USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster > History of Lodge no. 43, F. & A. M. : being the records of the first century of its existence > Part 19
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NATHANIEL LIGHTNER.
[W. M., June 24, 1813, to December 27, 1814.]
NATHANIEL LIGHTNER followed the occupation of conveyan- cer ; he was a member of the Legislature, and was Mayor of the city of Lancaster from 1824 to 1830.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on February 12, IS12, was elected Senior Warden in December, 1812, and served as such until June, 1813, when he was elected Worshipful Master, which office he filled until December 27, 1814. He withdrew from the Lodge April 9, 1828. He was also a member of Chap- ter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
MOLTON C. ROGERS.
[W. M., December 27, 1814, to December 27, 1815.]
HON. MOLTON C. ROGERS was a native of Delaware, graduated
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at Princeton College and Litchfield, Conn., Law School. He re- moved to Lancaster, and was admitted to the Bar November 18, 18II. On April 16, 1818, he was appointed recorder of the Mayor's Court of the City of Lancaster. He was elected State Senator in 1819, appointed by Governor Shulze Secretary of the Commonwealth in 1823, and was commissioned one of the Judges of the Supreme Court on April 15, 1826, and filled that office until 1851.
He was a man of general scientific and literary culture, digni- fied in demeanor, fearless and incorruptible.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on March 23, 1812, was elected Senior Warden in December, 1813, and Worshipful Master in December, 1814.
He took a very active part in the affairs of the Lodge, and was particularly prominent in the troubles between the Lodge and the Grand Lodge, which culminated in the loss of the Charter of the Lodge. He withdrew from the Lodge on June 10, 1829.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
JOHN REYNOLDS.
[W. M., December 27, 1815, to December 27. 1816.]
JOHN REYNOLDS was a native of Lancaster county. He was the editor of the Journal for many years before its union with the Intelligencer. After his retirement from editorial life he moved to Cornwall, and assumed the management of the iron works at that place. He was chosen guardian of the minor children of Thomas B. Coleman. He remained the manager at Cornwall until about 1847, when he returned to Lancaster. In 1822 he was elected a member of the Legislature, and reëlected in 1823. He was the father of the lamented General John F. Reynolds, Rear-Admiral Wm. Reynolds, and Gen. James L. Reynolds. He died in Baltimore, May 11, 1853, in the 67th year of his age.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on January 13, 1813, was elected .Junior Warden in December, 1813, Senior Warden in 1814, and Worshipful Master in 1815. He was a very useful and active member of the Lodge, and took a prominent part in the trouble between the Lodge and Grand Lodge. He withdrew April 9, 1828, and removed to Baltimore.
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He was also a Past High Priest of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
GEORGE H. WHITAKER.
[WV. M., December 27, 1816, to December 27, 1818; March 10, 1824, to December 27, 1824.]
GEORGE H. WHITAKER was born in Chester county, May 31, 1783. He removed to Lancaster, and at the age of fourteen was employed at Reigart's wine and liquor store, and was contin- uously employed at this house up to the date of his death. He also carried on a manufactory of feather fans, etc. He was a vestryman of St James' Episcopal church, was a most exemplary citizen, was widely known and highly respected. He died De- cember 7, 1849, and was buried in St. James' churchyard.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on December 9, 1812, was elected Junior Warden December, 1814, Senior Warden De- cember, 1815, and Worshipful Master December, 1816. He served as Master two years. He was a very useful and active member of the Lodge, serving temporarily in various positions, and upon the removal of Worshipful Master elect, Bro. Ebenezer Wright, he was on March 10, 1824, elected to fill the unexpired term of this office. He was elected an honorary member of the Lodge June 14, 1848.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
THOMAS JEFFRIES.
[W. M., December 27, 1818, to December 27, 1819, and December 27, 1833, to December 27, 1834.]
THOMAS JEFFRIES was an architect and builder. He was born April 22, 1786. He was one of a large family of twenty-three children. He was the builder of many of the most prominent buildings of Lancaster in his time. Among others, he rebuilt St. James' Episcopal church in 1819. He kept the " Eastern Hotel" at the corner of East King and Lime Streets, he afterwards kept the " Cross Keys" Hotel, and still later the " Fulton House," on North Queen Street above the railroad. He was for a long time a member of City Councils, and was on the committee that
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purchased the water works and reservoir property. He was chairman of the committee of Councils who petitioned the Leg- islature and succeeded in having the Pennsylvania railroad pass through the city (the engineers having laid out the route one mile north of the city).
