Grand Lodge of New York - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District ...

Grand Lodge of New York - Masonic Lodge Histories 

Lodge Nos. 82 – 110 

from the 1906 GL Proceedings 

Edited and reformatted by R.’.W.’. Gary L. Heinmiller 

www.omdhs.syracusemasons.com 

Grand Lodge Proceedings of the State of New York, 1906, pages 176-232. 

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098 Columbia Chatham Columbia 24 Jun 1852 [Canaan Lodge No. 44, 1796; Eureka Lodge No. 98, 12 Jun 1844] 

104 Lewis Howard 

107 North Star Brushton 

108 Milo Penn Yan [Vernon Lodge, No. 190] 

109 Valley Rochester 

111 St. Lawrence Canton [Northern Light Lodge; Canton Lodge, No. 325] 

112 Steuben Bath [Bath Lodge, No. 59, 22 Mar 1797; Enos Lodge, No. 323; 28 Jun 1823] 

113 Seneca Waterloo [Junius Lodge; 1 Jun 1817] 

114 Union Ovid [Meriden (Meridian) Lodge No. 184; 6 Sep 1809) surrendered warrant in 1832] 

115 Phoenix Danville 

116 Cohoes Cohoes 

117 Painted Post Corning 

118 Addison Union Addison 

119 Oasis Prattsville 

120 Hamilton Hamilton 

121 Glens Falls Glens Falls [Senate Lodge No. 456; Hamilton Lodge No. 144, Queensbury] 

122 Mount Morris Mount Morris 

123 Dundee Dundee 

124 St. Paul’s Auburn 

126 Eastern Light Greene 

REPORT OF THE GRAND HISTORIAN. 

R.'. W.'. EDWIN A. QUICK, Grand Historian, presented the following report, which was received and ordered printed in the 

Proceedings: 

M.'. W.'. FRANK H. ROBINSON, 

Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York. 

Dear Sir and Brother: The report submitted by the Grand Historian is a continuation of the work inaugurated by his predecessor. 

The publication of historical sketches of the Lodges has met with such favorable comment, together with the interest taken in the 

subject by the officers and members of the Lodges whose sketches have been prepared, and their desire to render valuable 

assistance in their preparation affords ample encouragement to continue this work indefinitely. 

In order that the sketches may be accurate and complete care is taken to verify the statements contained in papers on file or 

obtained from any other source, by an examination of the records in the Grand Secretary's office and the minutes of the Grand 

Lodge. 

In this connection it is proper to state that the Grand Historian is grateful for the courtesy and assistance always accorded him in 

the office of the Grand Secretary while engaged in prosecuting his work. 

The fraternal courtesy extended and the valuable assistance furnished by the members of the Lodges whose sketches 

accompany this report is hereby acknowledged, and the thanks of the Grand Historian is extended to all for their invaluable 

assistance. 

Under your sanction and with your approval an effort is being made to ascertain to what extent the funds of the Lodges in this 

jurisdiction have been invested in real estate. 

While this work is not in a direct line with the duties of the Grand Historian, the desire to secure this information was prompted by 

the fact that as many of the Lodges have secured a permanent home and others are considering ways and means to accomplish 

the same purpose, it might give encouragement to others if it were known to what extent these enterprises have been carried. 

Printed forms were prepared and sent to the District Deputy Grand Masters, with a request that a copy be sent to each Lodge in 

their respective Districts. With two exceptions the request was complied with, and the Grand Historian herein takes pleasure in 

expressing his gratitude for the fraternal assistance rendered by these officers. 

The returns from several Districts are complete, and with two exceptions the others are nearly completed. 

After the returns have all been received the information will be transferred to cards specially prepared, indexed, and arranged in 

proper order for the use of the Grand Lodge. 

On March 31, 1906, reports had been received from five hundred and ninety-one Lodges. The value of the real estate and 

buildings owned by these Lodges, exclusive of the property owned by associations in which some of them have an interest, 

amounts to nearly $900,000. 

I again sincerely thank you for reappointing me to this responsible office. The duties are agreeable, the work since my first 

appointment has continued to grow in interest, and has afforded much pleasure in many ways. 

I congratulate you upon your success in conducting the affairs of your distinguished office. 

With the warmest regards and kindest wishes for the happiness of yourself and those who are dear to you, I am, 

Fraternally yours, 

EDWIN A. QUICK, 

Grand Historian, 

1

COLUMBIA LODGE, NO. 98, CHATHAM, NY. 

WARRANT: The warrant is dated June 24, 1852. 

MINUTES: Intact. 

The first officers under warrant were: 

Samuel P. Lee, Master. 

John H. Messick, Senior Warden. 

Albert Brown, Junior Warden. 

Columbia Lodge is the successor of two Lodges which formerly existed at Chatham. 

Canaan Lodge, No. 44, was organized in the year 1796; the following is the petition: 

”To the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Senior and Junior Grand Wardens, and Brethren of the Grand Lodge of the State of New 

York. 

The Petition of the subscribers most respectfully showeth that the number of members of Unity Lodge No. 17 have been and now 

are upwards of sixty; that from the local circumstances of the members their work in Lodge is rendered very difficult as well as 

expensive to individuals, by which the benefits of our craft is not only retarded, but very materially injuries accrue to the Lodge, that 

your petitioners have for some time experienced these difficulties to their great disadvantage and to the particular hindrance of the 

growth and increase of Masonry in their vicinity. That by the mutual agreement of the members of our Lodge we have thought best 

to divide the members into two Lodges, and accordingly do hereby recommend our well-beloved and faithful Brother NATHAN 

NOYES as Master, our well-beloved and faithful Brother LEVI PRESTON for Senior Warden and our well-beloved and faithful 

Brother ALEXANDER SMITH for Junior Warden of a new and regular constituted Lodge by the name of Canaan Lodge No. —, and 

our petition is that they may be by the Grand Lodge constituted and appointed as a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons agreeable 

to the rules and customs of the Grand Lodge, and your petitioners will, as in duty bound, ever pray. Respectfully, by unanimous vote 

of Unity Lodge, January 7, 1796. A. L., 5796. 

"ELEAZER GRANT, Master. 

ELISHA GILBERTSON, Senior Warden. 

DAVID GREENE, Junior Warden. 

“NATHAN NOYES, Sec't'y P. T." 

Endorsed on the petition is the following: 

"A warrant ordered to be issued by JACOB MORTON, D.G.M., and DEWITT CLINTON, J.G.W." 

The last return made by the Lodge was for the year 1825. It contains the names of nineteen members. 

The officers elected for 1826 were: 

Sylvester Van Volkenburgh, Master. 

Henry S. Clark, Senior Warden. 

Cornelius Goes, Junior Warden. 

Frederick Y. Waterman, Secretary. 

Peter R. Crandall, Treasurer. 

Among the papers on file relating to this Lodge is the following bill: 

" R.'. W.'. Grand Lodge of the State of New York 

"To David Smith Jun Dr. 

”For attendance at the Annual Communication as Representative of Canaan Lodge No. 44. 

6 days $9.00 

280 Miles travel 7 Days 10.50 

$19.50 

NEW YORK, June 11, 5821. 

"Rec'd payment, “D. SMITH JUN." 

MASTERS OF CANAAN LODGE No. 44. 

Nathan Noyes. 

Benjamin Cook. 

David Leavenworth. 

Alexander Smith. 

Calvin Thompson. 

Augustin F. Hayden. 

Philo Kilborn. 

Andrew Lovejoy. 

David Smith Jr. 

Sylvester Van Volkenburgh. 

2

The warrant was declared forfeited in 1833. The Grand Lodge Register contains the following: "The warrant of No. 44 was 

surrendered June 6, 1844, and deposited by R.'. W.'. ELISHA GILBERT, P. J. G. W." 

The successor of Canaan Lodge. No. 44, was Eureka Lodge, No. 98, which received its warrant June 12, 1844. It will be noticed 

that this occurred within a few days after the former warrant had been surrendered. 

The officers named in the warrant were: 

William Wheeler, Master; 

Darius Cole, Senior Warden; 

Peter Groat, Junior Warden. 

MASTERS OF EUREKA LODGE. 

William Wheeler. 

Samuel P. Lee. 

Charles C. C. Mower. 

James Wittse. 

Samuel Marshall. 

Eureka Lodge continued to work until July 5, 1851, when a regular communication was held and the following resolution was 

adopted: "That this Lodge surrender its charter, with the books, papers, jewels and clothing, together with all other property of this 

Lodge to the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York or to its deputy or agent by them duly authorized 

to receive them." 

The minutes contain the following: 

"The minutes were then rend and approved, and the W. M. proceeded to take possession of the charter, books, papers, jewels, 

clothing and property of the Lodge for the purpose of carrying out the motion of BRO. MESSICK as voted by the Lodge according to 

the true intent and meaning thereof. " 

E. PAYN,Secretary." 

Scarcely had the old Lodge extinguished its lights and closed its labors when a movement to organize a successor was begun, as 

will be noted by the following; the original is on file in the Grand Secretary's office: 

"The undersigned begs leave to represent that the charter of Eureka Lodge, No. 98, located at Chatham Four Corners, Columbia 

County, was surrendered to this Grand Lodge during the past year and a dispensation for a new Lodge at the same place was 

obtained from the Grand Officers, to be styled Columbia Lodge, for which the sum of thirty dollars was paid with the understanding 

that it should be refunded and a charter granted for said Columbia Lodge at this Annual Communication. Your petitioner therefore 

prays that said charter may now be granted and said sum of thirty dollars be refunded to said Lodge. 

"DAVID G. WOODEN, 

"Past Master." 

The foregoing facts clearly show that Columbia Lodge, No. 98, is the legitimate offspring and successor of these two Lodges. The 

first was no doubt forced to succumb to the conditions which prevailed during the "Morgan period." The causes which prompted the 

surrender of the charter of Eureka Lodge are unknown, but the fact that a new Lodge was immediately organized is of itself 

sufficient evidence of the spirit of loyalty to the Fraternity which actuated these brethren and prompted them to again unite and open 

the Great Light upon the altar of Freemasonry. The Lodge has prospered, and has had among its adherents some of the most 

prominent men in the community. 

The first meeting-place was in Odd Fellows' Hall, where it remained until June, 1874, when it moved to its present quarters in the 

building known as the "Masonic Building." These rooms were dedicated June 24, 1874, by M.'. W.'. JESSE B. ANTHONY, who, at 

that time, was Junior Grand Warden. 

It was represented at the laying of the corner-stone of the Capitol at Albany, June 24, 1871; at the laying of the corner-stone of the 

Home at Utica, May 21, 1891; at the laying of the corner-stone of the Masonic Temple, Albany, June 24, 1895; it was also present at 

the dedication of the Masonic Temple at Hudson in 1896. 

On June 26, 1902, it celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. 

MEN IN PUBLIC LIFE. 

John Cadman, County Judge. 

Hugh W. McClellan, County Judge, Assemblyman. 

Wright H. Barnes, Assemblyman. 

Charles D. Beckwith, Congressman. 

Louis F. Payn, Superintendent of Insurance. 

Henry M. Hanor, Sheriff. 

Sanford W. Smith, County Judge, State Senator. 

Frank H. Wood, Chief Inspector, Department of Education. 

Robert Hoes, Assemblyman. 

William C. Daley, State Senator. 

W. Porter Darrow, Secretary N. Y. State Grangers. 

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS. 

William C. Daley, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Calvin D. Hicok, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Sanford W. Smith, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Charles M. Burrows, Assistant Grand Lecturer. 

Simeon R. Hatfield, Assistant Grand Lecturer. 

1852 Samuel P. Lee. 

1853 David G. Wooden. 

1854 Samuel P. Lee. 

MASTERS 

1855. Hugh W. McClellan. 

1856. David G. Wooden. 

1857. David G. Wooden. 

1858. Abram Ashley, Jr. 

1859. Hiram D. Ford. 

1860. John Cadman. 

3


1862. James T. Shufelt. 

1863. James T. Shufelt. 



1866. Charles A. Belden. 

1867. Hiram D. Ford. 

1868. Charles M. Burrows. 



1871. William C. Daley. 


1873. John W. Boright 

1874. John W. Boright. 

1875. Wright H. Barnes. 

1876. Wright H. Barnes. 

1877. Simeon R. Hatfield. 

1878. Simeon R. Hatfield. 

1879. Milford Ii. Bates. 

1880. Charles H. Bell. 

1881. James E. Traver. 



1884. Perry C. Miller. 




1888. Azro C. Hanor. 

1889. Azro C. Hanor. 

1890. William S. Higgins. 

1891. William S. Higgins. 

1892. Calvin D. Hicok. 

1893. Calvin D. Hicok. 

1894. Philip W. Mull. 

1895. Henry W. Niles. 

1896. Henry W. Niles. 

1897. Enos C. Montross. 

1898. Sanford W. Smith. 

1899. Sanford W. Smith. 

1900. Henry J. Baringer. 

1901. Frank H. Wood. 

1902. David H. Gage, Jr. 

1903. Charles D. Higgins. 

1904. Charles D. Higgins. 

1905. Augustus N. Van Deusen. 

1906. Charles B. Hatfield. 

LEWIS LODGE, NO. 104. HOWARD, N. Y. 

WARRANT: The original warrant was destroyed by fire; the one now in possession of the Lodge is dated June 5, 1874. 

When first organized it was known as Cameron Lodge, No. 77; it became Lewis Lodge, No. 104, in 1845. 

MINUTES: Not intact. The records and all other property of the Lodge were destroyed by fire May 10, 1874. 

The destruction of the records of the Lodge and the loss of all papers relating to its early life shrouds its history in uncertainty, and 

but little is known concerning its affairs previous to its revival in 1840. The Grand Lodge Register contains the following concerning 

its revival: 

"Revived and officers installed August S. 1840. 

"John H. Alexander. Master. 

"Job Goff, Senior Warden. 

"Peroz O. Cole, Junior Warden. 

"Warrant forfeited June, 1844. 

"Revived June 6, 1845. 

“No returns until after the warrant was declared forfeited by the Grand Lodge in June 1844, and demanded by the Grand Secretary, 

when their returns were made and $36.00 paid, but the Lodge was not informed of the nullity of the warrant: the Grand Master, 

however, directed Bro. GREAVES to inform the Lodge and see that the demand of the Grand Lodge was complied with. Warrant 

surrendered May 30, 1845, but no property. Charter revived in June, 1845, and name changed 

to Lewis, 104." 

The warrant issued June 5, 1874, as a substitute for the one destroyed, names as officers: 

Melvin Graves, Master. 

Luke R. Goff, Senior Warden. 

William H. Graves, Junior Warden. 

The destruction of the building and the loss of all property owned by the Lodge in May, 1874, was a severe blow to the Lodge, but 

with undaunted courage the members immediately began the erection of a new building, and before the close of the year it again 

was in possession of a comfortable home; since then it has enjoyed a fair share of success and is free from debt. 

The Secretary, A. H. BALDWIN, has served the Lodge in that capacity for nearly thirty years. 

The Lodge was represented at the laying of the corner-stone of the Home at Utica, May 21, 1891; it held Jubilee services April, 24, 

1889; the address of the Grand Master was read and short addresses were made by several members of the Lodge. 

MASTERS. 

1840-41 John H. Alexander. 

1842 Job Goff. 

1843-45 No returns. 

1846-47 Abijah B. Case. 

1848 No returns. 

1849 Barnaby Alden. 


1851 William Smith. 


1853-55 John H. Alexander. 

1856-57 George F. Case. 

1858 John H. Alexander. 

1859 Charles Forrester. 

1860-61 William Smith. 

1862-65 Charles Forrester. 

1866-67 William S. Goff. 

1868-70 Joseph E. Broas. 

1871 Reuben F. Parkhill. 

1872 Benjamin N. Bennett. 

1873 Ira Bennett. 

1874 Melvin Graves. 

1875 Luke R. Goff. 

1876 Horace Bennett. 

1877-78 William S. Goff. 

1879-80 William H. Graves. 


1882 Melvin Graves. 


1884-85 Benjamin N. Bennett. 

1886-87 Luke R. Goff. 


1892-93 Luke R. Goff. 


1903 Ward B. Alden. 

1904-05 Frank G. Mackie. 

1906. Ithiel H. Stewart. 

NORTH STAR LODGE, NO. 107, BRUSHTON, NY. 

WARRANT: The original warrant, dated June 5, 1846, is in possession of the Lodge. 

Name or number has not been changed. 


The officers named in the warrant are: 

Josiah F. Saunders, Master. 

Otis Farrar, Senior Warden. 

Amasa Harrington. Junior Warden. 

4

A dispensation was granted to form the Lodge on September 3, 1844, which was to continue until May 15, 1845. Upon this date it 

was extended for another year. 

The Lodge failed to secure a warrant at the time the dispensation first expired, because the by-laws adopted by the Lodge were not 

approved by the Grand Lodge, consequently it worked under dispensation for nearly two years. 

Unfortunately there are no records in existence concerning the doings of the Lodge when first organized; the first recorded meeting 

is dated April 8, 1846. 

On June 8, 1846, a dispensation was issued to ORIN HOUGH to constitute the Lodge and install the officers. These ceremonies 

took place July 4, 1846. 

When organized, the Lodge was located at Lawrenceville, St. Lawrence County, where it remained until 1855. 

On the minutes of a meeting held December 27, 1854. is the following: "It was unanimously voted that this Lodge be moved to Moira 

Corners as soon as possible." 

The first meeting held at Moira was on January 31, 1855. 

It remained there until 1887. On November 10, 1886, the Lodge voted to remove to Brushton, and on December 1, 1886, M.'. W.'. 

FRANK R. LAWRENCE granted a dispensation to remove the Lodge from Moira to Brushton, subject to the approval of the Grand 


At a session of the Grand Lodge, the Committee on Warrants, to whom this matter had been referred, offered the following 

resolution, which was adopted: 

"Resolved. That North Star Lodge, No. 107. F. and A. M., of Moira, Franklin County, be permitted to hold its communications and 

continue its work at the village of Brushton, in the said county, without change in jurisdiction." 

In the report the committee said: "In this case it appears that the room of North Star Lodge, No. 107, at Moira, Franklin County, was 

unsuitable for the purpose of the Lodge, and that proper accommodations could not be obtained at that place. The Lodge, at a 

stated communication, decided, by a two-third vote of the members present, to change its place of meeting, and the consent of 

Bangor Lodge, No. 556, having been obtained, no good reason appears why such permission should not be granted." 

The first meeting at Brushton was held February 9, 1887. 

The Lodge held Jubilee services on April 24, 1889, in conjunction with Northern Constellation Lodge, No. 291. It was represented at 

the laying of the corner-stone of the Home at Utica, May 21, 1891, and at the dedication of same, October 5, 1892. 


George W. Harris, District Deputy Grand Master. 

MASTERS. 

1846. Josiah F. Saunders. 

1847. Otis Farrar. 



1850. Orin Hough. 


1852. Amasa Harrington. 

1853. Daniel H. Sawyer. 

1854. Henry N. Bickford. 

1855. J. W. Farmer. 

1856. Rufus W. Bowen. 



1859. David D. D. Dewey. 


1861. D. W. Lawrence. 




1865. William G. New. 

1866. Stoughton N. Dickinson. 




1870. L. J. Dickinson. 

1871. L. J. Dickinson. 









1880. William P. Gibson. 




1884. John C. Jamison. 





1889. Elton E. Harris. 

1890. Elton E. Harris. 

1891. George W. Harris. 



1894. James E. Brady. 



1897. George W. Dustin. 



1900. Alpheus B. Conger. 

1901. Alpheus B. Conger. 

1902. Arthur S. Donaldson. 

1903. Arthur S. Donaldson. 

1904. Edwin T. Dunn. 

1905. Edwin T. Dunn. 


MILO LODGE, NO. 108, PENN YAN, N. Y. 

WARRANT: The warrant in possession of the Lodge is dated June 8: intact. 

Name or number has never been changed. It was organized in the early part of 1846; a dispensation was granted April 9, 1846, and 

on April 15th, the first meeting was held. The officers named in the dispensation and warrant were: 

Samuel L. Bigelow, Master. 

Hiram Depew, Senior Warden. 

Elisha H. Huntington, Junior Warden. 

Previous to the advent of Milo Lodge, another Lodge named Penn Yan had been working under a dispensation granted July 16. 

1845. 

For reasons not clearly understood the dispensation was revoked by M.'.W.'. JOHN D. WILLARD, January 11, 1846. 

This dispensation named as officers: 

Samuel L. Bigelow, Master. 

Elijah Higley, Senior Warden. 

Elisha H. Huntington, Junior Warden. 

5

Immediately after this action was taken by the Grand Master, another petition was presented, asking for another dispensation under 

the name of Milo, which was issued, and on June 4, 1846, the Committee on Warrants made a report to the Grand Lodge, then in 

session, in which the committee recommended favorable action on the application for a warrant. 

The following extract from this report throws some light upon the existing situation so far as it relates to Penn Yan Lodge: 

"On the application of the brethren of Penn Yan, now working under dispensation, it appears before your committee that on a former 

day the M.'. W.'. Grand Master did grant a dispensation empowering certain brethren of Penn Yan to organize themselves into a 

Masonic body and proceed to labor: that after such organization certain facts were presented to the consideration of the Grand 

Master, exhibiting a state of things entirely at war with the harmony which should exist in a well-regulated Lodge; that with the facts 

before him, the M.'.W.'. Grand Master saw fit to revoke and annul the dispensation granted by him and, instead thereof, to issue a 

dispensation to a portion of the body working under the former authority, which present body are known and distinguished as Milo 

Lodge, No. ——. This Lodge now asks that a charter may be granted to them and that the jewels, funds and other property which 

may have belonged to the other body, working under the former dispensation, be quietly put in their possession. 

Your committee recommend that the charter be filled with the names of such officers us they may select and that their petition be 

granted." 

The recommendation was adopted, and two days after, the warrant was issued. The Lodge has enjoyed an uninterrupted existence 

ever since. 

The first initiate in the Lodge was JOHN L. LEWIS, JR., who received the first degree May 1, 1846, and was raised on the 22d of 

the same month. No sketch of Milo Lodge would he complete without extended reference to this distinguished man and illustrious 

Mason. 

He was born in Yates County, NY, July 17, 1813: he studied law and was admitted to the bar when but twenty-two years of age; two 

years later he was appointed District Attorney, holding this office eleven years, when he was elected County Judge. He became 

active in Masonic work immediately after receiving his degrees; serving first as Secretary of his Lodge. He was elected Senior 

Warden in 1848; served as Master in 1850-51-52. In 1850 he was Junior Grand Deacon; in 1854 he was elected Deputy Grand 

Master, re-elected in 1855, and was Grand Master in 1836-57-58-59. 

For over thirty-five years he was an earnest and wise counselor in the deliberations of the Grand Lodge. He died at Penn Yan, NY, 

June 11, 1889. 

M.'.W.'. JOHN W. VROOMAN, in his address to the Grand Lodge, June 3, 1890, said concerning his Masonic career: "I Fraternally 

call your attention to a published history of the Masonic labor and service of JOHN L. LEWIS. You will find it in the printed 

transactions of this Grand Body from the year 1850 to the year 1888. Would you see his Masonic Memorial? Look at our present 

Constitution, Statutes, Code of Procedure and Rules of Order. 

"Would you read one of the Master Masonic orations of this or any other age? Turn to the one he delivered at the dedication of this 

building. 

"Would you possess a fund of general Masonic information? Study his addresses and his arguments. 

"His work was well done. It was all done. Let his own language conclude this brief tribute: ' When my labors are over I seek no 

higher praise than the simple, but expressive eulogy inscribed upon the tomb of one of earth's lowly but faithful ones, 'He hath done 

what he could.'" 

A granite shaft, erected by his brethren, marks his resting place in the cemetery at Penn Yan. It was dedicated by the Grand Master 

October 25, 1902. 

As a considerable number of the charter members of Milo Lodge had been members of Vernon Lodge, No. 190 (now extinct), 

which was organized in 1810, it is proper that some mention should be made of the old Lodge. 

The first recorded meeting was held May 8, 1810; its last recorded meeting was held December 27, 1830. This Lodge led an active 

career from its organization, and undoubtedly it shared the fate of so many that were forced to succumb to the effect of the anti- 

Masonic crusade. In this case, added to the trouble, was the loss of its entire property by fire. 

It was warranted March 7, 1810. 

The minutes of the Lodge from May 8, 1810, to May 16, 1826, are still in existence and are intact. The old warrant was destroyed in 

the fire. 

At a session of the Grand Lodge in June, 1827, the Committee on Warrants reported: "That the doings of the M.'.W.'. Grand Master 

in granting a dispensation to Vernon Lodge, No. 190, for the continuation of their labors (their original warrant having been burned), 

ought to be confirmed, and that a new warrant be granted in the names of the present officers free of expense, and that they retain 

their former rank." 

There is no record to show that a new warrant was issued. 

The original petition, asking for a warrant, is dated Snell, January 27, 1810, and is signed by the following: 

Benjamin Shaw. Robert Patterson. 

Reuben Weed. 

Thomas Lee, Jr. 

James Schofield. Joseph Havens. 

Joshua Lee. 

Stephen Havens. 

Harry Smith. 

Samuel Lawrence. 

John Hobart. 

It recommends as officers: 

Joshua Lee, Master. 

Benjamin Shaw, Senior Warden. 

Thomas Lee, Jr., Junior Warden. 

The by-laws adopted by the Lodge March 24, 1812, contain some interesting features. The following are excerpts: 

6

"Art. 6. Any member wishing to loan from the treasury a sum of money, not exceeding the sum of twenty-five dollars, must apply in 

open Lodge, and, if said application be granted, must give a good respectable member as security and pay the same in three 

months with lawful interest. 

"Art. 8. No spirituous liquors are allowed to be taken into the Lodge room unless by unanimous consent of the Lodge. 

"Art. 10. It shall be the duty of each member should he see or hear any brother that is a member of this Lodge conducting himself 

improperly or out of character, to reprimand him, and should that not have the desired effect, to report him to the Lodge, there to be 

dealt with as they shall direct." 

MASTERS OF VERNON LODGE, No. 190. 

1810. Joshua Lee. 

1811. Benjamin Shaw. 

1812. Thomas Lee, Jr. 









1821. John Powell. 

1822. John Powell. 




1826. Andrew F. Oliver. 


1828. Cornelius Masten. 

1829. Samuel Lawrence. 

1830. Samuel Lawrence. 

At last meeting, December 27, 1830, ERENEZER BROWN was elected Master. 

The old Lodge had upon its rolls the names of many who wore prominent as: 


Dr. Joshua Lee, Surgeon U. S. A., 1812. Assemblyman, 

Congressman. 

Ebenezer Brown, Sheriff, Yates County. 

Avery Smith, Col. U. S. A., 1812, Assemblyman. 

Thomas Lee, Jr., Col. U. S. A., 1812. 

Aaron Remer, Capt. U. S. A., 1812, Assemblyman. 

John Powell, Clerk Board of Supervisors. 

Abner Woodworth, Capt. U. S. A, 1812, County Clerk. 

Andrew F. Oliver, Surrogate, Yates County. 

William M. Oliver, Judge. Court of Common Pleas. 

Cornelius Masten, Judge, Court of Common Pleas. 

Dr. William Cornwell, Surgeon U. S. A., 1812. 

Samuel Lawrence, Assemblyman. 

Milo Lodge has participated in a number of public ceremonials. It was present at the laying of the corner-stone of the Home at Utica, 

May 21,1891, and at the dedication of the same, October 5, 1892. 


John N. Macomb, Jr., District Deputy Grand Master. 

Edson Potter, District Deputy Grand Master. 

George H. Sheppard, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Edward H. Hopkins, Grand Steward. 

GRAND OFFICERS IN AFFILIATED BODIES. 

Darius A. Ogden was Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter. R. A. M. 

John N. Macomb, Jr., was Grand Master of the Grand Council, R. and 

S. M. Charles G. Judd was Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery, K. T. 

MASTERS. 

1846. Samuel L. Bigelow. 

1847. Samuel L. Bigelow. 


1849. Charles G. Judd. 

1850. John L. Lewis, Jr. 



1853. Alfred Reed. 

1854. Niram Bigelow. 




1858. James Burns. 



1861. Darius Baker. 



1864- John L. Lewis. 


1866. Charles S. Eastman. 



1869. Enoch W. Ross. 


1871. Wm. A. Mclntyre. 

1872. George Beebe. 

1873. George Beebe. 

1874. Franklin E. Smith. 

1875. Wilson W. Quackenhush. 

1876. Wilson W. Quackenbush. 

1877. Wilson W. Quackenbush. 

1878. Franklin E. Smith. 

1879. John N. Macomb Jr. 

1880. John N. Macomb Jr. 

1881. J. Henry Smith. 

1882. J. Henry Smith. 

1883. James Cairns. 

1884. James Cairns. 

1885. Andrew B. Horton. 

1886. Andrew B. Horton. 

VALLEY LODGE, NO. 109, ROCHESTER, N. Y. 

