USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 31
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Second year-Algebra, general history, physiology, geology, physics, elocution and natural philosophy.
Third year-Geometry, rhetoric, English and American literature, mental and moral philosophy.
ARBOR DAY
Arbor day was first observed in the Joplin schools, April 16, 1886, when a large number of trees were planted and the school yards beauti- fied. At the Central school, in April, 1887, appropriate exercises were held and a large number of trees planted by the pupils, each room pur- chasing and planting a tree which was named after some great citizen of the nation. The two trees planted by the High School were named Peter Cooper and Lafayette, while other rooms in the grade planted trees commemorating Washington, Jefferson, Garfield and other noted states- men. Many of these trees lived and to this day furnish shade in the old school grounds.
THE FIRST COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
This first class from the West Joplin schools was graduated May 18, 1888. The following are its members and the grades made at the final examination : Ida Coffee, 96.8; Cora Lichliter, 96.7; Mamie Robertson, 96.5; Johanna Becker, 96; Tillie Hamilton, 95.6; Lee Lichliter, 95.1; William A. Nickell, 94.5; Blanche Sergeant, 94.4; Taylor Snapp, 91.9;
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Cora Hoyt, 90.9; Leroy Lapsley, 90.8; Olivar P. Simpson, 90.2 and Will- iam Lackie, 89.
Of this class the first seven became teachers; one of them, W. A. Nick- ell, principal of the Jackson school, is still connected with the schools and is the oldest teacher of the corps in point of continuous service.
Two, T. F. Snapp and Olivar P. Simpson, became bankers and are still prominent in the financial world.
Leroy Lapsley became an electrician of note and William Lackie, later a graduate of Cornell, a skilled mechanical engineer. Miss Cora Hoyt entered the drygoods house of Christman & Blendurg, and later married one of the firm, while Miss Sergeant, rich in her own right, did not enter the business world other than to look after her real estate hold- ings.
(In the section of this work devoted to the last decade will be found a list of the graduates from 1888 to 1910, together with such data as is obtainable from the superintendent's report for 1910.]
The High School Alumni was organized the week following the grad- uation of the first class in 1888, with W. A. Nickell as president and Johanna Becker as secretary.
THE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
The honor of founding the Joplin Public School Library belongs to Philip Arnold, and connected with its establishment is the following incident.
In 1881, when the high school occupied but one room in the original Central school the library was founded.
One day the topic in history was about the founding of Yale. The lesson was a reminiscence of the struggle undergone in the establishment of the Yale college library, and related at length how eleven preachers had each brought a book, and dedicated it to the founding of that famous collection.
The next morning Mr. Arnold brought a book to the school, and pre- sented it as the initial volume for the founding of a high school library. Some of the pupils followed his example and thus was the nucleus formed for the present magnificent collection of works on all scientific and educational topics.
This small collection of books gradually grew and in 1888, on the 22nd of February a library entertainment was given by the public schools and annually thereafter for a number of years on that date, a library benefit was had. In 1890 the school board made an appropria- tion for library purposes and from then until now a library fund has been a part of the annual taxation. In 1891 the library work was ex- tended to the grade schools and a number of good books placed in each room in the city. Previous to the building of the public library the high school list of books had grown to 3,000 volumes, but now, with the mag- nificent collection at the public reading rooms, the school library is not as much used as formerly.
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SCHOOL DISTRICT OF JOPLIN ORGANIZED
During the middle 'eighties the matter of consolidating East Joplin, Lone Elm and West Joplin into a city district was agitated, but local jealousies prevented the union, the matter having twice been voted down. But during the winter of '88-9 a campaign of education was formally taken up by the school boards of East and West Joplin and the voters were made acquainted with the benefits to be derived from an abandon- ment of the county school district system.
The matter was submitted to a vote of the three districts in April, 1889, and resulted as follows: For consolidation-East Joplin, 124; West Joplin, 252; Lone Elm, 5.
Against-East Joplin, 1; West Joplin, 24; Lone Elm, 33.
Lone Elm having voted against the consolidation, made it necessary to refer the matter to the county commissioner for decision, and Com -. missioner J. M. Stevenson decided in favor of the union and formally issued his proclamation organizing the school district of Joplin and calling for an election of six directors for the new district.
The following is a list of the directors who served the West Joplin district up to the consolidation: J. B. Sergeant, M. A. Stafford, C. J. G. Workizer, J. H. McCoy, William Carter, J. E. H. Chapman, R. L. Stiles, Y. J. Howell, William Byers, J. G. Mathews, Galen Spencer, W. J. Haslett, C. W. Dykeman, W. S. Harmony, S. C. Price, J. C. Mason, A. W. Stillwell, J. A. Shepherd, W. B. McAntire, W. V. White, W. P. Owen, L. A. Fillmore.
