USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 15
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During the first excitement produced by the advent of the telephone in Dade county, rural districts and the establishment of switch-boards and centrals, the farmers got busy in establishing centrals of their own and they built many independent lines claiming other telephone companies asked too much toll and too much rental. Nothing could possibly stop their enthusiasm and their ambition in building and operating telephone lines of their own. The country has many such lines today and
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the farmers are sustaining a most excellent service at their switch-board in Greenfield, and in other towns in Dade county. It is a pity that Mr. States and the lead- ing spirits in the farmer telephone element in an early day, could not have agreed on some plan that would have centralized all the telephones in the county. The business was then new and the outcome could not be real- ized. Some day this great need will be accomplished and then the people will be reunited and the service will be of such a nature that no one would care to go back to the old method. There is great need of better construction in all the country districts, great need of better care of all country lines, in order to give the people service. The telephone is not now considered a plaything, it is an in- strument of business, and it thus treated with the excep- tion of proper care for the polage and the wire construc- tion. This needed improvement will all come in time, then and not until then, will Dade County get what is due her in the telephone business.
Some fifteen years ago the Bell Telephone constructed a long distance line into Greenfield, giving Greenfield, Everton, Lockwood and South Greenfield, connection with all points their lines reach. After a few years they con- nected their wire into the Greenfield local switchboard, thus giving every patron an opportunity to talk to distant towns from their own homes and places of business by paying the toll. They do a good business in Greenfield. Also at the other points in the county where they con- nect with local centrals. Dade county stock men use their lines extensively as well as Dade county merchants.
Chapter 11 HISTORY OF THE LADIES MAGAZINE CLUB.
by
Mrs. Ida Gray Young.
The Magazine Club is the oldest literary club in Greenfield. Early in 1897 Mrs. Jessie Harrison and Mrs. Ida Young started the movement to organize a woman's literary club, at the suggestion of Mrs. Harrison's mother, Mrs. Hawkins; Mrs. Hawkins having recently visited her sister's literary club in Nebraska, which had a magazine circle and she urged them to organize a similar club here.
They suggested the idea to several of their friends- Mrs. Wilda McBride among the number-who immediately offered her home on Wells street as a place of meeting for organization.
The minutes of the organization read as follows:
"A few ladies happened to meet together at the home of Mrs. McBride, Saturday, March 13th, 1897 and they decided they would like to have a club. Accordingly the house was called to order and Mrs. Young made tem- porary chairman. It was decided that the name of the club should be the Magazine Club, and each member should furnish a magazine to be circulated among the members of said club. Eight ladies were enrolled as charter members, as follows: Mrs. Wetzel, Mrs. Eastin, Mrs. Ellen Griffith, Mrs. Bowles, Mrs. McBride, Mrs. Nil- son (now Mrs. Robertson of Carl Junction), Mrs. Har- rison and Mrs. Young.
Mrs. Harrison was elected president; Mrs. Griffith, vice president, and Mrs. Young, secretary.
It was agreed that the club should meet every two weeks, on Thursdays, the meetings to be held at the homes of the members, taking the alphabet reversed .
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Club adjourned to meet with Mrs. Young, Thursday, March 18th."
At this first regular meeting of the Magazine club, two members were added, Mrs. Mann and Mrs. Stone.
The president appointed Mrs. McBride, Mrs. Eastin and Mrs. Wetzel to draw up by-laws for the new club and club adjourned to meet with Mrs. Wetzel, April 1st.
Three more members were added that day; Mrs. Anna Jacobs, Mrs. Flora Merrill and Mrs. Lon Hall, mak- ing the membership 13. It was then decided to limit the number to 13. These thirteen members were considered the original charter members of the magazine Club.
It was decided to have a paper on Current Events at each meeting, also the biography of a poet and selec- tions from his writings, after which refreshments and a social good time.
About the middle of May, the Magazine Club, to- gether with the Clover Leaf and the P. G. T. Club (these two were the girls social clubs) gave a Fad Party at the residence of Judge Shafer, which was a great success. At the end of the first year the club entertained their husbands for the first time at the home of Mrs. Eastin.
Beginning the second year, the club decided to in- crease the membership to twenty, and took in Mesdames Laura Harrison, Jopes, Taylor, Edwards, Tarr, Minnie Finley, Stringfield and Gass. Mrs. Wheeler was taken in as an honorary member as she was only in the city temporarily. They adopted club colors, white and yellow, a club flower, the field daisy, and a motto, "Literature is the thought of thinking souls." The literary work was similar to that of the first year.
