Stark County, Illinois - Chapter 16: Societies and Fraternities, 1916

Chapter 16: Societies and Fraternities

One of the earliest Stark County societies of which there is any record was tlie Stark County JNIutual Protection Society. In early (lays the Illinois Valley was infested by gangs of horse thieves and other outlaws, who were constantly coniniitting depredations upon the property of the frontier settlers. The legal machinery of civil government was in its infancj' and it was not an easy matter to secure the arrest and conviction of the offenders through regular channels, hence in a few cases lynch law was resorted to by the pioneers to break up the gangs of thieves and bring law and order to the community. There is no record of a lynching ever having occurred within the limits of Stark County, but the settlers suffered losses through the operations of the DriscoU. Brodie and Aikens gangs, the leaders of which lived in the northern part of the state and could always be relied upon to furnish an alibi when one of the gang might be arrested.

In the summer of 1848, after the county had been organized for more than nine years and the gangs of outlaws were still operating through this part of the state, some of the citizens of Stark County began to discuss the advisability of organizing for the purpose of aiding the legal authorities in putting a stop to the depredations. The result of the agitation was that a meeting was called at the courthouse in Toulon for August 12, 1848, at which the Stark Coimty ]Mutual Pi'otection Society was organized. ^Myrtle G. Brace was elected president; Hugh Rhodes, secretary; and ^Vheeler B. Sweet, organizer. Committees were appointed for the five precincts of the coimty as follows: Massillou - Edward Trickle, Thomas S. Clark and iVllen Greenlee; Toulon - William Oyle, George Buchanan and Oliver Whitaker; - Henry IJutler, Jose])!! Newton and James Ilolgate; Lafayette - William Pratt, M. Atherton and .Jacob Emery; Osceola - John Lyle, William Dodd and Walter Fvdler.

It may be of interest to the reader to know just who belonged to the society. Besides the officers and committees above named, those who em-olled themselves as members were: Isaiah Ackley, II. S. Aibiight, Joseph Atherton, .1. II. Barnett, .Josepli Blauchard, William Bowen, Henry Brice, A. K. Hutler, Samuel Ct. Butler, ^V. II. Butler. ^Villiam Chamberlain, .Joseph Cox, John Dodd, Lemuel S. Dorrance, Thomas Dugan, W. K. Klston, Conrad Emery, David Emery, .Jesse Emery, .Joseph Emery, Brady Fowler, W. T. Fuller, Christian Gingrich, Thomas Hall, William Hall, A. W. Harrod, J. W. Henderson, Thomas J. Henderson, Jacob Holgate, Henry T. Ives, William Lyle, Elijah ]McClenahan, William ^Nloore, Philip 3Iunson, Josej^h K. Newton, Lewis Perry, .John Pollok, Peter E. Pratt, .John Prior, .John Kichey, Hugh Rhodes, W. M. Rose, George Sheets, ]\Iinott Silliman, Nathan Snare, Henry Sturm, ^lathias Sturm, (xcorge Sumner, Jacob Sumner. W. B. Sweet, Isaac Thomas, Samuel Thomas, Henderson Truman, .John Turnbull, Ira Ward, Hugh White, George A. ^Vorley and Sanuiel G. Wright.

A few of the members lived in Knox and Henry counties, but in the above list will be found the names of a large number of the pioneer settlei-s of Stark County who left the impress of their character upon local institutions. All were law-abiding citizens and the society continned in existence until the reign of law was fully established and the country was rid of the desi^eradoes.

Agricultural Societies

The first move toward organizing an agricultural society in Stark County was made in the fall of 184.3, when a number of farmers met in the old courthouse at Toulon for that purpose. .Jonathan ]Miner was called to the chair and Henry Butler was chosen secretary. The lattei- delivered an address, urging the necessity for and importance of such a society. After some discussion a society was organized Avith Col. W. H. Henderson, ])resident: Lemuel S. Dorrance, vice president: Oliver Whitaker, secretary; .JonathaiU Hodgson, treasurer; .James Holgate, Sylvanus ]Moore and Cyril Wai-d, executive committee. Committees of three w^ere chosen in each of the precincts of

On October 29, 1853, the society was reorganized, or it might be more proper to say a new one was organized to take its place, although quite a number of the members of the old society retained their membership under the reorganization. The first fair was held at Toulon, beginning on September 20, 1854. Concerning this fair Mrs. Shallenberger says: "Some still remember that first fair in 1854-, \\hen the stock was quartered in JNIr. ^Vhitaker's yard and exhibited in the public square, while the products of the dairy, kitchen and loom were disposed of within the old courthouse, the table containing a few fancy articles which a gentleman lifted up, one by one, that they might be seen by the assemblage. * * * But in one respect, at least, tliis little fair of 1854 was a prototype of all its successors, viz: disapjwinted competitors for premiums felt at liberty to vent their chagrin on or at the judges of the various departments, whom they thought had been instrumental in wounding their vanit>-. The writer recalls that she was unfortunately a judge of dairy products on this occasion, and being concerned in awarding the first premium ever awarded in Stark County for butter, to IMrs. Ann Hartley, was soundly berated before leaving the house by another competitor, who infoi-med the judges one and all that 'they couldn't know good ])utter when they saw it;' but they still think they did."