WARRANT: The warrant in possession of the Lodge is dated June 8, 1846. 

Name or number has not been changed. 


1887. Edward H. Hopkins. 

1888. Edward H. Hopkins. 

1889. Milton M. Rose. 

1890. John T. Knox. 

1891. John T. Knox. 

1892. Silas Kinne. 

1893. Horatio W. Perkins. 

1894. William M. Beebe. 

1895. William M. Beebe. 

1896. George S. Sheppard. 

1897. George S. Sheppard. 

1898. Clarence H. Knapp. 

1899. Bert S. Hopkins. 

1900. Bert S. Hopkins. 

1901. Edward D. Rose. 

1902. Orville F. Randolph. 

1903. Edson Potter. 

1904. Jerry M. Thompson. 

1905. Oliver J. Townsend. 

1906. Sam Fybush. 

7

OFFICERS NAMED IN WARRANT. 

Charles G. Cummings, Master. 

Samuel Richardson, Senior Warden. 

Charles C. Lathrop, Junior Warden. 

CHARTER MEMBERS. 

William A. Langworthy. 

Nicholas E. Paine. 

Lyman B. Langworthy. 

Nathaniel Clark. 

Schuyler Moses. 

Charles C. Lathrop. 

Phineas B. Cook. 

Henry A. Brewster. 

Samuel Richardson. 

Sylvester H. Packard. 

Asahel A. Beers. 

Ebenezer Watts. 

Cyrus Knapp. 

Marcus Moses. 

William E. Lathrop. 

Two of the charter members were members of Wells Lodge, No. 282, of Rochester, which was warranted June 5, 1816, and went 

down in the anti-Masonic persecution about the year 1828. The last returns made by this old Lodge was in 1827; at that time 

CHARLES C. LATHROP was Junior Warden, and ERENEZER WATTS, Treasurer. 

MEETING PLACES. 

When organized, the Lodge met in Brewster Hall, 67 Exchange Street; in August, 1846, it moved to the John Burns Building, corner 

of Main and State Streets, where it remained until the fall of 1858, when it moved to the Wilder Building, corner of Alain and 

Exchange Streets, where it remained until September, 1872, when it again moved, this time to Masonic Hall in Smith and Perkins 

Building, Exchange Street. This Hall was dedicated by M.'.W.'. CHRISTOPHER G. Fox, Grand Master, November 14, 1872. In 1898 

it moved to the Masonic Temple, Clinton Avenue, North, where it still remains. 

On April 24, 1889, Jubilee services were held in Washington Rink, Rochester, under the auspices of Valley Lodge, No. 109. 

Yonnondio Lodge, No. 163; Genesee Falls Lodge, No. 507; Rochester Lodge, No. 660; Germania Lodge, No. 722, and Frank R. 

Lawrence Lodge, U. D. 

A press report said concerning this event: "They celebrated the freedom of the Craft of the State from debt, and they did it in a very 

enthusiastic manner. Washington Rink echoed Masonic eloquence, Masonic applause and Masonic music for several hours." 

The principal address was delivered by M.'.W.'. WILLIAM A.SUTHERLAND, who, at the time, was Master of Frank R. Lawrence 

Lodge, U. D. In part, he said: 

"The youngest child of the Fraternity, the newest of the nearly eight hundred Lodges of the State, acknowledges the compliment it 

receives in an invitation to speak, through its Master, on this day of rejoicing. Bearing the honored name of our Most Worshipful 

Grand Master, Frank R. Lawrence Lodge is especially gratified to join in the general rejoicings upon the completion of the Herculean 

task so heroically undertaken and so magnificently concluded by him whose name is on the lips of so many thousands to-night. 

"For years the task of extinguishing a debt of $500,000 seemed like attempting to scale an inaccessible cliff, the noble charity, for 

the support of which the revenues of the Masonic building were to he devoted, was buried beneath the mountain of debt with which 

that building was encumbered. But upon the election of FRANK R. LAWRENCE to the Grand Mastership? the sound of the gavel 

was heard in the East, and the Craft were called from refreshment to labor. 

"He it was who enkindled hope in the breasts of the doubting. The faint-hearted men enthused with his own dauntless courage. 

Thus did our truly Grand Master set the Craft at work, giving them proper instructions for their labor. Thus, by a three years' journey, 

has he led us out of the land of bondage. Now we are free! Now are we equipped for a charity magnificent and perpetual! To-day 

our desires have culminated in assurance, and hope hath ended in fruition. With glad acclaim we salute the dauntless, the 

matchless and peerless leader, and give cheers to the magnificence of his success. It has been deemed fitting that the youngest 

Lodge in the State should he designated on this occasion, to clasp hands with the eldest. ... No Masonic assemblage can be justly 

censured for a proud allusion to our past. So many great and good men have been prominently identified with our Order; on so 

many public occasions have those high in public station officiated in our ceremonies, and so many times have prominent Masons 

guided and managed the Ship of State, that the Masonic Fraternity may almost he said to be interwoven with the fabric of our 

Government. 

But brethren we do not live in the past. Our assemblage to-night is because of the achievements of the present. Our rejoicings, 

while relating to that which now goes into history, also swell the bugle call to advance. The pathway of duty lies before us, we must 

not be slothful idlers in the Masonic vineyard. Although our work is underneath the surface and may not often be heralded by the 

trumpet of Fame, yet none the less are we important factors in the advancement of the human race to a higher civilization. 

"When all meet upon a level, then all class distinctions disappear; bigotry and narrow-mindedness vanish from the midst of those 

who insist only upon a firm belief in the Supreme Architect of the Universe and a just record after death for the deeds done in the 

body. We are taught as Free Masons that all truth lies not in one depository, but that scattered fragments, like portions of a broken 

image, may be found in all quarters of the globe and in diverse forms of belief. Unconsciously, perhaps, but nevertheless steadily, 

the seekers after truth are gathering these fragments together and on some millennial day these sometimes hidden and often 

obscure gems of truth, sometimes contributed from the teachings of Brahma, sometimes from the writings of Confucius, sometimes 

from the Hebrew prophets and many from the followers of Him who was born in Bethlehem of Judea, shall be fitted together into one 

harmonious whole. Truth herself shall then be known and recognized of all men. Till that day comes it is the province of Masonry to 

teach toleration, to enforce the precept that no one man holds sure possession of the truth as of a chattel. To live in the fear of God, 

to walk uprightly before God and man, to deal justly with all mankind, to perform unostentatious deeds of charity, remembering all 

men, but especially the brethren, and to inculcate that broadminded charity which accords to another's beliefs the same respect 

which each demands for his own—these be the principles of our Order, and these should our lives exemplify. . . . We do build a 

Temple whose foundations are broad as the confines of humanity, whose walls are made up of deeds of charity, of puremindedness, 

of uprightness and of steadfast performance of duty in every station of life, and whose vaulted dome reaches through 

8

the clouds and into the eternal beyond." 

The Lodge was present and participated in the laying of the cornerstones of the Monroe County Court House, the City Hall of 

Rochester, the U.S. Post Office building in Rochester, the Masonic Temple at Rochester; also, was present at the laying of the 

corner-stone and dedication of the Home at Utica. 

The Lodge has been fortunate in the selection of its Treasurer and Secretary. MAURICE LEYDEN has been Treasurer since 1887, 

with the exception of one year (1894). CLIFTON C. GIFFORD, the Secretary of the Lodge, was raised April 2, 1855, and on the 

same evening he was elected Secretary, and, with the exception of one year (1894), he has held the office ever since he has been a 

member of the Lodge—truly an enviable record: few indeed have held any office covering a period of over half a century. 

GEN. ELY S. PARKER, who, for a time, was a member of Valley Lodge, was a full-blooded Indian, a grand-nephew of the famous 

chief, Red Jacket. His Indian name was Do-ne-ho-ga-wa. He was born on the Seneca Indian reservation, Tonawanda, NY, In 1828: 

became chief of the Six Nations; was a personal friend of Gen. U. S. Grant, and. during the Civil War was a member of his staff and 

military secretary. In the latter capacity he drew up the first copy of the terms of capitulation at Appomattox. He was commissioned a 

First Lieutenant of U. S. cavalry in 1806; brevetted Brigadier General, U.S.A., In 1807. He was made a Mason in Batavia Lodge, 

No. 475; affiliated in Valley Lodge, May 6, 1850, and was the first Master of Akron Lodge, No. 527, under the warrant dated June 

3, 1863. He died at Fairfield. Conn., August 30, 1895. An epitome of his life appears in the Grand Lodge Proceedings. 1896. 


George G. Clarkson, Mayor of Rochester. 

Arthur C. Hastings, Mayor of Niagara Falls. 

Frederick Cook, Secretary of State of New York. 

John A. Reynolds, Gen. U. S. V., Civil War. 

Gilbert H. Reynolds, Capt. U. S. V., Civil War. 

J. George Cramer, Capt. U. S. V., Civil War. 

Ely S. Parker, Gen. U. S. V., Civil War. 

Maurice Leyden. Major U. S. V., War. Civil War. 


Solomon M. Benjamin, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Charles S. Owen, Grand Steward. 

John Alexander, District Deputy Grand Master. 

1845. William A. Langworthy. 

1845. Samuel Richardson. 

1846. Asahel S. Beers. 

1847. Charles G. Cummings. 

1848. Charles G. Cummings. 

1849. Nicholas E. Paine. 

1850. Sylvester H. Packard. 

1851. Ebenezer T. Oatley. 

1852. Edward Whalen. 

1853. Jacob Howe. 




1857. Ebenezer T. Ontley. 



1860. Roswell H. Smith. 

1861. John W. McElhinny. 

1862. John W. McElhinny. 

1863. Solomon M. Benjamin. 


MASTERS. 




1868. Roswell U. Smith. 




1872. John Alexander. 

1873. John M. Brown. 

1874. William O. Brown. 

1875. John M. Brown. 

1876. Henry J. Durgin. 

1877. William B. Mather. 

1878. John H. Bird. 

1879. Fred H. Beach. 

1880. John H. Bird. 

1881. B. Frank La Salle. 

1882. B. Frank La Salle. 

1883. John W. Merriam. 

1884. John Alexander. 

1885. Frank H. Vick. 

1886. Abram J. Katz. 

1887. Fred A. Moses. 





1892. Edwin G. Howe. 



1895. Charles L. Ball. 

1896. Harry J. Mulligan. 

1897. Charles S. Owen. 

1898. John B. Mullan. 

1899. Charles B. Rebasz. 

1900. John C. McNab. 

1901. J. Clifton Baker. 

1902. Harry B. Guilford. 

1903. Charles H. McDermott. 

1904. Frederick B. Lyddon. 

1905. George W. Cooper. 

1906. Frank H. Mosher. 

ST. LAWRENCE LODGE, NO. 111, CANTON, N.Y. 

WARRANT: The warrant in possession of the Lodge is dated June 

MINUTES: Not intact: missing from 1875 to 1883. 


Darius Clark, Master. 

Daniel Mack, Senior Warden. 

Joseph Ames 2d, Junior Warden. 

Most of the organizers of St. Lawrence Lodge were members of two former Lodges (now extinct) organized in the early part of the 

last century. Preliminary meetings were held in the office of Dr. DARIUS CLARK, in the spring of 1845; at first a revival of one of the 

old Lodges was advised: finally it was decided to apply for a dispensation for a new Lodge to be named "St. Lawrence." 

When the project became known a feeling of strong hostility became manifest in the community; handbills were distributed calling 

for a public meeting to be held in the Court House. A meeting was held, speeches were made denouncing the movement, and 

resolutions were adopted calling upon the people to protest against organizing a Masonic Lodge in the place. Notwithstanding this 

hostile demonstration, a petition was prepared asking for a dispensation, which was granted, and, on December 22, 1845, the first 

9

meeting was held in a room on the third floor over Daniel Mack's drug store on the corner of Main Street and Prentice Lane. There 

were present: 

Elijah Baker, Master; 

Daniel Mack, Senior Warden; 

Joseph Ames 2d, Junior Warden; 

Lemuel Buck, Treasurer; 

Darius Clark, Secretary; 

Isaac C. Paige, Senior Deacon; 

Paul Boynton, Junior Deacon; 

Samuel Leonard, Tiler; also, 

Harry Foote, 

Ebenezer Miner, 

George Bridge, 

Israel Cooke, 

Israel Tupper, 

Delos Dustin, 

Daniel Chapman, 

John L. Barnes, 

Alexander Lamont, 

Rev. R. Pettibone, 

Moses Sanderson, 

Abram Kingsbury and 

Orland Hasley. 

The first applicant for degrees was MARTIN THATCHER, County Clerk for St. Lawrence County, who was raised January 27, 1846. 

The first election for officers after receiving the warrant WM on December 1, 1846. The following were elected: 

Abram Kingsbury, Master. 

Darius Clark, Senior Warden. 

Harry Smith, Junior Warden. 

Paul Boynton, Treasurer. 

Martin Thatcher, Secretary. 

Daniel Mack. Senior Deacon. 

J. G. Goodale, Junior Deacon. 

Alexander Lamont, Tiler. 

The officers were publicly installed in the Universalist Church by R.'.W.'. SYLVESTER GILBERT, of Ogdensburgh. An address was 

delivered by Rev. HIRAM S. JOHNSON, pastor of the Presbyterian Church. 

The Lodge remained in the room over Dr. MACK'S store until May 24. 1848, when it moved over Conkey & Gulley's drug store, 

remaining there until 1851, when it moved to Odd Fellows' Hall in the Miner block, on February 9, 1859. This building was destroyed 

by fire; in 1860 it occupied temporary headquarters in the Jackman House. Its next place of meeting was in a building owned by 

Godard & Co., where the bank now is. This building was destroyed by fire in 1870; thus it was again without a home, and 

temporarily occupied Firemen's Hall on Water Street and the Library in the old Academy. On May 23, 1870, a resolution was 

adopted to lease permanent quarters in a building owned by Conkey & Sherman, where it has since been located. 

The extinct Lodges referred to as the predecessors of St. Lawrence Lodge were organized early in the last century. Northern Light 

Lodge was warranted September 2, 1807; the old warrant is a highly prized relic in possession of the Lodge; it was supposed to be 

lost, but several years ago it was learned that it was in possession of a descendant of a former resident of Canton; a search was 

instituted and the old document was obtained. It contains the names of SOLOMON RICH, Master; ISAAC BURNHAM, Senior 

Warden, and JOHN WOODHOUSE, Junior Warden. It is signed by DEWITT CLINTON, Grand Master; MARTIN HOFFMAN, Deputy 

Grand Master; JAMES WOODS, Senior Grand Warden; Phillip VAN RENSSELAER, Junior Grand Warden; JOHN WELLS, Grand 

Secretary. The Lodge was located in the town of DeKalb. It had a precarious existence and was practically dormant, when, in 1825 

or 1826, it was determined to remove it to Canton, and it became "Canton Lodge, No. 325." Shortly after this the Morgan episode 

swept over the State, and after a fitful struggle the warrant was declared forfeited in 1835. For ten years no Lodge existed in that 

vicinity, but the members of the old Lodge "frequently held informal meetings of the brethren on some high hill or some deep vale, 

and the ancient landmarks of our Order were kept in faithful breasts," as an old member puts it, who, in 1852, prepared a sketch of 

Masonry in that vicinity. 

For several years St. Lawrence Lodge observed the Festival of St. John by holding public meetings. In I866 the services were held 

on the Fair grounds, when addresses were delivered by several clergymen. 


The Lodge has had among its adherents many who have gained distinction in the community. 

Dr. Elijah Baker, a charter member was a prominent physician. 

Dr. Darius Clark, also a charter member, was a physician of distinction; he was Inspector of State Prisons in 1848. 

Rev. Hiram S. Johnson, also a charter member, was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Canton for nearly twenty years. 

William H. Sawyer, Supreme Court Judge. 

Leslie W. Russell, County Judge, Attorney-General. 

Seth P. Remington, Col. of Volunteers, Civil War. 

William B. Goodrich, Col. of Volunteers, Civil War. 

William R. Remington, Postmaster, County Clerk. 

Edward H. Neary, County Judge. 

Dolphus S. Lynde, Assemblyman, State Senator. 

Murray N. Ralph, County Clerk. 

John Miller, County Clerk, Police Justice. 

Worth Chamberlain, Surrogate, Assemblyman. 

Ebenezer Miner, Railroad Director. 

10

From "History of St Lawrence County, NY" by LH Everts Co, Philadelphia 1878: 

http://northcountry.bobsterner.com/Darius%20Clark%20Bio.htm 

11

Dolphus S. Lynde, b. 1 Jul 1833 

http://www.archive.org/stream/lifesketchesofgo00mcelrich/lifesketchesofgo00mcelrich_djvu.txt 

DOLPHUS S. LYNDE. The son of parents in quite comfortable circumstances, Mr. Lynde has been literally the architect of his own 

fortune. He was born in Antwerp, Jefferson county, July 1, 1833, and is therefore nearly forty-one years of age. His parents were of 

Irish and English descent. He remained with his father, doing farm work, and attending the common schools and Gouverneur 

Wesleyan Seminary until the age of twenty, when he married Esther S. Caul, who proved herself indeed "a help-meet" to him. His 

father was worth a fine property at that time, yet he declined to extend to the young couple any pecuniary aid whatever. He argued 

that he had earned the money himself, and, as he might need it, he proposed to take care of it while he lived. The newly-married 

pair moved into a board shanty, and supported themselves by keeping boarders at a dollar and a half each per week, the plucky 

husband earning in the mean time about $20 a month by driving an ox team and carting and piling lumber. He carried the first fifty 

pounds of flour for the new household a distance of two miles past his father's house, although at the same time there were two 

hundred bushels of wheat in the old gentleman's barn. 

The somewhat singular conduct of his parent aroused all the spirit in the young man's breast. When the next spring arrived he 

bought a farm and a stock of cows on credit, and sold them again in the fall, realizing $1,000 above the debt he had incurred. This 

fortunate speculation was the beginning of a successful career. Placing his money at interest, he kept a set of books during the next 

two years for James Sterling, an Antwerp iron manufacturer, at an annual salary of $500, and the use of a house and garden. At the 

end of three years he had doubled his thousand dollars. He then moved to Hermon, St. Lawrence county, where he has since been 

engaged in selling goods, milling, buying and selling cattle and real estate, and similar occupations. He also aided to organize the 

Cooper's Falls Iron Works, and was one of the stockholders of the corporation, but sold his interest before the works were finally 

completed. 

He has been uniformly successful in all his ventures, so that he is now the possessor of a handsome fortune, and he finally 

attributes his success in life entirely to what he deemed, at the time, very harsh conduct on the part of his respected parent, which, 

however, had the intended effect to stimulate him to make extraordinary exertions to place himself in an independent position. 

However we may regard the course of the elder Lynde in the abstract, we must admit that he correctly estimated his son's character, 

and did what in the end proved to be the best for him. 

Since Mr. Linde has resided in St. Lawrence county he has been prominently identified with its political history. Previousous to 1864 

he was a Democrat, but in that year, in common with many Democrats, he took a new departure, and cast his vote for the Lincoln 

electoral ticket. Since that time, he has invariably acted with the Republican party. As a member of that party he represented the 

town of Hermon in the St. Lawrence Board of Supervisors, for three years, commencing in 1868. In 1870 he was appointed a Notary 

Public. Four times in succession he has been elected to the Assembly from the Second district of St. Lawrence, the last time by a 

majority of 1,186, and his straightforward, honest course in that body has been a source of gratification, alike to his constituents and 

the State at large, in which he is now extensively known. During his legislative service he has been a member of the Committees on 

Internal Affairs, Railroads, Engrossed Bills, and State Prisons, and Chairman of Internal Affairs during three terms, including the 

present one. 

http://northcountry.bobsterner.com/william_bingham_goodrich.htm 

Col. William Bingham Goodrich – b. 1 Dec 1821, WIlna, Jefferson, NY; killed at the Battle of Antietam Sept. 17, 1862. 

by Stan Maine – [there are many additional articles at the above website, which have been downloaded for the OMDHS archives.] 

William Bingham Goodrich, eldest son of Hubbard Goodrich, MD was born in the town of Wilna, Jefferson County, NY 1 Dec 1821. 

Hubbard and family moved to the town of Edwards by 1930. Hubbard was town Supervisor 1834-1835. Hubbard accidentally died 

while working on a well when William was 14. This left William as a young provider for his family. William graduated from Wesleyan 

Seminary in Gouverneur, NY. After this he taught and attended school alternately, as his means allowed, for several years in NY 

and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin he was engaged in a mercantile business until the breakout of the Mexican war. He enlisted at St. 

Louis in the Missouri battalion of infantry, under the command of Lt. Col. Easton and went out acting as adjutant of recruits. He 

remained with the army until peace was declared. After that he was selected, with others, to take government dispatches to 

California by way of the Santa Fe overland route. He stayed in California for about a year 

trading in the mountains. This was about the time of the Gold Rush. William returned to NY 

about 1849 or 1850 and studied Law in a school in Ballston Spa, NY. 

William established a Law Practice in Madrid, St. Lawrence County, NY about 1850. The 

same year he was appointed Judge Advocate of the 33rd Regiment NY State Militia, a 

position that he held for 9 years. [The 33rd militia was the core of the 60th NY Infantry] 

William established a Law Practice in Madrid, St. Lawrence County, NY about 1850. The 

same year he was appointed Judge Advocate of the 33rd Regiment NY State Militia, a 

position that he held for 9 years. [The 33rd militia was the core of the 60th NY Infantry] 

In January 1851 he married Lydia Elvira Hildreth. In the spring of 1853 he moved to Canton, 

NY were he lived until the breakout of the war. Elvira and William had one child, Stella, born 

about 1854. 

In 1856 he established along with Seth Pierre Remington [The father of the artist Frederick 

S. Remington] a Canton newspaper “The St. Lawrence Plaindealer” he was only involved with that enterprise for about 3 or four 

years. From that time to the breakout of the war he devoted his time to his profession. [A newspaper article says he also sold 

insurance] Before the war William was involved in Republican Politics and in 1859 he was chosen as a delegate to the NY State 

Republican Judiciary Convention. 

In late July, or early August 1861 he opened up a recruitment station in his own office. His name appeared at the head of the list. In 

early September his full company marched to Ogdensburg where they went into camp as the first company of the 60th Regiment, 

NY State Volunteers. [This next paragraph is a quote that is repeated in many histories] 

As the company left Canton they were presented a silk flag from the citizens of Canton. 

12

Captain Goodrich accepted the flag with these words: “My social position and pecuniary circumstances are such that I could stay 

home and enjoy the society of my family, who are dearer than life to me, as well as most people can. I have not taken this step 

rashly. I have not been influenced by any sudden excitement. I have thoroughly considered the whole matter, and have come to the 

conclusion that it is a duty I owe my country, to surrender up my life, if need be, in her defense. As I said in the beginning , I cannot 

make a speech now; but if God spares my life to return and meet you again, I will then make a speech. But one thing, fellow 

citizens, you may rest assured of, I shall never disgrace that beautiful flag you have just presented me. I shall stand by it and defend 

it to the last; and if I fall, you may depend upon it, it will be at the post of duty” 

William Goodrich was appointed to Lt. Colonel on 8 Oct 1861 and mustered in at that grade 31 Oct 1861. The regiment left for 

Washington on November 1, 1861. They were involved in guarding the Baltimore Ohio Railroad for the first 6 months of their 

service. William Goodrich was promoted to Colonel May 1, 1862 in place of Col. George Sears Greene who was promoted to 

brigadier general. His military papers state that he was with the regiment all the time after, except for eight days leave of absence to 

recover from illness in late June. One card mentions a court martial involving him as Lt. Col. Dated July 1, 1862.No more information 

on that court martial. During the winter months of early 1862 his wife and child visited him near Baltimore. In one soldier’s letters one 

can read between the lines that Col. Goodrich was, at times, a harsh disciplinarian. In drills he would berate the men until they got 

it right. That summer the regiment was stricken with many cases of Typhoid fever and taken out of active duty. They were sent to a 

resort area called White Sulfur Springs, VA to regain their health. They recovered in time to retreat from Stonewall Jackson’s Army 

and were involved in a support role for the Second Battle of Bull Run. 

At Antietam, Sept 16th and 17th 1862 he was commander of the 60th until the day before the battle when the commander of the 3rd 

brigade became ill. He was put in command of that brigade in Greene’s Division on the 16th. 

Col. Goodrich must have had a premonition of his death because he talked over arrangements, in case of his death, with his friend 

and acting Sgt. Major Lester Willson. On the 17th the brigade was detached from the division and sent to the aid of Doubleday’s 1st 

Corps division on the right of the Union line. The rebels at that time had possession of the 

“Cornfield”, and were desperately fighting to obtain an adjacent portion of woods. Into this 

woods Colonel Goodrich led his men, and, deployed a portion of them as skirmishers, 

held the enemy in check. The Colonel was firm, cool and determined, and encouraged 

his men to do their best. 

In a short time he was seen to fall. His friend Willson went to him immediately, and 

assisting in raising him from the ground. After recovering from the first sensation of 

faintness, he exclaimed, “My God! I am hit!” and sank away in unconsciousness. A riffle 

ball, probably sent by a sharpshooter, perhaps fired at him from a treetop, entered his 

right breast, and passed down behind the stomach, severed an artery near the 

intestines. He was taken to a barn just to the rear of the line of battle, where he 

revived. On seeing his friend he smiled and was greatly pleased. He spoke of his family 

in most endearing terms, calling them by name, and repeated his request that his 

remains be sent home. For a few moments he seemed delirious; but reason returning he 

exclaimed “I have always tried to do my duty!” internal hemorrhage gradually weakening 

his robust frame, he gently, and without suffering passed from life. Colonel Goodrich’s 

body was taken back to Canton by Lester Willson. The village held a largely attended 

funeral, with military honors, that including his war horse in the funeral procession. He 

was buried in the back yard of his residence on Judson Street. 

It was anticipated that he would reburied in a new cemetery when that was established. There are conflicting reports whether this 

was done or not. Reading between the lines of some reports it looks like he was reburied in Evergreen Cemetery but after a visit by 

his daughter Stella and her considering that the monument was not being cared for, both he and his wife were re-interred in The 

Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY in lot 30802 section 65. They were buried May 7, 1901. 

Stella had married Charles Russell the son of Thomas V. Russell a prominent lawyer from Canton. Charles was also a lawyer but 

practiced in Brooklyn. Years after his death, a street was named after him and still remains Goodrich Street. His house was 

demolished in the 1980’s to make way for an expansion to the County Jail. From what I can tell it looks like his house was about the 

location of the parking lot for the jail. 

William Bingham Goodrich lived a hard but fairly short life. He accomplished much and was successful in most that attempted. His 

leadership and patriotism was a reason for the success of the 60th Regiment in the Civil War. 

13

William and his wife Elvira Goodrich are buried at Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn http://www.green-wood.com/ - Internment 7 

May 1901 - Lot 30802 Section 165 along Celastrus Path. His daughter Stella is also there - Internment 7 May 1901 along with her 

husband Charles Hazen Russell Internment 18 Mar 1912 and Benjamin Russell lot 30802, section 165. His small stone has BR on it 

and just one Date - Aug 27, 1848 and his internment date was 25 Jul 1912. 

There is a large pink granite obelisk, with a Square and Compasses, for Colonel Goodrich with his name and Elvira's name on it. It 

is engraved" 60th Regiment New York Volunteers- He aided in its organization, was advanced to its command and bravely leading it 

fell at Antietam September 17, 1862 in the 41st year of his age with an honest and sturdy soul he willed to live to die for the right." 

In front of this monument is a low cement wall with 4 plaques on it. Above the plaques it says, 

"O Death Where is Thy Sting" RUSSELL "O Grave Where is thy Victory" 

http://northcountry.bobsterner.com/Seth%20Remington.htm 

Col. Seth Pierre Remington – b. 16 Feb 1834 in Chautauqua County, NY; d. 18 Feb 1880, Ogdensburg, 

NY. Among of things in his interesting life, he was the father of the famed painter and sculptor Frederic S. 

Remington. There are extensive clippings at the above website, which have been downloaded for the 

OMDHS archives. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=-0i43lUIrPcC&pg=PA70&dq=%22seth+Pierre+remington%22 

Seth was the proprietor of a local newspaper, a lean, active man, ardent horseman and Republican who 

distinguished himself as a Union Cavalry officer in the Civil War. His wife was Clara Bascomb Sackrider, 

whose family had a hardware store in Canton. In 1973 the he resettled in Ogdensburg. Seth was made 

collector of the port at Ogdensburg, selling his newspaper and began raising and racing trotting horses. 

