USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 50
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
succeeded by W. A. Sanford. Charles Schifferdeeker asked to retire from the board, on account of his many private interests. and was succeeded by T. T. Snapp, who filled out his unexpired term and was succeeded by Senator J. T. Dunwoody. Mr. Landreth retired at his own request and was succeeded by J. M. Leonard. Chris Guengerich has been the president of the park commission since 1909.
In addition to the Cunningham Park, which has been greatly bean- tified, the city has acquired Mineral Park, in East Joplin, and Me- Clelland Park, south of the city near Grand Falls, and has also used, through the courtesy of the Scottish Rite Masons, a small vacant plot at Fourth and Byers. All of these places have been made very beau- tiful and have been much used. M. F. Keith and R. P. Brown, super- intendent and assistant superintendent of parks, have worked untiringly for a more beautiful Joplin and deserve the thanks of the city.
EAST JOPLIN IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
In 1893 there was organized in East Joplin a elub which has had a great influence on the destinies of the First ward and, largely on ac- count of the agitation started by it, has in the past nine years greatly improved the appearance of this seetion of the city. The first officers of the club were W. M. Marshall, president, Robert Moore, vice presi- dent, A. C. Elliff, secretary.
This elub set about to beantify East Joplin and during the years that the club has been in existence something like ten miles of streets have been graded, over six miles of sidewalks have been built and a beautiful park has been added to the ward. Recently, the club has un- dertaken the proposition of enlarging Mineral Park by extending it west through St. Joe Hollow and sonth on the east side of Joplin creek to Broadway. This work, if accomplished, will make a beautiful place out of what is now an unsightly spot. Within the hounds of the pro- posed extension to Mineral Park is the spot where E. R. Moffet and John B. Sergeant sunk the first shaft in the Joplin district; and it is proposed on this site to erect a monument to be made of specimens taken from the mines all over the Joplin district.
JOPLIN'S FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Joplin fire department is an institution of which the entire com- munity is proud, and justly, too.
From the time of the organization of the old volunteer fire depart- ment down to this day, the citizens of Joplin have tried to keep this organization out of polities and it is freer from political influences than any other department of the city. Among the fire laddies, sterling worth, chivalric deeds and unquestioned bravery is the "pull" which carries them to public favor and places of responsibility.
The Joplin fire department as at present organized is composed of a chief, assistant chief and one hose and hook and ladder company for each of the three fire districts.
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Joplin has the distinction of having introduced the automobile fire- fighting apparatus, having been the first city in the world, so far as we are able to ascertain, to purchase an automobile fire hose and hook and ladder truck.
The idea of using the automobile as a means of transporting the fire-fighting equipment originated with Albert Webb, of Joplin, who operated an automobile livery just across the street from the Central fire department. Mr. Webb, as an experiment, induced the city to place a chemical tank and a section of small hose on an automobile and when an alarm of fire was turned in he, with the chief, went to the fire. In nine cases out of ten, they put out the fire before it had gained much headway and, in some instances, were ready to return when the hose company, which was drawn by horses, arrived on the seene.
The worth of such a fire-fighting apparatus was apparent to every one and the city contracted with Mr. Webb for a hose truek-and later purchased complete equipments for the three companies; also an aerial ladder truck for the Central department. The aerial truek is drawn by horses, being so large that the ordinary "auto" is too small.
MUNICIPAL OFFICERS, 1900-11
The following offieers have served the city during the past eleven years :-
1900: Mayor, J. H. Spencer; city marshal, J. A. McManamy ; police judge, J. F. Osborne; city attorney, Joel T. Livingston ; city col- lector, R. A. Wilson ; treasurer, J. B. Glover, Jr .; assessor, J. B. W. Roe; elerk, E. C. H. Squire; street commissioner, J. C. Sigers; engi- neer, S. J. McKee; fire chief, Bracken Wilson : health officer, J. B. Wil- lim; counselor, C. H. Montgomery.
City Council-H. B. Crossman, Lee Campbell, R. A. Loomis, J. M. Evans, C. W. McAbb, A. F. Donnan, Ralph Danford, Frank Felix, J. A. Brookshire and Benj. M. Stevens.
