USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 36
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Those who have filled the worshipful master's chair since the granting of the charter have been as follows: 184S. 1849, 1856. Ira Millard; 1850, 1851, 1855, 1857, 1860, Joseph Rolston ; 1852, 1853, 1854, 1858, Mckenzie Turner; 1859, 1861, 1862, L. R. Slaghter; 1863, H. C. Coaleton ; 1864, 1865, 186S, 1871, Fred Noterman; 1866, 1867, 1869, 1873, I. H. Shimer; 1870, 1879, J. W. Edwards; 1872, Wooten Harris; 1874, John Watson, Jr .; 1875, James A. Brown; 1876, 1877, 1878, Norman Michael; 1SS0, 1SS1, 1883, 1884, 1892, 1897, Mathias W. Miller ; 1SS5, 1886, 1SS7, 1SSS, 1895, 1901, Amos H. Clotfelter ; 1889, Amos Sawyer; 1890, C. W. Bliss; 1893, 1894, John Greene; 1896, C. A. Ramsey ; 1S9S. 1899, 1902, 1903, Josiah Bixler; 1900, 1904, W. M. Neff; 1905. 1906, John T. Kester: 1907, 190S, H. R. Crawford; 1909, R. E. Gifford; 1910, 1911, Walter R. McLean; 1912, 1913, James Welsh ; 1914, 1915, John E. Potter ; 1916, J. F. M. Greene, and 1917, William Mallman. Since the organ-
814
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
izing under the present charter in 1S4S, the rolls of this lodge have contained the names of many of the best and strongest men in the county, and many lodges in other jurisdictions have been aided greatly by those who took their degrees in Mt. Moriah Lodge. The lodge has at pres- ent a membership of 166.
As stated, Mt. Moriah No. 51 is the oldest Masonic lodge in the county, being about seventy- seven years old at time of writing. The other lodges of the county follow in the order of their organizing. Charter Oak Lodge No. 236, at Litchi- field, was organized October 7, 1857, and has a membership at this time of 109, with C. O. Richards as w. m. and Henry C. Gorin as sec- retary. That lodge, together with the Litch- field Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter, of Litchfield, have recently fitted out the old Opera House of Litchfield as a Masonic Temple, and the accommodations there at this time are by far the best in the county.
Donnellson Lodge No. 255, at Donnellson, was organized October 4, 185S, and is now fifty-eight years old. It has a membership of fifty-three and is presided over at this time by Raymond M. Harwood as w. in, and C. C. Mansfield as secretary. Many of the prominent men in the county in an early day were members of the lodge.
Irving Lodge No. 455, at Irving, received its charter October 4, 1865, on the same day that Nokomis was recognized by the Grand Lodge. It now has a membership of sixty-eight and the gavel is wielded by Brother R. Canady, while Brother Joseph Platt keeps the records.
Nokomis Lodge No. 456 received its charter on the same day as the above and lias a member- ship at present of 155, being the second largest in the county. William Van Russell presides and Walter C. Hovey wields the quill.
Walshville Lodge No. 475, at Walshville, was authorized by the Grand Lodge to confer the degrees October 3, 1866. At one time this lodge had a membership of over fifty, but being in a small village it has not the material to draw from as have the city lodges, and consequently has now a membership of only twenty-two, but is growing. A. F. Minor fills the East and Elbert Shields manages the secretary's work.
Butler Lodge No. 459, at Butler, was organ- ized in 1865 and for a short time promised well, but its proximity to other stronger lodges cre- ated an indifference that resulted in the sur-
render of its charter in 1878, at which time it had a membership of thirty-one members.
Litchfield Lodge No. 517, at Litchfield, was organized October 3, 1867, and at this time has a membership of 10S. The Oriental chair is occupied by A. P. Pugh, and Brother F. C. Blackwelder acts as secretary. An effort was recently made by this lodge to unite with Char- ter Oak and thereby increase the usefulness of the order in Litchfield and at the same time reduce expenses, but owing to some friction the effort proved to be futile.
Fillmore Lodge No. 670, at Fillmore, was or- ganized October 3, 1871, and now enjoys a mem- bership of seventy-two members. The worship- ful master is J. F. Wolcott and the records are kept by C. E. Landers.
