USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 50
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Before the time for the next annual meeting President William Car- ter, of the Old Settlers' Association, passed to the great unknown, and his death occurring about the time when arrangements for the annual event should be made, out of respect to his memory the banquet was post- poned to a future date and since then no one has felt called upon to as- sume the duties of leader and take the initiative for a reunion. Thus the banquet at the Germania Hall, May 14, 1895, was the last given and the association has been together in a body since then, only to assist in the burial of the members as they, one by one, have passed away.
OLDEST LIVING PIONEER
At the date of the writing of this history, J. N. U. Seela is the oldest. living pioneer, having come to Jasper county in 1883. A short time ago a representative of the Joplin Daily Herald visited Mr. Seela at his home and obtained from him the following little interview which we print with the paper's consent on account of its historic incident.
When interviewed Mr. Seela gave an interesting account of early days here. He regards them as the "good old days." "In those days everybody worked," he said. "My earliest remembrance is of hoeing potatoes, by the side of my mother. Mother raised flax and cotton and spun and wove all our clothing. Brother and I used to sit in front of the fire place and seed the cotton for her and twist it into a long loose rope, for the spinning wheel. Often the blaze from the logs would ignite it, and then we would have a big blaze.
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"We boys wore long shirts which mother made, reaching below our knees. They were wove of the linen and were our only garment. There were no fine dressers in those days. And we didn't have much money. But we enjoyed ourselves more, I think, than people do now. People were more truthful and honorable then. There was more humanity.
"Now-a-days you'll find mighty little humanity. Why, men would come for twenty-five miles, in those days, to a house-raisin'. Now a man wont do a thing for you unless you pay him well. I have hewn logs many a time for a neighbor's cabin. I used to know the number of logs it took to raise a corner and could go into the woods and split the exact number for a cabin. I've reared the corner of a cabin by myself. But I couldn't do it now."
Mr. Seela is still strong and does the greater part of the work about his farm.
Speaking of their foods, Mr. Seela told of the first sugar he ever saw, when he was a grown young man. It came in cakes and was whittled off for use. Honey was the only "sweetening" they had, save for maple syrup in the springtime. But only a few sugar maples grew along Cen- ter creek. The woods, however, abounded with bees and honey was plentiful. Coffee was bought at ten pounds for a dollar, green, and often the unopened burs were sprouted.
A tuition school located on Center creek, supported by Barry county's farmers, was taught by the more learned of the districts settlers. But, as Mr. Seela declared, his first teacher hardly knew his A. B. C's.
In 1854 Mr. Seela, with his wife and baby boy, moved to the old homestead on which he now lives, and erected his one roomed log cabin. Grass then covered the site of Carthage and the county's court house. On the north side of what is now the square, George Hornbeck then had a general store. Here farmers of the surrounding country obtained their provisions.
Mr. Seela's farm was the scene of skirmishing during the Civil war, and the old cabin in which he and his wife first settled, was burned by pillaging parties.
The story is told of one woman, who had no rolling pin and used a large ear of corn to roll dough for her bread.
Brooms were made either of bunches of buckbrush tied together, or from a straight stick of hickory, whittled at one end to be small enough for handling, with the other split into fiber. A band of the bark was left at the top of the brush part to prevent further splitting.
There were no matches and fire was struck with steel and flint. The spark was directed to a turf of dry flax lint which it ignited.
But when a light was needed it was from a tallow dip. These were made by frying out the fat of deer or bears and having it melted in a pot. Then a row of strings was suspended from a stick and dipped into the grease and pulled out. The fat that clung to the string soon cooled and it was dipped quickly into the melted fat and again withdrawn. This was repeated until each string was surrounded with a thick layer
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of grease. Then they were cut loose from the stick and laid away. The string in the center served as a wick and these tallow dips made very good candles.
A simple substitute for a mouse trap was devised by one settler, with the aid of a thimble and a saucer. The thimble placed under the rim of the saucer small end down, with bait attached, proved to be an effective devise and no mouse was the wiser.