1901 : Mayor, J. C. Trigg: city marshal, T. J. Cafer; police judge, C. S. Walden; city attorney, P. D. Deeker; collector, W. A. Kirkpat- rick ; treasurer, T. A. Cunningham ; assessor, C. T. Meloan; clerk, E. C. H. Squire; street commissioner, John Delaney; engineer, S. J. Me- Kee; fire chief, W. G. Pearson; health offieer, Dr. W. H. Woodson ; counselor, C. H. Montgomery.
Council-Lee Campbell, D. F. Hinds, J. M. Evans, S. T. Davis, A. F. Donnan, T. C. Malloy, Frank Felix, Matthew George, Benj. M. Stevens and M. A. Baylis.
1902: Mayor, J. C. Trigg; city marshal, T. J. Cafer; police judge, C. S. Walden; city attorney, P. D. Decker; colleetor, W. A. Kirkpat- rick; treasurer, T. A. Cunningham; assessor, C. T. Meloan; clerk. E. C. H. Squire; street commissioner, John Delaney; fire chief, J. C. Sigers ; health officer, Dr. W. H. Woodson ; counselor, C. H. Montgomery.
City Council-D. F. Hines, Lee Campbell, S. F. Davis, A. F. Davis, T. C. Malloy. A. F. Donnan, Matthew George, Geo. H. Redell. M. A.
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Baylis, L. B. Cook, Henry Kost, W. H. Houts. J. C. Warren and A. Il. HIall.
1903: Mayor, T. A. Cunningham; city marshal. J. A. MeManamy : police judge, J. J. Barnett; city attorney. R. A. Pearson; collector. W. A. Kirkpatrick; treasurer. C. W. Bartlett ; assessor, C. T. Meloan ; clerk, E. C. II. Squire; engineer, S. J. McKee; street commissioner, S. S. Nix; fire chief, J. C. Sigers; health officer. Dr. G. I. Mays and J. F. Myers : counselor, C. H. Montgomery.
City Council-Lee Campbell, A. F. Davis, Geo. H. Redell, L. B. Cook, W. H. Honts, A. A. IIall, D. F. Hinds, Jesse Zook, W. E. Mor- gan. G. W. Burgess, Henry Kost and E. E. Warren.
1904: Mayor, T. W. Cunningham : eity marshal. J. A. MeManamy : police judge, J. J. Barnett : city attorney, R. A. Pearson : collector, W. A. Kirkpatrick: treasurer. C. W. Bartlett : assessor, C. T. Meloan : elerk, E. C. H. Squire : street commissioner, S. S. Nix ; engineer, S. J. MeKee: fire chief. J. C. Sigers; health officer. G. I. Mays; counselor. Geo. J. Grayston.
City Council-D. F. Hinds, Jessie A. Zook, T. C. Malloy, W. E. Morgan, G. W. Burgess, Henry Kost, E. E. Warren. Robert Moore, J. M. Lane, F. A. Rogers, J. F. Dunwoody, James Hancock, Joseph II. Myers, William Cox.
1905: Mayor, C. A. Lyon ; city marshal, J. H. Myers: police judge. Byron Bourne : city attorney, E. F. Cameron ; collector, II. W. Nash : treasurer, J. A. Becker; assessor, Charles M. Miles; clerk, E. C. II. Squire; street commissioner, E. O. Moats; engineer, W. W. Van Frank; fire chief, Frank Zellars; health officer, Dr. L. 1. Matthews: counselor, Geo. J. Grayston.
City Conneil-R. E. Moore, James M. Lane, F. II. Rogers, J. F. Dunwoody, James Haneock, S. P. Griffin, Wm. Cox, R. E. Coberly, Wm. S. Brown, J. W. Downing, W. E. Morgan, Guy Humes, J. L. Col- man, J. J. Wolfe.