The last lodge in the county organized was at Coffeen, their number being 906, and their charter was dated October 7, 190S. W. R. Haller presides and A. Studebaker fills the secretary's chair. This lodge has the distinction of having on its rolls the two oldest Masons living in the county, W. H. Cook and B. F. McLain, both of whom have been members of the order for con- siderably over fifty years. These lodges are choice in the selection of their members and usually have the support of the cream of their communities. As their members are usually highly respected gentlemen and they are insist- ent on the members refraining from discredit- able conduct, the result of the influence of these lodges on the moral and uplifting character of the communities in which they are located is highly salutary.
OLD TIME MASONIC CELEBRATION.
Every town or community has its past events that are often reverted to in reminiscent mo- ments with pleasant memories. We could men- tion many in Hillsboro and in other towns that, to those who remember them, are looked back on with fond recollections. We, however, con- tent ourselves with one. On June 24, 1841, the Masonic lodge of Hillsboro celebrated what is known in Masonic circles as St. Johns' day. The place of meeting of the lodge at that time was over the old frame building recently torn down by Howell & Dorsey, then known as Blockburger's tin shop. In accordance with ar- rangements the members met at the lodge rooms and formed a procession under the guid-
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ance of D. D. Shumway and John H. Ralston, marshals of the day. This procession was led by the members of the lodge, among whom were : C. B. Blockburger, Hail Kingsley, Martin Kings- ley, Jacob Lingofelter, C. B. Collins, Alfred Durant, Ira Boone, A. Knapp, J. M. Ralston, Allen Caraker, Stephen Abbot, M. P. Nickolson, D. D. Shumway, Robert Crow, C. B. Hartwell, Ira Millard, A. Stotsbury, Josiah McHenry, A. H. Knapp, William Shawn, Thomas H. Cory, A. S. McMellon, C. J. Richardson, Beniah Kelley, Dr. John S. Hillis, Philip M. Millard, M. J. Block- burger, William H. High, William Wood, Mc- Kinsie Turner, Caleb S. Canaday, C. S. Shan- nahan, Thomas A. Gray, Horace Mansfield, Wil- liam Cannon, and William B. Herrick. Among the Masons in line as visitors may be named : J. T. Broadley, of Clinton ; Z. Case, of Clinton ; William Hodge, William C. Greenup, and H. Eccles, of Vandalia ; J. B. Clark and B. F. Burke, of Harper's Ferry, Va .; H. C. Roman, A. S. Thompson and A. B. Hodge, of Vandalia ; James King, of Decatur; M. C. Hereford, of Virginia ; J. H. Hereford, of Tennessee ; Col. John Seward and Israel Seward, formerly from New York ; H. Wilcox, of New York; Seth Blanchard, of Missouri; and George Burnap, of Illinois. The procession formed and marched to the Methodist Episcopal Church, which then stood where the pool room of Henry Crees is now located, and the following exercises were carried out : Rev. William Randall led in prayer, and then N. M. McCurdy, of Vandalia, delivered_ an oration. Others spoke more briefly and after the con- clusion of the formal exercises, the procession reformed and marched to the Academy build- ing, which then stood on the east side of Main Street, opposite the residence of J. K. McDavid, where a banquet to the lodge and visitors was served. After the banquet and several post- prandial addresses, the procession was again formed and returned to the hall. In looking over the list of Masons and visitors present on that memorable occasion we know of no one who today is among the living. But we can name about twenty-five who have descendants now living in the county, who doubtless re- member. hearing their parents speak of that occasion.
ROYAL ARCH MASONS.
This great branch of the Masonic order has a membership of over 40,000 in Illinois, with chap-
ters in nearly every large town in the state. Like other Masonic bodies it is purely a fra- ternal order and says little about itself. Its members come not by solicitation but from their own "will and accord." Its work is divided into districts, and Montgomery County is in the twenty-second division. James P. Brown, of Hillsboro, is the inspector in charge of this dis- trict. There are two chapters in Montgomery County : Elliot Chapter, No. 120, of Litchfield, and Hillsboro Chapter, No. 197, of Hillsboro. These chapters meet with the Blue lodges of these towns and divide expense in maintaining the halls. Elliott Chapter has at the present time a membership of eighty and has been or- ganized since October, 186S. Press Odem is at present the high priest and F. C. Blackwelder the secretary.