Deer were plentiful, and furnished the main portion of meat for the earliest inhabitants. The fat was used for lard. Each autumn, hunting parties of Indians invaded this country until it was well settled, in search of deer.
Butter, milk and eggs were as scarce as they have been in Chicago recently and when procurable, were of such high prices that would make today's sufferers from the "high cost of living" thankful that they weren't pioneers of a half century ago. Sixty-five cents was the price of a pound of butter in the latter '60's, while the price of eggs per dozen was half a dollar. Milk was sold at 30 and 35 cents a gallon, but was scarce.
Preachers were even more scarce. Almost every settler had his Bible, and those who could read, spread the gospel teachings among their neigh- bors. The preacher of the neighborhood was one of the farmers or a carpenter, on weekdays. But even when a preacher could not be pro- cured, gatherings were held on the Sabbath, with the men and women of the country leading the service of worship.
STATE PICNICS AND ORGANIZATIONS
In this day of rapid transportation a man in a busy career may be called far from his boyhood home, and although we are a cosmopolitan people and easily adjust ourselves to changing conditions and scenes. and, as Eugene Field in his charming poem, "John Smith," says:
"Just which John Smith you are, I really can't recall,
And somehow I like to think that you must be them all;
And so you are, for whether your crest be badger, bear, palmetto, sword or pine,
Yours is the glory of the stars that with the stripes combine. Or mebby Colonel Smith you are the gentleman I knew,
Who came from the state where Democrats and the finest horses grew,
Where ladies are all beautiful, and where the crop of corn Is utilized for bourbon, true awters there are born."
But while we are all Americans and love this great nation of ours and feel at home any place where the stars and stripes float, still now and then our minds wander back to the old homestead and in our dreams, at least, we live over the days of our youth.
The year 1900 was noted for the organization in this county of a num- ber of state societies, when the people from other states than ours came
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together, renewed acquaintances and talked over the great accomplish- ments of their native counties and towns.
The first of these State Picnics was held by the people who came from the blue grass state.
The Kentucky Association was formed at Lakeside Park in August, 1900. At the Kentucky picnic Hon. W. J. Stone was the orator of the day. A permanent organization was formed, with Capt. C. H. Price, of Webb City, president; A. L. McCalley, of Carthage, secretary, and Dr. A. B. Freeman, of Joplin, treasurer. This society has since had a num- ber of delightful gatherings.
The Hoosiers and the Buckeyes also both formed state societies and held a state reunion at Lakeside that year. Major John B. Lloyd was the first president of the Indiana Society and R. T. Stickney, president of the Ohio reunion. At the Ohio picnic it was found, on the examina- tion of the roster, that three brothers, John, Joseph and Henry Cather, were the oldest Buckeyes in attendance, they having come to Jasper county from Ohio in 1848 and resided continuously in the county from then to now.
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CHAPTER XLII
GENERAL JOPLIN MATTERS
EXTENSION OF CITY LIMITS-CITY CENSUS IN 1905-10-THE CITY PARK SYSTEM-EAST JOPLIN IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION-JOPLIN'S FIRE DEPARTMENT-MUNICIPAL OFFICERS, 1900-11-JOPLIN AS A CONVEN- TION CITY-REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1902-DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1904-NEWSPAPERS-RAILROADS AND NEW UNION DEPOT-THE HEIM STREET CAR LINE.
During the past ten years Joplin has taken many forward strides in the matter of municipal advancement. It has voted a permanent tax for the support of a free public library, built a new and commodious city hall, enlarged its electric light plant and built a viaduct over the Kansas City Southern Railway tracks on Third street. It has paved many miles of streets and caused to be laid over fifty miles of sidewalks. Many matters of civic improvements are still fresh in the minds of the people and for the lack of space we will not attempt to set them all down at length. We will, however, mention a few of the most important municipal improvements which had much to do in shaping the destinies of the city or adding materially to the happiness and comfort of the people.
EXTENSION OF CITY LIMITS
In 1900 there sprang up west of the city a new camp which came into great prominence and, like Blendville on the south, grew with such rapidity that it became necessary to establish some form of local govern- ment. The new camp was called Chitwood and at first grew up among the mining properties of L. P. Cunningham and the King Jack and John .Jackson mines. It took its name from a Chitwood Hollow.
