CARTHAGE, Mo. —
With March designated as Women’s History Month, it seems appropriate to remember notable women associated with Carthage.
In the order of their birth, I have chosen four whose contributions to Carthage — and to a larger sphere in most cases — have been significant. It’s interesting that all four were born in the last half of the 19th century.
• Annie Baxter (1864-1944) was the first woman elected to public office in Missouri — 30 years before women received the vote. After moving here as a teenager, she graduated in 1882 and immediately was hired by the county clerk’s office, becoming adept at the complicated task of tax levies and extensions. Although the county leaned heavily Republican, an all-male Democratic committee nominated her for election to the post.
Newspapers questioned whether she could be elected, but a plurality of 463 votes seemed to end the debate. Baxter was instrumental in planning the present day courthouse in Carthage. She later served in state government offices in Jefferson City.
• Emily Newel Blair (1877-1951) moved to Carthage when she was 6. In 1914, she was an active suffragette, publicity chairwoman for the Missouri Equal Suffrage Association and editor of its magazine, Missouri Women. Her interest in politics stemmed from her father, who served both as county clerk and recorder of deeds.
She married Harry Wallace Blair in 1900. During World War I, she served on the Women’s Committee of the Missouri Council of National Defense and later worked for the Council of National Defense.
She was national vice chairwoman of the Democratic Party from 1922 to 1928 and played a role in helping elect Franklin D. Roosevelt to his first term as president in 1932. From 1925-1934, she was editor of Good Housekeeping magazine, and she wrote several books, short stories and political articles. She helped organize more than 2,000 Democratic Women’s Clubs around the country.
• Emma Knell (1878-1963) lived in Carthage from a young age. At just 20 years old, she joined the family business and became the third woman in Missouri to be licensed as an embalmer. Five years later, she was elected the first female director of the Missouri Funeral Directors Association.
She assisted her father in establishing the Knell Fair in 1902. The countywide fair, held west of Carthage, was known for its horse and car races, often raising purses as large as $10,000. She served as general manager of the fair from 1911-26, and she helped organize other fairs in Oklahoma.
In 1924, Knell was the first Republican woman elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. She was a member of the appropriation and highway committees, and sponsored the bill establishing the Missouri Highway Patrol. She retired from the House in 1932 after her third term. In 1932, she became president of Knell Mortuary, a business that continues today.
• Marian Wright Powers (1880-1969) grew up as a popular young lady in Carthage. Her musical studies and talent as a coloratura soprano led her to further study in New York City and Paris, France. She performed with traveling symphonies from St. Louis, Kansas City and St. Paul, Minn., at concerts throughout the central Midwest. She sang at hundreds of funerals and weddings, often joking that she had “married and buried half of Jasper County.”
Her favorite repertoire consisted of Civil War songs her mother taught her. Her marriage to Dr. Everett Powers produced one daughter, Marian Louisa “Toots” Winchester, who bequeathed the family fortune to establish our current Powers Museum.
I think Carthage can be justly proud of its historic women. If you’re interested in learning more, a Women’s History Tour will be conducted at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Missouri State University, Springfield. And visit the women’s history exhibit on the second floor of Meyer Library there. It will be up all month.
Address correspondence to Jo Ellis, c/o The Joplin Globe, Box 7, Joplin, MO 64802 or email news@joplinglobe.com.
Local News
Jo Ellis: Carthage women have left their mark on the world
- Local News
-
-
Families, friends invited to honor veterans with flags this weekend
Small lengths of plastic pipe have been installed behind the headstones of veterans graves in Joplin cemeteries so that every veteran will have a flag on Memorial Day.
-
Events, activities planned to honor veterans Monday
No ceremonies are planned at Joplin cemeteries this year or at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, but a number of other events are scheduled in cities around the region.
-
Oklahoma gets far more than its share of disasters
Many states get hit frequently with tornadoes and other natural catastrophes, but Oklahoma is Disaster Central.
-
Sheriff’s funds to pay for two building projects
Jasper County’s general fund budget may pay some initial costs for renovating and constructing two county buildings, but the final bill for the projects will come from law enforcement sales tax funds.
-
Joplin insurance agent seeks donations for Moore, Okla.
After losing an office building and her home in the tornado on May 22, 2011, Loretta Bailey is familiar with the destruction that a tornado brings. The 400 households that her insurance agency helped through the aftermath of the tornado also know that loss. \
-
Old McDonald County Courthouse to hold grand opening celebration this weekend
As Jean Stratton-Bird made her way into the war memorial room at the Old McDonald County Courthouse on Thursday, she came face to face with the memories of her brother Eldon E. Stratton, who was lost in battle in 1943 during War World II. “He is finally home,” Stratton-Bird said.
-
Murder warrant issued in fatal domestic shooting
Police believe Doyle Handle shot himself after fatally shooting Dena Davenport during a domestic disturbance Thursday night at their residence in Grove. Officers responded to a 6:55 p.m. report of a shooting at the couple’s home on Wood Street on the southwest side of Grove and found Handle, 52, in the front yard with a gunshot wound to his jaw.
-
Local lawmakers review session accomplishments
Joplin area lawmakers cited accomplishments and disappointments in the just-concluded Missouri legislative session during a brunch Friday sponsored by the Neosho Chamber of Commerce. Measures benefiting veterans issues were addressed in the session that ended a week ago, along with work force and labor issues, lawmakers said.
-
Diamond High School band prepares for Liberty Bowl
Classes were winding down last week at Diamond High School, but not for members of the marching band. Instead, they dug out some new music and began their first rehearsals in preparation for their next major appearance — the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, which is scheduled for Dec. 31 in Memphis, Tenn.
-
Joplin Board of Education to decide fate of East Middle School teacher
After hearing nearly 10 hours of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses and accepting more than 45 exhibits into evidence, members of the Joplin Board of Education voted to move behind closed doors Thursday night to decide whether Randy Turner, a communication arts teacher at East Middle School, will continue to teach.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Families, friends invited to honor veterans with flags this weekend
