USA > Indiana > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 38
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"I. S. D."
Population .- Shelbyville, at its last city election in the month of May, cast 1, 116 votes for City Clerk, which was the highest vote cast. This, on the basis of one vote to every five inhabitants, would indicate a population of 5,580 within the corporate limits; but there are suburbs enough surrounding the city to swell the pop- ulation to over 6,000, and they should all be annexed, so that the city would include all who reside within one-half mile of the pres- ent corporate boundary lines.
Odd Fellowship .- The following extracts are taken from a his- tory of Odd Fellowship in Shelbyville, Ind., written by Rev. T. G. Beharrell, P. G. Rep., associate editor of the Odd Fellows' Talis- man and Literary Fournal. It was published in the April number, IS77, Vol. X, No. 4, of that well known monthly magazine, and brings the history up to 1875.
Shelby Lodge No. 39, I. O. O. F .- Odd Fellowship took its initiatory step in this section of Indiana, in the fall of 1846, a time when our Order was yet in its infancy in this State, as is indicated by the number of this lodge. A charter was granted by virtue of a dispensation from the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Indiana, Joel B. McFarland, bearing date October 29, 1846; and upon the petition of the following named brothers,
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viz .: P. G. Joseph L. Silcox, John L. Robinson, Willam Hacker, John Cartmill, John M. Wollen, and Hiram Comstock. Shelby Lodge No. 39, was instituted on the 13th day of November, 1846, by D. D. G. M. Jacob P. Chapman officiating, in the city of Shelby- ville, County of Shelby, and State of Indiana. The lodge met at the hour previously agreed upon, and proceeded with the work, bv conferring the several degrees of the Order upon those that had not already been made Odd Fellows, after which the election and installation of officers took place, and the following brothers declared duly elected officers for the first ensuing term, to-wit: John L. Robinson, N. G., William Hacker, V. G., John Cartmill, Recording Secretary, John M. Wollen, Treasurer. The lodge then met in regular meetings on Monday night of each week, with a member- ship of twelve, several of whom belonged to neighboring lodges, but took temporary leave from them, for the " only purpose " of starting Shelby Lodge, which was a very commendable act indeed. The Lodge though having been started with as good material as the county afforded, increased in membership very slowly for the first four or five years, for the reason that the community in which the lodge was started, had but a very limited experience in secret organizations, and the Order itself was yet in its infancy, so to speak. But to give anything like a correct account of the workings of Shelby Lodge from its beginning until October 26, 1849, would be a useless undertaking, as will be seen from the following state- ment: On the night of October 26, 1849, Shelby Lodge was destroyed by fire, losing her charter, books, and papers, together with all the working fixtures of the lodge, which of course deprived the lodge of all power and authority. This being the third year of her existence, the lodge attained to a membership of twenty-five, with a fair prospect in the future. Steps were immediately taken to apprise the Grand Officers of the loss this lodge had sustained, and at the same time petition for a new charter. This call was promptly complied with, and a new charter immediately granted, by the then officiating Right Worthy Grand Master Joel B. Eldridge, of Logansport. This new charter contains the names of the following brothers, to-wit: Joseph L. Silcox, William Hacker, John Cartmill, John S. Campbell, Samuel D. Day, Samuel B. Robertson, Milton A. Malone, and Dwight R. Hovey, whom the Grand Officers empowered, without any cere- mony on the part of the Grand Lodge, to proceed to work in the good cause of Odd Fellowship, which was accordingly done, and Shelby Lodge once more allowed to occupy her rank, to which she was entitled. Shelby Lodge, being thus unfortunate, was com- pelled to apply for aid to her sister lodges, and by permission of
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the Grand Lodge, circulars were sent to the lodges in the State, stating loss and soliciting aid. In return quite a number of these lodges sent handsome contributions, which assisted the members of Shelby Lodge quite materially in starting their new lodge, which is evidence that "a friend in need is a friend indeed." The only celebration of any consequence, took place July 4, 1874. Shelby Lodge made very extensive preparations on that occasion. We were visited by quite a number of neighboring lodges, and it was said to be the finest gathering of the kind that had taken place in this part of our State for years. The orators on the oc- casion were: Brothers T. G. Beharrell, Thomas Underwood, the Rev. Naylor, and Brother Thomas Morrison, who read the Declara- tion of Independence. The festivities were celebrated in the Fair Grounds of our county. The speeches delivered on this occasion were said to be master-pieces of their authors, and were well re- ceived by all present. The impression created thereby on " out- siders," had the effect to allay that bitter feeling that existed among non-initiates toward secret organizations, to a considerable extent, and had, also, a good moral effect on those already members.
