Jasper County, Missouri - Chapter 36: Municipal and Military Organizations, 1912

JoPUN Club Assumes City Problems - Club House and Theater Dedicated - Other Joplin Club Topics - Company Q, Second Regiment, N. G. M. - Relief Association - The ** Herald's" Company G Box - Grand Army Encampment op 1893 - The Parade - The Camp Fire - Election South West Missouri Protective Association Picnic - The Joplin Cycle Club.

Early in 1890 the Joplin Club inaugurated a policy which greatly increased its activity and usefulness - to-wit, the plan of setting aside one night in the week for the discussion of important matters pertaining to the city's welfare.

At the first business meeting in January of that year the late W. B. McAntire, in a vigorous speech set forth the good that would come of a full and free discussion of the questions relative to civic improvement and business policies that would arise from time to time and suggested that, by those discussions, many plans for a greater Joplin would be brought out and that by a concerted action of the people of the city, the plans agreed to would be carried to a successful termination.

Acting on his suggestions, the club set apart Wednesday evening of each week for the discussion of the questions of the day, and from that time to this the weekly meetings have been of great importance and have perhaps more than any other one factor moulded public opinion in Joplin and shaped the destinies of the city. During the 'nineties the Joplin Club was instrumental in securing the erection of a number of public buildings, among them the Club Theater and the Keystone Hotel. By a series of public meetings they educated the people to the need of a public sewer system. They secured from the several publicity departments of the state proper recognition of the mining industry and caused the mining output to be correctly reported. To illustrate : In the report of the labor commissioner for 1889 the output of the Jasper county mines was published as $2,144,000, less than the actual amount produced ; this matter was brought to the attention of the club by Col. H. H. Gregg, and, in a subsequently printed report the error was corrected by the state.

It would be impossible, in a brief history such as this, to enumerate in detail all of the activities of the club. We will, however, mention here a few of its acts, in order that the reader may understand the importance the organization sustained to Joplin's business life

Am6ng the matters brought up for discussion by the Joplin Club was the need of a suitable club house and also a theater building in keeping with the growing city. A company was organized composed almost -vholly of local capital and members of the Joplin Club to erect a club house and theater combined ; the structure was very appropriately called the Club Theater building. The theater has a seating ^capacity of 1,400, occupying the west part of the structure, and the club rooms include the second floor of the Joplin street side.

The Club Theater was formally opened January 26, 1891, by Frederick Ward in **King Henry VIII.'' On the curtain of the Club Theater was painted a beautiful picture of Grand Palls, as it appeared before the war. The picture was made by the United States Geological Survey.

The club rooms were dedicated, with appropriate ceremonies on March 4th, and we copy here the report of the exercises, speeches, etc., from the Joplin Daily Herald of March 5th :

** Every train running into Joplin had on board representative citizens of our neighboring towns and cities. They came by twos, by the dozen and by the score. They were the flower of the people represented, and it is not an exaggeration to say that taken all in all there was never seen in Joplin a finer-looking body of men. They were intelligent-looking and well dressed, many of them wearing full dress suits to do honor to the occasion calling them here. Coming thus they paid a double compliment to the organization that had invited them to partake of their hospitality. Long before twilight the early visitors had gathered about the hotels weary with the long stroll they had taken, while viewing the beauty and activity of the southern metropolis, better known as the ' Electric Wonder. ' Before the hour of assembling at the club rooms, the visitors spent the time at the hotels renewing acquaintances and receiving new arrivals. At 8 o'clock the grand march for the club rooms in the new theater began. There the scene was an animated one. Until the hour for the evening's exercises to begin arrived, the rooms were crowded with as lively and vivacious a body of men as they will ever hold again, in all probability. The scenic artists had put on the finishing touches, the florist had arranged flowers and tropical plants with consummate skill, and the rooms had been decorated with an eye to beauty and pleasure. All was in readiness for the chairman's gavel when it fell at 9 o'clock. Before it went down, however, the guests had made hundreds of new acquaintances, had shaken hands all round and exchanged the eorapliments of the day. Liquid refreshments had been enjoyed and the air bore testimony to the fact that numerous boxes of choicest Havanas had given up their fragrance to the delectation of the lovers of the weed. The gentlemen entertained and entertainers were in the best of spirits and fully ready for the unalloyed enjoyment of the program of the night. It had been the intention of the widely known and popular club to give a grand opening on the completion of the new rooms and the time came last night. Ample preparations had been made to make it a success and neither time nor means had been spared in the work. The committee appointed to superintend it has never shirked but had entered upon carrying out the wishes of the club with seeming pleasure. To their arduous labors is due the successful termination of last night's banquet. The double rooms which were last night dedicated to the use of the enterprising wide awake business men of Joplin are large beautiful and elegant, suitable in every respect for the purpose for which they will be used. They are such headquarters as the members can feel proud of and be happy at all times to show to the world. They were dedicated not only for business but for pleasure. All work and no play would do for the club what it would have done for Jaok, hence the tables of amusement which will be placed in the rooms and other attractions for whiling away the spare hours. The Joplin Club is to be an institution of the future as substantial and active as any in our midst for the city's future welfare and prosperity. The people expect much of it and they will not be disappointed if the opening exercises can be taken as an indication of what is proposed to be done.

