USA > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 25
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Misses Libbie Wilson and Ella Grant were the first, or among the first, young ladies of the place. Charles W. Porter and Miss Osterhiel were the first to get married in Kearney although George E. Smith and Miss Clemm were married in Logansport, Ind., and came to Kearney before the Porter-Osterhiel wedding.
Frank Kearney Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. V. B. Clark, was the first child born in the city. I was married September 3, 1872, to Mary E. Clapp at Fair- field, Iowa, and arrived home in Kearney, September 30th. But I must find a stopping place; from hamlet to village, Kearney grew rapidly, having three hundred or four hundred people by Christmas, 1872, and one thousand within twelve months from that time, and her magnificent growth has been, in the main, gradual, steady, and permanent ever since.
Having a fire in my newspaper office in 1890, all my newspaper files were burned and now I have not the record of a single issue from which to copy, and neither have I a line or word anywhere with which to refresh my memory in gathering together these events of long ago days, but if any old or new friend or neighbor becomes interested in what I have here contributed of early events, early history of Kearney I will feel amply repaid for the time and trouble.
(Note-Mr. Cunningham and son are in the newspaper business at Glenwood, Iowa, and in the year 1911, at the request of the writer (S. C. Bassett) con- tributed this very interesting and valuable history of the founding of Kearney Junction and reminiscences of those early days.)
SEDGWICK POST NO. I, G. A. R.
Sedgwick Post No. I, Department of Nebraska, Grand Army of the Republic, has the distinction of being the first G. A. R. post organized in Nebraska.
Past Post Commander A. H. Boltin furnishes the following history of the post : Sedgwick Post was organized at Fort Kearney in the year 1870, under jurisdiction of the Department of Illinois. In 1874, at Kearney, the post was reorganized under jurisdiction of the Department of Iowa. On December 1, 1879, the post was again reorganized and chartered as Sedgwick Post No. I, Department of Nebraska.
In the life of this post thirty-three comrades have served as post commanders in order as follows: E. C. Calkins, J. W. Wilson, Joseph Black, Robert La Fountain, James Jenkins, A. H. Boltin, J. W. Parker, W. J. Perkins, R. M. Grimes, J. M. Tisdell, W. Smith, D. A. Dorsey, I. A. Arnold, I. B. Wambaugh, John Barnd, Dr. H. S. Bell, Dwight Phelps, Henry Seaman, W. W. Dye, J. C. McKeene, Phil Bessor, B. H. Goulding, John Hoge, J. C. Beswick, E. W. Thomas, George N. Smith, George C. Ray, Freeman Merryman, J. A. Larimer, Rev. Henry , Wood, Simon Landis, A. D. Rice, Lorenzo Smith.
In the year 1915 the post was in a flourishing condition, with seventy mem- bers. There are buried in the cemetery at Kearney 162 soldiers of the Civil war.
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SEDGWICK WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS NO. I, G. A. R.
Sedgwick Woman's Relief Corps No. I, Department of Nebraska, G. A. R., was organized at Kearney in January, 1884, with the following charter members : Josephine Gillespie, president ; Julia McKelvey, Mary La Fountain, Maria Miles, Mrs. Lacy, Laura Perkins, Sarah Parker, Mrs. Fields, Mrs. Fitch, Mrs. Van- . horn, Mary Lotterman, Mrs. Harding, Sarah Hoge, Mrs. R. M. Grimes, Mrs. Shiers, Mrs. William Hunt, Martha Goulding, Mrs. J. W. Wilson, Mary Jenkins, Mrs. Bicknell, Harriet Worley, Mrs. Wilks.
In the year 1915 the corps had a membership of thirty-five. Its officers : Grace Hardy, president ; Lucinda Ball, S. V. P .; Melissa Wiley, J. V. P .; Effie Boltin, chaplain; Phoebe J. Lancaster, secretary ; Aurelia Whitney, treasurer ; Anna Kilgore, conductor; Louisa Lowe, A. C .; Louisa Haase, guard; Mary Bailey, A. G .; Effie Boltin, patriotic instructor ; Anna Kilgore, press correspond- ent ; color bearers, Elizabeth Smith, Jennie Shiers, Maria Reed, Mary Harper.
This was the first corps organized in the Department of Nebraska.
SMITH GAVITT POST NO. 299, G. A. R.