REMINGTON, S. PIERRE.— 11th NY Cavalry; Age, not stated; enrolled, 27 Nov 1861, at New York; 

mustered in as captain, Co. D, 31 Mar 1862, to serve three years; mustered in as Major, 27 Sep 1862; 

mustered out, 11 Mar 1865, at Memphis, Tenn. Not commissioned as Captain; commissioned Major, 1 Mar 

1864, with rank from 27 Sep 1862, original; brevet Colonel. (photo at right) > 

http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/cavalry/11thCav/11thCavCWN.htm 

A FIGHT AT FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE. – 11th NY Cavalry (“Scott’s 900) – 27 Jun 1863. 

On Friday afternoon, in pursuance of orders, Colonel Swain, commanding the cavalry regiment known as 

Scott's Nine Hundred, ordered Major Remington to take companies B and C, numbering about one hundred 

men, and make a reconnaissance to Centreville to see if any of the enemy were in that vicinity. Major R. started at five o'clock in the 

afternoon, and after proceeding some distance went into camp, intending to resume his march in the morning. Early on Saturday 

morning they again started off, and by half-past eight o'clock were in the vicinity of Fairfax. Here the pickets of the Sixth Virginia 

rebel cavalry were discovered. Major Remington immediately ordered his men to charge, which they did with so much impetuosity 

that half of the enemy were captured before recovering from their surprise. The main body of the rebels came up at this time, and 

Major R., at the head of his little band, venturing too far, they were soon surrounded. The prisoners that had been taken were turned 

loose, and Major Remington with the main body of his men turned round, and charging, cut their way through the rebel lines. Of this 

body only eighteen men returned, the rest being either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. The Major was shot in the breast in two 

places. 

In a desperate fight at Fairfax Court House, June 27, 1863, a squadron, under command of Maj. S. Pierre Remington, encountered 

the Sixth Virginia Cavalry, and dashed at them with sabres. The Major made two charges and drove the enemy for three miles to a 

wood, and there encountered a superior force that checked him with the fire of carbines. The fight from beginning to end was fierce. 

Its termination, from the overwhelming disparity of numbers, was disastrous. Major Remington after having had his horse shot twice, 

cut his way out and made his escape with eighteen men. 

14

“The Story of a Cavalry Regiment,” by Thomas West Smith, page 293. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=amgUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP16&dq=%22remington,+s.+Pierre%22&lr=# 

This book covers the interesting exploits of “Scott’s 900” Cavalry, of which Col. Remington was an officer. There are several 

anecdotes concerning him in this book, the following of which is included for review: 

A VIRGINIA GIRL. 

Much has been said and written about deeds of heroism of the soldiers of the war, but, as I find little mention made of the brave 

women, I will tell you of an incident that happened in 1862. In June of that year, Company D, of which I then was 2d Lieutenant, was 

on duty near Leesburg, Va. I was sent to the village of Middleburg to capture some horses for the cavalry. A widow lady had a team 

of bays that was admired by the Yankee officers and I was detailed to get them. Maj. Remington was at that time captain of the 

company; he was, in appearance and action, a good deal like Gen. Custer; he was a fearless soldier, a fine horseman, and a. kind 

and gentlemanly companion, "with a heart in his breast as big as a pumpkin." 

I went to the home of the widow and found her and her daughter sitting on the wide front piazza. I raised my cap and told her that 

I had been sent to take her team of horses; that the government was greatly in need of cavalry horses, and that my orders were to 

bring them to the cavalry camp near Leesburg. While I was talking the young lady left her seat and went into the house; a minute or 

two later she returned, passed by me, and stationed herself in front of a gate between the house and the barnyard. I paid but little 

attention to her until after we had halters on the team, and had got as far as the gate, where the young lady stood, pointing a big 

revolver in my face. I was somewhat startled by her action, and tried to argue with her; but her large black eyes snapped like fire, 

and she said she would kill the first man that passed with the horses. 

Up to this time I had considered myself brave enough to perform any duty that I was ordered to do, however dangerous it might be; 

but here was some thing unexpected—a beautiful woman defending her home. I could not use force with her, and my arguments 

were in vain. Leaving the horses I said to the sergeant who was with me, "We will let Remington get these horses,'' and I left them 

and rode back to camp. 

I told Remington of my experience and why I did not get the team; he said I was chicken-hearted. I made a bet with him of a 

turkey and wine supper that he would fare no better than I did. Remington mounted his horse and we rode to the widow's farm. The 

young lady, who by this time had grown more beautiful to my eyes because of her bravery, stood at the outside gate and refused 

Remington admittance even to the house. The captain talked and argued with her and said he must and would take the horses, but 

she kept her revolver ready and said that no one could enter the gate. Remington rode over to me and said we never could get the 

horses unless we shot the girl. I told him I would not shoot her or any woman for all the horses in the Confederacy. He said, "Neither 

would I." We said good-by to the brave lady, and rode back to camp without the horses. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Remington 

Frederic Sackrider Remington (October 4, 1861 - December 26, 1909) was an American painter, 

illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically 

concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys, 

American Indians, and the U.S. Cavalry. 

Remington was born in Canton, New York in 1861 to Seth Pierre Remington (1830-1880) and Clara 

Bascomb Sackrider, whose paternal family owned hardware stores and emigrated from Alsace- 

Lorraine in the early 1700’s. Remington’s father was a colonel in the Civil War whose family arrived in 

the United States from England in 1637. He was a newspaper editor and postmaster, and the family 

was active in local politics and staunchly Republican. One of Remington’s great grandfathers, 

Samuel Bascom, was a saddle maker by trade, and the Remingtons were fine horsemen. Frederic 

Remington was related by family bloodlines to Indian portrait artist George Catlin and cowboy 

sculptor Earl W. Bascom. 

Colonel Remington was away at war during most of the first four years of his son’s life. After the war, he moved his family to 

Bloomington, Illinois for a brief time and was appointed editor of the Bloomington Republican, but the family returned to Canton in 

1867. Remington was the only child of the marriage, and received constant attention and approval. He was an active child, large 

and strong for his age, who loved to hunt, swim, ride, and go camping. He was a poor student, though, particularly in math, which 

did not bode well for his father’s ambitions for his son to attend West Point. He began to make drawings and sketches of soldiers 

and cowboys at an early age. 

The family moved to Ogdensburg, New York when Remington was eleven and he attended Vermont Episcopal Institute, a churchrun 

military school, where his father hoped discipline would rein in his son’s lack of focus, and perhaps lead to a military career. 

Remington took his first drawing lessons at the Institute. He then transferred to another military school where his classmates found 

the young Remington to be a pleasant fellow, a bit careless and lazy, good-humored, and generous of spirit, but definitely not soldier 

material. He enjoyed making caricatures and silhouettes of his classmates. At sixteen, he wrote to his uncle of his modest 

ambitions, “I never intend to do any great amount of labor. I have but one short life and do not aspire to wealth or fame in a degree 

which could only be obtained by an extraordinary effort on my part”. He imagined a career for himself as a journalist, with art as a 

sideline. 

William Reese Remington, b 1839; St Lawrence County Clerk and Canton Post Master; brother of Col. Seth P. Remington. 

Leslie Wead Russell 

http://northcountry.bobsterner.com/Russell%20Family.htm 

RUSSELL, Leslie W., a Representative from New York; born in Canton, St. Lawrence County, N.Y., April 15, 1840; attended the 

common schools; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1861 and commenced practice in Canton; delegate to the State 

constitutional convention of 1867; district attorney of St. Lawrence County in 1869; member of the board of regents of the University 

of the State of New York 1878-1891; county judge of St. Lawrence County 1877-1881; attorney general of New York 1881-1883; 

15

practiced law in New York City 1883-1891; elected to the Fifty-second Congress and served from March 4, 1891, to September 11, 

1891, when he resigned, having been elected justice of the supreme court of the State of New York; resigned as justice on October 

1, 1902; died in New York City on February 3, 1903; interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Canton, N.Y. 

Alpha Tau Omega 1912 - once home of Leslie Wead Russell (prior to that, owned by Jonas Conkey) 

Judge William H. Sawyer 

http://northcountry.bobsterner.com/WH%20Sawyer%20Bio.htm 

From :"History of St Lawrence County, NY" by LH Everts Co, Philadelphia 1878 

16


Baron D. Bragdon, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Harvey W. S. Knox, District Deputy Grand Master 

MASTERS. 

1846. Elijah Baker. 

1847. Abram Kingsbury. 

1848. Darius Clark. 

1849. Daniel Mack. 

1850. Elijah Baker. 

1851. Leonard Sears. 

1852. Harry Smith. 




1856. William H. Sawyer. 



1859. Charles H. Allen. 

1860. Baron D. Bragdon. 





1865. Sardis B. Clark. 



1868. Jacob Van Slyke. 

1869. David G. Griswold. 

1870. John C. Preston. 

1871. John C. Preston. 




1875. Ransom R. Sherman. 

1876. Lucius B. Attwood. 

1877. Hansom H. Sherman. 




1881. H. D. Hildreth. 

1882. Harvey W. S. Knox. 

1883. James H. Graham. 

1884. James H. Graham. 





1889. Benjamin H. Bush. 


1891. Frank F. Williams. 

1892. Frank F. Williams. 

1893. John H. Mclntosh. 


1895. George S. Conkey. 

1896. Ethan A. Cornell. 


1898. John N. Bassett. Jr. 

1899. John N. Bassett, Jr. 

1900. John N. Bassett. 

1901. Alvin Wallace. 


1903. Lawrence Russell. 

1904. Welby W. Haile. 



17

STEUBEN LODGE, NO. 112, BATH. N. Y. 

WARRANT: The original warrant, dated June 11, 1846, is in possession of the Lodge. 

The name or number has not been changed. 

MINUTES: Intact. The Lodge is in possession of a portion of the records and the warrant of Enos Lodge, No. 323, now extinct. 

CHARTER MEMBERS. 

Lewis Biles. 

Paul C. Cook. 

John D. Higgins. 

John R. Gansevoort. 

James Read. 

William Hamilton. 

Reuben Robie. 

Daniel G. Skinner. 

Jesse Van Derhoven. 

Whitttngton Sayre. 


Lewis Biles, Master. 

William Hamilton, Senior Warden. 

Daniel G. Skinner, Junior Warden. 

The first recorded meeting of the Lodge was held May 5, 1846. 

The first meeting, after the warrant had been granted, was held August 18, 1846, when the officers were installed and the Lodge 

constituted by R.'.W.'. B. B. PAYNE. On this occasion PETER SWART and EDWIN R. BIDWELL were initiated. 

The officers installed were: 

Lewis Biles, Master. 

William Hamilton, Senior Warden. 

Paul C. Cook, Junior Warden. 

E. Hempstead, Treasurer. 

Daniel G. Skinner, Secretary. 

Jesse Van Derhoven, Senior Deacon. 

John R. Gansevoort, Junior Deacon. 

A. D. Read, Tiler. 

At a session of the Grand Lodge, held June 5, 1846, the Committee on Warrants made a report which contains the following, 

relating to Steuben Lodge. 

"Your committee have had under consideration the petition of Steuben Lodge held in the village of Bath, now acting under 

dispensation. From the peculiar embarrassments under which the brethren in this vicinity are now laboring, as represented by the 

delegates, your committee would recommend that a charter be granted to them and that all back dues owing from them or such 

other brethren as may unite with them, who were former members of Enos Lodge, now defunct, may be remitted, and that the 

officers now acting under the dispensation be recognized as the officers in the charter." 

Enos Lodge, to which reference is made in the report, was warranted June 28, 1823. For a few years it prospered, but about the 

year 1826 the hostile attitude entertained against Masonry began to assume such shape in the community that these brethren were 

compelled to hold meetings in private houses or in the open fields at night to secure freedom from molestation. These conditions 

existed for several years, until finally they ceased to meet, and in 1840 the charter was declared 

forfeited. 

When first organized this Lodge met in the second story of the first school-house erected in Bath. It stood on the present site of 

Beekman's planing mill. 

Enos Lodge was not the first located at Bath, a warrant was granted to Bath Lodge, No. 59, March 22, 1797. Upon the Grand 

Lodge register opposite the name of this Lodge is written "Warrant lost 1816." But little is known concerning this old Lodge, the only 

authentic record in existence is a mouse-eaten copy of the by-laws and part of a minute-book in possession of the Grand Historian. 

The following are excerpts from the by-laws: 

"Art. 8. An entered apprentice shall not be passed to the degree of Fellow craft until he shall have served at least two regular 

meetings as an entered apprentice; nor shall a fellow craft be raised to the degree of Master Mason until he shall have served at 

least two stated meetings as a fellow craft, nor shall any be passed or raised if not acquainted with the mysteries appertaining to the 

said degrees. 

"Art. 9. The nightly dues shall be twenty-five cents for every meeting to be paid quarterly. Visitors after the first meeting to pay the 

same as members, officers of the Grand Lodge only excepted." 

"Art. 11. In case of an extra meeting being called the expense of the same to be paid by the brother or brethren requiring the same." 

The by-laws are signed by 

John Coudry, Master P.T.; 

William Dunn, Senior Warden P.T.; 

G. D. Cooper, Junior Warden, P.T.; 

Daniel Schultz, Senior Deacon P.T.; 

T. K. Love, Junior Deacon P.T.; 

Daniel Cruger, Treasurer P.T.; 

David Jones, Secretary. P.T.; 

Joseph Purdy, Tyler, P.T.; 

and twenty other names. 

The mouse-eaten condition of the minute-book makes it possible to decipher but little of the transactions of the Lodge; the first 

18

meeting where the date is not destroyed was held August 25, 1797, the next is August 31st; then follows September 12th, October 

23d, November 13th. 

December 25th. On the following page is the date December 27th, but the year is missing; in all probability it was 1797, as at 'the 

meeting held December 25th a committee was appointed to prepare a dinner on St. John's Day; and in the minutes under date of 

December 27th is the following: "Lodge called from labour to refreshment and adjourned to the house of Mr. Libhart for the purpose 

of dining and from refreshment returned back to the Lodge to labour." 

Upon the next page is the following: "Bath Lodge, No. 57, January 3d (the year is missing), Chapter Lodge called by the W. M. for 

the purpose of installing the officers. "At this meeting there were twenty members present and one visitor. The disbursements were: 

"Expenses, Stewards apc $7 28 

Tyler 1 00 

$8 28" 

The last recorded meeting in the book was held in January, 1798; there were twenty-one members and eight visitors present. 

Two propositions for membership were received, two candidates were initiated, one passed and one raised. 

The first officers of the Lodge were: 

Charles Williamson. Master: 

John Coudry, Senior Warden; 

William Dunn, Junior Warden. 

A portrait of the first Master was presented to the Committee on Antiquities of the Grand Lodge, May 13, 1897. 

An old sketch of Freemasonry in Steuben County says, concerning the members of this old Lodge and the existing conditions in that 

vicinity at that early period: "Among the visiting brethren on one occasion was URIAH STEPHENS, at whose house was held the 

first ‘Town Meeting’ in the town, which comprised all of the present Steuben and part of Allegany and Livingston Counties. There 

were seven votes cast at that 'Town Meeting.'" 

Thus we find a Lodge of Masons in successful operation long before the village of Rochester had one and within three years after 

the first clearing was made for the village of Bath by Captain Williamson, the agent of the Pulteney estate. Among the names 

appended to those old by-laws may be found nearly all of the prominent men of those times, five pioneers who did so much to 

develop the resources of Western New York. Among them we have CHARLES CAMERON, who kept the first store and was also 

the first postmaster, under Captain Williamson, however, and long before Uncle Sam carried any mails in this vicinity. The nearest 

mail station then was sixty-five miles distant. DUGALD CAMERON was a man of strong intellectual powers, and was for a long time 

agent of the Pulteney Estate for this county. He was the representative of this county in the legislature in 1828. ANDREW SMITH 

was the right-hand man of Captain Williamson, and had charge of his farming operations. 

WILLIAM DUNN kept the first house of entertainment in 1798 He was the first sheriff of the county, appointed in 1796. JAMES 

FAULKNER, an eminent physician of his day, was Chief Judge of the County Court in 1804. GEORGE D. COOPER was the first 

County Clerk. 

This Lodge appears to have become extinct, but we can get no information as to how or when it ceased to work. 

Steuben Lodge has prospered and enjoyed a steady, healthy growth since it was first organized. The offshoots of the Lodge are 

numerous. 

Among the charter members of no less than seven Lodges are found the names of members of this Lodge. It was present at the 

laying of the corner-stone of the Home at Utica. On March 22, 1897. it celebrated the "100th Anniversary of the Establishment of 

Masonry in Steuben County." The occasion attracted a large gathering; the principal speakers were M.'.W.'. WILLIAM A. 

SUTHERLAND and M.'. W.'. FRANK H. ROBINSON. 


John P. Parkhurst, Supreme Court Judge 

William H. Chamberlain, Assemblyman. 


Anthony L. Underbill, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Edwin S. Underbill, District Deputy Grand Master. 

MASTERS. 

1846. Lewis Biles. 


1848. Jesse Van Derhoven. 

1849. Jesse Van Derhoven. 

1850. Paul C. Cook. 


1552. Philo P. Hubbell. 



1855. John P. Biles. 

1856. John P. Biles. 



1859. Charles W. Campbell. 

1860. Edwin R. Kasson. 

1861. Edwin R. Kasson. 

1862. George S. Jones. 

1863. Charles F. Kingsley. 

1864. Anthony L. Underhill. 



1867. George S. Jones. 

1868. T. Scott De Wolfe. 

1869. E. W. Hardenbrook. 


1871. Charles F. Kingsley. 

1872. Charles Dudley. 


1874. William P. Sedgwick. 

1875. Isaac J. Merrell. 

1876. Byron A. Todd. 

1877. Henry Faucett. 



1880. William H. Shepard. 



1883. Isaac J. Merrell. 

1884. Moses Davison. 



1887. William B. Brown. 

1888. William B. Brown. 



1891. Thomas Craig. 

1892. Daniel B. Boileau. 

1893. Daniel B. Boileau. 

1894. William H. Davison. 

1895. David Rothchild. 

1896. E. W. Messerschmidt. 

1897. Reinza T. Stansburg. 

1898. Edwin S. Underhill. 

1899. Edwin S. Underhill. 

1900. E. Grant Hollenbeck. 

1901. Henry J. Donnelly. 

1902. John H. Gilmore. 

1903. John H. Gilmore. 

1904. Francis E. Wilkes. 

1905. Clinton W. Richardson. 

1906. Frederick W. Hastings. 

19

SENECA LODGE, NO. 113, WATERLOO. N. Y. 

WARRANT: The warrant in possession of the Lodge is dated July 12, 1846. 

MINUTES: Intact from 1846. 

The original name was Junius, and was numbered 291; it received its present name and number upon its revival in 1845. 

Junius Lodge was organized in 1817; the warrant is dated June 1, 1817, and is signed by DEWITT CLINTON, Grand Master; 

MARTIN HOFFMAN, Deputy Grand Master; CAPWALLADER D. COLDEN, Senior Grand Warden; ELISHIA GILBERT, Junior 

Grand Warden, and ELIAS HICKS. Grand Secretary. 


Isaac Rosa, Master; 

Luther F. Stevens, Senior Warden; 

Joseph Pixley, Junior Warden. 

As the minutes of the Lodge are not intact, it is impossible to give a complete record of its doings; it is known that it met regularly 

until December 1826, after that time but little is known concerning its affairs; in all probability it ceased to meet owing to the excited 

conditions which at that time existed. It was not until the later part of the year 1839 that an attempt was made to revive the Lodge. 

On December 27, 1839, a meeting was held at the house of one DANIEL KERN, when an election for officers occurred. At this time 

O. R. FARNSWOBTH was elected Master, JULIUS C. STRONG, Senior Warden, and HARVEY S. LISK, Junior Warden. 

The Grand Lodge register contains the following concerning this event: "Reorganized by L. KELLY, Grand Visitor, December 27, 

1839, by order of the Grand Lodge." 

The register also contains the following statement: 

"Made no returns after revival, consequently the warrant was declared forfeited and recalled in June, 1843, and after considerable 

difficulty obtained by BRO. LUTHER KELLY in August, 1844, and delivered by him to the Grand Secretary. No books, papers or 

other property." 

Occasional meetings were held for several months after its revival; the last recorded meeting was April 16, 1840. 

From this date Masonry as an organized body ceased to exist in Waterloo. But the old members were restless without a Masonic 

home; they felt disheartened, but still had courage enough to hope for better times. Informal discussions took place, until finally they 

determined to apply for a dispensation and once more resume their labors. On July 31, 1845, a dispensation was obtained, and 

once more these veterans gathered about the altar, when the great light was opened never to be again closed. 

The officers named in the dispensation and warrant were: 

Caleb Fairchild, Master; 

Julius C. Strong, Senior Warden; 

Horace F. Gustin, Junior Warden. 

The first meetings were held in the same room formerly used by the old Lodge. 

In April, 1847, it moved to the rooms of the Sons of Temperance, where it remained until 1855, when it moved to Odd Fellows Hall 

in the Hunt Block; here it remained until July, 1867. On the 9th of that 

month it dedicated its new rooms in Columbian Block, which had been fitted up for its special use. A report of this event says: "The 

day was wet and lowery, but the ardor of the Craft was not dampened 

thereby, large delegations arrived on every train and by private conveyances. They were escorted to Towsley Hall where a fine 

collation had been spread by the fair daughters of Waterloo; after all had been beautifully refreshed the Grand Lodge was convened 

at the Eagle Hotel (where now stands the Towsley Block) with M.'. W.'. STEPHEN H. JOHNSON presiding. Accompanied by the 

other Grand Officers they marched to the rooms where they were received by the Master, JAMES McLEAN, and the Brethren of the 


"After the dedicating services the several Masonic Bodies marched to the Presbyterian Church where an eloquent oration was 

delivered by R.' W.'. CHARLES H. PLATT, Grand Chaplain. At the conclusion of the services at the church the procession was reformed 

and marched to the Franklin House where a dinner was served." 

The Lodge remained in the Columbian Block until 1896, when it moved to its present quarters in the Dempsey Block. On June 12th 

it celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with appropriate ceremonies, and on October 15, 1896, the formal dedication of the new quarters 

occurred. The occasion attracted a large gathering from the surrounding country. The ceremonies were conducted by M.'.W.'. 

WILLIAM A. SUTHERLAND, who at the time was Deputy Grand Master. 

A memorable meeting was held July 30, 1867. Its purpose was to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Lodge and have a reunion 

of the members of Junius Lodge who were still living. 

The Lodge was opened as Junius Lodge, and the minutes of the meeting held December 27, 1826, were read for information. An 

address was delivered by W.'. CALER FAIRCHILD. Remarks were made by most of the veteran brethren, who related many 

incidents of interest which had occurred almost half a century ago. Extracts from the old minutes were also read, which revived the 

memories of the times when men's souls were tried in the fire of hatred and persecution. 

The Lodge held Jubilee services April 24, 1889. On this occasion the Grand Master's address was read, and addresses were made 

by Rev. W. S. CARTER and Rev. R. D. MUNGER. 

It was present at the laying of the corner-stone of the Home at Utica and also at the dedication of the same. It was also present at 

the laying of the corner-stones of the Masonic Temple at Rochester and the Masonic Temple at Seneca Falls. 


James McLean, Assemblyman. 

D. S. Kcndig, Assemblyman. 

Samuel R. Welles, Assemblyman. 

S. G. Hadley, Assemblyman, County Judge. 

John E. Richardson, County Judge. 

Sanford R. Ten Eyck, Assemblyman. 

20


James E. Batsford, District Deputy Grand Master. 

William S. Carter, Grand Chaplain. 

MASTERS. 

1846. Caleb Fairchild. 

1847. Julius C. Strong 

1848. William Yost 

1849. William Yost 

1850. Henry S. Lisk 

1851. Caleb Fairchild 

1852. Julius C. Strong 

1853. Samuel R. Wells 

1854. Samuel R. Wells 

1855. James McLean 


1857. Albert Stebbins 


1859. Richard P. Kendig 

1860. Samuel R. Welles 



1863. Tom Fillingham 

1864. Tom Fillingham 





1869. Benjamin Hendricks 


1871. Charles D. Morgan 

1872. Charles D. Morgan 

1873. J. Scott Boughton 

1874. George W. Smith 

1875. Edwin Clark 





1880. John E. Richardson 


1882. Uriel D. Belles 

1883. Uriel D. Belles 

1884. William S. Yule 

1885. William S. Yule 




1889. James E. Batsford 



1892. Benajah B. Knight 

1893. Edward B. Force 




1897. Charles A. Genung 

1898. Whitney C. Davis 

1899. Whitney C. Davis 

1900. James H. Haslett 

1901. Judson C. Hulbert 

1902. Judson C. Hulbert 

1903. James H. Gibson 

1904. John F. Toombs 

1905. Harry W. Le Clear 

1906. Charles H. Ross 

UNION LODGE, NO. 114, OVID, N. Y. 

WARRANT: The original warrant, dated June 13, 1846, was signed by JOHN D. WILLARD, Grand Master: ISAAC PHILLIPS, 

Deputy Grand Master; RICHARD CARBIOUE, Senior Grand Warden; EZRA. S. BARNUM, Junior Grand Warden, and RICHARD S. 

BOYD, Grand Secretary. 

MINUTES: Not intact. All records prior to July, 1849, were destroyed by fire. 

The officers named in the warrant were JOHN KINNE, Master; WILLIAM C. BISHOP, Senior Warden; JOHN VAN HORN, Junior 

Warden. 

The name or number of the Lodge has never been changed. The original warrant was destroyed by fire on April 5, 1850, together 

with all property belonging to the Lodge. On June 6, 1850. a second warrant was issued, which was partially destroyed by fire 

October 12, 1874; this scorched but highly prized document is framed and hangs on the wall of the room occupied by the Lodge. 

Another warrant was issued, but in a fire which occurred in February, 1885, which destroyed a large portion of the village it shared 

the fate of the original warrant and went up in smoke and flame. A fourth warrant was issued June 3, 1885, which is now in 

possession of the Lodge. 

The loss of the old records and papers belonging to the Lodge shrouds its early history in doubt and uncertainty. There are, 

however, many statements made and claims put forth by some of the older residents, all of which are fairly well substantiated by 

facts gleaned from sources other than Masonic, which tend to throw considerable light upon Masonic affairs in the vicinity of Ovid. 

There is no doubt that a Lodge existed in Ovid prior to the advent of Union Lodge; it was called " Meriden (Meridian) Lodge (No. 

184)," but there are no records or papers relating to its affairs to be found in the vicinity, and a careful search among the old papers 

in possession of the Grand Secretary failed to throw any light upon the doings of the old Lodge, therefore little save tradition is 

known about it . That its home was in Ovid is pretty certain, as one of its meeting places is still in existence. On or about the year 

1804 Captain ELIJAH KINNE, a resident of the village and an ardent Freemason, erected for himself a farm-house just west of the 

village, and it is claimed that he had the upper part fitted and furnished for the use of the Lodge. This is substantiated by the fact that 

until very recently, when the property was sold, the desks, platforms and fittings were there; when the property was sold they were 

removed. It is known that the members of the old Lodge contemplated the erection of a building for a permanent home, as there is 

on record a deed of a plot of land in the village in their name. 

An old resident whose father was a Mason makes the statement that while the Lodge held its meetings in the "Kinne " house the 

erection of a building on the plot purchased was commenced, but when it was nearly completed the Morgan furor swept over that 

section of the State and further operations ceased. The building was afterward completed and is still in existence; it is known as the 

"Manning house." The only reference to be found relating to the old Lodge in the records of "Union Lodge" is found in the minutes of 

a meeting held in 1801. On this occasion the Lodge was visited by FINLEY M. KING, Grand Master. The minutes state that "Among 

other speakers of the evening BRO. ALMY gave a short history of the organization of Union Lodge and related the circumstances 

attending the surrender of the Charter of Meriden (Meridian) Lodge in 1832." 

As BRO. ALMY was a member of the old Lodge, it is presumed he knew whereof he spoke. In all probability Meriden (Meridian) 

Lodge shared the fate of many that were swept out of existence, while others were compelled to cease work for several years 

owing to the fearful storm of hatred and persecution occasioned by the Morgan episode. As nearly all of the organizers of Union 

Lodge were former members of the old Lodge a reasonable conclusion is that Union Lodge is the natural outcome and the 

legitimate successor of Meriden (Meridian) Lodge. 

