USA > Missouri > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County Missouri, early and recent history and genealogical records of many of the representative citizens, Volume I > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
WORK BY MRS. MILNER.
In October, 1898, Mrs. James R. Milner, whose name at that time was prominently connected with many educational movements in Greene county, organized the Springfield Household Economics Club, the object of which
508
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
was to study health and sanitation through all the avenues of home influence ; to further the teaching of domestic, social and civic economy ; to elevate the occupation of home-making to the dignity of a profession; to bring the in- terests of the employer and the employed into more sympathetic relations; and to work for the introduction of industrial training into the Springfield public school curriculum. A large membership, two hundred and fifty or more, was enrolled in the beginning, and much enthusiasm for the new work prevailed. To form study circles, auxiliary to one central club, was the plan of organization, and for several years the club maintained general head- quarters, with rest rooms, library, kitchen and accomodations for cooking and sewing classes. To all this work Mrs. Milner gave her personal supervision, encouraging, inspiring and leading with the determination of one who has a large vision of future accomplishment. It was her superior executive ability that kept a large number of practically independent circles in close rela- tionship with the central organization, and it was not until her removal to an- other state that the broad plan of work began to seem difficult to maintain. After a time the membership of the separate circles were united in one central club, which has continued a work that was well founded and of distinct value to its home city.
Many good civic and educational movements have had the untiring support of this club, such, for instance, as the teaching of domestic science in the public schools, milk inspection, cleaner markets, the placing of trash cans around the public square and the enforcement of the anti-expectoration ordinance, for all of which its members have worked unceasingly in the at- tempt to create a public sentiment sufficiently strong to bring about favorable legislation.
This club joined the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs in 1898, and the General Federation in 1900. The president for the year 1914-'15 is Mrs. J. W. Lunsford and the secretary is Mrs. R. H. Collins.
Of all the charter members Mrs. W. R. Bissett, Mrs. J. B. Easley, Mrs. W. H. Fink and Mrs. W. P. Scott are the only ones who now remain in the club. The presidents under whom this organization has done its work are Mesdames Milner, Roberts. Haney, Easley, Hauser, Cahill and Lunsford.
In the fall of 1902 Mrs. Martin Hardwick, of Springfield, organized a group of young girls into a society which was christened "The Hopewells." These girls immediately entered upon a career of usefulness in which they enjoyed the direction and companionship of their older friend, who helped them to realize the satisfaction that comes from service performed for those less fortunate than themselves. As is the case with so many clubs, the earliest records have been lost, but according to the recollection of present members, those who composed the original society were the Misses Mary Bryan, Mary Tefft, Lulu Fisher (Mrs. W. W. Warren), Nannie May Blodgett (Mrs.
569
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Carl Eaton), Nell Ross, Dot Leavitt (Mrs. Charles Jones), Stella Means, Kate Bryan (Mrs. Murray Parsons), Ida Dixon (Mrs. Roy Peacher) and Nan Hackney. Other girls were later admitted to the club, and the member- ship list which was set at twenty-five has usually been full. The story of the work of these public-spirited girls would make most interesting reading could it be followed through all the details of the thirteen years that the or- ganization has been in existence. Summarized, in addition to the good com- radeship of the monthly meetings, we should have the record of a long list of entertainments with much money raised for the Children's Home, many helps given to miscellaneous charitable objects, and co-operation in the work of the Young Women's Christian Association, which began with the or- ganization of that institution in Springfield and continues up to the present time. No worthy public enterprise fails to interest these girls. particularly if representing the needs of women and children. They contribute regularly to the Visiting Nurse Association and to the Travelers' Aid. Christmas and Easter fairs have been among their favorite methods of raising money, and one of their happiest yearly functions has been the furnishing of the Christmas tree for the little dependents at the local Children's Home. The president of this club for 1914-'15 is Mrs. Warren White and the secretary is Miss Mary Bryan.
COMMON INTERESTS.
