USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster > History of Lodge no. 43, F. & A. M. : being the records of the first century of its existence > Part 21
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HENRY CARPENTER, M. D., was born in Lancaster, Pa., De- cember 10, 1819. Received his early education in the public schools of this city and in the Lancaster County Academy. He studied medicine under Dr. Samuel Humes, and attended lectures in the medical department of the University of Pennsyl-
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vania, from which institution he graduated in 1841, and imme- diately commenced the practice of his profession in his native city. In 1844, he aided in the organization of the Lancaster County Medical Society, and was elected its first Secretary. In 1855, he was elected President of the same Society. He has also filled the positions of Vice-President, Secretary and Censor of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society. For a number of years he was a member of the School Board and City Councils, in the latter of which he served many years as President of the Select branch, and also for some time as President of the Com- mon branch. He has also filled many other positions, as direc- tor, etc., in gas, insurance, railroad companies, etc. He is at present actively engaged in the practice of his profession.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 May 14, 1856; was elected Junior Warden, December, 1860; was elected Senior Warden, December, 1861, and Worshipful Master in December, 1862.
He is a Past High Priest of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, a Past Commander of Lancaster Commandery No. 13, M. K. T., a member of Goodwin Council No. 19, and a mem- ber of Lancaster Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. R.
FREDERICK S. ALBRIGHT.
[W. M., 1863 to 1864.]
FREDERICK S. ALBRIGHT was born in Maytown, East Donegal township, Lancaster county, May 16, 1816. He received a common school education. He learned milling in Jacob Gray- bill's mill in East Donegal township, with Joseph Saugery. He followed milling in Cumberland county three years, then in Highspire, Dauphin county, one year, at Schock's mill, East Donegal township, three years, and at Hiestand and Hostetter's mill in Rapho township, four years. He moved to Lancaster in 1855, and was engaged in the coal and lumber business four years. He served seven or eight years as tax col- lector of Lancaster City, and three years as deputy Register under Register Jeremiah Rohrer.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on February II,
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1857, was elected Junior Warden in 1861, Senior Warden in 1862, and Worshipful Master in 1863. He withdrew from the Lodge January 12, 1870, and afterwards became a member of Skerrett Lodge No. 343, at Cochransville, Pa.
He was also a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Ma- sons.
WILLIAM E. HEINITSH.
[W. M., 1865 to 1866.]
WILLIAM E. HEINITSH was a son of Mr. John F. Heinitsh. He was born at Lancaster, Pa., August 10, 1827. He was edu- cated at the Lititz Academy. He was engaged in the whole- sale notion business on East King Street, corner of Christian Street. Later he was engaged in the sale of paints, pic- ture frames and musical merchandise on Orange street, east of North Queen Street. He was possessed of an excellent musical talent, and took an active part in the musical organizations of his day in Lancaster. He was for a number of years leader of the choir of St. Mary's Catholic church, and afterwards and up to the time of his death, was the leader of the choir of Trinity Lutheran church. He died November 24, 1867, and was buried with Masonic ceremonies in Woodward Hill Cemetery.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 September 30, 1857, was elected Junior Warden in 1863, Senior Warden in 1864, and Worshipful Master in 1865.
He was a Past High Priest of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, and a member of the Chapter to the date of his death.
WILLIAM A. MORTON. [W. M., 1866 to 1867.]
WILLIAM A. MORTON was born in Lancaster, Pa., October 12, 1830. He was educated at the Common Schools and at Frank- lin College. He was apprenticed to G. W. Hammersly to learn printing. In 1853 he was letter carrier under Postmaster Reigart, he being the only letter carrier the city possessed at that time. He filled the position 312 years, and was afterwards Clerk in the Post Office 412 years under Postmaster Swarr. In
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July, 1864, he became a member of the firm of Cooper, Sander- son & Co., who became the proprietors and publishers of the Lancaster Intelligencer. In 1867, he severed his connection with the Intelligencer, and was employed in the store of Deaner & Co., where he remained about five years, when he retired to his father's farm for one or two years. In 1876, he was em- ployed as book- keeper of the Intelligencer office, which position he still continues to fill. He was a member of Common Council two years, a member of Select Council six years, was Jury Com- missioner, and a member of the Lancaster School Board from 1866 to 1884.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 March 8, 1854, was elected Junior Warden in 1865, and Worshipful Master in 1866. He withdrew from Lodge No. 43, May 11, 1870, and assisted in the formation of Lamberton Lodge No. 476, in which Lodge he was also elected and served as Worshipful Master.
