USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Past and present of Adams County, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 35
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Among the business men of Kenesaw at the present time are J. G. Jones, W. A. Canffman and the Stanley Mercantile Co .: C. G. Schlegel, hardware; Mikkelsen Drug Company, and Kenesaw Drug Company (Cameron & Schunk), drugs; Rollo Pade, jewelry; Thomas Ramsey and Stephen Schultz, harness shops: Fischer Bros., Bert Harpham and I. E. Hershey, three blacksmith shops; H. Eins- pahr and R. Beal, pumps, wells and plumbing: Liberty M. Robin- son, manager Lininger Implement Company; Walter Schultz, man- ager Stephen Schultz Implement Company; L. L. Weaver,. man- ager Kenesaw Mill & Elevator Company, also sell farm implements; E. M. Jenkins, manager Empire Lumber Company; L. L. Weaver, manager Kenesaw Mill & Elevator Company, also sell coal and lum- ber; D. R. Mikesell and II. D. Billesbach, barber shops; Dr. W. E. Nowers and Dr. F. A. Townley, physicians; C. H. Hartwig, dentist: Mrs. Jennie Powers, millinery; G. F. Whitesell, landlord Cottage Hotel; W. G. Hawes, F. C. Armitage and Sipple Bros .. garage pro- prietors, the latter firm from Hastings: William Hines and S. Wertz, veterinarians; W. F. Davis, furniture store; F. I. Parker & Sons, meat market. In addition to those named Kenesaw has two restau- rants, one shoe repairing business, two real estate offices, two pool halls, three dray lines, one livery, feed and sale barn.
The Cottage Hotel was erected in 1887 by T. F. Cain and oper- ated by him until it was purchased in 1907 by G. F. Whitesell. The Kenesaw Opera House was erected by Dr. E. J. Latta in 1910 and
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destroyed by fire in 1912. It was not rebuilt. E. E. Ragsdale was a pioneer druggist. His building was destroyed by fire in 1911 after he had quit business.
F. S. Carey was a prominent business man of Kenesaw about six years. He now resides at Long Beach, Cal., having left Kene- saw about 1904. R. J. White, who left Kenesaw about twenty years ago, after conducting a general store for ten years, is now located in Lincoln.
Kenesaw has two banks. The Kenesaw Exchange Bank, opened in 1883, has been a sound and reliable institution during the thirty- three years of its existence. The present officers are: A. L. Clark, president; S. A. Westing, vice president; and H. R. Caplin, cashier. It has a paid-up capital of $20,000.
The First State Bank was started by Herman Redman and asso- ciates. It has had a very successful career and a steady growth. It has a fine brick banking house, has $15,000 capital and enjoys the confidence of the community. B. J. Hilsabeck is president and the main factor in its management.
ELECTRIC LIGHT AND WATER PLANTS
Kenesaw has had a municipally owned electric light plant since 1910 and municipally owned waterworks since 1911. July 15, 1910, bonds for an electric light plant were voted in the sum of $4,500, the vote being 89 for the bonds and 58 against. The plant was erected at a cost of about $8,000. Electric street lighting is maintained and the plant has 100 light customers. There is a sliding scale for rates. the price for commercial current being from fifteen cents to six cents per kilowatt hour and for residence lighting from twenty cents to eight cents with a minimum of one dollar per month.
It required two attempts to carry the bonds for waterworks. The first proposition was for $20,000 and the vote was 109 for the bonds and 42 against. The bonds were declared by the canvassers to have carried, but later upon a legal technicality they were declared lost. The next vote was on February 28, 1911, when 123 votes were cast for the bonds and 42 against. The amount voted was $18,500 and the plant was constructed that year. The water plant has 125 cus- tomers and the rate is 15 cents per 1,000 gallons, with a minimum of $2 per quarter.
Kenesaw has two flour mills, The Kenesaw Mill & Elevator Company, and the Whiteley Milling Company's plant. Each of the mills has a capacity of upwards of fifty barrels per day. The Kene-
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saw Mill & Elevator Company was incorporated February 15, 1916, with a capital stock of $20,000 divided into 200 shares, and the pur- pose of the corporation is stated to be the buying of grain and the manufacture of flour. The incorporators were J. H. Augustin, L. L. Weaver, Peter Augustin and Charles Moritz.
