Huntington County, Indiana - Chapter 18: Societies and Fraternities, 1914

Agricultural Societies - Various Fair Grounds - Warren Fair Asso¬ ciation - Social and Literary Clubs - Women's Civic Improvement League - Daughters of the American Revolution - The Odd Fellows - Masonic Fraternity - Knights of Pythias - Grand Army of the Republic - Other Military Societies - Improved Order of Red Men - The Elks - Miscellaneous Organizations.

One of the first voluntary associations of any consequence organized by the citizens of Huntington County was a society for the promotion of agriculture. For fifteen years or more after the county was organized the people were engaged in clearing land, building homes, constructing highways, etc., and but little attention was given to society work of any kind. In the fall of 1852 John Becker, Albert Draper, Robert Fyson, Sr., James B. Custance, Jacob Snyder and a few others formed a tentative organization for the purpose of holding a county fair. The fair was held in the old courthouse, the principal articles exhibited being vegetables, fruit and needlework.

* The fair aroused general interest and on December 15, 1852, a call appeared in the Indiana Herald, signed by AVilliam G. Sutton, David Garlick and Warren Hecox, for a meeting to be held on January 1, 1853, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society.

At the time named in the call a number of citizens assembled in Hunt¬ ington, Jacob Snyder was elected to preside and L. P. Milligan was chosen secretary. After a thorough discussion of the subject, a society was organized, and Saturday, February 5, 1853, was fixed as the date for the election of officers, when Charles H. Lewis was chosen president; Warren Hecox, vice president; William Norton, secretary; William G. Sutton, treasurer. In addition to these officers twelve directors were also elected, viz.: Albert Draper, James Purviance, Sexton Emley, Edward Coles, Thomas Moore, Jacob Snyder, David Chambers, James Miller, Thomas Fisher, Peter Weese, E. Fleming and Robert Fyson, Sr. Another meeting was held on August 7, 1853, when Mr. Lewis resigned the presi¬ dency and was succeeded by Warren Hecox. At this meeting a corn- mittee, consisting of James Purviance, Robert Fyson, Sr., and Albert Draper, submitted a list of premiums to be offered at the coming fair, which was adopted by the society.

The fair of 1853 was held on the south side of the Little River, just below the old bridge, on the 18th and 19th of October. It was well attended and from a financial point of view was a success, the receipts amounting to $180.60 and the total expenses to $94.12, leaving a balance of $86.48 in the hands of the treasurer.

On February 4, 1854, John Becker was elected president and S. W. Hawley, secretary. The fair in this year was held on the 17th and 18th of October, in the eastern part of Huntington. The next fair was held on October 16 and 17, 1855, south of Little River and immediately east of Bratton's Grove. James M. Bratton was then president of the society and A. W. DeLong was secretary. This was the last fair held by the society, which was disbanded late in the year 1855.

The second agricultural society was organized on February 28, 1857, and, on April 7th, Peter Weese was elected president; L. P. Milligan, vice president; A. M. Lewis, secretary, and William L. Steele, treasurer. In some respects this society was merely a reorganization of the old one, and quite a number of the same men were actively interested. On June 6, 1857, the organization was completed by the election of the following board of directors: James Leverton, Jacob Stults, John Becker, Robert Fyson, Sr., Peter Keefer, Thomas Fisher, William B. Morgan, Thomas Moore, John Miller, Joseph Miller and Lewis W. Purviance. No fair was held in 1857. In the spring of 1858 the society secured a tract of ground just west of Huntington, on the north side of the canal, for a fair ground, and in August it was determined by the board of directors to make a thorough canvass of the county with a company of singers and speakers to awaken interest in the fair.

A very successful fair was held on the new grounds on October 26, 27 and 28, 1858. In 1859 the fair was held on the last three days of September. L. P. Milligan was then president of the society; Elijah Snowden, vice president; A. M. Lewis, secretary, and William G. Sutton, treasurer. The next year William Oden was elected president and the fair was held on October 3, 4 and 5, 1860. Mr. Oden was succeeded by Dr. H. S. Heath, who served for three years. The fair in 1861 was held on the 25th, 26th and 27th days of September. This was the last fair ever given by this society. The great Civil war overshadowed everything else, and it was deemed inexpedient to attempt to hold fairs until peace was restored to the distracted country. On January 14, 1865, a meeting was held, at which it was determined to abandon the organization.

January 4, 1868, when a meeting was held at the courthouse in Huntington and a third society was organized. Peter W. Zent was elected presi¬ dent; 0. W. Sanger, vice president; Robert Simonton, secretary, and John Roche, treasurer. This society secured a fair ground on the farm now owned by Vincent Moore, near the country club grounds west of the city, and held its first fair in 1869. Fairs were then held annually at that place until in the early '80s, when the grounds were disposed of and a tract of thirty-five acres southeast of the city was purchased and fitted up for a new fair ground. The first fair was held there in 1886, at which time Robert Simonton was president; L. T. Bagley, secretary, and Joseph

In the purchase of the new grounds and the erection of buildings the society incurred some indebtedness, and in 1897 went into the hands of Edwin B. Ayres as receiver. In February, 1898, Mr. Ayres sold the grounds to Adam L. Beck, Janies R. Slack, Harmon W. Stults, Robert Simonton, Julius Dick and Edward Wickenheiser, the principal creditors of the society, for $6,475, and these gentlemen then formed an organiza¬ tion which has held fairs annually since that date.