Hillsboro Chapter claims a membership now of eighty-four, and dates its organization from October, 18SS. William H. Smith at present fills the high priest's chair, and Walter McLean has the secretaryship. Besides these bodies of the high orders of Masonry located in Montgom- ery County, there are quite a considerable num- ber of enthusiastic Masons in the county who have taken the Scottish Rite degrees, or the Consistory orders, to belong to which they main- tain membership in Springfield or East St. Louis. The Springfield Consistory maintains one of the finest Consistory bands in the coun- try, of which Dr. E. B. Strange, of Hillsboro, is a member. The members of all Masonic bodies in this county represent the very best class of men in their several communities, and the lady members of the auxiliary bodies are the very cream of the best society.
EASTERN STAR.
The Order of the Eastern Star was founded and introduced by Robert Morris, of Kentucky, known to the literary world as the "Poet Laureate of Masonry," in the year 1850. The object of the order, as stated by Robert Morris, was that the five heroines of the Masonic Or- der, the wife, the daughter, the mother, the sis- ter, and the widow, might make themselves known to each other as such wherever they might be, and the Order was then known as the "Eastern Star Degrees of Adoptive Ma- sonry." The head Chapter was known as the Supreme Chapter of the World. All charters Were obtained from this Supreme Grand Chap-
13
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ter prior to the organization of State Grand Chapters. It was from this Supreme Chapter that Hermon Chapter, No. 46, received its charter.
The date of the charter from this Supreme Chapter was January 18, 1871, and the organ- ization of the chapter January 24 of the same month. After some correspondence with the Grand Matron, Bro. A. R. Canaday, as a deputy, came here and organized Hermon Chapter, No. 46, he having the charter to deliver. Those who signed the charter were: Sisters Lutitia Shimer, Susan M. Dunn, Augusta D. Marshall, Evaline C. Harris, Phoebe McWilliams, Camilla Jenkins, Louisa J. Reeves, E. C. Smith, Joan Edwards, Mary C. Morehouse, Lurana W. Nel- son, Mary E. Watson, Jane C. Lingofelter, and Brothers I. H. Shimer, David S. Clotfelter, Wooten Harris, Charles W. Jenkins, Wm. P. Marshall, Fred Noterman, M. C. McWilliams, Charles M. Wool, Jonathan Enloe, M. L. More- house, David H. Zepp, John Watson, Jr .; John Barry, T. J. Reeves, F. M. Smith, H. W. Nelson and Samuel H. Mossler.
The first officers were : Isaac H. Shimer, w. p .; Augusta D. Marshall, w. m .; Evaline C. Harris, a. m .; Phoebe McWilliams, conductor; Luvina Lingofelter. asso. cond .; Camilla Jenkins, treas .; Mary C. Watson, Adah; S. W. Nelson, Ruth ; Jane Lingofelter, Esther; M. B. Morehouse. Martha; S. J. Reeves, Electa ; L. Shimer, war- den ; T. J. Reeves, sentinel. Under this charter the chapter continued to meet and work from the organization in 1871 to 1SS0, when the in- terest seemed to cease and the meetings were not held for about six years. On November 29, 1SS6, a meeting was hield under the first charter for the purpose of trying to resuscitate the chap- ter. The worthy grand matron notified the chapter that it would be necessary to surrender the old charter and secure a new one from the Grand Chapter of Illinois. Accordingly the ap- plication was made, and on December 14, 1880, the new charter having been received, a meeting was held for the purpose of reorganizing. Those who applied for the new charter were : Sisters E. A. Rountree, S. E. Smitlı, Camilla B. Keithley, Matilda Spangler, Carrie Marshall, Rhoda Wil- son, L. Feild, A. J. Morehouse, Mary Burns, Minnie Jenkins, Callie Clotfelter, Emily Bart- lett and Hannah Truesdale, and Brothers M. L. Morehouse, Fred M. Smith, Amos H. Clotfelter, C. M. McWilliams, J. P. Spangler and H. H. Keithley. The first officers under the second
charter were : E. A. Rountree, w. m .; A. H. Clot- felter, w. p .; Camilla B. Keithley, a. m .; A. J. Morehouse, secretary ; E. A. Smith, treasurer; Carrie Michael, conductor; Hannah Truesdale, associate conductor ; Emily Bartlett, Adah ; Matilda Spangler, Ruth ; Minnie Jenkins, Esther ; L. Leidel, Martha; Mary Reeves, Electa ; Mary Burns, warder; Fred M. Smith, sentinel ; Callie Clotfelter, organist.
