USA > New York > Erie County > Sardinia > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 75
USA > New York > Erie County > Collins > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 75
USA > New York > Erie County > Concord > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 75
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946
MASONIC LODGES.
occurred in August, 1879. He early became identified with the insurance business and was highly esteemed for his thorough acquaintance with all its details.
Mr. Eustaphieve married, in 1835, Emily Wilson of London, England, by whom he had eight children, six surviving him. His wife died in 1872, and in 1875 he married Sarah Carpenter, of Rye, N. Y., by whom he had one son. Mr. Eustaphieve was a man of strong character and a general favorite both in business and social life.
MASONIC LODGES.
CONCORD LODGE, NO. 346, F. AND A. M.
In the year 1822, a petition for the formation of a lodge at Concord, Erie county, was presented to the Grand Lodge, at its Annual Communication held June 7th, of which the follow- ing is a copy :
"To the Most Worshipful, the Grand Lodge of the State of New York :
We, Free and Accepted Masons, having been members of regular lodges, and having the prosperity of the fraternity at heart, and willing to exert our best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of Masonry, that for the con- veniency of our respective dwellings, and for other good rea- sons, we are desirous of forming a new lodge in the Town of Concord, County of Erie, to be named Concord Lodge ; that in consequence of this desire we pray for a warrant of constitution, to empower us to assemble as a legal lodge, to discharge the duties of Masonry in a regular and constitutional manner, according to the original forms of the Order, and the regulations of the Grand Lodge ; that we have nominated and do recommend Comfort Knapp, to be the first Master, Ira Hall to be the first Senior Warden, and Archibald Griffith to be the first Junior Warden of the said lodge; that if the prayer of
947
MASONIC LODGES.
the petition should be granted, we promise a strict conformity to all the constitutions, laws and regulations of the Grand Lodge." Signed.
CHARLES WELLS, COMFORT KNAPP,
ASA TORREY,
AARON COLE,
ASA PHILLIPS,
REUBEN ROCKWOOD,
EDWARD CRAM,
JONATHAN JENNINGS,
ARCHIBALD GRIFFITH,
IRA HALL,
ROSWELL OLCOTT,
FREDERICK RICHMOND,
TRUMAN WHITE.
This petition was endorsed as follows :
· " AURORA, Erie county, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1821.
Blazing Star Lodge, No. 294, opened in due form. Several brethren from the Town of Concord, in this county, having presented for the approbation of this lodge, a petition to the M. W. Grand Lodge. for a warrant of constitution for a lodge to be held in said town : therefore,
Resolved, That we believe this is the nearest lodge to the said town of Concord, and further
Resolved, That believing it will eventuate to the benefit of the institution, we do cheerfully recommend to the M. W. Grand Lodge to grant the prayer of the petitioners. A true extract from the records."
Signed.
JOHN WADSWORTHI, Secretary Blazing Star Lodge, No. 294.
An entry of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge at that communication reads: "Petition from Comfort Knapp and others to hold a lodge in the Town of Concord, in the County of Erie, by the name of Concord Lodge, recommended by Blazing Star Lodge, No. 294, the prayer of which was granted."
A warrant of constitution was granted, and the lodge was numbered 346. It made annual returns to the Grand Lodge to December, 1825, after which date there is nothing on the records of the Grand Lodge relating to it.
Its membership, in addition to those named in the petition, is not completely known, but Amaziah Ashman, Jarvis Bloom- field, Rufus C. Eaton, John Russel, Willis Cornwall, George Shultus, John House, Harry House and Eaton Bensley are
948
MASONIC LODGES.
remembered as " brethren of the mystic tie." The lodge held its communications at various places on Townsend Hill and in Springville, until the anti-Masonic excitement broke out, when it ceased to do " further work," and its funds, records and prop- erty became dispersed and lost, with the single exception of the Junior Warden's Jewel, which is now in the possession of Springville Lodge, No. 351, where it serves to adorn the can- didate of the third degree, and is justly cherished as a me- mento of "ye olden time."