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on February 10, 1813, was elected Junior Warden December, 1815, and Senior Warden December, 1816. He served in the latter office two years, and in December, 1818, was elected Worshipful Master. He was a very active and most useful member of the Lodge, and occupies a position on the roll of honor as having helped to sustain the Lodge during the anti-Masonic times. After the force of the storm had been spent and the Lodge resumed its meetings, he was, in December, 1833, again elected Worshipful Master, and in December, 1835, he was elected Treasurer of the Lodge, serv- ing in that office two years.
He was District Deputy Grand Master of this Masonic district from 1837 to 1839.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
He was elected an honorary member of the Lodge on June 14, 1848, and died June 24, 1850.
His son Charles A., and his grandson William T. Jeffries, are at the present time members of the Lodge.
GEORGE B. PORTER.
[W. M., December 27, 1819, to December 27, 1821.]
HON. GEORGE B. PORTER was a son of General Andrew Porter, of Revolutionary memory. He was a leading lawyer at the Lancaster Bar, and in the front rank of his profession. He was born in Lancaster, February 9, 1791, was admitted to the Bar in 1813, was Prothonotary of Lancaster county in 1818, and was appointed Adjutant-General of the State in 1824. He was an eloquent speaker, and was chosen by the City of Lancaster to make the reception speech to General Lafayette, when he visited it in 1824. He defended Walter Franklin in his impeachment before the Senate of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the
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State Legislature in 1827, and he was Governor of Michigan territory for three years. He died at Detroit, July 6, 1834.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on May 10, 1815, was elected Junior Warden December, 1818, and Worshipful Master December, 1819, and was reëlected in December, 1820.
He was one of the most active among the members of the Lodge in the controversy with the Grand Lodge, which resulted in the loss of the Charter, and was equally active in having it re- stored to the Lodge.
He was the second District Deputy Grand Master appointed for this Masonic district, and filled the office from March, 1825, until December, 1830.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
HENRY KEFFER.
[W. M., December 27, 1821, to December 27, 1822 ; December 27, 1830, to November, 1833.]
HENRY KEFFER was born April 11, 1774. For many years he carried on the business of confectioner on the North side of East King Street, east of Penn Square. He was much esteemed as an honest, upright citizen and consistent Christian, and was a man of more than ordinary intelligence. He was originally a member of the Lutheran Church, but later became a receiver of the doctrines of Swedenborg, and a prominent member of the Lancaster New Church Society.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43, April 12, 1815, was elected Senior Warden in December, 1818, and served two years.
He was elected Worshipful Master in December, 1821, served one year, and was again elected Worshipful Master in December, 1830. He was Master during the time the Lodge was closed through the anti-Masonic excitement, and until the reopening of the Lodge in November, 1833, when his successor was elected. He occupies a prominent place on the roll of honor in preserv- ing the Lodge during the anti-Masonic excitement.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, R. A. M. He died October 15, 1841, and was buried in Woodward Hill Cemetery.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
[W. M., December 27, 1822, to December 27, 1823.]
HON. JAMES BUCHANAN was born near Mercersburg, Frank- lin county, Pa., April 23, 1791. His father was a native of Ire- land, and emigrated to this country in 1783. He graduated at Dickinson College in 1809. In December of the same year he commenced the study of law with James Hopkins, Esq., of Lan- caster. He was admitted to practice November 17, 1812, and soon took a front rank in his profession, rapidly rising to fame and fortune.
He served as a private soldier in Captain Henry Shippen's company, which marched to the defense of Baltimore in the war of 1812 to 1814.
He was elected to the State Legislature in 1814 and 1815, Representative to Congress in 1820, and was continuously re- ëlected until 1831. He was soon afterwards appointed United States Minister to Russia, by President Jackson. In 1833, on his return to the United States, he was elected United States Senator, taking his seat December 15, 1834.
He was Secretary of State under President Polk, serving dur- ing the four years.
