J. G. Huher, 
E. P. Swift, Laura Reifsueder, D. A. Preston, H. P. Campbell, Dr. 
Snyder, Will Moore, A. G. Cook (of Oswego, N. Y.), W. S. Paul, Simon 
Schwartz, Clarence Lambert, J. B. Sherman, H. D. Chickering, H. H. 
Gregg, Win. Henrichs, Lewis James, Harry Crittenden (of Fredonia. 
Kansas). Levi Stauffer, Dila Mitch, D. K. Wenrich, S. C. Hendersen. 

The Chautauqua Societies 

The Chautauqua movement, which has of late years become so popu- 
lar and which annually brought together thousands of the literary and 
music-hiving people in the 'eighties, had its beginning at Chautauqua 
lake. New York, and thence spread out over the county, first by the 
organization of many literary clubs formed for home culture. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 281 

Joplin had two such circles and the meetings of these clubs formed 
a great factor in literary and social circles. 

The unity Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle included some 
twenty members. 

The regular Chautauqua Course of Home Reading was carried out 
aud the essays and discussions which covered a wide range, kept its mem- 
bers in touch with the great thinkers of the day. 

This society was the first woman's club in Joplin, and, after com- 
pleting the regular four years' and post-graduate Chautauqua courses, 
maintained its organization and, until the later 'nineties, held most 
delightful and profitable sessions. The Unity Circle changed its name 
later to the Unity Club and still holds most delightful and helpful 
literary sessions. 

The Prospectors' Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle or- 
ganized in 1887 among the younger set. was a mixed club and had for 
its leader W. P. Roberts, then principal of the high school, and later R. 
D. Shanmon, superintendent of schools. 

Founders' Day 

On February 22, 1888, the Unity and Prospectors' circles joined 
in a celebration commemorating the names and deeds of the great char- 
acters who figured prominently in the founding and building of the na- 
tion. The celebration was called Founders' day. 

In carrying out the program, the different members impersonated 
the nation 's heroes in costumes, telling the stories of their lives and ex- 
ploits. 

The following program was carried out. 

Medley of National Airs: Chorus. 

Roll Call. 

Quotations about America. 

Address by the president of the Unity Club, Mrs. L. <". McCarty, on "The 
Mound Builders and the Indian Tribes." 

Minnehaha, represented by Emma V. Shortess : In this representation Mis. 
Shortess recited an original poem which described beautifully the history of the 
Indian tribes. This recitation was greatly enjoyed. 

Solo: "The Death of Minnehaha," by Mrs. J. A. Fox. 

Story of His Explorations : Leif Ericson, represented by Jas. B. Hogan. 

Narrativeof His Great Discovery : Columbus represented by Joel T. Livingston. 

Landing of the Pilgrims : Priscilla, the Puritan Maiden, by Mrs. A. R. Snyder. 

Instrumental Solo: "Battle Cry of Freedom," by Mrs. W. S. Paul. 

Story of Her Life: Mrs. Ann Hutchinson, represented by Mrs. L. P. Cun- 
ningham. 

History of the Quakers: William Penn, represented by Julius A. Becker. 

New York Under the Dutch Governors: Mrs. Van Winkle, represented by 
Mrs. L. Rothschild. 

Vocal Duet: "Hear Me. Norma," by Mrs. J. A. Fox and Mrs. A. R. Snyder. 

Capt. John Smith : Pocohontas, represented by Mamie Glover. 

"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death." Patrick Henry, represented by W. 
P. Roberts. 

Home Life of Washington : Martha Washington, represented by Mrs. Clark 
Craycroft. 

"America." 



■2H2 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The following Chautauquans participated in this enjoyable literary 
symposium : > 

Unity Circle — President, Mrs. L. C. McCarty; vice president, Mrs. 
(lark Craycroft; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. A. R. Snyder; mesdames, 
Phil Arnold, L. P. Cunningham, E. T. Doty, J. A. Fox, F. Henshaw, 
C. J. Lewis, W. P. Owen, W. S. Paul, W. H. Picher, William Robinson, 
L. Rothschild, J. B. Sergeant, Henry Weyman, C. J. G. Workizer, M. W. 
Eiler and J. L. Briggs. 

Prospectors' Circle — President, "W. P. Roberts; vice president, Mol- 
lie Robertson; secretary and treasurer, Emma V. Shorters; Misses 
Johana Becker, Lillian Blair, Gertrude Broadley, Mamie Glover, Caddie 
Goodwin, Dora Laudauer, Hanna Laudauer, Maude Lopp and Katie 
Roberts, and Messrs. Julius A. Becker, Millard Conley, Ray Evans, 
James B. Hogan. Will C. Porter. John Price, T. C. White and Joel T. 
Livingston. 

During the 'nineties club work in Joplin became very popular, some 
half dozen literary societies nourishing through the decade which will 
be further mentioned in the pages covering that period. 

Joplin 's Society 

We mention a few of the social occurrences of the 'eighties for the 
purpose of giving an idea of the class of people who made up Joplin 's 
social life and the extent and character of the city's amusements. 

In Honor op Ex-Mayor Williams' Bride 

One of the most delightful social sessions of the 'eighties and one 
which included practically all of Joplin 's 400 was a reception given 
in honor of ex-Mayor Williams' bride. We republish here the Jasper 
County Democrat's report of the affair: "Three weddings have occurred 
in the past two weeks and it is believed this is only the beginning. Since 
the old veteran, Capt. Frank E. Williams, has yielded his heart we are 
ready to believe it of anyone, and would not be surprised if in six 
months hence such a thing as a single man in the town would be looked 
upon as a phenomenon. 

"From the chronic bachelor habits of Captain Williams we had come 
to look upon him as proof against all such attacks of the heart. For 
several years past he has made regular pilgrimages to Chicago and on 
each occasion did Dame Rumor as regularly announce that he would 
return with a wife, and each time he returned as he went, much to the 
discomfiture of the old busybody. So when it was rumored this time 
that he would return a married man the knowing ones just laughed and 
said 'fooled again.' But when the announcement of the arrival of Cap- 
tain Williams and bride was made and invitations issued for a recep 
lion at the residence of Peter E. Blow to the happy pair on the evening 
of Friday lasl there was no longer doubting. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 283 

' ' Captain Williams is one of the oldest citizens and a universal favor- 
ite in the community. During his citizenship he has been invested with 
some of the most important city offices, having served as mayor two con- 
secutive terms, city collector, etc. 

' ' The reception given at the residence of Mr. Blow, in honor of Cap- 
tain Williams and bride, eclipsed anything ever seen in Joplin. The 
spacious grounds adjoining the residence were brilliantly illuminated 
with Chinese lanterns. The bride and groom received the guests on the 
veranda, not under the mistletoe bough but that of the apple tree. The 
bride was tastefully attired in white with corsage bouquet of natural 
flowers. She is of the brunette type of beauty, with large and expres- 
sive eyes and a face denoting intellect and character. She was a Miss 
McMurray, of Chicago, at whose home in that city the marriage took 
place. 

"After the arrival of the guests, who numbered more than three 
hundred, came in full dress the Joplin Rifles, of which organization the 
groom was captain, accompanied by the band which discoursed some 
sweet music during the evening. In behalf of the Rifles Lieutenant 
Reavis presented a few congratulatory remarks to the gi'oom to which 
he responded in a happy and graceful manner after which refreshments 
were served. As entertainers Mr. Blow and his pretty wife, who is a 
niece of Captain Williams, proved themselves simply adepts. 

"Among the guests noticeable was our popular deputy sheriff with 
his decidedly pretty bride of a week. He looked the personification of 
happiness and 'twas difficult to imagine, as one looked at that placid and 
ecstatic countenance, the rising of a ripple to mar the voyage upon which 
he has just set out. His bride, nee Miss Ida Miller, who was more for- 
tunate than the others in not being obliged to change her name, was 
formally a teacher in the public schools. James Crabtree, a clerk in one 
of the leading dry goods houses, was present with his bride of a few 
days, formerly Miss Libbie Jarrett ; also a teacher of the public schools. 
A H. Waite and his bride of a few months offered their congratula- 
tions to the newly married couple with the wish that they might be 
just one-half as happy as they. J. B. Sergeant, who was present with 
his most estimable wife, remarked 'this carries me back just thirty -five 
years, a long time for a bride and groom to look forward to, but as I now 
look back upon it, it seems but a day.' 

"The old bachelor friends of the groom were out in full force but 
seemed not at home, reminding one of a lot of cats in a strange garret. 
They seem to be querying 'How is this?' 'What am I?' 'Who am I?' 
'What am I here for?' 

"T. Jones, of the Joplin Hotel, materialized with a pretty girl on his 
arm. Dr. Howard and James Leonard and other old chums of the 
groom walked up and congratulated the newly made benedict and his 
pretty bride and slunk back in a kind of reverie which seemed to imply 
that they had all at once commenced analyzing themselves. Some one 
asked 'Where is A. W. Carson, editor and prospective postmaster?' The 



284 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

answer came 'He has closeted himself for the night with Gulliver's 
Meditation and does not desire either to see or be seen.' There is evi- 
dently a change passing over the spirit of the dream of the old set, and 
single blessedness is not being lauded as it used to be." 

The Visit of General Sherman 

On June 13, 1884, General W. T. Sherman honored Joplin, Webb 
City, Carterville and Carthage with a visit and his coming to Jasper was 
the occasion of a demonstration in his honor in each of the four cities. 
On the arrival of the train bearing the distinguished guest at Joplin, 
Webb City and Carterville, all of the whistles in the mining district were 
turned loose at once and the noise was heard for ten miles around. Gen- 
eral Sherman's daughter accompanied her father. In Joplin the Grand 
Army of the Republic post, the Joplin Rifles and other semi-military 
societies escorted General Sherman from the depot to the hotel. C. J. 
Lewis, A. B. McCarty and F. M. Redburn were delegated by the city to 
entertain the great soldier while in the city, and he and his daughter 
were shown through the mines, the lead works and other points of in- 
terest. 



CHAPTER XXV 

MILITARY AND SPECTACULAR 

The Joplin Rifles — Joplin Zouaves — Mabdi Geas in Joplin — Joplin 
Exposition — Fourth of July, 1885 — The Procession — Sham Bat- 
tle — A Story of Spanish Adventure. 

During the summer of 1881 the matter of organizing a military com- 
pany for Joplin was talked of by the patriotic citizens and both the 
X< ws and Herald spoke editorially of the good of such an organization 
to a community. Accordingly, in response to a call issued by Col. W. 
W. Fairbanks, Capt. W. W. Pate, and Clark Craycroft, a meeting was 
held August 5th and the preliminaries taken for the organization of a 
company of the State Guard. 

The Joplin Rifles 

The company was christened the Joplin Rifles and the following 
officers were chosen : Captain, W. W. Pate, late of the U. S. Volunteers ; 
first lieutenant, Clark Craycroft; second lieutenant, A. P. Hoyt, and 
first sergeant, M. W. Stafford. Thirty-seven members, composed of the 
best business and society men of the city, signed the muster roll at this 
meeting, and at the formal muster on September 1. the membership 
had been swelled to almost fifty. 

The uniforms purchased were the regulation dress uniform of the 
United States army, the swallow-tail dress coat (cap and gloves) trimmed 
in buff and gold, and were very attractive. 

The company became very proficient and during its existence won 
many laurels. On July 4, 1882, the company was presented with a 
beautiful silk flag by the ladies of Joplin, Miss Jenette Haughton, later 
Mrs. L. P. Cunningham, making the presentation speech. 

On the organization of Grand Army of the Republic in August, 
1882, Captain Pate retired from the Rifles to become the post com- 
mander of the 0. P. Morton Post. Lieutenant Craycroft was elected 
captain and Galen Spencer first lieutenant. 

In October, 1882, the Rifles formed from among its members a dra- 
matic company and, with the assistance of Miss Ida Miller, Miss Mildred 
Livingston and Miss Lillie Wine, presented the "Union Spy" to a large 
and enthusiastic audience. So well was the play received that it was 
twice repeated in Joplin and played also at Lamar and "Webb City. The 

285 



286 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

JopKv Evening News, in commenting on the performance says: "This 
great military drama was presented by the Joplin Rifles last night to a 
good audience, and we doubt not that nearly everybody was surprised 
at the excellent manner in which all those who took part in it acquitted 
themselves. Amateur theatricals sometimes drag along in a tedious, 
listless manner, with loud promptings, awkward mistakes and long waits 
between acts, which not only prove exceedingly tiresome to the audience 
but. greatly mar the effects of the play; but barring one or two trifling 
errors, last night's entertainment proved a notable exception. The 
drama is founded upon the late war and is replete with startling situa- 
tions, scenes of soldier life, snatches of song, fun, pathos and beautiful 
and suggestive tableaux, and holds the interest of the audience from the 
first raising of the curtain to the close. Considering the short time that 
the play has been in rehearsal it was certainly admirably produced, 
every character being well sustained throughout. Where all did so well 
it is difficult to particularize, but we can not refrain from the remark 
that P. E. Williams rather distinguished himself as 'Harry Allen, the 
spy, ' in which character he could not be excelled. Harry Crittenden as 
'Edmund Randolph,' G. West Byron as 'John Allen,' Oren Kimmis as 
'Payton Randolph,' and Joel Livingston as 'George Wilson,' displayed 
dramatic talent of no mean order, while Prank Franklin as 'Sam, a 
culled pussen, ' has a splendid conception of that role and did himself 
proud. Joe Doniphan as 'Pussey Van Dunderspeck' and A. 0. T. Pen- 
nington as 'Yacup,' brought down the house. They were good. The 
character of 'Jimmy, the drummer-boy,' was commendably brought out 
by Bertie Schnur, as was that of 'Frank Allen' by H. Cline. Misses 
Lillie Wine, Mildred Livingston and Ida Miller also did themselves great 
credit in their respective characters, while the young ladies who sup- 
plied the excellent tableaux must, not, be forgotten. Taken all in all, the 
Union Spy may be set down as one of the best dramatic entertainments 
ever presented here by a home company. For this success great credit 
is due Harry Crittenden, of Paola, Kansas, who acted as instructor and 
general manager. He was ably seconded by many members of the 
Rifles, who were very earnest in their efforts to make their first enter- 
tainment both an artistic and financial success. 

The play is to be reproduced tonight and we can assure our people 
that tiny will he highly pleased. The 'Union Spy' is a far more inter- 
esting and attractive drama than most of those presented by traveling 
companies." 

December 1883, Captain Craycroft became major of the Fifth Regi- 
ment, M. N. G; Lieutenant Galen Spencer was promoted to the cap- 
taincy and private F. E. Williams, who had won so much praise for the 
company on account of his superb acting at the time of the presenta- 
tion of the "Union Spy," was chosen first lieutenant. Shortly after, 
on account of business engagements interfering, Lieutenant Iloyt re- 
signed and Sergeant Julius Miller became second lieutenant. In Sep- 
tember. 1SS4, Captain Galen Spencer, then in the midst of a political 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 287 

campaign and the Republican candidate for presidential elector from 
this district, tendered his resignation, and Lieutenant Miller, who had 
accepted an appointment as deputy sheriff also withdrew and the com- 
pany was reorganized as follows: Captain, F. E. Williams; first lieu- 
tenant, Harmon C. Cline ; second lieutenant, C. B. Revis; first ser- 
geant, Frank Franklin. 

This was a strong official line-up. Captain Williams had twice been 
mayor and was one of the most popular men in the city. At the monthly 
competitive drills of the company Lieutenants Cline and Revis and Ser- 
geant Franklin had each, more than once, carried off the gold medal for 
proficiency in drill and the company, which had now been materially re- 
duced in strength on account of removals and business changes, was 
recruited up to the maximum. 

In 1885, on account of the unfriendly action of the state legislature 
in refusing to make an appropriation for the support of the State Guard, 
the Rifles voted to disband, but after the earnest request of the city to 
maintain the organization the company was again reorganized with F. 
E. Williams as captain, J. L. Biggs, first lieutenant and 0. B. Hamlin 
second lieutenant. The reorganized company held together until after 
the meeting of the legislature in 1889, when it formally disbanded. Dur- 
ing its eight years of existence its membership comprised the very best 
citizens of the town. It participated in every public celebration in the 
city and also attended the regimental camps of the Fifth regiment at 
Carthage and Pierce City, and the state encampment at Sweet Springs, 
all at its own expense. 

Joplin Zouaves 

In the fall of 1886 Lieutenant Revis, of the Joplin Rifles, organized 
among the members of the company and for exhibition purposes, a Zouave 
squad and, after the regular drills of the company, put the boys through 
the attractive manoeuvres of that once popular drill. The squad pur- 
chased the regulation Turkish uniform and made a very attractive ap- 
pearance. They made their debut at Carthage, November 24, 1886, on 
the occasion of the Carthage Light Guards' Thanksgiving ball and the 
spectators were loud in their applause. 

The following were the original members of the Zouave squad : Lieu- 
tenant C. B. Revis, Harry Lauderbach, W. W. Pate, A. C. Barn, E. C. 
Summerfield, Bert Taylor, W. L. Lauderbach. W. T. Conway and Ben. 
Landauer. 

After the Joplin Rifles disbanded, the Zouave squad was increased 
and formed into a company organization with the following officers: J. 
B. Glover, captain ; A. C. Barr, lieutenant ; H. 0. Lauderbach, first ser- 
geant. The following new members were received into the company: 
Luther McGehee, J. W. Henrichs, A. E. Spencer and T. B. Jenkins. 

The company maintained its organization until after Company G., 
of the Second Infantry, was mustered, and during those years attracted 
much attention on account of the excellence of their drilling. The com- 



288 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

pany visited Parsons, Kansas, Carthage, Webb City, Neosho and other 
places, and always won the wildest applause for its splendid appearance. 
On the occasion of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, flood, the organiza- 
tion gave a benefit ball and cleared $1,500, which was sent to Governor 
Francis to be transmitted to the sufferers, along with other Missouri 
contributions. 

Joplin had. during the middle "eighties, a most excellent hand, the 
Joplin Silver Cornet Band. Charles Dumars, later the leader of the 
Carthage Light Guard Band, was the musical director. The open air 
concerts by this band were features of Joplin 's down-town amusements 
and were largely attended. 

At the Parsons fair, in 1884, this band won the second honor in the 
band contest, a $150 prize, on a score of 139 points out of a possible 
150. The winning band was but one point their better. 

Mardi Gras in Joplin 

During the early 'eighties it was customary to celebrate Mardi Gras 
day in Joplin. The celebration was called the "Carnival of Rex Plum- 
hum: Lead is King." 

The most successful of these celebrations occurred in March, 1881, 
when all Joplin masked and took part in the day's festivities. Two 
parades were had, one in the afternoon and one at night. Mose Weiler 
was marshal of the day. Fully five thousand out-of-town visitors wit- 
nessed the two parades. 

The Herald gives the following graphic report of the day. 

Tuesday morning beamed out with an almost unclouded sky and a balmy 
southern breeze that savored of the coy advance of spring. Had a special com- 
mittee been empowered to dictate to the weather cleric the article of weather 
desired by His Majesty, Rex Plumbum, a more satisfactory brand could not 
possibly have been furnished. The long blockade of snow, storm, slush and 
mud had kept humanity pent up indoors until a sigh went up for relief and a 
reasonable pretext for a rollicking day in the open air. The beautiful balmy 
morning was all that could be desired, and the carnival of Rex riumbum fur- 
nished the pretext ample for the masses to rush forth and mingle with the rev- 
elry of His Majesty and his loyal subjects. 

The number of visitors who arrived by the evening trains of Monday was 
sufficient to tax the facilities of our numerous hotels for furnishing quarters. 
But it remains for the morning trains to prove that this region is populated. 
Long before noon the sidewalks on either side of Main street, from Broadway 
to Fourth, were lined with a mass of spectators anxiously awaiting the arrival 
of His Majesty and loyal clan and the formal inauguration of the carnival. 
The occasional appearance of some of the mystic crew arrayed in such extrava- 
gant costumes as a romantic imagination could dictate, was a signal for a shout. 
The appearance of these phantoms grew more frequent, each rivaling its pre- 
decessor in hideousness, until it seemed as though a mysterious medley of In- 
dians, Arabs. Chinamen, goblins and devils incarnate had taken possession of 
the city. 

At 2:30 o'clock the bells rang out in startling notes the announcement that 
the Royal cavalcade approached :ind all w:is expectation. The Royal chariot, 
preceded by Ilis Majesty's cornet band and followed by his courtiers and re- 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 289 

talners, advanced from the south. At the gates the mayor and faithful warder 
awaited the Royal visitors. The approach of the Royal cavalcade was signaled 
by three blasts from the trumpet of His Majesty's courtier, who advanced 
mounted, which was immediately responded to by three blasts from the trumpet 
of the warder of the gate. 

The following is the salutation of the visitors: 

Warder to Mayor: "Most inscrutable Don Pedro Paxales. mayor of the 
City of Lead. There is an alarm at the gates of the city." 

Mayor : "Right excellent Whangdoodle, find out what the galoots want." 

[Warder's trumpet. Three blasts.] 
[Courier's trumpet. Three blasts.] 

The warder then inquires of the courier what is wanted. 

Courier to Warder: "His Royal Majesty, Rex Plumbum, approaches the 
gates of the City of Lead with His Majesty's hosts of galoots and demands the 
freedom of your city, and that the freedom thereof be formally delivered to him." 

Warder to Mayor: "The reason for this is that His Royal Majesty, Rex 
Plumbum, approaches the gates of the City of Lead with his mighty hosts of 
galoots and demands the freedom of your city and that the keys thereof be for- 
mally delivered to bim." 

Mayor to Warder : "Most excrutiating Whangdoodle, announce to Sir Guy- 
asticutus that I, Don Pedro Paxales, most inscrutible Mayor of the City of Lead, 
most blufiliously invites His Most Arrant Majesty, Rex Plumbum, to approach 
the gates and listen to the sweet voice of the child." 

Warder to Courier: "Sir Guyasticutus, Chief of His Majesty's galoots, the 
Most Honorable, the Most Inscrutible Don Pedro Paxales, Mayor of the City of 
Lead, most blufiliously, most hilariously and most punctiliously commands me, his 
most lugubrious subject, to invite His Most Arrant Majesty, Rex Plumbum, to ap- 
proach the gates of the city and listen to the sweet voice of the little child." 

Rex approaches and the Mayor delivers the following address 

"Rex Plumbum, by the Grace of the Great Mogul, King of the Carnival: 
The undersigned, Mayor of the City of Lead, on the borders of Joplin, 
having heard with unspeakable gratitude of this Royal visit of His 
Majesty, the Great Guyasticutus of the rolicking raiders of this whole 
vast country, to the confines of our dens and dugouts, I have caused the Great 
Tin Horn to be sounded, and have commanded every individual who claims to 
hold authority against Tour Majesty's wild dominion, to skedaddle to his hole. 
I have commanded the gates of the city to be thrown open for the reception of 
His Majesty, His Royal Retinue, all His Majesty's faithful scabs and serfs to 
whom now I surrender the City of Lead : and I welcome, in behalf of every 
stoughton bottle within the limits, His Majesty as the Most High Pakie; and to 
His Majesty's Chief of Galoots I now turn over the keys of the City and sur- 
render my goose quill. And may the hair on the head of His Majesty forever 
wave." 

Royal Proclamation after receiving the keys : "As the adoration of my loyal 

subjects like sweetest incense arises before me, I, Rex Plumbum, am moved to 

speak and do, by my High Old Boy, publish this my Royal Proclamation. 

When I, 'midst sulphurous gases grew, and in nature's realm claimed my own, 

it was that such as you, loyal subjects good and true, might join in making the 

conquest complete. Nobly have you served me. It is well. Fill full the flowing 

bowl, ye jovial band, and 'damned be he who first cries, Hold enough !' The keys 

of the city have been delivered to me by my worthy servant the mayor. Long 

may he live to quaff the glass of foaming beer, nectar of the Gods. Let strong 

guards be placed at the outer gates, while ye my subjects, serfs and scabs, high 

carnival hold. Ye my braves the keys, the freedom of the city take, and with 

feast and joy and dance the hours beguile, 
vol. n— 19 



290 HISTORY OF JASPEE COUNTY 

"I. Rex, have spoken, Let the wise rejoice and in grand procession forward 
move. Let the fool hunt his hole and the scoffer pull liis hole in after him for 
I. the King, have spoken. 

"Done at court in the City of Lead, this first day of the third month of the 
six thousand, nine hundred and twenty-first year of the reign of Rex Plumbum." 
The line of parade was then taken up and moved on through the principal 
Streets. At night there was another parade, illuminated by Chinese lanterns, 
there being no electric lights in the city at that time. After the last parade there 
was dancing at two of the largest halls in the town, which were the Opera 
House and l'erz Hall. 

Tlo last celebration of Mardi Gras occurred March 5, 1889, and was 
tinted for the gorgeousness of the parade, quite a number of unique 
features being in the spectacular pageantry. The parade was fully two 
miles long. 

We republish here the newspaper account of the day, which is in- 
teresting as it shows a contrast in the plan of the celebration for the 
early and later part of tlie decade: ''The weather clerk smiled pro- 
pitiously on Rex Plumbum's Mardi Gras carnival. After days of gloom 
that gave grave cause for anxiety, came a morning as bright and clear 
and crisp as early spring even in this favored latitude ever produced. 
('inning after such a protracted period of clouds and gloom it was doubly 
appreciable. After the long suspense a sigh of satisfaction deep and 
expressive went up from the Mardi Gras managers as they realized that 
their work of preparation was not in vain. 

"As the hour for the procession approached, the sidewalks flanking 
.Main street were lined by eager spectators. Awnings, balconies and 
front windows commanding a view of the street were in special request. 

"The street had on its holiday garb and many buildings were pro- 
fusely decorated with the national colors that gave the scene a gala 
appearance. The occasional appearance of some of the mystic crew 
arrayed in such extravagant vesture as a romantic imagination might 
dictate cave the spectators diversion to while away the time of waiting. 
Troops of children in fantastic costumes flew around like goblins. 

"The appearance of the royal cavalcade was announced by a chorus 
of steam whistles that made the welkin ring. All was expectation as the 
procession passed along Main street from the south. 

"At Fourth and Main the typical gates of the city had been erected. 
The canopy was surmounted by hundreds of gas jets for the illumina- 
tion. The columns were festooned with everygreens and from either 
side whs extended a banner with 'Welcome' in large characters. Here 
the mayor awaited the approach of His Majesty and his royal train. 
After a formal address by the mayor, the triumphal march proceeded 
through the arch in the following manner. A trumpeter in grotesque 
costume mounted , m a donkey and heralding the approach of Rex Plum- 
bum in an artistic manner. 