The Warren Fair and Driving Association was organized in 1888 and has held fairs every year on its grounds, a short distance north of the Town of Warren. After several years it was reorganized as the Warren Tri-County Fair and Driving Association, citizens of Wells and Grant counties becoming interested. In the winter of 1908-09 a fair circuit was organized, consisting of the towns and cities of Montpelier, Hagers¬ town, Middletown, Newcastle, Muncie, Fairmount, Elwood, Warren, Marion and Portland. Through the co-operation of the fair associations in these places, the character of the exhibits has been much improved and the fairs are of more general interest.

A prospectus issued by the Warren Association for the fair on the last four days of July, 1914, shows about one thousand dollars offered in pre¬ miums, which include prizes on all kinds of live stock, farm and garden products, fruits, poultry, specimens of the culinary art, needlework, etc., and over two thousand dollars in purses to winners of the races.

H. C. Creviston, vice president; J. W. Cunningham, treasurer; G. E. Sale, secretary; G. M. Gephart, assistant secretary. The board of directors consisted at that time of J. G. Sprowl, H. C. Creviston, J. H. Gill, G. M. Gephart, M. M. Tam, D. L. Shull, G. W. Lee, Charles Wiley, 0. A. Pulley, J. G. Click, Charles Plummer and Dr. W. D. Bonifield.

In May, 1893, a few Huntington men happened to meet and among the subjects discussed informally was that of organizing a club, in which literary, scientific and economic subjects might be discussed in a friendly spirit. The result of this conversation was the formation of the Cosmo¬ politan Club a little later, with the following members: Edwin K. Alpaugh, Robert I. Hamilton, Charles L. Holtzman, Benjamin F. Ibach, Henry C. Kendrick, D. J. Moran, Henry L. Nave, Samuel M. Sayler, Thomas G. Smith, Thad Butler, W. A. Branyan, Sanford Bell and Dr. F. S. C. Grayston. Of the charter members of this club Thomas G. Smith and Samuel M. Sayler are the only two now living in Huntington.

As the name of the club indicates, it is a broad, liberal organization, where, as one of the members recently said: "Every man has the priv¬ ilege of riding his hobby. ' ' Meetings are held regularly during the fall and winter months, and at the beginning of the club season a printed program is prepared, showing the work for the ensuing year. The program usually consists of a paper on some topic by one of the members, followed by a general discussion of the subject treated. Sometimes the evening's entertainment takes the form of a symposium, in which several short papers bearing upon the same subject, are read by different mem¬ bers, and occasionally a short story forms the principal feature of the program. A banquet is given every year and constitutes the principal social event of the club.

At some period of the club 's existence nearly all the leading ministers, lawyers and newspaper men of Huntington have participated in its work. To quote again from the member above referred to : " The club has discussed some of the most weighty subjects and settled some of the world 's most serious problems, but, acting upon the principle that a little nonsense is occasionally relished by the wisest men, the meetings have not been void of levity, and the ' retort courteous ' has been frequently heard. It is worthy of remark, however, that no serious ill-feeling has ever been engendered by the differences of opinion arising in the discussions. ' '

The Monday Club, an organization of women, enjoys the distinction of being the first purely literary club in the City of Huntington. It was organized in the fall of 1891 through the efforts of Mrs. E. L. Griffith and Mrs. L. 0. Mcllvaine, who were the first to conceive the idea of such an organization. Upon canvassing the subject with a number of their friends they found several women in favor of such a club, which was then formally organized with the following charter members : Mrs. W. A. Branyan, Mrs. E. L. Griffith, Mrs. L. 0. Mcllvaine, Mrs. W. M.

The membership was limited to twenty and the list was filled before the close of the year. Since then as old members have dropped out new ones have been elected to fill the vacancies and the club still has a full membership. During the twenty-three years of its existence fifty-five women have been members of the Monday Club. At the time it was organized the club adopted as its chief objects the mental culture of its members and the improvement of home life, which have been strictly adhered to throughout its entire history.

When the Huntington Hospital Association was organized the Monday Club furnished a room in the institution, and it has since made a con¬ tribution to the fund for the support of a visiting nurse. It is a member of the Indiana Federation of Women's Clubs, the General Federation of Women's Clubs, and the Local Council of Women's Clubs of Huntington.

In 1893 a few Huntington women, actuated by mutual interests, met and organized a club for "intellectual and social culture." The charter members were : Sarah S. Alpaugh, Susan B. Dick, Mary S. Grayston, Frances H. Hawthorne, Allura B. Leyman, Louella A. Moses, Elizabeth McC. Purviance, Belle B. Purviance and Flora McC. Slack. At the first meeting a constitution was adopted, which has remained unchanged. The question of a name came up for consideration, and after correspond¬ ing with Mrs. Jennie de la Mar Lozier, then president of the New York Sorosis, the name of Indiana Sorosis was adopted by the Huntington organization.

The first officers of the Sorosis in Huntington were as follows : Mrs. Elizabeth McC. Purviance, president ; Mrs. Sarah S. Alpaugh, vice presi¬ dent ; Mrs. Carrie D. Kendrick, secretary ; Mrs. Rebecca IT. Hessin, treasurer. The first program committee was composed of Mrs. Frances H. Hawthorne, Mrs. Flora McC. Slack and Miss Elizabeth Arnold.

Meetings of the Sorosis are held once in two weeks, beginning with the first of October in each year and continuing until the first of the succeed¬ ing May. Membership is limited to twenty and the meetings are held in the homes of the members. In 1894 the club became a member of the State Federation, and in 1908 it became affiliated with the General Fed¬ eration of Women's Clubs. Although the primary object of the club is of a literary nature, it has taken a hand in much of the city's philan¬ thropic work.