The club celebrated their first anniversary March 13, 1898 by entertaining their husbands at the home of Mrs. Minnie Finley on Main stret. Each person present rep- resented a book. Also gave their first New Year's party at the home of Mrs. Wetzel.
The only shadow that second year was the death of one of the charter members-Flora Carlock Merrill.
A new name appeared on the 1899 year book-Kate
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Shafer Harrison, then a bride, who was taken in to fill the vacancy in the club. The club took up more literary work this year, also the study of parlimentary rules. The second anniversary party was given at the home of Mrs. Ida Young, and the New Year's Eve party with Mrs. Nilson, at the Washington Hotel.
At the beginning of the fourth year (1900) several of the members having left town, the club again took in four new members; Mrs. Anna Finley, Mrs. Kirby, Mrs. Elliott and Mrs. Flora Van Osdell. Mrs. Minnie Finley again offered lier home as a place to celebrate the anni- versary. In 1900 and 1901 the club continued their lit- erary work, still taking up miscellaneous subjects.
They joined the State Federation in 1901 but dropped out in two or three years, as there were no district con- ventions at that time.
They celebrated their fourth anniversary (1901) with Mrs. Mann and the New Year's Eve party at the home of Mrs. Jopes.
Death again visited the Magazine Club the summer of 1901 taking the youngest member, Flora West Van Osdell. Since that date although the death angel hovered alarmingly near, at times, he has always passed on, leav- ing their rank untouched for nearly sixteen years.
The Club gave their first joint party with the Cen- tury Club in 1902, at the home of Mrs. Grether. They again filled vacancies in the club in 1902, taking in Mrs. Dora Mitchell, Mrs. Ethel Tarr, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Lena Merrill. They took up the Bay View course of study in 1902, which they studied for four years. The course included American history, American Literature, Mexican History, German History and German Literature. with Mrs. Lena Merrill. They celebrated their seventh
The Club celebrated their sixth anniversary (in 1903) anniversary in 1904 with Mrs. Ida Young by giving their husbands a banquet. The husbands responded with elo- quent applause to acts.
In 1905 the Magazine and Century clubs organized themselves into a Cemetery Association for the purpose
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of beautifying the City Cemetery. This work was very successful and the cemetery is now maintained at an an- nual expenditure of some three hundred dollars. The Club for years gave an annual Chrysanthemum Show to raise funds but the Association now has an endowment fund which will make it self-sustaining in the next three of four years.
In 1906 the club began their Shakesperean study and for seven consecutive years they studied the plays of Shakespeare. In 1906 four more vacancies were filled by taking in Mesdames Mary Neale, Carrie Griffith, May Van Osdell and Leo Engleman.
The club furnished a Ladies' Rest Room during the street fair in the fall of 1906.
In 1907 the club took up the work of improving the Public School grounds. They started the fund by giving a public ice-cream social that summer.
In 1907 the club decided to entertain the school fac- ulty which they did that fall at the home of Mrs. Eastin and since that time it has become an annual affair. Two new members were added in 1907, Mrs. Newman and Mrs. Thweatt, to fill vacancies in the club. This year the club asked the Superintendent, Prof. McPherson, to assist them in their Shakespearean study. He favored the club, during the fall of 1907 and winter of 1908 with the most de- lightful and instructive lectures on the plays of Shakes- peare that they studied that year. Early in January, 1908 Mrs. Lucy Jacobs McPherson (the bride of the superin- tendent) was taken into the club. In that year it was de- cided to use the school improvement fund (which the Cen- tury club assisted in raising) for building a cement wall on the south side of the public school grounds.
In 1910 the club introduced the Flower Mission Penny seeds into the homes of the school children, in the fall holding a flower and vegetable show and awarding prizes for best display. (This work has been repeated with in- creasing interest and success, which has enthused some of the neighboring towns to follow their example.)
In 1910 the club decided to increase their member-
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ship to twenty-five, and the following ladies were elected: Mesdames Nettie Shaw, Dena Wetzel, Tola Higgins, Ruth Grether, Della Griffiths and Mabel Engleman.
In 1911 the club gave prizes for the best kept lawns. Seats were placed in the cemetery. Twenty-nine dollars were raised by selling tags and the money sent to south- east Missouri flood sufferers.
