USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 42
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1898-Georgia Turk, Jane Paul, Mae Hansel, Maude Frye, Ida Miller, Luella Powell, Bess Turner, Walter Regan, John Hutchinson.
1899-Eccless Greer, Earl Murray, Maggie Davidson, Edna Hen- richs, Etta Broadbent, Nell Henley, Lottie Glover, Augusta Radley, Fannie Willim, Lina Stabb, Alvin Hall, Charley Davidson.
JOPLIN STUDENTS AT BAIRD COLLEGE
During the early and middle 'nineties quite a number of Joplin young women went to the then celebrated Baird College at Clinton after completing their courses in the public schools. The Joplin girls who went to Baird brought home many laurels and did much toward ad- vertising Joplin as a literary and musical center, as well as a mining metropolis. Misses Lillie Henderson, Bertha McAntire, Charlotte and Jean Gregg and Maude Neeley all won prizes, either for excellence in music, declamation or literary work.
During the fall of 1893 an Interstate collegiate contest between the several colleges of western Missouri and eastern Kansas was arranged, the first one being held at Springfield, and at this meet the Joplin stu- dents at Baird carried off all of the honors.
Miss Bertha McAntire won the first prize for declamation, and Miss Charlotte Gregg, the first prize in the singing contest, the three judges
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being unanimous in giving the oration and solo work of these two young women first place.
JOPLIN BUSINESS COLLEGE
In 1892 Prof. Thomas and W. B. Joiner established the Joplin Busi- ness College and it at once became a strong school. Its course of study embraced a full and complete instruction in bookkeeping, business and commercial education and it sent out a well equipped class of students who took responsible positions.
BEGINNING OF THE LIBRARY MOVEMENT
In the spring of 1893 a movement was inaugurated to establish a pub- lic library in Joplin and this movement grew a little each year until, in 1902, Andrew Carnegie donated to the city the $50,000 with which the Public Library was built.
The initial meeting of the Joplin Public Library Association-was held in the Young Men's Christian Association rooms in April, 1893, and Hamilton S. Wilks, then a prominent man in Joplin, was elected pres- ident. Gen. C. W. Squire was elected vice president; Rev. E. E. Wilkey, secretary, and Chris. Guengerich, treasurer. The following ladies were appointed as the executive committee: Madames W. H. Picher, Clark Craycroft, Henry Weymen, Lola Spear and W. C. Weatherill. A most delightful entertainment was given by the Century Club at which a neat sum was raised and this was the nucleus of the library fund. On August 16th, of same year, a picnic was given on the electric line just north of Castle Rock and this added to the fund. The club women of the city now began a campaign of education for a library, and their efforts were finally realized when the city voted a tax for the support of the enterprise, when the library building was erected. A mention of the public library will be made in the section devoted to the next decade.
CLUB WOMEN
The Unity Club mentioned in our notes of the 'eighties continued its organization during the entire 'nineties and was a delightful literary organization.
In 1890 the Century Club, a literary organization of the younger set, was organized, and it is yet a part of the club life of Joplin. The mem- bers of this club were drawn from the best families of the city and its meetings were not only symposiums where the best of literary thought was brought out, but social successes as well. This club championed the library movement and assisted in many ways to better the city.
THE EMERSON CLUB
The Emerson Club was organized in 1897 and was a prominent factor in club circles for several years. This club fitted up and main- tained a beautifully furnished room on West Ninth street and its head- quarters were the gathering place of many literary and social functions.
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The Redpath, another of the very popular clubs, was organized in 1898; and all of these clubs stood for the highest literary attainment and contained in their membership the best women of the city. We regret that we could not secure a complete list of the officers and mem- bers of each of the above, as each was a great factor in the city's social and literary functions and without a mention of which the history of Joplin would be incomplete.
