USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster > History of Lodge no. 43, F. and A.M., 1785-1910, with biographical sketches of charter members, past masters and present officers, together with a complete list of members of the lodge > Part 23
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He was also a member of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
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 reelected 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 Balti- more, 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.
He was also a Past High Priest of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
GEORGE H. WHITAKER.
[W. M., December 27, 1816, to December 17, 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 continuously employed at this house up to the date of his death. He also carried
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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 December 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 Decem- ber, 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 Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
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 purchased the water works and reservoir property. He was chairman of the committee of Councils who petitioned the Legislature and suc- ceeded 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
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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 Worhsipful Master, and in December, 1835, he was elected Treasurer of the Lodge, serving in that office two years.
He was District Deputy Grand Master of this Masonic district from 1837 to 1839.
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.
He was also a member of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
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 Lancas- ter 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 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 restored to the Lodge.
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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 Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
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 preserving the Lodge during the anti-Masonic excitement.
He was also a member of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43. He died October 15, 1841, and was buried in Woodward Hill Cemetery.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
[W. M., December 27, 1822, to December 27, 1823.]
HON. JAMES BUCHANAN was born near Mercersburg, Franklin county, Pa., April 23, 1791. His father was a native of Ireland, 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 Lancaster. He
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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 com- pany, 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, Repre- sentative to Congress in 1820, and was continuously reëlected until 1821. 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 during 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 inaugu- rated March 4, 1857, and after his four years of service he retired to his residence at Wheatland near this city, where he died, June I, I868.
He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43 on December 1I, 1816. He was entered by W. M. Bro. John Reynolds, and was passed and raised by W. M. Bro. George Whitaker on January 24, 1817. He was elected Junior Warden, December 13, 1820, and Worshipful Master December 23, 1822. At the expiration of his term of office, he was appointed the first District Deputy Grand Master of this district. He was elected an honorary member of the Lodge, March 10, 1858.
He was also a member of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
EBENEZER WRIGHT.
[W. M., December 27, 1823, -; December 27, 1825, to Decem- ber 27, 1826.]
EBENEZER WRIGHT, EsQ., was an able and distinguished lawyer, 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
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of the "Widows' and Orphans' Assurance Society" of Lancaster, which was in existence in 1822, and for a number of years after- wards.
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 Master in De- cember, 1823, but owing to his removal to Philadelphia was unable to serve, and withdrew from the Lodge. He was readmitted 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 Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43. 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 Salis- bury 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 creation of the Mayor's Court of the city of Lancaster, was the first prosecut- ing attorney for the same.
He, with Hon. Bro. George B. Porter and Edward Coleman, Esq., constituted the committee to meet Gen. Lafayette and escort and welcome him to the city of Lancaster, upon the occasion 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 Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
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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 emi- grated to America with his parents in 1801, and they settled in Lancaster, Pa. He learned the art of printing with William Dick- son, 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, 1834, was elected Junior Warden in 1825, and Worshipful Master in 1826, serving one year.
He was also a member of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
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 Postmaster 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 scrivener. He was elected Mayor of the city in 1831, and was annually reelected 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 organi- zation 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, 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 Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
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JOHN LANDIS.
[W. M., 1828 to 1829.]
JOHN LANDIS was born August 16, 1776. He emigrated to Lan- caster 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 Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43. 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 England, 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' Society 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.
He was also a Past High Priest in Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
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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. Some time previous 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 War- den 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 partnership 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 southeast corner of North! Queen and Orange Streets. About 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 Philar-
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delphia, which he conducted 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 1I, 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 December, 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.
At his death the Lodge attended his funeral, and he was buried with the impressive ceremonies of the Order, in Lancaster Cemetery.
He was also a Past High Priest of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
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 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 organiza-
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tions. He was a highly honored and respected citizen, esteemed for his many fine traits of character, and for his energetic per- formance 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 Treaserur 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 Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
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 Lancaster in the year 1855. He was an officer and member of the Moravian church. He was a man of quiet and retiring disposition, 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 Anthony Bournon- ville, M. D., District Deputy Grand Master for the Lancaster
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District, in which position he served with distinction for the period of two years.
Bro. Albright was a man of excellent judgment, and in matters of principle possessed an iron will. The possession of these qualities of mind preeminently fitted him for the office of Worshipful 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 advancement of the fraternity and the prosperity of the Lodge.
He was also a member of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
EMANUEL SCHAEFFER.
[W. M., 1840 to 1841.]
EMANUEL SCHAEFFER was born February 27, 1793, and received 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 hundred 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 President of the Lancaster Savings Institution. For thirteen years he was President of the City Councils. He also filled various other offices of trust and responsibility, discharging the various duties thereof in such manner as to reflect credit on himself and give entire satis- faction to the public. He was a man of the strictest honor and integrity. He died at Newberg, Cumberland 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 Treasurer in 1824, and served four years. He was elected Senior Warden in 1834, and Worshipful Master in 1840. He was a second time elected
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Treasurer in 1845, and served one year. He was elected an honorary member of the Lodge, August 9, 1843.
He was also a member of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
JOSEPH MOSHER. [W. M., 1841 to 1842.]
COLONEL JOSEPH MOSHER was a son of Bro. P. M. Gen. Jeremiah 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 Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43, from which he also withdrew in 1848.
GEORGE B. KERFOOT. [W. M., 1842 to 1844.]
GEORGE B. KERFOOT, M. D., was born in the city of Dublin, June 27, 1808. He emigrated to America when eleven years of age; studied medicine with Dr. Samuel Humes; graduated at the Jefferson Medical College in 1830, and practiced his profession in Lancaster, rising rapidly to eminence and distinction. He opened an anatomical school for medical students, delivering lectures on anatomy. He was for several years an active member of the School Board and City Councils. He was a frequent contributor to the Lancaster papers, and wrote some poems of great merit. He, on several occasions, delivered public lectures on the Eye and Brain, and was frequently summoned as a witness in medical cases before the courts of Baltimore, Harrisbrug, and elsewhere. He died in 1851, in the 44th year of his age.
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He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 43, March 14, 1838; was elected Junior Warden December, 1840, Senior Warden December, 1841, and Worshipful Master in December, 1842, serving in the latter office until December 27, 1844.
He was appointed District Deputy Grand Master for this Masonic District in 1848, and served as such up to the time of his death in 1851. He was buried with Masonic ceremonies in Woodward Hill Cemetery, and a monument was erected by the Lodge over his grave.
He was a Past High Priest of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 43.
J. HENRY BROWN.
[W. M., 1844 to 1845.]
J. HENRY BROWN was born in Lancaster, August 21, 1818. He was a clerk in the Recorder's Office under Recorder Jacob Peelor. In 1836 he commenced the study of painting under Mr. Arthur Armstrong. In 1839 he commenced business for himself, in the same line as followed by Mr. Armstrong, viz .: Portrait, historical and landscape, sign and fancy painting, to which he also added miniature painting on ivory. He followed the business as above until 1844, when he discontinued all other kinds of painting except miniature painting on ivory. In the fall of 1845 he removed to Philadelphia, where he died April 3, 1891.
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