1906: Mayor, C. W. Lyon; city marshall. J. Il. Myers : police judge, Byron Bourne : city attorney. E. F. Cameron ; city collector, II. W. Nash : city treasurer, J. A. Becker; city assessor, C. M. Miles; city clerk, Hiram Phillips; street commissioner, Walter F. Jones: engineer. W. W. Vau Frank; fire chief. Frank Zellars: health officer. Dr. Leon F. Hurwitz: counselor, A. C. Burnett.
City Council-John Newton. W. S. Brown. J. W. Downing, W. E. Morgan, Guy T. Ilumes, J. L. Colman, J. J. Wolfe, R. L. Board, J. W. King, A. F. Donnan, Thomas Kelleher. W. Il. Wilson, S. P. Griffin. C. W. Westeott.
1907: Mayor, J. F. Osborn : city marshal. J. H. Myers ; police judge, Byron Bourne : city attorney, Clark Nichols ; city collector, Il. W. Nash ; city treasurer, J. A. Becker; city assessor, S. S. Nix; city elerk, Hy Phillips; street commissioner, Andy Ferriek; engineer, Wm. Kohlman ; fire chief, J. C. Sigers ; health officer, Dr. F. E. Rohan : counselor, John J. Wolfe; poliee matron, Mrs. Ellen Ayers.
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City Council-R. L. Board, J. W. King, T. C. Malloy, Thomas Kelle- her, W. H. Wilson, S. P. Griffin, C. W. Westcott, Charles Wells. S. A. Smith, Clarence Shortess, P. W. Hennessey. Guy T. Humes, R. P. Brown, Robert Wear.
1908: Mayor, J. F. Osborne: city marshal, J. Il. Myers: police judge, Byron Bourne; city attorney, Clark Nichols; city collector, II. W. Nash ; city treasurer, J. A. Becker; city assessor, S. S. Nix; city clerk, Hiram Phillips; street commissioner, Andy Ferrick; engineer, J. B. Hodgdon ; fire chief, Frank Chandler; health officer, Dr. F. E. Rohan; counselor, J. J. Wolfe; police matron, Mrs. Ayers.
City Council-D. F. Ilinds, J. W. King. T. C. Malloy. N. 11. Kelso, W. II. Wilson, W. E. Allen, C. W. Westcott, Bert Mills, Charles Wells, S. A. Smith, Clarence Shortess, P. W. Hennessey, Guy T. Humes. R. P. Brown, Robert Wear, J. C. Freeman.
1909: Mayor, Guy T. Ilmes: city marshal. J. A. MeManamy : po- lice judge, Fred W. Kelsey; eity attorney, T. C. Hendricks; city col- lector, H. W. Nash; city treasurer, J. A. Becker; city assessor, S. S. Nix; city clerk. O. E. Lichliter; street commissioner, W. S. Brown; en- gineer, J. B. Hodgdon ; fire chief. Robert Pearson; health officer, Dr. D. R. Hill : counselor. Mereer Arnold ; police matron, Mrs. Ellen Ayers.
City Council-E. B. Edes, J. L. Jones, Ed. Skelton, C. P. M. Wiley, Charles Trusty, J. M. Jackson. Ehner Warren, Bert Mills. D. F. Winds, JJ. W. King. T. C. Malloy. N. I. Kelso. W. H. Wilson. Wm. E. Allen. C. W. Westcott, J. C. Freeman.
1910: Mayor. G. T. Humes; city marshal. I. A. MeManamy : police judge, Fred W. Kelsey; city attorney, T. C. Hendricks; city collector, HI. W. Nash; city treasurer, I. A. Becker; city assessor. S. S. Nix: city clerk, O. E. Liehliter; street commissioner. Geo. M. Hinds; engineer, J. B. Hodgdon ; health officer, Dr. D. R. Hill ; counselor, Mercer Arnold ; fire chief, Robert Pearson.
City Council-C. A. Patterson, Thomas Douglas, T. C. Malloy. Phillip Arnold. Ed. Buxton. Wm. Houts. J. L. Laster. James Teeter. E. D. Eades, J. L. Jones, Ed. Skelton, O. P. M. Wiley. Charles Trusty, J. M. Jackson. Elmer Warren. Bert Mills.