FIRST BOARD OF EDUCATION OF NEW DISTRICT
At the special election for members of the board of education there were sixteen candidates and the voting was heavy. The following re- ceived the higher number of votes and were declared elected: F. E. Williams, W. B. Halyard, George W. Payton, O. B. Hamlin, D. A. Pres- ton and W. V. White. The board organized by the election of F. E. Williams as president, O. B. Hamlin, vice president and D. W. Wenrich, clerk.
The enumeration of the consolidated district showed 2,634 boys and girls between the ages of six and 20.
THE FIRST CORPS OF TEACHERS
The new board of education selected the following corps for the con- solidated school district of Joplin: Superintendent, R. D. Shannon; principal High School, S. A. Underwood; assistant High School, V. L. Vawter.
Central School teachers: Clara Ditte, Lola Spear, Laura Snyder, Jennie Shannon, Cora Lichliter, Virgie Van Meeter, Mrs. S. J. Haven and Mattie Greere.
East Joplin School-Principal, L. W. Kost; teachers, V. Lectie Peaks, Kate Reid and Mamie Robertson.
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East Fourth Street School-Principal, Maggie Murphy; assistant, Willie Franklin.
West Fourth Street School-Principal, Mollie Robertson; teachers, Addie Ellison and Emma V. Shorters.
Byersville School-Principal, Joel T. Livingston; assistant, Ida Colfre.
Lone Elm School-Principal, W. A. Nickell; assistant, Tillie Hamilton.
Perkins Avenue School-Mrs. Addie Wood.
Colored School-W. T. Greene.
With the consolidation of the schools, the high school curriculum was revised and made a full four-years' course and for the past twelve years has been recognized by the State University and State Teachers' Normal Schools, its graduates being admitted without examination to those institutions
CROWDED CONDITION, FALL OF 1889
The boom which came on in 1889 brought to the city a great number of people and the public schools were crowded from the very beginning. In many of the primary rooms more than a hundred pupils were en- rolled and it became necessary to resort to half-day sessions in ten of the twenty-six rooms.
We will continue the school record in our section of the '90s.
THE CONVENT
In 1885 the Our Lady of Mercy Convent was established in Joplin by the Sisters of Mercy. The school was formally opened in the fall of 1886 and was patronized by some of the best families of Joplin, irrespective of religious belief.
The first commencement exercises of the convent occurred in May, 1887, and the following pupils received honorable mention for excellence during the school year: Ida Murphy, Tillie Collins, Tamson Workizer, John Workizer, Maggie Shelhan, Maggie Ryan, Maggie Furgison, Helen Spencer, Annie Furgison, Carrie Crane, Maude Vangrundy, Belle Staf- ford and Belle Gillis.
The convent has always been a most excellently conducted school and has sent into the world graduates well-grounded in mental attainments and with a special training in good morals and gentle manners which makes them honorable as well as useful members of society.
JOPLIN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS
In 1880 Dr. J. C. Petit conceived the idea of organizing a medical college for southwestern Missouri and interested in the scheme a number of the best educators and business men of the city, among them S. A. Underwood, county superintendent of schools; Prof. J. T. Martin, later
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principal of the West Joplin school; C. H. Montgomery and others. On September 20th a charter for the school was issued by the secretary of state.
J. F. Martin was chosen president of the college and the institution was opened with a faculty which contained a number of men high up in the medical world. The college building was located on the East Joplin hill, at the corner of Broadway and John streets, an old hotel building being fitted up for the purpose. This building was burned in March, 1884.
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CHAPTER XXIV JOPLIN, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL
FIRST M. E. CHURCH-METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH-TEMPERANCE RE- VIVAL-FIRST SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR-YOUNG MEN'S CHRIS- TIAN ASSOCIATION-MITE SOCIETIES-AMONG THE LODGES O. P. MORTON POST, No. 14, G. A. R .- KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE- ODD FELLOWS' ANNIVERSARY DAY-SOUTHEAST KANSAS PYTHIAN Ex- CURSION-GERMANIA SOCIETY-FIRST OBSERVANCE OF LABOR DAY- KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS BALL, 1889-CHAUTAUQUA SOCIETIES-FOUND- ERS' DAY-JOPLIN'S SOCIETY-IN HONOR OF EX-MAYOR WILLIAMS' BRIDE-VISIT OF GENERAL SHERMAN.
