USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 35
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During the evening the famous Stephenson Wheatly Quartet-for- merly of Webb City but then residents of Carthage-rendered a charm- ing program of musical numbers, and at ten o'clock a sumptuous banquet was served at which J. C. Stewart, in his usual pleasant manner, pre- sided as toast master.
Those present voted the affair to have been the most brilliant recep- tion held in Webb City during the 'eighties. The following were the guests of the evening : Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Hulett, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Hendrickson, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Mathews, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Mack, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Wright, Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Webb, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Aylor, Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Ashcraft, Mr. and Mrs. S. Morris, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Overstreer, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Chinn. Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Manker, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Koontz, Mr. and Mrs. L. Green, Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Murray, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Wolfe, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Robertson (Carthage), Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Wheatley (Carthage), Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Stevenson (Carthage), Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Lewis (Joplin) ; and Mesdames Ed Morton, R. L. Morton, A. McCorkle, R. S. Gaston, John Cooper, M. P. Henderson; and Messrs. C. W. Stephenson, Guss Hann. Harry Green, L. G. Gray, C. E. McBride, W. H. Write, Jesse Zook, H. G. Gaston, C. M. Manker, G. F. Edgar, C. L. Fishburn, Thomas Flourney, L. L. Conner and others.
WEBB CITY'S SECOND BANK
In the summer of 1889 Messrs. J. C. Stewart and brother, with the principal stockholders of the Center Creek Mining Company-the com- pany which perhaps more than any other made Webb City famous-or- ganized the Exchange Bank and soon built up a splendid business. This bank financed quite a number of the big projects of Webb City which were organized during the 'nineties and was a fine institution, although failed during the panic of 1893, to temporarily suspend until a realization could be made of its paper, it having loaned heavily to the mining com- panies who were opening up the district. There was no financial loss on account of its temporary suspension. In 1906 the Exchange Bank na- tionalized and is now known as the Webb City National Bank.
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CHAPTER XXVII CARTERVILLE AND OTHER MATTERS
CARTERVILLE DURING THE 'EIGHTIES-FIRST MODERN MINING MILL-CITY GOVERNMENT REORGANIZED-THE CHURCHES-SCHOOLS-VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT-AMONG THE LODGES-CARTERVILLE'S FIRST PAPER -CADETS JASPER COUNTY'S MILITARY-FIFTH REGIMENT, MISSOURI STATE GUARD-REGIMENTAL CAMP AT CARTHAGE-BEN D. EARING'S CAMP MEETING-COLD WINTER OF 1884-MARKET REPORTS IN 1885- MINERAL TOWNSHIP RAILWAY BONDS-ORONOGO CYCLONE-I. O. O. F. CELEBRATION, 1886-LEHIGH-BELVILLE-ZINATE-THE SARCOXIE FAIR.
The 'eighties were all years of great activity for Carterville. The population increased 2,401 during the decade and all business activities grew in proportion, more particularly the mining industry, some of the richest mines of the district being opened up during that period.
FIRST MODERN MINING MILL
The first mining mill to be built in the county was constructed at Carterville, in 1880, by Weyman & Guengerich, and with the erection of this plant, the modern methods of cleaning and handling the mineral in southwestern Missouri was begun. We chronicle a few of the happen- ings of Carterville during the 'eighties in order that the reader may understand the importance of this city in a business and social way.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT REORGANIZED
In June, 1882, a petition was presented to Justice J. G. W. Hunt praying that an election be ordered to fill the several city offices of Carter- ville. The election was ordered and resulted in the choice of the follow- ing Board of Trustees: F. M. Hagerman, J. P. Walker, H. M. Gray, B. D. Morrell and F. A. Darrow. On June 25th the board organized by selecting F. M. Hagerman, chairman and J. G. W. Hunt, clerk. J. A. Poundstone was appointed marshal.
On Feb. 21, 1883, the city voted almost unanimously to organize as a city of the fourth class and at the spring election, April 4th, elected the following officers: Mayor, J. M. Straight; aldermen-J. S. Wilson, H. M. Gray, C. A. Hannum and G. F. C. Coil; marshal, W. G. Barley, city clerk; J. G. W. Hunt, treasurer ; P. E. Hannum ; and S. N. Andrews, city attorney.
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THE CHURCHES
In proportion to its growth in a business way, and in point of size, Carterville grew in religious spirit. The Methodists conducted a very successful revival, making one hundred and thirty conversions, while the Baptists and Christians each built up strong churches and erected houses of worship.
