USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 75
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Before proceeding with the details of county politics it is proper to state the remarkable difference in spirit between political contests of this day and those of fifty years ago. At the fall election of 1906, when federal. state and county officers were chosen, so far as could be observed there was a notable absence of excitement or tension among the people, local business went on as usual, and if the surface of political sentiment was disturbed at all it was due to the remarkable contest in New York state rather than at home. Of old-time rallies and political mass meetings there were none, and the few meetings held about the county were, as a rule, poorly attended and unenthusiastic.
Going back half a century, although twenty-five years ago the condi- tions still continued to a large degree, we find a political campaign to be attended with very different features. Partisan discussion, especially in presidential elections, often became virulent, and passionate invective was as frequent as calm discussion. There was less discrimination between local and national politics, and the candidate for local office had to bear all the denunciation that was heaped upon his party in general. Processions, bon- fires, crowded meetings rapt to enthusiasm by fiery oratory, tense excite- ment for several weeks before election, characterized a campaign of that period and made it one of the most notable features of American life.
The newspaper and the quicker diffusion of knowledge have undoubt- edly had most to do with changing politics from an absorbing excitement to a quietness that often seems apathy. The newspaper reporter with his "interviews" and summaries of speeches, and the editor with his printed logic, reached more people and reached them more convincingly than the campaign orator, so that now the average citizen sits at home and quietly forms his opinions with the aid of newspapers. As a result flamboyant cam-
553
554
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
paign oratory is going out, and solid facts are now demanded by the voters as a basis for judgment of men and issues.
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE OF ALLEGAN COUNTY, 1836-1904.
1836 Harrison, Whig. . ...
Van Buren, Dem 92
1840 Harrison, Whig .. 257
Van Buren, Dem .. 174
1844 Clay, Wnig. . . 323 Folk, Dem.
299
1848 Taylor, Whig .... 2274
Cass, Dem.
303
llale, Free Soil.
66
1806 Fremont, Rep. .. 1,526
Buchanan, Dem. 1,027
killmore
29
1860
Lincoln, Rep .... 1,896
Donglas, Dem. 1,544
Bell
1
1864
Lincoln, Rep .... 1,861
Mcclellan, Dem. 1,543
1868
Grant, Rep ..... 3,556
Seymour, Dem. 2,351
1872
Grant, Rep ..... 3,473
Greeley, Fus .- Dem. 1,598
1876 Hayes, Rep . .... 4,281
1880 Garfield, Rep ....
4,693
llancock, Dem.
2,376
3,4452
l'rohibition
927
1888
Harrison, kep. .. 5.078
Cleveland, Dem.
3,829
l'rohibition
7213
1892
Harrison, Rep. . . 4,283
Cleveland, Dem.
3,207
l'rohibition
5444
1896
McKinley, Rep. . 5.810
Bryan, Fus .- Dem.
3,937
Gold-Dem.
1495
1900 Mckinley, Rep. . 5,590
Bryan, Dem.
3.275
Prohibition
2380
1904 Roosevelt, Rep .. 5,589
Parker, Dem.
1,576
l'rohibition
2787
'1'rohibition candidate, 4; Labor, 48.
"Proh., 93; National, 54.
-Greenback and Anti-Monopoly, 760.
"Other parties, 41.
BUnited Labor, 135.
"Other candidates, 112.
People's, 371.
VOTES OF ALLEGAN COUNTY FOR GOVERNOR, 1837-1906.
98
1839* Woodbridge, Whig
217
Farnsworth, Dem.
189
1843
Pitcher, Whig ...
260
Barry, Dem.
237
Birney, Lib. . . 3
Whig and F. Soil. 233
Barry, Dem. 342
1851
Gridley, Whig ...
239
McClelland, Dem.
317
1852
Chandler, Whig ..
539
McClelland, Dem.
619
1854
Bingham, Rep ...
689
Barry, Dem.
725
1856
Bingham, Rep ...
1,531
l'eich, Dem.
1,092
1858
Wisner, Rep ....
1,275
Stuart, Dem.
1,229
1860
Blair, Rep ...
1.875
Barry, Dem.
1,578
1862
Blair, Rep .....
1,467
Stout, Dem.
1,386
1864
Crapo, Rep ...
1,865
Fenton, Dem. 1,551
1866
frapo. Rep .....
2,496
Williams, Dein.
