USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1753-1907, with family genealogies > Part 43
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During 1826 and 1827, great excitement was caused throughout the country by an unfounded story that a man named William Morgan had been abducted and maltreated
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History of Rockingham
in the state of New York because of having divulged the secrets of Masonry. These stories were so wild and exag- gerated that it has never been definitely ascertained what the facts were, but a wave of opposition to Masonry and all secret societies swept the land. This became so pronounced as to give rise to another political party founded in opposi- tion to the principles of Masonry. The excitement was greater throughout Vermont than in any other state, because of certain favoring political situations.
Among the leading champions in Vermont of the new party were Martin Flint of Randolph, Edward D. Barber of Middlebury, and Ebenezer Eaton of Danby. All the three persons named were editors. Mr. Eaton was the publisher and editor of the North Star of Danville, which became the most bitter in its denunciation of Masonry. The editor had been a prominent Free Mason, but came out boldly in his paper renouncing his obligations to the fraternity and endors- ing Morgan's reputed exposure of its secret proceedings. The new party had a rapid growth in Vermont, finally num- bering a plurality of the voters, and obtained, by the co-oper- ation of the Whigs, the control of the state. Many of the subordinate lodges gave up their organizations and sold their furniture and paraphernalia. The Grand Lodge of Vermont discontinued its sessions for several years previous to 1846 and was kept alive only by the meeting biennially of the grand master, grand secretary, and grand treasurer, they adjourning each time for two years. The regular sessions were again established in 1846.
Anti-Masonry had a similar, although smaller, growth in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Pennsylva- nia gave the party its first candidate for the presidency, Amos Ellmaker, but Vermont was the first and only state to give its entire electorial vote to that candidate.
Dr. Spaulding of Haverhill, N. H., in his " Reminis- cences," speaks of it thus :
"The old federal party in Vermont, in consequence of their opposition to the war of 1812, had become so unpopular as to lose all political influence in
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The Anti-Masonic Movement
the state, and therefore resolved to regain it by taking advantage of this excitement in New York, and were much encouraged by their success there. They induced the editor of the Danville North Star to renounce Masonry, and publish an anti-Masonic paper. The institution was not only attacked, but every Mason, whatever his character might have been heretofore, was denounced as a liar and murderer, and unless he would renounce and denounce Masonry, was unworthy of being a fit member of society. Some went so far as to proscribe Masons in their business, and a few said they longed to see them put to the guillotine. Ministers were dismissed from their parishes, and some of the most worthy members of our churches were excommunicated."
Vermont was the only state in the Union in which the anti-Masons came into power. In 1830, William A. Palmer of Danville was the candidate of the party for governor, and this party was large enough to prevent an election by the people. Governor Crafts was elected by the legislature. In 1831, Palmer and the anti-Masons had the largest vote, but not a majority. He was elected by the legislature, after nine ballots, by a majority of one. The same thing happened the next year, and Palmer was re-elected by the legislature, after forty-nine ballots, by a majority of two. In 1833, Palmer was re-elected by the people. In 1834, the anti-Masonic party had begun to go to pieces. A large portion of it joined with the Whig party, but Palmer was again elected by the legislature. In 1835, although Palmer still led the popular vote, the Whig party, led by Horatio Seymour, was strong enough to prevent an election by the people, and to defeat Pal- mer in the legislature, but not strong enough to elect anyone else. After sixty-three ballots, there was no choice for gov- ernor. The effort was then given up, and Silas H. Jenni- son, who had been elected lieutenant governor on the ticket for Palmer, had to take the governor's chair. This ended one of the strangest chapters in the history of Vermont's politics.
The members of the Masonic fraternity in some localities in the state continued their meetings, although in a very secret manner. There is no record that any were held in Rockingham during the time of the popularity of the anti- Masonic movement. It was not until 1845 that the Grand
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History of Rockingham
Lodge of Vermont was re-convened, but within a few years a number of local lodges were re-established in the state.
