USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 60
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THE ODD FELLOWS
The Odd Fellows lodge at Webb City during the past ten years has been one of the strongest lodges of the city and has attained distinction on aeeonnt of the great proficiency and excellent manner in which the team work in the several degrees has been exemplified. In 1903 the Degree team of the Webb City lodge received the high honor of being in- vited by the officers of the Grand Lodge of this state to exemplify the
563
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
work before the grand body at the annual meeting at Pertle Springs. The invitation was accepted and the manner in which the Degree work was performed reflected great credit on the Webh City lodge and did much toward favorably advertising the literary character of the mining district of southwestern Missouri.
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN 1904
America's natal day was duly celebrated in Webb City in 1904, and was thoroughly enjoyed by the thousands of people who came to take part in the festivities. The program was opened at 10:30 o'clock in the morning by a monster parade which was participated in by nearly all the fraternal orders of the place. as well as by a number of visiting soeie- ties from neighboring towns.
Prominent in the parade was a battalion of the Second Regiment. U. R. K. P., commanded by Colonel Henry Warner and the then cele- brated W. O. W. drill team, under command of Captain, now Colonel. E. E. Spraeklin. At sundown there was a dress parade of the several semi-military societies and this feature of the day's exercises was greatly enjoyed. The celebration was concluded at night by a pyrotechnic display.
GREAT WESTERN BUSINESS COLLEGE AND NORMAL SCHOOL
In the spring of 1904, Prof. W. T. Larrimore, a teacher of note, se- cured possession of the old Baptist College and started the Great West- ern Normal and Business College which flourished for a short time. In June, 1904, the school began its session with an approved summer school for teachers, the course of study having been mapped by the state superintendent, and the faculty as at the Joplin Summer School the year before articulating with the state institutions, the students receiving the same credit for their work as if they had been attending one of the State Normals. The Summer School was well attended. On July 6th, the citizens of Webb City tendered to the students of the school a mag- nificent reception, Frank Farlow acting as master of ceremonies on the occasion of this social gathering. The college has recently been con- verted into a Children's Home.
BAND TOURNAMENT
In August, 1904, Webb City entertained the Southwestern Band Tournament. This occasion brought to the city 200 musicians and their three days' stay was a continnons round of pleasure, both to themselves and the citizens of Webb City, who turned out en masse to listen to the band concerts and witness the contests between the several organizations.
WEBB CITY CENTENARIAN
Among the old and highly respected citizens of Webb City, who came there during its early days, was Thomas Sanls, who lived to the ripe
564
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
old age of one hundred and three years and who until the last few years of his life had been a very active man. He was a veteran of two wars, having served in both the Mexican and Civil wars. Previous to the breaking out of the War between the States he had worked in the old air smelter at Oronogo; went with the Union citizens of Jasper county to Kansas to join the United States volunteers from the JJay Hawker state and was a member of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry.
On his one hundredth birthday, which occurred September 18, 1903, his friends and old comrades of the Sixth Kansas, eight of whom were residents of Jasper county, gave an elaborate luncheon at the Middle West Hotel in his honor. On behalf of his friends, J. C. Harrison pre- sented to the old veteran an enlarged picture of himself, together with a silver loving enp. In addition to this little testimonial, his friends compiled an interesting biography of the distingushed guest, and after having it bound, presented it to him to hand down to posterity. Mr. Sauls had the prond distinetion of having personally met and shaken hands with every president of the United States excepting Washington and Roosevelt. He had been identified with the mining interests of southwest Missouri sinee 1853, during which year he constructed for the Granby Company at Granby the first lead smelter that was ever built in southwest Missouri and personally smeltered the first pail of lead that was turned out from this once famous furnaec.
A REMINISCENCE PARTY
One of the most delightful, as well as novel, events of the deeade was a reminiscence party which occurred at the home of Mrs. J. C. Stewart. Mesdames J. C. Stewart and W. C. Stewart conceived the idea of en- tertaining the early residents of Webb City and spending an afternoon living over the early days of the city. The party was unique in this --- that the guests invited were the original settlers of Webb City; those who had lived there for twenty years or more; those who came in the first hard days when Webb City was but a mining eamp. The afternoon was devoted to reminiscences, each lady adding to what others told until five o'clock, when the guests were invited into the spacious dining room where a delicious luncheon was served. On returning to the parlors, ok! songs were sung, a Virginia reel was indulged in, and the readings and conundrums which had been in popular favor in the seventies and early eighties, were retold.
In the reminiscences the special subjects touched upon by the dif- ferent ladies were as follows: Mrs. Gaston told how she eame to Webb City. driving from Oronogo to that place, then a little camp and not known ten miles away. "It was not a very attractive looking place. but my husband was there and I was determined to be content ; and it was not long before I learned to love Webb City and her splendid people."
Mrs. Houser reviewed the Blunt riot. Mrs. Overstreet told of the early settlers, among whom were Prof. Dicky, superintendent of schools.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
Mrs. J. C. Stewart teaching in same. Mrs. Henderson had the only millinery store and her home was the headquarters for all the social life of the town.
Mr. Wheatley had the lumber yard. Among other old citizens mon- tioned were: Mr. John C. Webb and family. Mr. Ed Hall and family. Judge Robinson, Chas. Metcalf, Paul Grove, Jas. Campbell, Volney Moon, A. A. Hulett and family, A. W. MeCorkle and family, and many others so numerous that space forbids mention.
