USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County Indiana (Volume 1) > Part 33
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The first fair in the county, so far as can be learned, was a private enterprise, projected by Archibald Parker and Joseph Barnes, and was given upon the public square in 1837. No admission fee was charged and no premiums were awarded except the red and blue ribbons. The next fair was at Huntsville in 1839, but little can be ascertained con- cerning it, further than that William Roach, Isaac Busby, John H. Cook, Conrad Crossley and John J. Lewis were the active promoters of the fair.
There is no record showing that the agricultural society of 1835 ever gave an exhibit of farm products. This society did not live long and in 1850 a second society was organized with Dr. Townsend Ryan as pres- ident. The first fairs held by this society were on grounds at the west end of Tenth street, on what is now known as the Sansberry homestead. In June, 1862, William Crim, one of the county commissioners, was ordered by the board to purchase twelve acres of the Michael Ryan
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land, near Anderson, "for the use of the Madison County Agricultural Society (Fair Ground), said purchase not to exceed $33 per acre." At the September term following Mr. Crim reported the purchase of lots Nos. 13 and 14, Thomas Moore's addition to the town of Anderson, each containing six acres, for the sum of $406. The purchase was approved by the board and on the same day the lots were donated to the agricultural society, on condition that the society would fit up and properly maintain a fair ground upon the same. Failure to comply with the conditions imposed would cause the lots to revert to the county. In June, 1868, the society paid back to the county the purchase price of $406, with interest, and received a deed to the fair grounds. Lots 16 and 14 of Moore addition were immediately north of Eighth street and west of the Michigan division of the Big Four Railroad, extending north to the vicinity of the present Third street. They have since been subdivided and are now covered with comfortable homes.
Under the act of February 20, 1867, the Pendleton Agricultural Society was organized at a meeting held in Judge Hervey Craven's office on June 20, 1867, when a committee of ten was appointed to solicit stock subscriptions. On July 27, 1867, a second meeting was held and the articles of association were adopted. That same month the society purchased of W. V. Shanklin eighteen acres of ground for a fair ground. On February 8, 1868, J. H. Kinnard was elected president of the society ; E. Williams, secretary, and J. W. Bomgardner, treasurer. The first fair was held by this society in September, 1868, and annual exhibits were held thereafter until 1876, when the society was disbanded.
In the meantime the Madison County Joint-Stock Agricultural Society had been organized in May, 1868, with William Crim as pres- ident, Dr. Townsend Ryan, secretary, and John P. Barnes, treasurer. On the last day of that month a tract of ground a short distance of the old fair grounds was leased and the first fair was given by the society the following fall. A considerable sum of money was expended in mak- ing improvements upon the grounds and fairs were held annually until 1890. The last three fairs preceding that year had not been well at- tended and the society underwent some financial reverses. The land in the meantime had increased in value, proceedings had been instituted for opening streets through the grounds, and in 1890 they were sub- divided into residence lots and the old joint-stock agricultural society passed out of existence.
From 1892 to 1894 the North Anderson Driving Park Association held annual races on grounds in North Anderson. Of this association H. C. Ryan was president; C. K. Mccullough, secretary ; W. T. Durbin, treasurer ; N. A. Free, superintendent. Large stables and a mile track were provided, but the races were not patronized as liberally as the asso- ciation had anticipated, the stockholders refused to meet the assess- ments, and the grounds were sold by order of the circuit court in 1894.
The last fair ground established in the vicinity of Anderson was situated on the right bank of White river, at the east end of Ninth street. Fairs were held here for a few years, but they were not suc- cessful, owing to a general lack of interest, and the fair grounds were sold to the city of Anderson for a public park. This park was dedicated
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on July 4, 1913, and is known as "Foster Park," from the fact that the land was purchased during the administration of Hon. Frank P. Foster as mayor.
The Elwood Driving Park and Fair Association was organized on October 3, 1895, with C. C. Dehority, P. T. O'Brien, D. G. Evans, M. J. Clancy, H. G. Harting and F. M. Harbit as the first board of directors. Fairs have been held here annually since that time and have been fairly well attended. Horse, corn and poultry shows are given every year at Alexandria, Lapel and Pendleton.
