USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana > Part 8
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YOUNG AMERICA LODGE, NO. 534,
was granted a dispensation on the 24th of February, 1876. The Grand Lodge, being satisfied with their proficiency, granted a charter on the 24th of May, 1877. The report of 1877 shows a membership of 15.
LOGAN CHAPTER, NO. 2,
of Royal Arch Masons, was organized on the 30th day of October, 1837, under a dispensation from the General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the United States, dated October 7th, preceding. John Tipton, H. P .; Jacob Hull, K., and Nicholas D. Grover, S., constituted the first Council. From the date of organization to the present time, its membership has continued to increase steadily but surely, including among them some of the brightest Masonic lights, companions who have taken the highest rank in the Coun- cils of the State. Membership, 101.
LOGANSPORT COUNCIL, No. 11,
of Royal and Select Masters, was organized June 24, 1857, under a dispen- sation granted by the Grand Council of the State of Indiana, dated the 20th of June of that year. It received a charter from the same Grand author- ity, on the 18th of May, 1858, and has since continued to work under the same. Membership, 66.
ST JOHN'S COMMANDERY, NO. 24,
was organized on the 1st day of July, 1872, by Sir Kt. William Hacker, P. G. C. and Inspector General of the Grand Commandery of the State of In- diana, under a dispensation granted by Right Eminent Grand Commander Charles Cruft, of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Indiana.
Previously, on the 19th day of June, 1872, & Convention of Knight Templars was held in the Hall of Logan Chapter, No. 2, at Logansport, In-
diana, at which the following Sir Knights were present : P. G. C. William Hacker, Baldwin Commandery, No. 2; Sir Kts. Alvin M. Higgins, Job B. Eldridge and Samuel B. Richardson, of Lafayette Commandery, No. 3; Allen J. Fisk, Richmond Commandery, No. 8, Indiana; and Jesse Duncan, Reed Commandery, No. 6, Dayton, Ohio
The petitioners for dispensation were A. M. Higgins, J. B. Eldridge, J. A. Adrian, Jesse Duncan, John Cooper, S. B. Richardson, Allen J. Fisk, Peter Chidester and F. W. Williams
Under dispensation, the following officers were appointed : Sir Samuel B. Richardson, E. C .; Sir Alvin M. Higgins, Generalissimo ; Sir Job B. El- dridge, C. Gen'1 ; Sir Edward J. Purdy, Prelate ; Sir Lorenzo C. Miles, S. W ; Sir Charles F. Thompson, J. W .; Sir Raymond C. Taylor, Trens .; Sir Rob't R. Carson, Rec .; Sir John Mackinson, St'd Br .; Sir Willard B. Schrier, Sw'd Br .; Sir Danford E. Andrus, War .; Sir George C. Horne, C. of G.
On the 2d of April, 1873, A. O. 755, & charter was granted, re-appoint- ing the aforenamed officers. June 2d following, the commandery was instituted and the officers duly installed, by D. G. C. Sir And. H. Hamilton, of Fort Wayne.
The material and working qualities of this branch of Templar Masonry in Indiana place it, by common acceptation, among those of highest rank in this grand jurisdiction. Its apartments and paraphernalia are, perhaps, surpassed by none.
A. AND A. SCOTTISH RITE.
Hamilton Lodge of Perfection, No. 3, was organized in January, 1867, by E. G. Hamilton, of La Porte, Indiana, Dist. Dep. Insp. General, by whom, also, sixteen brethren received the degrees appertaining to the rite. The first officers were R. Bro. Charles F. Thompson, T. P. G. M .; R. Bro. Wil- lard G. Nash, Dep. G. M .; R. Bro. Charles L Moudy, Ven. S. G. W .; R. Bro Lorenzo C. Miles, Ven. J. G. W.
L-gan Council, Princes of Jerusalem, No. 2, another branch of the Scot- tish Rite, was constituted at the same time and by the same authority. The first officers were Val. P. S. B. Richardson, M. E. S. P. G. M ; Val. P. Alvin M. Higgins, G. H. P .; Val. P. John Mangus, M. E. S. G. W .; Val. P. Charles Horning, M. E. J. G. W.
These two branches of the Masonic family, known by the above title, after their organization in Logansport, received numerous accessions to their membership, and for a time, flourished and prospered ; but ere long. the interest inspired by the striking impressiveness of the ritualistic work began to wane and members failed in their attendance. As the best thing to be done, under the circumstances, the charters were surrendered and certificates of membership issued, many of which have been deposited in other jurisdictions.
