USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 71
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The Ancient and Accepted Rite in Minnesota. The ancient and accepted rite of Freemasonry, (popularly known as the Scottish rite) in Minne- sota, derives its title or warrant from the Supreme Council of Inspectors General, of the thirty-third degree for the southern jurisdiction of the United
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States, having its see at Charleston, South Carolina, that sovereign grand body having- when its number 33 is complete-one or more inspectors general in each state and organized territory of its jurisdiction, exercising a general supervision over the affairs of the rite. The first member of the Supreme Council, from Minnesota, was A. T. C. Pierson, 33d, under wliose inspect- orship the rite was first introduced and dissemi- nated, in 1866, the following named brethren being invested with the degrees to the 32d, by him, abont that time, viz: Albert B. Curry, C. W. Carpenter, Geo. L. Otis, Norman W. Kittson, Rev. Dr. S. Y. McMasters, Damon Greenleaf, Chas. F. Malıler, Freeman James and G. W. Merrill, of St. Paul; Grove B. Cooley, of Mantorville; Geo. A. Savory, of Minneapolis; Sam. E. Adams, of Monticello; Benj. F. Smitlı, of Mankato; Daniel Heaney, of Rochester; Walter G. Dye, Dr. James M. Cole, Benton HI. Langley, J. W. Keyes, James R. Hatcher, of Winona. In May, 1870, Bro. Pierson resigned his office of grand prior, and membership in the Supreme Council, and was succeeded by Dr. McMasters, as deputy inspector for the state. In May, 1874, Dr. Alfred E. Ames, of Minneapolis, was elected to the 33d degree, and made inspector general for the state, but died in the fall of the same year, and was succeeded by Dr. McMasters again; and upon his death, in the fall of 1875, he was succeeded by G. W. Mer- rill, who still continues to serve as deputy inspec- tor for the Supreme Council. The first organiza- tion of a lodge of perfection was had on Decem- ber 1st, 1867, under a charter issued by Bro. A. T. C. Pierson, S. G. J. G., with Bro. Chas. W. Nash, T. P. G. M., Bro. Geo. F. Otis, G. S. W. Bro. G. W. Merrill, G. J. W., and Bro. S. G. McMasters, G. O., and a competent number of officers and members, but owing to the absence from the state of Bro. Nash, and the burning of Masonic hall shortly thereafter, nothing was done under that organization, but meanwhile these brethren were invested with the degrees to the 32d, by Bro. Pierson, viz: Delos A. Monfort, O. G. Miller, Dr. S. A. Beecher and II. N. Wheeler. On the 23d of May, 1869, the lodge was organized, with Bro. G. W. Merrill, T. P. G. M .; Bro. Albert B. Curry, G. S. W .; Bro. D. A. Monfort; G. J. W .; Bro, S. G. McMasters, G. O .; Bro. N. W. Kittson, almoner; Bro. C. W. Carpenter, treasu-
rer; Bro. Chas. F. Mahler, secretary; Bro. Hora- tio N. Wheeler, S. E .; Bro. Rev. J. Marvin, J. E .; Bro. O. G. Miller, master of ceremonies; and Bro. S. A. Beecher, captain of host. Since that date the work of the rite has been uninterrupted. The principles of the rite-faith, justice and tole- ration-have been inculcated. The other bodies of the rite have been organized, and the whole series of degrees, from 4th to 32d, are con- ferred in St. Paul, and in Minneapolis also, and lodges of perfection have been organized at Red Wing, at Mankato, and at St. Peter. Present officers of Carmel lodge of Perfection, No. 1: G. W. Merrill. V. M .; O. G. Miller, S. W .; S. L. Pollock, J. W .; C. G. Iligbee, O .; N. W. Kittson, A .; Chas. Leonard, T .; A. J. Burningham, S .; Chas. Shandrew, M. C .; R. F. Marvin, S. E .; Wm. R. Burkhard, J. E .; James P. Pond, C. H .; H. Burningham, tyler. The membership of the lodge numbers seventy.
