DeKalb County, Indiana - Chapter 17: Lodges and Societies, 1914

Chapter 17: Lodges and Societies

On May 28, 1857, DeKalb Lodge No. 214, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered, and on June 5th was instituted. The first officers were : Milton F. Pierce, worshipful master; John Butt, senior warden; Alva O. Espy, junior warden; Aaron Wolf, treasurer; Eli Weaver, secretary; Joseph H. Ford, senior deacon; James Barclay, junior deacon; William E. Rush, tyler, and John Butt, James Barclay and A. O. Espy, trustees.

In 1913 the lodge has one hundred and sixty-two members, and the following officers : Joseph N. Grover, worshipful master ; Philip Holman, senior warden ; Donald P. Sprott, junior warden ; Fred W. Knott, treasurer ; Thomas H. Sprott, secretary; Ira A. Thrush, senior deacon; John E. Graham, junior deacon; Thomas C. Ford, senior steward; W. Gage Zigler, junior steward; George W. Rudolph, tyler; James L. Lewis, James Y. W. McClellan, John E. Graham, trustees.

William Hacker Chapter No. 63, Royal Arch Masons, was organized under dispensation on September 3, 1866, and chartered May 23, 1867. John Butt was high priest until 1878. The chapter now has sixty-two members, and is officered by the following: William H. Leas, high priest; Joseph N. Grover, king; Charles H. Knapp, scribe; James L. Lewis, treasurer; Thomas H. Sprott, secretary; William C. Howard, captain of host; Harry M. Richwine, principal sojourner; Daniel J. Whipple, royal arch captain; James Y. W. McClellan, master third veil ; Noah A. Bash, master second veil ; George A. Bishop, master first veil ; George W. Rudolph, guard.

DeKalb Council No. S7, Royal and Select Masters, was chartered on July 15, 1885. The council has a present membership of forty-five, and has the following officers: Harry M. Richwine, thrice illustrious master; Willis Baughman. deputy illustrious master ; Sam F. Davenport, illustrious principal conductor of work; Price D. West, treasurer; Thomas H. Sprott, recorder; William C. Howard, captain of guard; Howard A. Marvin, conductor of council; F. L. Rodebaugh, steward, and George W. Rudolph, sentinel.

Waterloo City Lodge No. 307, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in Waterloo in 1861. The charter is dated May 26, 1864. At present there are sixty members, and the officers are: Clark Campbell, worshipful master; Frank Fisk, senior warden; J. Harris Reed, junior warden; C. Ellsworth Montavon, treasurer; William H. Leas, secretary; W. R. Newcomer, senior deacon ; W. E. Montavon, junior deacon ; John J. Rohm and A. H. Erwin, stewards; John J. Lightner, tyler; N. T. Jackman, J. J. Lightner, John W. Frick, trustees. The Masons own their own hall, and part of the Abbey block, which they use as an annex.

Garrett City Lodge No. 537, Free and Accepted Masons, was united under dispensation on July 17; 1876, and the charter is dated May 15, 1877. The present lodge has about two liundred and thirty-five members. The officers are : Harry E. Wert, worshipful master ; Howard A. Marion, senior warden; Harry B. Hill, junior warden; Harry M. Brown, treasurer; Job C. Smith, secretary.

Garrett Chapter No. 129, Royal Arch Masons, was united under dispensation on May 23, 1903, and the charter is dated October 22, 1903. The chapter has a member.ship of about one hundred and twenty-five, and is officered by the following: Franklin Rodebaugh, high priest; Thomas A. Smith, king; Edwin Van Fleit, scribe; Harry M. Brown, treasurer; Job C. Smith, secretary. .

Ashley Lodge No. 614, Free and Accepted Masons, has a1)out fifty members. A. N. Ellis is worshipful master ; C. H. Bruce, past master ; W. N. Folkerson, senior warden ; Jess McClugen. junior warden ; L. C. Hunt, secretary ; C. A. Lakins, treasurer.

Forest Lodge No. 239, Free and Accepted Masons, at Butler, was organized in 1858. with the following as first officers: H. S. Aladden. worshipful master ; W. W. Straight, senior Avarden ; W. R. Chilson, junior warden; Jason Hubbell, secretary; J. H. Boon, treasurer; W. H. Madden, senior deacon ; A. Lampson, junior deacon, and Z. Handy, tyler. The charter is dated May 25, 1859. The present membership is one hundred and twelve, and the following are the present officers: Marion M. Knepper, worshipful master; Charles H. Miller, senior warden; Clifford R. Decker, junior warden; Samuel G. Stone, treasurer; Charles T. Apt. secretary; C. H. Grube, senior deacon; George A. Powers, junior deacon; Hugh T. Berkey and Harry M. Hatch, stewards; Peter Whitman, tyler.

Butler Chapter No. io6. Royal Arch Masons, at Butler, was chartered on October 22, 1891. At present there are seventy-three members. The officers are: Clyde J. Shaffer, high priest; M. M. Knepper, king; Henry Grube, scribe; Frank P. Stump, treasurer; Charles T. Apt, secretary; C. H. Grube, captain of host; John A. Daniels, principal sojourner; J. Bruce Pessel, royal arch captain; O. C. Waterman, guard master third veil; Frank P. Stump, guard master second veil ; Ed. A. Karle, guard master first veil ; Peter Whitman, guard.

