USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 23
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During the fall of '76 a new school for the west side was built at the corner of Fourth and Byers, the present site of the high school. The new building was a three-room frame. The building was completed dur- ing the winter and was opened for the spring term March 20, 1877. G. P. Garland was the first principal of the school and Messrs. Miles and Cornwell his assistants. These three new rooms gave to the west side schools nine teachers for the term 1876-7.
THE LONE ELM SCHOOL
In 1875 the people of Lone Elm, now grown to a camp of approx- imately a thousand people, clamored for a separate school organization and steps were taken to detach a portion of the territory belonging to District No. 4 and unite it with a portion of the old Peace Church school district. In 1876 the organization was affected and Joseph Hos- tilter, P. Quinn and J. L. Harvey were elected the first board of directors.
The territorial limits of the Lone Elm district included that portion of Joplin, west of Joplin creek north of what is now "E" street, and ex- tending north of Turkey creek to a quarter of a mile south of old Tuck- ahoe. R. T. Guinn was the first teacher of the district and he, with the directors, bent every effort toward building a school. In 1877, $1,000 was raised by popular subscription and a neat two-roomed frame school erected.
The two rooms of the school were built so that they could be thrown into one room by opening the folding doors. On Sunday the building was used for church purposes and during the winter evenings for the meeting of literary societies. During the political campaigns it also served as a town hall.
Mr. Guinn was a very popular teacher and the Lone Elm board paid him one hundred dollars per month for his services.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
We are indebted to Charles Miles for the following information con- cerning the early history of the First Christian church of Joplin, which was read at the time of the dedication of its new building, December 29, 1901.
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The First Christian Church of Joplin was formally organized in 1874, but a word as to the conditions existing prior to that time and leading to the organization may be instructive and interesting. As a river fre- quently has its origin in several places, so this church was made up from several different sources.
In the fall of 1867 Mr. Israel Patton, lately deceased, led an emigrant train from Indiana to this county, finally settling just southwest of this city. He was an ardent member of the Christian church and he, with others, were soon holding religious services in the "Grove," which was God's first temple. The first building occupied was a log schoolhouse, which had stood the ravages of the Civil war. Messrs. Wells, Field and Starks were the names of the early preachers to this flock. The local elders were Mr. Patton and Mr. Carey. The deacons were Mr. Adams and Mr. Schumacher. The latter is still living in Blendeville.
They next occupied a building especially erected for church pur- poses. It was a double room log house. The hewn logs and also pine lum- ber for ceiling and flooring, together with six windows and casing, were furnished by J. A. Miles, late of No. 224 N. Wall street. This building stood just north of what is now Central City and was known as Short Creek Christian church.
There were also congregations at Carthage, Diamond Grove and Five Mile, all surrounding points. Services were also held at various schoolhouses nearby, by Mr. M. Lane and Mr. Wells. In 1870 ore was discovered and in a year the town of Joplin had grown to a population of four hundred souls. Among the people who came from a distance were members of the Christian church. Members of the churches above mentioned were drawn to the rapidly growing city, especially from the Short Creek church, so that by 1873 there were some thirty or forty persons who found themselves of similar religious faith but without a church home. About this time Mr. M. Jenkins began to visit Joplin and preach as opportunity offered.
In the month of May, 1874, he preached a sermon in the brick Pres- byterian church, northeast corner of Fourth and Pennsylvania avenue, at the close of which an organization was effected. Among the charter members were the following: Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Faulkender, Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Gillette, Mrs. Elizabeth Huffman, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Miles, Mr. W. L. Shumacher, Mr. and Mrs. Israel Patton, Mr. Eugene Poor, Mr. and Mrs. Harlan, Mr. and Mrs. Havill, Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland, Mrs. Moore, J. Groves and wife, Mrs. Pruitt, Mr. L. Kay; Mr. and Mrs. Lampkin (now in Mexico), Dr. T. W. Miles (of Denver), Mr. and Mrs. Whitwell (of Diamond, this county), Mrs. Underwood (of Kansas City), Mrs. Lampkin (of Joplin), Mr. Lampkin (deceased), and possibly a few names may be overlooked.
Mr. Jenkins was continued for some time as the regular preacher, making a visit monthly. For six months the congregation met in the Cumberland Presbyterian church, above mentioned. Then for six months they met in the old city hall on Broadway, near the site of the old gas
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works. Next, they met in a Baptist church at the corner of John and Hill streets, which was subsequently sold and removed to the country. Amos Buchanan then became pastor of the church.
