Birth: 6th of seven known children in Illinois.
Cornelius Baird Platt
1131 Grand Avenue
Carthage, Missouri
First wife: Bertha Platt
married in September 1895, separated 1900, later divorced
Second wife Willetta Platt
Occupation: Bed Springs Manufacturing Company
FATHER: Cornelius Drake Platt
Birthplace: New York
MOTHER: Catherine Avery Fisher Platt
Birthplace: New York
Photos at right courtesy of the Powers Museum of Carthage
------------
The Leggett & Platt Spring Bed company greatly benefited from their long term, thirty-one year inventive engineer Frank Dale Snyder (1882-1930, who continued coming up with new benefical inventions to improve their bed spring and its production.
C. B. Platt today (1901) let to the Stebbins & Johns Quarry company the contract to furnish stone for his new residence on Grand avenue. This is the first big contract announced for the new quarry.
Mr. Platt and his partner J. P. Leggett have decided to erect their new Grand avenue homes entirely of Carthage stone, which means a radical change in the building plans they had been considering and the plans and specifications, which are being drawn by J. A. Prather, may now be materially changed from the original designs.
At any rate the change in building material means a very great increase in the cost of the proposed residences. Instead of $10,000 to $15,000 Messrs. Leggett and Platt are preparing for an outlay of from $15,000 to $20,000 each on their homes.
Mr. Platt will move the old M. L. Reid frame residence which he purchased yesterday, over to the north fifty feet of the lot.
--------------
JOPLIN GLOBE
MARCH 22, 1929
DEATH COMES TO PROMINENT CARTHAGE MAN
C. B. PLATT, MANUFACTURER AND BUSINESS MAN, DIES IN ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL AFTER AN EXTENDED ILLNESS.
Carthage, Mo., March 22 -- C. B. Platt, wealthy Carthage manufacturer and business man, died at 9 o'clock this morning at Barnes hospital in St. Louis. Death was due to a complication of aliments. He was 66 years old.
Mr. Platt was taken to the St. Louis hospital March 2. His illness dated back to a year ago when he was stricken with influenza, which later developed into pneumonia. He went to California last summer seeking to improve his health, and later received treatment at the Ford hospital in Detroit. He underwent and operation at Joplin last autumn.
CARTHAGE PIONEER
President of the Leggett and Platt Spring Bed Manufacturing Company, Mr. Platt also was head of the Platt-Porter Grocer Company, a wholesale concern, and also was s director of the Bank of Carthage.
Mr. Platt had been a resident of Carthage since he was 11 years old, having come here with his parents in a covered wagon from Des Moines, Iowa. The elder Platt established a plow factory at Fifth and Grant Streets, the site now occupied by John's garage, purchasing an entire block of property.
Surviving Mr. Platt are the widow, the former Miss Willeta Leggett, who he married here in 1885;
two sons,
Eugene Platt, of Windsor, Ontario
Robert Platt, of Oakland, California
a daughter,
Mrs. Frank Williams, Ninth and Grant Streets
Carthage
a brother,
Harry Platt, of Carlsbad, New Mexico
a niece,
Miss Esther Ruhl, who made her home with the Platts and eight grandchildren.
The body will be placed on a Frisco train leaving St. Louis at 6:58 o'clock tonight and is scheduled to arrive here at 5:50 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Mr. Platt was one of Carthage's foremost citizens, was fond of outdoor life and was an ardent hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Broadview Country Club.
J. P. Leggett, a brother-in-law of Mr. Platt, invented and perfected the spring bed which bears his name. Mr. Leggett, who died here May 18, 1921 and Mr. Platt launched into the business of manufacturing spring beds in 1888. The business rapidly expanded, branch factories being established at Louisville, Kentucky and Windsor, Ontario. The firm several years ago sold the Windsor plant.
Mr. Leggett served as a member of the board of public works from 1908 until 1919. He was president of the board for several years.
_________________________________________
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS wrote:
. . . Perhaps there was no more widely known Carthage resident than Mr. Platt. Coming to Carthage with his father in 1874 as a young man he was associated with his father, C.E. Platt, in the plow works. For a number of years this plow was ranked as one of the city's foremost industrial establishments.
