USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 49
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CLINTON STASER, attorney at law, was timely death of Pres. Garfield prevented born January 15, 1842, in Scott township,
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
this county, and is the son of John C. and Margaret (Clinton) Staser, the well-known pioneers. His boyhood was spent upon the farm, and his early mental training obtained in the district schools of the neighborhood. Coming to the city, he pursued a course of study in the school of Prof. Knight, and later attended the commercial college of Jeremiah Behme. Determining to fit him- self for the practice of the law, he began his professional studies in the office of Peter Maier, and was admitted to practice in 1868, since which time he has been an honored and successful practitioner. His practice has been of a general character, but important probate and mercantile busi- ness has chiefly engaged his attention. In 1870 he was married to Miss Clarissa Willey, of Delaware, Ohio. To this union seven children have been born. Mr. and Mrs. Staser are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church.
rudiments of his education, eagerly seizing upon every opportunity afforded by the then imperfect schools of his locality. At fifteen years of age he found himself wholly de- pendent upon his own efforts for what he most desired -- an education. At the uni- versity he defrayed his expenses by work- ing as a janitor; a commendable thing this was, for the dignity of honorable labor and the delights of a cultivated intellect are rec- ognized by all. It was impossible for him to begin the practice of his profession immediately after his graduation. He taught school in Pike, Gibson and Warrick counties until 1872, when he entered upon the practice of law at Vincennes. After two years he removed to Petersburgh, Ind., and from there, in 1883, came to Evansville. Here he has attained a degree of success such as his zeal and ability have warranted. He was married in 1869 to Miss Anna Min- nis, of Gibson county, who was born in 1850, and is the father of two children, Mattie A. and Oscar W. He and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church.
WESLEY S. HURST, attorney at law, was born in Dubois county, Ind., November 9, 1846. His father, Ira Hurst, a Virginian, now resides in Gibson county at a ripe old age. His mother, Phoebe (Brenton ) PHILIP W. FREY, attorney at law, is a native of Evansville, having been born in this city July 9, 1857. His parents, Louis and Rosalie Frey, were natives of Austria and Alsace, France, respectively. His father emigrated to the United States in 1847, and nine years later came to Vanderburgh county. He has always been known as a respectable and worthy citizen. He was educated in the public schools of the city, passing through all the grades and graduating from the high school in 1874. Immediately thereafter he began the study of law under the direction of Judge Azro Dyer, and three years later, being admitted to the bar of Vanderburgh county, began the active prac- tice of his profession. His success from the Hurst, was a native of Dubois county, and died there in 1847. He was reared on his father's farm until fifteen years of age, at which time he went to work in a printing of- fice at Jasper, Ind., with a view of learning the printer's trade. He had been there but a short time when he decided to join the Union army. He enlisted as a drummer boy in Company E, Fifty-eighth Indiana in- fantry, and, after a year's service, was hon- orably discharged, because of physical disability. Upon his return home, he en- tered the State University at Bloomington, where he continued until 1868, when he was graduated in both the departments of litera- ture and law. In the early years of his boy- hood he had struggled hard for the beginning of his career was assured. The
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BENCH AND BAR.
democratic party nominated him in 1882, making rapid advancement. He was then and again in 1884, for the office of prose- matriculated at Asbury University (now cuting attorney for the first judicial district, DePauw College), at Greencastle, Ind., composed of Posey and Vanderburgh coun- where he graduated with the class of 1869. ties, to which office he was elected for two ; Returning to Russelville, Ky., he began the terms. At the expiration of his official career he again turned his entire attention to his private law practice, which, through a steady increase, has attained gratify- ing proportions. Mr. Frey is a young man with nearly the whole of his life's work before him. The accomplishments of the past indicate for him a bright future. He was married in December, 1886, to Miss Hattie Loewenthal, of Leavenworth, Kas.
