Lincoln Township

Lincoln Township

the prompt payment of principal and interest would sometimes work great hardship to comrannities. But liberal-minded, public-spirited men, gave the Joplin schools there early boom by furnishino; pecuniary aid, and others liave supplemented their eftbrts down to the present time. Among the subsequent members of the East Joplin school board the following may be named: D. P. Ballard, G. D. Jackson, H. J. Blackwell, J. C. Maddy, D. Y. Moore, F. A. McClelland, George Payton, W. L. Harris, T. K. Meador, O. B. Haralin, J. B. Thomas, L. R. Thomas, T. B. Samuels, and Calvin JSTickell. Present board: James Woodward, E. M. Nash, and J. W. Henry. Among those who have served as clerks of the East Joplin district may be named G. D. Jackson, Alfred Gensel, G. G. Davis, L. R.. Thomas, S. H. Underwood, and J. W. Henrv. The last named is the present clerk of the district, and E. M. Nash is the president of the board. G. G. Davis had the longest term of service.

The first principal of the East Joplin public schools was S. B. Ormsby, -\vhose skill as an organizer and disciplinarian told favorably upon the success of the schools. He introduced such a system of handling pupils in <?lasses, in the halls, and on the grounds, as required the observance, in part, of a kind of military exactness and responsibility. It was necessary in those days, on account of time, circumstances of place, and condition of pupils and patrons, to use unusual means to secure attention and obedience. Pupils had to be made to either obey or rebel; there could be no middle ground, and it may here be said that the average of Joplin pupils, notwithstanding the exciting conditions of time and place under which he came into life and had been reared, has shown himself ready to yield to firm discipline, and capable of a good degree of mental developement. Mr. Ormsby was succeeded in this school, as principal, by S. A, Underwood, who was subsequently promoted to the office of school commissioner of Jasper county, which he filled with distinguished ability for three terms of two years each. This last named gentleman rendered valuable service in establishinar and maintaining the grades of the several departments. Afterwards, the principalship was conferred upon the following named persons in the order in which their names appear, to-wit: James A. Race, G. W. McKinnie, T. H. Riftee, L. Z. Burr, James M. Stevenson, Miss Jeanette Houghton, and F. Martin who is tlie present principal. Several of the above named principals brought to their work ripe culture and large experience.

The following named teachers have been employed in the East Joplin public schools: Anna Pleath, Georgia Gates, U. B. Webster, George H. Smeltzer, Laura Culpepper, Josie Culpepper, W. H.Johns, Tealie Underwood, Walter Atkinson, Emma Shortess, Mrs. Fannie Hays, and Emma Young. The three last named are at present employed. Quite a number of pupils haveentered the school-room as teachers without further preparation than that received in this school. This being the first public school established in Jo])- lin tLe influences flowing from it have had more time to manifest themselves upon the character of societ}'. As a result there exists in the social and moral element reached by such influences a degree of culture, refinement, and moral worth directly traceable to this institution.

West Joplin Public Schools. - Though the schools in this part of the city are generally known as the West Joplin public schools, yet the legal name and style of the district is District No. 4, township 27, range 33, of Jasper county, and in this name it, as well as other smaller districts, is capable of suing and being sued, holding and conveying property, and making contracts with and drawing warrants for payment of all parties.

The public school system was not introduced into this part of Joplin until some time after it was well under way in East Joplin, Indeed, tliough West Joplin now has by far the greater part of the children, wealth, and school buildings of the city, yet it had not a solitary building or child on its territory shortly before the East Joplin school-house was erected. As an old citizen expresses it, the territory of the West Joplin school district and suburban parts was then one vast prairie, and he, while riding on horseback over the same, on one occasion, near night-fall, got bewildered and lost on a spot near where E. R. Mofiett's house now stands.