In 1888 he embarked on the industrial venture with his brother-in-law J.P. Leggett, that was to lead to unqualified success in the spring bed world and to make the names of Mr. Platt and Mr. Leggett widely known in the industry.
INTO MANUFACTURING BUSINESS
Mr. Leggett, who was an inventive genius, invented the Leggett bedspring which bears his name. Mr. Platt put up the few hundred dollars he was able to assemble against Mr. Leggett's patents and together the two embarked in the manufacturing of Mr. Leggett's spring. They started here with a small factory. The superiority of their product created a wide demand and the establishment grew and prospered with the years.
Branches were established at Louisville, Kentucky and Windsor, Canada. Rights to use the Leggett patents also were granted to the Pacific Spring Company at Oakland, California.
Several years ago the Leggett & Platt company of Canada merged with the Star Manufacturing Company and these later with the L.A. Young Industries, Inc., of Detroit, Michigan, that company now operating the Windsor plant, making springs for automobile seats, etc. C.E. Platt, son of C.B. Platt, is manager of this plant for the Young corporation.
The Young company also acquired the Pacific Spring Company, at Oakland, in a deal consummated a little later and operates this plant now. Robert Platt, younger son of the Carthage spring bed manufacturing pioneer is manager of the Oakland factory.
The Leggett & Platt Company continues to operate the branch at Louisville.
For many years the Carthage Leggett & Platt factory was located in the old wooden structure which occupies nearly a block, with entrance on Lyon, Maple and Third Streets. Several years ago a modern fire-proof factory building was constructed on the Missouri-Pacific lines in the northwest part of the town and now houses the factory.
INTO WHOLESALE GROCERY
Several years ago Mr. Platt, in company with George Porter, purchased the former Wells-Woodward Wholesale grocery. Later they built the modern building at Sixth and Main street which is now the company's quarters. While giving some attention to this business, Mr. Platt principally devoted his attention to his spring bed interests. He was also a director in the Bank of Carthage.
It was largely through his business sagacity, that the spring bed business of the company flourished to such a large degree, it is said. He had a keen mind and sensed the possibilities of the Leggett spring and with his vision and his close application to the affairs of the company, success apparently was assured. Mr. Leggett died May 18, 1921.
ON BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Despite his multitudinous business interests, Mr. Platt gave liberally of his time to civic affairs in the form of service on the board of public works.
HIS DEATH A CIVIC LOSS
Mr, Platt was a member of the Elks Lodge. He was possessed of a friendly disposition, having a faculty for making and holding friends. In his passing, Carthage loses one of it's foremost citizens - a man who did much for the up-building of the town in which he grew to manhood and in which all of his active life was spent.
Mr. Platt was fond of the outdoors and was an ardent hunter and fisherman.
BORN IN ILLINOIS
Mr. Platt was born March 6, 1863 in Illinois. The family lived for a short time in Ilow before coming to Carthage, when Mr. Platt was 11 years of age. They made the trip here in covered wagons.
He was married in August, 1885 in Carthage to Miss Willetta Leggett, who came to Carthage with her brothers, the late J.P. Leggett and George Leggett, from Pennsylvania.
Mr. Platt had been in ill health since last spring when he had an attack of influenza which later developed into pneumonia. He was taken to New Mexico, California and later went to Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan in an effort to regain his health. He had been a patient at Barnes Hospital the last three weeks. He died of heart complications.
Mrs. Platt and their children, Eugene Platt of Windsor, Canada; Mrs. Frank Williams of Carthage; and Robert Platt of Oakland, California and also Mrs. Eugene Platt and Mr. Williams were with him in St. Louis when he passed away. Miss Esther Ruhl, a niece, who makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Platt, was with the family there until yesterday morning, when she returned to Carthage.
