Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties, Part 127

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820

USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 127
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 127
USA > Nebraska > Hall County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 127
USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 127

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).

Aurora State Bank was organized in June, 1889, and was the successor of the Aurora Exchange Bank, established October 1, 1886, by T. A. Mc- Kay and Spanogle & Co. The officers are: D. E. Thompson, president; A. G. Peterson, vice-presi- dent, and Harvey Cole, cashier. A handsome stone front brick building is now being completed by W. I. Farley, J. D. Ferguson, Jr., J. B. Rogers and E. J. Waddle, in which a bank was recently opened under the name of the Aurora Banking Company.

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HAMILTON COUNTY.

The Aurora Creamery Company was organized in the spring of 1887, the stock being owned by a large number of the business men of the city. In the fall of 1888 the building-a frame structure was entirely destroyed by fire. The stock was then bought up by a few of the original stockhold- ers, who proceeded to erect a brick building suited to the needs of the business. The stock is now owned principally by Hon. J. H. Smith, E. J. Hainer and W. A. Carpenter.

Aurora Roller Mills were built in 1884 by Curry & Glover. The mill was equipped with first-class modern machinery, but in 1888 the flour- ing machinery was removed to Dakota, and the mill has since been adapted to grinding corn and feed. It is now owned by a Chicago commission house and is used as a grain elevator.

The Aurora Machine Shops of H. T. Jensen were established in 1884. The business consists largely of repairing farm machinery and the man- ufacture of "patent feed steamers," the "right" to which is owned by Mr. Jensen.

The Aurora Foundry was established in the fall of 1886 by E. W. Wilson. Recently Mr. Wil- son erected a good brick building, which has just been completed, and into which he is now remov . ing his machinery.

There are also three extensive brick yards here, all doing a good business

The spiritual welfare of the city is carefully looked after by the pastors of seven different con- gregations, holding regular services.

The First Congregational Church of Aurora was organized by Rev. D. B. Perry, April 27, 1872. Rev. Perry was a missionary sent out by the Home Missionary Society, and is one of the pioneer missionaries of Hamilton County. Rev. L. W. Jones, of Worcester, Mass., also assisted in the organization, and preached the first sermon to the newly organized society. The original mem- bers were C. H. Kimball, J. H. Faris, Porter C. Culver, John Mathews, N. E. Kimball, N. E. Far. is, Susie J. Culver, Amanda Hagerman. E. Mathews, Good Noble, Elizabeth Strain. C. H. Kimball and J. H. Faris were chosen deacons, and Porter C. Culver, clerk. Rev. Mr. Perry i a regular meeting place and without a pastor.

became the pastor of the church at its organiza. tion, officiating for one year, and wns succeeded by Rev. Mr. Maxwell, who was pastor of the church about the same length of time and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Hill, who closed his ministry in the spring of 1876, after two years of labor. Rev. William Woolman took charge of this pustorate May 1, 1876, remaining until September 29, 1879. The church was supplied until Angust 1, 1880, at. which date Rev. A. L. Seward assumed the duties of pastor.

During the first year of Mr. Seward's pus. torate the society held their meetings in the court- house, when the present church building, corner of Hamilton Avenne and Third Street, was erected at a cost of $3,200. Mr. Seward closed his labors with this church November 1, 1884, and accepted an appointment as missionary in Utah. For several . months following the church was without a pastor. July 1, 1885, Rev. J. G. Spencer accepted a call to succeed Mr. Seward, and filled the duties of pastor acceptably and well, until succeeded by Rev. E. Cressman, on March 1, 1887, who re- mained until May 1, 1888, and was succeeded by Rev. Mark Baskerville, the present pastor. The church at present numbers forty-six members.

The First Baptist Church of Aurora was organ- ized in May, 1872, by Rev. Mr. Biggart, who be- came its first pastor, his ministry covering a period of two years. He was succeeded by Rev. Moses Rowley in the spring of 1874, who was in charge until the spring of 1876. Rev. Mr. Rowley was succeeded by Rev. Frank Mitchell in the spring of 1877, who was pastor for one year. In the spring of 1878 Rev. J. W. Lewis accepted a call from this society, closing his ministry in the spring of 1880, when he was succeeded by the last pas- tor, Rev. A. J. Cotney. The church was com- pleted during the pastorate of Rev. Moses Rowley in 1876, and is valued at $1,500. The church be- came embarrassed financially, and the building was afterward sold under a mortgage, the purchas- ors tearing it down and using the material for building a dwelling house.

