USA > Iowa > Mahaska County > The history of Mahaska County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics > Part 45
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
organize the second time a new lodge, which on the 6th day of June, A. D. 1866, was chartered by the Grand Lodge under the name and number of Amity Lodge, No. 186. The war having elosed, the storm of excitement incident thereto subsided, the troubled waters quieted, Triluminar, No. 18, and Amity, No. 186, with their officers and members harmoniously worked together, and emulated each other in that grandest of virtues of "who can best work, and best agree," when in the winter of 1874, Amity Lodge, No. 186, surrendered her charter, and, again, with her membership, old and new, consolidated with Triluminar Lodge, No. 18, making her at present time, one of the most powerful, and the strongest (numerically) lodge in the Iowa Grand Lodge jurisdiction. The reason for the surrender of Amity Lodge's charter and consolidation with Triluminar, No. 18, was that in meantime (though having had a chapter of R A. M's, of which mention will hereafter appear), a council of royal and select masters, and a commandery of Knights Templar were organized, and each having its own peculiar ritualism, and consequently necessitating separate evenings of holding their meetings, nearly every working evening of the week was occupied, and there were too few for "refreshment and sleep." It was urged as a means of better attend- ance upon all the meetings of the different orders and lessening the labors of the workers in each, to thus gain one evening more, by the consolidation, that they should be united, and now the "peace and harmony " of Trilum- inar, No. 18, flows like a river, and Masonry in Oskaloosa city was never stronger than at present.
Many of Mahaska county's noble men (members of the various lodges), at their country's call, to prevent the nation's threatened ruin, enlisted with that patriotism peculiar to the American people alone, and with the flag of their country unfurled, marched to fields of carnage, blood and death. The voices of some are now hushed in death, but their deeds of valor and hero- ism yet re-echo throughout the land that "they died not in vain." The nation lives by and through their great sacrifice; life, and a country and home are vouchsafed to those who shall live after them.
In 1866 the several Masonic bodies as then organized in the city of Oska- loosa, in order to own and have a home, through the individual membership contributing of their means, created a loan fund, to build a hall over two buildings erected by Samuel Knowlton, on south side of public square, taking the notes of Triluminar Lodge, No. 18, the foundation stone, or institution of all the other bodies. This hall, 40 feet by 80 feet, was put on the buildings above named as the third story, which was finished in com- fortable and elegant style, superbly furnished in furniture, ornaments and paraphernalia of the chapter and commandery, and nearly all the indebted- ness of the fraternity paid, save $600 borrowed from the Grand Lodge (on which the Grand Lodge subsequently very kindly and graciously extended time of payment without interest for three years) when the fire of January 20, 1873, which originated in an adjacent building, in one short hour swept everything before its power, leaving naught but ashes and embers of what was before every Mason's just pride, making a loss in building and costly paraphernalia of about eight thousand five hundred dollars, on which an insurance of two thousand dollars was promptly paid. In this insurance the several bodies have an equal interest, and has ever since served as an interest bearing fund, more than necessary to liquidate the annual expense of rents, leaving each and all of them in a flattering future financial condi- tion.
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Of the membership, first and last, but not least, are to be found men who have at various times filled prominent and responsible places of trust, both in the state as well as the Grand Lodge of Iowa, viz: W. S. Dart, Grand Steward in 1849; G. W. Teas, Deputy Grand Master in -; J. Y. Hop- kins, Senior Grand Warden in 1855; H. R. Kendig, Grand Pursuivant in 1870; C. H. Phelps, Junior Grand Warden in 1876; H. R. Kendig, Senior Grand Warden in 1871; L. C. Blanchard, Grand Orator Elect in 1879; W. S. Easton, District Deputy Grand Master in Illinois.
E. W. Eastman, Lieutenant Governor; J. A. L. Crookham, first County Judge, also State Senator; Samuel Coffin, Member Iowa Legislature, two terms; W. T. Smith, County Prosecutor and Democratic nominee for Con- gress in 1870; Capt. S. G. Gary, Capt. Iowa Volunteers and Member Iowa State Legislature; T. C. Beach, Member Iowa Legislature; John Dodds, Member of Legislature; H. W. Gleason, Member of Legislature; J. N. Dixon, State Senator; L. C. Blanchard, Judge Sixth Judicial Circuit; Samuel Knowlton, Member Board County Supervisors for three years; James Rhinehart, County Judge for eight years; W. S. Edgar, Clerk of Courts for ten years; Samnel Thompson, County Judge and County Audi- tor one term each, and County Surveyor for twelve years; Henry R. Ken- dig, Connty Treasurer for six years; M. T. Williams, Member of Iowa Legislature for two terms, and United States Commissioner for fifteen years; W. H. Needham, Postmaster for six years; H. C. Leighton, Editor of Oskaloosa Weekly Herald for twelve years, Chairman Republican State Central Committee two successive years, and Postmaster for one year and until his decease; Jolin Larmer, County Recorder for eight years; W. R. Cowan, County Recorder for six years; Elliott W. Rice, Commissioned Brigadier General of Volunteers, Union Army, 186 -; Samuel A. Rice, Attorney General of State for two terms and Commissioned Brigadier General of Volunteers, Union Army, 1863.