Surviving besides his immediate family are
a brother; Harry Platt of Carlsbad, New Mexico
and
eight grandchildren;
Harriett and Frank Williams
John, Robert, Fredrick, Catherine and Tommy Platt of Oakland, California
and several nieces and nephews
Cornelius Baird Platt
1131 Grand Avenue
Carthage, Missouri
First wife: Bertha Platt
married in September 1895, separated 1900, later divorced
Second wife Willetta Platt
Occupation: Bed Springs Manufacturing Company
FATHER: Cornelius Drake Platt
Birthplace: New York
MOTHER: Catherine Avery Fisher Platt
Birthplace: New York
Photos at right courtesy of the Powers Museum of Carthage
------------
The Leggett & Platt Spring Bed company greatly benefited from their long term, thirty-one year inventive engineer Frank Dale Snyder (1882-1930, who continued coming up with new benefical inventions to improve their bed spring and its production.
C. B. Platt today (1901) let to the Stebbins & Johns Quarry company the contract to furnish stone for his new residence on Grand avenue. This is the first big contract announced for the new quarry.
Mr. Platt and his partner J. P. Leggett have decided to erect their new Grand avenue homes entirely of Carthage stone, which means a radical change in the building plans they had been considering and the plans and specifications, which are being drawn by J. A. Prather, may now be materially changed from the original designs.
At any rate the change in building material means a very great increase in the cost of the proposed residences. Instead of $10,000 to $15,000 Messrs. Leggett and Platt are preparing for an outlay of from $15,000 to $20,000 each on their homes.
Mr. Platt will move the old M. L. Reid frame residence which he purchased yesterday, over to the north fifty feet of the lot.
--------------
JOPLIN GLOBE
MARCH 22, 1929
DEATH COMES TO PROMINENT CARTHAGE MAN
C. B. PLATT, MANUFACTURER AND BUSINESS MAN, DIES IN ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL AFTER AN EXTENDED ILLNESS.
Carthage, Mo., March 22 -- C. B. Platt, wealthy Carthage manufacturer and business man, died at 9 o'clock this morning at Barnes hospital in St. Louis. Death was due to a complication of aliments. He was 66 years old.
Mr. Platt was taken to the St. Louis hospital March 2. His illness dated back to a year ago when he was stricken with influenza, which later developed into pneumonia. He went to California last summer seeking to improve his health, and later received treatment at the Ford hospital in Detroit. He underwent and operation at Joplin last autumn.
CARTHAGE PIONEER
President of the Leggett and Platt Spring Bed Manufacturing Company, Mr. Platt also was head of the Platt-Porter Grocer Company, a wholesale concern, and also was s director of the Bank of Carthage.
Mr. Platt had been a resident of Carthage since he was 11 years old, having come here with his parents in a covered wagon from Des Moines, Iowa. The elder Platt established a plow factory at Fifth and Grant Streets, the site now occupied by John's garage, purchasing an entire block of property.
Surviving Mr. Platt are the widow, the former Miss Willeta Leggett, who he married here in 1885;
two sons,
Eugene Platt, of Windsor, Ontario
Robert Platt, of Oakland, California
a daughter,
Mrs. Frank Williams, Ninth and Grant Streets
Carthage
a brother,
Harry Platt, of Carlsbad, New Mexico
a niece,
Miss Esther Ruhl, who made her home with the Platts and eight grandchildren.
The body will be placed on a Frisco train leaving St. Louis at 6:58 o'clock tonight and is scheduled to arrive here at 5:50 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Mr. Platt was one of Carthage's foremost citizens, was fond of outdoor life and was an ardent hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Broadview Country Club.
J. P. Leggett, a brother-in-law of Mr. Platt, invented and perfected the spring bed which bears his name. Mr. Leggett, who died here May 18, 1921 and Mr. Platt launched into the business of manufacturing spring beds in 1888. The business rapidly expanded, branch factories being established at Louisville, Kentucky and Windsor, Ontario. The firm several years ago sold the Windsor plant.
Mr. Leggett served as a member of the board of public works from 1908 until 1919. He was president of the board for several years.
_________________________________________
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS wrote:
. . . Perhaps there was no more widely known Carthage resident than Mr. Platt. Coming to Carthage with his father in 1874 as a young man he was associated with his father, C.E. Platt, in the plow works. For a number of years this plow was ranked as one of the city's foremost industrial establishments.
