USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 12
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On March 11, 1868, Rev. D. H. Budlong was sent to the Carthage field and so faithfully did he work that the sum of ten thousand dollars was raised to build a church home. The Sunday school of the Methodist church was organized in 1866 with S. Cowgill as superintendent and was the commencement of the work of that great denomination after the war.
The Methodist church organized at Medoc received substantial finan- cial aid from Dr. Donohoe and its history dates from 1868, when H. H. Asbaugh took charge of the work and organized the society. Rev. S. F. Haughawout succeeded to the pastorate in 1869.
The second church to be established after the war, the Presbyterian, was organized at Carthage, on August 4, 1867, with a membership of
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eleven. Rev. John W. Pinkerton was the pastor in charge and was a man of fine Christian character. He labored in Carthage for five years, doing a splendid work for the Master and building up a church that to this day is a power in the community.
As noted in our church article of the pioneer days, the Baptist rep- resented the first denomination to build a house of worship in the county, the Peace church of 1847.
The Carthage Baptist church was first organized in 1845, and at the breaking out of the war had grown to be quite a power, but like the other religious bodies was obliged to suspend services during the "unpleasant- ness." The first Baptist church of Carthage was reorganized in Septem- ber, 1867, with fifteen members. Rev. Cable Blood was the pastor and L. B. Ruffin was the first clerk of the church. Rev. Blood was a New Englander, a man of high literary attainments, and during his three years' pastorate made a number of additions to the church.
On April 20, 1869, the Right Rev. C. F. Robertson, D. D., bishop of the dioceses of Missouri, held services in the Presbyterian Hall and there organized the Grace Episcopal church. In May the church purchased a building lot and began the erection of a chapel. On December 22nd Rev. D. Estaing Jenning, of New York, took charge of the work and preached his first sermon. M. Drake, A. H. Caffee, W. S. Tower and W. M. S. Judd were the leading men in the promoting of the organization.
The Christian church was organized at Carthage in 1866, but the society was without a home until the 'eighties, meeting around at various homes and being without a regular pastor. The early records of the church are lost and we will take up the history of that church in 1882, at which time the church took steps to build a house of worship.
TOWNSHIP SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTIONS
During 1868 Sunday school associations were organized in most of the townships and conventions held for the betterment of the Sunday schools. The first of the township meetings were held at Carthage, July 21, 1869, and brought together not only the Sunday school workers of Marion township but many from the surrounding country. Rev. G. W. Quinn, of St. Louis, state agent of the Sunday School Association was the organizer of the several township conventions.
In 1869 the several township organizations were merged into the Jasper County Association and a monster convention held at Carthage, during the month of May. Twenty-two Sunday schools were enrolled. A. P. Searl was elected president of the convention and was for several years reelected to the position, being a most enthusiastic Sunday school worker.
COLONY OF SWEDES
In October, 1869, a colony of Swedes came to Jasper county direct from the old country, and bought land for farms. The colonists were a high class of immigrants, most of them being educated and bringing with Vol. 1- 6
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them a good bank account. They have made most excellent citizens and some of them today are among the most influential people of the county.
SHEEP RAISING
Sheep raising was one of the features of the farm during the 'sixties and nearly every farmer had a small flock which netted him a nice sum as a side line. One of the successful wool-growers was W. G. Skinner near Georgia City.
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CHAPTER X CARTHAGE HISTORY
CARTHAGE AS A CITY-PUBLIC SCHOOLS ORGANIZED-COUNTY TEACHERS BETTER THAN SCHOOLHOUSES "THE CARTHAGE PATRIOT"-COUNTY CELEBRATES JULY 4, 1869, AT CARTHAGE-THE MASONIC FRATERNITY -THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
On March 12, 1868, a petition was presented to the county court by M. C. McGregor on behalf of two hundred and six tax-paying citizens of
CARTHAGE WHEN INCORPORATED AS A CITY
Carthage praying that body to incorporate that place as a town, and ac- cordingly a decree was granted erecting the town of Carthage into a municipality, the original limits of the town being as follows: Com- mencing at the northwest corner of Parson & Case's addition to said town of Carthage, running thence north 800 feet; thence east 6,110 feet; thence north 2,120 feet, to the place of beginning, with the same narra- tions as the original surveys, being 2,920 feet north and south by 6,110 feet east and west.