The Grand Lodge of Iowa, in June, 1856, held its session in Oskaloosa in Union Hall, nothing further or noteworthy transpiring than are usual to all annual meetings of the Grand Lodge in its formal business transactions.
The foregoing completes the history of " Blue Lodge " Masonry and its membership in Oskaloosa eity, the county seat, which necessarily is some- what limited for want of space allotted to a work of this kind. Much more might be said and not exhaust all the matters of interest, were it a history of Masonry and eminent Masons alone, that these pages were to re- cord, and we pass to the borders of the county, and note: That, on the 12th day of December, 1861, J. M. Roberts, as W. M., Henry R. Kendig, S. W., C. M. Ewing, J. W., and eight others in and around the village of Belle- fontaine, petitioned for and obtained a dispensation to organize a lodge at that place, and at session of Grand Lodge, June 4, 1862, were chartered regularly under name and number of Bellefontaine Lodge No. 163. This Lodge is now located at Tracy, a station on the Albia & Knoxville branch of the C. B. & Q. R. R. in Marion county, where a goodly number of good men and trne correctly disseminate the ritual of the Order.
The Annals of Masonry, Vol. 1, page 131, recite: "That on the 10th day of November, 1852, Grand Master W. D. McCord granted a dispensa- tion to B. Bates and nine others to open a Lodge at Kirkville, Wapello county, Iowa, and June 2d, 1852, a charter was granted Kirkville Lodge No. 35," and in Vol. 2, page 125, "That Kirkville Lodge, No. 35, peti-
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
tioned to remove the Lodge to Fremont, Mahaska county, and that the prayer of petitioner was granted."
And of Kirkville Lodge, No. 35, so far as the present historian is con- cerned, all trace is lost, but it is found that on the 17th day of March, 1868, a dispensation was granted J. D. Cochran, W. M, P. Akerman, S. W., J. C. Keith, J. W., and eight others, Master Masons, to organize a Lodge at the town of Fremont, and on the - day of June, 1868, a char- ter was granted by the Grand Lodge, naming and numbering it Toleration Lodge, No. 236.
Present officers are: N. Allender, W. M .; F. N. Byram, S. W .; S. F. McFall, J. W .; Geo. Shayler, Treasurer; M. W. Byram, Secretary; S H. Heinzman, S. D .; C. G. Byram, J. D .; E. H. White, Tyler. (See History of Fremont.)
On the 22d day of June, 1874, G. F. Bates, as W. M., II. J. Vail, S. W., J. W. Upton, J. W., and eleven others, petitioned for dispensation to open a Lodge at the town of New Sharon, and on the 3d day of June, 1875, at ses- sion of Grand Lodge, were duly chartered to do all regular Masonic work under the name of Mahaska Lodge, No. 336. (For further particulars see History of New Sharon.)
On the 25th day of March, 1869, Industry Lodge, No. 260, was organ- ixed regularly at Springfield, Keokuk county, and by permission of Grand Lodge, in session assembled, the Lodge was moved to the town of Rose Hill, in January, 1877. (For further particulars see History of Rose Hill.)
With this close, we pass on to
CAPITULAR MASONRY.
There has been but one chapter of Royal Arch Masons organized in the county.
On the 15th day of November, 1854, letters of dispensation were granted J. Y. Hopkins, H. P .; Edwin Davis, King; Francis Barker, Seribe; and Companions J. L. Hogin, N. J. Smith, D. Stanley, S. Stephens, M. A. Ma- lone, S. M. Rankin, and L. D. Haines to organize and open a Chapter of R. A. M's, and on the 14th day of December of the same year, T. S. Par- vin, then The Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Iowa being present, and, officiating, the machinery of the Chapter was successfully put in motion, doing a large amount of work until session of Grand Chapter, June 2, 1855, a charter was granted, and July 7, 1855, by J. R. Hartsock, M. E. Gr. H. P., Hiram Chapter, No. 6, was duly consti- tuted with the following elective and appointed officers, viz:
J. Y. Hopkins, H. P .; G. W. Baer, K .; D. H. Colville, S .; W. M. Wells, Treas .; W. S. Edgar, Sec .; S. Stephens, Tyler; E. W. Eastman, C. H .; H. Lyster, P. S .; L. A. Chorn, R. A. C .; W. M. Wells, G. M. 3d V .; Geo. Delong, G. M. 2d V .; and Francis Castles, G. M. 1st V.