December 22, 1857, a meeting of the Master Masons residing in this town was held in Bellows Falls, for the pur- pose of forming a lodge here. Those present were Asa Wentworth, Jr., Jared D. Perkins, William Stone, Calvin E. Newcomb, Ethan B. Webb, H. H. Stone, John Adams, and Edward D. Quincy. Colonel Webb and William Stone were the only members of the old organization. It was voted to make application to the Grand Lodge for a letter of dispensa- tion, and the following officers were nominated to be named as the first officers of the new lodge : E. B Webb, W. M. ; A. Wentworth, Jr., S. W .; J. D. Perkins, J. W .; E. G. Quincy was secretary of the meeting. Arrangements were made with the Odd Fellows of the village to occupy their hall jointly with them.
The application for a dispensation until the new charter could be secured was granted by Grand Master Philip C. Tucker and dated January 13, 1858. The organization was named King Solomon's Lodge, No. 45, the original number, forty-four, having been granted to another lodge. The first meeting under the new authority was held in Odd Fel- lows' hall, Bellows Falls, January 15, 1858, and the new organization was completed. The members present were E. B. Webb, W. M. ; A. Wentworth, Jr., S. W. ; J. D. Perkins, J. W .; Ambrose Arnold, treasurer ; E. G. Quincy, secretary ; Calvin E. Newcomb, S. D. : William Stone, J. D. ; John Adams, tyler. H. H. Stone and J. Cone were the other members present.
The first citizens to be made Masons by the reorganized lodge were Charles K. Fleming, S. C. Fleming, B. M. Livermore, Lewis A. Grant, and Aaron Arms.
The first hall occupied by this lodge was in connection with the Odd Fellows in the third story of the east half of the present Mammoth block on the south side of the Square, then known as Harris block. The rooms occupied all the third story and access was gained to them by two flights of stairs
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Original Documents Found
on the outside of the east end of the building where the present office of the Howard Hardware company is. A few years later they removed to the third story of a frame building on the east side of the Square, on land now covered by the north end of Union block. It was known as King's block, being owned by a man of that name living in Alstead. This build- ing was destroyed by fire July 28, 1868, and the lodge lost heavily. Temporary quarters were secured again with the Odd Fellows in Harris block, where they remained until Union block was erected in 1870, since which time they have retained the present quarters.
Colonel Webb, who had been active in the original lodge, chartered in 1816, was now an aged man and remained master only until March, 1858, when he resigned. The following have since been masters of this lodge, the year given being that of election: Calvin E. Newcomb, 1858; Samuel C. Fleming, 1861 ; William H. Johnson, 1867 ; Bradley A. Putney, 1870; Jared D. Perkins, 1872; Henry W. Hutchins, 1874; Charles B. Eddy, 1875; Lyman S. Hayes, 1877 ; Henry W. Hutchins, 1879; Hiram King, Jr., 1881 ; Eugene S. Leonard, 1883; Daniel Beaton, 1885; Frank Adams, 1887 ; C. P. Blanchard, 1889; Hiram King, Jr., 1890 ; George Eugene Cady, 1893 ; Eugene S. Leonard, 1895 ; Frazier M. Howard, 1896; George B. Wheeler, 1898 ; Wilbur A. Truax, 1901.
During the years when Masonry was dormant in Rockingham, the old members of the order frequently expressed the wish to know what had become of the old records and charter of the former organization. This desire was intensified after the re-establishment of the lodge, but until 1869 only one person, an aged woman, knew of their where- abouts. In the spring of that year, Mrs. Benjamin Smith of Saxtons River informed members of the order that a small trunk had been in her custody since the death of her husband over thirty years before. It had come to the possession of Mr. and Mrs. Smith from Col. Carter Whitcomb, in whose hall the last meeting of the order had been held, and had
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History of Rockingham
been guarded secretly by them, as the feeling against Masonry was so intense during the first few years that it was feared the possession of anything pertaining to the order would work injury to the person in whose house it might be found. Mrs. Smith had carefully guarded the secret after his death, knowing the deep regard of her husband for the lodge, in which he was the second person to be initiated. She was now becoming aged, and, knowing that the order was being revived here, and wishing to relieve herself of the care of the precious trunk, she informed a member of the lodge of its existence and whereabouts, and in the summer of 1869 it was turned over to a committee appointed for that purpose. Upon opening it, the letter of dispensation, com- plete records, and other documents of the original lodge, except the charter, were found intact.
