Mower County, Minnesota - Chapter 20: Austin Fraternities, 1911

Chapter 20: Austin Fraternities

Masonic Orders - Odd Fellows - Pythian Orders - Catholic Orders - Order of Elks - Other Fraternal Orders - Patriotic Orders - Catholic Orders - Railroad Orders - Fraternal Insurance - Scandinavian and Teutonic Lodges Industrial - Driving Association - Edited by Osman J. Simmons.

The sociability and spirit of brotlierliness which exists in Austin is shown by the number of societies and clubs tliat flourish here. Practically all the standard organizations are represented, some of the local lodges dating back to the seventies. In order to furnish a meeting place for this large niimber of orders, halls have been equipped as follows: ^Masonic hall, Elks' hall, Columbus hall, Kinsman's hall, G. A. R. hall, Harmona hall, I. O. O. F. hall. Commercial Club rooms, and the "Woodmen's hall (Hirsch). All these halls are conveniently located, nicely furnished and well adapted to the purpose for which they are intended.

In this chapter it has been the aim to give briefly the history of the leading fraternities of Austin. The societies Avhose histories do not appear here are those whose secretaries have refused to furnish the desired information.

Masonic Orders

iMasonry in Austin dates back to the first year of the Civil Avar. The Masons of the city now have a fine liall and are represented by four local bodies: Austin Chapter, No. 14, R. A. ^I. ; St. Bernard Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar; Fidelity Lodge, No. 89. A. F. & A. :\r.. and Unity Cliapter, No. 29, O. E. S.

Odd Fellows

Odd Fellowship in Austin dates from 1867. The order is now represented in Austin l)y tliree bodies, Austin Lodge, No. 20, I. 0. 0. F. ; Austin Encampment, No. 29, T. 0. 0. F., and Esther Rebekah Lodge, No. 4, I. O. 0. F.

Bouregard, N. P. Austin, R. J. Smith and Joseph Schwau. Tlie first meeting was held in a building on the site now occupied by the Austin Furniture Company. Afterwards meetings were held on the third floor of Richards' block, corner of Main and Mill street. The lodge owns the west half of Odd Fellows block, and is free from debt, with a good surplus in its treasury. It has at tlie present time 420 members on the register, and is in a most flourishing condition. On two occasions it has been honored signally by the selection from its ranks of grand masters as follows: H. A. i\Iahew, 1869; D. II. Stimson, 1897. Both of these gentlemen served the state lodge with credit and distinction. The first elective oiificers of Austin lodge were H. A. Mahew, N. G. ;- Oliver Somers, V. G. ; E. P. LeSuer, secretary ; 0. S. Druery, treasurer. The present elective officers are Frank Felch, N. G. ; James King, V. G. ; E. F. Peck, secretary ; Fialler Mann, treasurer ; H. P. Chapin, chaplain.

Following is a list of the early No))le Grands : H. A. Mayhew, Oliver Somers, A. S. Everest, R. I. Smith, C. H. Davidson, Joseph Schwan, Herman Gunz, A. G. Lawyer, George F. Frenvvith, E. P. Van Valkenburgh, John Chandler, Rush B. Davis, F. J. ^layhew, A. E. Meigs, P. 0. French, Joseph Reinsmith, Lafayette French, D. H. Stimson, A. W. Kimball, C. H. Wilboiir, H. W. Elms, Edward Bigelow, "\Y. H. H. Bullock, John V. Owens and S. Sweningsen.

Esther Rebekah Lodge, No. 4, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted March 10, 1870. with twenty-four charter members. It has been prominent in charitable work and has furnished a pleasing social feature to Odd Fellowship in Austin. The present officers are : ilrs. ^laria Edson. N. G. ; Mrs. Fannie Herzog, V. G. ; ]Mrs. Inez ]M. Elward, secretary ; ]Miss Myrtle Edson, treasurer.

