Putnam County, Ohio - Secret Societies, Fraternities and Clubs, 1915

Secret Societies, Fraternities and Clubs

Ottawa Lodge No. 325, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered on October 16, i860, at Ottawa, Ohio. Its charter members were John P. Simons, Ehas Farabee, L. Swazey, C. Ewing, C. M. Godfrey, J. L. Olney, George Morehead, C. J. Mann, A. Budd, William Lowry, William Robinson, Isaac Allen, Jacob Lentzy, Nutter Powell, T. E. Paul, J. S. Conine, H. V. Watts and George Springer. J. L. Olney is the only charter member now living.

The membership at present numbers one hundred and thirty-six. The officers are: W. R. Deck, worshipful master; L. E. Eastman, senior warden; Ralph U. Hall, junior warden; Herman Wise, treasurer, and A. Graham, secretary.

Royal Arch Masons

Ottawa Chapter No. 115, Royal Arch Masons, was chartered on October 16, 1869, with the following charter members: J. L'H. Long, L. W. Moe, Elias W. Green, Charles Schimpff, C. M. Godfrey, W. F. Reed, C. J. Swan, D. N. McCullough, A. J. Taylor, J. B. Sprague, Alexander Slemmons, Jacob Werner and Anderson Reeder.

present officers are : Charles C. Cass, high priest ; J. W. Brown, king ; Herman McDougle, scribe; Herman Wise, treasurer; A. Graham, secretary.

Royal And Select Masters

Putnam Council No. 69, Royal and Select Masters, was chartered on March 13, 1879, with the following charter members: J. L'H. Long, H. N. Gessells, N. E. Matthews, G. D. Kinder, L. W. Moe, W. F. Reed, A. Reeder, J. B. Sprague and H. C. Sherrard.

The following have served the council as thrice illustrious master: J. L'H. Long, N. E. Matthews, A. L. Paul, E. L. Frey, Joseph Justice, F. M. Ackerman, W. H. Loy, S. F. DeFord, W. S. Zeller, J. W. Brown, W. H. Handy, J. W. Smith and E. R. Eastman.

The present officers are Herman McDougle, thrice illustrious master; E. V. Burns, deputy master; Charles C. Cass, principal conductor of work; Herman Wise, treasurer, and A. Graham, recorder. The membership numbers one hundred and sixty-five.

Masons At Columbus Grove

Rufus Putnam Lodge No. 364, Free and Accepted Masons, at Columbus Grove, was chartered on May 26, 1866. The following were charter members : E. W. Greene, John Sheets, Allen Edmonds, S. Sanders, A. Reeder, W. L. Hartly, J. B. Sprague, H. H. Gessell, William Onem and J. B. Fruchey. Of these ten charter members, only two survive, H. H. Gessell and Allen Edmunds. Orren Curtis bears the distinction of being the first wor- , shipful master. The membership at present numbers one hundred and thirty-two.

Independent Order Of Odd Fellows

April 25, 1907, was the eighty-eighth anniversary of Odd Fellowship. On April 25, 1819, five men met in Baltimore, Maryland, and organized what now numbers a membership of over a million people. This lodge was named the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and one hundred thousand members of the order are now connected with the lodges in Ohio alone.

Blanchard Lodge is the oldest lodge in Putnam county, having been instituted on June 2, 1855. Up to the annual meeting of the grand lodge, in May, 1906, this lodge had initiated two hundred and fifty-three members, and over four thousand five hundred dollars had been paid to members as sick benefits, two hundred and forty-five dollars and fifty-five cents devoted to the relief of widows and orphans and eight hundred and fifty-one dollars and twenty-seven cents expended for charity. The lodge now has a membership of seventy-five and eight other lodges have been organized in the county since Blanchard Lodge was first organized. In July, 1864, the lodge purchased the lot upon which its temple now stands, and the elegant structure was erected a few years ago.

Gilboa Lodge

Gilboa Lodge No. 459, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was chartered on August 8, 1870. The names of the charter members cannot be given, as the lodge room was destroyed by fire on August 8, 1875, and all the records were destroyed. A new charter was granted on December 23, 1876. The membership numbered seventy-two on January i, 1915, of which number forty-four were past grands.

The amount paid out for sick benefits in the last eighteen years has averaged only one hundred dollars per year, or one thousand eight hundred in all. The amount paid for charity and special relief in the same time has amounted to eight hundred and fifty-eight dollars.

The present officers are Sherman Ketner, noble grand; P. W. Davis, vice-grand; W. H. Tobias, recording secretary; L. G. Phillips, financial secretary; J. G. Knepper, treasurer; Isaac Bracy, H. Harris and M. P. Orenbaugh, trustees.