On June 3, 185G, the society petitioned the board of supervisors to lease seven acres of land in the southwest corner of the poor farm I'or a fair ground, with the right to make such impro\ements as might be necessary for holding fairs successfully. The petition was granted and the board of supervisors leased the seven acres to the society for a term of twenty-five years, at a rental of 1 cent annually. Five additional acres were leased to the society on December 12, 1859. Fairs were held here until 1808, when the society decided to incorporate and ])urchase the fair grounds. The supervisors' minutes for October IG, 1868, contain the following entry:

"At a meeting held at the courthouse in the Town of Toulon, in the County of Stark and the State of Illinois, on the 10th day of October, A. D. 1868, for the purpose of incorporating the Stark County Agricultural Society, due notice whereof had been previously given, P. M. Blair. J. H. Quinn, P. Nowlan, John Turnbull. D. Tinlin, James Frail, Davis Lowman, William Nowlan, William Lowman, B. H. Bush, Benjamin B. Brown, I. W. Searle. Liberty Stone, S. P. Fast. Benjamin Boughn, xVndrew Oliver, G. \V. Dewey, John

Ilepijerl}', C. M. S. Lyon, H. M. Hall, James Shivvcrs, Perry ^Vill^, J. M. Rrown, R. J. Uickinson, John W. Rii4;i>s. Rol)ert McKeighan, Charles Myers, Xathan Lankford, and James Holgate, legal voters of said county, being present, it was inianimously resolved that the above named persons be and are organized into a society to be known as the 'Stark County Agricultural Society,' and upon the adoption of a constitution and by-laws for said societ}', Oliver ^Vhitaker was chosen president; Patrick Xowlan. recording secretaiv. and William Lownian, treasurer of said society."

Soon after the incoriJoration. the society purchased the twelve acres leased iinm the county some years before, and a little later ])urcliased three acres adjoim'ng. Fairs were held annually upon these grounds until about 1888, when the society decided to disband. A portion of the fair grounds was sold in 1889 to JNliles A. Fuller, who bought another section in 1891, and in 189.'} the remaining portion was sold to Burge & Dewey.

In the winter of 187''}-74 some of the citizens of Wyoming made an effort to have the Stark County Agricultural Society remove its fail's to that town. James Holgate, F. F. Brockway, ^V. F. Thomas, Alfred Castle, Perry StanclifF, Isaac and Sanniel Thomas agreed to remove the lumber from Toulon to Wyoming free of charge, and W'intield Scott guaranteed the payment of $800 for the purpose of fencing and improving new fair grounds. On the other hand B. C. Follett. Doctor Bacmeister and J. D. Rhodes, of Toulon, tendered the society the free use of five acres adjoining the fair grounds on the east, on condition that the fairs should be held at Toulon for ten years. On .January '24; 1874, the ])ropositions were taken under consideration by the society and the vote to remain at Toulon was seven to six, Wyoming losing by one vote.

The people of Wyonn'ng were not altogether satisfied to remain without a fair, and on October 2'.i. 1878, a meeting was called to consider the question of organizing the "Central Agrieult\n-al Society of Stark County." A. G. Hammond ])resided and F. B. Wall acted as secretary. A committee was ajjpointed to solicit subscriptions to a ca])ital stock, but nothing definite was accomplished for al)ont two years.

Another meeting w-as held on February 5, 1881, at which a constitution was adopted, signed by Benjamin Bunnell, George W. and Winfield Scott. T. B. Wall. .Tames :M. Thomas. Samuel Wi-igley, .Tohn S|)eer. .lames ^NIcKean. .John ^Nlonier and A. G. Hammond. A\'infiel(l Scott was chosen president; Samuel Wrigley, vice president;

J. ]M. Thomas, recording secretary; T. E. Wall, general secretary; G. W. Scott, treasurer. In April, 1881, the new society purchased 39^ acres of ground from INIrs. M. A. ^larkham and the work of improving was commenced. The first fair was held here beginnin.g on September G, 1881. and lasting four days, $4., 000 being paid in premimns.

Doubtless the competition offered by the Wyoming fair had its influence upon the old Stark County Agricultural Society and hastened its downfall, but there were other influences at work in that direction. Xot the least of these was the fact that the society had incurred some indebtedness that it found diflieult to liquidate and Anally decided that the best way out was to sell the property.

In 1913 the officers of the Central Agricultural Society, or Wyoming Fair Association, as it is conmionly called, were as follows: W. II. Wrigley, jiresident; John P. Code, vice president; E. Arganbright, secretary; J. E. King, treasurer. The board of directors was then constituted of the above oflficers and W. H. Hartz, Orpheus Bailey, D. J. Colgan and J. J. ]Moran, of Wyoming, and E. C. Caverly, of Toulon.

The Lafayette Horse and Fair Association held its tenth annual fair on August 31, September 1, 2 and 3, 191.5. The fair gi-ounds include sixty-five acres a short distance west of the town, located in a natural park that is conceded to be one of the prettiest groves in the state. The groimds are equipped with modern horse and cattle barns, a good half-mile race track, etc. The farmers of three counties - Knox, Stark and Henry - are interested in this fair association and have cooperated to make the exhibits here as good as any county fair in the State of Illinois. In 191.5 A. H. Jackson Avas president: F. E. Winans, vice president; F. T. Gelvin, secretary and treasui'er. The directors were: J. G. Reed. F. F. Quinn, A. 31. .lanes and Arthur Baltimore, of Lafayette; ]M B. Downend and E. L. Packer, of Toulon: \y. I. Sellon. Vvilliam Reals and Will Cardiff, of Galva.

