History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 43

Author: D.W. Ensign & Co. pub; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D. W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 821


USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 43
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 43


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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The elders who succeeded Messrs. Bacon and Green were John Bond, Bacon Wheeler, Allen G. Kellogg, 1841; Hiram Mather, Luther Chapin, and Martin Cleland, 1845 ; J. C. Larimore, W. G. Ferson, A. G. Chipman, Theodore Fowler, George W. Hoffman, and Daniel Pratt, 1855. The church had previously been without deacons, but at this meeting, Feb. 28, 1855, Dr. James Lewis and Jacob Mes- senger were chosen to that office.


The church adopted the rotary system of eldership Nov. 11, 1869, and George M. Coan and Robert W. Kay were elected elders for the term of six years, and Dr. J. D. Craig and H. A. Chapin for three years. Dec. 3, 1869, George C. Whitney and James F. Cross were chosen deacons. Dec. 17, 1872, George C. Whitney and J. C. Larimore were elected ruling elders. Dr. J. D. Craig and H. A. Chapin were re-elected.


The present officers of the church are Rev. Alfred Eddy, Pastor; J. C. Larimore, George M. Coan, J. E. Harder, J. F. Cross, William G. Ferson, H. A. Chapin, and S. C. Thompson, Ruling Elders; George C. Whitney and J. Cross, Deacons; H. M. Dean, J. F. Cross, J. S. Bacon, D. H. Freed, and William Wares, Trustees.


The First Baptist Church of Niles .- On the 6th day of August, 1841, the following persons, members of regular Baptist Churches, met at the school-house in the village of Niles for the purpose of forming a Baptist Church, viz. : John Reese, S. S. Lewis, Joseph Howell, Lucy Thompson, William Cotton, Custena Howell, Susanna Carbury, Bald- win Jenkins, J. P. Martin, John Johnson, Sally Bailey, Clarissa Nicholson, Sally Burnett, Louis Fellows, Lucy J. Fellows, William Mead, Jr. The meeting was opened with prayer, and S. S. Lewis was chosen moderator, J. P. Mar- tin, secretary. A covenant and articles of faith were read and adopted. It was resolved to invite delegates from the churches in neighboring townships to meet with them in Niles, on the 14th day of August, for the purpose of ex- amining the covenant and articles of faith, and if approved to extend to them the right hand of fellowship. S. S. Lewis was appointed on behalf of the society to represent them in the council, and John Reese to receive the right hand of fellowship. 1


The council convened at Niles, in accordance with the request of those mentioned above, and there were present delegates as follows : Pleasant Lake Church, Rev. Jacob Price, Joseph Knapp, and Barah Mead; Kingsbury Church, Rev. Benjamin Sawin and Rev. Elijah Bames ; Rolling Prairie Church, Rev. Alexander Hastings, John White- head, and Joseph Long; Centreville Church, Rev. William Brown. The Rev. Benjamin Sawin was chosen moderator, and Barah Mead clerk. On motion, Aaron Whitlock, Timothy Jones, and Benjamin Pitman, from the Mission Reserve Church, were invited to take seats in the council. After reading the covenant and articles, the church was recognized as the regular Baptist Church of Niles. The sermon was preached by Rev. Benjamin Sawin, and the right hand of fellowship was given by Rev. Alexander Hastings.


At a meeting held at the school-house Sept. 18, 1841, the church resolved to extend a call to the Rev. Charles G. Hatch to become their pastor, and to raise $300 for his support. This call was accepted. He commenced his ser- vices about October 3d, of that year, and closed his labors March 19, 1842.


April 29, 1843, the Rev. Gershom B. Day became their pastor. May 4, 1844, B. D. Townsend and C. D. Treat were elected deacons. June 1, 1844, the trustees presented a statement of the purchase of two lots, and a contract for building a meeting-house. The records make no mention of the time when the church was first occupied, but a busi- ness meeting was held in it Jan. 4, 1845.


