USA > Iowa > Calhoun County > Past and present of Calhoun County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement, Volume I > Part 29
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Garfield Rebekah Lodge, No. 438, located at Somers, was organ- ized on October 20, 1899, at the old Town of Muddy with the follow- ing charter members: C. B. and Blanche Gray, John and Celia Hitz- man, J. R. and Mollie Stevenson, Davis and Lois Dillon, S. J. and M. H. Dean, John W. and Adelia J. Mills, F. J. Wilkinson, M. C. Wilkinson, J. C. Stevenson, J. E. Stevenson, W. E. Davis, Minnie J. Moore and Lily Dillon. There are some other Rebekah lodges in the county, but letters of inquiry failed to bring the necessary informa- tion from which to compile their history.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
On February 15, 1864, Justus H. Rathbone, Robert A. Cham- pion, David L. Burnett, Dr. Sullivan Kimball and William H. Bur- nett, five members of the Arion Glee Club of Washington, D. C., met and listened to the reading of a ritual prepared by Mr. Rathbone and intended as the basis of a new secret order. The ritual was founded upon the story of Damon and Pythias and someone pro- posed to call the new organization the Knights of Pythias, which was acceptable. Washington Lodge, No. 1, was established on February 19, 1864, but the Civil war was then in progress and the growth of the order was slow until about 1869-70, when it spread rapidly to all parts of the country.
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Several Knights of Pythias lodges organized in Calhoun County have become extinct. The only two from which any definite informa- tion could be obtained are the lodges located at Farnhamville and Lohrville.
Freedom Lodge. No. 296, of Farnhamville, was organized on August 13, 1891, with the following charter members: R. M. Hum- bert, E. B. Lilly, J. C. Crissinger, F. W. Gilbert, F. J. Smith, George P. Rushton, Elijah Rushton, E. H. Rushton, C. E. McVay, G. W. Evans, A. B. Coulter, V. C. Head, C. O. Humbert, F. W. McCan- non and Hans Bruner. The lodge first met in the schoolhouse. It now owns the upper story of the opera house building and numbers over fifty members. In the spring of 1915 Frank Skinner was chan- cellor commander and E. M. Skinner was keeper of the records and seal. The lodge was incorporated on May 10, 1910, with J. C. Hulka, A. Smith and Edward Saunders as the first board of trustees.
Columbus Lodge, No. 342, is located at Lohrville. It was organ- ized under a charter dated August 10, 1893, with nineteen charter members, viz .: H. C. Babcock, M. Callahan, H. W. Cuddeford, F. A. Dixon, J. T. Dryden, L. E. Fitch, L. L. Fitz, A. A. Glenn, M. H. Gormaly, Albert Hagerman, R. S. Middleton, F. F. Moore, E. C. Morrell, Halsey Odell, Joseph Pratt, E. W. Shotwell, II. A. Squires, J. M. Stephens and C. J. Wartchow. The first chancellor commander was F. F. Moore, and A. A. Glenn was the first keeper of the records and seal. Columbus Lodge was incorporated on April 4, 1910, with F. V. Hibbs, M. O'Brien and Henry Blankenburg as trustees. In June, 1915, the lodge had thirty-nine members. Charles Altivator was then chancellor commander and Henry Blankenburg was keeper of the records and seal.
Farnhamville Temple, No. 229, Pythian Sisters-the "ladies' degree" of the order-was instituted on April 21, 1909, with twenty- three charter members, wives, daughters and other near female rela- tives of the members of Freedom Lodge.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
Membership in this organization is confined to those who served in the volunteer army or navy of the United States in the war of 1681-65. The order grew out of the custom of holding regimental reunions at the close of the war, the plan of organization having been proposed by Dr. B. F. Stevenson. of Illinois, in 1866. In the original articles of association the objects of the Grand Army are stated to be:
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"1. To preserve and strengthen those kind and fraternal feelings which bind together the soldiers, sailors and marines who united to suppress the rebellion, and to perpetuate the memory of the dead.