Smith Gavitt Post No. 299, G. A. R., of Kearney, received its charter March 4, 1890, with the following charter members: John Tottersman, L. O. Hyatt, James P. Tucker, James M. Duley, Franklin W. Nichols, John Larimer, Stewart W. Calhoun, Joseph McKain, William M. Woodruff, H. H. Wade, Benedict Streigel, Joseph Worsley, J. A. Larimer, William B. Ray, John H. Boatwright, Andrew J. Snow, John R. Mote.
The officers elected and installed were: John W. Totterman, commander ; James M. Duley, S. V .; John Larimer, J. V .; Andrew J. Snow, Q. M .; Franklin W. Nichols, surgeon; William M. Boatwright, chaplain; H. H. Wade, O. D .; J. J. Boatwright, O. G .; Joseph Worsley, adjutant; S. A. Hyatt, S. M .; W. B. Ray, Q. M. Sergt.
In 1915 the post had a membership of fifty-three. Its officers: M. Hop- kins, commander; S. Bell, S. V .; J. S. Wiley, J. V .; W. H. Marshall, O. D .; Robert Haines, chaplain; J. A. Larimer, Q. M .; F. J. Switz, adjutant; D. T. Hostetter, O. G.
SMITHI GAVITT WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS NO. 106, G. A. R.
Smith Gavitt Woman's Relief Corps No. 106 at Kearney received its charter March 18, 1890, and was instituted with the following officers and charter mem- bers : Marie Y. Miles, president ; Mary J. Tottersman, S. V .; Hattie J. Worsley, J. V .; Lucy A. Willoughby, secretary ; Estelle Rogers, treasurer ; Maggie McKain, chaplain ; Frances Woodruff, conductor ; Sarah A. Seaman, G .; Kate A. Tucker, A. G .; Nancy Murphy, A. G .; May Demar, Jennie Coleman, Mary A. Webbert, Mary J. Triggs, Hannah N. Hyatt, Mattie O'Kane, Jennie Wood, Martha E. Tague, Eva Uhrig, Lucy Willoughby, Jennie Calhoun, Victoria Brundage, Marion Steigle, Cleronne Ray, Eleanor Hawk, Ada Caswell. In the year 1915 the corps had a membership of twenty-five. Its officers: Mrs. Barbara Scheiling.
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president ; Liddie Bonser, S. V .; Elizabeth Marshall, J. V .; Emma L. Hostetter, treasurer; Nellie M. Stimpson, secretary; Mary M. Page, conductor; Celia Tal- bert, chaplain; Olie Springer, G .; Amanda Green, Emily Mckinney, Henrietta Pickerel and Costelia Rogers, color bearers; Emma L. Hostetter, patriotic in- structor ; Melissa Hemmingway, press correspondent.
PHIL KEARNEY CIRCLE NO. 4, LADIES OF THE G. A. R.
Phil Kearney Circle No. 4, Department of Nebraska, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Kearney, May 12, 1904, with ten charter members. The first officers were: Lizzie Trimble, president; Christie Hoge, S. V. P .; Lizzie Wambaugh, J. V. P .; Josephine Stephenson, secretary ; Jane Larimer, treasurer; Mary J. Stear, chaplain.
In 1915 the membership of the circle was seventy-five. The officers: Flora Rawell, president ; Fannie Wilson, S. V. P .; Mary Webbert, J. V. P .; Effie Sulli- van, secretary ; Anna Warren, treasurer; Lillie Rahn, chaplain ; patriotic instruc- tor, Emily Stark; Sophia Brown, guard.
FORT KEARNEY CHAPTER, D. A. R.
Fort Kearney Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized at the home of Mrs. Charles Oliver Norton, Kearney, May 16, 1908, with the following charter members and first officers: Mrs. Lottie Gove Norton, chapter regent ; Mrs. Florence Valentine Miller, vice regent ; Mrs. Henrietta Bearce Roby, historian; Miss Isabel Amanda Tabor, secretary ; Mrs. Maybelle Nye Miller, treasurer; Mrs. Anna V. A. Peterson, registrar; Mrs. Irene Holbrook Clark, chaplain ; Mrs. Elijah Atwood Gove, Mrs. Frederick R. Kingsley, Miss Arathusa Calkins, Mrs. Leroy V. Patch, Mrs. Harry J. Reed, Mrs. E. St. Claire Snyder, Miss Agnes M. Tabor, Mrs. Henry Gibbons, Miss Catherine A. Nye, Mrs. Robert A. Moore, Miss Alice Ruth Miller, Mrs. Burton Lothrop, Mrs. Joseph Plumb.
