USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 25
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The North Star Dairy Company also does a flourishing busi- ness. A history of this concern is found in the biographical sketch of Charles B. Dibble, elsewhere in this volume.
Austin's Cement Products. Cement drain tile has been dem- onstrated to be one of the best materials for farm drainage.
Nels Mickelson manufactures not only cement block, brick and tile, but also cement sewer pipe two feet in diameter. The city of Austin has used much of this sewer pipe and finds it as satis- factory as the vitrified clay product.
C. E. Dickens is one of the oldest of the cement workers and
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beside the ordinary cement product he produces much orna- mental cement work.
Thomas Rochford also manufactures fine grades of cement block. He makes a steel reinforced cement post that is much in use for fencing pastures and fields.
M. P. Underberger lays cement sidewalks and does cement working.
The Austin Cement Stone and Tile Company was organized and incorporated under the state laws of Minnesota, April, 1908, for the purpose of manufacturing cement drain tile, building blocks, brick, fence posts and such other articles as pertain to cement construction. The original capital stock was $50,000 preferred and common, the incorporators and first officers being : President, C. H. Webber ; secretary, J. L. Mitchell ; treasurer and manager, E. W. Marsh. The officers still remain the same. The plant is located in the city of Austin, just south of the George A. Hormel & Co. plant, and the building is of heavy concrete block, equipped with the latest modern machinery, including a forty horse-power boiler and a twenty-five horse-power electric motor. The plant has a floor space of 9,000 square feet, including three steam-tight curing rooms. Some fifteen to eighteen men are employed. The daily output of the drain tile varies from 3,000 to 5,000 per day, according to the size. The drain tile and build- ing blocks find a large market in Austin and vicinity, but much is also shipped to distant points. This plant is the first of its kind started in this city, and has been very successful. Its aim is to excel in the quality of its manufactured goods, and all its products are steam-cured and made by the latest improved methods. The company owns the land upon which the plant is located and also a fine sandpit of fifteen acres. The office is at 121 North Main street.
Woodworking. Austin has two woodworking establishments. those of C. F. Stillman and Henry Waterman. The story of these plants is told in the sketches of their respective owners.
Printing and Binding. Austin has an excellent book bindery, that of J. M. Beck. and each of the newspapers have joh printing departments. The McCulloch company is mentioned elsewhere.
Machine and Wagon Shops. Austin has two splendid machine shops, each employing mechanies capable of doing any repair work and doing it well and quickly. There are two wagon shops where vehicles are not only repaired but where new ones are built for the trade. A gunmaker is also located here. The ma- chine shop proprietors are J. E. Hanson and Arthur Carlson : the wagon makers, J. Z. Rogers and W. M. Hanson, and the gun- maker is IIenry C. Waldecker. There are three exclusive black- smith establishments, Sorenson & Neilson and Lars Hansen.
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Austin Candy Company manufactures all grades of pure con- fections from taffy to creams. It ships goods as far west as McLeod, Mont. It also manufactures for the jobbers in the Twin Cities and for the local trade. Experienced candy makers are employed.
The Cummings Brush Manufacturing Company has been in operation since August, 1910, and while only a new business, it has created a great demand for its manufactured goods. The Cummings brushes are on the market in many of our largest cities, handled by jobbers and wholesalers in Cincinnati, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, Des Moines, Kansas City, Omaha, Council Bluffs, Minneapolis, St. Paul, LaCrosse, Dubuque, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and many other towns and vil- lages. Mr. Cummings has put out a very neat and up-to-date catalogue and his system of putting manufactured goods on the market has proved a success in every line he has undertaken. Mr. Cummings will add more machinery and increase the capacity to meet the demands for his manufactured goods.
T. F. Cummings Bottling Works .- In February, 1894, this con- cern was started in a small way and now its daily capacity is 500 cases. All kinds of soft drinks are made and bottled here. The water used is from the Trio Siloam springs. These springs are of the purest water and as they have medicinal qualities are carbonated and bottled. Mr. Cummings prides himself that every constituent that is used in the manufacture of his bottled goods is the purest that the market affords. Mr. Cummings also has a large trade in table and bar glassware.
