Elkhart County, Indiana - Chapter 20: Social and Fraternal History, 1905

Chapter 20: Social and Fraternal History

Man in society is like a flower Blown in its native bed ; 'tis there alone His faculties, expanded in full bloom, Shine out ; there only reach their proper use.

Joseph Noffsinger. the hermit squatter and border man, who is elsewhere mentioned as having settled at the confluence of the Qiristiana and St. Joseph streams, away from civiHzed people because he hated the society of white men, little realized the impossibility of complete isolation. His course was like a soldier trying to live by himself during the Civil war. .\s there were ties which drew the soldiers together, ties which exist even to-day, so there were ties which drew the early settlers together. They had common interests, had a common work to do, and were threatened by common dangers. Their very circumstances made it necessary that they stand together, minister to each other in sickness, and weep with those who wept; and this made them rejoice with those who rejoiced. There are bonds in the Grand Army of the Republic which do not exist in any other society of men. And so it is with the early settlers of this county. We see this when they get together. They have no grips nor secret words, and yet one who is not an early settler is as effectually debarred from entering into their experiences as though he were on the outside of lodge-room doors.

It is sometimes said that the social ties were stronger in pioneer days than now, that there was more real sympathy, more dependence of neighbor -.ipon neighbor, more mutual assistance then than now. It is said that ihe division of society 'uto classes and of religious people into sects has interfered with free intercourse; fashionable afternoon calls ha\c taken the place of family visiting; clubs and societies demand so mucli lime, wealth and circumstances are sO' unequal among the different classes of people, there are so many circles into which some can never enter, that the whole coinmunity is thrown into- dissatisfaction and unrest, and social ties are not so sympathetic, so close, so fraternal nor so enduring as formerlv.

But is this true? May it not be tliat the loss of s_vmi)athy in society is only apparent. When there is progression in all other respects, is there deterioration here? Is not humanity more refined, civilization more complicated, and the community more highly organized now than in pioneer times? And if more highly organized must not the bonds Avhich l;ind it together be stronger? Is it not better able to resist opposing forces? There is a stronger and more genuine s}-mpathy to-day than formerly, only it lies deeper; there are not so many things to call it forth in a special manner. Let anything occur in the community to call forthi sympathy, such as a death, a fire, or some other severe misfortune, and there are not wanting ministrations of sympathy of the deepest kind. That charities are now organized, that relief comes through life, accident and fire insurance companies and through fraternal associations, that incendiary or accidental flames are extinguished liy the city fire department instead of by the bucket brigade as formerly - all this does not argue less human sympathy but more; for he who sustains all these institutions as he should is ministering to his neighbor more effectually than in the desultory way of pioneer times. What is needed is not a return to former days, but to have men realize that he who does his duty to organized society is serving" his neighbor, and that it is better to do this from i)rinciple, through the organized chamiels, than through impulse.

^^'ith this understanding" of the difference and the degree of development between the social institutions of former times and those of the present, we may enter into some detailed account of the various organizations, of social or fraternal nature, which ha\"e lieen and are a necessary and essential part of the life of the inhabitants of Elkhart c(iunty.

The pleasurable occasions of the early days were in the main r|uite different from those of the present. The social centers were not so numerous and, as mentioned above, not so well organized. Of out-ofdoor enjoyments there was an abundance. The old settlers could tell of bee hunts or of the n:ore exciting wolf hunt, for which tlie entire community would take a da}" oft' and starting from the circumference of a large circle would dri\"e in the game toward the center, where the designated marksmen would be stationed to shoot down the game thus rounded up. Skating and sleighing, then as now, held a prominent place in the winter amusements. The social center was often the schoolhouse, and how many tales might be told of the sociables, the " literaries." the s])elling matches and other occasir}ns which were the magnet to draw vdung and nld. TTdw iiian>- a liny, whose suhsequcnt iiositinn in the world entitles him to distinction, obtained liis inspiration and hh ease of manner and training- in debate in those old schoolhonse affairs. One of the dearest memories nf the American people is of the " old red schoolhonse," althongh ton often it was not red nor of any other definite color; it was sufficient, irrespective of color, exterior and interior roughness, and its influence npnn the generatinns past, present and to come can never he lightly estimated.

Then there Mere outdoor meetings in the summer, on political, holiday and other occasions, and all these picnics and festival days relieved the monotony of pioneer life. But these phases of Elkhart county history are described in another chapter, and we must hasten to speak of the regularly constituted liodies, whose social and fraternal purposes are along definite lines.

