USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > History of Stephenson County, Illinois : a record of its settlement, organization, and three-quarters of a century of progress > Part 71
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City Marshals.
W. W. Smith, 1855; W. W. Smith, 1856; W. W. Smtih, 1857; John R. Edick, 1858; Henry Settley, 1859; David C. Laird, 1860; John H. Mease, 1861 ; Isaiah G. Bedee, 1862; Jacob C. Gilbert, 1863; Jacob C. Gilbert, 1864; Chas. Baumgarten, 1865; F. R. Mclaughlin, 1866; F. R. Mclaughlin, 1867; Charles Rohkar, 1868; J. B. Shirk, 1869; J. B. Shirk, 1870; Geo. J. Lamb, 1871; E. W. R. Dreyer, 1872; E. W. R. Dreyer, 1873; E. W. R. Dreyer, 1874; E. W. R. Dreyer, 1875 ; E. W. R. Dreyer, 1876; E. W. R. Dreyer, 1877; E. W. R. Dreyer, 1878; Eli S. Chamberlin, 1879; Eli S. Chamberlin, 1880; Eli S. Chamberlin, 1881 ; Eli S. Chamberlin, 1882.
City Marshals-Appointed.
J. W. Sanderson, 1883; J. W. Sanderson, 1884; Eli S. Chamberlin, 1885-87; Eli S. Chamberlin, 1887; C. J. Dittmar, 1889; C. J. Dittmar, 1891 ; B. F. Bru- baker, 1895; Wm. Root, 1895; Wm. Root, 1897; Wm. Root, 1899; Charles W. Hall, 1901 ; John J. Sweeney, 1903; John J. Sweeney, 1905; Henry Silk, 1907; Chas. W. Hall, 1909.
City Surveyors.
No surveyor elected, 1855; no surveyor elected, 1856; Ludwick Stanton, 1857; Marcus Carter, 1858; Marcus Carter, 1859; Wm. O. Saxton, 1860; Wm. O. Saxton, 1861; Marcus Carter, 1862; Chas. Baumgarten, 1863; Chas. Baumgar-
FRED C. HELD
LILKARY OF THE DIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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577
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
ten, 1864; Marcus Carter, 1865; Marcus Carter, 1866; Ludwick Stanton, 1867; Marcus Carter, 1868; Chas. Baumgarten, 1869; C. T. Dunham, 1870; Chas. Baum- garten, 1871; Chas. Baumgarten, 1872; Chas. Baumgarten, 1873; Chas. Baum- garten, 1874; F. E. Josel, 1875; F. E. Josel, 1876; Ludwick Stanton, 1877; F. E. Josel, 1878; F. E. Josel, 1879; F. E. Josel, 1880; F. E. Josel, 1881 ; F. E. Josel, 1882.
City Engineers-Appointed.
F. E. Josel, 1883; F. E. Josel, 1884; F. E. Josel, 1885-87; F. E. Josel, 1887; F. E. Josel, 1889; Arthur Lagron, 1891; Arthur Lagron, 1893; Arthur Lagron, 1895; F. E. Josel, 1897; George Graham, 1899; George Graham, 1901 ; George Graham, 1903; George Graham, 1905; George Graham, 1907; John A. R. Daniels, 1909.
Street Commissioners.
W. W. Smith, 1855; W. W. Smith, for Ist Ward, 1856; R. McMasters, for 2d Ward, 1856; Edwin R. Ross, for 3d Ward, 1856; John P. Byerly, 1857; Henry Settley, 1858; Henry Settley, 1859; B. Wasserzieher, 1860; B. Wasser- zieher, 1861; B. Kuenkemeier, 1862; B. Wasserzieher, 1863; August Bergman, 1864; P. E. Fowler, 1865; Henry D. Rodearmel, 1865; Henry D. Rodearmel, 1866; Henry D. Rodearmel, 1867; Edwin Mclaughlin, 1868; Edwin Mclaughlin, 1869; Edwin Mclaughlin, 1870; James Darrah, 1871; James Darrah, 1872; James Darrah, 1873; James Darrah, 1874; James Darrah, 1875; William Ascher, 1876; Adolph Boedeker, 1877; J. S. Rogers, 1878; J. S. Rogers, 1879; B. Huen- kemeier, 1880; Wm. A. Knipschild, 1881; B. Huenkemeier, 1882.