Past Grand Officers: W. M. Wells, Gr. King, and Gr. Treasurer, 1872.
Members of Gr. Council of Order of High Priesthood in Iowa: J. Y. Hopkins, W. M. Wells, and H. R. Kendig.
The Grand Chapter of Iowa convened in Masonic Hall at its annual meeting in 1872, at which session there was a full attendance of the Royal Arch Craft. The eminent and leading men of the subordinate chapters, as well, also, of them of the town and city where they reside.
The present officers are Henry R. Kendig, H. P .; Gideon Dougherty, K .;
youstrony .
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
George N. Beechler, S .; Henry Howard, Treas .; T. II. Green, Sec .; H. C. Leighton (since dec'd), C. II .; C. H. Phelps, P. S .; A. T. Drinkle, R. A. C .; W. II. Needham, G. M. 3d V .; H. W. Gleason, G. M., 2d V .; B. F. Beebe, G. M., 1st V .; B. R. Perdue, Tyler. Total number of present mem- bership, 103.
And we pass on to
CRYPTIC MASONRY.
Oskaloosa Council, No. 7, of Royal and Select Masters, was organized under dispensation on the 14th day of April, 1866, with C. W. Fisher, T. I. M .; J. Y. Hopkins, R. I. M .; Henry Howard, P. C. of W., as first officers, with Ill' Companions W. A. Hunter, Henry Lyster, Reese Jones, J. M. Shaffer and Wm. Shaffer as members, and on June 4, 1866, was duly char- tered by the Grand Council of Iowa.
Present officers are D. H. LeSner, T. I. M .; H. W. Gleason, R. I. M .; C. H. Phelps, P. C. of W .; H. Howard, Treas .; T. H. Green, Recorder; B. R. Perdue, Sentinel. Present number of members, 39.
And we close with
KNIGIITHOOD.
"De Payens " Commandery, No. 6, of Knights Templar, was organized under dispensation, December 1, 1865, with Sirs David A. Hoffman, E. C .; W. M. Wells, G .; B. R. Perdue, C. G., as first officers, and Sir Knights W. A. Hunter, J. Y. Hopkins, J. S. Hoygin, J. W. Hall and Reuben Mickel co-petitioners, and on the 2d day of June, 1866, was chartered by the Grand Commandery of Iowa, since which time the order has steadily increased its membership, and improved itself in drill, and finally, by the constant persistence of the working Sir Knights, the entire Commandery, nearly, is uniformed with full dress equipments.
Among the Sir Knights who have held official positions in the Grand Commandery, are Dr. D. A. Hoffman, Grand S. Bearer; H. R. Kendig, Grand Warden; H. C. Leighton, Grand S. Bearer in 1873, and Grand Capt. General in 1877.
Present officers: C. H. Phelps, E. C .; G. N. Beechler, G .; W. H. Wray, C. G .; R. P. Bacon, Prelate; H. Howard, Treas .; O. C. G. Phillips, Re- corder; W. H. Needham, S. W .; W. C. Perdue, J. W. Total number of Sir Knights, 84.
Dear reader, and the fraternity in particular, in closing this part of Ma- haska county's history, we have constantly labored under an apprehension of omitting important dates, or ignoring some individual Mason who has a claim to distinction equal to, or above, those of his fellows, whose names have received special mention. Let this be our apology, that limit of space, and want of time, and press of other business upon the writer, have mater- ially interfered with making these sketches as full and complete as they otherwise would be. However this may be, we have the consciousness of having endeavored to cover the entire field spread out before us, and cherish the proud experience of having written about institutions and individual members thereof, who have organized and maintained the various bodies of Masonry in this county, also in every other particular have been important and prominent factors in the early settlement, as well as the after develop- ment of " Proud Mahaska " county.
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366
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY. SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
In sketching a history of this society we give the growth of a church comprising in its limits a very considerable portion of the people of Ma- haska county. Of the principles, belief and origin of this sect, little is known by the general public, and we have considered it a matter worthy of such importance as to preface the history of the society in Mahaska county by a general sketch.