The next abiding place, but not for long was Howell Hall on Broad- way near Gillette and Lichliter's store. From here they went to Forbe's Hall, corner of Broadway and John street. This was sold for a medical institute and the church then found itself like many a wanderer upon the earth.
For awhile meetings were held from house to house. The members then resolved that they would build a home of their own. Mr. Miles and Dr. Wells led in this movement. A lot was purchased at the southeast corner of Fourth and Pennsylvania avenue for fifty dollars. It recently sold for a consideration of three thousand dollars. On this lot was erected a modest building costing probably two thousand dollars. L. Z. Burr, now of Kansas City, was pastor while the house was being built and with the assistance of Mr. Lane dedicated it to the service of God. Mr. Burr was a teacher, as well as a preacher. At that time, as many times since, the city was short of school rooms and the church was used the first year as a school building. A curtain was hung from the ceiling, making two rooms. Thus the children were taught during the week and the people heard the gospel on the Lord's day. Mr. Burr was pastor five years.
In November, 1877, the Rev. Cunningham assisted Rev. Burr in a suc- cessful revival, during which time sixty-eight conversions were made. Most of the converts were baptized in Joplin creek, just south of where the Broadway bridge is located and it was an impressive sight each after- noon to witness the ceremonies of immersion. (Joplin creek at that time was much deeper than it is now and, although much used for washing purposes, the water was still comparatively clear.) One evening, just as the ceremonies were about to conclude, a miner returning from his work stopped to witness the ceremony and becoming converted asked to be baptised. Wading out into the middle of the creek, he was immersed by the Rev. Cunningham in the clothes he wore at the mines that day.
Following Mr. Burr came W. B. Cochran and R. A. Thomson as pas- tors. During the ministry of Mr. Thomson, a front vestibule was put in, a new flue built, the ceiling lowered to improve the acoustics, chairs re- varnished and the house overhauled in general. Then came T. E. Shep- herd, J. T. Boone, W. W. Blalock, W. W. Carter and J. M. Rudy. Mr. Rudy was unusually successful in his work and to accommodate the people the house was enlarged, a baptistry put in, two dressing rooms added, house carpeted, papered and partially seated with opera chairs.
Then came Melancthon Moore, C. H. White and J. W. Glarrell as pastors. Besides these men the following evangelists have held meetings here : J. Cunningham, H. C. Patterson, A. D. Moore, and J. R. Speck.
(The sketch of the Christian church will be continued in the chapter on the 'nineties.)
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
St. Philip's Episcopal church was organized February 22, 1874, by the Rev. R. C. Wall of Carthage. Services were held alternate Sundays at Vol. 1-13
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various rented places until 1877, when they were for a time discontinued on account of financial difficulties, the membership of the church being small.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
In 1875 Rev. Father O'Riley came to Joplin and took the pastorate of the Catholic church, holding his first meetings in Howell's Hall, East Joplin. Services were continued there until 1877, when the parish moved to the church building which had been completed at the corner of Eighth and Wall streets.
Father O'Riley was a zealous worker and labored faithfully for his church. The author remembers him well and recalls with pleasure the splendid advice he gave him and other school boys who were playing one day near the church.
At the time of the dedication of the Catholic church the congregation had grown to one hundred parishioners.
THE BAPTISTS
On November 26, 1876, Rev. F. A. Bowman of the Spring River As- sociation, preached at Howell's Hall, East Joplin, and at the close of the sermon invited all who would assist in forming a Baptist church to come forward. The following were the original members of the First Baptist church : Amanda E. Fike, T. A. McClelland, Richard Walsh, Caleb Brooks, Cynthia Brooks, Wm. B. Beasley, Caroline Beasley, Spencer Forshua, Martha Forshua, Sarah Martin, Robert G. Hyde, Elizabeth Hyde, May S. Pickett, Kate N. Tousley, and Andrew J. Martin.
The Council of Recognition which was called to formally recognize the church comprised Rev. J. W. Wilkes, W. T. Thomalsen and Rev. Bowman.
After the church was formally organized, Rev. Bowman was called as pastor and preached for the congregation one Sunday in each month. No church was built during the 'seventies, the services being held in a rented hall.
BUILDING OF THE TABERNACLE
During the fall of 1876 Rev. J. C. Plumb came to Joplin for the pur- pose of reorganizing, or more properly speaking, of gathering together the few members of the Congregationalist society in the city and estab- lishing a church of their denomination. The congregation gathered by the Rev. Gutton had never formally organized a church.
