USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 26
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The land on which the original town of Carterville was built belonged to a farmer named Carter, who was a neighbor of Mr. Jno. C. Webb and who, with him, tilled the soil during the early 'seventies.
The first business and mining activities in Carterville were com- menced by W. A. Daugherty, and to him, perhaps more than any other men, belongs the credit of developing the mines of the Carterville dis- trict during the early days of the town, where pluck and perseverance were required to make good.
As related in our Webb City story, the first discovery of lead in the Webb City-Carterville district was made by John C. Webb and in the valley which lies between the two towns.
The chunk of lead which Mr. Webb ploughed up was taken by him to W. A. Daugherty for inspection. That gentleman pronounced it lead and, at Mr. Webb's request, entered into a partnership with him to sink a shaft and develop the land.
The task of "beating the water" was the great problem. Frequently, on coming to work in the morning, they would find the shaft filled with water almost to the top, so near, in fact, that it could be dipped out with a bucket. After a pump was secured and the ground well drained, they began the work of cribbing the shaft. In sinking the shaft to a considerable depth they struck no lead, excepting to pass through & strata of the ore not more than an inch thick. Mr. Webb was somewhat discouraged and sold his interest to G. P. Ashcraft.
When Messrs. Daugherty and Webb were cribbing the shaft, at the place where they had passed through the strata of lead Mr. Daugherty took a hatchet and cut three crosses in the cribbing to mark the spot.
When Mr. Ashcraft bought Mr. Webb's interest he inquired of Mr. Daugherty what signs of mineral he had noticed other than the chunk which Mr. Webb had ploughed up, and, on being told of the small vein which they had passed through, asked Mr. Daugherty to lower him in the tub to the place where the crosses were cut.
Mr. Ashcraft, who was an experienced miner, took out a piece of the cribbing and, after first making a sort of a doorway in it drilled three or four holes in the side of the shaft and put in a charge of powder and a fuse. Before touching off the shot, however, a temporary platform was built just below the drill holes. The fuse was lighted and Mr. Ashcraft told Mr. Daugherty to "hist away." Scarcely had he reached
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the top of the shaft when the charge exploded, throwing lead and rocks in all directions. When the smoke had cleared away Mr. Ashcraft de- scended the shaft and, finding the platform literally covered with great chunks of lead, called Mr. Daugherty to see the sight. This shot opened up an entrance to a cave-like pocket which was almost a solid mass of lead. This was the beginning of the mining activities; the miners who first came to work the ground, settled on the land just east of the mines, and naturally the place was called Carterville.
Mr. Daugherty secured land from Mr. Carter and platted a town, the field notes and plat being filed for record September 10, 1875. He also built the first store in Carterville. Two additions to the place were laid out in the spring of 1876, and by the close of the Centennial year the town numbered fully five hundred inhabitants.
CARTERVILLE'S FIRST CHURCH
In the spring of 1876 the Rev. Jasper A. Smith, a Methodist minister, came to Carterville and organized the first Methodist church. The church met in a rented hall until 1882, when a lot was secured on Daugherty street and a church home commenced. On May 13, 1883, just as the building was nearing completion, it was demolished by a tornado. Three days later, however, the congregation met and laid plans for the rebuilding of the church, which was completed toward the close of the year.
TOWN OF CARTERVILLE ORGANIZED
In the spring of 1877 the citizens petitioned the county court to in- corporate the town of Carterville as a municipality. The first board of trustees comprised J. A. Wilson, W. A. Daugherty, Joseph Manlove, A. N. McReynolds and J. O. Rose. The board was organized April 17, 1877, with J. A. Wilson as chairman and J. R. Bailey, clerk. J. S. Wil- son was appointed marshal, E. S. Carries, treasurer, and Joseph Fount- ain, city attorney.
After organizing the city government quite a number of people thought that the municipality was an unnecessary expense and the board of trustees did not meet again from September 6, 1877, until April, 1882, when the municipality was reorganized.
The history of Carterville will be taken up again in the chapter on the 'Eighties, when the town pushed rapidly to the front.
ORONOGO
Oronogo continued to grow during the 'seventies. On August 4, 1873, a single chunk of lead was uncovered only eight feet below the surface. It weighed 60,000 pounds, and sold for $5,000 making the two lucky miners rich in a day.
On November 13th of this same year Alfred T. Oran was lynched by a mob of masked men. He had attempted to rob the house of a man named Hunter and was suspected of having committed a number of law- less acts in and around Oronogo.
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In 1876, the Centennial year, Oronogo was incorporated as a town, W. T. Duncan being the first chairman of its board of trustees.
