USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 62
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Brookville Lodge rented a room in the upper story of the "American Hotel." which Judge Heath was then building, and on Wednesday. June 30, 1847, the members of the lodge, ac- companied by the charter members of Mahon- ing Lodge, No. 250, and a delegation from Clearfield Lodge, No. 198. met in and left the old hall, above Matson's store, at fifteen min- utes past one o'clock, preceded by the Clarion brass band, and marched up Main street to the Presbyterian church. Addresses were de- livered there by Rev. John Rugan, a Lutheran minister, and D. B. Jenks, Esq., on the order and its objects, after which the procession re- formed and marched to the new hall in the American building, where the dedication cere- monies were performed, when the new hall was thrown open and a reception held for the ladies and the public. The following was the programme :
Order of Exercises, to be Observed at the Pro- cession and Dedication of the I. O. O. F. Hall, at Brookville, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of June, 1847
OFFICERS OF THE DAY
Grand Master, John L. Cuttle; Master of Cere- monies, David S. Deering: Chief Marshal, John lastings: Assistant Marshals, Peter Clover. H. B. Beissel: Chaplain, J. K. Coxson; First Herald, James S. Mccullough: Second Herald, Evans R. Brady; Third Herald, Michael Frank; Fourth Her- ald. A. M. Hills; Outside Guardian, John Reichart ; Inside Guardian, Henry Pride.
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The citizens who are desirous of being present will assemble in the Presbyterian church at one o'clock P. M. The members of the order will leave the old Hall, in procession, under the direction of the mar- shals, at fifteen minutes past one o'clock P. M., and proceed to the church. On the arrival of the pro- cession at the church exercises will be conducted as follows,-viz. :
1. Prayer. 2. Music. 3. Address by Rev. Mr. Rugan. 4. Music. 5. Prayer. 6. Address by a Brother of the Order. 7. Music. 8. Benediction.
The procession will then re-form in the same order and march to the New Hall, where the Ceremonies of Dedication will be performed. In consequence of the size of the Hall none will be admitted but mem- bers of the Order.
By reason of the burning of the "American Hotel," together with the furniture and para- phernalia of Brookville Lodge, except the charter and due book, the charter was sur- rendered in 1856. Up to that date one hun- dred and seventy-four members had been regularly received. And now the Odd Fel- lows have a membership of over one million in the world, and have paid, for sick and fu- neral benefits and the care of widows and or- phans, the magnificent sum of eighty-eight million dollars.
The second organization of Odd Fellows in Jefferson county was Mahoning Lodge, No. 250, I. O. O. F., of Punxsutawney. This lodge was organized May 31, 1847, and be- came defunct in 1858. No record can be found, and no information can be obtained about the organization, and but little about the lodge. Some of the pioneer members were Obed Nordstrum, John B. Wilson, W. E. Bell, P. W. Jenks, Rev. Thomas Wilson, Dr. A. J. Johnson, Maj. Joseph B. Hucheson, and others.
The following list shows the name, num- ber, location and date of organization of the various Odd Fellows lodges now in Jefferson county :
Brookville, No. 217, Brookville, December 21, 1846. Laurel, No. 672, Punxsutawney, July 2, 1869. Corsica, No. 813, Corsica, October 25, 1872,
Reynoldsville, No. 824, Reynoldsville, January 22, 1873.
Cicerone, No. 897, Brockwayville, January 6, 1875. Echo, No. 918, Worthville, November 1, 1875.
Amor, No. 608, Hamilton. December 29, 1884.
Summerville, No. 703. Summerville, March 25, 1887.
Mahoning, No. 924, Big Run, December 18, 1888. Lindsey, No. 1012, Punxsutawney, June 5, 1801. Loyal, No. 1020, Beechtree, October 8, 1891.
Falls, No. 957, Falls Creek, March 15, 1892. Hazel Dell, No. 789, Desire, September 19, 1896. Anita, No. 1121, Anita, January 22, 1901.
Cool Spring, No. 1155, Cool Spring, September 28, 1907.