ODD FELLOWSHIP.
The grand body known as the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the State of Indiana, was organized at New Albany, on the 14th of August, 1837, the charter bearing date May 17th preceding. The progress of the order was not rapid, in the earlier years of its exist- ence, but eleven subordinate lodges having been chartered in the succeeding six years The twelfth, in order of succession, was at Logansport, and took the name of Neilson Lodge, its charter bearing date November 21, 1843. The charter members were John Green, Job B. Eldridge, Francis H. L. Laird, and members from Delphi. John Green was the first N. G. of the Lodge. From the fact that Neilson Lodge had among its members some of the oldest Odd Fellows in the State, if not in the United States, as well as some of the most active and efficient, for many years it occupied a promi- nent position among the sister Lodges of the State. About the year 1854, the continued drafts upon the relief and charity funds of the Lodge began gradually to exhaust the energies of her members, so that, in the course of time, disappointment and disaffection did their work, and the charter was surrendered in 1859, having long struggled to recover the wonted zeal of early days. Membership cards were issued to those of the members who had not already withdrawn.
An Encampment was instituted about the year 1852, and after a pros- perous career of a few years, passed into history as another victim of illy- directed zeal and mistaken philanthropy.
When the discouraging condition of affairs in Neilson Lodge began to grow painfully manifest, the disaffection took deep hold; several of the members withdrew, who, to the number of five-John P. Baker, John T. Musselman, George Cecil, Jordan Vigus and Jacob Bemisdarfer-petitioned the Grand Lodge for a warrant, authorizing them to work as a Lodge. The necessary preliminary steps having been taken, in the meantime, a charter was duly granted, bearing date January 13, 1847, to Logan Lodge, No. 40, which was duly instituted by Job B. Eldridge, D. D. G., assisted by the following Past Grands: William Sullivan, John Green, F. E. Goodsell, Milton Hundon, J. Spencer, P. A. Hackelman, H J. Canniff, John L. Rob- inson, M. D. Lott, Peter Dunkel, A. J. Field and A. M. Higgins-Jordan Vigus, N. G., and George Cecil, Secretary.
For a few years subsequent to its organization, this Lodge prospered healthfully ; but ere long the interest of the members was allowed to weaken, being similarly affected with Neilson Lodge; but the recuperative power of a united purpose to succeed restored, in a measure, the ancient zeal, and Logan Lodge now enjoys a good degree of prosperity.
An outgrowth of the apparent apathy affecting the more rapid progress of No. 40 was the institution of Eel River Lodge, No. 417, on the 11th of June, 1873, under a charter granted by the Grand Lodge at the previous May session to William H. Jacks, Daniel Comingore. Seth B. Pratt, D. C. Plank, D. T. Cook, John H. Shultz, F. C. Semelroth, A. B. Crampton, Ilugh Hillhouse, James P. Martin and John W. Cost, as charter members. This new Lodge was instituted by Corresponding Secretary B. F. Foster, of Indianapolis, as Special Deputy, at the request of the charter members. He was assisted by P. G. John Reynolds, also of Indianapolis.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
The first officers were William H. Jacks, N. G .; Seth B. Pratt, V. G. ; Daniel Comingore, R. S., and John H. Shultz, Treas.
Anterior, however, to the institution of Eel River Lodge, Cass Encamp- ment, No. 119. had been instituted in Logansport, on the 9th of July, 1872, W. H. Jacks, A. C. Hall, Lindol Smith, W. H. Ashton, Russel Crim, Joseph Hartman, L. H. Shaffer, Z. Hunt and A. M. Higgins being charter members. Outside of Logansport, the following subordinate Lodges and Encamp- ments have been instituted in the county :
New Waverly Lodge, at New Waverly ; an Encampment having also been instituted at that place
Galveston Lodge. with an Encampment, at the town of Galveston. Walton Lodge and an Encampment, at the town of Walton.
Young America Lodge, with an Encampment, at the town of Young America.
Onward Lodge, at the town of Onward.
The date of organization, the original and present offic rs and members of these latter branches of the order we have been unable to obtain.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Wherever disease prevails, the skill of the physician is required to counteract its influence and relieve the human system from its ravages. New countries and sparse settlements are not an exception to the rule ; hence, as the demand is, so the supply. 'In the early settlements of Cass County, as elsewhere, there was sickness, and doctors came. The first physician of which we have any account was Dr. J. T. Liston, who was a resident of the county in 1827-8, but who subsequently went to Miamisport (now Peru), about the year 1832. Within a few years past, he has returned to this county, and is still a citizen here.