WILLIAM M. BLAKEY, attorney at law, was born on a farm in Logan county Ky., April 21, 1849, being the son of George T. and Sarah E. (McLean) Blakey, people well and favorably known in the locality where they long resided. His youth was spent upon the farm in the monotonous pur- suits common to farm lads. His elementary mental training was obtained at the public schools of Oldfield, a place in his native county. At the age of eighteen years he entered Bethel College at Russelville, Ky., where he pursued his studies for two years, occurred in November, 1879.
study of law, having for his instructor the eminent Judge R. C. Bowling. At the same time the zealous law student enjoyed the benefit of a course of lectures at the Law School in Louisville, Ky., in the winter of 1870-I. In November, 1871, he came to Evansville and at once began the practice of his profession, spending four years in the office of Judge Azro Dyer, and continuing to the present time with marked success. His public spirit has caused him to play a prominent part in local politics. His affilia- tions have been with the republican party. From 1880 to 1884, he served as chairman of the county central committee and much of the success achieved by the party was due to the skill of his management and the devotion of his services. In 1873 he be- came a Mason, and in 1877, a Knight Tem- plar, and has always occupied a high position in his lodges. His marriage to Miss Carrie McDonald, of New Albany, Ind.,
CHAPTER XII.
SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS -FREE MASONRY -- ODD FELLOWSHIP - KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS - ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN -ROYAL ARCANUM - KNIGHTS OF HONOR - OTHER SECRET ORDERS - BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS, ETC.
ICERO declared that " fraternity im- | home, where only brethren of the mystic proves happiness, abates misery, doubles our joy and divides our grief." The fundamental principles of the secret so- cieties now existing in this city tend to the accomplishment of these results of fraternal association. Benevolence, charity and mercy mark their work; and among their objects are the subjugation of man's perverse will and passions to discretion and prudence, and the elevation of character, by directing the performance of noble and unselfish deeds. They are adapted to modern life and habits; their creeds are predicated upon an enlight- ened and liberal public sentiment ; their pur- poses and aims find a spontaneous approval among prudent people, and their teachings are consistent with the highest order of morality. Their benign influence reaches into number- less homes, arouses the noblest instincts in man's nature, purifies and betters society. The history attempted here is local and a general record of any order is not under- taken.
Secret Societies: Free Masonry .- In early days-prior to 1817-the states of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky formed one grand jurisdiction. This amount of territory could not be overlooked by the grand officers as its need demanded; hence, on December 30, 1817, a grand lodge exclusively for the state of Indiana was formed. When Evans- ville was a small town of a few hundred in- habitants, there were a number of resident Masons who were anxious for a Masonic
tie were permitted to be present, and say: " Behold how good and how pleasant for brothers to dwell together in unity." Early in 1819, a number of Master Masons organ- ized and asked the grand lodge of Indiana to grant them a dispensation. This was done by the grand master with the name of Olive Branch, U. D. A regular charter was granted September 15, 1819, by Alex- ander A. Meeks, grand master, and the lodge was known as Olive Branch, lodge No. 10, with Jay Morehouse worshipful master; William Olmstead, senior warden, and Amos Clark, junior warden. The meetings of the lodge were held in the fourth story of the warehouse on the corner of Water and Locust streets, owned and used by Shanklin & Reilly. The craft moved forward in the even tenor of its way for many years, but in 1833 the charter was surrendered. For fifteen years there was no lodge of Master Masons in the city. In 1847 Evansville became a city; her popu- lation had increased rapidly. Masons from Kentucky and other states had moved in and were here in sufficient numbers to form a lodge. This they determined to do, and on the 3d day of April, 1848, the following brethren joined in a petition to the grand master of the state asking for a dispensa- tion: Rev. C. A. Foster, John C. Hibbard, James T. Walker, Nathan Rowley, P. G. O'Riley, Alva Farnsworth and Richard Patridge, all of whom, except Rev. C. A.
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SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS.