Among the eloquent ministers was the Rev. R. J. Downing, the Baptist preacher. Mr. Downing was a talented man, a graduate of West Point and a most eloquent speaker. Rev. J. J. Martin, one of the early pastors of the Methodist church, was also a gifted speaker.
THE SCHOOLS
Carterville, during its days as a mining camp, organized as a country school district, and as such built a substantial four room frame school house. In 1887, however, the school district voted to organize as a city district.
In 1886 the school board formally prescribed a course of study and classified the pupils of the High School, the first class graduating in 1887 under the able superintendency of Professor Turk. This first class was an exceptionally strong one and, of its members, all have achieved a high degree of success in a business and professional way.
Professor Turk was succeeded in 1888 by W. L. Bray, a strong teacher formerly of Clarence, Missouri, and Frank L. McGoon, as High School teacher. Mr. Bray retired from the school in 1889 and was succeeded by Mr. McGoon, who gave the people a vigorous school administration. Mr. McGoon moved to St. Louis during the early 'nineties where he studied medicine and received his degree in 1893, still keeping up his interest in the public schools and being held a member of the St. Louis Board of Education in 1899.
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
In 1888 the Webb City-Carterville water works was built and on its completion the Carterville fire department was organized with Sidney Byers as chief of the department.
The Carterville fire department was an exceptionally strong organiza- tion, its personnel representing the very best citizens of the town, who remained connected with the department for many years. Some of them, although now grown grey, remain in the department as honorary mem- bers. This department did most efficient work and reduced the fire losses in Carterville to a mininum. At the South Western Firemen's Tourna- ment it twice captured the championship banner, as well as capturing first money at Kansas City at the Volunteer Firemen's meet in 1900. They tied for second place at the fire manœuvres at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, some four hundred volunteer companies having competed
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against them. The following gentlemen have served as chief of the Carter- ville fire department : Sidney Byers, William Rose, F. B. Looms and Her- man Cole.
AMONG THE LODGES
The triple-link fraternity, the I. O. O. F., was the first to plant the fraternal banner in Carterville. In 1874 Lodge No. 314 was organized at Oronogo, but after the opening of the Webb City-Carterville mines most of the members moved to Carterville and the members of that place peti- tioned the grand master to move the meeting place of the lodge to Carter- ville. This was done, the lodge meeting for the first time at Carterville on January 6, 1880.
In 1882 the order built and furnished a very elegant lodge hall.
The Ancient Order of United Workmen and Grand Army of Republic both organized lodges in 1883, the Select Legion of the former, under the captaincy of D. B. Maurey, being one of the best drilled semi-military societies in southwestern Missouri.
The Masons also established themselves in Carterville. A more extended mention of this fraternity will be made in our Carterville chap- ter of the 'nineties.
CARTERVILLE'S FIRST PAPER
In 1885 T. J. Shelton and W. D. Sallee founded the Carterville Min- ing Review and published it with good success for a number of years. Mr. Sallee was a strong writer, and made good as an editor. He also published, during the later 'eighties a fraternal paper called the Knight of the Golden Eagle.
THE CARTERVILLE CADETS
In the early part of 1884 there came to Carterville a young Baptist minister, Rev. R. J. Downing, who was a graduate of West Point and ex- United States army officer. There is scarcely a man who has served in the army or National Guard, who is not thrilled when he hears the pa- triotic airs of this country, or who does not step a little faster and stand a little straighter when he sees a marching club go by. Although the pastor of a church, the old love of military matters clung to the captain and one day he conceived the idea of forming a military company in Carterville. He began drilling a number of young men and so proficient did they become that Colonel Allen, of the Fifth Regiment, invited them to join the National Guard and become a part of his gallant command. The company was sworn into serviec by Justice Joseph Fountain and was officially known as Company F, Fifth Missouri State Guard.
The officers of the Cadets were: Captain, R. J. Downing; first lieu- tenant, John W. Rogers; second lieutenant, Clarence Harland. The company maintained its organization until 1886, when it was disbanded.
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JASPER COUNTY'S MILITARY
During the 'eighties Jasper county had four military organizations- the Carthage Light Guard, Joplin Rifles, Carterville Cadets and Joplin Zouaves, each of which will be spoken of at length in the history of the several cities.
The first three of these companies were a part of the Fifth Regiment, Missouri State Guard, which was formed in 1883, and on account of the excellence of the regiment and the important part Jasper county played in it, we make special mention of the organization.