"The Kazoo band of eight boys with curious looking instruments. 

"The Galena band of nine pieces discoursing excellent music. 
"Rex Plumbum in his chariot, the canopy of which towered to an 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 291 

altitude of 17 feet. His Majesty was represented as sitting in a gondola 
upon the blue sea, two white swans furnishing the propelling power 
with a garniture of evergreens in festoons on each side. Four horses 
led by four grooms. 

"Twenty cavaliers on horseback, who composed the king's body- 
guard. 

"Fifteen Select Knights with drawn swords, green being the uniform. 

"Fifteen Red Knights, clad in red with Capt. Fred Sellars in com- 
mandi 

"Fifteen Sons of P. O. S. of America in yellow costume. 

"Fifteen Blue Knights of the Golden Eagle order. 

"The 'Man in the Moon,' drawn by four horses, with four grooms 
leading the steeds. The float was a very handsome one, standing four- 
teen feet high with excellent representations of a spotted leopard on 
either side of a fiery flying dragon, preceding the chief figure. 

"The float called 'Fairie Queen' was remarkably pretty, the center 
figiire being the handsomest lady in the United States, or the world per- 
haps, whose dignified mien and silver locks gave irresistible charm to 
her tall commanding appearance, as she stood in her two-wheeled char- 
iot directing the attendants who followed her liege lord, the king. She 
was attended by five gentlemen of honor in rich costumes and the 
party enlivened by two huge frogs with golden harps upon which they 
played. The whole was drawn by four richly caparisoned horses led 
by four grooms and guided by a coachman with powdered wig, yellow 
satin knee breeches, blue silk velvet coat, silk stockings and low shoes 
with silver buckles. 

"The 'Good Luck' float, standing sixteen and a half feet high, con- 
taining a mammoth horse shoe in the center of which 'Methuselah,' aged 
nine hundred and sixty-nine years, sat swinging himself. Two horses, 
two grooms and three attendants, completed the equipage. 

"The 'Deer Hunt' had a tine deer with antlers, pursued by two 
spotted stag hounds, and a sportsman with a rifle at his shoulder. Four 
horses with grooms leading them completed the picture. 

"The 'Shoal Creek Fishing Party' were drawn by four horses, led by 
grooms and comprised a boat with eight fishermen with rods and lines, 
who landed fish, turtles and frogs at intervals, and was entitled 'A 
Fisherman 's Luck. ' The whole design was ingenious and well executed. 

"A cavalcade of men on horseback. 

"The fire department noted far and wide for its efficiency and the 
devotion of its companies marched in six subdivisions with every one 
of them having a full complement of men, dressed in their attractive 
uniforms. Four men on horseback led the brigade. Next the hook and 
ladder cart, then hose cart and Company No. 1 followed by hose cart 
and Company No. 2 and hose cart and Company No. 4, a running cart 
and company bringing up the rear. 

"Then came the bicycle brigade, twelve young men riding on single 
ones and two others on a double one made so for the occasion, connecting 



292 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

two 'Star' bicycles together. All were ornamented and were a fitting 
close of the procession. 

"Among the fifty advertising floats those most worthy of mention 
were the Joplin White Lead Works and Charles Geltz, the ice man. The 
latter brought out his old one-horse spring wagon with three wheels and 
a. scraggy mule tied on behind. A stove-pipe protruded through a very 
delapidated wagon cover, old pants, broom and bucket hoops. The in- 
scriptions were 'I'm all the way from Arkansas and am very, very dry.' 
'Give me a glass of water, so said the Arkansawyer.' 'My bone's dry, 
and so am I, and so is Arkansas.' 'Arkansas went dry and so did I.' 

"The Joplin White Lead Works' float required six horses, a driver 
and four grooms to conduct it safely through the streets. A regular old 
Scotch-eye furnace and ore smelted in transit, five workmen handling 
the spud and poker, and wheelbarrow, etc., were present, just as they 
may be seen any time at the works which are the only ones of the kind 
in the United States." 

Joplin Exposition 1881 

The fair of the Joplin Exposition Company from September 28 to 
October 1, 1881, was largely attended and one of the most successful 
ever given in Joplin. Among the attractions was a chariot race which 
created great excitement, and a military tournament participated in by 
the Paola Rifles of Paola, Kansas, then the crack organization of the 
Sunflower state, and the Carthage Light Guards. 

The visit of the Paola Rifles at this time was a drawing card for the 
exposition, for the reason that at this time it was in the lime-light, on 
account of an altercation between the company and John P. St. John, 
then governor of Kansas. 

On the occasion of General Grant's visit to Kansas City, many of the 
state companies of militia attended to participate in the grand military 
parade given in honor of the great soldier. The Paola Rifles were there 
as the guests of the Craig Rifles, of Kansas City. Governor St. John 
became angered at a supposed slight from Mayor Van Horn and ordered 
the Kansas militia to take no part in the parade. The Paola company 
felt that as they were there as the guests of the Craig Rifles they should 
march with them, participated in the parade and were personally com- 
plimented by General Grant for their proficiency. 

At the Kansas State Fair, at Bismark, the Paola company entered 
in the drill contest and, as they were entering the grounds, the adjutant 
general, acting on orders from Governor St. John, took their arms from 
them. The company came to Joplin carrying arms loaned them by 
another company, and on account of this advertisement, attracted much 
attention. 

The Joplin exposition gave annual exhibits until 1884, at which date 
the project was abandoned on account of financial difficulties. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 293 

Fourth of July, 1885 

Joplin observed July 4, 1885, with a monster celebration, and prob- 
ably brought together more people in the city than any other gathering 
of the 'eighties. In the morning a procession marched through Main 
street and Broadway. The speaking occurred at Castle Rock at the 
close of day and a sham battle was fought, the night being given over 
to fire works, a band concert, etc. "We gi ve herewith a discription of the 
day's celebration. 

The Procession 

The procession was formed in the following order : 

Joplin Silver Cornet Band. 

Joplin Rifles. 

Girard Cornet Band. 

Girard Guard. 

National Temperance Guards. 

Galena Martial Band. 

Galena Post, G. A. R. 

Carthage Martial Band. 

Carthage Post, G. A. R. 

Joplin Post, G. A. R. 

Carterville Cornet Band. 

Select Knights, A. 0. U. W. 

Joplin lodges, A. 0. U. W. 

Knights and Ladies of Honor. 

Joplin Hose Company No. 1. 

Detachment Continental Kids. 

The whole formed a brilliant pageant as they filed out Main street. 
The sidewalks on either side were lined with thousands of eager specta- 
tors. When the procession reached East Joplin the order was broken 
and each organization took transportation to Castle Rock Park. 

At the Grounds 

The grounds allotted to the celebration were found inadequate to 
accommodate the immense crowd and the hundreds of vehicles of every 
conceivable style. An enclosure adjoining was opened to find hitching 
room for teams and shady nooks for private parties to investigate the 
contents of picnic baskets. The crowd was simply immense. To quote 
the piquant expression of a sweet girl picnicker with a fluffy flowing 
dress, jaunty Langtry hat and saucy eye, "the woods are full of them." 
The crowd was variously estimated at from 10,000 to 15,000 persons, 
and the latter number was no doubt much nearer the correct figure. 

The Declaration of Independence was read by Judge W. L. Bower of 
Carthage who ably discharged the time-honored duty to the memory of 
the young republic. 



294 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The refreshment stands ou the ground were rushed with business 
until the vast assemblage dispersed to the city in the evening. Even 
the swings kept up their whirl with a full freight of rural swains and 
their sweethearts. 

The transportation was wholly inadequate to the accommodation of 
the visitors. The recent heavy rains and hot sun had so warped the 
temporary wooden rails of the street car line that the cars persisted in 
jumping the track with a frequency that made that mode of travel 
tedious. The trips could not be accomplished with the requisite fre- 
quency and a constant stream of pedestrians passed along the track 
from East Joplin to and from the park impatient with waiting. The 
buses, hacks, carriages and wagons were crowded as fast as a trip was 
announced. When the final stampede for the city came "walking was 
good enough" for hundreds, but they did not accept the alternative 
without grumbling. During the afternoon many persons visited the 
scene of young Shellenberger's terrible accident at no great distance 
from the grand stand. The old mortar and its odd missiles that lay 
scattered around unused formed quaint objects of interest to the gazers. 

The Sham Battle 

About five o'clock Broadway and eminences on either side of Joplin 
creek were peopled by a dense multitude of anxious spectators. The 
mimic battlefield had for its strategic point the high ground descend- 
ing northeast from the old Broadway stables. This was occupied by the 
several posts of the G. A. R. in command of Major Redburn represent- 
ing the Continental army under General Warren. Colonel Bender with 
the Galena minute men occupied a position on the right and Colonel 
Beach, with the Joplin vets and volunteers formed the left wing. 

The attacking forces, who were supposed to be the British red coats, 
occupied the fiat near the banks of Joplin creek. General Clark Cray- 
croft was the commanding officer, his staff consisting of Colonel Weldy 
and Major Stafford. Colonel Howard with his battalion of English in- 
fantry occupied a position on the right, Colonel Williams commanding 
a battalion of London swells was in the center and on the extreme left 
was stationed Captain Livingston's battalion of North-of -Ireland lads. 

Hostilities began by the attacking party sending out a line of skirm- 
ishers, who were fired upon by the enemy's pickets and after returning 
the fire retreated to the main line. The Continentals then sent out skir- 
mishers and were met by a similar force from the other side. After sharp 
firing the former fell back followed by the detachment of red coats who 
were so brave that an orderly was sent out to order them back. The 
whole of the attacking force then advanced and after sharp fighting 
were repulsed with heavy loss. One man fell and lost his gun. The 
Britishers then ran out of ammunition and hostilities were suspended 
until the ammunition wagon appeared when the battle was renewed. 
Charge after charge was made until the red coats were finally routed 
and so hot. dry and muddy that they were willing to surrender. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 295 

The Carthage Light Guard, who had been to Pittsburg and captured 
a $150 prize, came this way on their return home and arrived in time 
to witness the battle. 

In the evening Hose Company No. 1 gave an exhibition of the prac- 
tical working of our fire department on Main street. The fire pressure 
was given by the water company and the boys threw water in a way that 
astonished the visitors. As usual they acquitted themselves creditably. 

A Story of Spanish Adventure 

During the month of November, 1880, two Spaniards of noble birth 
visited Joplin in search of a buried treasure. The two gentlemen were 
Don Miguel De Soto Despenie and his son Ferdinand. 

During their stay in Joplin they moved with great secrecy and an 
air of mystery, which excited the curiosity of the people, and on the 
eve of their departure the elder gentleman communicated to A. W. Car- 
son, editor of the Herald, the object of their visit to Southwestern Mis- 
souri, and we reproduce it here on account of its romance and peculiar 
interest. 

"In the year 1745 an ancestor of mine, seized with the visionary 
dreams peculiar to that day of the wonderful wealth that lay beyond 
tlie Mississippi, organized a company composed of hare-brained adven- 
turers like himself, to search for the new El Dorado which they were 
confident existed in the western fields, and which it only required pluck 
and perseverance to discover. Before embarking at Seville the adven- 
turers packed all their jewels, which were of immense value, in a small 
iron box. Their object was never to return home, but to establish a 
new kingdom independent of Spain, which accounts for their taking the 
jewels with them. 

"A few years afterwards my ancestor returned, moody and silent, 
and the least reference to his voyage would cause him to fly into a 
towering passion. None of the company but him was ever known to 
return. He occupied a room in one corner of the old family mansion 
or rather castle, and was a hermit until his death, speaking to none ex- 
cept to make his simplest wants known. Some ten years ago the castle 
descended to me as rightful heir, and the first thing I did was to tear 
down and rebuild the edifice. In tearing down the walls of the room 
that had been occupied by my ancestor, the masons discovered a gold 
snuff box imbedded in the structure. It was given to me and upon 
opening the relic I found a piece of parchment on which was written 
the following: 'Enter the mouth of the Mississippi; four hundred 
miles north the mouth of a large stream entering from the west will be 
passed ; four hundred miles further another large stream will be found 
entering from the west. Enter this, and tour hundred miles will be found 
on the south bank a large promontory. In entering the stream at the 
foot of the spur will be seen a large rock, on the top of which is im- 
bedded an iron ring and staple. Go one hundred miles further, then 
leave the stream and travel fifteen days north; then inquire for a 



296 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

cataract. You will be on the edge of a vast plain and near the only 
falls in that vast plain. The natives can tell you where it is. Midway 
between the falls and the first stream north in a direct line you will find 
a flat rock on which is cut an arrow. Forty paces east, ten south and 
fifty east dig. There you will find the iron box and jewels. The for- 
tune is for the one who tears this wall down and remodels the castle. ' 

' ' Not until a year ago was I able to leave my home in search of this 
treasure. My son and I, as directed, entered the Mississippi and upon 
ascending four hundred miles passed the mouth of Red river. Four 
hundred miles further we found and entered the mouth of the Arkansas, 
and four hundred miles farther we encountered the Promontory now 
known as Darnelles rock. Here we disembarked and sure enough found 
the iron ring and staple spoken of. We embarked on the next steamer 
and a hundred miles farther landed at the town of Van Buren. From 
here we started north on foot and in fifteen days' travel we found our- 
selves at the town of Neosho. Here we heard of the falls and of course 
were full of anticipation. From the falls we surveyed a line direct 
north to Turkey creek, and midway between the two points began the 
search for the rock. We were employed several days at this, but finally 
my son discovered the stone nearly a foot beneath the surface. The 
accumulated soil was taken off and there, as plain as the day, it was en- 
graved with the tell-tale arrow. Accordingly we measured forty paces 
east, ten south and fifty east again. Judge our horror in finding at the 
exact spot where the box should have been a shallow hole that had been 
dug years past by some miner. Again and again we measured the dis- 
tance and each time we came to that embryo lead mine. Some lucky 
miner had found the box and had sense enough to keep it to himself. 
I will place every detective in the United States on the watch, and if 
the fortunate miner is found will pay him more for the jewels than 
any other person on earth can afford to. They had been in the fam- 
ily hundreds of years before my ancestor took them away." 

Strange as this story may appear, it is true in every particular, un- 
less the Spanish gentlemen have imposed upon the editor, which is hardly 
probable. 



CHAPTER XXVI 

WEBB CITY 

Business in the 'Eighties — "Webb City Times" — City Politics — 
Among the Lodges — The Fire Department — Destructive Fire 
(1883) — Leap Year Parties (1884) — K. P. Masquerade Ball, — In 
Honor op Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Stewart — Webb City's Second Bank. 

We give below a partial list of the business establishments which made 
up the Webb City commercial activities of the later 'seventies and 
'eighties. The list is taken from the Times. 

Transient House — Built in 1875. Two-story frame hotel, one hun- 
dred and fifty by fifty feet; seventeen rooms, besides parlor, office and 
dining room ; kept by Mr. Coyne and wife. 

Western Hotel— Built in 1876 ; kept by Mrs. Pratt. 

Pacific Hotel — Burned in 1883 ; kept by Thos. Flenniken and wife. 

J. Van Buskert, groceries — Came from Joplin in 1876 and continued 
in business through the 'eighties. 

C. R. Chinn and Company, drygoods, boots and shoes — Commenced 
business in 1877 in a seventeen by thirty foot store and with a $3,000 
stock. At the close of the 'eighties the store had been several times en- 
larged and the stock was valued at $15,000. 

Manker, Hewlett and Company, hardware, miners' supplies and 
groceries — Established in 1877. This was a most successful firm, turn- 
ing their stock many times during the year. 

Hancock & Lowe, china, glassware, furniture and undertaking — In 
the fall of 1878 James C. Hancock traded a team and wagon for a small 
stock of second hand goods and from this small beginning began his busi- 
ness career. In 1879 he took as a partner S. Laur, and the new member 
of the firm added hardware and later furniture and undertaking sup- 
plies. By the middle 'eighties the business had grown to such an ex- 
tent that two large storerooms were required to hold the stock. 

Chas. Wright and Brothers, drugs and jewelry— Established in 1879, 
with a $1,200 stock and this firm continued in business for thirty years, 
when its senior member retired to enjoy a -well-deserved rest. Will 
Wright is still in business, now being in the old Webb Bank building. 

Dr. L. Green, druggist, moved to Webb City in 1879 from Medoc and 
established a large and profitable business. 

E. E. Spracklin, photographer. 

Parker Bros. & Sinclair, meat merchants and packers— Opened busi- 

297 



298 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

ness in 1880 and during the later portion of the decade confined them- 
selves largely to wholesaling, doing an extensive packing business. 

Hendrickson Murray, hardware — Established in 1879. 

.1. 15. Oversheet, coal and wood, and Ward & Laster — transfer busi- 
ness, were established in 1880. 

Parker Chinn & Company, drygoods, boots and shoes— Began busi- 
ness in 1881, which was managed by W. S. Chinn. later cashier of the 
Webb City Hank. 

Gammon & Henderson and 0. P. Sutherland, grocers, Allie Rice, 
milliner and the Webb City Foundry also entered the business arena in 
1881. 

1882 saw four more large business houses established — S. Morris & 
Co., clothing; S. A. Brown & Company, lumber; M. M. McClelland, 
confectionery and the Webb City Bank, founded by Jno. C. Webb & Son. 

In 1888, the first opera house was built by Lester & Aylor. This play 
house occupied the second floor of a building at the corner of Allen and 
Webb streets, now the site of the Middle West building. 

In 1884 Dunlap. Collumbia and Bradford Bros., opened their doors. 

1885 witnessed a considerable boom and the following firms entered 
(he lists: Lowry & Dunlap, harness; W. F. Spurgeon, groceries; M. 
Goldstein, clothing; J. E. Magrader, groceries; Sheffer & Company, gen- 
eral merchandise; Abraham Hastings, confectionery, and T. J. Harring- 
ton, six times mayor of Webb City, opened a restaurant and oyster 
parlor. 

1886 Stewart & .Mathews, lumber dealers, came into the field, and in 
1887 I). Klein (boots and shoes). Empire Clothing Company, Byrd & 
Reed (milliners), and Wampler Bros., groceries. 

In 1SSS the Dough Foundry was built by Harry Wonner and during 
the twenty-three years of its business has baked for Webb City and Car- 
terville several million loaves of bread. 

In 1889 Cray & Burkhead, dealers in miners' supplies, was a firm 
added to the Webb City list. 

Tin. "Webb City Times" 

Welih City's first newspaper was established in 1879 by Milholland & 
Single. The materials for the paper were purchased at Galena, Kansas, 
and had been used in publishing The Galena Messenger. 

In 1880 .Mr. Single purchased the entire interest. During the middle 
'eighties Jesse Zook. now the mining statistician, was editor of the paper 
and gained I'm- it an enviable reputation in the field of journalism. 

City Politics Diking the 'eighties 

At the city election in April, 1880, the following officers were elected: 
Mayor, T. .1. Harrington; marshal, R. F. Fitzpatrick; eouncilmen — D. 
II. Mark, John Marlsolf, John Lofter and D. J. Horn. The appointive 
officers were: Clerk. .1. E. McNair; treasurer, C. II. Murry: collector, 
James X. Stephenson: city attorney. \Y. M. "Robinson. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 299 

City Attorney Robinson, who made his advent into polities at this 
election, was chosen circuit judge in 1892 and elevated to the supreme 
bench of the state in 1894. 

During this year several vacancies occurred. John Lot'ter, council- 
man from the second ward, resigned and was succeeded by A. J. Sinclair, 
and the marshal, R. F. Fitzpatrick, also resigned, and S. N. Hardesty 
was elected to fill out the unexpired term. 

City officers for 1881: Mayor, T. J. Harrington; marshal. G. 15. Mil- 
holland; councilmen — John Marlsolf, M. II. Zook, A. J. Sinclair and J. 
W. McClelland; city clerk, J. E. McNair; treasurer, E. T. Webb, at- 
torney, S. D. McPherson. 

1882 : Mayor, James Gammon ; marshal, S. S. Barclay ; councilmen — 
A. A. Hulett, John Metcalf, J. B. Overstreer and John Pratt; city clerk, 
J. E. McNair, treasurer, E. T. Webb, and attorney W. M. Robinson. Mr. 
Gammon did not serve out the full term, resigning after a few months 
and Mr. Harrington was again called to the chair. 

1883 : Mayor. T. J. Harrington ; marshal, A. J. Sinclair ; city attorney, 
W. M. Robinson ; councilmen— A. A. Hulett, John Marlsolf, John Dun- 
lap and J. B. Overstreer; city clerk, J. E. McNair ; treasurer, E. T. Webb. 

1884: Mayor, T. J. Harrington; marshal, W. A. Ashcraft; council- 
men, James Gammon, Ellis Shafer, John Dunlap and J. B. Overstreer. 
Appointive offices as above. 

1885 : Mayor, T. J. Harrington ; marshal, A. J. Sinclair ; councilmen — 
John Marlsolf, John Dunlap, James Gammon and Ellis Shafer. 

1886: Mayor, William Hilburn ; marshal, James A. Kennedy; coun- 
cilmen — D. H. Mack, J. Dunlap, James Gammon and Ellis Shafer. 
Appointive officers as before. 

1887: Mayor. William Hilburn; marshal, Alex Cann; councilmen— 
John Martsolf, John Dunlap and D. II. Mock. 

1888: Mayor, Peter McEntee; marshal, J. A. Brown; councilmen— 
same as in 1887. 

Mr. Brown resigned as marshal, after serving three months, and 
Joseph Moore ("Buckrock" Moore) was elected to fill out the unexpired 
term. Mr. Moore was killed just before the close of his term of office by 
a man whom he was attempting to arrest. 

During Mr. McEntee 's administration the city limits were extended 
and the city changed from a fourth-class city to one of the third-class, the 
formal vote on the change being made December 26, 1889, and carrying 
by 380 majority. 

C. E. Matthews served as alderman of the First ward from April, 
1888, to April, 1890. and John Stringer as a member of the council 
from the Second ward during the same period. 

In April, 1888. Joseph Fetlers was elected police judge of Webb 
City, the office having been filled, prior to that time, by the mayor. 

During the 'eighties Webb City had made a steady growth, the census 
of 1890 showing a population a trifle less than four times the official 
figure in 1880. 



300 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Among the Lodges 

Webb City Lodge No. 512, A. P. & A. M., was organized April 5, 1882, 
with the following charter list: A. A. Iloulett. W. M. ; C. R. Chinn, S. 
W. ; John C. Webb, J. W. ; J. C. Stewart, S. D. ; W. W. Greenlee, J. D. ; 
James Gammon, treasurer; E. T. Webb, secretary; C. C. Coy, tyler, and 
J. C. Columbia, S. V. Hardesty, Charles Ward, J. W. Aylor, J. K. Eaton, 
John Dunlap and J. W. Chapman. 

Webb City Lodge No. 115, Knights of Pythias, was instituted Feb- 
ruary 2, 1887, with twenty members, and at the close of 1889 had con- 
ferred the ranks on thirty brave men. 

Reynolds Post, G. A. R., was also mustered in 1883 and has been a 
factor in the fraternal life of the city, having encouraged the observance 
of Decoration day, and also having taken a prominent part in the 
patriotic events, which have taken place in Webb City. 

The Fire Department 

The following interesting sketch of Webb City 's fire department was 
written by one of the ' ' old boys, ' ' who knew from long participation in 
fire-fights what he was writing about. It is taken from the Joplin Globe: 

"It is a somewhat remarkable fact that in the thirty -five years' his- 
tory of Webb City's existence there has never been a fire in which human 
life has been sacrificed. Nor has there during the existence of either the 
volunteer fire brigade or since the organization of the paid fire depart- 
ment been a single fireman who has sustained serious injury while rend- 
ering service in this line of public duty. 

"With the exceptiou of two fires that destroyed frame buildings oc- 
cupying about half a block on the principal business thoroughfare, Webb 
City has had the good fortune of escaping the serious damage that has 
happened to many towns of its size from wide-spread conflagrations. It 
has not been an unusual thing for the reports of the fire chief for a year 
to show less than score of fires, in which the total loss would not be more 
than four or five thousand dollars. 

"With such a record of good fortune, therefore, it is not considered 
so very remarkable that since the induction into office of Charles W. 
Evans, the new fire chief, covering a period of over six weeks, there has 
not until Thursday night been a call sent in to fire headquarters, and the 
alarm which then came from the burning Winslow mining plant does 
not count as a city fire, as the property that burned is outside of the cor- 
poration limits. 

Pioneer Firemen of Webb City 

"In the way of reminiscence of this feature of the history of Webb 
City, a quartet of names included the men who have the best knowledge 
of what has happened in the way of fires, and of the measures taken in 
the way of providing protection against loss of life and property. These 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 301 

four are E. E. Spracklin, Henry Wonner, T. C. Hayden and Fire Chief 
Evans. 

"It was under the leadership of Colonel "Wonner and 'Tom' Hayden 
that the volunteer fire department was organized in 1889, Charles Evans 
was among the most active of its members, and it was while Mr. Spracklin 
was mayor, in 1899, that the present paid fire department was authorized 
and organized. 

"Until the close of the decade of the 'eighties Webb City had no other 
protection from fire but the bucket brigade, brought into service for the 
emergency of the moment and without any recognized chief to control or 
command. It was while this condition of affairs existed, covering the 
first fifteen years of the city's growth, that on two different occasions 
fires that threatened the business center of the town occurred. One of 
these started at the Barnes restaurant, at the southeast corner of Main 
and Allen streets, and destroyed buildings covering half a block; the 
other began in what was known as the Scott hotel, at the opposite corner, 
where the Webb City Drug Company's store now stands, and swept 
everything along Allen street up to Parker's saloon at its old site. 

PuiiLED Dynamite Out op Fire 

"During the Barnes fire an incident occurred that Chief Evans has 
every reason to remember, as the occasion of an act of youthful heroism 
on his part which in his cooler moments has many a time since caused 
him to wonder how he did it. It was the custom then, it seems, for gro- 
cery stores to carry in stock a small quantity of dynamite, and knowing 
that it had been the habit of the firm of Gammon & Henderson, who had 
a store in that block, to keep an open box of powder on the premises, he 
rushed in to prevent, if possible, an explosion. 

" 'If I had thought about it a moment,' says Evans, 'I expect I never 
would have taken the risk. Don 't believe I would now, but that was near 
thirty years ago, and thirty years makes lots of difference in a man's 
life. The fire was burning furiously all around me when I went into the 
grocery store and found the open box of explosives standing there in the 
rear end, just where I had often seen it when I bought powder a dollar's 
worth at a time. Picking it up, I carried it through a shower of sparks 
and bits of burning timber falling as thick as hail. I ran across Allen 
street and west an Main, and I tell you nobody was better pleased than I 
when I dropped it in front of the old Webb place, later known as the 
Burgner property, and found I had got free of the tricky stuff without 
an accident having happened.' 