E. H. Smith Land & Loan Company. This business was estab- lished November 1, 1900, with E. H. Smith as manager and remains the same at this date. For several years the business consisted principally of buying and selling western lands par- ticularly in western Minnesota and North Dakota, also doing considerable business in western Canada. Since 1905 the firm has done a large business in Montana in both irrigated and dry lands. Commencing with the fall of 1909 it has done a large business in sonthern Minnesota and northern Iowa selling prin- cipally to central lowa and northern Illinois farmers, and during this period has located nearly one hundred well-to-do farmers from the east and south in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. It also does an extensive farm loan business, marketing its securities principally in the east. It also has one of the lead- ing fire insurance agencies in the city. The E. HI. Smith Land & Loan Company was the first exelusive real estate and loan busi- ยท ness established in the county. Mr. Smith was born and raised in Mower county, has traveled extensively through the middle and
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western states, and is, without doubt, one of the best postel real estate men in the Northwest.
Austin Cement Works. In the spring of the year 1893 Frank Fowler, the senior member of the eopartnership of Fowler & Pay, quarry owners and manufacturers of building materials of Man. kato, Minn., finding that the trade required something better for stone and brick building purposes than the mortar in general use at that time, and being a geologist of more than the average knowledge and a chemist of no mean ability, he started a general search for a particular kind of stone from which a first class grade of natural cement could be manufactured. After much seeking over this and adjoining states and an almost discourag- ing number of fruitless experiments with the different kinds of stone found, the particular kind of stone wanted was finally
located in Mower county, Minnesota, three and one-half miles south of the city of Austin on the banks of Rose ereek (a tribu- tary of the Cedar river) near both the Chicago Great Western and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railways, thereby affording the best of shipping facilities. The necessary land containing this stone was immediately secured, all preparations made and the building of this works started early in the following year (1894). This work, consisting of opening a stone quarry, grad- ing for the railroad tracks, erecting buildings containing about two acres of floor space and installing the machinery was rushed to completion in record time under the able personal supervision of the then, as now, only members of the firm, Frank Fowler and Frank B. Pay, at a cost of about $50,000 and named the Austin Cement Works. After a short period of successful manufacture of a first class grade of cement known as Austin natural cement, the entire works were destroyed by fire. This calamity coming so soon after the expense of building the works and creating a demand for its product would naturally be very discouraging to the strongest hearts and a much larger bank account, but the owners of the remaining pile of ashes and ruined machinery being men of the "never say die" type immediately resumed work where they had so recently finished and erected buildings one- third larger than those destroyed by the fire. This work, as before, was rushed to completion and the finished product placed on the market in the shortest possible time without having sold or offered any stock for sale, Fowler & Pay still being the sole owners and operators. The works have been in almost constant operation since the time of rebuilding and employ twenty-five men daily, mprovements having been made from time to time that have increased the capacity to 100,000 barrels annually of a better grade of natural eement and brieklayers' cement than any natural eement works in this country. This eement is reeom-
.
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mended for all kinds of brick and stone building purposes, under street paving, cellar floors and cisterns, as it sets quite rapidly under water; a market for the bulk of this material is found throughout the great Northwest. In connection with the Austin Cement Works there are five family houses and a large boarding house for the convenience of the employees who desire to live near their work, also a large farm, a part of which the resident employees have for pasture and gardening purposes, rent free. It has always been the policy of this firm to treat its customers, employees, neighbors and friends with the utmost consideration in all business or other affairs, and they have shown their appre- ciation for seventeen years by there never having been any serious litigation, labor troubles or any disturbance that is so disastrous to the good will that should exist between all parties concerned.