In removing the bodies from the old cemetery at Spring- ville, in 1882, the " square and compasses," and the initials "L. E. L.," on the remains of a coffin in an obscure grave, were found to mark the resting-place of a brother, and it was sub- sequently ascertained that the relics were those of a young Frenchman by the name of L. Edmund Lidja.
A masonic headstone also marked the resting-place of Lieut. Sanford Perry Sampson, who died in 1825.
In " Rural Cemetery," they now await that raising which was once symbolically taught them : " Though the skin may slip from the flesh, and the flesh cleave from the bone, there is strength in the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and He shall pre- vail."
SPRINGVILLE LODGE, NO. 351, F. AND A. M.
After a local sleep of more than a quarter of a century, Free- Masonry again sprang into activity in the organization of Springville Lodge, No. 351. The brethren who were active spirits in the establishment of this lodge have all passed away, but their work remains, and their names should ever be held in grateful remembrance by their successors.
They came from lodges as follows :
Alvah Dutton, Lamoile. Vermont, initiated 1820.
Heman Rugg, Olive Branch, New York, initiated 1843.
Joel Cobleigh, Union Star, New York, initiated 1825.
Joseph Potter, no record.
Aaron Cole, Olive Branch, New York, initiated 1816.
Charles Watson, Meridian Sun, Massachusetts, initiated, 1818.
Elam May, Eastern Star, Connecticut, initiated 18:5.
949
FIRST MEMBERS OF SPRINGVILLE LODGE.
David B. Jewett, no record.
Jarvis Bloomfield, Warren, New York, initiated 1810. Archibald Griffith, Concord, New York, initiated 1810. Amaziah Ashman, Concord, New York, initiated 1823. David R. Upson, Friendship, Connecticut, initiated 1816. George W. Kingman, Otselic, New York, initiated 1810. Noah Rockwell, no record.
Thomas J. Whitcomb, no record.
The old records show that: "Several adhering Master Masons residing in Springville and the vicinity thereof, being desirous of forming and organizing a Masonic Lodge in due form, and on consultation having decided so to do, the follow- ing named brethern : Alvah Dutton, Heman Rugg, Joel Cob- leigh, Elam May, Thomas J. Whitcomb, Aaron Cole, and Joseph Potter, did on the 27th day of July, 1854, meet at the house of Elam May, in Springville, and did then and there agree to form themselves (and others) into a lodge of Free and Accepted Master Masons, and apply to the Grand Lodge of the State of New York for a dispensation, or authority to act as such, to be known as Springville Lodge.
The brethren present united in a petition to the Grand Lodge, for the purpose named above, and designated Brother Alvah Dutton for Worshipful, Master, Heman Rugg for Senior Warden, Joel Cobleigh for Junior Warden, and to be appointed to the said offices under dispensation of the "Grand Lodge."
In August, the petition was forwarded to the Grand Secre- tary, and the dispensation applied for was granted, bearing date Aug. 28, 1854.
Sept. 14, the lodge, under dispensation, held its first com- munication, when Amaziah Ashman was appointed Treasurer, Joseph Potter, Secretary, David R. Upson, Senior Deacon, Charles Watson, Junior Deacon, and Elam May, Tyler.
The lodge sub-rented the Odd Fellows' Hall, then in the block just east of the Springville mill, subsequently purchasing the lease and furniture, and there held its communications at two o'clock P. M. on each Thursday succeeding the full moon.
Six months after its organization, it lost by death its aged and honored secretary, Joseph Potter, who was buried with
950
INSTRUCTION IN THE RITUAL OF MASONRY.
masonic honors, on the 16th of March, 1855. Pliny Smith, a newly-made mason was appointed to fill the vacancy, and for many years did that faithful and attentive officer wield his ready pen to the great benefit of the lodge, whose growth and prosperity he fostered in many ways besides that of the use of the " grey goose quill," which he would never allow to be sup- planted by a metallic pen. Ever at his post, exact in his duties ; when the hour of refreshment came, no tongue so witty as his ; albeit the brethren sometimes winced under his keen and eccen- tric skill at repartee. He ever forms a pleasing figure in the memory of the older members of the lodge.