Although the pioneers in a new settlement on the frontier of civilization may come from widely different sections of the country, or even from foreign climes; may speak different languages and worshi]) at different shrines; may hold o])posing views on ]5olitical questions, they soon learn that they are dependent upon each other to a great extent and coojjerate for the general good. They borrow and k'lul freely, attend each other in times of sickness, share their good fortune in times of prosperity and sympathize with each other iti adversity. The fraternal relations thus established become hallowed by fond memories as the years pass by and another <>eneration comes upon the scene. It is l)ut natural, and it is well that such is the case, for these old settlers to enjoj- meeting together and talking over the incidents of former years. Through this spirit old settlers' associations liave been organized in numerous places throughout the great JMidtlle West, and through these associations have been jjreserved many interesting facts regarding local events - facts that otherwise would iiave been lost to history.

The first attem])t to organize an old settlers' association in Stark County was made on January '1, 18GG, when a meeting was held at the Town of Toulon for that purpose. Dr. Thomas Hall was chosen to l)i-eside and Oliver ^^^litaker was elected secretary. T. J. Henderson. C. L. Eastman and C. M. S. Lyon were a])pointed a committee to make arrangements for another meeting, to be held on April 4, 18<i(). and a committee, consisting of one member from each townshij), was chosen to prepare a list of all persons residing in the county on April 4. 1839, when the county commissioners met for the first time. That committee Mas composed as follows: JNI. G. Brace, Ehnira Township; W. II. Rutler. Essex; Eewis Perry, Goshen; W. W. Winslow, Osceola; James Holgate, Penn; C. L. Eastman, Toulon; Harry Hull. A'alley; Washington Trickle. West Jersey. The comnn'ttee. or at least some of the members thereof, performed its duty, but if a meeting was held in April following no record of it can be i'oniid.

On December 13, 1878, over one hundred old settlers assembled at the Toulon House, where a sumptuous dinner was served, after which they marched through a severe snow storm to the town hall to consider the question of an old settlers' society of some character. After the meeting was called to order by Benjamin Turner, Oliver Whitaker was chosen chairman and E. H. Phelps, secretary. INIinott Silliman. Benjamin Turner and James Holgate were ap])ointed a committee on resolutions. They reported in favor of organizing the "Stark County Old Settlei-s' Association," and suggested that oidy those should be eligible to membership who had resided for twenty-five yea is or more in the comity. The report was adopted and the association was then organized by the election of the following officers: Oliver Whitaker, president; W. II. Butler, secretary; Benjamin Tinner, treasurer; Edwin Butler, E. H. Phelps and Dr. W. T. Hall,

After the business in hand was disposed of the meeting was turned into a sort of informal social gathering. Charles ^Nlyers acted as toast master. Elder Keane spoke on the "Pioneer ^Ministry;" Xorman Butler on "Our Earliest Settlers;" JNIartin Shallenberger on "The Stark County Bar;" E. II. Phelps on "The Press;" B. F. Thompson on "Education," and Ur. W. T. Hall on "The Physician." The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to ]Mr. Stockner. proprietor of the hotel, for his kindness in opening his house to the old settlers and the excellent dinner he had preinired.

Although the date of September 1, 1879, was fixed for the first annual meeting, it was not held until the 3d, when fully one thousand people gathered in the public square at Toulon to attend the first old settlers' picnic ever held in Stark County. After music by the Toulon band, prayer by Rev. J. ]M. Stickney, and the song "We've Come Home Again," by the Toulon Glee Club, JNIartin Shallenberger delivered the address of welcome. This was responded to by Gen. T. J. Henderson, who made the j^rincipal speech of the occasion. In the business meeting the president, secretary and treasurer were reelected for another year, and Orlando Brace, Henry Perry and Levi Silliman were elected members of the executive committee. On motion of B. F. Thompson, it was decided to erect a monument to Dr. Thomas Hall and a committee was appointed to solicit subscrijitions. The old settlers responded liberally and a handsome monument was placed over Doctor Hall's resting place in the Toulon Cemetery as a tribute of respect from his old friends and neighbors.

A good sized volume might be written on the doings of tiie Old Settlers' Association at its annual meetings since it was organized in 1878, but there are two of these annual meetings that stand out with more prominence than others. One was the meeting of 1898. when the log cabin on the public square was raised as a memorial to the county's pioneers. By previous arrangement a number of the pioneer families each contributed a log and on the ap])ointed day here came the Olivers, Turnbulls, Turners, Holgates, Vandykes, Whitakers, Halls, Hendersons, Thomases, Sheetses, Nowlans, ]McClenahans, Winslows. Winns and other old time families, each bringing a log.

JNIadison Winn was inastLi- of ceremonies and the cabin was "j-aised" with all the customs of pioneer days. The meetin<)- of that year was held on August '2.'Ah. and after the cabin was raised it was formally dedicated by Cien. T. J. Henderson in an address, the closing paragraphs of which were as follows:

"This log cabin, representing as it does the primitive homes of early settlers of Stark County, has been erected here in this place under the authority of the board of supervisors of this county as a memorial of the men and women who were the first settlers, the pioneers of the county, ami I am here, upon the invitation of your association, to dedicate it to their memory.

