History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 173

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358

USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men > Part 173

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Thomas E. Garrett, M. E. P .; Allan McDowell, E. V. P .; Isaiah Forbes, E. C .; John R. Parson, E. T .; William H. Mayo, E. R .; W. R. Stubblefield, E. M. of C .; James B. Austin, E. Cond .; Joseph S. Browne, E. H .; William H. Dale, E. Steward ; A. Newmark, E. Sentinel.

THE COUNCILS OF ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS located in St. Louis are-

St. Louis Council, No. 1, John D. Vincil, M .; R. H. Mather, recorder.

Hiram Council, No. 10; John E. Jones, M .; L. J. Clark, re- corder.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR COMMANDERIES .- The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar in Missouri was organized by a convention which assembled on the 22d of May, 1860 ; Benjamin M. Runyan, president, and Ludwell R. Ringo, recorder. The officers of the Grand Commandery up to the present time (1882) have been-

1790

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

Date.

Grand Commanders.

Deputy Grand Commanders. Grand Generalissimos.

Grand Prelates.

May, 1860 .George W. Belt.

1861 ... ....

1863 1

1864 .. ..

1865. Thomas M. Wannall.

1866 ... .Geo. Frank Gouley.

Oct. 1867 1868 James F. Aglar.

1870 .John D. Vincil.

1871. Francis M. Tufts.

1872 . Oren Root, Jr.

66 1873. John Ure.

1874. .Samuel A. Gilbert.

1875. John C. Bloomfield.

1876. . Frederick B. Young.

1877 .John R. Parson.

1878. C. J. Atkins.

May, 1880 1

.Sol. E. Waggoner.

1881. . William G. Hall.

1882 William J. Terrell.

Grand Junior Wardens.

Grand Treasurers.

Grand Recorders.

Grand Standard-Bearers.

May, 1860. .William N. Loker.

George W. Culver.

John D. Daggett.

E. G. Heriot.

Paris S. Pfouts.

James H. Matheny.

E. O. Sayle.

A. O'Sullivan.

1864 .. D. N. Burgoyne.

John Glenny.

J. A. II. Lampton.

William N. Loker.

B. F. Newhouse.

Oct.

1867 .Samuel Hardwick.

1868 . Peter B. Grant.

Washington Jones.

A. B. M. Thompson. Geo. Frank Gouley. 66

Peter B. Grant. F. H. Lewis. William Bosbyshell.

John C. Bloomfield. Burwell G. Wilkerson.

1874

Burwell G. Wilkerson. David Goodfellow.

1875 .. 1876

1877 .. John B. Maude.

Win. HI. Hotchkiss.

William H. Mayo.

1878 Sol. E. Waggoner.

J. R. Hardy. George Lambert.

William P. Mullen.

1881. E. H. Mix.

George F. Rogers.

1882. ..

Date. Grand Sword-Bearers.

Grand Warders.

Grand Sentinels.

Forelgn Correspondents. Grand Drill-Masters.

May, 1860 Samuel M. Hays.

A. D. Hoy.

H. T. Shlossner.

A. O'Sullivan. James N. Burns. A. O'Sullivan.

A. O'Sullivan. 66

1864 ... . Edward G. Brooke.

W. T. Woods.

Thomas Harris.

Oct.

1867 1868

1869 J. E. R. Miller.

1870 J. S. McElwee.

Oren Root, Jr.

1872 .J. A. Tyler.

William E. Whiting.

Henry C. Frost.

1875 Henry C. Frost.

1876 .M. S. Clemmens.

Jeff. W. Bedford.

George Thorp.

William H. Mayo.

Thomas M. Wannall. C. B. Randolph. C. J. Atkins. E. J. Nickerson.

May, 1880 1 R. O. Carscadin.

1881 Erwin Ellis.

1882 Robert Taubman.

John T. Ruffin.

1 No conclave in 1862 or 1879.

The Grand Commandery was incorporated under the style of "The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar and the Appendant Orders," on the petition of John D. Vincil, J. M. Fox, William H. Stone, Francis M. Tufts, William M. Rush, John Ure, D. W. Wells, William N. Loker, George Frank Gouley, William Bosbyshell, J. J. McElwee, O. Root, Jr.,

and John Geekie, by the Circuit Court of St. Louis County at the June term of 1871.