**At 9 o'clock the president of the Joplin Club, W. H. Picher, called the audience to order and made a brief speech of welcome. He said that he welcomed the guests present in the name of the Joplin Club. On behalf of its members he extended to every visitor a hearty welcome. He wanted all to go away with the kindliest recollections of the evening. He welcomed all in the true spirit of hospitality. The club is yet young he continued, but it was with reasonable pride that he alluded to the success it has already attained. Every member was proud of it. This building had been erected by the members of the club. Mr. Picher concluded with a pleasing reference to the guests of the evening and then read the following letter from Governor Francis :

State of Missouri, Executive Department, City of Jefferson, March 2. 1891 - S. C. Henderson, Esq., Joplin, Mo. - Dear Sir: - I very much regret that official duties will prevent me from being with you on Wednesday, the 4th Inst., at the opening of the Joplin Club, for It would afiford me great pleasure to \i8lt your city again and partake of your whole souled hospitality and renew the many delightful acquaintances formed there.

The progress of Joplin and the enterprise of her public spirited citizens has attracted attention beyond the limits of our state. The mineral wealth of your section has In my opinion hardly begun to develop. The future has In store a grand destiny for Southwest Missouri and Its realization will be balled by no one with more sincere satisfaction than by

** After the reading of the letter, he introduced Hon. Oabriel Schmuck, of Galena, who said that it afforded him great pleasure to be present and participate in the pleasure of the evening. He also regarded it as an honor to follow the president of the club who had delivered the address of welcome. *I come here,* he said, 'rather to sit at the festive board than to make a speech. Not being thoroughly versed in the history of Missouri I hesitate to tackle so large a subject as has been assigned me. Although we have been mining for years we have not as yet got at the true merits of the case. Not many years ago the buffalo roamed over our hills and valleys, now the abode of men of industry and culture. The buffalo is dead and gone, but we have still the ox and the ass and we are digging for another animal. We are digging for jack. We are growing more conservative, more liberal. The state line that separates Kansas and Missouri is only an imaginary one. After all, gentlemen, Missouri is only a continuation of my state of Kansas. You are our brothers and we should all have a kindly feeling for each other. We are getting metropolitan in Galena; we speak all languages there and speak tiiem all correctly. But, gentlemen, think of such a grand country as we have. We are one people, ours one country. State lines are only imaginary. We should be bound together in brotherly affection. There is no room for hate, but there is room for all. I'm proud of Joplin. I'm proud of such a building as this is which you have erected. It is an evidence of great power and endurance. Galena can take a lesson from Joplin. A great change has come over Joplin in the last few years. She is no longer a village, but a city. Energy has done it. I want to see her reach a population of 100,000. We all want to see it. What is your interest is our interest. Iiet us all grow together. Let brotherly feeling prevail among us all.'