Superintendent of Streets-Appointed.
A. H. Altemeier, 1883; A. H. Altemeier, 1884; H. F. Hanke, 1885-87; H. F. Hanke, 1887; Wm. Ascher, 1889; M. T. Steffen, 1891; Conrad Toelle, 1893; A. H. Altemeier, 1895; M. Scanlan, 1897 ; A. H. Altemeier, 1899; John H. Place, 1909.
Police Magistrate.
Luther W. Guiteau, 1855; Horatio C. Burchard, 1857; David Seem, 1859; A. T. Green, 1863; Abraham Braisted, 1866; George Wolf, 1867; Abraham Brais- ted, 1870; E. P. Hodges, 1871 ; Leonard Stoskopf, 1874; J. R. Wagner, 1878; J. R. Wagner, 1882; A. R. Dubs, 1886; S. R. Dubs, 1889; S. R. Dubs, 1891 ; S. R. Dubs, 1893; S. R. Dubs, 1895; Marcus Lane, 1897; Marcus Lane, 1899; Mar- cus Lane, 1901 ; Charles J. Bentley, 1903; Charles J. Bentley, 1905; Charles J. Bentley, 1907; Charles J. Bentley, 1909.
GENERAL LODGE DIRECTORY.
There are at present in Freeport as many as seventy-six different social, fraternal, and secret organizations, a list of which is hereby appended. Twelve of these are Masonic, and six are of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Three are connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, and a number of them are church societies. The following constitute the list, the names of of- ficers together with the place and time of meeting being in each case given:
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
A. F. & A. M., Excelsior Lodge No. 97. Officers : Roy Burkhart, W. M .; C. C. Wolf, secretary. Meeting, first and third Fridays. Place, Masonic Temple.
A. F. & A. M., Evergreen Lodge No. 170. Officers : Timothy Stultz, W. M .; W. N. Cronkrite, secretary. Meeting, first and third Mondays. Place, Masonic Temple.
A. O. U. W., Wilhelm Wagner Lodge No. 250. Meeting, Thursdays. Place, 103 Stephenson street.
American Order of Owls., Freeport Nest No. 78. Officers: A. F. Dittman, president; J. E. Stewart, secretary. Place of meeting, Seitz hall.
Anchors. Officers: John Bauscher, Jr., president; Charles Meyer, secretary.
B. P. O. E., Freeport Lodge No. 617. Officers : W. G. Krappe, E. R .; J. W. Clark, secretary. Meeting, first and third Thursday. Place, 133 Stephenson street.
Consistory, Freeport Lodge of Perfection. Officers: L. L. Munn, Jr., T. P. G. M .; W. B. Erfert, secretary. Meeting, second Wednesday. Place, Masonic Temple.
Consistory, Freeport Council Princes of Jerusalem. Officers : L. H. Burrell, M. E. S. P. G. M .; W. B. Erfert, secretary. Meeting, subject to call. Place, Masonic Temple.
Consistory, Freeport Chapter Rose Croix. Officers: W. C. Jencks, P. M .; W. B. Erfert, secretary. Meeting, subject to call. Place, Masonic Temple.
Consistory, Freeport Consistory S. P. R. S. Officers : R. D. Kuehner, com- mander in chief; W. B. Erfert, secretary. Meeting place, Masonic Temple.
Court of Honor, Freeport Court No. 71. Meeting, second and fourth Thurs- day. Place, K. of P. hall.
Catholic Knights of Illinois. Officers: Fred Rodemeyer, president; E. A. Blust, secretary. Meeting, first Sunday. Place, St. Pius hall.