St. Paul Chapter of Rose Croix No. 1, was or- ganized in June, 1869, with officers as follows: D. A. Monfort, W. M .; G. W. Merrill, S. W .; J. C. Ramsey, J. W .; Albert B. Curry, O .; Nor- man W. Kittson, A .; O. G. Miller, M. C .; C. W. Carpenter, T .; Charles F. Mahler, S .; S. A. Beecher, S. E .; H. N. Wheeler, J. E. The mem- bership of the chapter is forty-four, and the pres- ent officers are C. G. Higbee, W. M .; R. F. Mar- vin, S. W .; S. T. Pollock, J. W .; Irving Todd, O .; N. W. Kittson, A .; O. G. Miller, M. C .; Charles Leonard, T .; A. J. Burningham, S .; Joseph Bergfield, E .; W. R. Burkhard, A. E .; H. Burningham, sentinel.
De Molai Council of Kadosh, No. 1, was organ- ized by Rev. Dr. S. Y. McMasters, in October, 1874. The first officers were: G. W. Merrill, V. E. C .; O. G. Miller, E. 1st L. C .; E. D. B. Por- ter, E. 2d L. C .; R. F. Marvin, C .; A. B. Curry, O .; Charles Leonard, T .; M. Sheire, S .; W. S. Combs, M. C .; N. W. Kittson, A .; Joseph Berg- field, 1st D .; E. S. Beck, 2d D) .; S. L. Pollock, L. G. The membership is thirty-seven, and the officers are; O. G. Miller, C .; A. E. Iligbee, 1st L. C .; S. L. Pollock, 2d L. C .; Richard F. Mar- vin, chancellor; C. G. Higbee, O .; N. W. Kitt- son. A .; Charles Leonard, T .; A. J. Burning- ham, S .; W. S. Combs, M. C .; Joseph Bergfield, 1st D .; W. R. Burkhard. 2d D .; D. S. Stombs, L. G .; H. Burningham, sentinel.
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Minnesota Consistory, No. 1, of Masters of the Royal Secret, 32d degree, was organized by Bro. G. W. Merrill, Deputy Inspector, April 23d, 1880, with the following officers, to hold for three years from date of organization, viz: Orville Gil- bert Miller, V. M. K .; Edwin Forrest Miller, G. P. K .; Swante John Willard, G. P .; Joseph Berg- feld, C .; Grove Benjamin Cooley, O .; Norman Wolfred Kittson, A. & T .; Norman Kibbe Ilawk- ins, S .; Freeman James, P .; Irving Todd, S. E .; John Conrad Nelson, J, E .; Charles Frederick Mahler, S. B .; Samuel Adrian Beecher, B .; Richard Frank Marvin, C. G. The names of members in addition to the officers, July 1st, 1881, were: John Thompson West, Guy Wells, Luther Z Rogers, Edward A. Hotchkiss, G. W. Merrill, James Twomley, Charles Edward Holt, Robert Field Crowell, George Hunsacker, Harry Burningham, Alonzo James Burningham. Newton Irvine Willey, Chester Goss Iliber, Wil- liam Rudolph Burkhard, Abraham Smith, Wil- liam Nehemiah Cumby, Julius Jerome Durage, and number thirty.
