USA > Indiana > A history of freemasonry in Indiana from 1806 to 1898 > Part 30
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
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1867, and was elected to the 33d, but, owing to financial reverses, did not present himself to receive it.
His whole life has been a busy one and full of hard work. He is a man of the highest honor and integrity, and there are few men anywhere known who have more friends and fewer enemies than Chris. Fetta.
LUCIEN ANDREW FOOTE,' of Crawfordsville, was born in Batavia, Clermont county, Ohio, December 16, 1824. In 1833, with his parents, he came to Indiana and settled in Rockville, where he obtained such education as the common schools of those days afforded. In March, 1849, he started with a party to make the overland trip to California. The trip was made with ox teams, and required nearly six months' time, the party arriving at their destination the first week in September. He located at "Hangtown," where he resided two years, engaged in mining, and also had an interest in a trading company. At the first election held in Eldorado county he was elected clerk of the court, but Colona being selected as the county-seat, he declined to serve, as he did not desire to change his residence.
He was made a Mason just before starting for California. After two years' residence in California he returned to his former home in Rockville, and afterwards engaged in busi- ness at Clayton. In 1859 he was elected auditor of Parke county, but before his term began he enlisted in the army, and, having recruited a company, he entered the service as captain, and was afterwards promoted to major and served during the war of 1861-5. In 1865 he removed to Craw- fordsville, where he engaged in the stationery business, which he continued for several years, after which he be- came deputy county clerk, which he held. under both par- ties for a period of fifteen years.
ITe received the Ancient Craft degrees in Parke Lodge, the Chapter degrees at Terre Haute, and also the Council degrees in the same place, and was created a Knights Tem- plar in Raper Commandery No. 1, Indianapolis. He re- ceived the Scottish Rite degrees in Indianapolis Consistory, and also the order of High Priesthood.
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FRANK S. DEVOL.
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He was Grand Master in 1874, Grand High Priest 1874, Illustrious Grand Master 1874. At home he allows noth- ing but sickness to interfere with his attendance upon the meetings of the several bodies to which he belongs, in nearly all of which he is and has been secretary for more than a quarter of a century. He is a most genial, com- panionable friend and brother, one with whom it is a pleas- ure to associate.
DANIEL McDONALD, of Plymouth, was elected Grand Mas- ter in May, 1875, and served until the annual meeting in May, 1876, when, on account of feeble health, he declined a re-election. He was born on a farm in Fayette county, near Connersville, May 6, 1833, and with his parents set- tled in Marshall county July 26, 1836. In 1849, his father having been elected auditor of the county, he settled in Plymouth, the county-seat, where he completed the very meager common school education which he had commenced in the country log school house the previous few years. In 1853, when only twenty years old, he was appointed by President Pierce as postmaster at Plymouth. During his occupancy of that office he learned the art of telegraphy, and was afterwards the first telegraph operator on the Pitts- burg, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad at Plymouth, after its completion to that place in 1858. In connection with his father and brothers he established the "Marshall County Democrat" November 15, 1855. During the war, from 1861 to 1866, he was cashier of the Plymouth Bank; was telegraph operator and railroad agent at Bourbon, Marshall county, for six years; was elected twice a member of the Legislature and served in the regular and special sessions of 1869; in 1870, was elected clerk of the Circuit Court, re- elected in 1874, serving in all eight years and seven months. In 1880 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Thirteenth District, but was defeated with the remain- der of the ticket; was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis in 1876, and at Chicago in 1884. and served two terms, four years, as a member of the Demo- cratic State Central Committee; was nine years a member and president of the city school board of Plymouth. He
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purchased the office of the Plymouth "Democrat" in 1874, and has been the editor and publisher, except a brief in- terval, ever since.
He was made a Mason in Plymouth Lodge No. 149, re- ceiving the third degree September 20, 1861, and was Mas- ter of the lodge in 1864 and again in 1896 and 1897. He subsequently served four years as Master of Bourbon Lodge No. 227, and was the charter Master of Kilwinning Lodge No. 435 at Plymouth, and was twice re-elected. He received the Chapter degrees in Plymouth Chapter in March, 1864, and was High Priest in 1882. He was made a Royal and Select Master in Plymouth Council in 1865, and was Illustrious Master 1872-3-4. He was created a Knights Templar in LaPorte Commandery, February S, 1872. He received the grades of the Ancient and Accept- ed Scottish Rite at Indianapolis, 1876, and the order of High Priesthood October 22, 1884.
