Abraham Worth Onstott and Marth (Corwin) Onstott were considered Joplin pioneer residents. Mr. Onstott was in the mining business for 25 years. According to the History of Jasper County, Mr. Onstott “erected a nice residence” in Joplin. Before moving to Joplin, he grew up in Carthage. His father, Judge John Onstott was working in their wheat field when the Civil War broke out and the Battle of Carthage began on July 5, 1861. His father was taken prisoner and transported to Fort Scott, Kansas, then to Bentonville, Arkansas where he was later paroled.
The couple lived in this house until Mrs. Onstott died of complications due to an automobile accident in 1929.
Morgan’s Grocery Store
This building has been re-purposed from a two-story neighborhood grocery store, to many different purposes. Originally owned by George Morgan. George’s grocery business started on East 7th Street, he moved his store in 1935 to 505 West 2nd and lived next door at 503 West 2nd. From 1946 to 1974, His son Roy and wife Virginia took over the store. they lived east of the store in a house at 124 South Byers. The market was also home to Darral Dishman’s second story art studio, a residential rental in the 80’s and from 2007 to 2014 Madison Lane Interiors. The partners did an extensive restoration to building to house their array of quintessential home décor.
In 2016, new owners of Morgan’s Grocery Store have settled in Murphysburg. Dr. Blake Webster and Dr. Amykay Cole. They have re-purposed the Depression era concrete block commercial building into a clinical psychology office.
Robert Cooper Walsh House
Robert C. (1863-1911) and Mary Ford Walsh (1865-1918) were the first owners of this
house. They lived here with their seven children. By 1910, the couple had moved across
the alley to 114 S. Byers Avenue. Mr. Walsh was widely known in business and social
circles of Joplin. He was involved in the lumber company for 14 years and was the
president of the Walsh-Thompson Lumber Co. at the time of his death.
Robert and Mary are buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, Missouri.
JOHN & ALICE SCHAEFFER HOUSE
Dr. John Ahlum Schaeffer (1886-1941) was known as a chemist, inventor, business executive, and educator. In 1911 he was appointed chief chemist of the Eagle-Picher Lead Company in Joplin. After returning to his native Pennsylvania, he became president of Franklin and Marshall College in 1935 until his unexpected death of a cerebral hemorrhage. While living in Joplin, Alice Schaeffer was the vice-president of the Travel Club which was made up of young matrons who studied cities, history, artists, authors, and literature of foreign countries.
The second floor sleeping porch and ground floor porch have been enclosed and additions added on the east side. The original stucco has been covered with vinyl siding and gingerbread ornamentation added. This jewel in Murphysburg has maintained its charming interior including a gracious fireplace and light airy rooms. A spectacular multilayered stained-glass window with painted details is showcased at the staircase landing.
JOHN W. & ELIZA ALLEN HOUSE
Austin Allen’s Boyhood Home ~ Murphysburg Historic District
This house was not designed by Austin Allen, but it is where he grew up and where his funeral was conducted. Austin lived here with his father, mother, and three sisters.
Austin graduated from Joplin High School and then Pennsylvania University. He was a member of the American Olympic athletic team which entered a track meet in Europe. Following the meet Austin toured part of Europe and spent some time in the study of architecture in Paris. Upon his return to America, he became associated with a leading architect in New York. In 1905 he returned to Joplin and opened an office, then in 1914 opened another office in Kansas City.
J. W. Allen, BIRTH: 22 January 1856 in New Jersey, USA
DEATH: 20 May 1930 (aged 74) in Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, USA at the home of his
daughter, Agnes
BURIAL: Mount Hope Cemetery, Webb City, Jasper County, Missouri, USA
in the Austin Allen Mausoleum SW Corner of Cemetery
Austin’s father, John Whitby Allen (1856-1930) was the superintendent of Marion Mining Co. and had extensive real estate holdings. Eventually John and Lida moved to the Olivia Apartments, which was common for Joplin’s early, wealthy entrepreneurs.
Eliza Beall “Lida” McCown Allen (1861-1926) was born in Virginia and died of acute tonsilitis while she and John were in residence at the Olivia. We can only assume that it gave the proud parents “bragging rights” to be living in a beautiful landmark designed by their son.
Source: Obituary
Joplin Globe Newspaper | Wednesday, May 21, 1930
J.W. Allen, Former Joplin Man Dies
Mine Operator and Land Owner Dies at Tulsa While on Visit in Daughter’s Home
Information has been received here of the death of J. Whitby Allen, 74 years old, former
Joplin mine operator and land owner, who died Monday at the home of a daughter, Mrs.
Agnes Estes at Tulsa where he had been visiting.
Besides Mrs. Estes, he is survived by two other daughter, Mrs. Anna A. Longacre of Joplin
and Mrs. P.B. Butler of Los Angeles, formerly of Joplin; and 4 grandchildren.
Mrs. Eliza Beall Allen, wife of the former mine operator, died June 6, 1926 at her home in
the Olivia Apartments.
The body will arrive here at 4:30 o’clock this afternoon on the Frisco and will be received
by the Frank-Sievers Undertaking Company.
OCCUPATION: Superintendent of Marion Mining Co.
MARRIED TO: Eliza Beall “Lida” McCown
BIRTH: 3 (or 22) January 1861 in Fairview, Marion County, West Virginia, USA
DEATH: 6 June 1926 (aged 65) in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri, USA
BURIAL: Mount Hope Cemetery, Webb City, Jasper County, Missouri, USA
in the Austin Allen Mausoleum SW Corner of Cemetery
PARENTS OF:
(Samuel) Austin Allen – he never used his first name of Samuel
Anna McCown Allen Longacre
Marion Allen Butler Agnes Allen Estes
ARCHITECTURE – The two-and-one-half-story Queen Anne house has a limestone
foundation and gable-on-hip roof with lower cross-gables. Gabled wings project from the
west and south elevations. Wood shingles clad the gable ends; decorative bargeboards
ornament some peaks. A gabled dormer rises from the east slope of the roof. A large flat-
roof concrete block addition projects from the east elevation. A porte cochère with
decorative brackets and turned columns projects from the north elevation. A side-wrap
porch spans the primary (west) and south elevations. It has square wood posts, a wood
picket rail, and spindlework. An inset balcony, enclosed with historic wood siding and
glazing, fills the northwest corner of the second floor. It has turned wood columns and a
decorative gabled pediment. This primary elevation has two bays. Bay 1 has paired
historic wood panel doors with glazing on the first story and the balcony on the second
story. Bay 2 has a single window on each floor. Small paired wood windows pierce the
gable in this bay. A single small wood window pierces the gable at the ridge.