In 1888 he embarked on the industrial venture with his brother-in-law J.P. Leggett, that was to lead to unqualified success in the spring bed world and to make the names of Mr. Platt and Mr. Leggett widely known in the industry.
INTO MANUFACTURING BUSINESS
Mr. Leggett, who was an inventive genius, invented the Leggett bedspring which bears his name. Mr. Platt put up the few hundred dollars he was able to assemble against Mr. Leggett's patents and together the two embarked in the manufacturing of Mr. Leggett's spring. They started here with a small factory. The superiority of their product created a wide demand and the establishment grew and prospered with the years.
Branches were established at Louisville, Kentucky and Windsor, Canada. Rights to use the Leggett patents also were granted to the Pacific Spring Company at Oakland, California.
Several years ago the Leggett & Platt company of Canada merged with the Star Manufacturing Company and these later with the L.A. Young Industries, Inc., of Detroit, Michigan, that company now operating the Windsor plant, making springs for automobile seats, etc. C.E. Platt, son of C.B. Platt, is manager of this plant for the Young corporation.
The Young company also acquired the Pacific Spring Company, at Oakland, in a deal consummated a little later and operates this plant now. Robert Platt, younger son of the Carthage spring bed manufacturing pioneer is manager of the Oakland factory.
The Leggett & Platt Company continues to operate the branch at Louisville.
For many years the Carthage Leggett & Platt factory was located in the old wooden structure which occupies nearly a block, with entrance on Lyon, Maple and Third Streets. Several years ago a modern fire-proof factory building was constructed on the Missouri-Pacific lines in the northwest part of the town and now houses the factory.
INTO WHOLESALE GROCERY
Several years ago Mr. Platt, in company with George Porter, purchased the former Wells-Woodward Wholesale grocery. Later they built the modern building at Sixth and Main street which is now the company's quarters. While giving some attention to this business, Mr. Platt principally devoted his attention to his spring bed interests. He was also a director in the Bank of Carthage.
It was largely through his business sagacity, that the spring bed business of the company flourished to such a large degree, it is said. He had a keen mind and sensed the possibilities of the Leggett spring and with his vision and his close application to the affairs of the company, success apparently was assured. Mr. Leggett died May 18, 1921.
ON BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Despite his multitudinous business interests, Mr. Platt gave liberally of his time to civic affairs in the form of service on the board of public works.
HIS DEATH A CIVIC LOSS
Mr, Platt was a member of the Elks Lodge. He was possessed of a friendly disposition, having a faculty for making and holding friends. In his passing, Carthage loses one of it's foremost citizens - a man who did much for the up-building of the town in which he grew to manhood and in which all of his active life was spent.
Mr. Platt was fond of the outdoors and was an ardent hunter and fisherman.
BORN IN ILLINOIS
Mr. Platt was born March 6, 1863 in Illinois. The family lived for a short time in Ilow before coming to Carthage, when Mr. Platt was 11 years of age. They made the trip here in covered wagons.
He was married in August, 1885 in Carthage to Miss Willetta Leggett, who came to Carthage with her brothers, the late J.P. Leggett and George Leggett, from Pennsylvania.
Mr. Platt had been in ill health since last spring when he had an attack of influenza which later developed into pneumonia. He was taken to New Mexico, California and later went to Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan in an effort to regain his health. He had been a patient at Barnes Hospital the last three weeks. He died of heart complications.
Mrs. Platt and their children, Eugene Platt of Windsor, Canada; Mrs. Frank Williams of Carthage; and Robert Platt of Oakland, California and also Mrs. Eugene Platt and Mr. Williams were with him in St. Louis when he passed away. Miss Esther Ruhl, a niece, who makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Platt, was with the family there until yesterday morning, when she returned to Carthage.
Surviving besides his immediate family are
a brother; Harry Platt of Carlsbad, New Mexico
and
eight grandchildren;
Harriett and Frank Williams
John, Robert, Fredrick, Catherine and Tommy Platt of Oakland, California
and several nieces and nephews
Birth: 6th of seven known children in Illinois.