Pythian Orders

The principles of the Pythian fellowship are represented in Austin by two bodies, Austin Lodge, No. 55, K. P., and F'lora Temple, No. 26. Pythian Sisters.

Order Of Elks Other Fraternal Orders

Lookout Aerie, No. 703, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and a nest of the Order of Owls, are located here, and have a fair membership among the young men of the city.

sick benefit and a $50 funeral benefit. The aerie has at present $2,000 at interest and $600 in the treasury as a working balance, with an income of about $270 a month.

The Order of Owls is one of the youngest of the local fraternities. The charter officers were: President, II. J. Zender: past president, Thomas Rochford; vice president, T. Lembrick; invocator, AY. J. Rice ; treasurer, Ben Hart ; secretary, Peter Capretz; warden, Lester Woodward; sentinel, Tracey Smith; picket, Thomas Tracy; trustees, M. J. Mayer, Joseph Wolf and Otto H. Jensen. The present officers are: President, H. J. Zender ; past president, Thomas Rochford ; vice president, A. Speck ; invocator, B. Speck ; treasurer, Ben Hart ; secretary, Peter Capretz; warden, C. Ward; sentinel, Eldred Ondrick; picket, J. C. Harris; director, C. H. Johnson; trustees, M. J. Mayer, Joseph Wolf and Otto H. Jensen.

Patriotic Orders

Mclntyre Post, No. 66, Grand Army of the Republic. About 1872, a Post was organized at Austin and conducted for a time, but like many of the original G. A. R. posts, it soon disbanded. jNIcIntj^re Post, No. 66, Avas organized March 7, 1884, by A. Swift, assisted by Comrades C. A. Warren, M. B. Johnson, B. iNlaxwell, N. N. Parmenter, B. E. Stimson and others, of the Henry Rogers Post No. 11, G. A. R., at Brownsdale. The following were the first officers: Capt. W. H. Sutton, post commander: A. E. Christie, sen. vice commander; G. L. Case, jun. vice commander ; Rev. W. E. Stanley, chaplain ; H. W. Lightly, officer of the day ; John V. OAvens, quartermaster ; C. N. Beiseker, officer of the guard; Seymour Johnson, adjutant; M. M. Trowbridge, sergeant major; H. B. Corey, Q. M. sergeant. It was voted to call the Post Mclntyre, after Capt. P. T. Mclntyre, of the 18th Wisconsin, and formerly county auditor and treasurer, wlio died in Austin about 1881. The vote stood twenty-six for "]McIntyre," and twenty-five for "INlcPhorson, '' in honor of General ^NlcPherson.

In all 220 veterans have joined Melntyre Post. Of these sixty-six are still members and eighty-seven are dead. Sixtyseven have moved away or been suspended. The Post has a meeting hall of its own, having purchased a lot and building December 15, 1890. The present officers are: Commander, John Fairbanks ; senior vice commander, Peter Cratzer ; junior vice commander, R. N. Boyd ; quartermaster serge.ant, P. Bump ; officer of the day, J. C. HaAvkins: officer of the guard, E. AVatkins; chaplain, J. D. Smith ; siu'geon, John Harpraan ; adjutant, J. H. DeRemer. The Post is one of the most flourishing in the state. In June, 1889. it had the pleasure of entertaining the Southern ^Minnesota G. A. R. Association.