In our chapter of the 'seventies we treated at length the organization of the churches and their early work. In this and succeeding chapters we will treat the church as a whole, mentioning only the more important happenings of the several congregations and noting, from time to time, the organization of other denominations and the extension of the church work.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
In 1880 a very eloquent man, Rev. Philip Krohn from New York, was sent to the Joplin field and during his pastorate a new church was built at Fourth and Wall streets. The building was for its day a hand- some edifice and was furnished with modern church furniture.
METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH
In 1882 Rev. Campbell of Neosho came to Joplin and took charge of the Joplin church. During his pastorate the church in East Joplin was sold to the Baptists and a neat frame chapel built on West Fourth street, just across the alley from the North church. This building was, during the early 'nineties sold to the Colored Methodists and a pretty frame church built at the corner of Seventh and Moffet.
The old East Joplin church was sold by the Baptists to the Christian congregation at Diamond Grove and in 1885 torn down and rebuilt in that historic grove, which, during the war and early 'seventies, was the scene of great activity.
TEMPERANCE REVIVAL IN 1884
In the fall of 1884 there was inaugurated in Joplin a temperance revival by Messrs. Joseph Critchfield and Chas. J. Holt. The move- Vol. 1-18
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ment gained a strong foothold in Joplin and like the campaign of '77-8 when the Red Ribbon movement swept the county, created great excitement. The renewal of. 1884 was under the auspices of the State Christian Temperance Union and had for its emblem the blue ribbon, denoting loyalty. The movement resulted in the organization of the Joplin Temperance Union (non-sectarian). The Woman's Christian Union and the Temperance Cadets, an organization of boys and girls pledged to the cultivation of good manners and good morals.
The officers of the Joplin Temperance Union were as follows: Presi- dent, A. B. Furgison; vice president, J. E. Sackett; secretary, Jennie Broadley ; treasurer, Mrs. J. B. Sergeant.
FIRST SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
The Christian Endeavor movement, which was popularized during the later 'eighties and early 'nineties was first organized in Joplin by the Rev. J. Wesley Johnson of the Congregational church. The society, which at first was a Union Endeavor, included the young people of all churches and was fully organized February 26, 1886, with the following officers: President, Rev. J. Wesley Johnson; vice president, Emma Sellars; secretary, C. P. Johnson; treasurer, Grant Jones; organist, Miss Frances Blair, and editors of the Y. P. S. C. E. Advocate, Thomas Dolan and Mamie McClaren.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
This popular and useful organization, like the Endeavor, had its birth in the old Tabernacle. A preliminary meeting leading to the organiza- tion was held at the Tabernacle December 1, 1888, and well attended by the young men of the city. At this meeting a membership committee was appointed and arrangements made for the perpetuation of a young men's organization. The society did not at first maintain a reading room, but later a meeting was called at the residence of A. H. Waite, where some fifty or more men met Geo. T. Coxhead, who explained the system and workings of a Young Men's Christian Association, and here the permanent organization was planned. The real work of the Young Men's Christian Association may be said to date from this meeting.
UNION SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC
One of the most delightful Sunday School gatherings occurred August 18, 1885, when the Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist and Con- gregational Sunday schools joined in a visit to the Sunday schools of Baxter Springs, Kansas. Five extra coaches were put on the regular morning "Memphis" train, making eight in all, and these were loaded to the guards with Sunday school children and workers. The excur- sionists were royally treated by the Baxter people and the day was spent on the banks of Spring river where, after an exchange of welcomes and
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the usual response, a basket lunch was enjoyed. The remainder of the day was spent in boating, swimming and the playing of various games.
MITE SOCIETIES
During the entire 'eighties the Christian and Congregational churches had among their auxiliaries a mite society that provided most excellent social entertainment for the members, and also were the means of bring- ing a considerable sum of money into the church treasuries. The plan of the mite society was as follows: The society met once a week either in the church parlors, or at the residence of some one of the members. At these meetings the church members, with their friends, gathered for a literary and social session. A program, consisting of recitation, de- bates and vocal and instrumental music from the best local talent, was carried out, after which the plate was passed and each put in his "mite" -so called in commemoration of the "widow's mite." After the program and collection, games and other amusements were indulged in. These mite societies were exceedingly popular, brought the church people closer together and materially strengthened their friendships.