"2. To assist such former comrades in arms as need help and pro- tection, and to extend needful aid to the widows and orphans of those who have fallen.
"3. To maintain true allegiance to the United States, based upon a paramount respeet for and fidelity to the National Constitution and laws; to discountenance whatever tends to weaken loyalty, ineites to insurrection, treason or rebellion, or in any manner impairs the efficiency and permaneney of our free institutions; and to encourage the spread of universal liberty, equal rights and justice to all men."
Local lodges or societies are called posts. Each state is organized into a department. The department of Iowa was first organized in September, 1866, and was reorganized in 1879. Following the reor- ganization a multitude of posts were organized in the towns of the state, a few of which were in Calhoun County. Many of the old veterans that assisted in organizing these posts have passed from the seene of earthly aetion and in 1915 there were but few posts in Cal- houn County that still maintained their organization.
Lander Post No. 156, of Lake City, was granted a charter on June 18, 1883, by John B. Cooke, department commander, and the first regular meeting was held just one week later. The first officers were: David Carskadden, commander; L. C. Bangs, senior viee com- mander; Cornelius Pocock, junior vice commander; Thomas Beau- mont, adjutant ; A. J. Scott, quartermaster; J. J. Wilder, surgeon; J. D. McVay, officer of the day. Of the twenty-one charter mem- bers the only ones living in the spring of 1915 were A. J. Seott, L. F. Danforth and Ed L. Gregory. At that time the membership num- bered about thirty, though the post had at one time over seventy. The present officers (1915) are: James Bruee, commander; R. A. Smith, senior viee commander; W. B. Long, junior vice commander; A. T. Light, adjutant; John Brown, quartermaster; J. II. Russell, surgeon: Robert Clark, officer of the day.
Opedyke Post No. 322, located at Rockwell City, was organized on May 20, 1884, with the following charter members: S. N. Brower, Rollin Bureh, Plympton Babcock, A. E. Carrier, W. T. Condron, J. H. Gregg, T. C. Gregg, W. J. Gardner, W. B. Hutton, A. N. Jaek, O. J. Jolley, B. F. Maxwell, Henry Mover, W. I. Squires, A. F. Stonebraker, W. T. Smith, J. P. Shew, W. W. Walters, G. W. Williams and J. H. Wyman. The first commander was O. J. Jolley
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and W. T. Condron was the first adjutant. Only a few of the charter members are left and the membership now is only a fraction of what it was during the prosperous years of the post.
Allee Post No. 113 is one of the oldest in the county. In 1890 this post incorporated the "Grand Army and Sons of Veterans Hall Association," with a capital stock of $650. The first board of direet- ors was composed of John Somerville, C. C. Mitehell, D. C. Wilson, C. C. Kibler, C. H. Knox and C. D. Hobbs. Artiele 2 of the articles of incorporation sets forth the objeet of the association as follows: "The general nature of the business and object of the corporation shall be the building, owning and managing of a building to be used as a hall or place of meeting for Allee Post No. 113, G. A. R .; Camp Moore No. 6, Sons of Veterans, and Allee Relief Corps No. 13, all located at Manson, Ia."
The association was incorporated for fifty years and the articles stipulated that the Sons of Veterans and Women's Relief Corps were each to pay an annual rental of $25.
Howland Post, located at Lohrville, was organized a few years after the town was founded in 1881 and at one time numbered some thirty members. In recent years the membership has fallen off until only a few of the old veterans are left and meetings are not held with the regularity as formerly.
WOMEN'S RELIEF CORPS
Connected with the Grand Army of the Republie is the Women's Relief Corps, which is composed of the wives and daughters of the veterans of the Civil war. Nearly every Grand Army post has its corps of patriotie women to assist in caring for the siek and unfortu- mate, to conduet such social events as may be determined on from time to time, and to participate in the ceremonies of Memorial Day.