During the same year the Masonic fraternity of Oronogo celebrated St. John's Day, June 24th, and a picnic and ceremonial was held in the grove. D. M. Whitworth, C. E. Elliott and J. W. Board were in charge of the exercises and every detail was carried out in a manner that re- flected great credit on the committee.
OTHER TOWNS
Beside the founding of Joplin, Webb City and Carterville, five other towns also sprang into existence-Midway, later called Jasper; Scot- land, Carl Junction, Waco and Alba.
Midway was so called because it was midway between Carthage and Lamar. Scotland, eight miles east of Joplin was named in honor of Rev. Scott, who lived on the land where lead was first struck. During the middle seventies Scotland had upwards of 500 people and three lead smelters were in operation.
Carl Junction and Waco came with the building of the Joplin and Girard Railway. Carl Junction was founded by Charles Carl and, being at the crossing of the 'Frisco and Joplin & Girard, was called Carl Junction.
Alba situated on Spring River four miles northeast of Orongo was a Quaker settlement and at first distinctively a farming community. A more extended mention of Carl Junction and Alba will be made in our later chapters, when these places came into greater prominence.
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Decade of the Eighties
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CENSUS OF 1880
Duval Township 946
*Galena Township
6,966
** Joplin Township
5,322
Jackson Township
1,416
Jasper Township
884
Lincoln Township
815
McDonald Township
1,181
Madison Township
1,234
** Marion Township
5,316
*Mineral Township
1,892
Preston Township
1,048
*Sarcoxie Township
1,545
Sheridan Township
913
Twin Grove Township
1,110
Union Township
1,431
32,019
.Joplin City in Galena and Joplin townships, 7,088.
** Including Webb City. 1,588.
*** Including Carthage, 4,167.
**** Including Oronogo. 700.
***** Including Sarcoxie. 341.
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CHAPTER XXI COUNTY POLITICS
THE "BOYS IN BLUE"-"329" PRESENTATION TO COL. W. F. CLOUD- CAMPAIGN OF 1882-1884-8-LOCAL OPTION ELECTION 1887-COURT HOUSE ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN OF 1888-WEBB CITY DEMOCRATIC FLAMBEAU CLUB-COUNTY SCHOOLS IN THE 'EIGHTIES J. M. STEV- ENSON 1887-93-THE JASPER COUNTY TEACHERS' NORMAL.
The presidential campaign of 1880 was a most exciting one. The tariff question was a prominent factor and many members of the Green- back party voted with the Republicans on account of the peculiar interest of the miners and sheepraisers in that issue. Col. J. W. Campbell of Carthage, a prominent member of the Greenback party, went back to his old love and took with him many of the Greenbackers.
Shortly before the close of the campaign a fusion was effected be- tween the Republicans and Greenbackers which resulted in a combina- tion ticket being elected. Colonel Cloud, the Republican chairman, pushed the work of organization and led his party to victory, the Repub- lican-Greenback county ticket being elected by 1,200 majority. The important features of the fusion were as follows: The Republicans supported Ira S. Haseltine of Greene county for congress, and placed on their ticket I. C. Hodson for member of the county court, Western district of Jasper county, and J. M. Ralston for assessor. The Green- backers, in turn, supported M. C. McGregor of Carthage for circuit judge.
"BOYS IN BLUE"
One of the important factors in this campaign, locally, was the "Boys in Blue"-a political marching club formed at Carthage by Col. J. W. Campbell, which participated in and created much enthusiasm at the Republican Rally and in Republican rallies all over the country, appear- ing at Carthage, Webb City, Joplin and other places. The organization numbered some 600 uniformed men and was officered as follows:
FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.
J. W. Campbell, colonel commanding; T. B. Tuttle, lieutenant colonel ; Thomas Buckbee, major; S. B. Ormsby, captain and adjutant; Newell Mix, captain and commissary ; J. M. Hurley, surgeon ; L. F. Brown, treasurer and pay- master.
ROSTER OF COMPANIES.
Company A-Captain J. B. Hutchens; first lieutenant, Charles Pool; sec- ond lieutenant, N. A. Floyd.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
Company B- Captain, Jesse Rhoads; first lieutenant, J. W. Hart; second lieutenant, D. E. W. Smith.
Company C-Captain, John Edgington; first lieutenant, James Blue; sec- ond lieutenant, Jerry Garnett.
Company D-Captain, E. B. Reeder ; first lieutenant, J. W. Taylor; second lieutenant, W. B. Wyman.
Company E-Captain, J. F. Higgins; first lieutenant, J. J. Heim; second lieutenant, Charles Smith.