The East Joplin School No, 1, township 27, range 33, of Jasper county,, seems to have embraced originally all the territory novv embraced in said three districts. As the territory settled up on the west side of Joplin Creek the enumeration of the educable children soon disclosed the fact that there were enough for the formation of another district, which could be set ofl' from the East Joplin District. The distance from school of a portion of the inhabitants, a desire for local independence, and other interests made it desirable for a new district to be formed. Some opposition to such formation showed itself; ludeed the township treasurer, who then handled the money of districts within the township, refused to turn over to the new district its quota of some public money in hand. Finally Judge- William Byers, a citizen of the new district, was elected township treasurer, and upon taking charge of his oflice he recognized the rights of the new district and paid over its funds to the proper parties. It cannot be determined from any data at hand exactl}' when the initiatory steps were taken to set off the West Joplin District from the East Joplin District for the organization of the new district, but the records show that said organization was eflected at a special school meeting held at the school-house (supposed to be a rented building on Main Street) in West Joplin on the twentieth day of September, 1872. J. B. Sergeant was chairman and "William Harrell was secretary of this meeting. This school meeting was opened at seven o'clock p. M., according to notice previously given. J. B. Sergeant, Matthew W. Stafford, and Charles J. G. Workizer were duly elected to the office of school directors. Two days later these three gentlemen last named took and subscribed to the oath of office. Though 1 his new district had a school board, yet for want of funds it did not immediately organize a school.

The first annual school nrieeting in this district was held at the office of Esquire N^orton on Saturday, the tvrelfth day of April, 1873, at which meeting William P. Davis was chosen chairman and William Byers secretary, and the following named persons were declared duly elected to the office of school director; to-wit, Charles J. G. Workizer, J. H. McCoy, and William ^Carter. These men were sworn into office two days later. At the next annual school meeting, held April 21, 1874, J. E. H. Chapman, H. L. R. Stiles, and Y. J. Howell were chosen school directors. Of this last meeting William Byers was chosen chairman and Philip Arnold secretary. Thislast meeting was held at the brick school-house on Fourth Street.

The followino; named men have since acted as directors of this district: J. G. Matthews, Matthew W. Stafford, Galen Spencer, W. J. Haslett, "C. W. Dykeman, W. S. Harmany, S. C. Price, J. C. Mason, and William Byers. The three last named constitute the present board. Of the directors of this district Matthew W". Stafford has had the longest term of service. J. G. Matthews was the first clerk and was appointed by the board. The position has since been held by Galen Spencer, Philip Arnold, Jr., and "Clark Craycroft, and J. C. Mason, who is the present clerk. The longest term of service was had by Clark Craycroft.

The first teachers employed by the West Joplin school board, appear to be William C. Bradford on the fifth day of May, 1873, for three months at $60; Cordie Potter on the thirtieth day of May, 1873, for nine weeks, at $30 per month; M. A. McCallum in the month of May, 1873, for three months at $40; S. S. McCracken on the sixth day of October, 1873, for three months at $40: Philip Arnold, Jr., on the nineteenth day of October, 1873, for three months at $50; Alice M. Shedd on the first day of December, 1873, for two months at $40.

On the eighth day of February, 1874, the board emploj^ed a regular corps, and sought to establish grades in the schools. The corps employed was composed of the following; to-wit, Philip Arnold, principal, salary $50 per Mrs. Alice Shedd, intermediate department, $40 per month; Mrs. M. A. McCallum, primary depratment, $45 per month; Sophia McCracken, assistant primar}' department. $40 per month. Schools under this corpsopened for a term of three months, on the tenth day of Febrnar}^ 1874. It will be seen that this part of Joplin grew so rapid]}' that almost as soon as there was a demand for teachers at all at least four were needed; on the fifth deij of April, 1874, Anna Heath was employed at $45 per month. From this time down to April, 1877, some of the above mentioned were discontinued, and others were added to the list, as follows: U. B, Webster for a short time, who subsequently became commissioner of Jasper county, where he did much hard work to elevate the schools; J.- M. Shedd, J, Bryan, who was distinguished for his devotion to and his familiarity with natural history; James McCallum, Edith .Conwell, Mrs. J. P. Newell, Eliza Rust, Mr. "VVicks, Mrs. Wicks, G. P. Garland.