He was appointed U. S. Minister to England by President Pierce, and on his return to the United States he was nominated and elected fifteenth President of the United States. He was inaugurated March 4, 1857, and after his four years of service he retired to his residence at Wheatland near this city, where he died, June 1, 1868.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on December II, 1816. He was entered by W. M. Bro. John Reynolds, and was passed and raised by W. M. Bro. George H. Whitaker on Janu- ary 24, 1817. He was elected Junior Warden, December 13, 1820, and Worshipful Master December 23, 1822. At the expi- ration of his term of office, he was appointed the first District Deputy Grand Master of this district. He was elected an honor- ary member of the Lodge, March 10, 1858.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Ma- sons.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
EBENEZER WRIGHT.
[W. M., December 27, 1823, --; December 27, 1825, to December 27, 1826.]
EBENEZER WRIGHT, EsQ., was an able and distinguished law- yer, who came to Lancaster from one of the Eastern States. He was admitted to the Lancaster Bar in 1814. He was one of the Directors of the " Widows' and Orphans' Assurance Society" of Lancaster, which was in existence in 1822, and for a number of years afterwards.
He was admitted a member of Lodge No. 43, June 9, 1819, and took a very active part in the affairs of the Lodge. He was elected Senior Warden in December, 1822, and Worshipful Mas- ter in December, 1823, but owing to his removal to Philadelphia was unable to serve, and withdrew from the Lodge. He was re- admitted a member of the Lodge on his return to Lancaster, on December 14, 1825, and was the same night again elected Worshipful Master.
He was also a Past High Priest of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons. He died in April, 1829, at his residence, West King Street, this city.
JASPER SLAYMAKER.
[W. M., 1824 to 1825.]
JASPER SLAYMAKER was a son of Hon. Amos Slaymaker, of Salisbury township, Lancaster county, who was a member of Congress in 1812. He was born November, 1787, graduated at Dickinson college in 1818, was a student of law under James Hopkins, Esq., and was admitted to the Lancaster Bar in 1811. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving first under Captain James Humes, and afterwards in Captain Henry Shippen's troop of horse, which marched to the defense of Baltimore.
He was a member of the State Legislature, and upon the crea- tion of the Mayor's Court of the city of Lancaster, was the first prosecuting attorney for the same.
He, with Hon. Bro. George B. Porter and Edward Coleman, Esq., constituted the committee to meet Gen. Lafayette and es- cort and welcome him to the city of Lancaster, upon the occa-
15
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
sion of his visit in 1824. He died in August, 1827, in the 40th year of his age.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 January 13, 1813. He was elected Worshipful Master in December, 1824.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
MATTHEW McKELLY.
[W. M., 1826 to 1827.]
MATTHEW MCKELLY was the son of Alexander McKelly. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, January 20, 1800. He emigrated to America with his parents in 1801, and they settled in Lancaster, Pa. He learned the art of printing with William Dickson, in the Intelligencer office. During the years 1822 and 1823 he edited and published the Free Press. He then studied law, and was admitted to the Lancaster Bar in 1825.
In 1834 he was appointed chief clerk in the Auditor General's office under Governor Wolf, which position he held at the time of his death. He died at Harrisburg, August 12, 1834.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43, January 14, 1824, was elected Junior Warden in 1825, and Worshipful Master in 1826, serving one year.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
JOHN MATHIOT. [W. M., 1827 to 1828.]
JOHN MATHIOT was born in Lancaster, December 26, 1784. He removed to Columbia in 1798. He was appointed Post- master of Columbia in 1807, and served until 1818, when he was elected Sheriff of Lancaster county ; he was for many years an Alderman of the city, and followed the occupation of scriv- ener. He was elected Mayor of the city in 1831, and was annually reëlected to this office for eleven years, serving up to the date of his death. He was a member of the School Board from the time of its organization in 1838, and was elected President of the Board May 10, 1839, serving as such up to the time of his death. He died January 22, 1843, in the 58th year of his age.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on December 10, 1823,
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
was elected Senior Warden on December 13, 1826, and was elected Worshipful Master on December 12, 1827, serving as such for the term of one year.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
JOHN LANDIS.
[W. M., 1828 to 1829.]