MASONRY
One of the pioneers of Ridgway township was James L. Gillis. In June, 1820, he left his home in Ontario county, N. Y., to look over the land, and in December, 1820, he moved his family into the wilderness, the party including his children and brother-in- law, as well as Reuben A. Aylesworth and Enos Gillis. They came in sleds, and the journey required two days; they had to camp out overnight. Gillis was an agent for Ridg- way, being related to Jacob Ridgway, one of the richest men in the State, and agent for all his lands in Jefferson county. Thus he was furnished ample means for all expenses. Mr. Gillis had been a cavalry soldier in the war of 1812, took part in several severe engagements, was taken prisoner by the British, and suffered severely. He was a model man physically, and by nature endowed with much intelligence, and was a very interesting man to talk with. This, added to his extensive travels and politi- cal experience, gave him a prominence in the State and nation that few men possessed. He was absent nearly all the time, lobbying at Harrisburg, Pa., or at Washington.
Gillis was the patriarch in Ridgway town- ship. He migrated in 1821 to what he named Montmorenci, Pinecreek township, then in Jef- ferson county. He erected a large frame house, cleared five hundred acres of land, four hundred in one chopping, and built a gristmill and a carding-mill in those woods. For five years he was monarch of all he sur- veyed, and without any post office nearer than fifty miles. He came to Port Barnett, near Brookville, to vote, was liable to and for militia service, and for all legal business had to go to "Indiana, Pa., a distance of ninety miles. While at Montmorenci in 1826 he was instrumental in securing a mail route from Kittanning to Olean, N. Y. This gave him mail service once in two weeks. He was a great horseman and horseback rider.
In 1826 William Morgan, of Batavia, N. Y., was abducted from his home at night and never heard of afterwards. Morgan had been a Mason, and published the alleged secrets of the Masonic fraternity. The Masons were charged with abducting and murdering him. Mystery surrounds his disappearance to this day. Intense excitement prevailed all over the nation. Mr. Gillis was a Mason, and was ar- rested at Montmorenci and carried to New York State, and there tried for the abdtiction and murder of Morgan. In the trial he was cleared.
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Gillis was slow and methodical in his habits ; was fond of games, chess, backgammon, check- ers, and euchre. He carried a snuffbox that held about a pint of the choicest snuff, in which was buried a Tonka bean, that imparted to the snuff a delightful aroma. He walked with a gold-headed cane, and in winter he wore a panther-skin overcoat. Physically he was a large man, and he was sociable and agreeable. In 1830 he moved to where Ridg- way now is. He was elected to several offices. including that of Congressman. He moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he died in 1881. aged eighty-nine years.
Col. Alexander McKnight was the first Mason to locate in Brookville. Hobah Lodge. No. 276, Free and Accepted Masons, located at Brookville, Pa., was chartered the Ist day of September, 1853, and constituted by Brother Robert E. Brown on the 2d day of November. A. D. 1853. The officers elected and installed were: James L. Gillis, W. M. : David S. Deering, S. W .; Evans R. Brady. J. W .: I. G. Gordon, secretary. The lodge room was in the upper story of the first "American House." This building was burned down on the 23d day of May, 1856. The first Masonic funeral conducted by the lodge was that of Brother William McCandless, on the 28th day of May, 1856.
The stated meetings of the lodge from June, 1856. to and including that of March 3. 1857. were held in the Louis Thiels building, where the National Bank of Brookville now stands. The stated meeting of March 10, 1857. and all meetings of the lodge thereafter up to Jan- uary 28, 1869, were held in the Evans build- ing. located on lot No. 65. on the north side of Main street. I was made a Mason there No- vember 28, 1864. On the 28th of January. 1869. the lodge moved into the Nicholson building, situated on the south side of Main street, on lot No. 32. the third story of which was owned by the Masonie Ilall Association. This building was destroyed in the fire of November 20, 1874. A special meeting of the lodge was called and held in the Matson build- ing on the same evening. The next meeting of the lodge was held December 3. 1874. in the hall in the thiry story of the McKnight building, situated on the eastern half of lot No. 35. then occupied by the Improved Order of Red Men, at which time they purchased of the 1. O. of R. Men their furniture, carpets, cte .. and leased the hall. From the Red Men hall they moved to their present commodious quarters, on the corner of Main and Picker- ing streets. In the sixties the pioneer Masons
walked from Punxsutawney. Reynoldsville and other points of the county to and from the stated meetings of the lodge. The charter members of Hobah Lodge were: James L. Gillis. David S. Deering. Evans R. Brady. Henry P. Sullivan, T. H. Van Valzah, O. P. Reynolds, G. R. Barrett and Henry Raught.
