USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > History of the city of Evansville and Vanderburg County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 42
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taught no one knows, but that there were Masons among them has been proven without any doubt.
Odd Fellowship comes next in point of age. Without going into detail about its history, it began in this city in 1839 when the first charter was granted to nine members.
Masonry began here in 1819 with Alex A. Meeks as grand master, Jay Morehaus as worshipful master, William Olmstead as senior warden, and Amos Clark as junior warden. They met in the fourth story of the warehouse at the corner of Water and Locust streets, used by Shanklin and Reilly. In 1832 the lodge surrendered its charter and for fifteen years there was no Masonic lodge here. When the town was changed to a city in 1847 another lodge of Masons was founded, on April 3, 1848. They petitioned the Grand Master for a dispensation and Evansville lodge (No. 64) was established. It must be remembered that in the early days before 1817 Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky were all in one grand jurisdiction but the grand officers could not give the proper attention to so large a territory and that was why the first lodge (Olive Branch) was started here. After 1847 of which I have spoken, the first great increase in the population of Evansville became noticed and many strangers who came here were Ma- sons from Kentucky and other states. Those asking for dispensations were. Rev. C. A. Foster, John C. Hibbard, James T. Walker, Nathan Raleigh, P. G. O'Riley, A. Farnsworth, and Richard Patridge. So it will be seen that quite a number of our pioneer citizens were Masons. The following gentlemen have been worshipful masters since that day: Rev. C. A. Fos- ter, James T. Walker, W. Gubbell, D. A. Farnsley, W. A. McRea, William Hubbell, William E. Hollingsworth, T. W. Simpson, Ellis Sharra, Issaah Haas, George W. Shearer, C. H. Butterfield, George Burch, A. J. Mc- Cutchan, John Foulks, W. F. Epmeir, D. L. Dowl, Otis Wood, M. Moran, Jacob K. Koruntz, Alex Crawford.
This lodge afterwards removed to the third story of Judge Foster's building at the corner of Main and First streets and a lodge room was prepared especially for Masonic purposes where the craft remained for many years. Later they removed to the fourth story of William H. Klausmann's building on Main between Second and Third streets. The membership kept increasing and more commodious quarters were needed, so when the Merchants' National Bank which is the building now occupied by the Weil Brothers, and formerly the Merchants' National Bank, was erected, a committee was appointed with a view to taking the third story for the Masons. They succeeded in getting a lease for ten years and oc- cupied it for several years after the expiration of the lease. When Mr. James L. Orr in 1887 erected his beautiful building at the corner of Lo- cust and Second, the Masons approached him and succeeded in leasing the entire third story, which was fitted up in a special manner for their use. They had separate rooms for the Blue lodge, Chapter, Council and Com- mandery. They also had elegant parlors and spacious banquet halls and
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a kitchen. It was only recently that they saw, as noted elsewhere, an op- portunity to buy the beautiful Cumberland church at the corner of Chest- nut and Second, where they are now quartered in one of the most hand- some Masonic temples in the country. Reed lodge grew out of the order in 1865 and was composed of a number of brethren who had not been con- nected with the Evansville lodge and who wished to form a new one. To this the old lodge consented and a petition was prepared by Dr. Haas and J. H. Carlin, and 14 master masons subscribed. The grand master issued a dispensation and appointed Rev. Samuel Ried worshipful master, W. C. Hargrave, senior warden; H. Koch, junior warden. Their charter was granted in May, 1866. The worshipful masters of Reed lodge have been, Rev. Samuel Ried, W. C. Hargrave, T. W. Simpson, W. C. Hollings- worth, Ellis Shearer, G. H. Fish, G. N. Wells, J. W. Barbour, John J. Hays, J. S. Turner, A. C. Isaacs, William M. Blakey, H. A. Mattison, W. N. Webb, J. W. Erwin, S. W. Douglass, T. W. Summers, Herman Engle.
