USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 56
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General James A. Huston, of New York, ex-treasurer of the United States, was next introduced. In part he said : "I have just arrived after a long, tiresome trip from New York, and am hardly able to make a speech-in fact did not expect to-but I want to say that I am greatly surprised at what I have seen since coming here. We often meet people in the east who know about Joplin and we hear a great deal of it, but at the best we have a very imperfect idea of the magnitude of your great industry. I met a gentleman in St. Louis who had been to Joplin and returned. He said that Joplin was on the decline and that there were plenty of vaeant storerooms, and especially plenty of vacant rooms in the hotels. (Laughter.$) He said that Arkansas was now the great eenter of interest. I never saw a place where there were so many wagons on the streets and so many other evidences of industry and business of
*At this time Joplin was at the height of a boom-and there was not a vacant house on Main street.
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all kinds. I believe that fellow eame here and didn't get what he wanted. I don't believe anybody can foretell the great future in store for Joplin, or any other town in this mining distriet. Just sueh organizations as the Joplin Club are potent factors in the upbuilding of any town and just as much devolves upon the lawyers and preachers as anyone else. Every business man and eitizen in town should lend his support and in- fluenee to the elub in the upbuilding of the town.
"I have been ill for several days, a part of the time in bed, and was not really able to make a speech, but I want to say that I will take baek to the east many happy remembranees of my visit to Joplin. I will be here for several days yet, and want to meet the business men of the town. I expeet to visit Joplin again soon. Gentlemen, I thank you."
General Houston was greeted with great applause, after which the chairman announeed a recess of ten minutes for refreshments and cigars.
Upon reassembling bright speeches were made by Hon. Thomas Do- lan, of Joplin ; Judge Brown, late of Topeka and formerly elerk of the federal court of Kansas at Topeka; Attorney J. W. MeAntire, of Joplin ; J. P. and Joseph Stewart, of the Webb City Commereial Club ; and At- torney R. W. McClelland, late of Clay county and a former college chum of George B. Paxton. As a finale to the evening's program, Jesse Cooper, the efficient and obliging colored adjunet of the ehib, was in- trodueed and, to the strains of a popular air played by Percy Wenrich, gave an exhibition of the cake walk accompanied by a smile that would make any fair dusky damsel weep for joy. At 11 o'clock the meeting adjourned and the members and their guests went home feeling that the new year had been started out aright.
During the past eleven years the elub has, as in the nineties, been exceedingly aetive. It has secured for the city, by its efforts, quite a number of new enterprises and has brought to Joplin mueh outside eapital. In 1906 it purchased and platted a forty-acre tract of land into city lots and placed the profit from these sales into a "booster fund," to be used in advertising Joplin's resources and securing new industries for the city. A second addition was platted and placed on the market two years later but, owing to the after effects of the panie of 1907, was not so sueeessfully disposed of as the first.
The Joplin Club changed its name to The Commercial Club of Jop. lin in 1906.
PRESIDENTS, 1900-1911
The following have served as presidents during the past eleven years : 1900, E. O. Bartlett; 1901-2. O. HI. Pieher: 1903, T. W. Cunningham ; 1904, Marion Staples; 1905, Jerome B. Trigg; 1906, Max Wolfroth ; 1907-8, W. A. Sandford; 1909. A. fl. Waite: 1910, Henry Weyman ; 1911, F. L. Yale, C. S. Poole.
MISSOURI BANKERS' ASSOCIATION
The meeting of the State Bankers' Association May 20-21, 1908, brought to Joplin fully one thousand visitors, and they were most royally
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entertained by the Joplin Club and the local bankers. This was the first convention which had met in Joplin after the opening of the Connor Hotel, and the management did its full share in the matter of entertain- ment. The Connor, which had been selected as headquarters, was lit- erally filled with bankers.
On the evening of the 19th an informal reception was held at the hotel and after everyone had gotten acquainted a booklet, containing glimpses of the mining activities of the district and points of interest, were distributed to the finaneiers.
The convention was held in the New Joplin theater and was pre- sided over by George A. Neil, of Moberly.
Previous to the formal opening of the convention, a gavel made of wood. lead and zine was presented to the presiding offieer by the bank- ers of Joplin. Addresses of welcome were made by Mayor J. F. Osborn and President E. B. Jacobs, of the Jasper County Bankers' Association.
To give an idea of the magnitude of the convention, we mention that Missouri had the largest bankers' association of any state in the Union at the date of this convention, 1,158 banks in the state holding mem- bership.
