Jasper County, Missouri - Chapter 31: Carthage in the 'nineties, 1912

Local Politics and Municipal Affairs - Building of the Crrr Light Plant - City Park - Newspapers - Banks and Banking - Oratorical AND Declamatory Contests - Carthage Federation op Women's Clubs - ^Whist Contests - Reunion op the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, U. S. V.

This decade was distinctively a home-building period, and during the nineties many beautiful residences were erected, adding still more to the beauty and fame of the Queen City. Three more churches were built, and the teaching force of the public schools was almost doubled. As mentioned before, much of the history of Carthage had a countrywide influence - and appears in our chapter on the county at large - we regret that several of the articles which are purely local and are presented here are partially incomplete on account of our inability to secure some of the data which was desired to complete the stories.

In 1890 Carthage surrendered its charter as a city of the fourth class and organized as a city of the third class. This was a most important change, as it enabled the city to provide for a more complete system of streets and other municipal improvements; also to raise a sufScient revenue to carty on, in a proper way, the several departments of the city government. Naturally, there was great interest manifested in the city election for 1890, as there would devolve on the officers elected at this time a complete revision of the city ordinances and the enactment of the many important laws necessary to put in operation the machinery of a third class city. Both parties put into the field a ticket which contained men of splendid business ability, and the contest was warm. The Republicans, being in the majority, won most of the offices. The first officers of the city, under the new charter, were as follows: Mayor, W. B. Myers; marshal, Asa Hurst; city attorney, Howard Gray; recorder, E. J. Montague; collector, Edward Garland, and treasurer, E. B. Jacobs.

City Council: First ward, Wm. R. Logan two years, and Geo. W. Koontz one year; second ward, M. Edstorm two years, and Gteo. C. Howanstein one year.; third ward, Jasper J. Smith two years, and Jno. W. Henderson one year; fourth ward, W. H. Black two years, and H. F. Beebe one year.

Among the first enactments passed by the new administration was an ordinance providing for better equipment for the fire department, $1,500 being appropriated to purchase hose wagons and a hook and ladder truck.

It will be noted that a full complement of oflScers are elected every two years, and as the oi^anization occurred in 1890 the general elections occur in the even years - in the odd years only one half council being elected.

Councilmen elected in 1893: - First ward, W. H. Black; second ward, James D. Eagan ; third ward, Isaac Perkins ; fourth ward, J. G. Hankla ; fifth ward, L. M. Murphy and W. W. Sewell.

Greneral election in 1894: - Mayor, E. B. Jacobs; marshal, D. M. Stafford; police judge, Thos. Buckbee; city attorney, Chas. Farrow; collector, Homar D. Smith; treasurer, Albert Rogers; assessor, Horace

Greneral election in 1896: - Mayor, George C. Howanstein; mar* shal, D. M. Stafford ; police judge, Thos. Buckbee ; city attorney, Harry Green; collector, Homar D. Smith; treasurer, Albert Rogers; assessor, W. H. Rhodes.

Councilmen elected in 1897: - First ward, Michael Torphy; second ward, M. Edstrom; third ward, J. J. Wells; fourth ward, Andrew Zane; fifth ward, John A. McMillen.

General election in 1898: - Mayor, C. 0. Harrington; marshal, D. W. Bruffett ; police judge, Thos. Buckbee ; city attorney, Harry Green ; collector, Homar D. Smith; treasurer, Albert Rogers, and assessor, D. H. Paulding.

Council: - First ward, W. T. Porter, 6. B. Light (unexpired term) ; second ward, James S. Ross; third ward, Charles A. Dumars; fourth ward, G. D. Wells; fifth ward, Joseph P. Eiffer.

As will be noted, the officers of Carthage have all been men of high integrity and business standing, and have all, regardless of political faith, worked for the betterment of the city.

In April, 1897, the City of Carthage voted $32,800 in bonds for the purpose of building a city light plant. The vote on the question was: For the city light plant, 624; against, 518. E. J. Lentz was appointed city electrician and superintendent of construction and personally supervised the building of the plant, which was constructed in a satisfactory manner.

In 1893 the panic which swept the country did much damage to the business of Carthage, and many people were out of employment during the winter of 1893-4. To provide employment for these the city voted a considerable sum for the improvement of the city park, and many changes were made which added to its beauty and usefulness.

The Carthage Press and the Carthage Democrat were the leading newspapers of the city during this decade. The Democrat^ which was purchased by Cornelius Roach, now secretary of state, had a large country circulation and molded very largely the public sentiment of the Democratic party. The Press, which during the early days was a Greenback paper, during the later eighties espoused the cause of a high tariff: and in 1890 became a straight-out Republican paper. C. Conrad who, with A. W. St. John, had jointly published the Press, retired from the editorial staff in January, 1890, and W. J. Seweli, now the editor-in-chief, became a half owner and took charge of the city and county news department The Press is now the oldest paper in the county.

The Silver Review, published in 1896-8 by M. Mehan, was a spicy and well edited paper devoted to the cause of bimetalism and the official sheet of the Silver Republican party.