In the years of IS51 and 1852, and after Shelby Lodge had somewhat recovered from her recent loss, Shelby Lodge, No. 39, I. O. O. F .. in connection with Lafayette Lodge, No. 28, F. and A. M., formed a "Joint Hall Stock Association." The object was to build a hall wherein both lodges could meet, and thereby avoid rent, and at the same time have a home of their own. The proposition was well canvassed in both lodges, and finally it was decided to go . on with the enterprise. The trustees of either lodge were in- structed to investigate as to the probable cost of the building in contemplation, and then report to their lodges. These reports being favorable, the arrangement was consummated upon the fol- lowing terms: Each lodge agreed to take stock to the amount of $500: the members of each of the lodges obligated themselves to take such amounts as they felt able, which they did to the amount of $2.550. To secure the balance of the money needed. a loan was negotiated, secured by mortgage on the property, when completed, to the amount of $2,000; amount required for lot and building, when completed, $5,550. The building so to be built was con- tracted to one James Baker, and was to be a three-story structure, built of brick. This hall was completed in 1852, and was then con- trolled by Bro. William Hacker, who acted as commissioner for both lodges, who, by his good management, succeeded in buying in all the individual stock, and in equal amounts it was held and controlled by each of these lodges; and by so managing, the build- ing was soon paid for in full. The hall, after completion, was ded-
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icated in the presence of a great many Odd Fellows from far and near. The dedication address was delivered by Bro. Joseph L. Silcox. The hall was occupied jointly by both orders until some- time in 1867 or 1868, when the Masonic fraternity became the sole occupants of the hall. In 1869, the Masonic lodge, being the stronger in numbers, found these quarters were not large enough to accommodate them, when they proposed to sell their interest to the Odd Fellows, who as a brother not long ago remarked, were odd enough to buy, which they did for the amount of $3.500. In the end it will, of course, by consulting the above figures, be seen that the investment was a paying one, for these reasons: First, the property cost, in the beginning, $5,550; one-half of that amount paid by Shelby Lodge, $2,775; paid to the Masons for their in- terest therein, $3,500: total amount paid for building and ground, $6,275.
In the years of 1854, 1855, 1856 and 1857 - the time when Know-Nothingism was raging in this country - politics also found its way into the lodges of secret organizations. It invaded the ranks of Shelby Lodge to such an extent, that it threatened at one time to utterly wipe out the existence of our lodge, and did in a measure, destroy harmony and brotherly love between quite a num- ber of the members of the lodge. This strife was introduced into this lodge by indiscreet brothers in the way of a wager that existed between them. Said wager was on the election or defeat of one can- didate before the people at that time, the candidate himself, belong- ing to Shelby Lodge, and, by the way, a very popular man amongst his adherents in politics, and also in the lodge. The trans- gressors were finally arraigned before the lodges and the wrong brother suspended, and the guilty party acquitted. This transac-
tion did not take well with a majority of the lodge. The decision
of the lodge was appealed from and taken to the Grand Lodge, who censured the action of the lodge. The case was sent back, with instructions to give the brothers a new hearing, which was done, when the actual wrong doer was found guilty, and finally ex- pelled by the lodge. This by way of illustration, to show what ef- fect in lodges. to get politics mixed up with lodge affairs. Keep them separate brothers, and you will never have cause to see a decline in members for simply the want of better judgment. But politics, ' that insatiable serpent,' has once more found her way into the secret ranks of the order, and plied her avocation, with such a force, as to make it an impossibility to get members enough together, and be able to open the lodge in a lawful manner. The two presidential political parties at those days, had each of them, as a matter of course, its adherents. Sides were taken, and no respect paid to the feel-
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ings that should exist between good old fellows. The membership from 49, in 1860, was still further reduced, in 1863, to 28. After the close of the rebellion, and the country became once more settled the march of progress has also taken possession in the hearts of the members of this lodge; the partisan feeling once more wiped out, and the principles of Odd Fellowship replanted in its stead.