Lander Corps No. 200, of Lake City, was organized in June, 1890, but the secretary was unable to furnish a complete list of the charter members. At the beginning of the year 1915 the corps nun- bered sixty-four members, with the following officers: Frances Leath- erberry, president; Agnes Clark, senior vice president; Tessie Miles, junior vice president; Cora Amsden, secretary; Sarah Booth, treas- urer: Josephine Townsend, chaplain: Mabel Brown, conduetress; Marietta Greenwood, guard.
Opedyke Corps No. 261, at Rockwell City, was organized on November 18, 1892, with the following charter members: Jennie F.
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Babcock, Minerva Gregg, Abbie Dyer, Ruth B. Condron, Emma Johnston, Verna Gregg, Eva Walters, Annie Carrier, Nettie Case, Eleanor Thorne, Callie Dixon, Estella Shew, Maggie Stonebraker, Clare E. Huff, Emma O. Baker, Esther C. Burch, C. Stramblad, Mary Morrison, Grace Morrison, Sarah Williams, Naney Rosen- berger, Sarah Rosenberger, Mamie Dugan, Mary Moyer, Mary Thorne, Elma Stonebraker, Mary E. Scott, Kate Brown, Sarah Squires, L. Zettie Gregg. The first president was Jennie F. Bab- cock, and Ruth B. Condron was the first secretary.
On January 1, 1915, the corps numbered ninety-one members. The officers at that time were as follows: Sadie K. Meade, president ; Harriet Johnson, senior vice president; Delana Means, junior vice president ; Katie R. Randall, secretary; May Babcock, treasurer; Ruth B. Condron, chaplain; Janie Morrison, conductress; Mamie Healy, guard.
MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES
Camps of the Modern Woodmen of America have been established at Rockwell City, Lake City, Lohrville, Farnhamville, Somers and Manson, and in connection with most of these camps there is au organization of the Royal Neighbors, composed of the female rela- tives of the male members of the camp. The Woodmen of the World are also represented in several of the principal towns of the county, as are also the Mystie Workers. These are all benevolent societies, with fraternal insurance as the principal feature of their work.
The Young Men's Christian Association of Calhoun County was incorporated on September 2, 1910, "for the purpose of organizing, developing and conserving the Young Men's Christian Associations in villages and rural communities and to promote the spiritual, intel- lectual, social and physical welfare of the young men and boys of Calhoun County, in accordance with the policy of the state executive committee of the Young Men's Christian Association of the State of Iowa."
M. W. Frick was elected chairman; M. W. Fritz, vice chairman; Edward W. Burch, clerk; David P. Baird, treasurer. The articles of incorporation were signed by these officers: G. B. Peterson, Hugh Baird, G. T. Hood and F. P. Huff. Branches of the association have been established in most of the towns of the county, corn raising con- tests have been condueted for the purpose of interesting the boys in the subject of agriculture, and other work as outlined by the state association has been carried on.
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CHARTER MEMBERS LAKE CITY WOMEN'S BELIEF CORPS
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Babcock, Minerva Gregg, Abbie Dyer, Ruth B. Condron, Emma Johnston, Verna Gregg, Eva Walters, Annie Carrier, Nettie Case, Eleanor Thorne, Callie Dixon, Estella Shew, Maggie Stonebraker, Clare E. Huff, Emma O. Baker, Esther C. Burch, C. Stramblad, Mary Morrison, Grace Morrison, Sarah Williams, Nancy Rosen- berger, Sarah Rosenberger, Mamie Dugan, Mary Moyer, Mary Thorne, Elma Stonebraker, Mary E. Scott, Kate Brown, Sarah Squires, L. Zettie Gregg. The first president was Jennie F. Bab- cock, and Ruth B. Condron was the first secretary.