In 1882, he was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of the Lancaster District, which office he still holds.
He is a Past High Priest of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, Past T. I. G. M. of Goodwin Council No. 19, R. S. E. & S. M., Past Commander of Lancaster Commandery No. 13, M. K. T., and Past T. P. G. M. of Lancaster Lodge of Perfec- tion, A. A. S. R.
SAMUEL H. REYNOLDS.
[W. M., 1867 to 1868.]
SAMUEL H. REYNOLDS, EsQ., was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1831. He was educated at Dick- inson College, from which he graduated in 1850. He pursued his legal studies in Centre county, under the direction of the Hon. James T. Hale, and was admitted to the bar in the autumn of 1854. The succeeding year he spent in a prospecting tour of the West. Returning to Pennsylvania, he subsequently re- moved to Lancaster, where he opened an office and commenced the practice of his profession, rapidly acquiring a large and lu- crative business, and soon became one of the leaders of his pro- fession. He was elected City Solicitor in 1857, was appointed
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Notary Public by Governor Packer, was a member of the School Board for nine years. He was a delegate to several State Dem- ocratic Conventions, and was a member of the " Peace Conven- tion" at Harrisburg, at the breaking out of the Rebellion. In 1868, he was the Democratic nominee for Congress against the late Thaddeus Stevens, and was at one time a candidate for Judge of the Supreme Court, in both of which contests he received a flattering vote. In 1872, he was chosen by the Democratic Con- vention as Delegate at Large to the Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the banking house of Evans, McEvoy & Co. He is at present actively engaged in the practice of his profession.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on March 12, 1856, was elected Senior Warden in 1866, and Worshipful Master in 1867.
He is a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, of Lancaster Commandery No. 13, M. K. T., and of Lancaster Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. R.
DAVID N. RUSSELL.
[W. M., 1868 to 1869.]
DAVID N. RUSSELL was born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parents, June 1, 1830. At the age of seven years he came to this country with his parents and they settled in Philadelphia, where he attended the public schools and served an apprenticeship at the machine business. He came to Lan- caster at the time the locomotive works were first started in 1853 or 1854, and remained in the employ of the company and of their successors, the Norrises, until after the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he went to Washington, at the request of Captain (afterwards Rear Admiral) Dalghren, and was employed three years at the navy-yard on ordnance.
After the war he removed to Lititz, Lancaster county, and for three years was engaged in the liquor business.
For the past 14 or 15 years he has been employed as fireman and machinist in the Washington, D. C., navy-yard.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 July 11, 1855, was elected Junior Warden in 1867, and Worshipful Master in 1868.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
He is a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Mason, of Goodwin Council No. 19, R. S. E. and S. M., and of Lancaster Commandery No. 13, M. K. T.
ADAM Z. RINGWALT. [W. M., 1869 to 1870.]
ADAM Z. RINGWALT was born in Carnarvon township, Lan- caster county, January 2, 1828. He received his education at the public schools. In early life he worked upon the farm. He was for a time in mercantile business in Waynesburg, Chester county, then apprenticed at tailoring in New Holland ; in a short time he obtained his release and became engaged in Eaby & Lightner's mercantile and forwarding store in Concord. He remained with this firm until they discontinued business, then was employed in Amos Diller's store in New Holland for four years, then in the mercantile business in New Milltown, in part- nership with T. J. Ringwalt. One year later he sold out to his partner and opened business in New Holland. In 1858 he came to Lancaster and engaged in the grocery business on East King Street above Duke Street, afterwards in Centre Square, where he added wholesale liquors to his business. He is at present en- gaged in the same business on West King Street, west of Water street. In 1879 he was elected Jury Commissioner and served three years. He was twice elected and served as a member of Common Councils, and twice a member of the Lancaster School Board.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 May 16, 1864, was elected Senior Warden in 1868, and Worshipful Master in 1869.
He is a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, and served in the office of Scribe. He was also a member of Lan- caster Commandery No. 13, M. K. T., and a member of Good- win Council No. 19, R. S. E. & S. M., and filled the office of Principal Conductor of the Work.