It often happens that a group of congenial persons, gathered for social purposes only, finds a common interest in the more serious matters of life, and such was the case with a little company of women who met with Mrs. A. Y. Morriss, on February 18, 1906, to celebrate the opening of a new home. At the suggestion of Mrs. Shirley Carson the organization of The West End Improvement Circle was effected, with Mrs. A. D. Allen as president and Mrs. Leonard Walker as secretary. As the name suggested these women were interested in the advantages which co-operation might give them in the way of mutual improvement, and for two years they continued to work to- gether along these lines. At the same time they began to demonstrate the fact that it is impossible for a body of earnest women to be entirely interested in themselves, and on March 5, 1908, their work took on a wider significance with the change of name to that of The Tuesday Club, and the addition of public welfare work to its other interests. Though every member was a busy house-mother, and the preparation of papers for programs often seemed a task, the semi-monthly meetings found all obligations met and additional plans made for the outside work of the club. A part of this work has always been the sending of flowers to the sick and bereaved, the providing of warmth and food for the needy and co-operation with the Salvation Army in their annual Christmas dinner for the worthy poor. This club limits its member-
570
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
ship to twenty-four, and takes especial pride in the harmony that has always been a part of its life. Besides the regular meetings, quarterly social gather- ings, to which club husbands and other guests are invited, give variety to the life of the club. Of its charter members, only five now remain, viz: Mrs. A. Y. Morriss, Mrs. A. D. Allen, Mrs. Leonard Walker, Mrs. Frank Brown and Mrs. Shirley Carson. With vacancies in the ranks kept constantly filled by new members, this club continues its work of helpfulness and mercy from year to year, having for its watchword the inspiring motto, "Always at leisure to do good." The president for 1914-15 is Mrs. Arthur Wright and the secretary is Mrs. A. E. Welch.
The Springfield City Federation of Women's Clubs was formed in 1906, and is now composed of the Saturday Club, Friends in Council, Home Econo- mics, Sorosis, Progressive Workers, Political Equality and South Side W. C. T. U'. organizations, the object of federation being to better correlate all local club work and to secure judicious co-operation in such civic measures as might commend themselves to the activities of the public-spirited women of the city. Under the leadership of Mrs. Gertrude Haseltine Clarke, its first president, much interest was aroused for better kept and more beautiful lawns and gardens, and many prizes were given to successful competitors along this line. There are few movements for bettering local social conditions which the City Federation has not aided. The appointing of a police matron, the Visit- ing Nurse Association and the Travelers' Aid, at the Frisco railway station, have all had the helping hand of this organization, while public parks and playgrounds are among the projects to which it has constantly directed public attention. Its rest-room for women in the part of the city most frequented by those who come from the rural districts for the weekly shopping, main- tained for several years, but now temporarily closed, has been one of its best undertakings, emphasizing as it does the bond of fellowship between the town and country women and their mutual need of each other.
The present head of the City Federation, Mrs. B. F. Finkel, has brought its membership into co-operation with the new Public Welfare Board, and so enlisted its sympathies along all the lines of philanthropy and practical charity, aiding in the creation of an enlightened public sentiment toward the reforms needed to make Springfield a city in which municipal problems are squarely faced and intelligently handled.
Probably the smallest club in point of numbers that will be taken cogniz- ance of in this chapter is the Ozark Branch of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae. formed in 1908, and limited in its membership by the constitution of the national organization of which it is a part. There are thirty-five American colleges and universities of the highest rank in the corporate membership of this association, and only graduates of these institutions may belong to the association and its branches. The elevation of educational standards and the
57I
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
encouragement of our young women to seek higher education, as offered by the best colleges and universities of this and other countries, is the object for which this organization was founded. Competitive scholarships in Ameri- can and foreign universities are offered to students of exceptional promise, and it is for the support of these and similar objects that the Ozark Branch does its chief work. Local interests are not, however, neglected by this band of college women who are prominent in all civic as well as educational public movements. The members who comprise the Ozark Branch represent the following colleges and universities : Vassar, Wellesley, Radcliff, Colorado and Oberlin colleges, Northwestern, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Syracuse and Chicago universities. Mrs. Edward M. Shepard is president of the Ozark Branch for the year 1914-'15 and Miss Rachel Rogers is the secre- tary.
