USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 34
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CHAPTER XXVI
WEBB CITY
BUSINESS IN THE 'EIGHTIES-"WEBB CITY TIMES"-CITY POLITICS-
AMONG THE LODGES THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-DESTRUCTIVE FIRE (1883)-LEAP YEAR PARTIES (1884)-K. P. MASQUERADE BALL-IN HONOR OF MR. AND MRS. W. C. STEWART-WEBB CITY'S SECOND BANK.
We give below a partial list of the business establishments which made up the Webb City commercial activities of the later 'seventies and 'eighties. The list is taken from the Times.
Transient House-Built in 1875. Two-story frame hotel, one hun- dred and fifty by fifty feet ; seventeen rooms, besides parlor, office and dining room; kept by Mr. Coyne and wife.
Western Hotel-Built in 1876; kept by Mrs. Pratt.
Pacific Hotel-Burned in 1883; kept by Thos. Flenniken and wife.
J. Van Buskert, groceries-Came from Joplin in 1876 and continued in business through the 'eighties.
C. R. Chinn and Company, drygoods, boots and shoes-Commenced business in 1877 in a seventeen by thirty foot store and with a $3,000 stock. At the close of the 'eighties the store had been several times en- larged and the stock was valued at $15,000.
Manker, Hewlett and Company, hardware, miners' supplies and groceries-Established in 1877. This was a most successful firm, turn- ing their stock many times during the year.
Hancock & Lowe, china, glassware, furniture and undertaking-In the fall of 1878 James C. Hancock traded a team and wagon for a small stock of second hand goods and from this small beginning began his busi- ness career. In 1879 he took as a partner S. Laur, and the new member of the firm added hardware and later furniture and undertaking sup- plies. By the middle 'eighties the business had grown to such an ex- tent that two large storerooms were required to hold the stock.
Chas. Wright and Brothers, drugs and jewelry-Established in 1879, with a $1,200 stock and this firm continued in business for thirty years, when its senior member retired to enjoy a . well-deserved rest. Will Wright is still in business, now being in the old Webb Bank building.
Dr. L. Green, druggist, moved to Webb City in 1879 from Medoc and established a large and profitable business.
E. E. Spracklin, photographer.
Parker Bros. & Sinclair, meat merchants and packers-Opened busi-
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ness in 1880 and during the later portion of the decade confined them- selves largely to wholesaling, doing an extensive packing business.
Hendrickson Murray, hardware-Established in 1879.
J. B. Oversheet, coal and wood, and Ward & Laster-transfer busi- ness, were established in 1880.
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Parker Chinn & Company, drygoods, boots and shoes-Began busi- ness in 1881, which was managed by W. S. Chinn, later cashier of the Webb City Bank.
Gammon & Henderson and O. P. Sutherland, grocers, Allie Rice, milliner and the Webb City Foundry also entered the business arena in 1881.
1882 saw four more large business houses established-S. Morris & Co., clothing; S. A. Brown & Company, lumber; M. M. McClelland, confectionery and the Webb City Bank, founded by Jno. C. Webb & Son.
In 1883, the first opera house was built by Lester & Aylor. This play house occupied the second floor of a building at the corner of Allen and Webb streets, now the site of the Middle West building.
In 1884 Dunlap, Collumbia and Bradford Bros., opened their doors. 1885 witnessed a considerable boom and the following firms entered the lists: Lowry & Dunlap, harness; W. F. Spurgeon, groceries; M. Goldstein, clothing; J. E. Magrader, groceries; Sheffer & Company, gen- eral merchandise; Abraham Hastings, confectionery, and T. J. Harring- ton, six times mayor of Webb City, opened a restaurant and oyster parlor.
1886 Stewart & Mathews, lumber dealers, came into the field, and in 1887 D. Klein (boots and shoes), Empire Clothing Company, Byrd & Reed (milliners), and Wampler Bros., groceries.