GEORGE K. REED. [W. M., 1870 to 1871.]
GEORGE K. REED was born in Lancaster, Pa., December 22,
M
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1826. He attended the public schools of this city until the age of eighteen years, when he obtained employment in C. Hager's dry goods and grocery store as errand boy, from which position he gradually rose to that of chief book-keeper of the establish- ment. In 1847 he became the book-keeper for the County Treasurer. While thus employed, he manufactured, during his spare hours, shoe-blacking, and also trafficked in lime and roof- ing slate for the Peach Bottom slate quarries. In 1849, he started a private banking-house, there being at that time no institution of that nature in the city or county. In January, 1850, he opened his establishment under the name of J. F. Shroder & Company. This venture proved perfectly successful until 1857, when, owing to depression, due to a great financial crisis, the business no longer proving remunerative, was discon- tinued. In 1858, he formed a new partnership under the name of Reed, McGrann & Co., a firm which is still in existence, and doing a large and prosperous business. He has served as City Councilman, being at one time President of the Common Coun- cil. He was for a number of years Manager and Treasurer of the Lancaster Gas Company, one of the Directors of the Na- tional Railroad Company, and has also filled many other posi- tions of trust and honor in various associations and corporations with which he has been connected, as director, treasurer, or trustee.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 February 10, 1864, was elected Junior Warden in 1868, Senior Warden in 1869, and Worshipful Master in 1870.
He is also a Past High Priest of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, a member of Goodwin Council, No. 19, R., S. E. & S. M., and a member of Lancaster Commandery No. 13, M. K. T.
WILLIAM A. WILSON. [W. M., 1871 to 1872.]
WM. A. WILSON, EsQ., was born at Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pa., on December 27, 1839. He was educated at the public schools and at the State Normal School at Millersville. He read law in the office of George M. Kline, Esq., and was
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admitted to practice at the Lancaster bar in 1865. He spent two years in the Southern States, and in 1867 returned to Lan- caster and commenced the practice of his profession, and has continued to be actively so engaged to the present time.
He was for four or five years a member of the Lancaster School Board, and for about the same period a member of Com- mon Councils. In 1879 he took a trip across the Continent, and in 1881 he made an extended tour of Europe.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 September 14, 1865; and, by dispensation, took his three degrees that same evening. He was elected Junior Warden in December, 1869, Senior War- den in 1870, and Worshipful Master in 1871. He has for the past ten years been a member of the Grievance Committee of the Lodge.
He is a Past High Priest of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, a member of Goodwin Council No. 19, R. S. E. & S. M., a member of Lancaster Commandery No. 13, M. K. T., and a member of Lancaster Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. R.
JEREMIAH ROHRER.
[W. M., 1872 to 1873.]
JEREMIAH ROHRER was born at Lebanon, Pa., May 29, 1827. At the age of four years, his father moved to Middletown, Pa., the birthplace of his mother. After receiving a common school education, he learned the carpenter trade at Middletown, after- wards following his trade for some years, and from 1852 to 1857 being a partner in the door and sash factory known as Rohrer & Shott. In March, 1864, he moved to Lancaster, and entered into the wholesale wine and liquor business, which he has continued to the present time.
He served nine months in the war of the Rebellion as Major of the 127th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was Prison Inspector for three years, and in 1872 was elected Register of Wills, which office he filled for three years.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 November 21, 1867, was elected Junior Warden in 1870, Senior Warden in 1871, and Worshipful Master in 1872. He is at present a member of the Board of Trustees of the Lodge.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
He is a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, a member of Goodwin Council No. 19, R. S. E. and S. M., a Past Commander of Lancaster Commandery M. K. T., and a member of Lancaster Lodge of Perfection A. A. S. R.
In June, 1881, he raised his son, Jacob B. Rohrer, to the sub- lime degree of a Master Mason, and in April, 1885, he conferred the same degree upon his son George R. Rohrer, M. D., and this is the only instance in the history of the Lodge, of a father conferring the degrees upon two sons.