' ' The next speaker was Judge 0. H. Picher. He said he had listened with great pleasure to his old friend, Mr. Schmuck, whom he esteemed very highly. As to state lines he agreed with Mr. Schmuck that they were only imaginary. 'Nature never intended that Kansas and Missouri should be separated at all. Whether Kansas belonged to Missouri, or vice versa, depended altogether on the Ozark mountaina The range settled it. One certainly included the other. Southwestern Missouri depends on the Ozark range. It has on its surface all that we shall talk of tonight. On her slope lies this district. It happens that right here are gathered more of those things that conduce to the happiness and pleasure of the world than you can find anywhere else that I know of. Here fruits grow and vegetables abound in abundance on the surface and mineral is found beneath the surface. It is found here as it is nowhere else in the world. At first it was thought that this mineral was to be found only in pockets, that it would only be temporary and after a while would cease ; but not so. In 1872 I happened to be in Califonia and was informed there by a friend that our lead was all right, but as for zinc we would find we had an inexhaustible supply of it in Mexico, as soon as a commercial value could be set upon it. That was nineteen years ago and what is the result T There is not in the whole world a country as rich on account of its zinc ore as this. My throat fails me, gentlemen, but I will add that the comfort of my life is the staying qualities of this locality. It is the poorman's paradise. You may fail here, as I have done often, but the country will support you. You can get on your feet again. Note the beauty of it. The poor men with their pick and shovel have brought this district to the attention of the capitalists. Notwithstanding and in spite of trade fluctuations without outside help, with the aid of her own citizens by the stuff that lies in the ground, there is no such country like that of southwestern Missouri in the world. I believe it and you all must. You can afford to make mistakes here, because this country will take care of you when you do. Her resources are unlimited. There is nothing here but solidity. We all wish very much for more unity ; we should be more united. There are many things that united we can do, while as individuals we cannot do. There is no room here for individuality. We have an association that we should all be interested in. We should all attend its meetings, stay with the association. Together we can do a great deal. For that purpose these halls are built. We must get together and discuss our interests. United action is necessary. There is no limit your influence will have on the markets of the world. Each community must have an organization of its own. Just such an organization as this. Each one can do something by itself, but more if we all combine in smelting our ores and in other industries.' Judge Picher then spoke of the fact that the club had invited its guests without any intention of being formal in the banquet proceedings and asked all those present whenever they happened to be in Joplin to make the rooms their headquarters. To feel free and at home.

" 'Citizens of Joplin and visitors,' began Judge W. B. McAntire, *I'm happy to meet you all here on this occasion. We have all been greatly interested in what has been said regarding our relation with each other. But gentlemen there has been too much jealoui^ in the past in this section. There is no sense in it. No one ever built himself up by tearing down some one else. As for us, we have no such feeling. We don't want to play dog in the manger. We can't afford to do it. We begin to feel that this spirit is dying out. We don't care how large Carthage or Webb City grows, how rich Galena gets or how many hatcheries Neosho secures. We want to see them all prosper. We rejoice that you can't see each other without coming through Joplin and we are always glad to see you too. We think we have the finest town in the world. Why, I used to hunt ducks right here where our streets are. I can remember, and I 'm a young man yet, when lots here, where we now stand, were sold for a mere trifle. You could get one free by buying one and building a shanty on it. If some of the older residents had had a little more sand and bought more lots they would have been rich today. You hear that remark daily. Lots that used to sell for fifteen dollars and twenty dollars now sell for fifteen thousand and twenty thousand dollars. I expect to see them sell for one hundred thousand dollars. Consider well and you too will agree with me. This ground is all underlaid with ore. We will have a population here in a few years of fifty thousand people. We have now forty passenger trains daily, sixty traveling men on the road, new factories being daily established and new smelteries to be built soon. Snyder Brothers ship tomorrow one thousand tons of zinc ore to Wales. Joplin has not yet reached the age of beauty. There are other places more gorgeous, but none more healthful, happy and prosperous. We have but one undertaker and half the time he's out of a job. We have a double track electric railway and white lead works that are unlike any other in the United States in one respect. They have a daily capacity of 65,000 pounds of pig lead and 20,000 of white lead. We have now a paint factory which will put a half dozen men on the road. In public schools we're not behind any city. We are to have new sewers and new smelteries and factories too numerous to mention. I hope, gentlemen, that your towns also will grow and flourish. The better off you are, the better off we are. Let us grow together.*