The movement toward organizing Union Lodge was begun in the winter of 1845-46. A dispensation was issued on March 24, 1846, 

which continued in force until the following June, when a charter was granted. The petition asking for a dispensation is lost, and it is 

not known who the applicants were. Among the old papers still preserved is the returns of the Lodge from June, 1848, to June, 

1849. This paper gives the first thirteen names of members us follows: 

John Kinne. 

William C. Bishop. 

John Van Home. 

Peter A. Harris. 

Solomon Doolittle. 

Nelson Cole. 

F. Cortez Williams. Hugh Chapman. 

Ira Almy. 

Stephen H. Hayt. (Hoyt or Hyatt?) 

John Simpson. 

John H. Kinne. 

Cornelius Smith. 

21

JOHN KINNE, who heads the list as No. 1, was the first Master; his Grand Lodge number is 2746, and the returns state that he was 

raised in Meriden (Meridian) Lodge September 26, 1822. The others were all raised in Meriden (Meridian) Lodge, the dates ranging 

from 1822 to 1828; the date of their joining Union Lodge is given as April 14. 1846. In lieu of positive evidence it appears safe to 

conclude that at least a part if not all of them were charter members of Union Lodge. The first recorded meeting that is in existence 

is dated July 3, 1849. The first item on the minutes is, "The Lodge was by motion opened on the first degree." The first business 

appears to have been the reception of a petition for initiation signed by Rev. C. S. COATS. He was elected and received the first 

degree; the Lodge was then closed and immediately opened again on the second degree; the candidate was again balloted for, and 

he received the second degree. 

When first organized the Lodge met twice each month: the first meeting in each month it met in Ovid, while the second meeting in 

each month was in Farmerville (now Interlaken). This custom continued until Farmerville Lodge, No. 183, was organized, when for 

a short time the second meeting in each month was held at Lodi. 

Among the items found in the minutes is the following: "At a meeting held at Farmerville September 11, 1849, it was 'Resolved, that 

this Lodge hold an extra meeting at this place (Farmerville) to confer honorary degrees upon our beloved wives and daughters and 

that the Secretary write SALEM TOWN to deliver a lecture upon that occasion.' " 

There is nothing in evidence to indicate that this meeting was held. From the following it would appear that the members took an 

active interest in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, as under date of November 27, 1849, is the following: 

"Resolved that this Lodge fully concurs in the course pursued by their representative at the last June Communication of the Grand 

Lodge of the State of New York. 

"Resolved that in the opinion of this Lodge the course manifested in a communication received from St. John's Lodge, No. 1, in the 

City of New York is calculated to destroy the peace and harmony of the Masonic Fraternity and the destruction of every social, moral 

and religious organization. 

"Resolved that this Lodge will endeavor to obey the laws, rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York of 

which the Hon. JOHN WILLARD is the Most Worshipful Grand Master. 

"Resolved that the Secretary of this Lodge transmit a copy of the above resolutions to St. John's Lodge, No. 1, and to the other 

Lodges in the State." 

The California gold fever in 1849-50 appears to have induced some of the members to try their fortune on the Pacific slope, and the 

Lodge was in sympathy with them, as at a meeting in February, 1850, the following was adopted: 

"Resolved that all brethren who are about to leave for California be released from the payment of dues until their return." 

When first organized the Lodge met at Ovid on the upper floor of a building on the west side of Main Street in the northern part of 

the business section of the village. Here it remained until the fire which destroyed this part of the village April 5, 1850; the first 

meeting after the fire was held April 9, 1850, in Odd Fellows' Hall. In May following it secured quarters in a building on the east side 

of Main Street in the centre of the village. This building was destroyed by fire October 12, 1874, but a new building was immediately 

erected on the same site, in which the Lodge has since found quarters. In 1905 the Lodge purchased this property, and now have a 

permanent home. 

While this building was being erected meetings were held at Lodi in the rooms of Lodi Lodge. No. 345, which had kindly invited 

Union Lodge to occupy its quarters until the new building was completed. 

The Lodge became incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. May 10, 1870. 

While it has been unfortunate and met with severe losses by fire, it has "Phoenix "-like, arisen from the ashes with sufficient vigor to 

overcome all difficulties, and maintained its position in a commendable and praiseworthy manner. It was among the first to pay its 

quota of the "great debt," has held public installations, participated in a number of public ceremonials and was present at the laying 

of the corner-stone of the Home at Utica. 

Among its possessions is a gavel made from a piece of wood taken from the ill-fated U. S. battleship Maine; the metal plate 

attached to the gavel was made from a piece of metal taken from the Spanish warship Vizcaya. It also has a set of gavels made 

from wood cut in California, ornamented with specimens of quartz presented to the Lodge by an old member now a resident of 

California. 


Charles K. Sanborn, District Deputy Grand Master. 

MASTERS. 

1846. John Kinne 




1850. Fernando C. Williams 


1852. Halsey Sandford 

1853. John Van Horne 

1854. John Van Horne 


1S56. Fernando C. Williams 


1858. Joseph F. Harris 




1862. Franklin Whiting 




1866. John L. Morris 


1868. Henry S. Dennis 

1869. Benjamin N. Eastman 

1870. Noise S. Burlew 



1873. Benjamin N. Eastman 

1874. William H. Kinne 

1875. William H. Kinne 

1876. William H. Kinne. 

1877. William L. Foster. 


1879. Charles H. Swarthout. 







1886. Darwin C. Kinne. 

1887. Darwin C. Kinne. 

1888. Myron D. Elaine. 

1889. Myron D. Blaine. 

1890. Horace T. Jones. 

1891. Horace T. Jones. 

1892. Frank C. Avery. 

1893. Alden Horton. 

1894. Horace G. Hopkins. 

1895. Benjamin Franklin. 


1897. Frederick E. Bowlby. 

1898. Frederick E. Bowlby. 

1899. Charles F. Sanborn. 

1900. William T. Bowlby. 

1901. William T. Bowlby. 

1902. Earnest F. Gilgen. 

1903. Thomas J. Currie. 

1904. Edgar Cassidy. 

1905. Edgar Cassidy. 

1906. Bert E. Smalley. 

22

PHOENIX LODGE, NO. 115, DANSVILLE, N. Y. 

WARRANT: The warrant is dated August 18, 184(i. 

The first officers were: 

Merritt Brown, Master. John Culbertson, Senior Warden. Javan Bradley, Junior Warden. 

MASTERS. 

1846. Merritt Brown. 



1849. Javan Bradley. 


1853. John A. Vanderlip. 


1856. A. J. Peck. 

1857. Zerah H. Blake. 

1858. Harmon Jones. 

1859. William A. Roberts. 

1860. Henry Hartman. 

1861. Stephen Brayton. 








1869. Abram Lozier. 



1872. Nicholas Schu. 

1873. Nicholas Schu. 

1874. William J. LaRue. 



1877. James S. Murdock. 

1878. Byron T. Squires. 

1879. Elmer F. Hamsher. 

1880. James H. Jackson. 

1881. John C. Wheaton. 

1882. John C. Wheaton. 

1883. George C. Stone. 

1884. Archibold H. Lemen. 

1885. Archibold H. Lemen. 

1886. Charles V. Patchin. 

1887. James Lindsay. 

1888. A. Percival Burkhart. 



1891. Ova R. Stone. 



1894. George L. Krein. 





1899. Charles W. Woolever. 

1900. Charles W. Woolever. 

1901. B. H. Ohendorf. 

1902. Frank P. Magee. 




1906. Samuel F. Consalus. 

COHOES LODGE, NO. 116, COHOES. N. Y. 

WARRANT: The warrant, dated February 5, 1847, is in possession of the Lodge. 

Name or number has never been changed. 

Minutes: Intact. 

The Lodge was organized October 21, 1846. 

The charter members were: 

Ebenezer Wadsworth, Master. 

George Abbott, Senior Warden. 

John B. Harrison, Junior Warden. 

Reuben White. 

George C. Griffin. 

Stephen Doty. 

James Murray. 

John Sanderson. 

Isaac F. Fletcher. 

William Orelup, Jr. 

Eldridge G. Mussey. 

David Wilkinson. 

Orson Parkhurst. 

Lewis Valley. 

Darius Parkhurst. 

Svlvanus Twist. 

The first meeting place of the Lodge was in the second story of the building on the corner of Mohawk and Oneida Streets; the 

second place was in the Lansing Building, corner of Mohawk and Factory Streets; the third place was in the Silliman Building on 

Remsen Street. In 1871 it moved to the Johnson Block on Remsen Street, where it remained until the fire, which destroyed its 

quarters in August, 1884. The next place of meeting was in Odd Fellows Hall, remaining here until December 11, 1896. In the 

meantime the Lodge had purchased property on Remsen Street, upon which the Masonic Hall was erected. The corner-stone of this 

building was laid by M.'.W.'. JOHN STEWART. August 21, 1895; it was dedicated by R.'.W.'. JOHN F. SHAFER. Past District 

Deputy Grand Master, December 15, 1896. 

The Lodge was present at the laying of the corner-stone of the State Capitol at Albany, the County Building at Albany, the Masonic 

Temples at Troy and Lansingburgh: also at the laying of the corner-stone and the dedication of the Home at Utica. 


Ebenezer Wadsworth, Grand Visitor, Grand Secretary. 

James Aitken, Grand Representative. 

James H. Mitchell, Grand Representative. 

MASTERS. 

1846. Ebenezer Wadsworth. 

1847. Ebenezer Wadsworth. 

1848. John B. Harrison. 

1849. George Abbott. 




1853. William Orelup, Jr. 




1857. Philo B. Ferguson. 



1860. William Leckie. 


1862. William J. Wheeler. 

1863. William J. Wheeler. 

1864. Oscar O. Finney. 


1866. John M. Spencer. 


1868. Lorenzo D. Sanborn. 



1871. Charles S. Longley. 

1872. Charles S. Longley. 

1873. John Horrocks. 

1874. John Horrocks. 

1875. Albert Ten Eyck. 

1876. Albert Ten Eyck. 

1877. Benjamin Coveney. 

1878. Charles S. Travis. 

1879. Charles S. Travis. 

1880. James Aitken 

1881. Richard S. Clark 

1882. Amson Tabor 

1883. Alexander S. Eccles 

1884. Charles F. Doyle 

1885. Charles F. Doyle 

1886. Daniel G. Aitken 

1887. George Adey 

1888. William K. Mansfield 

1889. Thomas C. Collin 

1890. Thomas C. Collin 

1891. George H. Welch 



1894. William H. Pascal 

1895. William H. Pascal 

1896. William J. Dawson 

1897. William J. Dawson 

1898. William M. Padley 

1899. William M. Padley 

1900. James H. Mitchell 

1901. James H. Mitchell 

1902. William H. Adey 

1903. William Burt Cook, Jr. 

1904. George P. Gray 

1905. Thomas H. Sprague 

1906. John Archibold 

23

PAINTED POST LODGE, NO. 117, CORNING, N. Y. 


MINUTES: Intact from 1857. 

The Lodge was first organized in 1807 and was numbered 203. It continued to work until about 1831, when it ceased to hold 

meetings and its charter was forfeited. Nearly all of the papers and records of the Lodge up to the time it ceased to work are 

missing, and no existing records offer any explanation or throw any light upon the circumstances which compelled the Lodge to 

cease work; the supposition is that the same influences which affected other Lodges and compelled so many to close their doors, 

some for a short time and others forever, closed the door of Painted Post Lodge, No. 203, and the light of Freemasonry was 

extinguished in Painted Post (now Corning), and became but a memory until the summer of 1846. Fifteen years passed before any 

effort was made to revive the old Lodge. The old warrant was missing; the members became scattered, some had died and others 

had moved from the place; it was, therefore, decided to apply for a new charter. A petition was presented to the Grand Master, and 

on August 18, 1846, a dispensation was granted authorizing SAMUEL BOYCE as Master, RORERT H. HOYT as Senior Warden 

and BENAJAH P. BAILEY as Junior Warden to hold a Lodge and proceed to work. 

On December 2, 1846, a warrant was issued, naming as officers: 

SAMUEL BOYCE, Master; BENAJAH P. BAILEY, Senior Warden; SAMUEL S. MOORE, Junior Warden. 

It was given the number 117. 

In the month of July, 1855, the Lodge lost all of its property by fire, including the warrant, and it did not receive the warrant now in its 

possession until June 11, 1857. 

On the warrant is the following note: "This warrant is issued by order of the Grand Lodge at its session June, 1857, as a substitute 

for one lost by fire." 


James B. Lower, Master; Jacob H. Lansing, Senior Warden; Morgan H. Davis, Junior Warden. 

MASTERS of No. 203. 

1808-14. John Knox. 

1815-17. Joseph Gillett. 

1818. John Knox. 




1822. Henry Stevens. 

1823. Swain Mallory. 



1826. Daniel Brown. 




1846. Samuel Boyce. 



1849. Benajah P. Bailey. 





1854. William A. Spencer. 

1855. James B. Lower. 



1858. Jacob H. Lansing. 

1859. Jacob H. Lansing. 

1860. Charles M. Gamman. 

1861. Charles M. Gamman. 

1862. John Eves. 




1866. F. E. Spaulding. 

1867. F. E. Spaulding. 

1868. Charles H. Thomson. 

1809. Charles H. Thomson. 

1870. Richard L. Hill. 

1871. Richard L. Hill. 

1872. Truman S. Pritchard. 

1873. Truman S. Pritchard. 

1874. Henry A. Balcom. 

1875. William J. Bryan. 

1876. William J. Bryan. 

1877. Joseph J. Tully. 

1878. Joseph J. Tully. 

1879. John S. Earle. 

1880. John S. Earle. 

1881. Ahas Robbins. 

1882. C. E. Greenfield. 

1883. James Hoare. 

1884. James Hoare. 

1885. Alfred J. Etheridge. 


1887. William F. Sheehan. 



1890. George B. Hill. 


1892. John Comosh, Jr. 

1893. Elbert B. Seymour. 

1894. Elbert B. Seymour. 

1895. Warren J. Cheney. 

1896. Warren J. Cheney. 

1897. Joseph P. Hoare. 

1898. C. Fred Remmell. 

1899. C. Fred Remmell. 

1900. Francis C. Williams. 

1901. Edgar E. Magee. 

1902. Edgar E. Magee. 

1903. Roswell E. Sunderlin. 

1904. George W. Robertson. 

1905. Bialostoski Phillips. 

1906. William H. Corbin. 

ADDISON UNION LODGE, NO. 118, ADDISON, NY. 

WARRANT: The warrant in possession of the Lodge is dated June 4, 1847. The name or number has never been changed. 


Bradley Blakslee, Master; Isaiah J. A. Jones, Senior Warden; Russell Blakslee, Junior Warden. 

The dispensation was issued December 21, 1846, and made returnable May 20, 1847. 

The first meeting under the dispensation was held January 11, 1847. The following were present: 

Brad|ey Blakslee. Russell Blakslee. 

Isaiah Jennings. Isaiah J. A. Jones. 

Lwellyn A. Jones. Jerathmel Powers, Sr. 

Jerathmel Powers, Jr. 

The first candidate initiated was JOSEPH LOCKERBY, on January 21, 1847. 

MASTERS. 

1847. Bradley Blakslee. 



1850. Isaiah J. Jones. 


1852. E. N. Foot. 

1853. E. D. Root. 


1855. Thomas S. Reynolds. 

1856. Lewellyn A. Jones. 

1857. Thomas S. Reynolds. 

1858. Josiah Curtis. 

1859. Josiah Curtis. 

1860. Simeon McCullough. 

1861. Simeon McCullough. 

1862. Zelotus Grinnell. 


1864. W. A. Warriner. 



1867. John Mitchell. 

1868. Charles H. Edwards. 


1870. Zolotus Grinnell. 

24

1871. Charles H. Wombough. 


1873. Lorain Aldrich. 

1874. Lorain Aldrich. 

1875. Jotham L. Wombough. 

1876. Jotham L. Wombough. 

1877. Samuel A. Bailey. 

1878. Wesley A. Bartlett. 

1879. Wesley A. Bartlett. 



1882. Thomas E. Harden. 

1883. Thomas E. Harden. 

1884. Ezra S. Meade. 

1885. Rufus C. Baldwin. 

1886. Rufus C. Baldwin. 

1887. Charles D. Reynolds. 



1890. Thomas E. Hardin. 

1891. Gilbert H. Brewster. 

1892. Monroe Curtis. 

1893. James S. Harrison. 

1894. Dewitt Masterson. 


1896. L. P. Aldrich. 

1897. John LaGrange. 



1900. Delmar M. Darrin. 

1901. Delmar M. Darrin. 

1902. Leander C. Wood. 

1903.Edwin C. Smith. 

1904. Edwin C. Smith. 

1905. Edwin C. Smith. 

1906. Charles L. Miller. 

OASIS LODGE, NO. 119, PRATTSVILLE, N. Y. 


The number has not been changed, but it has had three names, first Prattsville, which was changed to Gilboa June 6. 1850, 

when the Lodge moved from Prattsville to Gilboa; on June 9, 1853, it moved hack to Prattsville, and at that time it received the name 

it now bears. 

The Lodge was organized under a dispensation issued November 26, 1846. 


Cornelius K. Benbam, Master; 

David F. Moore, Senior Warden ; 

Robert Scanling, Junior Warden. 

MASTERS. 

1847. Cornelius K. Benham. 



1850. John K. Page. 





1855. Charles K. Benham. 

1856. Giles S. Cotton. 

1857. E. P. More. 

1858. Cornelius Platner. 


1860. James B. Gregory. 

1861. Cornelius K. Ben'ham. 



1864. Theodore Rudolph. 

1865. Addison P. Myers. 

1866. J. M. Van Valkenburgh. 

1867. Theodore Rudolph. 


1869. Cornelius Platner. 

1870. William F. Fenn. 




1874. Sidney Crowell. 

1875. Sidney Crowell. 


1877. Albert Clark. 

1878. Albert Clark. 

1879. Albert Newcomb. 



1882. J. Henry Chatfield. 


1884. Malden G. Marsh. 

1885. Malden G. Marsh. 

1886. James C. McWilliams. 









1895. A. Sheridan Cammer. 

1896. A. Sheridan Cammer. 






1902. James Richtmyer. 

1903. James Richtmyer. 

1904. Charles G. Rose. 

1905. Charles G. Rose. 


HAMILTON LODGE, NO. 120, HAMILTON, N. Y. 


The first number was 121, which it received in 1803; it became No. 120 when it received its present warrant. 

MINUTES: Not intact. The early records from May 28, 1805, to November 16, 1809, are in possession of the Lodge; all records from 

November 16, 1809, to January, 1818, were destroyed by fire. 

In the early part of the year 1805 the town of Hamilton included the entire section of country now divided into the towns of Hamilton, 

Eaton, Madison and Lebanon. They were designated at that time as the 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th townships. 

At the organization of Hamilton Lodge, No. 121, it was located in the 4th township or Madison. At a meeting held December 1, 1806, 

a proposition to divide the Lodge or secure a more central location was considered. The proposition was referred to a committee to 

obtain a more suitable location, and on February 19, 1807, by a unanimous vote of the Lodge it was moved to the village of 

Hamilton, where it was located until December, 1817, when it removed to Eaton or 2d town, where it remained until it ceased to 

work. 

Who the applicants were that applied for a warrant is unknown, as all books and papers relating to this are missing, nor is it known 

what meetings were held before the warrant was obtained. The warrant was signed April 16, 1805, and at a meeting held May 28. 

1805, R.'.W.'. JEDEDIAH SANGER, of New Hartford, Oneida Co., NY, installed the following officers: 

Seeley Neil, Master; Asa B. Sizer, Senior Warden; Rufus Eldred, Junior Warden. 

At this meeting three applications for initiation were received, and before the close of the year sixteen candidates had received their 

degrees in the Lodge. 

The first election for officers under the charter took place December 24, 1805, when ASA B. SIZER was elected Master, RUFUS 

ELDRED, Senior Warden, and THOMAS GREENLY, Junior Warden. Among the visitors at this meeting was JOSEPH ENOS, who 

affiliated with the Lodge and was afterward Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. 

Shortly after the Lodge was organized an incident occurred which refutes the oft-repeated accusation that Freemasons are 

obligated to protect and shield all Masons who are guilty of any crime against the State or society. A history of Hamilton Lodge, 

compiled by JEREMIAH WILBER, a Past Master of the Lodge, and published in 1863, says, concerning this affair: "On the I6th day 

of April of this year (1806), rumors of an unfavorable nature were circulated against ALPHEUS HITCHCOCK, of the 3rd town— 

Madison—a prominent member of the Lodge, who, up to that time, had borne an irreproachable character, implicating him as being 

accessory to the death of his wife. A committee was appointed to investigate and report on the matter. After a most careful 

investigation, the committee reported him guilty of the charge of poisoning his wife. He was consequently expelled from the Lodge. 

The committee, with the members of the Lodge, were the first to enter complaint and have him arrested. He was subsequently 

indicted, tried, found guilty, and suffered the penalty of his crime on the gallows. I have been thus particular in the narration, as it 

was so often charged in anti-masonic times, that masons were bound to, and did at all times, protect their members in crimes, and 

shielded them from just punishment." 

25

The last recorded meeting of the old Lodge was held in August, 1820. There were present JOSEPH ENOS, RUFUS ELDRED, 

ELLIS MORSE, THOMAS GREENLY, CURTIS PORTER, THOMAS WYLIE, EPHRAIM GRAY, WINDSOR COMAN, RICHARD 

WARD, DAVID DARROW, DAVID HITCHCOCK, BENNETT BICKNELL, JOSEPH MORSE and LYMAN G. HATCH. At this meeting 

seven delegates were appointed to attend a convention to be held at DeRuyter on the first Wednesday in September. This 

convention had been called by the Masons of Madison. Chenango and Courtland Counties "To take into consideration the interests 

of Masonry under the present anti-masonic excitement raging so furiously throughout the length and breadth of the State." 

R.'.W.'. GEORGE BEAL, one of the most active Past Masters of Hamilton Lodge, who has devoted much time to this subject and is 

well informed upon matters relating to the early history of the Lodge, writes as follows concerning this event: "The convention 

assembled at the appointed time, it was composed of the leading men of all the Counties represented, men who under ordinary 

conditions were leaders who could shape and direct public opinion but were now overwhelmed with the popular clamor. This fact 

demonstrates beyond question that the madness of the anti-masonic excitement was beyond control, for were it otherwise these 

men would have surely found a way to save their beloved institution from crushing disaster. 

Their loyalty to the cause of Masonry cannot be doubted, their courage and ability was unquestioned, but such was the awfulness of 

the situation that they saw no way but to bow to the storm, unreasonable and unjust as it was." 

The outcome of the convention was the adoption of the following: 

"That under the present feverish excitement of the public mind in relation to the alleged abduction of William Morgan, it would be 

better for the future good and prosperity of Masonry, that the Lodges in said counties should, for the present, suspend their 

meetings, until the public mind should be disabused, and reason once more resume its sway." 

The Lodge accepted this conclusion and closed its doors, and for nineteen years these loyal Masons were without a home, the altar 

lights were extinguished, but the Great Light was still an open book, and within the breasts of these brethren the fire, though 

smothered and hidden from view, was still alive, and when the whirlwind had spent its force it was fanned into flame, the altar was 

again diffused with light, the Lodge arose from its lethargy and resumed its labors. 

The warrant was declared forfeited by the Grand Lodge in 1834, and in 1838 it was filed with the Grand Secretary by Grand Visitor 

COOLEDGE. 

This old document is still in a good state of preservation. It is signed by JACOB MORTON, Grand Master; MARTIN HOFFMAN, 

Deputy 6rand Master; CADWALLADER D. GOLDEN, S. Grand Warden, and DANIEL D. TOMPKINS, Grand Secretary. 

The officers of the Lodge named in the warrant are: 

Seeley Neil, Master; 

Asa B. Sizer, Senior Warden; 

Rufus Eldred, Junior Warden. 

In the latter part of 1846 the revival of the Lodge was determined upon, and a petition was prepared asking for a dispensation, which 

was granted December 8, 1846. 

CHARLES G. OTIS was named as Master; BENJAMIN F. SKINNER. Senior Warden, and GAINS STEBBINS, Junior Warden. 

These, together with the following, became the charter members: 

Thomas H. Greenly. Jeremiah Wilber. 

Henry G. Beardsley, Thomas C. Nye. 

Daniel Younglove. 

Perez H. Bonney. 

Thomas Wylie. 

Curtis Porter. 

Daniel Barker. 

Isaac Phelps. 

Philander Barker. 

The first meeting was held at Odd Fellows' Hall December 16, 1846; fourteen members were present, including the officers. 

JUSTUS S. MASTERS was proposed for initiation. He was elected, and was the first to receive the degrees in the revived Lodge. 

At a session of the Grand Lodge, held June 3, 1847, the Committee on Warrants recommended the granting of warrants to several 

Lodges, among them Hamilton and Glens Falls. The warrants were granted and Hamilton received number 120 and Glens Falls 

121. 

The inquiry as to why Hamilton Lodge did not receive its old number 121 is natural, and in the absence of any definite reason it is 

fair to conclude that the Lodges were numbered in the order in which they appeared on the report of the Committee on Warrants. 

Further, it must be noted that the warrant of Hamilton Lodge is dated June 7, 1847, and that of Glens Falls is dated June 8, 1847: 

hence, inadvertently, the Grand Secretary failed to give Hamilton Lodge its old number as desired. 


Charles G. Otis, Master; 

Benjamin F. Skinner, Senior Warden; 

Gains Stebbins. Junior Warden. 

The first meeting under the Warrant was held July 7, 1847, when the Lodge was formally instituted and the following officers 

installed by R.'. W.'. EZRA S. BARNUM, assisted by W. IRA CHASE, both of Utica Lodge, No. 47: 

Charles G. Otis, Master; 

Gains Stebbins, Senior Warden: 

Jeremiah Wilber, Junior Warden; 

Thomas Wylie. Treasurer: 

Henry G. Beardsley, Secretary; 

Daniel Younglove, Senior Warden; 

Alexander Wilton, Junior Deacon: 

Perez H. Bonney, Tiler. 

26

MEETING PLACES. 

When it was revived in 1846 it met in Odd Fellows' Hall on Eaton Street, where it remained for twenty-six years. In 1872 it moved to 

the Ingalls Block on Madison Street, where it remained until 1884. When it moved to the Smith Block on Broad Street. Here it 

remained until the "great fire" of February 19, 1895. After the fire it occupied its old quarters in the Ingalls Block, remaining there 

until the fall of 1895, when it moved into the rebuilt Smith Block, where accommodations had been specially arranged for its use, 

and it still remains in these comfortable quarters. 

The Lodge has in its possession a number of highly prized relics. 

The chart used by the Lodge is a rare old relic, and was originally the property of Delphi Chapter, which went down during the 

Morgan period. It was presented to the Lodge by Hon. STEPHEN G. SEARS, a member of the Lodge. 

It was painted by EZRA AMES, who was Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter R. A. M. 

The Bible formerly used in the Lodge was printed by John Thompson, Philadelphia, Pa., in 1798. 

It also has a gavel made from the limb of an oak tree standing near the tomb of GEORGE WASHINGTON at Mount Vernon. It was 

presented by R.'.W.'. GEORGE B. PALMER, who was at the tomb when a violent storm broke the limb from the tree: he obtained a 

piece and had the gavel made. 

Another prized relic is a Spanish Masonic apron, presented to the Lodge December 21, 1898, by the distinguished writer and war 

correspondent, OSCAR K. DAVIS, a member of the Lodge. The story of the apron, briefly told by R.'. W.'. GEORGE BEAL, is as 

follows: 

"When our forces went to the Philippines the Grand Lodge of California chartered a Military Lodge, of which Lieut.-Col. VICTOR 

DuBoice was Master and of which BRO. DAVIS became a member. When the army entered the City of Manila the members of this 

Military Lodge discovered an abandoned Lodge room in which they found seven Masonic aprons, which they appropriated, and 

through the kindness of Col. DuBoice BRO. DAVIS came in possession of one. BRO. DAVIS wrote, that that night the members of 

Military Lodge held a meeting and talked fondly of their mother Lodges in the "home-land," and so, with thoughts of home, he 

resolved to present this apron, about which clusters so much of historic interest to his mother Lodge, to be permanently deposited 

among its archives. 

"This grateful act and kind remembrance of this dear old Lodge by BRO. OSCAR KING DAVIS touched the hearts of the brethren 

and prompted eloquent expressions of appreciation and thanks from the Master, C. H. VAN TUYL, as he accepted the gift in the 

name of the lodge." 

The Lodge was incorporated January 3, 1872. 

It made several contributions to the Hall and Asylum Fund, and in 1888 paid its full quota toward paying the "Great Debt." 