In April, 1877, after the annual election, the school board was composed of Galen Spencer, M. W. Stafford, and W. J. Haslett, with Clark Craycroft,. not a member of the board, for district clerk. The district had become so populous, and so many children were ]>re8sing into the schools, that more thorough organization and grading were demanded. The system of having each teacher report directly to the board and requiring the principal to devote his entire tinie to teaching, was found to be no longer compatible with the best interests of the schools and people. So this board established the office of superintendent of public schools, and J. C. Mason, for many yean^ principal at St. Louis, and superintendent at Carthage, was elected superintendent of West Joplin schools, at a salary of $1,500 per year. He began with a corps of five teachers; to-wit, Philip Arnold, Jr., Clara Dittoe, Mrs. Simpson, Lydia Sampson, and Miriam Chandler. But soon the schools liad swelled to such an extent that twice that number of teachers could not properly teach all those enrolled. The enrollment reached nearly or quite one thousand pupils within one year. A most thorough system of daily and monthly reports was instituted, through which not only the superintendent,, but each teacher, patron, and pnpil, and the public at large could look into each school-room and at al] times observe the workincjs of the same. The trials and triumphs of all parties to the school were shown to and shared by those within as well as those without the educational circle. With such a system it was found impossible for a single teacher of real excellence to gO' in and out and otherwise move in the presence of her immortal charge, without compelling all the others through the telling force of contact to step up to and on a higher plane; pupils became enthusiastic and desired the world to see and appreciate their efforts. Their first enthusiastic exhibition, given on the evening of June 29, 1877, in the Tabernacle Church before it was partitioned off, as now, when an audience of more than one thousand persons, within and without that grand old building, greeted the youth of West Jo])lin school with such demonstrations of approval, will not soon be forgotten. This school board, as many others have, threw around the schools their strong protection and upheld them with their strong support. The teachers were eairer to write the word excellent on their work. There are turning points in the history of schools as well as in the histroy of individuals; there are times when in an educational point of view a whole community recognizes its own possibilities, and reaches out and seizes them with unyielding grasp. In 1877 Joplin stepped to the front; she has come forward as all great movements have - aye, as the world's civilization has - by pulsations. Sometimes educational matters have seemed to be going backward, but not really so; the apparent i*etrogression has been but the gathering, contraction, and consolidation of forces for a mightier spring, for a more extensive bound than any that has preceeded it. These schools continued under the charge of Mr. Mason until the summer vacation of ISTU. when business opportunities induced him to resign. At the expiration of one year, however, he was reappointed to the superintendency and held the position till the spring of 1881, when he again resigned to assume the profession of law, and was succeeded by Philip Arnold, who, at a salary of $90 per month for most of the time, has held the superintendency down to the present time.

In October, 1879, after Mr. Mason's first resignation, J. F. Martin was appointed to the superintendency and held the position for eight months (that school year being a short one for want of funds) at $80 per month. In addition to the teachers already mentioned are the following who have been employed for a greater or less length of time in the West Joplin schools; to-wit, Laura Pinney, Mollie Dittoe, Emma Young, J. W. IlenrA, C. H. Lillibridge, E. (). Miles, Henry Phelps, Sue Phelps, L. Z. Burr, Mollie Roberson, Laura Pate, Mildred Livingston, James M. Stevenson, Cora I. Kevins, Ida Miller, Anna Jarrett, Libbie Jarrett, Ida Harmany, Fannie Bliss, Meredith Taylor, Mary Earner, Annie Irwin, Isabelle Irwin, Etta May Whitwell, Laura Tucker, Ella Martin, Jeannette Hougton, Edna Houghton.