Cornelius Baird Platt
1131 Grand Avenue
Carthage, Missouri
First wife: Bertha Platt
married in September 1895, separated 1900, later divorced
Second wife Willetta Platt
Occupation: Bed Springs Manufacturing Company
FATHER: Cornelius Drake Platt
Birthplace: New York
MOTHER: Catherine Avery Fisher Platt
Birthplace: New York
Photos at right courtesy of the Powers Museum of Carthage
------------
The Leggett & Platt Spring Bed company greatly benefited from their long term, thirty-one year inventive engineer Frank Dale Snyder (1882-1930, who continued coming up with new benefical inventions to improve their bed spring and its production.
C. B. Platt today (1901) let to the Stebbins & Johns Quarry company the contract to furnish stone for his new residence on Grand avenue. This is the first big contract announced for the new quarry.
Mr. Platt and his partner J. P. Leggett have decided to erect their new Grand avenue homes entirely of Carthage stone, which means a radical change in the building plans they had been considering and the plans and specifications, which are being drawn by J. A. Prather, may now be materially changed from the original designs.
At any rate the change in building material means a very great increase in the cost of the proposed residences. Instead of $10,000 to $15,000 Messrs. Leggett and Platt are preparing for an outlay of from $15,000 to $20,000 each on their homes.
Mr. Platt will move the old M. L. Reid frame residence which he purchased yesterday, over to the north fifty feet of the lot.
--------------
JOPLIN GLOBE
MARCH 22, 1929
DEATH COMES TO PROMINENT CARTHAGE MAN
C. B. PLATT, MANUFACTURER AND BUSINESS MAN, DIES IN ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL AFTER AN EXTENDED ILLNESS.
Carthage, Mo., March 22 -- C. B. Platt, wealthy Carthage manufacturer and business man, died at 9 o'clock this morning at Barnes hospital in St. Louis. Death was due to a complication of aliments. He was 66 years old.
Mr. Platt was taken to the St. Louis hospital March 2. His illness dated back to a year ago when he was stricken with influenza, which later developed into pneumonia. He went to California last summer seeking to improve his health, and later received treatment at the Ford hospital in Detroit. He underwent and operation at Joplin last autumn.
CARTHAGE PIONEER
President of the Leggett and Platt Spring Bed Manufacturing Company, Mr. Platt also was head of the Platt-Porter Grocer Company, a wholesale concern, and also was s director of the Bank of Carthage.
Mr. Platt had been a resident of Carthage since he was 11 years old, having come here with his parents in a covered wagon from Des Moines, Iowa. The elder Platt established a plow factory at Fifth and Grant Streets, the site now occupied by John's garage, purchasing an entire block of property.
Surviving Mr. Platt are the widow, the former Miss Willeta Leggett, who he married here in 1885;
two sons,
Eugene Platt, of Windsor, Ontario
Robert Platt, of Oakland, California
a daughter,
Mrs. Frank Williams, Ninth and Grant Streets
Carthage
a brother,
Harry Platt, of Carlsbad, New Mexico
a niece,
Miss Esther Ruhl, who made her home with the Platts and eight grandchildren.
The body will be placed on a Frisco train leaving St. Louis at 6:58 o'clock tonight and is scheduled to arrive here at 5:50 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Mr. Platt was one of Carthage's foremost citizens, was fond of outdoor life and was an ardent hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Broadview Country Club.
J. P. Leggett, a brother-in-law of Mr. Platt, invented and perfected the spring bed which bears his name. Mr. Leggett, who died here May 18, 1921 and Mr. Platt launched into the business of manufacturing spring beds in 1888. The business rapidly expanded, branch factories being established at Louisville, Kentucky and Windsor, Ontario. The firm several years ago sold the Windsor plant.
Mr. Leggett served as a member of the board of public works from 1908 until 1919. He was president of the board for several years.
_________________________________________
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS wrote:
. . . Perhaps there was no more widely known Carthage resident than Mr. Platt. Coming to Carthage with his father in 1874 as a young man he was associated with his father, C.E. Platt, in the plow works. For a number of years this plow was ranked as one of the city's foremost industrial establishments.
