USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 45
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Under Captain Webster's command the company attended the regimental camp at Carthage and was complimented by the officers sent to make the regimental inspection for its deportment in camp. In July, 1893, Captain Webster and Lieutenant Chappel both removed from the city and the company was again reorganized, with the following corps of officers: Captain, Joel T. Livingston ; first lieuten- ant, J. S. Casey; second lieutenant, Fred C. Clippenger ; first sergeant, W. E. Bailey.
The company which had run down to thirty-six men was now re- cruited up to sixty men and the Crossman Hall in East Joplin rented for an armory.
The company went into camp at Cunningham Grove. July 3-4, 1894: also took part in the regimental camp at Springfield in August of that year. The commanding officer prescribed a code of signals for assem- bling the company for an emergency call. In July. 1894, the captain re- ceiving telegraphic orders from Colonel Caffee to assemble and hold the company in readiness to go to Moberly, where Governor Stone had planned to assemble the Second and Fourth Regiments for the purpose of preserving order in the railway strike which was tying up the traffic of the state. The call to assemble was sounded on the fire bell and in one hour after receiving the message forty-two men were at the armory and in heavy marching order.
On February 22, 1895, Company G banquetted at the Joplin Hotel, with Brigadier General Wickham, Colonel Caffee and staff, and Major Williams, together with their wives and sweethearts as guests. This was one of the brilliant affairs in Company G's history.
In May, 1895, Captain Livingston resigued his commission and was succeeded by R. A. Spear, of the famous Canton Lincoln, a natural born commander and military man. Shortly following Captain Spear's election the lieutenants resigned and E. L. Shepherd, just graduated from the Marmaduke Military Academy, and E. E. Duckett, one of the crack-drilled men, were chosen lieutenants.
In 1896 there occurred a series of social functions, given by the com- pany at their armory, which was now moved to the second story over Serage livery barn. At the annual inspection in 1896 Company G made the highest per cent of any of the companies in the Second Regiment.
In 1898 the company responded to the country's call, went to the front with the volunteers in the Spanish-American war and made an excellent record. It being apparent that the company would see no fighting, Lieu- tenant Shepherd resigned before the close of the war and second lieu- tenant Duckett was promoted to the first lieutenancy. First Sergeant A. C. Tschappler receiving the appointment of second lieutenant.
Returning home at the close of the war, the company was banqueted by the citizens and the reception was a most enjoyable occasion.
The following is a roster of Company G at the time of the Spanish- American war: Captain Robt. A. Spears; first lieutenant E. S. Shep- herd (resigned in October, 1898) ; first lieutenant E. E. Duckett: second lieutenant, Ameal C. Tschappler ; sergeants, Frank Samson. D. D.
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Watson, Claud W. Calvin, Archie M. Kidd, James H. Mears and James Kelley ; corporals, E. J. Boggs, William Jones, Clarence Warren, Albert C. Owen, Lester M. Ingraham, Ralph G. Borung, David Garrison, Frank Smith, William St. Clair, Thomas Rogers and Charles V. Spyers; trum- peters, Walter Axton and Benton Ebling; wagoner, Chas. Mason; arti- ficer, Clarence W. Sloan; cook, James Duncan.
Privates, Jesse Axton, Edwin E. Brumbaugh, James N. Bailey, John F. Bean, William Bodkin, Robert E. Bennett, James H. Clarey, William M. Clarey, Thomas F. Clarey, Evert E. Collier, Benjamin Corn, Edward Crampton, Charles Chennoweth, Jay Z. Dun- woody, Charles E. De Witt, M. P. Fox, George K. Freeman, Claude Flemmy, R. A. Greer, Charles R. Gould, James Gilmore, Y. A. Hayes, Wiley Hodshier, Homer Hollwork, Henry Haynie, C. M. Hills, Logan Horner, Joseph Howard, Henry G. Helm, Adrian Hallerman, Fred Henckley, Charles Johnson, Joseph Jaranch, Walter Johnson, Simon Jones, Fred Kenner, Fred Kerr, Jeff Long, Lester Loy, Arlington Lan- yon, Henry Lewis, Dennis Landon, Harley Mccullough, Percie Mylins, Levi Newgent, Jacob Nischurtz, Henry Neff, Otis Nicholson, Norton Olivar, Harry Plimmer, John Pemrose, Frank Reka, Charles Rhodes, William Rice, Charles Rice, Edward Riseling, Herbert Ryan, John E. Smith, Charles Shaffer, William Saulsbury, Chester Smith, Howard Shryock, Nicholas Spoil, Patrick Spoil, N. Short, Frank Triganza. George Thompson, Thomas Thomolson, Audley Woodward, Melvin Wylls, Lewis Watzdorf, Walter Wicks and George Zeilter.