A council was called March 28, 1845, to examine George V. Ten Broeck for ordination as pastor of the church. Dec. 7, 1845, the Rev. C. M. Richmond was called to the pastoral charge of the church for one year. The Rev. N. B. Miller was invited to become the pastor of the church Nov. 6, 1847. The Association met with the


* The church was thoroughly repaired and refitted in 1871, at a cost of about $8000.


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church June 13, 1849. A number of meetings were held in December, 1849, and the winter and spring of 1850, in which the Rev. Mr. Miller was assisted by the Rev. Morgan Edwards, and these resulted in the admision of 91 persons to the church by baptism and about 15 by experience.


The Rev. John Booth became the pastor in 1851. Rev. E. Curtis was called July 1, 1854, and continued as pastor eight years. Rev. J. E. Henry became pastor in 1862, and remained three years. Rev. S. B. Gregory came in 1865, and labored one year. Rev. B. P. Russell assumed the pastorate in 1867, and was in charge about two years. Rev. T. B. Cressy was the pastor from 1869 to 1871. Rev. J. Huntington served the church from 1871 to 1878. The Rev. G. S. Bailey, D.D., the present pastor, commenced his labors in May, 1878.


The first house of worship was built in 1843, enlarged in 1855, and was used until the erection of the present church edifice, in 1878-79, at a cost of about $8000. It is a cruciform structure, 64 by 84 feet in size, and has a capacity for seating about 600 persons. The church is situ- ated on the east side of Fourth Street, corner of that street and Broadway. The dedication of the church occurred on the 9th day of November, 1879, the dedicatory sermon being preached by the Rev. Galusha Anderson, president of the Chicago University.


The present membership of the church is 204. A Sun- day-school in connection with the church has 150 pupils. B. S. Reed is superintendent, and William H. Sinclair, sec- retary.


The Second Baptist Church of Niles .- The organization of this church was perfected at the First Baptist church in 1851, with 10 members, under the Anti-Slavery Baptist Association. The Rev. J. W. Hackley and the Rev. D. G. Lett assisted in the organization. The original members were 10 in number. D. Moss and Thomas Wilson were elected deacons.


The pastors from the first have been Revs. J. W. Hack- ley, D. G. Lett, Samuel Shores, E. Burkit, J. Brown, Wil- liam H. Waring, J. P. Moss, Edmund Brown, George Washington, J. McAllister, Henry Williams, Daniel Rol- lins, Jeremiah Phillips, and T. F. Scott, who is the present pastor. The church now numbers 53 members.


The first church edifice was built on the southeast corner of Sixth and Ferry Streets. In 1872 the lot was exchanged for one on the northeast corner of the same streets, and the building was removed to that site, where it now stands.


The Methodist Episcopal Church of Niles .- In the spring of 1825 Benjamin Potter came to the valley of the St. Jo- seph, and settled for a time on the bluff near Lacey's dam, at Niles. His wife, Mrs. Mary Potter, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the first one of that de- nomination in the valley.


The territory now embraced in the Niles district was then under charge of the Ohio Conference ; but not until - after the Detroit district was set off did any preachers visit this region of country. In May, 1829, the Rev. Zerah H. Coston, who was just closing his term as presiding elder, made an extended trip in the western part of Michigan, visiting the settlements and preaching. During this journey he came to Niles, and preached at the log house of William


Justus, who then lived on the northwest corner of Front and Sycamore Streets. St. Joseph mission was established that year, Curtis Goddard being presiding elder of the Detroit district. The Rev. Erastus Felton was placed in charge of the mission. He preached in Niles once in four weeks, at the house of William Justus.


In 1830, Erastus Felton and Leonard B. Gurley were in charge of the mission. Benjamin Cooper and William Sprague succeeded them the next year. In 1832, Richard S. Robinson and Geo. L. Bestwick were in charge ; James Armstrong, presiding elder. During the summer of that year a class was formed by Mr. Robinson at the house of Joshua Comley, who lived near what is known as Paine's Mill. The first members were Mrs. Elizabeth Comley, Mrs. Eber Griswold, Mrs. Sarah Denniston, Mrs. Morgan Wil- son, Mrs. Elias Hickman, James Kirk and wife, and Henry Slater and wife. Henry Slater was appointed leader. The class met at the house of Mr. Comley until the school-house was built, late in the fall of that year, when that was occu- pied as a place of worship until 1839.


