History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 33

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926
Publication date: 1970
Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc.
Number of Pages: 918

USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 33

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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.

265

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

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.

266

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

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

267

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

deputized by the grand lodge officers for the occasion. After the cere- mony of dedieation 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 eame 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.

Quiney Lodge, No. 230, located at Elwood, was organized under a charter dated May 25, 1858, having passed through the customary period

MASONIC TEMPLE, ANDERSON

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. Quiney 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

268

IIISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

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

- --

269

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

and the secretary was Il. L. Millspaugh. The lodge has about fifty members.

The youngest Masonie 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 elose 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 cwning its own meeting place.

There are four Masonie chapters in the county, located at Pendleton, Anderson, Alexandria and Elwood. Pendleton Chapter, No. 51, Royal Areh 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.

Couneils 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 eity 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.

The first Odd Fellows' lodge in Madison county was instituted at Pendleton on September 11, 1850, as Pendleton Lodge, No. 88. The

270

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

first officers were G. W. Bailey, noble grand; James Beck, vice-grand; W. N. Lummis, secretary ; George Brown, treasurer. For some time the lodge held its meetings in the Masonic hall, where it was organized, but in 1880 the trustees purchased a lot and in January, 1891, the Odd Fellows' hall was dedicated with the customary rites of the order. At the close of the year 1912 this lodge reported 282 members. Harry Stevens was then noble grand and S. B. McKee was secretary.

Anderson Lodge, No. 131, the second in the county, was instituted on April 18, 1853, in the room occupied by the Sons of Temperance in the old courthouse. The first officers were: G. R. Diven, noble grand; R. N. Clark, vice-grand; A. M. Williams secretary; William Wilson, treasurer. Meetings were at first held in the room where the lodge was organized, but in 1854 a room was secured on the third floor of the old

I. O. O. F. BUILDING

United States Hotel, at the southwest corner of Ninth and Main streets. In 1867 an agreement was made with the owner of the lot at the north- west corner of Ninth and Meridian streets, by which the third story of a new building was added by the Odd Fellows for a lodge room. This hall was destroyed by the great fire of May 17, 1875, but was rebuilt. When the Presbyterians built their new church the old one at the southeast corner of Ninth and Jackson streets was purchased by the Odd Fellows. The building was remodeled, a new front added, and here the lodge has one of the most comfortable and best arranged fra- ternal buildings in the state. The lodge now numbers about five hun- dred members. In the grand lodge report for 1912 the name of Brice Dille appears as noble grand and C. W. Benbow as secretary.

The next Odd Fellows' lodge to be established in the county was Quincy Lodge, No. 200, which was instituted at Elwood (then Quincy ) on July 30, 1858, with twelve charter members and the following officers :

271

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

Culpepper Lec, noble grand; John B. Frazier, vice-grand; B. T. Call- away, secretary ; Mark Simmons, treasurer. This lodge now has a mem- bership of about four hundred and owns one of the best halls in the county. Roy F. Mossy was noble grand and Ephraim Remmel was sec- retary at the end of the year 1912.

Perkinsville Lodge, No. 207, was instituted on May 18, 1859. A comfortable hall was later acquired by the lodge and meetings were held regularly on Tuesday evening of each week for a number of years. Then a decline set in. Some of the members moved away, others died, and about 1885 the lodge surrendered its charter.

On November 21, 1860, Necessity Lodge, No. 222, was instituted at Alexandria with ten charter members and the following offieers: Cy- renius Free, noble grand; John Heagy, vice-grand; R. H. Cree, seere- tary; S. B. Harriman, treasurer. The lodge now owns a substantial three story brick building on West Church street and has about 240 members. Michael Furst was noble grand and I. S. Kelly secretary when the last grand lodge report was issued in 1912. This is the only fraternal society in Madison county that owns a cemetery, an account of which may be found in the preceding chapter.

An Odd Fellows' lodge was instituted at Fishersburg in the spring of 1875 with eight charter members, A. J. Fisher, noble grand; H. G. Fisher, vice-grand; George Dunham, secretary. Five years later the lodge numbered thirteen members, but it never prospered and after struggling along for a few years more it surrendered its charter.

Summitville Lodge, No. 475, was organized on December 14, 1875, with fifteen charter members. S. Fenimore was the first noble grand, Thomas J. Clark, vice-grand; L. S. Williams, secretary; E. Runyan, treasurer. In 1892 a building was ereeted by the lodge, which now numbers nearly 150 members. At the close of the year 1912 Lemnel Dickerson was noble grand and A. F. Kaufman was secretary.

Other Odd Fellows' lodges in the county, with the membership and prineipal officers at the close of the year 1912, were Frankton, No. 711, John Hartley, noble grand, Dolph Meltzer, secretary, 109 members; Gilman, No. 745, William E. Smith, noble grand, J. M. Morgan, secre- tary, 54 members; Active (located at Anderson), No. 746, A. J. Dowe, noble grand, H. F. Wright, secretary, 260 members; Chesterfield, No. 786, R. C. Hall, noble grand, J. M. Heath, secretary, 68 members; Linwood, No. 793, H. C. Warren, noble grand, R. S. Thompson, sec- retary, 97 members: Lapel, No. 805, Albert Russell, noble grand, Perley Schultz, secretary, 106 members. All these lodges are in good condition and some of them own their own buildings. In connection with each lodge, exeept the one at Gilman, has been organized a lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah, a society to which the wives and daughters of Odd Fellows are eligible.