Other industries of Austin are as follows: Real estate and insurance : E. H. Smith Land Company, Four Counties Land Company, Southern Minnesota Land Company, Gilbert Sorflaten, James Sneider, F. P. Dawes & Co., F. A. Tichenor, Lyman D. Baird, Alfred C. Page, Rockford Land Company, C. H. Webber, J. D. Sheedy. Fuel: Gripman Bros., John F. Fairbanks, Mower County Co-operative Elevator and Fuel Company, and all the lumber yards. Stock dealers: F. P. Dawes, A. R. Thompson, W. P. Miner, Elihue B. Smith. Horse dealers: Edward D. and Michael J. Feeney. Junk dealers: Charles Dubinsky, R. Rosen- thal. Telephones: Interstate, Northwestern. Liveries: Furtney & Bassett, H. O. Peck. Hacks and carriages: John R. Mears. Bakeries: Home bakery, People's bakery, A. V. McConnell. Barbers: Roy Woodard, Martin, Lee, A. M. Lee, A. C. Hanson, Gyp. Hillam, George Heimer, C. W. Brown, Roy Chaffee, William Bump, Putnam & Casper. Tailors: H. O. Herman, F. C. Price, William Cutter, Henry Jacobs. Auctioneers: Lovell & Herzog, J. S. Attlesey. Contractors and builders: Sullivan & Schroedel, George Beckel, Lars P. Erickson, T. Beatty, Torger Martinson, C. F. Stillman, Henry Waterman. Greenhouse : A. N. Kinsman. Nurseries : J. M. Lindsey. C. F. Woodle. Painters: W. J. Avery, J. L. Cooley. Theaters: Idle Hour, Bijou. Photographers : Fair- banks Bros., George Bucklin, II. C. Bishop, M. H. Vosburgh. Jee : Gripman Bros., S. L. Young. Austin Rug Co. Austin Brush Works. Lumber yards: F. I. Crane, Mower County Lumber Company, Eclipse Lumber Company. Elevators: Huntting Ele- vator Company, W. H. Symes. Grain buyers: E. T. Beemis, M. B. O'Halloran, W. II. Symes. Restaurants: Normal res- taurant, the Gem, Anthony N. Roble. Hotels: Elk, Fox. Grand. Depot, Harrington, Central, German, American. Agricultural implements : Austin Plumbing and Heating Company, W. A. Mur-
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ray, Wm. Christie & Son. Meat dealers: J. P. Zender, H. P. Zender, Central Market. Laundries: Austin Steam Laundry, Austin Purity Laundry. Electricians: Bursh & Wood, Hummel Company.
CHAPTER XX.
AUSTIN FRATERNITIES
Masonic Orders-Odd Fellows-Pythian Orders-Catholic Orders -Order of Elks-Other Fraternal Orders-Patriotic Orders- Catholic Orders - Railroad Orders - Fraternal Insurance - Scandinavian and Teutonic Lodges Industrial-Driving Asso- ciation-Edited by Osman J. Simmons.
The sociability and spirit of brotherliness which exists in Austin is shown by the number of societies and clubs that flourish here. Practically all the standard organizations are represented, some of the local lodges dating back to the seventies. In order to furnish a meeting place for this large number of orders, halls have been equipped as follows: Masonie hall, Elks' hall, Colum- bus hall, Kinsman's hall, G. A. R. hall, Harmona hall, I. O. O. F. hall, Commercial Club rooms, and the Woodmen's hall (Hirsch). All these halls are conveniently located, nicely furnished and well adapted to the purpose for which they are intended.
In this chapter it has been the aim to give briefly the history of the leading fraternities of Austin. The societies whose his- tories do not appear here are those whose secretaries have re- fused to furnish the desired information.
MASONIC ORDERS
Masonry in Austin dates back to the first year of the Civil war. The Masons of the city now have a fine hall and are rep- resented by four local bodies: Austin Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M .; St. Bernard Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar; Fidelity Lodge, No. 39, A. F. & A. M., and Unity Chapter, No. 29, O. E. S.
Fidelity Lodge, No. 39, A. F. & A. M., was organized December 5, 1861, under a dispensation granted by the Right Worshipful Grand Master of the State of Minnesota, the meeting being held at Masonie hall. The officers and members present were as fol- lows: B. F. Jones, W. M .; E. W. Lord, S. W .; A. S. Lott, J. W .; II. C. Ihuntington, treasurer ; Oliver Somers, secretary ; E. Parli- man, T .; J. L. Clark, A. Galloway. A charter was granted by the