Past Masters of Hobah Lodge. No. 276, F. and A. M .: James I .. Gillis, 1853; James I .. Gillis. 1854: Evans R. Brady, 1855; Evans R. Brady, 1856; Pearl Roundy, 1857; John Henderson, 1858: John Henderson, 1859: Alexis L. Gordon. 1860; Alexis L. Gordon. 1861: John Henderson, 1862; Alexis L. Gor- don, 1863: Alexis 1. Gordon. 1864: William C. Evans, 1865: Alexis L. Gordon, 1866; Lewis A. Grunder, 1867; Madison M. Mere- dith, 1868: James P. George, 1869; Wilson R. Ramsey, 1870; James L. Brown, 1871 ; Rob- ert R. Means, 1872; John MeMurray. 1873: James K. Hamilton. 1874; William A. Frank, 1875: Philip H. Shannon, 1876; Williamson D. J. Marlin, 1877: James H. Maize, 1878; Charles Corbett. 1879: John J. Patterson. 1880; Solomon Kaufman, 1881: George W. Means, 1882; William B. Cowan, 1883; Abra- ham F. Balmer, 1884; Benjamin M. Marlin, 1885 ; Frank N. Kreitler, 1886; E. Clarke Hall. 1887: E. Clarke Hall, 1888; Cyrus H. Blood. 1889; John M. Van Vliet, 1890; Winfield S. Trainer, 1801: Benjamin M. Clark, 1892; Robert R. Maffett. 1893: James S. Carroll. 1804: Walter W. Matson, 1895: James B. Caldwell, 1896; Archie J. McMurray, 1897: Elmer E. Pearsall. 1898; Harry E. Darr. 1809: Reed B. Teitrick, 1900; John W. Reed. 1001; W. Stuart Weaver. 1902; Henry J. Scott, 1903; William N. Conrad, 1904 ; Rufus G. Reitz, 1905; Byron M. Moore. 1906; Harry T. Love, 1907; John E. Allgood. 1908; Buell B. Whitchill. 1909; Clyde C. Murray, 1910; Richard E. Reitz, 1911; Leslie M. Jones, 1912: John M. Brosius, 1913 : J. Willis Heber. 1914 : William A. Kelly, 1915.
There are at present three Masonic lodges in Jefferson county, viz .: Hobah, No. 276. of Brookville, organized November 2. 1853 : John W. Jenks, No. 534. of Punxsutawney. March 9. 1875: John M. Read, No. 536, of Reynoldsville, October. 1875.
John W. Jenks Lodge. No. 534. F and A. 17 .. located at Punxsutawney. was instituted March 9. 1875. by William B. Meredith. R. W. D. D. G. M. The following members were its pioncer officers: W. M., Thomas K. Hast- ing : S. W .. Jacob Zeitler; J. W .. James C. Shields; secretary. James A. Minish; S. D .. John Crawford : J. D .. William J. Smith : Pur.,
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George W. Porter ; S. M. C., William Altman ; J. M. C., Andrew P. Cox ; chaplain, James E. Mitchell; tiler, Adam B. Hoch; treasurer, Joseph Shields.