In 1834 measures were taken to erect a meeting-house. The lot now occupied by the Episcopal church was first selected, but was abandoned for a site on Fourth Street, corner of Sycamore, donated by the Rev. Richard C. Meek, and a meeting-house was erected, 40 by 45 feet, with gal- leries on the sides and rear, at a cost of about $2500. This church was dedicated on Christmas-day, 1839. William H. Sampson was pastor, and John Ercanbrack presiding elder.


In 1832 the western part of Michigan was attached to the Indiana Conference, and embraced in the Laporte district. In 1833, Newell N. Smith was on this charge; in 1834, R. S. Robinson ; and in 1835, E. Kellogg. In 1836, Niles appears as a separate charge, under Thomas P. McCool. From this time the pastors are as follows : San- ford S. Williams, James S. Harrison, W. H. Sampson, Richard C. Meek, James V. Watson, and Jonathan Hud- son. In 1843, Niles became a regular station, and Ransom R. Richards was the first stationed preacher. At the close of this year the church numbered one hundred and ten members. Mr. Richards was succeeded by F. B. Gage, Jonathan Blanchard, F. B. Bangs, S. Steel, A. J. Eldred, T. H. Jacokes, B. Pengilly, J. Boyington, J. K. Gillette, A. J. Eldred, R. C. Crawford, H. Law, William Sprague, A. J. Eldred, Noah Fassett, B. F. Doughty, L. H. Pearce, George L. Barnes, A. R. Boggs, W. J. Aldrich, H. M. Joy, and H. C. Peck, who is the present pastor.


In 1839 the Michigan district was set off, and embraced Niles. In 1840 the name of the district was changed to Kalamazoo, and in 1860 the western part of the district was set off, and formed the Niles district. In 1852 the Michigan Annual Conference was held at Niles, Bishop Scott presiding.


The church and lot were sold, in 1863, to T. G. Wick- ham. A lot was purchased on the corner of Third and Cedar Streets, and in 1864 the present church was erected, at a cost of about $12,000.


A Sabbath-school having 228 pupils is under charge of J. S. Tuttle as superintendent. The library contains 390 volumes.


CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, REV. JOHN CAPPON, PASTOR, NILES, MICH .


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CITY OF NILES.


The Roman Catholic Church .- After the abandonment of the ancient missions on the St. Joseph River, but little endeavor was made here on the part of the Catholics to ad- vance their religion until the advent of Father Louis De Seille, who, about 1832 or 1833, left Belgium and its wealth of literature, art, science, and all that the cultivated mind holds most dear, to become a missionary in this far- off land among the Indians. He was the first resident Catholic missionary in this section of country in this cen- tury, and his territory embraced Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. The Indians' favorite camping-grounds were in the valley of the St. Joseph River, and five Pottawattamie villages were but a short distance from the river, and near the Parc aux Vaches, the Bertrand trading-post.


Father De Seille soon became a favorite with the Indians, and labored earnestly with them until his death. Shortly after his death the Indians were sent West, and Father Petit went with them.


To him is given the credit of founding Notre Dame set- tlement. Services were held first in a log house of two rooms, near where the college now is. A log church was erected early at Bertrand trading-post, and in 1837 the brick church was erected at that place, which was organized as St. Joseph church, and Nov. 5, 1838, Joseph Bertrand, Edward Atherly, and Benjamin Bertrand were chosen trustees. The first record of baptism was on May 13, 1841. The University of Notre Dame was regularly founded by the Rev. E. Sorin in 1842, and chartered by the Legisla- ture in 1844.


The pastoral work devolved mostly upon Father Quointet, a Frenchman. The churches or missions in Michigan were under the jurisdiction of Detroit, but on account of the remoteness from that place, the missions in this section of the State were placed under the charge of Notre Dame College. The church at Bertrand was supplied from the college. In July, 1846, the house of the Sisters was erected and blessed by Father Quointet, Father Alexis Granger and Father Shaw, an Englishman, assisting. Nov. 8, 1847, a chapel in the house of the Sisters was blessed, and June 3, 1849, the cemetery adjoining the church of St. Joseph was blessed.