Lessing Lodge No. 64 was composed almost entirely of Germans who took their demits from Evansville lodge for the purpose of working in the German language. The dispensation was granted in 1872. The worshipful masters have been Rev. Carl Runch, Fred Hoffman, K. L. Altwater, P. Nonweiler, J. Garaul, K. L. Back, Christ Yung, S. J. Loewenstein, Her- man Wilde.
Evansville Chapter Royal Arch Masons was established April 25, 1848. It has been very successful and has taken into its ranks some of the very best material in the city. Col. Charles H. Butterfield attained high rank, as did also Major H. A. Mattison.
Simpson council was instituted May 21, 1867. The different illustrious masters have been, George H. Fish, Alexander Sheara, Charles H. But- terfield, P. W. Simpson, A. C. Isaacs, Charles H. Robarts, Chester H. Chubb.
La Valette Commandery No. 19, Knights Templar was granted a dis- pensation on March 14, 1868. The Knights Templar of course are a high branch of the York rite, the order of Temple being the highest of this rite. This commandery was organized with twenty-four members con- sisting of some of the most prominent men in the city, who have been mentioned several times above. For the first six years of its organiza- tion, its progress was slow but in 1874 new interest was taken and a very large increase in membership was shown. The eminent commanders have been George H. Fish, E. W. Patrick, C. H. Butterfield, William E. Hol- lingsworth, H. C. Mattison, William M. Blakey, George M. Wells, H. W. Walker, S. W. Douglass, E. T. Morgan, E. P. Hewson.
Otis Wood, Wm. Moran, J. G. Koung, Alex Crawford, David Scho- field, J. W. Smith, David Schofield, Fred Herbert, H. A. Walker, W. H. Greer, Jessie Weil, Fred Berbert, Johas H. Smith, Carl C. Lavery, John C. McPhillips, James H. Gossage, Thos. A. Swift, George Lindsay, H. H.
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Eldridge, Arthin E. Brown, Edward R. Smith, John G. Wingerten, Lin- van L. Wood, Edw. A. Torrance, Wm. G. Downs.
ODD FELLOWSHIP.
As stated, Odd Fellowship was started in Evansville in 1839. There had drifted in quite a number of Odd Fellows in good standing and among them were William Wandell and Christian Decker, one of the old pioneers of the city. He had not been actively associated with the order for some forty years. The first charter granted them was to only nine members but it has grown very fast after the bad luck which seemed to attend them at their start. They held their first meetings in Griffith's hardware store which was where Marble hall now stands and then removed to Nathan Raleigh's house at the corner of First and Main. This was not a very en- ticing place, as entrance had to be made by ascending a flight of stairs on the outside of the building and passing through a door in the gable, which was much like a trap door. Afterwards they held meetings in a hall at the corner of Locust and Water, which was their lodge room for eight years, until it was torn away. Then for twenty years they occupied a hall on the southwest corner of Main and First. The membership kept in- creasing until a handsome building was put up at the corner of Vine and First, where I. Gans' store now stands. It cost, exclusive of the lot, some $50,000. Two of the lodges held $23,000 worth of stock in it and it was heavily mortgaged and in 1880 was sold to D. J. Mackey, for $32,000. The order remained here for eight years, until the beautiful building was de- stroyed by fire. They then moved to the corner of Main and Fifth. When E. T. McNeely modernized the old Roelker building, the order rented the entire upper floor and had most commodious quarters until the time of the fire which destroyed the building. Failing to find any other vacant place they have been compelled to move to St. John's school house, where they will doubtless remain until they lay plans for a new building. As the order is very strong in the city, the chances are that it will be but a short time until they will own their own home.
Morning Star lodge was instituted December 4, 1839. A great many noble grands have presided over this lodge, among them were Gen. James E. Blythe, H. Q. Wheeler, Judge James Lockhart, F. C. Goodsell, James G. Jones, William H. Chandler, Joseph P. Elliot, Levi L. Laycock, Philip Hornbrook, Joseph E. Turnock, John F. Glover, Edward Tabor, Cyrus K. Drew, William Warren, and B. Wiltshire.