The first to claim our attention shall he the Pioneers" Association, that elite ho(h- of men and women whose ranks, like those of the drand Armv. cannot he renewed, hut whose members pass away with the breath of the vears. Therefore, all the mm-e reasou why we should fondlv record the existence of the association. At a very early ])eriod in the historv of the county efforts were made to organize an association in which all the pioneers would be embraced. For various reasons the progress made was very slow, and it was only after the iien]ile had emerged frnm the epnch of labor and c;u-eful guard and bad s(.ime leisure to think of their connection with the iiast and future and with each other that thev turned their attention to this good work. The leaders in the movement finally effected their purpose and the first annual meeting of the association was held at Goshen May ii. 1857. It will be of interest to give the names of those -who took chief part in the organization : J. H. Barnes presided over the meeting, and E. W. H. Ellis was secretary, and the following jjermanent officers were elected: President, Matthew Rippe_\' : \-ice-presidents, C'ol. John Jackson, George Nicholson and \\'illiam W'augh : secretarw K. W. H. Ellis; treasurer, Milton Mercer; executive committee. J. 1\. McL'ord, of Elkhart township: Robert A. Thomas, of Clinton; John D. Elsea, of Benton; ]\Iark P. Tlmmi)- son, of Jackson; John Peppinger, of Union: Daniel }iIcC<\\-, of Locke: Noah Anderson, of Harrison: John Davenport, of Concord; James Peck, of Baugo: C. Terwilliger, of Olive: J. D. Carleton. of Cleveland; Nathaniel Xewell, of Osolo ; Owen Coffin, of \\'ashington ; Charles L.

The organization, thus so well completed, had a prosperous career. Each year the reunion of old settlers was looked forward to with increasing interest. And as time passed there were an increasing number of vacancies and the roll call became shorter and shorter.

Among the prominent old settlers whose faces appear in the group photographed at the meeting of the Pioneers' Association in 1895 are the following : Benjamin Crar\-, John W. Irwin, William Hawks, Abner Blue, A. Defrees and J. P. Hawks, all of whom are dead; and Edward Stevens, O. W. Cunningham, ?tIilton fiercer, Dr. Wickham, A. F. Wilden, John Thompson and Albert Yates, who are still spared.

In its large number of fraternal orders and social and industrial organizations is another evidence that Elkhart county stands among the most progressive counties of the state. The countless orders and unions in existence in this country are a striking" proof that this is an age of specialization. The social organism is too vast, too inert, too composite for facility of action as a whole ; its work must be divided and subdivided among numerous branches, each of which must i^erform its duties with reference not only to its own welfare but to the general progress and well-being of the whole of which it is a part. Thus are the unions and the many societies the very essence of organized civilization; for as long as the individual remained an infinitesimal part of the sluggish and ponderous mass of humanity his usefulness and activity were limited to his own genius or ambition, but with the parceling out of men into their smaller and proper spheres of activity, not onl)^ the worth of the individual is increased, Init the power of societv for definite action is raised many degrees. For this and the many other reasons justifying their existence, the various orders and societies haxe obtained a useful and certain place in the world, and the history of Elkhart county could not omit some mention of their influence and extent. In the history of the smaller centers we have in each instance referred to the fraternal and social organizations of that place, and reserve for the concluding pages of this chapter the principal (jrganizations in the large cities.

Goshen Lodge No. 12, F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation September 14, 1844, with nine members, was granted a charter in May, 1845, and organized in accordance therewith in the following June. Goshen Chapter No. 45, of the Royal Arch Masons, was organized in February, i860, with twelve members. Dispensation for Bashor Council No. 15. R. & S. M., was granted March 12, i860. The Mystic Shrine is represented by the El Cill Shrine Oub, A. A. O. of N. M. S.

The Lidependent Order of Odd Fellows was the next great order to gain a i>lace in Goshen. Elkhart County Lodge No. 34, L O. O. F., was instituted May 20, 1846, in the jury room of the old court house. On July 30, 1866, a dispensation was granted to Goshen Encampment No. 79, and organization was effected August 7 of the same year. The ladies' auxiliary, the Daughters of Rebekah, Rebekah Lodge No. 356, was instituted in Goshen April 15. 1891. And there is also Canton Goshen No. i, P. M.

The Knights oi Pythias have had a prosperous career in Goshen. Calanthe Lodge No. 41, K. of P., was instituted November 5, 1873, and its membership is now alx)nt two hundred. Company No. 11, L^niform Rank of the Knights of Pythias, was organized June i, 1883, and Goshen Temple No. 329, Rathbone Sisters, has been existence since July 19, 1900.

Another prosperous order in Goshen is the Knights and Ladies of the Maccabees. March 11, 1886. Goshen Tent No. 4. K. O. T. M., was installed with a charter membership of sixteen, and on June 25. 1895. Goshen Hive No. ^y, L. O. T. M., was organized.

The (ira.nd Arniv nf the ]vepul)hc has maintained a flourishing post in this c\\.\ since August 16, i88j. when Howell Post No. 90, G. A. I'i., was mustered in. and its roll call still continues quite long despite the ravages of years. The auxiliaiy, Howell Relief Corps No. 32, had seventeen charter members w'hen it was organized on March 19. i88f).