The Whiteley Milling Company was incorporated April 21, 1916. the incorporators being Owen Whiteley, William Coulter, Liberty M. Robinson, John Shurigar, John Cain, Vie Trueman and Frank Harpham. The authorized capital stock is $6,000, divided into 100 shares. New machinery recently bought has doubled the capacity of the mills.
The forming of the Kenesaw Telephone Company was a direct result of the Farmers' Institute which was maintained for about fourteen years. One of the lecturers suggested the telephone as an utility that the farmers might maintain for themselves. W. Z. Par- menter was struck with the idea and mentioned it to Dr. E. J. Latta. who conducted a paper in Kenesaw at that time. The editor dis- cussed the subject editorially and a meeting was called. In March, 1904, a corporation was formed with eight members, each subscrib- ing for $250 worth of stock.
Of this organization F. S. Carey was the president, W. Z. Par- menter, vice president, and Dr. E. J. Latta, secretary. These, with the following, composed the board of directors: S. A. Westing, A. S. Howard, Stephen Schultz, George Wolcott and D. D. Norton. The first year about twenty miles of line was constructed and at the end of the first year a dividend of 10 per cent was voted through the issuance and sale of stock. The following year the lines were con- siderably extended. S. A. Westing was the president the second year. A dividend of 8 per cent was declared to again be paid by the issuance of stock. Each year subsequently a dividend of 8 per cent has been paid in cash. Free service is maintained with Prosser, Juniata, Heartwell and Holstein. The monthly rate for residence phone is $1.25 per month and $2 for business phones. The company has about five hundred subscribers.
The present officers of the telephone company are A. S. Howard, president; Herman Coplin, secretary, and the remainder of the directors, H. E. Rose, S. A. Westing, E. Wicks, L. L. Weaver, W. Z. Parmenter and Cal Osler.
KENESAW SCHOOL DISTRICT
The narrative of the establishing of the Kenesaw school district is of interest not only because the institution has flourished with com-
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mendable success but because the question of location divided the early settlers sharply. Dr. A. D. Williams has left a very interest- ing account of the struggle. "Early in 1873," wrote Doctor Williams, "it was found that there were twenty-seven children of school age in the district, in which there was a large amount of taxable railroad land and property, while the settlers were nearly all homesteaders, and paid very little taxes. So A. D. Williams proposed that $4,000 of bonds be issued, running for only five years, so that the burden would rest largely on the two railroads-most of the land being Union Pacific land-before the settlers would pay much taxes.
"Strange to relate there was opposition to the proposition, most of it from people who had a good supply of children and next to no taxes. But the bonds were issued, the house built in 1874, and both the railroads and some of the homesteaders kicked. The question of location proved a bone of contention. The settlers north and south of the railroad were about equal in numbers and generally voted ac- cording to location. At the first meeting the vote was for a south side location. The railroad refused to deed the site and the question had to be reconsidered. At the second meeting the present site, on the north side, was selected, some of those south of the road voting for it. But the south siders opposed to the north side site commenced a war upon the erection of the building. A suit was commenced and an in- junction secured. The court, however, dissolved the injunction and dismissed the suit and the work of building the house went on. The only sharp practice-if such it be called- which I as agent of the town site company practiced during the whole matter, was to se- cure through the county superintendent such a readjustment of the boundary of the district, by strictly legal process, as left Reverend Willis outside, and before he knew it.
"Then came a struggle to prevent paying the bonds in the five years, led on by the railroads, and favored by some persons having considerable taxable property. The object of the railroads was oh- vious -- to prevent payment until they had disposed of their lands in which they secured manifest advantage to the equally obvious disad- vantage of the settlers. But as most of the parties to this arrange- ment remained in the district until the bonds were paid, it is not so easy to see where the benefit to them came in, for relieving the rail- roads and throwing the amount of their relief upon the old settlers who had proved up on their lands in the meantime, and on the new settlers that had come in." Connected with the early years of the school was a weekly literary society which held the interest not only of the pupils but of the whole community, and frequently presented fine
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public programs. "The Literary" met the social as well as the intel- lectual needs of the time.