In 1850 the St. Mary's Academy was incorporated. Aglae de la Cheptain, Mathurin Solon, Theresa Dussaulex, and Proserpine Chanson were the corporators. The academy remained a few years, and was removed to near the college, at South Bend. The services at the academy and church of St. Joseph were attended from the college by Anthony Kapp, E. Borin, Quointet, Shortis, Schilling, and others. The church is now interdicted, and the members worship at Niles.


The early missions were Niles, New Buffalo, Laporte, Kalamazoo, Michigan City, White Pigeon, Coldwater, Sil- ver Creek, and St. Joseph.


About 1847, Father Quointet built a frame church on lot 1, block 14, Brookfield's addition in West Niles. This building is now used for a school-house. After the death of Father Quointet, Father Flynn succeeded in the charge for a short time, when the missions belonging to Michigan were placed under the care of the Rev. Isadore Lebel, set- tled at Kalamazoo.


In April, 1857, Bishop Le Fevre appointed the Rev. Jolin De Nevi pastor of Niles and the missions, and pur- chased four lots and a residence for the pastor. This mis- sion extended over Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, Allegan, and Barry Counties. On the 23d day of October the Rev. John Cappon was sent as an assistant in the mission work. He assumed entire charge of work Nov. 16, 1859. At the end of two years, Father Charles was sent as an assistant, and remained as such for two years, when he removed to the diocese of Natchez, where he died of yellow fever, in September, 1878.


In February, 1863, Father Joseph was sent as an assistant, and remained till his appointment as pastor of St. Joseph parish, in December, 1865.


On one of the lots purchased by Bishop Le Fevre now stands the church, the corner-stone of which was laid by Bishop Le Fevre, Aug. 23, 1866. He was assisted by Bishop Luers, of Fort Wayne, and a great number of the clergy. The name of the church was changed from St. Francis of Assissium to St. Mary of the Immaculate Con- ception. It was completed in 1870, and blessed on the 11th of December of that year by Bishop Borgers, of Detroit, assisted by the Rt. Rev. John Luers, bishop of Fort Wayne, and a great number of priests, in the presence of thousands of people. The number of families connected with the Catholic Church of Niles is 230, the number of faithful, 1150; the number of communicants, 690.


In the missions attended from there will be found 150 families ; the number of faithful, 750 ; the number of com- municants, 450. The mission at present extends over an area of seventy miles. The cemetery used by the congre- gation, and by most of the missions, is the old cemetery at Bertrand.


Trinity Church ( Episcopal) .- The Rev. James Selkrig came here as a missionary, and preached in the summer of 1834, and in November of that year an Episcopal Church was organized, with five members,-Mr. and Mrs. Philo San- ford, Mrs. Anna Dickson, and two others. The first vestry was composed of Henry Heath, Jacob Beeson, Cogswell K. Green, Ezekiel Redding, James W. Griffin, Erasmus Winslow, Jasper Mason, and Addison W. Griswold ; Tal- man Wheeler, Senior Warden ; and William B. Beeson, Junior Warden.


The Rev. James Selkrig was called as rector upon the or- ganization of the church, and remained until June 27, 1838, when he resigned. He was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel R. Crane in 1840; Rev. Foster Thayer, in 1841; Rev. George B. Engle, in 1843; Rev. Hiram Adams, in 1850 ; Rev. Joseph F. Phillips, in 1858; Rev. William H. Moffatt, in 1866 ; Rev. Stephen W. Frisbie, in 1869 ; Rev. William Lusk, in 1870 ; Rev. John Coleman, in 1874; Rev. Robert McMurdy, in 1876. The latter resigned Sept. 2, 1879. An invitation to the rectorship was then extended to the Rev. C. C. Tate, of Fort Wayne, Ind., November 24, which was accepted Nov. 29, 1879.


The first church was a frame building, and stood on the site of the present church.


In 1858, during the rectorate of the Rev. Joseph F. Phillips, the brick church was erected, at a cost of about $7000, and was enlarged to its present capacity in 1873,


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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.


at a cost of about $12,000, including organ and church furniture.