COMPANY G RELIEF ASSOCIATION
As mentioned before Company G was first stationed at Chickamauga Parks during the summer of 1898. In this camp were 45,000 United States volunteers, and it was but natural, with such a large body thrown together, that the sanitation of the camp should be a great problem and this, with the intense heat during July and August, brought quite a number of the boys to the hospital tent. On learning the condition and realizing that quick action was necessary to relieve the boys at the front, Mrs. J. L. Briggs called a meeting of the women of the city at the Meth- odist church for the purpose of organizing a Hospital Relief Association. Two hundred ladies responded to the call, on July 14, 1898, and organ- ized the Company G Relief Association.
The following were the officers of the society : President, Mrs. J. L. Briggs; vice president, Mrs. A. A. Carey; secretary, Mrs. M. T. Down- ing; treasurer, Mrs. W. F. Halliard.
Executive committee : First Ward, Mrs. O. P. Simson; Second Ward, Mrs. C. W. Lyon and Miss Alice Triganza ; Third Ward, Mrs. J. M. Mc- Adams; Fourth Ward, Mrs. Galen Spencer; Fifth Ward, Mrs. Greene Sanson and Mrs. N. Moore.
Quite a sum of money was collected and forwarded to the company for the purpose of securing additional nurses and for the purchase of
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medical supplies. July 20th, on the beautiful lawn of Mrs. Briggs' home, a social was given which was a financial success and gave the asso- ciation a good working fund.
THE "HERALD'S" COMPANY G BOX
When the boys were first mustered into the service supplies, of course, were scarce and realizing that our boys at Chickamauga would probably be in need before the army could be thoroughly supplied, the Joplin Daily Herald asked the citizens to make up a box and send to the front. The response was liberal and the Herald box from home brought much comfort and joy to the boys who had gone to fight for Cuba's independ- ence and to "Remember the Maine."
After the war Company G was reorganized and again mustered into the service of the state. The following were the officers of the company after the Spanish American war: Captain, E. E. Duckett; first lieu- tenant, James Kelley ; second lieutenant, E. J. Boggs; first sergeant, Jesse Axton.
Other mention of Company G is made in our notes of the Second Regiment.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC ENCAMPMENT OF 1893
The meeting of the Missouri Department, Grand Army of the Re- public, in Joplin April 12-14, 1893, was an important event and brought to the "City that Jack Built" fully five thousand visitors. Joplin never does things by halves and on this occasion entertained the veterans of the Union army in a royal manner. The Confederate veterans joined with the citizens and extended to the boys in blue a magnificent welcome.
The encampment was opened by a reception to the veterans and a general good time was had. Old acquaintances were renewed, war stories were told and songs were sung, bringing back to the old soldiers the stirring times and scenes of the early sixties. C. W. Whitehead, of Kan- sas City, department commander, presided over the sessions of the en- campment. Among the distinguished visitors present were National Commander A. G. Weissert, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Past Commander William Warner, of Kansas City, and Ex-Governor Phelps, of Spring- field.
The morning session was given over to routine business, the appoint- ment of committees, etc., the two principal features of the day being the grand parade in the afternoon and the campfire at night.
THE PARADE
The parade occurred at four o'clock in the afternoon and was a mag- nificent affair. Over fifteen hundred veterans were in line. The military and semi-military societies of the city acted as escort and helped to lend enthusiasm to the occasion. Past Commander E. W. Beach was the
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grand marshal and, with his aides, Col. J. V. Pierce and Captain Galen Spencer, formed the big parade and promptly at the hour set gave the signal to "forward march."
The order of march was as follows: City marshal; platoon of mounted police; Chief Marshal Beach; Mounted orderlies; First Division, Gen. Charles W. Squires, marshal; Carthage Light Guard Band; Canton Lincoln, I. O. O. F .; Joplin Light Infantry ; Division No. 40, U. R. K. of P .; Joplin fire department; Second Division, A. H. Brewer, marshal; Nevada Martial Band; National Commander Weissert; Department Com- mander C. W. Whitehead, and staff; Delegates to Department Encamp- ment; G. A. R. Third Division, H. W. Davidson, marshal; Kansas Drum Corps; Merrill Camp, Sons of Veterans and all visiting Sons of Veterans.
Visiting posts and comrades of the G. A. R., O. P. Morton Post No. 14.
Fourth Division, T. W. Cunningham, marshal.
Southwest Protective Association and other mounted bodies.