Masonic Relief Association of St. Paul, was organized and incorporated in August, 1873. The object of this body is to provide for the pay- ment to the widow, children, mother, or to any designated representative of any member of the order, of any such sum as the by-laws of the society may from time to time provide. This sum is raised by voluntary subscriptions of the members of the society. The members must be Master Masons in good standing, and actual members of some regular lodge. The first officers were J. II. Stewart, president ; E. D. B. Porter, vice-president ; D. A. Monfort, treasurer ; B. F. Wright, secretary ; S. D. Flagg, M. D., medical director. The first directors were J. L. Morrison, II. P. Upham, J. II. Stewart, E. D. B. Porter, H. L. Carver, F. S. Swisher, D. A. Monfort, F. Richter, B. F. Wright, R. W. Johnson, I. E Reed, J. A. Richardson, George L. Otis, G. W. Merrill, W. S. Combs. The membership in 1873, was 325, and in 1881, had increased to 2,591. The number of deaths up to January 12th, 1881, was 103, and the number of claims paid from the treasury, without assessment, up to 1881, was twenty-seven, and the total amount paid to bene- ficiaries since organization, is *186,074.98. The officers for 1881, are R. W. Johnson, presi-
dent ; R. A. Smith, treasurer ; S. D. Flagg, M. D., medical director; James Smith, Jr., attorney ; J. C. Terry, secretary ; R. A. Smith, G. W. Mer- rill, W. D. Cornish, I. P. Wright, D. A. Monfort, J. C. Terry, B. F. Wright, J. C. Morrison, F. S. Swisher, S. D. Flagg, M. D., F. Richter, B. Pres- ley, J. II. Reaney, directors.
Pioneer lodge of A. F. and A. M. (colored), was organized September 16th, 1866. It was char- tered by the grand lodge of Missouri (colored), and started with fifteen members. The first offi- cers were: Joseph Farr, W. M .; William Griffin, S. M .; Israel Crosley, J. W .; Edmund James, T .; Thomas A. Jackson, S .; Robert Bruce, S. D .; David Edwards, J. D .; Henry IIawkins, J. This lodge meets on Jackson street near Seventh, on the first and third Mondays of each month. The membership numbers fifty-nine and the officers for 1881, are: George B. Williams, W. M .; Wil- liam Stevens, S. W .; Joseph Allen, J. W .; James K. Ifilyard, T .; Charles F. Wilkins, S .; Alfred Robinson, S. D .; Robert M. Williams, J. D .; Jno. A. Jackson, tyler.
I. O. O. F.
The first lodge of Odd Fellows was established in Stillwater, August 1st, 1849, by D. D. G. S., John G. Potts, of Galena. The Odd Fellows at St. Paul about the same time joined together in an application for a lodge, the charter of which was granted that fall, and forwarded to Brother Potts; but before he could come to St. Paul to institute the lodge, navigation closed, and it was not until May 3d, 1850, that St. Paul lodge, No. 2, was instituted. The lodge flourished, and in about a year it was deemed advisable to secure an encampment. Several scarlet degree mem- bers forwarded the necessary petition to Grand Secretary Ridgely, and in 1851 the charter was issued. This charter has since been destroyed by fire, and its exact date is not known. Deputy Grand Sire Potts again visited St. Paul, and on September 1st, 1851, Minnesota Encampment No. 1 was duly instituted by him. It appears from the records of the meeting that none of the char- ter members or applicants had the encampment degrees, and they were conferred on the petition- ers prior to the institution of the cucampment by D. D. G. S. Potts, assisted by Brothers Stahl and Davis. The charter members were as follows: John Farrington, B. W. Lott, John Leslie, Com-
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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
fort Barnes, H. L. Bevans, Wm. Freeborn, B. W. Brunson, J. W. Bass, W. W. Sweeney, Peter Hopkins, and R. M. Spencer; all still living ex- cept the last named. Minnesota Encampment No. 1, in her twenty-three years career has had a varied history. Her records show a continual struggle to succeed, with many partial failures, and untiring devotion on the part of a few faith- ful patriarchs. Sometimes for months (especially during the hard times from 1857 to 1863) no meetings would be held. At one time no returns were made to G. L. U. S. for two and a half years. More recently her whole outfit and para- phernalia were totally destroyed by fire. Yet she has weathered all these storms, and is to-day in a prosperous condition. She may be called the "mother of encampments" in Minnesota. From her membership have gone those who have estab- lished fully one-half of the encampments in our state and who frequently came to St. Paul in par- ties of eight or ten to receive the degrees from her hospitable tent, then return to raise the standard in their own town. For sixteen years this was the only encampment in the state. A prelimi- mary convention of I. O. O. F. was held at St. Paul, April 21st, 1871, pursuant to notice given to the various encampments of the state by C. D. Strong, D. D. G. S. for Minnesota. Delegates. elected by the same assembled