The society has for several years been without

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

The Catholic mission was established at Aurora in 1876 by Rev. Father Glauber, then stationed at Hastings, and attended by him at intervals until he was succeeded by Rev. Father Eugene Geary. Father Geary was succeeded in March, 1889, by Rev. Adams. The society purchased the old school house and converted it into the "Catholic Church," in which regular services are held by Rev. Father Sproll, who succeeded Rev. Adams in June, 1889, once in three weeks. The mission has been pros- pering greatly under Father Sproll's ministrations, and now numbers about fifty members.

As early as the winter of 1872-73 an effort was made to organize a Methodist Episcopal Church in Aurora.

The conference of 1873 appointed Rev. A. G. White to take charge of the Kearney district, which included Hamilton County, and for the first time this unorganized territory, in the interests of this church, received a name. In the winter of 1872-73, Rev. W. J. Witso organized the Meth- odist Church at Aurora.

Rev. C. L. Smith was the first minister ap- pointed to take charge of this circuit, which was called the Orville Circuit and comprised the entire county, in the spring of 1873, and remained in charge until the fall of 1875, being succeeded by Rev. William Seabrooke Higgins, who was in charge one year, and at the close of his labors entered the Baptist Church as a minister. The conference of 1876 assigned this field to Rev. J. F. Martel, who carried on the work for two years, resigning his charge in the fall of 1878 to Rev. W. F. Grundy, who had charge one year, up to the close of the conference year in 1879. Rev. S. S. Penepacker was stationed here during the conference year of 1880, and was succeeded by Rev. C. L. Smith, who was assigned to this charge a second time in the fall of 1880, and served for two years. He was succeeded by Rev. William H. Tibbitts, who remained in charge two years. It was during his pastorate that the present church edifice was erected, as well as the comfortable parsonage.

Mr. Tibbitts was succeeded October 4, 1884, by Rev. G. H. Wehn, who remained and was

active for the accomplishment of much good for two years, when Rev. George A. Miner was assigned to the charge, remaining until the fall of 1888, when he was succeeded by the present pas- tor, Rev. A. C. Crosthwaite.

The Presbyterian Church of Aurora was organ- ized August 16, 1873, by Rev. N. C. Robinson, synodical missionary of Nebraska, and was incor- porated as a society March 9, 1878, with the fol- lowing trustees: Rev. H. M. Giltner, president, E. M. Thompson, B. F. Isaman, W. S. Strain, W. M. Scott. The first pastor of the church was Rev. T. K. Hedges, who commenced his ministry in the fall of 1873, continuing it until May, 1874, at which date he was succeeded by Rev. R. R. Be- ment, who was in charge until August 11, 1876, when Rev. H. M. Giltner, an able pastor, was called to take charge. The church building was erected in the summer of 1878, at a total cost of $2,000. Rev. H. M. Giltner is the pioneer minis- ter of the Presbyterian Church in Nebraska. He was appointed synodical missionary by the do- mestic board of the (O. S.) Presbyterian Church in 1855, and organized the first church society in the State, at Nebraska City, in 1856, and erected the first church, a brick structure, at that city, in 1857. He also served as chaplain of the House of Representatives during the first session held at Omaha in the winter of 1855-56. His daughter (Fannie) was the third child born in the State, and the second female child, February 28, 1856. She also received the first marriage license granted to any young lady claiming Nebraska as her birth- place. In 1856 he organized the second Sabbath- school in Nebraska, at Nebraska City. Mr. Gilt- ner has been unwearied in his devotion to his work as synodical missionary, and has undergone many privations and hardships in his early labors for the cause in which he has proved himself such an earnest advocate, and has lived to see the church that he planted in the wilderness grow to a magni- tude and importance no human power can esti- mate, supported by a population fully a million strong, and to share the honors of its glorious triumphs.

Mr. Giltner's labors continued for six years, and

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HAMILTON COUNTY.

he was succeeded June 1, 1882, by Rev. W. J. Oliver, a young man of pleasant address and fine educational attainments, who remained two years. The church was then without a regular pastor un- til March, 1885, when Rev. A. R. Day was en- gaged. Mr. Day's successor was Rev. J. H. Rey nard, who was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Robert Watt, November 1, 1888.