In 1912-13 the club began the study of Famous Women, also read Silas Marner. This year book was sent to the President of the General Federation of Clubs. She wrote to the club a letter complimenting them highly on the work they were doing.
The club helped to establish clean-up day this year.
In 1913-14, the club continued the study of Famous Women; also road Vicar of Wakefield, and took up Study of Art, taking the works of Raphael and De Vince.
Mrs. Lillian Wetzel was elected to fill a vacancy in the club. The club received a message from New York City. Mrs. Pennybacker, the president of the General Federation, wired, sending greetings on Opening Day, fall of 1914. The club also decided at that meeting to in- crease their number to thirty. Mrs. Rawhauser, Mrs. Mildred Hall, Mrs. McLemore, Mrs. Campbell, and Mrs. Wilson were elected as the new members. Farm Boy Fund was started in 1914. Also again joined the State Federa- tion this year, sending delegates to Pierce City to the Distriet Convention.
In 1914-15 the club read Vanity Fair and began the History of Art. In 1915 they sent a delegate to the State Convention at St. Joseph.
The study for 1915-16 was Martin Chuzzelwit and Italian Art. Delegates were sent to Monett to the District Convention. The club assisted in making the Round-up a success and in securing Miss Alice Curtis Moyer-Wing to lecture ou woman suffrage.
The study of 1916-17 is Italian Art and Henry Es- mond. The Club became a member of the Associated Charities of Greenfield, organized by the Commercial Club of the City.
CAPT. T. F. RENFRO.
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The Magazine Club celebrated their twentieth anni- versary at the home of Mrs. Eastin by entertaining their husbands.
They have finished twenty years' work and are the oldest and largest literary club in Greenfield.
0
THE KENSINGTON CLUB, AT GREENFIELD, by
Mrs. Walter B. McReynolds.
The Kensington Club of Greenfield first started as a neighborhood sewing circle, on South Main Street. Later ladies in the different parts of the town were asked to join them. Informal meetings were held twice a month, for a year or more. Then on account of sickness, warm weather and various other reasons, they discontinued their meetings. Several months later, some of the ladies decided to call a meeting, and make this an organized club. The first meeting was held at the home of Mrs. H. C. Hartfield. The following members present were: Mrs. J. G. Carr, Mrs. Lynville Higgins, Mrs. Harve Campbell, Mrs. H. C. Hartfield, Mrs. Martin Kempert, Mrs. W. E. Mont- gomery, Mrs. W. B. McReynolds, Mrs. J. L. Rubenstein, Mrs. Fred Shafer, Mrs. L. H. Thomas, and Mrs. J. P. Mc- Reynolds. Mrs. H. C. Hartfield was elected President, Mrs. J. G. Carr, Vice-President, and Mrs. W. E. Montgom- ery, Secretary. It was decided that we should continue as a sewing club, and the name of Kensington, suggested by Mrs. Lynville Higgins, seemed the most appropriate. Constitution and by-laws were drawn and the member- ship of the club was limited to eighteen. The vacancies were readily filled and the club started out with bright prospects. A more energetic crowd of women would be hard to find. Delightful meetings were held, and splendid ideas in fancy work were exchanged. About this time we started a circulating library in the club, each member do- nating a good book. Later we decided we would like to do charity and civic work. Our charity work started by sending poor children gifts at Christmas. Last year we bought thirty pairs of good warm stockings, filled them
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with candy, nuts, fruit and toys and had a man dressed as Santa Claus deliver them to the homes. Our work has broadened and increased, and we now are looking after many people of the city that are in actual need. We see that no children are forced to stay out of school for lack of proper clothing. We have supplied all the needy families we have heard of, with things they need, for instance, we have a young girl on our list suffering from tuberculosis, to whom we send nourishing food twice a week. We hear of some that are destitute at nearly every meeting, and each member is only too glad to do all they can. Whenever a new baby arrives in a destitute family, we see that the child has some clothing and often supply the mother with sheets, clean gowns, and other necessary articles. Recently a family was un- fortunate in loosing everything by fire. We contributed canned fruit, groceries, and furnishings to this family. The Commercial Club often asks our co-operation in sup- plying needy families. We have a rule that in case of death in a destitute family, the club sends flowers, and at least one member is asked to be present at the funeral. We are now making a wool quilt for charitable purposes.