The commanderies located in St. Louis in 1882, with their officers and membership, were-

St. Louis, No. 1, William H. Dale, Eminent Com- mander ; John T. McCoy, Recorder ; one hundred and twenty-one members.

1861

.George W. Beardslee. Joseph S. Browne.

1863 1 .Edward Dutton.

D. N. Burgoyne.

A. Stille. 66

1865. . James McDaniel.

1866 ... . William Bosbyshell.

George B. Brua. John Geekie. 66

A. B. M. Thompson. Geo. Frank Gouley.

James F. Aglar. John D. Vincil.

C. B. Randolph. William H. Stone. C. B. Randolph.

1873 1874 .T. W. Letton.

1877 .E. J. Nickerson.

1878 John A. Sloan.

Sol. E. Waggoner. Robert McCulloch. George F. Rogers. H. C. Litchfield.

John W. Owen.

John R. Parson. Allan McDowell. John A. Sloan.

W. R. Penick. B. M. Runyan.

John W. Crane. Jacob C. Rinehard. William N. Loker. Thomas M. Wannall. Geo. Frank Gouley. Geo. Frank Gouley. Lewis F. Weimer. 66

John D. Vincil.

James Carr.

William H. Stone. John Ure. Samuel A. Gilbert. John C. Bloomfield. Frederick B. Young. Wm. W. Anderson. Thomas W. Park. James N. Burns. John B. Maude. William J. Terrell. John A. Sloan. J. R. Hardy.

Grand Captain-Generals.

Henry Flynt. John W. Crane. W. A. Cunningham. James F. Aglar. 66 John D. Vincil.

James McDaniel. James Carr.

D. P. Wallingford. Samuel Russell. Francis M. Tufts. Oren Root, Jr. John C. Bloomfield. Frederick B. Young. Wm. W. Anderson. Thomas W. Park. John R. Parson. W. W. Garth. Wm. H. Hotchkiss.

William M. Rush. 66 John D. Vincil. R. L. M. McEwen. William Wilmott. C. H. Foote. George C. Betts. 66

O. F. Potter. Robert Hale. John E. Ryland. J. A. H. Lampton. Hampton Woodruff.

1869

William K. Spinney. G. W. Tindall.

IS70

John Ure.

D. W. Wells.

1871 .. William Bosbyshell.

J. J. McElwce.

1872 . Frederick B. Young.

Wm. W. Anderson.

1873 Win. W. Anderson.

Burwell G. Wilkerson.

John H. Brown.

H. C. Frost.

John R. Parson.

May, 1880 1 .. James Carroll.

1871 Fred. B. Young.

Win. W. Anderson. John A. Dollman.

James X. Allen.

Ludwell R. Ringo. Edward S. Dulin.

Thomas E. Garrett. 6€

P. M. Pinkard.

1869 ..

R. M. Henderson.

Joseph M. Fox. Wilbur F. Tuttle. John Ure. Samuel A. Gilbert. John C. Bloomfield. Frederick B. Young. W. W. Anderson. Thomas W. Park. W. W. Garth. William G. Hall. William J. Terrell. R. E. Anderson.

Josiah Hunt. James F. Aglar.

John A. Sloan. F. J. Tygard. George W. Penn.

Date. Grand Senior Wardens.

1861 ..

1863 1 .James F. Aglar.

1865 .Martin Collins.

1866 ..

S. E. Waggoner. J. H. Brown. William J. Terrell. C. E. Ballard. George J. Tyrrell. William A. Hall.

William II. Stone. 66

John R. Parson.

1791

RELIGIOUS, BENEVOLENT, SOCIAL, SECRET, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

Ivanhoe, No. 8, H. L. Aldrich, Eminent Com- mander; R. M. L. McEwen, recorder ; eighty-four members.

Ascalon, No. 16, John H. Krippen, Eminent Com- mander; Frederick Williamson, recorder ; seventy- four members.

St. Aldemar, No. 18, William Richardson, Emi- nent Commander ; James Bailey, recorder ; cighty- one members.

