USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
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; W. J. Cameron, 1867-8; William B. Hamilton, 1868; Isaac E. Koring, 1868-73; J. T. Willoughby, 1868-71.
73
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
County clerks-William J. Bulgian, 1865-7; Samnel 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. O. 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. O. 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
.
CARO OFFICE
L.P CUNNINGHAM. LAW LAND OFFICE.
BANK OF CARTHAGE
LAW LAND OFFICE
JASPER COUNTY'S FIRST BANK AND ITS FOUNDER
75
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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 OF THE "CARTHAGE 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 ereating 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 foree 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. F. 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 subseriber 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 ereeted a large store build- ing. S. II. Caldwell, on elosing 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) Medoe 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.
Medoe Lodge No. 335, A. F. & A. M. (now Joplin Lodge No. 335), was organized at Medoe on June 18, 1869. During that year also four churches carried on the work of evangelization.
Among the leading merchants at Medoe 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 aeres of Jasper county land.
In 1868 Franklin Side laid off the town of Diamond, in northern portion of Diamond Grove, and ereeted there 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 plaeing therein better and more improved milling machinery. He also added to this a earding plant and his mill at onee became famous. A postoffice was established at the town and Mr. Cabannis was appointed postmaster. The Galesburg dam aeross 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 diseon- 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 importanee.
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 eount 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; Sareoxie, 300; Medoe, 225; Georgia City, 200; Avilla, 160; Galesburg, 100; Fidelity, 50; New Sherwood, 30.
Sareoxie 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 OF THE MINES-HOW THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO ORONOGO-THE FIRST JASPER COUNTY FAIR-CHURCHES DURING REORGANIZATION PERIOD-TOWNSIHIP 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 inen 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 $00 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 be 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 Inmber, would amount to that in ten years.
The Banner also printed the following April 22, 1869 :
RAILROAD 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.
Col. 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 be 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 motlon as amended by Mr. Lamb.
On motion a committee consisting of Col. Cloud, Col. Picher, and M. G. Me- 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. Ormsby.
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.
MeDonald Township .- E. M. Burch and J. C. Willoughby.
Sareoxie Township .- Harrison Hubbart and Amos Hoag.
Jackson Township .- Lazarus Spence and David F. Moss. Centre Creek Township .- Jonathan Rusk 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.
79
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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 historie 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 stoek 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 scen 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 aud 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. H. 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. II. 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
81
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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 Graee 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 enthusiastie 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 Vol. I- 6
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 OF ODD FELLOWS.
On March 12, 1868, a petition was presented to the county court by M. C. MeGregor 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 ae- cordingly a decree was granted erecting the town of Carthage into a municipality, the original limits of the town being as follows: Com- meneing at the northwest corner of Parson & Case's addition to said town of Carthage, running thenee north 800 feet ; thenee east 6,110 feet ; thenee north 2,120 feet, to the place of beginning, with the same narra- tions as the original surveys, being 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
84
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
election 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. H. 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 H. A. Terpenning, clerk.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.