John M. Read Lodge, No. 536, Free and Accepted Masons .- Past masters : Francis M. Cole, 1875, 1876; William A. Stewart, 1877; George W. Thompson, 1878; Joseph T. Gutherie, 1879, 1889; John Harris, 1880; Camden Mitchell, 1881, 1882; Joseph Strauss, 1883; Tilton C. Reynolds, 1884 to 1888; Al- fred I. Broadhead, 1890; Cassitis C. Gibson, 1891 ; Charles A. Herpel, 1892, 1893; Henry Herpel, 1894; Henry C. Deible, 1895; Law- rence J. McEntire, 1896; Samuel E. Wiser, 1897; Joseph S. Hammond, 1898; John H. Bell, 1899; Richard Jennings, 1900; Lewis G. Lidle, 1901 ; Thomas E. Evans, 1902; Thomas E. Neff, 1903; Joseph M. Cathers, 1904; John H. Murray, 1905; Walter R. Reed, 1906; George C. Strouse, 1907; Samuel B. Long, 1908: Harry F. Lavo, 1909; Harry L. McEn- tire. 1910; Manley E. Weed, 1911; Fred J. Butler, 1912; Russell B. Fleming, 1913; Bert A. Hoffman, 1914; Alexander London, 1915; J. Morris Smith, elected December 14, 1915. Jefferson Chapter, R. A. M., No. 225 .- On the 5th day of August, A. D. 1869, A. I. 2399. a warrant was granted by the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania to Jef- ferson Chapter, No. 225. R. A. Masons, to be held at Brookville, Pa., the following being the charter members or officers thereof : Com- panions, Madison M. Meredith, M. E. H .; Philip H. Shannon, king; James L. Brown, scribe. The chapter was constituited on the 7th day of October. A. D. 1869, A. I. 2399, by District Deputy High Priest Companion Miles W. Sage, assisted by a number of Royal Arch Masons, in Masonic Hall, in the Nicholson building, south side of Main street, Brookville. where the meetings of the chapter were held till after said hall was burned down, when it moved with Hobah Lodge, No. 276, F. and A. M., to the MeKnight building, opposite the courthouse. The first officers of the chapter were Madison M. Meredith, H. P. ; Philip H. Shannon, king: James L. Brown, scribe ; George W. Andrews, treasurer; and Robert R. Means, secretary.
PYTHIANISM IN JEFFERSON COUNTY
Before entimmerating the lodges of Jefferson county it might be well to reproduce here a speech delivered by W. J. McKnight at a Pythian banquet :
"Chancellor Commander, Ladies, Knights
and Gentlemen : Friendship, Charity and Benevolence is the trinity of Pythian Knight- hood-a sacred trialogue of three distinctive forces that vitalize and energize our order.
Friendship
"Ordinary friendship means mutual admira- tion, esteem, respect, and an aptness to unite. In this world we have several kinds of ordin- ary friendships, viz .: Social, business, fam- ily, political and religious friendships. These friendships of the world are only partial and imperfect friendships. They are friendships of pleastire, utility, and self-interest. But Pythian friendship is disinterested love, the friendship of virtue. There can be no true friendship without perfect confidence, and there can be no perfect confidence without strict integrity. It was this friendship, based upon integrity, and stistained by confidence, that enabled Pythias to brave all his dangers. True Pythian friendship is a bank that never breaks, is a store a thief never takes, aye, is a rock that never shakes all the wide world over. It is a friendship which begets the divinest love in the breasts of Pythian Knights-a friendship that will strike in defense of each other's honor; a friendship that dares to do, to sacrifice, to suffer, and to die; a friendship like that between Damon and Pythias; a friendship like that between David and Jona- than ; a friendship pleasant in life, not divided by death, swifter than eagles to relieve a brother in his calamity, and stronger than lions. To stimulate, to educate this ideal friendship, we as knights are taught and ad- monished to believe in and to have faith in God, to love our country, to be honest, in- dustrious, prudent, temperate in eating, drink- ing, exercise and labor, to be truthful and courageous, believing that by the cultivation of these virtues we will elevate our individual manhood and bind ourselves in a brotherhood as with a band of iron.