On the afternoon of the first day of the convention and while the financiers were disposing of the business of the association, Mrs. A. H. Waite tendered to the wives of the bankers who were in attendance a most delightful reception. The beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Waite was profusely decorated with roses, ferns and palms, and pink roses were given to each of the guests as favors. In the receiving line with Mrs. Waite were Mesdames J. E. Garm, J. A. Cragin, T. B. Jenkens, C. W. Bartlett, J. T. Wise, Howard Murphy, H. M. Ramsey, F. T. Snapp, William Honke and V. F. Church. During the entire afternoon an or- chestra, half hidden from view by a hower of roses, played, and this effect added much to the brilliancy of the occasion. Refreshments were also served.
On the evening of the first day a ball and musical was given at the Auditorium, and was a most enjoyable occasion. Previous to the dance a musieal program was rendered by the Apollo Club, twenty-five strong, under the direction of F. B. Rogers. For those who did not dance a "Dutch lunch" was served at the Joplin Club. This function was under the direction of E. O. Bartlett, the prince of entertainers, and the lunch was said to have been of such excellenee as would have tempted even the gods.
An auto and trolley ride on the last day coneluded the program.
JOPLIN WOMEN ENTERTAIN FEDERATED CLUBS
On January 26, 1903, the club women of southwest Missouri met in Joplin for the purpose of organizing the Seventh Distriet Association of Women's Federated Clubs. The president of the district association
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became, by virtue of her office, one of the vice presidents of the State Federation. The club women had for their guest Mrs. F. L. Moore, state president of the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs. One hundred and fifty delegates, representing the elubs at Carthage, Webb City, Sar- coxie, Monette, Aurora, Marionville and other southwest Missouri points, were in attendance. The sessions of the convention were held in the First Presbyterian church and that handsome edifice was beautifully decorated for the occasion.
Conspicuous in the costumes of the visitors, as well as the members of the local committee, were strands of white and yellow ribbon, the badge of the Federation. The visitors were met, on their arrival, by a reception committee composed of Mesdames G. A. Clymer, Branham, M. H. Kceley and Rice, representing the Joplin Federated Clubs. When all had assembled, Mrs. A. A. Carey arose and introduced the state presi- dent, Mrs. F. L. Moore. She said : "It is one of the delights of this meet- ing that we have with us our state president, Mrs. Moore, and it is a further delight to know that she will preside over us. We will now have demonstrated the example of a perfect presiding officer."
Mrs. Moore made a brief and feeling response to the applause of welcome and in the absence of Dr. Porter, who was to have delivered the invocation, annonneed a silent invocation.
Dr. Porter, pastor of the First Baptist church, arrived soon after, and at the call offered an eloquent prayer with the parting wish that progress and prosperity attend the women in their work.
An instrumental solo "Last Hope" (Gottschalk) was excellently rendered by Miss Hazel Hickey, her instrument being the prize piano won by the Choral Club at Kansas City, two years before.
Mrs. C. S. Walden placed the name of Mrs. Mary Brader, of the Century Club of Carthage, in nomination for secretary for the day, and by unanimous vote Mrs. Brader was declared elected.
The address of welcome, on behalf of the Joplin club women, was made by Mrs. Mary Troutman, of the Emerson club. and seldom was a more eloquent address ever tendered the visitor to Joplin. Mrs. Trout- man was well known in the State Federation and it was especially ap- propriate that she should be chosen to welcome the visiting ladies. She said in substance that there should be nothing but pleasure in the first meeting of the District Federation; that the noble thoughts and inspira- tions of the seientists and historians and writers should be the connecting link between them as sisters in club work. She then paid tribute to each of the five federated elubs of the city, extending to the visitors a welcome from each. In the closing lines of her talk, Mrs. Troutman presented Mrs. Moore with a handsome bouquet of American Beauty roses as a token of welcome. Her address closed with the encouraging words: "Friendship, earnestness and zeal will make this, the Seventh distriet, the banner one of the State Federation."