Artillery-Captain, E. W. Hilliard. One six pound gun.
The vote in Jasper county was as follows: Garfield, Republican, 2,874; Hancock, Democrat, 2,532; Weaver, Greenback, 1,111.
The following composed the successful county ticket: Circuit judge, Hon. M. C. McGregor; representative, D. A. Preston; prosecuting at- torney, T. B. Haughawout; collector, Harry Hubbart; assessor, J. M. Ralston; treasurer, A. H. Caffee; surveyor, Kos. Elliott; public adminis- trator, Isaac Fountain; coroner, Barney Bristow; judges county court, (East district), J. I. Hall, and (West district), I. N. Hodson; sheriff, R. M. Roberts.
After the election the Republicans of the county presented Colonel Cloud with a gold headed cane as a testimonial of their appreciation of the efficient work he had done for the party. The Carthage Banner makes the following mention of the presentation in its issue of Novem- ber 25, 1880.
329 PRESENTATION TO COL. W. F. CLOUD
To-day, the 329th day of the year, a number of the personal and political friends of Col. Cloud took possession of his office, found him absent, sent a committee in search of him, found him after an hour's search, and pro- ceeded to the business of the hour. Among those present we noticed Col. Camp- bell, Mr. Cooper, Maj. Moore, Capt. Tuttle, Capt. Buckbee, John Brownsill. T. A. Wakefield, Henry Miller, Prof. Cabot, Mr. Cholwell, T. B. Haughawout. W. C. Bates, J. D. Clarkson and Mr. Chase.
Col. Campbell advanced to the front and in a few very appropriate re- marks, presented to Col. Cloud a heavy and very finely engraved gold watch, and solid gold chain and charm, purchased from Messrs. Cooper and Kirke at one hundred and fifty dollars. On the inside case is the following inscription :
"329. "Presented to W. F. Cloud, by Republican friends of Carthage, Mo. "Nov. 1880."
Col. Cloud was visibly affected when the costly gift was placed in his hands, and his response was at times almost overcome by his feelings. He had been kept in ignorance of the intention of his friends and was completely taken by surprise. He returned his thanks in a happy manner and distributed the credit which had been ascribed to him, impartially among his party associates all of whom he regarded as having done their duty, and that he had done nothing more. The Colonel has endeared himself to his friends and richly merits the confidence which their action to-day implies. The BANNER congratulates him upon his success, and the party upon his chairmanship.
*The "829" engraved on the watch refers to the 829 delegates to the National Repub- lican Committee who voted for General Grant for a third term for the presidency, and who loyally supported Garfield after his nomination. Colonel Cloud had been originally a Grant man.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1882
In 1882 the Democrats and Greenbackers joined in the organization of a party which was known locally as the Anti-Monopoly party and elected the greater portion of the county ticket by small majorities.
The following were the successful candidates, the figures given being their majorities: Circuit clerk, I. C. Hodson, Anti-Monopoly, 325; re- corder of deeds, J. P. Newell, Anti-Monopoly, 449; county clerk, John N. Wilson, Anti-Monopoly, 83; sheriff, R. M. Robens, Republican, 256; prosecuting attorney, T. B. Haughawaut, Republican, 83; probate judge, W. H. Kilgore, Anti-Monopoly, 375; county treasurer, W. S. Carson, Anti-Monopoly, 277.
The straight party vote cast at the election, based on supreme judge, was as follows: Republican, 2,827; Democratic, 2,390; Greenback, 852.
1884-6
In 1884 the Republicans and Greenbackers in the state joined forces and nominated Hon. Nicholas Ford of St. Joseph for governor. The Greenback party did not nominate a full county ticket, but the members generally voted with the Republicans who elected their ticket with the exception of the two candidates for the legislature and the candidate for assessor.
The following were the successful candidates : sheriff, John C. Bailey, Joplin; collector, Robert H. Hottle, Sarcoxie; prosecuting attorney, William Robinson, Webb City; county commissioners, J. M. Ralston, Madison township, and W. B. Halyard, Joplin; assessor, Ashcraft (D), Webb City; county clerk, Jesse Rhodes, Carthage; surveyor, E. O. Miles, Joplin; public administrator, Isaac Fountain, Oronogo; representative (Eastern district), William Randal (D) ; representative (Western dis- trict), S. H. Claycomb (D).
The vote on president was as follows: Blaine, Republican, 4,128; Cleveland, Democrat, 3,311. It will be remembered that at this election Cleveland was elected president the first time and the Democrats of the county, as elsewhere, went wild with excitement; jollification meetings were had in every city, town and hamlet W. H. Phelps of Carthage was this year chosen as one of Missouri's delegates to the national con- vention of the Democratic party and supported Cleveland for the nomi- nation.
