USA > Indiana > Marshall County > A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 31
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
were as follows: Samuel C. Loring, master; John F. Behmer, senior warden, and Foster Groves, junior warden. The lodge was instituted under charter, by Daniel McDonald, past grand master, June 8, 1898. The name was given to the lodge in honor of Henry H. Culver, the founder of Culver Military Academy, on the northeast shore of the lake, and for whom the town of Culver had been named, and for the further reason he was a member of the Masonic fraternity. Since its organization the following have served as worshipful masters: Samuel C. Loring, under dispensation, 1897; under charter, 1898 and 1899; Monroe C. McCormick, 1900; Al N. Bogardus, 1901-1904; Foster Groves, 1902; O. A. Rhea, 1903; George W. Voreis, 1905, 1906, 1907. The lodge has a total membership of fifty, and is in every way in a prosperous condition.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
There is quite a similarity in the work and teachings of this order to that of the masonic organization. It differs mainly in the ceremonial ritual, the qualification of candidates for membership, and the manner of dispensing its charities. Each member disabled by sickness or bodily injury receives a stipulated amount per week, and in case of death a specific amount is appropriated for funeral expenses. Thomas Wildy, whose-mortal remains lie buried in the city of Baltimore, was the founder of the order in America, about 1817. Within the past half century it has grown quite rapidly, its regulation for the admission of candidates being more liberal than that of some other orders. In Indiana it has about 700 subordinate lodges, and a membership in the state of over 50,000. Its motto is F. L. & T., signify- ing friendship, love and truth, and its badge is three links, linked together, and worn on the breast or on the left lapel of the coat or vest.
Americus Lodge No. 91 was the first Odd Fellows' lodge organized in Plymouth, and also the first lodge of any kind in the county. It was insti- tuted March 4, 1851. The petitioners were Wesley Gregg, W. G. Pomeroy, Gilson S. Cleaveland, William C. Edwards, Grove O. Pomeroy and Joshua W. Bennett. These were all prominent men in their day. They are now all dead. As the lodge worked along, discordant elements crept in and on July 22, 1855, the charter was surrendered and it ceased to exist. In the meantime a masonic lodge having been organized, naturally enough it absorbed much of the material that would otherwise have gone to the Odd Fellows' lodge. The lodge was again resuscitated July 14, 1859, but the trouble that had formerly existed soon showed itself again, and after con- tinuing three years with indifferent success the charter was again sur- rendered July 18, 1862. After remaining dormant six years, on April 16, 1868, the charter was again restored. In the meantime those that had caused the disturbance had either died or removed, and peace and harmony has since prevailed within the walls of the lodge room, and the lodge has continued uninterruptedly to the present time.
A branch of the order is represented in what is called an "Encamp- ment." It is composed of fifth degree members, and occupies the same position toward the Odd Fellows that the Knights Templar does to the masonic lodges. Plymouth Encampment No. 113 was organized under charter May 24, 1872. Robert McCance, John C. Kuhn, John A. Palmer, Simon Becker, Sigmund Meyer, Henry Speyer, A. L. Reeves, and others,
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eighteen in all, were the charter members. The encampment prospered and continued for several years, when for various reasons the interest flagged and the charter was surrendered.
Attached to the Order of Odd Fellows is a woman's department called "The Daughters of Rebecca." This degree was originated by the Hon. Schuyler Colfax many years ago, and has become quite popular among the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of Odd Fellows, and the Odd Fellows themselves, who alone are entitled to receive it. Plymouth has a branch of this order, also Bourbon and Argos, all of which are in a healthy condition.
Bourbon Lodge No. 203, Order of Odd Fellows, was organized Decem- ber 13, 1858, with six charter members as follows: R. S. Gordon, D. O. Beeman, B. G. Cosgrove, W. M. Cosgrove, R. Richard and J. R. Dodge. All these are long since dead. The organization, being the only secret benevolent order in that place for several years, was prosperous from the beginning, among the best citizens of the town uniting with it. No dis- cordant elements crept into it, and so friendship, love and truth have pre- vailed to the present time. In 1867 the lodge purchased a building for its use, for which $882 was paid. In 1877 ground was purchased for an Odd Fellows' cemetery at a cost of over $1,000. The lodge has, during its existence, had a number of festivals and social entertainments, and the large amount paid for benevolent purposes shows that it has accomplished great good within the circle of its work.