The faithfulness of Mrs. Smith to her husband's order was fully appreciated by the members of King Solomon's Lodge, and on Wednesday evening, July 7, 1869, a large delegation of the order assembled at her residence in Saxtons River. Past Master Samuel C. Fleming, in behalf of the lodge, presented to her a beautiful silver tea set on which was engraved, "Presented to Mrs. Benjamin Smith, by King Solomon's Lodge F. & A. M. as a testimonial of her fidelity in preserving the ancient records of the lodge." The pre- sentation was accompanied by appropriate remarks from various members of the order present, Mrs. Smith being represented in the speaking by her son-in-law, J. L. Butter- field, Esq., a prominent resident of Grafton.
LODGE OF THE TEMPLE, NO. 94
A dispensation for an additional lodge known as Lodge of the Temple, No. 94, was dated January 25, 1871, and issued by Grand Master George M. Hall. The charter was granted June 15, 1871. The names of thirty applicants appear in the petition. The first meeting was held February 4, 1871 and the first officers were George H. Babbitt, W. M. ; M. M. Whitney, S. W. ; A. Worthington, J. W. ; J. H.
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Later Lodges-Royal Arch Chapter
Phelps, treasurer ; George O. Guild, secretary ; S. C. Flem- ing, S. D. ; G. R. Farnsworth, J. D. ; Albert Derby, S. S. ; W. J. Conant, J. S., and E. P. Kidder, tyler.
The first to be made an Entered Apprentice in the new organization was E. F. Adams. The lodge always occupied the same rooms with the other organizations during all the years of its existence.
The different masters, with the year of their election, were : G. H. Babbitt, 1871 ; M. M. Whitney, 1873 ; H. A. Titus, 1875 ; J. B. Farley, 1879 ; G. F. Mosely, 1881 ; A. R. Slader, 1886; J. W. Hurlburt, 1889; F. H. Babbitt, 1890 ; C. H. Williams, 1893 ; A. J. Holley, 1895 ; C. W. Black, 1896 ; L. L. Northrup, 1897 : W. H. Taylor, 1898; Charles H. Robb, 1900; F. C. Lewis, 1902.
In June, 1903, King Solomon's Lodge and Lodge of the Temple were consolidated, continuing as one organiza- tion under the name of King Solomon's Temple Lodge, No. 45. The last reports of the two independent lodges showed a membership of one hundred and forty-three in King Solomon's Lodge and of one hundred and two in Lodge of the Temple.
KING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE LODGE, NO. 45
The two blue lodges of Bellows Falls, united under one organization named King Solomon's Temple Lodge, No. 45, held their first meeting as such September 10, 1903, the charter from the grand lodge being dated June 11, 1903. The following were the first officers : W. A. Truax, W. M .; F. C. Lewis, S. W. ; D. H. Switzer, J. W. ; Frank Adams, treasurer ; George I. Whitney, secretary ; G. L. Provost, S. D .; A. L. Knight, J. D .; F. W. Knight, S. S .; G. S. Buxton, J. S. ; B. F. Walters, tyler. Edward B. Searle succeeded W. A. Truax as master in 1904, and the present worshipful master is Dayton H. Switzer. The membership of the lodge at this time is about two hundred and sixty-five.
ABENAQUI CHAPTER, NO. 19, ROYAL ARCH MASONS
A preliminary meeting of Royal Arch Masons to organ- ize a body here was held in Masonic hall, March 6, 1867.
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History of Rockingham
The following were present : S. C. Fleming, Solon Perry, F. G. Butterfield, A. Worthington, D. J. Bemis, L. C. Ayers, G. R. Farnsworth, John Adams, E. S. Sabin, Jr., and C. E. Newcomb.
A dispensation was granted for the formation of Abena- qui Chapter, No. 19, May 3, 1867, by Grand High Priest Edward S. Dana. The officers were S. C. Fleming, H. P. ; C. E. Newcomb, king; E. S. Sabin, Jr., scribe ; John Adams, treasurer ; F. G. Butterfield, C. of H. ; Solon Perry, R. A. C. : A. Worthington, P. S. ; G. R. Farnsworth, L. C. Ayers, and D. J. Bemis, G. M. of V.