Foster, are now dead. Their request was granted by the grand master, who ap- pointed Rev. C. A. Foster to be the first W. M .; John C. Hibbard, first S. W .: and James T. Walker, first J. W .; P. G. O'Riley acting as secretary.
The following May 28, the grand lodge granted a charter, which was signed by Elizur Deming, grand master. The title bestowed was Evansville Lodge, No. 64, F. and A. M. The lodge has been continu- ously at work from its organization to the present time, steadily increasing its member- ship. Many hundreds have been admitted to its secret circle, but by deaths, removals, and the formation of two other lodges -- Reed Lodge, No. 316, and Lessing Lodge, No. 464-its membership is at present a little over 100. A number of its . mem- bers have been attached to the lodge for over thirty years. The following gen- tlemen have officiated as chief executive or worshipful master: Rev. C. A. Foster, 1848; James T. Walker, 1849; W. Hubbell, I850, '51, '52; D. A. Farnsley, 1853, '54; W. A. McRea, 1855, '56; William Hubbell, 1857, '58, '59; Wm. E. Hollingsworth, 1860, '61, '62, '63; T. W. Simpson, 1864; Alex Sharra, 1865; I. Haas, 1866, '68, '72, '74, '75, '79 and 'So; George W. Shearer, 1867 and '73; C. H. Butterfield, 1869, '70, '71; George Burch, 1876; A. J. McCutchan, 1877; John Foulks, 1878; W. F. Epmeier, ISSI; J. L. Dow, 1882; Otis Wood, 1883; M. Moran, 1884; Jacob G. Kountz, 1885; Alex Crawford, 1886, '87, 'SS.
Evansville Lodge, No. 64, held its first meeting in the room previously occupied by Olive Branch Lodge, in Shanklin & Reilly's warehouse, on the corner of Locust and Walnut streets, where the tobacco ware- house of White, Dunkerson & Co. now stands. Subsequently they removed to a large hall in the third story of Judge M. W.
Foster's building, on the corner of Main and First streets. This lodge room was prepared expressly for Masonic purposes, and the craft remained in it for many years. Later the lodge removed to the fourth story of William H. Klausman's building on Main, between Second and Third streets, where they remained for several years. At length the membership desired more con- venient and commodious quarters. When the Merchants' National bank was about to erect a magnificent bank building on the corner of Main and First streets, a commit- tee was appointed to confer with the bank directors, having in view the occupancy of the third story by the Masonic fraternity of the city, which at that time consisted of two blue lodges and a royal arch chapter. This committee did its work well; the lodges took a lease of ten years and occupied it several years after the expiration of the lease. In 1887, when James L. Orr was erecting his commodious building on the corner of Locust and Second streets, the fraternity felt that their increase in membership and the addition of Simpson council and La Valette commandery, necessitated additional rooms. A committee from the commandery was ap- pointed to confer with Mr. Orr, with a view of leasing the entire third story of the new building for Masonic and other purposes, which was finally accomplished. All the bodies of the Masonic order use these apart- ments, and are to be congratulated upon having the finest lodge quarters in the state. There are separate rooms for the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery, all conveniently arranged and handsomely fur- nished throughout. Elegant parlors, a spa- cious banquet hall, kitchen, etc., add to the completeness of the quarters.
Reed Lodge, F. & A. M .- In 1865 a number of brethren who had not united with Evansville Lodge, No. 64, wished to form a
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FREE MASONRY.
new lodge. To this arrangement Evans- ville lodge gave its hearty consent. A petition was prepared by Dr. I. Haas, the master of Evansville lodge, and J. II. Carlin, and the names of fourteen Master Masons were subscribed. Upon this the grand master issued a dispensation and appointed Rev. Samuel Reed, worshipful master; W. J. Hargrave, senior warden, and R. H. Cooke, junior warden, with the title of Reed Lodge, U. D. On the 30th of May, 1866, the grand lodge granted a charter to Reed Lodge, No. 316. This lodge has prospered and now numbers over 100 members.