Bremen Lodge No. 427, Odd Fellows, was organized November 20, 1873, with the following charter members: A. C. Holtzendorff, Andrew Berger, John Bauer, Gotlieb Rosenbaum and Jacob Walter. This organiza- tion continued its existence until about 1888, when it surrendered its charter and has not since reorganized.
Argos Lodge No. 263, I. O. O. F .- The dispensation to organize this lodge was issued August 2, 1866, and on the twenty-first of November, 1866, a charter was granted to the following members: Hugh Bowman, Henry Krause, Gideon Wolf, James M. Wickizer, Thompson Cannon, W. H. Tuttle and Finley Stevens. This lodge has pursued the even tenor of its way for forty odd years, and during that time has contributed aid to many in need of assistance, and in the sphere of its work has been a controlling influence for good.
Maxinkuckee Lodge No. 373, I. O. O. F., was organized at the village of Maxinkuckee, on the east of Maxinkuckee lake, in the '70s, and has kept up its organization with regularity ever since. Mr. Eli Parker, the principal business man in the village for many years, was one of the peti- tioners and charter members, and it was mainly through his influence during his life that the lodge grew and prospered to the present time. The lodge owned the building adjoining Mr. Parker's business building where the meetings were held for several years, when it caught fire and was destroyed. It then was moved across the street, where rooms for the meetings were procured, and later the lodge erected a hall and furnished it with all the necessary paraphernalia necessary to do the work, and for comfort and convenience, in which their meetings are now held.
Ilion Lodge No. 715, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Tippecanoe June 15, 1895, by Henry G. Thayer, of Plymouth, district deputy, assisted by brethren from the surrounding lodges. After the lodge was instituted
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the following officers were elected and installed: Noble grand, M. A. Dilley; vice grand, Joseph H. Taylor; recording secretary, John Weber; financial secretary, George W. Taylor; treasurer, W. H. Taylor. In the evening twenty members were initiated into the order, Rochester lodge doing the work.
Foster Rebecca Lodge No. 546, I. O. O. F., Ilion, was instituted July 12, 1897, by E. J. Pascal, of Bourbon. The following officers were elected : Noble grand, Delilah Taylor; vice grand, Catharine Taylor; secretary, M. A. Dilley ; treasurer, Amanda Taylor.
Knights of Pythias.
Lucullus Lodge No. 233, Knights of Pythias, was organized at Bour- bon, December 18, 1889, with the first officers and charter members as follows: Past chancellor, W. J. Van Vactor ; chancellor commander, J. W. Eidson; vice chancellor, J. H. Matchett; prelate, Wm. H. Biggs; master of exchequer, George D. Ettinger; master of finance, Edward Brillhart; keeper of records and seal, H. D. Thayer ; master at arms, A. G. Fouts; inner guard, J. F. Martin; outer guard, H. T. Steinbach. Other charter members: S. E. O'Brien, L. A. Minard, J. E. Erwin, B. S. Hamler, Wm. Bristol, H. F. Bowman, F. E. Bristol, J. W. Foster, Grant Beltz, M. W. Zerkle, C. W. Shakes, O. M. Unger, twenty-two in all.
The officers for 1907 are as follows: R. E. Cox, chancellor com- mander; Norman McKinzie, vice commander; C. E. Rivers, master of works; Wm. Biggs, master at arms; W. D. Parks, prelate; E. C. Shaffer, keeper of records and seal; S. C. Ferguson, master of finance ; Wm. Bristol, master of exchequer ; T. C. Dilley, inner guard ; Bert Ames, outer guard.
The total membership at the close of 1907 is eighty-seven. The lodge does not own a hall, but has interest in some valuable real estate and a balance of nearly $700 belonging to the lodge. The lodge is especially proud of its membership, being from among Bourbon's best citizens. The death rate is very low, only three deaths having occurred in eighteen years.