Beginning October 2nd, Rev. Plumb began a series of meetings in the Joplin Theater, continuing for eleven weeks. These meetings were suc- cessful and a large congregation was built up. Rev. Plumb now saw that this was the opportune time to erect a church home, and accordingly a committee, consisting of John B. Sergeant, A. M. Haswell and W. L. Carver, was appointed to raise funds for a building. The congregation which attended Rev. Plumb's meeting was largely gathered from all
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denominations and it was decided to organize a non-sectarian society under the name of the Tabernacle Church of Joplin, $2,900 was raised. $600 was spent for a lot, corner of Fourth and Virginia, the site of the Landreth Machine Company, and $2,300 was used for building and fur- niture, a part of which was borrowed. The structure, a large one-room box frame building was sixty-six by forty feet, set off with a vestibule and a bell loft in front, which gave it a church-like appearance.
The room was not at first finished on the inside. It was used for the first time Sunday, December 31, 1876, the Rev. Robert West of St. Louis preaching the dedicatory sermon. The following were among the mem- bers of the Tabernacle church : J. C. Plumb and wife; John B. Sergeant and wife; A. M. Haswell and wife; C. F. Jennings; Sarah Robinson; Geo. W. McCoy and W. R. Frobish.
The church policy was liberal and the several members were permitted to think and freely express themselves on the several isms which divided the church relative to baptism, creed, dancing, etc.
The old Tabernacle church was not a pretentious looking building, nor was it handsomely furnished, but it was very near and dear to the hearts of the great mass of Joplin people. For the want of a town hall the church was largely used for public gatherings of all kinds and the people came to look upon the old Tabernacle as a part of the home life of the city.
In this old church the following came to life: The Francis Murphy movement in 1877; the first skating rink in June, 1878; the first school exhibition, June, 1878; the reorganization of the fire department, after the establishment of the water works, 1881; the organization of the first Y. P. S. C. E. in the city, 1886, and the preliminary meeting to organize the Y. M. C. A., 1887. We mention these few incidents to show how generally, the Tabernacle was used and for what a variety of purposes.
The old bell at the Tabernacle was the biggest and best in the city, be- ing bought and paid for by public subscription. It now graces the city hall. When the Tabernacle burned, in 1893, the firemen worked hard to save the tower so that the old bell might not be injured.
FIRST CHURCH WEDDING
The first church wedding in Joplin was that of Philip Arnold, princi- pal of the West Joplin schools and Miss Henrietta Mercer. The wedding was celebrated in the South Methodist-Presbyterian church, East Joplin, in October, 1874, the Rev. Robert Wall performing the ceremony.
THE MASONIC FRATERNITY
On the 10th day of August, 1873, a meeting of the Masons was held to take the preliminary steps toward forming a lodge of that order. The meeting was largely attended and a petition in due form was forwarded to the Grand Lodge of the state praying that a dispensation be granted for the organization of a lodge at Joplin. The grand master of the Ma-
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sonic fraternity at that time was Hon. R. E. Anderson, and he declined to grant the petition, saying in reply that he thought there were already enough Masonic lodges in the county. A little thing like the denial of the charter could not daunt the pioneer Masons of Joplin. It so hap- pened that at the little town of Fidelity, then on the decline, there was a Masonic lodge (Fellowship Lodge, No. 345) which had been instituted January 22, 1870. Among the members of the lodge who had moved to Joplin were S. H. Caldwell, ex-sheriff, and James A. Bolen, later county recorder and now the coal merchant prince of Kansas City.
It was now proposed to move Fellowship Lodge to Joplin and a vote of the members taken resulted favorably. On February 19, 1874, the grand master approved the petition to move the lodge and it was accord- ingly transplanted to Joplin, the first meeting after the removal being held April 1st. The lodge room was the second floor of the building on the southwest corner of Second and Main streets.
The officers of the lodge at the time of the removal to Joplin were: M. H. Patrick, worshipful master; J. W. Brook, senior warden; M. W. Halsell, junior warden; J. W. Burch, secretary; Jas. Ayler, treasurer; C. D. Tucker, senior deacon; E. M. Burch, junior deacon, and W. W. Webb, tyler.
The membership of Fellowship Lodge at the date of its removal to Joplin was nineteen. Twenty members were admitted by demit and six brothers were raised during the year.