B. FRANK BRENEMAN. [W. M., 1873 to 1874.]
B. FRANK BRENEMAN was born at Camargo, Lancaster county, Pa., November 21, 1837. He received his education at the old Strasburg Academy, at that time one of the most flourishing in- stitutions in the State. At an early age he began business in the city of Lancaster, but, after a few years, removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he built up a large business in wholesale paper. In 1868, he returned to Lancaster, on account of failing health, and became a member of the well-known firm of Flinn & Breneman. In 1880, he disposed of his interest in the firm and devoted a year to foreign travel ; and, on his return to this country, spent considerable time in New York and Philadelphia, until 1883, when he again became a member of the old firm by purchasing his former interest, and continues in this business to the present time.
He has always taken a lively interest in, and been actively identified with, every enterprise that could add to the develop- ment of his native city. The Lancaster manufactories ; the Stevens House ; the Quarryville Railroad, of which he was a Director ; the Lancaster Watch Company, of which he was for a time President ; all received a liberal amount of his time, at- tention and means.
He, for several years, took an active interest in the National Guard of our State, and served as Major and Ordnance Officer on General Reeder's staff.
Bro. Breneman was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on May
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
12, 1869. He was elected Junior Warden in 1871, Senior War- den in 1872, and Worshipful Master in December, 1873.
He is also a Past High Priest of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, a member of Goodwin Council No. 19, R. S. E. & S. M., a Past Commander of Lancaster Commandery No. 13, M. K. T., and Past T. P. G. M. of Lancaster Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. R.
He was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of this Ma- sonic District in December, 1880, and filled the office until De- cember, 1882. He is the present Representative to the Grand Lodge from Lodge No. 43, which position he has filled for the past ten years.
He served as Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Gommandery of Pennsylvania from 1878 to 1882, and on June 12, 1882, was elected R. E. Grand Commander.
During his administration as Grand Commander occurred, on October 26, 1882, the Grand Templar display in connection with the bi-centennial celebration of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
JOHN B. WARFEL.
[W. M., 1874 to 1875.]
JOHN B. WARFEL was born in Paradise township, Lancaster county, Pa., September 19, 1830. In early life he worked at the blacksmith trade. At twenty years of age he entered Lewisburg University, where he remained two years ; then taught school until 1854, when he commenced farming. He also carried on surveying and conveyancing. In 1855, he was elected a Justice of the Peace for Paradise township, and reelected in 1860. He served for several years as District Superintendent of Public Schools. In 1863, he was appointed a Clerk in the Pension Office at Washington, D. C. In 1865, he entered Columbia College as a law student, and graduated in 1867, when he was admitted to practice at the Lancaster bar. In April, 1867, he was ap- pointed Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Ninth Pennsylva- nia District (Lancaster county) and served until May 1, 1869. In 1869, he was elected State Senator from Lancaster county,
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reëlected in 1872, and again in 1875. In 1876, he was chosen one of the Republican Electors for Pennsylvania. He has served for a number of years as a member and President of the Lan- caster City School Board, President of the Lancaster County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and was Pres- ident of the Howard Association for a number of years. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the State Normal School at Millersville, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Lancaster Cemetery.
In 1877, in connection with Mr. J. M. W. Geist, he com- menced the publication of the New Era of Lancaster, a daily and weekly newspaper, in which business he is still engaged.
He was made a Mason in Dawson Lodge No. 16, Washington, D. C., from which he demitted and was admitted a member of Lodge No. 43, July 8, 1868. He was elected Senior Warden in 1873, and Worshipful Master in 1874. He was for a num- ber of years annually elected a member of the Board of Trus- tees of the Lodge.
He is a member of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, of Goodwin Council No. 19, R. S. E. & S. M., and of Lancaster Commandery No. 13, M. K. T., and a member of the Board of Trustees of this latter body. He was also a member of Lancaster Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. R.
GEORGE R. WELCHANS.
[W. M., 1875 to 1876.]
GEORGE R. WELCHANS, M. D., was born in the city of Lan- caster, Pa., January 3, 1845, attended the public schools, and graduated at the High School in 1861. In September of the same year he went to Philadelphia, served an apprenticeship at the drug and prescription business, and attended the College of Pharmacy. In the spring of 1864, he returned to Lancaster and began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. John L. Atlee. He attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated from that institution in 1867. After an extended trip through the Western States, he commenced the practice of his profession in this city, and is still actively engaged in the same.