' * One of the most finished and bright speeches of the evening was that of H. S. Wicks. The following extract will only give a faint idea of what he said : ^ There should be no envy or jealousy between the cities of this lead and zinc region. It should not be a question as to whether we shall outdistance Carthage or whether Webb City shall overhaul us or whether Oalena shall spurt up along side. We are now all bound up in a common destiny. Anything that benefits one, benefits all the others and any malicious attack on one damages to that extent the rest. What we want is true, sympathetic and united action and, having all our common efforts moulded together in a common purpose, move forward to continually new triumphs in the future. The Joplin Club with an existence of but little over two years has already been identified with every important project that has contributed to the prosperity of this community. Housed now in this splendid edifice and equipped with every element of success and every feature that will attract new blood, and new life. Standing tonight on the threshold of new opportunities she should free herself from every dormant propensity and be ready and eager for new conquests.'

''Al Cahn, of Carthage, followed Mr. Wicks in a humorous address which elicitated much applause. He said Moses sent spies into Canaan and they returned with a goodly report of the land. They took back grapes that would silence a horticulturist of California on that subject. *Had those spies landed on Plymouth Rock they would have selected Jasper county as their destination and they would not have made a mistake. My relations did so and knowing a good thing when they saw it they stayed here. Jasper county has an area of twenty-two by thirty miles, is the third county in the state in size and the fourth in wealth; has more railroad mileage and a larger public school fund than any other county. Figures may seem a little dry just now after leaving the other room but they are truthful. Her output last year was $4,000,000. There is no more fertile land in tiiis great country of ours than Jasper county. She has sixteen mills and the superiority of her flour makes it corn- mand a higher price than that of other states and it finds a ready sale in any market. Cattle, horses and sheep graze on her rich pastures and her farmers till the soil in summer and mine her lead and zinc in the winter. She has 50,000 inhabitants and has room for 500,000 more. This is the best apple country to be found and had Adam and Eve been placed here that Garden of Eden story would never have been told. We have vineyards here for the German, railroads for the sons of the Emerald Isle, commerce for the English, but no use for the Chinese.

'* 'There need be no danger or fear of over-production or exhaustion of our mineral resources. Lead has been mined in Spain, Germany and other older countries for hundreds of years and still they continue to mine there and find it. They go 800 and 1000 feet deep for their lead. He who placed it in the ground over there also placed it here. The commercial value of our lead and zinc will keep right along with the price of other commodities. In the next century the center of population will move west, the next world's fair will be held here, and the greatest curiosities on exhibition will be the pick and the shovel and other tools used in mining. I am not dreaming or indulging in idle prophecy. It will come true and our descendants will laugh at the primitive way in which we are mining.

** *We need more capital. Let me conclude with an illustration. This evening as I was walking over to this beautiful building I overheard two gentlemen in front of me talking about Joplin. They were visitors here and, like me, guests of this evening's dedication. One of them said : **Well, I have been very much entertained today in going about through the mines, and this is surely a live town ; but if the mines are as big as they say they are, and if they are making as much money as they say they are, why don't they build more sidewalks and make more public improvements? " The question was a pertinent one and I will answer it by telling this little story : One morning at the opening of school in a western town, a boy came to be enrolled who was poorly clad and who was exceedingly dirty. The teacher told him to go home and wash his face and not to come back until he was presentable. In the afternoon the urchin came back with the lower half of his face washed, but the top part as dirty as ever. The teacher said, '*See here! I told you to go home and wash your face. I did not mean just half. Now I want to know why you did not wash your face perfectly clean." *'Well," replied the boy, **I didn't wash any higher because my shirt-tail would not reach any farther."

*' *And so it is with us. We are doing the best we can and are reaching out just as far as our financial shirt-tail will reach ; and as we grow older will no doubt do better. '

**Dr. C. C. Wood, president of Scarret College, Neosho, who with Al Cahn carried off the honors of the evening, said in part: 'I am somewhat puzzled to know just why I was invited to address this club. Just why a Methodist minister should be asked to talk on an occasion such as this I cannot figure out. A preacher is generally supposed not to know anything about finance and real estate. With one he has no intimate ac- quaintance and with the other he usually owns just as much as he carries on his clothes when he falls into a mud hole ; and this he owns hy right of discovery. A minister is generally called upon to christen babies, celebrate the bonds of matrimony and bury the dead. As a minister, I suppose I am called upon to christen this magnificent building and help launch into history the new era of good fellowship which will come to Joplin and all of the surrounding cities and towns.

