USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 47
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The Carterville Masonic Lodge was instituted in April, 1893, with nineteen charter members. There were eighty-five members of the craft from neighboring towns present who assisted in the work. The first officers of the lodge were: W. W. Fewel, worshipful master; W. S. Daw- son, senior warden; E. M. Thornton, junior warden; Wilson Blanton, treasurer ; Dr. W. Price, secretary ; J. W. Connor, senior deacon ; Joseph Fountain and George W. Story, stewards; W. MeCollough, tyler. After the ceremonies the members with their ladies repaired to the Planters Hotel where a banquet was served, at which a number of eloquent after- dinner speeches were made.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
CARTERVILLE BANDS
In March, 1891, there was organized in Carterville a female band which, to use a modern business phrase, "made good" and gave to the musie-loving people of that eity some most excellent band music. The members of this musical organization were: Hattie Byers, Allie Lilli- bridge, Lizzie Duncan, Bertie Hightower, Belle Cass. Mand Roop, Ollie Cass, Kate Jones, Edith Moore, Lillie Underwood and Maude Fountain.
Carterville also maintained a cornet band and its reputation extended far and wide. Its manenverings while on parade were very attractive and no parade was complete without this famous organization.
CARL JUNCTION
Carl Junction also made rapid strides during the nineties, almost donbling its population, and more than trebling its volume of business. Among the important factors in making a greater Carl Junction was the organization of a Commercial Club, which was effected December 5. 1890, with the following offices: President. J. W. Strond ; vice president, William Carter; secretary, S. A. Stuckey; treasurer, W. F. DeGarmo. This club brought the business men of the town closer together and they all worked in harmony for a greater business activity.
During this year nearly all of the great fraternities, among them the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, organized wide awake and active lodges. The Baptists and Presbyterian denominations both built church edifiees, and quite a number of substantial brick buildings were pnt up, among them the Carl JJunction Hotel and the Chitwood Opera House.
We mention here a few of the incidents which happened in Carl June- tion during the deeade.
The silver anniversary of the organization of the Grand Army of the Republie was generally celebrated by the old soldiers all over the county and one of the most pleasing of these celebrations was at Carl Junetion. April 6, 1891. Seventy-three veterans answered the roll-call by which the meeting was opened. The address of the evening was given by Com- mander Hopkins.
On August 9, 1891, the Farmers Alliance of Jasper County held in the grove south of Carl Junction a county pienic which was a monster affair. Mary Ellen Lease, the noted populist orator of the Sunflower state, was present and delivered the address of the day, and in it reiterated her mueh-used advice for the farmers to raise less corn and more hell for the purpose of bringing to the attention of the lawmakers the condition of the farming and laboring classes.
The 1891 annual meeting of the Spring River Baptist Association was held in Carl Junction and was largely attended. The meeting was held in the new Baptist church. Delegates were present from twenty- seven ehurehes.
The Bank of Carl Junetion was founded in 1892 by William Carter,
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T. W. Cunningham and others, and the organization of this institution supplied a long-felt want in the town. From the very beginning the bank enjoyed a splendid patronage. This bank was burglarized Novem- ber 16, 1899, the thieves dynamiting the safe and making way with $4,000. The bank was fully insured against burglary and hold-ups and recovered the amount lost. The Chitwoods bought the interest of Mr. Carter and others and became the sole proprietors of the bank.
ORONOGO
Oronogo made a substantial gain in population and experienced a considerable size building boom. Better and more substantial houses were built and many new businesses established.
The Bank of Oronogo was established in 1892 by Robert Robyn, J. P. Newell. R. Stults. J. W. Stults and others. This bank lent a dignity to
ORONOGO AFTER IT WAS REBUILT
the town in a commercial way and not only supplied a long felt want, but established a sort of financial confidence in the town. The bank was burglarized in 1895, but was not seriously erippled. .
The Masonic lodge continued to be, as in the eighties, the principal lodge of the place, but a number of other orders were formed, among them the Woodmen, Independent Order of Good Templars and Knights of Pythias. The Grand Army of the Republic post was an important factor in the social life of the eity and on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the order gave a patriotie entertainment to which the publie were invited.