The Drawing Room Club was organized in the fall of 1894, when the membership was limited to twenty-five, which number still constitutes the active membership. The first officers were: Miss Flora E. Purviance,

At the beginning the objects of the club were declared to be intel¬ lectual and social culture and the general advancement of the members along those lines. Many able and interesting papers have been prepared by members and read, not only before the Drawing Room Club, but also before other clubs in reciprocity work. Several of these papers have been sent to the reciprocity bureau of the Indiana Federation of Clubs and from that source loaned to various clubs over the state.

The Drawing Room Club is affiliated with the State Federation of Women's Clubs, but it has never taken any active part in the charitable or civic work of the City of Huntington. Programs for each year's work are generally made up of miscellaneous subjects, though at times a continuous outline of study has been followed. Meetings are held at the homes of the members and the regular program is followed by a " social hour."

The Shakespeare Club of Huntington was organized in 1895 with nineteen charter members and the following officers : Mrs. B. F. Ibach, president; Miss Mary B. Cox, vice president; Mrs. J. M. Sayler, secre¬ tary; Mrs. Tliad Butler, treasurer. Seven of the original members are still active in the affairs of the club and five are in the honorary list. The total membership in the spring of 1914 included twenty-four active and eleven honorary members. The officers for 1914-15 are : Mrs. A. H. Shaffer, president; Mrs. C. E. Bash, vice president; Mrs. J. W. Morrison, secretary, and Mrs. A. A. Daily, treasurer.

While the primary purpose of the club, adopted at the time it was organized, is the literary advancement of its members through the study of the plays of Shakespeare, history, art and civics, it has always responded to calls for aid in the improvement of general conditions, and has interested itself in local and state literary work by uniting with other clubs. In 1895 the Shakespeare Club became identified with the State Federation and later it became a member of the National Federation.

The Women's Civic Improvement League of Huntington is an active and representative body of women, interested in the development of the city and the welfare of the citizens. It is the outgrowth of a meeting of eight literary clubs on April 27, 1909, which was called for the purpose of obtaining the sentiment of the women regarding the founding of a club of this character.

On May 14, 1909, a second meeting was held, at which the organiza¬ tion was perfected and the above name adopted. The election of officers resulted in the choice of the following : Mrs. Jacob Dick, president ; Mrs. Morton Tuttle, first vice president; Mrs. Joseph Weese, second vice presi- dent; Mrs. F. W. Grayston, third vice president; Mrs. L. H. Kiracofe, fourth vice president; Mrs. W. A. Branyan, recording secretary; Mrs. L. W. Patterson, corresponding secretary ; Miss Clara I. Kenower, secre¬ tary. The work of the league is parceled out to six standing committees, to wit : 1, membership ; 2, ways and means and legislation ; 3, streets and alleys ; 4, parks, playgrounds and waste places ; 5, public welfare ; 6, press, publication and public meetings.

In awakening the civic pride in the community the league has had the co-operation of the city council, the Commercial Club, the board of health and the school board. The first project advocated by the organ¬ ization was for the improvement of the river banks. Among the objects accomplished through the league's activities may be mentioned the instal¬ lation of refuse receptacles on the streets ; the sanitary drinking fountains on certain street corners in the business section of the city; the intro¬ duction of the sanitary garbage can and the proper disposal of garbage ; the general beautifying of lawns, cultivation of flowers, etc. ; public observance of Arbor Day, and in the general care of shade trees.

In the last named instance the league has found strong and efficient co-workers in Professor Coulter, of Purdue University, and the tree forester of Fort Wayne, Mr. Getz. Lectures on sanitation, health and ideal citizenship have been delivered under the auspices of the organiza¬ tion, which is a member of the Indiana Federation of Women's Clubs.

The officers of the league for 1914 are : Miss Clara I. Kenower, presi¬ dent ; Mrs. A. Reichenbach, first vice president ; Mrs. J. M. Sayler, second vice president; Mrs. 0. W. Whitelock, third vice president; Mrs. 0. E. Bradley, fourth vice president; Mrs. D. L. Shaeff, recording secretary; Mrs. Thomas Burns, corresponding secretary; Mrs. L. E. Burns, treasurer.

There are a few other clubs in the county that work along social and literary lines, but the ones above enumerated are those which have been longest in existence, stand out most prominently in the club life of the county and have left a record of their activities.

Article II of the constitution declares that "The objects of this society are those set forth in the National Constitution." Pursuant to this declaration, the chapter has collected a large number of historic relics, which are kept in a room in the courthouse set apart by the county commissioners for the use of the chapter.

The regular meetings are held monthly from October to May, the first meeting of each session being held on the Saturday in October nearest the anniversary of the battle of Bemis Heights - -October 7th. Occasional called meetings are held at other times, when business of importance demands attention, or upon the death of a member.

Since the organization of the chapter more than one hundred mem¬ bers have been enrolled. Some of these have died, others have removed to distant points and united with other chapters. The Year Book issued by the society for the season of 1914-15 shows forty-seven resident and nineteen nonresident members. The officers for the year are : Mrs. W. H. Barnhart, regent; Mrs. C. E. Grayston, vice regent; Mrs. J. H. ILessin, recording secretary; Mrs. F. S. Plasterer, corresponding secretary; Mrs. 0. E. Russel, treasurer; Miss Cora Altman, registrar; Miss Prudence Kenner, historian.

This order was introduced in America in 1819 by Thomas Wildey and another Odd Fellow, who had been initiated in England, the order having been founded at Manchester, England, early in the nineteenth century.