The Christian Mite Society was the first one formed, being organized at the residence of W. B. Lamkin, on November 7, 1879, with the follow- ing officers for the winter of 1879-80: Dr. E. A. Wills, president; Mrs. L. Z. Burr, vice president; Emma Shorters, secretary and Mrs. Susie Blakey, treasurer.
The Congregational Mite Society was organized November 12, 1879, in the church parlors, seventy-five people attending the initial meeting.
The following were its first officers: President, J. F. Martin; vice president, Mrs. O. H. Bender; secretary, Olio Harrington; program com- mittee-Clara Craycraft, Anna Young and Janette Houghton; editor literary paper, Col. D. A. Preston.
AMONG THE LODGES
The fraternal field was extended in Joplin during the 'eighties by the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Patriotic Order Sons of America, Sons of Veterans, Woman's Relief Corps, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Knights and Ladies of Honor and the American Legion of Honor-the last two insurance societies. The Masonic field was enlarged by the organization of the Royal Arch Chapter and Ascen- sion Commandery No. 39, Knights Templar. Odd Fellowship was strengthened by the mustering of Canton Lincoln No. 16, Patriarchs militant, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen by the organiza- tion of a Legion of Select Knights.
We mention here a few of the fraternal happenings of the 'eighties with the view of showing the extent and nature of the operations of the several orders.
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O. P. MORTON POST No. 14, G. A. R.
The Grand Army of the Republic brought together in a closer bond of comradeship the Union veterans of the Civil war. It inaugurated in Joplin the public observance of Memorial day and by its exercises on flag day and other patriotic demonstrations taught a truer love of country.
O. P. Morton Post No. 14, G. A. R., took a prominent part in the planning and carrying to a successful end the celebration of the 4th of July, 1885. It entertained General Sherman, on the occasion of his visit to Joplin, in 1883, and on the day when the great soldier, U. S. Grant, was laid to rest the post conducted in Joplin a special memorial which was participated in by patriotic and military societies of Joplin and by the great majority of the people.
The following were the charter members of O. P. Morton Post No. 14: Post commander, W. H. Fairbanks; senior vice commander, F. M. Red- burn; junior vice commander, Jno. C. Barley ; adjutant, J. W. Lupton; quartermaster, S. B. Williams; chaplain, C. J. G. Workizer; officer of the day, C. G. Wheeler; officer of the guard, H. C. Combs, B. F. Joslin, F. E. Eberhart, J. H. Minton, W. E. O. Rush, W. S. Leatt, Ira Creech, Peter Bitner, W. B. Adair, A. F. Cloud, F. P. Hyde, W. W. Pate, William Sergeant, W. G. Williams, Edwin Whipple, J. H. Shoat, M. F. Down- ing, Samuel Lake, F. D. Owen, M. L. Barner, E. W. Beach, G. O. Boucher, J. T. Evert, J. Lurwick, Samuel Ramsey, M. W. Stafford and Ira W. Gilbert.
The following were the Post Commanders during the 'eighties: W. H. Fairbanks, W. W. Pate, Galen Spencer, E. W. Beach, F. M. Red- burn, Henry Phelps and J. L. Briggs.
ASCENSION COMMANDERY NO. 39, K. T.
Ascension Commandery made its first trip to a biennial conclave of the Knights Templar in 1886, when it went to St. Louis, seventy strong, to participate in the parade and exercises of that great gathering. John Gillis, then captain general of Ascension Commandery and later grand commander of the state, drilled the organization for the conclave and the white plumed knights made a most excellent appearance as they marched down main street en route to the railway station. A heavy downpour of rain at St. Louis, on the day of the grand parade, greatly marred the exercises and the pleasure of the trip.
JOPLIN LEGION NO. 2, SELECT KNIGHTS, A. O. U. W.
The Joplin Legion of Select Knights, Ancient Order of United Wood- men, won many laurels during the 'eighties on account of their splendid drilling. At the Sarcoxie fair in October, 1886, the Twelfth regiment of Select Knights held its annual encampment and in the drill contests Joplin Legion No. 2 won the first prize. The following were the mem- bers of the victorious team : Captain, A. P. Hoyt; Ira Creech, John C.
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Faulkender, I. Zamboni, J. L. Davenport, A. L. Fairbrother, H. C. Sut- ton, S. A. Underwood, John Bauer, Charles Dorrize, H. H. Jennings, H. L. Chickering and I. M. Dennis.
At the meeting of the grand lodge, A. O. U. W., February, 1888, S. A. Underwood of Joplin Lodge No. 34 was elected to the office of grand foreman and two years later Philip Arnold of the same body was sim- ilarly honored, the city having been thus twice distinguished in a decade by the five hundred delegates who annually attend these state conventions.
