USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > History of Camden Commandery, no. 23 : Knights Templar, Camden, Maine, chartered February 10, 1905 > Part 5
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He is a member of Amity Lodge and served as its Wor- shipful Master in 1907, a member of Keystone Chapter, No. 24 R. A. M., King Hiram Council, R. & S. M., and a Past Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, and a 32nd degree Mason of Maine Consistory.
Eminent Sir Allen was knighted in Claremont Com- mandery, Rockland, September 14, 1903 and is a Charter member of Camden Commandery, its first Recorder, serv- ing for four years, served as Treasurer of Camden Com- mandery from 1915 to 1919 and was Eminent Command- er in 1919. Mr. Allen is also a member of Mt. Battie Lodge of Odd Fellows and Camden Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He has served on the Commandery Auditing Committee since 1924. He represented Camden in the Legislature in 1929 and in 1930 was elected Chairman of the Republican Town Committee.
Leslie D. Ames
Eminent Sir Leslie D. Ames was born in Lincolnville, Maine, October 10, 1867, the son of George S. and Zilpa (Parker) Ames. The family moved to Northport in 1868 and the first twenty-five years of Eminent Sir Ames' life was spent in that town.
He attended the common schools of Northport and Lincolnville and graduated from Castine Normal School in 1891. After several years of teaching, one year of which he was superintendent of the schools of Northport, he conducted a general store at Lincolnville for eighteen years. During this time he was Chairman of the Board of
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Selectmen for one year and Town Treasurer for ten years. He moved to Camden in 1912 and was Bookkeeper and Paymaster at the Lincoln Woolen Company for nine and one-half years. For several years afterwards he conduct- ed a grocery store and was appointed Postmaster of Camden in 1927.
He married Mary Payson of Belfast, and they have four children, Aubrey, Harold, Lena and Allison. His son Harold is a Past Master of Amity Lodge, Past High Priest of Keystone Chapter and a Past Patron of Seaside Chap- ter No. 70, O. E. S.
Eminent Sir Ames was Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Camden in 1917 and 1918.
His long and active Masonic career started August 13, 1889 when he was raised in King David Lodge, F. & A. M., Lincolnville, of which Lodge he was Master in the years 1897 and 1898. He was District Deputy Grand Master of the Eighth Masonic District in 1903 and 1904.
After moving to Camden he affiliated with Amity Lodge, No. 6, of which lodge he is the present Secretary (1930).
He was exalted in Keystone Chapter No. 24, in 1904 and was High Priest in 1909 and has served as Secretary of the Chapter since 1916 to the present time.
Eminent Sir Ames was knighted in Camden Command- ery October 19, 1915, served as Recorder from 1915 to 1920 and was Eminent Commander in 1920 and is Chair- man of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary Committee. Since 1914 he has been a member of the Commandery Auditing Committee.
Eminent Sir Ames is also a Past Master of King Hiram Council, No. 6, Rockland, a member of Maine Chapter, No. 1 of the Past Officers' Association, having passed the chairs in all the York Rite bodies.
He is a Past Patron of Beach Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, a member of Seaside Chapter, O. E. S., and a Past Master Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of Maine, Order of the Eastern Star.
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Frank J. McDonnell
Eminent Sir Frank John McDonnell was born at Brook- lin, Maine, January 9, 1889, the son of John J. and Ellen McDonnell.
He attended the public schools of Bath, Maine and in 1906 enlisted in the United States Navy, serving aboard the U. S. S. Louisiana of the White Squadron. During the term of his enlistment he cruised around the world and was discharged in Pensacola, Florida in May, 1909. In the fall of that year he entered the employ of the New England Telephone Company and has continued with them to the present time with the exception of the time he was in the army during the World War.
Eminent Sir McDonnell married Nettie Paul of Cam- den who died Feb. 11, 1922. He married second, Blanche Woster of Rockport, Nov. 29, 1924 in which town he now resides.