*' 'I am often called upon to attend to all that is left of a man when the lawyers and the doctor get through with him and I now bury all the past envy and animosity between Missouri and bleeding Kansas. A portion of Kansas is now on the other side of the room refreshing himself after so long a dry spelL

^' 'With Kansas I would have liked to have been on more intimate terms a few years ago. During the war they came over and took our animals instead of digging for the ''jack" as they do now. That was reciprocity. I met a party of about 1,000 Kansans one day during the late unpleasantness and retired in good order, but I hated to see them go because they took my best saddle horse. I reciprocated not long after and, going over into Kansas, with a party of Mimourians, captured him back.

** 'Newton county, where I live, is a great county and if Brother Cahn had mentioned that Newton county is the center of the world I would have said his head was level. I visited Newton county when I was a young man, but I did not take any of the grapes home for fear my neighbors would beat me down and get the place I had picked out for my future home. I know a good thing when I see it, but there is one strange thing about Newton county though. We have plenty of water there and yet the Democrats have a good working majority.

" 'Neosho is the healthiest place in the world. Do you know that we had to lynch a man in order to start a cemetery down there. We have one lady in Neosho who is so old that she says she guesses the Lord has forgotten her. Joplin is only twenty miles from Neosho, and there is something to be proud of. '

"J. T. James, president of the Webb City Commercial Club, and Phil Campbell of Pittsburgh, both made short talks, after which the assemblage retired to the stage of the Club Theater and there partook of a sumptuous banquet."

On. November 2, 1893, the Joplin Club made a trip to Kansas City, having a two-fold object in view, first to get better acquainted with the business men and methods of Kansas City, and thus have better business connections, and secondly to advertise Joplin. The trip was highly successful both in a business and social way. Another Kansas City junket was indulged in during 1896.

In 1893 a Kansas City company was formed to build a railway from that city to Port Arthur and the Joplin Club at once got bui^ to secure the road for Joplin. Fifteen thousand dollars was subscribed toward securing the new road. The K. C. P. and G. acquired the old splitlog railway and extended the line from Joplin to Kansas City via Pittsburg, Kansas and from Siloam Springs south. The P. & G. is now known as the Kansas City Southern.

In 1890, when the National guard was being reorganized all over Missouri, the military loving men of Joplin began agitating the question of reorganizing the old Joplin Rifles.

Among the new comers, who were attracted to Joplin in 1890 by the boom that was on, iwas Capt. F. C. Florance, of Kansas City, a member of the Third Regiment and ordinance ofScer of that organization. Captain Florance put the matter in form by making application to Col. W. K. Caffee for permission to organize a company for the Second Regiment. The application was approved by Colonel Caffee, Adjutant General Wickham and Governor Francis, and a membership committee at once set out to secure the required number for. a company. The company was formally mustered into the service of the state December 30, 1899, by Col. W. K. Caffee, of the Second Regiment. The charter membership of the company at the date of its muster-in was forty-three, but it was at once recruited to sixty-five. The following were the first officers of the company : Captain, F. C. Florance ; first lieutenant, Guy G. Farwell ; second lieutenant, John Kehlor ; first sergeant, F. H. Wilson ; sergeants. Steel McMillen, A. L. North, Bert Schnur and G. H. Davidson ; corporals, W. J. Morrow, John Dawson, H. P. Schellenback, Bert Fenn, Fred Parks and George H. Shaw.

Company G made its first appearance at the funeral of General Sherman at St. Louis February 20, 1891. The company had sixty-four men in line and was especially mentioned by the Post Dispatch, of St Louis, as being the largest company attending the obsequies of the distinguished soldier.

On August 27, 1891, Captain Florance resigned his commission and J. B. Glover, of the famous Zouave Drill Corps was chosen captain. In June, 1892, Captain Glover withdrew from the company, and there was a complete reorganization. George B. Webster, late of the First Regiment, St. Louis, was chosen captain ; Sergeant A. S. Chappel was elected first lieutenant and J. S. Casey, second lieutenant.