In 1888 the Dough Foundry was built by Harry Wonner and during the twenty-three years of its business has baked for Webb City and Car- terville several million loaves of bread.
In 1889 Gray & Burkhead, dealers in miners' supplies, was a firm added to the Webb City list.
THE "WEBB CITY TIMES"
Webb City's first newspaper was established in 1879 by Milholland & Single. The materials for the paper were purchased at Galena, Kansas, and had been used in publishing The Galena Messenger.
In 1880 Mr. Single purchased the entire interest. During the middle 'eighties Jesse Zook, now the mining statistician, was editor of the paper and gained for it an enviable reputation in the field of journalism.
CITY POLITICS DURING THE 'EIGHTIES
At the city election in April, 1880, the following officers were elected: Mayor, T. J. Harrington; marshal, R. F. Fitzpatrick; councilmen-D. II. Mack, John Marlsolf, John Lofter and D. J. Horn. The appointive officers were : Clerk, J. E. McNair; treasurer, C. H. Murry; collector, James N. Stephenson ; city attorney, W. M. Robinson.
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City Attorney Robinson, who made his advent into politics at this election, was chosen circuit judge in 1892 and elevated to the supreme bench of the state in 1894.
During this year several vacancies occurred. John Lofter, council- man from the second ward, resigned and was succeeded by A. J. Sinclair, and the marshal, R. F. Fitzpatrick, also resigned, and S. N. Hardesty was elected to fill out the unexpired term.
City officers for 1881: Mayor, T. J. Harrington ; marshal, G. B. Mil- holland; councilmen-John Marlsolf, M. H. Zook, A. J. Sinclair and J. W. McClelland; city clerk, J. E. McNair; treasurer, E. T. Webb, at- torney, S. D. McPherson.
1882: Mayor, James Gammon ; marshal, S. S. Barclay ; councilmen- A. A. Hulett, John Metcalf, J. B. Overstreer and John Pratt; city clerk, J. E. McNair, treasurer, E. T. Webb, and attorney W. M. Robinson. Mr. Gammon did not serve out the full term, resigning after a few months and Mr. Harrington was again called to the chair.
1883 : Mayor, T. J. Harrington ; marshal, A. J. Sinclair ; city attorney, W. M. Robinson; councilmen-A. A. Hulett, John Marlsolf, John Dun- lap and J. B. Overstreer; city clerk, J. E. McNair; treasurer, E. T. Webb.
1884: Mayor, T. J. Harrington; marshal, W. A. Ashcraft; council- men, James Gammon, Ellis Shafer, John Dunlap and J. B. Overstreer. . Appointive offices as above.
1885 : Mayor, T. J. Harrington ; marshal, A. J. Sinclair; councilmen- John Marlsolf, John Dunlap, James Gammon and Ellis Shafer.
1886: Mayor, William Hilburn; marshal, James A. Kennedy ; coun- cilmen-D. H. Mack, J. Dunlap, James Gammon and Ellis Shafer. Appointive officers as before.
1887 : Mayor, William Hilburn; marshal. Alex Cann; councilmen- John Martsolf, John Dunlap and D. H. Mock.
1888: Mayor, Peter McEntee; marshal, J. A. Brown; councilmen- same as in 1887.
Mr. Brown resigned as marshal, after serving three months, and Joseph Moore ("Buckrock" Moore) was elected to fill out the unexpired term. Mr. Moore was killed just before the close of his term of office by a man whom he was attempting to arrest.
During Mr. McEntee's administration the city limits were extended and the city changed from a fourth-class city to one of the third-class, the formal vote on the change being made December 26, 1889, and carrying by 380 majority.
C. E. Matthews served as alderman of the First ward from April, 1888, to April, 1890, and John Stringer as a member of the council from the Second ward during the same period.
In April, 1888, Joseph Fetlers was elected police judge of Webb City, the office having been filled, prior to that time, by the mayor.
During the 'eighties Webb City had made a steady growth, the census of 1890 showing a population a trifle less than four times the official figure in 1880.