.
In the year 1902 the first Parent-Teacher Association in Springfield was formed, in connection with the Berry School. Here parents and teachers met together once each month to consider the welfare of the children in whom they were mutually interested. The problems which are common to the home and the school were discussed, and a better understanding of the part- nership between parent and teacher was thus obtained. This organization was not a permanent one, however. After two years of interesting and help- ful work the removal of some of the leaders in the movement caused a gradual cessation of activity, and it was not until the fall of 1909 that a similar or- ganization, in the Mary S. Boyd School, began work with an enthusiasm that has grown with each succeeding year until, closely following each other, Parent-Teacher clubs were formed in the Bailey, Phelps, Campbell, McDan- iel, Rogers, Pickwick, Berry, Bowerman, Weaver, Fairbanks, McGregor. Robberson, Waddell, St. Agnes, Tefft and Greenwood schools. When, in 1912, Missouri organized a branch of the National Mothers' Congress and Parent- Teacher Associations, the Boyd and Bailey Springfield schools became charter members of the branch. This new Missouri organization, to which so many Springfield Parent-Teacher clubs now belong, has conducted two successful state conventions, and Mrs. J. B. McBride. of Springfield, now the state pres- ident, has brought to the work an executive force that bids fair to bring every school in the state into its membership. It was the second convention held in Springfield, in April, 1914, that gave special direction to the Mother Club movement in Greene county and formulated plans for definite action.
.
Parent-Teacher circles are being formed in a number of school districts in Greene county. Shady Dell, Sunnyside and Sunshine schools have new associations. Ash Grove has an organization of over one hundred members and Willard one of thirty. The town of Walnut Grove has also formed an excellent organization. The child is the central thought of these circles which comprise many hundreds of the most intelligent mothers of Greene county, and
-
572
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
through their efforts, directed toward the welfare of the child "in home, church and state," it is not too much to expect a decided improvement in the mental, physical and moral betterment of the youth in this part of Missouri.
In 1914, in order to correlate the work of these various Parent-Teacher associations, the Council of Mothers' Clubs was organized, with Mrs. William Rullkoetter as president and Mrs. Lincoln Haseltine as secretary. This coun- cil, in which each local club is represented by as many members as choose to attend, serves to centralize and direct the efforts of the large numbers of women who work through the various ward school clubs for the interests of childhood as a whole. In the autumn of 1913 a "better babies" contest was held in connection with the annual Greene county fair, with the assistance of the Springfield Medical Association. This was repeated the following year with such increased interest on the part of the public as to indicate that the time had arrived for the inauguration of a more advanced work in behalf of the lit- tle children of the community. Through the various Mother Clubs the Coun- cil of Clubs had been able to raise the sum of $500.00 with which to under- take a broader work in the baby-saving campaign, conducted by the co- operation of the Visiting Nurse Association and the Mother Clubs during the entire summer of 1914. The Mother Clubs hunted up the babies in their several wards, and each week a free clinic was supported, when babies were examined and prescribed for and instructions in regard to care given, where- by a considerable reduction in infant mortality during the summer was brought about. With some of the funds raised the Springfield Parent-Teach- er clubs, through their council, aid the Visiting Nurse Association to employ an extra nurse, and they have also arranged for a permanent baby ward in one of the local hospitals.
Almost the youngest of all the women's organizations in Springfield is the Visiting Nurse .Association, which is largely officered by members of the various other clubs, and supported by contributions from most of the religious, literary, social, fraternal and charitable organizations, as well as by gifts from private individuals. The organization meeting of this association was held in the parlor of the Young Women's Christian Association, June 3, 1912, with nine persons present, at which time a constitution was adopted, officers elected and chairmen chosen for the various departments of work. Mrs. William Rullkoetter was made president, Miss Nell Ross secretary and the following chairmen of standing committees were chosen: Mrs. George Mutschler. social service; Mrs. J. Rothschild, finance and membership; Mrs. John Long, nurse and supplies ; Mrs. A. M. Powell, publicity and press.