In the Grand Lodge he served as Senior Grand Deacon, Grand Lecturer, Junior Grand Warden, Senior Grand Warden, Deputy Grand Master, and Grand Master 1875-6.
In the Grand Chapter he filled various positions, and was elected Grand High Priest in 1888.
He was elected Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters in 1875.
He was a charter member of Plymouth Commandery, Knights Templar, in 1872, and was the first Captain-General.
Ile was for three years chairman of the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, and has nearly always been a mem- ber of that committee.
He was chairman of the Committee on Foreign Corre- spondence in 1874 and 1875, and wrote the reports for those years. In referring to these reports, the editor of the "Ma- sonic Advocate" said: "These papers were able and com- prehensive, and will compare favorably with the best pro- ductions of the most noted writers of reports on corre- spondence."
Those who may be interested further in his career are re- ferred to the "Masonic Advocate," published at Indianap- olis, for July, 1894, pages 230-1-2-3.
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FRANK S. DEVOL, Grand Master 1876-7, was born July 22, 1844. He enlisted in 1861 in the war of the Rebellion and served as a private in Company B, 38th Regiment In- diana Volunteers, serving until after the battle of Stone River, when his health became impaired and he was com- pelled to accept a discharge as being unfitted for further military duty.
In his early career he was a prominent business man in New Albany for many years. He was popular among the people, and was elected treasurer of Floyd county on the Republican ticket by a handsome majority at a time when the county was largely Democratic.
On July 4, 1868, he was married to Theresa M. Wilcox- son, and he is the father of three children-Robert G., Ed- mund M. and Charlotte M. Devol.
He received the Ancient Craft degrees in New Albany Lodge, being initiated April 5, passed April 20 and raised May 7, 1866. He served as Worshipful Master from June 18, 1868, to December 21, 1871, and from December, 1872, to December, 1873. He received the Chapter de- grees in New Albany Chapter No. 17, being exalted June 16, 1866. Received the degrees of Royal and Select Mas- ters in Indiana Council No. 1, in 1866, and knighted in New Albany Commandery No. 5, Knights Templar, Sep- tember 5, 1866, and was elected and served as Eminent Commander in 1875. He also served as High Priest of his Chapter and Illustrious Master of the Council.
In the Grand Lodge he served as Senior Grand Deacon, 1872; Junior Grand Warden, 1873: Senior Grand War- den, 1874; Deputy Grand Master, 1875, and Grand Master, 1876. He was an accomplished ritualist, an upright, con- scientious, painstaking and enthusiastic Mason. Several years ago he was attacked by an incurable malady which rendered him helpless, resulting in the loss of his mind and memory.
ANDREW J. HAY, of Charlestown, now of Indianapolis, was elected Grand Master in 1877. He was a native Hoosier, having been born at Charlestown, April S, 1826. He re-
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ceived his early education in the common schools of the county, then at Clark County Seminary and Hanover Col- lege. On leaving school he entered upon the study of medicine with his father, who was a physician at Charles- town, and finally graduated at Louisville Medical College in 1844 and began the practice of his profession in the place of his birth, where he had a large practice for many years.
He was elected journal clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1847-S, and was elected a member of that body from his county in 1851, and was elected county clerk in 1860. He was appointed State Bank Examiner by President Garfield, and served four years as such. He also served two years as chief of a division in the Treasury Department at Washington.
He was made a Mason in Blazing Star Lodge at Charles- town in 1857, and the year following was elected Master, and served almost continuously in that position for twenty years. He received the Chapter degrees in Jeffersonville in March and AApril, 1867, and the Knights Templar de- grees in Jeffersonville April 17th following. His first ap- pearance in the Grand Lodge was at the annual meeting in 1859. Hle served as Grand Marshal in 1869; was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1874, and was regularly promoted until 1877, when he was elected Grand Master. He was also for many years one of the Trustees of the Grand Lodge IIall.
IIe died, after a lingering illness of a complication of dis- eases, at his home in Crawfordsville, July, 1897. His body was removed to his old home at Charlestown, where it was buried in the cemetery near by.