On April 24, 1889, it held "Jubilee" services. The exercises consisted of singing, reading of the Grand Master's Address and an 

oration by BRO. F. M. HUNGATE. 

Morrisville Lodge, No. 658, and Cautious Lodge, No. 726, are off-springs of this Lodge. 

The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (M.O.V.P.E.R.S.), a social organization composed of Master 

Masons exclusively, was organized by members of Hamilton Lodge, June 13, 1890. 

The Lodge was present at the laying of the cornerstone at Utica, May 21, 1891. It was also present at the dedication of same, 

October 5, 1892. 

A Lodge of Sorrow was held in the Opera House May 30, 1892. 

On December 10, 1896, it observed its semi-centennial anniversary. A notable event of recent years was the official visit of M.'.W.’. 

JOHN W. VROOMAN, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, in September, 1890. The occasion brought together a large gathering of 

Masons from the surrounding country. 

The Lodge has prospered ever since its revival and has had among its adherents many who have achieved distinction in public as 

well as private life. Some of the names upon its roll have a world-wide reputation; while the Lodge has had a healthy growth and has 

never engaged in any controversy requiring legal advice, it is surprising how many Doctors of Law and Doctors of Medicine have 

sought a Masonic home within her doors and have bowed at its altar. Upon its roll of membership are 20 lawyers and 18 physicians. 

The spiritual welfare of the Lodge has been amply provided for as upon the rolls are the names of 12 Ministers of the Gospel. 

Among the members who have been elevated to public office are the following: 

Erastus Cleaveland, Major Gen. U. S. A., 1812, County Judge. Andrew C. Hull, County Judge. 

Thomas H. Hubbard, Surrogate, Congressman. 

Thomas Wylie, County Sheriff. 

Thomas Greenly, Assemblyman, State Senator 

Benjamin F. Skinner, County Judge. 

Bennet Bicknell, Major U. S. A. 1812, State Senator. 

Henry G. Beardsley, Surgeon U. S. V., Civil War. 

Windsor Coman, Assemblyman . 

James W. Nye, County Judge, Governor of Nevada. 

Andrew P. Lord, Assemblyman. 

Charles Mason, District Attorney, Supreme Court Judge. 

William Berry, Jr., Assemblyman. 

Charles E. Hewes, Chaplain U. S. V., Civil War. 

Ephraim Gray, Assemblyman. 

N. M. Littlejohn, U. S. Senator. 

Daniel Barker, Assemblyman. 

Thomas L. James, L'. S. Postmaster General. 

Calvin Morse, Assemblyman. 

W. C. Burchard, U. S. Consul in Honduras. 

Joseph Morse, Jr., County Judge. 

E. R. Barker, County Sheriff. 

Stephen G. Sears, Assemblyman. 

D. J. Mitchell, District Attorney. 

John Mason, County Judge, Congressman. 

Nathan Brownell, County Clerk. 

E. C. Philpot, Assemblyman. Bushrod Hoppmin, Assemblyman. 

F. D. Beebe, Surgeon U. S. V., Civil War. P. P. Brown, Col. U. S. V., Civil War. 

C. L. Kennedy, County Judge. Henry Runkle, County Treasurer. 

M. N. Campbell, Assemblyman. D. G. Willington, Capt. U. S. V., Civil War, Assemblyman. 

S. L. Ballard, Assemblyman. G. S. Tillinghast, County Treasurer. 

Eugene M. Perry, County Sheriff. 

W. S. Leet, State Senator. 

C. W. Stapleton, State Senator. W. M. Henderson, County Sheriff. 

William M. West, Quartermaster General N. Y. S. 

William C. Eaton, Engineer, U. S. Navy. 

Jotham P. Aids, State Senator. 

A. J. Wiltse, County Treasurer. 

Joseph F. McGregory, Professor of Chemistry, Colgate University. Ralph W. Thomas, Professor of Rhetoric, Colgate Univ. 

27

Henry G. Beardsley, Surgeon, 114th NY Vol Inf, Hamilton, 120 

BEARDSLEY, HENRY G.—Age, 58 years. Enrolled at Elmira, to serve three years, and mustered in as assistant surgeon, 

September 8,1862; discharged, to date February 26,1863 

Record of the 114th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., by Harris H. Beecher, page 531. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=rmIUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA531&lpg=PA531&dq=%22Henry+G.+Beardsley%22&source=web&ots= 

W3BkN2SuVO&sig=A5Va_X7Qsi1FVNu_gbP4Wy6OW8Q&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result 

ASSISTANT SURGEON HENRY G. BEARDSLEY. 

Dr. Beardsley was born in New Fairfield, Connecticut, in February, 1805. He had three brothers all older than himself. The blood 

of the patriots of '70 ran in the veins of these sons, their paternal and maternal grandfathers, Phineas Beardsley and Stephen 

Gregory, serving as officers throughout the first struggle for Independence. The father of the Doctor, Obadiah Beardsley, removed to 

Oneida County, about the year 1808. 

Henry alternately taught school and prosecuted his studies, thus acquiring, not only a thorough medical education, but a fair 

advancement in the field of letters, and a well disciplined mind. He graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the 

Western District of New York, in the spring of 1832, and commenced practice in Hamilton, NY. For some time he was a partner of 

the celebrated Dr. Havens, Sr., late deceased. He was once or more elected President of the Madison County Medical Society, and 

held the position of Postmaster for nearly two terms. Several times the office of School Superintendent was conferred upon him by 

the citizens of Hamilton. About the year 1830, he became connected with the military of the State, and subsequently held the 

commissions of Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel. Democratic in his views, he obtained some reputation as a political writer, 

and produced some very respectable scientific and literary papers. 

Joining the Regiment at its organization, he remained a faithful officer till his discharge the service, in March of 1863, from an 

injury received by a fall from a railroad bridge at La Fafourche, in January before. He was temporarily assigned to duty with a 

Maryland Regiment at Baltimore, and in transit to New Orleans, was in charge of the three Companies that sailed upon the Arago. 

After his return North, he improved somewhat, but soon went into a decline. Hoping the change might be beneficial, he removed to 

Brooklyn, N. T., in the fall of 1865. The bracing sea air failed to invigorate his feeble frame, and he died a consumptive, in 

December, 1865. 

Intimately associated with the deceased, and knowing him well. it affords us a melancholy pleasure to pay this poor tribute to so 

much worth. Our deceased friend and brother seemed most completely to regulate his conduct by the strictest rules of honor. 

Affable to all, genial and social in his disposition, hospitable in his feelings and conduct, true and generous to his friends, just and 

forgiving to his enemies, kind and devoted to his family, skilled in his profession, he combined in himself all the attributes and 

qualities which distinguish the character of a Christian gentleman. 

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000437 

BICKNELL, BENNET, Hamilton, 120; a Representative from New York; born in Mansfield, Conn., November 14, 1781; attended the 

public schools; moved to Morrisville, N.Y., in 1808; served in the War of 1812; member of the State assembly in 1812; served in the 

State senate 1814-1818; clerk of Madison County, N.Y., 1821-1825; editor of the Madison Observer; elected as a Democrat to the 

Twenty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1837-March 3, 1839); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1838 to the Twenty-sixth Congress; 

died in Morrisville, Madison County, N.Y., September 15, 1841; interment in Morrisville Rural Cemetery. 

Col. Philip Perry Brown, Jr. 

8 October 1823 - 9 April 1881, Buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, MO 

Brevet Brigadier General. He attended Shurtleff College in Alton, Illinois, and his career as 

teacher and merchant was interrupted by the Civil War. Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier 

General. He served during the conflict first as Colonel and commander first of the 157th New 

York Volunteer Infantry, then as Colonel and commander of the 7th United States Veteran 

Volunteer Infantry. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for 

"gallant and meritorious services". 

http://library.morrisville.edu/local_history/sites/gar_post/brown.html 

from the Madison Observer, April 20, 1881: 

DEATH OF COL. BROWN.- Col. Philip P. Brown, a former resident of Hamilton, who raised 

and commanded the 157th Regiment of 

NY Volunteers in the late civil war, died at St. Louis, Mo., of typhoid pneumonia, on the 8th 

instant, in the 58th year of his age. Col. 

Brown was a native of Smithfield, in this county. He entered Madison University in 1853, and 

graduated in 1855. After his graduation he filled the position of principal of the Academy of the 

University from 1855 to 1862, when he entered the army as Colonel of the 157th Regiment of 

N.Y. Volunteers. From 1865 till 1866 he was Colonel of the 7th U.S. Veteran Volunteers of 

Hancock's Corps. In 1866 he left the army, and established himself in an extensive business in 

St. Louis, his residence at the time he died. 

http://www.ulib.niu.edu/badndp/Brown_william.html 

William Perry Brown, son of Brigadier General Philip Perry Brown and Sarah (Jackson) Brown, was born near Ardmore, Indian 

Territory, in 1847. The family originally came from New York, but his father was a minister and in charge of a mission school in the 

Indian Territory when he was born. He attended Madison (now Colgate) College, Hamilton, New York, but was not graduated. At the 

outbreak of the Civil War, his father left him with his grandfather at Philadelphia, where he began some kind of odd job work on a 

newspaper. His first permanent newspaper reporting was for the St. Louis Globe Democrat. Later he was with the New Orleans 

Picayune and the New York Globe, and was in England for two or three years as foreign correspondent for the New York Herald. 

While there he began free-lance writing, and on his return to this country continued that kind of work. He wrote short stories and 

poems for various weeklies and magazines, including the Springfield Republican, Ainslee's Magazine, Golden Days, the Youth's 

Companion, Woman's World, Chicago Ledger, Banner Weekly, Housewife, People's Home Journal, Southern Magazine, Brooklyn 

Magazine, and various outdoor magazines, such as Forest and Stream. He went to Glenville, West Virginia, in 1888, and was there 

28

married, September 3, 1890, to Emma E. Hays. From 1890 to 1892 he was associated with Sam Walter Foss as editor of the 

Yankee Blade (Boston). After 1892, he resumed his free-lance writing until shortly before his death. He died in Glenville, September 

4, 1923, and was survived by his wife and two sons. According to a letter from his son, Gordon H. Brown, the only pen name he 

ever used was "Captain William B. Perry." 

http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/hh/18/hh18n.htm 

At Fort Pulaski (Georgia), Col. Philip P. Brown, Jr., commandant of the post, greeted the prisoners and promised to make the fort 

the model military prison of the United States. He said that he had already requisitioned blankets and clothing, full army rations, and 

plenty of fuel. 

Colonel Brown, 157th New York Volunteers, was a completely humane man and won the respect of his Confederate prisoners, but 

he could not carry out the promises he had made. His requisitions were ignored. In consequence, he could issue neither blankets 

nor clothing. Out of his garrison supplies he fed the prisoners as well as he could, but fuel on Cockspur was scarce and fires in the 

cookstoves could be lighted but once a day. When the weather turned cold there was neither wood nor coal to heat the prison 

casemates. Because of his attitude of humanity, Brown drew upon himself the censure of his commanding general. 

On December 15, Brown was ordered to impose a starvation ration composed of one-quarter pound of bread, 10 ounces of 

cornmeal, and one-half pint of pickles daily, and 1 ounce of salt every 5 days. Under this new order prisoners were permitted to 

secure additional food from sutlers, but since they had no money and were not allowed to receive funds from the Confederate 

States, they could purchase no food. 

For 43 days in the coldest months of an unusually severe winter, the prisoners at Pulaski subsisted on this cornmeal and pickle diet. 

Cats and dogs that strayed through the prison bars were immediately cooked and eaten. But day by day the men grew weaker. At 

night, with no blankets and no warming fires, they had to keep moving about or freeze. By mid-January 1865, scurvy began to take 

its toll. 

At the battle of Blochers Knoll and Woods (Gettysburg, 1 July 

1863; later renamed Barlow’s Knoll), unknown to [Col. 

Wlodzimierz or Wladimir] Krzyzanowski's hard fighting Union 

regiments, [Brig. Gen. Alexander] Schimmelfennig had attempted 

to relieve the pressure upon them by sending the 157th New York 

forward to strike Doles's flank. With all the regiments of von 

Amsberg's Brigade either on the skirmish line or supporting 

Wheeler's and Dilger's batteries, Schimmelfennig could spare only 

the 409 officers and men of the 157th New York to counterattack 

Doles's exposed right flank. Col. Philip P. Brown was ordered 

forward, alone and unsupported, to face Doles's tough Georgians. 

Brown led his regiment forward, then changed front to the right 

and advanced up nearly to the Carlisle Road, a mere fifty yards 

from the 44th Georgia. Maj. W. H. Peebles of the 44th saw 

Brown's New Yorkers approaching and having driven 

Krzyzanowski's regiments from his front by the time the 157th was 

in position, changed front to the right to confront the Federals. 

The 4th Georgia soon came into line on Peebles's left and the fire 

upon Brown's Federals intensified. Trouble soon loomed on 

Brown's left flank as the 21st Georgia rose from Blocher's lane 

and opened fire. Doles shifted the 12th Georgia from his extreme left to the right of the 21st Georgia and the brigade began a 

general advance. 

29

Brown's New Yorkers fought back manfully, but they were now heavily outgunned. Lt. Col. George Arrowsmith went down, shot in 

the head, and the carnage in the ranks was terrific. The 44th and 4th Georgia pushed across the fences along the Carlisle Road and 

began to press around the 157th's right. On the left the 21st and 12th Georgia pressed forward. "The men were falling rapidly and 

the enemy's line was taking the form of a giant semi-circle ... concentrating the fire of their whole brigade upon my rapidly 

diminishing numbers," wrote Colonel Brown. One of Rodes's batterys, with an enfilading fire upon the 157th, added their shells to 

Doles's minie balls. Brown looked to the rear for support and saw an aide of Schimmelfennig's taking the saddle off his dead horse 

and sprinting for safety. Later Brown would learn the officer had stepped several paces beyond his fallen horse and "hallooed to me 

to retreat." Brown heard nothing and fought until his regiment ` was nearly annihilated, then ordered a retreat. No 11th Corps 

regiment would suffer as many casualties as the 157th on early afternoon of July 1. Brown lost 27 dead, 166 wounded, and 114 

missing and captured, or 75 percent of his engaged strengths. 

See also: “Gettysburg July 1,” by David G. Martin, pages 301-302. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=hK5kYSmGAXkC&pg=PA3&dq=%22blochers+woods%22&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0 

_1#PPA302,M1 

In this account of the battle it relates the Col. Brown received a shot in the head. He later recalled that, “The men were falling rapidly 

and the enemy’s line was taking the form of a giant semicircle . . . concentrating the fire of their whole brigade upon my rapidly 

diminishing numbers.” He kept looking to the rear for support or an order to withdraw . . . 

As a footnote to this ignominious defeat of the Federal forces on the first day of the Battle(s) of Gettysburg on 1 Jul 1863, the tide 

apparently began to turn the following evening: 

http://www.polamjournal.com/Library/Biographies/Krzyzanowski/krzyzanowski.html 

Only July 2, [Brig. Gen.] Krzyzanowski’s decimated force found itself in reserve near the Evergreen Cemetery near the spot where 

some four months later President Lincoln would deliver his famous Gettysburg Address. In the fading twilight of that evening, 

Confederate forces launched a surprise attack that broke through the Union lines, scaled the hill and took possession of the 

Northern artillery positions posted there. In those crucial few minutes, the fate of the Union truly lay in the balance. As soon as the 

firing began, Krzyzanowski ordered his men into line, personally leading them in a counterattack aimed at the heart of the 

Confederate advance. Rushing into the gun emplacements, Krzyzanowski’s men fought hand-to-hand with the enemy, gradually 

reclaiming the artillery and forcing the Confederates back down the hill. 

Southern historian Douglas Southall Freeman cited it as the closest the South came to victory at Gettysburg, but it was frustrated by 

the Polish colonel and his immigrant soldiers, preserving the Union victory and [assisting in] reversing the course of the war. 

CLEAVELAND, ERASTUS, Major General, Hamilton, 120 

http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/union/bios/putnam-eg.txt 

General Erastus Cleaveland, born June 20, 1771, in Norwich, Connecticut, died in Madison, New York, January 27, 1857, aged 

eighty-five years. He settled in Madison in 1793, was elected to the New York Legislature in 1806 and in 1808; commissioned major 

in 1807, and was colonel in command of the regiment at Sacketts Harbor, New York, War of 1812; commissioned lieutenant-colonel 

in 1812, colonel in 1814, and later was brigadier-general of militia. He was successful in his business pursuits of the grist mill he 

built in 1795, the first in Madison. Later he built two mills elsewhere, started a distillery and a brewery, a carding machine and a 

satinet cloth factory, also dealt heavily in cattle for the New York and Philadelphia markets. He was remarkable for energy, business 

ability, skill and perseverance. He married, in Southwick, Hampden county, Massachusetts, January 8, 1795, Rebecca Berry, of the 

town adjoining Norwich, Connecticut. Her brother, Samuel Berry, bought the land on which Madison Village, New York, is located 

from Seth Gibson, who at a cost of twenty-five dollars obtained possession of the land. 

He was the son of Moses Cleaveland, born May 23, 1745, at Wethersfield or Norwich, Connecticut, died at Morrisville, Madison 

county, New York, 1817. He lived at Norwich and New London, Connecticut, prior to moving to Morrisville, New York. He held a 

lieutenant's commission in a company of cavalry, was stationed at Roxbury, Massachusetts, during the siege of Boston, and was 

one of General Washington's trusted and hard worked scouts. He married at Norwich, Connecticut, February 20, 1766, Phoebe 

Fargo, born February 14, 1747, in Norwich, daughter of Aaron and Sarah Fargo. 

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scg117/families/indiI2158.htm 

Gen. Erastus Cleaveland who commanded the U.S. forces at Sackett's Harbor and Owego, New York, war of 1812, was one of the 

most prominent citizens of Central New York in business matters, politics, and military affairs. Gen. Erastus gave the following 

account of himself in a statement written about 1853: 

"The first Cleveland who came to this country (as related tome by my grandmother) from England was John Cleveland, whose wife 

was Scotch. They landed at Boston, had 7 sons and 1 daughter, Phebe, she married and went to Halifax, 2 sons settled in 

Massachusetts, 2 in (now) Vermont; 2 in Connecticut, and 1 in Virginia. [No records whatever to substantiate; likely his grandmother 

confounded John and Moses1.] 

"There is in the family to which I belong a coat of arms said to have been brought by the first that came. It contains 3 moons and a 

battle axe. 

"At the age of 14 I was turned into the world to shift for myself. Possessed of a good constitution and a laudable ambition I went to 

New London to learn the carpenter's trade, and engaged to serve as an apprentice until of age for my board and room and 45 

shillings a year. When 18 I went to merchandising. I bought my time, went to Richmond, Virginia to work. When I got to Richmond I 

had 1 shilling for which I had sold the pilot of the vessel a pair of mittens. Thence I went to Petersburgh, Dinwiddle, Virginia, and 

then to Savannah, Georgia, was knocked overboard on the way by a boom. Worked in Savannah 8 months, returned North, spent 

the winter. 

"In spring, hearing of smallpox I inoculated myself with a penknife, and went to Whitestown, New York, and worked getting out 

timber. Had the smallpox bad. Lived at Whitestown 2 years. 

"The 20 townships, now parts of Oneida, Chenango, and Madison Counties, called Governors Purchase, then offered for sale. I had 

saved some money and came here and bought land from Bond and Blodgett; they failed to pay for the land. I was obliged to sell my 

chance, and the purchaser paid for his land to the agent of Col. Troup, who was agent land, 280 acres, paid $1.50 per acre. 

30

"When in 1793 I came here (Madison) there was only 1 family in the town, and they moved on the day before. I built 1795, a log 

house and then a sawmill. The hemlocks were thick and hemlock boards good as cash. I built a grist mill and got money enough 

from sale of lumber to pay my workers. 

"My advantages for education in early life were limited. I have felt the loss, and tried to give my children all the advantages in that 

respect, in my power. My motto has always been "Be careful in your deal and punctual in your contracts". 

"When civil government was organized in the county, they had to use such timber as they had. I was appointed Justice of the 

Peace, and was Judge of Court of Common Pleas [1808-10] a number of years. I was 12 years Supervisor [1808 &c]. 

Commissioner of Loans 20 years, Supt. of Madison County poor 10 years, have twice represented the county in Legislature. I have 

many times said I had more public favor than I was entitled to, but have endeavored to discharge the duties of any and all the offices 

I have held with what ability I had and with fidelity. 

"In military affairs my first commission [1807] was 2nd Maj. of Militia, from that I arose through a regular grade [Lt. Col. 1812, Col. 

1814] to Brigadier-General. I served 2 campaigns in war of 1812 and 1815, and have lately received a bounty land warrant of 160 

acres". 

His grandson, Hon. Theodore Sedgwick Gold, relates that Gen. Erastus in 1838 took him to Waweekas Hill, Norwich, and said, 

"Here I was born, and I bless the misfortunes that drove me from here." 

FRENCH'S N. Y. GAZZETTE, 1800: 

-- pg. 302: Madison, the first settlement made 1793. Gen. Erastus Cleaveland built the first grist mill and kept the first store. 

CIVIL LAW AND FORMS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY AND STATE OF N. Y., ALBANY 1809: 

-- pg. 177: First Constitution, Members of Assembly, Cleaveland, Erastus; county of Madison, 1807; 

-- pg. 339: Second Constitution, Cleaveland, Erastus, 1833. 

HEWES, CHARLES E.—Age, — years. 14th NY Infantry; enrolled and mustered in as chaplain. May 17, 1861, to serve two years; 

discharged to date, October 31, 1862, as Hews; also borne as Hughes: commissioned chaplain, July 4, 1861, with rank from May 

17, 1861, original. HEWS, CHARLES E., see Charles E. Hewes. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=u406AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA211&dq=%22Charles+E.+Hewes%22+%22chaplain%22#PPA211,M1 

Abigail Sias, b. Apr. 13, 1813; m. May 11, 1834, Charles E. Hewes, son of Widow Amelia Hewes, who married Rev. Soloman Sias 

for her second husband (Abigail’s uncle). He enlisted in the Union Army as Chaplain 12th NY Vols. and served throughout the Civil 

War. Returned to his former home in New York State, lecturing and preaching; died Utica, NY, Jan 1888; buried Fort Plain, NY. He 

was of the Universalist denomination. Mrs. Hewes removed to Iowa, resided with daughter Florence. Five children. She d. June 24, 

1888, Vinton, Iowa. 


George B. Palmer, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Joseph Enos, Grand Master. 

George F. Burn, District Deputy Grand Master. 

George Beal, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Charles M. Wickwire, District Deputy Grand Master, Trustee Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund and Grand Director of Ceremonies. 

MASTERS OF No. 121. 

1805. Seeley Neil. 

1806. Asa B. Siger. 

1807. Seeley Neil. 

1808. Asa B. Siger. 

1809. Levi Love. 

1810. Lev! Love. 

1815. Joseph Enos. 




1819. Thomas Greenly. 




1823. Joseph Enos 

1824. Ellis Morse. 

1825. Ellis Morse. 


1827. Joseph Morse. 

1828. Rufus Eldred. 

1829. Rufus Eldred. 

MASTERS OF No. 120. 

1846. Charles G. Otis. 




1850. Henry G. Beardsley. 





1855. W. A. Bruce. 


1857. Jeremiah Wilber. 

1858. George F. Burn. 






1864. George French. 

1865. George French. 

1866. Joshua S. Pierce. 


1868. Edward E. Welton. 

1869. Andrew H. Dudley. 

1870. George B. Palmer. 




1874. Whitman Clarke. 





1879. S. P. Spencer. 


1881. George Beal. 






1887. Charles M. Wickwire. 

1888. Charles M. Wickwire. 



1891. Adon N. Smith. 

1892. Adon N. Smith. 

1893. Hull S. Gardiner. 

1894. Hull S. Gardiner. 

1895. Charles E. Smith. 


1897. Charles H. Van Tuyl. 

1898. Charles H. Van Tuyl. 

1899. John J. Taylor. 

1900. John J. Taylor. 

1901. Ralph W. Thomas. 

1902. Gilbert L. Gifford. 

1903. Gilbert L. Gifford. 

1904. George L. Bennett. 



31

GLENS FALLS LODGE, NO. 121, GLENS FALLS, N. Y. 


The name or number has never been changed. 

MINUTES: Not intact. The minute-book containing transactions from December 1, 1858, to May 18, 1864, was destroyed by fire. 

The first recorded meeting of the Lodge was held February 23, 1847. 

Previous to this the Lodge must have held meetings under the dispensation which had been issued by M.'.W.'. JOHN D. WILLARD, 

as at this meeting a code of by-laws was submitted by a committee and adopted. 

There were present at the meeting: 

Avery C. Tiffany, Master; 

Stillman H. Ficket, Senior Warden; 

King Allen, Junior Warden ; 

Enoch Ellis, Treasurer; 

John H. Martin, Secretary; 

Ezekiel Holman, Senior Deacon ; 

Stevens Carpenter, Junior Deacon; 

S. Pike, Tiler; and several others. 

A petition for degrees was received from E. G. RORERTS, and referred to a committee. 

Section 3, of the by-laws adopted, contains the following provision: 

"No member or candidate shall be admitted as a member of this Lodge who shall make, buy, sell or use as a beverage any 

spirituous or malt liquors, wine or cider." 

At a meeting, held February 16, 1848, the following resolution was adopted: "That the members of this Lodge attend the 

Temperance Celebration on the 22d as temperance men." 

The records of the Lodge show that at least one member was disciplined for violating Section 3 of the by-laws. 

At a session of the Grand Lodge, held June 3, 1847, the Committee on Warrants made a report recommending the granting of a 

warrant: "To Glens Falls Lodge, No. 121, at Glens Falls, in Warren County, they having wrought under dispensation, which is 

returned with a satisfactory account of their doings." 

The recommendation was approved, and on June 8th the warrant was issued. 

Immediately after the warrant was received a meeting was called for the purpose of constituting the Lodge, installing the officers and 

dedicating its rooms. 

The original warrant was partially destroyed by fire in the spring of 1902, and on May 8, 1902, the Grand Lodge ordered a duplicate 

warrant issued. Both warrants are in possession of the Lodge. 

The petition presented to the Grand Lodge, asking for a charter, is missing; therefore a complete list of the signers cannot be given, 

but the following names were among the number: 

Avery C. Tiffany. 

Enoch Ellis. 

King Allen. 

John H. Martin. 

Ezekiel Holman. 

Stillman H. Fickett. 

Stevens Carpenter. 

Daniel S. Newton. 

Alfred Fisher. 

Henry Spencer. 

John Strong. 

Bethuel Peck. 

Benjamin Tinney. 


Avery C. Tiffany, Master: 

Enoch Ellis, Senior Warden: 

King Allen, Junior Warden. 

Several of the charter members of Glens Falls Lodge were formerly members of Hamilton Lodge, No. 144, which was warranted 

October ~ 1806. It was located at Queensbury, Warren County, and continued to work until the year 1828. The last returns on file in 

the Grand Secretary's office are dated June 1, 1827. 

These returns give a membership of thirty-five on June 1st. 

Among the old papers on file is the following bill: 

"Right Worshipful Grand Lodge, State of New York: 

To ASAHEL CLARK, Dr. 

For attendance at the Annual Communication as Proxy for Hamilton Lodge, No. 144: 

6 days, at $1.50 $9 00 

408 miles travel, 10 days 15 00 

Dollars— 24 00 

NEW YORK, June 11, 1821. 

Rec'd the above in full. 

ASAHEL CLARK." 

There is no record of the date when this Lodge ceased to exist. In all probability the Morgan persecution was the cause of its death. 

So far as can be ascertained from the incomplete records of the Lodge the following were Masters: 

John A. Ferris. 

Henry Spencer. 

Royal Leavens. 

Robert Wilkinson. 

Ebenezer Storer. 

James White. 

The latter was Master eight years. 

32

Glens Falls Lodge was the first Lodge organized in Warren County after the "Morgan episode"; its first meeting place was in the 

upper story of the Bethuel Peck Building, which was destroyed by the "big fire" in 1864. This fire consumed the greater part of the 

business section of the village. For a time the Lodge was without permanent quarters, but in 1865 it secured rooms in the third story 

of the Glens Falls Bank Building; here it remained until 1874, when it moved to rooms which had been specially arranged for the 

several Masonic bodies in the Sherman Building, and known as "Masonic Hall,'' where it remained until 1897. In the meantime the 

several bodies had outgrown these quarters and new rooms had been secured in the Crandall Block, known as the "New Masonic 

Hall," which was dedicated February 11, 1897. 

On this occasion an address was delivered by JAMES A. HOLDEN, Master of Senate Lodge, No. 456, from which many facts 

contained in this sketch are gleaned. 