Leipsic Lodge

Leipsic Lodge No. 536, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted on May 15, 1872, with ten charter members. Two of the charter members are still living, Martin Bowman and L. H. Casteel. This lodge has paid out five thousand dollars for sick benefits. The present membership is sixty.

Dupont Lodge

Dupont Lodge was instituted at Dupont, on November 11, 1882, with the following charter members: C. R. Bram, S. M. Reed, W. R. Castle, Alonzo Pitcher, John Dray, W. L. Wollam, Austin Combs, Samuel Stuckey, S. Barnard, J. Wagner, G. W. Stuckey, Philip Kessler and David Jenkins. Samuel Stuckey served as the first noble grand.

The present building was erected in 1900, at a cost of two thousand dollars. This building has furnished the members with spacious lodge rooms in which to conduct their meetings. The following are serving the lodge as -officers at the present time : W. E. Cullen, Frank Reynolds, W. H. Thomas. C. C. Etter, John Meyers, A. B. Etter, Alonzo Pitcher and W. T. Etter. The present membership numbers forty-seven. The sick benefits as provided by this lodge are three dollars per week.

Townwood Lodge

Townwood Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted in December, 1902. The names of the charter members are as follows: W. F. Coakly, Jay Ott, John Coakly, John Bolix, Vinton McAter, R. A. Davenport, George Clemence, George Mulford, Cyrus Payne, B. B. Brundy, F. Gunther, James Robinson, J. B. Fisher, Winnie Wilson, William Wilson, A. D. Reynolds and J. C. Vanhead. J. B. Fisher and J. C. Vanhead served the lodge first in the capacity of noble grand. The chief officers who are now serving the lodge are L. M. Walker and John Trott.

The present beautiful and commodious building was erected in December, 1902, at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars, and has accommodated the members since the institution of the lodge. The present membership numbers fifty-five.

Columbus Grove Lodge

Columbus Grove Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted in 1870, with the following charter members : Henry Hemuck, E. G. Ford, W. Breckbill, J. D. Genett, Jacob Sheets, William Chase, John Keller, Frederick Doriat and A. T. Ransom. The present membership numbers eighty-six. The amount paid out for sick benefits up to date is one hundred and twenty-five dollars and twenty-five cents.

Blanchard Lodge No. 284, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was chartered on June 2, 1855, with the following charter members: John Dixon, Lorenzo Parker, David I. Brown, John Monroe, Henry Niles, John B. Fruchey and Jacob Bressler. Jacob Bressler was the first noble grand.

and W. S. Hipkins were chosen to carry out this work. On March i of the same year work was begun on the building. On December 30, 1901, permission was received from the grand master of the grand lodge to move the records to the new home. C. O. Periman bears the distinction of being thefirst man initiated in the new rooms, February 14, 1902.

The membership of the lodge has increased until at the present time it includes eighty-four active members. The present officers are S. O. Kerr,, noble grand; W. E. Smith, vice-grand; D. R. Jenkins, Jr., treasurer; G. M. Cartwright, secretary.

Knights Of The Maccabees

Ottawa Chapter No. 160, Knights of the Maccabees, was chartered on August I, 1893, with sixteen charter members. This was the only chapter of Knights of the Maccabees ever installed in this county. This chapter hasnever been very active in its work and saw the greatest years of its prosperity while still young. At present this lodge has only five members.

National Union

Sheridan Council No. 126, of the National Union, was organized in Ottawa, in August, 1888. There were thirty charter members. The membership reached forty-two at one time, but lapses, removals and deaths have reduced the live membership until at the present time it consists of only sixteen persons. The National Union has paid every death claim in full, without one cent of cost to the beneficiary. It is one of the best and cheapest fraternal insurance companies in existence today.

Knights Of Columbus

Ottawa Council No. 1757, Knights of Columbus, was organized in Ottawa, in June, 1914, with sixty-five charter members. At present the membership numbers one hundred and seven. The officers are as follow : Joseph Kersting, grand knight; H. Edward Heckford, financial secretary. The purpose of this order is purely social and for insurance.

Catholic Knights Of Ohio

There are branches of this order in the following towns of Putnam county : Glandorf , Leipsic, Ft. Jennings, Miller City, Ottoville, Kalida, New- Cleveland and Cloverdale.

