History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume I, Part 58

Author: Cookinham, Henry J., 1843-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 822


USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume I > Part 58


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70


CLINTON LODGE No. 169, CLINTON-Dispensation issued 1849. Charter issued June 17, 1850, named Thomas J. Sawyer as Worshipful Master, William H. Hubbard as Senior Warden; Jesse Willard as Junior Warden. The present


468


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY


officers are Percy L. Wight, W. M .; Henry R. Barrows, S. W .; Leslie H. Allen, J. W .; E. M. Tourney, Sec.


ROME LODGE NO. 223, ROME-Charter issued June 15, 1851, named Selden A. Emerson as Worshipful Master; Samuel B. Stevens, Senior Warden; Solomon Purdy as Junior Warden. The present officers are C. J. Spriggs, W. M .; William B. Eames, S. W .; Herman A. Cook, J. W .; George H. Kingsley, Sec.


ORIENTAL LODGE No. 224, UTICA-Charter issued June 7, 1851, named Phile- mon Lyon as Worshipful Master; Edward Evans as Senior Warden; Erastus J. Perkins as Junior Warden. The present officers are Charles H. Ballou, W. M .; James T. Somers, S. W .; Lewis N. White, J. W., and Clarence Stetson, Sec.


BARON STEUBEN LODGE NO. 264, LEE CENTER-Originally designated as "Westernville Lodge, Westernville." In 1856 had permission to change to "Baron Steuben Lodge." Subsequently removed to Delta, and again in 1911 to Lee Center. Charter issued June 18, 1852, named John Swan as Worshipful Master; Ebenezer Robbins, Senior Warden; Moses T. White, Junior Warden. The present officers are C. E. Clark, W. M .; J. H. Cook, S. W .; I. D. Coleman, J. W .; Harmon VanArnam, Sec.


HAMPTON LODGE No. 347, WESTMORELAND-Charter issued July 13, 1854, named James H. Pratt Worshipful Master; George A. Pearsall as Senior War- den; William Wiley as Junior Warden. The present officers are Nathan F. Graves, W. M .; Edward M. Jenkins, S. W .; Frank S. Halsey, J. W .; G. M. Flower, Sec.


NEW LONDON LODGE NO. 420, NEW LONDON-Charter issued June 17, 1857, named Lucius D. Smith as Worshipful Master; John D. Oxner as Senior War- den; George C. Harper, Junior Warden. The present officers are John H. Lauther, W. M .; Irving J. Edel, S. W .; Volsey T. Drummond, J. W., and George M. Edel, Sec.


VIENNA LODGE NO. 440, VIENNA-Charter issued June 16, 1858, named David Tremain as Worshipful Master; Abraham L. Woods as Senior Warden; Stephen A. Covel as Junior Warden. The present officers are Charles E. Raut, W. M .; B. D. Hillock, S. W .; E. L. Montross, J. W .; J. H. Meays, Sec.


AMICABLE LODGE No. 664, WASHINGTON MILLS-Dispensation granted 1867. Charter issued June 8, 1868, named John T. Perkins, Worshipful Master; Henry N. Adams as Senior Warden, Albert Owens as Junior Warden. The present officers are Emil Scharer, W. M .; A. P. Clark, S. W .; E. K. Moak, J. W .; W. H. Davis, Sec.


469


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY


REMSEN LODGE NO. 677, BARNEVELD-First located in Remsen. Removed to Barneveld in 1883, but retained its original name. Charter issued June 23, 1868, named Eugene L. Hinckley as Worshipful Master; James Mitchell as Senior Warden; James Roberts as Junior Warden. Present officers are Wil- liam R. Pritchard, W. M .; Edward N. Sparks, S. W .; F. Guiteau Powell, J. W .; Charles B. Watkins, Sec.


FAXTON LODGE NO. 697, UTICA -- Charter issued June 10, 1870, naming Wil. liam C. Scranton as Worshipful Master; Judson B. Andrews as Senior Warden; Henry H. Cooper as Junior Warden. The present officers are William A. Semple, W. M .; Sidney G. Merriman, S. W .; Arthur J. Lowery, J. W .; J. E. Peters, Sec.