CARTHAGE AS A CITY
David S. Thomas, Thomas E. Gray, Norris C. Hood, D. H. Budlong and Robert A. Cameron were appointed trustees and held until the first
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election in April, 1869, when the following were chosen: Alfred Cald- well, G. A. Cassell, Thomas E. Gray, William T. Cloud and Abraham Ray. The vote was very close, Mr. Ray and A. H. Caffee being tied for fifth place. Lots were drawn and Mr. Ray drew the longest straw and was declared elected. The board was organized by the election of Abra- ham Ray as president of the board and H. A. Terpenning, clerk.
At the first meeting of the board six ordinances were passed.
No. 1 prescribed the time and place of council meetings.
No. 2 prescribed the kinds and classes of sidewalks.
No. 3 made it an offense to block the sidewalk with wares and merchandise.
No. 4 established a pound.
No. 5 prevented stock from running at large.
No. 6 made it an offense to be intoxicated on the streets.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ORGANIZED
The School District of Carthage was organized in April, 1868, by the election of the following board of education : J. W. Young, president; D. S. Thomas, treasurer and M. C. McGregor, secretary.
School was opened in a double building on the south side of the pub- lic square with the following teachers: Principal, W. J. Sieber; assist- ant principal, A. P. French-and these gentlemen began the foundation of the splendid public school system of the county seat.
In 1867 the schools of the county were reorganized by the election of J. C. Willoughby as county school commissioner and the several school districts that had been organized before the war again opened. The sale of the school lands was carried on and by 1868 most of them had been disposed of. On January 1, 1868, the County School fund resulting from the sale of the swamp lands had grown to almost $150,000, which was loaned out at ten per cent interest netting the county $15,000 an- nually, beside the taxes raised for school purposes.
COUNTY TEACHERS BETTER THAN SCHOOLHOUSES
This sum readily enabled the county districts to pay fairly good wages, and some of the best talent of that day entered the ranks of the pedagogues, so that the county although poorly supplied with school- houses (the school fund cannot be touched for building purposes) had a fairly good school system.
From the close of the war to December, 1869, not quite five years, the school system had grown from 23 districts to 79, and the teaching force consisted of 104, the greater portion of whom were men. The average salary paid was $42.75 per month. The number of children of school age was 4,898 and seventy-three per cent of these were enrolled in the schools.
For the most part the schoolhouses which were built during the 'sixties were one-room frame houses and the furnishings scant for the reason mentioned above.
W. J. Sieber, principal of the Carthage school, was elected county
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superintendent in 1869 and during his term of office the Jasper County Teachers' Institute was organized which, by its convention, greatly in- creased the worth of the teaching force of the county.
THE "CARTHAGE PATRIOT"
In March, 1869, the Carthage Patriot was established by S. D. Car- penter. The Patriot was a Democratic paper and locally opposed the issuance of railway bonds. It also boldly called attention to any de- linquency on the part of the county officers and built up a large circula- tion, being generally taken by both Democrats and Liberal Republicans on account of its advocacy of reform.
COUNTY CELEBRATES JULY 4, 1869, AT CARTHAGE
The ninety-third anniversary of the birth of American Independence was duly observed at Carthage on July 4, 1869, by a celebration which was largely attended by the people of the county.
The following were the officers of the day: President, R. A. Cam- eron; vice president, Patrick Murphy ; chaplain, Rev. C. J. Blood, and marshal of the day, J. C. Gaston.
At 10 o'clock in the morning a parade was formed, headed by the Carthage band and participated in by the veterans of the War of 1812 and of the Civil war, and the citizens of Carthage and Jasper county. The procession marched to La Force's grove where the oration of the day was delivered, after which every one partook of the good dinner and ate the lunch which had been brought by the thoughtful housewives, sweethearts and sisters. The afternoon was spent in games and social amusements.
Patriotic celebrations always fill men's hearts with noble thoughts and prompt them to do great and noble deeds, and the day was closed with a meeting of the leading citizens of Carthage to talk over plans to or- ganize a volunteer fire department.
THE MASONIC FRATERNITY
The first lodge to organize in the county after the war was Carthage Lodge No. 197, A. F. and A. M., which was instituted March 27, 1867, with the following officers in the chairs (under dispensation) : Griffith Robinson, Master ; Joseph C. Gaston, S. W .; O. D. Stinson, J. W .; Norris C. Hood, Treasurer; Josiah Lane, Secretary ; D. K. Hood, S. D .; John S. Reynolds, J. D .; A. M. Drake, Tyler.