COLORED FREEMASONS .- The colored people of the United States have a Masonic organization; dis- tinct in its workings from that of other Masons of this country. Their charter was derived from York, Eng- land, in 1784, and a lodge was established in Boston. They are called " Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons." Other lodges were soon after started in Philadelphia and New York, and these three formed a Grand Lodge in Philadelphia. Lodges were formed in different parts of the country under the authority of this Grand Lodge until 1847, when delegations from different parts of the Union met in Boston and or- ganized the national Grand Lodge. From that time the craft has prospered. The government of the order is on an independent basis, and vested in a national Grand Lodge, under which the State Grand Lodges work, and under these the subordinate lodges.

The first Grand Lodge in Missouri was established in St. Louis in 1865, with H. M. Alexander as Grand Mas- ter, and George Phillips as Junior and John Sexton as Senior Grand Wardens, though subordinate lodges had been working here under the Grand Lodge of Ohio for about twenty years. In 1869 there were seven- teen lodges in Missouri, four of them in St. Louis, and also a Royal Arch Chapter (St. John's), working under the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania, and Western Star Encampment of Sir Knights, working under authority from the Grand Encampment of Pennsylvania. In 1869 the order officiated at the laying of the corner- stone of a colored church, called Carondelet Chapel, in the then city of Carondelet. The officers of the Grand Lodge of Missouri then were-

Moses Dickinson, G. M. ; William P. Brooks, D. G. M .; Franeis Robertson, Sr. G. W .; William Robertson, Jr. G. W .; R. O. Smith, G. Sce. ; Alexander Clark, G. Treas.

There are now about ninety lodges in Missouri, with two thousand members, while in St. Louis there arc six lodges. The present Grand Lodge officers are-

Grand Master, Willis N. Brent, Boonville, Mo .; Deputy Grand Master, J. M. M. Stokes, St. Louis; Senior Grand Warden, J. C. C. Owens, Hannibal, Mo .; Junior Grand Warden, W. H. Jones, St. Joseph, Mo .; Grand Treasurer, J. J. Bruce, Bruns- wick, Mo .; Grand Secretary, Robert O. Smith, St. Louis ; Grand

Chaplain, James Madison ; Grand Lecturer, Rev. Moses Dick- son, Higginsville, Mo.

There are four commanderies in St. Louis, with two hundred and fifty members. In 1881 a Grand Commandery was formed by the union of the "Grand Commandery of the State of Missouri" and the " African Grand Commandery," and the following officers were elected :

R. E. G. C., Milton F. Fields, St. Louis; V. E. D. G. C., Wil- liam T. Mumford, St. Louis; E. G. Gen., Wm. T. Scott, Cairo, Ill .; E. G. C. G., Richard A. Barret, St. Louis ; E. G. P., J. C. C. Owens, Hannibal, Mo .; E. G. S. W., James A. Johnson, St. Louis ; E. G. J. W., Edward Mitchell, Kansas City ; E. G. T., John Pride, St. Louis ; E. G. R., Richard H. Cole, West St. Louis.

This Grand Lodge has established an endowment fund of one thousand dollars for the heirs of deceased members, and is gathering funds to establish a Grand Lodge library.

The Colored Masonic Hall is located at 409 Wash- ington Avenue.

MASONIC HALL .- That a building was set apart and used for Masonic purposes at an early period ap- pears from the fact that in the Missouri Gazette of July 5, 1809, an account was printed of a Fourth of July dinner given "by Capt. R. Webster in Lce's Orchard, and a ball at night in the Masonic Hall." On the 15th of March, 1817, there appeared in the same paper the following advertisement of a lottery to raise funds for the erection of a Masonic Hall :

" By authority : Scheme of a lottery for building a Masonic lodge in the town of St. Louis,-

1 prize of.

$5000 is.

$5,000

2 prizes of.

1000 “

2,000

600

6,000

200

4,000

100 .

2,500

200

.......

10,000

310

...............

20 4

6,200

1000

......... .....

10 €

10,000

2550

......... .

15,300

$60,000

" Less than two blanks to a prize. Part of the prizes to be determinable as follows, viz. :

" Ist. Drawn number on the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth day's drawing, each to be entitled to one of the above six hundred dollar prizes, paya- ble in part by one hundred tickets, beginning with No. 7001 to No. 8000 inclusive. The first one hundred tickets for the first drawn number on the first day, and so on in regular suecession for the rest. All other prizes floating. Prizes subject to a de- duetion of fifteen per cent., payable in sixty days after the drawing is completed.