Those who have served the chapter as matron during the chapter's existence have been as fol- lows: A. D. Marshall, 1871; E. A. Rountree, 1872, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1886, acting, 1887, 1SS8, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892 and 1893; Helen Noterman, 1873; Camilla B. Keithley, 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1889; Noi Douglas, 1894, 1895 and 1901; Hattie Marshall, 1896 and 1900; Jane Vawters, 1897, 1898, 1902, 1903, 1906, 1907 and 1910; Bessie Douglas, 1904; Carrie Howell, 1905; Hattie Morgan, 1908 and 1909; Bessie Coale, 1911 and 1912; Marian Mollman, 1913 and 1914; Louisa Allen, 1915; Floy Strange, 1916; Mrs. Crawford, 1917. Those who have served as patron during the same time have been: Isaac H. Shimer, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875; Norman Michael, 1876 and 1877; A. H. H. Rountree, 1878; M. L. Morehouse, 1879 and 1SS0; A. H. Clotfelter acting in 1886 and elected in 1SS7, 1893, 1896, 1899, 1900, 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1906; L. G. Tyler, 1878, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1894, 1895, 1897 and 1898; M. C. McWil- liams, 1SSS; Elmer Marshall, 1901; William Vawters, 1905; Charles Berner, 1907; E. B. Strange, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911 and 1912; Joseph C. Allen, 1913; William Mollman, 1914 and 1915; William McClurg, 1916 and 1917.
LAVONNE CHAPTER O. E. S., OF LITCHFIELD.
The present officials are : Ota May Richards, w. m .; John W. Rea, w. p .; Mrs. D. R. Kinder, a. m .; Frank Paden, treasurer; Ethel Testaer, secretary ; Mrs. B. C. Arnold, conductress ; Mrs. L. E. Davenport, a. c.
ODD FELLOWS.
Odd Fellowship has a strong footing in Mont- gomery County. This great fraternal order with its membership of over 100,000 in the State of Illinois, with lodges to the number of 1,000, and with a record of contributing to the relief of its indigent members, their widows and orphans in the maintenance of homes for the needy of
Fred Mitchell
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
these classes, and in the support of other char- itable and philanthropic objects in the enor- mous sum of nearly or quite $1,000,000 a year, certainly entitles the order to a liberal support, and the fact of a good membership in the county speaks well for the people who support the in- stitution.
The parent lodge in the county is Montgomery Lodge, No. 40, or Hillsboro. This lodge was instituted May 30, 1838, by William M. Parker, of Belleville, acting grand master for Charles H. McConstable, g. m .; charter dated July 28, 1838. Among the charter members were : Henry Richmond, S. B. Holcomb, A. P. Voorhees, Isaac W. Carter, Robert T. White. The lodge first met with the Masons over the tin shop of C. B. Blockburger, and its second place of meeting was over the store of Dr. Haskell, the second story of which building was erected by the Odd Fel- lows jointly with the Masons of the town. In 1867 the two orders separated, the Masons build- . ing over the Clotfelter building and the Odd Fellows over the Fink building, where they now congregate in beautiful quarters. Among the early members still living may be mentioned George W. Potter and E. C. Garflo, who on August 31, 1915, were honored with a reception in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of their admission into the lodge, in 1865.
A brief statement of the membership and of the charities of the lodges of this county may not be without interest. In the report for the year ending December, 1915, we get the follow- ing in formation :
No. Name and Location Members Contributions
40 Montgomery, Hillsboro .. 173 $ 616.00
332 Sherman, Nokomis. 82 215.00
404 Waggoner, Waggoner .. . .
73 S2.00
476 Raymond, Raymond ..
79
203.00
706 Harvel, Harvel. 54 177.00
724 Oil City, Litchfield. .117 165.00
943 Witt, Witt 66
115.00
985 Schram City, Sch'm City 44
101.00
987 Vanburensburg, Vanb'g. 60 42.00
1011 Fillmore, Fillmore .. 55
66.00
S03
$1,782.00
As the wives, daughters and widows of Odd Fellows are not eligible to membership in the lodge and that the fellowship and organized charities may be carried on the same as their male companions, they have an adjunctive or-
ganization paralleling the lodge. It is known as the Rebekahs, and they also have a strong following in the county. Their record of char- ities is also a very creditable one. The follow- ing Rebekah lodges are reported in this county : Hillsboro, No. 317 ; Litchfield. No. 156; Nokomis, No. 226; Raymond, No. 680; Schram City, No. 725; and Fillmore, No. 766. The Rebekahs have about 800 lodges in the state, and their con- tributions and philanthropic activities are de- serving of special mention.
