USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 30
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INTRODUCTION OF THE TELEPHONE
In 1881 a telephone exchange was installed in Joplin and neighbor- ing towns by C. W. McDaniels, and put in operation in October of that year. The interests of Mr. McDaniels were later absorbed by the Bell Telephone Company. The telephone, which then was regarded as a great curiosity, is now in this twentieth century day of progress almost a necessity. The total number of 'phones in use in Joplin now-includ- ing those of both the Bell and the Home-number over 7,000.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS
The electric light was first seen in Joplin in 1882 at the Cole circus, where the tent and grounds were illuminated with lights generated from a dynamo and apparatus carried by the show. In 1887 G. W. Sergeant, son of J. B. Sergeant, and like his father, a man of great energy, built an electric light plant on Joplin street, between Fourth and Fifth, the site of the present office of the Empire District Light and Power Com- pany. The first exhibition light was erected at Fourth and Main streets, and after its power and excellence had been demonstrated a contract was awarded his company to light the streets in the business district. The Empire District Electric Light and Power Company the successors to the franchises granted Mr. Sergeant and John W. Free- man, et al., has a total capacity of forty 2,000-candle power lights.
CITY POLITICS AND AFFAIRS
At the city election in October, 1880, W. E. Maynard was reelected mayor, being petitioned by the citizens to accept the chair a second
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term. The other officers chosen were: L. C. Hamilton, marshal; W. B. McAntire, police judge; George Oreor, city attorney; A. C. Pyle, treas- urer; S. O. Elles, G. B. Young, A. P. McCarty, W. L. Harris, L. Hare, Hugh Dyer, L. A. Filmore and W. B. Holyard, members of the city council. J. P. Newell was appointed city clerk and F. E. Williams, collector. The important event of Mr. Maynard's administration was the building of the water works, already mentioned.
1881
In October, 1881, the city election passed off quietly, Galen Spencer, then one of the leading lawyers of the city, being elected mayor and, like his predecessor, being brought out by a petition signed by numer- ous friends. With Mr. Spencer the following gentlemen came into the council : M. F. Downy, S. Landauer, John C. Bailey, Charles Gaide, M. Clark and J. C. Mason, with Messrs. Elles and Fillmore holding over.
The other officers elected were : L. C. Hamilton, marshal; F. M. Red- burn, police judge; Thomas Dolan, city attorney; G. B. Carson, treas- urer; B. T. Webb, city clerk, and F. E. Williams, collector.
Mr. Spencer was reelected mayor in 1882.
1883
At the city election in October, 1883, there was but one candidate for mayor, W. B. Holyard, and with him were elected the following officers : City council-H. Petitt, J. C. Gaston, J. C. Bailey, and W. V. White; marshal, L. C. Hamilton; police judge, F. M. Redburn; city attorney, J. W. McAntire; treasurer, G. B. Carson.
1884
At the election in 1884 the following were inducted into the official chairs : Mayor, A. B. McCarty; city attorney, J. W. McAntire; treas- urer, Jas. B. Glover, Jr .; marshal, L. C. Hamilton; city council, Alex- ander Campbell, J. L. Briggs, W. H. Warren and J. A. Shepherd.
1885
Mayor-A. B. McCarty. Marshal- - L. C. Hamilton.
Police judge-F. M. Redburn.
Treasurer-J. B. Glover.
Attorney-J. W. McAntire.
It will be noted that the entire administration was reelected. The following new members came into the council: Chancellor Livingston, Charles Schifferdecker, J. W. Gill and Sidney Hire.
The interesting feature of the election was the choosing of a coun- cilman in the First ward. Four candidates were in the field, all of them receiving about the same strength. Messrs. Chancellor Livingston
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and Bracken Wilson tied, and the matter was decided by lot, Mr. Liv- ingston drawing the lucky ticket which gave him the seat.
MURDER AND LYNCHING
After the adoption of the prohibitory law in Kansas and the closing of the saloons of Galena, Joe Thornton, a desperate character, erected on the state line a double building, located half in Missouri and half in Kansas. On the Missouri side was a saloon and on the Kansas side a gambling house. Joe Thornton and his hangers-on were a source of an- noyance to the officers of both Jasper and Cherokee counties.