Democratic Club. President, H. B. Witte; secretary, Herman Straub. Meet- ing place in Best building, Stephenson and Chicago streets.
Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan, Husn Temple No. 108. Officers: E. I. Rubendall, R. V .; J. C. James, secretary. Meeting, first Thursday. Place, K. of P. hall.
Equitable Fraternal Union. Officers : President, H. J. Keith; secretary, John A. Meyer. Meets second and fourth Wednesdays. Place, K. of P. hall.
Encampment, Western Star No. 25, I. O. O. F. Officers: Al. Linder, C. P .; E. S. Auman, scribe. Meeting, second and fourth Tuesday. Place, Odd Fel- lows' hall.
Fraternal Tribunes, Lodge No. 99. Officers : F. H. Randall, C. tribune ; M. E. Tenney, secretary. Meeting, first and third Thursdays. Place, Odd Fellows' hall.
Freeport Saengerbund. Meeting, Fridays. Place, Germania hall.
Freeport Club. Officers : L. Z. Farwell, president; W. G. Krape ,secretary. Place of meeting, 268 Stephenson street.
The Freeport Shakespeare Society. Meeting every Monday night. Officers : Miss Louise Morgan, president; Miss Margaret Gund, secretary.
G. A. R., John A. Davis Post No. 98. Officers : Fred. C. Held, commander ; John Rotzler, secretary. Meeting, first and third Tuesdays. Place, city hall.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
. I. O. M. A., Freeport Lodge No. 50. Meeting, Friday. Place, 107 Stephen- son street.
I. O. O. F., Freeport Lodge No. 239, I. O. O. F. Geo. Foss, N. G .; Al. Dittman, secretary. Meetings, every Monday. Place, Odd Fellows' hall.
I. O. O. F., Winneshiek Lodge No. 30. Officers : Noble grand, W. F. Al- temeier ; V. grand, E. L. Yoder; secretary, Henry Brinkman ; financial secretary, Frank B. Koenig. Meetings, Wednesday. Place, Odd Fellows' hall.
I. O. O. F., Stephen A. Douglas Encampment No. 100. Officers : C. P. Al- len Janssen ; Chas. Meyer, high priest; A. F. Dittman, secretary. Meeting, sec- ond and fourth Friday. Place, Odd Fellows' hall.
I. O. O. F., Illinois Lodge No. 259, Rebekah Degree. Officers : Anna Jack- son, N. grand; A. Roberts, recording secretary. Meeting, first and third Satur- days. Place, Odd Fellows' hall.
I. O. O. F., Stephenson Lodge No. 61. Meeting, Mondays. Place, 107 Stephenson street.
I. O. O. F., Canton Unity. Officers : Captain, E. L. Yoder; lieutenant, John Bricker; secretary, John Sharples.
The Homesteaders, No. 257. Officers: President, Alvin Ulrich; secretary, J. P. Scanlon. Place of meeting, K. of P. hall first and third Friday.
G. A. R., John A. Davis, W. R. C. No. 44. Officers : Therese Otto, president. Meeting, first and third Tuesday afternoons. Place, city hall.
G. A. R., Ladies of the G. A. R., John Brown Taylor Circle. Officers : Mrs. T. M. Kaufman, president; Mrs. J. A. Gale, secretary. Meeting, first and third Wednesday afternoons. Place, city hall.
Germania Society. Officers : Chas. G. Steffen, president; E. P. Ohden, sec- retary. Meeting, first Wednesday. Place, Germania hall.
German Benevolent Society. Meeting, second Wednesday. Place, Germania hall.
German Lutheran Benevolent Society. Meeting, second Sunday. Place, Ger- man Lutheran church.
Home Fraternal League. Officers : A. J. Robson, president; Maud L. Bow- ers, secretary. Meeting, second and fourth Thursday. Place, K. of P. hall.
Home Guardians of America, No 28. Meeting, second and fourth Thurs- day. Place, 109 Stephenson street.