The school system was excellent and the moral tone was high, the rowdy element having left and the better citizenship of the town assert- ing itself. The personnel of the eity officers was high and we regret that we could not record a list for publication.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
SARCOXIE
Sarcoxie pushed rapidly to the front during the nineties, making a substantial gain in population and greatly increasing its business.
The formation of the Sarcoxie Strawberry Growers Association brought the berry industry into great prominence, and all during this decade strawberries and Sarcoxie were, in berry time, synonymous terms.
ASBURY
The town of Asbury was laid out in 1896, was largely advertised by the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railway and attracted during that year a large number of investors. So rapidly did the town grow that before the close of the year there were six stores, two livery stables, two hotels and an implement house. The houses built were of a sub- stantial character and a good class of people came here to make it their homes. The population increased so fast that it was necessary to build a two-room school house. Asbury also had a well edited paper and a bank. The population in this part of the county, however, would not support so many businesses and toward the close of the decade some of the stores were moved away. Asbury, however, is an important place and a considerable business is transacted here. It is strictly a farming town.
Vol. 1 -28
First Decade of the Twentieth Century
CENSUS OF 1900
The County 84,018
Duval township including part of Neck City
1,026
Neck City, total in Duval and Mineral townships 528
Galena township, including Joplin .32,976 Joplin 26,023
Jackson township
1,678
Jasper township 1,175
Joplin township, including Webb City and Carterville 18,499
Carterville
4,445
Lincoln township
665
McDonald township, including Avilla
1,203
Madison township 1,184
Marion township, including Carthage 11,056 Carthage 9,416
Mineral township, including Oronogo, Neck City and Purcell. 4,644
Oronogo township 2,073
Preston township, including Jasper City Jasper City
1,597
Sarcoxie township, including Sarcoxie, Reeds, etc.
3,335
Sarcoxie City
1,126
Sheridan township
851
Twin Grove township, including Carl Junction 2,628 Carl Junction 1,177
Union township
1,377
627
Webb City 9,201
436
CHAPTER XXXIX
GENERAL COUNTY TOPICS
COUNTY POLITICS-THIE COUNTY SCHOOLS-STATE COURSE OF STUDY- JASPER COUNTY TEACHERS' INSTITUTE-STATE UNIVERSITY S. W. MISSOURI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION-PURCELL-LA RUSSELL-BUILDING A CHURCH IN A DAY-SEMI-MILITARY SOCIETIES-RAILROADS-VISIT OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA-THE DROUGHT OF 1901-THE OTHER EXTREME-WATERS ON A TEAR.
The election of 1900 was hotly contested, but the excitement which attended the campaign of 1896 was not in evidence to the extent that it was when Bryan and Mckinley were before the people the first time. William McKinley was the Republican candidate for president and Will- iam Jennings Bryan had again been nominated by the Democrats. Jasper county went Democratic, but by a reduced majority over the vote of four years before. The result was as follows: Bryan, 9,640; Mckinley, 8,741.
At this election the following candidates were successful: Repre- sentative of Eastern district, Thomas Hackney; representative of West- ern district, Obe Whitmere ; sheriff, Ab Rich ; collector, Robert A. Wil- son ; associate justice Eastern district, Henry Adkins; associate justice Western district, J. A. Ristine; treasurer, Wm. Lochrie; assessor, Sher- man Qualls; surveyor, T. V. Grebe; public administrator, John Arm- strong; coroner, Dr. W. A. Dumbald.
The election of 1902 was a Republican victory, the vote on the gen- eral election being : Republican ticket, 7,240 ; Democratic, 6,779. A mixed county ticket was elected as follows: State senator, Hugh McIndo; rep- resentative Eastern district, W. R. Logan; representative Central dis- trict, Charles E. Elliott; representative Western district, R. N. Graham; presiding judge of county court, C. W. Dykeman; associate justice, Eastern district, E. Hubbard; associate justice, Western district, Allen Dixon ; prosecuting attorney, A. H. Redding; circuit clerk, A. F. Car- mean ; county clerk, L. L. Ashcraft ; recorder, T. B. Hobbs ; sheriff, James T. Owen; collector, S. J. Chitwood; treasurer, C. J. Smith; coroner, C. A. Eames; public administrator, J. W. Sennett.