The schoolhouse erected in 1874 was a two-story frame building which, with a north extension and other improvements, served as the schoolhouse until the erection of the present brick building in 1912. Bonds for the new schoolhouse in the sum of $25,800 were voted November 11, 1911. The plans and specifications were made by W. F. Germandt of Fairbury and the general contract was let to Philly & MeHale of Deshler and Fairbury upon their bid of $19,035. The contract for plumbing and the installation of the steam heating plant was let to Peter N. Kjar of Holdrege for $5,255.
The Kenesaw High School is on the accredited list and has twelve grades. The class of 1916 numbered twenty-three, the largest in the history of the school. Domestic science, normal training, commercial and agricultural departments are maintained as well as playground apparatus. About $1,500 was received in 1915 in tuition from out- of-the-district pupils.
The board serving when the new schoolhouse was built were: T. C. Branson, chairman; F. C. Armitage, B. F. Schlegel, I. D. Evans, S. A. Westing and C. H. Combs. The present board are B. J. Hil- sabeck, F. C. Armitage, B. F. Schlegel, Mrs. Lucy K. Partridge, T. C. Branson and Dr. Walter E. Nowers. B. F. Schlegel has served continuously on the board for thirty-five years. The superintend- ent of the Kenesaw schools at present is Reuben G. Dunlap; principal of the high school, Edna C. Baker; other teachers, Marie Hollister, Harriet Oxer. L. M. Lattin, Alta Bentz, Katherine Smith and Ruth Mohler.
CHURCHES
Kenesaw is not lacking in religious and worshiping facilities. There are in the village at present seven church organizations. The Methodist Episcopal was the first organized church in Kenesaw, but after the downfall of the Rev. Royal H. Crane and the moving away of some of its members there was no Methodist preaching for awhile.
Largely through the efforts of J. G. Hayzlett and the Joneses, Presbyterian preaching and eventually a Presbyterian Church was established. Until 1883 all denominations worshiped in the school- house, dividing the time between them, although this arrangement led to considerable friction.
METHODIST CHURCH
The records of the Kenesaw Methodist Church indicate that fol- lowing the collapse of the first organization made in the early '70s
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by Rev. R. A. Crane the denomination did not have a pastor of their own until 1884. The Free Will Baptists erected a house of worship in June of that year and the Methodists worshiped in this church. After the erection of the Presbyterian Church they some- times met in that church alternating with the use of the Baptist house. Sometimes, service was held in Crane's Hall.
In the spring of 1893 the denomination erected their own church building. In the early fall of that year the building was destroyed by lightning. Services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. F. A. Colony, and a subscription started for a new church. The present edifice was completed that fall at a cost of $3,500. A parsonage was subsequently built which the church records show to be valued at $900 in 1900, $1,530 in 1910 and $1,800 in 1916. At about the time that the church was built in Kenesaw the Mount Zion Church, midway be- tween Juniata and Kenesaw was erected, but in 1915 this church was moved into Kenesaw where it is now used as a hall by the Epworth League and the Ladies' Aid Society. When the Kenesaw church was first organized it was on the Juniata circuit of the Beatrice dis- triet of which Rev. J. B. Maxfield was the presiding elder. In 1880 it canie within the Hastings district. Among the early members were E. B. Moore, L. B. Partridge, E. N. Crane, Mr. and Mrs. George Kidd and H. E. Rose. The membership of the church at present is 135. The following pastors have served the church: J. G. Walker. 1884; T. J. Fink, 1885; Isaac New, 1886; R .: M. Hardman, 1887 to 1889, inclusive; M. DeMott, 1890 to 1892. inclusive; F. A. Colony, 1893 to 1897, inclusive; J. P. Badgeley. 1898: M. A. Wimberly, 1899; E. D. Gideon, 1900, served year and a half: S. W. Gamble, three months in 1901; Howard P. Young, last three months of 1901 to 1904, inclusive; A. V. Grossman, 1905 and 1906; E. M. Reed, 1907 and 1908: Paul B. Wright, 1909 to 191], inclusive; R. B. E. Hill, 1912 and 1913; M. S. Foutch, 1914; R. B. Barr. 1915 to September, 1916. The present pastor, T. H. Worley. has served since September, 1916.
FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH
This church was organized November 13, 1883. The charter mem- bers were Rev. A. D. Williams, D. D., and wife, Sarah Harn Williams, James R. Currier, Lewis Currier, Lydia Currier, Kate Boley, Sarah J. Needham, Perry Hodges and Annie Currier. The church was dedicated July 13, 1884, by Prof. Ransom Dunn. Dr. A. D. Williams, the clerk of the church, superintended the building, and
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raised the money to pay for the church with the exception of $200 which was appropriated for the purpose of assistance by the general conference at Minneapolis. This phase of co-operation in the Baptist denomination Doctor Williams took great interest in promoting, and he wrote a history of the movement in a volume entitled, "Four Years of Co-operation." This was the first church to be erected in Kenesaw.
Doctor Williams was the first pastor and the following named pastors (not, however, in exact order ) have served the church: R. N. Bonk, J. D. Fry, George W. Knapp, Edward Chace, Howard R. Murphy, now a missionary to India, Rev. Frank Tilton, Rev. Lock- wood, Harry C. Wolsot, W. F. Davis, Miss Wilmette Marks, Rev. II. M. Burns, who served only a month or two and was succeeded by Rev. Louise Dewey, Rev. N. C. Powers, who became pastor in 1900 and served two years, Rev. M. F. Sturdevant, who took charge in 1911, Mrs. Lizzie McAdams, who was chosen in 1913, and Rev. W. F. Davis, who served the church from 1904 to 1907, and has been serving a second term since 1914. Edward Chace was succeeded by a lady whose name has been forgotten. Joseph Westley, W. H. Edger and J. C. Dazey did successful work for the church in its early days as evangelists.
Dr. Alvin D. Williams and his wife, Sarah Harn Williams, filled a very large place in the religious and intellectual life of the com- munity. Mrs. Williams was born in Maryland in 1825 and died in Kenesaw February 4, 1900. Before her marriage in 1850 Mrs. Wil- liams was Sarah Harn. She was a woman of wide reading and at a period when it was unusual for girls to acquire more than the rudiments of an education Miss Harn was a student at Cedar ITill Seminary in Southern Pennsylvania and afterwards a teacher.
Doctor Williams was a graduate of Hamilton College, New York, and at different times held pastorates with the Free Baptist Church at Carolina Mills, R. I .; Pawtucket, R. I .; Lawrence, Mass .: Minne- apolis and Fairport, Minn. He served as the head of several schools among others, principal of the Nebraska State Normal at Peru and Oakland City College, Oakland, Ind. Among his literary productions are "History of the Free Baptists in Rhode Island." "History of the Free Communion Baptists," "Four Years of Co- operation in Nebraska," "The Church and Its Institutions" and a biography of Rev. Benoni Stinson, the originator of the General Baptist denomination in the United States.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI
The Presbyterian Church at Kenesaw was organized January 16. 1879. The following were the charter members: Mr. and Mrs. J.
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G. Hayzlett, J. B. Elwood, Mrs. L. M. Ellrod, G. C. Giffin, Mrs. P. N. Giffin, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Frank, Mrs. Henrietta Moon and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Jones. The first ruling elders were J. G. Hayzlett and Joseph L. Frank. The first new members received were Mr. and Mrs. T. Bolton Burns, who united with the Kenesaw Church the September following organization. The church was organized by Rev. George 1. Little, Synodical missionary for Nebraska.
The congregation worshiped in the Kenesaw schoolhouse until the present church was erected in the summer of 1883. It has a seat- ing capacity of about one hundred fifty and the present membership is eighty. The parsonage was built about 1906 and has a present valuation of about $2,500. The present ruling elders are F. M. Den- man, Charles K. Burling, W. U. Nichol and Orville Caldwell. The trustees are Mrs. A. Cauffman, Mrs. J. L. Templeton, E. S. Jones. B. J. Hilsabeek, William Coulter and Albert Nelson.