Mrs. J. M. Whitsell, of Carthage, responded for the visitors. She said that the delegates to the District Federation were to be congratu- lated that the first meeting should be held in Joplin, which was such a
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wonderful city in its untiring energy, its rapidly growing mercantile interests, its culture and intelligence, and its women, so large hearted and earnest, who have its best interests at heart and never fail to work for those interests at home or abroad. "To talk it over" is the delight of every woman's heart-be it dolls, sweethearts, husbands, babies or clubs, so it is with great interest that the clubs come together to talk, to gain, to give, to learn more of organized club efforts. She said that in this sympathetic and congenial atmosphere of friendship and good will no one should hesitate to ask questions that may bring knowledge. No one should feel that what she had to say would not be received with attention and respect ; that they were there to learn and teach.
"The idea of district meetings of the federations is one to be heartily commended because the number of delegates will be small enough that the timid sister can speak. Cooperation works wonders in bringing eluh women together and giving them a unity of interests. Every little study club, every big philanthropic club, every elub whose object is helpful work for others and themselves, is working for the same object-the uplifting, the upbuilding of humanity. It is a poor ideal of any or- ganization or individual to have, that holds for self alone, and that elub which looks but to the pleasure of the moment, keeping as it were the saered circle closed about it, is not using the power for good which lies with its members. Every elub by extending its influence, clasping hands with the neighboring elub, uniting influences and joining forees, ean be- come a wonderful factor for good in its community."
A three minute report from each of the elubs in the federation was then heard with interest. Mrs. Miller reported for the Saturday Club of Aurora. From Carthage Mrs. Gray reported for the Alpha club ; Mrs. Mary Brader for the Century club: Mrs. Hobbs and Mrs. Wallace for the City Federation. From Joplin, Mrs. Dangerfield reported for the Century elb; Mrs. T. W. Van Sciever for the Emerson; Mrs. Joseph Rice for the Looking Forward; Mrs. J. W. Babbitt for the Morning Reciprocity ; Mrs. Henry Weymann for the Unity club, the oldest club in the city. From Monett, Mrs. Kennedy reported for the Woman's club. From Neosho, Mrs. Robeson, of the Unity club, gave a report. Mrs. Hawthorne reported for the Sareoxie club. Mrs. Geo. II. Bruen, a member of the state board, reported from Webb City in behalf of the Woman's Study Club.
The contralto solo, "Twilight" (Nevin) was rendered by Mrs. C. V. Buckley in her nsual charming manner, accompanied by Mrs. Charles Dudley Pratt. This concluded the morning program.
In the afternoon. Mrs. Moore. the state president, gave her address to the Federation. She said, in brief, that they had come together to select a president for that district. In choosing a president, who serves three years, they must look at the qualifications of the one who will guide
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them through even more difficult mazes than the state can offer. She must be a woman of tact and ability, a woman of judgment, because she is vice president of the state, by virtue of her office she holds as presi- dent. She must be progressive, never aggressive. She must be thor- onghly acquainted with the clubs of the district. She must assist at the organization of new clubs. One danger to local clubs unallied to state clubs is that they get so absorbed in their own work as to crowd out the comprehension of the work going on throughout the country.
Miss Gertrude Robinson rendered an exquisite solo on the beautiful and soft-toned Italian harp. The question box was presided over by Mrs. W. M. Howe, of Aurora.
A report from the State Federation was given by Mrs. Smith, of Monett. Mrs. Will A. Hacker, now Mrs. A. R. Fuller, one of Joplin's most gifted soprano soloists, gave a selection. Mrs. A. A. Carey gave an interesting talk on Shakespeare, in behalf of Mrs. Wadworth, state lecturer. The reports from the standing committees were read, after which the election of president took place. By unanimous vote of the federation Mrs. John J. Donehoo, of the Century Club, was elected president.
Mrs. Donehoo's name was placed before the assembly by Mrs. Charles . U. Porter. There were no other nominations, and when Mrs. Philip Moore, the presiding officer, called the vote, every delegate in the room answered yea. Mrs. Donehoo was therefore elected president of the Seventh District Federation. Immediately upon adjournment, Mrs. Donehoo was showered with congratulations, both from her eloser club associates and from the visiting delegates who had so chosen to honor a Joplin elub woman.
The selection of Mrs. Donehoo was a happy one and paid to the younger elub woman of Joplin a well deserved compliment. Mrs. Done- hoo was one of the original members of the Century Club, then one of the strongest and most active of the literary clubs of the city. It had on its rolls the names of some of the most cultured young women and had not only created a strong literary sentiment among the young women of the city, but had taken a lively interest in raising the literary and moral standard of the community. Mrs. Donehoo had taken a personal interest in championing the cause of the public library, and had also devoted much of her time to the matter of eivie improvement and out-of-door beautification. She was in every way fitted for the high honor and discharged her duties with credit to the club to which she belonged.