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grand lodge October 28, 1863, and signed by the following grand officers : Most Worshipful A. T. C. Pierson, grand master; Right Worshipful S. Y. MeMasters, D.D., LL. D., deputy grand master ; Right Worshipful Levi E. Thompson, grand senior warden; Right Worshipful Clark W. Thompson, grand junior warden. The following were named as officers: B. F. Jones to be W. M., James C. Ackley to be S. W., and Oliver Somers to be J. W. The lodge was constituted February 3, 1864, and W. M. James C. Ack- erly, who had previously been installed by A. T. C. Pierson, G. M., installed the following officers: O. Somers, S. W .; V. P. Lewis, J. W .; A. D. Fenton, treasurer; LeRoy Hathaway, seere- tary; O. W. Sawyer, S. D .; J. C. Smith, J. D .; H. Houseman, T .; H. C. Huntington, S. S .; A. S. Lott, J. S. The following have been grand masters: B. F. Jones, 1861-63; James Ackerly, 1864; Oliver Somers, 1865-66; LeRoy Hathaway, 1867-70; Daniel B. Johnson, Jr .; A. J. Phelps, 1869; G. G. Clemmer, 1871-73; John M. Greenman, 1874; William T. Wilkins, 1875-1880-81; I. Ing- mundson, 1876-1878-79; J. W. Eldridge, 1877; Charles L. West, 1882-1886; Joseph Adams, 1883-84-85; William Todd, 1887-88- 89-1905; Lewis E. Day, 1890; Sumner A. Emerson, 1891-92-93; Russell F. Shepherd, 1894-95; Alfred C. Page, 1896-97; Fred B. Wood, 1898-99; John II. Anderson, 1900-01-02; John H. Robert- son, 1903-04; M. O. Anderson, 1906-07; George Dutcher, 1908 ; Peter Hanson, 1909-10; Fred C. Ulmer, 1911. The present officers are: Fred C. Ulmer, W. M .; Fred L. Williams, S. W .; Gustave Butzke, J. W .; Charles L. West, treasurer; Floyd H. Ober, see- retary ; O. J. Benton, S. D .; William P. Bennett, J. D .; Rev. B. H. Whiston, C .; J. W. Hare, S. S .; Guy V. Burlingame, J. S .; Charles E. Warren, T. The present Masonic hall on the second floor of the Schleuder building is owned jointly by the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery. A site has been purchased on Water street, facing the north end of Chatham street, for the purpose of erecting thereon a Masonic temple. John M. Green- man is the oldest living past master of the lodge, and Charles L. West, one of the past masters, is past deputy grand master of the state grand lodge.
Austin Chapter, No. 14, Royal Arch Masons, was organized under a dispensation, March 8, 1867, the following officers having been appointed by Grand High Priest B. F. Smith : Charles H. Paddock, H. P .; Solomon Snow, K .; A. B. Vaughan, S. The companions present were E. C. Dorr, C. B. Staples, W. W. Brown- son, B. F. Jones, J. F. Sargent and C. Tripp. The dispensa- tion had been granted to the following companions: Charles H. Paddoek, C. B. Staples, E. C. Dorr, Solomon Snow, S. Partridge, B. F. Jones, A. W. White, A. B. Vanghan and W. W. Brownson. A charter was granted by the grand chapter, October 23, 1867,
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and signed by the following grand officers: B. F. Smith, G. H. P .; Charles N. Danils, D. G. H. P .; A. T. C. Pierson, G. K .; C. W. Nash, G. S., being eonscerated December 25, 1867. The following officers, who had previously been elected, were installed: C. HI. Paddock, II. P .; S. Snow, K .; A. B. Vaughan, S .; H. M. Allen, C. of H .; C. J. Paddock, P. S .; L. R. Hathaway, R. A. C .; B. F. Jones, M. of third V .; L. A. Sherwood, M. of second V .; G. G. Clemmer, M. of first V .; S. Smith, treasurer; J. C. Smith, seere- tary; L. W. Smith, sentinel. The following have been high priests : Charles H. Paddock, 1867-68; C. J. Paddock, 1868-69; A. J. Phelps, 1869-70; C. J. Paddock, 1870-71; Solomon Snow, 1871-73; A. J. Phelps, 1873-74; R. B. Davis, 1874-75; I. Ingmind- son, 1875-76; Charles L. West, 1876-77; I. Ingmundson, 1877-78; Charles L. West, 1878-82; Eugene Wood, 1882-88; Nathan Kings- ley, 1888-90; Charles L. West, 1890-93; William Todd, 1893-97; George W. Bliss, 1897-1900; R. L. Johnson, 1900-01; George Doehne, Jr., 1901-03; Wallace Gregson, 1903-07; Thaddeus S. Thompson, 1907-08; John H. Anderson, 1908-09; I. T. Tollifson, 1909-10; Thaddeus S. Thompson, 1911. The present officers are : Thaddeus S. Thompson, H. P. ; Peter Hanson, K. ; G. M. F. Rogers, S .; William Todd, treasurer; Floyd H. Ober, secretary; F. L. Williams, C. of H .; R. L. DeGroodt, P. S .; Guy Burlingame, R. A. C .; W. P. Bennett, M. of third V .; C. A. Carlson, M. of see- ond V .; Irvin Fox, M. of first V .; C. E. Warren, sentinel. Of the past high priests, C. L. West, William Todd and Nathan Kingsley are past grand high priests of the state grand chapter, and Judge Kingsley is grand high priest of the general grand chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the United States of America and her dependeneies.