A considerable number of teachers have been prepared for their work in the West Joplin public schools. Some have won a good degree of success in this and other states in pursuit of their profession. It is the intention of the school authorities to, in the future, give more especial attention to normal work. The prominence which this city has attained causes school officers from a large scope of countr}^ of which it is the business center, to look to Joplin for live and energetic teachers. This will be the case more

In the matter of salaries there has been considerable fluctuation within the history of the schools of this city. The range has been from $40 per month, paid to primary teachers, to $1,500 per year paid to superintendent. This last amount has been paid to one man only, J. C. Mason, by the West Joplin School Board. The next highest was $100 per month, paid for a time to R. T. Gwinn, by the Lone Elm School Board. Others have received as follows: Superintendent, $90 yjer month; principals of different schools, $80, $75, $70, and $65 per month. Teachers with the care of one room only have received $60, $55, $50, $45 and $40 per month, and for a short time as low as $30 per month. As a general thing payment has been made promptly at the close of each school month. In this way it has been possible tu get good teachers at much lower figures than districts are compelled to pay when they permit their teachers to heavily discount their warrants for salary or hold them for an indefinite time before payment. The disposition is growing to pay good prices provided an equivalent in service be rendered. The principle is fully recognized that poor teachers Hie dear at any price. Janitors have been paid about $40 per month. Members of school boards receive no pay. The theory of the school law is, any citizen whom the people will select for so important a trust as the expenditure of people's money for the education of their children will be prompted by his interest, in the dispersion of knowledge, to discharge the duties belonging to such trust without pecuniary remuneration. The district clerks have usually received a small compensation for keeping the records and performing the other somewhat responsible duties which the law and district lays upon them.

, School-houses. - The schools of West Joplin were first opened in a rented building on Main Street; after which the Methodist Church at the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Kentuckv Avenue was rented for school purposes. About that time it appears that the Cumberland Presbyterian Church society commenced the erection of a brick church building on the northeast corner of Fourth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. After considerable work had been done on the building, the church found itself unable to proceed for want of funds. So an arrangement was made with the school board of District ]^o. 4, township 27, range 33, of Jasper county, by which said district should go on and complete the building, pay said church certain money, and then said district should have the right and privilege to use the same for school purposes for a term said to be ninety-nine years. These and other conditions were embodied in a written lease executed bv said church, acting through its trustees, and said district acting through its -directors. The district used the building undj^r this lease tor several years, and the right to use the same was made the subject of a lawsuit; said church sought to recover the building from the district by suit in ejectment. It is uncertain how the suit would have terminated but for the timely discovery the lease just before the conclusion of the trial. It was found in William Nortno's safe, which had withstood the ravages of the disastrous fire on Main Street in 1877. The lease was badly dilapidated by heat and water, but enough of it was left to show its true intent and meaning, and to secure to this district for nearly a century the undisputed right to use and enjoy for purposes this old landmark the "Fourth Street Brick School-house." Before the lease was found defendant affirmed and plaintiff denied the exe- <'ution of a lease.

In 1877 the high school was taught for a few months in P'urguson's Hall, at the southwest corner of Main and Fourth streets. Afterward, this department, with No. 1, were taught in the Christian Church, at the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue for nearly a year. The church was thus occupied immediately after it came from the hands of the contractor. The two departments were separated by a canvas suspended in the middle of the church room, which was plenty large enough for two school-rooms. While the canvas cut off the vision, it was by no means a sufficient preventive to the passage of sound. It was a trial to do good work under the circumstances. Another drawback did that church building present. It had smoking chimneys. They were too low, and though they were spliced out with piping they still refused to do all that chimneys ought to do. A holiday for teachers and pupils was sometimes the result.