Mclntyre Corps, No. 27, W. R. C, was organized April 5, 1887, with twenty-two charter members. The first officers were as follows : President, Elizabeth Mclntyre ; senior vice president, Lottie Baird; junior vice president, Louisa Engle; secretary. Lizzie Sutton: treasurer, Mary Lovell; conductor, Lida Sutherland ; assistant conductor, Emma Dorr ; guard, Katie Jolmson : assistant guard, Maggie Ingalls ; chaplain, Mary Beach. The corps is now in a flourishing condition, with 102 members. The present officers are: President, Madge Smith; senior vice president, Mary Horrobin; junior vice president, Anna Gregg; secretary. Marietta Bump; treasurer, Clara Urbatch ; chaplain, Emma Neller ; conductor, Mattie Fairbanks ; guard, Abbie Hilker ; patriotic instructor, Elizabeth Mattice ; press correspondent, Eva Davison ; assistant conductor, Anna Seares ; assistant guard, flattie AVilliams; musician, Lulu Pitcher; color bearers, Nellie Hartley, Lou Hendricks, Laura Eddlebeck and Libby Roebuck. The corps is working in harmony with IMcTntyre Post, and in 1906 erected a -i<l,200 monument on the soldiers' lot in Oakwood cemetery.

The I. K. Mertz Circle, No. 44, Ladies of the G. A. E., was organized in Austin. November 3, 1898, by Julia E. Lobdell. This organization is a patriotic one, similar in many respects to the Daughters of the American Revolution, and its membership is restricted to the wives, sisters, blood nieces, and direct female descendants of veterans of the Civil war ; war nurses. Civil war veterans, and male deseendents of Civil Avar veterans being admitted to honorary membership. The organization will be perpetuated by lineal deseendents. The first officers of the local circle were : President, Maggie Goodwin ; senior vice president, Hannah Bazter; secretary, Eva Webster; treasurer, Anna Fogarty; chaplain. Frances Rice; conductress, Ella jNIady; assistant conductress, INFay Carter; guard, INIaria Hall: assistant guard. ]\Iary E. Bero. The present officers are : President, Eva Webster ; senior vice president, Florence Chapin ; junior vice president. Frances Watkins; chaplain, Eva Carter; treasurer, Eunice Floyd : conductress, Florence Wait ; assistant conductress, Sarah Ondrick ; guard, ]\Iary Boyd ; assistant guard, Isabelle Watkins.

Catholic Orders

Four organizations in Austin recruit their members from tlie Catliolic chuj'ch. They are: St. Augustine Court. No. of)?, Catholic Order of Foresters; St. ^Monica Court, No. 374, Women's Catholic Order of Foresters; Austin Council, No. 1201, Kniglits of Columbus and the Catholic Total Abstinence Society.

Railroad Orders

The importance of the raih-oad industry in Austin naturally brings hundreds of railroad employes to make their home here, and as a consequence all the great railroad orders haA^e Austin divisions. Cedar River Division, No. 283, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen ; Austin Division, No. 215, Order of Railroad Conductors: Austin Division, No. 102, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and Comet Lodge, No. 126, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers, each have a goodly membership, and the ladies' auxiliary to each of these organizations are also important features in the life of the railroad people of the city.

Austin Division, No. 215, Order of Railroad Conductors Avas organized August 30, 1 906, with the following charter members : E. E. Brooks, W. F. Clay, E. T. Dexter, A. J. Fox, W. B. Harter, Harry Hill, "William James, Martin Keavy, Thomas Keating, C. T. Paine, "W. R. Terry, AVilliam Plummer, Peter Gallagher, George Franklin, F. C. Tipp, Jacob Oleson, H. M. AVarfield, A. F. Mc- Lean, Frank McAdams, John Richard. The first officers were: Chief conductor, Thomas Keating; assistant chief conductor, H. M'. Warfield; secretary and treasurer, W. R. Terry; senior conductor, W. F. Claj' ; junior conductor, William Plummer ; inside sentinel, George Franklin; outside sentinel, Jacob Oleson. The present officers are: Chief conductor, J. D. McCormiek; assistant chief conductor, Joseph Tucker ; secretary and treasurer, W. B. Harter; senior conductor, W. F. Clay; junior conductor, W. K. Terry ; inside sentinel, Joseph Kane ; outside sentinel, Ole Tolbertson. From a membership of twenty, Austin Division has grown to a membership of fifty-three. This division is one of tlie best in its class -and nearly every conductor running out of Austin on the five divisions of railroad is a member of Division 215. Each member is a good citizen and all are ready at all times to boost for Austin. The growth of the division has kept pace with the progress of the city and every member is true to the motto, Fidelity, Justice and Charity.