The Research Club

The Research Club was founded in 1910 with the following charter members : Mrs. J. O. Cartwright, Mrs. George Jenkins, Mrs. Charles Mills, Mrs. C. B. Van Clue, Mrs. G. H. Williams, Mrs. P. D. Ward, Mrs. Frank Wilson, Mrs. G. F. Zeller, Miss Florence McClure, Miss Violet Sackett, Miss. Grace Ward and Miss Lulu Walkup. Miss Florence McClure, president; Mrs. J. O. Cartwright, vice-president; Mrs. George Jenkins, secretary, and Miss Violet Sackett, treasurer, served as the first officers of the club.

The purpose of this club was to promote interest in the welfare of the community in which its members lived ; to study and discuss the importantquestions of the day, and to familiarize themselves not only with our own country, but also the leading countries and islands in the Old World. The club has already studied rather thoroughly all the countries of the Old World and has taken up many of the greatest things of the United States. The work laid out for last year was "The World's Islands." For 191 5-16, "The- World's Islands," continued, and miscellaneous work.

Kappa Phi Delta

The Kappa Phi Delta Club, at Ottawa, was organized in February, 1910,. with nine charter members, as follows : Effie L. Arnold, Alta M. Thrapp, Ruth C. Frey, Bessie I. Seitz, Iva A. Gillis, Zelma McDowell, May Handy, Mrs. Belle D. Miller and Mrs. Carrie W. Bell. The first- officers included the following: Effie L. Arnold, president; Alta M. Thrapp, vice-president; Ruth C. Frey, secretary; Bessie I. Seitz, treasurer. The purpose of the club is set

The present membership includes twelve young ladies of Ottawa: Effie L. Arnold, Alta M. Thrapp, Ruth C. Frey, Zelma McDowell, May Handy, Evelyn Wilson, Mary Wilkins, Arey Claypool, Bertha McDugal, Lucy Agner, Mrs. Carrie Bell and Mrs. Leona Kerr. The officers for 1915 are as follows: Alta M. Thrapp, president; Zelma McDowell, vice-president; Mary Wilkins, secretary; Bessie I. Seitz, treasurer. The club is a member of the federation of clubs.

Putnam Club

The Putnam Club Company was chartered as an incorporation under the laws of the state of Ohio on April 4, 1904. The founders were Even R. Davis, M. P. Goetschins, A. R. Robenalt, F. G. Kahle and E. L. Frey.

The purpose of this club was not for material gain, but it was organized for literary and social culture and mental improvement. The citizens of Ottawa had no place to assemble for sociable gatherings and the founders took this means of providing a suitable place.

This club was capitalized at one thousand dollars, which was divided into forty shares and sold at twenty-five dollars a share, the proceeds of which were used for maintaining club rooms for members of the corporation and their guests and purchasing fixtures. The club rooms are fitted up with every convenience for the literary and social development of its members.

This club has had a steady increase in membership, which speaks well for the foresight of its founders, and at present totals sixty-six. The officers are: J. S. Ogin, president; N. E. Matthews, treasurer; J. W. Brown, secretary.

Catholic Ladies Of Columbia

St. Anne's Council No. 7, Catholic Ladies of Columbia, was chartered on June 4, 1897, with the following charter members: Philomena Lehmkuhle. Lucinda M. Brinkle, Elizabeth Kraft, Mary A. Schmitschulte, Elizabeth C. Leopold, Catherine Brinkman, Mary Catherine Hansel, Sarah Mc- Greevy, Mary Clohosey, Catherine Amelia Kracht and Elizabeth M. Schmitschulte. The present membership numbers forty-two and fifteen additional applications were presented at the monthly meeting held on the second Tues- <lay in May.

The present officers are : Mary A. Schmitschulte, president ; Anna Xersting, vice-president; Mary Rothman, recording secretary; Mary Brinkle, -financial secretary; Elizabeth Kraft, treasurer; Frances Kreinbrink, monitor.

The purpose of this organization is purely insurance and sick benefits. There is also a relief- department in connection with the insurance, which is optional with the members. Members of the rehef department are paid -five dollars a week when sick.

The Centennial Club

On February 26, 1913, Mrs. S. F. DeFord, who is a charter member of the Centennial Club, read before that body a paper which set forth the history of the club from the beginning to that time. It would be useless to try and give the history of this organization in better style than used by Mrs. DeFord, therefore we will print this article, with Mrs. DeFord's consent, as it was written :

"Thirty-seven years ago this month when the frost was on the snow, and the moonlight rays were bending low, and sparkling diamonds from their beds spread radiance o'er many heads, a company of ladies and gentlemen started for a delightful sleigh ride to Kalida to spend the evening. On the way, the conversation,- which was in keeping with the frosty air and the beautiful snow, turned upon schools and literary clubs. Literary cliibs were a scarce medium of exchange at this time, there being only one in the whole state of Ohio. The ladies particularly talked about literary clubs, and the more they talked and thought about them, the more enthusiastic they became on the subject. Finally, they came to the conclusion that they would start one in Ottawa for the women of the town who might be interested in a purely literary organization.