Chitwood was incorporated as a village and for a time maintained a city government and its schools attained a state of great excellence. In 1908 the city limits were extended to the west, so that Chitwood was taken into the city of Joplin and is now the eighth ward of the city and at this same election Villa Heights, on the east, was taken into the city and is the east district of the first ward.
CITY CENSUS IN 1905-10
A special census of Joplin, taken in January, 1905, showed that the city had a population of 31,582. The United States census of 1910 showed the population to be 32,073.
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The estimated population of Joplin at this writing, based on the school census taken in 1911, which showed a great increase over 1910, is 35,000.
THE CITY PARK SYSTEM
The park system of Joplin had its origin in 1897, when T. W. Cun- ningham, then mayor of Joplin, gave to the city Cunningham Grove, south of Blendville. This beautiful grove was greatly used by the citi- zens for picnics and celebrations, and it was Mr. Cunningham's idea to preserve the grove so that the people of the city might have some place in the city limits for gatherings of this kind.
The city at the time had no fund available with which to improve the park, and in 1903, City Attorney P. D. Decker secured the passage of a bill through the legislature authorizing the city, by a vote of the people, to levy a tax for park purposes. The matter was submitted to the people at the general election of 1904 and carried.
VIEW IN CUNNINGHAM PARK, JOPLIN
Mayor Cunningham, who had again been called to the chair in 1903, appointed the following gentlemen as a board of park directors : C. H. Hand, first ward; H. R. Conkling, second ward; P. A. Christman, third ward; Chas. Schifferdecker, fourth ward; Boone Jenkins, fifth ward; J. A. Graves, sixth ward; W. H. Landreth, seventh ward, and Chris Guengerich and Joel T. Livingston, members at large. The board organized, with P. A. Christman, president; H. R. Conkling, vice presi- dent; and Joel T. Livingston, secretary. The board has remained un- changed since its organization, excepting in the person of C. H. Hand, who died in 1907 and was succeeded by his son, Leon H., and he in 1909, by George Linwick. Mr. Conkling removed from the city in 1909 and was Vol. 1-30
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succeeded by W. A. Sanford. Charles Schifferdecker asked to retire from the board, on account of his many private interests. and was succeeded by T. T. Snapp, who filled out his unexpired term and was succeeded by Senator J. T. Dunwoody. Mr. Landreth retired at his own request and was succeeded by J. M. Leonard. Chris Guengerich has been the president of the park commission since 1909.
In addition to the Cunningham Park, which has been greatly beau- tified, the city has acquired Mineral Park, in East Joplin, and Me- Clelland Park, south of the city near Grand Falls, and has also used, through the courtesy of the Scottish Rite Masons, a small vacant plot at Fourth and Byers. All of these places have been made very beau- tiful and have been much used. M. F. Keith and R. P. Brown, super- intendent and assistant superintendent of parks, have worked untiringly for a more beautiful Joplin and deserve the thanks of the city.
EAST JOPLIN IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
In 1893 there was organized in East Joplin a club which has had a great influence on the destinies of the First ward and, largely on ac- count of the agitation started by it, has in the past nine years greatly improved the appearance of this section of the city. The first officers of the club were W. M. Marshall, president, Robert Moore, vice presi- dent, A. C. Elliff, secretary.
This club set about to beautify East Joplin and during the years that the club has been in existence something like ten miles of streets have been graded, over six miles of sidewalks have been built and a beautiful park has been added to the ward. Recently, the club has un- dertaken the proposition of enlarging Mineral Park by extending it west through St. Joe Hollow and south on the east side of Joplin creek to Broadway. This work, if accomplished, will make a beautiful place out of what is now an unsightly spot. Within the bounds of the pro- posed extension to Mineral Park is the spot where E. R. Moffet and John B. Sergeant sunk the first shaft in the Joplin district; and it is proposed on this site to erect a monument to be made of specimens taken from the mines all over the Joplin district.