Tom Hayden and George Moseley 

"The volunteer fire department lasted about ten years, and the first 
seven years after its organization Henry Wonner was fire chief, with T. 
C. Hayden as his assistant. Jesse Kerns and Elza Marquiss were fore- 
men of the two companies. They were furnished with hand hose carts, 



302 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

that were bought for them at Carthage and paid for by the coun- 
cil. Asked what big tires occurred while he was with the volunteer bri- 
gade, Hayden's characteristic reply was, 'We didn't have any; we put 
'em all out before they got big.' 

"Mr. Ilayden had come to Webb City with the prestige of having 
been a member of the renowned Southwest Mail hook and ladder com- 
pany of Nevada, which for a long time held the championship over all 
rival fire companies with whom they had come in competition. He threw 
all his native enthusiasm and resourcefulness into the training of the 
volunteer company here, anil did much towards making it a most efficient 
organization. lie tells a story of a visit one time to Carthage on one of 
the gala days at the county seat, in which a feature of the day's program 
was a tug of war. 

"It was Webb City against Carthage,' he said, 'and we were a little 
shy in weight on our side. It was getting dark when the event was pulled 
off, and people couldn't see .just who were the men on either side. George 
Moseley was then a member of the Carthage team, but I remember we 
succeeded in getting George to pull hard for Webb City about the time 
we needed him, and Carthage never knew just how they were beaten. ' 

Colonel O'Neill's Timely Offer 

"Webb City until the purchase of the .+5,000 fire auto recently had a 
paid tire brigade for about twelve years, with four or five men at head- 
quarters, and one of the original hose carts stationed at the west end, 
and manned when needed by volunteers who are paid for their services. 

' 'It took a hard fight,' says Colonel Spracklin, 'to get the council 
to agree to the purchase of a fire wagon and team and the keeping of men 
constantly on duty at headquarters. I have reason to remember, for I 
happened to be mayor at that time. A majority of the council was 
against the proposition, and I don't know that it would have pulled 
through but for the timely aid of Colonel James O'Neill. When the coun- 
cil had apparently blocked the establishment of a paid fire department, 
Colonel O'Neill came to me and said, 'Go ahead; buy the wagon 
and horses, and if the council won't vote the money, draw on me and I'll 
meet the bill.' But, after a while, the council thought better of the pro- 
position and the money was paid without availing ourselves of Colonel 
O'Neill's public-spirited proposition.' " 

Destructive Fire (1883) 

Perhaps the most destructive fire which occurred in Webb City dur- 
ing the 'eighties was that which burned the Pacific Hotel and adjoining 
buildings. 

In February, 1883, a tire broke out in the Pacific Hotel and before 
the sleeping inmates were aware of it. had spread beyond control. The 
hotel was a frame structure and was completely destroyed, together 
with six other buildings in the block. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 303 

The town was soon alarmed and hundreds of citizens turned out to 
help tight the fire. Parker saloon which was afire was, by heroic efforts, 
pulled over into the ruins and thus the fire was kept from spreading. 
While this work of pulling down the saloon was in progress other men 
were carrying water in buckets from nearby wells and water barrels to 
keep the adjoining buildings wet. The houses and stores on the opposite 
side of the street were on fire several times, but were saved. A large 
livery stable near by, which was well filled with hay and feed, was un- 
touched by the fire, all of which seemed a miracle as the building was 
one of the oldest in town, dry as tinder, and while the conflagration was 
in progress the sparks from the burning hotel were continually flying 
over it. 

The inmates of the hotel were awakened from their slumber and many 
of them were obliged to fiy for their lives, without taking time to dress. 
The Times, in its account of the fire, said that the costumes worn by the 
boarders, as they came out of the burning building, would have been most 
unique at a masquerade ball. 

One young man, now a prominent business man of Joplin, came run- 
ning out of the building wearing a plug hat, a dress coat over his night 
shirt, and carrying his trousers, socks and shoes. 

Another appeared bare headed, wearing a rubber coat and carrying 
his trousers and shoes. 

Another man jumped from the second story of the burning building 
attired in a suit of red flannel underwear and the spectators present said 
that his flight through the flames gave a splendid representation of 
Mephistopheles in the Black Crook, a spectacular play popular in those 
days. 

One man, C. E. Spencer, escaped without loss, as he took time to 
dress and emerged from the building carrying his trunk with him. 

Col. Arthur J. Myers gave the following account of his personal ex- 
perience during the fire : "I was awakened by some one pounding on 
my door and calling ' fire ! ' I sprang from my bed and looking out saw 
the fire in the room across the hall from me, and thinking that the bed 
was on fire seized the water pitcher and ran to help extinguish it. A 
second glance showed me that the building was on fire and I returned to 
my room for the purpose of getting my clothing. By this time the hall 
and room were filled with smoke and by the time I got on my pants, shoes 
and coat the flames had almost reached my room. I got down stairs some 
way, got a lamp and undertook to return to my room for the purpose of 
getting my valuables. Just as I reached the door the smoke put out the 
lamp and I was so stifled that I fell to the floor and was so choked that 
I could not call for help. All of a sudden I felt something stumble against 
me and heard some one say 'What in h — 1 is this?' I was then carried 
down the stairs and out into the street. I lost my money, many valuable 
papers and relics that could not be replaced ; among them my uniform 
and sword, old coins, a prayer book printed in both English and Hebrew 
and published in 1820, and many other keepsakes." 



304 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Leap Year Parties (1884) 

In March, 1884, the young ladies of Webb City gave their 
first leap year ball. It was a most enjoyable affair and thoroughly 
enjoyed by everyone present. The following were among the fortunate 
ones to be in attendance : Annie Coyne and Paul Davey ; Allie Rice and 
Guss Weyman ; Mollie Rice and E. E. Spracklin; Allie McCorkle and Joe 
Aylor ; Georgie McCorkle and Dave Mack ; Clara Fountain of Carterville 

and Ed Bourne ; Annie Jeffery and Buel ; Arria Jenkyn and T. J. 

Harrington; Clara Cann and Edgar Magruder; Ida Aylor and Dave 
Sutherland ; Jennie Magruder and Will Wright ; Jennie Robertson and 
W. M. Robertson; Minnie Chinn and W. S. Chinn; Jennie Columbia 

and Chris Columbia ; Ilendrickson and Dorie Hendrickson ; Fannie 

Wright and W. C. Stewart; Hettie True and Will Burton; Hattie Gates 
and Mr. Ellis Pick; Carrie Overstreer and Geo. Gammon; Tadie Hann 

and Chas. Ebert ; Shirley and Thos. Flourney ; Eggerman 

and Ed Merridith ; Belle Vanfassen and Dave Goff ; Sadie Coyne and L. 
Reynolds; Carrie Baker and Robt. Reynolds; Flo Powell of Joplin and 
Capt. J. G. Reed. In addition to the above were the following spectators : 
Messrs. and Mesdames C. A. Parker, E. N. Morton, T. A. Parker and John 
Brown; Misses Gladys Manker and Helen Jones; Mrs. Henderson and 
daughter, Lula; Misses Hankman and Walter; Mrs. Baker and Messrs. 
A. Martin and James Glass. 

On February 29, 1888, at the Webb City Opera House occurred the 
second leap year ball of the Webb City smart set and was even more 
brilliant than the first, for at this second function the dresses worn by 
the fair sex were most elaborate and the gentlemen present vied with the 
ladies in the correctness of their attire, many of them appearing in full 
dress. 

Although everybody was in a happy frame of mind, the printed rules 
for the occasion contributed not a little to the spirit of pleasantry that 
pervaded the evening. 

One rule laid down the following law for the evening: "Gentlemen 
will conduct themselves in a lady-like manner." 

Another declared that "no lady should smile unless accompanied by 
a gentleman, ' ' and still another said that ' ' wall flowers should ask con- 
solation of the ladies who had been there and knew how it felt to sit out 
a dance," and, as a final decree, engaged young men were cautioned 
against flirting as it was in exceedingly bad taste — "tit for tat." 

At 12 o'clock the hostesses escorted their "willing subjects" to the 
dining room of the J. A. Craig restaurant and there served them with a 
bounteous repast, after which the bashful and timid y | men were es- 
corted home in carriages. 

The following committees had charge of the ball: r committee: 

Misses Ella Reed, Gladys Manker, Pet Reed and Sis C 

Reception — Mrs. W. S. Chinn, Essie Overstreei m Rice, May 
Turnpaw and Allie McCorkle. 

The following were present: Loan Hager and Hager; Tade 

Flourney and Tom Flourney; Carrie Hann and M ' ami; Vaddie 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 30a 

Whiteley and Memphis Trimble; Allie McCorkle and Chas. Manker; 
Gladys Manker and Tom Headen ; Ella Reed and Dan King ; Ida Ayer 
and Dave Sutherland; May Turnpaw and Charles Sutherland; Hattie 
Carey and Frank Walker ; Fannie Koontz and Clarence Gaston ; Lyddia 
Byrd and Walter Spurgeon ; Byrdie Newmyer and Mr. Cowan ; Pet Reed 
and Jas. Coyne ; Sis. Carey and Harry Green ; Pet Johnson and Virgil 
McCoy; Hattie Reid and Mort Chambers; V. Letta Speaks and Will 
Wright; Mattie Hansen and Chas. Hansen; Mrs. Dave Mack and Dave 
Mack; May Byron and Thos. Coyne; Mrs. Byron and Dr. Whiteley; 
Julia Fallis and Jas. Fallis, Joplin ; Lillie Elliott and Maude Rose, 
Oronogo ; May Mitchell. Carthage, and Charles Ebert ; Minnie Chinn and 
Charles Stephenson. Carthage; Essie Overstreer and Mr. Fills, Carthage; 
Allie Rice and Will Alrich ; W. S. Chinn, Ben Peppers, Lon Archraft, 
Jasper Mars, Porter Curr and Lewis Reed. 

Spectators : Walt Tholburn, Mr. and Mrs. Mathews, Mrs. Spracklin, 
Mrs. Hagar, Oronogo, Nora Mares, Cora Tholborn and others. 

K. P. Masquerade Ball 

In December, 1887, the Knights of Pythias gave a masquerade ball 
which was one of the social affairs of the year. The music, which was 
furnished by an orchestra of Knights from Carthage and Lamar, was 
especially fine. 

More than one hundred masquers were on the floor, and the following 
partial list was furnished by the society reporter of the Times who at- 
tended the function : Duke of Orleans, J. T. Raysdale, Carthage ; Duke 
of Argyle, H. Cohn, Carthage; Court Jester, J. W. Fisher, Carthage; 
French Count, Frank Panley, Carthage ; Uncle Sam, C. T. Sweet, Webb 
City ; Young Lady, C. G. Fishburn, Webb City ; Count, C. P. Hendrick- 
son, Webb City ; Mikado, J. Hillman, Carthage ; Scotch Highlander, A. 
Stultz, Oronogo ; Duke of Essex, M. Elhart, Oronogo ; Pink Dominoes, Lil- 
lie and Belle Stafford, Oronogo; Swiss Girl, Belle Chaney, Oronogo; 
Goddess of Liberty, Laura Snyder, Oronogo ; Fortune Teller, Miss Short, 
Oronogo ; Clown, Julius Becker, Joplin ; Fancy Dress, May Byron, Jop- 
lin ; Rowing Costume, Miss Stultz, Oronogo ; Clown, Henderson, 

Webb City; Webb City Belles, Ella Reid, Pet Reid, Aley Carey, Pet 
Johnson, Essie Overstreer, Callie Overstreer and Henrietta Miller ; Chap- 
eron, Mrs. Hagar, Oronogo. 

In Honor of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Stewart 

One of the most enjoyable social affairs in Webb City occurred in No- 
vember, 1887, the occasion being a reception given by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. 
Stewart in honor of W. C. Stewart and wife, who had just returned to 
Webb City after an extended wedding tour. The room was brilliantly 
lighted and beautifully decorated, the profusion of flowers lending an 
elegancy which rivaled the beauty of the charming bride and the hosts of 

beautiful women present, 
vol i— 2a 



306 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

During the evening the famous Stephenson Wheatly Quartet — for- 
merly of Webb City but then residents of Carthage — rendered a charm- 
ing program of musical numbers, and at ten o'clock a sumptuous banquet 
was served at which J. C. Stewart, in his usual pleasant manner, pre- 
sided as toast master. 

Those present voted the affair to have been the most brilliant recep- 
tion held in Webb City during the 'eighties. The following were the 
guests of the evening : Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Hulett, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. 
Hendrickson, Mr. and .Mrs. C. E. Mathews, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Mack, Mr. 
and Mrs. C. J. Wright. Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Webb, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. 
Aylor, Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Ashcraft, Mr. and Mrs. S. Morris, Mr. and 
Mrs. .1. B. Overstreer, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Chinn, Mr. and Mrs. S. L. 
Manker, Mr. and Mrs. S. II. Koontz, Mr. and Mrs. L. Green. Mr. and 
Mrs. Thos. Brown. Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Murray, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. 
Wolfe. Mr. and Mrs. Win. Robertson (Carthage), Mr. and Mrs. W. A. 
Wheatley (Carthage). Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Stevenson (Carthage), Mr. 
and Mrs. C. J. Lewis (Joplin) ; and Mesdames Ed Morton. R. L. Morton. 
A. McCorkle. R. S. Gaston. John Cooper. M. 1'. Henderson; and Messrs. 
C. W. Stephenson, Guss Hann. Harry Green, L. G. Gray. C. E. McBride, 
W. II. Write. Jesse Zook. II. G. Gaston, C. M. Manker. G. P. Edgar, 
C. L. Pishburn, Thomas Plourney, l>. L. Conner and others. 

Webb City's Second Bank 

In the summer of 1889 Messrs. J. C. Stewart and brother, with the 
principal stockholders of the Center Creek Mining Company — the com- 
pany which perhaps more than any other made Webb City famous — or- 
ganized the Exchange Bank and soon built up a splendid business. This 
bank financed quite a number of the big projects of Webb City which 
were organized during the 'nineties and was a fine institution, although 
failed during the panic of 1893, to temporarily suspend until a realization 
could be made of its paper, it having loaned heavily to the mining com- 
panies who were opening up the district. There was no financial loss on 
account of its temporary suspension. In 1906 the Exchange Bank na- 
tionalized and is now known as the Webb Citv National Bank. 



CHAPTER XXVII 

CARTERVILLE AND OTHER MATTERS 

Carterville During the 'Eighties — First Modern Mining Mill — City 
Government Reorganized — The Churches— Schools — Volunteer 
Fire Department — Among the Lodges — Carterville 's First Paper 
—Cadets— Jasper County's Military— Fifth Regiment, Missouri 
State Guard — Regimental Camp at Carthage — Ben D. Earing 's 
Camp Meeting — Cold Winter of 1884 — Market Reports in 1885 — 
Mineral Township Railway Bonds — Oronogo Cyclone — I. 0. 0. F. 
Celebration, 1886 — Lehigh — Belville-Zinate — The Sarcoxie Fair. 

The 'eighties were all years of great activity for Carterville. The 
population increased 2,401 during the decade and all business activities 
grew in proportion, more particularly the mining industry, some of the 
richest mines of the district being opened up during that period. 

First Modern Mining Mill 

The first mining mill to be built in the county was constructed at 
Carterville, in 1880, by AVeyman & Guengerich, and with the erection 
of this plant, the modern methods of cleaning and handling the mineral 
in southwestern Missouri was begun. We chronicle a few of the happen- 
ings of Carterville during the 'eighties in order that the reader may 
understand the importance of this city in a business and social way. 

The City Government Reorganized 

In June, 1882, a petition was presented to Justice J. G. W. Hunt 
praying that an election be ordered to fill the several city offices of Carter- 
ville. The election was ordered and resulted in the choice of the follow- 
ing Board of Trustees: F. M. Hagerman, J. P. Walker, H. M. Gray, 
B. D. Morrell and F. A. Darrow. On June 25th the board organized by 
selecting F. M. Hagerman, chairman and J. G. W. Hunt, clerk. J. A. 
Poundstone was appointed marshal. 

On Feb. 21, 1883, the city voted almost unanimously to organize as 
a city of the fourth class and at the spring election, April 4th, elected 
the following officers: Mayor, J. M. Straight; aldermen — J. S. Wilson, 
H. M. Gray, C. A. Hannum and G. F. C. Coil ; marshal, W. G. Barley, 
city clerk; J. G. W. Hunt, treasurer; P. E. Hannum; and S. N. Andrews, 
city attorney. 

307 



308 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The Churches 

In proportion to its growth in a business way, and in point of size, 
Carterville grew in religious spirit. The Methodists conducted a very 
successful revival, making one hundred and thirty conversions, while the 
Baptists and Christians each built up strong churches and erected houses 
of worship. 

Among the eloquent ministers was the Rev. R. J. Downing, the Baptist 
preacher. Mr. Downing was a talented man, a graduate of West Point 
and a most eloquent speaker. Rev. J. J. Martin, one of the early pastors 
of the Methodist church, was also a gifted speaker. 

The Schools 

Carterville, during its days as a mining camp, organized as a country 
school district, and as such built a substantial four room frame school 
house. In 1887, however, the school district voted to organize as a city 
district. 

In 1886 the school board formally prescribed a course of study and 
classified the pupils of the High School, the first class graduating in 1887 
under the able superintendency of Professor Turk. This first class was 
an exceptionally strong one and, of its members, all have achieved a high 
degree of success in a business and professional way. 

Professor Turk was succeeded in 1888 by W, L. Bray, a strong teacher 
formerly of Clarence, Missouri, and Frank L. McGoon, as High School 
teacher. Mr. Bray retired from the school in 1889 and was succeeded by 
Mr. McGoon, who gave the people a vigorous school administration. Mr. 
McGoon moved to St. Louis during the early 'nineties where he studied 
medicine and received his degree in 1893, still keeping up his interest in 
the public schools and being held a member of the St. Louis Board of 
Education in 1899. 

Volunteer Fire Department 

In 1888 the Webb City-Carterville water works was built and on its 
completion the Carterville fire department was organized with Sidney 
Byers as chief of the department. 

The Carterville fire department was an exceptionally strong organiza- 
tion, its personnel representing the very best citizens of the town, who 
remained connected with the department for many years. Some of them, 
although now grown grey, remain in the department as honorary mem- 
bers. This department did most efficient work and reduced the fire losses 
in Carterville to a mininum. At the South Western Firemen's Tourna- 
ment it twice captured the championship banner, as well as capturing 
first money at Kansas City at the Volunteer Firemen's meet in 1900. They 
tied for second place at the fire manoeuvres at the St. Louis World's Fair 
in 1904, some four hundred volunteer companies having competed 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 309 

against them. The following gentlemen have served as chief of the Carter- 
ville fire department : Sidney Byers, William Rose, F. B. Looms and Her- 
man Cole. 

Among the Lodges 

The triple-link fraternity, the I. O. 0. F., was the first to plant the 
fraternal banner in Carterville. In 1874 Lodge No. 314 was organized at 
Oronogo, but after the opening of the Webb City-Carterville mines most 
of the members moved to Carterville and the members of that place peti- 
tioned the grand master to move the meeting place of the lodge to Carter- 
ville. This was done, the lodge meeting for the first time at Carterville 
on January 6, 1880. 

In 1882 the order built and furnished a very elegant lodge hall. 

The Ancient Order of United Workmen and Grand Army of Republic 
both organized lodges in 1883, the Select Legion of the former, under the 
captaincy of D. B. Maurey, being one of the best drilled semi-military 
societies in southwestern Missouri. 

The Masons also established themselves in Carterville. A more 
extended mention of this fraternity will be made in our Carterville chap- 
ter of the 'nineties. 

Carterville 's First Paper 

In 1885 T. J. Shelton and W. D. Sallee founded the Carterville Min- 
ing Review and published it with good success for a number of years. 
Mr. Sallee was a strong writer, and made good as an editor. He also 
published, during the later 'eighties a fraternal paper called the Knight 
of the Golden Eagle. 

The Carterville Cadets 

In the early part of 1884 there came to Carterville a young Baptist 
minister, Rev. R. J. Downing, who was a graduate of West Point and ex- 
United States army officer. There is scarcely a man who has served in 
the army or National Guard, who is not thrilled when he hears the pa- 
triotic airs of this country, or who does not step a little faster and stand 
a little straighter when he sees a marching club go by. Although the 
pastor of a church, the old love of military matters clung to the captain 
and one day he conceived the idea of forming a military company in 
Carterville. He began drilling a number of young men and so proficient 
did they become that Colonel Allen, of the Fifth Regiment, invited them 
to join the National Guard and become a part of his gallant command. 
The company was sworn into serviec by Justice Joseph Fountain and was 
officially known as Company F, Fifth Missouri State Guard. 

The officers of the Cadets were : Captain, R. J. Downing ; first lieu- 
tenant, John W. Rogers; second lieutenant, Clarence Harland. The 
company maintained its organization until 1886, when it was disbanded. 



310 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

Jasper County's Military 

During the 'eighties Jasper couuty had four military organizations — 
the Carthage Light Guard, Joplin Rifles, Carterville Cadets and Joplin 
Zouaves, each of which will be spoken of at length in the history of the 
several cities. 

The first three of these companies were a part of the Fifth Regiment, 
Missouri State Guard, which was formed in 1883, and on account of the 
excellence of the regiment and the important part Jasper county played 
in it, we make special mention of the organization. 

Fifth Regiment, Missouri State Guard 

On January 1, 1883, Southwestern Missouri had seven crack military 
companies, all of them made up of the best citizenship of the state and 
each reflecting great credit on the community. 

It might be added here, that it took a little bit more patriotism to be 
a guardsman in the 'eighties than now, for the reason that the uniforms 
and equipments, excepting arms, were bought and paid for by the in- 
dividual members of the companies ; also that there was a little more local 
pride in the several companies, for the reason that as each had a different 
uniform its ruanoeuvreing, appearance and decorum were more easily dis- 
cerned and there was naturally a good natured rivalry among the 
commands. 

The Carthage Light Guard and the Joplin Rifles, with a view of mak- 
ing their organizations more useful and also for the purpose of creating 
a stronger bond of comradeship among the Guardsmen of southwestern 
Missouri, took up the matter of the organization of a southwestern Mis- 
souri regiment, and on October 21, 1883, the commissioned officers of the 
Carthage Light Guard, Joplin Rifles, Springfield Light Infantry, Pierce 
City Guards, and Lamar Guards met in the G. A. R. hall in Joplin, act- 
ing under the authority of general orders issued by Adjutant General 
Jammison, and organized the Fifth Regiment by the election of the 
following officers: Colonel, ('. ('. Allen, of Carthage; major, Clark Cray- 
croft, of Joplin. 

In making up his staff Colonel Allen honored the following Jasper 
county militiamen : Adjutant Chas. 0. Herrington, of the Light Guard, 
and Sergeant Major M. "W. Stafford, of Joplin. 

Regimental Camp at Carthage. 

On July 3rd, 4th and 5th, in the year 1884, the regiment held its first 
camp at Carthage, under command of its colonel, C. C. Allen. Six com- 
panies were in attendance and the efficiency of the regiment was greatly 
improved. On the evening of July 4th, on the public square in Carthage, 
a dress parade was had and witnessed by fully five thousand people. This 
dress parade was an attractive sight, because of the variety and style of 
uniforms worn by the several organizations. The Carthage Light Guard 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 311 

and the Springfield Light Infantry were uniformed in the cadet gray 
garb, similar to the full-dress of the West Point Cadets, while the Joplin 
Rifles and the Pierce City Guards wore the regulation blue of the United 
States army. This mingling of the blue and the gray was likened by the 
spectators to the reunited states and country where the chivalry of the 
north and the south were marshalled together under one flag. The mat- 
ter of local pride was illustrated in the uniforms of the colonel and major. 
Colonel Allen, who had been a Union soldier in the war between the 
states, wore the gray of the Carthage Light Guard, while Major Cray- 
croft, a native of Maryland and whose father had followed the cause of 
the south, wore the blue of the Joplin Rifles. 

The regiments also participated in the Regimental Camp at Pierce 
City and the state encampment at Sweet Springs, the Carthage Light 
Guard (Company A) having the largest company in camp and the Joplin 
Rifles (Company B) winning honorable mention from the general com- 
manding for its splendid appearance and camp discipline. 

Ben Deaeing 's Camp Meeting 

In August, 1883, a camp meeting was held on Carterville just west 
of the Missouri Pacific railway tracks and its influence was felt through- 
out the county. Rev. Ben Dearing, of the Webb City South Methodist 
Church, was the originator of the movement and planned the details of 
the gathering. 

The camp meeting began "Wednesday, August 22nd, and lasted for 
two weeks. One hundred tents were put up on the ground and rented to 
those who did not desire to bring camping outfits with them. There was 
also a restaurant on the ground and, in addition to the revival of the old- 
time religious custom, it was a most enjoyable outing for those who at- 
tended. The Missouri Pacific Railway ran special trains from Joplin, 
"Webb City, Carterville and Carthage, and there was a daily attendance 
of from 2,000 to 5,000 people, quite a number remaining on the grounds 
the greater part of the meeting. 

For the purpose of meeting the incidental expenses of the camp- 
meeting, a gate admission of ten cents was charged and in this way the 
advertising, rent of camp accoutrements, lumber for temporary speak- 
ers' stands, etc., were paid for. The meeting was useful in several ways. 
It brought together the religious workers of the county and strengthened 
the feeling of brotherly love that exists among enthusiastic workers of 
any great cause. It gave a delightful rest from business cares to those 
who attended the meeting and it afforded an opportunity of the masses 
to listen to the Word from one of the most eloquent and fervent preachers 
the county knew during the early 'eighties. 

Cold Winter op 1884-5 
Beginning with early December, 1884, and continuing until March, 
1885, the southwestern Missouri counties were held in the grasp of Old 
Boreas. 



312 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The oldest citizen did not remember a time when there had been in 
southwestern Missouri a cold spell of such length. Every winter has its 
cold snap and below zero weather, but a three-months' stretch was an ex- 
ception. Capt. W. K. Caffee, of Carthage, who before the establishment 
of the weather bureaus kept a record of the heat and cold, gives the 
following dates which show the length of the cold snap : Thursday, Dec- 
ember 25th, 5 degrees below zero: Saturday, January 17th. 17 degrees 
below; Tuesday, January 20th, l/ 2 degree below; Thursday, January 22d. 
y 2 degree below; Wednesday, January 28th. V/ 2 degrees below; Tues- 
day. February 10th, 8U 2 degrees below; Monday. February 16. 7 degrees 
degrees below ; Friday, February 20th, 2 degrees below. 