Hyperion Lodge No. 117, Knights of Pythias, was organized in Ply- mouth May 13, 1884, by Grand Chancellor E. G. Herr, of Goshen, assisted by Knights from Warsaw, Columbia City, Fort Wayne, La Porte and Michigan City, the total number of visiting knights present being about one hundred. In the afternoon the visiting knights, together with the new brethren of Plymouth, gave a parade headed by the Warsaw band, with the Plymouth band at the head of the new lodge. The work of initiation commenced at half past five, and was kept up continuously the greater part of the night, with the exception of an interval of one hour, which was devoted to the refreshment of the inner man, speeches, songs, etc. The lodge started out with twenty-nine charter members, all being first class, energetic young men. After the work of instituting the lodge was finished, the fol- lowing, being the first officers of the lodge, were installed by the grand chancellor : Past chancellor, Ira D. Buck; chancellor commander, Will A. Bray; vice-chancellor, O. S. Covert; prelate, Jas. Vangilder ; keeper of records and seal, David McDuffie; master of finance, Calvin P. Klinger ; master of exchequer, Burt J. Gilmore; master at arms, Fred H. Kuhn; inside guard, Samuel Rosenfeld; outer guard, Ed H. Soice. Since its organization nearly a quarter of a century ago the lodge has prospered in
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membership and financially. During this time it has built and paid for an elegant hall of its own in the main part of town.
Marmont Lodge No. 231, Knights of Pythias. This lodge was organ- ized November 29, 1889, with twenty-two charter members. The first officers were as follows: O. A. Rea, chancellor commander; F. L. Carl, vice-chancellor ; Ed Morris, prelate; W. H. Porter, master of exchequer ; M. F. Mosher, master of finance; J. H. Koontz, keeper of records and seal; G. A. Williams, master at arms; A. J. Kimball, inner guard; William Swigart, outer guard; trustees, L. C. Dillon, H. M. Speyer and D. G. Walter. The lodge has a present membership of fifty-eight.
The lodge some years ago erected a two-story brick and stone building in the center of the town for its own use, the lower story being used for commercial purposes. The money was raised by a stock company composed of members of the lodge, the lodge itself subscribing for a large share of the stock.
Improved Order of Red Men.
This organization gained a foothold in Indiana about the time of the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. The ceremonial ritual of the order is founded on the old Indian customs of adoption and aims to bring the novitiate from a supposed low and degraded state to an improved and perfect condition of manhood. Its system of fees, dues and benefits is similar to the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, etc. It has a system of dates peculiar to itself. The months beginning with January are called Cold, Snow, Worm, Plant, Flower, Hot, Buck, Sturgeon, Corn, Traveling, Beaver and Hunting moons. A day is called a Sun ; a year a Great Sun ; a night a Sleep. Money is called Wampum, and is divided into fathoms, feet. and inches. The officers are designated sachem, senior and junior saga- more ; chief of records, keeper of wampum, prophet and sanaps.
The first tribe organized in the county was Pottawattomie Tribe No. 16, at Bourbon, May 22, 1870, with twenty charter members, by P. S. Hoffman, of Richmond. It has continued to the present time, and has a membership of about fifty.
Shawnee Tribe No. 19 was shortly after organized at Argos, but was afterward removed to Walnut, where it flourished for a time, but finally ceased to exist.
Aubbeenaubbee Tribe, under dispensation, was organized at Plymouth October 30, 1871. Daniel McDonald, who was great sachem of the state at that time, in his report to the great council in 1872 made the following mention of its condition :
"The gentlemen who procured the names of the petitioners for this tribe selected for the most part members of the Order of Odd Fellows and Masons who were actively engaged as officers of those bodies. Before the tribe was organized the prime mover in getting it up left for the west and has not since returned. The tribe lingered along for some time, but, notwithstanding the efforts put forth by myself and a few others, it finally ceased to work at all and in the early part of January I arrested its charter, and took possession of its books and papers, which I have placed in the hands of the great chief of records subject to the order of the great council."
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There is a ladies' degree belonging to the Red Men called the Poca- hontas degree. Bourbon has the distinction of having organized the first Pocahontas council in Indiana, No. I. There are now in this state about 150 councils, and a total membership of over 10,000.
Massasoit Tribe No. 206, Improved Order of Red Men, was instituted at Tippecanoe, May 27, 1895, with the following officers for the first term: Sachem, L. D. Eley ; senior sagamore, J. H. Patch ; junior sagamore, C. A. Smith; prophet, Charles M. Walker; chief of records, C. E. Shoemaker ; keeper of wampum, Benjamin Harmon.
Allatah Council No. 75, Degree of Pocahontas, was instituted in Tippe- canoe, January 25, 1896, with the following chiefs: Pocahontas, Mrs. C. E. Shoemaker; weona, Mrs. J. H. Patch ; prophetess, Mrs. L. D. Eley ; pow- hatan, Mrs. C. E. Shoemaker ; keeper of records, Miss Grace Eley ; keeper of wampum, Mrs. C. M. Walker.