JOPLIN'S FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Joplin fire department is an institution of which the entire com- munity is proud, and justly, too.
From the time of the organization of the old volunteer fire depart- ment down to this day, the citizens of Joplin have tried to keep this organization out of politics and it is freer from political influences than any other department of the city. Among the fire laddies, sterling worth, chivalric deeds and unquestioned bravery is the "pull" which carries them to public favor and places of responsibility.
The Joplin fire department as at present organized is composed of a chief, assistant chief and one hose and hook and ladder company for each of the three fire districts.
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Joplin has the distinction of having introduced the automobile fire- fighting apparatus, having been the first city in the world, so far as we are able to ascertain, to purchase an automobile fire hose and hook and ladder truck.
The idea of using the automobile as a means of transporting the fire-fighting equipment originated with Albert Webb, of Joplin, who operated an automobile livery just across the street from the Central fire department. Mr. Webb, as an experiment, induced the city to place a chemical tank and a section of small hose on an automobile and when an alarm of fire was turned in he, with the chief, went to the fire. In nine cases out of ten, they put out the fire before it had gained much headway and, in some instances, were ready to return when the hose company, which was drawn by horses, arrived on the scene.
The worth of such a fire-fighting apparatus was apparent to every one and the city contracted with Mr. Webb for a hose truck-and later purchased complete equipments for the three companies; also an aerial ladder truck for the Central department. The aerial truck is drawn by horses, being so large that the ordinary "auto" is too small.
MUNICIPAL OFFICERS, 1900-11
The following officers have served the city during the past eleven years :-
1900: Mayor, J. H. Spencer; city marshal, J. A. McManamy; police judge, J. F. Osborne; city attorney, Joel T. Livingston; city col- lector, R. A. Wilson; treasurer, J. B. Glover, Jr .; assessor, J. B. W. Roe; clerk, E. C. H. Squire; street commissioner, J. C. Sigers; engi- neer, S. J. McKee; fire chief, Bracken Wilson; health officer, J. B. Wil- lim; counselor, C. H. Montgomery.
City Council-H. B. Crossman, Lee Campbell, R. A. Loomis, J. M. Evans, C. W. McAbb, A. F. Donnan, Ralph Danford, Frank Felix, J. A. Brookshire and Benj. M. Stevens.
1901: Mayor, J. C. Trigg; city marshal, T. J. Cafer; police judge, C. S. Walden; city attorney, P. D. Decker; collector, W. A. Kirkpat- rick; treasurer, T. A. Cunningham; assessor, C. T. Meloan; clerk, E. C. H. Squire; street commissioner, John Delaney; engineer, S. J. Mc- Kee; fire chief, W. G. Pearson; health officer, Dr. W. H. Woodson; counselor, C. H. Montgomery.
Council-Lee Campbell, D. F. Hinds, J. M. Evans, S. T. Davis, A. F. Donnan, T. C. Malloy, Frank Felix, Matthew George, Benj. M. Stevens and M. A. Baylis.
1902: Mayor, J. C. Trigg; city marshal, T. J. Cafer; police judge, C. S. Walden; city attorney, P. D. Decker; collector, W. A. Kirkpat- rick; treasurer, T. A. Cunningham; assessor, C. T. Meloan; clerk, E. C. H. Squire; street commissioner, John Delaney; fire chief, J. C. Sigers; health officer, Dr. W. H. Woodson; counselor, C. H. Montgomery.
City Council-D. F. Hines, Lee Campbell, S. F. Davis, A. F. Davis, T. C. Malloy, A. F. Donnan, Matthew George, Geo. H. Redell. M. A.
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Baylis, L. B. Cook, Henry Kost, W. H. Houts, J. C. Warren and A. H. Hall.
1903: Mayor, T. A. Cunningham; city marshal. J. A. MeManamy : police judge, J. J. Barnett; city attorney, R. A. Pearson; collector. W. A. Kirkpatrick; treasurer, C. W. Bartlett ; assessor, C. T. Meloan; clerk, E. C. H. Squire; engineer, S. J. MeKee; street commissioner, S. S. Nix; fire chief, J. C. Sigers; health officer. Dr. G. I. Mays and J. F. Myers; counselor, C. H. Montgomery.
