Putnam County, Indiana - Chapter 7: Fraternal Societies Axd Clubs, 1910

Chapter 7: Fraternal Societies Axd Clubs

The first benevolent or fraternal society in Putnam county of which there is any record was Temple Lodge. No. 47, Free and Accepted Masons. It was organized May 28, 184J, and for a long time met in the upper story of a frame building on the south side of the public square near the present quarters of the Central National Bank. The records of the order show that the following were the first officers: Samuel Taylor, worshipful master: John Sala. senior warden: William L. Hart, junior warden: Lewis H. Sands. secretan.' ; Samuel Dicks, treasurer: C. G. Ballard, senior deacon: Jesse Dicks, junior deacon: Hiram P. Walker, tyler: C. J. Hand, past master; W. C. Larrabee. cliaplain.

It is recorded that at the installation of the officers Professor Larrabee delivered an address of such weight and acceptability, an order was made that it be furnished to the editor of the Greencastle Visitor for publication in that journal. The membership at the date of organization was not in excess of fifteen : at present it is over two hundred. The officers elected for 1910 are as follows: Earl C. Lane, worshipful master: M. Sylvester Miller, senior warden : Benjamin P. King, junior warden ; James ]McD. Hays, treasurer: Edward E. Caldwell, secretary; James L. Randel. senior deacon : Lawrence H. Athey, junior deacon ; Eugene Schmidt and Jesse D. Hughes, stewards; Charles W. Huffman, tyler: James L. Randel. Jerome M. King, William B. Vestal, trustees.

Royal Arch Mason'S

Mav 16. 1S51. Greencastle Chapter, No. 22. Royal Arch Masons, was organized. The original officers chosen were : P. G. E. Hunt, high priest ; John Plill. king: Peter W. Applegate, scribe: Henr\' W, Daniels, captain of thehost; D. L. Hamilton, principal sojourner; William Turk, royal arch cai)tain : .A. \'. H<nigh, ma.'^ter first veil; B. F. Hays, master second veil: \N'. C. Larraliee. master third x'eil.

In the spring of 1853 interest in the chapter began to wane and finally the meetings ceased altogether. This condition of inactivity continued for years, in fact until October 29, i860, when a new dispensation fn^m the grand chapter was received and meetings were renewed. .\t this time J. U. L. Feenister was high priest: B. F. Hays, captain of the host; R. W. Jones, principal sojourner; A. M. Puett, royal arch captain, and Samuel Catherwood, secretary and treasurer.

The original members numbered about twenty-five, but the list has increased until today it includes a membership of one hundred sixty-nine. The officers chosen this year are as follows: Joseph F. Gillespie, high priest; William F. Baney. king; Deloss F". Albin. scribe; James McD. Hays, treasurer; Edward E. Caldwell, secretary; M. Sylvester Miller, captain of the host; Fred S. ^NlcXary. principal sojourner; Frank S. Bittles, royal arch captain; William H. H. Cullen, grand master third veil; Gray Potter, grand master second veil; Eugene Schmidt, grand master first veil; Charles Huffman, guard; William M. Flouck, Amos E. Ayler. James L. Randel, trustees.

Knights Templar

Ten vears after the organization of the chapter, a commandery. known as Greencastle Commandery, No. ii. Knights Templar, was founded. The charter was dated April 3, 1867, and the following officers were chosen: Sir Henry W. Daniels, eminent commander; Sir Louis Weik, generalissimo; Sir William Daggv, captain general; Sir William G. Burnett, prelate; Sir Samuel Catherwood. treasurer; Sir James i\IcD. Hays, recorder; Sir John W. Reeves, senior warden; Sir Benjamin Pritchard. junior warden; Sir Benjamin F. Hays, standard bearer; Sir Elijah T. Keightley. sword bearer; Sir John A. Crose. warder; Sir Solomon Henry, sentinel.

Up to the year 1910 its membership had almost reached a hundred and it was officered as follows: Sir A. Evan Ayler. eminent commander; Sir R. S. Cow gill, generalissimo; Sir Raser Bittles. captain general; Sir Lewis A. Zaring. senior warden ; Sir James ^^^ Carver, junior warden ; Sir Clarence E. Crawlev, prelate; Sir Edwin E. Black, treasurer; Sir James McD. Hays, recorder: Sir Edward E. Coffman. standard I^earer; Sir Emmett Greene, sword bearer; Sir David W. Campbell, warder: Sir Charles W. Huffman, sentinel; Sir James L. Randel. Sir William B. Vestal. Sir William M. Houck. trustees.

Following the Masons, the ne.xt fraternal order estahlished in the county was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The first lodge was instituted at Greencastle. July 10. 1847. It was called Putnam Lodge. Xo. 45. Its officers were: \V. McClure. noble grand; Elisha Adamson. \"ice grand; Isaac Dunn, secretary; Samuel X'oel. treasurer.

