Jasper County, Missouri - Chapter 11: Politics and Railroads, 1912

Confederate Soldiers Reenpranchised (1870) - Township Organization Adopted (1872) - County Redistricted and Township Lines Changed - Judicial Districts - The Campaign op 1874 - The New Constitution - Campaign op 1876 - The Republican Rally - ^Democratic Barbecue and Procession - Township Organization Abolished - The Campaign op 1878 - Railroad Matters.

The decade which was ushered in with the year 1870 was an important one for Jasper county. It saw the county doubled in population and quadrupled in wealth. It witnessed the reenfranchisement of the citizen who had followed the cause of the Confederacy and saw a reunited people in fact, as well as in name. It saw the founding of three great cities - Joplin, Webb City and Carterville - and with their growth, marked the beginning of a new epoch, the coming into prominence of the mining industry. It saw the building of three railroads into the county and noted the passing of the old stage-coach. In short, the 'seventies were years of great activity in Jasper county and present a rich variety of historic exi>eriences, and following the general plan mapped out in our introductory chapter, we will group together the important events of this decade in the following order.

The important political issue of the campaign of 1870 was the reenfranchisement of the soldiers of the Confederacy and the restoration to them of all the civil rights of citizenship, and on this question the Republican party divided.

1870, a warm debate was had relative to the proposition. The Radicals advocated postponing the restoration of citizenship and restoring the rights gradually, while the Liberals desired the immediate restoration of all rights and the extension of the right hand of fellowship to their countrymen who had fought for what they thought was right.

The vote on the question of placing in the Republican platform a plank pledging the support of the party to the amendment to the constitution, which was to be voted on in November, was lost by a vote of 349 to 342; whereupon the Liberals withdrew from the convention and nominated B. Qratz Brown for governor and a full state ticket, on the platform of restoring the ballot to the Confederates. The Radicals nominated Governor McClurg. The Democrats made no nomination for governor, but supported Brown.

In Jasper county, both Republicans and Democrats nominated full tickets and the campaign was bitterly fought. The Radical Republicans, under the leadership of Judge 0. H. Picher as county chairman, were victorious, but many of them voted for the amendment to reenf ranchise the men who had followed the **bonnie blue flag.'* The vote in Jasper county at this election was as follows: McClurg, Regular Republican, 1,006; Brown, Liberal Republican, 716.

The constitutional amendment to abolish the test oath, however, carried in the county and in the state by a tremendous majority. Brown was elected governor by 41,000 majority and the amendment carried by 111,000, only 16,000 votes being cast against the proposition.

In 1872 the Republican party in the county was again victorious, the vote on president being as follows: Grant, Republican, 2,092; Horace Greeley, Democrat, 1,333. At this election Hon. W. H. Phelps came into great prominence, being one of the delegates to the national Democratic convention.

At this election the county voted on the proposition to adopt township organization and the same was adopted by a majority of 1,892 the vote on the question being, for 2,340, against 448.

Under the provisions of the law the several townships could, if they so desired, choose a name and became quasi-corporations, could sue and be sued and, in short, transact through the township oflScers the local business. The township oflScers under this law were : Supervisor, clerk, collector, assessor, constable, justice of the peace. The supervisor was the executive oflBcer of the township* and 0. K. 'd all bills and supervised all public improvements.

In 1873 the legislature amended the township organization law so that executive function devolved upon a board of trustees, which consisted of the supervisor and the two justices. The supervisor was also ex-o£Scio treasurer.

The same law also provided that the county court should consist of five members in place of three. The presiding judge was elected at large and the other four from judicial districts.

At the meeting of the county court, February 6, 1873, the county was divided into fifteen townships as follows: Jasper, Dural, Preston, Sheridan, Lincoln, McDonald, Madison, Marion, Mineral, Spring Valley, later changed to Twin Orove ; Galena ; Dubuque, later changed to Joplin ; Jackson; Jenkins Creek, later changed to Union; and Sarcoxie. These lines are the same now as then, save that Joplin township has twice been reduced by a small territory which has been added to Qalena.

The county was districted, for the purpose of electing members of the county court, as follows: District No. 1 - Sheridan, Lincoln, McDonald, Madison, Union and Sarcoxie townships.