On January 1, 1915, the corps numbered ninety-one members. The officers at that time were as follows: Sadie K. Meade, president; Harriet Johnson, senior vice president; Delana Means, junior vice president ; Katie R. Randall, secretary; May Babcock, treasurer; Ruth B. Condron, chaplain; Janie Morrison, conductress; Mamie Healy, guard.
MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES
Camps of the Modern Woodmen of America have been established at Rockwell City, Lake City, Lohrville, Farnhamville, Somers and Manson, and in connection with most of these camps there is an organization of the Royal Neighbors, composed of the female rela- tives of the male members of the camp. The Woodmen of the World are also represented in several of the principal towns of the county, as are also the Mystic Workers. These are all benevolent societies, with fraternal insurance as the principal feature of their work.
The Young Men's Christian Association of Calhoun County was incorporated on September 2, 1910, "for the purpose of organizing, developing and conserving the Young Men's Christian Associations in villages and rural communities and to promote the spiritual, intel- lectual, social and physical welfare of the young men and boys of Calhoun County, in accordance with the policy of the state executive committee of the Young Men's Christian Association of the State of Iowa."
M. W. Frick was elected chairman; M. W. Fritz, vice chairman: Edward W. Burch, clerk; David P. Baird, treasurer. The articles of incorporation were signed by these officers: G. B. Peterson, Hugh Baird, G. T. Hood and F. P. Huff. Branches of the association have been established in most of the towns of the county, corn raising con- tests have been conducted for the purpose of interesting the boys in the subject of agriculture, and other work as outlined by the state association has been carried on.
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CHARTER MEMBERS LAKE CITY WOMEN'S RELIEF CORPS
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WOMEN'S CLUBS
In giving an account of the women's clubs of the county it is deemed inexpedient to include every organization, but only those having some historie significance, or such as have wielded a marked influence upon the literary and educational development of the county. One of the oldest and most active clubs of this character is the Tourist Club of Rockwell City.
The Tourist Club is the outgrowth of a local membership in the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle in 1882. In that year Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Frick, Mrs. Washington Lewis, W. T. Smith and his wife, Mrs. Lou Walker and Mrs. J. F. Lavender joined the circle and met at the homes of the members for about two years, after which each finished the course individually. But the association thus kept up by these few left a desire for some sort of a club organiza- tion, and in 1892 the same people, with a few others, organized the Shakespeare Club, which studied the works of the great English dramatist for one year, when the name was changed to the Tourist Club. This name was adopted for the reason that the first work of the club under the new regime was the study of books of travel. Since then the general work of the club has included history, litera- ture, music and art, but the name adopted in 1893 still remains.
It was the first club in Rockwell City to be admitted to the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs, which was in 1904. Although classed as a women's club, men are admitted to membership, and among the members are fifty or more of Rockwell City's leading citizens. When the club was organized in 1892 Mrs. Anna Palmer was elected the first president. Among those who afterward served in that capacity may be mentioned Mrs. C. D. Case, Mrs. Lou Walker, Mrs. S. K. Meade, Mrs. E. C. Stevenson, Miss Jeannette Lewis and Mrs. J. F. Lavender. The officers for 1915 were: Mrs. J. F. Lavender, presi- dent : Mrs. Homer Scott, vice president ; and Mrs. Herbert, secretary.
The Monday Club, a social and literary organization of Lake City, was organized in 1892, with Mrs. Strong as the first president and Mrs. Hungerford as the first secretary. Meetings are held at the homes of the members and the name indicates the time in the week when the club assembles to engage in the study of some favorite author or listen to a paper on some literary topic by one of the men- bers. The officers elected in May, 1915, are as follows: Mrs. R. A. Griffin, president: Mrs. F. Boldes, vice president; Mrs. Frank Arney, secretary; Mrs. Marion E. Hutchison, treasurer.
