Wright County, Minnesota - Fraternities, 1915

Fraternities

Fraternal life has taken a prominent place in Wright county from the earliest days. It was the desire of the managers of this publication to secure the history of every lodge in Wright county. But repeated letters to those who should be interested have failed to elicit a response. Some of the histories are here given, those which are omitted are those whose history we have been unable to obtain.

Masonry

There are Masonic lodges in this county at Annandale, Buffalo, Clearwater, Cokato, Howard Lake, Monticello and Rockford. At Buffalo there is a Royal Arch chapter.

Centennial Lodge, No. 127, A. F. & A. M., was instituted February 19, 1876, with the following officers: F.S. Swart, W. M.; W. L. Van Eman, S. W.; G. T. Mulford, J. W.; Miner Ball, seeretary; Louis Rausch, treasurer; Jerome Ball, S. D.; John Sherry, J. D.; Philip Martin, tyler; William Lewis, steward,

Clearwater Lodge, No. 28, A. F.& A.M. The first gathering of any society oecurred after the death of H. D. Buxton, a Freemason, when W. T. Rigby called together an assembly of Masons in an emergent lodge for his burial. Those present were: W. W. Webster, William Vorse, 8. Churmard, Robert Shaw, James Abell and KE, C, Parmele.

In October 1858, a Masonic lodge was organized. The first officers were: W. T. Rigby, W. M.; T. C. Rogers, S. W.; J. M. Mitchell, J. W.; S. Churmard, treasurer, and W. W, Webster, secretary. At a meeting of the lodge, held October 20, 1866, upon the suggestion of W. T. Rigby, a committee was appointed to select suitable grounds for a cemetery. The committee reported on November 3, following, and were instrueted to file articles of incorporation for the lodge, and in its name to purchase five and five-sixteenths acres of land in section 34, and to have the same surveyed and platted for a burial place, under the name of Acassia Cemetery, This was the first ground dedicated to that purpose between Monticello and St. Cloud. This cemetery is a beautiful spot and now contains over twenty acres. The lodge also erected a building, using the upper floor for a hall, and renting the lower floor for a store.

Star Lodge, No. 62, A. F. & A. M., was instituted in November, 1866, and worked under dispensation until December 30, 1867, The first officers under the charter were: HE. N. MeGary, W. M.; J. K. Aker, 8. W.; D. W. Guptil, J. W.; J. R. Ames, secretary; O. H. Bushnell, treasurer; F. B. Angell, S. D.; C. H. Jenks, J. D.; F. M, Jenks, tyler. The lodge erected a building on Bridge street, 22 by 30 feet. The upper story was intended for the lodge and the lower floor was rented to B. E. Bushnell as a store. In the early days substantial stables were erected at the rear end of the lot to shelter the horses and vehicles of those who came in from the country.

Howard Lake Lodge, A. F. & A. M., was organized in 1869, with about thirteen charter members, and the following officers: N. C. Rickerson, W. M.; K. Wakefield, S. W.; Frank Lafort, J, W.; Charles Goodsell, treasurer; John A. Johnson, seeretary ; C. W. Rickerson, 8. D.; J. M. Markley, J. D.; T. Bluck, tyler. Lodge meetings were held in Markley's hall until 1879, when a hall was leased over the store of Smith Brothers & Co., where they have fitted up a splendid lodge room.

Monticello Lodge, No. 16, A. F. & A. M., dates from September 13, 1856. The charter officers were: W. M., S. J. Mason; 5. We, Samuel E. Adams; J. W., Thomas Chambers; secretary and chaplain, E. W. Merrill; treasurer, H. H. Helm; 8. D., George M. Bertram; J. D., Ira Keene; tyler, Joseph Nelson.

Nelson Lodge, No, 135, A. F. & A. M., was chartered under date January 10, 1879, after one year under dispensation. The charter members included seven members of the Monticello Lodge and ten members of the Rockford Lodge. Nelson Lodge was so named in honor of Joseph Nelson, an enthusiastic mason, who was very popular with the charter members and a greatly respected citizen. The first officers of Nelson Lodge were: ©. EH. Bushnell, W. M.; J. H. Wendell, S. W.; G. W. MelInturf, J. W,;

All of the lodge property was destroyed by fire twice within a few months. The first fire occurred July 19, 1893, and on November 18, following, the lodge suffered its second loss. The members voted a special assessment on each occasion to replace the lost furniture and paraphernalia, and the records were supplied in part from reports to the Grand Lodge.