Many of these names are identical with the pioneer history of Evans- ville. For a long time this lodge had one of the oldest Odd Fellows in the world, Joseph L. Turnock, who became an Odd Fellow in England a great many years ago. It would be hard to estimate the number of times that this old citizen attended various lodges up to the time of his death.
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Evansville encampment was instituted in 1850 with only seven mem- bers. Among them were Joseph Turnock and William Hunnel, another old citizen. All of the others have passed away. Daniel Woolsey, William Hubbell, Dr. Laycock, H. Q. Wheeler, and Louis Howes, were members of this encampment.
Evansville Lodge No. 85 was instituted in 1851 but surrendered its charter some six years afterwards. Crescent Lodge No. 122 was organ- ized in 1853 and several of the members before mentioned belonged to it.
Sihler Lodge No. 138 was chiefly Germans and among its charter mem- bers were Philip Deusner, Jacob Sinsich, George Wolflin, John Karsch, L. Daum, John Emerich and August Uhl. Sihler encampment was insti- tuted in 1865.
Rising Star Lodge No. 544 was instituted in 1877 and Alex. Maddox, William Alexander, Louis Langhoff, the Koch Brothers, the Stinchfield Brothers and Ed. L. Cody were among the charter members.
Eagle Lodge No. 599 was instituted May 7, 1880, with twenty-eight charter members. Among them were Captain J. W. Wartman, T. J. Groves, Charles T. Jenkins, John J. Hays, J. J. aMrlett and Joseph Hennel. There are three lodges of the Daughters of Rebecca-Colfax Lodge, Sarah Lodge and Diana Lodge.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
No order established in Evansville ever grew with the rapidity that marked the progress of the Knights of Pythias. It started here in 1873. almost an unknown thing, for it was in fact, something new in the line of benevolent orders. Its three cardinal principles were friendship, charity and benevolence, and its oath one of the most beautiful ever taken. It was not gotten up as an insurance order, but as a fraternal order in the strict sense of the word. Its ranks were soon filled with the very best young men in the city of Evansville, as it seemed at that time that most of the other men were in the older orders. The various lodges exercised their principles in the true sense of the word. They indeed alleviated the sufferings of a brother. They succored the unfortunate, watched at the bed- side of the sick, soothed the dying and performed the last sad rites of the grave and cared with all of a brother's love, for the widow and orphans and not only that, but the career of every young man who joined the order was watched as one brother watches over another. If his steps started in the downward path, there were always loving hands ready to snatch him back and place him on a firm footing again. These are matters of the secret history of the lodges and the outside world knows nothing about them. But that they are facts, none knows better than the writer of this work. There were twenty-four charter members in Orion Lodge, which was the parent lodge. When it was instituted it was assisted by Ivy lodge of Hen- derson, Kentucky. Many men have served in the chancellor's chair and in the various other chairs of this old lodge. So rapid was the growth of
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this order, that it was deemed best to start another lodge and in 1886 St, George lodge was founded. The lodge had been meeting over the First National Bank and St. George lodge, after being instituted, continued to meet there. At the same time Pythianism spread all over this section and St. George lodge was the parent of lodges established at Princeton and New Harmony. Again it was found necessary to divide up the growing order and Ben Hur lodge was instituted in June, 1888, with the largest charter membership of any K. of P. lodge in the state. In 1877, thirty- five members of Orion lodge organized what was termed the Drill Corps, but they succeeded so well in their military work that they changed the name to the Uniform Ranks.
EVANSVILLE DIVISION NO. 4.