In 1888 he embarked on the industrial venture with his brother-in-law J.P. Leggett, that was to lead to unqualified success in the spring bed world and to make the names of Mr. Platt and Mr. Leggett widely known in the industry.
INTO MANUFACTURING BUSINESS
Mr. Leggett, who was an inventive genius, invented the Leggett bedspring which bears his name. Mr. Platt put up the few hundred dollars he was able to assemble against Mr. Leggett's patents and together the two embarked in the manufacturing of Mr. Leggett's spring. They started here with a small factory. The superiority of their product created a wide demand and the establishment grew and prospered with the years.
Branches were established at Louisville, Kentucky and Windsor, Canada. Rights to use the Leggett patents also were granted to the Pacific Spring Company at Oakland, California.
Several years ago the Leggett & Platt company of Canada merged with the Star Manufacturing Company and these later with the L.A. Young Industries, Inc., of Detroit, Michigan, that company now operating the Windsor plant, making springs for automobile seats, etc. C.E. Platt, son of C.B. Platt, is manager of this plant for the Young corporation.
The Young company also acquired the Pacific Spring Company, at Oakland, in a deal consummated a little later and operates this plant now. Robert Platt, younger son of the Carthage spring bed manufacturing pioneer is manager of the Oakland factory.
The Leggett & Platt Company continues to operate the branch at Louisville.
For many years the Carthage Leggett & Platt factory was located in the old wooden structure which occupies nearly a block, with entrance on Lyon, Maple and Third Streets. Several years ago a modern fire-proof factory building was constructed on the Missouri-Pacific lines in the northwest part of the town and now houses the factory.
INTO WHOLESALE GROCERY
Several years ago Mr. Platt, in company with George Porter, purchased the former Wells-Woodward Wholesale grocery. Later they built the modern building at Sixth and Main street which is now the company's quarters. While giving some attention to this business, Mr. Platt principally devoted his attention to his spring bed interests. He was also a director in the Bank of Carthage.
It was largely through his business sagacity, that the spring bed business of the company flourished to such a large degree, it is said. He had a keen mind and sensed the possibilities of the Leggett spring and with his vision and his close application to the affairs of the company, success apparently was assured. Mr. Leggett died May 18, 1921.
ON BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Despite his multitudinous business interests, Mr. Platt gave liberally of his time to civic affairs in the form of service on the board of public works.
HIS DEATH A CIVIC LOSS
Mr, Platt was a member of the Elks Lodge. He was possessed of a friendly disposition, having a faculty for making and holding friends. In his passing, Carthage loses one of it's foremost citizens - a man who did much for the up-building of the town in which he grew to manhood and in which all of his active life was spent.
Mr. Platt was fond of the outdoors and was an ardent hunter and fisherman.
BORN IN ILLINOIS
Mr. Platt was born March 6, 1863 in Illinois. The family lived for a short time in Ilow before coming to Carthage, when Mr. Platt was 11 years of age. They made the trip here in covered wagons.
He was married in August, 1885 in Carthage to Miss Willetta Leggett, who came to Carthage with her brothers, the late J.P. Leggett and George Leggett, from Pennsylvania.
Mr. Platt had been in ill health since last spring when he had an attack of influenza which later developed into pneumonia. He was taken to New Mexico, California and later went to Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan in an effort to regain his health. He had been a patient at Barnes Hospital the last three weeks. He died of heart complications.
Mrs. Platt and their children, Eugene Platt of Windsor, Canada; Mrs. Frank Williams of Carthage; and Robert Platt of Oakland, California and also Mrs. Eugene Platt and Mr. Williams were with him in St. Louis when he passed away. Miss Esther Ruhl, a niece, who makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Platt, was with the family there until yesterday morning, when she returned to Carthage.