The lodge is still in a flourishing condition. June 30, 1870. another lodge, known as Greencastle Lodge. X'o. 348. was established. It began with a membership of fifteen as follows; Henry Metzler. Thomas L \^'al!s. G. W. Beauchamp. Isaac H. INIorris. Thomas 'M. Bowman. Charles G. B(3wman. Louis Weik, George D. Blakey. James Daggy. Levi Cohn. Robert AI. Black. David H. Stevenson, Heim- C. Perkins. James Hopkins. Lorenzo D. Crawley and .Albert Allen. Its officers at present are : John F. Williams, noble grand ; Edw ard AVoodman, \'ice grand ; F. E. Crawley, secretary ; Charles Kiefer, treasurer.

Outside of Greencastle. Odd Fellows lodges have been established in various parts of the county. At present lodges are in existence as follo\vs :

Roachdale. A\'. M. Davis, noble grand; Lon T. Grider. secretar\-. Russellville. R. Ridlin. noble grand ; W. P. Byrd. secretary. Fillmore. John Jackson, noble grand; Marion Sinclair, secretan-. Cloverdale, J. F. Randsopher. noble grand ; John AVard, secretary. Mt. Meriflian. Har\ey Stone, nibble grand; L. F. Knight, secretar^-.

Kxights Of Pythias

Januarv J4. 187-'. Eagle Lodge. X'o. 16. Knights of Pythias, was established in ("treencastle. The charter members numbered seventeen, as fob

The Modern Woodmen of America are represented by seven camps in the county. Camp No. 5616 is at Russellville, No. 61 10 at Roachdale, No. 7055 at Bainbridge, No. 7194 at Clove rdale, No. 9840 at Fincastle, and No. 1 1 155 at Portland Mills.

Camp No. 3349 at Greencastle, the first one in the county, was organized November 13, 1S95. The charter members were D. W. Alspaugh, Thomas Abrams, M. J. Beckett, H. R. Callender, P. O. Colliver, A. W. Cooper, G. W. Cooper, Albert Daggy. J. S. Dowling, E. G. Fry, F. G. Gilmore, E. A. Hamilton. A. B. Hanna. E. L. Harris, W. L. Harris, J. M. House, C. K. Hughes, C. W. Landes, F. L. Landes, H. C. Lewis, R. L. O'Hair, O. F. Overstreet. \V. E. Peck, H. S. Renick, L. A. Steeg. J. B. Tucker, W. W. Tucker. J. E. Vermillion, Jesse \V. Weik.

Fraternal Order Of Eagles

March 12, 1907, Greencastle Aerie, No. 1753, Fraternal Order of Eagles, was organized. It has almost a hundred members. Its officers are: Frank Green, worthy president; M. D. Ricketts. past worthy president; William Sutherlin. secretary; William Eiteljorg. treasurer; Fred Johns, worthy \-ice president.

The Improved Order of Red Men is represented in the county by a tribe known as Otoe Tribe, Xo. 140, established at Greencastle March 28, 1S92. It is still in a vigorous and flourishing condition and is gradually gaining in membership. Its officers elected for 1910 are: Fred Allen, sachem; E. McG. Walls, chief of records; Edward Hoffman, keeper of wampum.

Order Of Ben Hur

The Order of Ben Hur, represented by Greencastle Lodge, No. 102, was organized January 19, 1S98. It now has in e.xcess of two hundred members and is governed by the following officers: J. 1. I'lgg, chief; Mary Johns, judge; Ella flyers, teacher; Fred Reising, keeper of tribute; Minnie A. Kiefer, scribe; May Crawley, captain; E. Figg. guide; Kate Jordan, outer guard; Louisa Reising, inner guard.

Benexolent And Protective Order Of Elks

Greencastle Lodge, No. 1077, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the L'nited States of .America, was organized in the city of Greencastle. Indiana, on June 27, 1907. Charter members: J. L. Hamilton, J. P. Hughes, John F. Cannon, James E. Vermillion, Charlie T. Conn, J. L. Randel, C. P. Broadstreet. Harry M. Smith. Henr>- S. Renick. Wm. M. Sutherlin. A. Evan Ayler, Harry Goldberg, William A. Beemer. Ernest P. Wright, James L. Watson. Fred C. Hohn, Frank E. Crawley, Edward C. Hamilton, Flarry B. }*Iartin. John W. Young, Thomas Brothers. AVilliam P. Ledbetter. .Albert Hann-ick. C. C. Gillen, John S. Dowling.

