USA > Michigan > Alpena County > Centennial history of Alpena County, Michigan > Part 14
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The League went into operation, and for two years a fierce struggle ensued with various vicissitudes of success and defeat, the details, or discussion of which, can not, with propriety, be given here, nor would they be amusing or instructive, if they could be. It is enough to say, that the League never accom- plished its object, and the animosity of the people was smoth- ered in the great fire in 1872, which swept away much of the cause of contention, and mingled the sympathies of the citizens in the great calamity that had overtaken both parties. Two criminal prosecutions were made, growing out of the affair. Prejudice condemned the parties and sent them to prison, but justice liberated them, and sent them home, as nothing could be proved against them.
It is to be regretted that the temperance cause has been so ex- treme and intemperate in its movements. Time, talent and money enough have been expended to have accomplished all necessary good that was sought, had it been properly directed. While it will be readily conceded that much good has been done to persons and localities, through the cause, yet it would require but little argument to prove that it has utterly failed to destroy liquor or decrease its manufacture and sale. The obvi- ous reason is, that it has always tried to do too much at a time, and to have some events transpire before their antecedents ; or, in
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other words, to do an impossibility. Whenever it asked and obtained a passage of law in its favor, it was always so stringent that it was impracticable, and only led to litigation, without any good result. When the temperance organizations shall cease to be so extreme in their views, and change their bellig- erent attitude-shall be willing to treat the opposition with as much respect and amiability as the Savior did Satan in the wilderness-shall endeavor to modify the cause, rather than cure effects -- prefer making their own drunkards, to having them made by others; then they will make some headway against the monster that is destroying its thousands every year, and has, by repeated liberties in the shape of strictures by the temperance cause, grown to its maximum of poisonous effects.
The first society of Good Templars was organized some time in 1866, but for some cause, soon became disorganized, the rec- ords of which the writer has not been able to find. The pres- ent society of Good Templars was organized October 3d, 1873. under the name and style of Alpena lodge, No. 775, I. O. of G. T. The charter members were: J. J. Potter, D. P. Lester. R. M. Donnelly, John D. Potter, Alex. Campbell, Nettie Rid- dle, William Powell, J. D. Holmes, D. B. Hagarty, Mark Young. Johnson Hamilton, with J. J. Potter first Worthy Chief Teni- plar. The following are the officers installed in Alpena lodge, No. 775, I. O. of G. T., May 5th, 1876:
W. C. T .-- A. Harshaw.
W. V. T .- Miss Jennie Campbell.
W. S .-- J. C. Brockler.
WV. T .- H. A. McTavish.
W. M .- C. C. Snider.
W. I. G .- Miss Belle Mckenzie.
R. H .S .- Miss Belle McNeil.
L. H. S .- Miss Ruby Huston.
W. C .- H. J. Eaton. W. A. S .- Miss Mary Pickering.
W. F. S .- James H. McDonaldl.
W. D. M .- Miss Mary McTavish.
W. O. G .- John B. Cole.
Installing Officer .- Alex. Campbell.
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MASONIC.
We find the following prepared. On December 28th, 1869, being St. John's Day, the following officers were installed:
W. M .- Seth L. Carpenter.
S. W .- F. N. Barlow.
J. W .- A. Hopper. Sec'y .- Charles Oldfield.
Treas .- William H. Potter.
S. D .- W. E. Rice.
J. D .- Geo. W. Hawkins.
Stewards .- John McKay, James A. Case.
Tyler .- Dennis Babcock.
"The Alpena lodge of F. and A. M. has enjoyed a greater degree of prosperity than any other lodge of its age in the State. It was organized in 1865, when our town was very small, and it was difficult to find Masons enough who would remain in town until we could establish a lodge. With true Masonic perseverence and industry, a dispensation was finally procured, and Bro. Wm. P. Maiden was appointed Master. No brother could have been called to preside over the lodge, who would have devoted more of his time, talent and energy than did Bro. Maiden. The lodge immediately commenced to thrive and flourish in the most satisfactory manner. A hall was ele- gantly fitted up, over Hyatt's bakery, and a large class of the most excellent citizens knocked at the door for admittance. Every stranger admitted the work to be excellently done, and our members visiting other lodges were masters of their work. Bro. M. was elected in 1866, and re-elected in 1867, during which time the lodge has been in most excellent condition, and has found it necessary to procure a larger hall, which it has done, over the drug store. Bro. Maiden retires from the Mas- tership of the lodge, with a noble record and the gratitude of all his fellows." Bro. Carpenter, who succeeds him, is an ex- cellent man and Mason, an accomplished scholar, and a worthy
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citizen, and no doubt will discharge the duties of his office with ability and honor. Lodge 199, F. and A. M., was organized in 1865, but did no work until 1866, when they obtained a hall over Hyatt's meat market, and proceeded, under a dispensation, to open the first lodge, with the following officers and members:
W. M .- William P. Maiden.
S. W .- Orin Erskine.
J. W .- Josiah Frink.
Sec'y .- James K. Lockwood.
Treas .- Chas. Rice.
S. D .- James J. Potter.
J. D .- David Plough.
Stewards .- O. H. P. Allen, Chas. B. Greely.
Tyler .- H. N. Harvey.
Members: John Newton, P. M. Johnson, Robt. J. Taylor. A. C. Tefft, Geo. B. Erskine, and William Long.