The subsequent high priests, with the year of their elec- tion, have been as follows: F. G. Butterfield, 1870 ; S. T. Searle, 1873 ; G. H. Babbitt, 1874 ; B. A. Putney, 1875 ; H. W. Hutchins, 1877 ; H. A. Titus, 1879; J. B. Farley, 1881 ; O. A. Day, 1882 ; A. R. Slader, 1884 ; W. H. Taylor, 1886; G. A. Weston, 1888 : C. H. Williams, 1889; C. W. Black, 1892 : B. F. Walters, 1895 : H. R. Thompson, 1898 ; G. H. Gorham, 1900 ; R. D. Locklin, 1902 : G. I. Whitney, 1903.
BELLOWS FALLS COUNCIL, NO. 17
A council of Royal and Select Masters was organized at Bellows Falls, June 11, 1878, by Most Illustrious Albert C. Hubbell, grand master of the grand council of Vermont. The charter members were S. T. Searle, T. I. M. ; M. M. Whitney, R. I. M. : C. E. Holbrook, I. M. of W. ; H. A. Titus, treasurer ; W. H. Griswold, recorder; J. B. Farley, P. C .; H. W. Hutchins, Capt. of G. ; L. S. Hayes, mar- shal ; George K. Russell, F. L. Amadon, Cyrus Royce, Jr., H. E. Rand, and George B. Wheeler.
The first to take their degrees in the newly constituted council were Daniel Beaton, W. G. Barker, O. A. Day, and James Labaree. George H. Gorham is the present presiding officer, and the council numbers seventy-three members.
HOLY CROSS COMMANDERY, NO. 12, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
Previous to 1899, members of the Royal Arch Chapter who wished to take the Temple degrees were necessitated to
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Holy Cross Commandery
go to Beauseant at Brattleboro. A number of local Sir Knights were members of the Keene commandery, and until the year named there was no local commandery.
A meeting of Sir Knights of this town, Springfield, Chester, and other places was held in Masonic hall, then, as now, located in the third story of Union block, Wednesday, April 20, 1898, when a petition for the institution of a com- mandery in Bellows Falls was signed. These were suggested as the three first officers: Sir Knights Charles Harvey Williams, eminent commander ; Carroll Works Black, gen- eralissimo, and George Henry Gorham, captain general.
This petition was presented to the grand commandery June 14, 1898, and a charter was granted. At a meeting of the petitioners held in Masonic hall, July 29, 1898, the remaining officers were nominated and committees chosen for furthering plans for the institution of the commandery.
January 27, 1899, the officers of the Grand Command- ery of Vermont made a pilgrimage to Bellows Falls and insti- tuted Holy Cross Commandery, No. 12. They installed the officers in the prescribed form, R. E. Grand Commander Jesse E. Thompson of Rutland presiding. The following Sir Knights were the first officers of the new organization : Eminent Commander, Charles Harvey Williams; Gen- eralissimo, Carroll Works Black; Captain General, George Henry Gorham ; Senior Warden, George Farnham Leland ; Prelate, Frederick Henry. Babbitt ; Treasurer, George Ack- ley Weston ; Recorder, James Henry Busby; Standard Bearer, Baxter Metcalf Walker; Warder, George Brown Wheeler ; Captain of Ist Guard, Charles Henry Moore ; Captain of 2d Guard, Eugene William Knight; Captain of 3rd Guard, Ell Leon Keyes: Sentinel, William Henry Taylor. Speechmaking, followed by a collation in Banquet hall, closed the exercises.
The first meeting for business was held February 21, 1899, with twenty members present. The first annual report made to the Grand Commandery May, 1900, showed a ·membership of fifty-seven.
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History of Rockingham
In May, 1901, Sir Knight George Henry Gorham was elected commander ; in May, 1903, Sir Knight George Farnham Leland succeeded to the office, and in May, 1905, Sir Knight George Brown Wheeler, the present incumbent, was elected.
The present membership is 116, and the commandery has occupied the same Masonic rooms since its institution.