This was only a short time before there was a state encampment of the order at Indianapolis and the Evansville corps by its splendid drilling, cap- tured the second prize. In 1882 the Supreme lodge of the Knights of Pythias of the world convened at St. Louis and the National encampment was quite an event in history. The Evansville division under command of Sir Knight Captain Charles Myerhoff, attended and entered the drill, carry- ing off second prize. In 1888 the Crescent city Rank No. 49 was instituted with thirty-five members and Captain Charles Wunderlich in command. It was composed of the very best of military talent and made quite a rec- ord. The writer served for four years as major in the Uniform rank, on Gen. Carnahan's staff, and it was his duty to drill the different ranks in this section of the state. He will never forget the many happy hours he spent with the brethren both here and in the little towns around here. At one time the Knights gave a parade here that never has been excelled in point of beauty by any other order. The uniform of the Knights was a particularly taking one, and was much on the style of the Knights Templar of the Masonic body. In fact, it has always been a question as to which of the two bodies made the best parade in Evansville. St. George lodge and Ben Hur have been given up and there now remains only Orion and Evansville lodges. But as the number of Knights increased it was deemed best to concentrate the body and instead of splitting it into so many dif- ferent lodges. Some of the best young men of Evansville have been iden- tified with Pythianism and many whose hair is now changed to gray. Sir Knight Joseph Turnock was the oldest man in the order in Indiana. Charles E. Pittman, A. C. Hawkins, and R. C. Groves held high positions, while Charles Laval, Mort C. Compton, William C. Page, Louis H. Legler, Will- iam E. Barnes, J. W. Gleichman, H. W. Cloud, James D. Riggs, E. P. Elliot, A. M. Hayden, A. D. Denny, F. J. Erwin, George Skinner, A. C. Tanner, the late James Foster and others, were identified with it all through its history.
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TRIBE OF BEN HUR.
One of the most successful of the modern benevolent orders is the one known as the Tribe of Ben Hur which is supposed to be based on the book of that name written by General Lew Wallace. The Supreme tribe of Ben Hur was organized in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on March 1, 1894. The official seal bears the plate of the famous chariot race which is one of the exciting portions of Gen. Wallace's book. The order in the beginning started on what was known as the level premium plan. That is, collection of twelve payments each year from every member, regardless of the death rate. This created a surplus and reserve fund to provide for the increased cost of caring for the business end as the order grew older. In 1894 the first court, Evansville No. 10, was organized here by the supreme chief and it was the first court in the entire supreme jurisdiction. At this writing, the order has six courts in this city, Evansville No. 10, Crescent City No. 122, Vanderburg No. 127, Germania No. 165, Evening Star No. 231 and Faith No. 236. This order has a membership in the city at present of over 3,000, and it has paid over $1,000 for death benefits in this city. The order is growing very rapidly and is now operating in thirty-two different states and has a membership of over 110,000. It has paid over $7,000,000 for death benefits and now has a surplus of $1,500,000. During the last year 20,000 new members were admitted, $912,000 was paid for death claims and the net increase in the surplus fund was nearly $4,000. This order puts men and women on an equal basis. Certificates are issued for $500 to $3,000, payable in case of death. The ritualistic part of the work of initia- tion is very beautiful. The age limit in this order is fifty-five years and there is no change in the assessment, that is a member twenty-one years of age pays the same rate as one of fifty. There is no funeral benefit, of course, as this is expected to be paid out of the death payment, but there is the sick benefit of $5 per week. It is said by the members, many of whom are shrewd business men, that the businesslike manner in which the affairs of this order are conducted, will preclude all possibility of its ever, going to pieces as have some of the other orders which are based on the assessment plan.
THE A. O. U. W.