"I was not fortunate enough to be a member of the Kalida party on that eventful night, but the next morning two women, Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Kinder, came to my home to talk over the question with me. Of course, I was very much interested in the establishment of such an organization as they proposed, and at once entered into the project with enthusiasm. I thought a club of this nature would be a great asset to ladies of Ottawa, although I had a baby only eighteen months old and could not be expected to give much time to the new undertaking".

"The following week nine of the women of Ottawa met at the home of Mrs. J. L. H. Long to talk over the proposed club. We discussed it from every angle and it was the consensus of opinion that some organization of this character was very much needed in this village. Practically all of the women had been more or less active in literary work, but to follow a system and be bound to a constitution and by-laws was different.

"After due deliberation and a determined conviction on the part of the ladies that such an undertaking, with the earnest support of all, could be made a success, a motion was made by Mrs. Moore to organize ourselves into a club. This motion was unanimously carried and, since this was the centennial year of our independence as a nation, the club was christened the Ladies Centennial Book Club. I was chosen as the first president, but I do not recall the other early officers. We drafted a little constitution and bylaws, which was to govern our early activities. The charter members of this organization were as follows : Mrs. Long, Mrs. Paul, Mrs. Ewing, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Krause, Mrs. Morehead, Mrs. Kinder and Mrs. Laskey. Of this number, only three are left as active members of the club. Five have passed over the great divide. There are five living members, although two resigned their membership years ago, Mrs. Ewing, who resides in St. Louis, and Mrs. Adelia Allen, who still lives in Ottawa. The three remaining active members are Mrs. Kinder, Mrs. Paul and myself. There is a strong, mystic chord of memory stretching down through the years that have linked these three members together in close ties of friendship. One of the articles in the constitution that was drafted to govern us was that officers should be elected every three months. Another one of the rules was that the president should appoint a program committee each evening to arrange for a program for the next meeting; they would retire to another room and assign duties for the different members. This was very unsatisfactory inasmuch as it gave only one week to prepare our topics. I was reelected twice, serving nine months in all.

"We frequently had charades, especially if we were having guests. We also had a 'budget box' and a budget reader was elected to deliver these articles as long as she held office. As time passed and we became better informed and in closer touch with parliamentary rules and regulations in club work, we decided to revise our constitution, and this was accomplished by a committee and adopted in October, 1877. We have revised the constitution once since that date and a few minor changes have been made at different times.

"The membership fee was fixed at three dollars and yearly dues of one dollar and fifty cents, payable in installments. I do not recall how long this state of affairs lasted, but we always had plenty of money in the treasury and practically no expenses. A scheme was now adopted to purchase books, as there was no public library in Ottawa. A librarian was appointed and each member was alloted a certain number of books to read and if no report was made to the librarian in two weeks they were fined ten cents. At the close of the year a committee was appointed to arrange the books in lots of equal price and cjuality, in as many lots as there were members in the club, each lot being numbered, then slips of paper being made corresponding to the number of books. These slips were put into a box and each member drew a slip, thus drawing a lot of books which corresponded with the number on the slip. This system worked very well. As the membership of the club increased, we desired to branch out along other literary lines and took for our work the lecture field. Our first venture was with Susan B. Anthony, who was secured for a certain amount and all arrangements made for her entertainment, when her agent informed us that she had cancelled all her engagements on -account of ill-health. Our failure in this venture only spurred us on and we secured Mary A. Livermore. This was a marked success, financially and socially. The lecture was held in the old opera house, now used for a business college, the admission charge being three dollars. The lecture was attended not only by the club members but by a gratifying representation of others in sympathy with our endeavors.

"During the first few years our programs were largely impromptu, but gradually, as the movement grew, greater thought was given to this feature and many pleasing diversions were created for the entertainment of the members, especially as the club boasted of several adepts who lent their skill to this end with gratifying success. Several playlets were given, among which were, "The Elevator Boy," a delightful little piece of comedy, and "Fing Wing," a Chinese playlet, with a judicial setting. In the former, Gordon Kinder, then a young lad, played the title role, the playlet being given at the Kinder residence. "Fing Wing" was given at the residence of Mrs. Krause, Mrs. Cover proving very entertaining in the role of "Fing Wing," with splendid fidelity to the Chinese dialect and mannerisms. This playlet consisted of a trial by jury, to which I acted the part of judge and this entailed the preparation of a long and laborious charge at the end of the trial. All the members took part in this playlet and, needless to say, passed a delightful time and one long to be remembered for its happy associations. On these occasions guests were invited, consisting, in the main, of husbands of the club members.