FIFTH REGIMENT, MISSOURI STATE GUARD
On January 1, 1883, Southwestern Missouri had seven crack military companies, all of them made up of the best citizenship of the state and each reflecting great credit on the community.
It might be added here, that it took a little bit more patriotism to be a guardsman in the 'eighties than now, for the reason that the uniforms and equipments, excepting arms, were bought and paid for by the in- dividual members of the companies; also that there was a little more local pride in the several companies, for the reason that as each had a different uniform its manœuvreing, appearance and decorum were more easily dis- cerned and there was naturally a good natured rivalry among the commands.
The Carthage Light Guard and the Joplin Rifles, with a view of mak- ing their organizations more useful and also for the purpose of creating a stronger bond of comradeship among the Guardsmen of southwestern Missouri, took up the matter of the organization of a southwestern Mis- souri regiment, and on October 21, 1883, the commissioned officers of the Carthage Light Guard, Joplin Rifles, Springfield Light Infantry, Pierce City Guards, and Lamar Guards met in the G. A. R. hall in Joplin, act- ing under the authority of general orders issued by Adjutant General Jammison, and organized the Fifth Regiment by the election of the following officers : Colonel, C. C. Allen, of Carthage; major, Clark Cray- croft, of Joplin.
In making up his staff Colonel Allen honored the following Jasper county militiamen : Adjutant Chas. O. Herrington, of the Light Guard, and Sergeant Major M. W. Stafford, of Joplin.
REGIMENTAL CAMP AT CARTHAGE.
On July 3rd, 4th and 5th, in the year 1884, the regiment held its first camp at Carthage, under command of its colonel, C. C. Allen. Six com- panies were in attendance and the efficiency of the regiment was greatly improved. On the evening of July 4th, on the public square in Carthage, a dress parade was had and witnessed by fully five thousand people. This dress parade was an attractive sight, because of the variety and style of uniforms worn by the several organizations. The Carthage Light Guard
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and the Springfield Light Infantry were uniformed in the cadet gray garb, similar to the full-dress of the West Point Cadets, while the Joplin Rifles and the Pierce City Guards wore the regulation blue of the United States army. This mingling of the blue and the gray was likened by the spectators to the reunited states and country where the chivalry of the north and the south were marshalled together under one flag. The mat- ter of local pride was illustrated in the uniforms of the colonel and major. Colonel Allen, who had been a Union soldier in the war between the states, wore the gray of the Carthage Light Guard, while Major Cray- croft, a native of Maryland and whose father had followed the cause of the south, wore the blue of the Joplin Rifles.
The regiments also participated in the Regimental Camp at Pierce City and the state encampment at Sweet Springs, the Carthage Light Guard (Company A) having the largest company in camp and the Joplin Rifles (Company B) winning honorable mention from the general com- manding for its splendid appearance and camp discipline.
BEN DEARING'S CAMP MEETING
In August, 1883, a camp meeting was held on Carterville just west of the Missouri Pacific railway tracks and its influence was felt through- out the county. Rev. Ben Dearing, of the Webb City South Methodist Church, was the originator of the movement and planned the details of the gathering.
The camp meeting began Wednesday, August 22nd, and lasted for two weeks. One hundred tents were put up on the ground and rented to those who did not desire to bring camping outfits with them. There was also a restaurant on the ground and, in addition to the revival of the old- time religious custom, it was a most enjoyable outing for those who at- tended. The Missouri Pacific Railway ran special trains from Joplin, Webb City, Carterville and Carthage, and there was a daily attendance of from 2,000 to 5,000 people, quite a number remaining on the grounds the greater part of the meeting.
For the purpose of meeting the incidental expenses of the camp- meeting, a gate admission of ten cents was charged and in this way the advertising, rent of camp accoutrements, lumber for temporary speak- ers' stands, etc., were paid for. The meeting was useful in several ways. It brought together the religious workers of the county and strengthened the feeling of brotherly love that exists among enthusiastic workers of any great cause. It gave a delightful rest from business cares to those who attended the meeting and it afforded an opportunity of the masses to listen to the Word from one of the most eloquent and fervent preachers the county knew during the early 'eighties.
COLD WINTER OF 1884-5
Beginning with early December, 1884, and continuing until March, 1885, the southwestern Missouri counties were held in the grasp of Old Boreas.