Under Captain Webster's command the company attended the regimental camp at Carthage and was complimented by the officers sent to make the regimental inspection for its deportment in camp. In July, 1893, Captain Webster and Lieutenant Chappel both removed from the city and the company was again reorganized, with the following corps of officers: Captain, Joel T. Livingston; first lieutenant, J. S. Casey ; second lieutenant, Fred C. Clippenger ; first sergeant, W. E. Bailey.

The company which had run down to thirty-six men was now recruited up to sixty men and the Crossman Hall in East Joplin rented for an armory.

The company went into camp at Cunningham Grove. July 3-4, 1894: also took part in the regimental camp at Springfield in August of that year. The commanding officer prescribed a code of signals for assembling the company for an emergency call. In July, 1894, the captain receiving telegraphic orders from Colonel Caffee to assemble and hold the company in readiness to go to Moberly, where (Jovemor Stone had planned to assemble the Second and Fourth Regiments for the purpose of preserving order in the railway strike which was tying up the traffic of the state. The call to assemble was sounded on the fire bell and in one hour after receiving the message forty-two men were at the artiior>' and in heavy marching order.

On February 22, 1895, Company G banquetted at the Joplin Hotel, with Brigadier General Wickham, Colonel Caflfee and staff, and Major Williams, together with their wives and sweethearts as guests. This was one of the brilliant affairs in Company G's history.

In May, 1895, Captain Livingston resigned his commission and was succeeded by R. A. Spear, of the famous Canton Lincoln, a natural bom commander and military man. Shortly following Captain Spear's election the lieutenants resigned and E. L. Shepherd, just graduated from the Alarmaduke Military Academy, and E. E. Duckett, one of the crack-drilled men, were chosen lieutenants.

In 1896 there occurred a series of social functions, given by the company at their armory, which was now moved to the second story over Serage livery barn. At the annual inspection in 1896 Company G made the highest per cent of any of the companies in the Second Regiment.

In 1898 the company responded to the country 's call, went to the front with the volunteers in the Spanish-American war and made an excellent record. It being apparent that the company would see no fighting. Lieutenant Shepherd resigned before the close of the war and second lieutenant Duckett was promoted to the first lieutenancy. First Sergeant A. C. Tschappler receiving the appointment of second lieutenant.

The following is a roster of Company G at the time of the Spanish- American war: Captain Robt. A. Spears; first lieutenant E. S. Shepherd (resigned in October, 1898); first lieutenant E. E. Duckett; second lieutenant, Ameal C. Tschappler ; sergeants, Frank Samson, D. D.

As mentioned before Company G was first stationed at Chickamauga Parks during the summer of 1898. In this camp were 45,000 United States volunteers, and it was but natural, with such a large body thrown together, that the sanitation of the camp should be a great problem and this, with the intense heat during July and August, brought quite a number of the boys to the hospital tent. On learning the condition and realizing that quick action was necessary to relieve the boys at the front, Mrs. J. L. Bri^s called a meeting of the women of the city at the Methodist church for the purpose of organizing a Hospital Relief Association. Two hundred ladies responded to the call, on July 14, 1898, and organized the Company G Relief Association.

The following were the oflScers of the society: President, Mrs. J. L. Briggs; vice president, Mrs. A. A. Carey; secretary, Mrs. M. T. Downing; treasurer, Mrs. W. F. Halliard.

medical supplies. July 20th, on the beautiful lawn of Mrs. Briggs' home, a social was given which was a financial success and gave the association a good working fund.

When the boys were first mustered into the service supplies, of course, were scarce and realizing that our boys at Chickamauga would probably be in need before the army could be thoroughly supplied, the JopUn Daily Herald asked the citizens to make up a box and send to the front. The response was liberal and the Herald box from home brought much comfort and joy to the boys who had gone to fight for Cuba's independence and to ''Remember the Maine."

After the war Company G was reorganized and again mustered into the service of the state. The following were the officers of the company after the Spanish American war: Captain, E. E. Duckett; first lieutenant, James Eelley; second lieutenant, E. J. Boggs; first sergeant, Jesse Axton.