A society known as the Anderson Lyceum was organized in 1858 for the purpose of discussing current topics and such questions as might come before it. One of the questions debated soon after the society was organized was the "Kansas Question," which just then was attracting universal attention. Among the debaters were such men as Dr. Townsend Ryan, Neal C. Mccullough, Thomas N. Stilwell, Milton S. Robinson, James M. Dickson, Thomas W. Cook and I. N. Terwilliger, all of whom were more or less prominent in public life in later years.
Probably the first old settlers' meeting in the county was held at Pendleton in 1856. Among those who participated were John Markle, John H. Cook, Thomas Silver, Isaac Busby, Conrad Crossley, Samuel D. Irish and Abel Johnson, all of whom have since passed to their reward. The next meeting of this character, of which there is any account, was held at Alexandria in July, 1873. It was attended by people from all parts of the county and by some from adjoining counties, and a general interest was awakened in the importance of perpetuating the history and traditions of pioneer days. The following year the old settlers of Mad- ison and Hamilton counties held a meeting near Perkinsville. Other meetings were held at various places during the next twenty years, but it was not until July 16, 1894, that steps were taken to form a perma- nent Old Settlers' Association. On that date a meeting called by Sam- uel Harden, Rufus H. Williams and others assembled for the purpose. John L. Forkner presided at the meeting and William P. Newman acted as secretary. In the organization of the association Francis Watkins was elected president and a vice-president was chosen from each township in the county. The first meeting held under the auspices of the associa- tion was in Ruddle's grove on August 30, 1894. It was largely attended and John H. Terhune, then major of Anderson, welcomed the visitors in an appropriate address. A number of speeches were made by old residents, among whom were J. M. Farlow, Dr. Ward Cook, James Hollingsworth, Charles Fisher, James W. Sansberry, Samuel Myers, and David S. Gooding. Since then meetings have been held every year and a record of the proceedings of the association has been kept. This record contains many interesting facts concerning the manners and customs of pioneer days and some day it will prove a veritable mine of information to the historian. The last meeting of the association was held at Mounds Park, near Anderson, Sunday, August 10, 1913.
In the early '70s an organization called the Patrons of Husbandry came into existence and in a short time spread over the entire country. It might be called a union of farmers, whose objects were to secure bet- ter prices for their products and better transportation rates on rail-
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roads. One of the cardinal principles was to do away with the middle- man as far as possible and buy directly from the manufacturer. To carry out this principle cooperative stores were established by the order in a number of towns and cities. Local societies were called granges, and the members of the organization soon came to be known as Grangers. The first grange in Madison county of which any definite account can be gathered, was Normal Grange, No. 218, which was organized on July 3, 1873, with F. M. Wood as master and A. E. Swain as secretary. Dageon Grange, No. 348, was organized on July 12, 1873, with thirty-three charter members; P. S. Baker, master; M. H. Hannon, secretary. On August 8, 1873, a grange was organized at Osceola, and on the 28th of the same month Manring Grange, No. 357, was organized at the Mant- ring schoolhouse in Monroe township, with thirty-five charter members. Jesse Hall was elected master and N. H. Manring, secretary. Richland Grange, No. 464, was organized at the College Corner schoolhouse in Richland township, with David Croan as master and Jonathan Dillon as secretary. Charity Grange, No. 588, was organized on October 6, 1873, with J. S. Guysinger as master and Lenox Gooding as secretary. Two days later Fishersburg Grange, No. 554, was organized with Harvey Gwinn as master and Harrison Quick as secretary. On the 9th Adams Grange, No. 590, so named from the township in which it was located, was organized with fifteen charter members, but the membership in- creased rapidly and before the close of the year was over fifty. Ander- son Grange, No. 520, received its charter on October 10, 1873, with twenty charter members, but the names of the first master and secretary cannot be learned. On October 12, 1873, Markleville Grange, No. 625, was organized by William G. Lewis, of Grant county, Indiana, who was one of the regular organizers of the order and assisted in the establish- ment of most of the Madison county granges. Pleasant Grove Grange, No. 495, was organized on October 21, 1874, with twenty-one charter members. Buttonwood Grange, No. 891, was organized on November 6, 1873, with sixteen charter members. Boston Grange, No. 1122, was organized on December 23, 1873, with J. R. Boston as master and J. L. Fussell as secretary. Huntsville Grange, No. 1166, was organized on January 9, 1874, with thirteen charter members. Richmond Chapel Grange, No. 1167, was organized on January 13, 1874, and there were also granges organized in Union and Fall Creek townships about the same time, or a little before. They were known as Union Grange, No. 422, and Fall Creek Grange, No. 544, but nothing of their history can be ascertained.