Initiatory steps were taken in the fall of 1878 to organize a German Evangelical Church in Au- rora, services being held by Rev. S. H. Holdgraf, at the houses of German citizens. The church was organized on Jannary 13, 1879, with Rev. Holdgraf as pastor, and the following members: Fritz Hoefer, William Kramer, Louis Bald, Joseph Schwab, Adolph Reuber, Henry Kemper and John Fisher.

Rev. Holdgraf was succeeded in August, 1884, by. Rev. Louis Kleeman, a young man of much worth and ability, who was followed by Rev. G. H. Becker, and he by the present pastor, Rev. Herman Tietke. A neat little church building was erected in the fall of 1884, the building committee being: Angust Strauss, William Kramer and L. Kleeman. The present membership numbers thirty- two families.

The Aurora Free-Will Baptist Church was or- ganized in May, 1879, by Rev. A. M. Totman, Rev. G. T. Davis and Rev. W. H. Edgar, with twenty-five members, Rev. Mr. Totman becoming the first pastor, who continued in that capacity for three years. The church was organized in Sep- tember, 1883, with the following members: Rev. A. M. Totman, Mrs. Totman, Cora Totman, Mrs. Hannah Lounsbury, Joseph Tompkins, Mary Tompkins, Mrs. Lncy Lee, Mrs. Anna Riley, H. A. Stone, Mrs. Sarah Stone, Eugene Nye, Charles De Maranville, Clara E. De Maranville, Isaac Kin- kaid, Sarah E. Kinkaid, B. F. Isaman, M. A. Isa- man, Ella T. Davis, Mrs. T. G. Davis, M. B. Hull, Mrs. Emily Hull, J. B. Sweet, Mrs. Ella O. Sweet, Robert Eyres, O. M. Sonl.

In May, 1884, Rev. G. W. Knapp became pastor, and continued for two years, when the church was left without a pastor for two years until May, 1888, when Rev. Knapp again took

charge, and has continuously filled that position to the present time. Rev. Knapp and his very es- timable wife, who is president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, have not only eu- deared themselves to the church society, but to all who are fortunate enough to know them. Un. der his care the church is united and prosperous, and numbers a membership of over fifty. A house of worship was erected in the summer of 1885, dedicated in Angust of that year, which is well filled as each returning Sunday its bell summons the congregation together.

In July, 1887, Elder John T. Smith, of Ne. braska City, State evangelist, came to Aurora and began a series of meetings with a view to organiz- ing the Disciples, in this vicinity, into a congrega- tion. He preached about two weeks, holding meetings in the Free Baptist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches. During this time he secured the names of about forty who had been members of the church prior to removing to this place, and after arranging for the use of the court. room for Sunday-school and church services, the congregation was organized on July 31, 1887, with the following members: A. W. Agee, Lillie E. Agee, A. N. Thomas, Mrs. A. N. Thomas, Mrs. T. E. Valentine, Eliza Osborne, J. C. McCord, Mrs. J. C. McCord, Belle McCord, Mrs. Jennie De Noon, Frank F. Cook, A. H. Sangston, Mrs. A. H. Sangston, W. R. Smith, Mrs. W. R. Smith, Mer. ritt Hoblit, Belle Thompson, Mrs. Kate Jones, Mrs. Augusta F. Musick, Mrs. M. M. Coon, Ollie Pinnell, Rose Matsler (now Mrs. Duncan), Mellie Chapman (now Mrs. Herbert Daniels), Mrs. Nellie Fritz (now Mrs. J. E. McBride), S. S. Matlock, Mrs. S. S. Matlock, Nelson Kutch, Mrs. Nelson Kutch, Mrs. Anna E. Hastings, Tillie Darling (now Mrs. W. R. Bell), Mrs. Rosa Howell, Mrs. Maggie Likes, W. P. Hellings, Angeline Flana- gan, J. H. Shafer, Emma Shafer, Mrs. Florence Widaman, J. P. Bute and Mrs J. P. Bute. Nel- son Kutch, A. N. Thomas and A. W. Agee were chosen as elders, W. R. Smith and J. C. McCord as deacons, Belle Thompson, clerk, and W. R. Smith, treasurer. Prior to the visit of Elder J. T. Smith, Elders R. C. Barrow, T. A. Parkinson and