The first officers of the lodge were: E.xalted ruler, James L. Hamilton; esteemed leading knight. James P. Hughes ; esteemed loyal knight. John F. Cannon : esteemed lecturing knight, James E. Vermilion ; secretary, C. T. Conn; treasurer, J. L. Randel; trustees. C. P. Broadstreet. H. Al. Smith and H. S. Renick; tyler, William M. Sutherlin. The present officers are: Exalted ruler. James E. Vermilion ; esteemed leading knight, James L. Wat-

The lodge has increased from a membership of twenty-seven at the date of institution to a membership of two hundred and one within three years.

Not onlv Greencastle, but e\-ery town and village in the county, has its proportion of women's clubs. So numerous have they Ijecome that they have exhausted the entire nomenclature of literature and historv in the search for names and titles. To list their membership or even attempt to classify them would swell this volume to undue proportions, but as it happens that the first woman's club ever organized in Indiana was in Putnam countv and as it still flourishes like a green bay tree, we cannut well omit the brief recital of its history here. February 14. 1874. fifteen of the good women of Greencastle, believing a mutual exchange of ideas on the questions of the day would be helpful and productive of good results, met at a private residence in the town and organized what they termed the Woman's Reading Club of Greencastle. The idea was to issue books, which were to be read and dulv reviewed and discussed : but ere long the book feature dropped out and the club became a veritable forum. Avhere all questions that in anv wav warranted the intervention or judgment of the women of Greencastle were submitted for discussion. The name thereafter reduced itself to the Woman's Club of Greencastle. Of the original fifteen charter members less than half are living. The names were: Airs. Hester Downey. Mrs. Fmily Hovt. Mrs. Roxanna Ridpath. IMr':. Mary Flanimond, Miss .\nna O'Brieu, Mrs. T. F. Farp. Mrs. Jerome Allen. Mrs. .\ll)ert .\llen. Mrs. R. Andrus. ^Mrs. W. D. Allen. Mrs. J. Wilcox. Mrs. J. Tingley. Mrs. G. J. Langsdale. Miss Elizabeth .\nies and Miss Fannie Donnohue.

The membership is limited to thirty members. The club still meets fortnightly in the parlor of Woman's Hall. DePauw University. Its present officers are; Mrs. J. R. Miller, president: Mrs. S. J. Washburn, first vicel)resi(lent: Mrs. J. G. Dunbar. ..-second vice-president: Mrs. E. F. Edwards, third vice-president: Mrs. S. A. Hays, recording secretary: Airs. J. H. Smvthe. corresponding secretary: Mrs. F. A. Arnold, treasurer: Mrs. J. P. D. Tohn. Mrs. W. F. Swahlen. critics : Miss Josephine Donnohue. council member.

In the lifetime of the late Jerome Allen, of Greencastle. he invited to hishiimedne evening a ciMiipany of gentlemen representing the literary, com- mercial and agricultural interests of the community to discuss with them the propriety of forming a society or organization on the order of the Woman's Club. The result of the meeting was the Gentlemen's Club, which adopted a constitution and was duly organized December 14, 1891. The following were the charter members : H. A. Gobin, P. S. Baker, S. A. Hays, L. AI. Underwood, S. B. Town. Jesse \V. \\"eik, C. A. Waldo, H. H. Mathias, H. B. Longdon. J. C. Ridpath. W. C. Bronson, J. R. Weaver, T. C. Hammond. G. C. Smythe. .\lbert Hurlstone, .\lbert Allen, Jonathan Birch and Jerome Allen.

Dr. John Clark Ridpath was elected president and Henrv B. Longdon, secretary-. The present officers are J. P. Allen, Sr.. president, and Jackson Boyd, secretary. The membership is also limited to thirty.

On December 13, 1902, a branch of the Daughters of the American Revolution, known as Washburn Chapter, was organized in Greencastle. As the memijership is limited to the descendants of those who fought or materially aided the cause of the Americans in the Revolution, thote entitled to admission were necessarily small in number. The charter members numbered thirteen, as follows: Mrs. Blanche Allen. Miss Ella Beckwith Miss Emma Beckwith, Mrs. P. O. Cole, :\Irs. Louise Denman, Miss Laura L. Florer. ^Jrs. Clara Lammers, Miss Pearl O'Hair, Mrs. Mary W. Renick. Mrs! Caroline H. Swahlen. :\Iiss Anna M. Washburn, Mrs. Lida G. Massey and -Mrs. Lelia W. DeMotte. The order has continued in active operation and is membership has increased to about thirty-f^ve. It meets once a month during eight months of the year, and in every reasonable wav strives to perpettiate the memory of our Revolutionary ancestors and keep alive the fires of patrotism in every part of the land. Its last officers, elected in December. u)oq. are as follows: Mrs. Lelia W. DeMotte. regent: Mrs. Caroline H. Swahlen. vice-regent: Mrs. Ferdinand J.ucas. recorrling secretary Mrs. Xellie Ander.son. corresponding secretary; Mrs. Clara Lammers. registrar: Miss Laura Florer. historian: ^Jrs. Anna .\. Smith, treasurer.