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Mrs. Patrick. Mrs. Peek and a few other women of Lake City organized the Shakespeare Club there in 1897. At first the study of Shakespeare's works was the principal object of the organization, but in recent years the scope of the work has broadened to inelude other authors, with social features interspersed with the literary exer- cises. The officers for 1915 were: Mrs. Walter Jacobs, president ; Mrs. Roy Crawford, vice president; Mrs. C. H. Zybell. secretary; Mrs. Earl Smith, treasurer.
The Garrick Club of Lake City was organized in 1913, with Mrs. G. L. Pray, president; Mrs. C. H. Zybell, vice president; Miss Blanche I. Hackett, secretary: Mrs. H. C. Pittman, treasurer. It is a social organization, and among its members are to be found a number of the leading society women of Lake City.
The Rockwell City Women's Pioneer Club is deserving of more than passing mention because it is a club out of the ordinary. It was organized on June 17. 1903, the twenty-seventh anniversary of the selection of the site of Rockwell City as the county seat. The by-laws adopted at that time provided that no woman could become a member of the elub unless she had resided twenty years or more in Rockwell City. The women who signed these by-laws were Mes- dames Mary Anderson, Kate Bradt, Esther Burch, Mary E. Childs, M. E. Clark, Ruth B. Condron, Anna DuBois, Kate Eshbaugh, Eliza- beth Gray, Melinda Gregg. Ella Jolley, Mary Lavender, Washing- ton Lewis, Martha MeComb, Elizabeth MeNeil, S. K. Meade, Myrtle Noel, Martha Owen, Kate Purnell, Sarah M. Stevenson, Maggie E. Stonebraker, Lydia Tennant, Helen Walters, Mary Walters and Vina Walters.
The first officers were as follows: Mrs. Ruth B. Condron, presi- dent; Mrs. S. K. Meade, vice president: Mrs. Maggie E. Stone- braker, secretary and treasurer. Since it was organized the elub has never failed to hold its annual meeting, as near to the 17th of June as may be convenient for the members. At these meetings old times are discussed, stories and reminiscenees of early days are told and memories of youth revived. Although the women who founded this elub in 1903 were then well along in years, only four of the original twenty-five charter members have joined the silent majority. The officers in June, 1915, were: Mrs. Mary Lavender, president: Mrs. M. E. Clark, vice president: Mrs. Kate Eshbaugh, secretary and treasurer.
Another women's organization that is entitled to recognition on account of its work is the Civic Improvement Society of Lake City.
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WOMEN'S PIONEER CLUB OF ROCKWELL CITY
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It was organized in 1914, with Mrs. Alva Carskaddon, president; Mrs. W. H. T. Shade, vice president : Mrs. W. C. Snyder, secretary; Mrs. Ed O'Connell, treasurer. The society has been quite active in every movement for the betterment of Lake City. It organized the humane society, caused cement walks to be built through the park, and has helped improve the town in other ways. The officers in June, 1915, were: Mrs. W. H. T. Shade, president: Mrs. C. E. Bain, vice president; Mrs. A. Bauer, secretary; Mrs. I. D. Weirick, treas- urer. In addition to these general officers there is a vice president in each of the four wards of the city, to-wit: First Ward, Mrs. Thomas Hackett; Second, Mrs. Emma Fitch; Third; Mrs. W. C. Hungerford; Fourth, Mrs. C. H. Miller.
Almost every town has its women's clubs of a few members, the principal purpose of which is to meet and engage in some line of work or spend an afternoon in social intercourse. Such are the Thimble Club of Rockwell City, which was organized in 1904 for the purpose of giving helpful hints on fine needle work, and the L. A. R. Club, which is similar in its nature. These elubs, while inter- esting to members, have no special influence upon the history or devel- opment of the county.
THE P. E. O.
In 1869 seven young girls, students in the lowa Wesleyan Uni- versity at Mount Pleasant, concluded that it would be the proper thing to organize themselves into a society of some sort. One of these founders of the P. E. O., speaking afterward of their venture, said: "We had no very definite idea as to what we wanted to do, and when one asked 'What shall we call the society?' another sug- gested the name which that day bound together seven girls, and in 1914 held together in one great sisterhood 20,000 women."