ORISKANY LODGE NO. 799, ORISKANY-Charter issued June 4, 1891, named Richard W. Reese, Worshipful Master; John K. Rice, Senior Warden; William S. Reeder, Junior Warden. The present officers are Edward H. Salisbury, W. M .; William C. Seeley, S. W .; Frank R. Lawrence, J. W .; A. E. Gifford, Sec


URIEL LODGE No. 809, FORESTPORT-Charter issued June 7, 1894, named D. M. Marshall as Worshipful Master; Alonzo Denton, Senior Warden; H. W. Boyce, Junior Warden. Present officers are H. W. Boyce, W. M .; Elmer Nichols, S. W .; Wm. Horton, J. W .; J. H. Nejer, Sec.


SCONONDOA LODGE No. 814, VERNON-Charter issued June 6, 1895, named James H. Faulkner, Worshipful Master; Charles H. Phister, Senior Warden; Walter J. Hills, Junior Warden. Present officers are Thomas Bromley, W. M .; Addison D. Gardinier, S. W .; E. Clarence Ingersol, J. W .; G. Lynn Marriott, Sec


HATHAWAY LODGE NO. 869, ROME-Charter issued May 6, 1909, named George T. Davis as Worshipful Master; William E. Allison, Senior Warden; H. H. Cummings, Jr., Junior Warden. Present officers are E. Stuart Williams, W. M .; Alexander McGregor, S. W .; John E. Mason, J. W .; Robert M. Fraser, Sec.


ROYAL ARCH MASONS


Several Chapters of Royal Arch Masons, each deriving its authority from the Grand Chapter of the State, have existed in the county. Four of these Chapters are at this date in existence.


HOREB CHAPTER, NEW HARTFORD-This Chapter was organized in 1797, with Jedediah Sanger as High Priest. It flourished for several years, but finally relinquished its charter. No records of a definite nature are in existence.


WARREN CHAPTER NO. 22, WATERVILLE-This Chapter was originally located at Bridgewater, but about ten years later removed to Waterville. The charter


470


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY


is dated February 3, 1808, and names Edward Spicer as High Priest; Oliver Stevens as King; Nathan Cook as Scribe. The present officers are Edwin A. Wheeler, High Priest; Hermon Clarke, King; C. H. Bennett, Scribe; Henry N. Bissell, Sec.


ONEIDA CHAPTER No. 57, UTICA-Charter dated February 7, 1817, named Thomas Walker, High Priest; Asahel Seward, King; Walter Fleming, Scribe. The present officers are Henry Hartlieb, High Priest; Charles W. Wheeler, King; Francis K. Chadwick, Scribe; Henry Chatfield, Sec.


ROME CHAPTER No. 102, ROME-Charter issued February 21, 1825, naming B. P. Johnson as High Priest; Daniel Green, King; Benjamin Rudd, Scribe. This Chapter was discontinued about the year 1830.


DARIUS CHAPTER No. 144, CAMDEN-Charter issued February 3, 1853, nam- ing Artemus Trowbridge, High Priest; Abram T. Wood, King; William B. Storm, Scribe. The present officers are Rosell A. Magee, High Priest; Albert T. Wilkinson, King; George L. Traffran, Scribe.


FORT STANWIX CHAPTER NO. 153, ROME-Charter issued February 6, 1856, named Robinson E. Smiley as High Priest; Justin L. Grant, King; Sanford Adams, Scribe. The present officers are Tyler S. Griffin, High Priest; Seymour E. Spinning, King; Hugh J. Davis, Scribe, William H. Prince, Sec.


BLACK RIVER CHAPTER NO. 145, BOONVILLE, and another at Vernon are said to have enjoyed a brief existence. The absence of records renders it impossible to give anything definite regarding the history of these two bodies.


COMMANDERIES OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR


UTICA COMMANDERY No. 3, UTICA-This Commandery was originally known as Utica Encampment No. 7, and was held in pursuance of a charter issued by the Grand Encampment of the State, which bears date February 8, 1823. Since 1858, when the Templar order was organized, it has been designated as Utica Commandery No. 3. The officers named in the charter are Richard Sanger, Eminent Commander; Elijah F. Willey, Generalissimo; Thomas Lattimore, Cap- tain General. The present officers are R. H. Canfield, Em. Com .; Richard George, Gen .; Francis C. Chadwick, Capt. Gen .; Charles T. Evans, Recorder.


ROME COMMANDERY NO. 22, ROME-Charter issued October 6, 1869, nam- ing Henry W. Pell, Em. Com .; Harvey S. Bedell, Gen .; George J. Leach, Capt. Gen. The present officers are Everett H. McKee, Em. Com .; Albert Krebs, Gen .; Tyler S. Griffin, Capt. Gen .; Harry J. Douglass, Recorder.