THE AMERICAN MINING CONGRESS
At a meeting of the Joplin Commercial Club, in 1906. it was decided to ask the American Mining Congress to hold its 1907 session at Joplin and a committee, consisting of H. II. Gregg. Chris Gnengerich and Clay Gregory, was sent to Denver, where the 1906 meeting was held, and were snecessful in landing the congress for 1907. The assemblage was held November -, 1907, and was a most important meeting.
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The delegates to the congress were from every part of the United States and Canada where mining operations are conducted and the dis- cussions were along the lines of more scientifiee and more profitable min- ing laws and usages. The congress was especially helpful to the Mis- souri-Kansas mining district, because it brought together nearly every prominent mine operator in the zinc-lead belt and a number of con- ferences were held looking to a general policy relative to local conditions.
Hon. J. H. Richards, of Boise City, Idaho, was the president of the congress, and J. F. Callbrath, of Denver, Colorado, secretary. The ses- sions of the congress lasted for ten days and we regret that the lack of space forbids a lengthy mention of the discussions. Secretary Callbrath is quoted as saying, on the concluding day, that the Joplin meeting had been not only the most profitable, but the most enjoyable session which, up to that time, had been held.
THE SALT AND PEPPER CLUB
On January 16, 1900, a new literary and social club was formed, known as the Salt and Pepper Club and for a number of years was a very popular organization. Its monthly meetings were very brilliant affairs and at each, after a dinner, a number of addresses were made. Among the many who were guests of the club were Hon. Herbert Had- ley, E. A. Krattoff and James A. Reid. The Joplin Daily Herald gives the following account of its first banquet and literary symposium, which was held at the Keystone Hotel: "This new feature of Joplin's social life, which in its formative period was known as the 'Seven O'elock Club' at the suggestion of Rev. Paul W. Brown, was christened the ‘Salt and Pepper Club' and was a source of gennine entertainment and mueh profit to its members. The motto of the club was very unique, 'You can't tell when knowing a man is going to come in handy.' It was to promote the pleasures of social intercourse which is always rendered more bril- liant by the glow of the festal board. To this end a banquet was held monthly, at which time the club was addressed by speakers from Joplin and the other cities of this and adjoining states.
"Preliminary to the banquet there was a business meeting, at which a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and officers elected, who are- O. D. Royce, president ; W. II. Picher, first vice president ; J. D. Eliff, second vice president ; Julius Beeker, treasurer; H. S. Miller, secretary ; and Rev. Paul W. Brown, F. J. Hart, A. E. Spencer, Dr. J. D. Pifer and J. H. Spencer, executive committee.
"By the time the company, numbering one hundred and twenty, were admitted to the elegant new Keystone dining room, their appetites were fully equal to the bountiful and delicious repast. (The Keystone has now ceased to be a hotel.) After the last course, President Royce introduced E. A. Kranthoff, a prominent attorney and then of Kansas City. who responded to the toast, 'The American Regular,' the speaker having been intimatedly associated by blood and good friendship, with
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the regulars of the United States, and who knew them well enough to put behind his graceful and easy delivery, the eloquent words of patriotic admiration and fervor. He touched briefly, but effectively, on nearly every phase of the regular soldier's life, not forgetting those brave ones who, although not on the muster roll, are nevertheless a noble part of our army-'The wives and daughters of the officers and men.' Mr. Krauthoff's eloquent presentation of the light and shade of the regular's life won for him unbounded admiration from all those present.
"A quartette contributed to the pleasure of the evening.
"'The American Volunteer,' which is a favorite subject with all, was responded to by a favorite, the late Col. Chas. H. Morgan, then of Lamar (but since a resident of our city until his death), who did full justice to a subject that was very near to his heart and whose words brought forth many rounds of applause. Colonel Morgan's idea was that the American volunteer soldier is not a machine, but a man and a fighter with brains and nerve. He pictured the British in South Africa as lacking just the qualities the American volunteer possesses and attrib- uted their failure to this. Colonel Morgan declared himself an expan- sionist and insisted that it was a question in which there were no politics.
"At the close of Mr. Morgan's remarks a toast to the 'Stars and Stripes' was drunk standing. Another song by the quartette was fol- lowed by a forceful and suggestive speech from Judge James A. Slanker, of Boston, an 'Expansion.' The speaker dwelt principally upon the commercial view of the question, and declared it to be the best and wisest course to pursue to furnish a market for our industries and products. Judge Slanker made a distinct impression and was warmly congratulated.