The 1904 campaign was by far the most exciting of the decade, on account of the intense feeling in the Democratic party over the guberna- torial nomination centering between Mayor Reid of Kansas City and Circuit Attorney Jos. W. Folk, of St. Louis. The intense feeling in the Democratic party cansed a bitterness that was kept at white heat during
437
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
the entire campaign, and resulted most logically, in a Republican landslide.
On November 6, 1906, the county officers elected were as follows: Prosecuting attorney, H. Compton; circuit clerk, A. F. Carmean; county clerk, Lon. L. Ashcraft; collector, Robert M. Sloan; recorder, J. B. Chaffee ; treasurer, J. B. Yaryan; presiding judge, C. W. Dykeman; associate judge, Western district, Allen Dixon ; probate judge, Edward E. Hubbard; coroner, Ernest H. Baird ; representative Eastern district, A. Clay Stemmons; representative Central district, Samuel F. Clark; representative Western district, James Roach.
The county officers elected November 3, 1908, were as follows : Prose- cuting attorney, Byron Coon ; circuit judge No. 1, Henry L. Bright; Cir- cuit judge No. 2, David E. Blair; coroner, Ernest H. Baird; sheriff, Arch McDonald; Assessor, Ed. H. Chitwood; treasurer, J. B. Yaryan; sur- veyor, W. H. Kohlman ; public administrator, Rob. N. Alexander; asso- ciate judge, east district, J. A. Wright; associate judge, west district, Allen Dixon.
On November 8, 1910, the county officers elected were : Prosecuting attorney, William Andrews; circuit judge, Joseph D. Perkins; county judge, Eastern district, J. A. Wright; county judge, Western district, Allen Dixon ; probate judge, N. H. Kelso; circuit clerk, Della Sharp; county clerk, L. H. Thomas; county collector, R. L. Sloan; recorder, Frank B. Logan.
JASPER COUNTY VOTES FOR LOCAL OPTION, 1910
In 1910, and largely on account of the temperance agitation of the Rev. W. A. Sunday, who had conducted a very successful revival at Joplin in November and December, 1909, the county voted on the ques- tion of local prohibition. Joplin, Webb City, Carthage and Carterville voted separately on the question. The campaign was short but very ex- citing, and the result was as follows: Joplin, 6,504 votes cast, majority against local option, 814; Webb City, 2,506 votes cast, majority for local option, 67; Carthage, 2,176 votes cast, majority for local option, 176; Carterville, 980 votes cast, majority for local option, 134. The county at large, including the county precincts and all towns excepting the above, cast 4,752 votes and gave a majority for local option of 1,916.
THE COUNTY SCHOOLS
In 1899 State Superintendent Carrington prepared a uniform course of study for the rural schools of the state, covering eight years of work and corresponding with the eight years usually covered by the primary and grammar grades of the city schools. As an incentive for using this course of study it was provided that at the close of the school year the grades of the pupils throughout the county should be cast up, and those having successfully completed the eight-years' work were to be granted diplomas by the county superintendent certifying to the fact that they had finished the work mapped out for the first eight years of the state
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
course of instruction and, on the presentation of this certificate of grad- uation, the holder was entitled to admission to the Freshmen class of any of the high schools of the state which he might chose to attend.
This course of study was generally adopted by the rural teachers of the county and Superintendent E. D. Dennison put forth every effort to carry to a successful termination the wishes of the state superintendent. Of course the classification of the pupils the first year was a difficult task and required great pains and labor from not only the superintend- ent but the teachers as well, but after numerous conferences and much hard labor the classification was satisfactorily arranged.
The first class of rural graduates numbered only five, but in the spring of 1901 thirty-eight pupils completed the course. In 1902 the rural graduating class numbered one hundred, and in 1903 one hundred and twenty were successful in passing the examination. This was prob- ably the most important act of Superintendent Carrington, and more than any other one thing raised the standard of the county schools, and Jasper was one of the first six counties to adopt the state course of study.
To give an idea of the' importance of the rural graduation we quote from County Superintendent W. B. Colley and State Superintendent Evans, the extracts taken from the annual report of the state superin- tendent for 1910.