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AMONG THE LODGES
Webb City Lodge No. 512, A. F. & A. M., was organized April 5, 1882, with the following charter list : A. A. Houlett, W. M .; C. R. Chinn, S. W .; John C. Webb, J. W .; J. C. Stewart, S. D .; W. W. Greenlee, J. D .; James Gammon, treasurer; E. T. Webb, secretary; C. C. Coy, tyler, and J. C. Columbia, S. V. Hardesty, Charles Ward, J. W. Aylor, J. K. Eaton, John Dunlap and J. W. Chapman.
Webb City Lodge No. 115, Knights of Pythias, was instituted Feb- ruary 2, 1887, with twenty members, and at the close of 1889 had con- ferred the ranks on thirty brave men.
Reynolds Post, G. A. R., was also mustered in 1883 and has been a factor in the fraternal life of the city, having encouraged the observance of Decoration day, and also having taken a prominent part in the patriotic events, which have taken place in Webb City.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The following interesting sketch of Webb City's fire department was written by one of the "old boys," who knew from long participation in fire-fights what he was writing about. It is taken from the Joplin Globe: "It is a somewhat remarkable fact that in the thirty-five years' his- tory of Webb City's existence there has never been a fire in which human life has been sacrificed. Nor has there during the existence of either the volunteer fire brigade or since the organization of the paid fire depart- ment been a single fireman who has sustained serious injury while rend- ering service in this line of public duty.
"With the exception of two fires that destroyed frame buildings oc- cupying about half a block on the principal business thoroughfare, Webb City has had the good fortune of escaping the serious damage that has happened to many towns of its size from wide-spread conflagrations. It has not been an unusual thing for the reports of the fire chief for a year to show less than score of fires, in which the total loss would not be more than four or five thousand dollars.
"With such a record of good fortune, therefore, it is not considered so very remarkable that since the induction into office of Charles W. Evans, the new fire chief, covering a period of over six weeks, there has not until Thursday night been a call sent in to fire headquarters, and the alarm which then came from the burning Winslow mining plant does not count as a city fire, as the property that burned is outside of the cor- poration limits.
PIONEER FIREMEN OF WEBB CITY
"In the way of reminiscence of this feature of the history of Webb City, a quartet of names included the men who have the best knowledge of what has happened in the way of fires, and of the measures taken in the way of providing protection against loss of life and property. These
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four are E. E. Spracklin, Henry Wonner, T. C. Hayden and Fire Chief Evans.
"It was under the leadership of Colonel Wonner and 'Tom' Hayden that the volunteer fire department was organized in 1889, Charles Evans was among the most active of its members, and it was while Mr. Spracklin was mayor, in 1899, that the present paid fire department was authorized and organized.
"Until the close of the decade of the 'eighties Webb City had no other protection from fire but the bucket brigade, brought into service for the emergency of the moment and without any recognized chief to control or command. It was while this condition of affairs existed, covering the first fifteen years of the city's growth, that on two different occasions fires that threatened the business center of the town occurred. One of these started at the Barnes restaurant, at the southeast corner of Main and Allen streets, and destroyed buildings covering half a block; the other began in what was known as the Scott hotel, at the opposite corner, where the Webb City Drug Company's store now stands, and swept everything along Allen street up to Parker's saloon at its old site.
PULLED DYNAMITE OUT OF FIRE
"During the Barnes fire an incident occurred that Chief Evans has every reason to remember, as the occasion of an act of youthful heroism on his part which in his cooler moments has many a time since caused him to wonder how he did it. It was the custom then, it seems, for gro- cery stores to carry in stock a small quantity of dynamite, and knowing that it had been the habit of the firm of Gammon & Henderson, who had a store in that block, to keep an open box of powder on the premises, he rushed in to prevent, if possible, an explosion.