" To be drawn three times a week, five hundred tickets each day. Tickets in the above lottery may be had at the following places, viz. : At the stores of Riddick & Pileher, Th. Hanly, Simpson & Quarles, Moses Seott, and James Kennerly, St. Louis ; E. A. Elliot, Ste. Genevieve; John Jones, Mine à Breton ; Wil- liam Bates, Herculaneum ; at the office of Michael Jones, Esq.,

1792

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

Kaskaskia; at the office of John Hay, Esq., Cahokia, and at the store of John Rochester, St. Charles.

" J. Pilcher, T. Brady, T. Douglass, D. V. Walker, T. Hanly, commissioners appointed by the Legislature for superintending the drawing of the above lottery."

This scheme does not appear to have succeeded, for we find (as elsewhere stated) that the different Masonic bodies occupied the Clark building, and afterwards that erected by Maj. Thompson Douglass on the north side of the present Elm Street, between Main and Second Streets, until 1833. In 1822 committees were appointed by Missouri Royal Arch Chapter, and Missouri Lodge, No. 1, for the purpose of procuring funds to build a Masonic Hall, but this project also appears to have been a failure.

On the 18th of October, 1849, the fourth floor of the building at the corner of Third and Chestnut Streets was dedicated to Masonic uses. The Grand Lodge was opened by the Grand Master, and a prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Libby, which was fol- lowed by the customary exercises of the order, during which the exordium was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Libby. Subsequently the doors were closed upon all, excepting the members of the order, and the cere- mony of dedicating the hall was performed. The procession then formed on Chestnut Street, and marched through the principal streets to Concert Hall, where the ceremonies were opened by prayer offered by the Grand Chaplain of the order. An ode was then sung by the choir of the Unitarian Society, who volunteered their services for the occasion, which was followed by the delivery of the oration by Judge Ryland, the Grand Master. An ode was then sung by the choir, which was followed by the benediction.

About 1853 it was determined to erect a hall which should be in keeping with the prosperity and strength of the order, and on the 12th of February, 1853, a perpetual charter was granted to Jolin D. Daggett, Benjamin M. Runyan, John J. Anderson, William Renshaw, Jr., Daniel G. Taylor, J. R. Barret, David C. Tuttle, Joseph Foster, and T. E. Courtney, as cor- porators of an association organized to carry out that object.

The first board of directors elected consisted of B. M. Runyan, T. A. Buckland, D. G. Taylor, F. Dings, John W. Luke, Thomas Richeson, John A. Brownlee, James H. McCord, and A. B. Shedcr. In June, 1858, the board purchased from Mrs. Anne L. Hunt for fifty-five thousand dollars, being a deduc- tion by Mrs. Hunt of twenty thousand dollars from its estimated value, the lot on which the present build- ing stands, measuring one hundred and nine feet on Seventh Street, and one hundred and thirty-five feet

on Market Street. After various delays the money was secured for the purchase of the lot, and on the 30th of May, 1866, the corner-stone of the present edifice was laid by the Grand Lodge of the State. The cost of the building was about one hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars, which, with the lot, made a total cost of two hundred and forty thousand dollars.

The building was erected under the supervision of the following board of directors: Erastus Wells, presi- dent; Samuel Gaty, vice-president; William N. Loker, treasurer; Thomas Richeson, Daniel G. Taylor, John W. Luke, William H. Stone, John D. Daggett, T. A. Buckland. Much of the success of the undertaking was due to the active member of the building com- mittee, William H. Stone, and the president, Mr. Wells.

The building stands on the northwest corner of Seventh and Market Streets. The front on the latter street is one hundred and thirty-five feet, and on Sev- enth eighty-four feet. It is four stories high, meas- uring ninety-six feet from the line of the sidewalk to the cornice. The general architectural design is after the Florentine Italian style. It is not heavily orna- mented, but plain and substantial, and is built of Joliet marble, nearly white. Near the entrance on Seventh Street is the corner-stone of the building, on which there is the following inscription :

"To the glory of God, the Grand Architect of the Universe, to whom be all honor, praise, and glory : This foundation-stone of Freemasons' Hall was duly laid by the M. W. Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M., May 30th, 1866, A.L. 5866. John F. Hous- ton, M. W. Grand Master; A. O'Sullivan, G. S."

This inscription was written by the Grand Secretary, A. O'Sullivan, who was a leading spirit in the under- taking, but died before the building was completed.