The want of room has always been a hindrance in this district. It was thought that the erection of the three-room frame on Fourth Street would give ample room for some years, but it was found that with increase of room and teachers, a larger per cent of educable children would attend school. Patrons did not like to trust the health and advancement of children to over-crowded rooms. The principal reason the board did not supply room as fast as it was needed was that they had no funds to work with, and were hampered by the state Constitution, the statutes, and the anomalous fact that they were trying to operate a great system of city schools while the district was organized as a country district with such limited powers as country districts have. To be sure they could build by voting and issuing bonds, but the people had, many of them, come from localities where the bond issuing business had been abused and brought trouble upon the taxpayers, and hence they had a dread of bonds.

In the fall of 1878 tlie West Joplin board made a new departure in building school-bouses. They, without making much infjuiry as to the legal right, purchased the beautiful site on ^inth Street, where the high school building now stands, and erected a neat, substantial, two story, two-room, brick school-house in such a way that it could receive additions, at an expense of between four and live thousand dollars. And then again, in 1881^ the Byersville frame school building was erected. For the j^ast three years a school with one teacher has been in this district near the White Leadworks. The building was presented to the district by E. R. JVIoffett, the board moving it to the place where it has been used.

In 1880 the little white building known as the superintendent's office, was erected on the high school ground. This has been used for the double purpose of an office and hearing recitations.

During all these years, up to 1883, the people, though sanctioning the board in their action, were unwilling to vote bonds for building purposes. The early part of this year seemed favorable to a grand forward movement. The preceding year had been one of unusual activity and prosperity. The building boom was upon the town. The temper of the people was excellent. To build manufactories, warehouses, private residences, city buildings, and other structures, and neglect suitable places for the education of tlie rising generation, was a species of folly that the citizens of Joplin in their sober judgment would undoubtedly rebuke. The West Joplin schoolboard, composed of S. C. Price, president; J. C. Mason, clerk; and W. S. Ilarmany, saw and embraced the oportunity to enlist the people in the enterprise of school-house building. Accordingly, on the second da}^ of February, 1883, at a special meeting of the board, an election was ordered to be held on the twenty-seventh da)' of February, 1883, at the brick school-house on Fourth Street to see if the qualified voters of the district would, by a twothirds vote, authorize the l)oard to issue bonds to the amount of $20,000 for the purpose of building a school-house on Ninth Street, between Joplin and Wall streets, at an expense of $16,200, and to erect a smaller building at Byersville at an expense of $2,500, and to move the Byersville frame schoolliouse, at an expense of $400, and to erect a school-house for the colored school, at an expense of $900. Said election was held on the said twentyseventh of February, and the people said by a more than two-thirds vote the bonds might be issued, and the buildings be erected. On the third day of April, 1883, W. S. Ilarmany was succeeded on the board by William Byers. On the first day of May, 1883, the said b >nds were issued, and soon after the contract for erecting the buildings was made. In due course of time the smaller buildin<js, andfinallv the building on Ninth Street, were completed, the latter a raagnilicent structure, two-story, with liigh ceiling, nearly eighty feet from east to west, and over one hundred feet from north to south, of brick, and trimmed with beautifully wrought stone, slate roof, stately bell-tower, one door opening north, which is the main entrance, one door to the east and one to the two commodious stairways, spacious halls, and an ell, extending south, formed of old buildings. There are eleven rooms in the building; two of the lower rooms can be thrown into one; the same as to two of the upper rooms; has a seating capacity for eight hundred pupils; heated by steam; light and ventilation upon most improved plan; best of material and workmanship throughout the building; furnished with substantial modern style furniture. The above is but an imperfect description of Ihe Joplin central public school building. The grounds upon which it stands are fenced with a substantial iron fence, and are as beautiful as Eden. This building, with the past victories it represents, and the promises of good things to come, is the crowning glorv of the Joplin public schools, and they are the hope of the city. They are the one institution that rises in grandeur above every other, whose worth cannot be overestimated, and whose influence shall be immortal.