" 'If I had thought about it a moment,' says Evans, 'I expect I never would have taken the risk. Don't believe I would now, but that was near thirty years ago, and thirty years makes lots of difference in a man's life. The fire was burning furiously all around me when I went into the grocery store and found the open box of explosives standing there in the rear end, just where I had often seen it when I bought powder a dollar's worth at a time. Picking it up, I carried it through a shower of sparks and bits of burning timber falling as thick as hail. I ran across Allen street and west an Main, and I tell you nobody was better pleased than I when I dropped it in front of the old Webb place, later known as the Burgner property, and found I had got free of the tricky stuff without an accident having happened.'
TOM HAYDEN AND GEORGE MOSELEY
"The volunteer fire department lasted about ten years, and the first seven years after its organization Henry Wonner was fire chief, with T. C. Hayden as his assistant. Jesse Kerns and Elza Marquiss were fore- men of the two companies. They were furnished with hand hose carts,
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that were bought for them at Carthage and paid for by the coun- cil. Asked what big fires occurred while he was with the volunteer bri- gade, Hayden's characteristic reply was, 'We didn't have any; we put 'em all out before they got big.'
"Mr. Hayden had come to Webb City with the prestige of having been a member of the renowned Southwest Mail hook and ladder com- pany of Nevada, which for a long time held the championship over all rival fire companies with whom they had come in competition. He threw all his native enthusiasm and resourcefulness into the training of the volunteer company here, and did much towards making it a most efficient organization. He tells a story of a visit one time to Carthage on one of the gala days at the county seat, in which a feature of the day's program was a tug of war.
" 'It was Webb City against Carthage,' he said, 'and we were a little shy in weight on our side. It was getting dark when the event was pulled off, and people couldn't see just who were the men on either side. George Moseley was then a member of the Carthage team, but I remember we succeeded in getting George to pull hard for Webb City about the time we needed him, and Carthage never knew just how they were beaten.'
COLONEL O'NEILL'S TIMELY OFFER
"Webb City until the purchase of the $5,000 fire auto recently had a paid fire brigade for about twelve years, with four or five men at head- quarters, and one of the original hose carts stationed at the west end, and manned when needed by volunteers who are paid for their services.
" 'It took a hard fight,' says Colonel Spracklin, 'to get the council to agree to the purchase of a fire wagon and team and the keeping of men constantly on duty at headquarters. I have reason to remember, for I happened to be mayor at that time. A majority of the council was against the proposition, and I don't know that it would have pulled through but for the timely aid of Colonel James O'Neill. When the coun- cil had apparently blocked the establishment of a paid fire department, Colonel O'Neill came to me and said, 'Go ahead; buy the wagon and horses, and if the council won't vote the money, draw on me and I'll meet the bill.' But, after a while, the council thought better of the pro- position and the money was paid without availing ourselves of Colonel O'Neill's public-spirited proposition.' "
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE (1883)
Perhaps the most destructive fire which occurred in Webb City dur- ing the 'eighties was that which burned the Pacific Hotel and adjoining buildings.
In February, 1883, a fire broke out in the Pacific Hotel and before the sleeping inmates were aware of it, had spread beyond control. The hotel was a frame structure and was completely destroyed, together with six other buildings in the block.
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The town was soon alarmed and hundreds of citizens turned out to help fight the fire. Parker saloon which was afire was, by heroic efforts, pulled over into the ruins and thus the fire was kept from spreading. While this work of pulling down the saloon was in progress other men were carrying water in buckets from nearby wells and water barrels to keep the adjoining buildings wet. The houses and stores on the opposite side of the street were on fire several times, but were saved. A large livery stable near by, which was well filled with hay and feed, was un- touched by the fire, all of which seemed a miracle as the building was one of the oldest in town, dry as tinder, and while the conflagration was in progress the sparks from the burning hotel were continually flying over it.
The inmates of the hotel were awakened from their slumber and many of them were obliged to fly for their lives, without taking time to dress. The Times, in its account of the fire, said that the costumes worn by the boarders, as they came out of the burning building, would have been most unique at a masquerade ball.