1911 : Mayor. J. F. Osborne: city marshal, I. H. Myers; police judge. Fred Johnson : city attorney. Ray Bond : city collector, H. W. Nash ; treasurer. J. A. Becker ; assessor. R. L. Jefferies: city elerk. Chas. A. Robinson : street commissioner, Wm. Ash : engineer. J. B. Ilodgdon : fire chief. R. L. Pearson : health officer. Dr. A. M. Gregg : city counsellor, R. A. Pearson.
City Conneil-Chas. A. Patterson. Thomas Donglass, T. C. Malloy. Philip Arnold, Ed. Buxton. W. H. Houts, Wm. Ilogue. J. T. Teeters, J. F. Wiles, W. A. Miligan, John Seimener. Harry M. Stout. Charles Trusty, John J. Saunders. J. L. Bell. Bert Mills.
JOPLIN AS A CONVENTION CITY
During the last decade Joplin has gained an enviable reputation as a convention city and has entertained. with great credit to her citizens.
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twenty or more large gatherings, having a state or national character. In all of these assemblages, whether of a political, fraternal, business or 'social nature, the citizens have joined in helping to extend the glad hand to the city's guests. We chroniele here a dozen of these great gatherings, to the end that the reader may get an idea of the variety and magnitude of the conventions that have been entertained and the manner in which they have been cared for.
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1902
The State Judicial Convention met in Joplin July 15-16, 1902, and was the first state convention of either of the great political parties which had honored Joplin by selecting it as its meeting place. The con- vention brought to the eity more than 3,000 visitors, among them many distinguished members of the party from other states.
The Joplin Club appointed a non-partisan committee of 150 to ar- range the details of this convention and to entertain the visitors and, irrespective of politics, every one of the hundred and fifty, half of whom were Demoerats, did their part well.
The committee organized by electing John R. Hohnes as chairman, and Hugh MeIndoo, secretary. It being apparent that the hotels would not house the big throng, the citizens generally threw open their homes and placed them at the disposal of the committee on entertainment.
At that time Joplin did not have a hall large enough to hold the convention. The Club Theatre was being remodeled and an immense tent was ordered from a firm in Kansas City and ereeted at the corner of Fourth and Pearl, where later the Elks chib house was built. This proved to be a most delightful arrangement, for the sides of the big tent were let down and the gentle summer breezes swept over the audi- enee and helped to keep them eool.
The convention was called to order by Hon. T. J. Akins, chairman of the Republican state executive committee, and after Rev. J. B. Welty of the First Presbyterian church, had asked the divine guidance on the convention, Hon. B. F. Russel was announced as temporary chairman. Mayor John C. Trigg extended to the delegates the hospitality of the eity and referred feelingly to the faet that, although we might differ in our politieal views, yet we were all Americans.
After the appointment of the usual committees on credentials, plat- form, ete., Senator J. R. Burton, of Kansas, was ealled to the stand and made an eloquent address on the principles of Republicanism. Major William Warner, of Kansas City, and later United States Senator, and we might add perhaps as popular a speaker as ever appeared before a political convention, was called to the stand and made one of his char- aeteristie speeches that set the audience wild with enthusiasm. Hon. Herbert Hadley, of Kansas City, now governor of the state, was also among the speakers and was loudly applauded.
The convention was in session for two days and during the reeess the delegates were shown about the eity and through the mines by the
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local reception committec. The Joplin Club, the Elks, the Eagles and Young Men's Christian Association kept open house and entertained with a lavish hand.
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1904
Two years later the Democratic Sub-National Convention was held in Joplin, June 29-30, 1904, and, like the Republican convention of two years before, brought to the city the Democratic hosts from all over the state. The Democratic was slightly larger than the Republican con- vention, having about 100 more delegates and brought a few more root- ers, for the reason that, as the convention was to select the delegates to the presidential nominating convention, its action in a way helped to mold the destinies of the party at large-that is, as far as Missouri's influence went.