The Masonic lodge differs from most other fraternal societies in this, that the custom of the olden time are carried out and the order has no written rituals, but the work is "passed from mouth to ear" and can only be learned by the strictest attention.
For this reason before a lodge is chartered the principal officers of the lodge must commit the work thoroughly and be able to exemplify the several degrees.
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The Master and Wardens-elect therefore repaired to the nearest lodge, Greenfield in Dade county, and, after being instructed for two days by the brethren at that place, were placed in the chairs and went through the forms and ceremonies so well that the lodge gave them a recommendation, and at the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Missouri on October 19th the charter was formally granted. The membership at the date of the granting of the charter was seventeen. J. C. Gaston suc- ceeded Griffith Robertson as Master in 1868. During the same year he was appointed D. D. G. M. for this Masonic district and during his in- cumbency of that important office instituting a great number of lodges- among which were those at Medoc, Fidelity and Avilla, Peter K. Peard succeeded Mr. Gaston as Master in 1869, and served the craft so faith- fully that he was reelected for three successive terms.
THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS
The second great society to be established in the country was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which was organized at Carthage, May 20, 1868. Lyman J. Burch was the first Noble Grand.
Odd Fellowship was also established at Avilla, the same year that Avilla Lodge No. 188 was instituted. Among the charter members were, H. G. McGown, Joel T. Belk, John W. Belk, S. W. Damon, Benjamin Binney, John Tarter, Jacob Stricker, K. H. Brackman, N. H. Roberts, B. F. Skillen, A. C. Houser, E. Eader, J. A. Spencer, Calvin Wester- man and Henry Homer. H. J. McGown was the first Noble Grand.
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Decade of the Seventies
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CENSUS OF 1870
Jackson Township 1,238
Jasper Township 758
McDonald Township 2,035
Marion Township (including Carthage) 3,964
Mineral Township 1,195
Preston Township 1,174
Sarcoxie Township
1,983
North Fork Township
868
Center Creek Township
765
Georgia Township
948
Total population
14,928
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CHAPTER XI
POLITICS AND RAILROADS
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS REENFRANCHISED (1870)-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZA- TION ADOPTED (1872)-COUNTY REDISTRICTED AND TOWNSHIP LINES CHANGED- JUDICIAL DISTRICTS-THE CAMPAIGN OF 1874-THE NEW CONSTITUTION-CAMPAIGN OF 1876-THE REPUBLICAN RALLY-DEMO- CRATIC BARBECUE AND PROCESSION-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION ABOL- ISHED-THE CAMPAIGN OF 1878-RAILROAD MATTERS.
The decade which was ushered in with the year 1870 was an impor- tant one for Jasper county. It saw the county doubled in population and quadrupled in wealth. It witnessed the reenfranchisement of the citizen who had followed the cause of the Confederacy and saw a re- united people in fact, as well as in name. It saw the founding of three great cities Joplin, Webb City and Carterville-and with their growth, marked the beginning of a new epoch, the coming into prominence of the mining industry. It saw the building of three railroads into the county and noted the passing of the old stage-coach. In short, the 'seventies were years of great activity in Jasper county and present a rich variety of historic experiences, and following the general plan mapped out in our introductory chapter, we will group together the important events of this decade in the following order.
The county at large Political happenings Railroads Educational matters The Grangers; farms and farming Miscellaneous events Carthage Joplin Webb City and Carterville Other towns
: CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS REENFRANCHISED (1870)
The important political issue of the campaign of 1870 was the re- enfranchisement of the soldiers of the Confederacy and the restoration to them of all the civil rights of citizenship, and on this question the Republican party divided.
At the State Republican convention held at Jefferson City, in August
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1870, a warm debate was had relative to the proposition. The Radicals advocated postponing the restoration of citizenship and restoring the rights gradually, while the Liberals desired the immediate restoration of all rights and the extension of the right hand of fellowship to their countrymen who had fought for what they thought was right.
