Joplin’s O.P. Morton GAR Post was organized on May 17, 1882. It was named for Indiana Governor Oliver P. Morton. W.H. Fairbanks was elected commander; F.M. Redburn served as senior vice-commander; John C. Bailey elected junior vice-commander; S.B. Williams selected quartermaster; J.W. Lupton voted adjutant; C.T.G. Workizer elected chaplain; C.C. Wheeler, voted officer of the day; and H.C. Combs elected officer of the guard.
Other members included B.F. Joslin, T.H. Mintner, W.E.O. Rush, Edwin Whipple, F.M. Downing, F.D. Owen, N.L. Barner, E.W. Beach, G.O. Boucher, J.T. Everett, Jacob Lurwick, Samuel Ramsey, M.W. Stafford, Ira W. Gilbert, F.E. Eberhart, Samuel Lake, W.S. Scott, T.H. Short, William Stump, Ira Creech, Peter Bittmer, A.B. Adair, W.F. Cloud, T.P. Hill, W.W. Pate, William Sergeant, and W.C. Williams.
In the twenty-five years that followed, hundreds of other names were added to the post’s membership rolls. In 1907, only four of the original charter members were alive: Downing, Whipple, Boucher, and Joslin.
A list of the post’s commanders follows:
1882 W.H. Fairbanks and W.H. Pate
1883 E.W. Beach
1885 E.W. Beach
1886 E.W. Beach
1887 F.M. Redburn and Henry Phelps
1888 Henry Phelps
1889 E.W. Beach and J.L. Briggs
1890 J.G. Lurwick
1891 P.L. Schwartz
1892 A.H. Brewer
1893 J.L. Briggs
1894 H.W. Davison
1895 F.M. Redburn
1896 J.R.B. Roe
1897 H. Crandall and John R. York
1898 John R. York
1899 W.H. Crane
1900 J.R. Goheen
1901 G.W. Hight
1902 L.D. Middleton
1903 W. Jones
1904 M.M. Rice
1905 W.H. McCubbin
1906 G.W. Hight
1907 Henry Digby
1908 Henry Digby
1909 Henry Digby
1910 Albert McCann
1911 J.N. Theurer
1912 D.H. Rhodes
1913 J.M. Theurer
1914 F.L. Yale
1915 F.L. Yale
1916 F.L. Yale
Sources: Joplin News-Herald; Roster of O.P. Morton Post No. 14 G.A.R., Department of Missouri, July 1, 1916 Roster