He says concerning Glens Falls Lodge: "We find by reference to the minutes the celebration of St. John's day by a festival was kept 

up until 1857, and that in 1858 the members voted to turn out ' as a Lodge' to assist in celebrating the 82d Anniversary of American 

Independence. 

"In connection with these St. John's days' celebrations, I am informed by an old-time Mason, that in the fifties a pastor in one of the 

local churches was a prominent member of the Fraternity. Certain of his congregation imbued with the old anti-Masonic spirit, which 

still existed, and. in fact, which is only now beginning to die out in sectarian circles, made it uncomfortable for the reverend brother. 

Glens Falls Lodge took up the cause and issued invitations for a St. John's day festival to all the Masonic bodies in the vicinity, 

which was largely accepted. 

The old Presbyterian Church was placed at the disposal of the brethren and there was a grand Masonic parade, in which there was 

a large gathering of the Commandery, Chapter and Blue Lodge Masons. The Knights' Templar were the first ever seen here, and, of 

course, attracted much attention from the spectators of the pageant. The reverend brother delivered an address appropriate to the 

occasion and his connection with the Fraternity was proved to be honorable, expedient and useful." 

MEN IN PUBIC LIFE. 

Russell M. Little, State Senator. 

Enoch H. Rosekrans, County Judge. 

Isaac J. Davis, County Judge. 

Daniel V. Brown, County Clerk. 

Joseph Russell, Congressman. 

Westel W. Hicks, County Clerk, 

Pelntiah Richards. Assemblyman. 

Sheriff. Daniel Ferguson, Sheriff. 

Nelson W. Van Dusen, Assemblyman. 

Joseph Mead, Sheriff. 

Charles B. Thompson, Supervisor. 

Herman B. Parks, Board of Education. 

Lyman Jenkins, County Judge, Surrogate. 

Charles R. Whipple, President of Village. 

James H. Bain, Board of Education. 

Edward L. Stearns, Justice of Peace. 

Edward Reed, Sheriff. 

H. Prior King, Supervisor. 

Lemon Thomson, Jr., Coroner. 

George A. Patterson, Village Trustee. 

Charles E. Billiard, Board of Education. 

Thomas W. McArthur, Constitutional Convention. 


Marvin R. Peck, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Charles B. Thompson, District Deputy Grand Master. 

H. Prior King, District Deputy Grand Master. 

1847. Avery C. Tiffany. 


1849. Enoch Ellis. 



1852. John H. Martin. 

1853. Marvin R. Peck. 



1856. Austin W. Holden. 


1858. Benjamin C. Starbuck. 


1860. Joseph Darby. 




1864. Joseph Mead. 



MASTERS. 

1867. Henry Nesbit, Jr. 


1869. Hd. Spicer. 


1871. William H. Knox. 

1872. Jerome W. Haviland. 



1875. Jerome W. Haviland. 

1876. Joseph R. Kee. 

1877. Joseph R. Kee. 

1878. Alaric F. Hitchcock. 

1879. Chancey M. Orton. 

1880. Chancey M. Orton. 

1881.William Higgins. 




1885. William Higgins. 


1887. Herman B. Parks. 

1888. Adelbert Murray. 

1889. Charles H. Griffin. 




1893. H. Prior King. 




1897. Lynn D. Champlin. 

1898. Chandler A. Mason. 

1899. Chandler A. Mason. 

1900. Charles B. Thompson. 

1901. Charles B. Thompson. 

1902. Joseph A. Kellogg. 

1903. Frank D. McAlley. 

1904. Albert V. Brayton. 

1905. Charles E. Bullard. 

1906. Charles E. Bullard. 

http://www.qmhs.org/sara-warren/history_of_hamilton_144.htm 

History of Hamilton 144 F. & A. M. 

A few short months before submitting a petition to form a new Lodge, a duel occurred between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, 

resulting in the death of Hamilton (July 12 1804). Hamilton Lodge 144 was named for Alexander Hamilton. 

Grand Lodge was petitioned October 02, 1804, to form a new Lodge in the Town of Queensbury, Washington County. 

The following is a list of brothers who signed the petition: 

33

T.W. Huyck; 

Micajah Pettit: Albany Co. Militia 16th Reg. in Revolution, Queensbury Supervisor 1803, merchant & sawmill operator; 

Abraham A. Millard; 

Warren Ferriss: Dutchess Co. Militia 3rd Reg. in Revolution, built the Glens Falls toll bridge, Queensbury Supervisor 1795-1797; 

Dr. Harmon Hoffman: Dutchess Co. Militia 6th Reg. in Revolution, Warrensburg Assessor 1813, Warrensburg Supervisor 1814-15 ; 

Benjamin Tibbits; 

Jeremiah Russell; 

David Sanford: Orange Co. Militia 4th Reg. in Revolution, Sanford Ridge Settlement was named after him; 

Parker Putnam; 

Amasa Willard; 

John A. Ferriss: first postmaster appointed in 1808, he also had a hat store and factory, his son Orange was one of the founders 

of Senate Lodge, Queensbury Supervisor 1813 and 1827-1829; 

Henry Spencer: Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk; and 

Walter Briggs: Dutchess Co. Militia 6th Reg. in Revolution. 

A Charter was granted on December 22, 1804 (some records show May 28 1805). 

The original meeting place and officers are unknown, although it was reported to have been in the Oneida Building (Oneida 

Corners). We do know that Aeshel Clark, John Ferriss and Henry Spencer were among its first Masters. 

Soon after its institution, the Lodge rooms were located in the rear of the 3rd story of the old Glens Falls Hotel (Glen and Warren 

Streets), and in whose kitchen the big fire of 1864 was started. The hotel had been erected in 1804 by John Ferriss. 

Among the first initiates are included: 

William H. McDonald, later one of Queensbury's most prominent men. While serving in the New York State Assembly (1822- 

23 and 1829), he sponsored a bill to finance the Feeder Canal Project and was thereafter known as the father of Glens Falls 

Feeder; President of Commercial Bank (now First National Bank of Glens Falls) 1853; 

William Robards, of the Ridge in Queensbury, Warren Co. first County Judge (1813-1820), merchant, farmer, manufacturer 

and magistrate, was a man of large influence and wide popularity (Queensbury Supervisor 1790, 1792-1794); 

John H. Hitchcock, a merchant at the corner of Warren & Glen. 

In a report to Grand Lodge dated December 27, 1812 the following is a list of members added to roster: 

Nicholas Angle, Jeremiah Russell (Luzerne Supervisor 1793-1800, 1804), Johnathon Griffin, Israel Baldwin, Harman Palmer, Felix 

Alden, Samuel Day, Obadiah Knapp, Asahel Clark (attorney), Richard Wing, Alanson Fox, Lemuel Payne, Daniel Fairchild, Andrew 

Parsons, Daniel Scott, and Dorastus W. Alden. 

The next report to Grand Lodge on June 01, 1814 added the names of: John Derby, Samuel Skinner (a tavern owner), John Ripley, 

and Hiram Cole. 

John Ferriss, Henry Spencer & Felix Alden were former members of Livingston Lodge #28 of Kingsbury; A.S. Hall from Granville 

#55; Warren Hitchcock and James Palmeter (Glens Falls Assessor 1839) from Rising Sun 185 of Northumberland; and Moody 

Ames from Federal #33 of Hoosick. 

During 1813-1814 the following were initiated: Bethuel Peck (physician & druggist, later served 2 terms as State Senator; elected 

President of Glens Falls Insurance Company in 1850) , Royal Leavens, Robert Wilkinson, Isaac Farr, and Levi Rugg. 

John Ferriss built the center of educational activity in what is called City Park in 1813 and named it "The Academy". After his death 

in 1840, it ceased to exist. 

Historically noteworthy to the State of New York during this period of time was the rise of a notable Mason, DeWitt Clinton. 

At age 33, Clinton was elected to the U.S. Senate. He resigned in 1803 to become Mayor of New York City until 1815. In 1806 he 

became the 5th Grand Master of New York State. He served 14 consecutive terms until 1820. 

On December 11, 1809 he dedicated the first "Free School" in New York City. This school, the first of its kind in the Nation, was 

built by Masons to provide education free of charge to the poor children of the city. This was forerunner of the public school system 

in the U.S.. 

In 1817, while still the Grand Master, DeWitt Clinton was elected Governor of New York. His greatest achievement was the building 

of the Erie Canal, sometimes referred to as "Clinton's Ditch", which he developed during his third term. The canal ran 340 miles 

from Buffalo on Lake Erie to Albany on the Hudson River. It was opened with full Masonic ceremonies on October 26, 1825. 

James Holden, in a speech he made on May 15, 1913 at the dedication ceremony of a new Masonic Temple in Glens Falls, 

provided the following list of members of Hamilton Lodge as they were initiated or affiliated by years. 

1807 Oliver Barritt, Myrtle B. Hitchcock, Westal Gansevoort, William DeWolfe. 

1808 Joseph Hatch, Joseph DeWolfe, Stephen Gorham, Daniel Fairchild, Samuel Day, Levi Curtis, George A. Acker. 

1809 Gabriel E. Fox, Joshua Eaton. 

1810 Johnathon Freeman, Robert Lewis, Richard Wing, Ezra B. Griffith, Alanson Fox, William Little, Freeman Gazeley. 

1811 Daniel D. Scott, Lemuel C. Paine, Andrew Parsons, Solyman B. Fox. 

1812 John Derby, Samuel G. Skinner (a tavern owner), John Ripley, Hiram Cole, Francis Austin. 

1813 Josiah Randolph, Asa Ripley Jr., Bethuel Peck, Royal Leavens, Robert Wilkinson (attorney). 

1814 Frederick Hubbell, William F.G. Lake, Nathaniel Folsom, John Stevens (one of the backers of the failed Warren County 

Railroad Company), Ebeneezer Storer, Palmer Jenkins (opened a sawmill in Jenkinsville). 

1815 Isaac Farr, Levi Rug Jr. (one of the leading physicians in the area at this time) . 

1816 Edmund Freeman, James Archibald (1st Supv. of Lake George in 1810) , James White, Alvaro Hawley, Dr. Ripley, 

George R. Bridges, Warren F. Hitchcock. 

34

1817 Oliver Hubbard, James H. Rogers, Henry G. Braes, Thomas Colton, Harvey Powers, Pownall Shaw (one of the 

originators of the lime business in this area), Ira Spear, Jeremiah Green, Ebeneezer Hammond, Horace Forbes, William A. 

Tearse, Moody Ames, James Palmenter, Abraham Wing Jr. (the son of the pioneer; County Surrogate 1827-35, Village 

President 1847), William Hill Jr.. 

1818 Martin Kentwood, Seth Fuller, Joseph Whitley, Edward Sumner, William Ferriss, John Robinson, Josiah L. Arms, Alfred 

Ferriss, John Kendrick, Enoch Gregory, Salma Hawley. 

1819 John E. Jones. 

1820 Henry R. Filly, Samuel Bishop, Lewis L. Pixley. 

1821 Grandus Davenport, Sylvester Rice (from Hudson Lodge #13), Samuel Hunton, William Hill, Daniel Fairchild, Walter 

Geer, John Dewey, Henry Fox, Samuel Ranger. 

1822 Henry Thurston, Enoch Ellis (from Hartford Lodge, later a charter member of Glens Falls Lodge 121, started stagecoach 

service from Glens Falls to Troy in 1837), Daniel H. Kingsley, Abraham Davenport. 

1823 Peter Threehouse, Charles Roberts, Dow Williamson, Seneca M. Fairchild, Stephen Bishop, Gilbert Waldron. 

1824 Jonathon Sewell, Godfrey Lake, Asa Palmer, George Miller. 

1825 Gridley M. Packard, Jacob Brigham, Humphrey Burlingame, George G.Dickinson, Rainsford Baldwin, A. Taft Pronty, 

Halsey Burnham. 

1826 Lubin Putnam, Israel Putnam, Daniel Ford, David Johnson, Hiram Barber, Oren Warner, Herman Peck, Cirandus 

Davenport, Martin Eastwood, Asahel Fairchild. 

1827 Ira Green (1st Collector of the Village of GLENS FALLS), Stephen Allen. 

The following names listed in Vol. 39 of Individual Lodges in the Grand Lodge Library, but not mentioned in the Holden speech 

were: 

Eden Chilson, Orville Clark (State Senator 1844-47), Hyman J. Cool, William H. Finn, Samuel Forbes, John F. Gazeley, Walter 

Green, William H. Lewis, E.G. Lindsay, Henry Martin, William May, Samuel Pange, Asa Ripley, Doeton Ripley, William Roberts, 

Calvin Robins, John Robertson, Levi Rug, Daniel Sanford, Peter D. Thorndike, Sylvanus Walker. 

Other names in Holden's speech, but not listed in the membership roster, and may well have been visitors were: 

1818 Martin Kentwood 

1821 Henry Fox 

1822 Henry Thurston 

1823 Stephen Bishop, Peter Threehouse, Charles Roberts, Dow Williamson, Gilbert Waldron 

1824 Johnathon Sewell, George Miller, Lubin Putnam 

1825 Humphrey Burligame 

1826 Cirandus Davenport 

In 1827 the last report was made to Grand Lodge. The date this Lodge ceased to exist is unknown. However, the "Glens Falls 

Observer" on February 18, 1828, published a resolution of the Lodge acknowledging the death of former Grand Master and New 

York State Governor DeWitt Clinton. 

"At an extra communication of Hamilton Lodge No. 144, assembled in Masonic Hall in this village the 15th instant, the following 

resolutions were adopted: 

Resolved that, whereas it has pleased Almighty God, the Supreme Architect of the Universe, in His Divine Providence to call 

from his labor worthy brother DeWitt Clinton PGM, of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, we feel it our duty to pay his 

memory, the last tribute of respect. 

Resolved, that the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren of this Lodge show their respect for our deceased Worthy Brother, 

by wearing the usual badge of mourning thirty days. 

E.G. Lindsey, Secretary" 

Lodges in old Washington County as of 1813: 

Washington #11 Ft. Edward (12 Jul 1785/20 Sep 1785) 

Lodge of Unity #517 Ft. William Henry (1787) 

Aurora #25 Hampton (1793) 

Montgomery Lodge #23 Stillwater (Oct. 22, 1791) 

Livingston Lodge #28 Kingsbury (March 6, 1793) 

Rural Lodge #32 Cambridge (Sept. 4, 1793) 

North Star Lodge #51 Salem (Sept. 7, 1796) 

Liberty Lodge #55 Granville (Dec. 7, 1796) 

Warren County Early Lodges: 

Hamilton #144 Queensbury (1804)-formed prior to Warren Co. 

Rising Virtue #225 Luzerne (1814) 

Clinton #278 Caldwell (1818) 

Perry #437 Bolton (1825) 

Saratoga County Early Lodges: 

Herschell Lodge #89 Hartford (Dec. 3, 1800) 

Farmers Lodge #96 Easton (Dec. 4, 1802) 

Rising Sun Lodge #126 Greenwich (1805) 

Hamilton Lodge #144 Queensbury (1804) 

Brothers Lodge #147 Ft. Ann (1806) 

Social Hall Lodge #145 Whitehall (Dec. 6, 1806) 

Hebron Lodge #216 Hebron (1813) 

Morning Star Lodge #243 Argyle (1813) 

Montgomery #21 Stillwater (1791) 

St John's #24 Half Moon (1792) 

Franklin #37 Ballston Spa (1794) 

Orange #43 Waterford (1795) 

St John's Lodge #90 Greenfield (1802) (Feb. 20 received charter as St John's #90, duly organized on June 2) 

Malta #106 Malta (1804) 

35

Friendship #118 Milton (1805-1828) 

Union #128 Charlton (1805) 

Farmers #149 Half Moon (1806)- moved to Clifton Park in 1827 

Rising Sun Lodge #185 Northumberland (1809) -Petitioned to move to Saratoga Springs in 1821 

Schuyler #218 Old Saratoga (1813) 

Galway #267 Galway (1816) 

Corinthian #446 Corinth (1825 disbanded in 1826) 

Past Masters of Hamilton Lodge with dates: 

not recorded 1806-1813 

John Ferriss 1814 

Asahel Clark 1815 

Henry Spencer 1816 

Royal Leavens 1817 

Robert Wilkinson 1818 

James White 1818-1820 

Banisher Storer 1821 

James White 1822-1827 

Luben Putnam 1828 

http://books.google.com/books?id=6gQxAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA128&dq=%22Royal+Leavens%22#PPA128,M1 

To Reading, VT, and thence to Granville, NY. 

The brothers Jedidiah and Hezekiah Leavens (Benjamin, BENJAMIN) went, unmarried, to Reading, VT, as early as the year 1779. 

They must have returned to Killingly, for there Hezekiah was married 1785; and there his first child was born the next year. Then he 

took his family to Reading. But apparently he was not satisfied, for he removed to Granville, Washington, New York. There other 

children were born and it was his home till death. He left three sons. 

(1.) Royal Leavens lived at Glens Falls. We understand that he was twice married. The record is incomplete. 

ROYAL LEAVENS (Hezekiah, Benjamin, Benjamin, John, John) d. 5 Oct 1841; m1 Maria Folsom 8 Mar 1814, she d. 30 Sep 1822. 

Their children at Glens Falls, 

John, b. Apr 1815: m. at Mobile Ala., but left no children. 

Addison, b. May 1817: 

Eugene, d. young. 

Maria Susan, m. Dr. Joseph L. Stoddard Aug. 25 1841 at Glens Falls. He m. (2) Mary Baldwin. 

Their children, also at Glens Falls. 

Mary, d. young. 

Eugene, b. NY. 26 Aug 1829 

Helen, d. young. 

Edric, 

Emily, 

Grand Lodge declared Hamilton Lodge Charter forfeited in June of 1834 because the Lodge had failed to report for 6 years. All 

Masonic Lodges in the area ceased to exist between 1826 and 1847 except Greenfield Center. 

Between 1822-1827, a schism occurred between upstate Masons and the Masons in New York City. Upstate Masons felt that 

Grand Lodge should be held in Albany and not in New York City, since Albany was more centrally located. In 1825, Stephen Van 

Rensselaer was elected Grand Master to heal the wounds. Van Rensselaer was a prominent upstate public servant. Early that 

year it was his vote in the U.S. House of Representatives which gave John Quincy Adams a sufficient majority to win election to the 

Presidency. The pact of June 7, 1827 resolved these differences. 

On April 12, 1839, the Village of Glens Falls incorporated. First election of officers was held on June 4, 1839. Elected were John 

Ferriss, Trustee; James Palmeter, Dwight Hitchcock, Assessors; William Peck Treasurer; Orange Ferriss Clerk; Ira Green collector; 

Orange Ferriss Justice of Peace; John Ferriss chosen Pres. of Board of Trustees. 

http://www.qmhs.org/sara-warren/history_of_senate_456.htm 

History of Senate Lodge 456 F. & A. M. – Glens Falls 

In 1857 there was much confusion in the craft. Brothers Enoch Rosekrans and Orange Ferriss demitted from Glens Falls Lodge 

121. At the 121 Annual Communication held on December 16, 1857, Austin Holden also requested a dimit, which was denied 

because he was Master of the Lodge. At that meeting Holden made a motion to form a new Lodge in Glens Falls. The motion was 

withdrawn after much discussion. James Ferguson (one of the early physicians in Glens Falls) made a motion for 121 to surrender 

its charter due to the lack of harmony in the craft. This motion was also withdrawn. A petition to form a new Lodge was sent to 

Grand Lodge without the recommendation of 121. The petition was rejected. 

On January 20, 1858, Avery Tiffany, the first Master of Glens Falls Lodge 121, Enoch Rosekrans and others submitted a petition to 

form another Lodge. 

The Charter members of Senate Lodge were: 

Enoch Rosekrans (then Justice of the Supreme Court 1855-71; District Attorney 1835-45; County Judge 1847-51; Village President 

1855), 

Orange Ferriss (afterward Congressman 1866 - 2 terms ; Appointed Surrogate Judge of Warren Co. by Gov. Seward in 1841, 

served 12 years; U.S. Commissioner of Southern Claims 1871; 2nd Auditor of U.S. Treasury 1888-1891), 

Dr. James Ferguson, 

Keyes Cool (Presidential elector in 1840; presided over meeting at Numan Hall after the fall of Ft. Sumter where it was 

enthusiastically resolved that Glens Falls should do its share in the upcoming struggle.) and Hyman Cool (brothers and leaders in 

the lime and building industries), 

Xurry Maynard (afterward a charter member and Master of Cambridge Lodge #481), 

Samuel Ranger (his family owned a large tract of land in what is now the center of the city), 

Zabina Ellis (pioneer in Warren County journalism). 

36

The Charter was granted on June 11, 1859, and the Lodge first met on the third story of the Fonda & Numan Building on Warren 

Street. 

There is much speculation as to the separation of the two Lodges. During that period, there was social unrest, including two civil 

causes which were being expounded by many of the people in the area supporting the Fraternity. The first was the Temperance 

Movement. Two of the foremost leaders in the area advocating temperance were Austin Holden and Orange Ferriss. 

The Fraternity assisted the Temperance societies which were in the area. Both Sons of Temperance ca. 1850 and the Independent 

Order of Good Templars ca. 1871, had use of the Lodge rooms for meetings. Around 1850 the custom of the day was to hold a 

Masonic meeting, then at its close, those members belonging to the Sons of Temperance would stay on, their non-Masonic 

members entering at this time. Orange Ferriss addressed the Glens Falls Temperance Society on September 15, 1837. 

Section 3 of the original Glens Falls By-Laws reads: "No member or candidate shall be admitted as a member of this Lodge who 

shall make, buy, sell or use as a beverage any spiritous or malt liquors, wine or cider." At a meeting of 121 held 16 Feb 1848, the 

following resolution was adopted: "That the members of this Lodge attend the Temperance Celebration on the 22nd as temperance 

men." A large Masonic group attended the Temperance celebration which was held on 22 Feb 1848. 

The other civil cause was the American Party, sometimes known as the Know-Nothings. The political views of this group were 

extreme, especially with respect to their desires to curtail immigration from foreign countries, and make more stringent our 

naturalization laws, and also a revulsion to the program in our government with respect to slavery. The people associated with this 

group included: Zabina Ellis, editor of the Free Press; Avery Tiffany; James Ferguson; Bethuel Peck. 

Zabina Ellis retired from publishing in 1843. Came out of retirement in 1851, bought The Clarion, which became the Free Press. In 

1854 supported Know-Nothing Party, and continued to do so. 

Nativism began to gain support around 1841. This was chiefly an anti-Catholic movement which grew as the number of Catholic 

immigrants increased and the government began to support parochial schools. 

This movement first came forward as the American Republican Party which was formed in 1843. In 1845 it evolved into the Native 

American Party, and by the early 1850's, changed its name to the American Party. 

The American Party culminated with the nominating of Millard Fillmore for President in 1856. He accepted nomination in a published 

letter from Paris on May 21, 1856. He was also nominated by the Whig Party. The American Party platform as established on 

February 21, 1856, contained a total of 16 points, with the predominant theme "Americans to Rule America". Just before the 

election, it was revised to contain only 8 key points and was substantially toned down. The main issue during the campaign was 

slavery. The anti-slavery contingent abandoned the American Party and jumped to the newly formed Republican Party. 

After their crushing defeat in the 1856 elections, remnants of the American Party and the Whig Party joined to form the 

Constitutional Union Party in the 1860 Presidential election. Abraham Lincoln elected President (Republican). 

It is interesting to note that the first initiates were Frederick Ranger, son of Samuel Ranger who was at one time a member of 

Hamilton Lodge and one time Justice of the Peace; and Leonard McDonald, son of William McDonald, the first initiate in Hamilton 

Lodge on December 22, 1806. 

The first year added 15 new members, among them being Hiram Harris, long the editor of the Democratic weekly paradoxically 

named the Republican, and two no less stalwart Republican local leaders, Jerome Lapham (Chairman Town War Committee 1864- 

65; Member of State Assembly 1865; Village President 1867; State Senator 1862-63) and Meredith Little. 

The first Lodge room was in what was colloquially known as the "Masonic Block" on Warren Street, located where the Vermillia 

market afterward stood. 

Members in public life: 

John Dix Governor of NY 1911-1912; 

Enoch Rosekrans, Justice of Supreme Court (Supreme Court of NY 1855-71); 

James Holden State Historian; 

Daniel DeLong and Austin Holden State Assemblymen; 

E.H. Brereton State Senator; 

George Raley County Judge; 

S.D. Kendrick Mayor of Glens Falls; 

Sterling Higley City Chamberlain; 

Gerald Solomon U.S. Congress; 

Edison Fitch Grand Master of Quebec; 

Congressman Orange Ferriss: County Judge 1851-63, U.S. Congress 1866-71, Commissioner Southern Claims 1871-87, 

Second Auditor of U.S. Treasury 1880; 

Judge Andrew Cheritree Town Supervisor of Luzerne; District Attorney 1871; County Judge 1882-1900; 

Senator Henry E.H. Brereton; 

Assemblymen: 

Austin Holden, 

Jerome Lapham, 

Delcour Potter, 

James Porteous, 

William Cameron (Supervisor of Queensbury 1890), 

Howard Conkling, 

Charles Hitchcock (State Assembly 1899,1900; Supervisor Town of Queensbury, Village Treasurer) 

Loyal Davis (School Commissioner Warren County 1887 & 1900-02; State Assembly 1903-04; Town of Queensbury 

Supervisor 1906-07; County Attorney 1908; Captain Company K, 2nd NY Volunteer Infantry 1898; Lt. Col. 2nd Regiment 

37

N.G.N.Y. 1908; Chairman Warren County Republican Committee 1891-92 & 1902-06; Chairman Glens Falls Republican 

Committee 1908), 

Daniel DeLong, 

Stewart MacFarland 

County Clerks W. Scott Whitney, William VanCott, 

Sheriff Richard Hall 

School Commissioners Adam Armstrong, Daniel Ketchum, Franklin Gunn, 

Mayors Charles Cool, Samuel Kendrick, Orville Smith, 

Postmasters Hiram Harris (Glens Falls Republican), Carlos Morgan, Henry Sherman, 

Col. James Hannah 

Majors John Fassett, John Barker, Buell Streeter (Surgeon during Civil War; U.S. Examining Surgeon for Pensioners 1885- 

1900) 

Lt. Col. John Cunningham (Pres. Glens Falls Insurance Company) 

Captains Robert Hall, Charles Shreve, Henry Clarke, Leonard Howard 

Lts. Edgar Wing, George Wing 

See Also 

• History of Glens Falls Lodge 121 F. & A. M. 

• History of Hamilton Lodge 144 F. & A. M. 

• Moving of the Glen Falls Insurance Company Building 

• The Masters of Senate Lodge 456 F. & A. M. 

Masters 

1859 Enoch H. Rosekrans 

1860-61 Austin W. Holden 

1862-65 James Ferguson 

1866 George H. Bassinger 

1867 A. Irving Sternberg 


1869 William C. B. Stewart 

1870 Daniel F. Cowles 

1871 Austin W. Holden 

1872-73 George W. Conkey 

1874-76 William H. VanCott 


1878 Samuel D. Kendrick 

1879-80 George H. Bassinger 

1881-83 James S. Garrett 

1884 Willis F. Bentley 

1885-87 Alfred G. Farlin 


1891 George W. Conkey 

1892-93 Loyal L. Davis 


1896-97 James A. Holden 

1898-99 Clarence M. Wilmarth 

1900-01 Delbert S. Howe 

1902 Daniel S. Leavins 

1903-04 Charles N. VanTrump 

1905 Loren Parkhurst 

1906-07 Herbert W. Austin 

1908 James W. Bingham 

1909 John H. Barker 

1910 Thomas H. Carlisle 

1911-12 Charles H. Hamilton 

1913 John F. Bickley 

1914 Clifford B. Hall 

1915-16 Powel J. Smith 

1917 Russell M.L. Carson 

1918 Ray N. Menzies 

1919 Ralph W. Hamilton 

1920 Mortimer Lapham 

1921 Daniel F. Imrie 

1922 David A. Solly 

1923 Floyd A. Crannell 

1924 Ernest B. Wright 

1925 James S. Perkins 

1926 Earle H. Stickney 

1927 William H. Barber 

1928 Robert A. Leeret 

1929 Seward T. Potter 

1930 King T. Hutchinson 

1931 Chester L. Higgins 

1932 William H. Burnham 

1933 Albert E. Rennie 

1934 Fred W. Hamilton 

1935 Herbert E. Ellsworth 

1936 Ralph B. Baker 

1937 Francis J. McCourt 

1938 Kenneth E. McKinney 

1939 Charles K. Denny 

1940 A. Coolidge Thomas 

1941 Karl E. Sand 

1942 Marquis R. Cleghorn 

1943 H. Walter Monroe 

1944 LeRoy J. Perry 

1945 Erwin E. Speer 

1946 Avery L. Bullen 

1947 Charles W. Maileff 

1948 Charles I. Fielding 

1949 Arthur S. Haynen 

1950 Russell K. Landry 

1951 Thomas F. Allen 

1952 Randolph F. Jaeger 

1953 Harold R. Van Scoy 

1954 John A. Dunn 

1955 John O. Webster 

1956 Ernest A. Duffany 

1957 T. David Chesler 

1958 John C. Lockhart 

1959 Walter E. Bell 

1960 James A. Conklin 

1961 F. Donald Flewelling 

1962 Charles Sebert 

1963 Waters W. Braman 

1964 Russell A. Stone 

1965 Llewellyn S. Wells 

1966 Samuel Greenawalt 

1967 James A. Davidson 

1968 George H. Savale 

1969 Edison E. Wells 

1970 Robert W. Imrie 

1971 Henry M. Ashton 


1973 Raymond E. Bailey 

1974 Robert A. Rabe 

1975-76 Michael I. Brody 

1977-78 Jerry R. Howe 


1980-81 Richard White Jr. 