The number of the members of Shelby Lodge has, as the country passed through the different "changes and crises," been at considerable variations, as will be shown by taking a casual obser- vation and consulting figures. When Shelby Lodge was started in 1846, her first report to the Grand Lodge indicated a member- ship of twelve. The work in the cause went on until 1850, in December, when the report showed an increase of seventeen in four years -making in all twenty-nine. From 1850 the work com- menced in good earnest, and in 1854 was able to report a member- ship of 126, the highest number attained in membership in Shelby Lodge. From June, 1854, to the outbreak of the late war in 1860, the membership of this lodge was reduced to forty-nine. The lodge has since flourished in an unusual degree and now numbers I25 members.
The Degree of Rebekah has been rather neglected than other- wise. August 18th, 1874, a charter was granted by the R. W. Grand Master, Richard Owen. This charter was granted upon the petition of the following named brothers and sisters, to wit .: I. B. Springer, Margarette Springer, K. M. Hord, Mrs. K. M. Hord, Henson E. Clark. John H. Reed, Thomas Harrison, Michael Posz, Mary A. Posz, James C. Morrison, Mrs. James C. Morrison, George C. Morrison, Anna Morrison, Henry Burkher, Margaretta Burkher, W. L. Carter, Mrs. W. L. Carter, and Charles E. Ams- den. It was named Norah Lodge No. 126, Degree of Rebekah, I. O. O. F., and was instituted by Brother B. F. Foster, September Ist, 1874, assisted by P. G. John Reynolds, and J. E. Barrett, Gr. Rep. The attendance was very good on the occasion. In ad- dition to those that were charter members, there was also six new initiates. The instituting ceremonies being over, the lodge went into the nomination and election of officers for the ensuing term, resulting as follows: Bro. J. B. Springer, N. G .: Sister K. M. Hord, V. G .: Sister W. L. Carter, Rec. Secretary: Bro. J. H. Reed, Assistant Secretary; Sister J. A. Morrison, Treasurer.
Rev. Beharrell's History of Odd Fellowship in Shelbyville, con- tains several biographical sketches of deceased members, which though interesting, we have no room for; also, the financial statis- tics of the order in detail, from which we quote the leading items, to-wit: Amount paid for funeral benefits, $795; thirty widows, with
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their families, assisted at various times, $455.86; total number of initiations, 385; withdrawn, 110; suspended, 56; expelled, II: de- ceased, 24; dropped 109: total, 310. Number belonging, July I, 1875, 75. Total receipts from 1846 to 1875, $15,688.64; Total expenditures from 1846 to 1875, $15.308.24; balance in the treas- ury, $380.40; total resources of the lodge, $9,092.01 ; total liabil- ities of the lodge, $2, 133.67; total orphan fund at that date, 1875, $3-360.13.
These figures were made in 1875, or twelve years ago, and are the only accessible reliable authority since that date. But since that time the membership has increased fifty, and it is not more than reasonable to suppose that the financial and other statistics are correspondingly favorable. The present officers are: John Dobbins, P. G .: W. E. Blakely, N. G .; James T. Caughey, V. G .; H. C. Ray, Secretary; Michael Posz, C. W. Culbertson and J. H. Enos, Trustees. But few lodges in the State are more prosperous than this one.