As before, the Joplin Club put itself behind the matter of entertain- ment and appointed a non-political committee of one hundred and fifty to arrange the details of the convention. The committee organized by the selection of Hugh MeIndoo, who had been the secretary of the com- mittee on arrangements for the Republican convention iu 1902, as chairman. C. S. Poole was named as viec chairman and Frank L. Yale, secretary. Sub-committees on general arrangements, reception and finance and a bureau of information were appointed and $1,200 raised to take care of the incidential expenses of the meeting.
The convention was held in the Club Theater, which had been en- larged and remodeled. Hon. W. A. Rothwell, chairman of the Demo- eratic state executive committee, called the meeting to order and an- nonneed James A. Reed, of Kansas City (now United States Senator). as the temporary chairman. One of the pleasing features of the open- ing exercises was a splendidly rendered musical number by the Masonie quartette. Congressman John B. Lloyd was selected as permanent «hairman. After the organization meeting, and while the committees were in session, the delegates not engaged in committee work, together with a large number of visitors, went to Barbee Park, where a number of addresses were made on the issues of the day. Hon. W. A. Wallace, of Kansas City, and Hon. Champ Clark, now speaker of the House of Representatives, were the principal speakers.
The city was profusely decorated for the occasion and at night, when the delegates mingled on the streets with the great crowd of people who came in from the surrounding camps to see and participate in the ex- citement, the scene of the surging mass of humanity was one long to be remembered.
As at the former convention, the Joplin Club, Elks, Eagles, and Young Men's Christian Association threw open their doors and helped to do the honors. It was really a novel, and likewise a pleasing sight to see men like Hugh McIndoo, John Wise, O. D. Royse. Arthur Spencer and Jack Winters, stalwart Republicans,-marching with the reception committee in the line alongside of old-time Democrats-meeting the
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trains, showing the delegates to hotels and about the city to places of interest, and taking the same pride in sustaining the reputation of the "city that Jack built" as they did at their own convention.
The Joplin Democratic convention of 1904 instructed its thirty-six delegates to the national convention to vote for Senator F. M. Cockrell for the presidency.
Other conventions will be spoken of in the text devoted to the lodges and business and social events.
NEWSPAPERS
The history of Joplin during the last decade would not be complete without a mention of its newspapers. In 1901 the Evening News and the Daily Herald were consolidated and the publication has since been issued under the name of Joplin News-Herald.
The Joplin Daily Globe, the founding of which was mentioned in our section of the 'nineties, made rapid strides in the matter of circu- lation and has grown to be one of the great dailies of the southwest. Special mention of these two papers made in Volume II, the historie data being furnished by members of their editorial staffs, and for this reason we omit further comment here, other than to say that the two papers have wielded great influence in the upbuilding of Joplin. each having a very large circulation.
In 1901 a new paper was started, known as the Evening Times, and published by W. G. Hicks until 1911, when he disposed of his interests and retired from the newspaper field. Although the circulation of the Times was not as large as the other papers, it was well edited and con- tained many newsy paragraphs.
In 1911 Gilbert Barbee and Dan F. Dugan, formerly of the Globe Publishing Company, together with T. W. Cunningham. S. Il. Clay- comb and others, organized a newspaper corporation and started the Joplin Daily Tribune, the first issue appearing October 14, 1911. L. C. McCarn, one of the original founders of the Globe, became managing editor of the paper and Dr. E. C. H. Squires, formerly city clerk and a writer of ability, telegraphic editor. At this writing the paper has built up a large cirenlation, having passed the 10,000 mark.
RAILROADS AND NEW UNION DEPOT
During the past ten years two new roads have entered Joplin, to-wit, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas and Missouri & North Arkansas-and the Missouri Pacifie has extended its line to Granby and into Arkansas, via Carthage, along the White river. Three of these roads-to-wit, Kansas City Sonthern, Missouri & North Arkansas and the Santa Fe (which has a road projected into Joplin) joined in the building of a Union station which secured a franchise from the city under the name of the Union Station Company. The new Union depot is built north of Broadway and east of Maine street, on the site where the first smelter was erected in 1871. and it was a queer coincident that ahnost forty years to a day
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after the smoke began to roll up from the old furnace the first train pulled into the Union station.