Miss Aliee Bird wrote the constitution at the time the first society was organized, and its fundamental principles still remain in the organic law of the society. Many people have speculated as to the meaning of the three mystic letters "P. E. O.," but their significance is known only to the initiated .. For many years P. E. O. was noth- ing more than a college sorority, with chapters in various college towns somewhat after the style of the Greek letter fraternities. Then the scope of its work was broadened and women outside of universities were admitted to membership. Its principal philanthropy is the maintenance of a fund which is loaned to young women to aid them
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in acquiring a college education. A large number of girls have been educated through the medium of this society, and it is said that not one dollar has ever been lost by failure to repay a loan.
There are two chapters of the P. E. O. in Calhoun County. The Lake City chapter was organized in 1899, with Mrs. Field as the first president, and Miss Campbell as the first secretary. Its work has been continued without interruption and the membership has increased every year since the organization. The officers in June, 1915, were as follows: Mrs. G. L. Pray, president; Mrs. F. E. Kauffman, vice president ; Mrs. HI. H. Feige, recording secretary; Mrs. L. E. Nokes, corresponding secretary; Miss Nina Wood, treasurer.
The Rockwell City chapter was organized on December 10, 1912, with Margaret M. Baker as president, and in June, 1915, numbered twenty-seven members. At that time Miss Nelle M. Roberts was president; Mrs. Jane Stanfield, recording secretary; and Miss Char- lotte Stevenson, corresponding secretary.
CHAPTER XIX MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY
PRAIRIE FIRES-HISTORIC STORMS-BLIZZARD OF 1869-TORNADO OF 1878-SEVERE WINTERS-THE POMEROY TORNADO-STORM OF JUNE, 1899-A PECULIAR HAIL STORM-TWIN LAKES CYCLONE-THE LAST LYNX HUNT- A BANK ROBBERY-MYSTERIOUS MURDER-A QUAINT CHARACTER.
Connected with the history of Calhoun County are a number of events that are not directly associated with any of the topics treated in the other chapters of this work, yet these events have a historie interest. and for the benefit of the reader they have been arranged under the above heading.
PRAIRIE FIRES
First among these miseellaneous happenings were the prairie fires that in early days wrought considerable damage to crops, buildings and fences and caused consternation among the seattered population of the frontier. How these fires started was many times a mystery, but once started they baffled all human skill to extinguish them, and swept across the prairie until all vegetation growing upon hun- dreds and even thousands of aeres was reduced to a dead and black- ened mass.
The first disastrous fire after the settlement of Calhoun County began was in the fall of 1856. It came from the northwest and those who witnessed the spectaele say that it had the appearance of a wall of flame. A stiff breeze was blowing, which caught up burning wisps of grass and carried them in advance, constantly starting new fires. In this way the Coon River and other streams were erossed. The tall slough grass was dry enough to burn like tinder and the people soon eame to realize that all efforts to fight the fire would prove futile. They therefore fled from their homes to save their
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lives, leaving practically everything to the flames. Wild animals in great numbers also fled before the fire, but the domestic animals were not endowed with sufficient instinet to save themselves, and many perished. A few families were rendered homeless and all the settlers suffered more or less loss by the destruction of their crops.
Another great fire occurred in 1863, doing great damage to grow- ings crops and other property, but by heroic efforts the people saved their homes from destruction. As on former occasions, the wild game fled before the flames, and in some instances these wild beasts sought safety about the houses of the settlers, evidently forgetting in their terror that man was their natural enemy.
In October, 1868, a fire started late one evening on the prairie near Lake City and moved rapidly northward through what are now Elm Grove and Garfield townships. Fortunately, that part of the county was then thinly settled and but little damage resulted. The light of this fire could be seen for miles.
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