Main street was lined with people from Second to Ninth, and the side- walks were impassable from Third to Seventh. Hundreds of people congregated at points of vantage on the side streets. Most of Joplin was out to view the spectacle. The music, the bright uniforms of the civic societies, the measured tread and military appearance of the Grand Army posts, and the waving flags and banners, combined to inspire an enthusiasm which broke out in cheer upon cheer when the Central school building was reached. Here the pupils of the public schools were massed. They occupied both sides of Wall street from Ninth to Seventh and their lines extended from the curbing to the fences. Others were massed in the yard of the Central school building and all of them were supplied with flags which they waved vigorously. The veterans un- covered as they passed between the lines and cheered in return for the cordial greeting of the pupils. This was a marked and most interesting feature of the parade. The Joplin Daily Herald, in commenting on the parade had an interesting column, "On the Skirmish Line." Fol- lowing are some of the interesting notes : Colonel Cunningham's Cavalry contributed an important feature to the parade.
The U. R. K. of P. made an excellent showing.
Canton Lincoln was complimented all along the line.
Capt. M. M. Rice as captain of the guard looked well in uniform.
The registry department was thronged the entire day by searchers for old army comrades.
Hassendeuble, F. P. Blair and Ransom posts, of St. Louis, made a magnificent appearance.
The mounted police presented a fine appearance and did good service in clearing the line of march.
"Marching Through Georgia" is now, as it was nearly thirty years ago, the popular song of the soldier.
Next to Missouri, Illinois regiments have the largest representation in the registers; Iowa comes next.
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Next to Commander-in-chief Weissert, Past State Commander Warner is one of the youngest looking men in the encampment. National Commander Weissert marched in line with the boys and it is the first time that the commander-in-chief has ever marched on foot in a parade. He marched with Department Commander Whitehead, Post Commander Warner, and Assistant Adjutant General Rogers, and they were as youthful appearing a quartette as could be found in the column.
James Hire, of the Joplin Post, beat the army record for lung power by blowing the street electric wagon machine up to 2200.
J. E. McNair, ex-postmaster of Webb City, searched the register care- fully for a familiar name amongst the Lawrence veterans.
Chaplain Haggerty, who has served several terms, wears his hair, which is as white as the snow flakes, a la Andrew Jackson.
Captain Teets, who was a member of the first Ohio Infantry, looked in vain on the register for the name of a member of his regiment.
The fine appearance of the delegations from the several St. Louis posts excited frequent favorable comments along the line of parade.
George H. McCann, of the Old Coon Tobacco works, at Springfield, sent the boys a barrel of smoking tobacco and a supply of pipes.
Hon. W. S. Norton, of Scammonville, Kansas, attends the encampment and renewed acquaintance with his former Joplin neighbors. He was marshal here during the exciting time of the Lupton riot.
McConey & Son and T. W. Cunningham will be kindly remembered by the delegates for a bountiful supply of ice water conveniently placed for their use on the sidewalk in front of the Bank of Joplin.
Colonel J. P. Tracey, United States marshal for the western district of Missouri, is a member of the Springfield delegation. Colonel Tracey can laugh just as loudly as when he was the modest editor of the Car- thage Banner.
Past Commander Warner evidently enjoys good digestion and an easy conscience. He left his uniform at home because the pantaloons lacked four inches of being sufficient for his equatorial expansion.
The United chorus by the entire department which accompanied Commander Whitehead's solo "Marching Through Georgia" at the afternoon session, fairly made the Club Theatre building tremble with the immense volume of patriotic melody.
When the encampment adjourned at noon it marched to the Frisco depot and escorted National Commander Weissert to his hotel. At the afternoon session a committee was appointed to escort him to the Club Theatre. He was there formally introduced to the encampment and delivered an address.
THE CAMP FIRE
The camp fire at the Club Theater was the crowning event of the ses- sion, and long before the hour for opening the building was packed to its capacity. Mayor R. B. Tyler for the city ; president F. E. Williams, of the Joplin Club, both delivered addresses of welcome and Past Depart-
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ment Commander Rassieur and Major William Warner responded on behalf of the old soldiers.
Rev. J. J. Martin of the First M. E. church and at that day one of Joplin's most entertaining talkers and Judge Charles G. Burton, depart- ment commander-elect, were called for and made pleasing talks. In- spector General Henry was called and responded with a patriotic song which set the audience wild with excitement.
Miss Nellie Bartlett, now Mrs. Snyder, of Kansas City, then one of Joplin's most charming elocutionists, gave a reading which was the hit of the evening. The Carthage Mandolin Club and the G. A. R. Glee Club, of Kansas City, interspered the speeches with musical hits and patriotic airs.