ROBERT VAN VALZAH, of Terre Haute, was elected and served as Grand Master from May, 1878, to May, 1879. Hle was born in Mifflinburg, Pa., April 9, 1843. Having studied and made due preparation, he commenced the prac- tice of dentistry at Terre Haute, and in time arrived at the head of his profession.
In the affairs of life he occupied a conspicuous position. He served as a member of the Common Council of Terre Haute, and as a member of the city School Board, three
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years as president thereof. He was elected as a Democrat and served with distinction as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives.
In Masonry he received all the degrees from the Entered Apprentice to the 32d degree Ancient and Accepted Scot- tish Rite (when they were worked in Terre Haute) in the bodies in Terre Haute, including the Order of the Eastern Star, of which he was Grand Patron of the State in 1882-3. He received the 33d degree, Scottish Rite, in Chicago in 1886.
He was elected and served as Worshipful Master, High Priest, Illustrious Master and Eminent Commander in the bodies at Terre Haute to which he belonged, and was ad- vanced in the Grand Bodies to Grand Master of the Grand Lodge and Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter. He was General Grand Captain of the Guard of the General Grand Chapter of the United States from 1883 to 1886.
He served on many important committees in all these bodies, and was for several years one of the Trustees of the Grand Lodge Hall. The Masonic Institution was the world in which he delighted to dwell, and no one in Indiana ex- celled him in enthusiasm and fidelity to the organization, or in the dramatic effect or correctness in which he interpreted the ritual. His labors are ended, but his works do follow him. He died in Terre Haute, October 23, 1892, and was buried with the honors of Masonry.
BELLAMY S. SUTTON, of Shelbyville, was elected Grand Master in 1879 and served until the annual meeting in 1880. He was born on a farm in Hamilton county, Ohio, June 3, 1842. After obtaining a common school educa- tion he entered upon the study of the law. After practic- ing a short time he took a position as operator in the United States Military Telegraph Department, continuing as such until November, 1864, when he commenced working with the Big Four railroad as agent and operator. In 1874 he was elected by the Democrats as clerk of Shelby county, serving one term of four years, after which, in 1882, he was elected a member of the Indiana Legislature. He was a railroad man in the service of the Big Four for more than
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a quarter of a century, filling the positions of train dis- patcher, trainmaster and superintendent of three different divisions, and for several years was traveling freight and passenger agent.
He was made a Mason in Summer, Ill., in 1863; a Royal Arch Mason in Shelbyville, Ind., in 1871, and a Royal and Select Master in 1872, and a Knights Templar in 1873. He served one year as Master of his lodge, but beyond this he has held no official position in any of the subordinate bodies.
His first appearance in the Grand Lodge was in 1876, as chairman of the Committee on Grievances and Appeals. His reports from that committee, and the vigorous manner in which he defended the positions taken with his oratorical eloquence, captivated the Grand Lodge, and was the imme- diate cause of his election at that session to the office of Junior Grand Warden. He advanced regularly, and in 1879 was elected Grand Master. He is a genial, social gen- tleman, a loyal and steadfast friend, and a man who leaves his impress on all with which he has to do.
CALVIN W. PRATHER, then of Jeffersonville, now of An- derson, Ind., was elected Grand Master in 1880. Owing to the financial embarrassment of the Grand Lodge in "re- modeling" the Temple, in 1879 biennial sessions were or- dered, and hence no meeting was held in 1881, thus mak- ing the term of Grand Master Prather two years instead of one, as under the former rule.
He was made a Mason in Utica Lodge in the village of that name in Clark county, Indiana, in February, 1867. In the following June he was elected Junior Warden, and the next year Worshipful Master, which office he filled con- tinuously for five and a half years, the time for electing officers having been changed from June to December dur- ing his incumbency. He then removed to Jeffersonville and affiliated with the lodge at that place, afterwards serv- ing two years as Master. He received the Chapter degrees in Horeb Chapter No. 66, at that place, and served two years as High Priest. He received the Knights Templar degrees in New Albany Commandery No. 5, and was a member of that commandery a year or more, when, with
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Past Grand Commanders Woolsey, Johnson and others, he was instrumental in establishing Jeffersonville Command- ery No. 27. In this commandery he took an active part, as he always did in all the Masonic bodies to which he be- longed, serving one year as Eminent Commander of Jef- fersonville Commandery No. 27, when he removed to An- derson, where he united with the commandery at that place.