A
On the 19th of July, 1855, Worshipful Brother J. J. Aikin, of Ellicottville Lodge, by the authority and as the represent- ative of Most Worshipful Joseph Evans, Grand Master of the State of New York, and assisted by William S. Herrick, of Phoenix Lodge, as Deputy Grand Master, Pliny Smith as Grand Secretary, and Lewis Woodward, of Phoenix Lodge, as Grand Marshal, instituted Springville Lodge, No. 351, and installed its officers, delivering into the the hands of Alvah Dutton, its first Master, the Warrant of Constitution, bearing date June 9, 1855.
In December, 1856, William H. Drew, the Grand Lecturer, visited the lodge and instructed the officers in the New Ritual- istic work.
In 1860, the lodge rented and fitted up for occupancy, a hall in the third story of the building, now occupied by Mrs. O. Smith as a millinery store, then owned by the Secretary, Pliny Smith, and at that time the hour of meeting was changed to 6 o'clock P. M.
In 1865, an amendment of the by-laws providing for semi- monthly communications was adopted, and the time of meet- ing was changed to the second and fourth Thursday evenings, as at present.
In March, 1868, Assistant Grand Lecturer, John B. Sackett, visited and instructed the lodge anew in the ritualism of Masonry.
During the year 1869, the lodge was called upon to perform the last sad rites over the remains of two of their brethren :
-
95 1
PUBLIC INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS.
Worshipful Brother Cobleigh, who died May 2d, and Brother Frank McLin, who died August 29th.
On the 9th of January, 1873, a public installation of officers was held at the Presbyterian church, on which occasion the Rev. Mr. Clark, of Buffalo, delivered a very excellent and instructive address upon the subject of Free-Masonry.
The installation services were conducted by Charles E. Young and John A. Lockwood, of Buffalo, and at the close, a Past Master's Jewel was presented by the brethren, to the retiring Master, George G. Stanbro.
During the year 1873, the question of procuring larger and better lodge-rooms having been discussed, as a preliminary step the Lodge was incorporated under a general act of the Legislature, enabling it to purchase, hold and transfer real es- tate and personal property, and an agreement was entered into with brethren Shuttleworth & Chafee, to purchase part of the brick building now known as "Masonic Hall," then in process of erection. At its completion a deed was taken of the third story, which was nicely furnished in a suitable and convenient manner. Dec. 19th, 1873, the Lodge was ceremoniously ded- icated to Masonry by the Grand Master, Christopher G. Fox, in the presence of a large number of brethren and invited guests. Proud of the new hall the members and friends of the Lodge had made plentiful arrangements for the hours of fes- tivity which followed. The event was one of general satisfac- tion to all participants.
As reflecting honor upon the Lodge, it is worthy of mention that in the year 1874, the Master, Bertrand Chafee, received the appointment of District Deputy Grand Master of the twenty- fifth Masonic District. On his retirement from the Mastership of the Lodge, Worshipful Brother Chafee was presented with an elegant Past Master's Jewel, as a token of the high esteem which the members entertained for him and of their appreciation of his faithful services as Master during the two preceeding years.
February 17th, 1875, Masonic funeral rites were held over the remains of brother Charles J. Hooker, a member of the Lodget, the services being held in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
952
FUNERAL SERVICES.
July 22d, 1875, Right Worshipful George H. Raymond, · Grand Lecturer, held a Grand Lodge of Instruction, at Spring- ville, exemplifying the standard work in the presence of a large number of Masters and Wardens from the various lodges of Erie county.