1,459
1868
Baldwin, Rep ...
3,556
Moore, Dem.
2,364
1870
Baldwin, Rep ...
2,610
Comstock, Dem.
2,038
1872
Bagley, Rep ....
3.484
Blair, Lib ..
1,735
1874
Bagley. Rep ...
2,630
Chamberlain, Dem
2,390
1876
Croswell, Rep ...
4.299
Webber, Dem.
3,181
1878
Croswell. Rep ...
3,205
Barnes, Demn.
363
1880
Jerome, Rep ....
4.652
Holloway, Dem.
2,3831
Alisc.
1,004
1884
Alger, Rep ......
4,053
Begole, Fus.
3,387
Prohib.
860
1886
Luce, Rep.
3.671
Yaple, Fns.
2.934
Prohib.
7222
1888
Luce, Rep ..
5.084
Burt, Fus.
3,833
Prohib.
7723
1890
Turner, Rep ..
3.471
Winans. Dem.
3.135
Prohib.
5374
1892
Rich, Rep ..
4.230
Morse, Dem.
3,211
Prohib.
5325
1894
Rich, Rep.
4,171 5,790
Sligh. Fus.
3.970
Misc.
188
1898 Pingree. Rep.
3,493
Whiting, Dem.
2.890
Misc.
276
1900 Bliss, Rep ..
5.591
Maybury, Dem.
3,340
Misc.
204
1902 Bliss, Rep.
3.462
Durand. Dent.
1,716
Misc.
283
1904 Warner, Rep. 4,810
Ferris. Dem.
2,505
Misc.
1906
Warner. Rep. 2,489 Kimmerle. Dem.
848
Misc.
4People's, 349.
2T'nion Labor, 126.
5Prohib., 301.
3Indep., 480.
*The vote by townships in that year :
Towns. Woodbridge. Farnsworth.
Towns.
Woodbridge. Farnsworth.
Allegan
83 75
Otsego
51
43
Manlius
4
Newark
26
14
Martin 14
20
Plainfield
34
33
55
O'Connor, Dem.
Cooper, Greenb.
274
Weaver, Greenb. 1,2091
1884 Blaine, Rep ..... 4,080
Cleveland, Fus .- Dem ..
Mason, Dem.
1837 Trowbridge, Whig 218
1849 F. J. Littlejohn,
Christlansy, F. Soil ... 35
Smith, Nat'l 3,170
113
1882
Jerome, Rop .... 3.394
Begole, Fus.
3,027
1,569
People's
344
1896 l'ingrec, Rep.
Fisher, Dem.
184
1Other candidates. 66.
Van Buren, Free Soil .. 174
1852 Scott, Whig .... 547 Fierce, Dem. 582
Breckinridge 11
Tilden, Dem. 3,169
The conspicuous fact and one that is familiar to the residents of the county is that Allegan county has been, with a brief exception, safely Whig and Republican for nearly seventy years. It is somewhat surprising that
555
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
all the votes of the county were given to the Democratic candidate, Van Buren, in 1836, and none to Harrison, the Whig. But in the "log cabin and hard cider campaign" of 1840 the same candidate obtained a majority of eighty out of less than five hundred votes. In 1848 Taylor, the Whig. was a rather weak candidate throughout the county, while Cass, the Democrat, drew a large Michigan vote on account of his previous prominence in Michigan politics, and he obtained a small plurality in this county. At this election the Free Soilers show a surprising gain. In 1843 Birney, the first candidate for governor on anti-salvery principles, obtained only three votes in the county, whereas five years later one hundred and seventy-four votes were given to the movement. That the sentiment of the county at that time inclined rather to Democracy than the decadent Whig party or the radical Free Soilers is shown by the gubernatorial election of 1849, when F. J. Littlejohn, Whig and Free Soil candidate, polled one hundred and nine less votes in his own county than Barry, the Democratic nominee.
Democratic strength was dominant for several years. The county gave the Democratic nominee for governor a majority in 1851 and a small plurality to Franklin Pierce in the presidential election of 1852, though the combined votes of Whigs and Free Soilers in that year showed increase.