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE
The Knights of the Golden Eagle, a fraternal society having for its object the teaching and practicing of friendship and loyalty, was or- ganized in Joplin in February, 1886, with George W. Payton as the exe- cutive officer. This society became very popular and numbered in Joplin more than two hundred members. In 1887 representatives of the order from Carthage, Webb City and Joplin (the order in the state was first founded at Carthage) met in Joplin and organized a grand lodge. Geo. W. Payton was the first presiding officer of that body and as the repre- sentative of the supreme commander visited New Orleans and intro- duced the order there.
At the meeting of the grand lodge, April 18, 1888, now having ex- tended to some twenty southwestern Missouri cities, the following grand officers were elected, Jasper county being greatly honored upon the oc- casion : John Foster, Carthage, grand commander; C. W. Evans, Webb City, vice commander; Herman Ecart, Joplin, representative to the supreme lodge.
CANTON LINCOLN No. 16, PATRIARCHS MILITANT, I. O. O. F.
This camp was formally mustered January 20, 1888, with the follow- ing officers: Ira Creech, captain; John H. Enrichs, lieutenant; N. J. Street, ensign. Eighteen members were present at the muster-in. G. W. Koehler of Joplin was honored by the lieutenant general command- ing by an appointment as major and adjutant general on the general staff.
. ODD FELLOWS' ANNIVERSARY DAY
On April 26, 1888, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Joplin and vicinity celebrated the sixty-ninth anniversary of the founding of the order.
A parade participated in by three hundred Odd Fellows was a fea- ture of the day. The Carthage Light Guard band, the Joplin Military band and the Galena Fireman's band enlivened the line of march, on which occasion Canton Lincoln made its first public appearance and by its splendid manœuvres won the applause of the spectators. Hon. J. W. Halliburton of Carthage and Hon. J. W. McAntire of Joplin were the orators of the occasion. The celebration was concluded by a ball at
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Harvin Opera House at night and went down in the history of Odd Fellowship as a gala day in Joplin.
THE SOUTHEAST KANSAS PYTHIAN EXCURSION
During the summer of 1887 the Knights of Pythias of Parsons, Kan- sas, conceived the idea of an excursion to Joplin, having in mind the strengthening of the bond of friendship between the members of the order of southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas. The Ancient Order of the United Workmen lodge of that city was invited to join in the outing and when the joint committee of the two lodges met to discuss arrangements it was reported that other lodges in southeastern Kansas would like to go; and so it was determined to make the excursion a south- eastern Kansas affair and extend an invitation to all of the lodges of Knights of Pythias and Ancient Order of United Workmen in the six southeastern counties of that state.
August 15, 1887, was the day chosen and it was a red-letter day for Joplin, for the City of Lead was fairly alive with brave men who wore the red, yellow and blue and with the members of the then great fraternal insurance society.
The Joplin lodge of Knights of Pythias and Ancient Order of United Workmen had invited the members of the two fraternities of Jasper county to help entertain and make Jasper county the hosts of the day. The Kansas special of ten coaches was literally jammed with men, women and children. They brought with them two fine brass bands, which with the Joplin band furnished plenty of music during the day. In uniform from Kansas were the Select Knights, A. O. U. W., of Parsons, number- ing thirty men; the Erie Division Knights of Pythias, twenty men; and the Parsons Division Knights of Phythias, thirty men. These with the different uniformed orders of Joplin formed a handsome procession. Mr. Frank Williams delivered an address of welcome at Fairbanks hall after which everybody "struck out" for dinner. The afternoon was spent as the visitors saw fit. At two o'clock the Erie Division K. of P. gave a drill on the street in front of the Joplin hotel, which was one of the finest drills ever put up by a civic order in the southwest. It was the admiration of every one. After this the ball game between Webb City and Joplin was the center of attraction. At six o'clock Main street was again a lively scene. The bicycle contest and tournament, in which some twenty expert wheelmen of Joplin and Galena, among whom was the famous Tom Hardwick, gave exhibitions of fancy riding and hill climb- ing. The Henderson and Lewis hose companies made three runs of a hundred yards each and gave very good exhibitions of their skill. Then the Joplin Zouaves gave one of their splendid drills, which was a most pleasing close to the day's sports. The captain of the company was out of town and the boys had not intended drilling, but Lieutenant Lowder- back got eight men together and put up a drill that captivated the vast crowd. About three o'clock something like one hundred and fifty ladies and gentlemen had assembled in the lodge room of the two orders,
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