On Sunday morning, Nov. 11th, 1877, Springville Lodge, with many brethren of sister lodges, were assembled, and con- ducted the funeral services of brother John B. Wadsworth, late of Washington, D. C., who died at the residence of his nephew, brother Charles R. Wadsworth, in Springville, Nov. 7, aged fifty-three years. The deceased richly merited the follow- ing obituary and memorial, copies of which were spread upon the records of the Lodge :
John B. Wadsworth was born in Buffalo, N. Y., December 26, 1823. When he was ten years old his parents removed to Springville, where he attended district school, and afterwards the academy for several years. He was for some time clerk in a store kept by Manly Colton. After a brief stay in Olean he went to Vicksburg in 1842, with his brother, Frederick Wads- worth. He remained in that place till 1849, when his health having failed, he set out by sea for California. On the west coast of South America he came near being ship-wrecked, but arrived in safety at his destination and went to work in the mines. The hard fare of a miner's life benefited him, so that hejincreased in weight from ninety up to two hundred pounds. After residing a short time in San Francisco in business, he went to Oregon. He was Assistant Commissary General in the Oregon War.
After a residence of twelve years in California and Oregon he returned to his old home in time to bury his mother and aunt ; and, after a year and a half, his father.
From this place, at that time, he went to Washington, where he remained most of the time during the war. He was engaged much of his time in furnishing supplies for the army.
He has visited either on business or for recreation, almost every part of the United States and Canada.
In 1869, he went to Europe where he remained for more than three years, traveling and visiting all places of importance. During the time, he traveled in the Holy Land and in Egypt, and sailed over that portion of the Mediterranean Sea from
953
RESOLUTIONS OF SPRINGVILLE LODGE.
Italy to Asia, embracing the Grecian Islands-the scenes of St. Paul's voyages. He was in Egypt at the opening of the Suez Canal. There are few men who have traveled over as much of the world and seen as much as he.
Since his return to this country he has resided most of tlie time in Washington. Last Spring he came back to the scenes of his childhood to close up his life where he began it and there be buried.
While sailing on the Danube, in Europe, he took a violent cold which resulted in an asthma from which he never recov- ered. That, ultimately, caused his death.
He was an unusually kind and mild tempered man. His extensive travels and intercourse with men, united with his nat- ural disposition, rendered him one of the most courteous and agreeable of men. Having lived an honest and upright life, he passed peacefully away, enjoying sweet hopes of immortality and eternal life.
At a Stated Communication of Springville Lodge, No. 351, F. and A. M., held at Masonic Hall, Springville, N. Y., Nov. 22, 1877, the following Resolutions were unanimously adopted :
Whereas, By the providence of God we have been called to mourn the loss of our dearly beloved friend and brother, John B. Wadsworth, late of Washington, D. C., who first received Masonic light within the body of this Lodge, and at whose hands he received Masonic burial-
Resolved, That in the decease of Brother Wadsworth, Free Masonry met with the loss of one of the noblest, one of the most upright, one of the purest members of our fraternity.
Resolved. That in his character we recognized the modest and unambitious spirit which shrunk from the pomp of life, but delighted rather in the silent satisfaction of doing well, thus possessing dispositions congenial with the genuine spirit of Free Masonry, which led him to discover in our fraternity means eminently conducive to the important purpose of en- larging his sphere of social happiness, and of promoting the cause of philanthrophy. It gave a nobler expansion to his charity, a wider range to his benevolence.
954
RESOLUTIONS OF SPRINGVILLE LODGE.
Resolved, That while his loss we deeply deplore, and would extend the hand of sympathy to his immediate friends and rel- atives, and the various fraternal bands with which he was con- nected, we rest assured that his summons from the Most High was one from labor on earth to eternal refreshment in the par- adise of God.
Resolved, That these Resolutions, with obituary notice, be spread upon the records of the Lodge, and copies forwarded to his friends and the following Masonic bodies :
Acacia Lodge, No. 18; Buffalo Chapter, No. 71, N. Y .; Washington Commandry, No. 1, Mithras Lodge of Perfection, No. 2, Evangelist Chapter Rose Croix, No. I, Robert De Bruce Council of Kadosh, No. 1, Albert Pike Consistory, No. 1, S. P. R. S., Washington, D. C.