The Congregational Church of Niles .- A society of this denomination was organized of previous members of the Presbyterian Church about 1844, and in 1845 a church edifice was erected on the rear of the lot now occupied by the Episcopal church. It was built of clay, moulded in blocks about twelve inches square, dried, and laid in mortar. It was opened for worship Jan. 11, 1845, and the first sermon was preached by the Rev. Marcus Harrison. James I. Alexander was a leading member of the congregation.


For a time the church flourished, but afterwards de- clined and became almost extinct. In 1857 it was revived by Dr. James Lewis, by whose exertions the meeting-house was repaired. The Rev. Eleazer Andrus was installed as pastor, and remained with the church till 1861. Again a spirit of apathy fell upon them, and finally the church was sold by the trustees and taken down. The bell was sold to the Episcopalian Society, and is now used by them.


German United Evangelical St. John's Congregation .- This society was founded Feb. 2, 1860, by eight Germans, Rev. C. Bofinger, of New Buffalo, assisting. March 10, 1860, John Hansler, John Schmidt, and Henry Blodgett were elected trustees ; Casper Frohlich, Frederick Schorck, and Ludwig Krell, as elders.


The Rev. G. B. Loeffler, of New Buffalo, was engaged to preach to the society every two weeks. June 12, 1862, arrangements were made with Rev. E. Werner to preach every other week, with a salary of $175 per annum. July 5, 1862, at a meeting of the society, it was resolved to build a church. A lot was purchased on the corner of Sixth and Sycamore Streets, and a church edifice erected upon it. At this time the society numbered 54 members. Aug. 12, 1865, the Rev. Ph. Werheim was called to the pastorate, and in 1866, 97 families were reported. In 1871 the church was enlarged. May 1, 1875, the Rev. J. G. Hoch, the present pastor, was called and accepted the pas- toral charge, at a salary of $700, with parsonage. The society this year purchased the parsonage on Sixth Street, at a cost of about $1500 ; and in 1878 repaired the church, adding the tower and putting in a bell, at a cost of about $700. The church is nearly out of debt.


The congregation now numbers 125 families, and the records of the church from 1862 to 1879 show 720 bap- tisms, 172 confirmations, 143 marriages, 191 deaths, and a total of 3419 communicants. The Sabbath-school contains 140 pupils, of which the pastor is superintendent.


THE NILES YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.


This association was organized February, 1868, with 50 members, and Henry M. Dean was elected president. At the close of the first year the membership had increased to 71. The society had received from membership fees and other sources $567.84. A public reading-room had been inaugurated, with three daily and twelve weekly papers on file, also most of the prominent monthly magazines.


At the annual meeting in February, 1869, $600 was subscribed by the citizens to continue the work. B. S. Reed was elected president. His successors during the following four years were Henry E. Glenn in 1870, E. W.


-


Post in 1871, S. O. Gardner in 1872, and Capt. Henry A. Ford in 1873.


Up to this date and till the year 1874 the association had met with entire success. A weekly prayer-meeting had been maintained every fall and winter. The reading- room was thoroughly equipped with stoves, tables, chairs, reading-desks, matting, gas-fixtures, maps, etc. But the great financial panic reached Niles ; the lectures failed to pay expenses, members neglected their dues, and rather than have the organization die a lingering death, the rooms were closed, and the effects of the association were turned over to other societies.


During the life of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion they were almost exclusively the almoners of the public and private charities of the city. The Chicago fire oc- curred Sunday and Monday, Oct. 9 and 10, 1871. On Tuesday morning, the 11th, the association's messenger, with between 1000 ard 2000 loaves of bread and six bar- rels of crackers, reached Chicago on an early train, thus being almost the first to furnish food to that stricken people. This system of supply was kept up until the Michigan sufferers by the forest fires demanded help, when the charity of the Niles association was as promptly di- rected to the alleviation of their distress.


CEMETERIES.


