History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 38

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772

USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 38
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 38

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).

In order to obtain the other three, it was agreed that William II. Chapman, George W. Chandler, and Benjamin F. Buck, all of Lansing, should petition for the orders to Jackson Commandery, No. 9, which they did on the 23d of December, 1868, and on the 30th of that month, at a special conclave of that commandery, received all the orders of knighthood.

These, with the above-named, then immediately peti- tioned, with the proper recommendations, to the R. E. G. C., Sir John II. Armstrong, for a dispensation to or- ganize a commandery of Knights Templar and confer the orders, which he granted on the 25th day of January, 1869, under the name of Lansing Commandery. Sir Al- fred Bixby, E. C .; Sir William H. Chapman, G .; Sir George W. Chandler, C. G.

This dispensation was made returnable to the Grand Commandery at its next annual conclave, to be held in De- troit in June following.

The first conclave was held on the 28th of January, 1869, at Masonic Hall, with all the above Sir Knights present. And in addition to the officers named in the dis- pensation the following were appointed: Sir Charles II. Dar- row, Prel .; Sir Benjamin F. Davis, Recorder; Sir Benjamin F. Buck, Treas. ; Sir Benjamin B. Baker, S. W .; Sir Wil- liam W. White, J. W. ; Sir Nelson A. Dunning, Warden.

The first petitions for the orders were received at this conclave, being those of George K. Grove, Stephen P. Mead, James Johns, and Ira Hawes, all of Lansing.

The first work was done at the next succeeding conclave, Feb. 1, 1869, when the order of Knights of the Red Cross was conferred on the above-named applicants. Petitions

were also received at the same time from Edwin H. Whit- ney, HIananiah D. Pugh, Dr. Ilulbert B. Shank, and John S. Tooker, all of Lansing, and at the next conclave, Feb- ruary 5th, the order of the Red Cross was conferred on these petitioners, with the exception of Dr. IIulbert B. Shank, who received the same at a subsequent conclave, May 14, 1869.

The first work on the order of Knights Templar and Knights of Malta was performed at this conclave, February 5th, by conferring the orders on George K. Grove, Stephen P. Mead, James Johns, Ira Hawes, and IIananiah D. Pugh, and at the same time the following officers were appointed, which completed the list,-viz., George K. Grove, Std .- B. ; Stephen P. Mead, Swd .- B .; and Ira Ilawes, Sentinel. The recorder was also directed to notify the Sir Knights com- posing the commanderies of Jackson, Corunna, Ionia, and St. Johns that a dispensation had been granted for a com- mandery in Lansing, and that it was then fully organized and in working order.

Between the date of organization and June 1, 1869, the orders had been conferred on eleven members, which, with the original nine, made a membership of twenty at the time of applying for the charter, all of whom were from among the best citizens and most enterprising business men of Lansing and vicinity. Certainly this showed a prosper- ous condition of affairs for a commandery not yet five months old.

Application for a charter was made at the thirteenth annual conclave of the Grand Commandery, held in Detroit, June 1 and 2, 1869, at which time the R. E. G. C., Sir John H. Armstrong, in his address, speaking of the pros- perous condition of the commanderies throughout the jurisdiction, says : " Even Lansing Commandery, No. 25, U. D., the infant commandery of the State, scarce six months of age, has struggled out of its swaddling-clothes and invested its vigorous limbs with the full uniform of its adult relatives. What may we not expect of this pre- cocious youth ?"

The application was referred to the committee on charters and dispensations, who made the following report, which was adopted : " To the R. E. Grand Commandery, Officers, and Sir Knights of the Grand Commandery of Michigan : Your committee on charters and dispensations would beg leave to report that they have examined the by-laws and records of Lansing Commandery, U. D., and find them correct, and recommend that a charter be granted, to be known as Lansing Commandery, No. 25." Signed, James T. Hayden, A. T. Metcalf, and J. Cogshall, Committoe.

The charter bears date of June 2, 1869, and is signed by T. H. Flower, R. E. G. C., and O. Bourke, Grand Recorder.