Financially Nelson Lodge is now in good standing. It owns Lake View Cemetery, situated on the Rockford road on the east of Buffalo, and a part of the proceeds of the sale of each lot is placed in an endowment fund, the interest from which is used for the upkeep of the beautiful grounds. The lodge also owns the building in which the meetings are held.

Buffalo Chapter, No. 71, Royal Arch Masons, was granted its charter on October 10, 1905, having been working under a dispensation since June 5 of the same year. The first officers were: Lester Bartlett, high priest; Frank E. Abbott, king; Harrie S. Saylor, scribe; Adolph Fremd, treasurer; Louis E. Quint, seeretary; O, S. Lowell, captain of the host; John J. Abel, principal sojourner; William H. Cutting, royal arch captain; August Hafften, master of third veil; James C. Tarbox, master of second veil; John Varner, master of first veil; W.S. Stokes, tyler.

Masonic Blue Lodges within the jurisdiction of the Buffalo Chapter are at Buffalo, Rockford, Watertown, Howard Lake, Annandale and Monticello.

The present officers are: Adolph Fremd, H. P.; Edward C. Tuttle, king; Emil T. Schmidt, seribe; Martin F. Lowe, treasurer; Charles H. Farel, C. of H.; Angus H. Grant, P.S.; A. G. Redman, R. A. C.; John Varner, 3rd V.; August Hafften, 2nd V.; 0. S. Lowell, Ist V.; 0. L. Dudley, tyler.

Odd Fellowship

Odd Fellowship is represented in Wright county by one eneampment, located at Moutrose, and eight cantons as follows: Delano Lodge, No. 80; Clearwater Lodge, No. 133; Buffalo Lodge, No. 141; Garfield Lodge, No. 145 (Monticello); Hanover Lodge, No. 162; Montrose Lodge, No. 185; Howard Lake Lodge, No. 197; Annandale Lodge, No. 198.

Fair Haven Lodge, No. 182, A. F. & A. M., now located at Annandale, heid its first meeting under dispensation, af, Fair Haven, February 25, 1889. The officers were: W. M., Jeremiah

Delano Lodge, No. 80, I. 0, 0, F. The charter of Delano Lodge, No. 80, I. 0. O. F., was granted on February 16, 1881, by G. S. Ives, grand master, and Sherwood Hough, grand secretary, and contains the names of the charter members as follows: Alcinus Y. Haton, James P. Lyle, Daniel H. Freeman, Joseph C. Monroe, Henry Jarrett and Thadeus 8. Kerr. On February 28, 1881, pursuant to appointment, Grand Master G. 8. Ives and District Deputy Grand Master William Cheney, assisted by Past Grand Master C. W. Smith, met together with all of the above named charter members in the Masonic hall, in Delano, for the purpose of duly instituting Delano Lodge, No. 80, I. 0. O. F. Part of the formal work done was the election of officers for the new lodge, and the first officers so chosen were as follows: Alcinus Y. Eaton, noble grand; Thadeus 8. Kerr, vice grand; James G. Monroe, recording secretary, and James P. Lyle, treasurer. At that same meeting David Briley, George E. Goodrick and

Simon Muffley were elected and initiated into the order as members of the new lodge. The zeal of the members of the new lodge was visibly rewarded so that on June 30, 1881, Delano lodge was composed of nineteen members in good standing, and the permanency of the Order in Wright county was assured.

The person most instrumental in founding Delano Lodge, I. O. 0. F., was the late Hon. Alcinus Y. Eaton, and he may be justly called the Father of Odd Fellowship in Wright county. In speaking of the order, he was wont to say: 'Odd Fellowship is the best of all human institutions.'' He remained a member of Dejlano Lodge, I, O. O. F., until March 16, 1888, when he withdrew for the purpose of becoming a charter member of a new lodge to be instituted at Buffalo, the county seat of Wright county, where he then resided.

On October 11, 1882, Delano Lodge, I. O. O, F., as a body, assisted in the institution of Maple Plain Lodge, No. 91, I. 0. 0. F., at Maple Plain, Hennepin county, Minn., and that lodge should be regarded as the first born of Delano lodge from which its charter members were chiefly derived.