in the evening at the hall of Minnesota encampment No. 1, at St. Paul for the purpose of taking preliminary steps to form a grand encampment. At eight o'clock C. D. Strong, D. D. G. S. took the chair and called the convention to order. On motion of R. Seiler of No. 5, J. F. Williams of No. 1, was chosen scribe. The District Deputy Grand Sire called for the credentials of representatives present, and the same were handed him as follows: J. F. Williams, Minnesota Encampment No. 1, St. Paul; A. Blanchard, Rochester Encampment No. 2, Rochester; B. Rogers, Nicollet Encampment No. 3, St. Peter; Luther Bixby, and D. B. Mar- ble, Central Encampment No. 4, Owatonna; R. Seiler, Schiller Encampment No. 5, Minne- apolis. The D. D. G. S. pronounced these credentials in proper form, and that the patriarchs bearing them were entitled to seats in the convention. A resolution that a grand encampment be formed in this state, was offered and passed, and a petition for a charter
was prepared and signed by the delegates present. A committee of one from each encampment was appointed to draft a constitution and report at the time the grand encampment was instituted. The business of the convention having been ac- complished, it adjourned upon motion of L. Bixby of No. 4.
On the 7th day of June following, representa- tives from the different encampments in the state assembled in the hall of Nicollet Encampment at St. Peter, for the purpose of organizing a grand encampment. The warrant, or dispensation of the Grand lodge of the United States, authorizing the formation of a grand encampment was then read by the scribe after which the grand encamp- ment degree was conferred upon those present. Proclamation was then made that the R. W. Grand Encampment of Minnesota, I. O. O. F. was regularly instituted and ready for business. The election of officers which then followed re- sulted as follows : C. D. Strong, M. W. G. P .; E. K. Smith, M. E. G. II. P .; H. M. Rice, R. W. G. S. W .; John W. Everstein, R. W. G. J. W .; Jo- seph Lewis, R. W. G. S .; J. T. Williams, R. W. G. R .; Rudolph Sieber, R. W. G. Sent .; M. Mark- ham, R. W. G. M. After the installation of of- ficers, the grand encampment adjourned. There are now twenty encampments in this state with a total membership of six hundred. The pres- ent officers of the grand encampment are, W. D. Tompkins, G. P .; C. C. Heard, G. H. P .; R. Sheire, G. S. W .; J. G. Paschky, G. J. W .; J. F. Williams, G. S. and T .; E. F. Grow, G. S .; C. M. George, G. O. S .; R. I. Billingsby, G. M.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; conven- tion of past grands held in 1852. The several lodges of the I. O. of O. F., of the territory of Minnesota, having instructed their past grands to meet in convention to take proper steps to ob- tain from the Grand Lodge of the United States a warrant for the institution of a Grand Lodge for the territory, on the 6th day of September, 1852, the past grands from Minnesota Lodge No. 1, St. Paul, No. 2, and Hennepin Lodge, No. 4, met in convention at the Odd Fellows hall in the city of St. Paul. The convention was organ- ized by the election of P. G. Trask, of No. 1, as president, and P. G. Brunson of No. 2, as secre- tary. The credentials of the following named past grands were presented, and they took their
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seats as the representatives from the several lodges. From Minnesota Lodge No. 1, Sylvanus Trask, D. B. Loomis, W. C. Penny, George W. Battles, and N. Greene Wilcox. From St. Paul Lodge, No. 2, B.W. Lott, Comfort Barnes, B. W. Brunson, and S. W. Walker. Resolutions were passed to take proper steps and frame a petition to obtain a charter from the R.W. G. L. of the United States, which was done and the convention ad- journed sine die. In compliance with previous notice, representatives from the different lodges I. O. O. F. met to attend the institution of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. Past grands from the different lodges presented their credentials to the D. D. G. S., John G. Potts, who was present as installing officer. The Grand Lodge then proceeded to the election of officers for the cur- rent year; the following P. G.'s were declared duly elected and installed, and thus the Grand Lodge was duly organized: N. Greene Wilcox, M. W. G. M .; B. W. Brunson, R. W. D. G. M .; G. B. Dutton, R. W. G. W .; A. Bryant, R. W. G. S .; S. W. Walker, R. W. G. T. D. D. G. S. Potts, previous to vacating the chair, deliv- ered a brief but very appropriate address. Pres- ent Grand officers: G. S. Ives, M. W. G. M .; I. E. Clark, R. W. D. G. M .; D. H. Stimson, R. W. G. W .; Sherwood Hough, R. W. G. S. and T .; D. A. Morrison, R. W. G. R. one year; Walter G. Dye, R. W. G. R. two years; Alex. Wilson, R_ W. C .; J. A. Jackson, R. W. G. M .; Joseph Min- ges, R. W. G. C .; John White, R. W. G. G .; Jos- eph Lewis, R. W. G. M. Sherwood Hough was elected grand secretary in 1861, and has been re- elected to that office each year since.