Butler Council No. 83, Royal and Select Masters, at Butler, was chartered October 20, 1909. The present membership totals thirty-eight. The following are the officers: ^\'alter J. Alondhank, thrice illustrious master; Clyde J. Shafer, right illustrious deputy master; Oris C. Waterman, illustrious principal conductor of work; Morrison .Brunstetter, treasurer; Charles T. Apt, recorder; M. M. Knepper, captain of guard; Henry M. Showalter, conductor of council ; F. P. Stump, steward : Peter ^^'hitman, sentinel.

Knights Of Pythias

Auburn Lodge No. 191, Knights of Pythias, was chartered on May 4, 188S, and now has a membership of three hundred and thirty members. T. L. Boodelmier is chancellor commander ; Guy Clement, vice commander : L. F. Moore, prelate; Arthur Grube, master of work; D. C. Xorris. keeper of records and seal; W. C. Kettering, master of exchequer; E. E. Shilling, master of finance ; F. H. Fury, master at arms ; R. A. Gramling, inner guard ; Charles E. Kingsbury, outer guard; F. D. Smith, Charles E. Renier, Dr. D. N. Fitch, trustees. The hall is in the third story of the building at Seventh and Cedar streets. The property is valued at six thousand dollars.

Butler Lodge No. 158, Knights of Pythias, was organized on December II, 1886, and at present has a membership of two hundred and sixty-five, being the largest lodge in Butler. The lodge owns the second stor\- of the Oberlin block, and the property, including fixtures, is valued at six thousand dollars. The officers are: A. A. Kramer, chancellor commander; \\'. P. Endicott, vice commander: George W. Geddus, master of finance: T. J.

Garrett City Lodge No. 130, Knights of Pythias, was organized on June 2, 1886, with fifteen charter members. The present membership totals seventy-nine, and the lodge is officered by the following: Carl Moyer, chancellor commander; C. H. Hamilton, vice commander; L. Stoner, prelate; J. Hill, master of work; D. C. Beehler, keeper of records and seal, also master of finance ; J. A. Moore, master of exchequer ; L. J. Gengler, master at arms ; S. E. Boogher, inner guard ; Louis Eberle, outer guard.

St. Joe Lodge No. 400, Knights of Pythias, was organized on February 28, 1894, and chartered on June 6, 1894, with the following charter members: Sol Barney, H. M. Widney, S. Openlauder, J. C. Hull, J. A. Culbertson, Daniel Hamm, W. C. Patterson, Frank Barney, Leo Bleeks, J. P. Bonnell, John Williams, Ed. Leighty, C. H. Brown, B. F. Walter, John Deets, Joseph Harrods, Logan Fuller, B. S. Sheffer, John Alten, F. J. White. F. H. Abel, D. J. Baker, L. Gee, J. L. Stewart, William Curie, J. C. F. Abel, C. A. Patterson, O. M. Saylor and Ballard Bowen. F. W. Abel was the first chancellor commander. C. H. Brown, H. M. Widney, C. A. Patterson. J. C. F. Abel. Frank Walters, D. J. Baker, John Allen and Ed. Leighty were other first officers. At present writing there are seventy-six members in the St. Joe lodge, and the officers are Edwin Cox, chancellor commander; William Curie, vice chancellor; Wilson Kock, prelate; Clarence Hart, master of work; J. C. Hull, master of exchequer; Abner Copp, master of finance; B. S. Sheffer, keeper of records and seal ; Charles Collins, inner guard ; Ira Bowen, outer guard : H. M. Widney, Joseph Haifley and Ed. Leighty, trustees. Azalea Temple No. 152, Pythian Sisters, is active in St. Joe.

Leonidas Lodge No. 205, Knights of Pythias, was organized about fifteen years ago in Waterloo. At present there are one hundred and seventytwo members, and the officers are: Frank Walker, chancellor commander; Isaac Johnson, vice commander; Charles Barton, prelate; Henry Link, keeper records and seal ; J. J. Beck, master of exchequer ; W. H^ Leas, master of -financeijohn Mann, master at arms ; Dan Rumm, inner guard ; Roy Shuman, outer guard.

Ashley Lodge No. 394, Knights of Pythias, was instituted on July 12. 1893, and at present has forty-one active members. The officers are as fol- lows: Frank Baughman, chancellor commander; Jesse Camp, vice commander; George Parks, prelate; S. C. Hunt, secretary; Dave Furney, master of exchequer; F. P. Hoover, master of finance; Frank Jennings, inner guard; Jacob Hood, outer guard.