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The oldest citizen did not remember a time when there had been in southwestern Missouri a cold spell of such length. Every winter has its cold snap and below zero weather, but a three-months' stretch was an ex- ception. Capt. W. K. Caffee, of Carthage, who before the establishment of the weather bureaus kept a record of the heat and cold, gives the following dates which show the length of the cold snap: Thursday, Dec- ember 25th, 5 degrees below zero; Saturday, January 17th. 17 degrees below; Tuesday, January 20th, 1/2 degree below ; Thursday, January 22d, 1/2 degree below; Wednesday, January 28th, 11/2 degrees below; Tues- day, February 10th, 81/2 degrees below; Monday, February 16, 7 degrees degrees below ; Friday, February 20th, 2 degrees below.
MARKET REPORTS IN 1885
In our notes of Carthage, in 1875, we published a market report and, for the purpose of contrast and comparison, we give below the prices paid for country produce in January, 1885; Wheat, No. 2, 60 cents; corn 32 cents; oats, 25 cents; Irish potatoes, 40 cents; sweet potatoes, 50 to 80 cents; apples, 40 to 45 cents; onions, 75 to 80 cents; butter, per lb. 20 cents; lard, 7 cents; tallow, 5 cents; eggs, per dozen, 20 cents; chickens, per dozen, $1.50 to $2.00; chickens, dressed, per pound, 6 cents; hay, loose, ton, $5.00 to $6.00; sheep, $2.00 to $2.50; cattle, $2.50 to $3.00.
The banner year for farm products during the 'eighties was 1881, when the Carthage mills paid, during August, $1.19 for A. No. 1 wheat and in October gave the extraordinary price of $1.30.
MINERAL TOWNSHIP RAILWAY BONDS
In the middle 'eighties a strong sentiment arose in opposition to the payment of the railroad bonds which had been issued by old Mineral township in aid of railroad construction, it being claimed by many that there were irregularities in the issuance of the bonds. At a mass meeting held in Webb City a strong committee, of which C. J. Lewis of Joplin was chairman, was appointed to look into the legal status of the bond issue and to act for the people as they thought best in the matter of their payment. At the request of the meeting Captain Lewis was appointed by the county court as fiscal agent for the county to make, if possible, a compromise with the bondholders, which he succeeded in doing, and the bonds were paid off, less the reduction made, as per the conference of the committee and the bondholders.
THE ORONOGO CYCLONE
In May, 1883, the city of Oronogo was visited by a des- tructive cyclone and many of the houses and stores were demol- ished and scattered over the prairie for miles. A person who has never witnessed the destruction of a tornado cannot appreciate the extent of the damage which was done to this town and its people. The writer, who
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RUINS OF C. E. ELLIOTT'S RESIDENCE, ORONOGO
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went over to the scene of the disaster, remembers vividly the picture which the place presented. The uprooted trees, the innumerable piles of broken lumber and boards, made the town look as if a thousand demons had jumped in with axes and chopped the houses, barns and fences into kindling wood.
Early in the evening the oppressive heat, the blackening clouds, the lightning, and the thunder which resembled the cannonading of a hun- dred batteries alarmed the town. At a little after seven o'clock the cyclone came in all of its fury, and in five minutes Oronogo was razed to the ground.
A few minutes after the storm Thomas Jones, of Oronogo, came riding bareback into Webb City and gave the first information which the county had of the cyclone. From Webb City the news was 'phoned to Joplin and Carthage and relief trains were made up. Physicians and helpers from these two cities were soon on the way to the grief stricken and un- fortunate town. The scene of desolation which met the relief crews was beyond language to express. The demon of destruction had entered the town from the southwest and had swept through the main part of the place carrying destruction before it.
James Cummings, salesman for C. E. Elliott, was covered by the debris of the store and had to dig his way out. Dr. and Mrs. Myer were sitting in their home when the storm came and saw the roof lifted off their house and carried two hundred feet away. Mr. George Goodwin and his family were at supper when the cyclone came. When they heard the awful roar of the wind they started to run, but too late; for the house which had been their shelter was blown over on them killing Mr. Good- win and his step-daughter, Miss Sarah Bowdau.
The most miraculous escape was that of C. E. Elliott. At that time, his was the only brick residence in Oronogo and when the storm struck was bending over his child who was lying down. When the roof com- menced to cave in he never moved, but acted as a shield for the little one until he saw an avenue of escape-through a hole which had been made in the wall and quickly gathering up the infant he rushed through this aperture and escaped without a scratch. Those who saw the room next day, a mass of bricks and lumber in one heterogeneous pile look upon his escape as a most miraculous thing.