Grand Lodge of I. O. O. F. June, 1881. Num- ber of lodges, 73; number initiated. 694; number of members in good standing, 3,976; number of weeks of sickness, 311; number of brothers re- lieved, 226; number of widowed families relieved, 19; number of brothers buried, 21; amount paid for relief of brothers, $3,001.34; amount paid for relief of widows and orphans, $428.05, amount paid for burying the dead, $928.81; amount ex- pended in charity, $3.355.46; total relief, $4,714.62.
Minnesota Encampment No. 1, was instituted, August 11th, 1851, with thirteen members. In 1872, their charter and all the records were burned, and a new charter was granted them in 1873, by C. A. Logan, Most Worshipful Grand Sire of the
United States. The charter members were R. R. Nelson, John Farrington, B. W. Lott, John Les- ler, W. W. Sweeney, William Freeborn, E. M. Partridge, R. M. Spencer, John W. Bass, Com- fort Barnes, Peter Hopkins, R. L. Bevans, and B. W. Brunson. Present officers-Thomas Riley, C. P., J. F. Williams, H. P., Wm. Grube, S. W., Romaine Shiere, J. W., B. J. IIult, S., Monroe Shiere, F. S. and T., A. N. Nelson, G., with a present membership of sixty.
St. Paul Lodge No. 2, I. O. O. F. was institu- ted September 20th, 1850, with the following charter members : B. W. Brunson, John Dunshee, B. W. Lott, John Congden, J. B. Cole. A new charter was issued to this lodge in May, 1873, in place of the original, destroyed by fire in 1872. The present membership is 143. We cannot give a list of the first officers of the lodge, the records being destroyed by fire, as above stated. Present officers-Josialı Marvin, N. G., F. F. Beard, V. G., A. G. Long, R. S., M. Shiere, P. S., K. H. Beckford. T., R. Shiere, W., A. N. Nelson, C., L. P. Stomquist, I. G., B. J. Hult, O. G .; M. Shiere, C. N. Bell, R. A. Smith, trustees. The lodge is in good financial condition, and owns Odd Fellows' block, corner Wabasha and Fifth streets, valued at fifty thousand dollars, from which they derive an annual income of four thousand dollars.
Germania Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted August 23d, 1867, with the following char- ter members: John Thorworth, F. Knauft, Ben. Rose, HI. Habighorst, Philip Scheig, H. W. Schroer, Joseph Bergfeld, A. Blum, J. G. Miller, A. W. Cumnick. First officers: John Thorworth, N. G .; Ben. Rose, V. G .; HI. Habighorst, T .; H. W. Schroer, C .; J. G. Miller, W .; A. W. Cumnick. I. G .; A. W. Cumnick, O. G .; J. Bergfield, R. S. of N. G .; G. Unger, L. S. of N. G .; Philip Scheig, R. S. of V. G .; A. Blum, L. S. of V. G .; F. Knauft, secretary. The membership, May 30th, 1881. numbered 99. Present officers: George Wenz, N. G .; Herman Kuschke, V. G .; Herman Kuschke, S .; E. Bauscher, R. S .; II. Geisen- heiner, T .; H. Peters, R. S. N. G .; G. Unger, L. S. N. G .; --- Schmaus, R. S. V. G .; - Krech, L. S. V. G .; H. Peters, HI. Justus, H. Deppe, trustees.