Since organization 150 members have been admitted to the chapter, which now (1916) is the third in size in the state.
Among the patriotic work accomplished by the Fort Kearney Chapter has been the placing in the Union Pacific Park in Kearney of a granite monument to mark the "Oregon Trail," which had its beginning in the Valley of the Platte River in the year 1811, this monument being the first stone to mark this historic trail erected in the State of Nebraska.
BUFFALO LODGE NO. 38, I. O. O. F.
Buffalo Lodge No. 38, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Kearney, May 31, 1873, by Grand Secretary John Evans, with the following charter members: N. H. Hemiup, Henry W. Morse, James P. Johnson, I. B. Wambaugh, D. B. Marsh, Philip H. Allison, W. F. Marsh, Hugh Stotler, H. A. Wakefield.
In the year 1915 I. B. Wambaugh, a soldier of the Civil war, is the only one of the charter members living.
In the year 1915 the lodge had a membership of 275. Its officers: T. A.
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Pickerell, N. G .; A. G. Barlow, V. G .; J. A. Larimer, secretary ; W. A. Miller, treasurer.
In the year 1907 the lodge erected, on a lot owned by the lodge, a substantial brick building at a cost of $15,000, the upper rooms of the building being used for lodge purposes.
KEARNEY ENCAMPMENT NO. IS, I. O. O. F.
Kearney Encampment No. 18, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Kearney, Sep- tember 3. 1881, by Grand Patriarch J. W. Walters and Grand Secretary D. A. Cline, with the following charter members: A. T. Cannon, Swan J. Johnson, L. L. Ketchum, William Schram, W. F. Pickering, James Wallace, H. C. An- drews, W. H. Bushell, C. R. Clapp, L. D. Forehand, C. D. Ayres, H. W. Morse, Theodore Wilhelmy, C. J. Burke, I. B. Wambaugh, W. H. Hunt, Thomas H. Ayres.
In the year 1915 the encampment had a membership of seventy-five. Its officers : T. J. Scott, chief patriarch ; E. E. Gardner, senior warden ; E. A. Miller, scribe; M. N. Troupe, treasurer.
NAOMI REBEKAH LODGE NO. 12, I. O. O. F.
Naomi Rebekah Lodge No. 12, I. O. O. F., was instituted June 26, 1887, with a charter membership of twenty. G. H. Cutting, N. G .; Emma Haines, treasurer.
In the year 1915 the membership of the lodge was 203. Officers: Margaret Webbert, N. G .; Nellie Wilkins, V. G .; Aurelia Whitney, secretary; Frances Whitney, treasurer.
ROBERT MORRIS LODGE NO. 46, A. F. & A. M.
Robert Morris Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M., of Kearney, was organized at Gibbon soon after the completion of the courthouse, the lodge meetings being held in the courtroom of the building. The preliminary organization was early in the year 1873, the date of the charter June 26, 1874. The charter members were: A. H. Brundage, Frank S. Trew, L. Worthington, Christopher Putnam, George S. Thomas, Benjamin Sartoria, Michael Coady, Rollin L. Downing, Simon C. Ayer, Alva G. H. White. Officers: Christopher Putnam, W. M .; Frank S. Trew. S. W. : Simon C. Ayer, J. W.
On the removal of the county seat from Gibbon the lodge was removed to Kearney.
In the year 1915 the lodge had a membership of 215. Officers : Daniel Quin- ton, W. M .; J. D. Hawthorne, secretary.
KEARNEY CHAPTER NO. 23, R. A. M.
Kearney Chapter No. 23, R. A. M., was organized September 13, 1881. The charter members were: H. P., A. L. Webb; K., James H. Davis; S., H. L. Strong; treasurer, F. J. Switz; secretary, T. N. Hartzell; Ross Gamble, Reuben E. Barney, Paul Kalmuk, Charles B. Finch, Lawrence Ketchum.
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In the year 1915 the chapter had 130 members. Officers: J. O. Pierce, E. H. P .; J. D. Hawthorne, secretary.
MOUNT HIEBRON COMMANDERY NO. 12.