"Like a cradle rocking, rocking, Silent, peaceful, to and fro. Like a mother's sweet looks dropping On the little face below, Hangs the green earth, swinging, turning, Jarless, noiseless, safe and slow ; Falls the light of God's face, bending Down on us below. And as feeble babes that suffer, Toss, and cry, and will not rest, Are the ones the tender mother Holds the closest, loves the best; So when we are weak and wretched, By our sins weighed down, distressed, Then it is that God's great Friendship, Holds us closest, loves us best.
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"So it is when we, knights, are weak and wretched, weighed down with distress, then it is that Pythian friendship 'holds us closest, loves us best.'
"Knights! Let us each. one and all, struggle for and hope to attain this ideal friendship, if only for the enjoyment of hope itself. Rich and glorious is hope, it encourages all things, good, great and noble-it whispers health to the sick, home to the wanderer, and life to the dying. It is the evergreen of life that grows at the eastern gate of the soul's garden. Then cultivate hope for humanity, cultivate hope for country, and cultivate hope for heaven. When friendship such as this binds knight to knight, and soul to soul, then Pythian charity will fill the world.
Charity
"Charity suffereth long and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. charity thinketh no evil, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
"Though J speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am be- come as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and I have not charity, I am nothing. And though I give all my goods to feed the poor. and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
"The charity of this world consists in the mere giving of gold: giving of alms; it is shallow and spasmodic. But Pythian charity is a practical, substantial, working virtue. It is like a deep flowing river, strong, full, and continual. It is toleration. Toleration for your fellow man, toleration for his ignorance, toleration for his opinions, and toleration for his weaknesses. It is the construing of words and deeds in the most favorable light, and granting honesty of purpose and good inten- tion to others.
Benevolence
"What is benevolence? Ordinary or ideal benevolence is tenderness, kindness, forgive- ness, love, and goodness. Pythian benevolence is both ideal and organized. It is sympathy. love and weekly benefits for a needy brother. It is sympathy, love, and a widow's fund for the tears of the widow and orphan. It is sym-
pathy, love, a relief fund and a relief com- mittee for all misery and misfortune. Thus you see that Pythian benevolence is practical and active, that it has sunshine in its eye, cn- couragement on its tongue, and inspiration with something substantial in its hand.
"Brethren, as knights, let us continue to cultivate friendship, let us continue to exercise charity, and let us continue to practice benevo- lence. Let us visit our brother in misfortune, misery and death, let us be his refuge, shelter, and defense, let us wipe away the tear from the widow and orphan, let us visit the sick, smooth the pillow of death, and make it the . pillow of peace, let us bury our dead, care for the widow and orphan, yes, let us, one and all,
"Strive to raise the fallen, Soothe the hearts oppressed with woe, Lead to duty's path the erring, Love and bless both friend and foe. Earth to us will then prove Eden, Life a paradise of Love, And death will only be transition, And Heaven our resting place above.
"Misfortune, misery and death being writ- ten in such fearful characters on the broad face of creation, our noble order was instituted to uplift the fallen ; to champion humanity ; to be his guide and hope ; his refuge, shelter and defense ; and by the sweet and powerful at- tractions of the glorious trinity of Friendship, Charity and Benevolence, to bind in one harmo- nious brotherhood men of all classes and all opinions."
Knights of Pythias
Organization of Castle Halls, in Jefferson county :
Mountain Cliff, No. 393, West Beechtree. April 8, 1873. Valiant, No. 461, Reynoldsville, November 29, 1879. Brookville, No. 477, Brookville. November 29. 1881. Charity, No. 488, Brockwayville, March 26, 1883. Punxsutawney, No. 493, Punxsutawney, December 18, 1883.
Big Run, No. 47, Big Run, November 28, 1884. Sykesville, No. 185, Sykesville, September 8, 1887. Belleview, No. 214, DeLancey, November 14, 1888. Chestnut Ridge, No. 283, Grange, December 13, 1880. Confidence, No. 344, Rathmel, April 23, 1891. Mahoning. No. 361, Lindsey, May 22, 1891. Eleanora, No. 124. Desire, March 2, 1808.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
The Grand Army of the Republic was or- ganized at Decatur, Ill., April 6, 1866. It was suggested by Dr. B. F. Stevenson, late a ser-
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geant in the 14th Illinois Regiment, and he is regarded as the founder. Post No. I was organized at Decatur, Post No. 2 at Spring- field. Each State is a department and posts begin with No. I in each department.