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He has also been engaged in the drug business in this city. He has several times been physician to the Lancaster County Hos- pital and Insane Asylum, is surgeon to the Pennsylvania Railroad, and was one of the Board of Medical Examiners of U. S. Pen- sioners. He is a member of County, State, and National Medical Associations, and is at present Treasurer of the City and County Medical Society. He is one of the Trustees of the "Home for Friendless Children" of Lancaster.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on June 20, 1871, was elected Junior Warden in 1873, Senior Warden in 1874, and Worshipful Master in 1875.
He has for eight or nine years been chairman of the Charity Committee of the Lodge.
He is a Past High Priest of Chapter No. 43, Royal Arch Masons, and is Representative to the Grand Chapter. He is a Past Thrice Illustrious Grand Master of Goodwin Council No. 19, R. S. E. and S. M .; also a Past Commander of Lancaster Commandery No. 13, M. K. T.
He is a member of Philadelphia Lodge of Perfection, 14°, De Joinville Council, Princes of Jerusalem, 16°, Kilwinning Chapter Rose Croix, 18°; and of Philadelphia Consistory, 32° A. A. S. R.
He was in June, 1885, appointed by Grand Commander Joseph Alexander, Jr., Division Commander of Division No. 12, com- prising the Commanderies of Lancaster and York counties.
JAMES PYLE WICKERSHAM.
[W. M., 1876 to 1877.]
JAMES PYLE WICKERSHAM, LL. D., was born in Newlin town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1825. He was brought up on his father's farm, laboring and studying altern- ately until he went to Unionville Academy, where he was, at the age of sixteen, an assistant teacher. He afterwards taught in one of the common schools of the district. In 1845, he became principal of the Marietta Academy, where he remained ten years. He relinquished this position to accept that of Superintendent of Schools in Lancaster county, and, shortly after assuming its
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
duties, he founded the Normal Institute at Millersville, out of which was eventually developed the first State Normal School, and, in fact, the whole Normal School system. In 1856, he be- came the Principal of this school, which he made one of the most flourishing institutions in the country. He remained there ten years, when he accepted the position of State Superintend- ant of Common Schools, which position was first tendered him by Governor Curtin in 1866, and to which he was afterwards twice appointed by Governor Geary, and continued by Govern- ors Hartranft and Hoyt until 1881. He has been repeatedly offered similar positions in other States and abroad, also a port- folio as Cabinet Minister by President Sarmiento, of the Argen- tine Republic, all of which he declined. He was one of the founders of the Lancaster County Teachers' Association, and also of the State and National Associations, of which he has been at various times President. In 1869, he was elected Pres- ident of the National Superintendents' Association. His papers on the subject of Education have attracted much attention, both at home and abroad.
He is also the author of two books on education, one entitled " School Economy," and the other " Methods of Instruction," which are well known in the United States and in Europe. These works have been translated into the French, Spanish and Jap- anese languages. In addition he has also in press at the present time a work on the "History of Education in Pennsylvania," from date of earliest settlements on the Delaware. At the re- quest of Governor Curtin, he prepared the original bill provid- ing for destitute soldiers' and sailors' orphans, and in 1871 the Legislature entrusted to him the entire management of the Sol- diers' Orphans' Schools. From 1870 to 1881 he edited the Pennsylvania School Journal, one of the most important and widely-circulated educational periodicals in the Union. He has been President of the Inquirer Printing and Publishing Com- pany since its organization.
In 1863, just before the battle of Gettysburg, he organized the 47th Regiment P. V. M., and marched at its head after the re- treating enemy to the Potomac river. The regiment was mus- tered in for ninety days, and served about half that time.
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He is President of the Linnæan Society of Lancaster, Vice- President of the Board of Trustees of Franklin and Marshal Col- lege, Trustee of the Polytechnic College of Pennsylvania, Trus- tee of the National School of Elocution and Oratory at Philadel- phia, Director of the Farmers' National Bank of Lancaster, Di- rector of the Lancaster Gas Company, Trustee of Children's Home, Lancaster, and a member of the Lancaster City School Board. In 1882, he was appointed by President Arthur United States Minister to Denmark, and after residing at Copenhagen and filling the office one summer, he was obliged to return home on account of his health.
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