Volunteer Division, No. 123, Ladies Auxiliary to the Order of Railroad Conductors, Avas instituted May 19, 1898, with the folloAving officers: President, Mrs. W. B. Terry; vice president. Mrs. Ida Clay: secretary and treasurer, Mrs. W. D. Plummer. The present officers are : President, Mrs. J. D. McCormiek ; vice president. Mrs. George Taylor; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. H. :\I. Warfi(>ld.

Austin Division, No. 102, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, is one of the oldest fraternal societies in Austin. It Avas organized Fe])ruary 19, 1870, by Simon R. Clark, assisted by T. "NV. TIazelton. R. R. dark Avas elected chief engineer and ^l.

E. Telfair first assistant engineer. William Anderson is the present chief engineer and Harry Matthews is the secretary and treasurer. The Austin division has a membership of ninety, witli $130,000 life and accident insurance in force.

The J. D. Beeoher Division, No. 187, Ladies Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was organized January 25, 1894, by Mrs. C. J. Clark, grand organizer, of Winona, with the following chapter members: Mrs. Wm. Anderson, Mrs. J. D. Beecher, Mrs. C. Campbell, Mrs. A. F. Mattice, Mrs. P. Chambers, Mrs. G. Smith, Mrs. M. Davey, Mrs. D. Sharrah, Mrs. H. Furtney, Mrs. J. Shook, Mrs. Thos. Flannigan, ]\Irs. J. Taylor, Mrs. C. Gilleece, Mrs. C. F. West, Mrs. J. Harriman, Mrs. E. G. Goth, Mrs. D. Hunt, Mrs. J. E. Ober, Mrs. R. Haseltine, Mrs. T. Claneey, Mrs J. McDonald, Mrs. J. Murphy. Of these there are twelve who are still members of the order. The first officers were : President, Mrs. AVm. Anderson ; vice president, Mrs. E. Goth ; secretary, Mrs. H. Furtney ; treasurer, Mrs. G. Smith ; insurance secretary, Mrs. Harriman; chaplain, Mrs. A. F. Mattice; guide, Mrs. C. Campbell: sentinel, Mrs. T. Claneey; pillars, Mrs. C. Gilleece, Mrs. J. McDonald, Mrs. J. Harriman, Mrs. R. Haseltine. At present this order consists of thirty-seven members. The present officers are : Past president, Mrs. D. S. Barr ; president, Mrs. M. Mclnerny; vice president, Mrs. C. Gilleece; insurance secretary, Mrs. S. E. Pettengill; secretary, Mrs. E. H. Kough ; chaplain, Mrs. D. Hunt ; treasurer, Mrs. L. Nelson ; guide, Mrs. C. Erickson ; sentinel, Mrs. M. Lang ; marshals, Mrs. A. Damm, Mrs. R. Haseltine; musician, Mrs. Wm. Cook; pillars, Mrs. J. Lorenz, Mrs. T. Damn, Mrs. A. F. Mattice, Mrs. H. J. ]\reDonald.

Pearl of Cedar Lodge, No. 223, Ladies Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, was organized July 29, 1901, with fifteen charter members and with the first vice grand mistress, Jeanette Turner in the chair. The meeting was held in the Engineers Hall, on East Water street, and the following officers were elected: Councilman, George C. Taylor; past mispress, Lizzie Brohm ; mistress, Mary Nockels; vice mistress, Julia Dineen; treasurer, Mary Taylor; chaplain, Luej'- Ellingson; secretary, Mayme Bi;shman : conductress, Ada Plum ; warden. Olga Gordon; inner guard, Mai-y Bushman; outer guard, Emma Franklin. The charter Avas a gift to the ladies from the Cedar River lodge, No. 283, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. The present officers are: President, Mayme Bushman; vice president, Nellie Smith ; chaplain, Anna Jeffries ; treasurer, Mattie Fairbanks; secretary. Hazel Harmaney; conductress, Viuuie Montey; warden, Ijouisa Darr: inner guard. Blanch Larson; outer guard, Elizabeth Bloomfield; delegate, Nellie Smith; alter-