Mount Hebron Commandery No. 12 was organized in January, 1882. The charter membership: Henry Gibbons, E. C .; Rheuben E. Barney, Gen .; Sylvester S. St. John, C. G .; Frederick J. Switz, prelate; Paul Kalmuk, S. W .; Lawrence Ketchum, J. W .; A. L. Webb, warden ; James H. Davis, Sent .; William C. Villson, Rec.
In the year 1915 the commandery had 117 members : Officers : John Wilson, E. C .; G. E. Haase, recorder.
TUSCAN CHAPTER NO. 35, O. E. S.
Tuscan Chapter No. 35, O. E. S., was organized June 12, 1890, with a charter membership of twenty-five. The officers: W. M., Francis B. Burkhead ; W. P., George W. Kern; secretary, A. S. Potter ; treasurer, R. M. Rankin.
In 1915 the membership of the chapter was 160. The officers: W. M., Mrs. Dorothy Clifton ; W. P., C. B. Manuel; secretary, Bessie Manuel; treasurer, Mrs. Minter Todd.
KEARNEY LODGE NO. 984, B. P. O. E.
Kearney Lodge No. 984 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was instituted on June 30, 1905 by the initiation of a class of ninety. At this same meeting the following officers were elected:
L. M. Welsh, Exalted Ruler.
N. P. Hansen, Esteemed Leading Knight.
K. R. Andrews, Loyal Knight.
G. E. Haase, Lecturing Knight.
E. S. Chadwick, Secretary.
J. A. Miller, Treasurer.
On July 2Ist of the same year the lodge secured the top floor of the City National Bank Building for lodge rooms and have held them ever since. In connection with the lodge room a fine suite of club rooms are maintained for the convenience and comfort of the members. Under the supervision of a steward these rooms are always open to members and visiting brothers.
The following men have served as exalted ruler and secretary of the lodge since its inception :
1905-06 -- L. M. Welsh; E. S. Chadwick.
1906-07-E. S. Chadwick; T. B. Garrison, Jr.
1907-08-K. R. Andrews; A. E. Faidler, T. W. Maus. 1908-09-J. A. Miller; Chas. O. Swan. 1909-10-J. A. Miller ; Chas. O. Swan.
1910-II-Arthur A. Scoutt; Chas. O. Swan. 19II-12-Warren Pratt; Chas. O. Swan.
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1912-13-Clyde W. Norton; Chas. O. Swan. 1913-14-H. B. Watson; Chas. O. Swan. 1914-15-H. B. Sammis; Chas. O. Swan. 1915-16-Clark Thomas, Chas. O. Swan; H. B. Watson.
KEARNEY COMMERCIAL CLUB
H. B. Watson
On Saturday evening, April 2, 1881, a delegation of citizens met in Mores' Hall and organized the first business men's association in Kearney and gave it the name of the Kearney Board of Trade. Mr. J. N. High was chosen chair- man of the meeting and Mr. J. H. Roe was chosen secretary. The following gentlemen were elected to form an executive committee: H. C. Andrews, C. F. Bodinson, N. Campbell, E. C. Calkins, R. L. Downing, R. R. Greer, J. N. High, F. G. Keens, J. H. Roe, J. D. Seaman, F. J. Switz, G. R. Sherwood, S. L. Savidge, J. J. Saville and J. Fred Wiley.
On the following Thursday, April 7, 1881, the above committee met in the Nonpareil office and organized by electing E. C. Calkins president and J. J. Saville secretary. At this meeting Mr. J. N. High presented suggestions for a plan to organize a company and raise funds for the purpose of building a canal from the Platte River to supply water to the City of Kearney and water power for manufacturing purposes. After a careful discussion of the subject a com- mittee was appointed to procure an estimate of the cost of the work, and another committee to draft a plan for forming a company and devise a method to be used in raising money for the project.
At this meeting Mr. Hodges, a citizen of Sweetwater, appeared before the executive committee and made a statement regarding the bridges over Cedar Creek and the Loup River. It seemed that the bridges were in very poor con- dition and would require piling and lumber to repair them and the people in the vicinity were not in a financial position to buy the material. A committee of five was appointed to raise the needed funds and the results of their efforts were explained at the following meeting held on April 9, when Mr. Andrews reported that the committee had obtained five piles from the B. & M. Railroad Company and had telegraphed the agent of the Union Pacific Company requesting a dona- tion of five piles from them, and by circulating a subscription paper had secured from the citizens of Kearney cash subscriptions amounting to $113.95 with which to purchase lumber.