One of the purely local organizations which deserves attention is the Ladies" Cemetery Association, whose ohject is the beautifying of Oak Ridge Cemeter\-.

in hdkhart also the ALasons were early in the fraternal field. Kane Lodge Xo. 183, I'". & A. Al., was granted a dispensation in Alarch, 1855, and the charter on Jane i. 1855. Concord Chapter No. loi, R. A. M., worked under dispensation from May 20 to November 17, 1886, when it received a charter. The Knights Templar are represented by Elkhart Conimandery Xo. 31, which was opened February 2, 1884. Starlight Chapter X'o. 18 1, Order of the Eastern Star, was fornietl June 4, 1893.^

Elkhart Camp of the Woodmen of the \Vorld was organized May II, 1893, and Cedar Grove X"o. 8, Woodmen Circle, received its charter January 17, 1899.

The Modern Samaritans of the ^^'orld have made great progress in Elkliart. Elkhart Congress Xo. i was instituted at Elkhart March 2;^, 1898, with one hundred and six members, and now has nearly a thousand members. A ladies" auxiliary w^as formed X^oveml^er 2, 1899, and is in a flourishing condition.

The Grand .Vrmy of the RepubHc has five liranches in Elkhart. Elmer Post Xu. 37, (1. A. R.. was mustered in on NoA-ember 8, 1881. The Elmer Woman's Relief Corps Xo. 15 was instituted May 14, 1885, with twenty-three charter members. Within two years after the formation of the first post Sliiloh Eield Post X^o. 198 was instituted, on June 26, 1883. The Shiloh Field Relief Corps Xo. 5 was instituted .\pril 8, 1884. Frank Baldwin Circle Xo. 14, 'Ladies of the C. A. R.. came into being August 12, iS()(>, with twenty-one charter members.

The Knights of J'ythias. Elkhart Lodge Ni.x j^ was instituted October 29, 1877. and later Elkhart Company No. 18. Uniform Rank K. of P., was organized. T'^lkhart Temple No. 14, Rathbone Sisters, the woman's auxiliary of the order, was formed May 12, 1890.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was the first established order in this city, and among the first in the county. Pulaski Lodge No. 60 was granted its charter Jul}- 13, 1848, and its subsecpient career has I)een most gratifying. A charter was granted Elkhart Encampment, I. O. O. F., May 18, 1870, and Naomi Lodge No. 67, Daughters of Rebekah. has Ijeen in existence since May i". 1871.

The Modern W'oodmen of America has a large membership in Camp X'o. 3320. and its auxiliary, the Royal X'eighbors of .\merica, also has a branch in the city.

Elkhart Temple No. 7, Patriarchal Circle, was organized June 15, 1882. Elkhart Council No. 9, Knights and Ladies of Columbia, was formed January 12, 1897.

No. 248 was organized April 27, 1884. Cora Smith Division No. 143, G. I. A. to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was organized July 7, 1892.

Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, Prospect Lodge No. 162, was instituted June 3, 1883. Heljimate Lodge No. 10, the ladies' auxiliary, was organized December, 1891-.

The Central Labor Union of Elkhart was organized February 10, 1900, under the charter of the American Federation of Labor. Three unions were represented in the Central Union at the time of organization, and since then others have joined and there is a large membership.

Elkhart Typographical Union No. 266 was formed in the fall of 1890. Becoming discouraged the local union surrendered its charter in September, 189 1, but in the following spring a reorganization was effected.

Retail Clerks' Protective Association, Local No. 293, was organized August 20, 1899, with twenty-two charter members, and now has a large enrollment of members.

Elkhart has especial reason to be proud of her Century Club. This, one of the most modern and handsome of exclusive club buildings, stands on Main street just north of Jackson. It was erected in 1898 for the club by H. E. Bucklen, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars, including the furnishings. The Century Club was organized for purel}- business and social purposes in 1892, and, to quote from its own souvenir booklet, " while at all times the club may not have shown that enterprise and energy which some of the most exacting and unreasonable outsiders thought it should exiu'bit, it has always been alive to the best interests of the city, and has quietly fostered and furthered many an enterprise which to-day is the pride and honor of Elkhart." The club building has a very striking architectural design, being one of the ornate structures of the city. An excellent scheme of arrangement has been carried out in the interior, where the principal divisions are lounging

Century Club

The Marquette Club, composed of progressive Elkhart young men banded together for healthful recreation and pleasure, was organized on December 7, 1897.

Elkhart has possessed an active branch of the Young Men's Christian Association for many years. The organization was effected February 3, 1882, but its work was not efifective until 1884, when it was reorganized as a railroad association. In August, 1885, the erection of a special Y. M. C. A. building was begun, and the structure was opened to the public in the following spring. It is located on Tyler avenue, covers a ground space of 75 by 30 feet, and all its equipments and furnishings are admirably suited for its broadly beneficent work.