Market Reports in 1885 

In our notes of Carthage, in 1875, we published a market report and, 
for the purpose of contrast and comparison, we give below the prices paid 
for country produce in January. 1885; Wheat, No. 2, 60 cents; corn 32 
cents; oats, 25 cents; Irish potatoes, 40 cents; sweet potatoes, 50 to 80 
cents; apples, 40 to 45 cents; onions, 75 to 80 cents; butter, per lb. 20 
cents; lard, 7 cents; tallow, 5 cents; eggs, per dozen, 20 cents; chickens, 
per dozen, $1.50 to $2.00; chickens, dressed, per pound, 6 cents; hay, 
loose, ton, $5.00 to $6.00 ; sheep, $2.00 to $2.50 ; cattle, $2.50 to $3.00. 

The banner year for farm products during the 'eighties was 1881, 
when the Carthage mills paid, during August, $1.19 for A. No. 1 wheat 
and in October gave the extraordinary price of $1.30. 

Mineral Township Railway Bonds 

In the middle 'eighties a strong sentiment arose in opposition to the 
payment of the railroad bonds which had been issued by old Mineral 
township in aid of railroad construction, it being claimed by many that 
there were irregularities in the issuance of the bonds. At a mass meeting 
held in Webb City a strong committee, of which C. J. Lewis of Joplin 
was chairman, was appointed to look into the legal status of the bond 
issue and to act for the people as they thought best in the matter of their 
payment. At the request of the meeting Captain Lewis was appointed 
by the county court as fiscal agent for the county to make, if possible, a 
compromise with the bondholders, which he succeeded in doing, and the 
bonds were paid off, less the reduction made, as per the conference of 
the committee and the bondholders. 

The Oronogo Cyclone 

In May, 1883, the city of Oronogo was visited by a des- 
tructive cyclone and many of the houses and stores were demol- 
ished and scattered over the prairie for miles. A person who has never 
witnessed the destruction of a tornado cannot appreciate the extent of the 
damage which was done to this town and its people. The writer, who 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



313 




Ruins of Oronogo after Cyclone 




Ruins of C. E. Elliott's Residence, Oronogo 



314 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

went over to the scene of the disaster, remembers vividly the picture 
which the place presented. The uprooted trees, the innumerable piles of 
broken lumber and boards, made the town look as if a thousand demons 
had jumped in with axes and chopped the houses, barns and fences into 
kindling wood. 

Early in the evening the oppressive heat, the blackening clouds, the 
lightning, and the thunder which resembled the cannonading of a hun- 
dred batteries alarmed the town. At a little after seven o'clock the 
cyclone came in all of its fury, and in five minutes Oronogo was razed to 
the ground. 

A few minutes after the storm Thomas Jones, of Oronogo, came riding 
bareback into Webb City and gave the first information which the county 
had of the cyclone. From Webb City the news was 'phoned to Joplin 
and Carthage and relief trains were made up. Physicians and helpers 
from these two cities were soon on the way to the grief stricken and un- 
fortunate town. The scene of desolation which met the relief crews 
was beyond language to express. The demon of destruction had entered 
the town from the southwest and had swept through the main part of the 
place carrying destruction before it. 

James Cummings, salesman for C. E. Elliott, was covered by the 
debris of the store and had to dig his way out. Dr. and Mrs. Myer were 
sitting in their home when the storm came and saw the roof lifted off 
their house and carried two hundred feet away. Mr. George Goodwin 
and his family were at supper when the cyclone came. When they heard 
the awful roar of the wind they started to run, but too late ; for the house 
which had been their shelter was blown over on them killing Mr. Good- 
win and his step-daughter, Miss Sarah Bowdau. 

The most miraculous escape was that of C. E. Elliott. At that time, 
his was the only brick residence in Oronogo and when the storm struck 
was bending over his child who was lying down. When the roof com- 
menced to cave in he never moved, but acted as a shield for the little one 
until he saw an avenue of escape- — through a hole which had been made 
in the wall and quickly gathering up the infant he rushed through this 
aperture and escaped without a scratch. Those who saw the room next 
day, a mass of bricks and lumber in one heterogeneous pile look upon 
his escape as a most miraculous thing. 

Besides the two who were killed, thirty-three were seriously injured, 
among them Emmet Haines, Mrs. Haines, Mrs. Ellis, Mollie Haines, Dr. 
Lafayette, J. W. Haynes, James Cummings, Mrs. Napier, Mrs. Frye, J. 
Goodwin, Charles Wyatt, S. J. Scott, Mrs. Dr. Myers, Robert Gonley, 
William Hunsicker, Bert Stultz, Mrs. Morgan and 0. H. Singer. 

I. 0. 0. F. Celebration (1886) 

Avilla is one of the oldest towns in the county and is in the center of 
a rich farming district. On account of having no railroad facilities its 
growth was materially retarded but its citizens are highly progressive, 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 315 

intelligent and patriotic. In 1886 the Odd Fellow lodge at Avilla invited 
the craft from all over the county to join them in the celebration of the 
sixty-seventh anniversary of the founding of the order in the United 
States and the celebration was highly successful. The visiting members 
came in carriages, buggies and wagons, and on the morning of the day, 
April 26, 1886, the four roads leading to Avilla were fully alive with 
people coming to take part in the day's celebration. Visitors were there 
from all over the county and in the parade two hundred and two mem- 
bers of the order and forty-three Daughters of Rebecca marched behind 
the banner of the order. D. A. Smith, then grand master of the state 
and, by the way, the first Jasper county citizen to reach that high post, 
was the orator of the day. His splendid address and the excellent good 
fellowship enjoyed by the members present did much good for the three- 
linked fraternity, and gave it an excellent advertisement among the 
country folks of the eastern portion of the county. 

Lehigh 

As in the later 'sixties and early 'seventies the town of Fidelity had 
risen to considerable importance, and then declined until nothing was 
left of the town excepting a memory, so in the 'eighties Lehigh arose, 
prospered, declined and disappeared from the map. 

Lehigh, which during the middle 'eighties had upward of fifteen hun- 
dred inhabitants, was located about two miles southwest of Carl Junction 
on Center creek. The camp, which was first called Skeeterville, sprang 
into notice during the early 'eighties and in 1883 was organized as a 
village, with Oscar De Graff as chairman of the board of trustees. At 
the time of the organization of Lehigh there were seven saloons in the 
place, running day and night and everything was wide open. The in- 
corporation of the town brought order out of chaos. In 1884 the town 
of Lehigh was organized as a city of the fourth class and S. A. Stucky, 
now president of the Carthage National Bank, became mayor. 

Lehigh was a much talked of town until about 1887, when it began 
to decline. The zinc at Lehigh was exceedingly rich and large quantities 
of it lay under the creek bed. 

With fifty or more drifts under the creek-bed, the ground gave way 
and let the water into the mines, and it was necessary for a time to 
abandon them. 

Recently the old Lehigh company has turned the creek-bed some four 
hundred feet to the south, and now the old creek bottom is a scene of 
activity, a number of mines being worked where until a few years ago 
Center creek rushed on to Spring river. 

Belville — Zincite 

Early in the 'eighties a production camp was opened in the south- 
western part of the county and just southwest of old Sherwood and called 
Belville, after the mining superintendent who developed the ground. 



316 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Like its neighbor, Lehigh, Belville had a rapid growth and at one time 
numbered more than a thousand. A town was laid out and a postoffice 
established under the name of Zincite. In 1886 a newspaper was started 
railed the ZindU Morning Star and flourished for a time. During the 
later 'eighties Zincite had three lodges, among them a G. A. R. post of 
fifty members. 

It had a playhouse, with a seating capacity of 400, two churches, and 
business in proportion. Zincite continued to thrive for some twenty 
years, but during the last decade has declined and now is only a hamlet. 

The Sarcoxie Fair 

The old historic town of Sarcoxie forged to the front during the 
eighties, fully doubling its population and in a business way increasing 
in importance. 

During this decade two new churches were built and a commodious 
six-room brick school building erected. Its newspaper, the Sarcoxit 
Vindicator was a great factor in moulding public opinion in and around 
Sarcoxie, and this evidence of prosperity and life was crystalized in the 
organization of the Sarcoxie Fair, which held a number of excellent ex- 
positions during the middle 'eighties. The Sarcoxie Fair was more on the 
order of an exhibit than a racing meet — and here the agricultural prod- 
ucts and live stock of Jasper, Newton and Lawrence counties were seen 
to the best advantage. J. M. Rice, the editor of the Sarcoxie paper, was 
the prime mover and leading worker in the enterprise. At the fair, fall 
of 1886, the Twelfth Regiment, Select Knights, A. O. U. W., held its 
annual encampment, which was a feature of the occasion. 

In the prize drill for the championship of the regiment in which six 
legions participated, Joplin won over Neosho by the small margin of 41 
points out of a possible 1000. 



Decade 

of the 

Nineties 



The Census of 1890. 

Jasper township 955 

Duval township 970 

Preston township, including Jasper City 1,365 

Jasper City, 400. 

Sheridan township 955 

Lincoln township °21 

McDonald township 1,205 

Madison township 1,248 

Marion township, including Carthage 9,323 

Carthage. 7,981. 

Mineral township, including Oronogo. (Oronogo not listed sep- 
arately in 1890) 2,145 

Twin Grove township, including Carl Junction 2,323 

Carl Junction, 699. 

Galena township, outside of Joplin 4.360 

Joplin. 9.948. 

Joplin township, including Webb City and Carterville 9,731 

Webb City, 5,043. 

Carterville, 2,884. 

Jackson township 1,315 

Union township 1.309 

Sarcoxie township, including City of Sarcoxie. City of Sarcoxie 

not listed separately in 1890 2,532 

50.500 



:iih 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

COUNTY AT LARGE 

County Politics — Exciting Campaign ow 1896 — Building op the 
County Court Houses — Corner Stone Laid of Joplin Court 
House — The Court House at Carthage — Dedication op the Court 
House — At the South West Missouri Teachers' Association op 
1890 — The Teachers' Normal, — At the "World's Pair, Chicago 
(1893) — The Inter State Chautauqua Assembly — Building op 
the Inter Urban Street Railway System — Annual, Banquet op 
the Jasper County Electric Club — The Good Roads Movement — 
Jasper-Newton County Old Settlers' Association — The Grippe 
in Jasper County. 

A comparison of the census of 1890 and 1900 shows that Jasper 
county made rapid strides in point of population during the nineties, 
the county having gained 33,518 inhabitants during the decade. 

The business of the county likewise increased in volume, especially 
tin- mining industry which at the close of the decade showed triple the 
value in output over the amount turned in during the year 1890. 

We find it much harder in this chapter to classify the history into 
divisions than we did in the seventies and eighties, so much that properly 
was local in its character yet had a county-wide influence, was found, 
that in the narrative of this decade much of the history of Carthage, 
Joplin, Webb City and Carterville will be found in our county-at-large 
chapter and we shall, however, as much as possible, confine our stories 
to the divisions in which they belong. 

County Politics 

1890, being an off year, no great rallies were had, but both parties 
made a vigorous speech-making campaign, with the result that a mixed 
ticket was elected. The following were the successful contestants : Pre- 
siding judge county court, H. A. Atherton; associate justices (Eastern 
district) Clay Leeming and (Western district) James A. Daugherty; 
prosecuting attorney, James A. Dryden ; recorder, John C. Barley ; 
county clerk, Annie W. Baxter ; collector, H. W. Crane ; circuit clerk, 
Frank Ney ; treasurer, Thomas Garland; assessor, W. S. Cohenour; 
coroner, Dr. E. C. H. Squire; state senator, W. B. Hendrickson; repre- 
sentatives, (Eastern district) W. R. Schooler and (Western district) 
H. B. Fraser; sheriff, James Purcell. 

319 



320 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

The presidential election of 1892 was an exciting one, the tariff ques- 
tion being the paramount issue. The vote on president was: Harrison, 
Republican, 5,360; Cleveland, Democrat, 4,801; Streeter, Populist, 1,818. 

The county officers elected at this election were: Representatives, 
(Eastern district), R. T. Stickney and (Western district), H. L. Isher- 
wood ; sheriff, Jas. Pureed ; collector, R. H. Crane ; prosecuting attorney, 
J. T. James; judges (Eastern district), R. L. McMeecham and (West- 
ern district), Jas. A. Daugherty ; treasurer, I. P. Russum ; coroner, E. C. 
H. Squire ; assessor, W. S. Taylor ; surveyor, George H. Bradford ; public 
administrator, John T. Willoughby. 

1894 : Vote on judge supreme court : Republican, 4,738 ; Democrat, 
3,395; Populist, 1,286. 

Representatives (Eastern district), R. T. Stickney; (Western dis- 
trict), W. J. Sailor; circuit clerk, F. B. Norton; recorder of deeds, James 
A. Seigler; county clerk, S. A. Stuckey; prosecuting attorney, H. L. 
Shannon ; presiding judge county court, Charles W. Elliott ; associate 
justices (Eastern district), Clay Leeming and (Western district), L. A. 
Fillmore ; sheriff, W. S. Crane ; probate judge, D. D. Keer ; assessor, W. 
S. Taylor; coroner, William Galbraith. 

Exciting Campaign op 1896 

The campaign of 1896 was by far the most exciting of the nineties and 
also the most hotly contested of any election since the famous Hayes 
and Tilden campaign of 1876. The money question was the paramount 
issue ; and over this question there was an almost complete new line-up 
for the great political battle that was on. 

When the Republican party declared against the free coinage of 
silver, many members who favored bi-metalism left the party with which 
they had affiliated and formed the Free Silver Republican party which, 
as the campaign grew hot, affiliated with the Democrats. In the same 
way great numbers of Democrats who favored the single standard met 
and organized the sound money Democratic party and many of these, 
as the election drew on, voted with the Republicans. The Populist party 
also affiliated with the Democrats, and the alliance was sometimes spoken 
of as the Three Ringed Circus. 

The excitement was intense and on almost every street corner and 
country store little groups of men could be seen discussing the all- 
absorbing question of the day. 

Republicans wore yellow hats and yellow flowers, significant of the 
gold standard and the Democrats wore white hats and white flowers, 
significant of the white metal. Both parties held great rallies and torch 
light processions and at the four large cities these demonstrations 
brought together thousands of people. 

The result in Jasper county was as follows: Bryan, Democrat, 7,016 ; 
McKinley, Republican, 4,819. 

The county officers elected were: Circuit judge, J. D. Perkins; rep- 
resentative (Eastern district), M. P. Jenkins and (Western district) 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 321 

James A. Daugherty; judge (Eastern district), W. R. Schooler, and 
judge (Western district), Albert B. Osborn; prosecuting attorney, 
Charles H. Montgomery ; collector, S. A. Emery ; sheriff, W. H. Warren ; 
assessor, O. B. Morris; surveyor, Charles Clark, treasurer, J. M. Weeks; 
public administrator. James Day; coroner, Dr. William Whitley. 

Officers elected in 1898 : State senator, Ben. F. Thomas ; representa- 
tive (Eastern district), M. P. Jenkens; representative (Western dis- 
trict), A. G. Carter; presiding judge county court, James M. Hickman; 
associate justices county court (Eastern district). William R. Schooler 
and (Western district), M. C. Terry; sheriff, W. H. Warren; county 
clerk, S. A. Stuckey ; circuit clerk, F. B. Norton ; county collector, C. A. 
Emery; county treasurer, John M. Weeks; judge probate court, Marion 
Brown; coroner, Win. Whitley; public administrator, Edwin O'Donnold; 
prosecuting attorney. H. L. Shannon ; assessor, 0. B. Morris and re- 
corder, F. B. Steadly. The vote at this election was as follows: Demo- 
cratic ticket, 5,567 ; Republican ticket, 5,466. 

On the face of the returns John Malang. Republican, and F. B. 
Steadly, Democrat, tied for recorder. Both sides prepared for a contest, 
but after several months of legal manoeuvres the contestants settled the 
controversy amicably, Mr. Steadly taking the office. 

Building op the County Court Houses 

After having twice defeated a proposition to build a court house the 
county, at a special election held July 15, 1891, by a vote of 6,816 to 
3,106 decided to build two court houses — one at Carthage, to cost ap- 
proximately $100,000 and one at Joplin to cost $20,000. The city of 
Carthage paid $50,000 of the cost of the Carthage house. The election 
had been bitterly fought, the citizens of Webb City opposing the 
proposition. 

On July 22nd, a jollification was had in Carthage which was at- 
tended by 20,000 people — 10,000 taking part in the parade. A special 
train of nine cars, packed to the guard, came to Carthage from Joplin, 
and the revelry continued far into the night. 

The election was contested by the citizens of Webb City and fought 
through the courts to the Supreme court, that body declaring the elec- 
tion void because the voters had not used the Australian system, which 
had been made a part of the laws of 1891 and had taken effect a few 
days prior to the election. 

The matter was resubmitted to the people on May 9, 1893, and after 
a hotly contested campaign the tax was again voted, the ballot being as 
follows : For the court house tax, 8,174 ; against, 3,281 ; majority above 
the required two-thirds, 1,612. 

Corner Stone Laid of Joplin Court House 

The laying of the corner stones of the two court houses marked two 
great days in Jasper county history. The court house at Joplin, being 



322 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

the smaller of the two, was of course soonest ready for occupancy and 
the corner stone first laid. 

The corner stone of the Jasper county court house at Joplin was laid 
with appropriate ceremonies May 8, 1894, and was a gala day for that 
city. Although the morning portended rain, fully 15,000 people took 
part in the exercises, which were slightly marred by the storm which 
came on before the ceremonies were concluded. The Board of Education 
dismissed the schools for the day and the 3,300 pupils witnessed the 
demonstration. 

The parade was a most imposing spectacle and was participated in 
by fifty-one organizations which moved as follows: 

(1) Grand Marshal D. M. Page and staff. 

(2) Military division, Major P. E. Williams commanding: Joplin 
Drum Corps, Carthage Light Guards, Joplin Rifles and Scarrett Guards 
of Neosho. 

(3) School division, consisting of three marching organizations rep- 
resenting the Macedonian Phalanx, the Crusaders and the Continental 
Minute Men of 1775. 

These three organizations had participated (in costume) in a school 
entertainment, February 22nd, and had made such a hit that they were 
especially invited to participate in the corner stone parade. The Mace- 
donian Phalanx appeared in the costume of the time of Alexander the 
Great, the boys carrying spears. The Crusaders, in the habiliments of 
the legions of Richard Cceur de Lion, carried swords. The Minute Men 
appeared in the uniform of the Continental patriots and drew after them 
a small cannon which had been cast at Freeman's foundry and which 
had done service as an enthusiasm raiser, in the campaign of 1892, also 
the court house campaign. 

(4) Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Ancient Order of United 
Workmen division, Capt. R. A. Spear, commanding : Twin City band ; 
Joplin and Cartilage cantons; Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodges 
of the county and Ancient Order of United Workmen lodge — twelve or- 
ganizations in line. 

(5) Knights of Pythias division, Capt. G. K. Davidson, command- 
ing: Joplin Cadet band; Uniformed Ranks Knights of Pythias, divisions 
from Carthage, Webb City and Joplin and subordinate lodges of Jasper 
county. 

(6) Miners' division. Marsh Ilinton. commanding: Marching club 
of miners in working clothes, carrying dinner pails, etc.. followed by 
floats on which were seated two miners and carrying out the idea that 
the spade hands are the real kings in whose keeping are the destinies of 
the mining district. 

(7) Masonic division. Maj. Clark Craycroft. commanding: Car- 
thage Light Guard band; Knights Templar, Carthage and Joplin, Grand 
Lodge of Emergency; Masons of Jasper county; county officials and 
invited guests. 

(8) Neosho Hayseed band and Knights and Ladies of Honor lodges. 

(9) Fire departments. Chief A. Haughton, commanding: Joplin 's 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



323 




Court House, Joplin 



324 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

new paid fire department, with their new fire wagon and celebrated span 
of horses, Major and Dan; volunteer departments of Carthage, Carter- 
ville and Neosho. 

(10) Mounted division, T. W. Cunningham, commanding: Galena 
Firemen's band and one hundred men on horseback, riding four abreast 
and making a magnificent appearance. Each of the horsemen wore a 
small United States flag in his hat and in each of the horses' bridles was 
a pretty boutonniere of red white and blue. 

The following composed the Grand Lodge of Emergency who laid the 
corner stone : Most Worshipful Master, P. L. Crossman ; Right Worship- 
ful Master, Al Reynolds; S. W., E. C. H. Squire; J. W., E. F. Martin; 
Treasurer, W. S. Carson; Secretary, Harmon Cline; Chaplain, Rev. J. 
J. Martin; S. D., W. A. Skelton; J. D., Jno. H. Tutt; Grand Pursuviant, 
J. C. Faulkender, Tyler, T. J. Patterson ; Grand Stewards, C. H. Hand, 
W. H. Miles, W. M. Thompson and A. S. Abbott ; Bearer of the Bible 
Square and Compass, John S. Reynolds; Bearer of the Constitution, 
John S. McDonald. 

At the conclusion of the ceremonies a number of addresses were made, 
among them those of S. A. Stuckey, Carl Junction, Jacob Friek, Jasper, 
and the mayors of Carthage and Carterville. The coming on of the rain 
shortened the program. 

One of the most delightful features of the day was the entertainment 
provided by the Joplin Club: Capt. E. 0. Bartlett as chairman of the 
entertainment committee, dispensed for the club at the Keystone Hotel, 
light refreshments before and after the exercises and every out-of-town 
visitor was invited to partake of the hospitality. 

The Joplin court house was dedicated in April, 1895, and used until 
June 13, 1911, when it was destroyed by fire. At this writing it has not 
been rebuilt. 

The Court House at Carthage 

The corner stone of the Jasper county court house was laid August 
23, 1894, and was an event long to be remembered. The ceremonies 
were conducted by Masons, assisted by various fraternal and military 
societies acting as escort in the grand parade which preceded the exer- 
cises. 

Parade 

(1) Col. W. K. Coffee and staff acted as grand marshal of the day 
and the parade moved in the following order. 

(2) Carriage containing the then four oldest living citizens in the 
county — Mr. and Mrs. John A. Dale, John Onstott and Judge Rushe. 

(3) Carriages containing the county officials. 

(4) Carthage Light Guard band. 

(5) Second Battalion, Second Regiment, M. N. G., Maj. F. E. Will- 
iams, commanding. 

(6) Masonic lodges of Jasper county, escorted by the Knights 
Templar. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 325 

(7) Galena Firemen's band. 

(8) Battalion of Uniformed Ranks Knights- of Pythias, consisting 
of divisions from Carthage, Webb City and Joplin, commanded by Col. 
Carl Gray. 

(9) Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodges of Jasper county, es- 
corted by Patriarchs Militant. 

(10) Carthage Drum Corps. 

(11) Veterans of Civil war. 

(12) Joplin Drum Corps. 

(13) Stone cutters working on the court house. 

(14) Citizens. 

The corner stone was placed in position by Honorable John D. Vincil 
of St. Louis, past grand master Missouri Grand Lodge of Masons. The 
following articles were deposited in the receptacle: The Holy Bible and 
photograph of workmen throwing first shovel of dirt; copy of High 
School Star; advertisements and posters of court house meetings; certi- 
fied order of court announcing result of election; World's Fair coins; 
Rosters G. A. R. posts of Jasper county ; literary societies of Carthage 
and Masonic bodies participating in the ceremonies; a $10 Confederate 
bill ; copies of all newspapers in the county ; miscellaneous articles. 

Mayor E. B. Jacobs, C. 0. Harrington and T. B. Tuttle comprised the 
committee which planned and carried out the details of the exercises. 

Fifteen thousand people witnessed the impressive corner stone 
ceremonies. 

Dedication of the Court House 

The Carthage court house was formally dedicated October 9, 1895, 
with appropriate ceremonies. The exercises opened with a parade which 
was participated in by the military and civic societies and the school 
children of Carthage. The latter feature was an imposing spectacle, 
every one of the pupils wearing a badge and carrying a United States 
flag. John W. Halliburton was the marshal of the day. 

Two speakers' stands were erected one at the northeast and one at 
the southeast corners of the court house and addresses were made by 
Congressman Burton E. C. Devore, of Carterville, T. B. Houghawout 
and Major H. H. Harding. 

In the evening, at the Harrington Hotel, the Jasper Courts Bar As- 
sociation held a meeting and concluded with a banquet. Hon. Galen 
Spencer of Joplin presiding as toast master. Among the toasts and re- 
sponses were the following: "Our Courts," Major H. H. Harding; 
"The Lawyer," J. W. McAntire; "Our Clients," Thomas Hackney; 
"The Jury," L. P. Cunningham; "Oratory in Court," John H. 
Flannigan. 

At the South West Missouri Teachers' Association - op 1890. 

At the meeting of the South West Missouri Teachers' Association in 
December, 1890, at Lebanon, Jasper county carried off all of the honors. 



326 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

In the oratorical contest in which sixteen of the twenty-seven counties 
in the association sent a contestant, Miss D. Lorane Buchanan, of Joplin, 
won the first prize. Miss Buchanan later became an actress of great 
ability. In the prize essay contest W. M. Wharton, principal of the 
Medoc school, and later county superintendent, won the first honor and 
in the general display of school work the Webb City schools captured 
the blue ribbon. 

R. D. Shannon and S. A. Underwood, of Joplin, were elected presi- 
dent and secretary of the association and J. M. Stevenson, county school 
commissioner of Jasper county, treasurer, while Joplin was chosen as 
the place for holding the next session. At the Joplin meeting in De- 
cember. 1891, a pleasing incident occurred. Treasurer J. M. Stevenson 
and Secretary S. A. Underwood were both present at the meeting in 
Carthage when the association was formed in 1878, and each had at- 
tended every session of the association from its formation. These gentle- 
men, with other teachers who were prominent in the educational affairs 
of South West Missouri presented to the association a gavel made of 
twenty-seven pieces of wood — one piece obtained in each of the twenty- 
seven counties. The gavel was a splendid souvenir and was also a 
beautiful piece of mechanical work. The gavel had in it ten different 
kinds of wood grown in South West Missouri. In presenting it to the 
president Professor Stevenson told a number of interesting reminiscences 
of the Jasper schools. A feature of the Joplin meeting was a class of 
sixteen boys and girls from the Longfellow school in Kansas City, who 
came to the meeting accompanied by the physical director of the Kansas 
City Schools and gave an interesting exhibition of calisthenic exercises. 
The director also read a very instructive paper on how to teach physical 
culture in the public schools. 