Next to him, in point of time, perhaps, was Dr. Hiram Todd, who came from Ohio and settled in Logansport in June, 1828, and remained here until about 1834, when he removed to Fort Wayne. He died some years since.
In July, 1834, Dr. G. N. Fitch located here, and was followed by Dr. Uriah Farquhar, in June, 1835. The two latter were the most eminent of the early physicians, acquiring a most enviable reputation in this particular sphere. Dr. Fitch still remains, but Dr. Farquhar died a few years ago.
Among the early physicians here, we note the names of Dr. John Lytle, Dr. Frederick Fitch (father of G. N.), Dr. Geo. M. Jerolaman, Dr. Brackett, Dr. A. B. Buchanan, Dr. F. O. Miller, Dr. William Culbertson, Dr. R. Faber and Dr. J. F. Merrill, all of the class known as the " Old School" or Allo- pathic. These were the chief of the early practitioners of the healing art in Cass County.
A little more recently, the Eclectic, a branch of the profession claiming more advanced thought and method in the treatment of disease, acquired a footing in the county, and have accumulated greatly in numbers and popu- larity. Among the first of these was Dr. James A. Taylor, who came here about the year 1842. His system of practice was first known as the Uro- scopic, but was evenutally modified into the Eclectic. In the course of his practice, he gained a very extensive reputation for skill in the management of cases submitted to his care. Of this school, Dr. Taylor was a representa- tive man. Drs. John B. and John H. Shultz, Dr. John J. Burton and others of to-day are of this school.
The Homeopathic system, also, is entitled to be classed among those winning a position in this county. The first practitioner of this class that we now call to mind was Dr. J. F. Graeber, who came here about the year 1857, and devoted some time to the practice of his profession. He was reputed to be a man thoroughly read and a skillful practitioner. The next of this school, perhaps, was the firm of Saunders & Rowsey, who came here about the year 1866, and, by diligent attention to business, secured a fair practice. They remained here some two or three years, during which time they won the confidence of our citizens. The successor of this firm was Dr. George Pyburn, an Englishman of fair scholastic attainments and large medical experience. His practice, not very large at first, became, in course of time, quite extensive, and his treatment of diseases generally successful. He left here some five years ago. Cotemporaneous with Dr. Pyburn was Dr. Adolphus, a learned man and a physician of very extensive experience. He was also a successful practitioner, and commanded a liberal patronage.
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In 1869, this branch of the profession began to be represented by Dr. J. W. Irons. He gradually succeeded to a large city and county practice, and for several years was the County Physician, having medical charge of the Asylum for the Poor. He, with Dr. Carpenter, now maintains the reputa- tion of homeopathy in Cass County successfully.
About the year 1846, a District Society, embracing the counties of Car- oll, Cass, Miami and Wabash, was formed subordinate to the State Medical Association, and kept up its organization for several years. It was subse- quently merged in the
CASS COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The formation of this society was the result of a manifest necessity on the part of the profession, to secure not only a combination of effort in advancing its status and enlarging the domain of its usefulness, but to guard it against the deceptions of disqualified, irresponsible practitioners. There- fore, as an outgrowth of this sentiment, and as a means of realizing the influ- ence heretofore exerted by the District Association, the members of the pro- fession, after mature consideration of the premises, met in Logansport on the 25th of June, 1873, and perfected the organization of the Society by prescribing the Articles of Association, to which the names of sixteen repu- table practicing physicians of Cass County were attached, adopting a code of By-laws and Regulations, and electing officers pursuant thereto.
The original officers so elected were : J. A. Adrian, President ; W. H. Bell, Vice President ; J. H. Goodell, Secretary ; J. M. Justice, Treasurer ; A. Coleman, I. B. Washburn and James Thomas, Censors.
The objects of the society, as set forth in the Articles of Association, were as follows :
"2. The objects of this Society shall be the advancement of medical science ; the promulgation of medical knowledge ; the promotion of the interests of the members, and all measures adapted for the relief of suffer- ing ; to improve the health and protect the lives of the people."
The prescribed qualifications for membership were :
"8. Any graduate of Medicine of any regular school, who is in good moral and professional standing, may become a member of this Society by signing the constitution and complying with the by-laws thereof; and, in lieu of a diploma, shall submit to a written examination provided for in the constitu- tion and by-laws of this Society."