He is a member of Amity Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M., Camden, Keystone Chapter, No. 24, Camden, King Hiram Council, No. 6, Rockland, and is a Noble of Kora Tem- ple of the Mystic Shrine.
He was knighted in Camden Commandery March 9, 1916 and served as Eminent Commander in 1921.
He served in the World War in the 301st Field Signal Battalion in France, holding the position of Sergeant. He was discharged in July 1919 at Camp Devens, Mass.
He is a member of Arey-Heal Post, American Legion.
John L. Tewksbury
Eminent Sir John Leslie Tewksbury was born in Dover, Maine, March 26, 1883, the son of Samuel S. and Emma (Royal) Tewksbury. On his seventh birthday his par- ents moved to Lewiston, Maine, where he attended the graded schools, graduating from Lewiston High School in 1903. He was captain of the Lewiston High School football team in 1901 and 1902 and Captain of the Track Team in 1903, holding the school record for the mile and half mile run for many years. During his Senior year at
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High School he was elected Grand President of the Sigma Lambda Nu Fraternity, a national preparatory school fraternity and was re-elected four terms, presiding at the sessions at Buffalo and Brooklyn, N. Y., Toledo, Ohio and Auburn, Maine.
He attended the University of Maine one year, and played on the football team. Leaving college he went to Lowell, Mass., where he learned the retail drug business, afterwards following his profession of Registered Phar- macist at Lewiston, Auburn and Camden, Maine.
He came to Camden in 1912 and on September 9, 1913 married Evelyn Morrison of Auburn. They have one daughter Ruth, a student at Camden High School.
Eminent Sir Tewksbury, a Democrat in politics, was Clerk of the Camden Village Corporation from 1914 to 1921, was elected Town Clerk in 1919 and still holds that position (1930). He has also been Town Auditor for the same length of time and was a member of the Camden School Board in 1922. He served as President of the Camden Board of Trade in 1920 and 1921 and was Treas- urer of the Democratic Town Committee for ten years. In 1919 he entered the employ of the Camden National Bank as a Clerk and was elected Assistant Cashier in 1923, the position he still holds.
He served three years in the Massachusetts Militia, six years in the Maine National Guard and during the World War was a member of the Camden Draft Board, Chair- man of the Membership Committee of the Red Cross and Chairman of the War Savings Stamp Committee.
Eminent Sir Tewksbury has held office in the Masonic bodies for twenty years and has attended the sessions of the Grand Bodies at Portland since 1916.
He was made a Mason in Tranquil Lodge, No. 29, Au- burn, June 29, 1909 but dimitted to Amity Lodge of Cam- den of which lodge he was Worshipful Master in 1919, he was exalted in Keystone Chapter December 11, 1912 and served as High Priest in 1918. He served as Master of King Hiram Council at Rockland in 1920 and was Pat- ron of Seaside Chapter, No. 70, O. E. S. in 1923.
He was knighted in Camden Commandery April 8,
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1913 and was elected Eminent Commander in 1922. Since 1924 he has served as Recorder of the Commandery and is the author of the History of Camden Commandery, published in 1930 at the time of the twenty-fifth anniver- sary of the Commandery.
He is a member of Maine Council of High Priests, a member of Maine Chapter No. 1, Past Officers' Associa- tion, a noble of Kora Temple, Mystic Shrine, Lewiston and served as District Deputy Grand Master of the ninth Masonic District in 1927 and 1928.
He was appointed to an office in the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine in 1921 and has held office in the Grand Chapter ever since, being at the present time (1930) Right Excellent Grand Scribe.
Eminent Sir Tewksbury is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Charity Fund of Amity Lodge, Chairman of the Finance Committee of Keystone Chapter and a Director of the Masonic Temple Association. He is a member of the Credentials Committee of the Grand Commandery and Representative of the Grand Chapter of Maine to the Grand Chapter of South Dakota.