ANCIENT ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE NORTHERN JURISDICTION, U. S. A.


YAH-NUN-DAH-SIS LODGE OF PERFECTION, UTICA -- Under dispensation April


471


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY


18, 1872. Charter granted February 13, 1878. Confers the degrees from fourth to fourteenth inclusive of each.


YAH-NUN-DAH-SIS COUNCIL, PRINCES OF JERUSALEM, confers the fifteenth and sixteenth degrees.


YAH-NUN-DAH-SIS CHAPTER ROSE CROIX, confers seventeenth and eighteenth degrees.


ANCIENT ARABIC ORDER OF NOBLES OF THE MYSTIC SHRINE


This order originated at Mecca, A. D. 656; was introduced in America in 1875, when the Imperial Council of the United States was formed. The order of Nobles is an organization devoted to the exercise of charity and an ally of the Fraternity of Free Masonry.


ZIYARA TEMPLE, N. M. S. OASIS OF UTICA-Charter issued October 30, 1877. The present officers are Fred O. Jones, Ill. Potentate; G. M. Fisher, Chief Raban; Charles T. Evans, Asst. Raban; E. Searl Jones, Recorder.


NEW YORK STATE MASONIC HOME IN THE CITY OF UTICA


A history of Free Masonry for Oneida county would seem to be incomplete in the absence of a brief reference to the State Masonic Home. The project of a Home for worthy indigent Masons, their wives, widows and orphans, was one which for many years had been seriously considered, but it was not until the year 1888 that initial action was taken looking to the establishment of such an institution.


After patient and exhaustive labor on the part of the trustees of the Grand Lodge, the city of Utica was believed to afford the most desirable location. Accordingly a plot of 160 acres was secured in the eastern part of the city at a cost of $75,000, and this was augmented later by an additional purchase of 38 acres at a cost of $9,300. The location selected is an ideal one, comprising a broad open plateau rising above the Mohawk river, and commanding a wide range of view of the picturesque Mohawk valley and the hills beyond to the east, west and north.


Active operations for building were immediately commenced for the erec- tion of the main building, and a contract was let for $134,500. The corner- stone was laid with Masonic ceremonies May 21, 1891, and the building was completed and dedicated October 5, 1892.


Since the erection of the main building, or, as it is known, the Adminis- tration building, nine additional buildings have been erected. The first one, the cornerstone of which was laid in 1898, was to the east of the Administra- tion building and used for a hospital. This was found inadequate, and four years ago a special hospital was built, containing one hundred beds. A few years after the Administration building was erected, a dining room was built on the rear, with two floors above containing rooms for inmates. Since that time


472


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY


an additional dining room has been attached, so that now the dining room proper is 270 feet in length.


On June 29, 1896, the cornerstone of the children's building was laid. Within five years it was found necessary to enlarge it to about twice its orig- inal size.


On April 16, 1910, the cornerstone of the chapel was laid, and on June 26, 1911, it was dedicated. The chapel is about 200 feet from the main building, but attached by a pergola from the hospital. It has a seating capacity of 850.


A large laundry, which was placed in the rear of the buildings and not con- nected in any way, was erected last year. Prior to its erection the laundry was in the center of the administration building in the basement. A large coal bunker of brick was also erected last year, with a capacity of 3,000 tons. During the summer of 1911, a large concrete and steel barn, with capacity for 100 cattle, was erected at a cost of $20,000. It has been estimated that the entire cost of the buildings and plant as it is in 1911 is over $1,000,000.


At this date, November, 1911, there are 430 inmates in the home, men, women and children, of which number 123 are children ranging from two to seventeen years of age.


The home is maintained by a per capita tax of fifty cents upon each mem- ber and the grand lodge pays its proportion from new membership fees. The cost of maintaining the home averages about $100,000 per year.


Jesse B. Anthony, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, was appointed as superintendent, which position he held for thir- teen years. He died at the home May 26, 1905, and was succeeded by Right Worshipful Dow Beekman, president of the board of trustees, who held the posi- tion about two years. He was succeeded by Right Worshipful William J. Wiley, under whose efficient management the home is now being conducted.