The first conelave, under the charter, was held at Masonic Ilall, June 11, 1869, when the following officers were duly elected : Sir Alfred Bixby, E. C .; Sir William II. Chap- man, G .; Sir George W. Chandler, C. G .; Sir Charles HI. Darrow, Prelate; Sir Benjamin F. Davis, Recorder ; Sir Benjamin F. Buck, Treasurer; Sir Benjamin B. Baker, S. W .; Sir William W. White, J. W .; Sir James Jolins, Std .- B. ; Sir Hananiah D. Pugh, Swd .- B .; Sir Nelson A. Dunning, Warden ; and Sir Ira ITawes, Sentinel.

155

CITY OF LANSING.

The officers were publicly installed at Mead's Hall, Tues- day evening, July 20, 1869, by P. E. G. C. John II. Armstrong, of Hillsdale, on which occasion Sir A. G. Hib- bard, of Detroit, delivered a very interesting and instructive address, which was duly appreciated by the Sir Knights, after which all repaired to the Lansing House and partook of a fine banquet.

From this time on this commandery has had a steady growth, until it now numbers cighty-two members, among whom are many of our most prominent eitizens and business men.

Three times has the angel of death knocked at the door of our asylum, and taken from our midst our beloved, true, and courteous Sir Knights Stephen P. Mead, Sept. 30, 1870; Jesse N. Parkill, July 6, 1871 ; and Benjamin F. Buck, Nov. 12, 1873; and in each case their remains were escorted to their last resting-place in knightly form.

The following is a list of its Eminent Commanders from its organization, in the order of their service, with the years of their election : Sir Alfred Bixby, 1869-75; Sir George W. Chandler, 1876; Sir Timothy B. Thrift, 1877 ; Sir George W. Chandler again, in 1878-79 ; and Sir Charles H. Hodskin, 1880.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS.

Capitol Lodge, No. 45, was instituted by a dispensation issued Jan. 11, 1850, with the following charter members : O. A. Jamison, Daniel Munger, D. E. Corbin, Jesse L. Fisher, George I. Parsons, E. G. Gregg, and M. N. Prit- chard. It was instituted by District Deputy Grand Master Snow, of Distriet No. 4. On the 30th of June, 1856, the lodge reported twenty-seven members.

From 1857 to 1866 the lodge appears to have been in- active, and no reports were made, though the charter was not surrendered and the organization maintained a quasi connection with the order. The lodge was resuscitated and commenced new work on the 4th of September, 1866, under the direction of Father B. W. Dennis, and from that time to the present has been active and in a prosperous condition.

In December, 1866, the report showed thirty-seven working members. The last report, June 30, 1880, showed a total of ninety members. The lodge rents a hall on Michigan Avenue, which is finely fitted up and furnished.

The officers for the last term of 1880 were as follows : Noble Grand, Rev. George B. Stoeking; Vice-Grand, Daniel Barringer ; Rec. Sec., George L. Davis ; Perm. Sec., A. E. Nugent ; Treas., Cyrus Hewitt; District Deputy Grand Master, A. E. Nugent. The total receipts of the treasurer for 1879 were $477.49, and the total disburse- ments for all purposes $340.64. Funds on hand, $288.45.

Friendship Encampment, No. 33, of Lansing, was insti- tuted Sept. 21, 1869, by John N. Ingersoll, with seven patriarchs. In December, 1879, the report showed thirty- four members. The officers for 1880 are : Chief Patriarch, O. P. Frary ; High Priest, D. Barringer; Senior Warden, R. Mott; Junior Warden, A. E. Nugent; Scribe, James Twaits ; Treas., J. W. Edmonds.

Protection Lodge, No. 321, of North Lansing, was in- stituted on the 21st of November, 1878, with fourtcen

charter members. On the 30th of June, 1880, the lodge reported forty-two members. It is in a prosperous condi- tion, and doing active work.

The officers for the last term of 1880 were, Noble Grand, O. P. Frary ; Vice-Grand, James Twaits ; See., T. W. Greene ; Treas., James Downer ; District Deputy Grand Master, L. B. Huntoon. Receipts for the last six months of 1879, $229.35.

