USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 37
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
"Mr. A. IT. 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 OF 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 deeent. I believe that socialability are great agencies in promoting decency; in making men good in a strong, virile, achieving sense.'
" 'The lawyer,' said Toastmaster MeReynolds, '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 ease, has never found it necessary to lie; a lawyer whose life and principles and position have been my inspiration-gentlemen, my father.'
"Mr. Samuel MeReynolds, 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. MeReynolds 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 Electrie 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 elub was doing was well brought out by Mr. Peterson. Mr. Wise, veteran conductor, explained that if there was a vital difference between the eon- duetors 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 MeReynolds' remarks on observation, be- eause after recounting in a humorous way the shock he had experienced when told he was to make a speech, he said : 'I have seen that old fellow here many times before (pointing to the elder MeReynolds) 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 aceustomed to get from many of the magazine artieles. 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 faet 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 be 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
332
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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 publie 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. Ilerrington, Carthage ; secretary, Henry Keim, Carth- age ; vice presidents, Chas. Ballard, Sheridan township ; J. B. Wild, Sar- coxie township ; 1. II. Givler, Union township; Wm. B. MeNew, Jackson township ; Alonzo Elling, Madison township ; David Potter, Marion town- ship; T. H. Bell, Lincoln township; Geo. Brunnet. Preston township; Jas. Campbell, MeDonald 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 pienie 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 seenes 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 1861-5.
(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 hinches with them and. as every one knows. the eating of a pienie 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 county 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 eounty'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 eounted 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 exereises proper. and are conducted merely as a money-making seheme. At the reunions of this society there are morning and afternoon programs, held at the rustic pavillion constructed for the exereises, and from the platform the promi- nent speakers of the old school reeount the joys and sorrows, the pleas- ures and the tribulations of pioneer life; and those of our own day and generation enliven the seene by songs and literary exereises. During the noon-hour, of course, the most important part of the program is carried out-the pienie 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 epidemie of what is now commonly called the grippe spread over Jasper county and in an incredibly short time had a thou- sand people sick with the ailment.
When the grippe first made its appearanee, it was ealled 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 Carthage it became necessary to elose 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
335
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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 I 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 MECIIANICAL 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 deeade 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 produet 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- peeting and the kind of machinery used. P. L. Crossman, of Oronogo, introduced the steam drill as a means of loeating the mineral. Pre- vious to this time the prospeetor sunk a shaft and, if he struck mineral, developed the mine, but, if nothing was found, abandoned the prospeet and tried his Juek elsewhere. Mr. Crossman eoneeived the idea of drill- ing for the mineral and in a mueh shorter time and less expensive method, by the drilling of a number of holes on a traet, it was demon- strated with a reasonable certainty the extent of the ore beneath the ground.
The price of zine had slowly risen until in December, 1889, it was quoted on the market at twenty-four dollars a ton. From January, 1, 1890, to August 1, 1893, the priee ranged from twenty-one to twenty- three dollars, but the panic of 1893 eaused it to take a slump and from the latter part of 1893 to 1896, it ranged from seventeen dollars and twenty-five eents to twenty-one dollars. Through a number of eauses 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 deeade.
During the latter nineties the old windlass and horse hoister almost disappeared, excepting for prospecting purposes.
336
-
337
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
DUENWEG
During this ten years a number of new camps came into great promi- nenee and at the close of the decade Jasper county boasted of a half 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 aeres of land which but a few years before was prairie land and on the market at ten dollars an aere now was sold for $40,000.
Duenweg in 1899 was spoken of as an infant wonder in the mining distriet. It was a phenomena, a prodigy and a lasting freak of remark- able riehness. In 1898 land that a few years before could have been bought for a few dollars per acre was produeing $37,656 monthly in lead and zine. The eamp 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
Neek City, which at the elose of the decade had some 600 inhabitants and which was a red-hot mining town, was at first ealled Hell's Neek, the mines being in the little bend of Spring river which like a neek eireles around the eamp and as the name indieates, it was the "warm thing"- that is, until the refining influenees 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. Doetor Henry, a resident physician of Alba, three miles distant, was returning home one dark and stormy night from a visit to the siek 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 elouds 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 impreeations 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 oe- eurred in as many minutes, and the now thoroughly angry doetor 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 Doetor Henry began to study his surroundings. He discovered his horse had lost his way in the darkness and had been traveling in a eircle, 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 zine ore had been uncovered. Miners went to work there and found some of the best zine ore in the distriet. Continued work has revealed unusual quantities of zinc ore.