City Council-Lee Campbell, A. F. Davis, Geo. H. Redell, L. B. Cook, W. H. Houts, A. A. Hall, D. F. Hinds, Jesse Zook, W. E. Mor- gan, G. W. Burgess, Henry Kost and E. E. Warren.
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1904: Mayor, T. W. Cunningham; city marshal. J. A. MeManamy ; police judge, J. J. Barnett; city attorney, R. A. Pearson; collector, W. A. Kirkpatrick; treasurer, C. W. Bartlett ; assessor, C. T. Meloan; clerk, E. C. H. Squire; street commissioner, S. S. Nix ; engineer, S. J. McKee; fire chief, J. C. Sigers; health officer. G. I. Mays; counselor, Geo. J. Grayston.
City Council-D. F. Hinds, Jessie A. Zook, T. C. Malloy, W. E. Morgan, G. W. Burgess, Henry Kost, E. E. Warren, Robert Moore, J. M. Lane, F. A. Rogers, J. F. Dunwoody, James Hancock, Joseph H. Myers, William Cox.
1905: Mayor, C. A. Lyon; city marshal, J. II. Myers; police judge, Byron Bourne; city attorney, E. F. Cameron; collector, H. W. Nash ; treasurer, J. A. Becker; assessor, Charles M. Miles; clerk, E. C. H. Squire; street commissioner, E. O. Moats; engineer, W. W. Van Frank; fire chief, Frank Zellars; health officer, Dr. L. I. Matthews; counselor, Geo. J. Grayston.
City Council-R. E. Moore, James M. Lane, F. H. Rogers, J. F. Dunwoody, James Hancock, S. P. Griffin, Wm. Cox, R. E. Coberly, Wm. S. Brown, J. W. Downing, W. E. Morgan, Guy Humes, J. L. Col- man, J. J. Wolfe.
1906: Mayor, C. W. Lyon; city marshall, J. H. Myers; police judge, Byron Bourne; city attorney, E. F. Cameron; city collector, H. W. Nash ; city treasurer, J. A. Becker; city assessor, C. M. Miles; city clerk, Hiram Phillips; street commissioner, Walter F. Jones; engineer, W. W. Van Frank; fire chief, Frank Zellars; health officer. Dr. Leon F. Hurwitz; counselor, A. C. Burnett.
City Council-John Newton, W. S. Brown, J. W. Downing, W. E. Morgan, Guy T. Humes, J. L. Colman, J. J. Wolfe, R. L. Board, J. W. King, A. F. Donnan, Thomas Kelleher, W. H. Wilson, S. P. Griffin, C. W. Westcott.
1907: Mayor, J. F. Osborn ; city marshal, J. H. Myers; police judge, Byron Bourne; city attorney, Clark Nichols; city collector, II. W. Nash ; city treasurer, J. A. Becker; city assessor, S. S. Nix; city clerk, Hy Phillips; street commissioner, Andy Ferrick; engineer, Wm. Kohlman; fire chief, J. C. Sigers; health officer, Dr. F. E. Rohan; counselor, John J. Wolfe; police matron, Mrs. Ellen Ayers.
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City Council-R. L. Board, J. W. King, T. C. Malloy, Thomas Kelle- her, W. H. Wilson, S. P. Griffin, C. W. Westcott, Charles Wells, S. A. Smith, Clarence Shortess, P. W. Hennessey, Guy T. Humes, R. P. Brown, Robert Wear.
1908: Mayor, J. F. Osborne; city marshal, J. H. Myers; police judge, Byron Bourne; city attorney, Clark Nichols; city collector, H. W. Nash; city treasurer, J. A. Becker; city assessor, S. S. Nix; city clerk, Hiram Phillips; street commissioner, Andy Ferrick; engineer, J. B. Hodgdon; fire chief, Frank Chandler; health officer, Dr. F. E. Rohan; counselor, J. J. Wolfe; police matron, Mrs. Ayers.