The officers for 1916 of Hillsboro Lodge, No. 317, are : Elective, n. g., F. J. Brown ; v. g., J. F. Denton; recording secretary, W. Frarer; finan- cial secretary, J. J. Clelland ; treasurer, E. C. Gorflo; appointive, warden, William Clancy ; conductor, James Page ; o. g., D. Bosswell ; i. g., Carl Mason; r. s. n. g., W. M. Nichols ; 1. s. v. g., E. A. Brown; l. s. v. g. a. s., A. S. Ludewick ; r. s. s., Lester Denton; l. s. s., Harold Hope ; chaplain, C. A. Gilliland.
Raymond Lodge No. 476, I. O. O. F., was in- stituted October 8, 1872. The village was then known as Luld. This lodge was named Ray- mond, and the town was named after it when it was incorporated. The charter members were: Norris Crane, George A. Vannevar, Walker Gunn, Nemrod McElroy, Elias R. Day, James N. Gutherie and James Sanders. The present of- ficers are: Robert Gunn, n. g .; Henry Fenster- man, chaplain; A. R. Gerhart, secretary ; Alva McNeal, representative to grand lodge; Fred C. King, d. g. m .; J. S. Toy, v. g .; W. L. Seymour, treasurer ; Fred Gutherie, p. g.
Sherman Lodge No. 332, Nokomis, was insti- tuted April 26, 1866. Its charter members were : John H. Beatty, Zachariah C. Wilson, Nicholas H. Kerr, John Hy Brookman, E. Price Downing. The present officers are as follows : A. E. Vande- ver, n. g. ; O. O. Larrick, v. g. ; Emory W. Penne- pacher. r. & f. secretary ; Lester K. Vandever, treasurer. These are all of the elective officers except trustees. There are seventy-eight mem- bers at present.
Fillmore Lodge I. O. O. F., No. 1011, was insti- tuted October 27, 1911, and the charter members were as follows : M. E. Donaldson, Alva Donald- son, Jessie Newport, Ezra McFarland, J. W. Case, Clarence Case. The present membership is sixty-one.
Waggoner Lodge No. 404, I. O. O. F., was in- stituted in 1913, with the following charter mem- bers and officers : Charles S. Norvell, n. g. and p. g. ; James M. Rose, i. g .; Jesse O. Voyles, v. g .;
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
William A. Thomason, warden; Fred J. Travers, p. g .; Ed. Pearman, r. s. n. g .; Andrew J. Street, secretary ; James P. Tade, p. g., l. d. g. m .; Thomas V. Wood, p. g .; Fred G. Nelch, Floyd W. Pitchford, r. s. v. g. The lodge now has a membership of eighty and is in a flourishing condition. The following are the present of- ficers : S. H. Rogers, n. g .; G. W. Williamson, v. g .; George Fooks, treasurer; A. J. Street, secretary ; H. Shoptaw, warden; Ward Rice, conductor; J. O. Voyles, o. g .; G. M. Kendall, i. g .; C. S. Norvell, r. s. n. g .; Earl Yard, l. s. n. g .; H. W. Street, r. s. v. g .; W. R. Lewis, 1. s. v. g .; L. L. Price, r. s. s .; Ralph Rowland, 1. s. s .; W. W. Burton, chaplain. The first four are elective and the other appointive offices. The trustees are : L. P. Brubaker, W. H. Nimmo, Ira Baker, W. R. Lewis, C. S. Norvell.
Vanburensburg Lodge No. 987, was insti- tuted January 25, 1911. The names of char- ter members are as follows: J. M. Blankenship, R. H. Blankenship, J. H. Rhyon, C. W. Traylor, E. E. Neathery, J. N. Neathery, LaFayette Hill, G. W. Rhyon, Chas. Ruppe, G. W. Nea- thery, W. T. Welch, Orvil Blankenship, William Nobbe, W. C. Greenwood. The present officers are as follows: C. A. Swetland, noble grand ; William Blankenship, vice grand ; George Roeme- lin, secretary; W. C. Greenwood, treasurer; J. M. Blankenship, L. F. Elmore, H. W. Davis, Chas. Ruppe, Guy Lynn, trustees. Number of members in good standing are forty-two.