By strict economy and faithful work Delano lodge prospered, and continued to hold its meetings in the Masonic hall until November 30, 1881, when it moved into the new hall of C. F. Peters, the same being the building in which this lodge still meets. On that day, the Masons, the Druids and the Odd Fellows held a joint public meeting dedicatory of their new hall. A, Y. Eaton gave an address in behalf of the Odd Fellows, Ralph Ames spoke for the Masons, and Daniel Fish set forth the doctrines of the Druids. That meeting marks an epoch in the history of Delano, which then numbered about four hundred people.

Ever since that day Delano Lodge, I. 0. O. F., has continued to hold its meetings in that hall, and in the fall of 1891, it purchased the building and two lots, and later improved the building from time to time, and has converted the lower room into a public hall for entertainments and social gatherings, and it is one of the most popular halls in the village at the present time. The upper floor is devoted to fraternity uses only. The lodge had at the time of the purchase of the property only fifty-five members in good standing.

On July 17, 1888, Delano lodge sent a large delegation of its members to Buffalo, the county seat of Wright county, and assisted in the institution of Buffalo Lodge, No. 141, L. 0. O. F., and as the most of its charter members came from Delano lodge, the latter should be styled its parent.

It was not until the report of June 30, 1910, that the membership of Delano lodge scored above one hundred members in good standing. Ever since then the lodge has kept above that mark and now numbers 102 members in good standing.

Only once has a member of Delano lodge held an office in the Grand lodge. In June, 1910, James C. Murphy was installed grand marshal, which office he filled for that term with great efficiency, and much of the growth of Delano lodge and the adjoining lodges can be attributed to his faithful work.

The following are the names of the past grands of Delano lodge, I. O. O. F., the highest office of a subordinate lodge, wha are alive and in good standing: L. B, Bartlett, E. S. Babb, W. EB. Bemis, W. N. Dorman, Swan Erickson, W. H. Frazee, Osear Hildebrandt, G. T. Johnson, F. A. Knoll, B. V. Lares, George E. Goodrick, Thomas Lanway, F. H. Lindsley, L. M. Maxfield, A. L. Meally, W. M. Mowatt, James C. Murphy, M, E. Muckey, John Naslund, Osear Naue, Henry Pickruhn, T. B. Rader, Nels G. Sandberg, Alfred Sandberg, James Sherry, S. D. Starman, Charles Sell, T. M, Shaw, Leo F. Tressman, J. A. Peterson, R. M. Walker, Dar Welker, Atwood Welker, E. A, Welker, R, J. Welker, C. T. McDonald, Louis Zahrendt, KE. F. Ziebarth.

Delano lodge, I. 0. O, F., has possessed in all 254 members. Nineteen have been claimed by death, many have been transferred to other lodges, some have voluntarily withdrawn from the order, and quite a large percentage have grown faint-hearted, and have been dropped by the wayside for non-payment of dues.

That Delano lodge has demonstrated its usefulness to its members and to the state and te mankind is clearly shown by the subjoined statement of the funds handled by it up to June 30, 1914, and the uses made thereof: Receipts from all sources, $21,205.57. Disbursements: Weekly benefits paid brothers, $2,898.12; special relief (includes relief to widows and orphans and brothers), $1,074.53; funeral benefits for burial of brothers, $624.94; total relief paid, $4,597.59. Number of weeks for which benefits were paid, 760; number of brothers relieved, 156. Total assets of De-

An analysis of the above statement shows that this lodge has paid twenty-one per cent of all funds received back to its members for charitable purposes. If the reports had always been accurately made this percentage would be raised to about thirtythree per cent, while the current expenses would have been diminished in a like ratio. This showing brings the workings of Delano lodge up to the best of benevolent institutions, to say nothing of the upbuilding influences of the high moral truths taught by means of its ritualistic work.

Delano lodge has steadily grown in spite of certain influences which have been openly arrayed against it. It offers no apology for its existence. Its present officers are: William Sutton, noble grand; J. W. Packer, vice grand; F. H. Lindsley, secretary, and E. F. Ziebarth, treasurer. (Dated this third day of August, 1914. FP. H. Lindsley, historian for the lodge.)