Second W. M., Seth L. Carpenter; third W. M., Chas. H. Rice; fourth W. M., A. Hopper; fifth W. M., C. H. Rice; sixth W. M., L. B. Howard, in 1876.
THUNDER BAY CHAPTER.
Thunder Bay Chapter, No. 74, R. A. M., held its first convo- cation in Masonic hall, August 30th, 1870, working under a dispensation, but was chartered January 10th, 1871, the first officers of which were:
High Priest-Henry Bolton.
King --- Charles H. Rice.
Scribe-William D. Hitchcock.
Charter members: Henry Bolton, W. D. Hitchcock. S. L. Carpenter, Alex. McDonald, Chas. Oldfield. A. C. Rice, Charles H. Rice, Geo. W. Hawkins, A. W. Smith, J. B. Erskine, Chas. B. Greely, F. N. Barlow.
Second High Priest, A. Hopper; third High Priest, W. D. Hitchcock; fourth High Priest, Z. M. Knight.
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BIBLE SOCIETY.
In 1868, A County Bible Society was organized, as auxili- ary to the American Bible Society, by the election of the fol- lowing officers:
President-Rev. F. N. Barlow.
Vice-President-C. L. Kimball.
Corresponding Secretary-Rev. Rufus Apthorp.
Treasurer-W. D. Hitchcock.
Executive Committee --- Rev. John Maywood, O. Mather, H. Hyatt, Benjamin Richards and M. B. Spratt.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
Was organized in May, 1870, with the following officers: President -- William D. Hitchcock.
Vice-Presidents-C. T. Brockway and B. Richards.
Corresponding Secretary -- Dr. McSween.
Recording Secretary -- J. D. Holmes.
The Board of Managers were as follows: A. R. Blakely, A. D. Hermance, B. Haywood, J. M. Blakely and D. W. Camp- bell.
AMERICAN PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.
In September, 1868, the American Protestant Association was organized, at Evergreen Hall, entitled Pine Grove lodge No. 5. The first officers elected are as follows: John Kes- ten, W. M .; Alex. Campbell, W. D. M .; John Smith, R. S., Dougal McArthur, F. S .; James Dixon, A. S .; William Walten- bury, Treasurer; John A. Sloan, Conductor; Henry Wickerson. Assistant Conductor; William Hamilton, Lt .; W. H. Harvey, O. T .; J. R. Beach, Chaplain.
BAND.
The first notice for the organization of a band, appeared in the Pioneer of the 20th of June, 1868, through the instance of the writer, who first agitated the matter, and donated the first ten dollars toward purchasing the instruments, which cost the
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sum of $350. On August 1st, 1868, the organization of the band was completed, by the election of the following officers:
President-P. M. Johnson.
Vice-President-Dr. Wm. P. Maiden.
Secretary-A. Hopper.
Treasurer-C. F. Lacy.
Directors-R. S. Toland, J. B. Tuttle, W. D. Hitchcock.
The band was composed as follows:
First Eb Cornet, Chas. F. Lacy.
Second Eb Cornet, F. A. Pennington.
Bb Cornet, Chas. Golling. First Alto, Geo. F. Howard.
Second Alto, Thos. B. Johnston.
Third Alto, Scott Doane.
First Bb Tenor, Denton Sellick.
Solo Baritone, Abram Hopper.
Tuba, Sylvester Williams.
Tenor Drum, Robert S. Toland.
Cymbals, Willie B. Boggs.
Bass Drum, Joseph C. Park.
Mr. Howard, Teacher and Manager.
ALPENA AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
In April, 1874, a meeting was called, for the purpose of forming an agricultural society, but no action was taken at this time; but on the 30th of May, when the citizens of Alpena county met and organized the Alpena County Agricultural So- ciety, by adopting a constitution and by-laws, and electing the following gentlemen directors to manage the affairs of the so- ciety for the first year: W. H. Potter, Seth A. L. Warner, J. K. Lockwood, James J. Potter, D. P. Buker, W. H. Phelps, James A. Case, Joseph Cavanagh, N. M. Brackinreed and W. H. Sanborn. The object of the society was the promotion of agricultural, horticultural and domestic industry, by the use of
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competition prizes. The officers shall be elected annually, by ballot, and shall consist of a President, a Vice-President in each organized township, who shall have the care of the soci- ety in his township, and shall be presiding officer of any meet- ing pertaining to the society in the absence of the President, a Secretary, Treasurer and Executive Committee. The by-laws give the general duties of the officers and the general manage- ment of the society.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
David D. Oliver,
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Frontice.
Daniel Carter,
57
James K. Lockwood,
60
George N. Fletcher,
77
Edward K. Potter, -
81
Mrs. Sarah L. Carter,
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-
91
William D. Hitchcock,
140
Miss Mary L. Carter,
151
INDEX.
Chapter I-Alpena County-Preliminary Remarks, 3 to 29
Chapter II-Topographical and Geological, 30 to 46
Chapter III-Organization, 47 to 76
Chapter IV-Improvements, 77 to 124
Chapter V-Fires and Fire Organizations,
125 to 136
Chapter VI-Communication, 137 to 150
Chapter VII --- Educational, 151 to 163
Chapter VIII-Judiciary, 164 to 167
Chapter IX-Financial, 168 to 172
Chapter X-Marriages, Births, Various Subjects, 173 to 186
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