Allegan County, Michigan - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 14 of those read), 1907

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 14 of those read)

The second Masonic organization in the county is Ahegan Lodge, No, III, F. & A. M. Dispensation was granted August 4, 1858, and the charter is dated January 14, 1859. The lodge has a membership of one hundred and fifty.

The following have filled the office of worshipful master: E. B. Bassett, E. D. Follett, G. D. Smith, A, S. Butler, William J. Pollard, E. E. Edwards, G. R. Stone, H. Franks, E. D. Motley, P. J. Davis, George W. Lonsbury, S. D. Pond, W. H. Bills, W. Benjamin, Charles Eley, Thomas Dryden, F. E. Martin, F. H. Williams, A. S. Butler, 2d, and L. L. Thompson.

Eureka Chapter, No. 50, R. A. M., Allegan, was chartered January 8, 1868, dispensation having been granted May 23, 1867, The charter members were : A. J. Kellogg, George D. Smith, George Geppert, Zara Clifford, H, S. Butler, R. S, Updyke, A. B. Case, W. J. Pollard and F, B. Schoms.

The present officers are : F. H. Williams, H. P. : Dan Stern, king; John Phillips, scribe; S, D. Pond. C of H. ; A. S. Butler, P. S.; H. O. Maentz, treasurer ; Artus Sherwood, secretary ; Hugh McDougal, R. A. C. ; G. L. Hicks, M. third V.; Ira Montague, M, second V. ; Roy Davison, M. first V., and William J. Pollard, sentry.

Plainwell Lodge, No. 235, F, & A. M., was chartered January 9, 1868, dispensation having been granted September 9 of the previous year. Its first officers were : Jacob V. Refers, W. M, ; James J, Hart, S. W. ; Walter C. Piersons, J, W, ; Jerome J. Monroe, secretary; Simeon R. Piersons, treasurer ; James B. Smith, S. D. ; Henry Sherman, J. D., and P. S. Steams, tyler.

Worshipful masters - J. V. Rogers, William E. Forbes, Jerome J. Monroe, Benjamin Thompson, George H. Bean, D. E. White, L. E. Irland, A. L. Reese, A. L. Nichols, J. W. Gilkey and A. J. Stamp.

James Fenton Lodge, No. 224, F. & A. M., was chartered January 9, 1868, the same day with Plainwell Lodge. It began work under dispensation granted February i, 1867. There were eight original members and the first officers were : George W. Pease, W. M. ; Robert Deuel, S. W. ; Ansel G. Smith, J. W. ; J. H. D. Snell, secretary ; Seth Shattuck, treasurer ; D. R. Latham. S. D. ; William Brown, J. D., and A. N. Worden, tyler.

The oldest members - W. L. Heazlitt, raised September 20, 1S67; I. N. Hoyt, raised September 28. 1867; E. S. Allen, raised October r8, 1867; L. Van Valkenburgh, raised November 27, 1867; W. Stockdale, raised May i, 1868, and C. R. Hollister, raised January 8, 1869.

P. S. Pullen Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M., was organized in the grist mill at Dorr Center, July i, 1871, and the first regular communication was held February 21, 1872, in their new hall. The first officers were: J. M. Burnett, W. M. ; William J. Sproat, secretary; E. J. Boynton, S. W. ; Otto R. Fritsche, J. W. ; Harmon Campbell, S. D.; Eli Driskell, J. D.; Fred Custer, tyler. These and the following were the charter members : Philetus S. Pullen, Frank Neuman, Ferdinand Neuman, A .G. McConough, .Charles L. Christie, John McNeal, Thomas Carruthers and William H. Retd. The oldest members are: W. J. Sproat, R. J, Barns, A. Fleaser, A. Truax and A. Emmons.

The worshipful masters, 1872-1906 - ^J. M. Burnett, EH Driskell, Henry P. Evarts, George W. Shriner, William J, Sproat, A. Truax, Charles Wademan, Adam Fleaser, R. A. Vielkind and J. G. Heinznian, 1906.

Of the charter members of Bradley Lodge only one is still in active membership, Bro. Lee Deuel, P. M. On May i, 1904, their hall at Bradley burned with all regalia and furniture, also charter. The Grand I-odge immediately replaced their charter, granting permission to move the lodge to Shelbyville, where they have built an elegant new hall, which was dedicated December 6, 1905.

Oldest members of the lodge are Henry Bird, Sr., James Elliott, Wm. G. Edgcomb, J. F. Metzger, John B. Martel, F. N. Plummer, R. T. Rogers, A. B. Taylor, J. G. Williams.