758

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

D. R. Lucas had held several meetings, preaching for several days at a time. In September, 1887, Elder W C. Basher was employed as pastor for one year. At the expiration of his time Elder L. H. Humphreys was employed for a year. During the winter of the year of his pastorate he held a meeting of several weeks' duration, the result of which was the addition of thirty-four members, twenty-one by confession and immersion. The present membership is about seventy-five. Feb- rnary 3, 1889, the same persons were again chosen as elders and deacons, two additional deacons be- ing chosen, W. S. Harlan and A W. Hickman; W. R. Smith was again chosen as treasurer and Eva Kirkpatrick clerk. In July, 1889, A. W. Agee and others began the work of raising funds by subscription for the erection of a church build- ing, and a meeting was held July 24, 1889, for the purpose of becoming incorporated as a religious body, under the laws of the State, in order to en- able the society to buy and hold property and transact business. The organization was per- fected, the name adopted being "The Church of Christ at Anrora, Nebraska." The following were the officers elected: Trustees, A. W. Agee (presi- dent of the board), W. P. Hellings, W. S. Harlan, Nelson Kutch, and W. R. Smith; clerk, A. W. Hickman; treasurer, W. R. Smith. At this meet- ing the trustees were anthorized to purchase a site for the erection of a church. A site was accord- ingly seenred, just one block west of the south- west corner of the public square, one of the finest locations in the city, and arrangements were at once made for the erection of a handsome brick edifice 36x75 feet. The corner-stone was laid October 28, 1889, and the building enclosed dur- ing the fall, but on account of cold weather it was not completed until the following spring. This is the best and most commodious church edifice in the city. In connection with the church, the Au- rora Christian Sunday-school was organized July 24. 1887. It has had a very successful existence, and is the second, in point of membership, in the county. The disadvantages under which both church and Sunday-school have labored, for want of a suitable place of meeting, are now obviated by

comfortable and convenient quarters, and, doubt- less, the numbers in church and school will soon be greatly increased. The officers of the Sunday- school are A. N. Thomas, superintendent; A. W. Agee, assistant-superintendent; J. G. Baeschlin, secretary and treasurer, and Belle McCord, organ- ist. Since September, 1889, A. W. Agee has been acting in the capacity of superintendent, A. N. Thomas having taken charge of the Bible- class.

Largely as the various religious denominations are represented the benevolent and secret societies are still more fully represented, no fewer than twelve orders having organizations in the city.

Of the secret societies Aurora Lodge No. 68, A. F. & A. M., was organized under a dispensa - tion granted February 10, 1876, and received its charter June 9, 1878. The following were the charter members and officers: J. S. Miller, W. M .; T. A. MeKay, S. W .; J. H. Helms, J. W .; W. H. Streeter, Darius Wilcox, W. K. Ream, T. H. Glover, E. J. Hainer, W. L. Whittemore, Benjamin Freed, M. Hagarity, John Tweedy and S. S. Hay- den. Regular meetings of the lodge were held on the first and third Saturdays of each month and for a time prospered finely. But unfortunately the old animosities engendered during the county seat fight began to show themselves, and a spirit of jealousy and back-biting sprang up between its members, which for a time destroyed the harmony and prosperity of the lodge, and almost caused its complete disruption. Still the lodge managed to keep up a nominal existence, meeting occasionally, until within and during the past six or seven years it has become united and prosperous. During the past year the Temple-Craft Association, an incor- poration of this city, erected a fine substantial brick block on the west side of the public square, occu- pying Lots 19, 20 and 21 of Block 19, at a cost of $25,000, in which there are an elegant and commo- dious lodge room, banquet hall, reception rooms, etc. An association composed of the A. F. & A. M., K. of P., A. O. U. W. and G. A. R. furnished the lodge-rooms throughout with beautiful, taste- fully arranged appointments, affording the lodgers using the hall a delightful and comfortable place of meeting. The lodge is in a sound financial con-

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HAMILTON COUNTY.

dition, owning a two-fifths interest in the lodge | ings, R. S .; M. W. Walsh, P. S .; Fritz Hoefer, furnishing, and considerable stock in the Temple- treasurer. Craft Block.

The present membership is sixty-nine, and the officers are P. M. Green, W. M .; E. A. Steenburg, S. W .; W. F. Gooden, J. W .; W. H. Alden, secre- tary. Regular meetings are held on the first and second Tuesdays of each month.

