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Henry H. McNeal was at the head of one of the important manufacturing industries that lend commercial precedence to the city of Joplin during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s

He was with a leading contractor and builder who was at that time engaged in the erection of several large buildings in Kansas City and who was also the owner of a zinc mine at Joplin. This honored employer, F. M. Sharpe, came to Joplin in 1890, to supervise the operation of his mine, and he made Mr. McNeal manager of the property, thus showing his appreciation of the latter’s ability and fidelity. Mr. McNeal retained this incumbency until 1898 and in the meanwhile he gained a thorough knowledge of the mining business and the accessories utilized in the connection. Thus, he became impressed with the idea that there was an excellent opportunity to engage in the manufacturing of mining machinery at Joplin, he organized the firm of McNeal & Company, which forthwith instituted the manufacturing of such machinery, with a well-equipped repair department. The venture proved successful from the beginning and it rapidly expanded in scope and importance. In September 1905 to facilitate operations and extend the scope of the business, a reorganization was effected, by the incorporation of the McNeal Machinery Company, of which Mr. McNeal became president and general manager. His former employer, Mr. Sharp was vice-president of the company until his death. In 1910, an important addition was made to the business controlled by the McNeal Machinery Company, which title was adopted in 1905. In June 1910, Mr. McNeal purchased American Pump Company, of Joplin, and the plant was absorbed by the McNeal Machinery Company.  The plant of the McNeal Machinery Company was one of the largest and best equipped of its kind in the southwest and the business constantly expanded in all departments. Mr. McNeal was held in high esteem in his home community and gained distinctive success through his efforts, which have given him precedence as one of the leading business men of Jasper county. Mr. McNeal was also vice president of the Conqueror Trust Company, one of the important financial concerns of Joplin, and is treasurer of the Stewart Lumber Company, in which he had the controlling interest. He advanced through the various degrees of both York and Scottish Rite Masonry, in which latter he has attained to the thirty-second degree, and he is also identified with other fraternal and social organizations of representative character.

In the year 1889 Mr. McNeal was united in marriage to Miss Mary Heinz, who was born and reared in the state of Illinois, and they had two daughters, Lorena and Helen. Mrs. McNeal and her daughters were valued factors about the leading social activities of Joplin and the family home was a center of gracious hospitality.

After Henry’s death, Frank Sharp, Jr. was named president of McNeal Machinery; and after his death, Mrs. Mary Frances McNeal (Henry’s widow) was named president.

William and Comfort D. (Porter) Smith first came to Joplin in 1874 from Bowling Green, Kentucky and took a job as assistant cashier with the Joplin Savings Bank of East Joplin, the first bank established in Joplin.  But in 1877 the Smiths engaged in the hotel business in Ensenada, Mexico and afterward in banking and merchandising in San Francisco, California. 

The Smith’s returned to Joplin in 1898, and Mr. Smith engaged in the real estate business with John H. Taylor, his brother-in-law.  They were among the most important of the real estate dealers in the city, handling city properties, lands, farms, mining property, and so forth.

  Mr. Smith went on to be the director of the Joplin Trust Company and secretary and treasurer of the Gilchrist Porter Realty Company.  He was also the originator of the Joplin & Pittsburg Railway Company, an electric inter-state line that extended to Pittsburg, Kansas.

Mrs. Smith was the daughter of Gilchrist Porter who was a congressman and a judge.

A daughter named Elenita was born to the couple while residing in Mexico.  Their son, A. Levering, was born in Hannibal, Missouri.

Edward Zelleken, a German-born brewer, immigrated to the United States bringing practical knowledge of brewing and coopering. He and Charles Schifferdecker were partners in the brewing business in Baxter Springs, Kansas and made the move to Joplin together in 1875. In Joplin, Zelleken dabbled a little bit in everything, brewing beer, banking, mining, and wholesale groceries to name a few.

His first house was an eight room brick Italianate mansion at the corner of 9th and Pearl Streets which he built in 1882 for $16,000. He and his wife, Margaretha enjoyed many happy years in this elegant house with their six children and it would be the setting for their daughters marriages. The mansion was sold to the Sisters of Mercy around 1887 for their convent, Academy of Our Lady of Mercy. It has since been demolished.

The Zelleken’s second brick house at 406 Sergeant was finished in 1893. The massive brick exterior features projecting bays, a number of porches, and tall chimneys with bulbous chimney pots, decorative terra cotta panels, leaded and stained glass windows and a “Z” above the front door. The interior of the house included such luxuries as marble sinks, elaborate tile work, etched glass in the dining room and dumb waiter. The three-story, 4000 square foot house was admiringly called “an architectural gem…..one of the finest houses in the southwest.” by a reporter the year it was completed.

Edward Zelleken (1839-1919) & Margaretha Grome Zelleken (1844-1905)

When Edward settled in Baxter Springs, Kansas, he partnered with Charles Schifferdecker in the brewing business.  Together they made their move to Joplin in 1875 where both became the foremost capitalists and philanthropists of the district and built spectacular homes next door to each other.  Both Edward & Margaretha were born in Germany. 

Worldly success was pleasant, but it could not balance personal tragedy. The latter was no stranger to Edward Zelleken, he suffered the loss of three of his seven children; Willie at the age of 2, daughter, Tillie, died just before her wedding and so was buried in her bridal gown. And, son Frank also died before his father. Another heartache was his oldest daughter, Annie Zelleken Comerford which has her own story Here.

Mr. Zelleken died in 1920 and left the house to his daughter Alvina Zelleken Dwyer. Seven of the nine members of Edward Zelleken’s family are buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, Missouri.