The memon- of the Civil war period and the histor>- of the heroic deeds of the soMiers of that immortal struggle are kept alive by the Grand Armv of the Republic. In Putnam county the first post, known as Greencastle Post. Xo. ir. was organized September 12. 1879. The first officers chosen were. George J. Langsdale. commander: James F. Fee. senior vice-commander: James .\. Jackson, junior vice-commander; John M Ivni"-ht

The order was very popular and its numbers increased until it included at one time over two hundred members, but as none but actual Union soldiers are entitled to admission and as the veterans are rapidly crossing to the "camp-ground" on the other side of the great river, its ranks are diminishing. In a few brief vears the order will be extinct.

Chapter Mil Banks And Banking

Putnam count v had not long been settled until there came a need for a place where the people might, with safety, deposit their surplus funds. Banks of exchange had not yet become general in the state, but as most people arriving in the county were possessed of a little money they sought a safe place to deposit the same until they could find an acceptable investment. The only safe in the county was in the store of Capt. W. H. Thornburgh and there most of those who had surplus funds were accustomed to deposit their spare money. It is not tmfair to state that these deposits were a disadvantage to the Captain, because he was not an accurate bookkeeper and allowed the deposits to mingle with his own funds so that he finally came to over-estimate his own wealth and indulged in some degree in speculative investments. The result was inevitable, but to the Captain's credit be it said he paid eveiy depositor in full, without the loss of a dollar.

The first bank was a broker's office established about 1854 by Augustus D. Wood, on the south side of Washington street between Indiana and Vine streets in Greencastle. He was joined by Major W. D. Allen, and ere long they moved to a building in the northeast corner of the public square and opened up for business as the Exchange Bank. In a short time the concern was incorporated under the same name and proceeded to do business under the free bank law of Indiana. Its capital was fifty thousand dollars and W. D. Allen was its president. Later the banking office was removed to a building on the south side of Washington street in the block east of the court house, where it continued to do a prosperous business till the winter of 1866-67 when, owing to the speculations of its officers, it closed its doors and its presitlent executed a mortgage to its depositors to secure their claims.

Shortly Ijefore this, on the opposite side of the street. E. T. Keightley, in connection with William W. Brown. S. Legate and George Legate, had started a private bank, which, with limited capital, secured a fair share of the community's business for several years. About 1871 the Farmers Bank was organized and opened up for business in the room on the southeast corner of the square, now occupied by the Owl Drug Company. Some of the

Stockholders of the Keightley bank were interested in it. In the fall of 1873, occasioned by the disastrous panic of that period, it was unaiale to meet its obligations and closed its doors.

The next private bank in Greencastle was the Putnam County Bank, operated bv W. E. Stevenson. D. E. Williamson and John W. Earp. It was organized later in the eighties, but was never incorporated. It was in operation for about two years only.

The only other banks at the county seat are the First and Central National. The First National was organized under the United States national bank law February 24, 1863. For several years its banking office was in a room on the east side of the public square, but about 1870 it built its own building which it still occupies at the corner of Indiana and Washington streets. Its first officers were Thomas C. Hammond, president, and Jerome Allen, cashier, and they remained uninterruptedly at the head of the concern until a few days before the expiration of its second charter, a period of fortv years. When Mr. Hammond vacated the presidency he was succeeded by Alfred Hirt, who still fills the' office. Andrew Hirt is the cashier. The charter of the Central National Bank was granted April 7, 1883. Dewitt C. Bridges was the president and D. W. Lovett, cashier. For a time it occupied a room on Indiana street in the block south of the court house, but soon after it erected its own building on the southwest corner of the public square, where it still continues in business. Robert L. O'Hair is the president and James L. Randel, cashier. The Central Trust Company, another financial institution in Greencastle, was established May i, 1900. Its president is Robert L. 0"Hair and James L. Randel serves as secretary.

The Bainbridge Bank was established December i. 1904, by F. P. and C. M. ^lofifett, who came to Bainbridge a short time before that date from Westfield. Illinois, where they had been successfully engaged in the banking business. During the first year here the business was conducted in a room at the corner of Washington and Main streets, but shortly afterwards the bank occupied its own building, a substantial cement block structure. The bank has had a steady and substantial growth from the first. James M. Reeds, formerly cashier of the First National Bank of Coatesville. became identified with the Bainbridge Bank as vice-president on January i, 1909. F. P. Moffett is president of the bank and his son. Charles M. ^Moffett, is cashier.

Other banks in the county are the Coatesville Bank, established in 1902, the Bank of Cloverdale. established in igoi, the Roachdale Bank, established in 1892. and the Russell ville Bank, also established in 1892.