The vote on the question of placing in the Republican platform a plank pledging the support of the party to the amendment to the con- stitution, which was to be voted on in November, was lost by a vote of 349 to 342; whereupon the Liberals withdrew from the convention and nominated B. Gratz Brown for governor and a full state ticket, on the platform of restoring the ballot to the Confederates. The Radicals nom- inated Governor McClurg. The Democrats made no nomination for governor, but supported Brown.
In Jasper county, both Republicans and Democrats nominated full tickets and the campaign was bitterly fought. The Radical Republicans, under the leadership of Judge O. H. Picher as county chairman, were victorious, but many of them voted for the amendment to reenfranchise the men who had followed the "bonnie blue flag." The vote in Jasper county at this election was as follows: McClurg, Regular Republican, 1,006; Brown, Liberal Republican, 716.
The constitutional amendment to abolish the test oath, however, car- ried in the county and in the state by a tremendous majority. Brown was elected governor by 41,000 majority and the amendment carried by 111,000, only 16,000 votes being cast against the proposition.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION ADOPTED (1872)
In 1872 the Republican party in the county was again victorious, the vote on president being as follows: Grant, Republican, 2,092; Horace Greeley, Democrat, 1,333. At this election Hon. W. H. Phelps came into great prominence, being one of the delegates to the national Democratic convention.
At this election the county voted on the proposition to adopt town- ship organization and the same was adopted by a majority of 1,892 the vote on the question being, for 2,340, against 448.
Under the provisions of the law the several townships could, if they so desired, choose a name and became quasi-corporations, could sue and be sued and, in short, transact through the township officers the local business. The township officers under this law were: Supervisor, clerk, collector, assessor, constable, justice of the peace. The supervisor was the executive officer of the township and O. K.'d all bills and supervised all public improvements.
The first township to elect officers was Marion, and the following persons were chosen to transact the township business : M. G. McGregor (later circuit judge), supervisor; W. I. Bullis, assistant supervisor; E. P. Searl, clerk; S. B. Ormsby, collector; Charles Poole, assessor; W. V. Thornsburg, constable; T. B. Tuttle and James P. Betts, justices of the peace.
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In 1873 the legislature amended the township organization law so that executive function devolved upon a board of trustees, which con- sisted of the supervisor and the two justices. The supervisor was also ex-officio treasurer.
The same law also provided that the county court should consist of five members in place of three. The presiding judge was elected at large and the other four from judicial districts.
COUNTY REDISTRICTED AND TOWNSHIP LINES CHANGED
At the meeting of the county court, February 6, 1873, the county was divided into fifteen townships as follows: Jasper, Dural, Preston, Sher- idan, Lincoln, McDonald, Madison, Marion, Mineral, Spring Valley, later changed to Twin Grove; Galena; Dubuque, later changed to Joplin; Jackson; Jenkins Creek, later changed to Union; and Sarcoxie. These lines are the same now as then, save that Joplin township has twice been reduced by a small territory which has been added to Galena.
JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
The county was districted, for the purpose of electing members of the county court, as follows: District No. 1-Sheridan, Lincoln, McDon- ald, Madison, Union and Sarcoxie townships.
District No. 2-Marion and Jackson townships.
District No. 3-Joplin and Galena townships.
District No. 4-Jasper, Dural, Preston, Twin Grove and Mineral townships.
A special election was held June 3, 1873, to select a new county court and resulted as follows: Presiding judge, C. Conrad; District No. 1, Wm. Rush, of McDonald township; District No. 2, M. C. McGregor, of Marion township; District No. 3, John C. Cox, Joplin township; and District No. 4, Leander Green, Jasper township.
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1874
The campaign of 1874 was a hot one and saw four parties contest- ing for honors grouped as Republicans, Democrats, Reformers and Grangers. The Grangers did not nominate a full county ticket, but had a candidate for governor, William Gentry, who was warmly supported and, while not elected, carried Jasper county. During the two years prior to this campaign there had been much excitement over the voting of railroad bonds and there were also quiet whispers relative to a graft among certain county officials which brought out the Reform party, composed of members of both old organizations "who wanted to see the books."
Full county tickets were nominated by the Republicans, Democrats and Reformers and the contest was hotly waged, resulting in a Demo- cratic victory. The following were the successful contestants: Repre- sentative, W. H. Phelps; sheriff, U. B. Hendrickson; county clerk, George Blakeney ; recorder, James A. Bolen; treasurer, John Onslott; and prosecuting attorney, Al Thomas.