Damascus Lodge No. 415, F. & A. M., was under dispensation from November 9, 1895, to January 27, 1897, when a charter was granted. Following are the charter members : Geo. W. Forrest, Wm. H. Andrews, Wm. McCormick, Henry Hawley, Edward Hawley, John Whitbeck, George Leland. Chas. G. Abbott, Stephen Atwater. Wm. H. Whitbeck, George L. Dutcher. Jesse E. Hutchinson, Samuel Caldwell, Thomas B. Dutcher and Wm. Bale.

The present officers: Mathew J. Orr, W. M.: F. A. Turrell, S. W.; George Leiand, J. W. : Chas. M. Billings, S. D.: Warren L. Duell.. J. D. ; Chas. Johnson, tyler ; B. R. Barber, treasurer; Gordon A. Spencer, secretary. The present membership numbers 73.

No. 105 - The first organization of Odd Fellowship in the county was Allegan Lodge No. 105. instituted November 9, 1866. by WilHam Oakes, G. M., its charter bearing date January 14, 1867. The charter members were: Allen Wood, Sherman P. Stanley, A. F. Howe, S. H. Priest, James Caskey. Sr. and Jr.

The first officers were : James Caskey. N. G. ; Sherman P. Stanley, V. G, : A. F. Howe, secretary: Allen Wood, treasurer. Its present officers are Charles Fisher, noble grand : Perle L. Fouch, vice grand : Joseph W. Ely, recording secretary ; James Terry, per secretary ; Martin Foot, treasurer.

1868, and its charter was dated January 20, 1869. The charter members were Henry Vosburgh, Eugene E. Bacon, Fayette S. Day, Nelson F. Strong, John C. Gorman, George Hall, Titus Doane, William W. Ward. The offices were first filled by Henry Vosburgh, C. P. ; Fayette S. Day, H. P. ; John C. Gorman, S. W, ; Eugene E. Bacon, scribe ; William W. Ward, treasurer; George Hall, J. W.

Plain WELL. Gim Plains Lodge No. 120, I. O. O. F., the second lodge of the order in the county, was instituted July 2, 1868. The first officers were : Milo

1869, with the following charter officers and members: Edward M. Fitch, N. G. ; Titus Doan, V. G. ; John Graham, secretary ; Norton Briggs, treasurer; J. Simkins, B. L. Lee, E. W, Powers, P. H. Schuh, William Seaver, James Armstrong.

Salem Lodge No. 169, L O. O. F., at Burnips Corners, was chartered August 24, 1871. The (kid Fellows hall at Salem was completed and dedicated by the lodge August 24, 1874, the Grand Master of the state being in charge of the ceremonies.

The first officers were Joshua Myers, N. G. ; Jesse Bond, V. G. ; James Eavens, secretary ; William H. Gordon, treasurer. The present officers : Noble grand, Lewis R. Heasley ; vice grand, Gottlieb Miller ; secretary, Fred Palmer; treasurer, Henry Goodman.

Salem Encampment No. 84, L O. O. F., was chartered February 11, 1876. The first officers were George Heck, C. P. ; C. A. Ball. H. P. ; J. F. Gardiner, S. W. ; William Heck, J. W. ; Theodore Castor, scribe ; C. Sutter, treasurer.

Saiigatuck Lodge Xo. 196. I. O. O. F., instituted October 17, 1872, had the following charter officers and members: Henry Ebmeyer, N. G. ; David White, V. G. ; E. O. Cole, secretary ; Amos B. Titus and Joseph Fischer. Some of the first Noble (irands were Henry Ebmeyer, David White, Isaac Wilson, John Wilson, John Priest. James A. Houtcamp, Edmond Skinner, James M. Pond, P. H. Hancock, Samuel Clipson, J. G. Williams. William F. Metzger. C. M. Cook. R. G. Annesley.

The present officers : Noble grand, John Utton : vice grand, Clarence Halverson ; secretary, Wm. Kencha ; treasurer, Carl Ebmeyer. The lodge built the three-story Odd Fellows hall in 1878, for public, lodge and commercial purposes.

Saugatuck Encampment No. 60, I. O. O. F,, was instituted August 7, 1873, the first officers and members being: H. Ebmeyer, C. P.; Isaac Wilson, H. P. ; John Wilson. S. W. ; John Priest, J. W. ; Samuel Clipson, treasurer; William Corner, J. A. Houtcamp, A. R. Tittis, Charles H. Cham-

Watson. Watson Lodge No. 226, I. .O. O. F., was instituted September 30, 1875, with the following members: James B. Lonsbury, N. G. ; David R. Miller, V. G. ; J. A. Frost, secretary ; William R. Rowe, treasurer ; Zachariah Foster, S. Van Duzen, Daniel K. Davis, David Bracelin, Charles E. White. The present officers are: Noble grand, Abram Kent; vice grand, J. F. Blair; secretary, F. A. Taylor; treasurer, C. E. Shepard.