Odd-Fellows' Institute .- In connection with this brief account of Odd-Fellowship in Lansing, it is proper to state that about 1871 the order purchased the property of the Michigan Female College, or rather received it as a dona- tion from members and friends in the city, and subsequently expended about $30,000 in enlarging the buildings and in other ways. The design was to establish an educational institute and asylum for the benefit of orphans and other proper objects of charity in connection with the order. For some reason the project did not meet with that generous encouragement expected from the order throughout the State, and the enterprise was finally given up. The prop- erty is now rented to the State to be used as an institu- tion for the blind, who have recently been transferred from the asylum at Flint.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS .*

The records of this order in Lansing and the surrounding region are imperfect, and we have not been able to procure as satisfactory au article as we had wished. The first lodge of Good Templars in Lansing was organized by F. N. Newman, April 14, 1866, and continued until the winter of 1870, when it suspended. The second lodge was or- ganized Sept. 8, 1871, by Rev. John Russell, with four- teen charter members, and was in active existence for about three years.

Capital Lodge was organized Dec. 11, 1876, by Charles P. Russell, with twenty-three charter members. Warren Hopkins was the first W. C. T., and the lodge has now seventy members; W. M. Clark, W. C. T .; II. J. Vander- hoof, L. D.

On the 12th of March, 1878, North Lansing Lodge was organized by Charles P. Russell, with Mrs. Esther Christopher as W. C. T., but it continned only about eighteen months.

On the 10th of February, 1880, Grand River Lodge was organized by P. C. Leavenworth, Jr., with Wallace Hilbert as W. C. T. It is active and doing a good work.

There are at the present writing, October, 1880, six sub- ordinate lodges in Ingham County, and a district lodge which meets quarterly.

ORDER OF THE STARS AND STRIPES.+

This organization is of a semi-military character, only honorably-discharged soldiers of the Union army and their sons being eligible to membership.

The order was originally organized in New York City in the fall of 1868, as a political body, in the interest of the

# From information furnished by Hudson R. Nelson.

t From information furnished by Charles D. Cowles, Esq., and Dr. R. W. Nelson.

156

IIISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

election of General Grant to the Presidency. The political character has been since virtually given up, at least the partisan portion of it.

Its objects may be briefly stated : they are, to keep alive the memory of those principles for which the Union army fought and so many died, to render mutual benefit and aid to those in distress whenever opportunity presents, and to care for sick and dying comrades, and their widows and orphans.

Lansing Council, No. 76, was organized March 1, 1875, with twenty-two charter members and the following offi- cers: President, Gen. Ralph Ely ; Senior Vice-President, Alexander Cameron ; Junior Vice-President, William II. Marston ; Secretary, B. S. Ilotaling; Treasurer, E. R. Osband.

Since its organization, and largely through the influence and assistance of the "Ladies' Monument Association of Lansing," of which Mrs. Harriet A. Tenney, State Libra- rian, was for a time president, the council has secured a plot of ground in section C, Mount Hope Cemetery, and erected thereon a finely-designed and elegant monument of light-colored sandstone to the memory of fallen comrades, several of whom are there interred.

The order embraces in Lansing a most respectable mem- bership, and counts among its supporters many prominent men of various callings.

There are also councils established at Mason and Leslie, in Ingham County, and all are believed to be in a prosper- ous condition.

LANSING LIBRARY AND LITERARY ASSOCIATION.

This association was organized April 21, 1871, at which time articles of association were adopted and officers chosen.

It was incorporated for thirty years for "literary and scientific purposes." The original act under which it was incorporated was approved March 21, 1865; but the act has been since amended in some particulars.

The object of the association, as stated in the third article of the constitution, is "to establish and maintain a library for the benefit of the members thereof." The original capital stock was $1000, in shares of five dollars each, which can be increased to $10,000 if necessary.

Since the date of organization the society has accumu- lated a well-selected library of 2000 volumes. The society has as yet no building of its own, but rents commodious rooms in the MeClure Block, which are comfortably and tastefully fitted up. The regular meetings of the association are held monthly by the board of directors in the library rooms.