The evening's entertainment was closed with a drill by sixteen pretty high school girls, under the command of "Col." V. Letta Speaks, then one of Joplin's popular lady teachers.
ELECTION
It is always customary to elect the junior department commander from the city where the encampment is held and Past Commander Henry Phelps was honored by the G. A. R. for this important post.
At the next annual encampment , Post Commander J. L. Briggs, who perhaps more than any other one man had made the Joplin meeting a success, was selected as Missouri's representative on the National Council of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was three suc- cessive times reelected. At the meeting of the Woman's Relief Corps Mrs. J. L. Briggs was chosen department vice president and at the next meet- ing passed to the chair.
SOUTH WEST MISSOURI PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION PICNIC
During the spring of 1891 a strong society was founded, composed largely of farmers, and known as the South West Missouri Protective Association, its objects being to capture and bring to speedy justice all evil doers, especially horse thieves.
Three lodges or companies were formed in the territory contiguous to Joplin, and these three joined in a picnic and celebrated at Cunning- ham's Grove, on June 1, 1891. At about eleven o'clock the members of the organization gathered in the Kansas City bottoms and rode 200 strong through Main street in Joplin to the grove. The parade was an imposing spectacle and was a great object lesson. T. W. Cunningham was the marshal of the day and handled the horsemen like a veteran cavalry commander. After dinner at the grove speeches were had, Wilbur, Haughawout, of Tower of Light Lodge, being the principal speaker.
THE JOPLIN CYCLE CLUB
The bicycle was as popular among the smart set in the nineties as the automobile is now, and Joplin had several hundred wheelmen who organized in 1897, the Joplin Cycle Club with 200 members. W. P. Cleavland as captain.
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The first one of the notable events given by this club was a ten mile county cross-road race, on June 19, 1897. The start and finish were witnessed by thousands of people, Joplin street from Third to Sixth being literally packed; Fourth and Joplin was the starting point. Forty-two wheelmen took part in the race, which was won by W. P. Cleavland with Robert Holmes, second; W. C. Trautman, third; and Harry Rogers, fourth.
The road-race was so popular that the club took a lease on Cox Park and constructed a splendid race course. On September 9, 1897, a racing meet was had which brought to Joplin many wheelmen from abroad. In the morning a parade was participated in by the two hundred mem- bers of the club and perhaps fifty out-of-town cycle enthusiasts. This parade was one of the interesting features of the meet, many of the riders costuming themselves in grotesque and fancy costume, and the line of march resembled very much a mardi gras parade.
Seven great racing events were had, as follows: Event No. 1-Inter- state championship, eleven starters, was won by Robert Holmes, with Joe Stebbins, of Carthage, second and Geo. F. Haskins, of Webb City, third.
Event No. 2-Trick and fancy riding; won by Murray Williams.
Event No. 3-Open-mile amateur; ten starters; F. B. Hatterley, of St. Louis, winner; time, 2:30.
Event No. 4 Half-mile professional; five starters; Bert Halker, Kansas City, winner; time, 1:13.
Event No. 5-Exhibition in track riding; winner, Geo. H. Powell, Ft. Scott.
Event No. 6-Two-mile amateurs; seven starters; Dan Daugherty, of St. Louis, winner; time, 5:38.
The closing event was a one-mile professional, a most exciting con- test, which, on account of a dispute as to the rules of the race, was twice run. Sam Coburn was the winner, making the mile in 2:05.
After this event quite a number of interesting exhibitions were given by professional wheelmen in attendance and the day went down in the history of Joplin as a great event, as far as sport was concerned.
A number of cycle meets were had, all of which excited great inter- est. The Cycle Club was exceedingly popular until, in the last decade, when the automobile has taken its place.
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CHAPTER XXXVII
WEBB CITY
POLITICAL HISTORY DURING THE 'NINETIES-SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR TWENTY-
FIVE YEARS-THE WEBB CITY COLLEGE-NEWSPAPERS-BUILDING OF THE NEWLAND HOTEL-RECEPTION BY WEBB CITY LODGE, NO. 115, K. P .- WEBB CITY DIVISION, No. 11, U. R. K. P .- THE EBERTS- WRIGHT STAG PARTY.
During the nineties, Webb City almost doubled its population. It spread out to the south and west and became not only a most busy mart, in a business way, but a city beautiful.
We mention here a score or more of incidents which represent the life, thought and activities of the people.
POLITICAL HISTORY DURING THE NINETIES
The first election held under the new charter in April, 1890, was hotly contested and resulted as follows: T. J. Harrington, mayor; John Brown, marshal; August Brewster, city attorney; A. C. Crandall, collector; E. T. Webb, treasurer, and John J. Corbill, recorder (police judge).