"At the close of the program, 'America' was sung by all. It was in- deed a patriotic meeting."
THE JOPLIN CHORAL UNION
A write up of Joplin's social and educational life would not be complete without a mention of the Joplin Choral Union, which played a large part in Joplin's musical life during the first and middle part of the last decade. The Choral Union was organized in the fall of 1899, with Prof. W. H. Sieb, late of Kansas City and a musician of note, as the director. The club made its first publie appearance the last day of the year, 1899, and on account of its splendid singing came into great popularity. The club gradually grew in membership until the middle of the decade, when it numbered one hundred and fifty singers.
In 1901. 1902 and 1903 the choral club took part in the May musical festival at Kansas City, where organizations from the principal cities of Missouri and Kansas competed for honors.
In 1901 the Joplin Choral Union won second prize in this contest and brought home as its trophy a $600 grand piano. The next year it carried away the first honors. At the conclusion of its rendition of The Heavens are Telling, the Union was vigorously applauded. The
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ten thousand people who were present at Convention Hall applauded for at least five minutes.
In 1903 Walter Wheatley, a native of Jasper county, a rising young musician, who is now leading tenor of the Royal Convent Gardens, Lon- don, was chosen director and continued his leadership until his departure for Europe.
THE COURT HOUSE AT CARTILAGE
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CHAPTER XLVHI
CITY OF CARTHAGE
LOCAL POLITICS AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS-MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS SYSTEM-BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS-CENTRAL PARK-CARTHAGE SCHOOLS DURING THE LAST DECADE-SUPERINTENDENT J. M. WHITE RETURNS-TEACHERS' RECEPTION BY PRESIDENT LOGAN-SCHOOL CHILDREN HELP BEAUTIFY CARTILAGE-ARBOR DAY, 1903-CARTILAGE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI-THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY-EASTERN STAR AND ITS SILVER ANNIVERSARY-THE M. W. A. LOG ROLLING-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-THE CHAUTAUQUA-THE MISSOURI STATE BANKERS' AS- SOCIATION-COMPANY A. SECOND REGIMENT, N. G. M .- THE KNELL FAIR.
The record of Carthage during the opening decade of the century is well worthy of emulation by other municipalities and communities. Naturally, we first speak of those matters which most intimately con- eern her as a eivie corporation, as a eity, including especially within that provinee her municipal elections and the improvements in her various departments devoted to education, parks, water supply. ete.
LOCAL POLITICS AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
The following gentlemen served the city of Carthage during the present century as its officers.
General election in April, 1900: Mayor, J. S. Ross; marshal, S. E. Drake; police judge, II. L. Bright; city attorney, H. J. Green ; col- leetor, Homer D. Smith ; treasurer, R. S. Black; assessor, S. S. Riley.
Conneilmen : First ward, W. V. Blaek, with F. G. Lanbach holding over; second ward, James Spence with D. M. Stafford; third ward, George Brown, with W. W. Brinkley: fourth ward, J. C. Griscomb. with J. B. Chaffee ; fifth ward, T. L. Wiggins, with J. A. McLean.
General election 1901: Councilmen-James P. Newell, D. M. Staf- ford, M. F. Viernaw, J. B. Chaffee and A. P. Hamilton.
General election 1902: Mayor, Jerome B. Chaffee: marshal, D. M. Stafford ; police judge, H. L. Bright : city attorney. J. T. Shannon ; col- lector, Homer D. Smith ; treasurer, Hale M. Boggs : assessor, S. S. Riley.
Council: First ward, H. G. Tanger, James Spence, George Brown, W. Schuter and R. J. Chaffin.
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Councilmen eleeted in 1903: First ward, Ray S. Beam ; seeond ward, D. W. Keltner; third ward, Wesley Ralston; fourth ward, W. H. Stout ; fifth ward, Curtis Wright.
General election, 1904: Mayor, J. T. Harrison ; marshal, D. M. Staf- ford; police judge, J. B. Loyd; city attorney, Jos. D. Harris; collector, Homer D. Smith ; treasurer, H. M. Bogges; assessor, J. A. MeLean.
Council: First ward, C. B. Gammon; second ward, G. C. Hawan- stein; third ward, A. M. Wallingford; fourth ward, G. C. Kellogg; fifth ward, C. M. Kitchum.
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