On July 19, 1885, Thornton came to Joplin and Deputy Sheriff J. C. Miller, Constable H. H. Haven and Officer Daniel Sheehan, of the Joplin police force, went to Swarts' famous 144 (one of the popular dry goods stores), where Thornton was making some purchases, for the purpose of arresting him. Deputy Sheriff Miller walked up to Thorn- ton and informed him that he had a warrant for his arrest. Thornton wheeled and quickly drew his revolver. The three officers grappled with him, and endeavored to take his revolver away. In the scuffle Thornton discharged the weapon and killed Sergeant Sheehan. Deputy Sheriff Miller and Constable Haven then overpowered him and safely lodged him in the city jail.
Sergeant Sheehan was exceedingly popular, and during his long service on the police force had discharged his duties faithfully, and that night a large number of citizens came to the jail, took Thornton out and hung him to a tree at the corner of Second and Joplin streets.
The people of Joplin, in order to commemorate the memory of the brave police officer, erected a handsome marble monument at his grave in Fairview cemetery.
With the lynching of Thornton the lawlessness on the border came to an end.
1886
At the fall election, in 1886, Mr. McCarty declined to be a candidate for a third term and J. L. Briggs, the popular agent of the 'Frisco Railway was elected mayor. L. C. Hamilton, who for ten years had served the people as marshal, also declined to be a candidate for re- election and was succeeded by Calvin Nickel, who won over four other candidates by a margin of 39 votes. M. T. Downing was elected treas- urer and Thos. Dolan city attorney.
The councilmen chosen at this election were J. M. Sackett, J. M. Wise, James Roach and M. G. Harris.
1887
The city electors of 1887 was an exceptionally interesting one, inas- much as there were many aspirants for honors and also because it was exceptionally close for three of the important positions-mayor, attorney and marshal.
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Chancellor Livingston, of the First Ward, was elected mayor by one vote; J. J. Cofer, city marshal, by twenty-eight, and Messrs. Thomas Dolan and J. W. McAntire being tied for city attorney.
L. C. Hamilton, who for so many years was city marshal, was elected police judge, and M. F. Downing reelected treasurer.
The following gentlemen were elected to the city council: Alexander Campbell, Charles Schifferdecker, J. B. Minor and J. V. Hibbard.
During this administration the city surrendered its special charter and organized as a city of the third class. The proposition which had been defeated at the regular election in October, '87, carried at the special election on May 8th by a nice majority.
The vote on the question was as follows: For the new charter- First ward, 84; Second ward, 289; Third ward, 48; Fourth ward, 211. Against surrender-First ward, 99; Second ward, 48; Third ward, 65; Fourth ward, 54.
Majority for the charter, 326.
It will be observed that the heaviest vote cast against the new charter was in Lone Elm, where the people lived almost entirely on un- platted and mining lands and where it was thought that, with the adoption of the new charter, more stringent laws would prevail relative to stock running at large, building of streets, sidewalks, etc. The heavy vote for the proposition was in the down-town district, where laws providing for public improvements were greatly desired.
Next to the building of the water works the adoption of the third- class charter was the most important happening of the 'eighties, be- cause it opened up a way for public improvements, such as street pav- ing and the construction of sewers, as well as many police regulations not provided for in the old charter.
With these regulations and renewed confidence in Joplin's future greatness a building boom came on which did not abate until the panic of 1893. During 1888 the area of the city was increased, extending from the original southern limits at Tenth street to Fourteenth. South Joplin built up very rapidly, two additions being laid out and quickly sold that year. The next year, 1889, five more additions were placed on the market and the city limits extended to Twentieth street.
1889
The election of this year was notable because it was the last one held without nomination from the several political parties, and also the first one held under the new charter, the time being by the new laws changed from October to April.
The following were the successful candidates: Mayor, R. B. Tyler; recorder (police judge), W. B. McAntire; city attorney, J. W. McAn- tire; marshal, J. J. Cofer; treasurer-collector, J. W. Calvin; council- men. First ward, Harmon Cline and Jas. A. Sherwood; Second ward, A. P. Hoyt and Frank Geier; Third ward, Z. A. Norris and J. A. Roach; Fourth ward, T. J. Field and W. V. White.
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JOPLIN FIRE DEPARTMENT
After the completion of the water works the matter of organizing a fire department was taken up by the city council and a call was issued for a meeting at the Tabernacle on November 6, 1882, to perfect the organization. The meeting was largely attended and a volunteer depart- ment organized from among the best citizens of Joplin.