The original officers of the association were: Mrs. II. L. Gazley, President ; W. S. George, Vice-President; Mrs. D. F. Woodcock, Recording Secretary ; Mrs. S. E. Dart, Cor- responding Secretary; II. D. Bartholomew, Treasurer ; Mrs. E. 11. Porter, Librarian ; Mrs. 11. A. Tenney, Miss Carrie Iloward, Mrs. J. A. Crossman, George F. Strong, F. W. Sparrow.

Executive Committee : II. D. Bartholomew, Chairman ; W. S. George, Mrs. J. A. Crossman, Mrs. S. E. Dart, and Mrs. E. Il. Porter.

Book Committee: E. R. Merrifield, Chairman ; W. S.

George, Miss Carrie Howard, Miss Delia Rogers, Mrs. II. A. Tenney.

The present officers are : Mrs. O. M. Barnes, President ; W. B. Carpenter, Vice-President ; Mrs. Charles Campbell, Secretary ; D. F. Woodcock, Treasurer.

The board of directors consists of the above officers, with Mrs. O. M. Barnes as president, Mrs. L. S. Jenison, Mrs. E. R. Merrifield, Mrs. Abram Allen, Mrs. S. L. Smith, Miss Delia Rogers, and Mrs. Frank Mead.

THE LANSING WOMEN'S CLUB.

This association, though not directly connected with the foregoing, is yet a legitimate outgrowth of it. It was organized in March, 1874. The object of the association is stated in the preamble to the constitution as follows :

" We, the undersigned-feeling that home and society demand of the women of to-day the broadest and fullest cul- ture, and being well assured that our usefulness and enjoy- ment will be increased by such culture, believing, also, that the interchange of thought and a unity of purpose will stimulate our mental growth-do hereby unite ourselves as a WOMEN'S CLUB, for the sole purpose of study and mental improvement."

The club mcets on Friday of every week, at two P.M., in the library-rooms of the literary association, excepting eight weeks during the heated term. Very many of the prominent ladies of the city are connected with it, and the discussions and readings take a wide range, and are exceed- ingly interesting and instructive.

Among the historical studies of the club we find the fol- lowing, taken from one of its circulars : Europe at the Fall of the Roman Empire ; The Feudal System ; Chivalry ; The Saracens in Europe; The Moors in Spain ; Charlemagne ; The Temporal Power of the Pope ; Commerce and Agricul- ture during the Middle Ages; History of Venice; The Jews in Europe ; Palestine in the Eleventh Century ; The Crusades ; Invention of Printing; Arabic Learning; Lives and Works of the Great Poets and Artists, etc. In the list of miscellaneous topics for discussion are : The Napo- leons ; Life and Works of Hawthorne; Life and Works of Emerson ; Webster and Calhoun ; Gibbon ; Modern Chiv- alry ; Wives of Great Men ; Divorce Laws ; The Successful Woman and the Successful Man compared; The Historical Importance of Mexico; Arnold's " Light of Asia;" Buddh- ism; Russia and Nihilism; Dress and Health; Ilistory of the Steam-Engine; True and False Economy ; Works and Life of George Eliot ; The Michigan School System.

These studies indicate a wide departure from the ordi- mary life of woman and give a hopeful carnest of better things for her in the future. They also show that intellect- ually the women of the present day are becoming more in- terested in those subjects which have heretofore been prin- cipally monopolized by the sterner sex. Such organizations are beyond a doubt of great utility, and the tendency in the direction indicated is greatly on the increase.

The first officers of the club were: Mrs. Harriet A. Tenney, President ; Mrs. T. S. Westcott, Secretary. The present officers are : Mrs. M. Howard, President; Mrs. Warren, Treasurer; Mrs. Latimer, Recording Secretary ; Mrs. S. L. Smith, Corresponding Secretary.

157

CITY OF LANSING.

GRAND RIVER BOAT CLUB.

