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Historic Murphysburg

People Directory

Explore the people connected to Murphysburg homes, civic life, Route 66, preservation memory, and Joplin history.

45 profiles 10 categories 32 with portraits
45 people
Historic image from the Ah Rogers folder

Ah Rogers

Alfred Harrison Rogers shaped Joplin through interurban rail, commerce, newspapers, civic leadership, and a lasting Murphysburg legacy.

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B

Belle Starr

Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr, better known as Belle Starr, was a Missouri-born outlaw figure with a regional connection through Jasper County and Carthage.

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B

Betty Smith

Betty Smith preserved East Town history, championed fairness, and helped shape Joplin through education, housing, and community memory.

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Historic image from the Betty the Bear folder

Betty the Bear

Betty the Bear became a lasting Schifferdecker Park legend in Joplin's long history of zoo bears, escapes, and wild encounters.

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Historic image from the Billy Cook folder

Billy Cook

William Edward Cook Jr., known as Billy Cook, was born in Joplin and became a nationally known Route 66 crime figure in the early 1950s.

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Historic image from the Charles Schifferdecker folder

Charles Schifferdecker

Veterans

Charles Schifferdecker shaped Joplin through brewing, mining, banking, real estate, philanthropy, Schifferdecker Park, and the Schifferdecker House.

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Historic image from the Dan Campbell folder

Dan Campbell

Dan Campbell, remembered as the first grubstaked miner in the Joplin field, helped spark mining activity along Turkey Creek.

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Historic image from the Daniel Sheehan folder

Daniel Sheehan

Sergeant Daniel Sheehan served Joplin as a night watchman and police officer before his fatal 1885 encounter with Joe Thornton.

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Historic image from the Edward Zelleken folder

Edward Zelleken

Edward Zelleken shaped Joplin through brewing, banking, mining, real estate, German community life, and Catholic education.

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E

Elliot Moffet

Elliot Raines Moffett helped found Joplin through lead mining, smelting, banking, rail connections, and early civic leadership.

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Historic image from the Fletch Taylor folder

Fletch Taylor

Charles Fletcher "Fletch" Taylor moved from Civil War guerrilla notoriety to mining, smelting, and civic life in Joplin.

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Image from the Gilbert Barbee folder

Gilbert Barbee

Gilbert Barbee influenced Joplin through newspapers, Democratic politics, the House of Lords, Barbee Park, and philanthropy.

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Historic image from the J. Frank Walker folder

J. Frank Walker

J. Frank Walker shaped Joplin through photography, music, real estate, the Walker-Barbee Building, and the Sagmount resort.

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L

Lena Beal

Lena Beal was a Joplin business owner and civic leader, remembered as the first woman elected to Joplin City Council and the first woman appointed mayor.

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Lewis Franklin Childress

Lewis Franklin Childress

Lewis Franklin Frank Childress was a Tri-State mining operator, Joplin resident, and namesake of the Frank Childress House and later Childress Scout Reservation.

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Historic image from the Mickey Mantle folder

Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle was a Hall of Fame New York Yankees center fielder whose Joplin connection comes through his 1950 season with the Joplin Miners.

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