Lone Elm Schools. - That part of Joplin known as Lone Elm, the legal name of the district being " District No. 9, township 23, range 33, of Jasper county," shortly before it had a school within the corporate limits of the city, had a school-house in the country portion of the district beyond Turkey Creek. The writer is not apprised of the exact time when the district was formed. Soon after the town began to be settled in the portion belonging to this district, a school was conducted in an old rented building on the main street running through the settlement, sometimes with one, and sometimes with two teachers. Afterwards, in 1877, a substantial, tworoom, frame school-house was erected on the hill in a sightly location. The two rooms were connected by folding doors, and were often used as one room on public occasions. This building has served the purpose of schoolhouse, church, and a hall for social, political, and other gatherings. It was paid for partly with public money and partly by private subscription; the probable cost of the building was $1,000. It is furnished with substantial furniture, and, taken altogether with surroundings, is pleasant and attractive. It was not built and paid for without considerable hard work, and an earnest and persistent eifort on the part of the friends of the movement. Such enterprises are generally carried forward by a few persons as active promoters, often by a single individual. P. Quinn, J. L. Harvey, Julius Fisher, and O. Skillen, as members of the school board, and R. T. Guinn. as principal, were unflagging in their efforts to build and pay for this schooli-ii HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

house. Its erection at an opportune time contributed more than any other movement to the advancement of the school interest in this part of the tov^rn. In addition to the above the following named persons have acted as school directors; to-wit, S. E. Lamb, John.C. Bailey, J. T. Whitwell, and J. McCoy. Julius Fisher has for many years held the office of district clerk, and rendered valuable service in keeping the financial affairs of the district in excellent condition. Among those who have been employed as teachers may be mentioned the following; to-wit, R. T. Guinn was for several years principal, and for some time at a salary of $100 per month, the next highest salary ever paid for school-work in Joplin. L. Z. Burr was next eraployed as principal at a salary of $67 per month; during his administration another small building was moved on the school ground, and a third teacher was employed therein ; the corps then consisted of Mr. Burr, Miss Tealie Underwood, and Mrs. Hattie A. Burr, wife of L. Z., for first and second assistants, respectively. The next principal was Miss Tealie Underwood, at a salary of $55 per month. Subsequently^ D. B, Wilson and J. W. Henry were employed as principals. G. P. Garland, Henry Plielps, Sue Phelps, A. W. Michell, Rachel Shaw, William H. Lee, Amanda Wilson, and Helen Jones, have also been employed in these schools. In 1879 an event happened which somewhat diminished the size of the school district in point of population. This was the removal of nearly or quite one hundred families with their houses, which last were on mining grounds (the fee to which was in the Granl)y Company for the most part) to a beautiful part of the West Joplin district, within the city limits. These families formed a new suburban settlement, which was afterward termed Byersville, the land having been purchased of Byers & Murphy,

Colored Schools. - But a small per cent of the population of Joplin is or has ever been of African descent. A colored school, with one teacher, has been maintained from the first in a rented building. The pupils of this class have all, or nearly all, resided in West Joplin and East Joplin districts. These have generally maintained a union school, each bearing its ])roportionate share of the necessary expenses. Schools have for the most part been kept open for the same length of time as the white schools. Colored teachers have been employed as a rule, and especially when they could be had possessing the proper qualifications. The employment of those of their own race as teachers has been supposed to present a stronger incentive to excellence on the part of pupils than if such positions were monopolized by persons of another race. Good results have been obtained in this educational department. The union school has been maintained alternately in East and West Joplin in dififerent buildings. This class of the educable children lias not been overlooked in the new school building recently erected. Nine hundred dollars were set apart from the money received from the sale of bonds recentl}' voted, with which a neat and substantial school building has been erected and furnished with substantial furniture and modern appliances for the use of the colored school. It has been the purpose of school ofhcers to do exact justice to this class of the population.

Among the teachers employed from time to time in these schools the following may be named, who have received about the same salaries as others doing a similar grade of work; to-wit, Alfred Gensel, Mrs. R. E. Taylor, white persons; and M. W. Robinson and B. J. Wooton.