Clark Craycroft was chosen chief and G. W. Payton assistant. Four companies were organized, one for each ward, as follows: Hose Com- pany No. 1, G. W. Payton, foreman; Hose Company No. 2, A. P. Hoyt, foreman; Hose Company No. 3, Jno. C. Bailey, foreman; Hose Com- pany, No. 4, L. A. Fillmore, foreman.
The companies were equipped with hose carts, each carrying 2,500 feet of hose, and as an inducement for proficiency the company which threw water first on a fire was given a prize of ten dollars, in addition to $1.50 which each firemen attending received.
In 1884 Major Craycroft retired from the department and George W. Payton of Company No. 1 became chief. Excepting one year he served as such until 1890. Aaron Haughton became assistant.
When Mr. Payton became chief Companies 1 and 2 were named in honor of two of the citizens who had won the favor of the community on account of their public spiritedness. No. 1 took the name of the S. C. Henderson Hose Company, in honor of Joplin's first whole- sale grocer, and No. 2 became the C. J. Lewis Hose Company, Mr. Lewis at that time being superintendent of the water company and having been prominently connected with many other public enterprises.
During the 'eighties the volunteer fire department attained a high state of proficiency and at the tournament of the Southwestern Fire- men's Association carried off a number of prizes.
At the Southwestern firemen's tournament held in Carthage in June, 1888, and attended by 1,400 firemen from Missouri, Kansas, and Arkan- sas, S. C. Henderson Company No. 1, carried off first prize in the 100- yard contest, making the run, laying 100 feet of hose and throwing water. C. J. Lewis Company No. 2 won first prize in the 200-yard con- test, their time being 1:18.
In April, 1889, John W. Gillis was appointed chief and L. A. Fill- more assistant chief. The head of the department secured from the city council an appropriation of $500 for uniforms for his men. At the tournament at Clinton that year the Joplin department made a most elegant showing and won the prize offered for the best appearing de- partment attending the meeting. During this year Capt. C. J. Lewis, after whom Company 2 was named, moved to Hannibal and the mem- bers of the company presented him, on the eve of his departure, with an elegant silver loving cup as a testimonial of their regard for him.
BANKS AND BANKING
During the 'eighties two new financial institutions were launched in Joplin and both were successful to a high degree.
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In February, 1882, Thomas W. Cunningham established the Bank of Joplin. George A. Case, who had been the cashier of the Moffet & Sergeant bank of Joplin, was made the cashier of the new concern, and remained with it until the middle 'nineties, when he retired on account of ill health. The Bank of Joplin had a most unique history. Its cap- ital was $5,000. At the end of the first year the greater portion of the earnings was carried into the surplus; and at the close of each suc- ceeding year the surplus was increased and continued to grow until 1907, when it reached $300,000, sixty times the capital. During the panic of 1907, Mr. Cunningham, with the view of helping relieve the financial stringency, nationalized his bank, thus converting $200,000 of bonds into ready cash and materially assisting in reestablishing con- fidence in Joplin.
The First National Bank of Joplin was organized in January, 1888, with the following officers and directors: President, Chas. Schiffer- dicker; vice president, D. A. Preston; cashier, J. A. Cragin; directors. E. Lloyd, Galen Spencer, L. Riseling and J. C. Stewart.
The bank opened for business during the following March. One of its first important transactions was the purchase of thirty thousand dollars of the City of Joplin funding bonds, issued on the occasion of the surrender of the old city charter and the organization of a city of the third class.
This bank showed its faith in Joplin by building a three-story brick bank building during the early 'nineties. It has recently acquired the Empire Building between Fifth and Sixth streets, on Main street, and will shortly move into larger quarters.
THE NORTH ROAD
One of the important factors in the building up of Ancient Rome was her magnificent system of public roads. The imperial government recognized Rome as the hub around which the commerce of the nation revolved, and so, like spokes in a wheel, well built and splendidly ma- cadamized roads were constructed in all directions from the city and an easy mode of transportation provided, so that all business would center in the city on the Tiber, "All roads lead to Rome."
In 1886 the business men of Joplin recognized the importance of more and better-built roads leading into Joplin, and a committee, con- sisting of C. J. Lewis, Charles Schifferdecker, A. F. Donnan, and others, was appointed to devise ways and means to build a road running north from Joplin to Spring river. Some $3,000 was subscribed, the right-of- way obtained across the Kansas City Bottom and a fine road worked from First street and Main to Galesburg. This was the beginning of our splendid road system.
MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY
The Missouri Pacific Railway was built to Joplin in 1882, the first train from Kansas City running into the city on June 19th. A. O. T.
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Pennington, a most accommodating and pleasant gentleman, came to Joplin as agent for the road and his affable manners soon built up for the road an extensive patronage.
This line was of immense value to Joplin and the entire mining district, because it gave another competing line to both St. Louis & Kan- sas City. The Missouri Pacific Railway also brought to the city another express train-the Pacific Express Company-and materially facilitated transportation facilities.
THE SPLITLOG (KANSAS CITY AND SOUTHERN) RAILWAY
In 1887 a wealthy Indian, Mathias Splitlog, living in McDonald county, conceived the idea of building a railway from North Arkansas to Kansas City, and put up a considerable sum toward organizing a company which was formed, having for its object the building of a line from the Gulf of Mexico to Kansas City.
The line was first built from the Cowskin river in McDonald county, to Joplin, and formally opened January 1, 1889. On January 3rd Mayor Livingston, the city council and about 200 business men as the guests of the railroad visited Neosho and were royally entertained by the people of that place. On January 7th Neosho gave Joplin a surprise party, coming up en masse, to return the visit.
These two friendly visits were the beginning of a friendly business relation between the two cities which has existed to this day. The name of the road was shortly afterward changed to the Pittsburg & Gulf, and on its completion to Kansas City became the Kansas City & Southern.
SCHOOLS DURING THE 'EIGHTIES
As mentioned in our school story of the 'seventies there was three separate school districts in Joplin-East Joplin, West Joplin and Lone Elm. The schools were operated separately until 1889, when they were consolidated into a city district, but before taking up the narrative of the organization of the school district of Joplin we will touch briefly the im- portant happenings of the three districts up to the consolidation.
In East Joplin the course of study was divided into eight years' work, but the eight years were equivalent to the course of study mapped out for the graded schools and most of the branches in the first two years in the high school, as now arranged. There was no attempt at a formal graduation, but on the completion of the work nearly every pupil went before the county school commissioner and took the examination for a teacher's certificate and the passing of this examination was equivalent to a completion of the course of study. Of course many of the pupils who secured certificates did not intend to teach, but secured them as a matter of personal pride and for the purpose of having something to show for their school work. Of the seventeen pupils in the A class, room 1, for 1884, every one successfully passed the teacher's examination and
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was granted a certificate. A high standard was maintained in East Jop- lin until 1886, when a crisis came which detracted from the thoroughness of the school work.
The general assembly of 1885 passed a law forbidding the issuance of a warrant when there was no money in the treasury to meet the same. It so happened that at the close of 1885 there was a deficit and warrants had been issued to pay salaries and incidental expenses of that year and had to be taken care of out of the revenue of 1886. This necessitated a short term, brought the schools to a close at the end of four months and a half and prevented the class of 1886 completing the course mapped out. During the winter of 1886 the pupils gave several entertainments to raise money for coal, one of which, by the way, was a money maker. It was given in an improvised theater-a store room half filled with baled hay. This was no drawback however, for where there is a will there is a way. A stage was made by piling up one tier of baled hay and cover- ing it with planks brought in from a lumberyard. On either side of the wall the bales were extended to the ceiling giving a stage-like effect and also serving the purpose of wings. Chairs were brought in and the en- tertainment was given to a packed house, enough money being raised to buy coal the rest of the winter.
We append below a list of the gentlemen who served the district as members of the school board and the teaching force when it was the East Joplin School District.
Members of the school board: John C. Cox, Jeremiah Fink, D. P. Ballard, G. D. Jackson, H. J. Blackwell, J. C. Maddy, D. Y. Moore, F. A. McClelland, G. W. Payton, W. L. Harris, T. K. Medder, O. B. Ham- lin, J. B. Thomas, T. B. Samules, Calvin Nickell, James Woodward, E. M. Nash, J. W. Henry, J. T. Martin, B. Wilson, D. S. Lutman, J. W. Newton and N. B. Lichliter.
Principals : S. B. Ormsby (1874-5), S. A. Underwood, James A. Race, G. W. Mckinney, T. H. Riffer, L. B. Burr, J. M. Stevenson, Miss Janette Houghton, J. F. Martin, Walter Atkinson, W. P. Roberts, Mrs. Jennie Gilliland, Henry Phelps and W. L. Taylor.