The meeting of the Missouri Department, Grand Army of the Republic, in Joplin April 12-14, 1893, was an important event and brought to the **City that Jack Built" fully five thousand visitors. Joplin never does things by halves and on this occasion entertained the veterans of the Union army in a royal manner. The Confederate veterans joined with the citizens and extended to the boys in blue a magnificent welcome.

The encampment was opened by a reception to the veterans and a general good time was had. Old acquaintances were renewed, war stories were told and songs were sung, bringing back to the old soldiers the stirring times and scenes of the early sixties. C. W. Whitehead, of Kansas City, department commander, presided over the sessions of the encampment. Among the distinguished visitors present were National Commander A. G. Weissert, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; Past Commander William Warner, of Kansas City, and Ex-Governor Phelps, of Springfield.

The morning session was given over to routine business, the appointment of committees, etc., the two principal features of the day being the grand parade in the afternoon and the campfire at night.

The parade occurred at four o'clock in the afternoon and was a magnificent aflfair. Over fifteen hundred veterans were in line. The military and semi-military societies of the city acted as escort and helped to lend enthusiasm to the occasion. Past Commander E. W. Beach was the grand marshal and, with his aides, Col. J. V. Pierce and Captain Galen Spencer, formed the big parade and promptly at the hour set gave the signal to ''forward march."

The order of march was as follows: City marshal; platoon of mounted police; Chief Marshal Beach; Mounted orderlies; First Division, Gen. Charles W. Squires, marshal; Carthage Light Guard Band; Canton Lincoln, I. 0. 0. F.; Joplin Light Infantry; Division No. 40, U. R. K. of P. ; Joplin fire department ; Second Division, A. H. Brewer, marshal ; Nevada Martial Band; National Commander Weissert; Department Commander C. W. Whitehead, and staff; Delegates to Department Encampment; G. A. R. Third Division, H. W. Davidson, marshal; Kansas Drum Corps; Merrill Camp, Sons of Veterans and all visiting Sons of Veterans.

Main street was lined with people from Second to Ninth, and the sidewalks were impassable from Third to Seventh. Hundreds of people congregated at points of vantage on the side streets. Most of Joplin was out to view the spectacle. The music, the bright uniforms of the civic societies, the measured tread and military appearance of the Grand Army posts, and the waving flags and banners, combined to inspire an enthusiasm which broke out in cheer upon cheer when the Central school building was reached. Here the pupils of the public schools were massed. They occupied both sides of Wall street from Ninth to Seventh and their lines extended from the curbing to the fences. Others were massed in the yard of the Central school building and all of them were supplied with flags which they waved vigorously. The veterans uncovered as they passed between the lines and cheered in return for the cordial greeting of the pupils. This was a marked and most interesting feature of the parade. The Joplin Daily Herald, in commenting on the parade had an interesting column, '^On the Skirmish Line." Following are some of the interesting notes: Colonel Cunningham's Cavalry contributed an important feature to the parade.

Next to Commander-in-chief Weiasert, Past State Commander Warner is one of the youngest looking men in the encampment. National Commander Weissert marched in line with the boys and it is the firs^ time that the commander-in-chief has ever marched on foot in a parade. He marched with Department Commander Whitehead, Post Commander Warner, and Assistant Adjutant General Rogers, and they were as youthful appearing a quartette as could be found in the column.

Hon. W. S. Norton, of Scammonville, Kansas, attends the encampment and renewed acquaintance with his former Joplin neighbors. He was marshal here during the exciting time of the Lupton riot.

McConey & Son and T. W. Cunningham will be kindly remembered by the delegates for a bountiful supply of ice water conveniently placed for their use on the sidewalk in front of the Bank of Joplin.

Colonel J. P. Tracey, United States marshal for the western district of Missouri, is a member of the Springfield delegation. Colonel Tracey can laugh just as loudly as when he was the modest editor of the Carthage Banner,

Past Commander Warner evidently enjoys good digestion and an ea£^ conscience. He left his uniform at home because the pantaloons lacked four inches of being sufficient for his equatorial expansion.