The first lodge in this country was instituted at Baltimore, Maryland, under a charter from the Manchester Unity. "Washington Lodge and Grand Lodge of Maryland and the United States" was established on February 1, 1820, but soon afterward severed its connection with the order in England.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was the first secret society to establish an organization in Huntington County. Lafontaine Lodge, No. 42, was organized at Huntington on April 22, 1847, with Joseph Wiley, former county clerk, as the first noble grand. The first meetings were held in the old Rock House, where the city library now stands, and later in a room in the old American Hotel on West State Street. On July 5, 1859, the lodge surrendered its charter, owing to internal dis¬ sensions, but it was reorganized under the old name and number in 1865, since which time it has prospered. The present quarters, the substantial three-story brick building on Franklin Street opposite the courthouse, were first occupied in 1889. At first the lodge held only an equitjr in this building, but later acquired title to the entire property, as well as the lot east of it. According to the report of the grand lodge in November, 1913, the lodge had 305 members in good standing and owned property valued at $38,913.52.

Lafontaine Lodge is the parent of all the other lodges in Huntington County, and at least two members of the lodge have been honored by the order by being elected to high positions. James B. Kenner was elected to the office of grand master in 1885 and later represented Indiana in the Sovereign Grand Lodge. John Morgan served as grand patriarch in the Indiana Grand Encampment and also represented the state in the Sov¬ ereign Grand Lodge. Regular meetings of the lodge are held on Tuesday evenings and the grand lodge report above referred to gives the name of Samuel Lambert as noble grand, and Edgar E. Kelsey as secretary.

Little River Lodge, No. 275, at Roanoke, was instituted on May 9, 1867, by John Morgan, who was at that time district deputy grand mas¬ ter, with five charter members, viz., : J. S. Grim, Daniel Clippinger, Jehu Swaidner, Albertus Bowen and William Blair. Three years after the lodge was established a comfortable hall was built and the growth since that time has been steady and permanent. In 1883 the lodge purchased the ground and laid out Glenwood cemetery, mention of which is made in another chapter. In November, 1913, the lodge was reported as having 116 members and assets amounting to $11,293.48. Sherman Sliowalter was at that time noble grand and Hugh J. McFadden was secretary. J. H. Barbour, of this lodge, was deputy district grand master for the dis¬ trict composed of Huntington County. The lodge meets on Monday evenings.

Mount Etna Lodge, No. 304, was the third lodge of Odd Fellows to be established in the county. It was instituted on May 20, 1868, with E. J. Anderson, George W. Giltner, Aaron McKimmey, Janies M. Marshall, L. W. Anderson and Aden J. Wiles as the charter members. Regular meet¬ ings of this lodge are held on Saturday evenings. From the last report of the grand lodge it is learned that Mount Etna now has a membership of 125 and resources of $6,908.80. In that report A. L. Kellan is given as the noble grand and J. M. Cottrel as secretary. This lodge holds an interest in the cemetery established by the Odd Fellows and Masons at Mount Etna several years ago.

Loon Creek Lodge, No. 322, located at Andrews, was instituted on April 22, 1869, by Jehu Swaidner, district deputy grand master. The charter members of this lodge were : Heil McKinstry, E. B. Cubberly, James E. Shipler, J. J. Lyon, Jesse L. Cramer, E. Ervin and William Boone. Meetings were held for awhile in the second story of the old school building, then a room was rented for lodge purposes and occupied until 1881, when the lodge erected a building of its own. Riverside ceme¬ tery is also owned and managed by Loon Creek Lodge. According to the grand lodge report this lodge had a membership of fifty-six at the close of the year 1913, at which time Ora Ross was noble grand and L. H. Boone was secretary. The assets of the lodge amounted then to $6,295.16.

Markle Lodge, No. 362, was organized on April 14, 1871, with seven charter members and the following officers : Joseph Scott, noble grand; A. A. Bowen, vice grand; W. J. Kilander, secretary, and Rufus Bowen, treasurer. The hall in which the lodge holds regular meetings on Tues¬ day evenings was erected in 1881, and the same year the lodge laid out a cemetery. In November, 1913, L. J. Hoopengarner was noble grand and H. E. Myers was secretary. At that time the lodge had eighty-four mem¬ bers and resources of $5,516.13.

Salamonie Lodge, No. 392, at Warren, was instituted on May 24, 1872, with five charter members, A. C. Smith as the first noble grand and T. J.

* Lafollette as the first secretary. From this small beginning Salamonie has become the second strongest lodge in the county, being exceeded in membership and finances only by Lafontaine Lodge, of Huntington. In 1906 the lodge joined with the First National Bank in the erection of a handsome building on Wayne Street, where it now has one of the best appointed halls in the state. The regular meetings are held on Thursday evenings. In November, 1913, the lodge reported 264 members, resources of $17,491.20, William H. Jones, noble grand, and L. J. Haines, secretary.

Star of Hope Lodge, No. 464, was organized at the little Village of Toledo, in Rock Creek Township, about 1873. It is still in existence and is one of the prosperous lodges of the county. The last grand lodge report shows a membership of 125, assets $3,326.55, which include a good hall building and a cemetery near the village. At the close of the year 1913 J. F. Scotton was noble grand and L. E. Davis, secretary.

West Point Lodge, No. 688, located at Bippus, is the youngest Odd Fellows ' lodge in the county. It is a substantial organization, however ; owns three storerooms, with a comfortable hall over one of them, and in November, 1913, reported ninety-eight members in good standing, with John Wagner as noble grand and S. E. Stults as secretary. The resources of the lodge at that time amounted to $2,534.96. Regular meetings are held on Wednesday evenings.