Fennvjlle. Fennville Lodge No. 338 was instituted March 26, 1880, by E. G. D. Holden. grand master. The present officers are: Noble grand, Leonard Van Bois: vice grand, F. F. AtM'ood : secretary, F. L. Stevens; treasurer, Wm. Reed.

Moline

Moline Lodge No. 343 was instituted October 16. 1903, by A. H, Brown, grand master. The present oilicers are; Noble grand. Charles Wa<leman ; secretary, W. F. Ro.se ; treasurer, J. 11. Jeffers.

Martin, Martin Lodge No. 356 was instituted November 28, 1881, by Samuel Adams, grand master. Present officers: Noble grand, Amasa Carpenter; vice grand, William S. Baird; secretary, W. F. Woodman; treasurer, J. A. Middleton.

Otsego. Otsego Lodge No. 164, L O. O. F., was institntecl Jmie 7, 1871. Its name was Henry Day Lodge until 1873- The charter members were: Henry Dav. N. G. : A. S. Tompkins, V, G. ; A. B. Wav, R. S. ; Nabum Gilbert, treasurer; John B. Millard, D. F. Sweet, Cbarle's E. McKay.

Hopkins. Hopkins Lodge No. 270, I. O. O. F., organized February 19, 1876, had the following charter members : James Armstrong, A. P. Vamey, C. B. Eldred, E. B. Congdon. Richard Redhead, U. R. Fox, John Hicks, Erwin Hill, William Edgell, Thomas Hicks. M. T. Smith. H. M. Raker, George Blake. This lodge is no longer in existence.

Monterey. Lodge No. 130, I. O. O. F., was organized in April, 1869, so that it was one of the older branches of that order in the county. Its officers under dispensation were Fayette S, Day, N. G. ; M. A. Powell. V. G. ; Daniel Loeb, secretary; Oliver Gordon, finnancial secretary; Joseph Hoofmaster, treasurer.

May Lodge No. i5. Daughters of Rebekah. the ladies' auxiliary of the Odd Fellows, was organized September 2, 1875, its first officers being: William J. Frost, N. G. : Mrs. Eliza Baker, V. G. ; Mrs. Nettie Ely, secretary ; Mrs. Jennie Frost, treasurer ; Mrs. C. E. Hopkins per secretary.

In the destructive fire of March, 1884. which destroyed a large portion of the business section of Allegan, the archives of the May lodge were consumed, and the lodge did not resume activity, its charter being dropped.

May 31, 1900, the Rebekah's auxiliary was again instituted in the village, when Victor Rebekah Lodge No. 358 was installed by Clara Stover, state president of the D. of R. The charter members were: Mesdames Lottie Williams, Addie E. Currey, Hattie St. Germain, Phila Walker, Amanda Curtis. Marilda Stafford. The first officers were: Mrs. Williams, N. G. ; Mrs. St. Germain, V. G. ; Mrs. Currey, secretary; Mrs. Walker, treasurer. There were eighteen initiates the first evening.

April 27. 1901, Mystic Rebekah Lodge No. 264 of Watson consolidated with \'ictor Lodge, the name of the latter bein^ retained with the lodge number. The meeting was conducted by Sister Crandall, past president, of Muskegon, and the members entering the new organization from Watson were : Mary E. Rurnham. ^^elissa J. Leggett. Emma Stone. Sarah Andrews, Clara Dunton. Charles Dunton, A. C. Rurnham. J. C. Leggett, Mary Hurley.

Victor Lodge now has a membership of 66, with meetings twice a month. The officers at this writing (1906) are: Valonia A. Knapp, N. G. : Hattie Wilson, V. G, : M. E. Burnham, recording secretary; Addie Nichols, financial secretary; Ella Atkins, treasurer.

Allegan Tent No. 63 was organized in 1882. Charter metnliers : Samuel Murphy, James Fuller, A. H. Rensenhouse, E. D. Alexander, F. Maxim, Charles E. White, Chas. A. Jones, A. J. Knapp. Ogden Tomilson, Isaac Leagart. R. D. Thompson, F. A. Abott. A. E. Knerr, G. M. Hartson.

First Officers: Flora Nichols. P. L. C: Fanny Hicks. L. C; Annis Van Kuren, Leut. Com. : Lizzie Stockdale, record keeper ; Ida Vander Cook, finance keeper; .Anna Lear, chaplain: Fannv Solomon, m i stress -a t-ann s ; Hannah Kolofif, sergeant-at-arms; Elizabeth Gardener, Sent; Nellie White, picket.