"The first house of the first white settler in this county was a log cabin, and the homes of all the pioneers who followed for many years were log cabins. The first schoolhouse built was a log schoolhouse. The first marriage celebrated in this county was solemnized in a log cabin. The first wliite child born in this county was born in a log cabin, and the first courts held in this county were held in a log cabin built by my father, and which was a part of our home for many years. It was therefore a fit and proper thing to. do, JNIr. President, to erect here, in this public place, a log cabin representing the early homes of our fathers, in memory of their settlement of the county. And I esteem it not oidy a privilege, but a great honor, now to dedicate this building to the memory of the jnoneers of the county, whose names I have mentioned in my address, as well as to those I have omitted through forgetfulness.

Within the cabin are stored a number of relics of early days. I lere one may see the old-fashioned spinning Avheel, the old brass candlestick and "snuffers." tlie huge fireplace with its heavy andirons, the straight-backed chair with its splint bottom, the cooking utensils and many other things used by the first settlers of Stark County. A list of the settlers to whom this cabin is dedicated is given in Chapter V of this work.

The other meeting of more than unusual interest was that of 1912, when the old settlers' monument w'as dedicated, P. G. Rennick, of Peoria, delivering the address. The movement to erect a monument to the county's pioneers was inaugin-ated the year before. Twelve hundred dollars were raised by ])o])ular suliscription and the board of supervisors approjn-iated $300. W'ltix the -'{^K.'jOO thus provided a handsome monument of granite was placed on the west side of the

]\Iain Street entrance to the public sfiiiare. On the north side, facing JNIain Street, is the inscription: "In INIemory of the Pioneers of Stark County," and al)ove the inscription is a kettle suspended from an iron crane, such as were used in the firL'i)laces of the pioneer cabins. The west side bears the inscription: "In ^Memory of Stephen A. Douglas, who spoke here October 5, 18.58;" the east side is inscribed: "In Memorj^ of Abraham Lincoln, who sj^oke here October 6, 18.)8," and on the south is the simple statement: "Dedicated August 28, 1912."

At nearly every meeting of the Old Settlers' Association letters from former residents of the county have been read, expressing regret that the writers were unable to be present and frequently referring to events of former years. Sometimes a letter from some old resident, who had moved away, would be published in some of the Stark County papers. A letter of this character was written from Casper, Wyo., by Percy H. Shallenberger and published in the Stark County Sentinel of JNIarch 7, 1900, a short time after his mother's death. In that letter he says :

"I feel it to be a sad duty which I owe to my poor mother to make known to her old friends about Toulon how fondly she had cherished the hope of seeing them just once again; to breathe once more the fragrance of those friendships which had bloomed in the summer of her heart. To every friend who kindly came to cheer her here she told the story of her jirecious anticipations. How her dear old face would brighten as she told to strangers in this distant land how she hoped to spend her seventieth birthday in old Toulon and be pi-esent at the old settlers' meeting. As day by day her little strength went from her, she sat a silent watcher by the bedside of this dying hope. One of her first questions to the doctor when she reached Hastings was as to whether he thiOught she would live to go back to Illinois in the spring. He kindly told her that he thought she would.

"She wanted to go again to Osceola Grove, to find the site of the old Henderson cabin, where she had learned to know a noble woman and her family, to look again on the old Major ]\IcClenahan house, and to ^\alk once more into the old office which her father built.

"The last time she ever went to church, she said on returning that they had sung some old hymns which alone rejiaid her for the effort (which was no small one) of going. She loved to repeat those which reminded her of other days. One had been sung at the first funeral in Osceola Grove: another had been used at the first Christmas service ever held in Toulon, when old John Prior led the singing and Brother

AVoolIascraft preached; one had been a favorite with Caleb Flint, and another sung by Mrs. Whitaker at the old tcniperanee meetings. . . . One line ujjon my mother's tomb should read: 'She loved Stark County and its pioneers.' "

:Mrs. Shallenberger was the daughter of Dr. Thomas Hall and the author of the little l)ook. "Stark County and Its Pioneers." The letter written by her son is illustrative of how i)ersons and places with which one has long been associated may become endeared to memory.

The last meeting of the Old Settlers' Association was held on the public square at Toulon, September 8, 191o. A. C. Shallenberger, a native of Stark County and former governor of Nebraska, and Congressman C. U. Stone were among the speakers. For many years it has been the custom for the ladies of the leading churches to serve dinner on the public s(iuare on the day of the old settlers' meeting. In 191.J the dinner was served by the ladies of the Rajitist Church. Dr. W. T. Hall was elected president of the association and Klmer S. Rutfmn, secretary.

Masonic Traternity

It is generally conceded that of all the secret orders, INIasom-y .stands first in point of seniority. A tradition of the order says it was introduced into England by Prince Edwin, about <.)-2() A. D., and there are still in existence JNIasonic documents dated back to 1390. ^Mother Kilwinning Lodge of Scotland was organized in 1.599 and has been in continuous existence since that time, being the oldest known lodge of :Masons in the world. In June, 1717. the Cirand Lodge of England was instituted and it is the mother of all ^Masonic bodies in the Englisbs])eaking nations.

In 1730 the English Grand Lodge appointed Daniel Coxe, of New Jersey, "pro\ incial grand master of the provinces of New York, New Jersey and I'ennsylvania in ^Vmerica." About the same time a provincial grand master was apjwinted for the Ne\v England colonies. Before the close of that year a lodge was estal)lished at Phila(lel])hia and one in New Hampshire, each of whicji claims to be the oldest lodge in what is now the United States.