Brother Wadsworth was a great lover of masonry, and be- fore his death provided three thousand dollars for the erection of a Knight Templar monument, on the family lot in Rural Cemetery at Springville. The work completed, Lake Erie Commandery, No. 20, Knights Templar, of Buffalo, was invited to unveil it, and St. John's day was named as the occasion upon which the ceremony should take place. Hugh DePayen Commandery, No. 30, Knights Templar, of Buffalo, was also to be present as the guest of Lake Erie Commandery. In accor- dance with these arrangements, the two Commanderies met at their asylums, June 24, 1879, and at 7:30 A. M., headed by Miller's band, marched to the depot of the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad, and embarked on the eight o'clock train for Springville.
Lake Erie Commandery turned out nearly fifty Knights, and were under Eminent Sir Albert Jones, Commander : Sir John J. Jones, Generalissimo, and Sir W. H. Beyer, Captain Gen- eral. In the line were Past Eminent Commander Hawley Klein, Sir and Rev. J. Hazard Hartzell, and Sir Knights S. M. Evry, Fred. A. Colson, Burral Spencer, W. H. Kirkholder, John A. Frank, A. H. Adams, John Messmer, J. Kinney, Jr., John B. Hunter, M. Thielan, E. S, Knapp, John Diller, A. J. Diller, Philip Henig, A. B. Benedict, W. A. Mickle, Andrew Shiels, W. H. Baker, Adam Cornelius, Wallace Prouty, James Little, John Briggs, J. L. Whittet, W. W. Lawson, A. A. Carroll, W.
955
MASONS PRESENT AT THE DEDICATION.
M. Keller, W. H. Kurtz, D. B. McNish, C. J. Oning, C. F. Bishop, N. Moresfelder, J. C. Snyder, John Reiming, R. H. Bickford, F. C. Hill, Samuel Root and George W. Crosicr.
Hugh De Payen Commandery was in charge of Eminent Sir Darwin E. Morgan, Commander ; Sir John L. Brothers, Generalissimo, and Sir William Hengerer, Captain General. In the line were Eminent Sir Christopher G. Fox, Sir and Rev. D. H. Muller, Prelatc, and Sir Knights Fred. Wagner, John H. Bosher, G. S. Stanard, M. E. Becbe, J. A. Given, John C. Adams, W. J. Allen, D. E. Bailey, J. A. Bury, Bertrand Chafee, Robert Denton, J. P. Diehl, D. E. Folsom, F. E. Fox, John Gillig, S. S. Greenc, J. W. Houghtaling, J. O. Meyer, W. S. Prior, W. J. Runcie, David Shirrell, F. O. Vaughn, Conrad Vetter, T. S. Waud, G. I. White, A. M. Witte, I. C. Wood- ward, C. G. Worthington.
The following Masons were also on board the train : Most Excellent David F. Day, Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of the State of New York; Eminent Sir William F. Rogers, Most Excellent Companion G. W. McCray, Most Ex- cellent John Pcase, Sir Knight John B. Sackett, of Buffalo ; Sir Knights B. F. Hurty and John E. Robeson, of St. John's Commandery, No. 24, Olean ; Sir Knight Homer E. Dudley, of De Molay Commandery, No. 22, Hornellsville, and Compan- ions, LeRoy S. Oatman, R. G. Persons, D. E. Folsom, G. W. Nichols, John M. Tyler and H. S. Spencer, of Keystone Chap- ter No. 163, Buffalo.
AT SPRINGVILLE
An immense crowd had assembled to welcome the Buffalonians. Among them were Springville Lodge, No. 351, F. & A. M., J. N. Richmond, Worshipful Master, and Livingston Lodge, No. 255, of Colden, J. P. Underhill, Worshipful Master, both num- bering about seventy-five men. Byron Cochran was the Mar- shal of the day, and under his direction the procession was marched under triumphal arches of evergreens, beneath which were suspended the plumb, square and level, and thence to the Opera House, where everybody sat down to a very nice dinner prepared by the ladies of the village. The whole matter was under the charge of the following named Reception Committee,
1
THE ORATION.