Teachers : Anna Heath, Georgia Gates, W. B. Webster, Geo. H. Smeetzer, Josie Culpepper, W. H. John, Tealie Underwood, Emma Shorter, Mrs. Fannie Hays, Mrs. Emma Young, Fannie Nickell, Joel T. Livingston, Jennie Robertson, Rebecca Snyder, W. A. Nickell and Kate Reid.
LONE ELM SCHOOL DISTRICT
In 1880 the Lone Elm school began to decline, not in efficiency, be- cause it continued up to the consolidation to be a strong school, but in point of numbers.
In 1879 a dispute arose between the citizens of Lone Elm and the Granby Company, the owners of the fee to the land on which the great majority of the houses were built. Up to that date no ground rent for
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the space occupied by the houses, had been charged to the miners work- ing their land, and many of them owned the houses in which they lived. The later part of 1879, however, the company changed its policy and de- cided to charge a monthly rental for the ground. The miners felt that as they were developing the land and making for the company handsome royalties they were entitled to live near the mines and that ground rent should not be imposed. About the time that this controversy was started Messrs. Byers and Murphy laid out an addition to the city west of the 'Frisco railway tracks and placed them on the market at an exceptionally small price.
A hundred or more families from Lone Elm bought lots in the new suburb and moved their houses to this new haven of refuge, which was called Byersville. As a result of this exodus, the school enumeration of 1880 showed a decided falling off and the apportionment of the public funds gave to Lone Elm a greatly reduced sum.
The following served in the Lone Elm schools during the 'eighties: L. Z. Burr, Tealie Underwood, D. B. Wilson, J. W. Henry, G. P. Gar- land, H. Phelps and Philip Arnold as principals; and Mrs. L. Z. Burr, Mrs. Sue Phelps, A. W. Mitchel, Rachel Shaw, William H. Lee, Amanda Wilson, Helen Jones, and several others whose names are not obtainable on account of the failure to preserve the old records, as under-teachers.
WEST JOPLIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The year 1880 found the population of the three school districts as follows: East Joplin, 1,712; West Joplin, 4,526; Lone Elm, 1,200 .*
It will be noted by these figures that West Joplin had outstripped both East Joplin and Lone Elm and contained a population of approx- imately 1,500 more than the other two districts combined and was by this time counted the main part of the town. Naturally, therefore, the West Joplin schools grew in importance-and West Joplin was the first district to establish a high school.
During the fall of 1879 J. C. Mason resigned the superintendency to take up the practice of law and the Rev. J. F. Martin filled out the un- expired term, teaching the High School, as the highest room was called, in the study of the Tabernacle. For the term of 1880-1 Philip Arnold was made superintendent and served until 1884, when Mr. Mason was again recalled and the high school placed in charge of Mr. Arnold. Dur- ing Mr. Arnold's incumbency and as superintendent, Messrs. C. H. Lethbridge, Henry Phelps and.J. M. Stephenson had charge of the High School.
THE BUILDING OF THE CENTRAL SCHOOL
At a special election held February 7, 1883, the West Joplin School District voted $20,000 in bonds for the erection of school houses; $16,200 was apportioned for the Central school building; $2,500 for a two-room
.These figures represent the entire population and Include a few hundred residing on the outskirts of the city, but a part of the several school districts.
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school at Byersville; $400 for the moving of the Byersville school to Per- kins avenue (now the Garfield) and $900 for a colored school.
The teaching force was increased and the pupils nicely taken care of until after the consolidation of the three districts in 1889, when a build- ing boom came on.
Mr. Mason was succeeded, in 1886, by W. T. Hammer of Lamar and he, in 1888, by R. D. Shannon, late state superintendent of schools.
FORMAL ADOPTION OF A HIGH SCHOOL COURSE
Until 1886 the school board had not formally adopted a specific course of study for the high school, or prescribed the standard of excellency for graduation, but had left the course of study and the rules and regula- tions largely to the superintendent and high school teachers. New branches had been added from time to time until the course of study pursued equalled that of Carthage, Springfield and other southwestern Missouri cities, but no attempt had been made at graduation. On the coming of Superintendent Hammer, however, the board formally promul- gated a high school course and the pupils, who heretofore worked at ran- dom-that is, so far as graduation was concerned-were classified and began to work toward a definite end, the first class graduating in 1888.
The first high school course consisted of three years' work, as fol- lows: First year-Higher arithmetic, United States history, grammar, zoology, composition, physiology and botany.
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