1872 SCHOOL BOARD ENTERTAINS 1892 BOARD
The West Joplin School Board, in 1872, consisted of J. H. McCoy, C. J. G. Workizer and W. M. Carter. In March, 1892, J. H. McCoy, who had left Joplin in the later seventies, returned to Joplin on a visit and took great delight in renewing his old-time friendships. It so hap- pened, on the 30th day of March, he met C. J. G. Workizer and W. M. Carter, with whom he had served on the school board in 1872, and Philip Arnold, who was the first principal of the West Joplin schools. The four spent a happy hour in telling old stories and com- paring the schools of the early day with the splendid system of that day. A happy thought came to the four-why should not the Board of '72 entertain the Board of '92 and, to add spice, invite in as many old-timers of the former year as could be gotten together that night? Of course, the spread must be served at Money Makers (Mrs. Gild- machers'). Invitations were hastily sent out and that night thirty people sat down to the splendid supper which Mrs. Gildmacher had prepared. After the feast, reminiscences were exchanged and the party lived over the free and easy days of Joplin's pioneer period.
The following toasts were proposed and responded to :
"The Old and the New School Boards," L. P. Cunningham.
"Joplin Today and Twenty Years Ago," J. W. McAntire.
"Joplin's Schools Twenty Years Ago and Now," Philip Arnold.
"Progress in the Schools in Twenty Years," S. A. Underwood.
"Reminiscences," F. E. Williams.
In addition to the above, every man at the festive board was re- quired to do something in the way of entertainment and the stories that were told and the jokes that were gotten off set everyone wild with laughter.
Those who attended the meeting were J. H. McCoy, formerly of Joplin, but then of Ouray, Colorado; Patrick Murphy, F. E. Williams, S. C. Price, J. W. McAntire, C. B. Revis, Philip Arnold, W. R. Fletcher, D. C. McConey, John Reynolds, W. H. Picher, Monroe Clark, L. P. Cunningham, J. C. Gaston, L. A. Filmore, R. S. Lanyon, H. B. Haskell, 01 Moffet, G. W. Koehler, Gilbert Barbee, Henry Blackwell, D. R. Wenrich, S. A. Underwood, Charles Schifferdecker, L. Risiling, Lee Taylor, P. L. Swartz, E. D. Porter, Peter Schnur, Thomas Connor and Dan Collins.
This gathering led to the organization of the Joplin Old Settlers' Association.
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THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION
As a result of the School Board reunion, March 30, 1892, a number of the old settlers met in Major Craycroft's office early in 1893 and formulated plans for an old settlers' banquet on the anniversary of the gathering above mentioned. In response to the invitation of the committee one hundred and fifteen old-timers called at Major Williams' store and signed the roster and a banquet was arranged to be held at the Joplin Hotel, March 30, 1893. S. C. Price was appointed as toast- master and presided at the head of the table and after the spread, which did great credit to the hotel management, the following toasts were responded to:
"The County as We Found It," John S. Reynolds.
"Early Birds," Thomas Dolan.
"Primitive Mining," Henry Blackwell.
"Our First Smelter," Pat Murphy.
"The Union of East and West Joplin," John C. Trigg.
"Our First Railway," Jno. H. Taylor.
"A Wide Open Town," responded to by a half-dozen impromptu speakers, who told many side-splitting stories of early Joplin.
"Hose and Hose," W. M. Carter.
"Early Lawyers," W. B. McAntire.
An amusing incident occurred when the extemporaneous talks were being made. Thomas Connor was called and with due modesty jumped out of the window and escaped making a speech. Before the adjourn- ment a committee, consisting of S. C. Henderson, W. M. Carter, L. A. Filmore, Charles Schifferdecker, E. D. Porter and W. B. McAntire, were appointed to draft a constitution and recommend permanent officers.
At a meeting at the court house in March, 1894, the committee re- ported the following organization: President, F. E. Williams; first vice president, W. M. Carter ; second vice president, L. A. Filmore; third vice president, Jno. S. Reynolds; fourth vice president, Clark Craycroft; fifth vice president, Jno. H. Taylor; secretary, Joel T. Livingston; as- sistant secretary, G. W. Koehler; treasurer, W. B. Halyard.
Eligibility to membership was fixed at 1876 and prior-dates of com- ing to Joplin. An annual banquet was had each succeeding year until 1905. The last banquet will be mentioned in a chapter covering the fol- lowing decade.