Enumeration for 1882. - East Joplin: Number of white persons in district between six and twenty years of age, males, 238; females, 207; total, 445. Number of colored persons in district between six and twenty years of age, males, 9; females, 10; total, 19. West Joplin: Number of white persons in district between six and twenty years of age, males, 733; females, 744; total, 1,477. Number of colored persons in district between six and twenty years of age, males, 28; females, 32; total, 60. Lone Elm: Number of white persons in district between six and twenty years of age, males, 99; females, 101; total, 200. Number of colored persons in district between six and twenty years of age, none. Total enumeration of Joplin schools in 1882, males, 1,107; females, 1,094; total, 2,201. Total enumeration of Joplin schools in 1883 (estimated), 2,700. Value of school property owned by all the Joplin. school districts, $50,000. Assessed valuation of Joplin districts in 1882, $854,046; estimated valuation of Joplin districts, 1883, $1,000,000. Amount per $100 levied for school purposes on assessed valuation, for 1883, 65 cents.

Consolidation. - In writing up the historj' of Joplin schools the aim has been to be truthful, the writer being aware that history of any kind to be of any value must conform to facts. Considerable detail has been used, for the reason that in a few years this will be the only record in existence of things herein recorded. Very many of the school records of the three districts have been lost by lire, and carelessness of school officers and otherwise. A considerable portion of the information herein contained had to be picked up from individuals who were witnesses to and participants in the events specified. Again, by being thus specific, those not acquainted with the drawbacks consequent upon the city schools being divided into three separate jurisdictions, can better understand the reason why still better results have not been reached. It may be truthtully said in this connection that the one great obstacle to progress has been the existence of these three subordinate jurisdictions, with limited powers and privileges, when one grand jurisdic- tion should exist, with enlarged powers and privileges. Instead of the Joplin schools having been one, they have been three; instead of being represented and known abroad as a unit, as a comprehensive whole, they have been represented and known in parts - their full strength never bearing in one direction and the accomplishing of a single object. But it may be asked why has this been tolerated so long? The answer is, that serious difiiculties were in the way of consolidation - the desire for local independence, disinclination to cliange existing institutions, and the belief on the part of some in the necessity of special legislation, which is always difficult to be had, in order to legal consolidation. But whatever evils have resulted from the schools being three instead of one^ and whatever causes have prevented the removal of such evils, consolidation will soon be an accomplished fact; for the almost universal wish of the people is for union, and the neces- ,sarv leo'islation has been had. In view of the above, while so much has been accomplished in the past under so many adverse circumstances, the future is full of promise. With the present corps of teachers, numbering twenty-six, with an enrollment of two thousand pupils, with sufficient seating capacity to accommodate them, it is expected that more buildings and teachers will be added as they shall be needed to keep pace with the rapid growth of the city. A complete course of instruction has been arranged, so that all can obtain just the education they need. While the first purpose of the Joplin schools is to educate its own youth, yet a liberal policy has caused the board to open their doors to those oT less favored localities. In conclusion, let those who scan the records of the educational beginning of this new-born city, remember that the enterprise and spirit which have called the schools from the chaos of the past will not rest until the3^ shall stand proudly forth to challenge in excellence those institutions of learning which have ripened under the favoring influences of centuries.

Joplin College of Physicians and Surgeons. - ISfo one not personalh' well acquainted with the status of the medical profession in the southwestern part of Missouri, of five years ago, can have any realization of the profound ignorance of the majority of the doctors who held the life and health of the people in their hands. Men who had never seen a medical college, who knew nothing of the anatomy and physiology of the human body, and less, if possible, of the diseases to which it is prone, possessed the keys of the medicine chests of the countr}-, and grew rich through the credulity of the people and the necessity that existed of employing them. True, good and true physicians came into the country from abroad, but very few among them had the temerity necessary to build up a practice against the vituperation and scandal of these ignorant pill-peddlers. Among these few men of plnck, Dr. J, C. PeTit stands prominent, lie soon observed tlie lamentable ignorance among the medical men, and frequently remarked that a. medical college in this section, that would induce these men to attend a course of lectures, and thus learn something of the noble art they were practicting, would' be a blessing to the community and would redound to the credit of the medical profession itself. It was impossible to drive them out, either by legal enactment or public opinion, and the only way to improve the condition of the professioii was to educate them. At length, in the summer of 1880, Dr. PeTit's oft repeated remarks attracted the attention of Dr. John^II. Lowe, formerly secretary of the Grafton, Illinois, Shot Tower Scheme, who was at this time located at Thurman, in this county. Dr.