He is a member of the Decemvir Club of Camden, a member of Maine Chapter Sons of the American Revolu- tion and the compiler of several family genealogies.
James F. Burgess
Eminent Sir James Frank Burgess was born at Sears- mont, Maine, October 27, 1868, the son of Edward and Mary A. Burgess. He attended the town schools and E. M. C. Seminary at Bucksport.
For a few years after leaving school he lived on a farm and taught school winters, serving on the school board and was Superintendent of Schools of Searsmont for three years, after which he was employed in a general store for several years.
He studied optometry at the Philadelphia Optical Col- lege at Philadelphia and during his spare time learned the watchmakers' and jewelry trade.
In 1898 he opened an office on Chestnut Street, Cam-
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den as a Watchmaker and Optician continuing in busi- ness in Camden until 1910 when he moved to Rockland and opened his present office on Main street.
He was the first in Knox County to use the new word optometrist in place of the former word optician describ- ing his profession. Eminent Sir Burgess is skillful in his profession and has built up a large and lucrative business, having patients scattered over a large territory.
Eminent Sir Burgess married Ethel French of Camden November 14, 1906 and they have three children, Brad- ford, Richard and Gordon.
He is a member of the Maine Association of Optome- trists and was President of the Association in 1925 and 1926, he is also a member of the New England Council of Optometry and the American Association of Optome- try, a member of "Beta Sigma Kappa", International honorary fraternity of Optometrists and a charter mem- ber of the Rockland Lions' Club.
Eminent Sir Burgess has had a long and active Masonic career, he was made a Master Mason in Quantibacook Lodge, No. 129, Searsmont, March 23, 1895, but dimitted to Amity Lodge, No. 6 of Camden of which lodge he was Worshipful Master in 1905, was exalted' in Keystone Chapter No. 24, Camden, March 19, 1902 and served as High Priest in 1907. Greeted in King Hiram Council No. 6, Rockland, April 26, 1904 and served as Thrice Ill. Mas- ter in 1928. He was the first to be knighted in Camden Commandery October 2, 1906 and served as Eminent Commander in 1923.
He is a member of Maine Council of High Priests, a member of the Maine Chapter No. 1, Past Officers' Asso- ciation and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a noble of Kora Temple, Mystic Shrine, Lewiston.
William L. Bassick
Eminent Sir William L. Bassick was born at South Thomaston, Maine, November 13, 1882, the son of Henry and Flora M. Bassick.
He lived in Camden and attended the public schools,
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afterwards being engaged in various occupations, until 1928, when he moved to Boston, Mass., to become Mana- ger of the George D. Wetherill Paint Company. He is a member of the First Congregational Church of Camden and the Paint and Oil Club of Boston.
Eminent Sir Bassick was raised in Amity Lodge, No. 6, September 28, 1906, exalted in Keystone Chapter No. 24, October 7, 1907, and was knighted in Camden Com- mandery September 2, 1919 serving as Eminent Com- mander in 1924. He is also a member of King Hiram Council, R. & S. M. of Rockland.
He married Eva Pottle of Rockport, December 24, 1902, and after her death married Marion M. Southall of Westover, Virginia, May 16, 1919.
Howard D. Small
Eminent Sir Howard Delmont Small was born in Port- land, Maine, August 16, 1882, the son of William S. and Lena J. Small. He lived in Deer Isle, Me., during his youth, and attended the public schools. Coming to Cam- den in October 1895, he attended Camden High School three years, entering in 1896.
After leaving school he tried various occupations, final- ly learning the painters' trade which occupation he has since followed.
He was made a Master Mason in Amity Lodge Febru- ary 11, 1916 and served as Worshipful Master in 1918. He was exalted in Keystone Chapter No. 24, January 15, 1919 and served as its High Priest in 1925, and is a mem- ber of Maine Council of High Priesthood.