In the Grand Lodge he was elected Junior Grand War- den in 1877, Senior Grand Warden in 1878, Deputy Grand Master in 1879, and Grand Master in 1880. During his term of two years about $30,000 of the Grand Lodge in- debtedness was paid.
He was appointed Grand Royal Arch Captain by Robert Van Valzah, Grand High Priest, and regularly advanced until he was elected and served one term as Grand High Priest. He was elected one of the Trustees of the Grand Lodge in 1882, and has been re-elected and served con- tinuously until the present time.
He was born on a farm in Clark county, Indiana, August 19, 1845. IIe received a common school education, such as was afforded to farmer boys of those days. He after- wards attended college at Greencastle, after which he en- gaged in farming until 1873, when he removed to Jeffer- sonville and engaged in the grocery business for five years, when he changed and engaged in the boot and shoe trade. He continued in this business for five years, when he was elected treasurer of the city of Jeffersonville, filling the office with entire satisfaction to the people two full terms, after which he declined a re-election. In 1889 he removed to Anderson, where he engaged in the boot and shoe trade in the firm name of Prather & Son. He is vice-president of the National Exchange Bank of that city, and also presi- dent of the Anderson School Board.
In politics he has always been a conservative Democrat, and by his fairness and impartiality has always commanded the respect of his political opponents. In business, in poli- tics and in Masonry he has achieved a remarkable degree of success. This is easily accounted for by those who know him. He is a man of business capacity; a most affable,
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congenial gentleman, who has a happy faculty of attracting people to him. In every position in which he has been placed he has performed his duties faithfully and well, to his own credit and to the delight of his friends.
BRUCE CARR was born in Orange county, Indiana, May 12, 1849. At the age of fifteen years he enlisted in the 66th Indiana Regiment, and carried a musket until the close of the war of 1861-5. He attended the State University three years, and then took a position with the book publishing firm of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., of Cincinnati, which he continued until 1886, when he was elected, as a Repub- lican, Auditor of State. He was re-elected in 1888, and served in all four years.
He received the Ancient Craft degrees of Masonry in Saltillo Lodge, Washington county, the Chapter and Coun- cil degrees in Bedford, and the order of Knights Templar in New Albany in 1876, and the Scottish Rite degrees in Indianapolis not long afterwards.
In 1877 he was elected Junior Grand Warden, and, ad- vancing regularly, was elected Grand Master in 1882 and served until the annual election in 1884, there being no election held in 1883.
He died suddenly in Indianapolis, February 14, 1893, and was buried with the honors of Masonry.
He was about five feet nine inches in height, somewhat "chubby," weight about 200 pounds, dark hair and heavy black mustache, and sparkling black eyes. Nearly his whole life had been spent in occupations which threw him in contact with the people, and he could therefore read men's characters at a glance. He was genial and jolly, full of life and vigor, was always on the go, always excusing himself by saying, "I will see you later." He was in every sense of the word a "hustler." He was well beloved by the entire Craft, and his untimely taking off was sincerely regretted by all who knew him.
ALBERT P. CHARLES, of Seymour, was born in Lowell Mass., January 26, 1840. At the age of twenty he entered Dartmouth College, from which he graduated four years
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later with high honors. He devoted three years to the study of the law, and in 1867 was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, and immediately start- ed West and located in Seymour, Ind., where he entered upon the practice of his profession, and soon rose to a high position as one of the leading attorneys in southern Indiana. In politics he was a Republican, and for many years was Mayor of his city and a member of the School Board. In 1880 he was the Republican nominee for Congress, but as the district was hopelessly Democratic, he was defeated.
He received the degrees of Masonry in Jackson Lodge, Seymour, May 17, 1869, and the Chapter, Council and Commandery degrees in Columbus in 1870-1: the order of High Priesthood in 1873; the Scottish Rite degrees to the 32d in 1885, and in 1886, in Chicago, the 33d degree of that order.
In the Grand Lodge he filled several subordinate posi- tions, and was elected Grand Master in 1884. In the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons he served in several official positions, and was elected Grand High Priest in 1882, and in the Grand Council of Royal and Select Mas- ters he was elected Illustrious Grand Master in 1878. He received the order of High Priesthood in 1873, and for sev- eral years had served as Vice-President of the Grand Coun- cil of the State. He had received all the degrees of Ma- sonry in all the various branches, and had attained to the highest honors in most of them.