On April II, 1881, the Board of Trade met again and at this meeting J. J. Saville reported that the estimated cost of the canal was: Dam, $1,000; excava- tion, $14,448; flumes, $3,000; bridges, $1,500; survey and right-of-way, $1,500, making a total cost of $21,448.
At this meeting a committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. Calkins, Savidge and Roe, which secured the co-operation of Mr. F. G. Hamer, with instructions to correspond with the Nebraska delegation in Congress, with the secretary of the interior and the law department at Washington and procure from them charter, department regulations and laws relating to subsidised railroads
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and especially those relating to the St. Joe and Denver and the obligation of that company to build their road to Kearney.
This meeting was adjourned to meet Thursday evening, April 14, 1881, when the canal subject would again be discussed. Of this meeting there are no records, neither of any subsequent meetings. However the Board of Trade remained in existence for some time after this date and was directly responsible for the initial work on the Kearney Canal.
Several years passed by before another organization of this nature was per- fected in the city. On March 21, 1887, the second Kearney Board of Trade was launched with the following officers: President, C. B. Finch; first vice presi- dent, Homer J. Allen; second vice president, F. J. Switz; treasurer, E. C. Calkins ; secretary, K. O. Holmes. This organization was perfected in the third story of the Buffalo County Bank Building, now known as the Porterfield Build- ing. Afterwards rooms were taken in B. D. Smith's office in a building near where V. C. Chase's store now stands.
The records and minutes of this organization have been destroyed and the actual progress of the association as revealed by substantial records is not known. Several members of this organization are still in Kearney and many of these will be found among our leading merchants. Upon their recollection and upon the newspaper files of that epoch I must rely for data of its activities.
At that time Kearney was in a transitory period. She was expanding very rapidly and growing from a small town of the plains into a city of business and a mart of trade. Eastern capital was flowing into the town in large quantity and expansion was the watchword. Business became rushing, money was easy and the spirit of enterprise filled the air. With these conditions it was natural that the newly organized Board of Trade found much to do. The business men represented on its directorate worked until the early hours of the morning plan- ning new methods to attract capital and to advertise Kearney. There was no lack of funds flowing into the treasury and with these, alluring literature tell- ing of "Kearney's Gait" was prepared and mailed broadcast over the land. Com- mittees were appointed to follow up every tangible prospect and money was spent freely but judiciously in interesting such prospects.
This organization during 1887 and 1888, under the leadership of C. B. Finch and K. O. Holmes accomplished much good and was instrumental in securing many enterprises for the city. At that time Mr. Finch was mayor of the city and much of the success of the Board of Trade was due to the harmony that existed between it and the city council.
During the summer of 1888 many real estate promoters from the east formed a combination in Kearney and in March, 1889, secured control of the organiza- tion when a reorganization was effected under the name of the Kearney Cham- ber of Commerce. The officers elected were: President, O. S. Marden ; first vice president, George W. Frank; second vice president, Homer J. Allen ; treas- urer, E. M. Judd; secretary, K. O. Holmes. The membership of the new organ- ization was 108 and the meetings were held in room II of the old Midway Hotel.
By this time Kearney had developed a portentous boom and the men at the head of the Chamber of Commerce were directly interested in the boom, conse- quently the efforts of the association were directed to that end. The cotton mill
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was built, factories of various kinds and on an elaborate scale were secured, subsidised and built, street railways were constructed, steam railroads were projected and bonds voted to assist them in building. Men of affairs had won- derful visions; they saw Kearney a second Chicago, the big city of Nebraska. Times were feverish. The people became aquiver with expectation, a wonderful city was in the making and then the crash came. The Chamber of Commerce was forgotten, its officers moved to other parts and at last the organization passed into history. Later on an effort was made to resuscitate the association, but the niove failed and it went the way of the boom.
The present Commercial Club was organized during 1907, but the first min- utes of its meetings now available are dated March 3, 1908. At this meeting Mr. Henry Gibbons served as chairman and W. W. Barney was elected tem- porary secretary.