Each Odd Fellows' lodge in the county has connected with it a lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah, a degree to which the wives, sisters, mothers and daughters of Odd Fellows are eligible. These lodges are numbered as follows : Andrews, No. 37 ; Markle, No. 112 ; Roanoke, No. 246 ; Hunt¬ ington, No. 261; Warren, No. 262; Toledo, No. 348; Mount Etna, No. 421 ; Bippus, No. 592.

In the encampment branch of the order, subordinate encampments are maintained in the county as follows: Huntington, No. 88; Warren, No. 167; Mount Etna, No. 178; Andrews, No. 181; Toledo, No. 239; Markle, No. 308.

The Masonic history of Huntington County dates from January 24, 1851, when the grand lodge granted a dispensation to certain members of the order to organize a lodge in the Town of Huntington. Those who signed the petition for a dispensation were : H. C. Skinner, M. J. Purviance, J. W. Spiller, S. J. Johnson, A. G. Perkins, S. H. Purviance, J. H. Swail and S. Cassidy.

On February 6, 1851, these petitioners and few other members of the fraternity met in the Odd Fellows' hall and instituted the lodge, with A. G. Perkins as worshipful master ; H. C. Skinner, senior warden ; M. J. Purviance, junior warden. W. H. D. Lewis was the first person elected to receive the degrees. When the grand lodge met in May, 1851, a char¬ ter was granted to the lodge, under the name of Mystic Lodge, No. 110. At that time the lodge had a membership of twenty-five, each of whom signed the roll as a charter member. J. W. Spiller was the first worship¬ ful master under the charter.

Amity Lodge, No. 483, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized at Huntington in 1874, with George Emerick, worshipful master. This lodge was formed by the withdrawal of several members from Mystic Lodge, which in time surrendered its charter and passed out of existence.

According to the grand lodge report for 1913, Amity Lodge then had 250 members, with William Lucas as worshipful master and Clark C. Griffith as secretary. The regular meetings are held on the first and third Mon¬ days of each month.

Huntington Chapter, No. 27, Royal Arch Masons, was organized under a charter dated May 24, 1855, with nine members. Dr. F. S. C. Grayston was the first man to receive the degrees in the chapter. In 1914 the membership numbered 193, with Alfred Reichenbach as high priest and Clark C. Griffith, secretary. Regular meetings are held on the second Friday of each month.

Huntington Council, No. 51, Royal and Select Masons, was organized in January, 1878, and received a charter dated October 23, 1878. Dr. Lagrange Severance was the first illustrious master. The council holds regular meetings on the fourth Monday of each month. In 1914 the membership was 159, with George B. Whitestine illustrious master and Clark C. Griffith, recorder.

Huntington Commandery, No. 35, Knights Templars, was chartered on April 20, 1892, with twenty-one charter members and Fercl F. Boltz as eminent commander. The growth of the commandery has been steady and in 1914 there were 107 members. Sir Robert R. Glenn was then eminent commander, and Clark C. Griffith, recorder. The state conclaves of the commandery are on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. All the Masonic bodies of the city hold their meetings in the Masonic Hall in the Bippus Building, at the northwest corner of Frank¬ lin and Jefferson streets.

Roanoke Lodge, No. 195, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered by the grand lodge of the state on May 27, 1856. The first officers were Caleb Edwards, worshipful master; Samuel Daugherty, senior warden; William Hendry, junior warden. During the first fifteen years of its experience the growth was steady, and in 1870 the membership was over one hundred. Then followed the organization of new lodges within its former jurisdiction and some of the Roanoke Masons transferred their membership elsewhere for the sake of convenience. In 1913 the member¬ ship was sixty-seven. Frank A. Miner was then worshipful mastei and John E. Jones, secretary. In 1874 the hall and records were destroyed by fire, but a new hall was erected in 1883, where regular meetings are held on the first and third Fridays of each month.

King Lodge, No. 246, Free and Accepted Masons, located at Warren, was first organized under dispensation on November 2, 1858, with twelve members. Dr. Daniel Palmer was the first worshipful master; Charles Wayne, senior warden; George W. Good, junior warden; A. D. Frame, secretary. On March 25, 1859, a charter was obtained from the grand lodge and since then the lodge has experienced a steady growth. In 1913 the membership was 187. Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Masonic Hall in the Sprowl Building, on Wayne Street. A. J. Whitling was elected worshipful mas¬ ter for the year 1914, and Orla Truston, secretary. King Lodge owns a fine cemetery near Warren.

On March 21, 1866, Mount Etna Lodge, No. 333, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized with the following charter members : William B. Morgan, A. R. Large, A. E. Nordyke, John B. Harris, K. R. Collins, Riley Fleming, David Shutt, J. R. Williamson and M. R. Chadwick. The first worshipful master was K. R. Collins, and M. R. Chadwick was the first secretary. Daniel Smith and Dr. L. C. Beckford were the first per¬ sons to receive the degrees in this lodge. Mount Etna Lodge passed through an experience similar to that of Roanoke, through the organiza¬ tion of new lodges, which drew from the membership. About 1885 the membership was but twenty-five, but since then there has been a revival and in 1913 the lodge reported fifty-three in good standing. William Carmichael was then worshipful master and Victor D. Rankin was sec¬ retary.