I. O. F., Court Mohawk, No. 3197. Officers : W. C. Rubendall, chief ranger ; Al. Luebbing, recording secretary. Meeting, first and third Tuesday. Place, K. of P. hall.
I. O. M. A., Brueder Lodge No. 149. Meeting, Tuesday. Place, 107 Stephen- son street.
Improved Order of Redmen, Winneshiek Wigwam No. 345. Officers : R. D. Kuehner, sachem; F. J. O'Rourk, C. of R. Place of meeting, Odd Fellows' hall.
Immanuel Ladies' Society. Meeting, fourth Wednesday. Place, German Lutheran church.
I. O. O. F., Busy Bee Lodge No. 138, Rebekah Degree. Officerss Mrs. A. B. Haney, N. G .; Mrs. Ida Howell, secretary. Meets second and fourth Saturday. Place, Odd Fellows' hall.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Knights of Pythias, Freeport Lodge No. 452. Officers: A. O. Hart, C. C .; Frank J. Becker, K. of R. and S. Meeting, every Monday, 8 P. M., 125 Stephen- son street.
Knights and Ladies of Honor, Germania Lodge No. 1544. Officers: Fred. Rosemeier, Cf. Proc .; F. P. Ohden, secretary. Meeting, second fourth Tues- days. Place, 98 Stephenson street.
K. T., Freeport Commandery No. 7. Officers : Fred S. Albright, E. C .; C. C. Wolf, recorder. Meeting, first and third Wednesdays. Place, Masonic Temple.
Knights and Ladies of Security. Meeting, first and third Thursday. Place, III Stephenson street.
K. O. T. M. Meeting, first and third Saturday. Place, III Stephenson street.
Knights of Columbus, Freeport Council No. 653. Officers: John Manion, Gr. Kt .; John Peck, recording secretary. Meeting, first and third Tuesday. Place, 75 Chicago street.
Loyal 'Order Moose. Officers: J. Bauscher, Dict .; J. H. Stewart, secretary. Meets first and third Friday. Place, Odd Fellows' hall.
M. E. O. A. C., Royal Palace No. 2, Most Excellent Chaldean. Officers : F. F. Rogers, king; C. C. Wolf, secretary. Meeting, subject to call. Place, Masonic Temple.
Modern Woodmen of America, Cherry Camp No. 64. Officers : Tory John- son, V. C .; John De Jongh, clerk. Meeting, first and third Wednesday. Place, Seitz hall.
Mutual Order Protection, Stephenson Lodge No. 192. Officers: John Bauscher, Jr., president; Fred. Schumayer, secretary. Meeting, first and third Thursday. Place, Fry building.
Mystic Workers, Freeport Lodge No. 51, M. W. O. Officers: J. H. Bam- berger, prefect ; Charles Peight, secretary. Meeting, first and third Wednesday. Place, 152 Stephenson street.
National Protective Legion, Geo. Washington Legion No. 2,038. Officers : President, R. G. Weir; secretary, H. O. Price. Meets second and fourth Tues- days. Place, K. of P. hall.
O. E. S., Freeport Chapter No. 303. Officers : Amelia Miller, W. M .; Mrs. Rebecca Stiver, secretary. Meeting, first and third Thursdays. Place, Masonic Temple.
Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 679. Officers: Henry Kirchhaefer, president; J. D. Lilly, secretary. Meeting, first and third Thursday. Place, Seitz hall.
Red Devils. Officers : Charles Schmelzle, president; Emil Molter, secretary- treasurer. Meets Monday evenings at Germania hall.
R. A. M., Freeport Chapter No. 23. Officers : J. M. Munn, H. P .; C. C. Wolf, secretary. Meeting, first and third Tuesdays. Place, Masonic Temple.
R & S. M., Freeport Council No. 39. Officers : Chas. F. Knecht, T. I. M .; C. C. Wolf, recorder. Meeting, second and fourth Tuesday. Place, Masonic Temple.