Vol. 1-22
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 1898 mining activities were commenced at Reeds. For several years good lead and zine 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 zine in large bodies was discovered near the sur- faee, 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 erippled 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, Me- 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 zine 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 ont. 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. Ile sold ont 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 zine.
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.
339
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
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 :
Zine and lead sales in 1890, $3,367,687.
Zine and lead sales in 1891, $3,840,480.
Zinc and lead sales in 1892, $4,580,787.
Zine and lead sales in 1893, $3,317,632.
Zine and lead sales in 1894, $3,535,736. Zinc and Jead sales in 1895, $3,771,979.
Zine and lead sales in 1896, $3,867.595.
Zinc and lead sales in 1897, $4,805,637.
Zine and lead sales in 1898, $7.171,814.
Zine and lead sales in 1899, $10,715,307.
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 IJER DEAD THE UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS-SEMI-MILITARY SOCIETIES-THE THIRD REGIMENT, I. R. K. P .- PATRIARCHS MILITANT, I. O. O. F.
Following the reorganization of the Carthage Light Guard, seven companies of the National Guard were quickly organized in Southwest Missouri, and on October 9, 1890, the officers of the several companies eleeted the following officers 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 BATTALIONS
The Joplin Light Infantry, Company G, was mustered December 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 hattalions, 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 II, 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
311
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
han, comprised Companies A, E, F and G. The old Springfield Rifles 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. M. McMillen; Captain and quartermaster, A. B. Deutsch; Captain and judge advocate, J. W. Halliburton. Lientenant Harrington, of the Light Guard, was named by Brigadier General Milton Moore as one of his aide-de-camp, with the rank of major.
FIRST APPEARANCE AT ST. LOUIS
The Second Regiment made its first appearance at St. Louis in February, 1891, upon the occasion of General Sherman's funeral. Com- pany G from Joplin, having the greatest number of men in line of any corapany attending the last sad rites held over the body of the great soldier.
THE FIRST REGIMENTAL CAMP
This was held at Kellogg Springs, near Carthage, July 17-20, 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 manoenvers very greatly improved the efficiency of the regiment, as well as furnishing the boys with a most delightful outing.
Camp Caffee presented a striking contrast to Camp Allen, which was held at Carthage in July, 1884, and which was mentioned in our Military chapter of the eighties. At Camp Allen there was a great variety of equipments, each company being clothed with a different uni- form, but at Camp Caffee the entire regiment wore the blue of the United States army, the uniforms and equipment having been furnished by the United States government; the expenses of the camp, transpor- tation, etc., were paid by the state. To give an idea of the magnitude of the camp, we present the following figures which represent a por- tion of the daily rations furnished the men: The commissary depart- ment issued each day, among other items, 600 pounds of fresh beef, 600 pounds of corned beef, 600 pounds of ham and 350 loaves of bread, as staples, with coffee, tea, butter, eggs, etc., on the side. The Second Regiment also participated in state camps at Lake Contrary and St. Joseph, and held regimental camps at Springfield, Sedalia, Lamar and Joplin. We make mention here of the Joplin camp, because it is one of the Jasper county events and because it was the last one held before the regiment was called into the service of the United States in the Spanish-American war.
CAMP CUNNINGHAM, AUGUST 15-22, 1897
The Second Regiment went into camp at Joplin for a week's school of instruction August 15, 1897, and the " meet" was named in honor of Mayor Cunningham, who extended the regiment a right royal welcome
342
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
and issued a proelamation 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. Me- 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. Deutsell, 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.
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.