Extract from report of County Superintendent W. B. Colley : "County supervision is not a new thing in Jasper county and in speak- ing of what has been accomplished by supervision I only wish to share the honor for it with my able and worthy predecessors. There is excellent school sentiment throughout the entire county. The people generally desire to have good schools and desire that their children shall take regu- lar elementary and high school courses. A large number of districts are making extra efforts to have eight month terms. School buildings are usually well kept and provided with a few decorations. Good school houses have been built and most of them have been equipped with good desks, slate or hyloplate blackboards, globes, dictionaries, maps, libraries, cte. The species of rowdyism and vandalism that used to characterize the district school is entirely a thing of the past. Children commonly take their books home to study at night. Attendance and punctuality are generally good. One rural school reported perfect attendance and seven tardies in three monthis.
"The most pressing needs of Jasper county are consolidated districts, better salaries, and more permanency in the teaching profession.
"The county course of study is used in all rural schools. The rural examinations in the spring together with the eight permanent high school scholarships offered by two of the largest high schools are great incen- tives to the rural pupils."
THE STATE COURSE OF STUDY
Notes from report of State Superintendent W. P. Evans: "The county graduation movement has made fine progress the last four years.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
In 1907, there were 2,747 pupils completing the common school course in the state; in 1908, 3,991; in 1909, 6,075; in 1910, 8,801. This shows an inerease of 6,054 or 220 per cent. in four years. The number of coun- ties holding graduating exercises, eounty, township or rural district, has increased from 6 in 1906, to 112 in 1910, or nearly 1,800 per cent. It is this movement that is so largely responsible for the increase in coun- try attendance at the various high schools, academies and normal schools. It has also brought about a more regular attendanee and more interest on the part of rural pupils. As matters now stand in Missouri we have the articulated system beginning with the rural school where a pupil com- pletes the eight grades and is given a high school entranee certificate or certificate of graduation. This certificate admits him without exami- nation to any high school in the state. On completing a four year high school course and receiving a diploma, he can enter the University of Missouri or any college without examination, or any normal school with credit. The one weak spot in the system, is the laek of high school ad- vantages in some counties. Hence the pupils completing the eighth grade in these counties must go away from home to get high school privileges. The remedy for this is the consolidated school."
In 1910 a representative of the state superintendent visited a num- ber of the schools of southwestern Missouri with a view of observing the uniformity of the schools of the county and village districts in the use of the State Course of Instruction. In his report to the state superin- tendent the following Jasper county schools were especially mentioned : Marion school, District No. 62, R. N. Kirby, teacher. No. months in present position, 9. Salary paid, $60. Vols. in library, 150. Value of library, $50. Assessed valuation, $146,610. Estimated value of school property, $2,500.
Monitor school, District No. 75, R. J. Knight, teacher. No. months in present position, 2. Salary, $50. Vols. in library, 128. Value of library, $40. Assessed valuation, $62,375. Estimated value of school property, $800.
Prairie View sehool, Distriet No. 88, Etta Spencer, teacher. No. months in present position, 1. Salary paid, $40. Vols. in library, 100. Value of library, $30. Assessed valuation, $79,750. Estimated value of sehool property, $1,200.
Iligh Hill school, District No. 89, Louis H. Keepers, teacher. No. months in present position, 12. Salary paid, $50. Vols. in library, 180. Value of library, $60. Assessed valuation, $79,080. Estimated value of school property, $1,000.
Zincite school, District No. 96, Jesse L. Pierce and Zella Strater, teachers. No. months in present position, 19. Salary paid, $65-$50. Vols. in library, 34. Value of library, $15. Assessed valuation, $139,- 220. Estimated value of school property, $1,400.
JASPER COUNTY TEACHER'S INSTITUTE
From 1887 to 1903 the Jasper County Teachers' Normal had been the approved summer school for teachers and during the fourteen years
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
that it had flourished had wielded a great influence and had accom- plished for the teachers of the county much good. In 1903, however, the Teachers' Normal came to an end and was succeeded by the Jasper County Teachers Association, which was provided for by the legislative enactments of 1903. The law, briefly stated, provided that all of the teachers of the county should attend a county institute to be held on the last three days of either October, November or December of each year; that the teachers shall receive their regular pay for the time spent in attending the institute and that the county superintendent should ar- range for these sessions a program of lectures from persons especially fitted or trained in the art of teaching.