We have done a great deal in civic work, such as donating to the annual dinner given for the benefit of the cemetery fund. We gave five dollars to the Dade County Scholarship Fund. Our very best civic work has been the fly campaign. This was suggested by Mrs. H. C. Hart- field. The club was very enthusiastic about it and a com- mittee was at once appointed to make plans. The plans were adopted and the Commercial Club agreed to help us in case the club ran out of funds. We first ordered two hundred fly swatters, that the school children sold for us. We then requested all the grocery stores, and restaurants to sereen their doors, and put fly proof coverings over all food stuff set outside. Next we offered twenty cents per pint for all flies. A club member being at a specified place each Saturday to measure and pay for them. We offered final prizes to the children bringing in the great- est amount of flies during the entire season. The first
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prize, three dollars; second prize, two dollars, and third prize, one dollar. In order to instruct children we gave away seventy-five fly traps. The first year we bought one hundred and eighty-nine pints of flies. To keep up the interest we gave two free fly shows, illustrating with slides the breeding places of the fly, the danger of the fly and many suggestions for making out-houses and barn lots more sanitary. During the fly season once a week the 1 o'clock whistle blew, and everybody was requested to swat flies for at least five minutes. Just after the 4th of July, we purchased a poisonous preparation for flies and had refuse sprayed. We have now completed the third year of our campaign and the results are very gratifying.
The social side of our club is not neglected. We often have picnics in the woods and entertain our husbands with parties. We remember all new babies arriving in the club either with a shower or some special remembrance. Two years ago we gave Mrs. L. H. Thomas a stork shower. Last year we presented Mrs. Carr and Mrs. Wilson ster- ling silver spoons for their babies. We also send flowers to our members in case of sickness or death in their fami- lies. We have annual dues. We earn money in various ways to carry on our work. We gave a picture show and served ice cream. We gave an Easter tea. One of our members, Mrs. W. A. Hall, presented the club with one of her own beautiful paintings. We realized $20 from this, which was a great help to the club. In March, 1916, the club decided to join the federation. Last October, Mrs. W. E. Montgomery and Mrs. Fred Sneed were sent as delegates to represent the club at the District Federa- tion at Mt. Vernon, Mo. The report of the club was read by Mrs. Sneed and received warm applause. Some of the ladies of the other clubs suggested that this club be put on the roll of honor.
The Commercial Club has been very generous in their assistance. Even with this, we often are short of funds, and each member makes up the shortage by liberal dona- tions. The slogan of this club is "helping others," and
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we hope that we may continue to improve in the years to come. The club has always been fortunate in having fine officers. Mrs. H. C. Martfield was president during the years 1913 and 1914; Mrs. J. G. Carr, during 1915. The present officers of the club are as follows:
President, Mrs. W. E. Montgomery.
Vice-President, Mrs. Fred Shafer. Secretary, Mrs. Harve Campbell.
Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Lynville Higgins.
Treasurer, Mrs. R. P. Murphy.
The present members of the club are:
Mrs. H. A. Burkett
Mrs. Harve Campbell
Mrs. J. G. Carr
Mrs. H. C. Hartfield
Mrs. Albert Hall
Mrs. Edwin Harrison
Mrs. Lynville Higgins
Mrs. Martin Kempert
Mrs. W. E. Montgomery
Mrs. W. B. McReynolds
Mrs. Porter Murphy
Mrs. J. L. Rubenstein Mrs. Fred Shafer
Mrs. O. E. Sloan
Mrs. Fred Sneed
Mrs. L. H. Thomas
Mrs. Dr. Geo. Weir
Mrs. Otto Wilson
Honorary Members: Mrs. F. D. Combs
Mrs. Frank Johnson
Mrs. B. F. Melcher
Mrs. J. P. McReynolds
Mrs. J. L. Shields
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THE NEW CENTURY CLUB OF GREENFIELD, MO. by Harriet Jopes, Historian.
At the suggestion of Mrs. Aaron D. States, the fol- lowing ladies of Greenfield, Mrs. L. W. Shafer, Mrs. R. S. Jacobs, Mrs. E. M. Griffith, Mrs. A. D. States, Mrs. Fred Grether, Mrs. Sarah McCluer and Mrs. R. H. Davis, met at the residence of Mrs. Jacobs, Saturday, March 27, 1898, for the purpose of organizing a "Literary Society" to be known as The New Century Club. Mrs. Shafer was elected President, Mrs. Davis Secretary.