A special election was held June 3, 1873, to select a new county court and resulted as follows: Presiding judge, C. Conrad; District No. 1, Wm. Bush, of McDonald township ; District No. 2, M. C. McGregor, of Marion township; District No. 3, John C. Cox, Joplin township; and District No. 4, Leander Green, Jasper township.

The campaign of 1874 was a hot one and saw four parties contesting for honors grouped as Republicans, Democrats, Reformers and Grangers. The Grangers did not nominate a full county ticket, but had a candidate for governor, William Gentry, who was warmly supported and, while not elected, carried Jasper county. During the two years prior to this campaign there had been much excitement over the voting of railroad bonds and there were also quiet whispers relative to a graft among certain county officials which brought out the Reform party, composed of members of both old organizations **who wanted to see the books.**

Full county tickets were nominated by the Republicans, Democrats and Reformers and the contest was hotly waged, resulting in a Democratic victory. The following were the successful contestants: Representative, W. H. Phelps; sheriff, U. B. Hendrickson; county clerk, George Blakeney; recorder, James A. Bolen; treasurer, John Onslott; and prosecuting attorney, Al Thomas.

The above was an exceptionally strong ticket, each man having a local strength which brought him votes. The vote on the state ofScers was as follows: For governor, Hardin, Democrat, 1,493; Gentry, Granger, 1,686.

At the general election of 1874 a proposition was submitted to the people and carried, calling for a convention to frame a new constitution for Missouri.

Hon. John H. Taylor, of Joplin, was elected to represent Jasper county in the constitutional convention and discharged the duties with great credit to the county. The constitution was voted on at a special election in November, 1875, and was carried by a large majority, the vote in Jasper county beings for the new constitution 629, against 525.

By far the most exciting political campaign of the 'seventies was the Hayes-Tilden campaign of 1876. The Democrat and Republican parties at this election were almost evenly divided and made a most vigorous campaign. At this election there appeared a new party, the Greenbackers, who advocated reforms in the currency and monetary laws; also more liberal laws in favor of the laboring classes. The party, although never victorious and living only through three presidential campaigns, contained many able men, and some of the doctrines they advocated were later engrafted into the platforms of both old parties. The Republican candidate for president was Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio ; the Democratic candidate, Samuel J. Tilden of New York; the Greenback candidate, Peter Cooper, the great philanthropist, of New York city. Colonel C. C. Allen, of Carthage, was the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor at the election. All three parties made a vigorous schoolhouse speech-making campaign and at both Joplin and Carthage great rallies were had which included torch-light processions, barbecues, etc. The two largest political gatherings in the county occurred in Joplin.

At the Republican rally the attendance was variously estimated at from 12,000 to 15,000 people and the city was splendidly decorated for the occasion. The torch-light procession was fully two miles long and was a sight long to be remembered. The writer well remembers the occasion and feels now, as he writes, the thrill of excitement that came over him as he saw the marching clubs four abreast and some of them uniformed (the Republican marching club was called the Hayes Light Guard) coming over the east Joplin hill and down Broadway into Main street, flags and banners gayly waving, and torches burning brightly, making the sky red with their light, the city wild with excitement. Hon. P. D. Dyer was the orator of the day and spoke from a platform on Main street, and that thoroughfare was a solid mass of humanity from First to Fifth streets.

The campaign was closed by the Democrats with an old-fashioned barbecue and torch light procession which rivaled, if not eclipsed the Republican demonstration. The Democratic rally opened in the morning at Cox Grove, north of East Joplin, where an old-fashioned barbecue and basket picnic was held. The author was a boy then and, like other urchins, right there on the ground and in the thickest of the excitement; and remembers how the fatted calf was cooked and the feeling of good cheer that came from the splendid dinners which were served by the daughters of Democracy. The writer has sometimes thought that this was a great stroke of policy, and it is often said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and the memory of that dinner must have clung to the banqueters for many a long day. It might be added, in parenthesis, that Joplin went Democratic at that election.

The torch-light procession at night concluded the celebration and marching clubs for twenty miles round participated in the demonstration. Seven bands of music enlivened the occasion and numerous floats and banners added to the effect. The county was Republican by a small majority excepting county treasurer, Hon. John Onstott being elected to that office.