Late in the year 1867 a few Masons got together at Andrews (then called Antioch) and took the preliminary steps for the organization of a lodge. Several meetings were subsequently held, part of the time in the railroad station building and part of the time over William Brown's store, but at these meetings only instruction was given in work, as no authority had been granted to confer the degrees on candidates. When the grand lodge met in May, 1868, a dispensation was granted and the first authorized meeting of the lodge was on June 27, 1868, when an organization was perfected with ten members. On May 24, 1870, a char¬ ter was issued by order of the grand lodge, and the lodge at Andrews was regularly instituted on June 14, 1870, by Dr. W. C. Cliafee, who was appointed a special deputy for the purpose. It then became known under the present name of Antioch Lodge, No. 410. In 1911 the lodge erected a handsome building at the cost of about $8,000, in which it has one of the best appointed Masonic halls in the Wabash Valley. The mem¬ bership at the beginning of the year 1914 was about one hundred, with Raymond O. Bixby worshipful master, and Otto K. Gleason secretary. The regular meeting nights are the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

Markle Lodge, No. 453, Free and Accepted Masons, was first organized under dispensation in May, 1872, and in June, 1873, it received a charter from the grand lodge, with the present name and number. The lodge was formally instituted on July 4, 1873, with Dr. Joseph Scott, worship- ful master; George Bailey, senior warden; F. A. Bratton, junior warden. In 1913 the membership was fifty-one, with Philip E. Monroe worshipful master and Claud 0. Thomas secretary. Regular meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

Some years ago a degree known as the Order of the Eastern Star was added to the Masonic Fraternity for the benefit of the immediate female relatives of Master Masons. Chapters of the Eastern Star have been organized at Huntington, Andrews, Roanoke and Warren, and most of them are in a flourishing condition.

The ritual of this order was written in the winter of 1860-61 by Justus H. Rathbone, while he was teaching school at Eagle Harbor, Mich¬ igan. It was founded upon the story of Damon and Pythias and Mr. Rathbone 's ambition was to found a fraternal society based upon the friendship of these two ancients. The Civil war came on before he had an opportunity to carry out his desires, and he entered the medical department of the army. On February 15, 1864, while stationed in Washington, D. C., he read the ritual to four other Government em¬ ployees - William H. and David L. Burnett, Robert A. Champion and Edward S. Kimball - and on the 19th of the same month AVashington Lodge, No. 1, Knights of Pythias, was organized with thirteen members.

On August 11, 1868, the supreme lodge was instituted at Washington, D. C., and on August 5, 1870, it was incorporated by act of Congress. In the meantime the grand lodge of Indiana was organized on October 20, 1869, with John Caven, of Indianapolis, as the first grand chancellor.

The first Knights of Pythias Lodge in Huntington County was insti¬ tuted in the City of Huntington on April 20, 1881, with Grand Chancellor William N. Gillum, of Rockville, in charge of the ceremonies, assisted by members from Logansport, Bluffton, Richmond and Decatur. The lodge took the name and number of Huntington Lodge, No. 93, and started upon its career with thirty-one charter members. Dr. Lagrange Sev¬ erance was the first chancellor commander. Meetings were held in the Dick hall, corner of Jefferson and Market streets, and in the Clayton hall, on Market Street, until the present Knights of Pythias home was purchased and occupied.

On March 1, 1905, a committee was appointed "to investigate the advisability of securing a home and to procure propositions looking to the same." That committee consisted of Fred E. Swaim, Howard Henderson, Luther A. Smith, Charles K. Lucas and A. D. Mohler. Several pieces of property were considered, but on July 19, 1905, an option was obtained on the Samuel F. Day residence, at the northwest corner of Market and Cherry streets, opposite the city hall, for $7,000. The option was closed soon afterward and the members of the lodge subscribed for about $6,000 in bonds for the purpose of remodeling the building, to render it suit¬ able for lodge purposes. The changes were made and the home was formally dedicated on Friday evening, October 5, 1906, giving Huntington Lodge a hall and clubhouse far better than is usually found in cities of 13,000 population.

Two members of this lodge have been honored by being elected to the office of grand chancellor - James M. Hatfield, in 1895, and William P. Hart, in 1912. The report of the grand lodge for the year ending on June 30, 1913, shows the resources of the lodge to be $16,762.58, of which $15,000 is in real estate. The lodge now has 315 members, with Max Hart, chancellor commander; Fred E. Swaim, keeper of the records and seal. The regular meetings of the lodge are held on Wednesday evening of each week.

Golden Rule Lodge, No. 308, of Andrews, was instituted on March 23, 1891, and on June 30, 1913, reported sixty-nine members. This lodge owns real estate valued at $1,400 and has other assets amounting to $614.62, indicating that it is in a healthful condition. At the time the grand lodge report was issued in 1913 W. O. Taylor was chancellor com¬ mander and F. W. Kelsey keeper of the records and seal. On September 19, 1907, the lodge dedicated a home, and here regular meetings are held on Monday evening of each week.

Artesian Lodge, No. 388, Knights of Pythias, located at Warren, was instituted on May 9, 1893. Although the lodge owns no real estate, it reported resources of $3,518.25 at the close of the year ending on June 30, 1913, at which time O. A. Pulley was chancellor commander and Calvin Perdue keeper of the records and seal. The regular meetings are held on Monday evening of each week in the hall in the Larrimer block. The membership is about 150.

Markle Lodge, No. 423, was instituted on September 2, 1895, and now has about 170 members. Regular meetings are held on Friday evenings. No real estate is owned by the lodge, but on June 30, 1913, it reported per¬ sonal property and cash on hand amounting to $2,191.83. At that time Price Jennings was chancellor commander and E. J. Walter was keeper of the records and seal.

Huntington Company, No. 16, Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias, was instituted on January 30, 1884, with twenty-six members, and at one time was the largest company in the country. The second annual encampment of the Indiana Uniform Rank was held in the City

The Pythian Sisters (now the Rathbone Sisters) the ladies' degree, had its beginning about 1889, the Indiana grand temple being the first to be organized. Hermione Temple, No. 13, of Huntington, was instituted March 28, 1889, with Mrs. Alice B. Shanks as the first presiding officer. Mrs. Shanks afterward served as grand chief of the order in Indiana.