The Sons of Malta.
This was the name of a secret order organized in Plymouth in the summer of 1858. The mission of the order was to "sell" all who applied for membership, and in doing so those who had previously been initiated into this ancient and honorable order invariably had a good time at the expense of the candidate. The order sprang up suddenly prior to 1860, and spread like wild fire until there was not a city or town of any consid- erable size in the United States where there was not a lodge, or at least a number of members to be found. It was simply a burlesque on the initiatory ceremonies of the secret societies then in existence, particularly the Masons and Odd Fellows, and the candidate was initiated into the several degrees in the most solemn manner possible, and invariably before the ceremonies were concluded he was most egregiously "sold." It was full of fun from beginning to end, and that was all there was of it. Plymouth had a large and prosperous lodge of near one hundred members, in fact about all the prominent men in town at that time were "sold." It was made a part of the duty of every candidate after he was initiated, whenever he found a friend desirous of becoming a member, to "take him in," and as a matter of course the membership increased very rapidly. Plymouth lodge was organized by John W. Dawson, editor of the Fort Wayne Times, and for many years territorial governor of Utah, and about twenty other "sons" of Fort Wayne who came along to see the fun, and George Moon, of Warsaw, as grand chancellor. Col. O. H. P. Bailey, Alf Morrison, and Seth Edwards, of Plymouth, were the charter members, having previously taken the degrees at Fort Wayne. The party came with fife and drums and maltese banners flying, and a more dignified and solemn looking set of men it would be hard to find. They preserved their dignity exceedingly well under the circumstances, and left the impression on the people who thronged the streets as they marched from the railroad station to the lodge room (in the second story of the building on the east side of Michigan street, on the corner across the street opposite the then Edwards House) that they belonged to one of the most ancient and honorable orders the world had ever seen! The charter members had been busy several days getting the lodge room prepared for the reception of candidates, and when the grand conclave arrived everything was in readiness, even to "the wet
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sponge" and "the grand tank!" Twelve candidates were "taken in" that evening, and the visiting brethren, being "of sound mind and in good con- dition" made a night of it and had more fun than they knew what to do with.
A year or so after Plymouth lodge was organized, Frank Leslie's New York Illustrated Weekly published the ritual in full, illustrating the scenes through which the candidate seeking to penetrate the arcana of mysteries, or "powers of numbers," had to pass, giving all the signs, grips and pass- words and everything else connected with its secret workings. This was the death knell of the order, and the members of Plymouth lodge decided to surrender the "charter," and close up the affairs of the lodge. There was in the treasury about $150, and it was decided to invest it in provisions and other useful articles and distribute them to the needy of the town. The money was so invested and the membership was ordered by the lodge to appear at midnight on a certain evening named, and go in solemn procession to the houses of the different families where provisions, etc., were to be left. The matter was kept a profound secret from all in town except the members. At midnight the members quietly assembled at the lodge room and clothed themselves in the regulation uniform-black cambric gowns, with a cap of the same material that covered the face, holes being cut for the mouth and eyes. The officers wore shields and helmets of extensive dimensions and elaborate workmanship, with swords and bucklers and other claptrap to give them a military appearance. The profession was led by Dr. T. A. Lemon (long since deceased), mounted on a white steed. He wore a long, flowing white beard and wig of long white hair, and carried a huge torch. Then followed the martial music-fifes and drums. Then came the members in single file, to the number of about fifty, each carrying some· of the articles to be distributed. No member was allowed to open his mouth and not a word was spoken, except by the commander, who gave directions as to the movement of the procession. The time of night, the dress, and the "awful mystery" surrounding the procession gave it a solemnity never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. The pro- cession had not gone far until the whole town was aroused, and such an exciting time was never seen in Plymouth before or since. The goods were all finally distributed and about three o'clock in the morning "The Ancient and Honorable Order of the Sons of Malta" in Plymouth was disbanded, and the members, after securing such pieces of furniture and fixtures as they could lay their hands on to be kept as relics, in solemn reverence bowed their heads and "departed."
XLVI. MISCELLANEOUS ORGANIZATIONS. Marshall County Watchmen.
Organizations for various purposes, as occasion seemed to require, have been effected in Plymouth and at various places throughout the county from time to time. Of course it is impossible to remember all or to give the particulars in all cases of those that are now remembered.