The Teachers' Normal, 

All during the nineties the Teachers' Normal continued to be a great 
factor in educational circles. Three hundred teachers and applicants 
for teachers' certificates attended the 1890 Normal and all who were in 
attendance felt that a profitable and pleasant school month had been 
spent. The faculty this year consisted of County Commissioner J. M. 
Stevenson, conductor; Prof. Howe, of the Warrensberg State Normal; 
Prof. Dodd, of the Carthage High School; Lyda Clark and V. L. Vawter. 

Spelling was a feature of this year's course of study and at the close 
of the Normal a spelling contest was had in which 225 teachers par- 
ticipated. The following were among the teachers who scored 100: 
Agnes McCarty, A. B. Callison. Euphema Potts, W. M. Wharton. Alice 
Corley, Stella Hodshier. Sakie Gray and Ella Lawton. 

In the final examination H. Church, of Carthage, received honorable 
mention for having turned in the neatest set of papers of the entire 
teaching body. 

At the school election in 1893 W. M. Wharton was elected county com- 
missioner and was twice reelected. In 1899 Prof. E. B. Denision. of 
Joplin, was elected superintendent. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 327 

All during the nineties the Normal was a great summer school, al- 
ways having had a most excellent corps of teachers, and each year showed 
some advancement over the year previous. We will not attempt to set 
out in detail the accomplishments of each of the normals, other than to 
say that during the nineties it was held every three years at Carthage, 
Webb City and Joplin. 

W. M. Wharton, who became county superintendent in 1893, intro- 
duced in the Normal the plan of issuing diplomas to the teachers who 
had completed the courses of study mapped out. The first Normal class 
graduated in 1898 and the examination passed by the graduates was the 
same as given by the state superintendent for a. five-year state certificate. 

At the World's Fair. Chicago (1893) 

In the selection of the Missouri Board of World's Fair Commission- 
ers. Governor Francis honored Jasper county witli the selection of Col. 
II. II. Gregg, of Joplin, as one of the five to look after the proper adver- 
tisement and showing of Missouri's great industries and resources, and 
to him was especially assigned the collection of mining exhibits. 

In the Missouri building at the fair Jasper county was assigned one 
room, and this was filled up by the county under the direction of a board 
of lady managers selected from the different cities of the county. Mrs. 
J. W. Harper, of Carthage, was the president of the board of lady man- 
agers for the Jasper county room and this association met at stated in- 
tervals at different points over the county to devise ways and means for 
decorating the room and collecting the exhibits. In Joplin, Carthage 
and Webb City entertainments and balls were given by the ladies and 
a neat sum raised, to which the mine operators added $3,300 for the dis- 
tribution of advertising matter at the fair. The room was tastefully 
decorated and attracted much attention. Among the exhibits in the 
Jasper County room which excited favorable comment were samples of 
the various forms of lead in its native state and the manufactured prod- 
uct by the Picher Lead Company of Joplin. A huge pyramid of zinc 
was exhibited, made from specimens sent in from the different camps. 
Among the single pieces of zinc was a mass from the Blendville mines 
weighing 6.500 pounds and one from Webb City weighing 2,600. 

The Inter State Chautauqua Assembly 

In 1897 there was organized the Inter State Chautauqua Assembly 
and the first of a number of interesting and instructive meetings held at 
Carthage June 21st to July 9th of that year. 

It was originally intended to be a Jasper-Cherokee county affair and 
the first board of directors were chosen from the several cities of Jasper 
county and Galena, Kansas. 

The officers for 1897 were : President. Dr. D. J. Stewart, of Car- 
thage; vice president, Rev. J. B. Welty, of Joplin. Among the Jasper 
county citizens on the board were: Jno. H. Taylor, Rev. Paul Brown 



328 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

and G. B. Young, of Joplin ; Dr. Cook, president of Webb City College, 
and A. A. Hulett, of Webb City; J. W. Petty, of Carterville, and Dr. 
Goucher of Carthage. 

The first assembly was a success in every particular excepting that 
the finances ran short on account of a severe storm during the middle of 
the meeting which kept down the attendance. Days were set apart for 
various organizations and a number of speakers of national reputation 
were in attendance, among them, William Jennings Bryan, Senator Dol- 
liver of Iowa; Gen. S. B. Prentis, the hero of Shiloh; T. DeWitt Tal- 
mage ; Sam Jones and many others. 

Bryan day, June 24th, 20,000 people were on the grounds and on the 
Sound Money day, when Senator Dolliver was the orator, almost as 
many were in attendance. 

It was regrettable that the severe rain, which came on in the midst 
of the assemble, marred the financial success of the meet, because it had 
brought together, in a delightful summer school, the literary and music 
loving people of the county. Among the musical celebrities from abroad 
none outshone Jasper county's own Miss Emma Johns, of Carthage, 
now Mrs. De Armond, whose piano performances thrilled the vast as- 
semblage who heard her play. The first Jasper County Chautauqua went 
down in history as a most delightful literary and social success. 

Building of the Inter Urban Street Railway System. 

As in the seventies, the building of the three lines of railroad trans- 
formed Jasper county from an unimportant, country community to a 
great wideawake business center, so during the nineties, three electric 
street railways were built and they wrought wonderful changes, both in 
a business and social way. The three electric roads built and operated 
were the Joplin Electric Street Railway Company, the South West 
Missouri Electric Railway Company and the Jasper County Electric 
Railroad. 

The Joplin Electric Railway is mentioned in the history of Joplin 
and we will therefore speak here only of the South West Missouri Elec- 
tric and the Jasper County Electric, all three of which are now con- 
solidated and under the management of the South West Missouri Rail- 
road Company. 

In 1889 A. H. Rogers of Springfield built a mule street car line from 
Webb City to Carterville and operated it until 1893, when he organized 
the South West Missouri Electric Railway Company, took over the roll- 
ing stock, car barn, etc., of the Webb City-Carterville Street Railway 
Company and built an electric railway from Joplin to Prosperity via 
Webb City and Carterville. A considerable difficulty was experienced 
in securing the franchise in Webb City, there being quite a senti- 
ment against an interurban line, many of the merchants feeling that 
a line to Joplin would have a tendency to take business away from the 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 329 

local merchant. By a great stroke of policy, Mayor Manker, of Webb 
City, secured the insertion of a clause in the franchise providing that the 
principal offices, power house, car barns, etc., should be located in Webb 
City ; and thus the second city in the county became the center of all the 
business activities of the now great interurban system. The importance 
of this cowp d'etat will be more readily seen when it is called to mind 
that the road now has over 250 employees, fully one half of whom live 
in Webb City. 

The South West Missouri Electric railroad was completed in the 
summer of 1893, the first car making the run from Webb City to Joplin 
on July 4th of that year. In 1896 the road purchased the Jasper County 
Electric Railway, running from Carthage to Carterville, the Joplin 
Electric & Galena Electric railways. This consolidation gave to Jasper 
county a splendid interurban service. In 1903 the company extended 
its lines to Duenweg and also to Smelter Hill and Chitwood in Joplin. 

In 1906 the South West Missouri Railroad Company was organized 
and took over the South West Missouri Electric with its several holdings 
and the Webb City Northern Electric Railway Company — an extension 
which had been built north to Oronogo, Purcell and Alba. In 1908 the 
road extended its line from Joplin to Duenweg, thus making a complete 
belt of the mining district. The same year the Villa Heights extension 
in Joplin was also made. 

It will be noted from the above that the system is a most important 
part of Jasper county and with this quick transportation makes all sec- 
tions of Jasper county neighbors. The line now has a total of over 
seventy-five miles. 

It is a matter of pride to the county that there has never been a labor 
disturbance of any kind on the road. The employees are from the best 
families of the county. 

In 1910 the Railway Company and A. H. Rogers built for the Electric 
Railway Club (an organization composed of the employees of the road) 
a beautiful club home. The building was furnished by the club and here 
a number of social functions for the members and their families have 
occurred. 

The Jasper County Electric Railway Company, composed mostly of 
Carthage capital, was organized in 1892 for the purpose of building an 
electric railway from Carthage to Carterville and Webb City. After 
securing franchises in Carthage and Carterville, during which time many 
obstacles were overcome, work on the line was commenced in 1894 and 
the road completed in July, 1895. The road, which is now a part of the 
South West Missouri Railway Company System, at first entered Carter- 
ville from the south, running through the northern portion of Johns- 
town. 

The South West Missouri Electric Railway acquired this property in 
1896 and have since greatly improved the roadbed, service, etc. The 
opening of the Jasper County Electric brought into popularity beauti- 



330 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

ful Lake Side park, which from then to now has been a most popular 
pleasure resort. 

Annual Banquet op the Jasper County Electric Ci.ru. 

Beginning with 1904 the members of the Jasper County Electric Rail- 
way Club have held an annual banquet at which as many of the mem- 
bers as possible, with their wives and sweethearts, meet and spend a social 
hour. We copy here from the Joplin Daily Globe its account of the 7th 
annual banquet held at Webb City, December 14. 1911. as it will give an 
idea of the importance of these gatherings and the universal good feel- 
ing which exists among the employees of the road. 

"The seventh annual dinner of the Electric Railway Club," says the 
Globe, "was held at the club house at Webb City last night. The ban- 
quet was served in the auditorium of the club house, which was hand- 
somely decorated with chrysanthemums, white carnations and roses. The 
pillars were festooned with pampas grass wreathed with holly. Sprays 
of mistletoe were hung on the chandeliers. In nooks and corners were 
palms and potted plants. 

"Shortly after 8 o'clock the great crowd, numbering 150, filed into 
the banquet hall. The wives and daughters of the street railroad men 
served the dinner. It was after 10 o'clock before the menu, which be- 
gan with an oyster cocktail, followed by turkey and cranberry sauce, to 
the accompaniment of Pacific punch, then hot mince pie and coffee, was 
concluded. The smoke of a hundred cigars or more hung in contented 
clouds when Allen McReynolds, attorney for the Southwest Missouri Rail- 
road Company, assumed his duties as toastmaster. 

"Mr. McReynolds presided happily and gracefully. There was a 
tine balance of wit and dignity, a rare blende of seriousness and levity in 
his observations, while his introductions were models of consciseness and 
aptness. 

" A year ago tonight,' said Mr. McReynolds. 'we dedicated this 
club house. It might not lie amiss, then, to consider this occasion as the 
"feast of the passover. " This club house, as most of us here know, is the 
property of the employes of the Southwest Missouri Railroad Company. 
I say employes, and I use the word advisedly, for we are all employes of 
this company from the president down to the trackman. Each of us has 
his work to do. Each of us is doing it. not merely in a routine way, not 
as a burdensome thing; but each of us is doing his part cheerfully and 
with enthusiasm. It can truthfully be said of the men of this company 
that the end of the day finds every man with a record back of him of 
work well done.' 

"A number of newspapers were represented among the guests. Harry 
Moody of the Carterville Record, Arthur Rozelle of the Webb City Regis- 
lir, Hal Wise of the Webb City Sentinel, P. E. Burton of the Joplin 
Nt its Herald and E. II. James of Tin Joplin Globe, responded to the call 
(if tlic chair. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 331 

" 'Once upon a time,' said the toastmaster, after the representatives 
of the press had testified to the pleasure of the occasion and to the im- 
portance of the great transportation system in the industrial develop- 
ment of the county — 'once upon a time there was a president of the 
United States who coined the expression "innocuous desuetude," a con- 
dition into which he subsided shortly after the utterance. We have here 
tonight a namesake of that president, who, it should be said, has not 
reached that deplorable situation.' 

"The Rev. W. M. Cleaveland, of the First Presbyterian church of 
Joplin, frankly acknowledged that he didn't know what 'innocuous 
desuetude' meant, but, without pausing to lament that fact, he declared 
it to be his intention of joining the Electric Railway Club if he could 
possibly qualify as a member. 

"Mr. Cleaveland dwelt in an effective way upon the value of such 
meetings as this. "The courtesy of the trainmen of the Southwest Mis- 
souri Railroad Company.' said Mr. Cleaveland. 'is not only a matter of 
local comment; it is known afar. It has given the road and the com- 
pany a reputation. This courtesy is not a mere superficial attribute. 
It is based upon a substantial foundation, the mutual confidence between 
the employer and the employed. This spirit of confidence finds sound 
expression in just such gatherings as this. These are great things. They 
make for fellowship. They make for trust. They are an advanced way 
of meeting one of the great issues before the people of today, the rela- 
tionship between capital and labor. It is widely known, and here at 
home it is a matter of intense pride, that in the conduct of this trans- 
portation company the strife and bitterness that are too often found are 
not found here. You are about five years ahead of the procession. This 
situation is necessarily the result of effort and purpose, both on the part 
of the company and on the part of the men in the company's employ.' 

"Mr. A. H. Waite, president of the Joplin National bank, declared 
it to be his belief that 'the courtesy of the men on this road has been one 
of the vital factors in its signal and distinguished success. ' ' As a matter 
of fact,' continued Mr. Waite, 'courtesy is a mighty important factor in 
the success of any business or any individual today. It is an accomplish- 
ment that any man. whatever his business, may well cultivate. For 
courtesy is no solitary virtue. It is found associated with the other qual- 
ities upon which success is built — steadfastness, energy, purpose. The 
success of this company testifies that all those qualities exist within its 
code and make up its character. And for the success it is and the qual- 
ities back of that success you and we are to be congratulated.' 

"Mr. J. Silas Gravelle, secretary of the Joplin Y. M. C. A., and 
whose work as a juvenile court officer is well known, was presented as 
the Ben Lindsay of Jasper county. Mr. Gravelle said that half his time 
was spent in trying to get men to play. He insisted that play was an im- 
portant part in life, and if men would play, and play hard while they 
played, they would work just as hard when they worked. 'Socialability,' 
said Mr. Gravelle. 'is needed. This club house is a practical embodi- 
ment of my theory. Here you can get together. It brings you a relation- 



332 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

ship and a kinship which otherwise would not be possible. As I see it, it 
pays men to be good. It pays to be decent. I believe that socialability 
are great agencies in promoting decency ; in making men good in a 
strong, virile, achieving sense.' 

" 'The lawyer,' said Toastmaster McReynolds, 'has a hard time of 
it. His is a trying life. They say harsh things about the lawyer. His 
veracity is often questioned. I shall not discuss the subject. But I 
want to introduce a lawyer who, whether on the right side or the wrong 
side of a case, has never found it necessary to lie; a lawyer whose life 
and principles and position have been my inspiration — gentlemen, my 
father. ' 

"Mr. Samuel McReynolds, senior member of the firm of general at- 
torneys for the Southwest Missouri Railroad Company, spoke feelingly 
of his long connection with the company, of its growth to its present 
vast dimensions, and of the many times he had attended these banquets. 
Mr. McReynolds said he had always undertaken to give advice and would 
not depart from his custom now. With a happy illustration he impressed 
upon the trainmen the necessity for observation. 

"W. G. Peterson of the Electric Railway Club; Edward Wise, rep- 
resenting the conductors, and M. Y. Campbell, spokesman for the motor- 
men, were called upon and in a happy vein outlined some of the diffi- 
culties that were encountered in their departments. The service the club 
was doing was well brought out by Mr. Peterson. Mr. Wise, veteran 
conductor, explained that if there was a vital difference between the con- 
ductors of this road and those of other roads the cause was this : ' On 
many roads a conductor is simply a cog in the machinery. On this road 
he is a man and is treated as such. ' 

"Mr. Campbell, speaking for the motormen, made it evident that he 
had profited by Mr. Samuel McReynolds' remarks on observation, be- 
cause after recounting in a humorous way the shock he had experienced 
when told he was to make a speech, he said : ' 1 have seen that old fellow 
here many times before (pointing to the elder McReynolds) and I want 
to say he looks good to me. ' 

"Mr. A. H. Rogers, in response to the toastmaster 's introduction, 
said he was glad to be with the Southwest Missouri Railroad Company. 
'I like the job,' said Mr. Rogers, 'and I'm glad also that so many of you 
who are not connected with the company were able to be here tonight. 
You 've seen us right at home. You probably have a different impression 
now of a street railway company than you're accustomed to get from 
many of the magazine articles. It is a significant fact that many of our 
men who are here tonight have been with the company for a great many 
years. It is also a fact of significance that this road is today owned by 
the men who built it. In that respect it is unusual. From all those 
facts it may fairly lie concluded that most of us here are pretty well 
satisfied with our jobs.' 

"It was midnight before the banquet was ended. Tonight the ban- 
quet will be repeated and the trainmen who did extra work last night 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 333 

will attend the festivities, while last night's banqueters take their places 
in the schedule." 

The Good Roads Movement 

A Good Roads convention was held in Carthage September 22, 1898, 
for the discussion of road making and plans for the rapid construction 
of good roads all over Jasper county. Among the speakers were W. H. 
Moore, president of the Missouri Good Roads Association. Mr. Moore 
referred to the fact that there were 1,500 miles of public road in Jasper 
county, some of them well built and in a good state of repair. He said 
that the average cost of making a mile of good road was $2,000 and that 
the plan for covering Jasper county with 1,500 miles of good roads 
meant a three million dollar proposition. 

At the conclusion of his address the farmers and business men of the 
Eastern district organized a good roads club, with the following officers: 
President, C. O. Herrington, Carthage; secretary, Henry Keim, Carth- 
age ; vice presidents, Chas. Ballard, Sheridan township ; J. B. Wild, Sar- 
coxie township ; I. H. Givler, Union township ; Wm.. B. McNew, Jackson 
township ; Alonzo Elling, Madison township ; David Potter, Marion town- 
ship ; T. H. Bell, Lincoln township ; Geo. Brunnet, Preston township ; 
Jas. Campbell, McDonald township. This organization accomplished 
much good and was the means of building many of the good roads in 
the eastern half of the county. 

Jasper-Newton County Old Settlers' Association 

In 1890 the old settlers of Jasper and Newton counties organized an 

old settlers' association and annually since that date the pioneers have 

held either the latter part of August or the early part of September (as 

conditions from time to time indicated as best) a reunion and picnic at 

Moss Springs, seven and one-half miles southeast of Carthage. This 

celebrated picnic ground is admirably suited to a gathering of this kind 

for three reasons: (1st) Being away from any of the large cities and 

at a spot which had been left as nature made it, the scenes presented are 

much as they were in the days before the war and as the county, for 

the most part, was in the reconstruction days after the unpleasantness 

of 18fil-5. 

(2nd) Being away from any of the lines of railroad, it is necessary 

for the old timers and their friends to go as they did before the advent 
of the iron horse and the electric car. 

(3rd) As the nearest boarding house to the picnic grounds is several 
miles away, the people who attend have to take their lunches with them 
and. as every one knows, the eating of a picnic dinner, using the green 
grass for a table and getting- the drinking water from the friendly 
spring nearby, is one-half of the pleasure of one of these out-of-door 
gatherings. 

Those of the citizens of this eountv who have never attended one of 
these great, reunions have missed a rare treat ; for these gatherings have 



334 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

been from the date of the organization of the association down to now 
great events in Jasper county's social happenings. 

Of late years the annual picnics have served a two-fold purpose; they 
have been both a reunion and also a county exposition, where exhibits 
of all kinds have been made, and the taking of a premium at one of these 
gatherings is counted a great honor. 

One of the most notable differences between these reunions and simi- 
lar gatherings held in the cities is the absence of small shows and other 
tented aggregations which detract from the exercises proper, and are 
conducted merely as a money-making scheme. At the reunions of this 
society there are morning and afternoon programs, held at the rustic 
pavillion constructed for the exercises, and from the platform the promi- 
nent speakers of the old school recount the joys and sorrows, the pleas- 
ures and the tribulations of pioneer life ; and those of our own day and 
generation enliven the scene by songs and literary exercises. During 
the noon-hour, of course, the most important part of the program is 
carried out — the picnic dinner — and as everyone brings a well-filled 
basket and enough not only for the family but half a dozen friends be- 
sides, every one goes away, as we used to say, "filled to the neck." 

We had thought to describe at length some one of the twenty-one re- 
unions which this organization has had, but we are at a loss to know just 
which one was counted the most important or the most enjoyable, and will 
not particularize further than to say that at the reunions held the latter 
part of this decade the attendance has varied from 5,000 to 10,000, and 
the programs of exercises have been of such a character that every one 
has been ' ' the best ever. ' ' 

The writer well remembers the first of these events which he had the 
pleasure to attend — the reunion in 1906. As we approached the ground, 
our party stopped at the Four Corners — six miles south of Carthage — 
and from the north, south and west, as far as the eye could reach, were 
seen a. stream of buggies, wagons and horsemen coming to the great re- 
union. Arriving at the grounds, so dense was the line of vehicles that we 
were obliged to tie our horses half a mile from the speaker's stand and 
the sea of people who surged to and fro in the grand old forest bespoke 
the importance of the gathering as a social event. 

The Grippe in Jasper County 

Early in 1890 an epidemic of what is now commonly called the grippe 
spread over Jasper county and in an incredibly short time had a thou- 
sand people sick witli the ailment. 

When the grippe first made its appearance, it was called the Rus- 
sian influenza, but the French name, La Grippe seemed more appropriate 
and the disease was so called by the people of America. 

In Cartilage it became necessary to close the schools for a short time, 
six teachers and three hundred and fifty pupils being sick with the 
grippe during the third week in January. Usually an attack of the 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 335 

grippe did not last longer than three or four days, but those few days 
equalled two weeks of any ordinary sickness, as the patient for a time 
was all in with the influenza. One of the grippe victims illustrated the 
peculiar feeling of the affliction as being like sea sickness, and illustrates 
it with the old story of the man who crossed the pond and experienced 
the sea sick feeling for the first time. He said: "The first day I thought 
that 1 was going to die; the second day, I was afraid that I wouldn't; 
and the third day. I was well." 



CHAPTER XXIX 

MINES AND MINING 

New Prospecting and Mechanical Era — Duenweg — Neck City — 
Reeds — Prosperity — Mining Around Carthage — Alba, Sarcoxie 
and Elsewhere: — Output of District for Decade. 

During the nineties the mining industry spread over all the county, 
no longer being confined to the Joplin, Webb City, Carterville and 
Oronogo districts. We will, therefore, in this and the next decade treat 
the mining industries of the county as a whole and mention only a few 
of the important happenings to the end that the reader may have a gen- 
eral idea of the methods used, the value of the product and the extent 
of the operations. 

New Prospecting and Mechanical Era 

The year 1890 ushered in a new era both as to the manner of pros- 
pecting and the kind of machinery used. P. L. Grossman, of Oronogo, 
introduced the steam drill as a means of locating the mineral. Pre- 
vious to this time the prospector sunk a shaft and, if he struck mineral, 
developed the mine, but, if nothing was found, abandoned the prospect 
and tried his luck elsewhere. Mr. Crossman conceived the idea of drill- 
ing for the mineral and in a much shorter time and less expensive 
method, by the drilling of a number of holes on a tract, it was demon- 
strated with a reasonable certainty the extent of the ore beneath the 
ground. 

The price of zinc had slowly risen until in December, 1889, it was 
quoted on the market at twenty-four dollars a ton. Prom January, 
1, 1890, to August 1, 1893, the price ranged from twenty-one to twenty- 
three dollars, but the panic of 1893 caused it to take a slump and from 
the latter part of 1893 to 1896, it ranged from seventeen dollars and 
twenty-five cents to twenty-one dollars. Through a number of causes 
combined, the price began to rise in 1897, and rose by jumps until 1899, 
when it reached the phenomenal price of sixty dollars a ton. From 
these figures it will be noted that mining activities were very sharp dur- 
ing the early and latter nineties, particularly the latter part of the 
decade. 

During the latter nineties the old windlass and horse hoister almost 
disappeared, excepting for prospecting purposes. 

336 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 337 

DUENWEG 

During this ten years a number of new camps came into great promi- 
nence and at the close of the decade Jasper county boasted of a halt' 
dozen new towns. 

Duenweg, six miles east of Joplin, first came into prominence in 
1895, when H. U. Dale, Josiah Bennett and others sunk the shaft that 
later was given the name of the Newsboy mine. The mine was a great 
producer and the forty acres of land which but a few years before was 
prairie land and on the market at ten dollars an acre now was sold for 
$40,000. 

Duenweg in 1899 was spoken of as an infant wonder in the mining 
district. It was a phenomena, a prodigy and a lasting freak of remark- 
able richness. In 1898 land that a few years before could have been 
bought for a few dollars per acre was producing $37,656 monthly in lead 
and zinc. The camp took its name from the eastern heirs to the property 
named Duenweg. The town has two railroads, and is in line with the 
prosperity and advancement of the county so self-evident to everyone. 

Neck City 

Neck City, which at the close of the decade had some 600 inhabitants 
and which was a red-hot mining town, was at first called Hell's Neck, the 
mines being in the little bend of Spring river which like a neck circles 
around the camp and as the name indicates, it was the "warm thing" — 
that is, until the refining influences of the home life which came with a 
fixed town crowded out the rowdy element. 

An interesting story is told of the original discovery of mineral at 
this point. Doctor Henry, a resident physician of Alba, three miles 
distant, was returning home one dark and stormy night from a visit to 
the sick in this neighborhood. To save distance he road his horse along 
a path through the timber. The night was far spent and the beacon 
stars were hid behind low-hanging clouds in the east. Drowsily the 
doctor rode along, mapping out plans for his visits on the morrow, when 
suddenly his hat was knocked violently from his head by an over-hang- 
ing limb. With muttered imprecations upon the limb the physician dis- 
mounted and felt around in the darkness for his hat. Finding it, he 
remounted and rode on. In a few moments his hat was again knocked 
off and the same trouble experienced in finding it. Five times this oc- 
curred in as many minutes, and the now thoroughly angry doctor tied 
his horse and sat down to wait for daylight, wondering at the strange 
happenings. In a short while gray streaks of light stole up from the 
east and Doctor Henry began to study his surroundings. He discovered 
his horse had lost his way in the darkness and had been traveling in a 
circle, thus passing under the same limb every few moments. The 
doctor further discovered that underneath this tree, partly uprooted 
by the storm, a fine bed of zinc ore had been uncovered. Miners 
went to work there and found some of the best zinc ore in the district. 
Continued work has revealed unusual quantities of zinc ore. 



338 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The output of the Neck mines for the first year averaged $7,000 a 
month. The Big India Mining Company controlled the mining interests 
of this camp. 

Reeds 

In 1S98 mining activities were commenced at Reeds. For several 
years good lead and zinc prospects had been discovered in the vicinity of 
Reeds by farmers in digging wells, but no particular attention was paid 
to it until 1898, when zinc in large bodies was discovered near the sur- 
face, while lower down high grade ore was found. 

It is related that one of the original prospectors bought his interest 
in the mine for a crippled cow and later reaped a fortune from the 
prospect. 