There were a few other granges established in the county and by the close of the year 1874 it was estimated that over 1,200 Madison county farmers were members of the order. It was not long until design- ing men gained admission to the Grange and began using it to further their political ambitions, so that the usefulness of the organization was destroyed. There is no doubt, however, that the agitation begun in the Grange movement, as it was called, has been responsible for much of the subsequent legislation regarding freight and passenger rates on railroads. Women were eligible to membership and held offices in the local granges.
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Some years ago a Horse Thief Detective Association was organized in the state of Kansas for the purpose of running down horse thieves, thefts of that character being of common occurrence. Other states took up the idea and a National Horse Thief Detective Association was the result. Bankers and merchants were admitted to membership and a robbery or burglary committed against one of the members soon enlists the aid of the entire association in the effort to apprehend the offender. Several branches of this association have been established in Madison county. They are Central, No. 40; Jackson Township, No. 46; Pleas- ant Grove, No. 74; Lilly Creek, No. 88; Alexandria, No. 114; Frankton, No. 132; Scatterfield, No. 136; Monroe Township, No. 141; Good In- tent, No. 159; Elwood, No. 173; Lapel, No. 175, and Anderson, No. 210.
THE MASONIC FRATERNITY
The Masonic fraternity was the first of the charitable or benevolent secret societies to establish a lodge in Madison county. On January 29, 1841, nine Masons met at Pendleton to consider the question of applying to the grand master for a dispensation to organize a lodge in that village. These nine men, who afterward became the original members of the lodge, were John H. Cook, James L. Bell, Thomas Adamson, Archibald Cooney, Henry Wyman, Samuel D. Irish, William H. Mershon, William Roach and Thomas Silver. All signed a petition to the grand master for a dispensation, which was granted, and on February 10, 1841, the lodge was formally instituted. On May 15, 1841, Bernard Thomas received in this lodge the degree of Entered Apprentice, being the first man to be initiated into Masonry in Madison county. The first officers of the lodge were James L. Bell, worshipful master; William H. Mer. shon, senior warden; Samuel D. Irish, junior warden; John H. Cook, secretary ; Thomas Silver, treasurer; Joseph Chittwood, senior deacon; Thomas Adamson, junior deacon ; William Roach, tiler.
This lodge continued under dispensation until May 24, 1842, when it received a charter from the grand lodge as Madison Lodge, No. 44, and on June 17, 1842, it was formally instituted under the charter by Thomas Silver, who was appointed a special deputy for the purpose. Meetings were at first held in the second story of a dwelling owned by John H. Cook, but in 1853 a Masonic hall was built by the lodge. After many years this building was torn down and the present Masonic Temple was erected in 1892 on the same lot, situated on the west side of State street. It is three stories in height and cost about $8,000 in the begin- ning, but improvements costing $1,100 were later added. On December 31, 1912, the lodge reported 124 members, to which additions are con- stantly being made by the initiation of new members. In 1913 Ray O. Golder was worshipful master of the lodge, and George A. Phipps was secretary.
Chesterfield Lodge, No. 53, was chartered on May 27, 1844, with G. W. Ballingal, worshipful master; G. W. Godwin, senior warden; Edward M. Farland, junior warden. This lodge met in the hall over the school room for about thirty years, when it became so weakened by death and removal of members that it surrendered its charter in May, 1875.
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Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 77, at Anderson, was organized under a dispensation on May 23, 1848, and received a charter on June 1, 1849. It was instituted in one of the second story rooms of the old courthouse, with Henry Wyman, worshipful master; Adam Reed, senior warden; Robert Wooster, junior warden; Richard Lake, secretary ; G. T. Hoover, treasurer; Townsend Ryan, senior deacon; Burkett Eads, junior deacon.