Fraternal Insurance

The oldest fraternal insurance order in Austin, antedates in its date of organization, all the present orders in Austin except the Masons, the Odd Fellows and tlie Brotherhopd of Locomotive Engineers. The fraternal insurance orders now in existence in Austin are: Austin Homestead, No. 443, Brotherhood of American Yeomen; Austin Tent, No. 16, Knights of the Maccabees; Queen Hive, No. 20, Ladies of the Maccabees ; Austin Council, No. 53, jModern Samaritans ; Van Dusko Camp, No. 243, Modern Woodmen of America; Austin Council, No. 1654, Royal Arcanum ; Cedar Camp, No. 205, Royal Neighbors ; Austin Assembly, No. 204, Equitable Fraternal Union; Austin Lodge, No. 31, Degree of Honor; Austin Lodge, No. 840, Mystic AYorkers ot! the World.

Austin Lodge, No. 32, Ancient Order of United Workmen was organized in Austin, October 24, 1877, with charter members to the number of thirty. The first officers of the lodge Avere : Past master workman, D. B. Smith; master workman, L. 6. Wheeler; foreman, A. W. Kimball ; overseer, F. A. Richardson ; recorder, C. H. AVilbour; financier, E. P. Van Valkenburgh; receiver, Edwin French ; guide, W. K. Hunkins ; inside watchman, F. H. Sterling; outside watchman, John Chandler. The ma,jority of the first officers and members are still living. Some have dropped from the order, l)ut a large number are still faithful members after nearly thirty-four years of continued membership. The A. 0. U. AV. was the pioneer fraternal insurance order and the first to establish lodges in Minnesota and also the first in Austin. Austin Lodge, No. 32, has grown from a few members to an enrollment of over 600, and a present membership of 225, and has paid to the widows and orphans of its deceased members jfi85,000. A record of which it may well be proud. The records of the lodge show that the men who have governed the lodge and helped to build it up are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific, as the following list of the past master workmen will show : D. B. Smith, L. E. Day, Jas. Cronan, P. PL Zender, 0. H. Harris, C. J. Hull, S. A. Smith, Geo. Robertson, E. C. Dorr, E. J. Phillips, Thos. F. Leonard, I. R. Wagner, John Rustad, E. W. Brennan, Peter Hanson, H. A. Gosler, W. K. Hawkins, L. Dettlebach, K. 0. AVold, N. J. Strever, A. E. Hall, S. H. Harrson, L. C. Fairbanks.

ette Crandall ; overseer, John Evenson ; i-ecorder, L. C. Fairbanks; financier, P. H. Zender; receiver, J. L. Mitchell; guide, E. J. Blomily; inside watchman, Jos. Leohmen; out'side watchman, Frank i^dams; grand representatives, P. H. Zender and H. A. Gosler; trustees, E. A. Dalager, Gorm Hanson, Peter Hanson. The A. O. U. W. order rates of assessments were changed two years ago to an absolutely adequate basis of rates and a large surplus has been accumulated. This year the Minnesota jurisdiction seceded from the national organization and Minnesota is now an independent organization with over 21,000 members. Aiistiu lodge is adding new members and is in a very prosperous condition, with prospects of paying many more thousands to more firmly establish the home for those who are left to mourn.