The banquet in 1894 was a very enjoyable occasion and was held at the Keystone Hotel. Clark Craycroft, the prince of after-dinner talkers, was toast master and the following after-dinner talks were made :
"Early Reminiscences," W. M. Carter.
"Hard Times," L. P. Cunningham.
"Joplin as a Metropolis," J. W. McAntire.
"The Joplin Miner," Thos. Dolan.
"The City That Jack Built," D. K. Wenrich.
W. M. Carter became the president of the Association in 1896 and continued so until his death in 1905. G. W. Koehler was elected secre- tary in 1895 and served until the last meeting.
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We present here the partial list of the Old Settlers Association, which we take from the newspaper account of the several reunions had. We re- gret that we were unable to secure a copy of the original roll.
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List of members: D. K. Wenrich, E. H. Simpson, J. N. Dunagan, J. S. Reynolds, A. H. Brewer, E. Whipple, E. P. Barr, Ed. Brown, Thomas Dolan, Wm. M. Carter, L. A. Short, J. W. McAntire, John Henrichs, Clark Craycroft, Harmon Cline, G. W. Koehler, Joel T. Livingston, W. B. McAntire, R. M. Roberts, Peter Schnur, Jerome C. Burgess, A. Camp- bell, E. F. Botkin, W. H. Warren, F. E. Williams, Ira Creech, C. W. Clover, Jess W. Brown, H. J. Blackwell, J. C. Faulkender, S. A. Under- wood, L. Riseling, D. C. McConey, C. Schifferdecker, Wm. M. Quick, A. Haughton, A. F. Donnan, John Roech, J. C. Gaston, Fred Dufflemeyer, J. B. Sergeant, P. L. Swartz, L. A. Fillmore, Frank Bentley, S. A. Jaggers, O. H. Picher, W. H. Fairbanks, John Allington, Chas. J. G. Workizer, C. W. Dykeman, S. C. Price, J. A. Hewitt, W. S. Paul, John Reinmiller, C. B. Goodwin, Sam'l W. Reynolds, W. T. Feazell, W. B. Halyard, J. J. Breazeale, Geo. Orear, H. C. Sutton, Gib Barbee, John H. Stephens, Nathan U. Wilson, J. M. Leonard, Williams Watson, John C. Trigg, J. E. Jones, S. L. Miller, R. D. Fallis, C. Sparlin, Con Lucy, E. D. Pickett, S. A. Parks, Thos. A. Heathwood, P. Quinn, G. O. Boncher, C. Geltz, L. L. McGavran, E. R. Moffet, Jr., S. O. Eels, J. O. Herron, W. F. Griffith, G. W. Keller, J. J. Cofer, J. M. Howard, Chas. Moore, V. H. Board, E. W. Beach, P. L. Crossman, Thos. Connor, N. Zeutner, John Manning, W. Humes, E. Zelleken, W. Beller, Alfred Rey- nolds, Sam'l Landauer, D. W. Cowan, G. P. Coley, J. F. Wise, Monroe Clark, John J. Murphy, C. W. Babst, John W. Calvin, A. B. McCarty, Dr. Jasper Backwell, Z. A. Norris, W. H. Picher, E. O. Bartlett, J. B. McCurdy, Jno. F. Wagner, E. D. Porter, F. T. Creller, C. C. Wheeler, Thos. Field, A. B. McKee, Wm. Leffen, Barney Bristow, E. B. Leonard, John Bauer, L. C. McCarty, E. T. Molyneux, John H. Taylor, Phil Boss, H. L. Chickering, E. F. Martin, O. E. Miles, A. P. Hoyt, Thomas Diehel, J. W. Moore, Ples Whitwell, J. B. Morgan, O. R. Moffet, D. M. Page, Walker Trigg, W. H. Calfee, T. C. Malloy, J. C. Burress, W. E. Johnson, J. C. Miller, Alfred Reynolds, Calvin Nickell, Dr. F. D. Owen, J. B. Quinn, John Immel, W. G. Sergeant, W. Watkins, L. P. Cunningham, Louis F. Peters, Ben. F. Morris, J. A. Thurman, Henry Weymann, I. N. Vaughn, E. Webster, E. N. Perry, H. Clippenger, Phil. Pfenning, S. W. Beall, Chas. G. Sellars, Fred Sellers, Anson B. Hamlin, S. C. Henderson, Tom Kinmouth, Wm. Thurman, W. D. McCracken.