Lodge meetings were held in the courthouse for awhile, when a room was secured on the third floor of the old United States Hotel. It appears that the traditional "peace and harmony" did not prevail in the lodge after a few years, and in January, 1855, the charter was surrendered. A few months later a petition signed by twenty-eight Masons was pre- sented to the grand lodge, praying for a restoration of the charter, and on June 23, 1855, the petition was granted and the lodge was reorgan- ized with the original name and number. From that time until the completion of the Masonic Temple in 1896, Mount Moriah Lodge held meetings in various places, the last meeting place being in the old Union hall at the southeast corner of Eighth and Main streets. Regular meetings are now held in the temple on the second and fourth Mon- days of each month. In 1913 Henry W. Gante, Jr., was worshipful master, and George W. Bickford, secretary. This lodge now numbers about four hundred members.
Anderson Lodge, No. 114, was granted a dispensation on September 16, 1865, when a number of members withdrew from Mount Moriah and formed the new lodge. This was not the result of any dissension, but merely due to the fact that the membership of Mount Moriah had become so large that it was considered the part of wisdom to found a new one. On May 20, 1866, the lodge received a charter, taking the number 114 from Unity Lodge, of Perrysville, which had surrendered its charter. The first officers under the charter were H. J. Blacklidge, worshipful master; J. W. Smith, senior warden; W. Mitchell, junior warden. For some years the lodge held meeting in the same hall as Mount Moriah, when the two lodges were consolidated.
The corner-stone of the Masonic Temple at Anderson was laid on May 21, 1895, by J. A. Thompson, according to the rites of the order, and on March 23, 1896, the building was formally dedicated. It is located on the east side of Meridian street, between Tenth and Eleventh, in the business district of the city and is one of the finest Masonic Temples in the state. The ground floor is divided into business rooms, the front of the second floor consists of several nice suites of offices, in the rear of which is a club room and banquet hall, and the third floor is used exclu- sively for lodge purposes. The front of the building is of Indiana oolitic limestone and presents a handsome appearance. The total cost of the temple was about $40,000.
Ovid Lodge, No. 164, was instituted at New Columbus (now Ovid) under a charter dated May 24, 1854, with fourteen charter members and the following officers : B. W. Cooper, worshipful master; Joseph Peden, senior warden; William Malone, junior warden. For about six years the meetings of the lodge were held in the second story of a log building on the west side of the village, but on July 14, 1860, a new lodge room was dedicated by Joseph Eastman, William Roach and others who were
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deputized by the grand lodge officers for the occasion. After the cere- mony of dedication the members of the lodge and their guests joined in an open air dinner, after which a number of short addresses were made by those present. The charter members of this lodge all came from old Madison Lodge at Pendleton. On December 31, 1912, the lodge reported thirty-five members. Emmor Williams was the worshipful master for 1913, and Loren Stohler was the secretary.
Quincy Lodge, No. 230, located at Elwood, was organized under a charter dated May 25, 1858, having passed through the customary period
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of probation under a dispensation. The first officers under the charter were: Andrew J. Griffith, worshipful master; J. M. Dehority, senior warden; David Barton, junior warden. At the close of the year 1912 the lodge numbered 345 members. O. D. Hinshaw and George W. Osborn were the worshipful master and secretary, respectively, for the year 1913. Quincy Lodge has a comfortable home and is in a prosperous condition. Regular meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
Alexandria Lodge, No. 235, was organized under a dispensation dated October 3, 1856, and received a charter bearing the same date as that of
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Quincy Lodge-May 25, 1858. The first officers of the lodge were R. H. Hannah, worshipful master ; John Coburn, senior warden; Moses Harris, junior warden. The first hall owned by this lodge was 20 by 60 feet. It now owns the third floor of the large brick building at the northeast corner of John and Harrison streets, where regular meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. In 1913 Blaine H. Ball was the worshipful master, and Frank E. Henshaw was the secretary. Alexandria Lodge has about two hundred members.
A Masonic lodge was organized at Perkinsville on June 3, 1858, under .
dispensation, and on May 25, 1859, it received a charter as Perkinsville Lodge, No. 247. At one time the lodge numbered over sixty members and owned a well furnished hall, but reverses came and it finally sur- rendered its charter.
Frankton Lodge, No. 290, received its charter on May 27, 1863, with A. G. Tomlinson as worshipful master; William R. Stoker, senior warden; Lafayette Osborn, junior warden. The writer has been unable to learn the history of this lodge, but it evidently has undergone a re- organization of some kind, as the Masonic lodge at Frankton now bears the number 607. The lodge has a comfortable, well equipped hall and the secretary's report to the grand lodge for the year ending on Decem- ber 31, 1912, showed sixty-one members. Regular meetings are held on the first and third Fridays of each month. In 1913 Wayne L. Hobbs was worshipful master and Elmer E. Carter was secretary.