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The above was an exceptionally strong ticket, each man having a local strength which brought him votes. The vote on the state officers was as follows: For governor, Hardin, Democrat, 1,493; Gentry, Granger, 1,686.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION
At the general election of 1874 a proposition was submitted to the people and carried, calling for a convention to frame a new constitution for Missouri.
Hon. John H. Taylor, of Joplin, was elected to represent Jasper county in the constitutional convention and discharged the duties with great credit to the county. The constitution was voted on at a special election in November, 1875, and was carried by a large majority, the vote in Jasper county being, for the new constitution 629, against 525.
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1876
By far the most exciting political campaign of the 'seventies was the Hayes-Tilden campaign of 1876. The Democrat and Republican par- ties at this election were almost evenly divided and made a most vigor- ous campaign. At this election there appeared a new party, the Green- backers, who advocated reforms in the currency and monetary laws; also more liberal laws in favor of the laboring classes. The party, al- though never victorious and living only through three presidential cam- paigns, contained many able men, and some of the doctrines they ad- vocated were later engrafted into the platforms of both old parties. The Republican candidate for president was Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio; the Democratic candidate, Samuel J. Tilden of New York; the Green- back candidate, Peter Cooper, the great philanthropist, of New York city. Colonel C. C. Allen, of Carthage, was the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor at the election. All three parties made a vig- orous schoolhouse speech-making campaign and at both Joplin and Carthage great rallies were had which included torch-light processions. barbecues, etc. The two largest political gatherings in the county oc- curred in Joplin.
THE REPUBLICAN RALLY
At the Republican rally the attendance was variously estimated at from 12,000 to 15,000 people and the city was splendidly decorated for the occasion. The torch-light procession was fully two miles long and was a sight long to be remembered. The writer well remembers the oc- casion and feels now, as he writes, the thrill of excitement that came over him as he saw the marching clubs four abreast and some of them uni- formed (the Republican marching club was called the Hayes Light Guard) coming over the east Joplin hill and down Broadway into Main street, flags and banners gayly waving, and torches burning brightly. making the sky red with their light, the city wild with excitement. Hon. P. D. Dyer was the orator of the day and spoke from a platform on Main street, and that thoroughfare was a solid mass of humanity from First to Fifth streets.
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DEMOCRATIC BARBECUE AND PROCESSION
The campaign was closed by the Democrats with an old-fashioned barbecue and torch light procession which rivaled, if not eclipsed the Republican demonstration. The Democratic rally opened in the morn- ing at Cox Grove, north of East Joplin, where an old-fashioned bar- becue and basket picnic was held. The author was a boy then and, like other urchins, right there on the ground and in the thickest of the excitement; and remembers how the fatted calf was cooked and the feeling of good cheer that came from the splendid dinners which were served by the daughters of Democracy. The writer has sometimes thought that this was a great stroke of policy, and it is often said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and the memory of that dinner must have clung to the banqueters for many a long day. It might be added, in parenthesis, that Joplin went Democratic at that election.
After dinner in the grove, speeches were made and a general good time was had, until evening.
The torch-light procession at night concluded the celebration and marching clubs for twenty miles round participated in the demonstra- tion. Seven bands of music enlivened the occasion and numerous floats and banners added to the effect. The county was Republican by a small majority excepting county treasurer, Hon. John Onstott being elected to that office,
The vote on president was as follows: Hayes, 3,139; Tilden, 2,905, and Cooper, 520.
The following county ticket was elected by the majorities named : Representative, R. A. Cameron, 124; treasurer, John Onstott, 28; prosecuting attorney, Galen Spencer, 157; county judge, Josiah Lane, 125; sheriff, J. C. Beemer, 168; surveyor, Kos Elliott, 201; coroner. Dennis Coffin, 100; and public administrator, Thomas Buekbee. 188.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION ABOLISHED (1877)
The legislature of 1877 repealed the township organization law. The provisions of the constitution providing for three members of the county court, called for a redistricting of the courts into judicial districts and in April, 1878, the county was divided into an eastern and a western district. Jasper, Sheridan, Lincoln, McDonald, Madison, Marion, Jack- son, Union and Sarcoxie were in the eastern district, and Jasper, Dural. Twin Grove, Mineral, Joplin and Galena townships were in the western district.
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