Sinai Encampment, No. 54, located at Pendleton, was organized on March 12, 1857, and is the oldest encampment in the county. On May 21, 1867, Star Encampment, No. 84, was instituted at Anderson. Since then the following encampments have been established in the county. Elwood, No. 168; Alexandria, No. 212; Frankton, No. 271; Gilman, No. 322; Activity (at Anderson), No. 331; Lapel, No. 335.

272

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

Within the Odd Fellows is a uniformed organization known as the Patriarchs Militant, the local branches of which are called cantons. Three cantons have been organized in Madison county, viz: Anderson, No. 3; Elwood, No. 33; and one at Alexandria. Anderson Canton was organized in 1883 by Dr. Horace E. Jones, who drilled them so thor- oughly that in a contest at Indianapolis in May, 1884, on the old state fair grounds, they easily won first prize. Upon their return to Ander- son the members of the drill team were given a banquet at the Doxey House. A band composed of members of the order accompanied the canton to Columbus, Ohio, at a later date, and here the drill team again won first prize and the band, under the leadership of Dallas K. Elliott, one of the best cornet players in the country, was awarded a medal. In 1886 the canton again took third prize at St. Paul, Minnesota.

Elwood Canton had for a drill master Captain Nett Nuzum, under whose instruction the drill team became so efficient that it won several prizes in the latter '80s. In September, 189], at St. Louis, Missouri, Captain Nuzum entered his team into a competitive drill contest with the leading cantons of the country and carried off first honors.

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS

On February 15, 1864, Justus H. Rathbone, Robert A. Champion, William H. and David L. Burnett, and Edward S. Kimball, five govern- ment clerks at Washington, D. C., met and listened to the ritual of a new secret order that had been prepared by Mr. Rathbone. As the basis of the ritual was the friendship of Damon and Pythias, the new order was named the Knights of Pythias and on February 19, 1864, Washing- ton Lodge, No. 1, was formally organized. A few weeks later Franklin Lodge, No. 2, was instituted, and early in April the grand lodge was organized at Washington. Just at that time the country was in the throes of civil war and the order made slow progress. On May 1, 1866, Franklin Lodge was the only one in existence. It was used as a nucleus, around which the organization was strengthened, new lodges multiplied and on August 5, 1870, the supreme lodge was incorporated by act of congress. Since then the order has prospered and has been extended into every state in the union, as well as to foreign lands.

The first Knights of Pythias lodge in Madison county was Ander- sou Lodge, No. 106, which was instituted on January 19, 1883, with twenty-one charter members. On November 23, 1894, this lodge dedi- cated a hall on the third floor of the Donnelly block on Meridian street between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, the third story of that building being owned by the lodge. According to the last available report of the grand lodge, Anderson Lodge had 188 members at the end of the year 1912, when F. E. Neal was chancellor commander and W. A. Boyden was keeper of the records and seal. The regular meetings of this lodge are held on Tuesday evening of each week.

Elwood Lodge, No. 166, the second in the county, was instituted on March 31, 1887. It is now the strongest and wealthiest lodge in the county, having a membership of nearly four hundred and owning real estate valued at $18,000. Regular meetings are held on Wednesday

---

273

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

evenings. John W. Grimes, of this lodge, was the deputy grand chan- cellor in 1912 for the Tenth distriet, composed of the counties of IIamil- ton, Tipton, Madison and Delaware. At the same time Claude Wright was chancellor commander of the lodge and L. M. Gross was keeper of the records and seal.

Sicilian Lodge, No. 234, located at Pendleton, was organized on December 19, 1889. It now has a membership of about 225 and owns real estate valued at $10,000. The lodge meets every Tuesday evening.

Frankton Lodge, No. 315, was instituted on April 30, 1891, and now has over one hundred and fifty members. It owns real estate valned at $1,800 and is in a prosperous condition. Regular meetings are held on Thursday evenings.

Alexandria Lodge, No. 335, was instituted on December 3, 1891, and now owns real estate worth $4,000. The membership,is about two hundred and fifty and the regular meeting night is Tuesday of each week. In the last grand lodge report the name of Will F. Schmitz ap- pears as chancellor commander and that of W. C. Stewart as keeper of the records and seal. In 1912 Blaine H. Ball of this lodge was a member of the grand lodge committee on constitution and by-laws.

On May 5, 1892, Gas Belt Lodge, No. 362, was instituted at Summit- ville. It now has about one hundred and seventy members and owns real estate valued at $2,100. Wednesday evening of each week is the time for regular meetings. Indie Warner was chancellor commander at the close of 1912, and R. B. Givens was keeper of the records and seal.

Lapel Lodge, No. 386, was instituted on April 6, 1893, and now has about one hundred and twenty-five members. Regular meetings are held on Monday evenings.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 33

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926 Publication date: 1970 Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926
Publication date: 1970
Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc.
Number of Pages: 918