Victorian Life & Joplin in the Late 1800s and Early 1900s

As with most older homes a fascinating, connected story involves former inhabitants of a residence. The narrative of how they lived is an important detail, but also of note, is their passing. In many cases, former owners died in their homes. The majestic home at 422 S. Sergeant was, itself, no stranger to death.

Interestingly enough, two of the more distinguished names in Joplin had a common birthplace. Charles Schifferdecker and Joe Becker both were born in the region of Baden, Germany.

At the turn of the century, there was considerable conversation concerning women’s roles in society. By 1900, over four million women were in the labor force, receiving a paycheck.

Kansas was admitted to the Union in 1861 with no satisfactory liquor law in the statutes. According to Bader, the first temperance group organized in the region was the Central Kansas Total Abstinence Society during the winter of 1856.

America at the turn of the century was a very formal society, where precise protocol existed. Springtime was the start of the social calling season.