Rural Lodge, No. 324, at Markleville, received its charter from the grand lodge on May 24, 1864, and was regularly organized with ten charter members and the following officers: John Justice, worshipful master; John Boram, senior warden; F. L. Seward, junior warden. Meetings were at first held in the second story of Samuel Harden's dwelling and later over a shoe shop and in the second story of Hardy & Lewis' store building. In March, 1879, the lodge surrendered its charter, most of the members uniting with the lodge at Ovid. A few years ago Markleville Lodge, No. 629, obtained a charter from the grand lodge, and on December 31, 1912, reported forty members. For the year 1913 Lundy Seward was worshipful master and Frank Barnett was sec- retary. Following the old Masonic tradition, this lodge holds its regular meetings on "Thursday before the full moon."
A dispensation was granted to twelve Masons living in the vicinity of Fishersburg, in September, 1875, to organize a lodge in that village. No charter was ever obtained and in May, 1877, the lodge surrendered its records and furniture to the grand lodge.
Lapel Lodge, No. 625, located in the town of that name, is one of the youngest Masonic lodges in the county, but its membership is composed of men who believe in the tenets of the order and consequently is in a prosperous condition. The membership is small-only thirty-nine on December 31, 1913-but constantly growing. Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. In 1913 Herbert Bates was worshipful master and Willard H. Thomas was secretary.
Fellowship Lodge, No. 681, which meets on the first and third Fridays of each month in the Masonic Temple at Anderson, received its charter on May 24, 1911. The worshipful master for 1913 was Edward Podmore
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and the secretary was H. L. Millspaugh. The. lodge has about fifty members.
The youngest Masonic lodge in the county is located at Summitville. It was first organized under a dispensation granted on July 6, 1912, with Robert B. Given as worshipful master; Glen Lawrence, senior warden; Samuel B. Gilman, junior warden. A charter was granted by the grand lodge which met in Indianapolis in May, 1913, when the lodge was officially designated Summitville Lodge, No. 691. At the close of the year 1912 the lodge reported twenty-one members. The master and secretary for 1913 were respectively Robert B. Given and Carl L. Iliff. In the summer of that year a new building was erected just south of the bank, and the lodge acquired an interest in it by adding a story for lodge purposes, thus owning its own meeting place.
There are four Masonic chapters in the county, located at Pendleton, Anderson, Alexandria and Elwood. Pendleton Chapter, No. 51, Royal Arch Masons, is the oldest in the county. It was organized about the close of the Civil war and holds its regular meetings on the third Friday of each month. Anderson Chapter, No. 52, was organized in 1866 and meets on the first Monday of each month. Alexandria Chapter, No. 99, holds its regular meetings on the second Thursday of each month, and the meetings of Elwood Chapter, 109, are held every Thursday. evening. All four of these chapters are prosperous and number among their members some of the best citizens of the towns in which they are situated.
Councils of the Royal and Select Masons are located at Pendleton, Anderson and Alexandria, and there is one commandery of Knights Templar, which is at Anderson. This commandery was organized on April 29, 1885, and holds its regular meetings on the third Thursday of each month.
The Order of the Eastern Star, a degree that is open to the wives and daughters of Master Masons, has chapters at Elwood, Pendleton, Anderson and Alexandria. Elwood Chapter, No. 71, meets on the sec- ond and fourth Wednesdays of each month; Pendleton Chapter, No. 138, meets on the same dates; Anderson Chapter, No. 154, holds its meetings on the first and third Tuesdays, and Alexandria Chapter, No. 179, meets on the first and third Fridays.
THE ODD FELLOWS
This benevolent order originated in England in the latter part of the eighteenth century. In 1812 delegates from the lodges about Man- chester met in that city and organized the "Manchester Unity, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows." Thomas Wildey and another Odd Fellow came from England in 1818 and the next year organized a lodge at Baltimore, Maryland, receiving their charter from the Manchester Unity. On February 1, 1820, Washington Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Maryland was organized and a few years later the order in this country severed its relationship with the Manchester Unity.
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