German American Lodge, No. 58, I. O. O. F., was installed January 10th, 1877. Its first elected
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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
officers were as follows: Wm. Porter, N. G .; W. II. Stormer, V. G .; C. E. Knauft, C. S .; C. F. IIennige, F. S .; F. Knauft, T. The present offi- cers are: J. H. IIullsicke, N. G .; Theo. Wicker- sheim, V. G .; Adam Beyer, C. S .; A. Stierle, F. S .; C. F. Knauft, T. The present membership is seventy.
Union Lodge No. 48, I. O.O. F. was instituted January 21st, 1875. The following were the charter members who also were the first officers: Alex. Wilson, P. G .; O. W. Rimpler, N. G .; Wm. M. Edgecomb, V. G .; John W. Wood, R. S .; H. T. Sattler, P. S .; John Daw, T .; C. C. IIare, W .; F. F. Wilde, R. S. N. G .; H. Grote, L. S. N .- G .; Geo. W. Meble, R. S. V. G .; J. P. Musser, L. S. V. G .; C. C. Berkman, J. G. Scarlet degree members: J. D. Wilson, Jacob Manheimer, C. II. Schmidt, August Eggert, J. A. Richardson, Isaac Boudy, Gustav Heineman, W. S. Wilson, R. IIare, J. Engel, D. C. Satler, N. Lyon, B. Lich- tenstein, Charles Griswold, Oscar Schwarzbach. Initiate members: J. H. Bryant, J G. Hinkle, Jno. R. Parsons, II. M. Blevin, T. K. Gumalius, Thos. Barker, Wm. Richeson, S. W. Eastman, August Telkey, F. W. Leeman, II. C. Rigby, Frank Berk- man, J. W. O'Brien. Present officers: James Starky, N. G .; James Smith, V. G .; George Stahl- man, treasurer; H. C. De Yonker, secretary; J. J. Lieman, Wm. Richeson, Sam Steinberg, trus- tees. January 1st, 1881, the membership was one hundred and five.
Excelsior Lodge No. 60, 1. O. O. F. was organ- ized Monday evening, March 26th, 1877. The charter members were: R. Schiffman, M. D .; John Remick, Walter Scott, II. L. Mills, Thomas Riley, George HI. Smith, W. H. Mead, Max Whit- tleshofer, C. L. Marvin and Fred Sturneyk. The first officers of the lodge were: II. L. Mills, N. G .; W. II. Mead, V. G .; John Remick, R. S .; Thos. Riley, P. S .; Max Whittleshofer, T. The growth of this lodge has been unparalleled in the history ef the order of this state. It now numbers over two hundred members. The present officers are: C. B. Grant. N. G .; Leonard Leigh, V. G .; I. A. Bedford, P. S .; S. W. Boyd, R. S .; Edward Ro- tert, T. Time of meetings Wednesday evening of each week, at Odd Fellows hall, corner of Wabasha and Fifth streets.
St, Paul Encampment No. 15, I. O. O. F., was organized May 26tlı, 1877. The charter members
were: C. C. Berkman, J. M. Curtis, A. B. Wilgus, II. C. IHope, Robt. Palmer, A. Guiterman and H. J. Strouse. The first officers were: A. B. Wil- gus, C. P .; A. Guiterman, H. P .; II. J. Sterns, S. W .; J. M. Curtis, J. W .; II. C. Hope, S .; C. C. Berkman, T. The encampment now numbers fifty-three members, and is in a flourishing condi- tion. The present officers are: II. Wallterstorf, C. P .; A. Wilson, II. P .; C. D. Houston, S. W .; T. J. Linnehan, J. W .; A. II. Foster, S .; C. B. Grant, T. Its nights of meeting are the first and third Fridays, each month, at Odd Fellows hall, corner Wabasha and Fifth streets.