This order is the outgrowth of the Civil war of 1861-65, only hon¬ orably discharged soldiers who served in that conflict being eligible to membership. It was organized in 1866 and for several years had a rather slow growth. About 1880 it was reorganized on the plan of making each state a department, and from that time the growth was more rapid and of a more permanent character.

Andrews Post, No. 116, was organized on November 22, 1882, with twenty-two charter members. Lassel Long was the first commander. Five years after the establishment of the post it had a membership of about seventy, after which a decline set in. Deaths and removals finally weakened the organization to such an extent that it was disbanded.

James R. Slack Post, No. 137, was organized at Huntington early in 1883 and was named for General James R. Slack, who entered the volun¬ teer service of the United States in October, 1862, as colonel of the Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry. Twenty-seven Huntington County soldiers enrolled themselves as charter members, viz.: Lagrange Sever¬ ance, Andrew J. Rosebrough, Sextus H. Shearer, Edwin C. Amadon, Cephas M. Holloway, William G. Smith, Cyrus E. Briant, Nathan W. Swafford, John W. Bowman, George Ainsworth, William R. Lawrence, Samuel Kilander, Max Wizigrenter, Frank Fetters, Norman A. Myers, Nathan A. Kuhlman, James Watson, Joseph Tuttle, George AY. Whitacre, Dewitt C. Anderson, Edwin B. Ayres, James C. Branyan, Israel Kaylor, Burr Elder, Abner H. Shaffer, Henry Kerkoff, Henry Messner. When the new courthouse was built the commissioners set apart a room on the second floor for the use of the post, where regular meetings are held. This is now the only Grand Army post in the county.

William McGinnis Post, No. 167, was organized at Roanoke on May 11, 1883, with twenty-nine charter members, most of whom have answered the last roll call. At one time the organization numbered about sixty members, but death visited the post so frequently that at last only a few were left, when the charter was surrendered, some of the members uniting with Slack Post at Huntington.

Monroe Laymon Post, No. 211, was organized at Warren on August 2, 1883, by S. H. Shearer, at that time commander of the James R. Slack Post at Huntington. The post started off with twelve charter members and Hiram Brown was chosen the first commander. Within a year the membership increased to nearly seventy. Regular meetings were held for several years, when old age began to tell upon the veterans, and the organization was finally disbanded.

R. S. Thomas Post, No. 241, at Mount Etna, was organized on Sep¬ tember 27, 1883, with twenty-six charter members. It was first called Champion Hill Post, but it was discovered that another post in the state had already adopted that name, and the one at Mount Etna was then called the R. S. Thomas Post. Like the Grand Army posts at Andrews, Roanoke and Warren, the one at Mount Etna finally succumbed to the inevitable and passed out of existence.

There is something pathetic in the story of the Grand Army. AVhen it was first organized the members retained the elastic step and vigor of manhood with which they had marched upon many a battlefield under such illustrious leaders as Grant, Sherman and "Old Pap" Thomas. Each year hundreds turned out to honor their dead comrades by suit¬ able memorial exercises and the decoration of the graves with flags and flowers. Annual encampments were well attended and many an inter¬ esting incident of the great Civil war was related in the "camp fires." But the hand of Time is never sparing and the Grim Reaper has gar¬ nered many of those who went out in 1861 to preserve the Union. Now the Memorial Day procession - "the thin line of blue" - moves with halting step, and when the members of the Grand Army assemble in their post halls they see no longer the brilliancy of eye that distinguished them when they marched to the front more than half a century ago.

In connection with the Grand Army of the Republic is an organiza¬ tion of the wives of old soldiers known as the Women's Relief Corps. James R. Slack Women's Relief Corps, No. 42, was chartered on Novem¬ ber 17, 1886. The charter members were Julia Briant, Sarah E. Alpaugh, Lydia A. Ford, Flora Myers, Sarah Sessions, Jennie Whitacre, Viola Hol¬ loway, Margaret Oats, Alary C. Grayston, Flora M. Slack, Roe Quigley, Maria Isenberg, Henrietta Severance, Lizzie Shaffer, Elizabeth Wizigrenter and Lou Myers. This corps is still in existence, though a ma¬ jority of the charter members have passed into the Great Beyond. Reg¬ ular meetings are held in the Grand Army room in the courthouse. It is the only relief corps now in Huntington County.

Closely allied to the Grand Army is an organization called the Sons of Veterans, which is composed of the sons of those who served in the war of 1861-65. A camp of the order was organized at Huntington some years ago, but its history cannot be learned. Bennett Camp, No. 37, Sons of Veterans, was organized at Warren on April 7, 1886, with twelve charter members and John H. Goss as captain. It seems difficult to keep up an interest in the Civil war, except among those who were actual participants in the struggle, and many of the Sons of Veterans' camps have languished for a time and then disbanded.

Another military order is the United Spanish War Veterans, com¬ posed of those who volunteered for service in the late war with Spain. Rosebrough Camp, No. 17, of this order, was organized at Huntington under a charter dated February 6, 1905. It is named in honor of Frank Rosebrough of Company K, One Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana Infan¬ try, who died in service on July 22, 1898, and numbers among its mem¬ bers several of that company, which was mustered in from Huntington County. The meetings are held in the Grand Army room in the court¬ house.

Shortly after the passage of the stamp act by the British Parliament, just before the beginning of the American Revolution, when the people of the colonies were protesting against taxation without representation, a few American patriots disguised themselves as Indians, repaired to Griffin's wharf and threw overboard a lot of tea, rather than pay the tax unjustly levied upon it by the Mother Country. This incident was afterward made the basis for a secret and benevolent order known as the ''Red Men." In this organization the lodges are called tribes and are usually named for some Indian band or chief.