The United chorus by the entire department which accompanied Commander Whitehead's solo *' Marching Through Georgia'' at the afternoon session, fairly made the Club Theatre building tremble with the immense volume of patriotic melody.

When the encampment adjourned at noon it marched to the Frisco depot and escorted National Commander Weissert to his hotel. At the afternoon session a committee was appointed to escort him to the Club Theatre. He was there formally introduced to the encampment and delivered an address.

The camp fire at the Club Theater was the crowning event of the session, and long before the hour for opening the building was packed to its capacity. Mayor R. B. Tyler for the city ; president F. E. Williams, of the Joplin Club, both delivered addresses of welcome and Past Depart-

Rev. J. J. Martin of the First M. E. church and at that day one of Joplin's most entertaining talkers and Judge Charles G. Burton, department commander-elect, were called for and made pleasing talks. Inspector General Henry was called and responded with a patriotic song which set the audience wild with excitement.

Miss Nellie Bartlett, now Mrs. Snyder, of Kansas City, then one of Joplin's most charming elocutionists, gave a reading which was the hit of the evening. The Carthage Mandolin Club and the G. A. R. Glee Club, of Kansas City, interspered the speeches with musical hits and patriotic airs.

The evening's entertainment was closed with a drill by sixteen pretty high school girls, under the command of **Col.'' V. Letta Speaks, then one of Joplin's popular lady teachers.

It is always customary to elect the junior department commander from the city where the encampment is held and Past Commander Henr}' Phelps was honored by the G. A. R. for this important post.

J. L. Briggs, who perhaps more than any other one man had made the Joplin meeting a success, was selected as Missouri's representative on the National Council of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was three successive times reelected. At the meeting of the Woman's Relief Corps Mrs. J. L. Briggs was chosen department vice president and at the next meeting passed to the chair.

During the spring of 1891 a strong society was founded, composed largely of farmers, and known as the South West Missouri Protective Association, its objects being to capture and bring to speedy justice all evil doers, especially horse thieves.

Three lodges or companies were formed in the territory contiguous to Joplin, and these three joined in a picnic and celebrated at Cunningham's Grove, on June 1, 1891. At about eleven o'clock the members of the organization gathered in the Kansas City bottoms and rode 200 strong through Main street in Joplin to the grove. The parade was an imposing spectacle and was a great object lesson. T. W. Cunningham was the marshal of the day and handled the horsemen like a veteran cavalry commander. After dinner at the grove speeches were had, Wilbur, Haughawout, of Tower of Light Lodge, being the principal speaker.

The bicycle was as popular among the smart set in the nineties as the automobile is now, and Joplin had several hundred wheelmen who organized in 1897, the Joplin Cycle Club with 200 members. W. P. Cleavland as captain.

The first one of the notable events given by this club was a ten mile county cross-road race, on June 19, 1897. The start and finish were witnessed by thousands of people, Joplin street from Third to Sixth being literally packed; Fourth and Joplin was the starting point. Forty-two wheelmen took part in the race, which was won by W. P. Cleavland with Robert Holmes, second; W. C. Trautman, third; and Harry Rogers, fourth.

The road-race was so popular that the club took a lease on Cox Park and constructed a splendid race course. On September 9, 1897, a racing meet was had which brought to Joplin many wheelmen from abroad. In the morning a parade was participated in by the two hundred members of the club and perhaps fifty out-of-town cycle enthusiasts. This parade was one of the interesting features of the meet, many of the riders costuming themselves in grotesque and fancy costume, and the line of march resembled very much a mardi gras parade.

Seven great racing events were had, as follows: Event No. 1 - ^Interstate championship, eleven starters, was won by Robert Holmes, with Joe Stebbins, of Carthage, second and Geo. F. Haskins, of Webb City, third.

The closing event was a one-mile professional, a most exciting contest, which, on account of a dispute as to the rules of the race, was twice run. Sam Coburn was the winner, making the mile in 2 :05.

After this event quite a number of interesting exhibitions were given by professional wheelmen in attendance and the day went down in the history of Joplin as a great event, as far as sport was concerned.

A number of cycle meets were had, all of which excited great interest. The Cycle Club was exceedingly popular until, in the last decade, when the automobile has taken its place.