Eminent Sir Small was knighted in Camden Command- ery April 29, 1919 and elected Eminent Commander in 1925. He is also a member of King Hiram Council, No. 9, Rockland. Eminent Sir Small is unusually well inform- ed in all branches of Masonry and has always been a faithful attendant at the meetings, as well as a diligent worker in the interests of the Craft.
He married Mary M. Richards of Camden, March 24, 1923.
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Harold S. Corthell
Eminent Sir Harold Sheldon Corthell was born in Rock- port, October 21, 1897, the son of Albert and Jeanette (Sheldon) Corthell and is a descendant of one of the pio- neer families of the town.
He attended the common schools of Rockport and on reaching manhood entered the employ of S. B. Haskell, Camden clothing merchant.
In 1925 Mr. Corthell was admitted to partnership and during these years has helped develop the business to one of the largest in this section of the state, the firm now hav- ing three stores and having added ladies' furnishings and garments to their former line of men's clothing.
Mr. Corthell is an active worker in all community pro- jects and is especially interested in booming Camden as a yachting center, being an active member of the Regatta Committee which has spread the name of Camden far and wide as a yachting center.
Sir Knight Corthell is a member of St. Paul's Lodge of Masons of Rockport, Keystone Chapter and King Hiram Council R. & S. M.
He was knighted in Camden Commandery December 7, 1921 and was its Eminent Commander in 1926, having the distinction of being the youngest Commander in the history of Camden Commandery.
Benjamin C. G. Burkett
Eminent Sir Benjamin Cushing Gould Burkett was born in Charlestown, Mass., June 15, 1877, the son of Edwin and Catherine (Sartelle) Burkett, his mother being a na- tive of Camden, and his father a native of Waldoboro. He attended the public schools of Boston and Somerville un- til 1893.
He married Alice F. Douglas of Rockland and has four children, Frank, Clifford, Winnifred and Freda.
He was a meat cutter by trade, which trade he follow- ed until 1897 when he learned the baking business. In 1910 he entered into a partnership with his brother, Ed-
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win F., under the name of Burkett Brothers, which busi- ness they now conduct at Camden.
Eminent Sir Burkett is a Past Chancellor Commander of Camden Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Captain of Olym- pia Company, U. R. K. P., a Past Commander of the Pe- nobscot Tent, Knights of the Maccabbees, a member of the U. O. Golden Cross, and a member of the Chestnut Street Baptist Church, Camden.
He was raised in Amity Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M., December 19, 1913, joined Keystone Chapter, No. 24 in 1914, and was knighted in Camden Commandery April 12, 1918. He served as Eminent Commander 1927. He is also a member of King Hiram Council and of Kora Tem- ple, Order of the Mystic Shrine.
Alfred F. Sherman
Eminent Sir Alfred Farnham Sherman was born at South Thomaston, Maine, December 16, 1881, the son of Edward and Sarah (Farnham) Sherman.
He attended the public schools of Rockland and Rock- land Commercial College.
He was for twelve years a sailmaker at Rockland, and came to Camden in 1916, purchasing the boot and shoe business which he still conducts on Elm street. He mar- ried Ethel Marshall of Cushing and their daughter Therese, is a graduate of Gorham Normal School and is a teacher.
Eminent Sir Sherman married for his second wife Myr- tle Hills of Camden July 11, 1928, who is associated with him in business.
He is a member of the Chestnut Street Baptist Church and has had charge of the music of that church for sev- eral years.
Eminent Sir Sherman is a member of Amity Lodge, Keystone Chapter, King Hiram Council, Rockland, Maine Council of High Priesthood and Seaside Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.
He served as Worshipful Master of Amity Lodge in 1920, was High Priest of Keystone Chapter in 1924 and
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Patron of Seaside Chapter, O. E. S. for several terms.
Eminent Sir Sherman was knighted in Camden Com- mandery, April 29, 1919 and served as Eminent Com- mander in 1928.
Charles E. Moore
Eminent Sir Charles Ernest Moore was born at West- brook, Maine, January 19, 1880, the son of Charles R. and Emma E. Moore.