The lower floor is occupied by storcs; on the second floor is the office of the Grand Secretary of the State of Missouri and the library. This is a very handsomely- furnished room, and the ceiling is of unusual height. A flight of stairs leads up to a gallery on which the library cases open. There is also in this apartment a spacious fire-proof safe, for the preservation of the records of the State. One feature to be seen here are well-executed oil-paintings of the Grand Masters of the State from the time of organization. On this floor also is the audience-room or hall. It measures one hundred feet in length by sixty-five feet in width, and is twenty-two feet in height from the floor to the ceiling. Eight Corinthian columns support the ceiling, which is hand- somely painted and ornamented. At the west end of the hall is a spacious stage, intended for speakers or other purposes.

RELIGIOUS, BENEVOLENT, SOCIAL, SECRET, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 1793

The third floor of the building is mainly occupied by the three degree rooms, attached to which are va- rious committee-rooms and small halls, intended for Masonic festivities and other purposes. The fourth floor is divided somewhat similarly to that below, but the rooms are devoted to the administration of the higher degrees. The Royal Arch Chapter chamber is on this floor, and is the most costly and splendid room, in decoration and arrangement, of its character in the building. The ceiling is vaulted and colored blue, with other hues assisting in the ornamentation.

The building was erected under the supervision and direction of James H. McClaren, architect. The building committee was composed of the following gentlemen : Erastus Wells, ex officio, president ; W. H. Stone, secretary; Thomas Richeson, and Samuel Gaty. Committee for furnishing the halls and car- pets, etc. : William H. Stone, William N. Loker, and J. W. Luke.

The building was dedicated on the 14th of October, 1868, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri, W. E. Duns- comb, Grand Master, on which occasion an oration was delivered by Thomas E. Garrett. One of the principal features of the dedication was the procession, which was organized at the Occidental Hall, Seven- teenth and Market Streets. The following was the order observed :

Headed by sixteen mounted police, Capt. Kohlhund. Boehm's Band. St. Louis Commandery, Knights Templar. Ivanhoe Commandery, Knights Templar. Herwig's Band. Lodges in following order :

No. 243, Keystone Lodge, A. F. and A. M. No. 218, Good Hope Lodge. No. 179, Pride of the West Lodge. No. 167, Orient Français Lodge. No. 163, Occidental Lodge. No. 121, Erwin Lodge. No. 80, Bridgeton Lodge. No. 79, Polar Star Lodge. No. 45, Bonhomme Lodge. No. 40, Mount Moriah Lodge. No. 25, Napthali Lodge. No. 20, St. Louis Lodge. No. 9, George Washington Lodge. No. 3, Beacon Lodge. No. 2, Meridian Lodge. No. 1, Missouri Lodge. Band.

Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri and Grand Officers. Carriages, judges of courts, eity and county officials, City Council, etc. Grand Marshals, Col. James Coff, N. G. Elliott.

Aids, S. B. Stanard, George Rinkel, Jr., William Freadenau, A. W. Henry, James Denny.

After the dedication ceremonies the lodges, com- manderies, etc., proceeded to Bellefontaine Cemetery

to dedicate a monument to Anthony O'Sullivan, who had recently died.1

The chairman of the Committee on Monument, Martin Collins, delivered the monument over to the Grand Lodge and reported the work done, whereupon Mr. Garret spoke as follows :

"BRETHREN OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MISSOURI,-We stand in this city of the dead, above the mouldering remains of many with whom we have associated in life, to unveil a monu- ment erected to the memory of Anthony O'Sullivan, one of the fathers of Masonry in Missouri. The mortal part of one whom we knew and loved as a brother rests beneath this stone. We are now about to perform the last public ceremony of respect to departed worth, and inaugurate a monument commemorative of his virtues and the position he held in life."