He took a strong interest in the philosophy of the Ma- sonic Institution in all its departments, and made it a life study. He possessed a large and rare collection of Masonic books, manuscripts, etc .- a collection in value next to that of the late William Hacker, which, unfortunately, was de- stroyed in the burning of the Scottish Rite Temple at In- dianapolis a few years ago.
He was one of the brightest Masons Indiana has pro- duced, and as an orator he has never had a superior in any of the Grand Bodies. He was wonderfully gifted with the power of speech, and "on the spur of the moment" was par- ticularly effective.
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He died suddenly of heart failure at his home in Sey- mour, February 11, 1889, and was buried with Masonic honors by the officers of the Grand Lodge.
MORTIMER NYE, of LaPorte, was born at Walworth, Ohio, November 12, 1838, and removed with his parents to In- diana and settled in LaPorte county when he was in his in- fancy. His father was a farmer and tanner by trade, and his son Mortimer assisted him while he was being educated in the country schools, which were almost the only means of education in Indiana at that time. After he had fin- ished his education he taught school several terms, but abandoned it for the study of the law, and was admitted to practice in 1862, since which time, by diligent study and close attention to business, he has attained to a high position in his profession.
He was Mayor of the city of LaPorte four terms, city attorney and county attorney, and a member of the city School Board.
In 1884 he was an elector on the Cleveland and Hen- dricks presidential ticket, and was elected, running ahead of his ticket. He was further honored by being chosen to carry the certified count of the vote to Washington.
He was elected by the Democrats in 1892 as their candi- date for Lieutenant-Governor. He made an excellent pre- siding officer, his rulings being generally conceded by both parties to be fair and honorable.
IIe was made a Mason in LaPorte, having received the third degree February 20, 1860. He received the Chapter degrees in February, 1868; the degrees of Royal and Select Master November 17, 1868, and order of Knights Templar June 2, 1868. He received the order of High Priesthood in 1878, and the Scottish Rite degrees, including the 32d, in 1867, and the 33d in 1888.
Ile was elected Grand Master of Masons in Indiana in May, 1886, and served two years, there being no election in 1887. He was elected Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons in 1885, and served one term. He is also a prominent member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
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In the everyday walks of life he is an exceedingly jovial and social companion, a ready and fluent speaker, and a citizen in all respects concerning whom nothing but good can truthfully be said.
ISAAC P. LEYDEN, of New Albany, Grand Master from May, 188S, to May, 1889, was born July 1, 1843, on a farm in Floyd county, Indiana, and has resided in that county and in the city of New Albany, his present home, all his life. In politics he is a Democrat, and as such has been elected and served as a member of the City Council of New Albany, 1883 to 1887; as Representative in the State Leg- islature from Floyd county, 1890 to 1892, and State Sen- ator from the counties of Washington and Floyd, 1892 to 1896. He was appointed trustee of the board of the State University by Governor Hovey to fill an unexpired term, which he held for two years, when he was elected by the alumni of the same institution for trustee for two years. He left the farm in 1863, and has ever since been engaged in mercantile and other pursuits.
He was made a Master Mason July 25, 1867, in Jeffer- son Lodge No. 104, New Albany, Ind .; exalted to the de- gree of Royal Arch Mason April 14, 1875, in New Albany Chapter No. 17; received the degrees of Royal and Select Master in Indiana Council No. 1, New Albany, De- cember 10, 1876; created a Knights Templar June 18, 1875, in New Albany Commandery No. 5, and re- ceived the degrees of the Scottish Rite in the spring class of 1SS3 at Indianapolis. He was Worshipful Master of Jefferson Lodge No. 104, 1878-9; High Priest of New Al- bany Chapter No. 17, 1875, and Eminent Commander, New Albany Commandery No. 5, 1877. In the Grand Lodge he served as Senior Grand Deacon, 1880-2: Junior Grand Warden, 1882-4: Senior Grand Warden, 1884-6: Deputy Grand Master, 1886-S; Grand Master, 1888-9. He is at present and has for many years been one of the Trus- tees of the Grand Lodge Hall property. In his deport- ment he is quiet and unassuming, is endowed with excellent business qualifications, coupled with good judgment. and the many high positions he has held, both in and out of the
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