In 1854 the Republican party was organized at Jackson, "under the oaks," and before the name had been adopted by other states Michigan had entered the Republican fold by electing Bingham as governor. But in that year Allegan county continued to show its preference for the Democratic candidate, giving Barry a majority of thirty-six in a total vote of one thousand four hundred. In 1856, however, in both national and state elec- tions the county returned a majority of nearly five hundred for Republican nominees. During the next eight years the Republicans were safely in the lead, though the two parties were quite well balanced in the county. In 1866 Crapo for governor had a majority of more than a thousand over the Democratic opponent. and two years later the county gave General Grant a clear majority of more than one thousand two hundred. Republican suc- cess was even more marked in 1872, when both presidential and guber- natorial candidates received two-thirds of the votes cast in the county.
In 1874 the division of votes was fairly equal, and in 1876 the Demo- crats doubled their vote over that of four years previous, though Repub- lican majority was still over a thousand. In 1880 the Republicans again polled twice as many votes as the Democrats. The parties were more nearly matched during the eighties than at any time since. Though Michigan elected a fusion Democrat for governor in 1882 and a Democrat in 1890, and lacked only a few thousand of giving Cleveland a plurality in 1884, Allegan county continued safe in Republican ranks, though by reduced Republican majorities, as will be seen by reference to the above tables. During the last three presidential elections the Republican vote has remained nearly stationary, while the Democratic vote decreased from three thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven given Bryan in 1896 to one thousand five hundred and seventy-six for Parker in 1904.
The rise of the minor parties in the county is also illustrated in the above tables. The Greenback idea remained an issue for three presidential elections-1876, 1880 and 1884-the votes in the county for these respective years being : 274, 1,209, 760. The Prohibition party has exhibited a similar
556
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
rise and decline. In 1880 only four votes were cast under this heading. In 1884 this had increased to 1,004 for the candidate for governor. Since then there has been a steady falling off, the vote being ( for President) 721 in 1888, 544 in 1892 and 93 in 1896.
Other deductions than political ones might be drawn from the figures given. The gubernatorial vote by townships in 1839 illustrates quite well the division of population at the time .. Also, there are some surprising increases in number of votes between successive elections, which cannot be explained altogether by interest in the campaign, but rather by large addi- tions to the population on account of immigration and settlement during the period.
CHAPTER XV. LIBRARIES AND LITERARY CLUBS. ALLEGAN LIBRARY.
One of the most popular and valuable institutions of Allegan is the public library, which has been developed from the usual grade of township library to one of wide range of usefulness. Up to 1903 the library was of the ordinary type, was maintained without library system, and only the inci- dental fees and taxes were devoted to its support. In 1903 H. L. Green, township clerk, asked for a one and one-half mill tax on the township, the proceeds from which should be devoted to the improvement of the library. This was granted, and the amount appropriated to the library since that time has been as follows :
1905 -- $1, 179. 1906-$1,195.53. 1907-$1,049.73.
February 22, 1905. the Ladies' History Class donated one hundred dol- lars, and May 8, 1905, another sum of one hundred and five dollars. A large room has been set apart for the library in the rear of the Masonic Temple and large additions are being made each year to the collection of books, there being at the present writing four thousand one hundred and eighty volumes on the shelves. Fifteen hundred dollars were expended for new books during 1905. The librarian, Lenora Porter, is still engaged in cataloging the books and making the collection of increased usefulness to the public. The names of S. F. Murphy. H. L. Green and Rev. Lucas. the Episcopal minister, should be mentioned because of the leading part they took in securing the special tax levy and in other ways promoting the estab- lishment of a real public library for Allegan.
The old Allegan Library and Literary Association should also be men- tioned in this connection. Organized in 1871. the association in 1875 became a stock company, shares being sold at twenty-five dollars each. Its members, between thirty and forty in number. organized for literary improvement, and for this purpose purchased a considerable library, alto- gether about a thousand volumes. Some years ago the organization was dissolved and the assets, consisting principally of books, were divided among the individual stockholders. This association had no connection with the town library. Among the leaders in the movement were General B. D. Pritchard. J. B. Humphrey, A. S. Butler, John W. Stone, H. C. Weeks, E. Amsden, W. W. Warner and others.
557
558
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
THE HENIKA LIBRARY AT WAYLAND.
Having the future educational welfare of Wayland at heart, Mrs. Julia Henika, one of the prominent and public-spirited women, bequeathed in her will the sum of two thousand dollars for the erection of a library. To this amount was added five hundred dollars by George H. Henika at one time, and again two hundred dollars ; Mrs. Mary Forbes added five hundred dollars, and the village purchased the lots on which this handsome library stands, a credit to the community and a monument to the memory of those, especially Mrs. Henika, through whose generosity this building was made possible.