The following have been the pastors: George C. Giffen. Janu- ary, 1879, to November, 1883; A. Folson, November, 1883, to Novem- ber, 1884; J. L. Lawler, November, 1884, to May, 1885; J. P. Black, September, 1885, to August, 1887: James S. Young, May 20, 1888, to September 2, 1888; M. L. Milford, December 8, 1889, to November 9, 1890; W. E. Andrews, February 25, 1891, to June 1, 1893; Sam- nel B. Moyer, June 1, 1893, to December 3, 1894: Charles H. Brouil- lette, March 1, 1895, to July, 1898; T. HI. Dry, January, 1899, to December, 1900; W. J. Brooks, March, 1901, to March, 1903; A. M. Shepherd, May, 1903, to December, 1904; Joel Warner, April, 1905, to September, 1907; Oscar Bostrom, March, 1909, to Septem- ber, 1909; H. W. Evart, November, 1909, to March, 1910; R. J. Bethower, May, 1910: John J. G. Grahanı, 1911 and 1912. The present pastor, John W. Hill, assumed charge, January 1, 1913.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
An effort to organize this denomination in the early '80s did not prove successful. The present church was organized November 22, 1909, by Dr. Charles Reign Scoville, the evangelist. The charter members were Mr. and Mrs. W. Z. Parmenter, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Latta, Mrs. Dillon, Ethel Dillon, O. Mikesell, J. T. Aker, Harley Parmenter, Mrs. E. L. Alshouse, Mrs. Thomas Jones, Mrs. O. Mike- sell, Bess and Mildred Latta. The congregation worshiped before the erection of the church sometimes in the First State Bank and in Latta Hall. The erection of the church was begun in the spring of
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1912 and on November 10th of that year it was dedicated. 'The build- ing committee was W. Z. Parmenter, Thomas Ramsey, E. J. Latta and A. S. Howard. The present membership is sixty-five.
The following have been the pastors: Charles Cobbey, until 1911; R. A. Batie, 1911; Chancellor Oeschager, a short time in 1912; J. H. Bicknell completed 1912; E. H. Murry, seven months in 1913; Miss Lizzie McAdams, three months in 1914; L. A. Bronbaugh, seven or eight months in 1915; Frank Majors, two months in 1916. At pres- ent the church is without a pastor.
THE NAZARENE CHURCH
The Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene was organized May 23, 1911, by Rev. Q. A. Deck with thirty-one charter members. The first stewards were Nelson Jaco, Harry Peck, Frank Bahlke.
The present stewards are Nelson Jaco, Mrs. Olive Peck. Evert Peck, Mrs. Martha Baugh, Mrs. Emma McFerren, Mrs. Lore Dick and Mrs. Frank Bahlke; treasurer, Mrs. Lily Anderson; secretary, Eldora Baugh: trustees, Harry Peck, Frank Bahlke and Will Mc- Ferren. The house of worship which was dedicated November 12, 1911, has a seating capacity of 175. There are at present thirty mem- bers.
Rev. Q. A. Deck ministered to the congregation for a time and has been followed by Miss Louise Dewey, May 1 to July 1, 1912; Theodore and Minnie E. Ludwig, October 1, 1912, to September 14. 1913; Rev. N. D. Essley, September 28, 1913, to September, 1914; A. C. Holland, September 14, 1914, to September 1, 1915; II. C. Williams, September 1, 1915, to July 16, 1916. The present pastor Rev. James J. Brady, has been in charge since October 1, 1916.
EVANGELICAL CHURCH
The Evangelical Church was organized in 1878 and has enjoyed a satisfactory growth, being now one of the strong churches of Kene- saw. Among the charter members were Ernest Budy, Green Cullop. Charles Oliver, J. W. Bobbitt, Reuben Budy, Mrs. Mary Jones, Charles Schlehouf. O. A. Bentz and B. Young.
KENESAW LODGES
Kenesaw Lodge, No. 144. A. F. & A. M., was organized January 28, 1885. The charter members were Henry E. Norton, John G. Hayzlett, George W. Wolcott, John B. Brown, Robert B. Brown,
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Luther B. Partridge, Eli N. Crane, Truman P. Booth, John W. Bobbitt and Milton Young. The lodge now has sixty members. The present officers are Ray Fulmer, master; John Ramsey, senior warden; Dr. Walter E. Nowers, junior warden; L. M. Robinson, secretary, and B. F. Schlegel, treasurer.