Van Dusko Camp, No. 243, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized September 18, 1886, with thirty-seven charter members. The charter was granted October 20, 1886. Among the first officers were G. T. ]Mills, C. A. Pooler and L. F. Clausen. The cainp now has a membership of 467. There have been forty-three deaths in the camp and over $80,000 has been paid in benefit certificates. The present officers are: Consul, R. L. Furtuey; advisor, R. J. Thomson; banker, H. A. Goslee; clerk, E. H. Sterling; managers, William Cutter, J. E. Detwiler and H. C. Waldecker.

Austin Council, No. 1654, Royal Arcanum, was organized and chartered October 7, 1895, with thirty-six members. The first officers were : Regent, N. S. Gordon ; vice regent, G. F. Baird ; orator, A. M. Lewis ; past regent, A. C. Page ; secretary,

F. G. Page; sentry, F. B. Davison. Since the organization of Austin Council there has been but one death claim paid, on the death of a local member. Mayor George F. Sutton, at the time of his death, was a member of the Royal Arcanum, and his widow was paid the death benefit. The Royal Arcanum is a fraternal insurance order, organized in Boston, ^lass., June 23, 1S77, and has been successful and economical in its inanagcineiit during the thirty-four years of its existence

Kessler Avas the first oracle and Mrs. Flora E. Cota the' first recorder. They were assisted by a band of loyal workers. The lodge membership has grown to nearly 200, and the present officers are: Oracle, Mrs. Mattie Fairbanks; vice oracle, Mrs. Libbie Aultfather; past oracle, Mrs. Lania Dawes; chancellor, Mrs. Carrie "Wright; recorder, Mrs. Tracy Young; receiver, Mrs. Ida Wyatt; marshal, Mrs. Mabel Boyd; assistant marshal, Mrs. Lillian Peterson ; inner sentinel, Mrs. Mary Horrobin ; outer sentinel, Mrs. Ella Mayland; managers, Mrs. Jessie Ward, Mrs. Ellen Brown and Mrs. Maud Cutter.

Austin Tent, No. 16, Knights of the Maccabees, received its charter May 23, 1893. The fi.rst oflfieers were: Commander, E. C. Kinney; record keeper, G. M. Merriman; finance keeper, P. Goodwin. The present officers are: Commander, A. E. Hilker; record and finance keeper, J. "W. Gebhart.

Austin Council 53, Modern Samaritans, was organized several years ago and the present officers are: Good Samaritan, F. H. Mayer ; past, ~W. J. Bell ; vice, Sallie E. Hill ; high priestess, Mrs. R. Peterson ; financial scribe, Peter Capretz ; treasurer, John Urbatch ; C. M., Carl Johnson ; J. M., Roy Pace ; centurian, Mrs. Carl Johnson; Avatchraan, John Jensen; medical examiner, Dr. C. P. Lewis.

Austin Homestead, No. 443, Brotherhood of American Yeon*en, has some 260 members. The officers are: Honorable foreman, L. H. Gran ; master of ceremonies, Carrie Wright ; cori'espondent, A. L. Lickteig ; master of accounts, Mattie Fairbanks ; chaplain, Mary NeAvcomb.

Scandinavian And Teutonic Lodges

The Scandinavian and Teutonic element in Austin is represented by three societies: Als Lodge, No. Ill, Danish Brotherhood; Hamar Lodge, No. 84, Sons of NorAvay, and the Harmonia Germania Society.

Industrial Driving Association

The Austin Driving Association was organized February 26, 1909. The first officers were: Geo. Sutton, president; H. W. Hurlbut, treasurer, and A. C. Page, secretary. Shortly after its organization, tlie president, Mr. Sutton, was taken sick and went to a sanitarium for treatment. E. D. Feeny Avas elected vice president and acted as executive officer during that year's race meet. The association has given tAvo very successful summer race meetings during the month of June, 1909 and 1910. They are planning their race meet for the current season for July 3, 4 and 5. The present officers are as follows: 0. J. Simmons, president; M. F. Leffingwell, vice president; H. W. Hurlbut, treasurer; A. C. Page, secretary.