Says the Popular Mechanics for January, 1912: A striking example of what may be done with the waste of zine and lead mines has been demonstrated in the construction of the new union station at Joplin, Missouri, the concrete of which is largely made up of flint and limestone tailings taken from the waste piles of the mines in the district. Of the twenty-two parts in the concrete mixture used in constructing the sta- tion, fifteen parts eame from the mines, ten parts being average tailings, and five parts the fine tailings from the sand jigs, called Chitwood sand. Of the remaining seven parts, three were of river sand and four of cement.
The eenter portion of the station, built in the old Roman type of architecture, is two stories high. The train sheds and platforms cover 25,000 square feet.
The 'Frisco system have let a contract for the buikling of an eight story depot and office building, at the corner of Sixth and Main, and should no unforeseen obstacle prevent the carrying out of their plans, this great system will also have a passenger station proportionate to the business it transaets and in keeping with Joplin's enterprise and development.
THE HEIM STREET CAR LINE
In 1903 representatives of the lleim interests at Kansas City and F. C. Rollins, of Chanute, Kansas, both asked for a franchise on West Fourth street looking to the building of an electric railway into Kan- sas. Mr. Heim proposed to build a road from Joplin to Pittsburg and to connect and operate it in conjunction with his suburban lines running from Pittsburg to the neighboring mining camps. Mr. Rollins proposed to build from Joplin to Galena and thence west into the oil and gas belt. The people wanted both roads, but as each desired Fourth street for its terminal it was necessary to choose between the two. After much heated discussion in the council and after several largely attended publie meet- ings at which the people discussed the two propositions, pro and con, a franchise was granted to the Joplin & Pittsburg Electric Railway and the line was in due time built, the first cars running into Joplin in 1907.
In the franchise granted the Heim line a provision was made for the building of several lines into South Joplin, but owing to an injune- tion gotten out by the Missouri Pacific Railroad prohibiting the electric line from crossing its tracks at Joplin street and Tenth the line has not been extended south as originally intended.
CHAPTER XLIII
EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS
MANUAL TRAINING, MUSIC, AND SUMMER NORMAL-INCULCATING LOVE OF THE BEAUTIFUL-SIZE OF JOPLIN DISTRICT AND TEACHING FORCE -COMPULSORY EDUCATION -- THE TRUANT SCHOOL-THE PLAY GROUND IDEA-RECENT ADDITIONS TO SCHOOL WORK-VISITORS' DAY -THE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI-ALUMNI BANQUETS-SCHOOL OFFI- CIALS-THE JOPLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY-THIE CHURCHES OF JOPLIN- FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-THREE COLORED CHURCHIES BUILT -BILLY SUNDAY-THE BROTHERHOOD MOVEMENT-THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-JOPLIN CHURCHES IN BRIEF.
The past ten years of Joplin's school history, if written in full, would make of itself not only a large but an entertaining volume. It would show each year the introduction of new and up-to-date methods of edu- cation and a gradual increase in school population and pereentage of at- tendanee and an expansion in the area of the school distriet which, as the city spread out, necessarily took in the former outlying territory. Each of the superintendents gave to the schools some progressive policy and stamped his individuality on the city's educational system.
MANUAL TRAINING, MUSIC AND SUMMER NORMAL
To J. D. Elliff the school system owes the enlargement of the high school course of study, so that it met the requirements of the State Uni- versity for a first elass high school; also the designation of Joplin as one of the points for the establishment of an experimental Summer Normal, to articulate with the University. Under Mr. Elliff's administration manual training was introduced in the high school and the government established a Weather Bureau at Joplin and placed it in charge of the science department of the high school.
During W. P. Roberts' term of office, music was introduced into the schools and a supervisor elected to look after this work. The matter of better penmanship was also given especial attention and an expert penman employed to supervise this most important branch of work.
INCULCATING LOVE OF THE BEAUTIFUL
Superintendent Roberts was also a great lover of the beautiful and to the end that the pupils be taught, in a practical way, the love of home and out-of-door beautification, he secured from the school board an
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