Lowe approached Dr. PeTit on the subject of starting a medical college in Joplin. Early in this summer. Dr. PeTit had bought the building known as the Grand Yiew Hotel, situated on a height in East Joplin, and was improving it. Lowe represented that this building would make an excellent college building, and left no word unsaid that would induce Dr. PeTit to nnite with him in opening a college. liOwe was a perfect stranger to Dr. PeTit, who knew nothing of his former history or his charcter as a man, but being a fine talker and seeminglj' earnest in his talk, he finally pursuaded Dr. PeTit to engage in the undertaking, but only on the condition that Lowe was to furnish the mone\' necessary to start the enterprise. In common with ev^ery one else except I>owe, Dr. PeTit thought the whole thing a chimera that would soon break down, and wisely refused to take any risksbeyond the use of his building. Subsequent events showed this conclusion to be a wise one, for it afterwards transpired that Lowe's idea was to create a mammoth stock concern having- only imaginary existence, and to sell the stock to the phyiscians in the surrounding country. But for a while he worked assiduously in the establishment of the college; and, three incorporators being necessary to fulfill the requirements of the law, he secured the association of W. F. Feazel in the enterprise.

Articles of incorporation were drawn up by C. H. Montgomery, Esq.,. with J. C. PeTit, M. D,, John H. Lowe, and W. F. Feazel as incorporators, and a charter applied for. Now occurred an emergency which Lowe had agreed to meet; viz., the raising of $50 for the charter and $25,000 paid up capital stock. But neither he nor Feazel were able to do this, and the whole financial burden fell upon Dr. PeTit. By this time he had become deeply interested in the success of the enterprise and when he saw that the man who had enticed him into it was going to fail at the first obstacle, he determined to throw into the work all of his energy and pluck. So, when Lowe and Feazel both failed to secure the necessary capital stock, he devoted himself to the work of raising it, and in a short time he succeeded, and on the twentieth of September, 1880, a certificate of charter was issued to the Joplin College of Piiysicians and Surgeons by the Secretary of State, Michael K. McGrath, Esq. Then everything was ready for the organization of the company and the selection and appointment of a faculty. This was a work of magnitude, and during its consummation the true inwardness of Lowe came out. All he wanted was the charter, and that secured he cared nothing whether the school was organized or not. He threw everj' obstacle in the way of organization, and Feazel stood hand in glove with him. But Dr. PeTit had gone too far to turn back, and on November 10th, 1880, he compelled Feazel to sell to him all his right, title, and interest, and on December eighth Lowe did the same thing. Then the work of organization went on, a faculty was elected, and at a meeting of the stockholders held in the college building on Januar}^ 10th, 1881, the following gentlemen were elected directors of the corporation; viz., Ilev. J. F. Martin, C. H. Montgomery, Esq., E. T. Webb, Esq., Arthur Mertou, Esq., Prof. S. A. Underwood, W. R. S. Connell, M. D., and J. C. PeTit. M. D. This board chose for their ofiicers Rev. J. F. Martin as president, C. H. Montgomery, Esq., as secretary, and E. T. Webb, Esq., as treasurer. As soon as this organization of the board of directors was completed an announcement and catalogue was issued, and on March 1-lth, 1881, the first session of the college began. It was not expected that tnuch of a class would"