The following county ticket was elected by the majorities named: Representative, R. A. Cameron, 124; treasurer, John Onstott, 28; prosecuting attorney, Galen Spencer, 157; county judge, Josiah Lane, 125; sheriff, J. C. Beemer, 168; surveyor, Kos Elliott, 201; coroner, Dennis Coffin, 100; and public administrator, Thomas Buekbee. 188.

The legislature of 1877 repealed the township organization law. The provisions of the constitution providing for three members of the county court, called for a redistricting of the courts into judicial districts and in April, 1878, the county was divided into an eastern and a western district. Jasper, Sheridan, Lincoln, McDonald, Madison, Marion, Jackson, Union and Sarcoxie were in the eastern district, and Jasper, Dural. Twin Grove, Mineral, Joplin and Galena townships were in the western district.

In the campaign of 1878 the Greenback party made a most vigorous campaign drawing -strength from both of the old parties, and, while not successful, made a formidable combatant and more than tripled its strength at the 1876 campaign. The interest centered on the choice of congressman who was elected by the Democrats. The vote in the

While the Tebo & Neosho Railroad proposition was still being discussed, a company composed of local capital was formed and proposed to build a railroad through Lawrence and Jasper counties, running east and west and traversing the rich valley of Spring river. The company was called the Spring River Valley Railroad Company. The county court, in aid of the proposition and on petition of the people, caUed special elections in Sarcoxie, Marion and Mineral townships to vote bonds, and $100,000 was subscribed. The road was not built and the bonds which had been issued were burned, as already stated.

L. P. Cunningham now interested some eastern capital in a railroad proposition and organized the Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern Railroad Company, which was composed of a number of enterprising Jasper county citizens and eastern financiers.

The road first extended from Pierce City, the western terminus of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (now the 'Frisco) to Oronogo and the several townships through which the road was to pass were again called upon to vote bonds to aid in the construction of the road. Although there was some opposition to voting bonds again, the proposition carried and $120,000 was subscribed. Sarcoxie township voted $40,000, Marion township $50,000 and Mineral township $30,000. The road was completed to Carthage July 4, 1872, and the event was celebrated with a monster demonstration which was attended by 10,000 people who had come to see **the iron horse." The next year the road was completed to Oronogo, and Jasper county now had an eastern market for its farm and mineral products.

While the road was in process of construction the company made a proposition to the city of Carthage and Marion township to locate its shops at Carthage, provided an additional $75,000 in bonds be voted. The project was warmly supported by the Carthage Banner but met with organized opposition from many substantial citizens. A mass meeting was held February 2, 1872, and was largely attended, Jesse Thacker presiding over the meeting and W. H. Woodmansy acting as secretary. R. H. Rose, D. J. Thomas, Dr. J. A. Carter, A. B. Parkell, Peter Myers and E. J. Montague spoke against lending further aid until the road was built and in operation. The proposition failed by a small vote, but the road was completed as per contract and was a great boon to the county. After the Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern Railroad was completed to Carthage, other capital was interested and the company was reorganized under the name of Missouri and Western Railway .and was extended to Oswego, Kansas, being completed to that point in 1876.

The second railroad to be built was the Joplin and Oirard, which was financed principally by E. R. Moflfet, John B. Sergeant, Pat Murphy, W. P. Davis, H. Brown, W. A. Bodkin and Colonel Budlong, and was built for the purpose of giving an outlet for the mineral and smelted products of the Joplin mines. The first officers of this road were Colonel Budlong, president; £. R. Moffet, vice president; W. A. Bodkin, secretary; and J. B. Sergeant, treasurer. The road was built from Joplin to Girard on the Gulf Road a distance of thirty-nine miles, work was commenced in February, 1876, and the road was completed in August, 1877. The last spike, which was appropriately made of lead, was driven August 20th amidst the cheers of the assembled multitude of people. This road was sold in 1879 to the 'Frisco Railway.

The above named popular line was built to Joplin in 1879, from Baxter Springs to Joplin, and was at first called the Joplin and Short Creek Railroad. Galena, Kansas, was at first called Short Creek. The first train ran into Joplin in October, 1879. The Kansas City and Gulf later became the Kansas City, Memphis and Gulf Railroad, and before it passed into the hands of the 'Frisco had grown to be a great system and, it might be added, a very popular one.