Vol. 1-25
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CHAPTER XXXV
SOCIAL, BENEVOLENT AND CHARITABLE
THE MASONS-KNIGHTS TEMPLAR-IN HONOR OF JOHN GILLIS-A. O. U.
W. 4TH OF JULY, 1894-CANTON LINCOLN NO. 17, PARTRIARCHS MIL- ITANT-THE REBEKAHS-THE WOODMEN-THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-M. W. A. LOG ROLLING- THE GERMANIA SOCIETY-FIRST ELKS STREET FAIR-YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION- ENTERTAINS THE STATE Y. M. C. A. CON- VENTION-THE JOPLIN CHARITABLE UNION-POTATO DAY-A NOVEL ENTERTAINMENT-THE JOPLIN CHILDREN'S HOME.
Among the fraternities which were organized in Joplin during the decade were the Woodmen, Select Friends, Knights and Ladies of Se- curity, Maccabees, United Commercial Travelers, Knights of Columbus, Elks and many other orders which, with the old fraternities already es- tablished, did a grand and noble work and brought the men and women of the city that "Jack Built," almost to the threshold of the "golden age of fraternity."
We mention here a few of the happenings which stood out as notable events in the fraternal life of the city.
THE MASONS
Among the Masonic events which stand out during the early 'nineties was the excursion to Siloam Springs on St. John's day, June 24, 1892. The two Masonic lodges, together with the Star and their families, visited Siloam Springs, Arkansas, St. John's day of 1892. A round trip of one dollar was made and ten coaches were packed. The day was delightfully spent and long remembered.
In 1894 the several Masonic bodies assembled at Sulphur Springs and a most delightful time was had.
The Eastern Star was exceedingly popular during the decade and no Masonic reception was complete without the assistance of this auxiliary. Mrs. Mamie Fletcher, of the Joplin Star, was honored by the State Grand Lodge by an election to the presidency in 1896 and as the grand worthy matron she made a most excellent officer. The Grand Chapter met in Joplin in 1897 and was an event in the fraternal history of the city.
February 7, 1897, was the twenty-first anniversary of the removal of Medoc, now Joplin Lodge No. 335, A. F. & A. M., to Joplin, and the event was duly celebrated by an open meeting and banquet to which
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Fellowship Lodge and the Eastern Star were invited. Among those who were present at the banquet was Lee Taylor, who was present at the first meeting of the lodge in East Joplin, February 21, 1876.
After an hour's program at the hall the lodge, with their guests, ad- journed to the Crossman hall, where a superb banquet was served, covers being laid for two hundred.
S. A. Underwood, Harmon Cline and Dr. Kelso, of Joplin Lodge and Clark Craycroft and Jno. S. Reynolds, of Fellowship Lodge, were among the speakers who responded to toasts.
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
Ascension Commandery No. 39, Knights Templar, attended all three of the triennial conclaves held during the nineties-at Denver in 1892, Boston in 1895, and at Pittsburgh in 1898. The conclave at Boston was a very enjoyable one, the Knights from Jasper county being the guests of Beverly Commandery, Beverly, Massachusetts, of which organization Col. D. A. Preston, formerly of Joplin, was a member. The Beverly Commandery entertained the Jasper county contingent with a clam bake and this novel feast was a rare treat to the people from Missouri.
IN HONOR OF JOHN GILLIS
At the meeting of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, in 1897, John Gillis, of Ascension Commandery, was chosen grand commander- a most distinguished honor for Jasper county-and on October 26th, the Knights from Joplin, Webb City, Neosho and Galena, entertained in honor of their genial, whole-souled son of bonny Scotland.