1886 was an off-year. Nothing especially out of the ordinary oc- curred during the campaign and a mixed ticket was elected, each of the two great parties securing a part of the important offices.
The following gentlemen were victorious at the polls: Sheriff, John C. Bailey, reelected; circuit clerk, B. F. Hackney, reelected; county clerk, Jesse Rhodes, reelected; recorder of deeds, R. C. Friend, re- elected; probate judge, W. H. Kilgore, reelected; prosecuting at- torney, William Robinson, reelected; collector, A. H. Hattel, reelected; assessor, W. T. Burkhalder, reelected; treasurer, James M. Spence,
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
reelected; presiding judge, county court, J. M. Werks; associate justice, Eastern district, Wesley Ralston; associate justice, Western district, C. J. Hubble; representative Eastern district, C. M. Etter; representative, Western district, David Hopkins; coroner, Jesse Adams.
LOCAL OPTION ELECTION 1887
At the session of the general assembly for 1887 the Local Option law now on the statute book was passed and Jasper county was one of the first counties to vote on the question of forbidding the sale of liquor in the county. The temperance people made a vigorous schoolhouse cam- paign and won by a majority of 1,514.
Joplin, Webb City, Carterville and Carthage were not included in the totals as, under the terms of the law, they were not included in the territory affected. Carthage voted on the proposition and also shut out the saloon.
The following was the official vote at this election :
For license.
Against license.
Lincoln township
5
102
Sheridan township
21
87
Jasper City
27
92
Preston
5
54
Duval township
51
60
Medoc
40
59
Waco
37
21
Lehigh
31
78
Carl Junction
72
121
Alba
13
65
Oronogo
53
183
Marion, west
16
152
Marion, east
1
17
Madison township
3
110
McDonald township
37
122
Sarcoxie, east
74
172
Sarcoxie, west
6
42
Union township
5
111
Jackson township
36
60
Webb City prect.
9
Carterville
62
2433
Galena township, Fourth ward.
39
39
Lone Elm
27
Howard
78
189
Tota
760
2,274
Majority
1,514
COURT HOUSE ELECTIONS
Twice during the 'eighties the people voted on a proposition to build a court house and each time the proposition was voted down. At the first election the proposition was defeated by Joplin because of the
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East Joplin prect.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
belief that the appropriation would not be sufficient to construct a suit- able building at Joplin. The county also voted almost solidly against the issue being opposed, especially in the eastern district, to two court houses.
At the second election in 1887 Webb City defeated the proposition, it being their idea to have a criminal court at that place. The vote at the second election was "for," 1,813; "against," 3,116.
CAMPAIGN OF 1888
The campaign of 1888 was by far more interesting than the last one and in point of excitement was more lively than any other election of the decade.
Torch-light processions and rallies were had in all of the cities and a vigorous schoolhouse campaign was carried out.
The following was the presidential vote : Harrison, Republican, 4,523; Cleveland, Democrat, 3,685; Streeter, Union Labor, 985; Fisk, Prohi- bition, 68.
The following county ticket was elected: representative (Eastern district), John Flannigan, Republican; representative (Western dis- trict), Joseph Fountain, Republican ; sheriff, J. C. Miller, Republican; collector, L. M. Murphy, Republican; prosecuting attorney, J. H. Dry- den, Democrat; judge Eastern district, Thos. McNalley, Republican; judge Western district, C. J. Hubbell, Republican; treasurer, John Garland, Republican; coroner, J. W. Stemmons, Republican; assessor, W. C. Cohenour, Republican; surveyor, George Bradford; public ad- ministrator, Isaac Fountain.
WEBB CITY DEMOCRATIC FLAMBEAU CLUB
In each of the presidential campaigns the two old parties usually held half a dozen or more great rallies at some point in the county, and in these the manœuverings and displays of the organized marching clubs always creates excitement and helps to stir the enthusiasm of the mem- bers of the party to the highest pitch.
We noted in our chapter on the 'seventies the excitement caused by the Hayes Light Guard and in this article, in narrating the happenings of the campaign of 1880, the enthusiasm caused by the marching club known as the "Boys in Blue." In the campaign of 1888 there appeared an organization known as the "Webb City Democratic Flambeau Club," which has been an important factor in every campaign from that time to this, the body never having been disbanded.
The officers of the club were: Captain, A. A. Heulett; first lieuten- ant, D. R. Mock; second lieutenant, W. S. Chinn; first sergeant and sec- retary, Dr. McBride; bugler, E. E. Spracklin.