The library contains about five hundred volumes, part of which have been donated. At the last spring election a library board was appointed, who have general supervision of the work. An appropriation of a one-mill tax has been granted by the village, which will give about four hundred dollars to be spent for books, periodicals and running expenses for the pres- ent year.
LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, PLAINWELL.
The organization known as the Plainwell Ladies' Library Association was effected in February, 1868. The idea had birth some months previous in a doorstep conversation between two neighbors and the idea having been born it grew. It was discussed with neighbors and friends. The experience of friends in other towns was drawn upon ; then a meeting of all interested was called to discuss the project. Several meetings were held before the organization was perfected. After careful consideration a constitution was adopted, officers elected and a name chosen. It has been a helpful agency in giving character to our town. It has always been the aim of the board of managers to have only pure and helpful books in circulation. All the work of maintaining this library has been gratuitous, even the librarian's work being freely given.
The Library Association has no endowment and no debts. It has given many and various courses of entertainment and they have always been of a high order. The first courses of public lectures ever given in our town were conducted by the L. L. A. For more than two years the members of the board at their monthly meetings after the business of the hour have enjoyed a literary feast prepared by one of its members on some subject of interest.
The present assets of the association are a pleasant library home, newly decorated and carpeted, something over two thousand volumes arranged on convenient shelving and the nucleus of a museum. It is the strong hope of those who have longest been identified with this association that in the near future some way may open whereby it may become a free public library.
SAUGATUCK WOMAN'S CLUB.
This club was founded November 1, 1904. The charter members were : Mrs. Sarah Hodge, first president : Mrs. W. R. Takken, Mrs. Edwin Booth, Mrs. W. P. Sutton, Mrs. C. E. Bird, Mrs. F. G. Hayes, Mrs. George Haines,
559
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
Mrs. G. C. Vreeland, Mrs. D. Falconer, Mrs. R. J. Walker, Mrs. D. A. Heath, Mrs. Wayne Coates, president 1906-07; Mrs. J. H. Perrin, Mrs. Edwin House, Mrs. J. E. Francis, Mrs. T. W. Leland, Mrs. H. M. Bird, Miss Margaret Booth, Mrs. John Rodey, Miss Edith Hodge, Miss Alice Baker, Mrs. Simonson, Mrs. W. A. Woodworth, Mrs. Joseph Zwemer, Mrs. Minnie Lovejoy, Mrs. C. Parrish, Mrs. N. W. Mather, Miss Hubbard, Mrs. Crissey, Mrs. P. A. Latta, Mrs. W. G. Edgecombe, Mrs. Smalley, Mrs. Bed- ford, Mrs. D. L. Barber, Mrs. T. Daggett, Mrs. W. Wilson, Mrs. R. Ames, Mrs. E. Reed, Mrs. H. Holt, Mrs. Breathwaite, Mrs. H. L. House, Miss Bessie White, Miss Louise Walz, Miss Gertrude Shriver, Mrs. Billington, Mrs. J. J. Brown, Mrs. Whitney, Mrs. W. C. Manning, Mrs. William Turnbull, Mrs. W. B. Smith, Mrs. L. A. Phelps, Miss Grace Taylor, Miss Hattie Spencer, Miss Ellen Kerr, Mrs. Alex. Thompson, Mrs. D. F. Lud- wig, Mrs. Nellie Naughtin, Mrs. S. Lee Upham and Mrs. S. D. E. Calkins. There are fifty-five members at present, and the officers are: Mrs. Coates, president ; Mrs. F. G. Hayes, vice-president ; Mrs. G. C. Vreeland, secre- tary ; Mrs. R. J. Walker, treasurer, and Mrs. D. F. Ludwig, librarian.
In 1905 the Douglas Culture Club, of which Mrs. William Turnbull is president, was organized. This drew away from the Saugatuck Society some of the ladies from Douglas who had previously been associated with that club.
LADIES' LIBRARY CLUB, WAYLAND.
February 22, 1893, a few women, possessed of progressive ideas, met at the home of Mrs. L. F. Wallbrecht and there laid plans for a society which should be known as the Ladies' Literary Association. Officers elected at that meeting were: President, Mrs. Mary Clark ; vice-president, Mrs. Lillian Buskirk ; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Sara Manley.