R. N. A., Cherry Blossom Camp No. 260. Officers are : Mrs. Frances Ohlen- dorf, oracle; Mrs. Alvina Taylor, recorder. Meeting, second and fourth Wednesdays. Place, Seitz hall.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Royal Arcanum, Stephenson Court No. 1986. Officers : Jesse H. Patterson, regent ; B. A. Bookman, secretary. Place, 152 Stephenson street.
R. N. A., Freeport Camp. Officers: Mrs. Ida Mernitz, oracle; Louisa Cam- erer, recorder.
Sons of Veterans Auxiliary, Smith D. Atkins' Camp, Lodge No. 27. Officers: Maud L. Bowers, president ; Nellie Altenbern, secretary. Meeting, first and third Friday. Place, G. A. R. hall.
Stars of Equity, Freeport Assembly No. I. LeRoy Lattig, president; J. N. Wagner, secretary. Meeting, first and third Tuesday. Place, 127 Stephenson street.
St. Joseph Society. John Eberly, president. Meeting, last Sunday. Place, St. Pius hall.
St. Pius Society. Officers: E. A. Blust, president; Louis Balles, secretary. Meeting, third Sunday. Place, St. Pius hall.
Spanish-American War Veterans. Officers: William Shouer, commander ; Emerson Cross, adjutant.
Sons of Veterans, Smith D. Atkins Camp No. 400. Officers: G. F. Korff, c .; Ray Williams, secretary. Meets second and fourth Tuesdays. Place, G. A. R. hall.
Tribe of Ben Hur, Stephenson Court No. 412. Officers: Albert E. Drews, chief ; Mrs. A. Rieger, scribe.
U. C. T., Freeport Council No. 157. Officers: E. L. Hoile, Sen. C .; J. W. Benston, secretary. Meeting, first and third Saturday.
Volksverein. Meeting, second Sunday. Place, St. Pius hall.
W. S. of J., Capernaum Shrine No. 4., Officers : Miss Alena Hall, W. H. P .; Mrs. Loveall, secretary. Meeting, fourth Thursday each month. Place, Ma- sonic Temple.
W. C. O. F., St. Mary's Court. Officers : Mrs. A. F. Lichtenberger, C. R .; Mrs. M. G. Kleckner, secretary. Meeting, second and fourth Thursdays. Place, St. Mary's hall.
Western Catholic Union. Officers : Jacob Schadle, president ; Joseph Schramm, secretary. Meeting, second Sunday. Place, St. Pius hall.
Women's Club. Officers: Mrs. George I. Brown, president; Mrs. H. W. Rowley, secretary. Meeting, Saturdays 3 P. M. Place, Masonic Temple.
White Cross. Officers: Fred Albright, commander; Lillian Albright, secre- tary. Meeting, second and fourth Thursday. Place, Globe hall.
Yeomen of America. Officers : W. J. Burdick, president ; Mrs. A. J. O'Neill, secretary. Meeting, second and fourth Tuesday. Place, Seitz hall.
The city of Freeport is known throughout the land in Masonic circles as the home of some of the most progressive and prosperous of the lodges of that fraternity. It is one of the three cities in the state which possess chapters of the Consistory, S. P. R. S., the others being Chicago and Peoria. The first Masonic lodge was organized in Freeport less than fifteen years after the city itself was founded, less than fifteen years after a single log cabin marked the site where a flourishing town was soon to arise, and thus the history of Masonry in Free- port has been coincident with and parallel to the history of the city's growth and progress.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
A feature of Masonry in Freeport which has served to exalt the local chap- ters above those of the surrounding cities has been the number of distinguished names connected with the Freeport· organizations. A large number of Free- port Masons have been actively connected with the work of the grand bodies in the state and districts. Among them have been many of Freeport's most prom- inent citizens, such as Thomas J. Turner, N. F. Prentice, Loyal L. Munn, Jacob Krohn, and 'M. D. Chamberlain. The leaders in the local work have also been Freeport's most distinguished men, such as R. D. Kuehner, O. E. Heard, J. F. Fair, W. S. Best, C. C. Wolf, Michael Stoskopf, and W. N. Cronkrite.