The state superintendent in announcing the law to the teachers of the state said: "It is believed that a three days' meeting right in the midst of the term will help teachers more in a practical way than the ten days' institute. School boards should encourage teachers to attend every day of this association and go themselves. The state superintendent will at- tend every one of these meetings that he possibly can. Someone repre- senting one of the State Normals or the State University will gladly at- tend and lecture without cost to the association. It is recommended that someone outside of the county be secured for two or more addresses. The state superintendent, each year, will suggest the program. Every teacher should have an assigned part and feel that it is his meeting. At least one session should be given to directors."
These institutes have been very popular in this county and have ac- complished much good. The following gentlemen have filled the office of county superintendent during the last decade: 1900-2, E. B. Den- nison ; 1902-3, Joel T. Livingston ; 1903-6, Luther Hardaway; 1906-11, Walter B. Colly ; 1911 -. L. W. Kost.
Of the above, Superintendent Dennison resigned in 1902 to accept a position as teacher of mathematics in the K. C. Manual Training High School, and Joel T. Livingston was appointed by the governor to fill out the unexpired term.
Luther Hardaway resigned in 1906 to aeeept a position as assistant chief clerk in the office of the state superintendent and Walter B. Colly was appointed by the governor to fill out his nnexpired term.
STATE UNIVERSITY S. W. MISSOURI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
In 1903, the Jasper county alumni of the Missouri State University formed an association and invited the former students of the University from all over southwest Missouri to join them in a banquet and school reunion, to be held at Carthage, Jannary 21, 1904. Dr. R. N. Jesse, president of Missouri State University was the guest of honor. The banquet was given at the Elks club rooms which were profusely dec- orated with the college colors, old gold and black. The tiger, the em- blem of the university football team, was much in evidence. The table, which was loaded with good things to eat, was arranged in the form of a
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
huge letter U and around this were seated the ex-students, who for three hours lived over the good old days of the University life.
Major Craycroft, of Joplin, was the toast master of the evening, and after a few appropriate words introduced Attorney J. M. Dryden, of Carthage, who delivered an address which was partially in the nature of a welcome to Carthage, and partially in the nature of recalling the in- eidents and events which made the memory of the State University a pleasant recollection. Following Mr. Dryden's address, Dr. Jesse re- sponded to the toast "The College Bred Man." Leslie Riec, of Neosho, gave a most interesting talk of University life. Dr. John B. Lawsen, of Columbia, of the law faculty, responded both eloquently and interest- ingly to the toast "The Lawyer." Thomas Hackney, a prince of after dinner speakers, concluded the program with a response to "Jasper County and the State University." In this connection it might be added that Jasper county has more students in the State University, than any other of the South West Missouri counties. At this writing the Jasper county students at the University, over fifty in number, have an organization which is very popular and also very useful, known as the Jasper County Club.
PURCELL
The town of Purcell was founded in 1903 named after former Sheriff James Purcell of this county. It is situated midway between Alba and Neck City. This town has had a steady growth from its beginning and now numbers among its business establishment a well managed bank.
LA RUSSELL
La Russell is another one of the new towns which has been put on the map of Jasper county during the last decade. It is in the central portion of the county and sprang up after the building of the White River line. At first it drew largely from Bower's Mill, one of the oldest towns in the southwest but some three or four miles off from the railroad. Recently, however, the opening up of rich mines near La Russell has made it a very important point.
BUILDING A CHURCH IN A DAY
In 1907 the Rev. W. F. Turner, of Quincy, Illinois, formerly of Jop- lin, with the assistance of two hundred of his congregation, built the framework and principal parts of a church building and the feat was much commented on by the press of the country. At a meeting of the Christian ministers of Jasper county, early in the year 1911, it was determined to build a church at some point in Jasper county and com- plete the cdifice in a day, as an object lesson of what might be done by united and concerted action.
Alba, Missouri, was selected as the place where the house of worship should be built and Tuesday, May 31st, as the day. More than a hun- dred members of this great denomination appeared upon the scene carly
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
on the day selected, bringing with them hammers, saws, axes, picks, planes, stone hammers and tools of all descriptions and kinds. Among the laborers were the following ministers, who had come from other cities to help in the glorious work of building the temple : D. W. Moore, pastor of the Carthage church; G. J. Chapman, First church, Joplin; J. W. Famuliner, Villa Heights; R. C. Blunt, South Joplin; A. K. Williams, Central church, Joplin ; Rev. Mr. Daniels, of Webb City ; Rev. Mr. Mor- gan, Carterville ; Evangelists Jones and Meador.
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