OBJECT OF THE ASSOCIATION.
The object of this association is to employ one or more nurses to visit constantly among the poor, to aid them with advice in sickness, to instruct
573
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
in methods of preventing disease and to try to instil better ideas of house- hold sanitation and the care of children. The reports of the monthly meet- ings of the associations show that the work began with the employment of one trained nurse, who devoted only a portion of her time to charitable work; but at the end of six months it became possible to supply her place with one who gave her whole time to carrying on the work of the association. Mrs. Kellar, who has done exceptionally good service of this kind in the State of New Jersey, was engaged for this purpose and became permanently estab- lished in Springfield. A certain amount of financial aid from the Metro- politan Life Insurance Company was a welcome addition to the funds of the association, and the securing of a room in the new Greene County court house, to be used as the office of the visiting nurse, was a step in advance, greatly facilitating the work of that officer.
Early in the spring of 1913 the association began a series of investiga- tions in regard to sewer inspection, plumbing, fumigation and other pro- tective measures, with some attention to housing conditions among the poor, and new committees on sanitation and anti-tuberculosis work were appointed to begin the study of what had been done in state and national societies along these lines, and to especially investigate local conditions. In the fall the co-operation of the Greene County Medical Society was secured, the dif- ferent members of which agreed to prepare for the local daily papers, short articles on tuberculosis, to be printed before the association should begin its annual sale of Red Cross Christmas seals. Steps were taken toward af- filiation with the National Visiting Nurse Association.
Early in the summer of 1914 long-considered plans for establishing a baby clinic were furthered by the favorable co-operation of the Greene County Medical Society, and the promise of student nurses from the Springfield Hospital to assist Mrs. Kellar, the association nurse, with the proposed weekly clinics, the physicians offering their services free of charge. The support of the Council of Mothers' Clubs was also obtained, and these organizations. working together, maintained a series of clinics continuing through the en- tire summer with marked effect upon the lessening of infant mortality. An- other achievement of these united forces was the establishing of a permanent baby ward in a local hospital, in which may be received the children of parents who have not the means to pay for medicines and nursing.
No small part of the accomplishment of this association has been the awakening of the public conscience toward matters affecting the public health and the formulating of methods for carrying on efficient and widely dis- tributed relief work. A most gratifying alliance for this organization has been effected through the generosity of the Springfield Elks Lodge, whereby $900.00 set aside for certain of their own charities for the coming year will be administered by a trained nurse who will work in co-operation with the
574
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Visiting Nurse Association. The president of the association for 1914-'15 is. Mrs. William Widbin and the secretary is Miss Helen Hall.
In the student body of Drury College, as well as among the residents of Springfield, various Greek letter fraternities are represented, and these, through their members, enter quite largely into the social and philanthropic life of the city. It was for the purpose of bringing into closer sympathy the members of the various women's fraternities that the Springfield Pan Hellenic .Association was organized in October, 1913. Philanthropic, as well as social, aims were at the foundation of this movement, and a monthly contribution to some charitable object is always a part of its work. The main purpose of the organization, however, is the study of the live problems in the fraternity world and such an oversight of local sorority life as will con- tribuet to creating a broader sympathy for, and placing a greater emphasis on, all that is best in fraternity life.
NAMES OF FRATERNITIES.
The women's fraternities represented in this organization are Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma and Alpha Delta Phi. The following names are on the charter mem- bership roll of the Springfield Pan Hellenic: Misses Julia Pierce, Margaret Palmer, Helen McGregor, Clara Schwieder, Grace Pepperdine, Mrs. W. C. Timmons, Peach Rogers, Jess Rogers, Garnet Gentry, Helen Parker, Mrs. J. A. James, Mrs. A. G. Fletcher, Mary Ellis Barbour and Sue Stone.
In order to establish relationship with other women workers in the State the Pan Hellenic became a member of the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs, in the year 1913.