This institution was organized on the 25th of June, 1872, and filed articles of association July 19, 1872. The original members were Benjamin H. Berry, William A. Barnard, L. C. Butler, E. C. Chapin, M. J. Buck, W. C. Ten Eyck, C. D. Kingsley, H. T. Carpenter, J. T. Page, L. S. Hudson, T. W. Westcott, S. S. Olds, A. J. Ketchum, R. J. Shank. The first officers were : B. H. Berry, Presi- dent ; William A. Barnard, Vice-President; L. C. Butler, Secretary and Treasurer ; E. C. Chapin, Coxswain ; T. W. Westcott, First Assistant; L. S. Hudson, Second Assistant; Board of Directors, Messrs. Hudson, Ketchum, and West- eott.

An eight-oared barge and a four-oared shell were first purchased of the " Neptune" Club, of East Saginaw. The barge was christened the " William A. Barnard." In 1874 the club purchased a six-oared shell of the " Undines," of Toledo.

Their first race was at Grand Haven, Aug. 12 and 13, 1874, when they fairly won the first prize, but lost it by a peculiar decision of the judges. On the 4th of July, 1875, they won a race over the home-course at Lansing, against the " Goguacs," of Battle Creek. On the 6th of July, 1875, the club joined the Northwestern Amateur Rowing Association, and took part in the Toledo regatta, Aug. 5, 1875.

At Grand Haven they rowed two miles in 14.05; at Lansing, against the "Goguaes," two miles in 14.08; and at Toledo, against a heavy current and floating drift-wood, in 14.543. The one and a half miles at Detroit was rowed in 11.27.

At Detroit on the 4th of July, 1876, the club competed for and won the prize for ten-oared barges against eight competing clubs from various parts of the country. In August, 1877, they entered in a race of the National Ama- teur Rowing Association, but owing to want of practice and a change in their barge failed to win. Since 1877 the club has not been in active practice. It is found very diffi- cult to keep up a erew of ten oars in a place the size of Lansing. A erew of four would be more easily supported, and the club may yet be reorganized with a four-oared shell. They made a remarkably good record during the continuance of the organization.

KNIGHITS TEMPLAR BAND.#

This noted and accomplished organization, in which the citizens of Lansing and the central counties of Michigan take a commendable pride, has been the outgrowth of the last fifteen years.

The first band organized in Lansing was the old Lansing Cornet Band, which took form in July or August, 1865, and was composed of about fifteen young men of North Lansing, prominent among whom were Charles Williams (since deceased), Henry Norton, and J. I. Christopher. But the solid ground of permanency had not yet been reached, and the organization held together for only a few months. The teacher of this organization was Mr. Cyrus

Alsdorf, of Lansing, and the instruments were mostly a picked-up set. The leader of the first band was J. I. Christopher.

A second attempt to effect an enduring organization was made in 1867, and about the same number as composed the first joined the second, many of them having been members of the first. This organization also had a pre- carious existence for a year or more. Joseph Robbins, of Owosso, was engaged as teacher, and Mr. G. W. Christo- pher acted as leader. About 1868 the band was reorgan- ized, a new set of German silver instruments, manufactured by Hall & Quinby, of Boston, was purchased, and the prospects of the organization began to brighten. The first playing with the new instruments was at the laying of the corner-stone of the Odd Fellows' Institute in Lansing. About 1870 the band accompanied the Knights Templa to the fair at Grand Rapids, where they attracted much attention. In October, 1872, they played at the laying of the corner-stone of the new State Capitol. They first ap- peared in uniform about 1870. About 1872 the number of active members began to increase, and in the fall of that year there were eighteen. The old name was changed to " Knights Templar Band" about 1874. Among the early teachers were Prof. J. Henry Gardner, of Flint, in 1871, and Charles A. Jones, in 1875.

In 1877, Prof. William M. Dresskell, an accomplished musician and excellent teacher, was engaged for a period of three years to lead and conduct, and he has continued to fill the position to the present time. Mr. G. W. Chris- topher, the previous leader, being engaged in business, and unable to devote the necessary time, resigned the position, though he has continued an active member of the band. The membership had increased in 1879 to twenty-five pieces, and in 1880 there were about thirty-two members of the organization, some twenty-five of whom are residents of Lansing.