1982-83 Bruce S. Imrie 

1984-85 Karl J. Smith 

1986 Walter F. Barden 

1987 John O. Webster 

1988 George F. Sartwell 

1989 Frank Dumas 

1990 Patrick H. Morton 

1991 Raymond H. MacDonald 

1992 Allan M. Bryant, Sr. 

1993-95 Aldo A. Ghirarduzzi 

1995-96 Robert A. Rabe 

1996-97 Richard White Jr. 

1997-99 Keith Whalley 

1999-2000 Robert Seavey 

MOUNT MORRIS LODGE, NO. 122, MOUNT MORRIS, N. Y. 

The warrant in possession of the Lodge is dated June 5, — 

The first number was 316; it became No. 122 in 1847. 

MINUTES: All minutes previous to the year 1855 were destroyed by fire. 

Mount Morris Lodge, No. 316, was organized in 1818, and as all and papers relating to this Lodge are missing, but little is known its 

affairs; even the time when it ceased to work is unknown. 

It was in existence until about the year 1826, and, in all probability, it suffered the fate of others which were forced to succumb to the 

bitter hatred and persecution occasioned by the Morgan affair. 

The charter members of the Lodge were: 

38

Abraham Camp. 

Enos T. Baldwin. 

Eli Lake. 

John Conroy. 

Philetus Reynolds. . 

David A. Miller. 

Horatio Reed. 

David A. Person. 

Aaron Adams. 

Jacob Reynolds. 

It was not until the winter of 1846-47 that a successful effort was made to revive Masonry in Mount Morris. On March 4, 1847, a 

petition was prepared, asking for a dispensation, which was issued, and at a session of the Grand Lodge, held June 3, 1847, the 

Committee on Warrants reported that the dispensation had been returned, and recommended that a warrant be granted. On June 9, 

1847, the warrant was granted. 

The signers to the petition were: 

William D. Morgan. 

John Vernam. 

Joseph Favor. 

Eli Lake. 

Alfred Dean. 

Henry Maxwell. 

Ebenezer Damon. 

Elias B. Driggs. 

Walker M. Hinman. 

Prentice Pendleton. 

George G. Williams. David A. Miller. 

The charter named as officers: 

William D. Morgan, Master; 

Henry Maxwell, Senior Warden; 

Walker M. Hinman, Junior Warden. 

The petition had the indorsement of Phoenix Lodge, No. 115, signed by: 

M. Brown, Master; 

Javan Bradley. Senior Warden; 

Joseph W. Richardson, Junior Warden; 

Jervis P. Beach, Secretary. 

THE DISPENSATION. 

"By the Most Worshipful John D. Willard, Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York: 

"WHEREAS, It has been represented to me that BROS. WILLIAM D. MORGAN, JOHN VERNAM, JOSEPH FAVOR, ELI LAKE, A. 

J. DEAN, HENRY MAXWELL, E. DAMON, ELIAS B. DRIGGS, WALKER M. HINMAN, PRENTICE PENDLETON, GEORGE G. WILLIAMS 

and DAVID A. MILLER, Master Masons of Mount Morris, in this State are desirous of being formed into a Lodge and 

their Memorial to that effect being duly recommended by the officers of Phoenix Lodge, No. 115, of Dansville, and the 

several petitioners vouched for by our well-known and Worshipful Brother, MERRITT BROWN, as worthy and well 

qualified Master Masons. 

THEREFORE BE IT KNOWN: That I, having full confidence in the aforesaid brethren, and being desirous of extending the light and 

advantages of a well regulated Lodge to said brethren and those who may be found worthy to unite with them in sustaining the 

Masonic Institution in its useful and honorable work, do hereby authorize and empower the petitioners aforesaid to meet together as 

a regular Lodge of Master Masons, admit members, form a code of by-laws and do all such acts and things as have been and ought 

to be done by Lodges under dispensation, and for this purpose I do hereby appoint our Worthy and Well-beloved Brother, WILLIAM 

D. MORGAN, Master; HENRY MAXWELL. Senior Warden, and WALKER M. HINMAN. Junior Warden, of said Lodge, to be held in 

the town of Mount Morris, in the County of Livingston, in this State, to be known as Mount Morris Lodge, until the first day of June, 

A.D. 1847, A.L. 5847, or until the dispensation for any irregularity in the conduct of said Lodge, be recalled by me or by the Grand 

Lodge at any intermediate time, and I do hereby enjoin upon said Mount Morris Lodge a strict observance of the Constitution and 

regulations of the Grand Lodge, and I direct that previous to, or on the first Tuesday of June next, this dispensation be returned to 

the Grand Secretary, with a copy of the records of the Lodge, their by-laws and a registry return of members and the amount of 

dues accruing thereon, with the names in full in a plain hand for registry. 

Given at the City of Troy and sealed with my private seal on 

the 30th day of March A.D. 1847, A.L. 5847. 

By the Most Worshipful Grand Master, 

JOHN D. WILLARD, Grand Master. 

Attest: 

R. R. BOYD, Grand Secretary. 

The Lodge first met in the Green Building, remaining here several years, when it moved to the Empire Block; on June 22, 1873, this 

building was destroyed by fire and the Lodge lost all of its property, including the warrant. 

The Grand Lodge ordered a duplicate warrant June 5, 1875. 

The next meeting place was in the Eagle Block, where it remained until December, 1873, when it moved to the Mills Block, 

remaining here but a short time when it returned to the restored Empire Block. 

On February 10, 1889, this building was again destroyed by fire, and the Lodge was for the second time without a home, its property 

gone up in smoke and flame. 

Shortly after this the Lodge secured quarters in the Mayer Block, where it remained until June 1896, when it again moved, this time 

to quarters which had been especially designed for its use in the building known as the Masonic Block; these quarters were 

dedicated by M.'.W.'. WILLIAM A. SUTHERLAND June 29, 1896. 

The Lodge has been unfortunate in losses by fire. In 1854 its first warrant was burned in a fire, and its present warrant is the third 

one it has had since 1847. 

39


William A. Sutherland. Grand Master. 

Charles W. Bingham, Jr. Grand Deacon. 

MASTERS. 

1847. William D. Morgan. 

1848. Henry Maxwell. 

1849. William D. Morgan. 

1850. John N. Hurlburt. 

1851. Elias B. Driggs. 

1852. Judson C. Goodrich. 

1853. Henry Wells. 

1854. Lorin Coy. 

1855. John Vernam. 

1856. John Vernam. 

1857. Charles L. Bingham. 




1861. Archibald McArthur. 

1862. McNeil Seymour. 

1863. McNeil Seymour. 

1864. James Yeomans. 


1866. Lorin Coy 


1868. Theodore T. Swan. 



1871. Charles W. Stephens. 






1877. Lorin Coy. 

1878. W. H. Humphrey. 



1881. H. M. Dayfoot. 



1884. William A. Sutherland. 

1885. Charles W. Bingham. 

1886. Charles W. Bingham. 

1887. F. S. Peer. 

1888. John M. Hastings. 

1889. Lewis O. Santmire. 

1890. Lewis O. Santmire. 

1891. John H. Burtis. 

1892. John H. Burtis. 

1893. Frank B. Dodge. 

1894. Frank B. Dodge. 

1895. Edward R. Creviling. 

1896. Thomas Hudson. 

1897. Thomas Hudson. 

1898.F. H. Moyer. 

1899.F. H. Moyer. 

1900. John C. Dickey. 

1901.William Povall. 

1902. Charles W. Welton. 

1903.Harry R. Porter. 

1904. Albert C. Olp. 

1905. Frederick J. Bowen. 

1906. Francis McConnell. 

DUNDEE LODGE, NO. 123, DUNDEE, NY 


The first name was Reading, which it retained until June 4, 1858, when it was changed to Dundee. 

MINUTES: Not intact. In 1860 all records were destroyed by fire, and again on January 29, 1900, all records and property were for 

the second time destroyed by fire. 

The Lodge was organized in 1823. It was located at Starkey (now Lakemont) about two and one-half miles from Dundee. The first 

Master was HOSEA PALMER It continued to work until 1830, when, in common with so many Lodges in Western New York, it 

succumbed to the ill-effects of the Morgan excitement. 

Upon its revival in 1847, Dr. HOSEA PALMER was again selected as Master; SAMUEL KRESS, Senior Warden, and JOHN T. 

ANDREWS, Junior Warden. 

Its first meeting place was in the Hamlin Block, where it remained until the fire which destroyed its quarters in 1860; the next 

meeting place was in the Harpending Block, where it remained until 1869, when it moved to the Kingsley Block ; here it remained 

until 1900, when for the second time its property was consumed by fire. After the fire it secured quarters in the building where it is 

still located. These rooms were dedicated by M.'.W.'. CHARLES W. MEAD, Grand Master, January 3, 1901. The occasion attracted 

a large gathering. Addresses were made by the Grand Master; R.'.W.'. GEORGE S. STUBBS. District Deputy Grand Master; R.'.W.'. 

WALLACE BUTTRICK, Grand Chaplain; R.'.W.'. FRANK H. ROBINSON, Senior Grand Warden, and R.'.W.'. S. NELSON SAWYER, 

Junior Grand Warden. 

The Lodge was present at the laying of the corner-stone of the People's College at Havana, in 1853; at the laying of the cornerstone 

of the Home at Utica, May 21, 1891, and at the laying of the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple at Geneva, June 2, 1898. 

On April 24, 1889, the Lodge held Jubilee services. The Grand Master's address was read by the Master, THEODORE M. 

HORTON, and an oration was delivered by R.'.W.'. REV. D. T. VAN DOREN. 


Theodore M. Horton, District Deputy Grand Master. 

Edward M. Sawyer, District Deputy Grand Master. 

MASTERS. 

1847. Hosea Palmer. 

1848. Samuel Kress. 

1849. John T. Andrews, Sr. 

1850. Stephen Toby. 

1851. Edward Hongland. 

1852. Peter McKey. 

1853. Richard Huson. 

1854. Samuel K. Huson. 

1855. John T. Andrews. 

1856. Samuel K. Huson. 

1857. Richard Huson. 

1858. E. W. Rogers. 




1862. James A. Chapman. 

1863. John H. Shaw. 



1866. James Spicer. 



1869. Uriah Hair. 


1871. Darius R. Perry. 


1873. Marcus M. Roleson. 



1876. Myers T. Webb. 

1877. Myers T. Webb. 

1878. Joseph F. Gibbs. 


1880. G. Anson Beam. 




1884. Luther M. Hair. 

1885. Luther M. Hair. 

1886. Henry V. L. Jones. 

1887. Henry V. L. Jones. 

1888. Theodore M. Horton. 

1889. Theodore M. Horton. 

1890. Charles Goble. 

1891. Edward M. Sawyer. 




1895. Edwin Jessop. 


1897. John S. Thompson. 



1900. James E. Ruddick. 





1905. Albert T. Beardslee. 

1906. Albert T. Beardslee. 

ST. PAUL'S LODGE, NO. 124, AUBURN, N. Y. 

The warrant is dated June 10, 1847, and is signed by JOHN D. WILLARD, Grand Master, and RORERT R. BOYD, Grand Secretary 


The name or number has not been changed. 

40

Previous to the advent of St. Paul's Lodge, No. 124, a Lodge had existed in Auburn under the same name, but numbered 265. This 

extinct Lodge received its warrant July 10, 1816; its records are missing and but little is known concerning its affairs. 

The first recorded meeting of the organizers of the present St. Paul's Lodge was held April 1, 1847, in Mechanics Hall, at the then 

village of Auburn. ISAAC SISSON was elected Chairman, and DAVID M. SEAVER, Secretary. 

The second meeting was held in the office of Rathborn and Sherwood, 112 Genesee Street, on April 9th. There were present at this 

meeting: 

Jonas White, Jr., 

Warren Cronk, 

A. Matson, 

H. G. Fowler, 

W. G. Simpson, 

Harvey Wilson, 

Isaac Sisson, 

Nathan Sittser, 

Thomas J. Winsor, 

Henry Reynolds, 

Samuel S. Graves, 

Amasa Curtice and 

William Wade. 

At this meeting the name of the Lodge was decided upon, and WILLIAM HOLMES was selected as Master; HARVEY WILSON, 

Senior Warden, and DANIEL M. SEAVER, Junior Warden. 

The third meeting was held at the Court House on the evening of April 13th. At this time but little was done and they adjourned to 

meet again at the same place on April 19th, when a committee was appointed to apply for a warrant or dispensation. 

The first meeting as a Lodge under dispensation, which was granted April 22d, was held at the Court House on April 26th, 1847. 

At this meeting a petition for degrees was received from AHIBA RICHARDSON, ''ho was the first person to be initiated, passed and 

raised in the Lodge. 

On July I4, 1847, the following officers, who had previously been elected, were installed by ORSAMUS DIBBLE, a Past Master of 

Sylvan Lodge, No. 41, who was accompanied by a delegation from that Lodge: 

William Holmes, Master; 

Harvey Wilson, Senior Warden; 

Daniel M. Seaver, Junior Warden; 

Hislop G. Fowler, Treasurer; 

William Wade, Secretary; 

Saul Taylor, Senior Deacon; 

Thomas J. Winsor, Junior Deacon: 

Henry Reynolds, Tiler. 

At a session of the Grand Lodge held June 3, 1847, the Committee on Warrants made a report in favor of granting the petition of the 

Lodge for a warrant, and on June 10th it was issued. 

The first meeting after the warrant was issued was held on June 14th. The first business which presented itself was of a charitable 

character; action was taken toward securing funds for the purpose of paying the tuition of the son of a deceased Mason in the 

village Academy. 

The Lodge was duly constituted and the officers installed by W.’. ORSAMUS DIBBLE, of Sylvan Lodge, No. 41, on July 14, 1847. 

A memorable meeting was held February 26, 1904. The District Deputy Grand Master of the 30th Masonic District, R.'. W.'. 

CRARLES M. ADAMS, visited the Lodge; the third degree was conferred, and every office and station in the Lodge was filled by a 

clergyman. It was truly a red letter day in the history of the Lodge. 

On numerous occasions it has participated in ceremonies of a public character; it was present at the laying of the corner-stone of 

the Powers Library at Moravia, July 24, 1880; the dedication of the Masonic Hall at King Ferry, October 20, 1881; the laying of the 

corner-stone of the High School at Ithaca, September 2, 1884; the laying of the corner-stone of the U. S. Government Building at 

Auburn, October 20, 1888; the laying of the corner-stone of the Home at Utica. May 21, 1891; the laying of the corner-stone of the 

Masonic Temple at Seneca Falls. October 24, 1902; the memorial services in honor of President, BRO. JAMES A. GARFIELD, 

September 25, 1881; the memorial services of President, BRO. WILLIAM MCKINLEY, September 19, 1901, and the dedication of 

the monument erected to the memory of Rev. BRO. J. BYRON MURRAY, D.D.. 

Grand Chaplain of the Grand Chapter, R. A. M., September 10, 1903. 

A prized relic in possession of the Lodge is the Master's Jewel worn by R.'.W.'. WILLIAM HOLMES, the first Master. It was 

presented to the Lodge by his daughter, Mrs. Emma Brinkerhoff, February 23, 1906. 

A complimentary entertainment and banquet for the wives and families of the members of the Lodge was given on February 28, 

1906. An address was delivered by R.'. W.'. BLIN S. CUSHMAN, District Deputy Grand Master of the 30th Masonic District. 

The first meeting place of the Lodge was at 45 and 47 Genesee Street, where it remained until August 30. 1858, when it moved to 

79 and 81 Genesee Street, remaining here until October 1, 1869. when it moved to Masonic Hall, 7 Exchange Street, where it still 

remains. 

The Lodge has had among its adherents many who have been prominent in various walks of life; some of them have gained 

distinction by election to public office. One of the active and prominent members is FREDERICK COSSUM, who has been Secretary 

for nearly thirty years. In September, 1861, while but a youth in his teens, he enlisted in the Seventy-fifth Regiment, N. Y. S. 

Volunteers: he participated in numerous engagements, and was several times wounded; at the siege of Port Hudson he was 

promoted for bravery and commissioned First Lieutenant. He has been active in G. A. R. affairs for many years, and was Senior 

Vice-Commander, Department of New York. 

Among those who have been in public office were: 

Thomas Y. How, Mayor, 

William Shapcott, Alderman. 

Congressman. 

Daniel W. Thorpe. Alderman. 

Charles H. Stewart, Col. U. S. Army. Frank J. Stupp, City Recorder. 

Frank H. Griswold, Major NYSNG. 

Hanson R. Cross, Alderman. 

Amasa J. Parker, County Judge. 

William I. Donnell, Police 

Commissioner. 


William Holmes, Junior Grand Warden. 

Amasa J. Parker, District Deputy Grand Master. 

James H. H. Hoskins, District Deputy Grand Master. 

41

MASTERS. 

1847. William Holmes. 




1851. Harvey Wilson. 




1855. William Shapcott. 

1856. Daniel W. Thorpe. 



1859. Thomas Y. How. 

1860. Thomas Y. How. 

1861. George W. Brown. 

1862. George W. Brown. 

1863. James H. Hoskins. 




1867. William R. Jones. 



1870. Henry W. Leonard. 

1871. Frank H. Griswold. 

1872. Frank J. Stupp. 





1877. Thaddeus Townsend. 

1878. Thaddeus Townsend. 

1879. H. Laurence Storke. 

1880. J. Burt Graves. 

1881. J. Burt Graves. 

1882.Doney M. McKay. 

1883. S. Curtis Cooley. 

1884. S. Curtis Cooley. 

1885. Armstides Dayton. 

1886. Armstides Dayton. 

1887. J. Lee Bundy. 

1888. J. Lee Bundy. 

1889. John J. McCord. 

1890. John J. McCord. 

1891. Amasa J. Parker. 

1892. Ransom R. Cross. 

1893. Sheldon Vorhees. 

1894. Sheldon Vorhees. 

1895. E. B. Peck. 

1896. E. B. Peck. 

1897. E. B. Kidder. 

1898. John T. Leach. 

1899. William I. Donnell. 

1900. William H. Foord. 

1901. Ernest F. Penny. 

1902. Ernest F. Penny. 

1903. Wilfred Cottle. 

1904. William H. Mosher. 

1905. Harry M. Platt. 

1906. Warren E. Harding. 

EASTERN LIGHT LODGE, NO. 126, GREENE, N. Y. 

WARRANT: The warrant is dated September 2, 1812, and is signed by DEWITT CLINTON, Grand Master. 

NUMBER: The first number was 208; it received its present number in 1847. 

MINUTES: Intact from organization. 

Eastern Light Lodge was organized in 1810. The following is the petition: 

“To the Right Worshipful, the Grand Lodge of the State of New York: 

“We, your petitioners, being members of regular Lodges, are most of the members of Western Light Lodge, having the prosperity of 

the Fraternity at heart we are willing to exert our best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of Masonry, we being 

remote from any other Lodge and for the convenience of our respective dwellings and for other good reasons we have agreed to 

form a new Lodge to be named Eastern Light Lodge; that in consequence of this petition we pray for a warrant of constitution to 

empower us to assemble as a regular Lodge in the town of Greene, County of Chenango, and State of New York, to discharge the 

duties of Masonry in a regular and constitutional manner according to the original form of the Order and the laws of the Grand 

Lodge. We have nominated and do recommend ISAAC ROSA to be the first Master and LEVI FARR to be the first Senior Warden, 

and JOSHUA JACKSON, to be the first Junior Warden of the said Lodge, and that a dispensation may be granted to PETER B. 

GARNSEY Esq., of Norwich in said County, to install the officers thereof. 

"If the prayer of the petitioners be granted we promise strict conformity to all the Constitutional Laws and Regulations of the Grand 

Lodge." 

GREENE, July 10, 1810." 

Jos. L. Robbins. Joseph Jutland. 

Russell Rosseter. Norman Harrison. 

Timothy Clark. 

Asa Whitney. 

Horatio Warner. 

Asahel Olmsted. 

Jonathan Phelps. James Anderson. 

Jacob Cook. 

Esek L. Hartshorne. 

The petition has the indorsement of Western Light Lodge, signed by JOSHUA BAKER, Secretary. 

The dispensation was issued 20 Sep 1811, signed by DEWITT CLINTON, Grand Master, and JOHN WELLS, Grand Secretary. 

The first meeting was held at the public house of Herman Carter, on the Genegantslet, about two miles west of the present village of 

Greene, on October 31, 1811. There were present: 

Isaac Rosa, Master; 

Levi Farr, Senior Warden; 

Robert Monell, Junior Warden; 

Timothy Clark, Treasurer; 

James Anderson, Secretary; 

Asa Whitney. 

Senior Deacon; 

Namon Harrison, Junior Deacon; 

Asahel Olmsted, Tiler; 

Jonathan Phelps, 

Horatio Warner, 

Elisha Smith, 

Abel Case, 

Smith Bradley, 

Daniel Gates, 

Orrin C. Dow, and 

Thomas Lyon. 

The Lodge met regularly until August 20, 1812; during this time nine candidates were initiated. 

The first meeting after the warrant had been granted was held at Heman Carter's. October 1, 1812, when the officers were installed. 

The following is the report of the installing officer: 

BINGHAMTON, 18 Oct., A. L. 5812. 

Sir.—In pursuance of a dispensation granted for that purpose. I did on the first day of the present month assemble together the 

brethren of Eastern Light Lodge, No. , in the town of Greene, County of Chenango, and proceeded to constitute said Lodge and 

install the several officers, agreeable to the ancient and established usages of the Order. I am with much respect yours, &c., 

W. J. WELLS, ESQ., G. Sec't'v. 

TRACY ROBINSON, 

Master of Tioga Lodge, 

No. 97. 

On this occasion an address was delivered in a school-house by DR. ROBINSON, who for several years was County Judge. He 

died at Binghamton. NY, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. In a sketch of the Lodge, written in 1872, the author, Wor. 

WILLIAM D. PURPLE, says of him: "The writer has often met him at the head of his Lodge with his clear ritualistic head covered with 

whitened locks of an octogenarian winter, imparting instruction to the uninformed and dispensing light to those who were in 

darkness. He often visited our Lodge after its resuscitation and took a lively interest in its prosperity." 

42

The following excerpt from this sketch throws some light upon the conditions which prevailed in this sparsely settled country during 

the early life of the Lodge: 

“A large majority of the members lived from four to seven miles from the Lodge room. 

"A portion of them came on horseback, but more on foot. The Lodge was held in a room on the second floor of a country tavern, 

directly over the bar-room. It was located at Geneeantslet Corners, as the most important central point in this vicinity. There they 

had a grist-mill, a saw-mill, a store, a distillery and a tavern. The Lodge contracted with Heman Carter, proprietor of the tavern, to 

furnish the room for their accommodation, furnish fuel and five tallow candles to light the same when necessary, for twelve dollars a 

year, for three years. 

"In the meantime the village of Greene, on the Chenango River, had made some progress; had become more central, and in 

January, 1816, the Lodge was removed to the place now occupied by the "Chenango House" in that village. At neither place had 

they anything that deserved the name of ante-room, and the Tiler's place was at the head of the stairs. The Lodge was invariably 

called from "labor to refreshment" during the communication, when the members all repaired to the dining-room where they stood 

around a table supplied with bread, butter, cheese, cakes, pies, etc., never forgetting one or more kinds of ardent spirits. 

This refreshment was deemed necessary after their long walk or ride. 

They met at three o'clock in the summer, and six in the winter. It was the duty of the Stewards to order the refreshments according 

to the number present, and to collect twelve and one-half cents from each member and pay it over to the host." 

The Lodge continued to meet regularly until 1826 when, owing to the excitement and hostility produced by the Morgan episode, 

meetings were only occasionally held, and these were of an informal character, as the members were in fear of being mobbed in 

case they convened in regular Lodge, so fierce was the bitter hatred that " no Mason was exempt, no matter how pure his life, or 

exemplary his social conduct, if he was unfortunately a member of the Fraternity, or over had been and did not publicly renounce 

and join in this 'holy crusade' against his brethren, he was branded as a murderer and unworthy of respectable association." 

Finally, after several years of persecution, it was deemed advisable to surrender the warrant, which was done in 1831, and Masonry 

as an organization ceased to exist in that vicinity. 

For fifteen years the lights remained extinguished and the sound of the gavel was unheard, but the spirit of faith and hope which had 

found lodgment in the breasts of these true and tried Masons still survived, and after the storm had spent its fury and persecution 

had exhausted itself a revival of the Lodge was determined upon; preliminary meetings were held in 1846 which resulted in sending 

the following petition, asking for a restoration of the warrant, prepared in 1847: 

"To the Most Worshipful, the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. 

"The memorial of the undersigned respectfully represent that they are members of Eastern Light Lodge, No. 208. which was 

formerly in the town of Greene, Chenango County, NY; that said Lodge was always in good standing with the Grand Lodge until the 

Morgan excitement, when, in consequence of the difficulty of working satisfactorily, and of the increasing clamor of the great public 

against the institution of Masonry, they were forced to resign their charter and jewels to the Grand Lodge until the aspect of the 

times should become more auspicious and better suited to the advancement of our ancient Order. That time your memorialists are 

now induced to believe has arrived, and they would therefore most respectfully petition the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge that their 

charter and jewels be restored and the Lodge be allowed to resume its work with all the ancient rights, privileges and immunities. 

"Dated, Greene, Chenango County, N. Y. 

"May 28, A. L. 5847." 

E. Rathbone. Levi Farr. 

Robert Monell. 

Warren Gray. 

C. E. Barnard. John S. Avery. 

Aug. Willard. 

The petition was received by the Grand Lodge, and on June 3, 1847. The Committee on Forfeited Warrants made the following 

report, which was adopted: 

"That they have under consideration the petition of the former members of Eastern Light Lodge, No. 208, in Greene, Chenango 

County, for a revival of their warrant and a restoration of their jewels. It appears from their petition that in consequence of the anti- 

Masonic excitement it was deemed most prudent and most for the interests of the Fraternity to cease work for a season and they 

accordingly surrendered their warrant in 1831. 

"The members of this Lodge all stood firm in their integrity and they believe the fit time has now arrived for the resuming of their 

labors. The applicants are personally known to the M.'.W.'. Grand Master and they are vouched for by him as men of character and 

respectability, and one of the petitioners, the HON. ROBT. MONNELL, late Circuit Judge of the Sixth District. 

"The committee recommend that, on the payment by the said Lodge of one year's dues, their warrant be restored to them and that 

they be authorized to hold an election of officers and resume their work." 

Accompanying the petition was a letter to the Grand Master from AUGUSTUS WILLARD (both on file in the Grand Secretary's 

office) in which he makes a personal appeal for the return of the warrant. He says: "We do not and never have supposed that our 

charter was in any manner forfeited; it was, as we understood the matter, only returned because of the Morgan excitement which 

actually prevented us from going on with business. 

"So long as the state of public feeling would allow we continued our work, and when we could do so no longer we resigned our 

charter and jewels. ... I wish to repeat that we do not consider our charter to have been forfeited, but simply surrendered for the 

time, because under the circumstances of the times it was absolutely impossible for us to act." 

The author of the foregoing letter was a cousin of the Grand Master, John A. WILLARD, who was made a Mason in Eastern Light 

Lodge No. 208, in 1825. 

The old warrant was restored, but the number of the Lodge was changed to 126. The first meeting was held at Odd Fellows' Hall, 

near the canal, in the village of Greene, February 10, 1848. LEVI FARR, the first Master under the charter, presided, and the 

following officers were elected and installed: 

Augustus Willard, Master; 

Warren Gray, Junior Warden; 

Robert Monell, Senior Warden; 

43

Charles E. Barnard, Treasurer; 

John S. Avery, Senior Deacon ; 

Elijah Rathbon, Secretary; 

Levi Farr, Junior Deacon. 