History of Freemasonry in Shelby County .- Freemasonry was introduced into Shelby County, Indiana, in an organized form, by dispensation from R. W. Abel C. Pepper, D. G. M., November 15, 1824. The charter issued, bears date, October 5, 1825, when the lodge received the title of Lafayette Lodge No. 28, leaving it discretionary with the members to locate the lodge in such part of the county as they might deem most expedient. * Brothers: David Tracy, W. M .: Justus Ferris, S. W .: Joseph Adams, J. W. Names of the first petitioners: Dr. David Tracy, Justus Ferris, Joseph Adams, Percy Kitchell and John C. Walker, five in number. The lodge had no fixed location, but met at the member's houses. The lodge for the three years it remained without a permanent location, had considerable prosperity; many of the prominent citizens of the county becoming member, either by initiation of affiliation. Among the more prominent are the names of Calvin Kinsley, Chandler Huntington, Erasmus Powell, Abel Cole, William Hawkins, Nathan Johnson, William Goodrich, William Little, and others. This charter was surrendered, and a new charter issued under date of November 25, 1828, constituting Erasmus Powell, W. M .; Josiah Reed, S. W., and Nathan Johnson, J. W., requiring the communications of the lodge to be held alternately at Hanover and Shelbyville, still retaining its original name and number. Under this arrangement the lodge for several years more seemed to pros- per, and other prominent citizens became members, among whom are the names of the following brethren, viz .: Austin W. Morris, Amaziah Williams, Matthias Vanpelt, Harmon Updegraff, Jacob Rice, Richard S. Cummins, and William Hacker. At the semi-
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annual election held on the 4th day of July, 1835, the following officers were elected, to-wit: William Hacker, W. M .; James Lisher, S. W .; Harmon Updegraff, J. W .; William Goodrich, Treasurer: John Walker, Secretary: Chandler Huntington, S. D .; Joseph Thrasher, J. D .. and John Stout, Tyler.
In consequence of having to keep up what really amounted to two organizations, one in Hanover, and the other at Shelbyville, it soon became evident that the lodge would have to dissolve its then existing organization. Accordingly on the 25th of June, 1836, by formal resolution, the charter was surrendered to the Grand Lodge, which, however, was never called for by the Grand Lodge, but re- mained in the hands of the then W. M., William Hacker, until the meeting of the Grand Lodge in 1845, when the Grand Lodge granted permission to the lodge to reorganize and resume labor. At the communication of the Grand Lodge in 1845, application for a restoration of the charter was made which was granted, and the location of the lodge permanently fixed at Shelbyville. From this time forth the lodge has met with much prosperity, and good suc- cess has attended its labors. The following were the petitioners for the re-organization of the lodge, to-wit: Stephen D. Ludlow, William Hacker, James Elliott, William W. McCoy, Jacob Rice, Woodville Browning, Jesse Smith, John Morrison, Nathaniel Teal, and Harmon Updegraff. May 26. 1852, the Grand Lodge changed the title from Lafayette Lodge No. 28, to that of Shelby Lodge No. 28, under which the lodge is still successfully at work, and now numbers 152 members. This lodge has furnished two Grand Mas- ters of Indiana, two Grand High Priests and two Eminent Grand Commanders.
William Hacker Lodge, U. D., dated January 3, 1867, was lo- cated at the city of Shelbyville, Shelby County, upon the petition of Thomas F. Kirk, William M. Parrish, Joseph L. Irwin, William F. Mason, Daniel J. Shaw, John S. Tevis and David L. Conrey. June 3, 1867, the lodge was regularly constituted under charter dated May 29, 1867, as William Hacker Lodge No. 360; Brother Jesse K. Jameson being appointed W. M .; William F. Green, S. W., and John Messick, J. W. This lodge, though the youngest of the family of Masonic organizations, in Shelby County, numbered thirty-six members in 1871. This lodge was subsequently merged in the parent lodge, Shelby Lodge No. 28, under date of June II, 1879.