ODD FELLOWS


ONEIDA, the mother lodge of Odd Fellows in central New York and the old- est lodge but one west of Albany, was instituted May 24, 1842, with Charles W. Rogers, Enoch Blackwell, Joseph Seymour, Zalmon Benedict and George Dell as charter members, all of whom are dead. There have been 1,169 members of this lodge, and at present the membership is 236. George J. Gardner, one of the members of this lodge, was Grand Master in 1867-8, and he is now Past Grand Master.


SKENANDOAH LODGE No. 95-This lodge was instituted October 23, 1843. The petitioners for its formation, all of whom were initiates of Oneida Lodge, were De Witt C. Grove, A. M. Bennett, J. J. Matteson, Aaron B. Grash, Stephen Harris, Hypolite de Franait, Albert Thompson, E. C. Saunderson, Milo Pratt, Benjamin J. Prime, William G. Cole and David Owens. The meetings were held in Knickerbocker Hall on Catharine street, except the first, which was held in the Exchange Building, and the tallow candles, placed on meeting nights in the lodge room windows to remind the members that it was lodge night, excited no little interest and curiosity among outsiders. Since its formation 1,124


473


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY


members have signed the constitution, including some of Utica's foremost citi- zens. Past Grand Master, George H. Lewis, of this lodge, has been a member for over half a century, and believes himself to be the third oldest member of the order in the state. The lodge was incorporated in 1869, and has 518 mem- bers at the present time.


SCHUYLER LODGE No. 147-Early in the year 1845 Benjamin Arnott, T. L. Kingsley, R. W. Loucks, S. Collins, Jr., H. B. Alexander, Mark Perkins, N. H. Farwell, John Arthur, J. P. Newland and I. J. Knapp, petitioned the Grand Lodge, of which W. A. Tyler was Grand Master, N. V. G. Headwelly, Grand Secretary, and Dexter Gilmore, D. D. G. M., for a charter, which was granted and this lodge was instituted March 27, 1845. The lodge prospered and grew rapidly, and at the end of the year 1848 there were twelve Past Grand Masters and 109 third degree members on its roll, many of whom were closely identified at that time with the history of Utica. The lodge enjoyed continued prosperity until the breaking out of the war in 1861. During that long and bitter struggle this lodge, in common with all others, suffered severely, and the period of de- pression lasted for years. Happily, it has now passed, and under the able counsel of such members as A. M. Fraser, Joseph Ackroyd, Wm. Fraser, Smith M. Lindsley, W. S. Mackie, T. W. Brown, R. A. Jones, T. T. Evans, James Swan, A. P. Howes, E. A. Hammond and others, the lodge is again active and in pros- perous condition. It has received a total of 836 members. Among its present members is Past Deputy Grand Master Erwin A. Hammond, who is believed to be the second oldest Odd Fellow in the state, as his membership has been con- tinuous for more than 66 years. While the lodge points with pride to its roll of many honorable names among its members, it has a source of particular pride in the fact that one of its members, Past Grand Chief Patriarch, William Fraser, has acceptably served in the highest office of the state encampment branch of the order; and another, Hon. Joseph Ackroyd, as Grand Master of the State in 1903-4, and his administration of that high office was most acceptable to the entire order in the state of New York. There are 222 members of this lodge at the present time.


CENTRAL CITY LODGE, No. 68, was instituted May 15, 1846. The charter members were: H. M. Benedict, Nathan E. Platt, Edward Price, Benjamin Owens, Robert J. Evans, Thomas Senior, Chauncey Palmer, Charles L. Wilson, T. J. Newland, Benjamin P. Wheeler, James Halstead, Lyman L. Curtiss, F M. Norton, Stephen Comstock, Henry Pomeroy, John Dagwell, J. S. Fuller, G. Sanger and A. Highmass. On the day of institution ten candidates were in- itiated. The first officers of the lodge were: Benjamin Owens, N. G .; N. E. Platt, V. G .; Thomas Senior, Sec .; T. J. Newland, Rec. Sec .; Edward Price, Treas. At this date the lodge has 220 members.


SAUQUOIT LODGE was instituted about 1848. In 1849 a division of the order in the state occurred, and there were organized what was known as the North- ern and Southern Districts. At that time there were in the state 43,000 Odd Fellows. Soon afterward there was a rapid decline in the membership, and in


474


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY


1866 the number in the state was only 15,000. In 1867 the two districts were united, and since that time the order has enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity.