Most of the above officers lived in the county, in and around Fidelity, and at the election of officers held the following June the following were inducted into the chairs: Reuben Whitwell, worshipful master; S. H. Caldwell, senior warden; M. W. Stafford, treasurer; W. E. Maynard, secretary ; E. D. Tucker, senior deacon; E. M. Burch, junior deacon, and W. A. Greenlee, tyler.
In 1876 the lodge was moved to the second story of the brick building now occupied by the Ramsour bar, where it remained until 1877, when a two-story frame building was erected at No. 516 Main street, the lower portion being rented for a store room and the upstairs being used for a Masonic hall.
MEDOC (NOW JOPLIN LODGE) No. 335
After Fellowship Lodge was moved to Joplin the Masonic craft grew and prospered for a time, but during the year 1875 the jealousy and riv- alry between East and West Joplin crept into the lodge room and the East town brethren desired a lodge over on the East side. Accordingly, the major portion of the brethren who lived in East Joplin demitted and began casting about for the best method to pursue to secure a lodge on the east side of the creek.
Medoc Lodge, No. 335, which had been instituted at Medoc in the northwestern part of the county, June 18, 1869, like the lodge of Fidelity, had for some months been dormant and quite a number of its members had moved to Joplin, among them C. A. Underwood, who was the senior warden of the lodge. A proposition was made to move the lodge to East
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Joplin and on December 21, 1875, the vote was taken and almost unan- imously carried.
The first meeting held after the move was February 17, 1876, the meeting being in a frame building at the corner of Galena and Broadway. At the time of its removal to Joplin, Medoc Lodge had eighteen members in good standing and at this session (February 17th) some twenty Joplin citizens deposited their demits.
The following brothers served the lodge as masters during the 'sev- enties : 1876, C. A. Underwood; 1877, Lee Taylor; 1878, C. L. Shepherd, and 1879, S. H. Thompson. -
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
The third great fraternity to be organized in Joplin was the Knights of Pythias. On June 15, 1876, Joplin Lodge, No. 40, was instituted by the Hon. C. J. Lucas, grand chancellor of the order.
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The charter list contained among the signers some of the best citizens, among them the mayor, F. E. Williams; city marshal, Cass Hamilton; P. Murphy, the father of Murphysburg; C. W. Glover, cashier of the Joplin's Savings Bank; Peter Schmur, editor of the Joplin Daily News; Postmaster M. W. Stafford and men of that character. The Knights of Pythias lodge was to Joplin during the early days what the Elk lodge is now, the social organization of the city.
The following were the first officers of Joplin Lodge, No. 40, K. of P .: Past chancellor, E. D. Porter; chancellor commander, F. E. Williams; vice chancellor, F. A. Miles; prelate, W. E. Maynard; master of ex- chequer, Chas. W. Glover; master of finance, R. T. Greer; K. of R. and S. Peter Schmur; master-at-arms, M. W. Stafford; inside guard, Geo. W. Gore, and outside guard, Joe Murphy.
JOPLIN TURNVEREIN GERMANIA
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Joplin contains among its citizens many splendid representatives of the German fatherland and their influence has been greatly felt in this city. The two pioneer "jack" buyers are Germans. It was a German who built the first bakery in the city and a German who interested in the organization of the first bank in Joplin. In many ways the sturdy sons of Germany have taken a great part in the building and developing of the city. The people of German descent have made most excellent citi- zens and, while they are loyal to the United States and take an active in- terest in our national government and local affairs, they still cherish, as they should, a kindly feeling for the home in the old world. For the pur- pose of keeping alive the tender memories of their native land, for the promotion of their mutual interests and for the education and general uplift of their fellow-countryman, the Germans have in every large city formed societies through which they mingle and spend a goodly portion of their social life.
The Germania Social and Literary Society of Joplin was organized
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December 22, 1876, with a charter membership of fifty, the first officers being: Henry Lutz, president; S. Landauer, vice president; Henry Wolfe, secretary; William Karbe, treasurer.
The purposes of the society are the cultivation of literary tastes and the social entertainment of its members, and its balls, picnics and enter- tainments have always been brilliant affairs, its singing society having a reputation which has gone beyond the limits of our ten-story county.