City Council-First ward, C. P. Hendrickson and Paul Maron; sec- ond ward, Walter Tholburn and William Helburn; third ward, W. W. Greenlee and W. C. Reed; fourth ward, John J. Craig and E. Swartz.
At the off-year election, 1891, the following gentlemen came into the council: John Martsolf, N. N. Burkhead and John Dunlap.
1892 : Mayor, C. S. Manker; marshal, H. W. Piatt; assessor, J. M. Magill; treasurer, E. T. Webb; attorney, W. M. Robinson; recorder, G. W. Phillips; collector, S. B. Wells.
City Council-W. W. Wampler, Louis Helm, W. E. Reed and E. E. Brandsbury, together with the hold-over members elected in 1891. A heavy vote was polled at this election.
At the spring election of 1893, the following members came into the council : O. P. Sutherland, C. J. McClelland, L. O. Walker and H. E. Hatcher.
1894: Mayor, J. J. Funk; marshal, H. W. Piatt; city attorney, E. C. Crow; police judge, A. M. Whitworth; assessor, L. E. Albright and treasurer, E. T. Webb.
Council-David Bacon, George E. Quinby, A. B. Smith and F. M. King, together with the hold-over members elected in 1893.
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At the spring election, 1895 the following gentlemen came on the council : L. D. Hare, Jerry Clark, J. C. Abbott and L. R. Reed.
At the fall election of 1894 Judge William Robinson was elected to the supreme court of the state and E. C. Crow, city attorney of Webb City, was appointed by the governor to fill out the vacancy. This was quite a coincident, the city attorneyship of Webb City being the step- ping stone to the circuit court in both incidents. Judge Crow later be- came attorney of the state. W. J. Owen filled out Judge Crow's term as city attorney.
1896: Mayor, F. M. King; marshal, Calvin Fox; police judge, A. M. Whiteworth ; city attorney, W. J. Owen; treasurer, H. B. Hulett; col- lector, J. B. Overstreet and assessor, J. S. Harrison.
Council-J. M. Lenesta, Ab Rich, W. C. Pugh, William James, and Adam Lagle, with the hold-over members elected in 1895.
Mr. King resigned at the close of his first year and J. W. Frye was elected to fill out the unexpired term.
1898: Mayor, E. E. Spracklin; marshal, J. A. Brown; city attorney, A. M. Whitworth; police judge, J. Rooney ; assessor, P. L. Martin; col., W. E. Reed; treasurer, H. B. Hulett.
Council-J. E. Locke, D. L. Mosier, W. H. Shelton and T. J. Harring- ton, together with the hold-over members elected 1897.
During this administration the city limits were extended south to Oakland but were contested in court and declared void.
In 1899 the following gentlemen came into the council: J. M. Linerba, A. D. Hatton, John Quary and W. L. Howard.
SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
We are indebted to Miss Ella Helm, teacher of history in the Webb City High School, for the following review of the Webb City schools covering the later 'eighties, the 'nineties and the first ten years of the present century.
The perpetuity of the free institutions of our country depends upon the intelligence and patriotism of her citizens. The public school is the medium by which the proper preparation for good citizenship may be accomplished, and we feel a just pride in what has been and is being done along these lines. Today it is my pleasure to tell you about the development and growth of the public schools since I came here.
Seventeen years ago an eight-room frame school house stood where the Central High School building stands today. It had no library, no laboratory-in fact, no conveniences like the modern school building of this city today, and was the only structure of the kind in the town.
The enrolment at that time was between four and five hundred. The directors were W. E. Foster, Josiah Van Buskirk and John Jancock. The corps of teachers were: Principal, Theodric Axline; V. Letta Speaks, Ella Helm, Ella Walker, M. J. Weatherford, Willie E. Franklin, Ruby Robinson and Rose Fishburn.
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Owing to the floating population and overcrowded condition of the schools, they were not well graded. I remember distinctly a fad grew among the students to let the "big geography" be a basis for classifica- tion, and, without regard to intellectual attainments, the big, the little, the wise, the unwise, came to my department and said in an assured tone: "I am classified, for I have the 'big geography.'"
The first morning of the session, the High School pupils were per- mitted to select their own course of study, for it would have been dif- ficult to have done otherwise with this motley crowd-representatives from so many different schools and so many different states. By careful study of the advancement of the pupils, Professor Axline made the following High School course of study, suited to the needs of the times : Physical geography, higher arithmetic, algebra, plane geometry, botany, zoology, physics, rhetoric, general history and English literature.
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