Mrs. Wright told of the stores she remembered, among which were Mr. Manker's grocery store, Hall's drug store, Lowe's furniture store, Mansfield grocery store, and Chris and Charlie Columbia's grocery store.
Mrs. McBride, in speaking of the schools, said the school house of four rooms stood on the site of the High school.
Mrs. Thomas, in speaking of the hotels, mentioned the Paeifie, the Transit House and the Butfalo Hotel. Mrs. Henderson had an excellent boarding house and also Mrs. Miller.
Mrs. Murray told of the churches. She said the first services were in the Webb ITall which stood where the Webb City bank now stands. Union services these were. The Presbyterians then bought a store build- ing which was the first church in the eity.
Rev. D. K. Campbell was the first preacher. The M. E. church South was erected twenty-two years ago, and was given by Mr. John C. Webb. the father of our present townsman.
Mrs. Mock spoke of the newspapers of that day. Mrs. Chiun, in her inimitable manner, told of the parties. Mrs. Wheatley told of the music and brought in some interesting and amnsing incidents of the Steven- son-Wheatley quartette.
Mrs. S. L. Manker spoke of the babies and children of those early settlers most entertainingly. Mrs. Spurgin gave a well written paper on the mines.
This was the first of a series of receptions to be given by the hostesses.
COMPANY I. SECOND REGIMENT, N. G. M.
Company I was organized in 1908. Its first captain was Charles F. Chenoweth, who had seen service in the Spanish-American war and who during his long residence in Webb City had been a most popular young man. Mr. Chenoweth's military knowledge and popularity built up a large company composed of the best young men in Webb City and, by careful attention and constant drill, the company soon attained a high state of proficiency. In 1910, Captain Chenoweth retired from the company and was sueeeeded by Charles D. Smith. The following are the present offieers of the command: Captain, Charles D. Smith : first lieutenant, Fred Nesbitt ; second lieutenant. Chas. R. Chinn. Dr. Law- rence F. Cooke. formerly of Company -, was appointed by Colon -1 Raup in 1910 to be major-surgeon of the Second Regiment.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
NEWSPAPERS OF WEBB CITY
Webb City has been very fortunate during the past decade in the matter of newspapers. Both the Record and the Sentinel being thor- onghly up-to-date newspapers. They have been ably edited and, in addi- tion to having chronieled the news of the day, have editorially cham- pioned and advocated a larger, a better and a more beautiful Webb City. The many modern business blocks which have been built during the past five years are tributes to the agitation of these two papers for a bigger Webb City.
THE "CARTERVILLE RECORD"
The Carterville Record, edited by B. Shelton, was founded Jannary 25, 1900, and has had a successful career, both financially and in the matter of popularity. The paper has given a newsy account of the hap- penings of this important mining town and has advocated a great many public improvements. Largely on account of the editorials in this paper advocating eity improvements and out-of-door beautification, the eity of Carterville built ten miles of sidewalks and otherwise made exten- sive improvements, not only for the comfort of the citizens but to the beanty of the eity.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
COMPARATIVE POPULATION FOR TWENTY YEARS.
Minor Civil Division
1910
1900
1890
Jasper County
89,673
84,018
50,500
Duval township, including part of Neck City
1,026
1,092
970
Neck City (par+ of) ....
157
Total for Neck City in Duval and Mineral townships ..
528
374
Galena township, including Joplin city .
.34,694
32,976
4,360
Joplin city
32,073
26,023
9,943
Ward 1
4,225
Ward 2
6,069
Ward 3
2,795
Ward 4
6,144
Ward 5
3.187
Ward
6
4.294
Ward
3,643
Ward 8
1,716
Jackson township
1,489
1,678
1,315
Jasper township
982
1,175
955
Joplin township,
including Carterville city and Webb City . 21,867
18,499
9,731
Carterville city
4,539
4,445
2,884
Ward 1
1,318
Ward 2
2,136
Ward 3
1,085
Webb City
11,817
9,201
5,043
Ward 1
1,713
Ward 2
1,860
Ward 3
1,801
Ward
4
2,505
Ward
5
2,240
Ward 6
1,698
Lincoln township
665
721
821
McDonald township
1,156
1,203
1,205
Madison township
1,066
1,184
1,248
Marion township, including Carthage city
11,483
11,056
9,323
Carthage city
9.483
9,416
7,981
Ward 1
1.417
Ward :
1,714
Ward 3
2,221
Ward 4
2,122
Ward 5
2,009
Mineral township, including Oronogo and Purcell cities and
part of Neck City
5,946
4,646
2,143
Neck City (part of)
371
374
Oronogo city
1,912
2,073
Ward 1
1,109
Ward 2
803
Purcell city
994
Preston township, including Jasper city
1,518
1.597
1,365
Jasper city
664
627
400
Sarcoxie township, including Larussel, Reeds, and Sarcoxie cities
3,245
3,335
2,532
Larussell city
298
Reeds cit)
1,311
1,126
1,172
Sarcoxie city
819
851
955
Sheridan township
2,479
2,628
2,323
Twin Groves township, including Carl Junction city Carl Junction city
1,115
1,177
699
Ward 1
416
Ward 2
699
.....
.. .
Union township
1.238
1,377
1,309
. ...
....
...
.. ..
. . .
261
....
. ..
. . ..
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