The first ^Masonic meeting in Stark County, of which there is any record, was liehl at Toulon on INIarch 2.5, 1850, when several members of the fraternity assembled and took the prelinn'nary steps toward the organization of a lodge. On October 20. 18.)(), the lodge received its charter as "Toulon Lodge No. 9.'3, Ancient Free and Acce])ted INIasons." Says Mrs. Shallenberger: "The names upon the charter are: Orcn 31axtiel(l, ^Villiam Kose, W. W. Dnmiinoiid. KUisoii Annis, Cajit. Henry Butler, \Villiam A. Heed and Cien. Samuel Tlioinas. From these the grand master, C. G. Y. Taylor, appointed W. ^V^ Drnmniond worshij)fnl master, William Rose, senior warden, and Oren ]Maxtield, junior warden.

To complete the complement of officers, an election was held on November 19, 18.50, when Thomas J. Henderson was chosen secretary; William F. Thomas, treasurer; William A. Reed, senior deacon; Samuel Tliomas, junior deacon; Simon S. Heller and Thomas J. AN'right, stewards, and C. F. White, tiler.

For many years Toulon Lodge Avas the only JNIasonic organization between Peoria and Cambridge. It is the parent of the lodges at Bradford, Lafayette and Wyoming. Notwithstanding the numerous withdrawals to form these lodges, No. 93 still has over one hundred members and is in a prosperous condition. In 191.5 ISIelvin C. Pratt \vas worshipful master and Walter F. Young was secretary. This lodge once owned its own hall, located on the north side of ]Main Street, near the northwest corner of the public square, but the building, with all its contents, including the charter and records of the lodge, was destroyed by fire on jMay 17, 1877.

Lawn Ridge Lodge No. 41.5 was organized at Lawn Ridge, a little village in the extreme southwest corner of jNIarshall Countv, about the close of the Civil war. When the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad was built through the eastern part of Stark County and the Town of Speer was established, a majority of the members of the lodge voted to remove to the new town on the railroad, but the name of the lodge was not changed. Lawn Ridge Lodge now has about fifty members, a good hall and is gradually increasing in membership and influence.

Some time in the winter of 186.5-66 a few members of the IMasonic fraternity living at ^Vyoming began to discuss the question of organizing a lodge. Informal meetings were held, but no one could be found Avho felt "suitable proficiency" to do the work of worshipful masteiand file subject was dropped for the time. Rev. John W. Agard. who had formerly lived in Wyoming, returned about this time, and in him the oNIasons found a man who could "do the work."' A petition, sio-ned l)v Mr. Agard. Heiu-v A. Hoist. Isaac Thomas. W. F. Thomas. T. W. Bloomer. S. K. Conover, G. W. Scott and J. II. Cox, m as sent to the grand master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, asking for a dispensation to organize a lodge.

wtJi-shipful master; W. F. Thomas, senior warden; George W. Scott, junior warden; Henry A. Hoist, secretary; S. K. Conover, senior deacon: Thomas \V. Bloomer, junior deacon: William N. Brown, tiler.

On October 3, 18(5(5, the Illinois Grand Lodge granted a charter to tliis lodge, under the title and designation of "Wyoming Lodge No. 4.79, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons." The first place of meeting was over Hoist's drug store. From there it removed to a hall in the Thomas buihling, next to a building on the corner of Seventh and William streets, which was erected by John W. Agard principally for a Masonic hall. In January, 1882, the lodge again moved its quarters, this time to a hall over Hammond & Walters' store. The membership in 191.3 was 1"2.5, with F. K. Wickwire, worshipful master, and G. F. Earhart, secretary. Ilegular meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month.

Stark Lodge No. 501, located at Lafayette, was organized early in the year 18()() and was granted a charter the following October. ^^^ B. Smith was the first worshipful master; Ur. Joseph H. Nichols, senior warden; Austin Smith, junior warden. These three officers and the following constituted the charter members: J. S. xVtherton, Isaac (irant, II. P. Grant, E. G. Hill, J. M. Jones, ^Villiam T. Dickinson. E. J. ^NlcClenahan, G. II. ^IcClenahan, Thomas W. Ross and John B. Smith. On Ai)ril 26, 1881, the lodge room, records, furniture and charter were destroyed by fire, and in oNIay a copy of the original charter was issued by tlie Illinois Grand I^odge. Stark Lodge now lias about forty members. The worshipful master for 1915 was Howard Pierce, and tlie secretary was J. H. White. Regular meetings are on Saturday evening "on or before the full moon."

On the evening of August 1(5. 18(;(), the first meeting of the INlasonic I^odge at Bradford was lield "under dispensation," with James B. Doyle, woi-shipful master; B. F. Thomi)st)n, senior warden; Harmon Phenix, junior warden. Later in the same year a charter was granted by the Illinois Grand I^odge to "Bradford Lodge No. 514, Ancient Free and Accepted jNIasons." The master and wardens appointed under the dis])ensation continued to serve until the time for the first regular election according to ^Masonic usage, and the other officers under the charter were as follows: S. A. Davidson, secretary; George W. Longmire, treasurer; William H. Doyle, senior deacon: Charles B. Foster, jimior deacon; .lohn Winslow. tiler. In 1915 this lodge mnnbered about fifty members, with Dr. ^V. C'. Mitchell, worshipful master, and Thaddeus Ash, secretary.