JOHN LANDIS was born August 16, 1776. He emigrated to Lancaster in 1797. In 1805 he removed to Middletown, and a year or two later he returned to Lancaster. He kept store on East King Street fourteen years, afterwards on North Queen Street until 1829, when he removed to Warwick township. He afterwards, about 1840, returned to Lancaster, and was elected Alderman of the old Northeast ward.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on May 13, 1818, was elected Senior Warden December, 1824, and Worshipful Master December, 1828, serving as such one year.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons. He died April 28, 1850.
ABNER THOMAS.
[W. M., 1829 to 1830.]
ABNER THOMAS was a school teacher. We find him teaching in the Friends' meeting house, on the east side of South Queen Street, now occupied by the Odd Fellows' Hall, in the year 1818. At this time he advertised that he was teaching the Lancasterian system, (so named after its founder, Joseph Lancaster, of Eng- land, who devised and first put the system in operation), and that he had experimented with the system for two years. He continued to teach until the introduction of the common school system in 1822, when he discontinued teaching and practiced dentistry on South Queen Street, nearly opposite the Friends' meeting house. He was the first librarian of the Mechanics' So- ciety of Lancaster, being elected at its organization in July, 1829.
He was admitted a member of Lodge No. 43 October 11, 1820, was elected Senior Warden December, 1821, served one year as such, and was elected Worshipful Master in December, 1829.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
He was also a Past High Priest in Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
ALEXANDER MILLER.
[W. M., 1834 to 1835.]
ALEXANDER MILLER was born in Lancaster county, July 9, 1784, received a country school education, and spent his early years working on the farm. He next learned the trade of house carpenter, and afterwards for many years carried on this business in Lancaster City.
He was a member of Common Councils, and a prominent member and trustee of the Presbyterian Church. Sometime pre- vious to his death he removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he died in 1869.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on December 10, 1823, passed and raised on the 19th of the same month. He served in several appointed offices, was elected Junior Warden in November, 1833, on the revival of the Lodge from its anti- Masonic depression ; frequently filling, during the year 1834, the stations of Senior Warden and Worshipful Master ; and finally, at the stated meeting of December 10, 1834, was elected Worshipful Master, which position he faithfully filled to the end of his term.
His name is enrolled with that noble band who sustained the Lodge during the anti-Masonic craze.
ROBERT MODERWELL.
[W. M., 1835 to 1837; 1846 to 1847.]
ROBERT MODERWELL was born in Lancaster, Pa., on March 26, 1796. His father, John Moderwell, emigrated to this country from Ireland. He was reared and educated by his uncle (by marriage) P. M. Bro. William Kirkpatrick, in whose store he was afterwards employed as a dry goods clerk. He, in partner- ship with Peterson Andrews, succeeded Wm. Kirkpatrick upon his retirement from the dry goods business in 1829 or 1830. In 1832, he engaged in the auction and commission business at the south-east corner of North Queen and Orange Streets. About
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
.the time of the opening by the State of the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, in 1835 or 1836, he engaged in the freight business between Lancaster and Philadelphia, which he con- ducted on East Chestnut Street, east of the " Hiester House." In 1845 or 1846, he removed his place of business to the premises which he erected for the purpose, on North Queen Street above the railroad, and now occupied by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a freight depot, where he also resided and conducted the freight transportation business until his decease.
In 1839, he was a member of Select Council. He was also a member of the School Board, and on May 9, 1843, he was elected President of that body, and was reelected to the same position for three succeeding years. He died, January 19, 1859, in the sixty-third year of his age, leaving a widow and two children who still survive him.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on January 11, 1826, and at once took an active part in the affairs of the Lodge. He was elected Junior Warden in December, 1826, Senior Warden, December, 1827, Secretary in 1833, and Worshipful Master in 1835, in which position he officiated two years. He was elected Treasurer in December, 1843, and served two years, and in De- cember, 1846, was again elected Worshipful Master, serving one year. He was appointed District Deputy Grand Master in 1839, and filled the office until 1848, when he resigned the position and ceased active membership in the Lodge, being elected an honorary member April 12, 1848. He was one of the noble band who upheld the Lodge during the anti-Masonic times.
He was also a Past High Priest of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
At his death the Lodge attended his funeral, and he was buried with the impressive ceremonies of the Order, in Lancaster Ceme- tery.
ELIJAH McLENIGAN.
[W. M., 1837 to 1838.]