This order was founded in Meadville, Pa., in 1868, by . John J. Up- church. At the time of its foundation, Mr. Upchurch felt that he had founded an order which would last for all time to come. The dues were reasonable and the sick benefits were adequate and the death benefit, $2,000, was quite an item and it offered a means for a great many men of small capital to enter its ranks. It gained a great foothold in the city of Evans- ville just after it was established in Terre Haute in 1873 and during its existence was one of the strongest orders known in this city. The parent lodge was Vanderburg Lodge No. 34, of which the writer is past master workman. This started with fifteen charter members and the order grew
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so rapidly that it was only a short time until the city contained six different lodges. Probably the greatest misfortune to the A. O. U. W. was that men past the middle age of life hastened to take advantage of the cheap insurance that it offered and naturally the death rate increased in a very fast ratio, but there was plenty of young blood being added at the time and for some years it was considered one of the safest and best benevolent organizations here. Mr. Fred Baker, who is now at the head of the Inter- mediate Life Insurance Company, was for years recorder, and filled the office with great ability. The order was so strong that it even had a monthly newspaper which was published by George E. Clarke, a most enthusiastic worker. This paper was well gotten up, of much interest to the members of the order and had quite a wide circulation. The lodges were as follows : Vanderburg No. 34, Leni Leoti No. 43, Humbolt No. 39, Germania No. 52, Lone Star No. 56, Evening Star No. 14, Excelsior Lodge No. 39. As referred to in a preceding account, the same rules which affected other orders of this kind affected the A. O. U. W. The younger members began to drop out and in spite of the hard work of the many old and influential members who had the interest of the order at heart, it was found impossible to get in new blood. As the old members began to die off, and there came a rush of death losses to pay, the monthly dues were increased. This had the effect of driving the remaining members out of the order with the exception of a few who now pay to the supreme recorder and are entitled to both sick and death benefits, the same as if the order still had lodges in Evansville. It is but just to say that the downfall of this order was not only a matter of deep regret, to all those vitally interested in its success, but it cast a damper on other younger orders which were coming into exist- ence here. Another benevolent order which was founded in Evansville in 1880 was the Royal Arcanum. The first lodge was called the Evansville Council No. 49, and it was instituted with twenty charter members. This order is both benevolent and social and was founded in Boston in 1877. Among the first officers here were: Will Warren, regent; S. B. Lewis, vice regent; James W. Rucker, orator; D. A. Nisbet, past regent; S. B. Nisbet, secretary ; C. H. McCarer, collector ; S. W. Douglass, guide ; Charles E. Pittman, warden; W. F. Augden, W. H. Keller and Cicero Buchanon, trustees. There are now four councils in the city, the Evansville, Vander- burg, Minnuet and Lamasco. The meeting place for the uptown lodge is in the G. A. R. hall in the Orr building on Locust and Second. This order is in splendid financial condition and this is due to the fact that the med- ical examinations of this order were particularly strict. It is a fact well known that many men who had been received into various other orders without any trouble, were declined by the Royal Arcanum, and it became known to be a fact that any man who could enter that body must be as physically perfect as would be a soldier who could pass a government ex- amination. The order is increasing all the time and bids fair for a long and successful life.
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THE CATHOLIC KNIGHTS OF AMERICA.
Is, as may be assumed, composed entirely of Roman Catholics. The order was founded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1877, by Bishop P. A. Feehan, who afterwards became Bishop of Chicago. This, like all others, is a fra- ternal and benevolent organization and has in its ranks a great number of the very best Catholics in the city. The first branch founded here was Evansville Lodge No. 46 which had a large roster from the start. There are at present five other branches in the city and the order is on a solid financial basis. Added to this is the fact that young men are continually being taken into the order and there is no danger of its going into any de- cline. It has a fine drill corps whose uniform is very handsome and they present a very martial appearance when they turn out.
There are two organizations among the Jewish element of the city of Evansville, the Independent Order of B'Nai B'rith and Kesher, Shel Barsel Hebrew. This first order mentioned was founded in New York in 1840 and Thisbe Lodge No. 24 was instituted here on May 9, 1860. The organ- ization is composed of almost all of the leading Israelites of this city and it does a great deal of benevolent work. The Spinoza lodge was insti- tuted in 1874 and contains equally prominent Jewish citizens as the others. This also instituted a second lodge in 1876 called the Centennial lodge. All he orders of the Kesher Shel Barsel are now out of existence and the only remaining Jewish order is the order of B'Nai B'rith which is in good shape and constantly increasing and holds its meetings at its hall over the City National Bank.