956
and they certainly did their work well : Hon. Bertrand Chafee, Mr. J. D. Yeomans, Dr. G. G. Stanbro, Dr. W. H. Jackson, Mr. J. N. Richmond and Mr. A. D. Jones.
Shortly before I o'clock the lines were formed again and the procession marched to Rural Cemetery, a mile distant. The broiling rays of the sun came down with telling force and it was as much as the Knights could do to stand the pressure. Arrived at the cemetery an enormous crowd had gathered. It was a field day for Springville and vicinity. For twenty miles around the people had gathered until the pretty little cemetery was packed almost full. There were at least 5,000 people pres- ent.
The Wadsworth monument occupies the highest point in the cemetery and looked beautiful in its veil, which was an American flag. The Sir Knights were drawn up in double line forming three sides of a square. Eminent Commander Jones stated the object of the visit, after which Sir and Rev. D. H. Muller, D. D., Prelate of Hugh DePayen Commandery, made an eloquent prayer. Sir and Rev. J. Hazard Hartzell, D. D., acting Pre- late of Lake Erie Commandery, then delivered the following interesting address :
DR. HARTZELL'S ORATION.
Eminent Commander, Knightly Fraters, and Ladies and Gen- tlemen:
We have assembled here on this occasion to unveil this mon- ment, erected through the generosity of General Wadsworth in revered memory of his respected parents, who rest here in your beautiful Rural Cemetery, and of his esteemed ancestors, some of whom were quite conspicuous in the arena of import- ant events.
In all periods of history the monument has been constructed to honor the character and perpetuate the memory of the emi- nent and distinguished. There is a spontaneous reverence with the sons of men for high-born qualities and splendid achieve- ments, and it is not strange that the stone has been summoned to keep great names from dropping into oblivion.
Those who have devoted their talents and energies to science or humanity, to religion or country, are remembered and hon-
957
THE ORATION.
ored, if not by their contemporaries, then by the generations of a later period. Piles of granite and marble have been erected in elegant proportions in all civilized nations to honor with grateful remembrance the character or genius of those who have blessed the people with their labors and triumphs.
The monument, conspicuous in outline and beautiful in detail, speaks of the patriot and reformer, the artist and the poct, the statesman and the writer, and all who in serving great truths and righteous principles, became the benefactors of the human family. And faithful service in any of the manifold departments of human activity, is sure to develop character and elicit honor, and give the servant the ruling power of a king among the appreciative masses. Think of Cicero, when on a visit to Syracuse, hunting the ancient cemetery of that celebrated metropolis for the monument of Archimedes, and when he discovered it by the cylinder that crowned it, and read the name of this eminent mathematician of Sicily, mark the homage he paid to his genius and the appreciation he showed of his services.
Hon. William Wadsworth, an educated gentleman, came here from England in the colonial history of our country, and settled in Hartford. Captain Joseph Wadsworth, his son, became noted in the history of Connecticut by the part he took to preserve the charter. Connecticut, like Massachusetts, was, if possible, to be deprived of its charter, in spite of the · protests and prayers of the people. Andros, the royal Gov- ernor, appeared in Hartford at the head of a troop of soldiers that marched with clanging armor, whilst the General Court was ,in session there looking after the interests of the English throne. The box containing the charter was lying upon the table: and a debate of the most exciting character took place between the most determined advocates, and lasted through the night in regard to the disposition of the instrument.
The royal Governor listened to the debate with respectful attention, but was determined that in some manner Connecti- cut should surrender the instrument to England. The candles were suddenly extinguished, followed by darkness and confu- sion, and when the candles were relighted behold the box and the charter it contained were gone! Capt. Joseph Wadsworth
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