ALPHA CHAPTER, NO. 53, ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR
May 27, 1902, members of the Masonic fraternity and their ladies met at Masonic hall in Bellows Falls for the pur- pose of instituting Alpha Chapter No. 53, Order of the Eastern Star. A number of members of the grand chapter of the state were present, including Grand Patron J. S. Weeks, who organized the chapter and installed its first officers.
The charter members were Mrs. S. Grace Ray, M. H. Ray, Hiram King, Mrs. Lizzie A. King, Dr. J. S. Hill, Mrs. Lilla C. Hill, Mrs. Lucia E. Sawyer, Dr. Charles F. Meacham, Mrs. Emma C. Meacham, M. M. Whitney, Mrs. Margaret D. Whitney, Mrs. Nettie M. Dunham, Miss Blanche G. Bowtell, Mrs. Nettie L. Bowtell, Charles S. Howard, Mrs. Etta M. Howard, Mrs. Sarah T. Andrews, George I. Whitney, Mrs. Minnie E. Whitney, Harry C. Elliott, Mrs. Ethel N. Elliott, George H. Gorham, Mrs. Abbie C. Gorham, Alfred L. Field, Mrs. Jennie S. Field, Perley L. Kimball, Mrs. Annie L. Kimball, Wilbur A. Truax, Gerald M. Welch, Charles H. Gibson, Mrs. Addie B. Gibson and Mrs. Ruth C. Walker.
The three first officers for 1902 were: Mrs. Grace S. Ray, worthy matron; Hiram King, worthy patron; and Mrs. Etta M. Howard, associate matron. For 1903 they were Mrs. Etta M. Howard, George H. Gorham, Mrs. S. T. Andrews; for 1904, Mrs. Etta M. Howard, George H. Gorham, Mrs. Abbie C. Gorham; for 1905, Mrs. Abbie C. Gorham, George H. Gorham and Mrs. Lucia E. Sawyer.
The membership at this time numbers sixty-seven.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS
The establishment of Odd Fellowship in this town dates back to the action of the Grand Lodge of Vermont, February II, 1852, when Bellows Falls Lodge, No. 23, was chartered. The records of this first organization have been lost, and few details in relation to it are obtainable. It remained in active being until a meeting of the Grand Lodge of Vermont, May 24, 1859, when the charter and records were surrendered.
The organization of this lodge was effected in the carpenter's shop of John G. Wightman, in the first story of the building on the west side of Rockingham street now owned by L. T. Lovell, occupied for a meat market, The meetings were held in this shop for some months, when the fraternity leased "Wightman's hall" in the second story of the building on the opposite side of the street now known as Farr's block. From here, the Odd Fellows moved to a hall in the third story of the block on the south side of the Square then known as "Harris block," now forming the central portion of Mammoth block. The rooms were reached by two flights of stairs on the outside of the east end. The building was erected in 1832, by William Hall and Samuel W. Goodridge, who constituted the mercantile firm of Hall & Goodridge, and occupied it as a general country store. It was a three- story brick building, with a pitch roof and gable toward the Square. These rooms the lodge occupied for the last five or six years of its existence.
Its first representative to the grand lodge was Ira C. Allen, in August, 1852. The next was Jared D. Perkins, a local jeweller. In 1854, Capt. Walter Taylor's name appears on the grand lodge records, as from Bellows Falls Lodge, and, in 1855, that of Albert Derby. The latter is the only man now living who served the original lodge as noble
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History of Rockingham
grand. Among others active in the old lodge were Norman H. Farr, Jeremiah Leach, and Henry C. Wiley.
In 1858-9 throughout the state the great question of the rights of the colored man began to be agitated among the members in the different lodges. This question, which, with others, soon after resulted in the Civil war, caused the practical disruption of the order throughout Vermont, the gravity of the situation being heightened by the unfortunate circumstance of the summary expulsion of a brother from Battenkill Lodge, No. 15, at Manchester, because he had a trace of negro blood in his veins. The results of these questions were so far- reaching that the grand lodge and subordinate lodges throughout Vermont were discontinued for a time, the revival taking place from 1868 to 1883, after the war had forever settled many of the questions involved.