B. P. O. E.
Sometimes called the Best People on Earth and also the horned gentle- men. By this, of course, I mean the Elks, who have a beautiful home at the corners of First and Locust, one of the most handsome pieces of archi- tecture in the city and is the second finest Elk's home in the United States. It may be that I have a tender place in my heart for these horned gentle- men, but can only say that they deserve the best that any one can say or think of them, for a better, more jovial, more friendly and more benevolent set of men never joined together to form an order. It was in 1889 that Evansville Lodge No. 116 was instituted here. The charter members were J. B. Walker, E. B. Morgan, W. E. Sherwood, A. M. Owen, H. T. Reis, W. E. Douglas, and Joseph Burck. Frank Pritchett, who was then sheriff, and who still can be seen every day at the beautiful home, was the first man initiated and it is safe to say that he would not take anything for the honor he holds of being No. 1 in Lodge No. 116. For a long time this lodge held its meetings in a room in the Vickery block while in the front part of the building was another room used for their banquets. The terms, benevolent and protective, mean exactly what they say. There is no death benefit in the order but during the life time of a member he is always looked after by his brothers and so are his relatives when want comes to his door. If
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the steps of a brother take a downward path, he is helped back into the right road. One of the mottos of the lodge is, "Let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth," and while other orders may do good to the poor and let it be known who contributes, the Elks never do. Many a poor family have received assistance and never knew from whence it came, but the Elks knew and it is not betraying a secret of the order to say that what is done in the lodge room is never allowed to be referred to outside, so that there is no possible way for recipients of charity to know from whence aid comes, so long as the Elks are a factor in giving. When the order was first founded I am free to admit that fun was the great point. The initiations were the most ludicrous either here or anywhere else and if a little money was received from initiations, or dues, it was spent at once in doing good and in little modest feasts for the brethren. But as the order grew rapidly and funds began to accumulate the brethren began to look for something higher and better. The social sessions were still kept up but the feasts were discontinued and a series of entertainments were given, all looking forward to raising a fund with which to build a home, but in that early day even the most sanguine never thought that the Elks would own a home such as they now possess. It is safe to say that there is no order in Evansville in which there are brighter or better or more sub- stantial members, and especially in stage talent is the lodge blessed. One entertainment was given after another, until it grew to be a common re- mark, "the Elks never gave a bad show," and this is a fact, for many of their performances would rank alongside with the best professionals in the country. At one time they engaged a circus for one week and played on the grounds of Mr. F. W. Cook on Washington avenue. At this circus the exalted ruler appeared as ring master, while some of the best business men in the city acted as peanut and lemonade boys, sold reserved seats, etc., while on the outside the younger talent acted as bally hoo men for the , side shows. The circus was a wonderful success and was not forgotten for many a long year. It was at this circus that Mr. Manson Gilbert, now a. staid architect, six feet two inches in height, appeared at each performance with his trick circus pony. The cages for this show were made here and the wonderful exhibits that appeared on the inside as the wild animals paraded through the city, were enough to drive spectators into convul- sions. It is unfortunate that an event occurred just after the closing of the circus which deprived the order of a great deal of money, but nothing daunted, they set to work to retrieve their losses. Much of the success of the order today is due to Mr. Frank Schwegeman and I think that almost every member will bear me out in this statement and without the least feeling of jealousy. He put into the organization a push and vim that never had existed in it before and his aim was to initiate into the order only the very best possible material that the city of Evansville contained. The exalted rulers have been J. B. Walker, Phil H. Hopkins, James A. Mc- Coy, A. J. Barclay, Frank M. Gilbert (who served three times as exalted
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