He attended the public schools of Windham, and while a student at Gorham Normal School won a scholarship at Brown University at Providence, R. I., and attended that institution for two years.
For six years he was in the employ of street railroads at Worcester, Mass., and Portland, Maine. For three years he was proprietor of a restaurant in Portland, after which he learned the woolen business which he has since followed, being at the present time Overseer of Spinning at the Camden Woolen Company.
He was married to Edna P. Owen of Camden October 26, 1922.
Eminent Sir Moore was raised in Amity Lodge, No. 6, January 22, 1925, exalted in Keystone Chapter No. 24, April 1, 1925 and knighted in Camden Commandery May 26, 1925, being at the present time (1930) Eminent Com- mander of Camden Commandery.
He is a member of Seaside Chapter, O. E. S. No. 70, Anah Temple, Mystic Shrine, Bangor, Camden Board of Trade and the Business Men's Club.
Fred W. Elwell
Fred Wallace Elwell, Generalissimo of Camden Com- mandery (1930) was born at St. George, Maine, June 9, 1878, the son of William A. and Carrie (Hodgman) Elwell. He was left an orphan at the age of six and grew up in the family of Captain J. A. Fountain of Camden. He attended the Camden schools, was in Waterville in 1891 and graduated from Thomaston High School in 1896.
He started work as a clerk in the dry goods store of
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Follansbee & Wood of Camden in 1896 and in 1922 bought the interests of the surviving partner, Charles C. Wood, since which time he has conducted the business in his own name.
He married Jessie H. Start June 21, 1905, and they re- side at Megunticook Lake.
Sir Knight Elwell was raised in Amity Lodge No. 6 in February 1911 and has served as treasurer of the lodge since 1926.
He was exalted in Keystone Chapter in 1925 and is the present king in the chapter.
He was knighted in Camden Commandery February 2, 1926 and at the present time (1930) is serving as Gen- eralissimo, having advanced through the subordinate offices to his present position.
Sir Knight Elwell is a member of most of the local so- cial and civic organizations.
Fessenden W. Miller
Sir Knight Fessenden W. Miller, the present Captain General of Camden Commandery was born in Union, Maine, February 12, 1879, the son of John A. and Lura (Rokes) Miller.
He attended the public schools of Union and in 1894 entered the employ of the New England Telephone Com- pany as night operator at Augusta, attending Cony High School for two years. He continued employment with this company in various capacities until 1903 when he was made manager of their exchange at Camden. He held this position until 1910 when he resigned to enter the postal service at Camden as assistant postmaster, which position he holds at the present time.
He married Faustina Wardwell, daughter of John J. and Mary (Berry) Wardwell, and they have two children in Camden High School, John and Mary.
Sir Knight Miller was raised in Amity Lodge, No. 6, January 6, 1904 and served as its Worshipful Master in 1909.
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He was exalted in Keystone Chapter, No. 24, in 1905 and was elected treasurer of the chapter in 1929.
He was knighted in Camden Commandery February 5, 1907, served for several years as Guard, one year as Warder and was elected Captain General in 1929.
Sir Knight Miller is a member of King Hiram Council, Rockland, Seaside Chapter, O. E. S., and various local as- ยท sociations including the Camden-Rockport Lions' Club.
Charles C. Wood
Charles Clark Wood was born in Camden, Maine, Feb- ruary 16, 1869, son of Ephraim M. and Sarah E. (Cleve- land) Wood, both of whom were natives of Camden. He attended the Camden public schools and graduated from Camden High School in 1885. In 1887 he attended Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., for several months.
For a period of thirty-seven years he was engaged in the dry goods business at Camden, being a member of the firm of Follansbee & Wood, for nearly twenty-nine years of that time. In 1907 he became a director of the Cam- den National Bank and has been its president since November 1, 1910. Mr. Wood was elected a director of the Knox Woolen Company, one of the leading industries in Knox County in 1918 and has served as its president since July, 1925.