The chief executives, or worshipful mas- ters, have been: Rev. Samuel Reed, I865-6; W. J. Hargrave, 1866-7; T. W. Simpson, 1867; W. E. Hollingsworth, 1868; Alex Sharra, 1869; G. H. Fish, 1870; G. N. Wells, 1871 and 1873; J. W. Barbour, 1872; John J. Hays, 1874; J. S. Turner, 1875, part 1884; A. C. Isaacs, 1876, 1880, and part 1884; William M. Blakey, 1877; II. A. Mattison, 1878; W. N. Webb, 1879; J. W. Irwin, ISSI; S. W. Douglas, 1882, 'S3, 'SS; J. W. Walker, IS85; T. W. Summers, ISS6; Herman Engle, ISS7.
Lessing Lodge, No. 464 .- On July 9, 1872, a number of Master Masons who were Germans, desiring to have a lodge of their own, took demits from Evansville lodge, No. 64, for the purpose of working in the Ger- man language. They were P. Nonweiler, William Koch, Harry Joseph, F. S. Zum- stein, Fred Hoffman, Julius Kahn, Jacob Bopp, H. W. Elmendorf, G. L. Altwater, Christian Kratz, D. Heilman, S. J. Lowen- stein, Phillip Klein, Rev. C. L. C. Runck, Samuel Meyer and William Pretorius. A dispensation was granted on the 7th day of December, 1872, by Christian Felta, grand master, who appointed Rev. C. L. C. Runck as the first W. M .; Samuel J. Loewenstein, S. W .; G. L. Altwater, J. W. illustrious
These members having done their work in a satisfactory manner to the grand lodge, were granted a charter May 27th, 1873, numbered 464. The present membership is sixty-three. The chief executives, or worshipful masters of this lodge have been: Rev. C. L. C. Runck, 1874, '75: Fred Hoff- man, 1876; G. L. Altwater, 1877, '78; P. Nonweiler, 1879; Jacob Graul, ISSo; K. L. Back, ISS1; Ch. Yung, 1882; S. J. Loew- enstein, 1885; Herman Wilde, IS83, '84, 86, '87 and '88.
Evansville Chapter, No. 12, Royal Arch Masons, was established April 25, 1848,- first officers : Rev. Colley A. Foster, H. P .; Edmund H. Hopkins, K .; Solomon Rath- bone, S .; James T. Walker, C. of H .; Moses Ross, P. S .; Peter Sharpe, R. A. C .; Ben- jamin F. Dupuy, Ist G. M. V .; John D. An- derson, 2nd G. M. V .; William Soaper, 3d G. M. V. The chapter has been prosperous from its inception to the present time. Its accessions have been of the best material, and its present general condition is good, financially, socially, and Masonically, having during recent years added many excellent members. Col. Charles H. Butterfield has attained the rank of P. G. II. P. and P. G. I. M. of C. Major HI. A. Mattison is at present high priest.
Simpson Council, No. 23, R. & S. M., was instituted May 21, 1867. Its first offi- cers were: George H. Fish, illustrious mas- ter; W. E. Hollingsworth, deputy illustrious master; Alexander Sharra, P. C. of W .; Charles H. Butterfield, C. of G .; A. J. Col- burn, recorder; T. W. Simpson, sentinel. Those who have served as illustrious mas- ter at different times are: George H. Fish, Alexander Sharra, Charles H. Butterfield, T. W. Simpson, A. C. Isaacs, Charles H. Roberts and Chester H. Chubb. The present officers are: Chester H. Chubb, master; H. A. Mattison,
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SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS.
deputy illustrious master; Andrew J. Mc- Cutchan, P. C. of W .; Franz R. Caden, treasurer: Henry J. Clark, recorder; M. N. Ross, C. of G .; J. S. Avery, sentinel. Total number of members at present, 96; the council is in excellent condition in every respect.