St. Bernard Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar, had its beginning January 20, 1881, when the Grand Commander of the State of Minnesota granted to D. B. Smith, as E. C .; Eugene Wood as G. and J. S. Anderson as C. G., permission to organize a commandery at Austin. The first conelave was held January 31, 1881, and the above named officers were present. The emi- nent commander appointed the following officers : D. B. Johnson, Jr., prelate ; J. G. Warner, S. W .; Stephen Ives, J. W .; E. C. Dorr, treasurer; C. H. Davidson, recorder; John Mahoney, standard bearer ; M. E. Frisbee, S. W .; John Frank, warden : A. K. Vander- walker, sentinel. The charter was granted by the grand com- mandery, January 24, 1881, and was signed by the following grand offieers: William Williston, G. C .; Robert L. MeCormick, D. G. C .: Luther Z. Rogers. G. G .; William G. Bronson. The commandery was duly constituted July 28, 1881, by Grand Com- mander R. L. MeCormiek, assisted by L. Z. Rogers, G .; Henry Birkett, C. G .: L. Wheeloek, P. There were present twenty-three
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Sir Knights of the commandery at Owatonna, and the following officers were duly installed: D. B. Smith, E. C .; Eugene Wood, G .; J. S. Anderson, C. G .; E. B. Crane, P .; E. C. Dorr, treasurer ; C. H. Davidson, recorder ; W. H. Sutherland, S. W .; F. D. Decker, J. W .; A. Friedrich, St. B .; E. R. Daniels, S. B .; E. H. Gerard, warden; J. B. Beecher, George Hamberg, H. W. Wilson, guards; A. K. Vanderwalker. The following have been the commanders: D. B. Smith, 1881-85; Eugene Wood, 1885-87; J. S. Anderson, 1887-88; A. Friedrich, 1888-89 and 1894-95; C. L. West, 1889-90; C. I. Johnson, 1890-91; B. F. Farmer, 1891-92; Nathan Kingsley, 1892-94; N. S. Gordon, 1896-97; Henry Birkett, 1897-98; A. Mol- lison, 1898-99; George W. Bliss, 1899-1900; F. B. Wood, 1901-02; John Ober, 1902-03; George Doehne, Jr., 1903-04; George E. An- derson, 1905-06; William Todd, 1906-07; Wallace Gregson, 1907- 08; C. F. Lewis, 1908-09; A. C. Page, 1909-11; J. H. Anderson, 1911. The present officers are: J. H. Anderson, E. C .; William Crane, G .; A. C. Page, C. G .; F. L. Williams, S. W .; G. M. F. Rog- ers, J. W .; J. L. Mitchell, treasurer; W. P Bennett, recorder; C. L. West, prelate ; Peter Hanson, St. B .; Jacob Nicholson, Sw. B .; William Cutter, W .; C. E. Warren, sentinel. Eugene Wood is the oldest living past commander. C. L. West, a past commander, has been grand commander of the state commandery.
Unity Chapter, No. 29, O. E. S., was organized March 20, 1890. The first officers were: Mrs. Abbie L. Crane, worthy matron ; Eugene Wood, worthy patron; Mrs. Fannie Gordon, secretary. The present officers are: Mrs. Eloise Williams, worthy matron; Floyd Ober, worthy patron; Mrs. Edith K. Robinson, secretary ; Mrs. Lena Dawes, treasurer ; Cora Dovenburg, conductress; Kate Todd, assistant conductress; Ada, Mrs. Gladys Dockstader; Ruth, Helen Olson ; Esther, Mrs. Eva Hope; Martha, Mrs. Alice HIall; Electa, Frances Lewis ; chaplain, Mrs. Rose Pettingill ; mar- shal, Mrs, Jesse Hall; organist, Mrs. Nellie Allen ; warden, Mrs. Nellie DeGroodt : sentinel, Mrs. E. C. Sutherland.
ODD FELLOWS
Odd Fellowship in Austin dates from 1867. The order is now represented in Austin by three bodies, Austin Lodge, No. 20, I. O. O. F .; Austin Encampment, No. 29, I. O. O. F., and Esther Rebekah Lodge, No. 4, I. O. O. F.
Austin Lodge, No. 20, I. O. O. F., received its cliarter, Decem- ber 5, 1867, and the lodge was instituted with the following charter members; HI. A. Mahew, E. P. LeSuer, O. S. Druery, Stephen Ives, L. G. Dudley, Oliver Somers, Aaron S. Everest, Basil Smout. L. W. Smith, Tyler W. Woodard, A. J. Phelps, L.