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City Council-D. F. Hinds, J. W. King, T. C. Malloy, N. H. Kelso, W. H. Wilson, W. E. Allen, C. W. Westcott, Bert Mills, Charles Wells, S. A. Smith, Clarence Shortess, P. W. Hennessey, Guy T. Humes, R. P. Brown, Robert Wear, J. C. Freeman.
1909 : Mayor, Guy T. Humes; city marshal, J. A. McManamy ; po- lice judge, Fred W. Kelsey; city attorney, T. C. Hendricks; city col- lector, H. W. Nash; city treasurer, J. A. Becker; city assessor, S. S. Nix; city clerk, O. E. Lichliter; street commissioner, W. S. Brown; en- gineer, J. B. Hodgdon; fire chief, Robert Pearson; health officer, Dr. D. R. Hill; counselor, Mercer Arnold; police matron, Mrs. Ellen Ayers.
City Council-E. B. Edes, J. L. Jones, Ed. Skelton, C. P. M. Wiley, Charles Trusty, J. M. Jackson, Elmer Warren, Bert Mills, D. F. Hinds, J. W. King, T. C. Malloy, N. H. Kelso, W. II. Wilson, Wm. E. Allen, C. W. Westcott, J. C. Freeman.
1910: Mayor, G. T. Humes; city marshal, J. A. MeManamy ; police judge, Fred W. Kelsey ; city attorney, T. C. Hendricks; city collector, H. W. Nash; city treasurer, J. A. Becker; city assessor, S. S. Nix; city clerk, O. E. Lichliter; street commissioner, Geo. M. Hinds; engineer, J. B. Hodgdon; health officer, Dr. D. R. Hill; counselor, Mercer Arnold; fire chief, Robert Pearson.
City Council-C. A. Patterson, Thomas Douglas, T. C. Malloy, Phillip Arnold, Ed. Buxton, Wm. Houts, J. L. Laster, James Teeter, E. D. Eades, J. L. Jones, Ed. Skelton, O. P. M. Wiley, Charles Trusty, J. M. Jackson, Elmer Warren, Bert Mills.
1911: Mayor, J. F. Osborne; city marshal, J. H. Myers; police judge, Fred Johnson; city attorney, Ray Bond; city collector, H. W. Nash; treasurer, J. A. Becker ; assessor, R. L. Jefferies; city clerk, Chas. A. Robinson; street commissioner, Wm. Ash ; engineer, J. B. Hodgdon ; fire chief, R. L. Pearson ; health officer, Dr. A. M. Gregg: city .counsellor, R. A. Pearson.
City Council-Chas. A. Patterson, Thomas Douglass, T. C. Malloy, Philip Arnold, Ed. Buxton, W. H. Houts, Wm. Hogue, J. T. Teeters, J. F. Wiles, W. A. Miligan, John Seimener, Harry M. Stout, Charles Trusty, John J. Saunders, J. L. Bell, Bert Mills.
JOPLIN AS A CONVENTION CITY
During the last decade Joplin has gained an enviable reputation as a convention city and has entertained, with great credit to her citizens,
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twenty or more large gatherings, having a state or national character. In all of these assemblages, whether of a political, fraternal, business or 'social nature, the citizens have joined in helping to extend the glad hand to the city's guests. We chronicle here a dozen of these great gatherings, to the end that the reader may get an idea of the variety and magnitude of the conventions that have been entertained and the manner in which they have been cared for.
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1902
The State Judicial Convention met in Joplin July 15-16, 1902, and was the first state convention of either of the great political parties which had honored Joplin by selecting it as its meeting place. The con- vention brought to the city more than 3,000 visitors, among them many distinguished members of the party from other states.
The Joplin Club appointed a non-partisan committee of 150 to ar- range the details of this convention and to entertain the visitors and, irrespective of politics, every one of the hundred and fifty, half of whom were Democrats, did their part well.
The committee organized by electing John R. Holmes as chairman, and Hugh MeIndoo, secretary. It being apparent that the hotels would not house the big throng, the citizens generally threw open their homes and placed them at the disposal of the committee on entertainment.
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