The Club had an attractive uniform of white duck with red helmets, leggings and other trappings to match. The Company numbered one hundred and fifty men and by nightly drills during the early part of
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the campaign they became a splendidly drilled organization and where- ever they went set the crowd of spectators wild with excitement. During the eleven campaigns in which they have participated they have marched in almost a hundred demonstrations.
To illustrate the popularity of this organization as a political march- ing club, we relate the following incident which occurred during the campaign of 1892: The Democrats of Columbus, Kansas, had planned to close the campaign with a monster rally on the Saturday night before the election, Saturday in a farming community being the day best fitted to get the people to town. The Webb City Flambeau Club was invited to lead this great procession, but had declined on account of its being Saturday night. Those living in the mining community will readily understand what Saturday night is, in a business way, to Joplin, Webb City, and Carterville.
The Columbus Democracy were greatly disappointed at the declina- tion of the Webb City Flambeau Club and sent a committee to urge the attendance of that celebrated organization, but Captain Heulett said that it would be impossible to get together enough men to make a cred- itable showing, as fully one-half would receive their week's pay after 5 o'clock-and the business men themselves could not afford to leave their stores.
R. A. Long, the great lumber dealer, then a resident of Columbus and chairman of the committee on parade refused to take "no" for an answer, and on Saturday morning, the day of the rally, a second com- mittee came from Columbus to Webb City bringing a personal and ur- gent letter from Colonel Long, the letter among other things stating that there would be a special train at the Memphis depot at 7 o'clock to carry the Webb City Flambeau Club to Columbus and that the parade would be held pending their arrival. At this third appeal Captain Heu- lett called his officers and a few of the members to his store for consulta- tion and it was agreed that if sixty men would promise to go that they would take part in the parade. Six men with bicycles started out to see the members; they went to the stores, shops and mines, and at noon reported that seventy-five men had agreed to go. Mine operators were seen and asked to pay off the men as early as possible; the good wives were commissioned to do the week's trading; as early as half-past six the club had started toward the depot and at 7 o'clock, when the train pulled out 125 members were on board.
The division superintendent gave them a clear track to Columbus and the special seemed to hit only the high places and steamed into Columbus at twenty minutes after eight. The train was hardly at a standstill when the clear notes of Colonel Spracklin's bugle sounded "fall in," and in less than five minutes the pride of Jasper county's Democ- racy was at the head of the column and leading the southeast Kansas Democratic cohorts, ten thousand strong, through the streets and among the public squares of Cherokee county's seat of justice. After the parade the Webb City Flambeau Club were served a sumptuous repast by Colonel Long, who was the marshal of the day.
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This club has contained on its roster quite a number of prominent men to whom political honors have come, among them: Congressman James A. Daugherty ; Ex-Attorney General E. C. Crow, Ex-Sheriff Ab. Rich, and Ex-Mayor E. E. Spracklin.
COUNTY SCHOOLS IN THE 'EIGHTIES
S. A. Underwood, who had served the county as school commissioner since 1877, retired from the superintendent's office at the spring election of 1883, declining to be a candidate for reelection, and was succeeded by J. H. Frank, one of the strong rural teachers who resided in Carthage.
Mr. Frank continued the policies mapped out by Mr. Underwood and kept up the high standard of the county schools. Mr. Frank was a famous walker and thoroughly enjoyed the exhilarating exercise of a country stroll and during his term of office, as a matter of choice, made nearly all of his visitations on foot.
PHILIP ARNOLD, 1885-6
At the spring election of 1885 Philip Arnold of Joplin was elected county school commissioner. Mr. Arnold paid especial attention to spell- ing and penmanship and a marked improvement in these two branches was noted. At the close of his first year as superintendent Mr. Arnold made a strong address before the County Teachers Association on the subject of uniformity in text books and compulsory education, setting forth at length the almost insurmountable obstacles of classifying the rural schools-with the great variety of text books in use.
J. M. STEVENSON, 1887-93
Mr. Arnold was succeeded in 1887 by J. M. Stevenson of Carthage, and his administration was marked by the introduction of the County Normal.
THE JASPER COUNTY TEACHER'S NORMAL
Perhaps the most important happening in the public school history of the county during the 'eighties was the organization of the Normal, a summer school for teachers of the county, instituted by J. M. Stevenson, county superintendent, in 1887-93. During the ten years this county Normal was conducted it was a great benefit to the teachers, for it brought to their door a summer school with advantages equal to any of the state normals; for the same course of study pursued at the state in- stitutions was in use and the instructors were from the best which the county and state could furnish.
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