The banquet, which concluded the evening's entertainment, was, in Masonic circles, the event of the year, and was had at the Keystone Hotel. Eighty-one Knights, with their lady friends, gathered around the festive board. The landscape program gotten out for the occasion bore on the front cover, with the Knight Templar emblems, a splendid like- ness of Captain Gillis in colors. The front page of the program bore the inscription : "Ascension Commandery No. 39, Joplin, Missouri. Com- plimentary to Right Eminent Commander John Gillis, Grand Com- mander, Grand Commandery of Missouri."
After the supper, which did great credit to the management of the hotel, the following program was carried out :
"Welcome the Coming-God Speed the Parting Guest;" response by R. E. Sir Knight John Gillis, grand commander.
"Christian Knighthood-Let Brotherly Love and Knightly Courtesy Continue;" response Eminent Commander C. Woods, grand warden, and president Scarret College.
"Fraternity-Liberty is Right, Equality is Fact, Fraternity is Duty ;" response Sir Knight A. Maas, Neosho.
"Friendship-We Have Been Friends Together in Sunshine and in Shade :" response Sir Knight E. B. Schimerhorn, Galena, Kansas.
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"Ladies-Man was made when nature was but an apprentice, woman, when she was a skilful mistress of her art;" response Eminent Knight Clark Craycroft, Joplin.
Maj. F. E. Williams was toast master and never appeared to better advantage than on this occasion. His ease and grace as a presiding of- ficer and his pleasant address, mingled with an occasional witticism rounded off the several after-dinner talks and sent everyone home happy.
A. O. U. W .- 4TH OF JULY, 1894
The combined Ancient Order of United Woodmen lodges of Joplin celebrated the 4th of July, 1894, at Cunningham's grove, and the oc- casion was one of the old fashioned celebrations of the father. Philip Arnold read to an attentive audience the Declaration of Independence and a number of patriotic addresses were given, pointing out the duties of citizenship. After the luncheon, which was an old fashioned basket picnic dinner, the people indulged in the pastimes of the pioneer days. Races were run, there was the climbing of the greased pole and the chase after the greased pig. A dancing platform added to the pleasure. and here the dignified city people did all sorts of stunts one man, a prominent banker, waltzing around the floor holding gracefully his partner's arm and eating a big ham sandwich, all at the same time. It was a day of fun and frolic.
CANTON LINCOLN NO. 17, PATRIARCHS MILITANT
Canton Lincoln covered itself all over with glory during the early nineties, and not only reflected great credit on the Odd Fellows, but on Joplin as well. At Butler, April 26, 1891, it won the first prize for the best drilled canton, attending the natal day celebration at that place and winning from Kansas City, Fort Scott and Lamar.
On November 3rd and 4th, at the annual encampment of the First Regiment, First Brigade, Patriarchs Militant, I. O. O. F., which was held at Lamar, it again won the first prize, defeating Butler, Springfield and Fort Scott.
In St. Louis, at the meeting of the Sovereign Grand Lodge in 1891, the canton was especially honored, receiving honorable mention in the grand parade for the splendid appearance it made and, as a special mark of distinction, being honored by the Sovereign Grand Lodge with an in- vitation to act as its escort. The following were the members who es- corted the Sovereign body from headquarters at the Planters hotel to the place of meeting : Capt. R. A. Spear, John James Falcon Weir, A. C. Barr, George A. Cochrane, E. J. Foreman, A. J. Morton, W. E. Mor- gan, J. W. McAntire, Dr. M. F. Balsley, John Hendricks, E. W. Beach, Fred Sellers, E. Gaede, William Chapin, Sid Hire, E. D. Zelliken, Will- iam Beller, G. R. Lavery, A. Stewart, Ben Carlisle, Frank Donnan, W. H. Kettinger, Jasper Vancil, A. Haughton. M. Scherl, M. Klotz, Charles Schoenherr, A. P. Clark, J. E. Currah, A. R. Jones, Williams Fuller and Maj. G. W. Koehler.
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In the world's contest Canton Lincoln won the third prize, $250. At the meeting of the Sovereign Lodge at Dallas in 1896 the Canton took second prize.