Mishinewa Tribe, No. 81, was organized at Huntington on February 21, 1889, with thirty-eight charter members. The tribe was organized by delegations from Muncie and Montpelier, and on the same evening the following officers were installed: R. W. Tuthill, prophet; M. B. Schaefer, sachem; J. G. Keith, senior sagamore; John Clayton, junior sagamore; F. H. Glanton, keeper of the records; John Minnicli, keeper of the wampum; E. N. Thornan, guard of the wigwam; I. M. Strouse, guard of the forest. The tribe has prospered and now has a strong membership. Meetings are held on Tuesday evenings in the Red Men's hall on West Market Street. Connected with the order is a degree known as the Hay Loft. Mishinewa Hay Loft, No. 6iy2, meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month, and the Red Men's League meets every Friday evening.

'60s. A few "good fellows" fell into the habit of gathering at a publichouse in the evenings, where they could enjoy a few hours in swapping yarns, singing songs, etc. In time a permanent club was organized under the name of the "Jolly Corks." Then Charles S. Vivian, a young Eng¬ lishman, proposed the formation of a secret order: The objection was at once made that the "Jolly Corks" was hardly a suitable name for a secret society, and a committee was appointed to select a name. Accord¬ ing to the story, this committee visited Barnum's museum, where they saw an elk and learned something of that animal's mode of life. At the next meeting the committee suggested as a name for the proposed order the "Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks." The name was adopted and the new order was launched with the motto : ' ' The faults of our brothers we write upon the sands; their virtues upon the tablets of love and memory." The social nature of the society has given rise to the interpretation of the initials B. P. 0. E. as the "Best People on Earth."

Huntington Lodge, No. 805, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was organized under a charter dated August 14, 1902. The regular meetings are held on the second and last Thursday evenings of each month at the hall in the Huntington Theater building. The lodge has purchased a lot on the north side of Matilda Street, between Jefferson and Cherry streets, and steps have already been taken for the erection of a hall and club house. In 1914 the membership was over three hun¬ dred. At that time Dr. M. H. Krebs was the exalted ruler and H. E. Emery was secretary.

On February 16, 1867, a German Benevolent Society was organized in Huntington with twelve members. John A. N. Frentzel was elected president, Frederick Kopp vice president, William Brickel secretary, and Herman Borcher treasurer. The object of the society was the mutual benefit of the members, each of whom paid into the treasury a certain sum every month and received aid in times of sickness. Persons between the ages of eighteen and fifty years -were eligible for membership.

The Huntington Turnverein, another German society, was organized on February 18, 1869, with fifty-six members and the following officers : August Wuerston, president; August Zellers, vice president; Harry Young, first instructor; Joseph Hohe, second instructor; Harry Levy, secretary ; Jacob Hartman, treasurer. The Turnverein was a social and athletic society and at one time numbered over one hundred and twentyfive members. It has been succeeded to some extent by the Huntington

Young Men's Association, which was formally opened on the second floor of the building at the northeast corner of Franklin and Warren streets May 15, 1913, where the association spent about $3,000 in fur¬ nishing club rooms.

Huntington Council, No. 1006, meets in the hall over the First National Bank on the second and fourth Friday evenings in each month. In the same hall the Indiana Camp, No. 3116, Modern Woodmen of America, meets on the second and fourth Thursday evenings, and the Lime City Council, No. 267, National Union, meets on the second and fourth Mondays.

Little River Valley Lodge, No. 837, holds its meetings every Thurs¬ day evening in the Moose Hall, in the old Opera House block, at the southwest corner of Jefferson and Warren streets.

Lime City Aerie, No. 823, Fraternal Order of Eagles, meets every Wednesday evening in the hall in the Boos block, on East Market Street, between Jefferson and Warren streets.

In Becker Hall, on West State Street, a number of fraternal societies hold their meetings. Lime City Chapter, No. 424, American Insurance Union, meets on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month ; Huntington Court, No. 68, Tribe of Ben Hur, meets on the first and third Tuesdays; Court No. 1437, Independent Order of Foresters, meets on the first and third Thursdays; Huntington Lodge, No. 2612, Knights and Ladies of Honor, meets every Monday evening, and Lodge No. 3234 of the same order meets every Friday evening ; Huntington Tent, No. 10, Knights of the Maccabees, meets every Monday evening in the hall over No. 337 North Jefferson Street, and the Jewel Hive, No. 63, Ladies of the Maccabees, holds meetings on Wednesday afternoons in Becker Hall.

From the foregoing lists of clubs, societies and lodges it will be seen that all the leading orders are represented in Huntington County, and that most of the organizations are in a healthful condition. The effect of these various societies has been to develop a friendly spirit among the people and add to the social life of the county, especially in the City of Huntington.

Huntington, being a division point on the Chicago & Erie Railway, is the home of quite a number of railroad men. Consequently the vari¬ ous organizations of railroad men. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers have about one hundred and thirty-five members, with John Wonderly as chief engineer for the year 1914; the Brotherhood of Loco¬ motive Firemen has about the same number of members, with Samuel Snyder as master; the Order of Railway Conductors also has a strong organization, which meets in the hall over the First National Bank, at the southwest corner of Market and Jefferson streets. This hall was leased and furnished by the conductors, who sublet it on certain nights to other societies. The Order of Railway Trainmen, the youngest of the railway societies in Huntington, likewise has a strong membership and is in a flourishing condition.