The Grand Master then unveiled the monument, and Thomas E. Garrett, Grand Orator, delivered a eulogy on Mr. O'Sullivan's character. -

The monument is of Italian marble, sixteen feet in height, consisting of a broken column standing on a pedestal of three steps, the first step representing the working tools of an entered apprentice; second, of the fellow-craft ; third, of the Master Mason. On the front is the inscription, " Erected to the memory of Anthony O'Sullivan by the Grand Chapter and the Grand Lodge of Missouri." On the east side is the seal of the Grand Lodge, and on the west different

1 Anthony O'Sullivan was horn in the county of Kerry, Ire- land, on Nov. 29, 1808, emigrated to America about the year 1838, and resided in New York City one year, when he removed to New Orleans, where he was married, Jan. 30, 1841. He re- moved to Missouri and settled in Arrow Rock, Saline Co., March 17, 1841. He was initiated in Arrow Rock Lodge, No. 55, on May 9, 1846, and raised June 30th the same year. He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Boonville Chapter, No. 5, Boonville, Cooper Co., Mo., in 1849, and received the degree of Royal and Select Master in the same chapter. He was cre- ated a Knight Templar in St. Louis Commandery, No. 1, on the 1st of August, 1852, and received the degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite in the Southern jurisdiction in 1859, at a meeting called in Chicago, Ill. He was then made a 33d, and Sovereign Grand Inspector-General of Missouri and border- ing States. In the year 1852 he removed to St. Louis, where he resided until 1860, when he removed to Springfield, Mo., and remained there until 1863, in which year he returned to St. Louis and remained till the close of his life. He was elected Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Missouri in May, 1852 ; Grand Secretary of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter in April, 1854; Grand Recorder of the Grand Commandery in May, 1863 ; and Grand Puissant of the Grand Council in May, 1864. From the organization of the order of High Priesthood he was its secretary. All these offices he held until the day of his death. He was Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge under fourteen Grand Masters, always re-elected with scarcely any opposition, and sometimes by acclamation. He was also Grand Lecturer of the lodge and chapter during most of these years, and the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence, in which field he particularly distinguished himself, and attracted the attention of the fraternity at large.

1794

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

Masonic emblems of different degrees. A Grand Sec- retary's jewel is suspended at the top of the broken column. The monument stands on the Masonic lot in the cemetery.

The following were the Grand Chapter Committee on Monument: Isaiah Forbes, William E. Glenn, R. E. Anderson, and Martin Collins, from the Grand Lodge; John D. Vincel, William N: Loker, Jolın W. Luke, and C. A. Rowley. Martin Collins acted as chairman of the committee, and John W. Luke as secretary.

On the 10th of November, 1873, the property was sold under deed of trust, the Life Association of America becoming the purchaser. The ground and building brought one hundred and twenty-seven dol- lars, subject to a deed of trust for one hundred and forty thousand dollars, with accrued interest amount- ing to about eighteen thousand dollars. The one hundred and twenty-seven dollars was only intended to cover the expenses of the sale.

The property was again sold under a deed of trust on the 28th of April, 1881, by the trustee, Calvin F. Burnes. Auctioneer Lanham announced that the sale would be subject only to a lien for two years back taxes. Joel Wood, of Wood & Lee, and Mr. Car- penter, a real estate agent, who represented the Hon. Thomas Allen, were the most active bidders. The purchasing bid of seventy-one thousand two hundred dollars was made by Mr. Wood, who bid in the prop- erty for the majority bondholders,-Messrs. Joel Wood, W. H. Lee, M. A. Rosenblatt, and Mrs. Eugene Benoist. The purchase deed was made to George H. Goddard, cashier of the Valley National Bank, and Louis Bauman, as trustees. To the cost of Masonic Hall, erected by the Masonic fraternity in 1869, had been added twenty-five thousand dollars by the Life Association of America for the erection of an additional building on Seventh Street, together with steam elevator and steam-heating apparatus. There was a first mortgage of one hundred and forty thousand dollars, for which the sale was made. The building is still used by the various Masonic organ- izations.

On the 22d of October, 1868, the Odd-Fellows and Freemasons of St. Louis united in laying the foundation-stone of a new hall, to be built by the United Hall Association, at the corner of Benton Street and Broadway. The building (known as Union Hall) was dedicated by the Grand Lodge of Missouri, Oct. 13, 1869, having been erected for the joint use of Masons and Odd-Fellows. It is a three-story struct-, ure, stone front; the first story rented for stores and the second for offices, the hall and three ante-rooms

being located in the third story. The dimensions of the hall are : Length, ninety feet ; width, forty feet ; height, twenty-two feet; and its cost, fifty thousand dollars. The lodges of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows first using it were the Schiller and the Wingenund Lodges and the Mound City Encamp- ment.

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History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 173

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1358

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358