He represented the class towns of Camden and Rock- port in the State Legislature of 1899 and was the first Town Clerk of the new town of Camden from 1891 to 1901. He has belonged to the Odd Fellows since 1890 and has served as Noble Grand and has been a valued member of the Town Budget Committee for many years. He married Inez C. Munroe, a native of Lincolnville, September 15, 1910, and both attend the Chestnut Street Baptist Church.
Sir Knight Wood was raised in Amity Lodge in 1893 and served as treasurer for a period of fifteen years. He is a life member of that lodge.
He joined Keystone Chapter, No. 24, in 1897 and was
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knighted in Camden Commandery May 26, 1908, holding office constantly since that date, being a Guard for ten years and Treasurer since 1919.
He is also a member of King Hiram Council, No. 6, Rockland, and a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason.
He is a member of most of the local social and business organizations including the Camden Rotary Club.
He has been a director and clerk of the Camden Ma- sonic Temple Association since 1898.
George T. Hodgman
George Thomas Hodgman was born in Camden, Maine, November 25, 1860, the son of George and Beatrice Hodgman.
He attended the Camden public schools and at the age of twenty was admitted into partnership in the firm of Miller and Cleveland, clothiers. A year later he pur- chased the interests of his partners and with his brother, J. Hale Hodgman, continued the business. His brother retired from the firm in a few years, and Mr. Hodgman continued the business alone until the time of his death. His widow at the present time (1930) runs the business.
He married Annabel Shepherd of Rockport.
Mr. Hodgman was active in the civic life of the town and held many offices of trust and responsibility.
He was clerk of the Camden Village Corporation for several years, second Selectman in 1893 and 1894, and chairman of the Board of Selectmen, 1924 and 1925.
He was Deputy Collector of Customs in the Camden District from 1890 to 1893 and Postmaster of Camden for three terms, his first appointment being in 1898.
He served as Representative to the Legislature in 1910 and was a member of the Camden School Board from 1911 to 1923.
Mr. Hodgman was keenly interested in politics and had a state wide acquaintance among politicians and was for several years a member of the Republican State Committee.
He was a Past Noble Grand of Mt. Battie Lodge of Odd
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Fellows and a member of Megunticook Encampment and the Rebekahs.
He was a past president of the Camden Board of Trade.
He received his Masonic degrees in Amity Lodge in 1883, served as Worshipful Master in 1889 and at the time of his death was next to the oldest Past Master of that lodge living. He joined Keystone Chapter in 1885 and was its Treasurer from 1894 to 1926, a period of thirty-two years.
Sir Knight Hodgman was knighted in Claremont Com- mandery of Rockland, April 21, 1902 and dimitted to become a charter member of Camden Commandery. For a period of fifteen years he served as a Guard in Camden Commandery. He died at Camden, March 14, 1926.
Rev. Lewis D. Evans
Rev. Lewis Darenydd Evans was born at Pendaen, Wales, April 20, 1848, one of a family of thirteen chil- dren. His father was a miner, and Sir Knight Evans worked in the coal and iron mines until 1868, when he came to America, where he worked in the mines in Pennsylvania for two years.
Seeking a broader field and desiring an education, he studied for a while at Western Reserve University, and in 1875 graduated from the Bangor Theological Semin- ary. He was ordained in June, 1875, and his pastorate was at Bristol, Me., where he remained six years and where he married Hester A. Huston, of Damariscotta. He preached at Lee, N. H., for three years and at Boothbay Harbor for five years, coming to Camden in 1889.
He served the parish at Camden faithfully for twenty- five years, when he resigned and was pastor emeritus for eight years preceding his death.
He affiliated with Amity Lodge, No. 6, April 7, 1894, was exalted in Keystone Chapter in 1905, and was knighted in Camden Commandery April 30, 1907.
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