A State band tournament was inaugurated in 1877 at Port Huron by Prof. Ohlenhouse, and the Knights Templar Band was among the fifteen which competed at that time. The competition was open to the bands of Michigan and Canada. The Lansing band competed with seventeen pieces against the Strathroy (Canadian) Band of twenty-five pieces.

The second tournament was held at Lansing in 1878, when seventeen bands assembled to compete for prizes, the home band being barred by the rules from the contest. Gardner's Flint City Band took first prize. In 1879 the tournament was again held at Port Huron, where the fol- lowing prizes were awarded the Knights Templar Band : The grand prize, open to the United States and Canada, $250; the State prize, open to the State of Michigan, $150; special prize for marching and appearance, $25 ; the Distin banner, valued at $75, won in the solo contest by G. W. Christopher as second prize, and a fine cornet, won in the solo cornet contest by William M. Dresskell.

The fourth annual tournament was held at the city of Flint in June, 1880. There were three competing bands in the first class,-the Flint City Band being debarred,- and again the Knights' Templar Band won a decided victory, their score showing nearly a third more points than any

* From information furnished by J. I. Christopher and William M. Dresskell.

158

HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

other, and they were awarded the following prizes: $150 in gold, and the leader, Professor Dresskell, taking the second prize in the cornet contest, a very fine cornet, valued at $100.

In 1875 the band visited Chicago, and again in August, 1880, accompanied the Knights Templar Commandery of Lansing to the famous triennial conclave in that eity, where they met many of the finest organizations in the country, including the Marine Band, of Washington, D. C. Their fine playing and general appearance drew forth high enco- miums from the Chicago papers and many professional musicians.

They also attended the Centennial at Philadelphia in 1876, and passed a few days in New York City on their way home. At different times the organization has also visited Detroit, Toledo, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Maek- inac, and other noted places, always eliciting admiration and complimentary notiees from the press and publie.

Under the leadership of Professor Dresskell, the Knights Templar Baod has made rapid progress and won high dis- tinetion ; but though standing confessedly at the head of similar organizations in Michigan, the members keep up a spirit of emulation, believing in still higher attainments, and conseious that their continued success depends upon unabated vigilance and indomitable perseverance.

Under the impulse of the State Tournament Association there has been developed a wonderful musical taste and a progress in the mastery of difficult and rare composition that have already made the Peninsular State renowned throughout the country; and the effect cannot but be beneficial to a still more marked degree in the future.

The State Band-Leader Association was organized in 1878, and is made up of the leaders of bands within the State of Michigan.

The officers are: President, Professor William M. Dress- kell; Secretary, J. F. O. Smith; Treasurer, Professor J. Henry Gardner. Its aims are to encourage the formation of bands and the cultivation of instrumental music.

The following shows the present instrumentation of the band : William M. Dresskell, leader, solo cornet ; G. A. M. Storer, solo elarionet ; Frank Taylor, solo cornet ; E. Boyee, solo cornet ; George Lauzun, solo alto ; G. W. Christopher, solo baritone; James Richmond, solo euphonium ; John Cowan, piccolo; Joseph Bailey, clarionet; I. Hoppin, clari- onet; J. I. Christopher, clarionet ; Charles Holbrook, elari- onet ; S. Foster, E flat cornet ; C. H. Norton, first B flat cornet ; C. H. Axtell, second B flat cornet ; Will II. Car- penter, third B flat cornet; Ed Atkinson, first alto; C. D. Percy, second alto; C. Bergman, first horn ; L. M. Curry, second horn; B. P. Christopher, first trombone; F. Robson, second trombone; William Armes, second tenor ; Edward Keyes, tuba; A. M. Robson, tuba; Will S. Wright, E. Spencer, J. Dodge, E. Dillingham, battery; N. J. Roe, sergeant ; John Angell, porter.

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History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 38

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co. Number of Pages: 772

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772