ALLEMANIA LODGE, No. 186 was instituted August 23, 1860, under the name of Steuben Lodge No. 496. The charter members were John M. Hahn, Henry G. Spitz, John Wolf, Frank Lang, George Therolf, Frank Herbrand, Joseph Joer- rissen, Jacob Agne, Daniel Stiegler and Adolph Bremer. Of the above charter members John Wolf, Frank Lang and Adolph Bremer are still living. In the year 1867 the Northern and Southern Grand Lodges of this state consolidated, and there being a Steuben Lodge in each Grand Lodge, and this being the younger, the name was changed to Allemania Lodge. The business and workings of this lodge were transacted in the German language until June 30, 1894, when the English language was substituted for German. At the present time there are 194 members of this lodge.


As near as can be ascertained there are in Oneida county in November, 1911, 2,577 Odd Fellows.


TRI-MOUNT ENCAMPMENT No. 24, I. O. O. F., was instituted September 25, 1845, with the following petitioners: Dexter Gilmore, Theodore Dimon, Thomas B. Raymond, Mark Perkins, George Ralph, Sr., George Mills, Alex. L. Johnson, William England, Simon V. Vedder, Isaac Tapping, not one of whom is now living, and only one of whom, William England, attained Grand Patriarch of New York, in 1870-1; William P. Carpenter of No. 24 was Grand Patriarch of in 1863-4, William Fraser in 1892-3, all of whom served with credit to Tri- Mount Encampment. William B. Munroe became Grand High Priest, but his health failed, and John Medole finished his term-1880-1.


STEUBEN ENCAMPMENT No. 57, was instituted April 17, 1871, by Grand Patriarch William England, assisted by D. D. G. P. Isaac Tapping. The char- ter members were George Edinger, Henry G. Spitz, Fred Brandes, Henry Sonneman, F. W. Michel, G. C. Ulrich, Henry Timm, Samuel Hanauer, August Linke and Louis Brunett. The encampment used the German language until July 1, 1884, when the English language was substituted.


UTICA REBEKAH LODGE No. 157, was instituted October 2, 1893, with sev- eral of its charter members from Good Samaritan Rebekah Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., instituted February 19, 1870. It now has the oldest Rebekah brother in the state, E. A. Hammond. Since its institution it has initiated 700 members, and the present membership is 236.


CANTON UTICA No. 23 was mustered from Uniform Degree Camp No. 9 De- cember 20, 1886. The charter members were: Alex. M. Fraser, Edwin H. De- vine, John S. Capron, D. J. Owens, E. Q. Jones, James E. Ryan, R. J. Lloyd, Louis Ruden, Joseph Ackroyd, F. M. Comstock, C. S. Davis, R. D. Snyder, Ira C. Potter, J. Wagner, J. T. Eaton, A. I. Symmonds, Wm. Fraser, George J. Davison, Charles H. Carr, W. W. Wickham, William S. Mackie, Edward M. Blackman, James Swan, James Kearns, H. J. Williams and A. E. Curtiss.


475


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY


CANTON FORT SCHUYLER No. 30, P. M. I. O. O. F., was mustered into the services of the P. M. army June 25, 1889, by General J. C. Woodward of Albany, N. Y., as Canton Edward F. Jones, and the following were chosen charter mem- bers: J. George Swertfager, Louis Ruden, D. A. Peck, Hon. H. J. Coggeshall, Noble F. Martin, Thos. Cheetham, George Dennis, Jacob Groat, William P. Hughes, S. Mitchell, Charles H. Tracy, John Taylor, Levi Lyons, A. Hill, W. C. Harrer, F. A. Swertfager, F. L. Blenis, J. M. Mendelson, J. J. Walker, J. Ehrsman, A. Miller, J. H. Kaiser, William Herbrand. After a period of two years the name of "Edward F. Jones" was disapproved by the Grand Encamp- ment of New York.


The following lodges once existed within the county, but have all become extinct: North Bay Lodge No. 60; Stanwix Lodge No. 104; VanEpp Lodge No. 125; Camden Lodge No. 154; Teondatha Lodge No. 159; Wyandot Lodge No. 195; Farmers Lodge No. 200; Unca Lodge No. 201; Oriskany Lodge No. 217; Gansevoort Lodge No. 242; DeKalb Lodge No. 255; Delta Lodge No. 357; Hamp- ton Lodge No. 385; Vernon Lodge No. 175; Augusta Lodge No. 399; Taberg Lodge No. 133; Remsen Lodge No. 422; Florence Lodge No. 438; Lee Center Lodge, No. 332; Eureka Lodge No. 281; Memento Lodge, No. 376; Empire Lodge No. 412; Kirkland Lodge No. 141; Vienna Lodge No. 88; Knoxboro Lodge No. 853; Stittsville Lodge No. 864.