The object of the organization is given in the following extract from the constitution :
"The object of this association is mutual improvement and a desire to keep abreast of the times, and to become better informed of the general interests of the day as well as the history and literature of the past.
In September, 1896, the constitution was revised, the yearly dues raised to twenty-five cents, and the society's name changed to Ladies' Literary Club. In May, 1899, the club became incorporated under the name of Ladies' Library Club, and since that date the annual dues have been fifty cents.
The first year-book of the club was printed for the season of 1898-99 and contained only the dates of meetings and topics for each evening. Previous to that the evening's program was planned and rendered by a committee appointed a week or two in advance.
Fifteen women whose names were enrolled as members in the club's initial year were active members during the past season. They are: Mes- dames Ella Heazlit, Flora Fitch, Emma Allgeo, Belle Turner, Ellen Hoyt, Mabel Schuyler, Dell Chapple, Allie Shattuck, Mary Clark, Sara Manley, Margaret Schuh, Lillian Buskirk, Hattie Wallbrecht, Cynthia Slade and Miss Fannie Hoyt. The seven last mentioned in the list have kept that membership unbroken, the others having allowed their names to be dropped from the roll in some of the intervening years.
560
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
For a few years the funds realized from dues and an occasional enter- tainment, aside from the amount needed to meet the club's financial require- ments, were expended in books, and a small library is maintained.
But for the past three years the club has been interested in a movement that is of a more general benefit, the entertainment course ; hence, it has been deemed advisable to hold a larger fund in reserve against a possible time of need, in case the expenditures for attractions exceed the ticket sales.
The names of nearly one hundred women have at one time or another been recorded as members of the society, forty-four having been enrolled the past year.
The question has been agitated relative to joining the Federation of Women's Clubs, but no steps have been taken in that direction.
WOMAN'S HISTORY CLASS, ALLEGAN.
For the past thirty-one years this association has existed for the study of general history and the broadening of the intellectual tastes of its mem- bers. Its positive benefits in this direction and its active existence for so many years cause it to rank almost as an institution in the village. The year-book for 1906-07, which must be commended for its handsome typo- graphical appearance and artistic arrangement of matter, is in itself the best commentary on the club's ideals and work. The general topic for the year is "History as Seen Through the Novel and Drama," and the weekly programs from September to May are devoted to various classics illustrative of epochs and characters of history from the beginning of the Roman empire to the heroic struggles of Thaddeus of Warsaw.
The class was organized February 1, 1875, with twenty charter mem- bers. In 1878 the name was changed to the Woman's Lyceum, with some corresponding change in the manner of conducting the meetings. The original name has since been resumed. In 1904 the class was federated with the State Federation of Women's Clubs, at whose annual meetings it is represented by delegates. The present officers and the membership list follow :
Officers-President. Miss Alice Weeks; vice-president, Mrs. W. H. Stone : secretary, Mrs. Perry Sirrine : treasurer, Miss Cora Wilkes; critic, Miss Allie I. Engle.
Active members-Mrs. Albright, Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Bills, Mrs. C. Born, Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Calkins, Mrs. Colburn, Mrs. Cornwell, Mrs. Cross, Mrs. J. E. Davis, Mrs. Dorgan, Mrs. Estabrook, Mrs. Fear, Mrs. Fish, Mrs. Grev, Mrs. Hulley, Mrs. Lamour, Mrs. Lindsay, Mrs. A. M. Moore, Mrs. H. D. Moore, Mrs. C. Messinger, Mrs. Maentz, Mrs. McIntosh, Mrs. Noble, Mrs. L. Perrigo, Mrs. H. Pritchard, Mrs. Artus Sherwood, Mrs. Sturgis, Mrs. Stone, Mrs. Stratton, Mrs. Sirrine, Mrs. G. Stern, Mrs. D. Stern, Mrs. Stuch, Mrs. Sawyer, Mrs. Tripp, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Van Ostrand, Mrs. Weeks, Mrs. W. B. Williams, Mrs. Wilkes, Mrs. W. H. Williams, Mrs. G. D. Williams, Miss Hattie Aldworth, Miss Mary Bassett, Miss Butler, Miss Coney, Miss Dawson, Miss Allie Engle, Miss Jones, Miss Leggett, Miss Nellie Parsons, Miss Partridge, Miss Smith, Miss Stone, Miss Sawyer, Miss Schumann, Miss Van Ostrand, Miss Alice Weeks, Miss Bessie Wetmore, Miss Cora Wilkes, Miss Hannah Way, Mrs. Bills and Miss Clara Wheeler. Associate members-Mrs. Crocker, Mrs. Hart, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Ed
561
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
Messinger, Mrs. Oliver, Mrs. H. Perrigo, Mrs. Priest, Mrs. Seery, Mrs. M. C. Sherwood, Mrs. St. Germaine, Mrs. Terry, Mrs. White, Miss Cook and Miss Winters.