The Central National Bank was chartered in July, 1890, with a capital of $100,000. The following were its first oflScers: President, A. H. Caffee; vice-president, J. P. Newell; cashier, J. E. Lang.

In January, 1891, the Bank of Carthage increased its capital to $100,000 and 6. A. Cassel, its founder, was again called to the executive chair.

The reorganized First National Bank succeeded the Drovers. In January, 1890, the following were the officers: President, W. E. Brinkerhoffer; cashier, A. V. Wallace. These banks, since their organization, have been strong financial institutions. During the panic of 1893, not a single depositor lost a dollar; by their wise management they kept the business of Carthage on a firm basis, and by the liberality of their policy they tided many of the business men of the county seat over a rough sea of financial perils.

With the view of encouraging oratory and expression, W. H. John, of Carthage, offered for competition, at an annual contest at the Collegiate Institute, two medals - one for oratory and one for declamation. These medals created great interest among the students, and the annual contests were events which brought out some splendid orations.

The first contest for the John medal occurred at the close of school in 1890, the following students participating in the oratorical contest:

As mentioned in a former article devoted to the Queen City, Carthage has always been a literary city and, like Old Boston, intellect and moral worth have been the measures by which social standing was rated rather than wealth. The women's club movement all over the state came into great prominence during the middle nineties and found Carthage with seven women's literary clubs, and these, in 1897, formed a federation of women's clubs with the following officers: President, Mrs. T. B. Hobbs; vice-presidents, Mrs. I. C. Hodson and Mrs. Samuel McBeynolds; secretary, Miss Daisy Reed; corresponding secretary, Miss Matilda Wright; auditor, Mrs. V. A. Wallace; treasurer, Mrs. E. B. Jacobs.

With the view of bringing about a more complete organization and for the mutual benefit of the club women of southwestern Missouri, the Carthage Federation of Women's Clubs invited the club women of the several southwestern Missouri cities to attend a reception at the residence of President Mrs. T. B. Hobbs on November 9, 1897. Two hundred invitations were sent out and there was an almost unanimous acceptance, eighty-one out-of-town club women being present, a representative being present from the following: The Century, the Emerson, and the Unity Literary clubs of Joplin; the Woman's Study Club of Webb City; Pierce City Reading Club, and the Friends in Council, of Springfield. The reception was a most elegant affair, the following ladies assisting President Hobbs : Mrs. R. E. McCarty, President Local C. L. S. C, Carthage; Mrs. I. C. Hodson, President Vincent Club, C. L. S. C, Carthage; Mrs S. S. Riley, President lantha Club, C. L. S. C, Carthage; Mrs. C. A. Turner, President Stratford Shakespeare Club, Carthage; Mrs. May Brader, President, Fifth Section Century Club, Carthage; Mrs. Geo. Stebbins, President E. H. Section Century Club, Carthage; Mrs. C. A. Blair, President Tourist Club, Carthage.

After everybody was acquainted, an excellent program was rendered, after which a dainty luncheon was served. This reception was the beginning of a series of highly enjoyable literary and social meetings of the club women of southwestern Missouri. It is with a touch of pride that we refer to the fact that it was Jasper county women who took the initiative in this very laudable work of spreading the higher thought among the women of the southwest.

During the early nineties whist came into great popularity in Carthage and it was quite a popular pastime for the crack players of the county seat to meet the strong players of other cities in friendly contest ; and these championship games always attracted much interest. Col. W. K. Caffee, Paul Davay, A. B. Deutsch and C. 0. Harrington were among the best whist players of Carthage, and during the month of February, 1890, they were challenged by the crack team of Columbus, Kansas, to play a game.

The Columbus team consisted of Judge Cheshire, W. T. Timberlake, J. B. Henderson and Mr. Chamberlain. The game was played at Columbus and occupied an entire afternoon. The score at the close stood : Carthage, 245 points; Columbus, 192.

As mentioned in our war chapter, many of the Jasper county citizens who were loyal to the government went to Kansas and enlisted with the troops of that state. After the war they returned home and many of their comrades, who had been attracted by the native beauty of Jasper county (the regiment passed through Southwest Missouri many times during the progress of hostilities), came here to make their homes when the great unpleasantness was over, among them being Col. Wm. Clome, the old commander.

From October 15-17, 1890, the Sixth Kansas Cavalry Veteran Association held its annual reunion at Carthage and was attended by 198 survivors of that famous regiment. Chas. W. Elliott of Oronogo was the president of the association and spared no pains to make the gathering the most enjoyable one ever had. At the close of the reunion a somptaous banquet was served by the citizens of Carthage and much enjoyed - ^a number of the men who wore the gray attending the gathering, at the request and invitation of President Elliott, and assisting in the entertainment The supper was served in Armory Hall, and six long tables were spread for the guests.

The following toasts were proposed and responded to: *'The Veterans of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry," Geo. E. Emery; *'The Flag," Jno. W. Halliburton (who wore the gray); "The Volunteer Soldier," Maj. Harding; "The Girl I Left Behind Me," Al Cahn; "The Ladies of the Sixth," A. W. St. John; "Our Government," Major Kenderdine; "The Sons of Veterans," Colonel Elein.