Raymond Lodge No. 680, Rebekahs, was insti- tuted November 19, 1909, with the following char- ter members : Albert R. Gerhart, W. L. Sey- mour, Henry Fensterman, Albert Pepperdine, H. H. Munstedt, Keturiah Henry, Irene Gerhart, Mary Hicks, Ella McVey, W. F. Hicks, L. W. Welge, J. F. Harris, Joseph Henry, Cornelia Seymour, Lizzie Fensterman, Ella Pepperdine, Leuells Scherer, Grace Chapmen, Hallie Harris.
The lodge now has a membership of eighty- six with the following as present officers : n. g., Marie Hefley; v. g., Nettie Beaty ; chaplain, Grace Chapman; warden, Lizzie Fensterman ; Mrs. Edna Scherer, representative to grand lodge ; Mrs. Ella Pepperdine, deputy g. m .; Irene Gerhart and Ella Pepperdine, official examiners and instructors for any work in the state.
Nokomis Rebekah Lodge No. 226 was insti- tuted February 16, 1910, with the following charter members: W. H. Casselberry, G. P. Da- vidson, John A. Waer, R. P. Barnard, Emory W.
Pennepacker, Minnie Hudnall, Ada H. Barnard, Sarah C. Hiett, Mary J. Davidson, Bessie David- son, Dora S. Kerr, Rosella Casselberry, Ruth Casselberry, Jennie S. Todd, Meda G. Penne- packer, Minnie S. Pennepacker, Hannah Keiser, and others. The present officers are as follows : Minnie S. Pennepacker, noble grand; Sophie Dude, vice grand; Callie Compton, recording secretary ; Dora S. Kerr, financial secretary ; Lula E. Sullivan, treasurer. Total membership at present is as follows: sisters, forty-seven ; and brothers, fifteen.
Fillmore Rebekah Lodge No. 766 was instituted November 19, 1914. The charter members were as follows : gentlemen, Dallas Cole, J. W. Case, J. H. Richardson, G. H. Cress, H. A. Finley, P. L. Cress, W. E. Wright, J. J. Baumgartner, J. F. Brown, W. O. Fish, Ezra McFarland, S. L. Mad- dox, S. E. Grigg, and E. O. Whitten; ladies, Pauline Herman, Estella Smith, Lydie Fish, Cigar Flemming, Ruby Smithdeal, Sophronia Sanders, Cina Hurmann, Jennie Richmond, Mar- gart Garrott, Ella Nelson, Jane Wright, Josie Cole, Flora Baumgartner, Ella McFarland, Kate Cress, Nellie Case, Lora Tobermann, Grace Grigg, Ann Cress, Nurve Lane, Mary Baumgartner, Nancy Brown, Mary Case, and S. F. Rameyn. · Number of members at present is sixty-eight.
MODERN WOODMEN.
The order of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica is recognized as the largest fraternal secret society in the world. The order has in Mont- gomery County more than a dozen camps, and a membership of over 1,500 male members. It represents somewhere about $3,000,000. of life insurance and since the organization, about a $500,000 has been paid to the order in the in- terest of beneficiaries. How much of that has been paid back to Montgomery County beneficiar- ies we do not know, but we do know that the amount is a considerable sum. A brief descrip- tion of the various camps in the county will be given :
Litchfield camp No. 352, is the largest camp in the county. It was organized July 2, 1887 and has prospered since then. Its membership at this time is 331. It has paid into the head camp in the interest of beneficiaries the sum of $120,200. The present officers of the camp are : consul, G. W. Shafer; banker, W. H. Logsdon ; escort, David Stewart; adviser, R. P. Cline;
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
watchman, Claus Anderson; physicians, Dr. T. W. Williams; managers, F. C. Angle, J. H. Beck and Thomas Lang.
Hillsboro camp No. 283, was organized in December, 1886, with a membership of twenty members. Its first officers in part were : W. A.
Walshville Camp No. 1558, is not quite so old Howett, Dr. Samuel H. McLain, Doctor Henshie, . as most others in the county, nor is it located James A. Brown.
This camp has been one of the most active in the county. It has a present membership of 209. Its payments into the head camp in the interest of the widows and orphans of deceased members has been not far from $75,000.
Its present officers are : V. L., F. I. Clotfelter ; physician. Dr. W. W. Douglas; banker, Frank McLean ; clerk, John C. Barkley, and secretary, Jos. Puckett.
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