Shortly after this meeting the building in which the Lodge had quarters was destroyed by fire, and it was compelled to cease work 

until January, 1849. 

The by-laws adopted in 1848 contain some interesting provisions. The following are a few extracts: 

Article I, Section 5. It is the duty of every officer and member to see that the Lodge closes in due season, and in no case later than 

nine o'clock in the evening, and then to return in regular and sober manner to their dwellings. 

Article III. Section 1. At every monthly communication each visitor after his second visit shall pay to the Stewards twelve and onehalf 

cents. 

Article IV, Section 11. In case where a simple majority only is required the Master shall be allowed a casting and no other vote. 

Section 5. No subject or question relative to the policy or government of our Country shall ever be introduced into the Lodge or 

discussed in it. 

Since the revival of the charter in 1847 the Lodge has been prosperous and has enjoyed a steady and healthy growth. 

Upon the payment of the "Great Debt" it held Jubilee services on 24 April 1889: the exercises consisted of singing, reading an 

address from the Grand Master, and an address by REV. BRO. ALEXANDER H. ROGERS, Chaplain of the Lodge. 

The Lodge was represented at the laying of the corner-stone of the Home at Utica, 21 May 1891, and at the dedication, 5 Oct 1892. 

It was also present at the laying of the corner-stone of the Travelers' Home at Binghamton, NY. 


Augustus Willard, District Deputy Grand Master. 

John N. Willard, Grand Master. 

Robert P. Barnard, District Deputy Grand Master. 

William D. Purple, Grand Steward. 

Leroy G. Martin, District Deputy Grand Master. 


Levi Farr, Civil Magistrate. 

Robert Monell, Assemblyman, Congressman, Supreme Court Judge. 

Elisha Smith, Judge of Common Pleas. 

Francis B. Fisher, Assemblyman. 

Warren Gray, Civil Magistrate. 

Charles Josslyn, Civil Magistrate, Postmaster. 

Charles B. Miller, Assemblyman. 


1812. Levi Farr. 



1815. Samuel A. Skeel. 

1816. Elisha Sadd. 


1818. Robert Monell. 


1820. Warren Gray. 





1825. Warren Gray. 







1848. Augustus Willard 



1851. William D. Purple 



1854. John A. King 

1855. Stoddard S. Nichols 

1856. A. Hunt Smith 



1859. Robert P. Barnard 




1863. George W. Baker 

1864. George W. Baker 

1865. W. B. Race 

1866. Marcus M. Wood 


1868. John W. Osgood 


1870. Curtis Winston 



1873. Marcus I. Hotchkiss 



1876. Edgar J. Arnold 

1877. Edgar J. Arnold. 

1878. Robert P. Barnard. 


1880. Marcus M. Wood. 




1884. Erastus S. Walker. 


1886. A. B. Holcomb. 

1887. John H. Stevens. 

1888. John H. Stevens. 

1889. Truman H. Jackson. 



1892. James A. Harrison. 


1894. Albert McGee. 

1895. Albert McGee. 

1896. James A. Harrison. 

1897. Edward Hughes. 



1900. William D. Morse. 

1901. William D. Morse. 

1902. John Lumbard. 

1903. John Lumbard. 

1904. Leroy G. Martin. 

1905. Leroy G. Martin. 

1906. Walter D. Lyon. 

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/FARR/2001-06/0993858781 

American Biographical Library - The Biographical Cyclopædia of American Women - Volume II 

American Biographical Notes - The Chicago Historical Society, page 136 

FARR, LEVI, M. D., b. in Pittsfield, MA, 22 Jul 1787; studied with his brother Jonas, of Minden, NY, was licensed in 1806 and settled 

the next year at Greene, Chenango, NY, where he d. 18 Jul 1859, (Tr. N. Y. St. Med. Soc., 1850, p. 174.) He married Mercy Fanny 

Bradley, who was born in Kent, CT, 14 Feb 1787; died 28 Feb 1847. 

http://www.artmakers.com/chenango/history/greene.html 

Captain Samuel A. SKEEL settled near Birsbin, on the west side of the river. He was a surveyor and afterwards became a 

Universalist minister. He was a man of fine native endowments, conspicuous mental vigor and strong reasoning powers. He 

removed to the western part of the State about 1830 and pursued his calling in the ministry until his death in 1856. 

44

He married Eleanor(or Ellen) (CATOR) BARTLE, who was a widow when she married Samuel. They had son, DeWitt C. SKEEL b. 

1825 in the town of Greene, Chenango Co. 

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cassb/CASS/i0000421.htm 

Aaron Carter was born in Kent, Litchfield, CT 10 Aug 1791. Aaron died 4 May 1875 in Felton, Kent, DE, at 83 years of age. He 

married Achsa Sadd in Greene, Chenango, NY, 15 Feb 1813. Achsa was the daughter of Elisha Sadd and Hepsibah Osburn. 

Aaron was owner and captain of a canal boat. Elisha SADD, b. ca 1754, one of the first settlers in the town, was an early merchant 

at Genegantslet. He died in Greene in 1827, aged 73. The first postmaster was probably Dr. Levi FARR. He held the office several 

years, till his removal to the village of Greene in 1825. He was probably succeeded by Elisha SADD. 

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000853 

MONELL, Robert, a Representative from New York; born in Columbia County, NY, in 1786; pursued classical studies; studied law; 

was admitted to the bar in 1809 and commenced practice at Binghamton, NY; moved to Greene, Chenango County, in 1811 and 

continued the practice of his profession; member of the state assembly in 1814 and 1815; elected as a Republican to the Sixteenth 

Congress (4 Mar 1819-3 Mar 1821); again a member of the state assembly in 1825, 1826, and 1828; district attorney of Chenango 

County in 1827; elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-first Congress, and served from 4 Mar 1829, until 21 Feb 1831, when he 

resigned; circuit judge of the sixth circuit 1831-1845; clerk of the state supreme court in 1846; resumed the practice of law; died in 

Greene, Chenango, NY, 29 Nov 1860; interment in Hornby Cemetery. In 1837 he was promoted as a ‘brigade major and inspector.’ 

A daughter, Catherine D, married Nathan Randall of Greene, 12 May 1831; they removed to New York City. Another daughter, 

Jannett P., died 31 Oct 1831 at Great Bend, PA, age 15. 

http://www.yatescounty.org/upload/12/historian/may71.htm 

18 May 1871 - Died in this village (Yates County) on Thursday the 11th inst., George P. Monell, at the age of 51 years. Mr. Monell 

has long been a resident of this town, and well known to the people. He was born in Greene, Chenango Co., and was a son of 

Judge Robert Monell, an eminent jurist under the Constitution of 1821. He married Henrietta, the youngest of the children of the 

late Abraham Wagener, Esq., and has since been a citizen of this town….His residence for a few years past has been on a farm in 

South Milo, and recently in this village…. 

Monell, James s/o Robert Monell of Greene, NY, died at Mobile, Ala. age 23 years. 

Monell, Joseph D. s/o Robert Monell, died at Greene, NY 10 Mar 1843 age 20 years. 

http://www.lostvalleys.com/chenango/history/greene.html 

Levi FARR, M.D., was born in Pittsfield, MA, 8 Jul 1787, and removed to this town from Montgomery county in 1807. He settled first 

at Genegantslet, where he married Mercy Fanny, daughter of David BRADLEY, an early settler in that locality. He entered at once 

upon the active duties of his profession, and pursued them with untiring zeal and devotion to the interests of his patrons, who were 

widely scattered over a large section of sparsely settled country, mingling with his professional services kindly counsel and advice, 

which were as eagerly sought and for which he was not less highly respected. He "filled a large space in the public mind, and is 

gratefully remembered by his contemporaries." He removed to this village in 1825, and died here 22 Jul 1859. From his youth he 

was troubled with imperfect vision, and about 1840 became entirely blind. He accumulated a very handsome property, and gave by 

his will $4,000 as a permanent fund for the benefit of the common school in this village. He enjoyed in a large degree the confidence 

of his fellow-townsmen, who often elected him to positions of trust and responsibility. He was a Magistrate in the town for a number 

of years. 

October 11, 1831, at a meeting of Chenango County Medical Society, Dr. Farr read a dissertation on the character, symptoms, 

treatment, and probable origin of small-pox as it presented itself in the county the previous season. 


Amos GRAY and Samuel WHEELER settled in 1794, the former one-half mile below Brisbin, and the latter on the site of the village, 

on the east side of the river, where he died. Gray, who was blind, was a brother of Elder Jeduthan Gray, who organized at 

Genegantslet, in 1807, the Second Baptist Church Society of Greene, of which he was for twenty-five years the pastor. The Grays 

were from Berkshire county, Mass. Amos died where he settled. His children were: Jeduthan, 2d., who, after attaining his majority, 

about 1807, removed to Greene village, where he kept the hotel on the site of the Chenango House, and removed West about 1810 

or 1812; Enoch, who kept at Brisbin, in 1796, the second school house in town, teaching some ten winters in succession, and lived 

and died in Greene village; and Amos, who lived on the homestead till well advanced in years, when he removed to Greene village, 

where he died 9 May 1868, aged 77. Warren and Bethuel were sons of Elder Jeduthan Gray, who settled on a farm between 

Greene and Genegantslet in 1807, and removed about 1825 to northern Pennsylvania, where he died, in 1830, at an advanced age. 

Warren possessed a highly intellectual and judicial mind. He enjoyed a large share of personal popularity, and held various town 

offices, among them that of Magistrate for fifty consecutive years. He was b. ca 1785 and died in Dec 1868, aged 83. Bethuel died 4 

Feb 1866, aged 79, and Cornelia, his wife, 7 Jul 1869, aged 75. Asa WHITNEY, William PORTER and Warren GRAY commenced 

business under the name of Whitney, Porter & Gray about 1822, and continued about a year. 

History of Greene 


Augustus WILLARD, M.D., was born in 1800, and was the eldest son of Samuel Willard, M.D., of Stafford, CT, who was graduated 

at Harvard college in 1787. He received a good common school and academic education and entered upon the study of medicine 

with Dr. THOMAS of Cooperstown. In 1821 he entered the office of Dr. Charles JOSLYN, of Greene, and there, and at Harvard 

Medical college, where he was graduated in 1823, completed his preparatory medical studies. He was graduated with a class of 

about forty and received the prize for the best Medical thesis. In 1824, at the written solicitation of a number of its citizens, he 

located in the village of Greene, where his strong intellectual powers, studious habits, critical research, and undivided application to 

professional duties soon gave him prominence among his contemporary practitioners. His long and exemplary professional career 

fully merited the generous confidence reposed in him by the entire community as an honest, upright and skillful physician. In his 

professional associations the County, State and National associations felt the influence of his talents and his ardent devotion to their 

interests. He was elected President of the State Medical Society, at the semi-centennial anniversary of that organization in Feb., 

1857, and in 1858, he delivered the annual address before that Society, in the Assembly Chamber. Dr. Willard was a conspicuous 

and devoted member of the Masonic fraternity and was rewarded with its highest honors. His obsequies were numerously attended 

45

and conducted by members of that fraternity, the services being rendered by M. W. G. M., Clinton F. PAIGE of Binghamton. He died 

March 12th, 1868, aged 68, and Catharine S., his wife, April 3, 1845, aged 38. 

C. Cameron Willard, M.D., son of Augustus Willard, M.D., was born Nov. 4th, 1828, and studied medicine with his father. He was 

graduated at New York, and practiced here about three years preceding his death which occurred Sept. 24th, 1862. 

“The History of the Descendants of John Dwight, of Dedham, Mass,” page 687. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=ovXIlXPw8scC&pg=PA687&lpg=PA687&dq=%22augustus+willard%22+%22chenango%22&sour 

ce=web&ots=Mt4-OnyTvy&sig=YG9Io6scuisu3gxMUDJHGVg0HZc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result 

[Sixth Generation.] 

4618. v. Samuel Willard, M.D. (son of Rev. Dr. John Willard of Stafford, Ct., and Lydia Dwight), b. Dec. 26, 1766, grad. at Harvard in 

1787, in. Aug. 1798, Abigail Perkins (dau. of Isaac Perkins of Ashford, Ct. and Tamiseu Chaplin). He was a physician at Stafford, 

Ct., and was the proprietor of a mineral spring of some note in that place. He d. in Cincinnati, O., Feb. 10, 1820. She d. in Greene, 

N. Y., Feb. 22, 1839. 

[Seventh Generation.] Children : 

4658. i. Augustus Willard, M.D., b. June 29, 1799, d. March 12, 1868. 

4659. ii. John Willard, b. June 0, 1806, d. unmarried Nov. 9, 1847, at Barker, NY, ae. 41, a man of decided intellect and strong 

character. 

4660. iii. Martha Emilia Willard, b. Nov. 16, 1808, m. Frederic W. Meloy. 

4658. i. Augustus Willard, M.D., b. 29 Jun 1799, grad. in his medical studies at Dartmouth. He m. 12 Dec 1827, Catharine Scaife 

(Scarfe) Ringer, b. 15 Sep 1806 (d/o John Ringer of Geneva, NY, and Isabella Mullender). She d. 3 Apr 1845, and he m. for 2d wife, 

19 Aug 1850, Laura Perry of Oxford, NY, b. 22 Oct 1813 (d/o John Perry and Mary Welch). He was a physician at Greene, 

Chenango, NY, where he d. 12 Mar 1868. He was an efficient gatherer of facts for this work, in respect to his branch of the family. 

[Eighth Generation.] Children, by first wife: 

i. Charles Cameron Willard, M.D., b. 4 Nov 1828, pursued his medical studies at "The NY College of Physicians and Surgeons," in 

New York. He m. 9 Mar 1853, Julia Ann Palmer, b. 10 May 1831 (dau. of Ira Palmer and Harriet Carter). He was a physician in 

Greene, and d. there 24 Sep 1862, ae. 34. He had one child: Sarah Isabella Willard, b. 12 Jan 1854. 

ii. Mary Isabella Willard; b. 11 Oct 1833. 

iii. Samuel Augustus Willard; b. 9 Aug 1837 

http://olivercowdery.com/smithhome/1877Purp.htm 

Ref: William D. Purple: 

CHENANGO UNION. 

Vol. 30. Norwich, N. Y., Thursday, May 2, 1877. No. 33. 

Joseph Smith The Originator of Mormonism. 

Historical Reminiscences of the town of Afton. 

BY W. D. PURPLE. 

More than fifty years since, at the commencement of his professional career, the writer spent a year in the present village of Afton, 

in this County. It was then called South Bainbridge, and was in striking contrast with the present village at the same place. It was a 

mere hamlet, with one store and one tavern. The scenes and incidents of that early day are vividly engraven upon his memory, by 

reason of his having written them when they occurred, and by reason of his public and private rehearsals of them in later years. He 

will now present them as historical reminiscences of old Chenango, and as a precursor of the advent of that wonder of the age, 

Mormonism. 

In the year 1825 we often saw in that quiet hamlet, Joseph Smith, Jr., the author of the Golden Bible, or the Books of Mormon. He 

was an inmate of the family of Deacon Isaiah [sic] Stowell, who resided some two miles below the village, on the Susquehanna. Mr. 

Stowell was a man of much force of character, of indomitable will, and well fitted as a pioneer in the unbroken wilderness that this 

country possessed at the close of the last century. He was one of the Vermont sufferers, who for defective titles, consequent on the 

forming a new State from a part of Massachusetts, in 1791, received wild lands in Bainbridge. He had been educated in the spirit of 

orthodox puritanism, and was officially connected with the first Presbyterian church of the town, organized by Rev. Mr. Chapin. He 

was a very industrious, exemplary man, and by severe labor and frugality had acquired surroundings that excited the envy of many 

of his less fortunate neighbors. He had at this time grown up sons and daughters to share his prosperity and the honors of his name. 

About this time he took upon himself a monomaniacal impression to seek for hidden treasures that he believed were buried in the 

earth. He hired help and repaired to Northern Pennsylvania, in the vicinity of Lanesboro, to prosecute his search for untold wealth, 

which he believed to be buried there. Whether it was the 

"Ninety bare of gold 

"And dollars many fold" 

that Capt. Robert Kidd, the pirate of a preceding century, had despoiled the commerce of the world, we are not able to say, but that 

he took his help and provisions from home, and camped out on the black hills of that region for weeks at a time, was freely admitted 

by himself and family. 

What success, if any, attended these excursions, is unknown, but his hallucination adhered to him like the fabled shirt of Nessus, 

and had entire control over his mental character. The admonition of his neighbors, the members of his church, and the importunities 

of his family, had no impression on his wayward spirit. 

There had lived a few years previous to this date, in the vicinity of Great Bend, a poor man named Joseph Smith, who, with his 

family, had removed to the western part of the State, and lived in squalid poverty near Palmyra, in Ontario County. Mr. Stowell, while 

46

at Lanesboro, heard of the fame of one of his sons, named Joseph, who, by the aid of a magic stone had become a famous seer of 

lost or hidden treasures. These stories were fully received into his credulous mind, and kindled into a blaze his cherished 

hallucination. Visions of untold wealth appeared through this instrumentality, to his longing eyes. He harnessed his team, and filled 

his wagon with provisions for "man and beast," and started for the residence of the Smith family. In due time he arrived at the 

humble log-cabin, midway between Canandaigua and Palmyra, and found the sought for treasure in the person of Joseph Smith, 

Jr., a lad of some eighteen years of age. He, with the magic stone, was at once transferred from his humble abode to the more 

pretentious mansion of Deacon Stowell. Here, in the estimation of the Deacon, he confirmed his conceded powers as a seer, by 

means of the stone which he placed in his hat, and by excluding the light from all other terrestrial things, could see whatever he 

wished, even in the depths of the earth. This omniscient attribute he firmly claimed. Deacon Stowell and others, as firmly believed it. 

Mr. Stowell, with his ward and two hired men, who were, or professed to be, believers, spent much time in mining near the State line 

on the Susquehanna and many other places, I myself have seen the evidences of their nocturnal depredations on the face of Mother 

Earth, on the Deacon's farm, with what success "this deponent saith not." 

In February 1826, the sons of Mr. Stowell, who lived with their father, were greatly incensed against Smith, as they plainly saw their 

father squandering his property in the fruitless search for hidden treasures, and saw that the youthful seer had unlimited control over 

the illusions of their sire. They made up their minds that "patience had ceased to be a virtue," and resolved to rid themselves and 

their family from this incubus, who, as they believed, was eating up their substance, and depriving them of their anticipated 

patrimony. They caused the arrest of Smith as a vagrant, without visible means of livelihood. The trial came on in the above 

mentioned month, before Albert Neeley, Esq., the father of Bishop Neeley, of the State of Maine. I was an intimate friend of the 

Justice, and was invited to take notes of the trial, which I did. There was a large collection of persons in attendance, and the 

proceedings attracted much attention. 

The affidavits of the sons were read, and Mr. Smith was fully examined by the Court. It elicited little but a history of his life from early 

boyhood, but this is so unique in character, and so much of a key-note to his subsequent career in the world, I am tempted to give it 

somewhat in entenso. He said when he was a lad, he heard of a neighboring girl some three miles from him, who could look into a 

glass and see anything however hidden from others; that he was seized with a strong desire to see her and her glass; that after 

much effort he induced his parents to let him visit her. He did so, and was permitted to look in the glass, which was placed in a hat 

to exclude the light. He was greatly surprised to see but one thing, which was a small stone, a great way off. It soon became 

luminous, and dazzled his eyes, and after a short time it became as intense as the mid-day sun. He said that the stone was under 

the roots of a tree or shrub as large as his arm, situated about a mile up a small stream that puts in on the South side of Lake Erie, 

not far from the Now York and Pennsylvania line. He often had an opportunity to look in the glass, and with the same result. The 

luminous stone alone attracted his attention. This singular circumstance occupied his mind for some years, when he left his father's 

house, and with his youthful zeal traveled west in search of this luminous stone. 

He took a few shillings in money and some provisions with him. He stopped on the road with a farmer, and worked three days, and 

replenished his means of support. After traveling some one hundred and fifty miles he found himself at the mouth of the creek. He 

did not have the glass with him, but he knew its exact location. He borrowed an old ax and a hoe, and repaired to the tree. With 

some labor and exertion he found the stone, carried it to the creek, washed and wiped it dry, sat down on the bank, placed it in his 

hat, and discovered that time, place and distance were annihilated; that all intervening obstacles were removed, and that he 

possessed one of the attributes of Deity, an All-Seeing-Eye. He arose with a thankful heart, carried his tools to their owner, turned 

his feet towards the rising sun, and sought with weary limbs his long deserted home. 

On the request of the Court, he exhibited the stone. It was about the size of a small hen' a egg, in the shape of a high-instepped 

shoe. It was composed of layers of different colors passing diagonally through it. It was very hard and smooth, perhaps by being 

carried in the pocket. 

Joseph Smith, Sr., was present, and sworn as a witness. He confirmed, at great length all that his son had said in his examination. 

He delineated his characteristics in his youthful days -- his vision of the luminous stone in the glass -- his visit to Lake Erie in search 

of the stone -- and his wonderful triumphs as a seer. He described very many instances of his finding hidden and stolen goods. He 

swore that both he and his son were mortified that this wonderful power which God had so miraculously given him should be used 

only in search of filthy lucre, or its equivalent in earthly treasures, and with a long-faced, "sanctimonious seeming," he said his 

constant prayer to his Heavenly Father was to manifest His will concerning this marvelous power. He trusted that the Son of 

Righteousness would some day illumine the heart of the boy, and enable him to see His will concerning him. These words have ever 

had a strong impression on my mind. They seemed to contain a prophetic vision of the future history of that mighty delusion of the 

present century, Mormonism. The "old man eloquent," with his lank and haggard visage -- his form very poorly clad -- indicating a 

wandering vagabond rather than an oracle of future events, has, in view of those events, excited my wonder, if not my admiration. 

The next witness called was Deacon Isaiah Stowell. He confirmed all that is said above in relation to himself, and delineated many 

other circumstances not necessary to record. He swore that the prisoner possessed all the power he claimed, and declared he could 

see things fifty feet below the surface of the earth, as plain as the witness could see what was on the Justices' table, and described 

very many circumstances to confirm his words. Justice Neeley soberly looked at the witness, and in a solemn, dignified voice said: 

"Deacon Stowell, do I understand you as swearing before God, under the solemn oath you have taken, that you believe the prisoner 

can see by the aid of the stone fifty feet below the surface of the earth; as plainly as you can see what is on my table?" "Do I believe 

it?" says Deacon Stowell; "do I believe it? No, it is not a matter of belief: I positively know it to be true." 

Mr. Thompson, an employee of Mr. Stowell, was the next witness. He and another man were employed in digging for treasure, and 

always attended the Deacon and Smith in their nocturnal labors. He could not assert that anything of value was ever obtained by 

them. The following scene was described by this witness, and carefully noted: Smith had told the Deacon that very many years 

before a band of robbers had buried on his flat a box of treasure, and as it was very valuable they had by a sacrifice placed a charm 

over it to protect it, so that it could not be obtained except by faith, accompanied by certain talismanic influences. So, after arming 

themselves with fasting and prayer, they sallied forth to the spot designated by Smith. Digging was commenced with fear and 

trembling, in the presence of this imaginary charm. In a few feet from the surface the box of treasure was struck by the shovel, on 

which they redoubled their energies, but it gradually receded from their grasp. One of the men placed his hand upon the box, but it 

gradually sunk from his reach. After some five feet in depth had been attained without success, a council of war, against this spirit of 

darkness was called, and they resolved that the lack of faith, or of some untoward mental emotions was the cause of their failure. 

47

In this emergency the fruitful mind of Smith was called on to devise a way to obtain the prize. Mr. Stowell went to his flock and 

selected a fine vigorous lamb, and resolved to sacrifice it to the demon spirit who guarded the coveted treasure. Shortly after the 

venerable Deacon might be seen on his knees at prayer near the pit, while Smith, with a lantern in one hand to dispel the midnight 

darkness, might be seen making a circuit around the spot, sprinkling the flowing blood from the lamb upon the ground, as a 

propitiation to the spirit that thwarted them. They then descended the excavation, but the treasure still receded from their grasp, and 

it was never obtained. 

What a picture for the pencil of a Hogarth! How difficult to believe it could have been enacted in the nineteenth century of the 

Christian era! It could have been done only by the hallucination of diseased minds, that drew all their philosophy from the Arabian 

nights and other kindred literature of that period! But as it was declared under oaths in a Court of Justice, by one of the actors in the 

scene, and not disputed by his co-laborers it is worthy of recital as evincing the spirit of delusion that characterized those who 

originated that prince of humbugs, Mormonism. 

These scenes occurred some four years before Smith, by the aid of his luminous stone, found the Golden Bible, or the Book of 

Mormon. The writer may at some subsequent day give your readers a chapter on its discovery, and a synopsis of its contents. It is 

hardly necessary to say that, as the testimony of Deacon Stowell could not be impeached, the prisoner was discharged, and in a 

few weeks left the town. 

Greene, April 28, 1877. 

http://www.lightplanet.com/response/1826Trial/facts.html 

William D. Purple was asked to take notes, and it has been assumed that they are the source of the record in Judge Neely's docket 

book. But for his published record he used his memory. "The scenes and incidents of that early day are vividly engraven upon his 

memory, by reason of his having written them when they occurred". 

Although William D. Purple claims to have told about the trial: "and by reason of his public and private rehearsals of them in later 

years", it is not used to discredit Joseph Smith by any of the anti-Mormon authors until the trial record was published in 1873. 

"Four years before Dr. Purple's account was published the actual trial record taken from Albert Neely's Docket Book was made 

public. This official trial record had been torn from Mr. Neely's book by his niece, Miss Emily Pearsall, and taken to Utah with her 

when she went to serve as a missionary under Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle. Before her death in 1872, Charles Marshall, a British 

journalist visiting Salt Lake City, was shown the document, copied it and upon returning to England published it in Fraser's 

Magazine in 1873. 

http://www.curtisit.com/curtis/wgu12.html#I1136 

Note: William D. Purple, was a medical doctor who practiced medicine in McDonough NY 1830-1840 per McDonough section of 

book History of Chenango and Madison County NY. 

Purple, Edward V (1769 - 1834) b. 1769; d. 1834 

father: Purple, Edward Iv (1746 - 1794) ; mother: Hodge, Mary (1750 - 1846) 

spouse: Cowdery, Lydia (Conway) (1757 - 1856) 

Children: 

Purple, Fanny (1793 - 1834) 

Purple, Thomas T. (1795 - 1880) 

Purple, Sally (1799 - ) 

Purple, William D. (1802 - ) 

Purple, Daniel (1804 - 1825) 

Purple, Lydia (1808 - 1902) 

http://www.curtisit.com/curtis/wgu12.html#I1148 

Purple, William D. (1802 - ) - b. 1802; d. aft 1880 

father: Purple, Edward V (1769 - 1834) 

mother: Cowdery, Lydia (Conway) (1757 - 1856) 

1880 Census. Greene, Chenango, New York 

William D. PURPLE Self M 78 NY Keeps Book Store CT CT 

Julia PURPLE Wife M 75 CT Keeping House CT CT 

Augusta PURPLE Dau S 47 NY At Home NY CT 

Agnes PURPLE Dau S 45 NY Clerk NY CT 

Mary PURPLE Dau S 35 NY Clerk NY CT 

Ann BIRDSALL Aunt W 87 CT At Home CT CT 

William D. Purple, M.D., was born in Burlington, Otsego, NY, 6 Apr 1802. His father was Edward Purple, an early settler in the town 

of Smithville. Dr. Purple commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Charles Josslyn of Greene, in 1820, and remained with him four 

years. He afterwards continued his studies with Arthur Packer and Austin Rouse of Oxford. He was licensed to practice in 1824, and 

entered upon the duties of his profession in Bainbridge, where he remained six years, when he removed to Greene. He practiced 

here till 1853, when he abandoned the medical profession and engaged in mercantile business, which he still continues. Dr. Purple 

possesses a remarkably retentive memory, and his mind is a rich store-house of facts and incidents connected with the early 

settlements in this locality, with which he is probably more conversant than any other individual in the southern part of the county. 

His efforts to rescue from oblivion the intensely interesting facts which enter into the early chapters of the county's history, and which 

are rapidly passing out of the reach of the present generation, are worthy of the highest commendation and of more general 

emulation. He has been a liberal contributor to the periodical medical literature of the country, and in 1849, on the recommendation 

of the State Medical Society, received from the Regents of the University of this State, the Honorary Degree of M.D. 

48

Grand Lodge of New York - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District ...

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