By the provisions of Article 1 of the Constitution and By-Laws :
"The name and title of this society shall be the Cass County Medical Society, and shall be auxiliary and subject to the Indiana State Medical Society."
Section 5 of Article VI provides as follows :
"SEc 5. It shall be the duty of the Censors to examine candidates for membership who have not the credentials prescribed by Section 1 of Article III, and, where the applicant gives satisfactory evidence of qualifications in the various branches of medical science, give him a certificate of the fact, if in the interim of the meetings, and, if it be at any meeting, report the same to the Society."
Under the head of " Powers and Duties," Section 1 of Article VIII pro- vides, that " The Society shall have full power to adopt such measures as may be deemed most efficient for mutual improvement, for exciting a spirit of emulation, for facilitating the dissemination of useful knowledge, for pro- moting friendly intercourse among its members and for the advancement of medical science."
Section 7 of the same Article authorizes the Secretary, with the approval of the Society, to appoint, at each regular meeting three members whose duty it shall be to prepare and read papers on some medical subject of their own choosing, or to report cases in practice as they may elect.
Article XIV prescribes as the Society's "Code of Ethics" the code adopted by the " American Medical Association."
Membership is forfeited by a non-compliance with the letter or spirit of the regulations and code adopted and in force-after a full and fair trial and a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting.
The following are the present officers and members of the Society : President, Wm. H. Bell ; Vice President, James M. Justice ; Secretary. J. Z. Powell; Treasurer, Ruel Faber ; Censors, G. N. Fitch, H. C. Gemmill and A. Coleman.
Members James A. Adrian, Wm. H. Bell. Asa Coleman, Henry C. Gem- mill, Ruel Faber, Joseph Hallinan, John Herman, F. C. Dale, G. N. Fitch, James M. Justice. Ben. C. Stevens, Allen B. Strode, J. Z. Powell James Thomas, N. W. Cady and John Wilds.
Since the organization of this Society the members have been active in advancing its interests by the means prescribed in its regulations. At almost every regular meeting, papers and test cases have been presented and discussed, eliciting the attention of the profession to the importance of taking advanced steps in the practice of the present day. As a consequence, the treatment of diseases incident to this region especially is becoming more in consonance with progressive and progressing thought.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
This association is the legitimate outgrowth of a long-felt desire on the part of our citizens to inaugurate a system of social policy which, in its results, would secure the means of mutual improvement among its members and the encouragement of well doing among those affected by the irregular- ities of social life, and exemplify the value of religious, moral and intellec- tual training as an inducement to avoid the wrong by companionship with the right, thus opening an avenue through which the condition of every member of society may be bettered.
With these ideas in view, after a free discussion of the issues presented, on the 26th of April, 1870, the " Young Men's Christian and Library Asso- ciation of Logansport, Indiana," was organized. The means proposed by this organization were devotional meetings, social and literary re-unions and lectures. the maintaining of a reading room, library and a public hall, with such other appropriate means as might be adopted. The members were divided into four classes-Active, Life, Honorary and Sustaining. The organizing officers were, President, S. T. McConnell ; First Vice President, Dr. J. W. Talbott; Second Vice President, Elihu S. Rice; Corresponding Secretary, A. H. McDonald ; Recording Secretary, H. H. DeWolf ; Treasu- rer, Thomas H. Wilson.
During the succeeding period of five and a half years, the association, by its influence and example, established the utility of its organization and encouraged its members to enlarge the sphere of its operations to accord with what experience had sanctioned as in consonance with public senti- ment.
Accordingly, on the 17th of December, 1875, a re-organization was effected, under the specific title of the " Young Men's Christian Association of Logans- port," the name by which it has since been known and recognized.
Under its auspices, numerous meetings have been held, developing more fully its purposes and mission, whereby Christianity has been encouraged and large numbers added to the communicants of the several churches of the city.
Its present officers are, John H. Talbott President ; O). A. Lamphear, Vice President ; T. J. Legg. Recording Secretary ; C. B. Whiting, Corre- sponding Secretary ; John A. Mccullough, Treasurer.
Board of Directors- John H. Talbott, T. J. Legg, John A. Mccullough, W. T. Wilson, O. A. Lamphear, C. B. Whiting, George Snider, William McDonald and W. H. Von Behren.