The deceased members of the class, recorded In Memoriam, are: Mrs. Willard Higgins, Mrs. Emma R. Pond, Mrs. Sarah A. Amsden, Mrs. Frank Bailey, Mrs. B. D. Pritchard, Mrs. Josephine Packard, Mrs. Sarah E. Bing- ham, Mrs. Emma S. Barrows, Mrs. James Rockwell, Mrs. A. E. Bassett, Miss Frances H. Wilkes, Mrs. Etta B. Killian, Miss Mabel Grice and Mrs. Edwy C. Reid.
TREBLE CLEF SOCIETY.
The Treble Clef Society was organized July 19, 1889, at the home of Mrs. J. M. Killian, although it did not receive its name until the following meeting, September 14. There were eighteen charter members-Mesdames J. M. Killian, E. T. Cruse, Ed Jenner, L. F. Sollendine, E. T. Van Ostrand, W. B. Williams, J. W. Howe, V. M. Burleigh, and Misses Mary Bassett, Hattie Smith, Clara Sherwood, Martha Sherwood, Lizzie Jenner, Helen Peck, Rubie Sherwood, Nina Sherwood, Pearl Moore and Bertha Pritchard.
The first officers-President, Mrs. J. M. Killian ; secretary, Mrs. V. M. Burleigh. At the fourth meeting a critic was elected and later a vice-presi- dent and treasurer.
Quoting from the constitution, article II: "The object of this society shall be the cultivation of a taste for the higher class of music and a better appreciation of the masters.'
Members consist of both active and honorary. The meetings are held the first Monday of every month, excepting July, August and September.
A program committee of three outline the work for the coming year, placing each meeting in the hands of a committee, who arrange the pro- gram for that particular evening. Each evening is devoted either to some noted composer, some particular style of music or some group of composers, such as Polish or German.
The present membership numbers, active fifty-four and honorary fifty, with the following officers: President, Mrs. Pearle Moore Gray ; vice-presi- dent, Mrs. Clarence Messinger ; secretary, Mrs. Ernest N. Hulley ; treasurer, Mrs. William Lucas; critic, Miss Weeks; executive committee, Mrs. Fred Chischester, Mrs. Charles Wilkes and Miss Van Ostrand; program commit- tee, Mrs. Pearle Moore Gray, Miss Weeks and Mrs. W. B. Williams.
This year ( 1906-07), as an example, there are the following evenings each in charge of a special committee : President's evening ; Polish com- posers; Grieg (Folk Song) ; American composers; students' evening ; orchestration (symphony) ; Beethoven (Sonata) ; light opera ; open meet- ing ; women composers, and two artist recitals. The colors are yellow and white and the flower the carnation.
CHAPTER XVI.
MASONRY.
ALLEGAN.
The second Masonic organization in the county is Allegan Lodge, No. III, F. & A. M. Dispensation was granted August 4, 1858, and the charter is dated January 14, 1859. The lodge has a membership of one hundred and fifty.
The first officers were: E. B. Bassett, W. M .; E. D. Follett, S. W .; A. Rossman, J. W .; J. E. Babbitt, treasurer ; H. Mauson, secretary.
The following have filled the office of worshipful master: E. B. Bas- sett, E. D. Follett, G. D. Smith, A. S. Butler, William J. Pollard, E. E. Edwards, G. R. Stone, H. Franks, E. D. Motley, P. J. Davis, George W. Lonsbury, S. D. Pond, W. H. Bills, W. Benjamin, Charles Eley, Thomas Dryden, F. E. Martin, F. H. Williams, A. S. Butler, 2d, and L. L. Thompson.
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