The first national encampment was held at Indianapolis, Ind., November 20, 1866. Penn- sylvania was represented in this encampment. and soon after posts were organized all over this State, Brookville being the first to secure an organization of the order in the county. Post No. 134 was instituted on the 25th of June, 1868, with the following officers: Post commander. W. S. Barr; senior vice com- mander, William English; junior vice com- mander, John E. Barr; officer of the day, J. W. Henderson; officer of the guard, W. R. Ramsey ; chaplain, W. C. Evans ; surgeon, A. P. Heichhold: quartermaster, George Van Vliet ; adjutant, John A. McLain; sergeant major, M. C. Thompson ; quartermaster ser- geant, A. B. McLain.
This post was first known by its number- 134. Prior to 1869 there was no provision in the rules for naming posts. In that year it was provided that any post may prefix the name of a deceased soldier, or of some person eminent for loyalty or efficiency during the war. In pursuance of this order the post adopted the name of Col. A. A. McKnight, the intrepid commander of the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and it retained its name until its charter was surrendered in 1878, as the result of Democratic opposition to the order and its purposes, and because of the removal of many of its members to other localities. The post took charge of arrangements for Decoration day. inviting the public to participate in the ceremonies of decorating with flowers the graves of deceased soldiers, and contributed largely in charity for the relief of distressed comrades, and the families of those who had died in the service, and materially aided in procuring the admission of soldiers' orphans into the schools provided by the State for them. Much hostility existed to the order at this date.
On the 12th of May, 1882, the organization was revived, and Capt. E. R. Brady Post, No. 242, Department of Pennsylvania, was organ- ized. The following were the officers elected and installed: Commander, James P. George : senior vice commander. John W. Walker: junior vice commander, Charles J. Wilson : officer of the day, Silas J. Marlin : officer of the guard. George W. Turner : chaplain, Rev. Theodore Henderson ; surgeon, Dr. W. J. Mc- Knight ; quartermaster, Robert A. Hubbard;
adjutant, F. A. Weaver; quartermaster ser- geant. C. O. Hammond ; sergeant major, J. C. Whitehill. The other posts in the county, with location and date of organization, are :
John C. Conser, No. 192, Reynoldsville, August 27, 1880. Capt. E. H. Little, No. 237, Punxsutawney, April 14. 1882. Jefferson, No. 269, Brockwayville, August 17, 1882. Capt. J. C. Dowling, No. 303, Corsica, February 22, 1883.
Post No. 434, Sprankle Mills, May 8, 1884.
BURY ME WITH MY GRAND ARMY BADGE
(Words and Arrangement by COMRADE A. CANTWELL)
When the long roll has sounded, my last long alarm, When my spirit and body shall part,
When my name has been called and "at rest" is returned,
With my hands folded over my heart,
When no more shall the Reveille wake with the day, And call me to labor from rest;
Then bury me as a true soldier should be, With my Grand Army Badge on my breast.
Let me sleep my last sleep, with my beautiful star, With its banner, and eagle and all,
Close to my still heart, which has ever been true To the flag, at my loved country's call ; In my life 'twas the emblem of loyalty, truth And charity, sweetest and best ;
Then bury me, when my last summons shall come, With my Grand Army Badge on my breast.
'Tis a badge no traitor's breast ever can wear, 'Tis an emblem of loyalty true; 'Tis a broad shield of brotherhood, spotless and fair, The most beautiful Red, White and Blue; 'Tis an emblem no monarch can ever bestow, And none but the brave e'er possessed ; And so I desire that I sleep my last sleep, With my Grand Army Badge on my breast.
And in that grandest muster on that brighter shore, When we pass our great final review, It will shine on to show that my loyal heart beat To my country and flag ever true; 'Twill be a prized emblem to show in that land, The beautiful land of the blest ;
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