Minnesota Odd Fellows Mutual Benefit society was incorporated under the laws of Minnesota, in 1878. C. D. Strong, president; Ed. A. Stevens, vice president; Dr. R. Schiffman, secretary; Robert A. Smith, treasurer; Joseph Bergfeld, David Ramaley, August Ende, S. Hough, R. Schiffman, H. R. Brill, HI. J. Strouse, Jos. Lewis, C. D. Strong, Robert A. Smith, Ed. A. Stevens, Wm. Cheney, directors. The general purpose . and nature of the business of the society is the insurance of the lives of its members upon the plan of paying to the representative of every de- ceased member a certain sum, to be assessed pro rata, according to age, upon and received from the other members, of said corporation. The affairs of the society are managed by a board of directors, elected annually, which board has gen- eral control of the finances, and make such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper government of the society and its officers and members. The present officers (1881) are as follows: C. D. Strong, president; August Ende, vice president; R. Schiffmann, secretary; Robt. A. Smith, treasurer; C. D. Strong, Robert A. Smith, Ed. A. Stevens, Wm. Cheney, August Ende, Jos. Bergfeld, D. Ramaley, Sherwood Ilough, R. Schiffman, II. R. Brill, Chas. Gris- wold, John S. Proctor, directors.
United Ancient Order of Druids. The order was introduced into the state (then territory) of Minnesota, August 12th, 1856, by the organiza- tion of Minnesota Grove No.1. and was instituted by S. E. Burkhard as the district deputy G. A. of the Grand Grove of the United States, with eleven charter members of which only two, Adam Fink, (of Minnesota Grove No. 1,) and Wm. Drepler, (of Eintracht Grove No. 14,) are
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SAINT PAUL-MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES.
now members of the order so far as known. Up to the time of the breaking out of the war for the union, April, 1861, the Grove had ad- mitted one hundred members, when several of its members enlisted, some to return and others to die on southern soil. Those who enlisted were granted the privilege while serving their country, and returning sound in body and mind, of not being required to pay dues or receiving benefits, and could continue members as heretofore. After the war, the Grove increased steadily, and has up to the present time admitted three hundred and six members. The present membership is one hundred and thirty-six. The Grove owns a piece of property valued at $5,000, has some $2,- 000 or $3,000 in funds, which are mostly invested with members of the Grove. Washington No. 2, of Watertown was organized with eleven char- ter members. Schiller Grove No. 3, was insti- tuted September 16th, 1869, by the D. D. G. A. for Ramsey county, J. P. Leitner. This Grove has admitted to date, eighty-seven members, has a good financial standing, and has now sixty members. North Star Grove No. 4, was organ- ized September 10th, 1870, and instituted by D. D. G. A., J. P. Leitner with twenty-three char- ter members, and was the first Grove to work in the English language in the state. It has ad- mited one hundred and sixty-two members, and has now a membership of ninety-five. St. Paul Grove No. 7, was organized by members of North Star Grove No. 4, June 28th, 1873, with seven- teen charter members, and was instituted by S. L. Pollock, N. G. A. It has admitted one hun- dred and sixty-two members and has at present a membership of ninety-three. Marco Bozarris No. 10, has admitted to date about one hundred and ten members. The principal founder of this grove was Dr. H. A. L. Van Mendelstadt, now at Deadwood, Dakota territory. This grove has labored under many disadvantages through the carelessness and non-attendance of its mem- bers, and had almost became defunct, when sev- eral members, especially W. P. Murray, John Rothwell and others came to the rescue, put new life in the institution, and the grove is now in a fair way of continuing its future usefulness; their present membership is forty-three. Lincoln Grove No. 11, was organized and instituted March 7th, 1876, by August Hammer, N. G. A.
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