USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 26
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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 exeiting 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 tieket being elected. Colonel Cloud, the Republican chairman, pushed the work of organization and led his party to victory, the Repub- liean-Greenback county ticket being elceted 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 tieket I. C. Hodson for member of the county court, Western district of Jasper county, and J. M. Ralston for assessor. The Green- baekers, in turn, supported M. C. MeGregor of Carthage for circuit judge.
"BOYS IN BLUE"
One of the important factors in this campaign, loeally, was the "Boys in Blue"-a political marching club formed at Carthage by Col. J. W. Campbell, which participated in and created muel 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. Ormsby, captain and adjutant; Newell Mix. captain and commissary ; J. M. Hurley, surgeon ; L. F. Brown, treasurer and pay- master.
ROSTER OF COMPANIES.
Company A-Captain J. B. Hutchens; first lieutenant, Charles Pool; sec- ond lieutenant, N. A. Floyd.
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226
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
Company B-Captain, Jesse Rhoads; first lieutenant, J. W. Hart; second lieutenant. D. E. W. Smith.
Company C-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. Hilliard. 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. Caffee ; surveyor, Kos. Elliott : public adminis- trator, Isaac Fountain; eoroner, 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- her 25, 1880.
329* PRESENTATION TO COL. W. F. CLOUD
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, Capt. Buckbee, 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. 1850."
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 his friends and was completely taken by surprise. He returned his thanks in a happy manner and distributed the credit which had 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 329 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.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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 jndge, 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 H. 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. O. 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. H. 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,
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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 license.
Against license.
Lincoln township
5
102
Sheridan township
21
87
Jasper City
27
92
Preston
5
54
Duval township
51
60
Medoc
40
59
Wacc
37
21
Lehigh
31
78
Carl Junction
72
121
Alba
13
65
Oronogo
53
183
Marion, west
16
152
Marion, east
3
110
Madison township
37
122
McDonald township
74
172
Sarcoxie, east
6
42
Union township
5
111
Jackson township
12
East Joplin prect.
36
60
Webb City prect.
9
17
Carterville
62
243
Galena township, Fourth ward.
39
33
Lone Elin
27
4
Iloward
78
189
Total
760
2.274
Majority
1,514
1
17
Sarcoxie, west
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 eleetion the proposition was defeated by Joplin because of the
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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 eleetion 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 OF 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- triet), Joseph Fountain, Republican : sheriff, J. C. Miller, Republican ; collector, L. M. Murphy, Republican; prosecuting attorney, J. H. Dry- den, Democrat ; judge Eastern district, Thos. MeNalley, 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 manœnverings 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 Gnard 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. HIeulett; 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
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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 marehed in almost a hundred demonstrations.
To illustrate the popularity of this organization as a politieal mareh- ing elub, we relate the following ineident which oeeurred during the campaign of 1892: The Demoerats 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 deelined 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 Demoeraey were greatly disappointed at the deelina- tion of the Webb City Flambeau Club and sent a committee to urge the attendance of that celebrated organization, but Captain Heulett said that it would be impossible to get together enough men to make a ered- itable showing, as fully one-half would receive their week's pay after 5 o'eloek-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 earry the Webb City Flambeau Club to Columbus and that the parade would be held pending their arrival. At this third appeal Captain Hen- 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 bieyeles 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 the 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 elear traek 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 Colonel Spracklin's bugle sounded "fall in," and in less than five minutes the pride of Jasper county's Demoe- racy was at the head of the column and leading the southeast Kansas Democratic cohorts, ten thousand strong, through the streets and among the publie squares of Cherokee county's seat of justice. After the parade the Webb City Flambeau Club were served a sumptuous repast by Colonel Long, who was the marshal of the day.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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 'EIGIITIES
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. Frank, one of the strong rural teachers who resided in Carthage.
Mr. Frank continued the policies mapped out by Mr. Underwood and kept up the high standard of the county schools. Mr. Frank 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.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
Locke of Smithfield. The Normal lasted four weeks, and at the elose 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-WIIITE 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.
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 Hant.
1881: C. F. Hedreiek, 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. MeCullis. 1884: I. W. Wheeler, II. 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 HI. Black.
233
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
1887 : I. C. Ilodson. W. L. Norris, W. B. Myers, and L. E. Steinmetz. 1888: G. B. Wood, Martin Leidy, Jasper Smith and S. O. Morrow. 1889: C. O. Harrington, F. B. Ilouston. J. W. Henderson and H. F. Beebe.
Marshals-James Flannigan (two terms), James Dragoon (two terms), James Deagan (two terms), D. M. Stafford (two terms), and .J. G. Aehuff.
Recorders (Poliee Judges)-Daniel Brown, C. B. Stiekney, S. G. William (two terms), B. F. IIaekney, J. J. Iliggins, Thomas Buckbee (two terms), B. F. Faught.
City Attorneys-M. G. MeGregor, R. F. Butler, J. W. Hallburton, John II. Flannigan, E. C. De Vore, J. K. Shields, William La Force, J. D. Perkins, and Howard Gray.
Treasurers-J. J. Wells, L. F. Brown, James Spence (three terms), Edward Cassel, Lyman F. 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 tieket 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 eatering to the traveling public the Harrington has made good, C. O. 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
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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. Lonis. 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 mmch 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- vond 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 O. 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 George 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 clected the following officers :
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