The first regular meeting of the club was with Mrs. E. M. Griffith on April 7, 1898, at which time a Constitu- tion and by-laws written by Mrs. Shafer, was read and approved. The first program consisted of reading news- paper clippings on various subjects. The program for the year's work consisted of sketches of the lives of different authors, readings and papers by different members of the club, discussions on "Woman's Rights," "Liquid Air," "Does the Ideal Husband Exist?" "The Four Hundred," etc. A club motto: "We do not take possession of our ideas-but are possessed of them," was adopted. The club colors, pale green and heliotrope, were selected and the club flower-chrysanthemum.
The club federated with the state in September 1898, and sent Mrs. Grether as its first delegate to the State Federation meeting at Springfield. The year closed with a Shakespeare party, all members appearing in costume.
The program for 1899-1900 was similar to the pre- ceding year, consisting of Current Events, papers, discus- sions and parliamentary drills. A Christmas Party was held at the home of the Misses Eastin, and the year closed with a reception at the home of Mrs. Elliott.
During 1900-1901 the study was on Foreign Coun- tries, and a number of letters were read from Mr. John Merrill, the son of one of our active members, who at that time was abroad. A Library was started by buying twelve new books, and the year closed with a reception at the home of Mrs. Johnson.
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The club studied the life of Julius Caesar during the next year.
1902-3-4, for three years, the club's study consisted of the Bay View Course, and this was also the time when they launched into active civic work, which has been carried on to such an extent ever since that it would be hard to draw the line between their interest in this and their literary work. During the Street Fair they gave an exhibit of Relics, which proved more than interesting and attracted many spectators. A prize of $3.00 was given to Miss Minnie Van Osdell for an old coin of the year 323, and a second prize to Mrs. King for a Bible of the Seven- teenth Century.
On February 18, 1905, the New Century and Magazine Clubs met in joint session at the home of Mrs. Johnson to perfect a plan to raise money or the purpose of clean- ing up and beautifying the City Cemetery. It was decided that each member of the clubs raise five dollars for this purpose, and a permanent organization was perfected at that time, to be known as the Greenfield Cemetery Asso- ciation. This work so auspiciously begun, has met with the favor of the citizens of Greenfield and the surrounding country, and the Cemetery is now maintained at an average expenditure of some three hundred dollars. This money is raised by means of Annual Memberships of One Dollar each, in addition to a Chrysanthemum Show, and Dinner held in November of each year in the Court House. The Association has also, through the liberality of some of its members, both living and deceased, a good sized endowment fund, which will in the next three or four years, make it self-sustaining.
During this period we lost one of our most active members, Mrs. Anne McBride, on account of removal to Kansas City, and the club held a reception in her honor at the home of the Misses Eastin.
During 1904-5 the study of Shakespeare, and in 1905-6 there were papers and readings on different subjects. A Circulating Library was started, containing twenty-two
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books, and a donation of ten dollars made to the Cemetery Association.
In 1905-7 the study was sketches of noted Authors and Artists. The Magazine and Century Clubs improved the Public School grounds by having a cement retaining wall built across the front of the yard, at an expense of somne ninety dollars.
1907-8-9. During these years the Bay View Course was followed, and the Civic Work pushed by offering and awarding prizes at the Street Fair and raising money by selling tags to help defray the expense incurred for the school wall. It may be well to state right here that all our Civic work has been undertaken and accomplished in connection with the Magazine Club.
In 1909-10-11 the study consisted of Famous Poems and Bible Lessons, "Cranford" and "A Tale of Two Cities." The introduction of penny packages of flower and vegetable seeds to be sold to school children was hailed with delight by the latter, and resulted in a Vegetable and Flower Show in September, at which time prizes were awarded. The clubs also gave prizes for the best kept lawns. Seats were placed in the Cemetery, and ten dollars given to the Endowment Fund. Twenty-nine dollars was raised by selling tags and the money sent to the S. E. Missouri Flood sufferers.
The social features of these years consisted of a picnic at the High School campus, to which the husbands were invited, also the High School faculty, and a Tacky Party at the home of Mrs. Merrill, each member inviting a lady guest.
The study for 1912-13 was the "Blue Bird" and the "House of Seven Gables." Clean-up Day was proposed, and the city was put in first-class sanitary condition, and this has since become an annual event in Greenfield. At the suggestion of the clubs an electric light was placed at the entrance to the Cemetery and the Curfew rung at nine o'clock.
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