One young man, now a prominent business man of Joplin, came run- ning out of the building wearing a plug hat, a dress coat over his night shirt, and carrying his trousers, socks and shoes.
Another appeared bare headed, wearing a rubber coat and carrying his trousers and shoes.
Another man jumped from the second story of the burning building attired in a suit of red flannel underwear and the spectators present said that his flight through the flames gave a splendid representation of Mephistopheles in the Black Crook, a spectacular play popular in those days.
One man, C. E. Spencer, escaped without loss, as he took time to dress and emerged from the building carrying his trunk with him.
Col. Arthur J. Myers gave the following account of his personal ex- perience during the fire: "I was awakened by some one pounding on my door and calling 'fire!' I sprang from my bed and looking out saw the fire in the room across the hall from me, and thinking that the bed was on fire seized the water pitcher and ran to help extinguish it. A second glance showed me that the building was on fire and I returned to my room for the purpose of getting my clothing. By this time the hall and room were filled with smoke and by the time I got on my pants, shoes and coat the flames had almost reached my room. I got down stairs some way, got a lamp and undertook to return to my room for the purpose of getting my valuables. Just as I reached the door the smoke put out the lamp and I was so stifled that I fell to the floor and was so choked that I could not call for help. All of a sudden I felt something stumble against me and heard some one say 'What in h-l is this?' I was then carried down the stairs and out into the street. I lost my money, many valuable papers and relics that could not be replaced; among them my uniform and sword, old coins, a prayer book printed in both English and Hebrew and published in 1820, and many other keepsakes."
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LEAP YEAR PARTIES (1884)
In March, 1884, the young ladies of Webb City gave their first leap year ball. It was a most enjoyable affair and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present. The following were among the fortunate ones to be in attendance : Annie Coyne and Paul Davey; Allie Rice and Guss Weyman; Mollie Rice and E. E. Spracklin; Allie McCorkle and Joe Aylor; Georgie McCorkle and Dave Mack; Clara Fountain of Carterville and Ed Bourne; Annie Jeffery and - Buel; Arria Jenkyn and T. J. Harrington; Clara Cann and Edgar Magruder; Ida Aylor and Dave Sutherland; Jennie Magruder and Will Wright; Jennie Robertson and W. M. Robertson; Minnie Chinn and W. S. Chinn; Jennie Columbia and Chris Columbia; - Hendrickson and Dorie Hendrickson; Fannie Wright and W. C. Stewart; Hettie True and Will Burton; Hattie Gates and Mr. Ellis Pick; Carrie Overstreer and Geo. Gammon; Tadie Hann and Chas. Ebert ; --- Shirley and Thos. Flourney ; - - - Eggerman and Ed Merridith; Belle Vanfassen and Dave Goff; Sadie Coyne and L. Reynolds; Carrie Baker and Robt. Reynolds; Flo Powell of Joplin and Capt. J. G. Reed. In addition to the above were the following spectators: Messrs. and Mesdames C. A. Parker, E. N. Morton, T. A. Parker and John Brown; Misses Gladys Manker and Helen Jones; Mrs. Henderson and daughter, Lula; Misses Hankman and Walter; Mrs. Baker and Messrs. A. Martin and James Glass.
On February 29, 1888, at the Webb City Opera House occurred the second leap year ball of the Webb City smart set and was even more brilliant than the first, for at this second function the dresses worn by the fair sex were most elaborate and the gentlemen present vied with the ladies in the correctness of their attire, many of them appearing in full dress.
Although everybody was in a happy frame of mind, the printed rules for the occasion contributed not a little to the spirit of pleasantry that pervaded the evening.
One rule laid down the following law for the evening: "Gentlemen will conduct themselves in a lady-like manner."
Another declared that "no lady should smile unless accompanied by a gentleman," and still another said that "wall flowers should ask con- solation of the ladies who had been there and knew how it felt to sit out a dance," and, as a final decree, engaged young men were cautioned against flirting as it was in exceedingly bad taste "tit for tat."