Prosperity 

Prosperity was the name given to a camp which grew up around the 
old Troup mines. In 1899 the town had grown to 1,500. Twenty-four 
mining companies operated on this land, some of them famous in the 
mining world as big producers. Among the most noted producers are 
the Cherokee Company, Eleventh Hour, Hoosier, Irene S., Raymond. 
Richland, Goodenough, Grasshopper, Homestake, Gold Standard, Mc- 
Kinley, McGee, Mohawk, Spot Cash, Tenderfoot, Phoenix, North Star, 
Vernon and Troup. 

Mining Around Carthage 

Some of the richest veins of zinc ore ever drifted upon were found 
in the immediate vicinity of Carthage. Mining had not been prosecuted 
with great vigor in this city for the reason that surface crops amply 
repayed the tiller of the soil, but the advance in the price of zinc toward 
the close of the nineties caused a stampede for mining lands, and many 
cultivated fields were turned into mining lots, filled with shafts and drill 
holes. Among the most valuable mines in the Carthage district was the 
Hayseed. 

Frank Lamb began mining on what is now known as the Lamb land 
in August, 1889. The shaft was sunk to a depth of one hundred and 
forty-five feet. Ore was encountered at one hundred feet, and the min- 
ers began drifting at this level. In five months $15,000 worth of mineral 
was taken out. In January, 1890, Mr. Porter bought the mine, and op- 
erated it until 1892. During the last year Mr. Porter had charge $80,- 
000 worth of ore was taken out. He sold out to a company that worked 
the mine three months, taking out $20,000 worth of stuff — this, too, 
when seventeen dollars was the top price for zinc. 

Unfortunately a cave-in occurred which rendered the land unsafe 
until the ground settled. In 1898 mining operations were resumed. 

Alba, Sarcoxie and Elsewhere 

Alba, which until the nineties had been only a country town, also 
came into great prominence just at the close of the decade, on account 
of the rich mines which were opened up. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 339 

At historic old Sarcoxie, rich zinc mines were also discovered and as 
the nineteenth century drew to a close it found Jasper county one great 
mining district and the value of its product running into the millions. 

Output of District for Decade 

The following table will give an idea of the value of the mining out- 
put of the mining district of which Jasper county is the center: 
Zinc and lead sales in 1890, $3,367,687. 
Zinc and lead sales in 1891, $3,840,480. 
Zinc and lead sales in 1892, $4,580,787. 
Zinc and lead sales in 1893, $3,317,632. 
Zinc and lead sales in 1894, $3,535,736. 
Zinc and lead sales in 1895, $3,771,979. 
Zinc and lead sales in 1896, $3,867,595. 
Zinc and lead sales in 1897, $4,805,637. 
Zinc and lead sales in 1898, $7,171,814. 
Zinc and lead sales in 1899, $10,715,307. 



CHAPTEB XXX 

MILITARY MATTERS 

Second Regiment Organized into Two Battalion's — Letters Replace 
Old Names — First Appearance at St. Louis — The First Regi- 
mental Camp — Camp CUNNINGHAM, August l.",-22, 1897 — Sham 
Battle — Carthage Honor.- Her Dead — The United Confederate 
Veterans — Semi-Military Societies — The Third Regiment, U. R. 
K. P. — Patriarch- Militant. J. 0. 0. F. 

Following the reorganization of the Carthage Light Guard, seven 
companies of the National Guard were quickly organized in Southwest 
Missouri, and on October '.). 1800, the officers of the several companies 
elected the following offk-ers for the Second Regiment, Missouri National 
Guard : Colonel, W. K. Caffee, of the Carthage Light Guard ; lieutenant 
colonel, A. B. Deggins. Springfield Rifles; major, Henry Allen, Sedalia 
Rifles. 

Second Organized into Two Battali 

The Joplin Light Infantry, Company G, was mustered Deeember 30, 
1890, and completed the organization of the regiment, which was now 
divided into battalions, in accordance with the new United States 
army drill regulations. 

Major Allen, of Sedalia, having resigned, an election was ordered 
for two majors for the First and Second battalions, respectively. H. H. 
Mitchel, of Nevada, was chosen major of the First Battalion, and Captain 
F. E. Williams, of the old Joplin Rifles, was elected major of the Sec- 
and Battalion. 

Letters Replace Old Names 

The local names were now dropped and the several organizations 
designated by letters. In assigning the letters priority was given to the 
company in the order of its organization. The companies were desig- 
nated as follows: Company A. Carthage Light Guard; Company B, But- 
ler Rifles: Company C. El Dorado Guard; Company D, Sedalia Rifles; 
Company E, Pierce City Guards; Company F, Springfield Rifles; Com- 
pany G. Joplin Light Infantry, and Company H, Nevada Light Infantry. 
Company C was disbanded shortly after the organization of the 
regiment, and the company which was mustered at Lamar took its letter 
and place in the First Battalion. The Second, Major William Batta- 

340 



BISTORT OF JASPER COUNTY 841 

ban, comprised Companies A, B, F and G. The old Springfield Rifle* 
was disbanded in 1894 and a company, at Clinton, took its place. In 
1896 the Springfield company was reorganized and came into the regi- 
ment as Company K. 

In making up his staff, Colonel Caffee called to his assistance the 
following who had served with him in the old Light Guard: Captain 
and Adjutant, J. 11 McMillen; Captain and quartermaster, A. B. 
JJeuts'-ti ; Captain and jndge advocate, J. W. Halliburton. Lieutenant 
Harrington, of the Light Guard, was named by Brigadier General 
Milton Moore as one of his aide -de camp, with the rank of major. 

Fnan Apfeabance a-i St, Lotn 

The Second Begiment made its first appearance »t St. Louis in 
February, 1891, upon the occasion of General Sherman's funeral. Com- 
pany from Joplin, having the greatest Dumber of men in line of any 
company attending the last sad rites held over the body of the great 
soldier. 

Thk r (K i I: 

This was held at Kellogg Spring:-,. n<-ar Carthage, July 17 Zh 1892, 
and was named in honor of the regimental commander, Camp Caffee. 
The camp was a very successful one, about ninety per cent of the rank 
and file being in attendance. The military manoeuvers v.ry greatly 
improved the effieiency of the regiment, as well as furnishing the ?, 
with a most delightful outing. 

Camp Caffee presented a striking contrast to Camp Allen, v.hich 
was held at. Carthage in July. 1884, and v.hich was mentioned in our 
Military chapter of the eighties. At. Camp Allen there v.as a gr«at 
variety of equipi h company being clothed with a different uni- 

form, but at. Camp Caffee the entire r . /.ore the blue of the 

United States army, the uniforms and equipment having been furnif 
by the [Tinted Stat g reroment; the expenses of the camp, transpor- 
tation, ete., were paid by the state. To grre an idea of the magnH 
of the camp, ire present the following f Eg .eh represent a por- 

tion of the daily rations furnished the men : The commissary de;, 
ment issued - g 600 pounds of fresh beef, 000 

pounds of eorned beef, 600 pounds o. 50 loaves of br<-ad as 

staples, with cor? tea, butter. egg- 
Regiment also participated .. Lake ( ' 
Joseph, and helo laHa /-;; 
Joplin. "We make r- Stise it is 

the Jaspi nts and • 

the regiment was called 
rican ws 

1 o-22. : 

The Second Begi *eek'» -, 

of instruction August 15 
Mayor Cunningham, who 



342 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

and issued a proclamation asking the citizens to join with the city offi- 
cials in making the stay of the guardsmen a pleasant one. Nine com- 
panies were in attendance: Company A. Carthage, Capt. Jno. A. Mc- 
Millen ; Company B, Butler, Captain V. L. Johnson; Company C, Lamar, 
Capt. F. M. Thorp; Company D, Sedalia, Capt. George S. Edmondson; 
Company E, Pierce City, Capt. W. A. Raupp; Company F, Clinton, 
Capt. A. C. Landon ; Company G, Joplin, Capt. Robt. A. Spear ; Com- 
pany H, Nevada, Capt. George B. Cawswell ; Company K, Springfield, 
Capt. A. B. Deggins ; regimental band, Joplin, T. J. Hughs, director. 

A full complement of regimental officers were present, the field and 
staff being: Colonel commanding, W. K. Caffee, Carthage; lieutenant 
colonel, H. C. Demuth, Sedalia ; major First Battalion, H. H. Mitchell, 
Nevada ; major Second Battalion, F. E. Williams. Joplin ; adjutant, 
Capt. J. M. McMillen, Carthage; quarter master, Capt. A. B. Deutsch, 
Carthage; judge advocate. Capt. Jno. W. Halliburton, Carthage; sur- 
geon, Maj. C. Crawford, Nevada ; assistant surgeon, Capt. Wm. G. 
Cowan; ordnance officer, Capt. A. V. Adams, Butler; commissary, Capt. 
J. L. Saunders, Pierce City. 

Captains Geo. H. Roach and W. A. Mason of the Seventeenth In- 
fantry Regiment, U. S. A., and Lieutenant Osborn, Third United States 
Cavalry, were detailed to inspect the camp and assist in the instruction 
of the 500 guardsmen in attendance. 

The following will give an idea of the daily routine of the men in 
camp — the' camp regulations: first call, 5:25 a. m. ; reveille. 5:40 a. m. ; 
assembly, 5:45 a. m. ; mess, 6.00 a. m.; police, 6.30 a. m. ; sick call, 
6:40 a. m. ; assembly, 6:50 a. m. ; adjutant's call, 6:55 a. m. ; guard 
mount, 9:45 a. m. ; company drill, 10:05 a. m. ; officers' call. 11 :30 a. m. 
mess, noon; first sergeant's call, 12:45 p. m. ; battalion drill, 1:00 p. m. ; 
mess, 5:45 p. m. ; dress parade, 6:45 p. m. ; call to quarters, 10:15 p. 
m. ; taps, 10 :30 p. m. 

After battalion drill in the afternoon the men were at liberty to rest 
and enjoyed themselves seeing the sights about the mines and other 
points of interest. Each evening in front of headquarters tent the regi- 
mental band gave a concert and every evening the camp was thronged 
with visitors from the city. 

The third day of the camp the entire regiment visited Lakeside park 
and gave an exhibition drill in the evening, after which dancing was 
indulged in until a late hour. 

Friday was ladies' day and the camp was visited by hundreds of 
the ladies of Joplin, Webb City, Carterville, Carthage and other points. 

Sham Battle 

Friday afternoon, in place of the regular dress parade, a sham battle 
was had and instruction given in skirmish battle formation. The 
battle was witnessed by a large number of citizens. Major .Mitchell. 
First Battalion, and Major Williams, of the Second, commanded the 
opposing forces, and the fighting was very realistic. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



343 



The Second Battalion garrisoned a hastily constructed fort at the 
east end of Cox park and the First Battalion was the attacking party, 
which opened the fight by firing upon a skirmish line which had been 
thrown out by the Second Battalion and after the exchange of a few 
shots the skirmishers retired to the fort and the battle was on. A 
terrific fusilade of musketry was now kept up for half an hour or more, 
after which the attacking party charged the garrison in the fort. The 
battle was so fierce that the parties engaged in a hand-to-hand fight. A 
truce was now had and the belligerents carried from the field the 
wounded (?) and injured (?) soldiers, after which the fight was 
resumed. The First Battalion again charged the Second, which re- 
treated, and it looked as if the attacking party would take the fort, 
when Major Williams, Sheridan-like, rallied the fleeing Second and 
drove the First Battalion off the field. 

The Spanish-American War 
The Second Regiment went to the front at the first call of President 
McKinley for volunteers and, after being in camp a short time at 




Color Guard of Second Missouri Volunteer Infantry 

At Camp Churchman near Atlanta. Georgia, Spanish-American War. 

Jefferson Barracks, was sent with the main army to the south, and was 
stationed at the big camp at Chattanooga ; later at Lexington, Ken- 
tucky, Atlanta, Georgia, and other southern points. The Second Regi- 
ment was one of the best among the volunteer troops and was frequently 
complimented by the United States army officers for its splendid disci- 
pline and military bearing. Colonel Andrews, of the Thirteenth United 
States Infantry, who was sent to inspect the Second, with other regi- 
ments, in his report of the inspection, said, "That the Second Missouri 
Regiment was more like the United States army ought to be than the 
regulars themselves, because of the personnel of the officers and men." 
Said he: "The discipline is excellent and the men are among the very 
best citizens in private life." 



344 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Adjutant McMillen and Quartermaster Deutsch both were called 
home before the close of the war on account of business, and Lieutenant 
John Bailey, of Company A, became regimental adjutant. 

The Fifth Regiment, Missouri United States Volunteers, of which 
command Hon. Chas. H. Morgan was the lieutenant coionel, contained, 
among its commands, Company G, from Jasper county. This com- 
pany was made up almost entirely, of men from the rural districts and 
they were unusually strong and husky. The company was commanded 
by the following officers: Captain, George Whitsett, Carthage; first 
lieutenant, Russell Garrison, mine superintendent, Webb City; second 
lieutenant, Freeman Rowe, mine superintendent, Webb City. 

Company G made a most excellent record in camp, and after the 
war Captain Whitsett was sent to the Philippines as judge of one of 
the military districts, where he made an enviable reputation as a jurist. 

A company of the Sixth Missouri, United States Volunteers, was 
partly made up of Jasper county men — First Lieutenant J. J. Nelson 
and sixty men enlisting at Webb City. We were unable to secure a copy 
of the company roster of the above organizations, the adjutant general 
informing the writer that his office force was so limited that time could 
not be given to the copy of the names. 

Carthage Honors Her Dead 

Among the soldiers who went to the front in the Spanish-American 
war with Company A, was Sergeant Charles Wood, who died at Camp 
Chickamauga, stricken with fever. The body of the sergeant was sent 
home for burial and was accompanied by a detachment of Company A. 
The funeral occurred July 14, 1898, and was largely attended, the 
business of the city having *been suspended during the hour of the 
funeral. 

In the funeral cortege were the ex-members of the Carthage Light 
Guard, under command of Capt. Geo. H. Thomas; the Modern Wood- 
men, of which lodge he was a member, and the Sons of Veterans. 

Semi-military Societies 

As in the 'Eighties the Twelfth Regiment Select Knights A. 0. U. 
W., comprising four Jasper county legions, had won great distinction as 
a semi-military organization, so in the 'nineties the Uniformed Rank of 
the Knights of Pythias and the Patriarchs Militant of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, through the regimental organization of each of 
these two great societies, brought the red plumed Knights and the gal- 
lant chivalry into prominent notice. 

Although each of these two regiments contained companies in other 
counties than Jasper, both were largely officered by Jasper county cit- 
izens and, as South Western Missouri organizations, each played a 
prominent part in the social and fraternal life of the county. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 345 

The Third Regiment, U. R. K. P. 

In 1890 there came to Carthage in the employ of the Frisco Railway 
Company and in the capacity of district freight agent, Carl Gray, a 
young man of great energy and executive ability who, through rapid 
promotion, reached the high station of vice president and general man- 
ager of the great 'Frisco system and who now is the general manager of 
the Northern Pacific. Young Gray, who was a graduate of a military 
academy, of military ancestry and a great lover of military manoeuvres 
was the organizer and father of the Uniformed Rank of the Knights of 
Pythias in Southwestern Missouri, and it was his energy and Pythian 
activity more than any other one factor which popularized the military 
branch of that fraternity during the early and middle 'nineties. 

At the organization of Carthage Division No. 34 of the U. R. K. P., 
Sir Knight Gray was chosen captain commanding and, figuratively 
speaking, put Carthage on the fraternal map by the splendid manoeuvres 
of his division. Following the appearance of Captain Gray's command, 
divisions of the Uniform Rank were organized at Webb City, and Jop- 
lin and these, together with divisions at Monett, Aurora, Nevada, and 
North and South Springfield, made up the Third Regt. of which Capt, 
Gray was unanimously elected colonel, Julius Finke, of Webb City, 
lieutenant colonel ; and Joel T. Livingston, of Joplin, major of the Second 
Battalion. Robert Robyn, of Carthage was appointed adjutant. The uni- 
form of the Knights of Pythias during the 'nineties was, in the opinion 
of the author, the most attractive and knightly looking equipment that 
that body has ever worn. It was a decided improvement over the one 
worn by the Knights during the 'seventies and early 'eighties and far 
more attractive than the present. 

The uniformed knights of the 'nineties were dressed in black broad- 
cloth, coat of Prince Albert military cut, white helmet with red plume 
and the sword belt of red leather, and the buttons, trappings and other 
accoutrements silver mounted with white metal trimmings. The regi- 
ment numbered four hundred men, and it was an imposing sight to see 
this splendid organization in regimental formation. 

The Third Regiment, as a whole, participated in the Knights of Pyth- 
ias Fourth of July celebration at Monet in 1892. the national encamp- 
ment at Kansas City, at the laying of the corner stone of the Jasper 
county court house ; and a number of other public events. The regiment 
appeared at its best in Kansas City, at the supreme encampment, held 
in August, 1892, at which gathering it was designated by General Car- 
naham, commanding the U. R. K. P., to act as the official escort for the 
delegates to the supreme lodge, and as such led the way to the place 
where that august body assembled to legislate for the order. 

The regiment did not compete for any of the prizes at the national 
encampment, but all three of the Jasper county companies won prizes 
that year at some one of the different gatherings they attended, and 
each reflected great credit on its home lodge. 



346 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

In 1897 Colouel Gray was transferred to Wichita. Kansas, and the 
Third Regiment fell into a state of inactivity until 1902. when it was re- 
organized, and will be spoken of in our fraternal events of the last 
decade. 

Patriarchs Militant, I. O. 0. F. 

In 1893 the six cantons located in the western border counties, from 
Kansas City to Joplin, were organized into a regiment and Dr. M. T. 
Balsley, of Joplin, was elected lieutenant colonel commanding. Colonel 
Balsley made a vigorous commander and by a systematic effort built up 
a tine command which, on a number of occasions, attracted the favorable 
attention of not only the Odd Fellows, but of the public at large. 

Jasper county's interest in the cantons is largely centered in Can- 
ton Lincoln, of Joplin. which is especially mentioned in the history of 
that city. 

The Patriarchs of the Odd Fellows is to that order what Knights Tem- 
plarism is to Masonry, only that the military idea is more predominant, 
the several cantons being organized into regiment and brigades. 

The word canton is a Swiss word and means a company of soldiers. 
Patriarch-Militants is a compound word and has a double meaning- 
Patriarch being a ruler and militant indicating ready for the fight. The 
Patriarch Militant must be a wise ruler and a good soldier. 

The United Confederate Yeteraxs 

Jasper county's Camp No. 522, 1'nited Confederate Yeterans, was or- 
ganized May 22. 1894, with forty charter members. The camp has had 
on its rolls 174 veterans of the Confederate army, but death and removals 
from the county has cut down the present membership to 72. 

At the organization of the camp, G. R. Hill was chosen commander 
and held the office until the annual election of 1905. when he was suc- 
ceeded by C. C. Catron, who held the position until his death on De- 
cember 25. 1910. Z. H. Lowderniilk. post department commander, was 
called to the post of commander and at this writing is still the com- 
mander of the camp. 

Jno. W. Halliburton was elected adjutant of the camp, at the date of 
its muster-in. and has filled the position with such care that the camp 
would never let him resign and he has held this important post through 
the sixteen years of the society's existence 

W. E. Hall, who was a resident of Jasper county during the war and 
one of the first to enlist in the regiment which the county sent to the 
front, was elected the first treasurer of the camp and held the position 
until his death in July, 1907, when he was succeeded by Jacob Litteral, 
who still holds the post. 

Previous to the organization of the camp the ex-Confederate veterans 
of Jasper county raised $1,000 toward the building of the Confederate 
Home at Higginsville. and since then has contributed $775 toward its 
maintenance. In addition to the above, the camp has contributed the 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 347 

following sum : $100 toward erecting the monument at the Confederate 
cemetery, Springfield ; $100 toward building the Confederate monument 
at Palmyra and a like sum toward erecting the Confederate monument 
at Neosho. Eight members of the Jasper county camp have been sent 
to the Home at Higginsville, and six ex-Confederate veterans, not mem- 
bers of the Jasper county camp, have been sent to the Confederate Home 
and have been cared for by the Jasper county veterans who wore the 
gray. 

The .Jasper county camp of United Confederate Veterans has enjoyed 
an annual picnic and reunion each year since its organization, and at 
these gatherings the members have lived over the old days that tried 
men's souls and have, in memory, sat around the camp fire and re- 
counted the pleasures and the sorrows, the hardships and the recreations 
of the soldier's life. 

The Jasper county camp has twice been honored by the state organiza- 
tion by choosing a Jasper county citizen for the important post of de- 
partment commander. At the state reunion in 1907 Z. H. Lowdermilk 
of Joplin was elected major general commanding the department of 
Missouri, and at the next annual meeting Jno. W. Halliburton, of Carth- 
age, was chosen to preside over the veterans. This was considered 
a most extraordinary compliment to the Jasper county camp to have 
twice in succession one of its members called to the highest office in the 
state organization ; a compliment which, however, was well deserved, 
for the two men mentioned have both given much of their time to the or- 
ganization which has so signally honored them. 

In 1905 the Jasper county camp entertained the department at Joplin, 
and a more extended mention of this meeting will be made in our Joplin 
items for the last decade. 

Roster of Officers and Mkmbers 

We append here a roster of the Jasper county camp, correct to De- 
cember 31, 1911 : 

Name Rank and Command 

Z. H. Lowdermilk. To. H. 2 N. C. Infy. 

W. E. Johnson. Lieut., Talbott Regt., Raines Brig. 

T. B. Wormington, Lieut.. Co. B, 3 Mo. Cav. 

Harris E. Hatcher. Lieut., Co. A, 1 Batt., Shelby's Brig. 

J. W. Halliburton, private. Williams' Cav. Regt.. Shelby's Brig. 

Jacob Litteral, Co. D. Gordon's Regt., Mo. Cav. 

George Burgoon. Co. A. 10 Tex. Cav. 

R. A. Scott, Co. A, Livingston's Batt. 

James C. Talbott, Co. D. 10 Mo. Infy. 

Wm. H. Price. Co. K, 8 Mo. Infy. 

W. B. McNew. Co. D, 2 Tenn. Cav. 



348 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Name Rank and Command 

W. N. Blanton, Co. G, 15 Ark. 

Benj. F. Hatcher, Co. A, Brice's Batt. 

S. H. Webb., Co. H, 8 Tenn. Cav. 

A. M. Payne, Co. F, 3 Mo. Infy. 

T. F. Pryor, Co. B, Black's Regt., Mo. Infy. 

John Arey, Co. H, 12 Va. Cav. 

Geo. F. C. Corl, Co. B, 2 N. C. Cav. 

Ferdinand Osment, Co. B, Price's Batt., Mo. 

Jonathan Loveless, Co. A, 2 Tex. Light Infy. 

A. B. Moore, Co. I, 18 Tenn. Infy. 

R. C. Friend. Co. A, Williams Ky. Co. 
J. W. Stich, Collins' Batt. Brig. 
G. F. Smith, Walker's Regt., Taylor's Brig. 
J. H. Lyon, Co. B, 13 Ga. Pickett's Div. 

E. T. Rhea, Co. H, 3 Tenn. 

J. M. Daugherty, Co. A, 39 Tenn. Infy. 

H. H. Dunning, Co. K, 16 Mo. Infy. 

Geo. Randall, Co. D, 37 Tenn. Infy. 

J. M. Bridges, Co. D, 2 Regt., Shelby's Cav. 

Thomas Moffett, private, Holland's Co., Texas Rangers. 

F. F. Langston, private. 
Abe Cox, private. 

J. H. Gist, Co. A, Michael's Regt., Jeff. Thos. Brig. 

L. C. Gilbreath, Co. F, 10 Mo. Cav. 

J. W. Aylor, Co. A, Prindle's Batt., Sharp Shooters, Mo. 

George Little 

C. S. Clover. 

Alex. Campbell, Co. A., 8 Ark. Infy. 

James Porter, Co. B, 3 Mo. Cav. 

F. J. Hazelwood, Co. A., 11 Mo. Infy. 
John LaFever, Co. C, 11 Mo. Infy. 

B. M. Wilson, Co. A, 11 Mo. Infy. 
L. B. Stevens, Co. A, 11 Mo. Infy. 

Lee Taylor, Co. A, Brook's Regt., Pagan's Brig. 

Richard D. Fallis, Co. B, 2 Mo. Infy. 

J. A. Broadhurst, Co. F, 2 Mo. Cav. 

W. E. Reynolds, Co. A, Stone's Cav., Cabelle Brig. 

T. W. Irwin, Griffins Revir's Regt., Clark's Brig. 

0. F. Arnold, Co. I, 4 Mo. Cav. 

A. W. Carmen, Co. I, Green's Infy Mo. 

J. M. Johnson, Co. I, 2 Mo. Cav. 

A. H. McCune, Co. E, McGowan's Regt. 

E. L. Howard, Co. A, Todd's Regt. 

G. R. Hill, Co. B, 31 Mo. Cav. 

A. P. Lomax, Co. E, 39 N. C. Infy. 
David Allen, 3 Mo. Battery. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 349 

Name Rank and Command 

W. R. Calfee, Co. E, 17 Va. Cav. 

T. W. Cunningham, Co. I, 6 Mo. Infy. 

J. E. Spiva, Co. I, 3 Mo. Cav. 

W. P. Phelps, 8 Ky. Cav. 

M. A. Waldron, Co. D, 28 Va., Garnett's Brig. 

Jas. 0. N. Gilbert, Co. B, 7 Ark. Infy., Harden 's Brig. 

S. S. Nix, Co. G, 7 Ky. Infy. 

W. D. Boggs, Co. H, 13 Va. Infy. 

William Seaton, Co. D, 17 Tenn. Infy. 

Fred A. Smith, Co. E, Williams' Regt., Shelby's Brig. 

John D. James, Gun's Regt., Adams Brig. 



CHAPTER XXXI 

CARTHAGE IN THE "NINETIES 

Local Politics and Municipal, Affairs — Building of the City Light 
Plant — City Park — Newspapers — Banks and Bankinc — Orator- 
ical and Declamatory Contests — Carthage Federation of Wo- 
men's Clubs — Whist Contests — Reunion of the Sixth Kansas 
( 'avalry. U. S. V. 

This decade was distinctively a home-building period, and during 
the nineties many beautiful residences were erected, adding still more 
to the beauty and fame of the Queen City. Three more churches were 
built, and the teaching force of the public schools was almost doubled. 
As mentioned before, much of the history of Carthage had a country- 
wide influence — and appears in our chapter on the county at large — we 
regret that several of the articles which are purely local and are pre- 
sented here are partially incomplete on account of our inability to 
secure some of the data which was desired to complete the stories. 