Shekinah Chapter No. 32, Royal Arch Masons, was organized May 14, 1885, with twenty-two charter members and the following officers: W. R. Bell, M. E. H. P .; D. Bates, king; J. N. Cas- sell, scribe; I. N. Jones, C. of H .; F. J. Bricker, R. A. C .; E. J. Hainer, P. S .; J. W. Jones, G. M. Ist V .; F. G. Buchan, G. M. 2d V .; A. S. Crosby, G. M. 3d V .; Adolph Renber, T .; William P. Hell- ings, recorder, and W. H. Streeter, treasurer. The organization is highly prosperous and in excellent financial condition. It has a membership of thirty- one, and holds regular meetings on the third and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The officers at present are W. H. Alden, H. P .; W. F. Gooden, king; F. J. Bricker, scribe; J. D. Ferguson, Jr., treasurer; D. Bates, secretary; W. P. Hellings, C. of H .; S. W. Bell, R. A. C .; S. E. Stilson. P. S .; J. N. Cassell, M. 3d V .; D. R. Noble, M. 2d V .; F. G. Buchan, M. 1st V .; A. D. Travis, S.

Hamilton Lodge, . No. 60, I. O. O. F., was organized under a dispensation granted June 1, 1876, with the following charter members: T. A. McKay. E. B. Hoyt, A. W. Agee, H. G. Cass, L. M. Reber, Simeon Snow, James M. May, T. C. Klumb, W. K. Ream and W. L. Warn. The first officers were T. A. McKay, N. G .: Simeon Snow, V. G .; A. W. Agee, secretary, and Levi M. Reber, treasurer.

For a time the lodge flourished, and added largely to its membership, when divisions began to creep into the lodge and obstructed its harmo- nious working and for a time seriously retarded its growth. After this spirit had been eliminated, the lodge again entered on a more prosperous era.

The society holds its meetings in the hall over Mather's hardware store. It has a present mem- bership of fifty-one, and the present officers are: H. G. Cass, N. G .; H. Luff, V. G .; L. W. Hast-

Zach Chandler Post No. 44, G. A. R., was organized April 16, 1880, with the following chur- ter members: J. S. Miller, major, Eleventh Wis- consin Infantry; J. M. Fodge, private, Company H, First Iowa Calvary; Delevan Bates, colonel, Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-first New York Infantry; C. H. Kimball, private, Company E, First Iowa Infantry; Louis Kelly, private, Com- pany I, Forty sixth Indiana Infantry; L. W. Hastings, private, Company G, Sixth Iowa Infantry ; R. A. Ingalls, private, Company K, Second Mime- sota Infantry; E. D. Preston, private, Company E, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry; D. A. Scovill, private, Company A, Forty sixth Illinois Infantry; A. V. B. Peck, private, Company A, Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry, Joshua Norton, Jr., first lieuten- ant, Clark's rifles; J. L. Trobee, private, Company K, Sixth Iowa Infantry; W. W. Trobee, private, Company K, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry; William S. Strain, private, Company I, Tenth Iowa In- fantry; Robert Miller, private, Company A, Sixty- second Pennsylvania Infantry; L. C. Predmore, privale, Company G, Eighth Indiana Infantry; T. A. McKay, private, Company H, Twelfth Michi- gan Infantry; W. C. Preston, private, Company C Twelfth New York Cavalry; L. Isaman, private, Company F, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry; W. H. Pinnell, private, Company C, One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois Infantry; C. J. Agee, private, Com- pany H, Twenty fourth Indiana Infantry; S. S. Hayden, private, Company B, Thirty-seventh Illi. nois Infantry; A. E. Cheeney, private, Company H, Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry; W. A. Johnson, private, Company D, Seventh Iowa Cavalry; J. W. Thiery, private, Company E, One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Infantry; W. L. Wbittemore, pri- vate, Company H, Thirty-first Iowa Infantry.

The post was mustered in by Adjt. Gen. J. S. Woods, of Omaha, and the first officers elected were Maj. J. S. Miller. P. C .; Brig. Gen. Delevan Bates, S. V. C .; E. D. Preston, J. V. C .; A. V. B. Peck, chaplain; T. A. Mckay, O. M .; J. M. Fodge, O. D .; D. A. Scovill, adjutant; T. L. Myers, surgeon. The post has a present membership of forty-

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

four and is in good working condition, and sound financially.

Regular meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month, in the lodge room of Temple Block. The following are the present offi- cers: Thomas Smith, P. C .; L. D. Ellsworth, S. V. C .; H. F. Williamson, chaplain; J. W. Elar- ton, Q. M .; C. P. Brigham, O. D .; N. C. Nei- hardt, O. G .; Capt. J. N. Cassell, adjutant.

