USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 12
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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.
No. 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.
No. 6 made it an offense to be intoxicated on the streets.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ORGANIZED
The School District of Carthage was organized in April, 1868, by the election of the following board of education: J. W. Young, president ; D. 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 J. C. 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 lands 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 TEACHERS BETTER THAN SCHOOLHOUSES
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 tonched for building purposes ) had a fairly good school system.
From the close of the war to December. 1869. not quite five years. the school system had grown from 23 districts to 79. and the teaching force consisted of 104. the greater portion of whom were men. The average salary paid was $42.75 per month. The number of children of school age was 4.898 and seventy-three per cent of these were enrolled in the schools.
For the most part the schoolhouses which were built during the 'sixties were one-room frame houses and the furnishings seant for the reason mentioned above.
W. J. Sieber. principal of the Carthage school. was elected county
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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 Demoeratie 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 CARTILAGE
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 the day was delivered, after which every one partook of the good dinner and ate the lunel which had been brought by the thoughtful housewives. sweethearts and sisters. The afternoon was spent in games and social amusements.
Patriotic celebrations always fill men's hearts with noble thoughts and prompt them to do great and noble deeds, and the day was elosed 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 month 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 minst commit the work thoroughly and be able to exemplify the several degrees.
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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 OF 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 Binney, John Tarter, Jacob Stricker, 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
CENSUS OF 1870
Jackson Township 1,238
Jasper Township 758
MeDonald Township 2,035
Marion Township (including Carthage 3,964
1,195
Preston Township
1,174
Sarcoxie Township
1,983
North Fork Township
868
C'enter Creek Township 765
Georgia Township 948
Total population 14,928
88
Mineral Township
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.
The decade which was nshered in with the year 1870 was an impor- tant one for Jasper connty. It saw the county doubled in population and quadrupled in wealth. It witnessed the reenfranchisement 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 connty and present a rich variety of historic experiences, and following the general plan mapped out in our introdnetory chapter, we will group together the important events of this deeade 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 REENFRANCHISED (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
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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 O. 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.
TOWNSIIIP 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. HI. Phelps came into great prominence, being one of the delegates to the national Democratie 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 all 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; E. P. Searl. elerk : S. B. Ormsby, collector ; Charles Poole, assessor; W. V. Thornsburg, constable ; T. B. Tuttle and James P. Betts, justices of the peace.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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.
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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 offieers was as follows: For governor, Hardin, Demoerat, 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 eredit 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. Ilayes of Ohio: the Democratie candidate, Samuel J. Tilden of New York ; the Green- baek 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 the marching clubs four abreast and some of them uni- formed (the Republican marching club was called the Hlayes 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.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC BARBECUE AND PROCESSION
The campaign was elosed by the Democrats with an old-fashioned barbeene 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 pienie was held. The author was a boy then and, like other urehins, 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 Democraey. 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 chung 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 coneluded the celebration and marching clubs for twenty miles round participated in the demonstra- tion. Seven bands of music enlivened the oeeasion and numerons 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 publie 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 redistrieting of the courts into judicial districts and in April, 1878, the county was divided into an eastern and a western distriet. Jasper, Sheridan, Lineoln, 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 1878
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 eampaign. The interest eentered on the choice of congressman who was elected by the Democrats. The vote in the
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
county on congressman was: For Waddell, Democrat, 2,285; Burton, Republican, 2,096; 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 Sareoxic, 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 castern 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 sce "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 mecting 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
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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- cuc 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 & GULF 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-UNI- 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 with 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.
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