Wyoming Chapter Xo. 133, Royal Arch ^Masons, was first organized hi 1806, but no cliarter was obtained until October 9, 18G8. The first officers of the chapter were: John W . Agard, high jjriest; \Villiam Lownian, king; J. jNI. Rogers, principal sojourner; Charles Weston. ca])tain of the host; M. S. Curtiss, royal arch captain; ^Vlvin Abbott, master of the first veil; S. A. Davis, master of the second veil; Charles Kerr, master of the third veil; George W. Scott, scribe. On October 1, 1915, the chapter numbered over one hundred members, with H. C. Cox, high priest, and Albert W. King, secretary. This is the only Royal Arch chapter in the county and inckides among its members several JMasons who belong to the blue lodges at Toulon, I^afayette, Speer and Bradford.

The Order of the Eastern Star is a "side degree" of the ^Masonic fraternity, to which the wives, daughters or other near female relatives of ^Master jNIasons are eligible. The local bodies are called chapters. The oldest Eastern Star body in Stark County is the chapter at AVyoming, which was first organized on ]May 29. 18(>8, under the name of the "Family of the Eastern Star Xo. 134," with twelve members, to-wit: Rev. John W. Agard, George W. Scott, S. K. Conover, John Wrigley, J. M. Rogers, H. A. Hoist, JNIartha P. Agard, Mary C. Scott, ^largaret A. Conover, Ann Wrigley, Harriet Rogers and Rebecca Butler. ^Irs. ^Margaret A. Conover was the first worthy matron and John W. Agard the first Avorthy patron.

On February 18, 1871, the "family" was reorganized under a charter granted by the Su])reme Grand Chapter of X"ew York as Wyoming Chapter X^o. .V2. When the Grand Chapter of Illinois was established, the Wyoming organization Mas the first to apply for a charter under the new jurisdiction. Strictly speaking, therefore, it should have been No. 1, but by some means other Eastern Star bodies i-eceived their charters before this one. which was reorganized imder a charter dated October 16, 1877, as Wyoming Chapter Xo. 8, Order of the Eastern Star.

One incident in the history of Wyoming Chapter of which the members have just cause to feel proud was the visit of Robert ]Morris, author of the ritual and founder of the Eastern Star degree, who came to Wyoming early in the "70s and instructed the officers and members in the work. This is an honor that few chapters can claim. The membership in 1915 was 162, with INIrs. Alma L. Wead worthy matron and A. J. Adams worthy patron.

Toulon Chapter No. 10 was first organized under a charter dated February 17, 1871, issued by the Supreme Grand Lodge of New York, whence all the early Eastern Star chapters received their authority. The charter and reconls of the chapter were burned in the fire of May 17, 1877, which destroyed tlie ^lasonic Hall, and on October 2, 1877, a new charter was obtained from the Grand Chapter of Illinois. Owing to the l)urning of the charter and records it is impossible to give a correct list of the charter members. In 191.5 the chapter numbered over one hundred members, with INlrs. H. C. Smith, worthy matron; H. C. Smith, worthy patron, and ]Mrs. Ella Johnston, secretary.

The Eastern Star chapter at Lafayette was instituted on February 1, 188(), Avith the following charter members: I. G. Foster, A. H. Whiit, T. U. Church, T. W. Ross, J. H. ^Vhite, Daniel White, Andrew Jackson and their wives. The chapter is still in existence and has a strong membership. There is also an Eastern Star chapter at Bradford.

Independent Order Of Odd Fellows

The modern order of Odd Fellows owes its origin to a society organized in England in the latter part of the eighteenth century under the name of the "'Ancient and Most Noble Order of Bucks," the ])rincipal emblem of wiiich was a stag's head with spreading antlers. About 1773 this order declined, but it was revived in a slightly different form, and some four or five years later the words "Odd Fellow" first occurred in the ritual. In 1813 several lodges sent delegates to iSIanchester and organized the ^Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, which was the first effort to establish anything like a grand lodge. Soon after this Shakspere Lodge, Xo. 1, was organized in New York, but it did not last long. The first permanent lodge in the United States was organized by Thomas H. AVildey, of Baltimore, in IHli). From that parent lodge Odd Fellowship has spread to all parts of the country and it is now one of the strongest and most influential of the American fraternal orders.

Stark Lodge, Xo. 9G. located at Toulon, was the first Odd Fellows' lodge to be established in Stark County. It was organized on X'ovember 8, 18.51, with the following charter members: Amos 1'. Gill. Alexander INIoncrief, Oliver Whitaker, Thomas J. Wright and William Clark. The charter bears date of October 17. 18.)1. For niori tlian ten years the lodge grew steadily in numbers and influence, l)ut with the breaking out of tb.c Civil war in 1 801 so many of the members enlisted in the army tluit it was susiJended by order of the Grand Lodge of Ilhnois in 18G2. Its charter was not taken up, however, and in April, 1806, regular meetings and woi-k were resumed. In I8T0 the lodge fitted up a hall in the second story of the bank Iniildingof Eurge & Company at an expense of over two thousand dollars, \\hich included the cost of the second story of the building. Subsequently the lodge sold its interest in this building to the banking firm and joined with JNIr. Sundquist in the erection of the two-story brick structure at the northwest corner of ]Main and Franklin streets, the south end of the second story being built by the Odd Fellows for a lodge room.

At one time this lodge numbered about one hundred members, but some withdrew to assist in the formation of other lodges in the county, others died and still others moved away, so that in 191.5 the membership was but little over sixty. At that time James ]McCulioch held the office of noble grand and E. B. Redlield that of secretary.