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CHAPTER XX
IN THE LATER 'SEVENTIES
JOPLIN AND GIRARD RAILWAY- THE MISSOURI AND NORTHWESTERN- KANSAS CITY, FORT SCOTT AND GULF-A CITY OF HOLES-DEATH OF JOSHUA P. TAYLOR-SOMETHING ABOUT BLACK JACK-BOARD OF TRADE-BUILDING OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS-ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN-THE WHITE LEAD WORKS THE GRANBY SMELTER-THE JOPLIN OPERA HOUSE-THE "HERALD"-THE MINERS' BANK-JOPLIN GAS WORKS -THE FRANCIS MURPHY MOVEMENT-OLD SKATING RINK-FIRE DE- PARTMENT REORGANIZED JOPLIN EXPOSITIONS-HARMON'S FOUNDRY -SCHOOLS-CITY POLITICS-WILLIE WATSON'S CHRISTMAS SOCK- WEBB CITY-G. P. ASHCRAFT-WEBB CITY AS A TOWN-AS A FOURTH-CLASS CITY-FIRST CHURCH-THE BLUNT RAID-CARTER- VILLE-ORONOGO-OTHER TOWNS.
During the later 'seventies Joplin did not make its former rapid strides, in the way of an increased population, for the following reasons.
First-Toward the close of 1877 the price of lead took a tumble and the mining of this product was not as profitable as before.
Secondly-Lead was discovered at Short Creek (now Galena) just across the Kansas line, and large numbers of Joplin people went to the new camp, which, like pioneer Joplin, was a live wire. The main business thoroughfare in Short Creek was called "Red Hot street" and the name told the whole story.
Thirdly-The mines at Leadville, Colorado, were being opened up and there was a great exodus also to the Centennial state.
Lastly-Many of the shallow pockets of lead had been mined out and the shafts abandoned, the prospectors not knowing that just a little deeper down would be found the richer deposits of jack, abandoned the prospect to try their success in newer fields.
While there was a slight falling off in population there was, however, a steady growth in a business way, the Joplin & Girard Railway being completed, the white lead works and two foundries built and a number of other industries established.
Up to the close of the 'seventies lead was the standard-the highest price being paid for jack during the 'seventies was fourteen dollars a ton. While Joplin lost a con- siderable floating number in 1878-9. it held its own and rounded out the decade with only a slight decrease in population, as shown by the special census January 1, 1877, which showed a bona fide population (not counting the floating, or the couple of thousand just out of the city) of 7.544.
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BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF JOPLIN IN 1877, SHOWING ITS SEVEN HILLS
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THE JOPLIN AND GIRARD RAILWAY
As mentioned in our article on railroads, the Joplin and Girard was the first road to enter the former city and the story of its building is unique and full of interest. In December, 1875, Messrs. Moffet and Ser- geant organized the Joplin Railway Company with a capital stock of $600,000, all of which was subscribed by local capital. It is related by old-timers that at the commencement of this railway project Moffet and Sergeant had lying idle in their safe $125,000 in greenbacks and that this was used as a nucleus with which to build the road. The purpose of its construction was threefold-to provide a cheaper and quicker mode of transporting the oar to the market; to have a direct route to the Kansas coal field and thus bring the fuel to the smelters and to open a northern market. At this time St. Louis was the only market for the Joplin product.
The first rail on the road was laid in May, 1876, W. C. Hinkson of the Halyard Hardware Company, this city, driving the first spike. As soon as the road was completed to Pittsburgh a box car was set out for a depot and the road began operations with one engine and a few cars, hauling freight and passengers between these two points and pushing out the construction gang as the road was completed to the south. This road was not bonded, but was paid for piece by piece as it was completed, the stockholders digging up successive assessments as the construction went on. In the fall of 1876 the road was finished to the McGee Crossing on Turkey creek and completed to Joplin the next summer, the last spike, appropriately made of lead, being driven August 26, 1877. The depot was located in Smelter Hill, just north of the Leckie foundry, and was occupied by A. E. Stillwell, a prince of good fellows, as agent, who moved the office stock from the box-car depot which had been moved along with the construction from Girard to the end of the line. The first train to run into Joplin was pulled by Pete Butterly as engineer and conductor W. C. Hinkson wielding the ticket puncher. It was the original design of this company to extend the road to Neosho and into north Arkansas and capital was at once subscribed to complete the line. A right-of-way was acquired and grading commenced and a road bed completed to be- yond Thurman, when in 1879 the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway bought the Joplin and Girard, which has since operated as a part of its system. The road to the south has never been completed and after the sale of the line the depot at Smeller was discontinued and later torn down.
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