From the early settlement of the county up to about 1860 the people
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were very much annoyed with horse thieves. When a horse was put in a stable at night it was barely possible that it would be there in the morning. This condition of affairs led to the formation of a society for the detection of horse thieves. The Plymouth Banner of December 8, 1853, contained the following :
"In accordance with previous notice, a number of the citizens of this county have organized themselves into a society for the detection of horse thieves and others committing similar depredations under the title of 'The Marshall County Watchmen.' The officers are: Amzi L. Wheeler, president ; Thomas Sumner, vice-president; Rufus Brown, secretary, and John G. Osborne, treasurer."
How long this organization continued to do business. is not known. However, before it ceased to exist it succeeded in accomplishing one good thing-the arrest and conviction of a horse thief by the name of Richard Eno. Eno was a desperado of the worst type, and, although he had many times been behind the bolts and bars, somehow he always succeeded in making good his escape. At one time he was confined in the jail of Fulton county. The sheriff went into the cell to take him his meal, when Eno shoved him into one corner, took the key away from him, locked him in the jail and leisurely walked out. Subsequently he was tried in Berrien county, Michigan, for horse stealing, convicted and sent to the state prison for a period of ten years. On the way to prison he jumped from the train, which was running at a rapid rate, and although he was strongly handcuffed he succeeded in making good his escape. Some time after this occurrence, in passing through this county he stole three horses from the stable of Benoni Jordan, who then resided on the farm now owned by David E. Snyder, president of the Plymouth State bank, on the Michigan road, six miles south of Plymouth. Mr. Jordan was a member of the "Marshall County Watchmen" and started at once in pursuit of the thief. It was some time before he overtook the thief, but finally succeeded in capturing him and the horses, when the thief turned out to be none other than Richard Eno. At the August term, 1854, of the circuit court an indictment was found against Eno for the commission of the theft, of which the following is a copy :
State of Indiana, Marshall County, ss.
The grand jury of the county of Marshall charge that Richard Eno on the six- teenth day of November, 1853, at the county of Marshall aforesaid, did feloniously steal, take, drive and lead away one bay mare seven years old of the value of $75, one iron-gray mare of the value of $100, one colt of the value of $30, the personal goods of Benoni Jordan. D. J. WOODWARD, Prosecuting Attorney.
The indictment is remarkable for its brevity, and is in pleasing con- trast with the lengthy documents of a similar nature generally returned into court nowadays. Eno was taken back to Michigan and probably served out the remainder of the sentence pronounced against him. He was never returned here, and the indictment still stands against him untried.
Marshall County Library.
Early in the history of the county steps were taken by some of the enterprising citizens of the county scat and county looking to the education and enlightenment of the people. The first of these efforts was the organi-
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zation of the Marshall County Library Association, October 7, 1837, by the election of the following trustees: Oliver Rose, Grove Pomeroy, W. N. Bailey, Evan B. Hobson, James Murphy, W. G. Pomeroy and Stephen Marsters. Subsequently Oliver Rose was elected president ; William Bishop, treasurer; E. B. Hobson, secretary, and William G. Pomeroy, librarian. The regulations adopted required persons drawing books to give bonds for the proper return of the books, each volume to be returned as follows: 100-page book in one week, 200-page book in two weeks, and same ratio for larger books. The Library fund amounted to $601. In 1845 the county commissioners took charge of its management. In 1846 330 volumes were purchased, for which $275 was paid. Some years later, by operation of law, the clerk, auditor and recorder were made to constitute a board of managers. The recorder was made the librarian, and he kept it in his office, where any citizen of the county who cared to avail himself of the privilege could have access to the books, etc., free of charge, subject to the regulations adopted by the board. It was conducted in this way from year to year until about 1900, when, the books having disappeared by having been taken out and never returned until there were less than fifty volumes left and no funds to replenish them with, and the cost of taking care of these being $50 per year, the board of commissioners ordered the library to be discontinued, and the few books on hand sold for whatever they would bring. In the later '50's the writer for four years, as deputy recorder, had charge of this library. The books were mostly of a historical and scientific nature, such as the "old timers" cared to read. Except "Gulliver's Travels," "Æsop's Fables," or the "Arabian Knights," the younger portion of the community never called for a book.
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