Buffalo Lodge, No. 141, I. 0. 0. F., received its charter J uly 17, 1888, and was instituted on that date by Grand Secretary A. L. Bolton as special grand master. The charter members were: A. Y. Eaton, Charles MecClatchie, Silas J. Green, W. H. Cochrane, John Schefchik and Frank W. Gorman. At the institution of the lodge ten candidates were received into membership. They were: John Forsythe, A. O. Bryant, Ambrose Walker, Fremont Bryant, Alonzo Hoar, G. T. Smithson, George Davis, C. A. French, B. L. Brigham and A. H. Grant. Of those named above only two of the charter members are living at this time and only one, Frank W. Gorman, is at present a member in good standing of Buffalo lodge. Of the others, A. H. Grant and G. T. Smithson retain their membership in Buffalo lodge. The first officers were A. Y. Eaton, noble grand ; George Davis, vice grand ; F. W. Gorman, recording secretary; W. H. Cochrane, treasurer.

The lodge was instituted in the Leonard Dedrich hall, located in the block now oceupied by Carl Radtke's residence and the weekly meetings were held here for several years when more desirable quarters were secured over Krack's store in the same block. This hall was well furnished and equipped and was dedicated according to the ritual service of the order October 28, 1891. These services were to have been conducted by the Grand lodge officers, assisted by Winn Powers, editor of the Odd Fellows Review, and his brother, Frank Powers, but they missed their train and were obliged to come over the Great Northern Railway to Montrose and from there by livery to Buffalo and they did not arrive until the dedicatory exercises were nearly completed. The exercises were conducted by Past Grand E. B. McCord, of Monticello, who acted as grand master; Past Grand A. Y. Eaton as grand marshal; W. H. Cutting as grand chaplain.

The heralds were: Herald of the North, I. 8. Podas; herald of the South, Jonathan Miller; herald of the East, 8. J. Green, and herald of the West, W. E. Culkin. Musie was furnished by a quartette and the keys were presented to the Grand lodge officers by Noble Grand John Schefehik.

The program was elaborate and impressive and was presented in a very creditable manner. The Grand lodge officers arrived in time to participate in the closing exercises and gave some eloquent and instructive addresses.

The lodge continued to have a steady and healthy growth until the building was destroyed by fire and all the furnishings of the hall were destroyed. One of the brothers who reached the scene of the fire was John T. Hilliard and his zeal and love for the order prompted him to peril his life to rescue the charter. His confidence in the order was not misplaced and his last days were made easier for him by the ministering care and helpful aid extended himself and family by his beloved order.

The lodge found temporary quarters, but they were not satisfied with the same and began to consider the advisability of securing a permanent home. A. Y. Eaton, who had been the chief promoter of the lodge in Buffalo, was named as chairman of a building committee and this committee selected the present site of the I, O. QO. F. building at the corner of Bacon and Butternut streets, The question of finances was helped by the Masonic order by a lease of quarters in the proposed building for a term of five years and the advance payment of rent for the same. Non-interest-bearing stock certificates in the sum of $10 each were issued and a majority of the members took stock as their cireumstances would permit. In this way considerable money was raised and the balance of the indebtedness was met by a mortgage of the property.

The hall when completed became by rental the lodge home of every fraternal order in Buffalo and the receipts from these sources helped to defray the obligations of the order and the lower floor was rented for store purposes. The first tenant of the same was T. F. Jude, but he later erected a building of his own on the same street and in 1897 George C. Carpenter rented the same and has been a permanent tenant ever since. The indebtedness of the order has been wiped out and the present building and its furnishings are free from debt.

The order is today the strongest in point of membership of any of the fraternal orders of Buffalo. It had its largest growth in 1910 and 1911 and John Muller is entitled to especial credit for this marked growth in membership.

The following brothers have received the highest honors of the subordinate lodge, that of past grand of the order: J, F. Berthiaume, Gustave Bender, Andrew Behrenbrinker, W. H.

Howard Lake Lodge, No. 197, I. 0. 0. F., might properly be termed the infant lodge of the order in Wright county. It was organized and received its charter, March 7, 1913. The charter members were: J. W. Mealey, Charles A. Stewart, Crawford Grays, R. L. Wood, F. G. Nott, Charles May and Charles Marshall.

The first officers of the lodge were: J. W. Mealey, N. G.; C. A. Stewart, V. G.; G. G. Luhman, R. S., and Ernest Fisher, T. The following are the past grands of the order: J. W. Mealey, C. A. Stewart and Leroy Gerard. The lodge has a membership of over thirty and bids fair to become one of the most progressive lodges of the order in Wright county.