The organization of this Commercial Club, like the inception of the others, was demanded through an exigency arising that effected the people of Kearney. The first club was organized to build the Kearney Canal and thus furnish Kearney with a water supply, the second club was an outgrowth of a necessity that fur- nished a medium through which the boosting of the city could better be accom- plished, while the organization of this present association was demanded to furnish a co-operation of the business men in a struggle to secure just and equitable freight rates into and out of the city.
Mr. J. W. Patterson was elected its first president and Mr. J. G. Lowe was chosen secretary of the newly organized club. During the succeeding years the following men have served as president and secretary :
1908-J. W. Patterson; J. G. Lowe.
1909-J. W. Patterson ; W. F. Bailey.
1910-W. H. Roe ; W. F. Bailey.
19II-C. W. Kibler ; C. E. Oehler.
1912-Warren Pratt; C. E. Oehler.
1913-J. W. Patterson; W. F. Bailey.
1914-J. W. Patterson ; F. W. Brown, H. B. Watson.
1915-A. C. Killian ; H. B. Watson.
1916-C. B. Manuel (elected) ; H. B. Watson.
During these years the club has been actively engaged in the fight for better freight rates for the city. It launched the Buffalo County Fair, it has con- sistently advocated better roads, it has promoted street paving, and during the last three years its scope of action has broadened until it has developed into the community forum. Every question effecting the city and its environs is brought to the club for discussion. Its attitude on public questions is eagerly sought.
For several years the club has maintained a Monday noon lunch for its mem- bers, which service has become very popular. The meeting of its board of directors is held weekly, directly after the Monday lunch.
The original board of directors was composed of fifteen members. This number was soon increased to twenty-five and at the annual election of 1916 was raised to fifty. This allows a large percentage of the membership a voice in the weekly deliberations of the directors and creates added interest in the activities of the club.
Vol. I-14
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HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
The club's activities are rapidly multiplying and instead of being an organ- ization working alone for the interest of the merchants it is striving to become a community builder, a city builder, where the farmer, the city dweller and the business man can meet on mutual footing and work harmoniously for the advancement of the entire community.
KEARNEY AERIE NO. 1489, F. O. E.
Kearney Aerie No. 1489, F. O. E., meets every Wednesday at Eagles Hall. Its officers in 1914 were: A. M. Franks, president; Joseph Kauer, secretary ; J. F. Ackerman, treasurer.
LOYAL LODGE NO. 14, K. OF P.
Loyal Lodge No. 14, K. of P., history seems to disclose, was the first fraternal lodge instituted in Kearney, in the winter of 1872-73.
Its officers in 1914 were: G. E. Haase, C. C .; M. A. Moody, V. C .; E. P. Hamilton, P .; P. T. Lambert, M. of W .; C. D. Ayers, M. of E. and K. of R. and S .; W. H. Bettinger, M. of F .; A. P. Paulson, M. of A.
FORMAN LODGE NO. 12, A. O. U. W.
Forman Lodge No. 12, A. O. U. W., was organized August 13, 1883, with a charter membership of twenty-five. Officers: Byron D. Smith, P. W. M .; J. A. Regnell, M. W .; W. H. Hurst, foreman ; W. M. Knutzen, overseer; S. M. Nevius, Rec .; H. Fred Wiley, Fin .; J. C. Philbrick, Treas .; P. Lindgren, guide ; G. A. Olson, I. W.
In the year 1915 the lodge had 350 members. Officers: C. E. Bloomfield, P. W. M .; T. A. Pickrell, M. W .; C. Lancaster, foreman; E. A. Miller, Fin .; John Frasier, overseer; E. F. Winn, Rec .; A. T. Olson, Treas .; George Clark, guide; A. M. Sherman, inside watch.
KEARNEY LODGE NO. 43, DEGREE OF HONOR, A. O. U. W.
Kearney Lodge No. 43, Degree of Honor, A. O. U. W., was instituted March 16, 1893, with a charter membership of sixty-eight. The names of its first officers could not be obtained.
In 1915 the lodge had a membership of 103. Its officers were: Ella Killgore, P. C. of H .; Maggie Dority, C. of H .; Lena Olson, L. of H .; Carrie Richard, C. of C .; Mary LaCornn, R'dr .; Ida Haynes, Fin .; Emma M. Hibberd, Ręc .; Phoebe Lancaster, usher; the minor officers being Fern Lancaster, Ada Holmes, Nellie Fenton, Lucy Hall, Etta Temple, Rilla Flannery, Elsie LaCornn.
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