La Valette Commandery, No. 15, K. T .- Templar Masonry is considered the highest branch of York Rite Masonry; the order of the Temple, or Knights Templar being the highest of this rite. A dispensation was granted by the grand commander of the state on March, 14, 1868. A convention of Knights Templar was held at the Masonic hall March 16, of the same year, presided over by the grand commander of the state. A commandery of Knights Templar was opened in due form, and La Valette commandery was organized under dispensa- tion, closing on the 19th with twenty-four charter members, consisisting of many of the prominent men of the city. A charter was granted April 8, 1868, by the grand commandery of the state of Indiana. On the 17th of the same month the following offi- cers were elected: Sir George H. Fish, eminent commander; Sir James T. Walker, generalissimo; Sir J. Blythe Hynes, captain- general; Sir William E. Hollingsworth, pre- late: Sir Charles H. Butterfield, senior warden; Sir James F. Welborn, junior warden; Sir W. E. Hollingsworth, treasurer; Sir Andrew J. Colburn, recorder. The growth of this body of Masonry was slow for the first six years of its organization. In 1874 new interest was taken in the commandery, and the members worked in earnest, show- ing at the end of that year a large increase in its membership. This interest has been kept up until the present time, having con- ferred the orders of knighthood upon over 200, closing with a membership of 136 on January 1, 1889. The sir knights, members
of this commandery, who have filled the office of eminent commander are as follows : Em. Sir George H. Fish, 1868 to 1873 in- clusive; Rt. E. Sir E. W. Patrick, 1874, 1875, 1877, and 1879; Em. Sir C. H. But- terfield, 1876: Em. Sir William E. Hollings- worth, 1878; Em. Sir H. A. Mattison, 1880; Em. Sir William M. Blakey, ISSI; Em. Sir George N. Wells, 1882 and 1883; Em. Sir J. W. Walker, 1884; Em. Sir S. W. Doug- las, 1885; Em. Sir E. B. Morgan, 1886; Em. Sir E. P. Huston, 1887 and ISSS. The present officers are as follows: Sir Cicero Buchanan, eminent commander; Sir W. S. Pollard, generalissimo; Sir Moses N. Ross, captain general; Sir Charles Morris, prelate; Sir Simeon Joseph, senior warden; Sir W. D. Ewing, junior warden; Sir L. M. Baird, treasurer; Sir Herman Engel, re- corder. The Masonic fraternity now occupy the third story of the Masonic block on the corner of Second and Locust streets, and their appartments are considered the finest and best arranged in the state. The com- mandery is in a flourishing condition, and stands at the head of the list of command- eries in this grand jurisdiction. Eminent Sir E. W. Patrick is past grand commander of the state of Indiana.
Centennial Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, was organized in 1876, and worked successfully for a time, but at length sur- rendered its charter. The leading spirits of the chapter were: Mr. and Mrs. David Schofield, Col. and Mrs. C. H. Butterfield, Capt. and Mrs. A. J. McCutchan, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Chubb and others.
McFarland Lodge (colored Masons) .- This lodge is the result of a consolidation of Liberty and Olive Branch lodges, which, beginning about 1866, worked for some ten years. Those chiefly instrumental in estab- lishing Masonry among the colored people l in this city were: Albert Shannon, Rev.
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ODD FELLOWSHIP.
Green McFarland, Adam Rouse, J. J. John- son, Abner Cloud, John Banks and A. W. Finley. Named in honor of Rev. Green McFarland, the lodge now working was established in September, 1876. It has been very prosperous, its present membership being fifty-six. Its worshipful masters have been: G. G. Robinson, Rev. G. McFarland, Rev. Dennis Rouse, Anthony Garnett, and Lewis Anderson.
Pythagoras Lodge, No. II (colored Masons), was organized with thirty-one charter members in 1887. Edward James and Nathaniel Allen were the chief instru- ments in founding it. Its first, and present, officers are: Rush Carr, W. M .: John Neville, S. W .; George Austin, J. W .; W. A. Rucker, Sec .; B. York, Treas.