Higher Degree Organizations .- In addition to these several lodge organizations which have grown out of the original lodge, organized January 7, 1825, the following Masonic organizations have sprung up, all of which are located at Shelbyville, Ind., and
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are faithfully at work carrying out the objects of their organizations. First: Shelby Chapter No. 20, of Roval Arch Masons, organized: U. D., dated April 2, 1851, upon the petition of William Hacker, Fabins M. Finch. Henry B. Hill, Cyrus N. Williams, Jacob W. Mills, John W. Sullivan, Samuel White, Daniel Shew, James Elliott, Danief Mowrer, Joseph L. Silcox, and Benjamin J. Irwin, compan- ions: William Hacker being appointed H. P .: James Elliott, K .; and Daniel Shew, S. The Chapter received its charter under date of May 24, 1851, with companion William Hacker, H. P .; Cyrus Wright, K., and Andrew Selman, S., and was regularly constituted June 5. 1851. This chapter has never faltered in her work, for the thirty-six years of her existence. The Chapter now numbers seventy-nine members. Second: Shelby Council No. 3, of Roval and Select Masters, first organized U. D. from the Grand Master of Ohio, under date of August 31, 1855, upon the petition of William Hacker, Jacob E. Houser, John D. Defrees, Moses Wolff, Max Gasser, Theodore Bullard, George F. Henning, John S. Bobbs, and Charles Fisher. Under date of October 18, 1855, a charter was issued by authority of the Grand Council of Ohio, con- stituting companions William Hacker, T. I. G. M .; Cyrus Wright, Dep. I. G. M., and Eden H. Davis, P. C. W. The Council was regularly constituted under charter, on the 10th day of November, 1855, by Companion Loring R. Brownell, acting as Special Deputy for the M. P. Grand Master of Ohio. This Council participated in the organization of the Grand Council of Indiana, on the 20th day of December. 1855, at which time it received its present " No. 3," on the registry of the Grand Council, and now numbers thirty-five members. Third, Baldwin Commandry No. 2, K. T. This Com- mandry was first organized on the 25th of March, 1851, at the town of Greensburg. Decatur County, Ind., under the title of Greensburg Commandry U. D. from M. E. William Blackstone Hubbard, G. G., Master of Knights Templars. of the United States, dated January 5, 1851. The original petitioners were: James McIlroy William Hacker, William F. Pidgeon, William Crawford, George Hibben, Jacob E. Houser, M. V. Simonson, John W. Sul- livan, Homer T. Hinman, Burris Moore, and John S. Scobey. Under date of September 19, 1853. a charter was issued appointing Jacob E. Houser, E C .: Israel T. Gibson, G., and John S. Scobey, C. G. This Commandry participated in the formation of the Grand Commandry of Indiana, when it received its present "No. 2," on the registry of the Grand Commandry, and continued its labors with varying success until the 30th of June, 1860, when its mem- bers ceased to meet, and the organization became dissolved. Upon the petition of Sir Knights Thomas Pattison, William Allen, Jacob
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Vernon, Thomas H. Lynch, Daniel Stewart, Barton W. Wilson, James Gavin, Putnam Ewing, Jacob V. Berensdaffer, Will C. Cumback, James Elliott, Robert Cones, and John Elliot, Sir William Hacker, as Grand Commander, authorized the transfer of the Commandry to Shelbyville, Ind., and on the 18th day of March, 1865, the Commandry was re-organized at Shelbyville. The Com- mandry subsequently received from the Grand Commandry of Indiana, a new charter, and under date of April 4, 1866, the title of the Commandry was changed to Baldwin Commandry No. 2, and its permanent location fixed at Shelbyville, Ind .; since which time the organization of the Commandry has been eminently a success, and now numbers sixty-two members.