Local Politics and Municipal, Affairs 

In 1890 Carthage surrendered its charter as a city of the fourth 
class and organized as a city of the third class. This was a most im- 
portant change, as it enabled the city to provide for a more complete 
system of streets and other municipal improvements ; also to raise a 
sufficient revenue to carry on. in a proper way, the several depart- 
ments of the city government. Naturally, there was great interest 
manifested in the city election for 1890, as there would devolve on the 
officers elected at this time a complete revision of the city ordinances 
and the enactment of the many important laws necessary to put in 
operation the machinery of a third class city. Both parties put into 
the field a ticket which contained men of splendid business ability, and 
the contest was warm. The Republicans, being in the majority, won 
most of the offices. The first officers of the city, under the new char- 
ter, were ;is follows: Mayor, W. B. Myers; marshal, Asa Hurst; city 
attorney, Howard Gray: recorder, E. J. Montague; collector, Edward 
Garland, and treasurer, E. B. Jacobs. 

City Council: First ward, Wm. R. Logan two years, and Geo. W. 
Koontz one year; second ward, M. Edstorm two years, and Geo. C. 

Howanstein year: third ward, Jasper J. Smith two years, and Jno. 

W. Henderson one year; fourth ward. W. II. Black two years, and II. 
F. Beebe one year. 

350 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 351 

Among the first enactments passed by the new administration was 
an ordinance providing for better equipment for the fire department, 
$1,500 being appropriated to purchase hose wagons and a hook and 
ladder truck. 

It will be noted that a full complement of officers are elected every 
two years, and as the organization occurred in 1890 the general elections 
occur in the even years — in the odd years only one half council beintr 
elected. 

Election in 1891 : — Council members — Geo. W. Koontz, D. A. Innes. 
C. E. Turner and H. F. Beebe. 

General election 1892 :— Mayor, W. W. Calhoun; marshal, D. M. 
Stafford; city attorney, Charles Farrow; recorder, (police judge) Thos. 
Buckbee; collector, Edward Garland; treasurer. E. B. Jacobs; assessor. 
Frank Griscomb ; councilmen : W. R. Logan. J. R. Freed, J. P. Coulter 
and E. A. Bissell. 

Councilmen elected in 1893: — First ward, W. H. Black; second 
ward, James D. Eagan : third ward. Isaac Perkins; fourth ward, J. G. 
Hankla ; fifth ward. L. M. Murphy and W. AY. Sewell. 

General election in 189-4: — Mayor, E. B. Jacobs; marshal, D. M. 
Stafford; police judge. Thos. Buckbee; city attorney, Chas. Farrow; 
collector, Homar D. Smith: treasurer, Albert Rogers; assessor, Horace 

B. Martin. 

Council — First ward. Michael Torphy ; second ward, James Ross : 
third ward, Thos. Freed; fourth ward, George Brown; fifth ward. I. 

C. Hodson. 

Councilmen elected in 1895: — W. H. Black. M. Edstrom, Isaac 
Perkins, B. J. Gladden and L. M. Murphy. 

General election in 1896 : — Mayor, George C. Howanstein ; mar- 
shal, D. M. Stafford ; police judge, Thos. Buckbee ; city attorney, Harry 
Green ; collector. Homar D. Smith : treasurer, Albert Rogers ; assessor, 
W. H. Rhodes. 

Council : — W. J. Porter, James Ross, George Brown, William Perry 
and I. C. Hodson. 

Councilmen elected in 1897: — First ward, Michael Torphy; second 
ward, M. Edstrom ; third ward, J. J. Wells ; fourth ward, Andrew 
Zane; fifth ward, John A. McMillen. 

General election in 1898: — Mayor. C. 0. Harrington; marshal, D. 
W. Bruffett; police judge. Thos. Buckbee; city attorney. Harry Green; 
collector, Homar D. Smith; treasurer, Albert Rogers, and assessor, D. 
H. Paulding. 

Council: — First ward. W. T. Porter, G. B. Light (unexpired term) ; 
second ward, James S. Ross; third ward, Charles A. Dumars; fourth 
ward, G. D. Wells ; fifth ward, Joseph P. Eiffer. 

Councilmen elected in 1899 :— F. G. Lanbolk, W. W. Brunkley, J. 
B. Chaffev and J. A. McLean. 



352 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

As will be noted, the officers of Carthage have all been men of high 
integrity and business standing, and have all, regardless of political 
faith, worked for the betterment of the city. 

Building of the City Light Plant 

In April, 1897, the City of Carthage voted $32,800 in bonds for the 
purpose of building a city light plant. The vote on the question was : 
For the city light plant, 624; against, 518. E. J. Lentz was appointed 
city electrician and superintendent of construction and personally su- 
pervised the building of the plant, which was constructed in a satis- 
factory manner. 

City Park 

In 1893 the panic which swept the country did much damage to 
the business of Carthage, and many people were out of employment 
during the winter of 1893-4. To provide employment for these the 
city voted a considerable sum for the improvement of the city park, 
and many changes were made which added to its beauty and usefulness. 

Newspapers 

The Carthage Press and the Carthage Democrat were the leading 
newspapers of the city during this decade. The Democrat, which was 
purchased by Cornelius Roach, now secretary of state, had a large 
country circulation and molded very largely the public sentiment of 
the Democratic party. The Press, which during the early days was a 
Greenback paper, during the later eighties espoused the cause of a 
high tariff: and in 1890 became a straight-out Republican paper. 
C. Conrad who, with A. W. St. John, had jointly published the Press, 
retired from the editorial staff in January, 1890, and W. J. Sewell, 
now the editor-in-chief, became a half owner and took charge of the 
city and county news department. The Press is now the oldest paper 
in the county. 

The Silver Review, published in 1896-8 by M. Mehan, was a spicy 
and well edited paper devoted to the cause of bimetalism and the official 
sheet of the Silver Republican party. 

Banks and Banking 

The Central National Bank was chartered in July, 1890, with a 
capital of $100,000. The following were its first officers: President, 
A. EL Caffee; vice-president, J. P. Newell; cashier, J. E. Lang. 

In January, 1891, the Bank of Carthage increased its capital to 
$100,000 and G. A. Cassel, its founder, was again called to the execu- 
tive chair. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 353 

The reorganized First National Bank succeeded the Drovers. In 
January, 1890, the following were the officers: President, W. E. 
Brinkerhoffer; cashier, A. V. Wallace. These banks, since their organ- 
ization, have been strong financial institutions. During the panic of 
1893, not a single depositor lost a dollar; by their wise management 
they kept the business of Carthage on a firm basis, and by the liberality 
of their policy they tided many of the business men of the county seat 
over a rough sea of financial perils. 

Oratorical and Declamatory Contests 

With the view of encouraging oratory and expression, W. H. John, 
of Carthage, offered for competition, at an annual contest at the Colle- 
giate Institute, two medals — one for oratory and one for declamation. 
These medals created great interest among the students, and the annual 
contests were events which brought out some splendid orations. 

The first contest for the John medal occurred at the close of school 
in 1890, the following students participating in the oratorical contest: 

"Great Men of the Century," L. E. Brous. 

"The Present Age of Woman's Opportunity," Hattie M. Means. 

"Young American Citizenship," James Potter. 

Mr. Potter won the gold medal for oratory. 

The following entered the declamatory contest: 

"The Golden Arm," Miss C. O. Luscom. 

"The First and Last Defeat of Black Hawk," C. B. Malsenger. 

"Ode to the Fallen," Miss M. P. John. 

The first named speaker carried off the honors in this contest. 

Carthage Federation op Women's Clubs 

As mentioned in a former article devoted to the Queen City, Car- 
thage has always been a literary city and, like Old Boston, intellect 
and moral worth have been the measures by which social standing was 
rated rather than wealth. The women's club movement all over the 
state came into great prominence during the middle nineties and found 
Carthage with seven women's literary clubs, and these, in 1897, formed 
a federation of women's clubs with the following officers: President, 
Mrs. T. B. Hobbs; vice-presidents, Mrs. I. C. Hodson and Mrs. Samuel 
McReynolds; secretary, Miss Daisy Reed; corresponding secretary, 
Miss Matilda Wright; auditor, Mrs. V. A. Wallace; treasurer, Mrs. 
E. B. Jacobs. 

With the view of bringing about a more complete organization and 
for the mutual benefit of the club women of southwestern Missouri, 
the Carthage Federation of Women's Clubs invited the club women of 
the several southwestern Missouri cities to attend a reception at the 
residence of President Mrs. T. B. Hobbs on November 9, 1897. Two 
hundred invitations were sent out and there was an almost unanimous 



354 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

acceptance, eighty-one out-of-town club women being present, a repre- 
sentative being present from the following : The Century, the Emer- 
son, and the Unity Literary clubs of Joplin ; the Woman's Study Club 
of Webb City; Pierce City Reading Club, and the Friends in Council, 
of Springfield. The reception was a most elegant affair, the following 
ladies assisting President Hobbs: Mrs. R. E. McCarty, President Local 
C. L. S. C, Carthage; Mrs. I. C. Hodson, President Vincent Club, C. 
L. S. C, Carthage ; Mrs S. S. Riley, President Iantha Club, C. L. S. C, 
Carthage; Mrs. C. A. Turner, President Stratford Shakespeare Club, 
Carthage ; Mrs. May Brader, President, Fifth Section Century Club, 
Carthage; Mrs. Geo. Stebbins, President E. H. Section Century Club, 
Carthage; Mrs. C. A. Blair, President Tourist Club, Carthage. 

After everybody was acquainted, an excellent program was ren- 
dered, after which a dainty luncheon was served. This reception was 
the beginning of a series of highly enjoyable literary and social meet- 
ings of the club women of southwestern Missouri. It is with a touch 
of pride that we refer to the fact that it was Jasper county women who 
took the initiative in this very laudable work of spreading the higher 
thought among the women of the southwest. 

Whist Contests 

During the early nineties whist came into great popularity in 
Carthage and it was quite a popular pastime for the crack players of 
the county seat to meet the strong players of other cities in friendly 
contest; and these championship games always attracted much interest. 
Col. W. K. Caffee, Paul Davay, A. B. Deutseh and C. 0. Harrington 
were among the best whist players of Carthage, and during the month 
of February, 1890, they were challenged by the crack team of Colum- 
bus, Kansas, to play a game. 

The Columbus team consisted of Judge Cheshire, W. T. Timberlake, 
J. B. Henderson and Mr. Chamberlain. The game was played at Co- 
lumbus and occupied an entire afternoon. The score at the close stood: 
Carthage, 245 points; Columbus, 192. 

Reunion of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, U. S. V. 

As mentioned in our war chapter, many of the Jasper county citi- 
zens who were loyal to the government went to Kansas and enlisted 
with the troops of that state. After the war they returned home and 
many of their comrades, who had been attracted by the native beauty 
of Jasper county (the regiment, passed through Southwest Missouri 
many times during the progress of hostilities), came here to make their 
homes when the great unpleasantness was over, among them being 
Col. Wm. Clome, the old commander. 

From October 15-17, 1890, the Sixth Kansas Cavalry Veteran 
Association held its annual reunion at Carthage and was attended by 
198 survivors of that famous regiment. Chas. W. Elliott of Oronogo 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 355 

was the president of the association and spared no pains to make the 
gathering the most enjoyable one ever had. At the close of the reunion 
a sumptuous banquet was served by the citizens of Carthage and much 
enjoyed — a number of the men who wore the gray attending the gath- 
ering, at the request and invitation of President Elliott, and assisting 
in the entertainment. The supper was served in Armory Hall, and 
six long tables were spread for the guests. 

The following toasts were proposed and responded to: "The Vet- 
erans of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry," Geo. E. Emery; "The Flag," 
Jno. W. Halliburton (who wore the gray); "The Volunteer Soldier," 
Maj. Harding; "The Girl I Left Behind Me," Al Cahn; "The Ladies 
of the Sixth," A. W. St. John; "Our Government," Major Kender- 
dine; "The Sons of Veterans," Colonel Klein. 



CHAPTER XXXII 

LODGE AND SOCIAL EVENTS 

Y. M. C. A. Permanently Organized — Congregational Church Cal- 
endar Fair — I. 0. 0. F. Natal Day — The Uniform Rank, Knights 
op Pythias — Knights of Pythias Decoration Day — Knights of 
Pythias Columbian Ball — Oglesby Camp, Sons of Veterans, 
Memorial Monument — The Grand Army of the Republic- 
Ascension Day, 1891 — Thirtieth Anniversary of Blue Lodge — 
Department Encampment, G. A. R. 

A Young Men's Christian Association had been organized in Car- 
thage in 1881, although its meetings had not been kept up regularly, 
and in January, 1890, a meeting was called to reorganize the associa- 
tion and to take steps to provide permanent quarters for meetings, 
reading rooms, etc. Professor Wardel was chairman of the meeting 
and E. E. Branden, secretary. Eighteen men signed the roll at this 
meeting, an adjournment was taken to a future date and an invitation 
extended to T. S. McPheeters, of St. Louis, chairman of the Y. M. C. 
A. State Board, to be present and address the members. 

Y. M. C. A. Permanently Organized 

At this meeting, January 29, 1890, thirty-five more names were 
added to the roster and the organization was perfected. 

The officers elected for 1890 were as follows: Dr. L. I. Matthews, 
president; Hall Warden, secretary. Executive committee: — President 
Matthews, W. W. Calhoun, C. T. McElroy, F. D. Porter, Dr. L. E. 
Whitney, George Chilcote, W. E. Hall, G. Drekens, S. W. Driesback, 
E. E. Gard and H. L. Baker. 

From that day to now the Young Men's Christian Association has 
been a fiixture in Carthage and has exerted a great influence for good 
in the community. Its attractive reading rooms and gymnasium feat- 
ures have provided splendid social and club advantages to its members. 

Congregational Church Calendar Fair 

One of the most enjoyable and also novel church entertainments 
given in Carthage during the nineties occurred April 2, 1890, at Ar- 
mory Hall, and was known as the Calendar Fair. The entertainment 

356 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 357 

was given by the ladies of the Congregational church. The twelve 
months of the year were represented by twelve booths appropriately 
decorated and either by the entertainment furnished, or the articles 
sold, typifying the month or season. 

The booth January was appropriately decorated to represent a 
winter scene and here, emblematic of New Year's day, refreshments 
were served free, new acquaintances were made and old time friend- 
ships renewed. This was really a splendid thought, because every one 
was put in a happy frame of mind at this first booth and at the visita- 
tion of the other eleven stations enjoyed themselves to the highest de- 
gree and, incidentally, spent their money more freely. 

February was an old-fashioned New England kitchen. Yankee 
dishes were served and valentines and hatchets were offered for sale. 

March, as a rule, is a windy month and while here in southwestern 
Missouri there is an occasional warm spell, still the frosty nights and 
cutting northeast winds remind us of the old fable-picture of Winter 
sitting in the lap of Spring, and so during these changeable days and 
blustering nights a sack of pop corn, or a bag of hot peanuts, is just 
the thing to drive away the cold — or punctuate a lagging conversation 
on the way home from singing school or the literary. March was a 
candy store and here tempting confections, peanuts and pop corn were 
sold. 

In April when the city folks long for the first country air and hike 
to the woods for a scent of green, there it is that the happy lovers 
stroll along the long woody lanes to visit the fortune teller. The April 
booth was a veritable country bower, where the traveler found a lively 
gypsy camp — tents, camp fire and all — where one of the most bewitch- 
ing Carthage ladies, dressed as "Wild Zenguralia, " read palms at 
twenty-five cents per. It might be added that the readings were highly 
satisfactory and very comforting. Business men were told that they 
would prosper, politicians that they would be elected and every swain 
was as ardent a lover as Leander and the object of his affection as true 
as Hero. 

May was the fancy bazaar where all kinds of scarfs, doilies, pretty 
neckwear and fancy w r ork generally was offered for sale. 

June was the flower booth and here cut flowers and potted plants 
were sold. 

July, the natal month, was represented by the toy store, flags and 
fireworks being the stock principally featured. 

August, the hottest month, led the sight-seers to the ice cream parlor 
and here they refreshed themselves on ices, cold drinks and cream. 

At the next booth the little red sehoolhouse and the ringing of the 
school bell announced that September had come, and with it the de- 
mand for books, tablets, slates, pencils, etc., which were sold to the 
needy. 

October was typified by a picture gallery and very properly so. In 
October, when the harvest is gathered, the falling leaves tell the story 
of the departing glory of the summer. The rich beauty of the fields, 



358 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

the grandeur of the forest, would be lost in winter if it were not for 
the magic touch of the painter who transcribes the glories of nature to 
the canvas and keeps before us the memories of the past. 

November again brought out the skill of the New England house- 
wife and set before the visitor at the inn a tempting Thanksgiving 
dinner. 

It is needless to say that in December Christmas and the holiday 
season was the paramount idea brought out, and the toys and Christmas 
cheer made old and young be children again and sent them home in 
the happiest possible frame of mind. 

I. 0. O. F. Natal Day 

The Odd Fellows of Jasper county celebrated the natal day April 
26, 1890, at Carthage and, although the day was exceedingly disagreea- 
ble, a heavy downpour of rain marring the pleasure of the celebration, 
the exercises were attended by five hundred members of the fraternity. 
The Patriarchs Militant made a most imposing appearance, the canton 
from Lamar being voted the "cake" for general appearance and mili- 
tary bearing, every man in the company measuring six feet or more 
and not a single one weighing less than one hundred and eighty pounds. 
Rev. H. M. Hackney, of Joplin, was the orator of the day and delivered 
a pleasing address on the "Foundation Stone of Odd Fellowship." 

In the evening the assemblage sat down to a banquet and the follow- 
ing toasts were proposed and responded to, the speaker being intro- 
duced in a happy vein by Al Calm, who presided as toastmaster : 

"Friendship," Rev. Pine, Carterville. 

"Our Country," J. W. Halliburton, Carthage. 

"The World, Our Field," Jno. B. Cole, Lamar. 

"The Canton," Capt. Ira Creech, Joplin. 

The Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias 

What Knights Templarism is to Masonry and the Patriarchs Mili- 
tant are to Odd Fellowship, the Uniform Rank is to Pythianism. The 
military branch of the Knights of Pythias is so called because it car- 
ries out the chivalric idea of the several ranks of knighthood, the mili- 
tary branch, of course, being the Uniform Rank. 

The U. R. K. P. came into great prominence in southwestern Mis- 
souri during the early nineties and Carl Gray, of Carthage, then di- 
vision freight agent of the Frisco System being the father of the move- 
ment. Carthage division No. 34 won for itself, and the county seat, 
great fame, and for a number of years was a great factor in the fra- 
ternal life of the city. More extended mention of the Carthage Company 
Uniform Rank has been made in our notes of the semi-military societies 
in the county-at-large. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 359 

Knights of Pythias Decoration Day 

The third Sunday in June of 1890 was set apart as Knights of 
Pythias Memorial Day and, beginning with June 18th of that year, 
Fraternal Lodge No. 14 of Carthage has since appropriately observed 
that day. The first Decoration Day ceremonies were largely attended, 
A. R. Crane, of Lamar, being the orator of the occasion. The graves 
of the several departed Knights were decorated with flowers and the 
tender and comforting address of the speaker gave to the large gather- 
ing of Pythians a new inspiration, pointing the way to a nobler, grander 
and better life. 

Knights op Pythias Columbian Ball 

The Knights of Pythias is purely an American institution, having 
been organized in Washington, D. C, and among its fundamental prin- 
ciples is the inculcation of patriotism and love of country. 

One of the most enjoyable social events in Carthage during the 
early nineties was the K. P. Columbian ball, given December 21, 1892. 
The ball room was most beautifully decorated with the colors of the 
order and the flags of the nation. One hundred couples, most of them 
wearing the uniform of the order, participated in the dance, while 
many more witnessed the splendid pageant and lent eclat to the occa- 
sion by their presence. Quite a number of Knights from the surround- 
ing cities were in attendance. 

Oglesby Camp, Sons op Veterans, Memorial Monument 

Oglesby Camp, Sons of Veterans, was, during the nineties, a pop- 
ular organization. It was strong numerically and played an important 
part in lodge circles. One of the most important things accomplished 
by the camp during the decade was the launching and carrying to a 
successful completion, a movement to build a monument in Central 
Park which would commemorate the deeds of the Jasper county Union 
veterans. 

The movement was begun Lincoln's birthday, February 12, 1890, 
when the organization conducted a public camp fire, at which Dr. 
Reeeer, of the Collegiate Institute, and Hon. Jno. H. Flannigan, de- 
livered addresses. Following the memorial in honor of the great libera- 
tor, a fair was had, numerous articles were disposed of, and the money 
raised was placed in a fund to be used in building the monument. Al 
Cahn was the master of ceremonies and created much merriment by his 
announcements. His witty sayings and droll stories told in presenting 
the several articles for sale, put the audience in a happy frame of mind 
and made their bazaar a success. 

Among the articles offered were a barrel of apples, which was to 
be voted to the handsomest man in the audience, and a barrel of pota- 
toes to the homeliest in the house. In his offering Mr. Cahn closed 
his remarks by stating, in his inimicable way, that they had plenty of 
potatoes at his home, but were short on apples. 



360 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

The vote to determine who was the handsomest man was as follows: 
Al Calm, 100 ; Major Beeby, 93 ; Captain Buckbee, 12 ; Prank Hill, 4. 

The vote to determine who should get the potatoes was not quite so 
spirited, being: Rit Myers, 30; A. W. St. John, 24; Dr. King, 10. 

The barrel of apples and the bushel of potatoes netted $112, which 
made a nice little nucleus for the monument fund, which was added to 
from time to time. The monument is a beautiful memorial pillar, at- 
testing the valor of the boys in blue. The State Camp, Sons of Vet- 
erans, met in Carthage, May 17-18, 1892, and Oglesby Camp did itself 
proud in the matter of entertainment. 

The Grand Army of the Republic 

The G. A. R. posts of Jasper county on the invitation of Stanton 
Post, No. 16, participated in a three days' reunion at the Fair grounds 
July 4-6, 1890, Hon. Leo. Reassieur, of St. Louis, being the principal 
orator. One of the features of this reunion was a flag-raising at each of 
the public schools of Carthage on July 4th, when Old Glory was flung 
to the breeze and floated proudly over the schools. A mention of the 
meeting of the Missouri Department, G. A. R., is made elsewhere. 

Ascension Day, 1891 

Ascension Day, May 7, 1891, was duly celebrated by the Knights 
Templar of Jasper and Barton counties, Jasper Commandery, of Car- 
thage, being the hosts and the Knights of Ascension Commandery of 
Joplin, and Mount Olive Commandery, of Lamar, with their ladies, 
being the guests. Two hundred Knights were present and the parade 
was a most beautiful sight. 

The services were held in the First Methodist church and were con- 
cluded by the entire assemblage repeating the Apostle's Creed; the 
white plumed champions of the Christian religeon, after the ancient 
custom of the feudal times, placed their right hands on their partially 
drawn swords, as they repeated the vow. After the services the Knights 
and their ladies were escorted to the beautiful homes of W. E. Hall 
and W. T. Tuttle where, while the Carthage Light Guard band, then 
second to no musical organization in the state, discoursed the sweetest 
music, light refreshments were freely dispensed. 

In the evening, at Armory Hall, a sumptuous banquet was served 
and was thoroughly enjoyed by the Knights and their ladies. The fol- 
lowing after-dinner speeches rounded off the day's pleasure and sent 
every one who sat at the festive board home with the kindliest feelings 
for Carthage and her splendid people : 

"The Grand Commandery," Rev. Dr. C. L. Woods, of Neosho. 

"Ascension Commandery," Sir P. E. Williams, Joplin. 

"Mount Olive Commandery," Eminent Sir G. B. Thurman, Lamar. 

"The Eastern Star," Sir J. M. Stevenson, Carthage. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 361 

"The Ladies," Sir J. Y. Leeming, Webb City. 
"The Day We Celebrate," Sir Allen Ward, Carthage. 
"The Knights of Southwestern Missouri," Sir S. A. Underwood, 
Joplin. 

"The Knights of Southeastern Kansas," Sir W. B. Stone, Galena. 

Thirtieth Anniversary of Blue Lodge 

January 13, 1897, rounded out thirty years of Masonic influences 
in Carthage and the event was duly celebrated by the blue lodges of the 
county. A delegation from Joplin, Webb City, Earlville, Oronogo and 
Sarcoxie being present at the meeting of the Carthage lodge. E. B. 
Jacobs, master, presided. Past Master Robinson, who, was the first 
presiding officer of the lodge, was present, was escorted to a seat at 
the right of the chair and given an ovation. At the close of the lodge 
the ladies of the Eastern Star served a supper to the craft. 

Department Encampment, Grand Army of the Republic. 

The Seventh Annual meeting of the Missouri department, G. A. R., 
was held in Carthage, May 19-21, 1898, and was a great event in G. A. 
R. and Sons of Veterans circles at the county seat. Stanton Post No. 
16, of Carthage, was a strong one and composed of some of the best 
business men of the city, and the department was entertained in a most 
excellent manner. The city was profusely decorated with flags and the 
grand opera house, where the meetings were held, was exceptionally 
well ornamented with the national colors. 

Among the pictures which graced the walls of the building were the 
familiar faces of the great soldiers of the Civil war and the new heroes 
of the day — Roosevelt, Dewey, Sampson, Schley, and Pitzhugh Lee, 
who, in the Spanish-American war, were winning new laurels for the 
nation. 

The meetings of the department were presided over by John R. 
Piatt, of Kingston, department commander. Senior Department Com- 
mander Col. Chas. H. Morgan, of Lamar, was the only state officer 
not answering to roll call, but when his name was called the department 
adjutant made the announcement that he was w r ith the boys of the 
Fifth Missouri, fighting for Cuban independence and this announcement 
was greeted with a round of applause. 

Over six hundred veterans registered at headquarters. The vet- 
erans were from the troops of twenty-two different states. Among those 
who registered was H. B. Kramer, of St. Louis, who was in Carthage 
with Sigel and, as a member of Essy's famous battery, participated 
in the battle of July 5, 1861. A severe rain storm spoiled the parade 
and this was a great disappointment to the people. 

In the election of officers, Capt. T. B. Tuttle, of Carthage, was 
chosen junior vice department commander, as a mark of token of regard 



•562 HISTORY OF JASPEE COUNTY 

for the splendid work lie had done as chairman of the committee of 
arrangements. 

At the close of the session Captain Tuttle, on behalf of the Carthage 
veterans, presented each of the delegates with a beautiful G. A. R. 
badge, made in blue and gold, as a pendant, which hung from a tiny 
silk United States flag. 