LUX ET VERITAS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
The following extracts from their corporate regulations will give a more accurate view of the range of its work and the objects contemplated in its organization :
" Membership .- All ministers and members in good standing in Evangel- ical Churches may become regular members. Any person not a member of an Evangelical Church, but of good moral character, may become an Asso- ciate member.
Object of the Association is, in general, to promote the Kingdom of Christ throughout the world, especially to surround with Christian influence the young men of this community, whether strangers or residents, if, by any means, some may be saved."
ORPHANS' HOME ASSOCIATION.
As early as the Summer of 1875, the question of organizing an institu- tion for the purpose of better providing for the wants of that class of unfor- tunates who are left without estate or the means of support by the death or indigence of parents was quite extensively canvassed among the charitably disposed of our citizens. About that time, a few of the warm hearted Chris- tian ladies of our city undertook the task of supplying the apparent demand. The movement met with the emphatic approval of the entire community, and its immediate demands seconded by the contributions awarded for that purpose. Central among those who operated with devoted effort to that end was Mrs. Minnie Griffith, of this city. She gave form to the enterprise by taking charge of the temporary organization in person, devoting her time and energies, and providing a suitable building for the practical demonstra- tion of the cherished idea.
For two years, the experiment was tested by the measure of experience and its. utility fully assured, notwithstanding there were many discourage- ments encountered and overcome with a spirit that ensures certainty in the attainment of any desired end.
With these results in view and the magitude of the work duly weighed, at a meeting of the Board of Managers, held on Wednesday, the 2d day of January, 1878, to consider the propriety of re-organization, a large attend- ance of the friends of the Association being present, giving sanction to the proceedings fraught with such momentous interest to the well-being of the Society.
The result of the management, as developed in the second annual report, "showed that during the year it had twenty-nine children under its care, and, as opportunity had afforded good homes had been provided for some, while others were returned to their mothers, who thought they were able to care for them, leaving in the asylum, at present, nineteen inmates, twelve of whom are attending school. Of the whole number enrolled at this date, only three remain who were there when the last annual report was rendered."
On the 1st of February following the re-organization was perfected, under the corporate name of "The Orphans' Home Association." The range and scope of the organization is fully set forth in the articles of the Association, as follows :
" We, the undersigned, residents of the City of Logansport, in Cass County, in the State of Indiana, do hereby associate ourselves for the pur- pose of organizing and maintaining a benevolent or charitable association for the care, support, discipline and education of orphan and poor children within Cass County, Indiana, and to establish and maintain & ' home' for furtherance of the aforesaid object of said Association.
" Any one may become a member of this Association by subscribing to its articles and paying the sum of $3 annually toward its support. Membership is lost by failure to pay said sum of $3 annually. There shall be each year, and on the first Wednesday of January of each year, twelve Directors elected, in whom shall be reposed the care and management of the affairs of the Association and of its property and finance. These Directors shall have no authority to borrow money on the credit of the Association or to pledge its property by mortgage or otherwise for the payment of money ; but, in other respects, shall have full power to contract for and transact the business of the Association.
"There shall be no sectarian or religious discrimination in the manage- ment of the Association."
The officers of the Association for the year 1878 are the following :
President, Mrs. John C. Merriam; Vice Presidents, Mrs. Williamson Dunn, Mrs. Caroline Taylor ; Secretary, Mrs. Martha J. Landes ; Treasurer, Miss Bridget Landrigan.
The Board of Directors consists of Mrs. D. D. Dykeman, Mrs. A. H. Barnett, Mrs. William H. Johnson, Mrs. H. A. Bartlett, Mrs. A. w. Ullery, Mrs. E. S. Rice and Mrs. D. W. Tomlinson.
Advisory Committee-D. P. Baldwin, D. W. Tomlinson, W. T. Wilson.
FATHER MATHEW T. A. & B. SOCIETY.
Among the numerous organizations that have been formed in this com- munity, designed to promote the cause of temperance, none have operated in a more extensive field, and none have wrought a mightier change for good in the sphere of its operations, than the Father Mathew Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society. While others have risen and flourished for a time and then died away, for the want of an interest sufficiently vitalizing to keep it alive, this society, after an existence of nearly eight years, still moves forward, conquering and to conquer, as if its mission were but just com- menced.
This society was organized on the 9th of November, 1870, under the in- spiration of the following motto : "Shield us from the evils of Intemper- ance." The number of members at the date of organization was eighteen.
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