Surviving besides his immediate family are
a brother; Harry Platt of Carlsbad, New Mexico
and
eight grandchildren;
Harriett and Frank Williams
John, Robert, Fredrick, Catherine and Tommy Platt of Oakland, California
and several nieces and nephews
Cornelius Baird Platt
1131 Grand Avenue
Carthage, Missouri
First wife: Bertha Platt
married in September 1895, separated 1900, later divorced
Second wife Willetta Platt
Occupation: Bed Springs Manufacturing Company
FATHER: Cornelius Drake Platt
Birthplace: New York
MOTHER: Catherine Avery Fisher Platt
Birthplace: New York
Photos at right courtesy of the Powers Museum of Carthage
------------
The Leggett & Platt Spring Bed company greatly benefited from their long term, thirty-one year inventive engineer Frank Dale Snyder (1882-1930, who continued coming up with new benefical inventions to improve their bed spring and its production.
C. B. Platt today (1901) let to the Stebbins & Johns Quarry company the contract to furnish stone for his new residence on Grand avenue. This is the first big contract announced for the new quarry.
Mr. Platt and his partner J. P. Leggett have decided to erect their new Grand avenue homes entirely of Carthage stone, which means a radical change in the building plans they had been considering and the plans and specifications, which are being drawn by J. A. Prather, may now be materially changed from the original designs.
At any rate the change in building material means a very great increase in the cost of the proposed residences. Instead of $10,000 to $15,000 Messrs. Leggett and Platt are preparing for an outlay of from $15,000 to $20,000 each on their homes.
Mr. Platt will move the old M. L. Reid frame residence which he purchased yesterday, over to the north fifty feet of the lot.
--------------
JOPLIN GLOBE
MARCH 22, 1929
DEATH COMES TO PROMINENT CARTHAGE MAN
C. B. PLATT, MANUFACTURER AND BUSINESS MAN, DIES IN ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL AFTER AN EXTENDED ILLNESS.
Carthage, Mo., March 22 -- C. B. Platt, wealthy Carthage manufacturer and business man, died at 9 o'clock this morning at Barnes hospital in St. Louis. Death was due to a complication of aliments. He was 66 years old.
Mr. Platt was taken to the St. Louis hospital March 2. His illness dated back to a year ago when he was stricken with influenza, which later developed into pneumonia. He went to California last summer seeking to improve his health, and later received treatment at the Ford hospital in Detroit. He underwent and operation at Joplin last autumn.
CARTHAGE PIONEER
President of the Leggett and Platt Spring Bed Manufacturing Company, Mr. Platt also was head of the Platt-Porter Grocer Company, a wholesale concern, and also was s director of the Bank of Carthage.
Mr. Platt had been a resident of Carthage since he was 11 years old, having come here with his parents in a covered wagon from Des Moines, Iowa. The elder Platt established a plow factory at Fifth and Grant Streets, the site now occupied by John's garage, purchasing an entire block of property.
Surviving Mr. Platt are the widow, the former Miss Willeta Leggett, who he married here in 1885;
two sons,
Eugene Platt, of Windsor, Ontario
Robert Platt, of Oakland, California
a daughter,
Mrs. Frank Williams, Ninth and Grant Streets
Carthage
a brother,
Harry Platt, of Carlsbad, New Mexico
a niece,
Miss Esther Ruhl, who made her home with the Platts and eight grandchildren.
The body will be placed on a Frisco train leaving St. Louis at 6:58 o'clock tonight and is scheduled to arrive here at 5:50 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Mr. Platt was one of Carthage's foremost citizens, was fond of outdoor life and was an ardent hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Broadview Country Club.
J. P. Leggett, a brother-in-law of Mr. Platt, invented and perfected the spring bed which bears his name. Mr. Leggett, who died here May 18, 1921 and Mr. Platt launched into the business of manufacturing spring beds in 1888. The business rapidly expanded, branch factories being established at Louisville, Kentucky and Windsor, Ontario. The firm several years ago sold the Windsor plant.
Mr. Leggett served as a member of the board of public works from 1908 until 1919. He was president of the board for several years.
_________________________________________
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS wrote:
. . . Perhaps there was no more widely known Carthage resident than Mr. Platt. Coming to Carthage with his father in 1874 as a young man he was associated with his father, C.E. Platt, in the plow works. For a number of years this plow was ranked as one of the city's foremost industrial establishments.