A. O. U. W.
Kenesaw Lodge, A. O. U. W., No. 188, was organized March 26, 1891. The first officers were McKendrey DeMott, past master workman; Harry M. Russell, master workman; Eugene B. Moore, foreman; Clarence Powell, overseer; Philander E. Hatch, recorder; John Patterson, overseer: Josephus Williams, receiver. This lodge now has a membership of 100. The present officers are W. C. Hines, master workman; D. R. Mikesell, foreman; R. A. Fulmer, overseer; O. A. Armitage, financier; C. L. Schunk, secretary; Dr. W. E. Nowers, receiver; Arthur Mavis, guide.
DEGREE OF HONOR
Help Lodge, No. 86, was organized June 8, 1898. The first officers were Margret Coulter, past chief; Ella Hoffman, lady of honor; Emma Fonger, chief of honor; Laura E. Andrews, chief of ceremony: L. M. Robinson, recorder; Lavina Williamson, receiver: Amy Robinson, financier; Mary Martin, L. of U .; John Clark, in- side watch; Charles Ramsey, outside watch. The present officers are Mrs. Henry Huffman, chief of honor; Mrs. Alma Groff, lady of honor; Mrs. Dan Martin, past chief; Mrs. Charles Pritchard, chief of ceremony; Mrs. Grant Ruby, recorder.
ODD FELLOW'S
I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 231, was organized August 18, 1898. The first officers were E. J. Latta, N. G .; Zenas Smith, V. G .; C. L. Ben- son, secretary; John Gearhart, treasurer. The lodge now has 120 members. The present officers are Dr. Walter E. Nowers, N. G .: Seth Lippincott, V. G .; Asa Phillips, secretary; Reuben Bowers, treasurer.
K. OF P.
Enterprise Lodge, No. 29, Knights of Pythias, was organized March 7, 1912, with the following charter members: J. L. Temple- ton. W. E. Latta, Frank Bernhard, W. H. Long, B. F. Schlegel,
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Jerry Lippincott, A. S. Howard, B. C. Hutchinson, Dr. S. J. Stew- art, Dr. E. J. Latta, G. F. Whitesell, S. S. Wertz, Ed Alshouse, H. G. Larsen and L. M. Robinson. The lodge now has thirty-six mem- bers with the following officers: Chancellor commander, Dr. W. E. Nowers; vice commander, Ed Dry; master of work, W. C. Hines; master of arms, Bruce Templeton; keeper of records and seals, Jesse Templeton ; treasurer, B. F. Schlegel ; prelate, T. F. Wilson.
HIGHLANDERS
Ben Alpine Castle, No. 74, Royal Highlanders, was organized January 1, 1898. The first officers were A. S. Howard, past illus- trions protector; Luther B. Partridge, protector; J. L. Landis, chief counsellor; Nelson Jaco, worthy evangel; Fred P. Piccard, secretary ; Fred S. Cary, treasurer.
M. W. A.
Ambrose Camp, No. 1818, was organized October 31, 1892. The charter members were Robert J. Boyd, Winfield S. Evans, William E. Latta, H. L. Martin, Clarence Hall, S. H. Smith, Jay Williams and Richard J. White.
SUFFRAGE ORGANIZATION
The first woman suffrage organization in Adams County was at Kenesaw, the first organization being made June 2, 1882, by Mrs. M. A. Brass. D. D. Norton was the first president of this organi- zation, Mrs. J. G. Hayzlett, vice president; Mrs. J. II. Cooley, secretary; and Mrs. J. H. Roberts, treasurer.
The present organization was formed in 1903 by Gail Laughlin of Maine. Ellen D. Harn has been the president since the begin- ning. The other officers are Mrs. F. L. Haller, vice president; Mrs. John Osler, recording secretary: Miss Mary Williams, correspond- ing secretary ; Mrs. Nels Mikkelsen, treasurer; and Mrs. L. N. Rowers, auditor. The organization is active and has a membership of twenty- one at present-at times the membership has been as high as fifty. Monthly meetings are held and in former years public meetings with programs were frequently given. Lecturers have been brought to Kenesaw by the organization and a generous amount of money has been raised for the suffrage cause and delegates have been sent regu- larly to the county and state conventions.
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