Canton Lincoln, perhaps more than any other semi-military organiza- tion, has kept Joplin in the eyes of the public, for, unlike most of the other orders which have had those periods of success and for a time have been in public favor, it has never disbanded, but has from its time of organization to now been a prominent factor in Joplin's fraternal life.
THE REBEKAHS
One of the first lady's lodges which was organized in Joplin was the Degree of Rebekah. The organization was effected April 7, 1891, the ini- tiatory work being performed by the Carterville lodge, which came over to Joplin fifty strong and assisted, in a most impressive way, the insti- tuting officer. The following were the first officers of the lodge: Mrs. Lola Dawson, noble grand; Mrs. S. J. Hire, vice grand; Miss Georgia Johnson, secretary ; Miss Maggie Danford, financier ; Mrs. J. B. Shaw, treasurer. At the conclusion of the work the members of the new lodge and the visiting teams sat down to a tempting banquet.
THE WOODMEN
We make mention here of Joplin Camp, No. 3039, M. W. A., for two reasons-first, because of its phenomenal growth and second, on account of its bringing to the city the log-rolling of August 10, '98, which up to that time was the largest gathering of its kind Joplin had ever witnessed. The lodge was instituted in August, 1895, with seventeen members, and grew very rapidly. In September, 1897, the camp clerk announced that the lodge had passed the hundred mark and the event was duly celebrated on October 28th with a social session and banquet which were attended by the lodge and a hundred invited guests. John Gmeiner was the master of ceremonies, and in the jovial manner for which he is noted made the even- ing one continual round of pleasure. Nearly every one of the hundred guests came into the camp and before the close of the year its member- ship had almost reached the two hundred point. At the time of the log rolling Joplin Camp had grown to 600 and, as its members marched down Main street in the big parade they resembeld a regiment of sol- diers passing in review before the commander-in-chief. W. A. North- cott, then head counselor of the Woodmen, was the guest of Joplin Camp at the log rolling.
THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS
On January 15, 1892, Mineral Lodge, No. 330, was organized at the Knights of Pythias hall, and at once became a very popular lodge. In 1898 G. A. Weyman built, at the corner of Seventh and Main streets, a three-story business block, leaving the third floor to the Odd Fellows and
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arranging it especially for lodge purposes. The hall was dedicated April 15, 1898, and from then until 1911, when the county leased the sec- ond and third floors for a temporary court house, it was one of the most popular halls in the city.
THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
Joplin Lodge, No. 40, Knights of Pythias, continued through the nineties to be the social organization of the city. Their hall was the 3rd floor of the Burz (now the Worth) building, Fourth and Main streets. It was at that day the most elegantly furnished hall in the city and here a great many social functions occurred, as well as lodge meetings.
Joplin Division, No. 40, U. R. K. P., was organized in June, 1892, with G. K. Davidson, then city treasurer, as captain. The Joplin Division was very popular, containing some of the best young business men of the day. It was twice a prize winner in a drill contest, and took part in the biennial encampments at both Kansas City and Washington.
M. W. A. LOG ROLLING
On August 10, 1898, Joplin was literally packed and jammed with the Modern Woodmen and their friends, who came to attend the Missouri- Kansas Log Rolling Association, the lowest estimate of the crowd being 35,000. The Kansas City Southern brought 3,000 people to Joplin; the Missouri Pacific and Frisco Interurban lines both brought thousands and the Memphis special from Fort Scott contributed 2,300. The electric line had the biggest day's business up to that time reported and the special from Kansas City brought fourteen coaches loaded to the guard. many Woodmen riding the steps and platform from Kansas City to Joplin.
The speech making occurred at Cunningham Park and took place at 10 A. M. The parade occurred at 2 P. M., formed at Cox park and marched down Main street. There were eleven bands in the parade and thirty-two camps of Woodmen aggregating 5,000 members. Dr. E. C. H. Squire was the grand marshal and handled the great parade in a most excellent manner, not a single detail being overlooked. In the election of state officers Dr. Squire was named as vice president of the state camp.
The drill contest took place at 5:30 P. M., five teams of Woodmen entering the drill contest, which resulted as follows: First prize, Midland Camp, Kansas City ; second prize, Nevada Camp.
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