The second Odd Fellows' lodge in the county was organized at Wvomin"-, under a charter dated October 1.5, 18.57, and officially designated as Wyoming Lodge, Xo. 24-i. Tlie ciiarter members of this lodge were: Henry A. Hoist, John Hawks, Isaac X. Tidd, V. M. Whiffen, C. W. Brown and ^^^ B. Armstrong. After a some- })recarious career of six years the lodge surrendered its charter in October, 1863. It was afterward reinstated under the original name and number and the reorganized lodge was held on February 6, 1871, with Henry A. Hoist as noble grand.

This is now the strongest Odd Fellows' lodge in the county, having in October, 191.5, over one hundred members. In 1913 the lodge erected one of the handsomest business buildings in ^Vyoming at a cost of $10,000. The lower floor is devoted to mercantile purposes, while on the second floor is fitted up one of the best appointed lodge halls in this section of the state. C. P. Pratt held the office of noble grand in 191.5 and J. ISl. Earhart was secretary.

of Illinois to Upton H. Brown, Joseph A. Cisney, David B. Cragin, R. O. Phillips and W . J. Hamilton to organize an Odd Fellows' lodge at Lafayette, to l)e known as Lafayette Lodge, No. 0.57. At one time tiiis lodge had about eighty members, but death, removals and withdrawals had reduced the membership in 191.5 to about tifty. Alexander JNlortison was then nol)le grand and A. H. White was secretary. JNIeetings are held on Saturday evenings in the hall over the postofRee.

In December, 18S.5, JS. J. Fox and a few other Odd Fellows living at W'est Jersey and in the immediate vicinity held a meeting and |)repared a petition to the Grand Lodge of Illinois asking for a charter. The ])etition was granted and West Jersey I^odge was instituted on 3Iarch 29, 188(j, as Xo. 234, the lodge formerly holding that number having jjassed out of existence. The charter members were: S. J. Fox. J. H. Emery, W. M. Grey, C. B. Vansickle, N. E. Pomeroy, J. \y. Wick and Alexander Ingles. The first meeting ])lace was the hall over Doctor Perry's store. In 191.5 this lodge numbered al)out forty members.

Wyoming Encampment, No. 20.5, Independent Order of Odd I'ellows, was first organized on JNIarch 24, 1876, as No. 174, with C. F. TTamilton as the first patriarch and the following charter members: J. ^1. Brown, J. ^1. Cox, II. J. Cosgrove. I. P. Carpenter. Dennis Guyre. J. D. Woods, T. B. ^Vall, J. L. ]Moffitt, John Hawks, D. S. Hewitt and C. F. Hamilton. Meetings are held in the Odd Fellows' new Irtiilding on the first and third Thursdays of each month. The meml)ership in October, 1915, was about fifty.

Daughters Of Kebekah

This is the ladies' degree of Odd Fellowshi]). It was founded some years after the original order for the M'ives, daughters, sisters and mothers of Odd Fellows. The members are generally referred to as "Rebekahs." and the lodges as "Rebekah Degree Lodges." The first Rebekah lodge in Stark County was organized at Ivafayette on November 17. 1880, as Stark. No. 110. For some reason this numlier was al'terward given to the Rebekah lodge at Toulon and the I^afayctte organization \\as rechristened Merry Rebekah Lodge, No. 1.39. The lodge is still in existence and is in a fairly prosjjcrous condition.

Star Rel)ekah I>odge. No. 110, was instituted at Toulon on February 1(). 1882, by (xrand Secretary N. C. Nason, of Peoria, assisted by members of the Rebekah lodges at Lafayette and Peoria. After the ceremony of institution was completed, D. S. Hewitt was installed as noble grand; JNlrs. V. B. Thornton, vice grand; J. M. Brown, secretary; iMrs. Howard Stanley, financial secretary, and ^Irs. U. Chamberlain, treasurer. In 191.) this lodge numbered about ninety members.

^Vyoming Rebekah Lodge, No. 333, although not organized until some years after the lodges at Lafayette and Toulon, is the strongest in the county, reporting 120 members on October 1, 1915. Regular meetings are held by this lodge on the first and third Wednesdays of each month in the Odd Fellows' new building. Nearly every Odd Fellows' lodge in the state has its auxiliary Rebekah Degree.

Shortly after the close of the Civil war the survivors of the Union army organized the Grand Army of the Republic, membership in which was limited to those A\ho had served in the army or navy during tlie war. I^ocal organizations are called posts. Each state constitutes a "department," in which the highest officer is called the state commander, or department commander. The objects of the Grand Army have been to collect and preserve historic relics and documents pertaining to the war; to mark the location of troops upon the gi'eat battlefields, and to aid and assist sick and disabled conn-ades and their families.

Probably the first Grand Army post in Stark Comity was the one organized at Elmira under a charter dated ^Nlarch 11, 1867, and was known as No. 244. Tlie original members were Orlando Brace. Robert Turnbull, John Styers, Da\'id and AVilliam Jackson. Frank Hudson, James Cinnamon, Asa Clark, jNIarshall Lecox and John ]McLean. William Jackson was the first commander.

About 187.) the order underwent a reorganization and the Elmira post received a new charter dated ISIarch 6, 187«'. under which it took the name of James Jackson Post, No. 37, with A\"illiam Jackson again the first commander. Very few of the original members are left.