In the Elijah Lacey addition to the village of Niles, made on the 19th day of April, 1832, a square piece of ground was reserved for burial purposes, and was used as a place of interment for some years. The remains of Elijah Lacey and wife and one or two children, Obed P. Lacey, and their father and mother, Ephraim Lacey and wife, and S. D. Walling, still lie there. Isaac Gray was buried there, but his remains were afterwards removed to the city ceme- tery. About 1836 a tract of six acres was purchased of George N. Bond for a cemetery, and this has been added to by a purchase of eleven acres from Mr. Bond, making a total of seventeen acres. By direction of the Common Council of the city in 1838, George H. Starr surveyed the ground into lots, and the sale of these was commenced. Silver Brook passes through a portion of the ground, and it is known as " Silver Brook Cemetery."


SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.


St. Joseph Valley Lodge, No. 93, F. and A. M .- Early in May, 1842, a petition to the Grand Lodge of New York for a dispensation to establish a lodge at Niles was signed by Robert E. Ward, John F. Porter, W. H. McOmber, Frederick Howe, Uriel Enos, J. W. Pidge, Jacob Beeson, C. J. Ingersoll, E. Redding, A. W. Harrison, Austin Stock- ing, and Ephraim Huntley. A dispensation was issued dated June 8, 1842, and Robert E. Ward was named as Master, Austin Stocking as Senior Warden, and John F. Porter as Junior Warden ; signed James Herring, Grand Secretary ; William Willis, Deputy Grand Master Grand Lodge of New York.


This was the first lodge established in the State of Michi- gan west of Jackson. A charter was received from the Grand Lodge of New York to the St. Joseph Valley Lodge, No. 93, dated June 10, 1843, naming Robert E. Ward,


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CITY OF NILES.


Master ; John F. Porter, Senior Warden ; and Wm. H. McOmber, Junior Warden. The lodge was instituted and officers installed Oct. 26, 1843.


After the organization of the Grand Lodge of the State of Michigan the charter was surrendered.


St. Joseph Valley Lodge, No. 4, F. and A. M .- This lodge, the successor of the older St. Joseph Valley Lodge, was chartered by the Grand Lodge of the State of Michi- gan, in June, 1845. The names mentioned in the charter as officers are Jacob Beeson, Master ; William H. McOm- ber, Senior Warden ; Caleb I. Ingersoll, Junior Warden.


The present officers are Wm. Gilbert, W. M .; Hiram O. Edwards, S. W .; Enoch Flegal, J. W. ; John Woodruff, Treas. ; Maj. Wm. Graves, Sec .; Cyrus M. Alward, S. D .; M. C. Norris, J. D. ; Henry Rounds, Tiler ; James S. Reeves, - Norris, Stewards.


The present membership is 100. The meetings are held in Masonic Hall, in the building owned by J. K. Finley.


St. Joseph Valley Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M .- A char- ter was granted by the General Grand Royal Arch Chap- ter of the United States, on a petition from 19 persons in this section of country. The charter is dated May 16, 1844. Jacob Silver is designated High Priest ; John Knapp, King; and Calvin Britain, Scribe.


The present officers are Hiram A. Edwards, High Priest; James Babcock, King; James S. Reeves, Scribe ; Enoch Flegal, Captain of the Host; W. J. Babcock, Principal Sojourner; George W. Timmons, Royal Arch Captain ; Eugene Lovell, Master of the Third Veil; Alonzo Platt, Master of the Second Veil ; Henry Pruyn, Master of the First Veil ; William Graves, Treasurer ; J. Crocker Brown, Secretary ; Henry Rounds, Tiler. The latter was a con- stituent member of the Grand Chapter of the State in 1847. The chapter has a present membership of 95. Meetings are held in Masonic Hall.


Niles Lodge, No. 97, F. and A. M .- In consequence of the large and increasing membership of St. Joseph Valley Lodge, No. 4, it was thought best to organize a new lodge, and on a petition to the Grand Lodge a dispensation was granted, March 18, 1857, to Henry A. Chapin, Erastus Spaulding, David Bacon, William D. Sterling, John H. Richardson, William J. Edwards, William B. Beeson, Wil- liam B. Gray, and A. E. Tuttle, to organize a lodge under the above name.




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