GOLDEN STAR REBEKAH LODGE No. 243, I. O. O. F., was instituted by Sister Dell A. Robertson October 19, 1900, with 22 charter members. Sister Dell A. Robertson was at the time president of the Rebekah State Assembly of New York.


There are the following other lodges in Oneida county: Queen Esther No. 71, Rome; Helping Hand No. 137, Durhamville; Utica No. 157, Utica; Golden Star No. 243; Northern Star No. 309, Trenton; Crystal Star, No. 325, Water- ville.


THE ROYAL ARCANUM,


a fraternal and beneficiary order, with just enough secret machinery to make it interesting, was organized at Boston, Mass., June 23, 1877, with nine mem- bers. It pays a death benefit not exceeding $3,000 upon the death of a member. Its first death benefit was paid in full, and all succeeding ones have been paid with promptness and fidelity. Up to October 31, 1911, a total of $144,392,798.90 has been paid to the beneficiaries of deceased members. In Oneida county there are seven councils of the order, viz: Imperial No. 70 and Fort Schuyler No. 404, at Utica; Rome, No. 150 and J. B. Jervis No. 1442, at Rome; Mount Per- nassus No. 1180, at Camden; Samuel Campbell No. 1090, at New York Mills; and Waterville No. 398, at Waterville.


Oneida county members have always taken a keen interest in the order. Imperial Council No. 70, organized April 1, 1878, less than a year after the foundation of the order, was the second council organized in the state. The county has also furnished three Grand Regents: The late Smith M. Lindsley and Frank D. Westcott of Imperial Council No. 70; and Howard C. Wiggins of Rome Council No. 150. Smith M. Lindsley and Howard C. Wiggins were each promoted to the position of Supreme Regent, the highest office in the order,


476


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY


and each re-elected and served two full terms. Upon the retirement of Mr. Lindsley from the office of Supreme Regent he continued his deep interest in the order, always taking an active part in the management of its affairs, serving upon important committees and performing much legal service. After the re- tirement of Mr. Wiggins from the office of Supreme Regent he was made chair- man of the committee on laws, thus making him the chief law officer of the order, a position which he now holds. Shortly after the retirement of Mr. West- cott from the office of Grand Regent he was elected Grand Treasurer of the order in this state, and he has held this position continuously since.


On September 30, 1911, the approximate membership of the Royal Arca- num in Oneida county was 1,425; in the state of New York 65,251; in the order at large, 243,513, and the excess of resources over known liabilities was $6,731,- 169.74.


ELKS


UTICA LODGE NO. 33, BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the only lodge of the order in Oneida county, was organized May 17, 1885. The lodge was instituted in Pythian Hall by Grand Exalted Ruler Harry Sanderson, Syracuse Lodge assisting in the ceremony. John J. Flanagan was the first Exalted Ruler. The lodge met for some time in Pythian Hall, and then removed to Oneida National Bank Building, later occu- pying a building erected especially for its use in Blandina street. In 1891 the club house was given up, and meetings were held in various places. In 1897 the lodge met for a time in Arcanum Temple, and early in 1898 moved back into Pythian Hall, where it was instituted. In 1900 the lodge took quarters in Elks Hall in the Pfluke Building in Franklin Square, and that hall was its meeting place until three years ago, when the present quarters on the fourth floor of the Shubert Theater Building were taken. A club is maintained in connection with the lodge. Utica Lodge has prospered. Its membership now includes about 700 of the prominent business and professional men of Utica and vicinity. No other fraternal organization in Utica is in a more flourishing condition, and the coming years promise even better things. Within two years it is antici- pated the lodge will have a handsome new club house.


ARCANUM CLUB


The Arcanum Club of Utica was organized July 3, 1888, and its first meet- ing place was Chubbuck Hall, Hotel street. On January 1, 1896, it moved to Devereux street and remained there until March, 1911, when it moved to its new quarters corner Genesee and Pearl streets. The first officers of the organization were: president, Frank D. Westcott; vice president, G. E. Cooper; secretary, George M. Booth; and treasurer, T. L. German.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.