. Sixty years ago the first lodge was organized in Freeport. At first meetings were held in Fisher's building on the corner of Galena street and South Galena avenue (then Exchange street). There they remained for some time and then removed to rooms over. the Stephenson. County Bank, which was then doing business on the corner of Stephenson and Chicago streets. From there they made a third move to rooms, in the next building over. Cronkrite's store. After a brief sojourn here they transferred their place of meeting to Munn's building and thence to the Fry's Block Hall, where they remained for many years.
As early as 1896 there was serious talk of building a Masonic temple. The Masons of Freeport had long felt that their importance in the city and state war- ranted building a temple where they could suitably accommodate their societies. Plans were even drawn up and estimates of the probable cost made, but these were all dropped and the structure which was finally built eight years later was very different from the one originally contemplated. In 1904 it was thought best to take some definite action on the subject, and accordingly the consistory voted to take action preparatory to building a temple. They organized themselves into a separate corporation, four hundred strong, and four hundred $100 bonds were issued, each member buying one. These bonds called for interest at three per cent and were made payable at the death of the owner. This ingenious arrangement provided for the payment of the annual dues of the members of the consistory for their lifetime. Ultimately more than four hundred bonds were issued, and the membership of the consistory swelled appreciably. After taking the prelimi- nary steps, a building committee had been appointed, consisting of W. N. Cronkrite, L. H. Burrell, J. F. Fair, O. E. Heard, and R. D. Kuehner, and these five began their work with a will. The Masonic Temple was started in the sum- mer of 1904, completed by the end of the next year, 1905, and formally opened to the public on Thursday the 25th of January, 1906. On that day a public re- ception was held and the friends of the lodge members were cordially invited to enter and inspect the spacious halls of the temple. The building when com- pleted, had cost nearly $60,000.
On Friday, January 26th, 1906, the next day after the reception, the first lodge meeting was held in the new temple of Excelsior Lodge. On that occasion a past master's night was held, and all past masters of the lodge were present and assisted in the ceremonies of initiation to the third degree. The active officers on that memorable occasion were: C. C. Wolf, master; Charles Green, senior warden; W. H. Irwin, junior warden. The temple has been in use since that date, and has been occupied by the twelve Masonic lodges at present existent in Freeport.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Excelsior Lodge, No. 97. This was the first Masonic lodge organized in Freeport. It was established in 1850, and the first meeting held on February 22nd of that year. No charter was granted at that time by the Grand Lodge of the state, the work being carried on through a dispensation of the grand master of the state. The following Freeporters, Erastus Torry, Julius Smith, Thomas J. Turner, Gershom Rice, and Oscar Taylor, were present at the first meet- ing, together with S. B. Farwell, John Jackson, and S. H. Fitger, visiting masons. On November 6, 1851, a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of the state, and the society ceased to work under special dispensation. On January 8, 1852, the first officers were installed under the charter, as follows: Julius Smith, W. M .; T. J. Turner, S. W .; Oscar Taylor, J. W .; J. A. W. Donahoo, treasurer ; A. W. Rawson, secretary; William Scott, S. D .; Reuben Ruble, J. D .; James Wright, steward and Giles Taylor, tiler.
Immediately upon its organization, Excelsior Lodge made rapid strides, and to its success must be attributed the subsequent organization of two other lodges, Evergreen, and the Moses R. Thompson Lodge. At the present time, there are only two lodges in existence, the Moses R. Thompson Lodge having consolidated with Excelsior Lodge in January, 1890. Excelsior Lodge numbers three hun- dred and sixty-two members at present. The officials for the current years are: Roy Burkhary, W. M., and C. C. Wolf, secretary. The lodge meets the first and third Fridays of the month in its room in the Masonic Temple.