The sect arose in England about the middle of the seventeenth century, and the ministry of Geo. Fox was the chief human instrument in their es- tablishment as an organized body. Fox was the son of pious parents, who were members of the Established Church of England. From childhood he felt a deep concern for the salvation of his soul, and spent much time in meditation and prayer. Discovering much formality in the professed re- ligion of his day, lie set out on foot, preaching the gospel in its purity, and setting forth substantially the doctrines of the present Quaker church. The rapid spread of his teachings was surprising, including several Episcopalian priests, and ministers of other denominations. As early as 1655 the dis- ciples of Fox traveled and preached upon the continent, making many con- verts and suffering much persecution. About this same time Friends began to arrive in America, and to commence their labors in the new world. Per- secution greeted them liere, where, it is said, four of them suffered death on the gallows. Large numbers came over in 1682 with William Penn, the famous champion of their sect, and founded the state of Pennsylvania. Since that time their growth has been steady, and the spirit of persecution has long since died out. They have now in America nine great assemblies called Yearly Meetings, one of which meets at Oskaloosa.
The doctrine of the Friends is, briefly, as follows: They believe in "one only wise, omnipotent and eternal God, the creator and upholder of all things, visible and invisible," and in " manifestations, individualities and titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." They do not differ materially from orthodox Christians as to the doctrines of atonement, depravity, resurrec- tion of the dead, etc. They believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures, in a personal devil, and the immortality of the soul.
In church government, in many respects they resemble the Presbyterian form. They have four grades of meetings for discipline or government- the preparative meeting, monthly meeting, quarterly meeting and yearly meeting. The first is the lowest, and each in order is subordinate to the following, the yearly meeting being the court of last appeal. The first meeting is composed of any number worshiping at a certain place or con- gregation. Violations of discipline by members are reported by the pre- parative meeting to the monthly meeting, when efforts are made to reclaim them. If dissatisfied, appeal may be taken in turn to the quarterly and yearly meetings, which is the court of last resort.
The ministers are chosen from the lay members upon evidence of ability, and are recorded upon application of the preparative meeting to the monthly meeting, and subject to the approval of the quarterly. The ministry are not paid, it being the belief of the sect that they should provide for thiem- selves. If they are sent abroad on the work of the church, their expenses are usually borne by the meeting sending them. The tenets of the church are opposed to secret societies, do not allow its members to engage in war- fare, nor to take oaths. Divorce is granted only according to the rules of
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the church. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper are not ad- ministered in meetings of the Friends, they believing that the baptism of "the present dispensation is that of Christ, who baptizes his people with the Holy Ghost; and that the true communion is a spiritual partaking of the body and blood of Christ (by faith)."
In their manner of life and in their self-examination the Friends are mod- els to the Christian world. This is illustrated by the "Queries" which are each year propounded to each congregation, and answers to which are sent to the superior meetings.
1. Are all our regularly established meetings kept up, and held with be- coming good order?
2. Do Friends avoid and discourage tale-bearing and detraction, and are they preserved in Christian love?
3. Do Friends train their children and those under their care in the knowledge of the promises and precepts of the gospel; do they guard them against pernicious reading, evil company and corrupt conversation, and en - conrage them to read the Holy Scriptures; do they teach them that conform- ing to the vain fashions and customs of the world is inconsistent with Christian religion?
4. Do Friends deal with transgressors seasonably and impartially, and evince to them the spirit of restoring love?
5. Do Friends pay due regard to the First day of the week as a day of rest and devotion, avoiding secular business, and all manual labor not really necessary ?
6. Are the circumstances of those who require aid inspected, and their necessities relieved; are they advised and assisted in such employment as is adapted to their capacity?
7. Are there any known cases of a breach of our testimony against war, against judicial swearing, lotteries, and against the use, manufacture, or traffic in intoxicating liquors, except for medicinal or mechanical purposes ?
8. Is every family of Friends furnished with a copy of the Holy Scrip- tures; and is family devotion, with scripture reading, practiced in each fam- ily daily; if not all, how many are in the practice?
9. What new meetings settled, and what meetings discontinued?
10. What ministers recorded, and what number of recorded ministers within your limits?
11. What is your number of families, and parts of families, and of members, male and female; what is your increase of membership by re- quest, by birth, and by certificate from outside the yearly meeting; and what is your decrease by disownment, resignation, death and removal, be- yond the yearly meeting, separately considered?
12. How many of your members are in the habitual use of tobacco, male and female; and how many are engaged in the production, manufac- ture or sale thereof?