Knights of Pythias. - The order of Knights of Pythias became represented in Shelby County by the institution of Chillon Lodge on the 23rd day of September, 1885. The charter mem- bers of this lodge were: P. C. Akers, Dr. J. N. Lucas, Charles P. Hall, Judge K. M. Hood, Edward H. Chadwick, Robert W. Harrison, David L. Wilson, Joseph H. Akers, Robert B. Hale, James E. Walker, Lester Clark, Taylor Winterrowd, Henry Friday, J. Edward Baggs, 'David B. Wilson, Ernest Mueller, George H. Dunn, Frank Roth, John J. Wingate, James Magill, Richard D. Flaitz, John N. Whitehead, Christ. Steinhouser, Milton R. Senour.
The first set of officers were: Past Chancellor, P. C. Akers; Chancellor Commander, J. N. Lucas; Vice Chancellor, David L. Wilson; Prelate, Taylor Winterrowd; Keeper of Records and Seal, E. H. Chadwick; Master of Finance, George H. Dunn; Master of Exchequer, James H. Akers; Master at Arms, Milton R. Senour; in Rear Guard, Robert B. Hale. The Lodge was named from Chillon Castle, in Lake Geneva, suggested by the incidents celebrated by Byron in his poem, "The Prisoner of Chillon." The Lodge has grown in two years from twenty-three to over one hundred members. On the Sth day of November, 1886, Navarre Lodge 159, was instituted at Morristown with thirty charter mem- bers, among whom were: Messrs. T. C. Wrenwick, William F. and George Handy, Dr. Williams Pierson, Prof. E. T. J. Gordon, M. C. Burt, George Spurrier, and Isaac Kaufman. The lodge now numbers over seventy members, and is rapidly growing. On the 22nd day of August, 1887, a third lodge was instituted in the county, at Fountaintown, with about thirty charter members, among whom were: Dr. William M. Pierson, Prof. E. T. J. Gordon, Cyrus Fountain, David and Isaac Sexton, W. H. Buckingham, John W. Draper, Isaac Inlow, Marion Avers and Prof. Jordan, Jr. On the 23rd day of June, 1887, Chillon Division No. 37, Uniform
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Rank Knights Pythias was instituted with thirty charter members, among whom were the following persons : M. R. Senour, Chris. Steinhouser, Robert B. Hale, Clinton Nelyt, George W. Michel- son, E. II. Chadwick, John S. Ferris, Robert W. Harrison, J. C. Akers, David B. Wilson, John N. Whitehead, James E. Walker, A. H. McAhren, John W. and Henry Friday, Albert Arzet, Otto Deigler, B. F. Swain, James Barnett, Frederick Horst, F. W. Mohr, Charles H. Wood, Harry Clark and others. The order is growing rapidly in numbers and in popular favor in the county and State, numbering over 200 in the county, and over 10,000 in the State. It is now in its early years of growth, but is recognized as one of the three leading orders of the world, and is wielding an influence for good wherever its tenets are published.
Fulton Lodge No. 30, A. O. U. I., was organized in 1877, with the following charter members: Solomon Auerbach, Francis Flaitz, D. B. Wilson, J. B. Springer, Robert Montgomery, John C. Edwards. Frederick Stephan, W. H. Colescott, John T. Grier, A. V. Robbins, Royal Jennings and A. A. Louch, a total of twelve. Since that time the members have increased until it now has on the roll forty-five names, among which are some of the foremost citi- zens of the town. The present officers are: Master Workman, C. S. Fleming: General Foreman, George Schæpfel; Overseer, Frederick Stephan; Recorder, C. K. Bryan; Receiver, J. H. Mc- Guire; Financier, L. F. Bokering: Guide, William H. Bassett; Inside and Outside Watchman, Jacob Stephan and Henry Gathman.
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