Evergreen Lodge No. 170. Evergreen Lodge was organized in April, 1855, under a dispensation granted by the M. W. Grand Master of Illinois to the following Masons: A. T. Green, H. R. Wheeler, Charles Butler, Erastus Torry, James F. Kingsley, William Swanzey, J. F. Ankeney, E. W. Schumway, and G. G. Norton. The first meeting was convened in the Masonic Hall on the corner of Stephenson and Chicago streets on the evening of August 16, 1855. During the fifty-five years since that date, meetings have continued to be held on the first and third Mondays of the month. The charter officers elected after the granting of the charter a short time later were J. A. W. Donahoo, W. M., A. T. Green, S. W .; J. F. Kingsley, J. W .; H. R. Wheeler, treasurer ; Charles Butler, secretary, J. Crow, S. D .; J. Thomas, J. D .; and J. C. Walton, tiler.
Evergreen Lodge now has a membership of one hundred and eighty. The officers at present are Timothy Stultz, W. M., and W. N. Cronkrite, secretary.
Moses R. Thompson Lodge, No. 381. The first meeting of Moses R. Thompson Lodge, under dispensation, was convened at Masonic Hall December 31, 1862, with the following charter members, appointed by the Grand Master of the state: Nathan F. Prentice, Charles L. Currier, L. L. Munn, H. H. Taylor, G. W. Tandy, Robert Little, E. Moffatt, J. G. Knapp, W. D. V. Johnson, B. F. Burnside, S. Lumbard, Elijah Northy, and W. B. Chatfield. The first officers were N. F. Prentice, W. M .; L. L. Munn and Charles L. Currier, senior and junior wardens.
After twenty-eight years of existence, Moses R. Thompson Lodge decided to consolidate with Excelsior Lodge. While the membership was large enough to warrant the existence of two strong lodges, it could not support three lodges of uniform strength. As a result, Moses R. Thompson Lodge decided to dis- band, and has been a part of Excelsior since 1890.
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584
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Freeport Chapter, No. 23, of the R. A. M., was chartered September 29, 1854, to a limited number of members with A. W. Rawson, high priest, Erastus Torry, king, and Julius Smith, scribe. The present officers are J. B. Munn, high priest, and C. C. Wolf, scribe. The chapter has a membership of about two hundred and forty and meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month in the temple.
Freeport Council No. 39, of the R. & S. M., was organized and chartered , with a membership of , and the following as first officers :
It meets at present on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. The officers are: Charles F. Knecht, T. I. M .; C. C. Wolf, recorder. The mem- bership at the present time is one hundred and ten.
Freeport Commandery No. 7, K. T., was organized under a dispensation from the Grand Encampment of the United States on August 19, 1857, A. O., 739, and chartered by the Grand Encampment two years later at its triennial conclave held in Chicago, on October 26, 1859, A. O. 741. On that date a perpetual charter was granted with the following members: Sirs Moses R. Thompson, Homer N. Hibbard, Loyal L. Munn, Henry H. Taylor, N. F. Prentice, Galon G. Norton, James F. Kingsley, H. Richardson, and John M. Way. Sir Moses R. Thompson was elected the first eminent commander.
The commandery meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month in the temple. The present officers are Ralph T. Ryan, eminent commander, and C. C. Wolf, recorder. The membership is two hundred and thirty-four.
Freeport Consistory. The Freeport Consistory, Ancient and Accepted Scot- tish Rite, was established at Princeton, Illinois, and was removed to Freeport on May 14, 1869. It has been the most active Masonic body of Freeport, and con- sists of the four following lodges :
Grand Lodge of Perfection, which meets on the second Wednesday of the month, has a membership of over six hundred, and is presided over by L. L. Munn, Jr., as T. P. G. M.
Freeport Council Princes of Jerusalem, which meets at call of the M. E. S. P. G. M., Walter C. Jencks.
Freeport Chapter Rose Croix, who M. W. M. is W. M. Palmer, and which meets at the call of the officers.
Freeport Consistory, of which L. H. Burrell is commander-in-chief. The membership of the consistory is 604, and meetings are held subject to the call of the officers. The Freeport Consistory is one of the three chapters of that body located in the state, the others being at Chicago and Peoria.
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