Zach Chandler Woman's Relief Corps No. 36, at Aurora, was organized September 3, 1885, with sixty charter members and the following officers: Mrs. C. A. Bacon, president; Mrs. Agnes Hurd, senior vice-president; Mrs. L. A. Bates, junior vice-president; Mrs. Ella Elarton, secretary; Mrs. Carrie E. Noble, treasurer; Mrs. Hannah J. Myers, chaplain; Mrs. Tweedy, conductor; Miss Laura Oyler, guard, and including the above-named of- ficers a total membership of seventy two.

Since the date of organization the presidents have been Mrs. C. A. Bacon, Mrs. L. B. Reynolds, Mrs. L. A. Bates and Mrs. Ella Elarton ; secretaries, Mrs. E. Elarton, Mrs. M. A. Goodrick and Mrs. T. A. Pinnell. The corps meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month in the Temple Block. It has now a membership of forty-two, with the following-named officers: Mrs. Ella Elar- ton, president; Mrs. Ellsworth, senior vice-pres- ident; Anna Hastings, junior vice-president ; Mrs. William Walters, treasurer; Mrs. Connor, conductor; Mrs. Soverin, guard, and Mrs. T. A. Pinnell, secretary.

Zach Chandler Camp No. 18, Aurora, Neb., was organized July 14. 1884, with the following mem- bers: L. A. McKay, M. J. Gavan, O. E. Peck, D. M. Waite, P. Moore, John Machamer, William Douglass, W. E. Reber, John Work and Henry Short. The organization flourished for about three years, when so many had either gone away or lost interest, that it was concluded to surrender their charter, which was accordingly done.

The order of the Knights of Pythias have for their object the dissemination of the principles of Friendship, Charity and Benevolence.

Mystic Lodge No. 39, of Aurora, was instituted May 7, 1885, with the following officers: George

R. Kirkham, P. C .; J. R. Van Boskirk, C. C .; P. C. Westover, V. C .; James A. Wilson, prelate; W. J. Stevenson, K. of R. & S .; Myron T. Wildish, M. of E .; P. M. Green, M. of F .; L. W. Shuman, M. at A .; Robert Lamont, I. G .; James B. Rogers, O. G., and twenty-four charter members. The growth of Mystic Lodge has been steady and uni- form from the first, scarcely a meeting having been held without work in one of the ranks, and the candidates have been drawn from the best ma- terial afforded by the city. The splendid accom- modations offered in the Temple Block lodge rooms. which were ready for occupancy in the spring of 1889, were at once appreciated by this society, and the choice has been of great value, bringing them at once in the front rank and side by side with the A. F. & A. M.

The following list shows the names of the knights in good standing in Mystic Lodge March 1, 1890: Delevan Bates, J. E. Brodbent, S. B. Chap- man, G. W. Curry, J. K. Crawford, Frank Coyken- dall, B. B. Crownover, Samuel Dietz, George Dan- iels, F. W. Eaton, W. H. Ferguson, W. H. Fairchild, W. I. Farley, D. W. Fay, W. H. Fall, W. T. Gooden, P. M. Green, N. H. Good, Will Hatha- way, W. P. Hellings, C. H. Henthorn, F. W. Her- man, F. P. Hough, J. W. Haworth, A. W. Hick- man. Joseph Johnson, H. T. Jensen, H. M. Kellogg, H. C. Knight, Moritz Kohn, A. J. Lawrence, Rob- ert Lamont, J. H. Lincoln, R. L. Laurie, J. E. Likes, Henry Lewis, Charles McKee, H. E. Metz- ger, D. L. Machamer, Henry Ocker, A. E. Peter- son, Emil Roggy, J. H. Redburn, C. B. Rhodes, J. B. Rogers, Lang Sawyer, Victor Swanson, J. K. Strohm, C. W. Strohm, Ira Swan, W. H. Snider, George Sargent, Emil Swartz, W. J. Stevenson, L. W. Shuman, M. T. Stanley, W. J. Threadkill, T. W. Tate, J. L. Thomas, C. B. Troyer, J. R. Van Boskirk, H. C. Van Boskirk, T. E. Valentine, C. J. Vandell, G. B. Williamson, Frank Wilson, G. G. Williams, Robert Waddle, Dan Waite, W. F. Walters, M. T. Wildish, J. A. Whitmore, J. A. Wilson.

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Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820