In 1888 he embarked on the industrial venture with his brother-in-law J.P. Leggett, that was to lead to unqualified success in the spring bed world and to make the names of Mr. Platt and Mr. Leggett widely known in the industry.
INTO MANUFACTURING BUSINESS
Mr. Leggett, who was an inventive genius, invented the Leggett bedspring which bears his name. Mr. Platt put up the few hundred dollars he was able to assemble against Mr. Leggett's patents and together the two embarked in the manufacturing of Mr. Leggett's spring. They started here with a small factory. The superiority of their product created a wide demand and the establishment grew and prospered with the years.
Branches were established at Louisville, Kentucky and Windsor, Canada. Rights to use the Leggett patents also were granted to the Pacific Spring Company at Oakland, California.
Several years ago the Leggett & Platt company of Canada merged with the Star Manufacturing Company and these later with the L.A. Young Industries, Inc., of Detroit, Michigan, that company now operating the Windsor plant, making springs for automobile seats, etc. C.E. Platt, son of C.B. Platt, is manager of this plant for the Young corporation.
The Young company also acquired the Pacific Spring Company, at Oakland, in a deal consummated a little later and operates this plant now. Robert Platt, younger son of the Carthage spring bed manufacturing pioneer is manager of the Oakland factory.
The Leggett & Platt Company continues to operate the branch at Louisville.
For many years the Carthage Leggett & Platt factory was located in the old wooden structure which occupies nearly a block, with entrance on Lyon, Maple and Third Streets. Several years ago a modern fire-proof factory building was constructed on the Missouri-Pacific lines in the northwest part of the town and now houses the factory.
INTO WHOLESALE GROCERY
Several years ago Mr. Platt, in company with George Porter, purchased the former Wells-Woodward Wholesale grocery. Later they built the modern building at Sixth and Main street which is now the company's quarters. While giving some attention to this business, Mr. Platt principally devoted his attention to his spring bed interests. He was also a director in the Bank of Carthage.
It was largely through his business sagacity, that the spring bed business of the company flourished to such a large degree, it is said. He had a keen mind and sensed the possibilities of the Leggett spring and with his vision and his close application to the affairs of the company, success apparently was assured. Mr. Leggett died May 18, 1921.
ON BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Despite his multitudinous business interests, Mr. Platt gave liberally of his time to civic affairs in the form of service on the board of public works.
HIS DEATH A CIVIC LOSS
Mr, Platt was a member of the Elks Lodge. He was possessed of a friendly disposition, having a faculty for making and holding friends. In his passing, Carthage loses one of it's foremost citizens - a man who did much for the up-building of the town in which he grew to manhood and in which all of his active life was spent.
Mr. Platt was fond of the outdoors and was an ardent hunter and fisherman.
BORN IN ILLINOIS
Mr. Platt was born March 6, 1863 in Illinois. The family lived for a short time in Ilow before coming to Carthage, when Mr. Platt was 11 years of age. They made the trip here in covered wagons.
He was married in August, 1885 in Carthage to Miss Willetta Leggett, who came to Carthage with her brothers, the late J.P. Leggett and George Leggett, from Pennsylvania.
Mr. Platt had been in ill health since last spring when he had an attack of influenza which later developed into pneumonia. He was taken to New Mexico, California and later went to Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan in an effort to regain his health. He had been a patient at Barnes Hospital the last three weeks. He died of heart complications.
Mrs. Platt and their children, Eugene Platt of Windsor, Canada; Mrs. Frank Williams of Carthage; and Robert Platt of Oakland, California and also Mrs. Eugene Platt and Mr. Williams were with him in St. Louis when he passed away. Miss Esther Ruhl, a niece, who makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Platt, was with the family there until yesterday morning, when she returned to Carthage.
Surviving besides his immediate family are
a brother; Harry Platt of Carlsbad, New Mexico
and
eight grandchildren;
Harriett and Frank Williams
John, Robert, Fredrick, Catherine and Tommy Platt of Oakland, California
and several nieces and nephews
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