ELIJAH MCLENIGAN was a dry goods merchant, whose place of business was on East King Street east of Duke Street, on the south side. He served one term as Prothonotary of Lancaster
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county, and was for a number of years an Alderman of the city. He was an active member of the Union Fire Company and other organizations. He was a highly honored and respected citizen, esteemed for his many fine traits of character, and for his ener- getic performance of every duty.
He was made a Mason in Philanthropic Lodge No. 104. from which he withdrew for the purpose of joining Lodge No. 43, into which he was admitted a member on November 8, 1826. He at once manifested an active interest in the affairs of the Lodge, and became one of its most useful members, filling at some time all the different offices of the Lodge. He was elected Junior Warden, December, 1827, Senior Warden in December, 1828, and Treasurer in December, 1829. He served as Treasurer until 1831. In 1834 he was elected Secretary, and served in this office until December, 1837, when he was elected Worshipful Master, which position he filled one year. In December, 1839, he was again elected Treasurer, and served for one year. His name is inscribed on the roll of honor, as one of the little band who upheld the Lodge during the anti-Masonic excitement.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Ma- sons.
JACOB ALBRIGHT. [W. M., 1838 to 1840.]
JACOB ALBRIGHT was born June 26, 1791, in Lancaster. He taught school for some time in the old Lancaster Academy on North Queen Street, between Lemon and James Streets, was a printer by trade, was for some years engaged in the forwarding and commission business, and was Mayor of the City of Lan- caster in the year 1855. He was an officer and member of the Moravian church. He was a man of quiet and retiring disposi- tion, very amiable and agreeable in his manners, and was highly respected as a citizen. He died March 18, 1856.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on March 14, 1821, was elected Junior Warden in December, 1823, and Worshipful Master on December 12, 1838, and served in that position two years. He was appointed in 1852, by R. W. Grand Master An- thony Bournonville, M. D., District Deputy Grand Master for
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
the Lancaster District, in which position he served with dis- tinction for the period of two years.
Bro. Albright was a man of excellent judgment, and in mat- ters of principle possessed an iron will. The possession of these qualities of mind preeminently fitted him for the office of Wor- shipful Master at the time he was chosen, and his administration ended with a marked improvement in the discipline of the Lodge. He gave liberally of his time and means for the ad- vancement of the fraternity and the prosperity of the Lodge.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
EMANUEL SCHAEFFER. [W. M., 1840 to 1841.]
EMANUEL SCHAEFFER was born February 27, 1793, and re- ceived a common-school education. At the age of fifteen years he was apprenticed to learn the saddling and harness-making business ; after the expiration of his apprenticeship he worked at his trade as journeyman, and when he had accumulated one hun- dred dollars commenced business on his own account in this city. By strict attention to business and untiring perseverance, he succeeded in amassing a considerable fortune.
He served as Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of this county for nine years, from 1841 to 1850. He was Pre- sident of the Lancaster Savings Institution. For thirteen years he was President of the City Councils. He also filled various other offices of trust and responsibilty, discharging the various duties thereof in such manner as to reflect credit on himself and give entire satisfaction to the public. He was a man of the strictest honor and integrity. He died at Newberg, Cumber- land county in 1864, in the 72d year of his age.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43, December 13, 1815, was elected Junior Warden December, 1821, was elected Treas- urer in 1824, and served four years. He was elected Senior Warden in 1834, and Worshipful Master in 1840. He was a second time elected Treasurer in 1845, and served one year. He was elected an honorary member of the Lodge, August y, 1843.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons.
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JOSEPH MOSHER.
[W. M., 1841 to 1842.]
COLONEL JOSEPH MOSHER was a son of Bro. P. M. Gen. Jere- miah Mosher. He learned the trade of blacksmith with his father. He was a Supervisor of the Pennsylvania Railroad while it was under State control. He resided, for a number of years, on the Harrisburg pike just outside of the city. He was a very fine-looking man, and of very sociable and agreeable manners.
He was made a mason in Lodge No. 43, May 13, 1812. He was elected Senior Warden in 1840, and Worshipful Master in 1841. He was elected Secretary of the Lodge in 1845, and filled the office two years. He withdrew from the Lodge in 1848.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43 Royal Arch Ma- sons, from which he also withdrew in 1848.
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