The charter of the old Bellows Falls lodge was sur- rendered May 24, 1859, and for twenty years thereafter there was no active organization of the order here. Upon petition of Jared D. Perkins, Jeremiah Leach, Norman H. Farr, Albert Derby, and Henry C. Wiley, Bellows Falls Lodge, No. 23, was revived and the officers were reinstalled on the evening of the eighth day of August, 1878. The grand lodge returned to Bellows Falls the original parchment charter of the first lodge, and it was delivered and accepted with appropriate exercises. At the time of reorganization, the above petitioners formed the membership, to which were added at the first meeting Charles F. Retting, Charles F. Eddy, Leander Amadon, William Miller, and Randolph Dodge. C. F. Eddy was the first noble grand, C. F. Retting, vice-grand ; N. H. Farr, secretary, and Jeremiah Leach, treasurer. From this start with ten members, the growth has been rapid until at the present time the lodge numbers about two hundred and fifty, including many of the leading citizens of the town. The first candidate to take his degree was Charles L. Wheeler, at present living on Atkinson street. Since 1884, the lodge has been located in its present quarters in the third story of Centennial block on the west side of the Square.
Golden Rule Encampment-Canton Skitchawaug 497
The following is a list of noble grands of the new lodge from its organization :
C. F. Eddy, 1878. J. D. Perkins, 1885. George I. Wilson, 1897.
C. F. Retting, 1879. C. H. Lockwood, 1886. E. R. Ball, 1898.
J. B. Farley, 1879. H. H. Bailey, 1887. E. E. Gould, 1899.
Charles L. Wheeler, 188o. S. D. McLeod, 1888, 1891. E. W. Parsons, 1900.
C. C. Lee, ISSO. W. A. Howard. ISS9. F. M. Howard, 1901.
J. W. Keyes, ISSI. W. E. Conway, 1890. C. E. Dowlin, 1902. L. Royce, 1881. J. II. Blakley, 1892. E. W. Trask, 1903.
F. H. Brown, 1882, 1884. Scott Clark, 1893.
A. H. Sabin, 1882. D. M. Damon, 1894.
E. W. Brown, 1904.
J. H. Bluemer, 1905.
E. L. Wheeler, 1883, 1884. J. S. Hill, 1895. D. L. Snow, 1906.
F. M. Barber, 1883. L. J. Royce, 1896.
In 1888, there having been for some years a large num- ber of members of the order residing in Saxtons River, Bel- lows Falls Lodge assisted in the institution of a new lodge in that village, known as Saxtons River Lodge, No. 33. The membership at the present time is about sixty, making a total of over three hundred members of the order resident in the town. The other Odd Fellows' organizations in Bellows Falls are Golden Rule Encampment, No. 15, Canton Skitcha- waug, No. II, and Amity Lodge, No. 7, D. of R.
GOLDEN RULE ENCAMPMENT, NO. 15, I. O. O. F.
This encampment was instituted January 20, 1883, with the following as charter members :
J. D. Perkins, J. F. Rand, C. II. Lockwood, F. H. Brown, Jeremiah . Leach, and A. H. Sabin.
The first officers were as follows :
C. P., A. H. Sabin ; H. P., J. F. Rand; S. W., J. D. Perkins ; J. W., F. H. Brown; Scribe, C. H. Lockwood ; Treasurer, Jeremiah Leach.
The present officers are as follows :
C. P., Hugh W. Miller ; H. P., C. F. Meacham ; S. W., W. F. Barnard ; Scribe, E. R. Ball ; Treasurer, Gerry F. Walker ; J. W., Ira D. Fowler ; F. S., C. W. Bush ; Guide, F. A. Metcalf.
The present membership is about seventy-five.
CANTON SKITCHIAWAUG, NO. II, 1. O. O. F.
The canton was instituted May 27, 1891, the following being the charter members :
33
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History of Rockingham
D. M. Damon, George E. Punt, E. D. Houghton, W. H. Pierce, George I. Wilson, C. P. Holmes, W. E. Conway, Scott Clark, W. S. Pierce, J. B. McLeod, R. J. Stoodley, C. S. Willson, W. A. Howard, S. D. McLeod. C. L. Wheeler, A. F. Winnewisser, E. L. Howard, F. B. Lyon, F. C. Welch, F. J. Tidd, J. H. Blakley, F. H. Brown, J. Y. Raistrick and H. C. McDuffee.
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