Independent Order Of Odd Fellows

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was first introduced in Auburn at a very early date, but the records have been destroyed. A charter was granted to Bradford C. Cosgrove and others on July 21, 1852, and on July 21, 1853, Auburn Lodge No. 116 was instituted. The first officers were: Wesley Park, noble grand ; W. H. Straight, vice grand ; W. W. Griswold, secretary, and S. W. Ralston, treasurer. The fire of January, 1856, destroyed the hall, and the lodge reorganized on June 25th, with A. O. Espy, noble grand ; S. W. Ralston, vice grand ; W. W. Griswold, secretary, and Wesley Park, treasurer. In the fall of 1872 a brick building was begun on the north side of Seventh street opposite the court yard. In October a storm ruined the structure and bankrupted the lodge. The charter was returned and the members disbanded.

A new charter was granted January 17, 1882, as Mentor Lodge No. 591, and on January 30th of the same year the lodge was instituted. The first officers were: F. T. Zimmerman, noble grand; P. Noel, vice grand; W. H. Rakestraw, secretary, and G. W. Gordon, treasurer. The lodge at this date has one hundred and fifteen members, and is officered by the following: Kent Provines, noble grand; Lester Cobler, vice grand; E. C. Altenburg, recording secretary; J. F. Baughman, financial secretary; F. E. Draggoo, treasurer; A. A. Rowland, trustee. The lodge owns its hall and equipment.

St. Joe Lodge No. 671, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was chartered on March 18, 1891, with the following as charter members: \\^illiam Curie, John Y. Davis, James K. Stafford, J. R. Culbertson, Sol Barney and L. L. Stanton. At present there are one hundred and three members. The officers are: Jay Rickets, noble grand; Ray Herrick, secretary; W. A. G. Smith, treasurer ; Fred Reeder, vice grand ; Frank Kinsey, financial secretary. Sol Barney, of this lodge, is district deputy grand master for DeKalb county, having held the office for fifteen years. St. Joe Valley Lodge No. 505, Rebekahs, was chartered on January 16, 1896.

nell, as vice grand ; Charles W. Camp, as secretary, and B. D. Thomas, as treasurer. The present enrollment numbers two hundred and thirty-five men. The hall was remodeled in I90i,_and now has a valuation of twelve thousand dollars. The charter members of the order were: Charles W. Camp, T. C. Sargent. A. H. Philips, Thomas H. Stewart, Charles S. Stewart, H. M. Bicknell, B. D. Thomas, H. F. Sembower, Lyman Lockwood and Heniy Schelter. The present officers are : Howard Ross, noble grand ; J. L. Ghrum, vice grand; William Watson, secretary; S. D. Johnston, treasurer; G. W. Rowe, trustee.

Butler Lodge No. 282, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted May 22, 1867, and the five charter members were: Leonard P. Waterhouse, Jacob Apple, John T. Champion, William Macartney and Warren Closson. There are now one hundred and twenty-four members. The elective officers are : Jacob Farner, noble grand ; William Tefft, vice grand ; C. A. Engles, recording secretary; S. G. Stone, treasurer; Charles Mumaw, financial secretary. There is also a lodge of the Rebekahs in Butler.

Waterloo Lodge No. 221, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized in Waterloo, DeKalb county, in i860. There are now about ninetyfive members, and the elective officers are: O. B. Arthur, noble grand; Henry Shultz, vice grand"; D. E. Newcomer, recording secretary; R. W. McBride, financial secretary, and C. J. Myer, trustee.

Ashley Lodge No. 829, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has twentyfive members, and was organized by Sol Barney, of St. Joe. The present officers are: Arthur C. ^^^olfe, noble grand; Ira Moortorff, secretary; C. S. Thomson, treasurer, and Thomas Robinett, vice grand.

Grand Army Of The Republic

DeLong Post No. 67, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized and chartered at Auburn on May 8, 1882. The charter members were; Henry C. Peterson, P. W. Silber, George W. Gordon. Michael Ensley, Henry Wolf, John Otto, Ezra D. Hartman, J. J. Littlefield, John A. Cowan, H. E. Altenburg, Adolph Pairan, C. P. Houser, Fred Abel and William Schneider. The post was named in honor of Colonel Solomon DeLong, of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth and Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The past commanders have been : Nicholas G. Ensley, Phillip Noel, John Otto, A. P. Green, Joseph Ranier, J. O. Davidson, D. C. Marvin, Robert Simpson, Joseph

Davidson at present, and on January i, 1914, O. H. Widney assumes the office of commander. In December, 1913, there are forty-three Hving members of the DeLong Post. A special room has been provided for the veterans in the new DeKalb county court house, a room in whicli will also be kept the records and relics of the post.

John C. Carnes Post Xo. 144, at St. Joe, was organized in March, 1883, and named after the first man killed from Concord township in the Civil war. Carnes was killed at Paducah. Kentucky, while mounting a cannon. There were about thirt3'-six charter members, and the post was organized in the hall over Jacob D. Leighty's store. Leighty was the first commander of the post. They remained in the hall until about 1889, when they occupied the hall over the St. Joe Valley bank. In 1910 a monument was erected in the cemetery, commemorating the heroes of '61. This monument is twenty -two feet six inches in height, cost twenty-two hundred and sixteen dollars, and was dedicated on May 30, 1912.