"We were all young then, thirty-nine years ago, filled with life and and a supreme desire to cultivate the social atmosphere of this community. It is on record that Mrs. Paul is the "mother" of the club, for her only son was the first child born after our organization. Now we are grandmothers and it is gratifying to know that the seed sown thirty-nine years ago. has borne fruit and that this work is being carried forward by the younger generation, who have caught the spirit and infused it with the newer and richer life of today.

"As the years have passed, new faces have entered our circle of twentyfive, among whom were Mrs. Gentry, Mrs. Cover, Mrs. Lentzy, Mrs. Pomeroy, Mrs. Meiley, Mrs. Matthews, Mrs. Beardsley, Mrs. Sprague, Mrs. Rice, Mrs.' Reed, Mrs. C. H. Rice, and the Misses Holtz, Pugh, Sweeney.

"The work of this club has still increased up to the present time and it is the strongest literary club in Ottawa. It is a member of the local and national federation of clubs and bears the distinction of being the second oldest literary club in the state.

"With the beginning of each year, a program is arranged, covering the entire year and each member can be prepared on their assigned subject. Officers serve for one year and new members are elected by ballot, in case there is an opening."

The present officers of the Centennial Club are as follows : Mrs. C. H Rice, president; Mrs. S. F DeFord, first vice-president; Mrs. D. M. Bailey^ second vice-president; Mrs. C. O. Beardsley, recording secretary; Mrs. A. L. Paul, corresponding secretary; Mrs. J. S. Ogan, treasurer; Mrs. F. P.. Sprague, librarian; Cynthia Pugh, critic.

The Study Club

The Study Club of Ottawa was organized in 1908 with the following charter members: Mrs. Evan Davis, Mrs. Harry Allen, Mrs. M. P. Goetschius, Mrs. Sigmond Wise, Mrs. C. P. Godfrey, Mrs. G. W. Risser, Mrs C. F. Madaris, Mrs. A. S. Johnson, Mrs. Charles Morrison, Mrs. Mary' Reed Mrs. E. L. Frey, Miss B. K. Krauss and Miss Zoe Kelly. The purpose of this club is for social and literary advantages, gained through united research and mutual assistance.

Federation Of Clubs

The Federation of Clubs of Ottawa was organized on November 21,, 1913. The first officers were: Mrs. S. F. DeFord, president; Mrs. Mary Reed, first vice-president ; Mrs. J. O. Cartwright, second vice-president ; Altha Thrapp, third vice-president; Mrs. E. L. Fry, recording secretary; Mrs. Fred Zeller, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. D. N. Powell, treasurer. The Federation of Clubs was organized for purely civic purposes and has been instrumental in establishing clean-up days in Ottawa. At the time of a terrible mine disaster in the southern part of the state, it sent a box of provisions tO' the stricken people. It also sent a box on the Christmas ship to Belgium. The Federation includes all the four clubs of the town, although membership. in one of the clubs does not necessarily imply membership in the Federation. In addition, it includes members who are not affiliated with any of the four clubs of the town. Mrs. Fred Zeller was elected president at the last regular election of officers, but resigned in favor of the vice-president, Mrs. Frank P. Sprague. The other officers include the following: Mrs. Elma McDowell, second vice-president; Grace Ward, recording secretary; Zoe Light, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Frank Wilson, treasurer.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union has been in Putnam for several years and has done some notable work in advancing the cause of temperance. The officers of the Union for 191 5 are as follows: President, Mrs. Delia Layport; vice-president, Mrs. Minnie Harris; corresponding secretary, Mrs. A. M. Heidlebaugh; recording secretary, Mrs. Francis Beach,- treasurer, Amelia Jones; chorister, Mrs. R. T. Evans; Y. P. B. secretary, Mrs. Bessie Kuntz ; L. T. L. secretary, Mrs. Bessie Collar.

There are now seventeen local organizations in the county, as follows : Leipsic, 125 members; Continental, 121 members; Columbus Grove, 80 members ; Gilboa, 56 members ; Vaughnsville, 45 members ; Ottawa River, 30 members; Ottawa, 40 members; Belmore, 21 members; Pandora, 18 members; Miller City, 16 members; Cloverdale, 15 members; Forest Grove, 15 members; Kalida, 13 members; Rushmore, 12 members; North Creek, 9 members ; Dupont, 8 members ; Mt. Zion, 5 members.