It will be noticed that these queries cover pretty thoroughly the whole of Christian life and practice, and the consciousness that these will be put to each individual every year is disposed to beget and maintain a purity of life which most Christians would do well to emulate.
The first settlement of Friends in Iowa was made near Salem, in Henry county, in 1837 or '38. Two preparative and one monthly meeting were established at that place about 1840. In 1843 some settlements began to be formed near Oskaloosa, where, in February, 1844, Joseph D. Hoag held the
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HISTORY OF MAIIASKA COUNTY.
first Friends' meeting in the county. It was held at the residence of Thomas Stafford, whose door-step served for a pulpit, from which, in the light of a pile of burning logs, he proclaimed the doctrines of his society, the house being filled with women, and the yard with men and boys. From this time an "indulged" meeting was kept up until 1848, when a meeting for worship and a preparative meeting were formally established at Spring Creek, where, in 1853, a monthly meeting was also established.
The first quarterly meeting was established at Salem in August, 1848. Shortly after this, meetings of this kind were established at Pleasant Plain, Red Cedar, and Western Plain (now Bangor), in Marshall county. Decem- ber 12, 1858, a committee from these four quarterly meetings met in Oska- loosa, and petitioned the Indiana yearly meeting, to which they had been up to that time attached, to be constituted a separate yearly meeting, to be known as the Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends. The request was granted in October, 1860, the meeting to be established in 1863.
The first session of Iowa Yearly Meeting was held at Spring Creek meet- ing house, near Oskaloosa, September, 1863. During the years 1864 and 1865 the general society erected a large yearly meeting house just outside the city limits on the north, at a cost of $25,000. This building is a two- story brick structure, 52 by 104 feet, and has a seating capacity of about nine hundred persons on each floor. The women's yearly meeting is held on one floor, and the men's meeting on the other. These meetings are held "to commence on the fourth day following the first First day in the Ninth month " of each year, and usually continue about one week. The attend- ance of Friends outside the county is frequently as high as one thousand persons. Friends from other yearly meetings are provided for by the meet- ing, and though about half the members of the yearly meeting are enter- tained free of charge, the rule is for each Friend to pay his own way. The quarterly meetings composing the Iowa Yearly Meeting are Salem, Pleas- ant Plain, Springdale, Bangor, Aekworth, Oskaloosa, Winneshiek, Lynn Grove, Bear Creek and Honey Creek. These include a membership of 8,846.
Of these quarterly meetings, Oskaloosa comprises those subordinate meetings now existing within the bounds of Mahaska county, and has its place of assembling alternately at Oskaloosa eity and New Sharon. At each of these points is a monthily meeting, including five meetings for wor- ship about Oskaloosa, and three abont New Sharon.
Of the former, as before mentioned, the first established was known as Spring Creek, located abont two miles northeast from Oskaloosa, where a meeting house was afterward ereeted, and which still stands. This society was organized in 1848 with about fifty-five members, and it now numbers ninety-five members. The first minister of this meeting was William Pearson. This house is located upon a beautiful spot of ground and sur- rounded by a large number of Friends. The present minister is Agnes Sopher.
The next meeting organized in the county was known as Center Grove and was held about two miles north of Oskaloosa. The congregation that worshiped at this place is now known as Oskaloosa meeting, and meets at the yearly meeting house near the city for religions exercises.
This society was organized in 1854 with about thirty-five members. Its first ministers were Benjamin Fry and William Pearson. The present membership is 192, and the ministry is composed of Dr. Elias Jessup, Micajah Pickerel, David Crispin, and N. Hodgins.
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
The next meeting in order of organization was " Bloomfield," which was located about four miles southeast from Oskaloosa. This society was or- ganized in 1861 with about forty-five members. A meeting house was built about 1875 at a cost of near $1,200. The present ministers are Mary Lawson, John W. Smith, and William Sopher, with a membership of one hundred and twenty-six.
The church in " Oskaloosa City " was organized in 186-, with about twenty-seven members, and now numbers in the vicinity of one hundred and eighty-two. The first minister was Dr. Eli Jessup, since deceased. This society has a comfortable brick meeting house which they purchased from the United Presbyterians in 1865. It is eligibly located, neat and commodious. The ministers are Doreas Hunt, Sarah Gruwell, James E. Bailey, Jephtha W. Morgan, Chas A. Tibbits, and Mary Tibbits. This church, in connection with the Oskaloosa meeting, form one preparative meeting. The other three churches have a preparative meeting each.
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