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Bouregard, N. P. Austin, R. J. Smith and Joseph Schwan. The first meeting was held in a building on the site now occupied by the Austin Furniture Company. Afterwards meetings were held on the third floor of Richards' block, corner of Main and Mill street. The lodge owns the west half of Odd Fellows block, and is free from debt, with a good surplus in its treasury. It has at the present time 420 members on the register, and is in a most flourishing condition. On two occasions it has been honored signally by the selection from its ranks of grand masters as fol- lows: H. A. Mahew, 1869; D. H. Stimson, 1897. Both of these gentlemen served the state lodge with credit and distinction. The first elective officers of. Austin lodge were H. A. Mahew, N. G .; Oliver Somers, V. G .; E. P. LeSuer, secretary ; O. S. Druery, treas- urer. The present elective officers are Frank Felch, N. G .; James King, V. G .; E. F. Peck, secretary ; Fuller Mann, treasurer; H. P. Chapin, chaplain.
Following is a list of the early Noble Grands: H. A. May- hew, Oliver Somers, A. S. Everest, R. I. Smith, C. H. Davidson, Joseph Schwan, Herman Gunz, A. G. Lawyer, George F. Fren- with, E. P. Van Valkenburgh, John Chandler, Rush B. Davis, F. J. Mayhew, A. E. Meigs, P. O. French, Joseph Reinsmith, Lafay- otte French, D. H. Stimson, A. W. Kimball, C. H. Wilbour, H. W. Elms, Edward Bigelow, W. H. H. Bullock, John V. Owens and S. Sweningsen.
Esther Rebekah Lodge, No. 4, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 10, 1870, with twenty-four charter members. It has been prominent in charitable work and has furnished a pleasing so- cial feature to Odd Fellowship in Austin. The present officers are: Mrs. Maria Edson, N. G .; Mrs. Fannie Herzog, V. G .; Mrs. Inez M. Elward, secretary ; Miss Myrtle Edson, treasurer.
PYTHIAN ORDERS.
The principles of the Pythian fellowship are represented in Austin by two bodies, Austin Lodge, No. 55, K. P., and Flora Temple, No. 26, Pythian Sisters.
Austin Lodge, No. 55, K. of P., was instituted May 27, 1889, with forty-three charter members. The first officers were: C. C., H. R. Wood; V. C., L. Dettlebach ; prelate, R. O. Hall; M. of E., A. B. Hunkins ; M. of E., William M. Roberts; M. of A., Fred B. Wood; I. G., Sam. L. Collins; O. G., W. H. Benedict ; trustees, E. B. Sterling, E. G. Potter and R. O. Hall. The present officers are: C. C., W. J. Urbateh ; V. C., W. L. Van Camp; prelate, C. F. Cook; K. of R. and S. and M. of F., William Cutter; M. of E., II. A. Goslee ; M. of W., O. J. Simmons.
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ORDER OF ELKS.
The Elks in Austin are in flourishing condition, the member- ship is of a high degree, and the quarters are very pleasant.
Austin Lodge No. 414, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was instituted February 16, 1898, by District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler John E. King, of St. Paul. The ceremony of in- stitution was held in the court room of the court house. The lodge then leased what is now known as Odd Fellows' hall and remained there until February 15, 1901, when they dedicated their present home. The first officers of the lodge were: Exalted ruler, R. J. Dowdall; E. L. K., J. J. Furlong; E. L. K., R. R. Murphy ; E. L. K., T. C. Grant; secretary, W. A. Kubat; treas- urer, E. Wood; tyler, J. J. Hayes ; trustees, J. M. Greenman, Jos. Keenan and S. Sweningsen. The following have served as pre- siding officers of the lodge: R. J. Dowdall, J. J. Furlong, O. J. Simmons, A. S. Campbell, L. D. Baird, W. N. Kendrick, W. D. Rosbach, J. S. Wood, A. C. Page, J. L. Gulden, C. I. Riley, and . E. H. Elward. The present officers are: Exalted ruler, Harry Rutherford; E. L. K., R. A. Woodward; E. L. K., J. J. Scallan ; E. L. K., M. F. Dugan ; secretary, J. S. Wood; treasurer, W. J. Urbatch; tyler, A. P. Moonan; trustees, P. Bump, O. J. Simmons and W. E. Terry. This lodge has been honored in the fact that O. J. Simmons was district deputy grand exalted ruler under Grand Exalted Ruler William J. O'Brien in 1904-05.
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