At 12 o'clock the hostesses escorted their "willing subjects" to the dining room of the J. A. Craig restaurant and there served them with a bounteous repast, after which the bashful and timid yring men were es- corted home in carriages.
The following committees had charge of the ball: floor committee: Misses Ella Reed, Gladys Manker, Pet Reed and Sis Crrev.
Reception-Mrs. W. S. Chinn, Essie Overstreer The Rice, May Turnpaw and Allie McCorkle.
The following were present: Loan Hager and \. 1. Hager; Tade Flourney and Tom Flourney; Carrie Hann and Gas Hann; Vaddie
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Whiteley and Memphis Trimble; Allie McCorkle and Chas. Manker; Gladys Manker and Tom Headen; Ella Reed and Dan King; Ida Ayer and Dave Sutherland; May Turnpaw and Charles Sutherland; Hattie Carey and Frank Walker; Fannie Koontz and Clarence Gaston; Lyddia Byrd and Walter Spurgeon; Byrdie Newmyer and Mr. Cowan; Pet Reed and Jas. Coyne; Sis. Carey and Harry Green; Pet Johnson and Virgil McCoy; Hattie Reid and Mort Chambers; V. Letta Speaks and Will Wright; Mattie Hansen and Chas. Hansen; Mrs. Dave Mack and Dave Mack; May Byron and Thos. Coyne; Mrs. Byron and Dr. Whiteley; Julia Fallis and Jas. Fallis, Joplin; Lillie Elliott and Maude Rose, Oronogo; May Mitchell, Carthage, and Charles Ebert; Minnie Chinn and Charles Stephenson, Carthage; Essie Overstreer and Mr. Fills, Carthage; Allie Rice and Will Alrich; W. S. Chinn, Ben Peppers, Lon Archraft, Jasper Mars, Porter Curr and Lewis Reed.
Spectators: Walt Tholburn, Mr. and Mrs. Mathews, Mrs. Spracklin, Mrs. Hagar, Oronogo, Nora Mares, Cora Tholborn and others.
K. P. MASQUERADE BALL
In December, 1887, the Knights of Pythias gave a masquerade ball which was one of the social affairs of the year. The music, which was furnished by an orchestra of Knights from Carthage and Lamar, was especially fine.
More than one hundred masquers were on the floor, and the following partial list was furnished by the society reporter of the Times who at- tended the function: Duke of Orleans, J. T. Raysdale, Carthage; Duke of Argyle, H. Cohn, Carthage; Court Jester, J. W. Fisher, Carthage; French Count, Frank Panley, Carthage; Uncle Sam, C. T. Sweet, Webb City ; Young Lady, C. G. Fishburn, Webb City; Count, C. P. Hendrick- son, Webb City; Mikado, J. Hillman, Carthage; Scotch Highlander, A. Stultz, Oronogo; Duke of Essex, M. Elhart, Oronogo; Pink Dominoes, Lil- lie and Belle Stafford, Oronogo; Swiss Girl, Belle Chaney, Oronogo; Goddess of Liberty, Laura Snyder, Oronogo; Fortune Teller, Miss Short, Oronogo; Clown, Julius Becker, Joplin; Fancy Dress, May Byron, Jop- lin; Rowing Costume, Miss Stultz, Oronogo; Clown, - Henderson, Webb City; Webb City Belles, Ella Reid, Pet Reid, Aley Carey, Pet Johnson, Essie Overstreer, Callie Overstreer and Henrietta Miller; Chap- eron, Mrs. Hagar, Oronogo.
IN HONOR OF MR. AND MRS. W. C. STEWART
One of the most enjoyable social affairs in Webb City occurred in No- vember, 1887, the occasion being a reception given by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Stewart in honor of W. C. Stewart and wife, who had just returned to Webb City after an extended wedding tour. The room was brilliantly lighted and beautifully decorated, the profusion of flowers lending an elegancy which rivaled the beauty of the charming bride and the hosts of beautiful women present.
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