DeWolf Post, No. 371. located at Wyoming, was organized some time in the winter of 18B7-(>8. A short time before that Dr. J. C. Copestake was nuistered into the Grand Army by Colonel Ford, department adjutant, and upon returning to Wyoming called a meeting of veterans to discuss the question of organizing a post. Doctor Co])estake was elected tlie first commander and the post started off with about thirtv charter members. After a few months the orafan- i/atiou was disbanded, hut was afterward reorganized with the original naiiK' and nunil)cr. .\t one time this post numbered over seventy members, but death and removals have weakened it until only a few are left. Regular meetings are no longer held, though the organization is kept up. The membership in Oetober, 1915, was sixteen, with William llolgate commander and Charles F. Hamilton, adjutant.

Diekinson Post, No. 90, was organized at Bradford on Februai-y 9, 18S1. with ^Nlordecai Bevier as commander. A few years after it was chartered it Iioasted a membership of seventy-three, l)ut like other |)()sts it has gradually decreased in numbers until there is but a "corporal's guard" left. In 191.5 J. N. Kitterman was commander.

\y. W. ^Vright Post, No. 327, was organized at Toulon under a charter dated August 20, 18S.*5, with twenty-hve charter members. The first commander was Capt. John M. Brown of Company K, Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry. At one time tliis Mas the strongest Cirand Army post in the county, having close to one hundred members. The few that are left hold meetings in the ^lasonic Hall. The commander in 191.5 was I^evi Silliman.

There is a'pathos in the history of the Grand Army of the Republic that is not to be I'ound in that of any other fraternal order. In tlicir voung and vigorous manhood the members left their homes and shops to do battle for the preservation of the Union. The membership being limited to those who served in the army makes it impossible to reci'uit new members from a succeeding generation and each yeai' on ^Memorial Day, when these old veterans turn out to decorate the graves of their fallen coim-ades, the most casual observer cannot hell) but note that the "line of blue" is growing thinner and more fcet)le. A few years more and the last of the Grand Army will have answered the last roll call and the patriotic order will be no more.

\early every (irand Army post has its auxiliary known as the Women's Relief Corps, which has been a great factor in the charitable work of the order in caring for the ])oor and disabled soldiers, their \\ idows and orjihans. It is composed of the wives and daughters of old soldiers.

Temperaxcf, Societies

As a I'ule the people of Stark County have always been believers in temperance and the saloon has never done a profitable business anywhere in the county for any continued length of time. The Washington Temperance Society was organized in 184.5 and in February. 184.8, received a charter from the national organization. It numbered amouQ- its members .such men as John W. and Thomas J. Henderson, \V. \V. Drummond, John A. Wilhanis, Ohver W'hitaker, IJenjamin Turner, Patrick INI. Blair, Martin Shallenberger, Ira \Vard, Sr. and Samuel G. Butler. For a time the society was active in advocating the cause of temperance. In 1848 it built a hall, which was afterward owned and occupied by the JNlasonie lodge until it was destroyed by fire in iNIay, 1877. Politics finally crept into the ranks, brought al)out dissensions and the society disbanded.

Division No. 3, Sons of Temperance, was organized at Toulon on March 17. 187-5. with Levi Silliman as president. Among the members were several who had been members of the Washington Society.

In the early '80s the Independent Order of Good Templars became prominent in the county. Lodges were organized at Toulon, Osceola, Lafayette, Bradford, Castleton and Wyoming. This order appealed to many because it was "secret," though its influence was widely felt while it existed.

The Wj'oming Band of Hope, a temperance society, was organized in the spring of 1882, with ten members, among whom were John Hawks, Dr. J. C. Copestake, W. H. Barrett and a nimiber of women who were in favor of keeping saloons out of the town. Its influence was chiefly exerted for that purpose.

Miscellaneous Societies

Scattered over the county there are, or have been in the past, a number of societies and organizations, some of which formed a part of some great order or movement, and others purely local in their character. In the beginning of the jireparation of this work, letters were sent to the secretaries of the societies now in existence, but unfortunately for the historian only a few replied. It is therefore impossible to give a detailed history of such organizations.

In the early '70s an order called the Patrons of Husbandry spread over the nation and for a time threatened to become an important influence in political aff"airs. The principal objects of the organization Mere to secure a better price for farm jiroducts and a lower price for merchandise of all kinds. To tliis end cooperative stores were started in numerous cities of the comitry to eliminate the "middleman" by buying direct from the manufacturer and selling direct to the consumer. The local bodies were called "Gi*anges," several of which were formed in Stark County. But, like all such movements, its usefulness was short-lived, owing to the fact that its members could not

The JModern Woixhnen of iVnierica, an order of which fi'aternal insni-anee is the leading feature, has h)dges at Wyoming, Toulon, Rradi'ord and Lafayette. The Wyoming Camp, as the local lodges are called, is probably the oldest in the county. It was organized in July, 188(5, with E. A. Trimmer, venerable counsel, and J. ]M. Thomas, Jr.. clerk. The camp now occupies the hall formerly occupied by the Odd Fellows and owns the building in which it is located.

Bradford Camp, No. 1156, JModern \Voodmen of America, was organized about the same time as the Wyoming Camp and in 191. j numbered 138 members, with C. A. Austin, venerable counsel, and Walter Scholes, clerk. Connected with the JModern ^Voodmen is a ladies' degree called the Royal Neighbors, an organization of which is auxiliary to every camp in the county.

Tile Knights of the JMaccabees. aiiother fratern.il insurance society, have several "tents" in the county; the JMystic Workers, the Court of Honor, the Sons of Veterans, and a few other fraternal societies are also represented by organizations in most of the leadingtowns.