Besides the two who were killed, thirty-three were seriously injured, among them Emmet Haines, Mrs. Haines, Mrs. Ellis, Mollie Haines, Dr. Lafayette, J. W. Haynes, James Cummings, Mrs. Napier, Mrs. Frye, J. Goodwin, Charles Wyatt, S. J. Scott, Mrs. Dr. Myers, Robert Gonley, William Hunsicker, Bert Stultz, Mrs. Morgan and O. H. Singer.
I. O. O. F. CELEBRATION (1886)
Avilla is one of the oldest towns in the county and is in the center of a rich farming district. On account of having no railroad facilities its growth was materially retarded but its citizens are highly progressive,
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intelligent and patriotic. In 1886 the Odd Fellow lodge at Avilla invited the craft from all over the county to join them in the celebration of the sixty-seventh anniversary of the founding of the order in the United States and the celebration was highly successful. The visiting members came in carriages, buggies and wagons, and on the morning of the day, April 26, 1886, the four roads leading to Avilla were fully alive with people coming to take part in the day's celebration. Visitors were there from all over the county and in the parade two hundred and two mem- bers of the order and forty-three Daughters of Rebecca marched behind the banner of the order. D. A. Smith, then grand master of the state and, by the way, the first Jasper county citizen to reach that high post, was the orator of the day. His splendid address and the excellent good fellowship enjoyed by the members present did much good for the three- linked fraternity, and gave it an excellent advertisement among the' country folks of the eastern portion of the county.
LEHIGH
As in the later 'sixties and early 'seventies the town of Fidelity had risen to considerable importance, and then declined until nothing was left of the town excepting a memory, so in the 'eighties Lehigh arose, prospered, declined and disappeared from the map.
Lehigh, which during the middle 'eighties had upward of fifteen hun- dred inhabitants, was located about two miles southwest of Carl Junction on Center creek. The camp, which was first called Skeeterville, sprang into notice during the early 'eighties and in 1883 was organized as a village, with Oscar De Graff as chairman of the board of trustees. At the time of the organization of Lehigh there were seven saloons in the place, running day and night and everything was wide open. The in- corporation of the town brought order out of chaos. In 1884 the town of Lehigh was organized as a city of the fourth class and S. A. Stucky, now president of the Carthage National Bank, became mayor.
Lehigh was a much talked of town until about 1887, when it began to decline. The zinc at Lehigh was exceedingly rich and large quantities of it lay under the creek bed.
With fifty or more drifts under the creek-bed, the ground gave way and let the water into the mines, and it was necessary for a time to abandon them.
Recently the old Lehigh company has turned the creek-bed some four hundred feet to the south, and now the old creek bottom is a scene of activity, a number of mines being worked where until a few years ago Center creek rushed on to Spring river.
BELVILLE-ZINCITE
Early in the 'eighties a production camp was opened in the south- western part of the county and just southwest of old Sherwood and called Belville, after the mining superintendent who developed the ground.
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Like its neighbor, Lehigh, Belville had a rapid growth and at one time numbered more than a thousand. A town was laid out and a postoffice established under the name of Zincite. In 1886 a newspaper was started called the Zincite Morning Star and flourished for a time. During the later 'eighties Zincite had three lodges, among them a G. A. R. post of fifty members.
It had a playhouse, with a seating capacity of 400, two churches, and business in proportion. Zincite continued to thrive for some twenty years, but during the last decade has declined and now is only a hamlet.
THE SARCOXIE FAIR
The old historic town of Sarcoxie forged to the front during the 'eighties, fully doubling its population and in a business way increasing in importance.
During this decade two new churches were built and a commodious six-room brick school building erected. Its newspaper, the Sarcorie Vindicator was a great factor in moulding public opinion in and around Sarcoxie, and this evidence of prosperity and life was crystalized in the organization of the Sarcoxie Fair, which held a number of excellent ex- positions during the middle 'eighties. The Sarcoxie Fair was more on the order of an exhibit than a racing meet-and here the agricultural prod- ucts and live stock of Jasper, Newton and Lawrence counties were seen to the best advantage. J. M. Rice, the editor of the Sarcoxie paper, was the prime mover and leading worker in the enterprise. At the fair, fall of 1886, the Twelfth Regiment, Select Knights, A. O. U. W., held its annual encampment, which was a feature of the occasion.
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