The encampment closed with a basket picnic at Lake Side Park, 
which was a very enjoyable affair. 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

JOPLIN IN THE 'NINETIES 

Local Politics and Municipal Affairs — The Opening of Wall 
Street — Opening and Building of East Seventh Street — Build- 
ing of the City Light Plant — Banks and Banking — Joplin Re- 
covers from the Panic of '93 — South Jolpin — Joplin Special 
Road District — Joplin Electric Railway — Cunningham's Grove 
Becomes a City Park — The "Joplin Daily Globe" — Joplin 
Telephone Company — Redell's Deep Well — Volunteer Fire- 
men's Tournaments — The Paid Department. 

The early 'nineties in Joplin 's growth and development may be com- 
pared to that period in life when the school boy changes into a man. 

The surrendering of the old charter, in 1888, may properly be styled 
the commencement exercise, or Joplin 's graduation from the overgrown, 
awkward, town-like period, and the 'nineties the vigorous activities of 
a growing city. 

During the 'nineties Joplin increased in population 161 per cent. It 
established a public sewer system, built some fifty miles of macadam- 
ized streets and thirty miles of sidewalk. Numerous additions were laid 
out and annexed to the city and the municipal limits were extended, 
adding considerably to its area. A general boom air pervaded Joplin, 
especially during the early part of the decade, and a considerable 
eastern capital sought investment. Although the new-comers were from 
every section of the country, perhaps the greatest number were 
from the Sunflower state and from the great city on the Kaw, Kansas 
City. 

Following the general plan of this book, as in the seventies and 
'eighties we shall, in this chapter, group the important happenings of 
the municipal, school, business, church, and social life, presenting, as 
space will allow, a sufficient number of incidents to give a correct idea 
of the decade. 

Local Politics and Municipal Affairs 

As mentioned before, a general air of progress seemed to take hold 
of the people and the City Council, early in 1891, began to plan for a 
city beautiful. On April 8, 1891, the council held an all-afternoon ses- 
sion for the discussion of ways and means, what to do, and how to do 
the many things which were needed to make Joplin an up-to-date city. 

363 



364 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Many good thoughts were presented and in time the plan for public 
improvement worked out. 

City clerks : D. K. Wenrich, 1890-2 ; Jno. Cavanaugh, 1892-3 ; R. A. 
Spears, 1893-7; E. C. H. Squire, 1897-1908. 

The election of April, 1891, was hotly contested and resulted iu a 
mixed ticket being elected, as follows: Mayor, R. B. Tyler; marshal, 
J. J. Cofer; recorder, police judge, George Orear; city attorney, Jno. C. 
Trigg; collector, J. W. Calvin; treasurer, Geo. W. Gore. The following 
gentlemen came into the council : P. L. Crossman, F. L. Yale, Z. A. 
Morris, Thomas Field and Henry Sapp. 

City Limits Extended 

At this election the corporate limits were extended and a considerable 
area added to the city. 

At the election in April, 1892, six councilmen were elected — one for 
each of the four old wards and two for the new fifth ward. The suc- 
cessful eaudidates were: First Ward, D. M. Page; Secoud Ward, John 
George; Third Ward, Frank Stoher; Fourth Ward, Henry Sapp; Fifth 
Ward, J. M. McAdams and S. H. Crane. 

City election of 1893: Mayor, W. B. Halyard; police judge, Z. A. 
Norris ; marshal, Jno. A. McManany ; city attorney, John C. Trigg ; col- 
lector, J. W. Calvin ; treasurer, G. K. Davidson ; assessor, D. K. Wenrich. 

Council : First Ward, Harmon Cline ; Second Ward, Charles 0. Frye ; 
Third Ward, W. R. Brown; Fourth Ward, D. W. K. Henry ; Fifth 
Ward, James A. Graves; city clerk. R. A. Spear. 

Election of 1894: Council — First Ward, D. M. Page; Second Ward. 
J. C. Miller ; Third Ward, J. M. McCollough ; Fourth Ward, J. W. Moore ; 
Fifth Ward. J. M. McAdams. 

Election of 1895: Mayor, E. D. Porter; police judge, Z. A. Norris; 
marshal, Jno. A. McManany; city attorney, J. H. Spurgeon; collector, 
Luther McGehee; treasurer, G. K. Davidson; assessor, E. B. Dennison. 

Council: First Ward. H. Cline; Second Ward, H. L. Chickering; 
Third Ward. Frank Stoher; Fourth Ward, D. W. Henley; Fifth Ward, 
T. W. Cunningham. 

Election of 1896: Council — First. Ward, T. B. Minor; Second Ward. 
G. R. Lavery; Third Ward, W. H. Warren; Fourth Ward, J .W. Moore; 
Fifth Ward, A. P. Mason. 

City election. 1897; .Mayor. T. \V. Cunningham; police judge, J. C. 
Gaston; marshal, W. E. Morgan; city attorney, Joel T. Livingston; col- 
lector, Robt. A. Wilson; treasurer, Hugh J. Raible; assessor, M. W. 
Clark. 

Council— First Ward, ('. G. Swanford; Second Ward, G. A. Wad- 
leigh; Third Ward, J. II. Spencer; Fourth Ward, Jas. M. Thurman ; 
Fifth Ward, Grant Davis; City Clerk, E. C. H. Squire. 

City election, 1898: Council— First Ward, F. B. Minor; Second 
Ward. Walter Scott; Third Ward, ('has. Shannon; Fourth Ward. <!. R. 
Lavery; Fifth Ward, Jno A. Nichols. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 365 

City election, 1899. The city election of 1899 resulted in a mixed 
ticket, the following being the successful candidates: Mayor, J. H. 
Spencer; Marshal, Jno. A. McManany ; police judge, W. M. Daurety; 
city attorney, Joel T. Livingston; treasurer, Jos. B. Glover; collector, 
R. A. Wilson ; assessor, G. R. B. Roe ; council, First Ward, H. B. Cross- 
man; Second Ward, R. A. Loomis; Third Ward, C. W. McAbee; Fourth 
Ward, Ralph Danf ord ; Fifth Ward, Grant Davis. 

Each of the several administrations gave to the city some new im- 
provement, and was marked by some features original, distinct and dif- 
ferent from the preceding one. During Dr. Tyler's term of office a 
sewer system was built and something like fifteen miles of sidewalk were 
constructed in the residence portion of the city. 

Previous to 1889 no provision was made for sidewalk construction, 
excepting as the people, through civie pride, built their own, but after 
the adoption of the new charter laws were enacted by the council mak- 
ing provision for all kinds of street and sidewalk improvement. 

While Mayor Halyard was in the chair the paid fire department was 
organized. Mayor Porter encouraged the bringing to the city of various 
industries and in every possible way helped the investors to secure loca- 
tions and concessions that would be conducive to the building of manu- 
factories. 

During Mr. Cunningham's administration, aside from the usual 
routine of work in the way of policing the city, street improvements, etc., 
several out-of-the-ordinary things occurred which we deem of sufficient 
interest to warrant special mention. 

The Opening of Wall Street 

In 1890 when the Missouri Pacific Railway extended its yards and 
built the present passenger depot at Tenth and Main street. The city 
council, at a special meeting, vacated all of the thoroughfares from Jop- 
lin to Moffet and at this time, when but little building had been done 
south of the railway tracks, no great inconvenience was experienced, but 
as the city spread to the south there was a great clamor for an additional 
outlet leading from the main part of the city to the south and Council- 
man James Thurman of the Fourth Ward introduced an ordinance pro- 
viding for the reopening of Wall street across the railway tracks. This 
brought on a contest between the city and the railway company which 
lasted for over a year. 

The railway company refused to recognize the city's right to reopen 
the street and contended that the ordinance providing for the reopening 
was void and with a view of maintaining their position, kept a number 
of empty cars over the old roadway. The police, however, as they made 
their beats during the night, went at stated intervals to Wall street, 
and one night found that the switching crew had left the street open. 
It was then 2 o'clock in the morning. The street commissioner was 
notified and he at once 'phoned to his crew of street workers, and they 
arose from their slumber, went to the place where the city desired to 



366 HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 

build the street and put in a street crossing. They then graveled the 
roadway across the track, and on the morrow the railway officials were 
astonished to find a well-built street across their tracks. 

The tight now began in real earnest. The city put on an extra police 
force to guard the city street and as soon as a car was shoved over the 
track the train crew were arrested and taken to the city jail, where the}', 
of course, gave bond for appearance in court and at that time were 
fined. The road next sought to enjoin the city from using the street and 
sued out an injunction, which was fought through the courts and resulted 
in a victory for the city. 

Opening and Building op East Seventh Street 

Up to 1898 there were but two streets in the city leading to the east — 
Broadway anil Fifth street — but neither of the roadways were well built 
and there was a clamor for a good county road giving an inlet to the 
rich farming and mining district to the east. G. A. Wadleigh, the chair- 
man of the city council committee on streets and roads, proposed the ex- 
tension of Seventh street from Kentucky avenue east across the Norton- 
Porter & Bankers lands, so as to make an eastern outlet. This seemed a 
herculean task. The right-of-way over the land having been acquired, 
another great task confronted the city — the building of the road bed. 
As it had been agreed in securing the right-of-way that the property 
owners should not be taxed to build the road, other means must be 
provided, and as a six and eight foot cut must be made in Swindle Hill 
and a six to ten foot fill across the Norton land, it required close figur- 
ing. At each council meeting Mr. Wadleigh moved that fifty dollars be 
spent in building the road (this was all that could be spent without 
advertising for the bids) and in due time the road was completed. It 
has since been a much traveled street and has opened to the city the 
farming district to the east. 

Building of the City Light Plant 

Ma yoi - Spencer's administration was marked by the building of a 
city electric light plant. The following gentlemen served as the first 
board of public improvement : L. A. Fillmore, John C. Trigg and G. A. 
Wadleigh — all of whom gave much time to the supervision of the in- 
stallation of the service. The original expenditure for the plant was 
$30,000. The city purchased the old power house of the electric rail- 
way as a home for the plant, and work on the plant was pushed. J. A. 
McDonald was the first superintendent of the light plant. Lights were 
first turned on and the city lighted by its own current February 16, 
1900. 

Too much cannot be said of the personal supervision and the time 
given to the city by the first light board. It was a great experiment for 
the city to make and these gentlemen realized that careful, painstaking 
and businesslike methods must be pursued, and gave to the matter of 
construction almost all of their time, making at their own expense trips 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 367 

to other cities while inspecting the different systems and methods. Their 
work gave to Joplin a splendidly managed and successful lighting 
system. 

Banks and Banking 

Two banks were organized in Joplin during the 'nineties, the Joplin 
State and the Interstate, the first named is still one of the great factors 
in Joplin 's business world, its head, A. H. Waite, being at this writing 
the president of the Missouri Bankers' Association. 

The Joplin National Bank was organized in 1890, Henry Newman, 
late of St. Louis, being its first president and A. H. Waite, late of the 
Miners' Bank, its cashier. The bank opened its doors October 1, 1890, 
and its first day's business was a good index of the popularity of its offi- 
cers. Its deposits on the first day footed up $56,783.74. On December 
31, 1899, they had increased to $148,394.42. 

To give an idea of Joplin 's growth, in a financial way, during the 
decade we cite the following: On December 31. 1889, the three banks of 
Joplin had on deposit $375,320.68; the last offered statement for 1899 
showed that the six banks had on hand, $2,307,384.18. 

Joplin 's financial institutions were well managed and although many 
banks all over the country failed during the panic of 1893, no Joplin 
depositor lost a penny and the four banks then doing business in the city 
grew and prospered. The Interstate Bank, organized by George A. 
Case, formerly of the Bank of Joplin, was organized in 1898 and enjoyed 
a good patronage. 

One of the notable features of the Joplin banks was the manner in 
which they handled the several issues of city and school bonds. In the 
issue of bonds it is customary to specify in the bond some time after 
which the paper may be redeemed by the city or school district. The 
usual time is ten years and bonds that are put on the market and thus 
sold, cannot be taken up until the option mentioned expires. As soon 
as bonds are issued, a tax levy is made to redeem them. This accumu- 
lates until the time they can be taken up, and the fund thus lies idle in 
the treasury. The Joplin bank began in the 'nineties the custom of buy- 
ing these several city issues at par and giving the city or school district 
the right to redeem them at will, and as soon as enough money was in 
the treasury to pay one of the bonds it was paid off and the interest 
stopped. In this way the banks of Joplin saved the taxpayer thousands 
of dollars in interest and at the same time strengthened the credit of 
the city. 

Joplin Recovers from the Panic of '93 

By 1895 Joplin had fully recovered from the effects of the panic of 
'93 and began to take on signs of renewed activity, and on January 1, 
1896, there was not a single vacant business house from First to Four- 
teenth streets on Main. The year 1897 was exceptionally good, in a busi- 
ness way, and in 1898 jack began to rise and as it steadily advanced in 
price a boom came on with all of its fury. From January 1, 1898, to 



368 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

January 1, 1900, fully ten thousand people came to Joplin and the scenes 
of the early 'seventies were repeated — that is, in the shortage of houses 
for the rapidly increasing population. Real estate doubled in value and 
houses were built and put on the market with great rapidity. The houses 
were, however, good substantial buildings and modern and up-to-date, 
save a few hastily constructed buildings, which were used as rooming 
1 louses. 

South Joplin 

South Joplin grew very rapidly during the early part of the decade 
and many improvements were made, prominent among them being the 
building of Freeman's foundry and the Inland Lead & Zinc Factory. 
This section of the city in a most amazingly short time became 
not only a busy mai-t, but one of the most beautiful parts of the city. 
The corn fields and prairies which but a few years before had met the 
traveler's eye gave way to graveled streets, sidewalks, trees, flower beds, 
pleasant homes and beautiful lawns. 

Much of these improvements were due to the efforts of the South Jop- 
lin Improvement Club, organized in February, 1892, with J. "W. Free- 
man as president and Lambert Wilstead as secretary. This club had a 
membership of fifty and its meetings were both interesting and instruct- 
ive. Public questions of interest were discussed and plans for the 
improvement of South Joplin were considered. Every man was a booster 
and a firm confidence in the future of the South Town was the most con- 
spicuous feature of his conversation. The people were urged to own 
their homes, and it might be added as an item of interest that in 1893 the 
deputy county assessor who made the lists for Joplin reported that 
65 per cent of the people of South Joplin were actual owners of their 
homesteads. 

Joplin Special Road District 

At the session of the legislature of 1895 there was passed an act which 
is commonly called the Hudson law, which provided a means of building 
a system of roads and highways. The main provisions of this law are 
that any district having within it a city of the second or third class, eight 
miles square, may by vote of the people form a special road district to 
be managed by three commissioners appointed by the council and county 
judges, and to serve without pay. Such board has full control over the 
public roads in the district and can build roads outside within a limit of 
fifteen miles, provided liberal donations for this work are offered. 

The revenue is derived from saloon licenses, one-half of the county 
and one-fourth of the city saloon license goiiisj into the road fund ; 
from a poll tax levied on the able bodied citizens living in the district, 
but outside the city limits, and from donations. The total revenue of 
the Joplin special road district received up to August 1, 1911, totaled 
$450,423.89. 

This sum has been spent in building and keeping in repair the roads 
in the district and those leading into Joplin. The road material, or 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 369 

macadam, consists of the tailings from the lead and zinc mines of the 
district, and costs from two hundred dollars to six hundred dollars per 
mile according to the distance of the haul. Of total expenditures 
eighty-eight per cent went for labor, nine per cent for material bought, 
tools, tiling, etc., including $1,000 for oiling some of the leading roads 
during 1909 and 1910. and only three per cent for administration, in- 
cluding supervisors' wages, surveying, stationery, clerical help, etc. 
For repair and maintenance, $87,000 was paid out. Tbe oiling, it is 
expected, will cut down this expense materially. Total expenses per 




Country Road North of Joplin. Built by the .Toplin Special 

Road District 

mile, including everything, $3,177 : first cost, leaving out maintenance, 
$2,555. 

At a special election held May 5, 1896, the old Galena township road 
district was disorganized and the Joplin special road district created. 
The following were named as the first commissioners : President, Jas. A. 
Turk; secretary. Chris. Guengerich and treasurer, T. W. Cunningham. 
Messrs. Guengerich and Cunningham have been connected with the road 
board from its organization until the present, Mr. Turk resigned from 
the board in 1896 and was succeeded by A. J. Vanal, who served as presi- 
dent in 1899. Mr. Vanal was succeeded in that year by Allen Dixon, now 
associate justice of the county court. Charles Schifferdicker, the present 
president of the road commission, was appointed in 1902 and has served 
the district continuously from then to now. 

Vol. 1—24 



370 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The first road built by the road district was an extension of West 
Thirteenth street to Central City, then a mining camp of a thousand 
people in all of its glory. During the fifteen years the district has been 
organized the commission lias built one hundred and forty miles of 
splendid macadamized road, besides keeping the old road beds in re- 
pair. In construction, the county roads leading into Joplin are second 
to none in the state. 

Rice Hunt, the superintendent of construction, is one of the busiest 
men in the county, employing from twenty to fifty men at road build- 
ing and repairing those already built, and at short intervals going over 
the entire system to note where repairs are needed ; also to observe which 
materials make the best and most durable roads. 

The Ihree commissioners have given much of their valuable time to 
the city and have built up a most excellent system of roads. These three 
men take as much pride in the road construction as they do in their 
private affairs, and frequently go out on the county thoroughfares, in- 
specting the work of construction and noting the general condition of 
the system. The public generally, who are not acquainted with the 
private lives of these three men. cannot appreciate the amount of time 
and the money that they have expended in building up and keeping in 
condition, the highways leading into Joplin. The road commissioners 
hold a weekly meeting each Monday afternoon. 

Joplin Electric Railway 

In 1890 Henry Newman, of the Joplin National Bank, and a num- 
ber of capitalists, organized a company and built an electric railway in 
Joplin. The line originally extended from College Hill in East Joplin 
to Tenth street on Main. The first car was run over the line December 
5, 1890, and C. H. Belden was the first superintendent of the road. 

The line was shortly after extended to Blendville, running south 
on Maine to Nineteenth, west on Nineteenth to Byers, south to Twenty- 
first street, thence west to Murphy and south to Twenty-sixth. The line 
was completed August 21, 1891. This line was of great benefit to Jop- 
lin, as it brought Blendville, then a thriving suburb, in closer touch 
with the main town, and as their business and social interests came to 
be identical, the two towns grew together. In 1892 Blendville was an- 
nexed to Joplin and now, excepting to old-time citizens, the former is 
only a name, for today, the city is built up solidly on the north and east 
and all trace of a dividing line has disappeared. The Joplin Electric 
was bought by the Southwestern Missouri Electric Railway Company in 
1896 and is now a part of the great interurban system. 

Cunningham 's Grove Becomes a City Park 

On July 5, 1898. T. \V. Cunningham, then mayor of Joplin. gave 
to the city for a public park a beautiful seven-acre tract of land known 
as Cunningham's Grove. The splendid gift was accepted by the city 
and steps taken to make it a place second to no park in the state. 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 371 

Further mention of the park will be made in our article on "Parks 
of 1900-10." 

The "Joplin Daily Globe" 

During the first MeKinley-Bryan campaign, when the silver ques- 
tion was the great issue of the hour, a new paper came into existence 
to champion the cause of the silver plumed knight from the Platte, the 
Joplin Daily Globe. 

In May, 1896, Messrs. L. C. McCarn, now the editor of the Morning 
Tribune, Frank Tew, late of Kansas City, and 0. P. Meloy, now pi*esi- 
dent of the Joplin .Printing Company, came to Joplin and started a 
job printing office. Each of these gentlemen was an ardent cham- 
pion of silver. At that time the Joplin Daily Herald, the Democratic 
paper, was edited by W. F. Snyder, who leaned toward the gold stand- 
ard and, as a result, did not enthusiastically support the Democratic 
platform. During June and July, 1896, much political history was 
made and, shortly following the nomination of Mr. Bryan, Messrs. Mc- 
Carn, Tew and Meloy started the Joplin Daily Globe and, on ac- 
count of the intense excitement that existed, it sprang into great popu- 
larity with the Democrats of the city. Further mention of the Globe 
will be made in our chapter on the last decade. 

The Joplin Telephone Company 

The Joplin Telephone Company was organized in 1894, largely 
through the efforts of Z. A. Lawdermilk, and was equipped and put 
into operation in 1895. The company at once became Very popular 
and enjoyed a large patronage. The Joplin Telephone Company is 
now a part of great Home Telephone which operates in almost every 
city, town and hamlet, of Jasper county. 

Redell's Deep Well 

In 1897 George H. Redell decided to drill for water and employed 
P. L. Crossman, the deep mine driller, to sink for him a deep well. 
The well was sunk to a depth of 1,400 feet, where a fine body of water 
was drilled into and the well at onee became a matter of great pride 
to Joplin, for it demonstrated the fact that should at any time it 
become necessary to abandon Shoal Creek as a source of supply, an abun- 
dance of pure crystal water was within reach. 

Volunteer Firemen's Tournaments 

The Southwestern Firemen's tournament was held in Joplin, June 
9-11, 1891, and was a splendid success. Three thousand dollars was 
given away in prizes, and the attendance of firemen and visitors gave 
the city a holiday appearance. 



872 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

The parade was a grand affair, 1,668 firemen being in the lino of 
march, including Carterville companies from Ottawa. Ft. Scott. Pitts- 
burg, Columbus, Rich Hill. Springfield, Ft. Smith, Carrollton, Lexing- 
ton, Carthage, Carterville, Webb City, Galena, and Joplin, besides the 
Veteran Firemen's associations from St. Louis and Kansas City. 

In the prize races the following companies were winners: In the 
100-yard race, of the eleven entries, Nevada captured first prize, Car- 
thage second and Pittsburg third. 

In the championship race — 200-yard run, lay line of hose and throw 
water — there were twenty-two entries, and the following were the 
prize winners: (1) Central Hose, Joplin, time 27% seconds; (2) Pay- 
ton Hose, Joplin, time 30 seconds; (3) Carterville Company No. 1. and 
Regan Hose Company of Carthage, tied for third place each, making 
the run in 31 seconds. 

In the hook and ladder contest. Fort Scott won first money and 
Nevada second. 

At the Volunteer Firemen's tournament at Springfield the Central 
Hose Company of Joplin lowered its record, winning first place by mak- 
ing the run in 23 :45 seconds. Joplin was very proud of its volunteer de- 
partment. 

The Paid Department 

In 1884 the City Council established the Paid fire department, and 
Aaron Haughton, the chief of the old volunteer department, became 
the first head of the new organization. 

The first, members of the Paid department were: W. P. Griffith, 
Frank Zellars, Henry Davis, Charles Sparling and Jos. Dunkle. Frank 
Zellars is still a member of the department and has twice served the 
city as chief. At the present writing he is its assistant chief. 

A. Haughton remained at the head of the department until 1897, 

when lie was su >eded by Bracken Wilson. Mr. Haughton was a great 

organizer and made the Joplin Paid department second to none in 
the state. 

The Tournament of 1897 

The Southwestern Missouri Firemen's Association again held its 
annual meeting in Joplin, June 12-18, 1897, and although Joplin, Car- 
thage, Springfield and other large cities had organized paid depart- 
ments and necessarilv cut down the number of volunteer companies, 
the attendance was large and the meeting a success. 

One of the notable features of the parade was the Carthage Veteran 
Firemen's Association. In the line were Capt. F. R. Tuttle. Mose 
Block, Thomas Garland, Charles Kesswetter, Thomas N. Davey, George 
Thomas, George M. Merrick, Charles Hubb, C. 15. Wood and John 
Rrounsell, who were members of Carthage's first fire department in 
1872 and helped pull the old Babcock fire engine, during the seventies. 

In the championship contest, the honors were won by the Free- 



HISTORY OP JASPER COUNTY 37;; 

man's Volunteer Hose Company of South Joplin, the time being 
24:35. Webb City, their closest competitor (ten companies entering 
the contest), made the run in 25:15, the difference being a trifle over 
a second. 

Blendville 

In 1S76 a good paying lead mine was opened on the Cox land, then 
two and a half miles southwest of the main part of town and the little 
settlement which grew up around these mines was called "Cox diggings." 
The county school district that was organized was called the Cox Dig- 
gings schools and ran along like other county school districts, with its 
occasional spelling match and literary society, until 1890, when a 
great change came over the little settlement and in less than six months 
time transformed the hamlet into a town. 

The Empire Zinc Company, which owned a large portion of the 
land where Cox Diggings was located, began active mining operations 
in the fall of 1889 and made some phenomenal strikes, their mines 
being among the best producers in the district. Doctor Carter and Cap- 
tain Rice organized the Mahaska Company and began developing the 
land just east of Cox Diggings, and Mrs. M. C. Allen, of Evansville, 
Indiana (Joplin 's first "mining queen"), and the Snyder Brothers de- 
veloped, with great success, the land to the west. July 1, 1890, saw Cox 
Diggings a live town of not less than 1,500, with some twenty stores, and 
which, by common conseut, was called Blendville. This, on account of 
the vast quantities of "jack" being taken from the ground, seemed a 
more appropriate name than Cox Diggings. The main street was built 
along either side of the section line road, now known as Twenty-sixth 
street, and called by the citizens Stump avenue. The houses for the most 
part were south of the main thoroughfare. The eighty acres, now com- 
prising the residence portion of Blendville, was then included in T. W. 
Cunningham's farm. 

During the early nineties and before the extension of the city 
limits to the south, Blendville was a real live wire. The county court 
appointed a. justice of the peace for the place, J. W. Napier, and two 
deputy constables were kept busy. In 1892, T. W. Cunningham did a 
great thing for Blendville and her people. He laid out his eighty-acre 
farm into town lots aud put them on the market at a reasonable figure 
and in reach of the miners, selling them on long time and assisting those 
unable to build homes to do so. He gave lots for three churches — and 
also donated twelve lots for a school site and here a twelve-room brick 
building now stands as a monument to his forethought and generosity. 

To give an idea of Blendville importance we call attention to the fol- 
lowing happenings of the nineties: 

A beautiful six-room school was built. Three churches were organ- 
ized and edifices for them built— the Baptists, South Methodists and the 
Latter Day Saints. 

There were organized seven lodges— the Independent Order of Good 



374 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 

Templars, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, Woodmen, Red Men and Ladies auxiliaries to the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen and Woodmen. 

During its early day there were numerous business houses. Every- 
thing was on the wide-awake order. 

In 1890 the Rex Mining Company, composed of E. D. Porter, A. E. 
Stillwell, Galen Spencer, Henry Newman and others, purchased a tract 
of one thousand acres of land southeast of the city and began mining 
operations. The price paid for this land was