Odd Fellowship. - The establishment of the I. O. O. F. in Evansville, occurred in 1839. For a few years prior to that date some members of the order had come here on the tide of immigration set in motion by the good times incident to the adoption of the state's internal improvement system in 1835-6. Among those who were instru- mental in introducing Odd Fellowship into the community was William Wandell, but it does not seem that he was a member of the first lodge chartered. Christian Decker, now over eighty years of age, and a very prominent citizen, was concerned in awaken- ing the first desire for a lodge among the few Odd Fellows then here. But for about forty years past Mr. Decker has not been actively associated with the order. The first charter was granted to nine members, and from that time to the present, a constant increase has taken place until now there are about 600 Odd Fellows in the city. The lodges are in a flourishing condition, their aggregate available resources being about $12,000. At first the growth of the order was very slow, and from time
to time serious reverses were met, but when once a sure foothold was obtained the growth of the order was never allowed to be checked. The early meetings were held in the second story of a frame building standing where the Marble hall now is, in the lower room of which was Griffith's hardware store. After a five years' occu- pancy of this place the lodge room was moved to an old house belonging to Nathan Rowley, Esq., upon the present site of the Merchant's National Bank. Entrance to the lodge room was gained by ascending a flight of stairs constructed on the outside of the building, passing through a door in the gable much like a trap door. Later meetings were held in a hall, on the corner of Locust and Water streets, long since torn away. Eight years were spent in these quarters, and then for twenty years a hall on the southwest corner of First and Main streets was occupied. By this time the member- ship had largely increased, new lodges had been formed and more suitable quarters were necessary. A handsome building was erected on the corner of Vine and First streets, which cost, exclusive of the lot, upwards of $40,000. Morning Star Lodge held $16,000 stock in the building, and Crescent and Schiller lodges, $7,000 each. The building was heavily mortgaged, and in ISSo was sold at public auction to D. J. Mackey for $32.000.00. It was occupied by the order for eight years, and was de- stroyed by fire some years after its sale. Prior to ISSo all lodges used the same hall. Since that date the present hall at the corner of Main and Fifth streets has been used by the older lodges. It is 90x24 feet, comfort- ably and handsomely furnished, and well fitted for a lodge room. Some lodges are accommodated in other parts of the city more convenient to their members.
Morning Star Lodge, No. 7 was instituted
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SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS.
December 4, 1839. The charter members were: Robert W. Dunbar, Joseph H. Phelps, F. C. Gwathney, G. W. L. White, C. M. Griffith, William Morrison, T. G. Thurston, H. C. Gwathney, and Christian Decker. The first officers were: F. C. Gwathney, N. G .; G. W. L. White, V. G .; H. C. Gwathney, secretary; and C. M. Griffith, treasurer. The present membership num- bers 106, and the present officers are : Charles Green, N. G .; William Hacker, V. G .; D. B. Norcross, secretary, and James Darling, treasurer. More than 100 noble grands have presided over the workings of this lodge, among them many of Evansville's most prominent citizens, such as James E. Blythe, H. Q. Wheeler, Judge James Lock- | hart, Charles D. Bourne, F. C. Good- sell, Thomas W. Thurston, James G. Jones, William H. Chandler, Joseph P. Elliott, Levi L. Laycock, Philip Hornbrook, Joseph E. Turnock, John F. Glover, Edward Ta- bor, Cyrus K. Drew, William Warren, James C. McAlpin, Pembroke Wiltshire, and many others. Joseph E. Turnock's fidelity to Odd Fellowship is probably without a parallel, and deserves mention in connection with the history of this lodge. In England, his native country, fifty-six years ago, he became an Odd Fellow, and has ever since been devoted to the order. He has attended his own and other lodges not less than 8,250 times. Now, and for forty years past, he has been entrusted with the care and su- pervision of the halls.
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