The Springfield Woman's Civic Club came into existence through a de- sire on the part of women of the north section of the city to improve their own surroundings. An enthusiastic organization was effected in May, 1912, and the members of the club immediately began the raising of money needed for their purposes. The improvement of Washington and Lafayette parks, two public squares in residence portions of the city, was the first work under- taken, and the sum of four hundred dollars was expended. With the crea- tion of a city park board it seemed unnecessary for the club to continue its work in this direction, and the consideration of more miscellaneous objects, such as aiding the Visiting Nurse Association and kindred charities, found place in the activities of this group of women. General welfare work ap- peals to all the members of this club, and it has a field of usefulness in con- nection with the interests of the north side of the city, a location which has always been so closely allied with those of the Frisco railway system. Mrs. James Wall was the first president of this club and Mrs. Robert Doling, secretary.
575
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
On March II, 19II, a chapter of the P. E. O. Sisterhood was organized in Springfield, with Miss Adda Starrett as president and Miss Elizabeth Faulk- ner, secretary. This group of about twenty-five women represents a branch of one of the largest exclusively women's societies in the world. doing work along literary, social and philanthropic lines. The Springfield chapter is active in many praiseworthy ways, prominent among which is the mainte- nance of a fund for aiding in the education of young women who have no other friends to whom to look for such help. In the matter of local charities the women who compose this chapter are especially interested in the Visiting Nurse Association and the making of garments for the poor.
The town of Ash Grove contains, probably, the largest Parent-Teacher Association of any of the similar bodies connected with the schools of Greene county. It was organized in 1914, and the work done by it is of a nature that is worthy of special notice. The president. Mrs. James H. Barton, writes that it was through the agitation of its members that domestic science and manual training were put into the public schools of that town; the bucket and tin cup habit exchanged for water faucets and individual drinking cups, and the school buildings thoroughly cleaned and renovated. The efforts of this club were also extended to the beautifying of the open space around the public water tank, where ornamental foliage plants, flowers, shrubs and blue-grass were made to take the place of what had once been an unsightly hog-wallow. In December, 1914, these same women conducted a baby clinic for two days in the largest town hall, during which seventy- five babies were examined, and lectures given by local physicians. Better babies, better homes, better schools and a better community are the aims of this up-to-date and progressive association of Ash Grove mothers.
A CLUB OF FARMERS' WIVES.
One of the most interesting of the women's clubs of Greene county is in existence in the neighborhood of the town of Strafford, and is composed of enterprising farmers' wives. On June 20, 1912, eight neighbors met to- gether and organized The Country Culture Club, with Mrs. C. J. Portrey as president and Mrs. Pearl M. Warren, secretary. A constitution and by-laws were adopted in December, 1912, and the club showed its desire to keep in touch with the best aspects of the women's club movement by joining the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs, January 16, 1913. The member- ship list was limited to twenty, and quickly became full. Domestic science and home care of the sick were the first subjects chosen for study, and a traveling library from the Missouri State Library Commission furnished the material for work. A number of leading magazines were taken by the club, and the publication of "The Country Culture Club Cook Book," consisting"
570
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
of tested recipes contributed by its members, is one of the practical results of the work of these progressive rural women. The beginnings of a library of their own also testify to their determination to provide for the intellectual as well as the physical needs of the neighborhood-a purpose which might well be emulated by the women of every rural district in Greene county. The charter members of The Country Culture Club were Mrs. C. J. Portrey, Mrs. Callie Parks, Mrs. Lois Perso, Mrs. Herman Voeltz, Mrs. Pearl M. Warren, Mrs. Emily Winter. Miss Duley Creson and Miss Sarah Whitmore.
Another Greene county woman's organization is the Birthday Club, in the town of Strafford. with Mrs. James Gillespie as president and Mrs. A. B. Grier as secretary. This club has but recently been started, with the object of endeavoring to improve social and educational conditions in and around the town. One afternoon of each month is spent by this club in the dis- cussion of some literary topic, and one evening each month in the enjoy- ment of music and games, with the club husbands and children.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.