HISTORY OF GLADSTONE, FORMERLY SAGETOWN, MASONIC LODGE & LODGE No. 638

The petitioners for dispensation to form this lodge were Frederic Kemp, Andrew J. Moore, Andrew J. Hedges, A. S. Swartz, William Kemp, W. II.. Bridgeford, A. McFarland, Jesse Kemp, J. B. Fort and Samuel McElheney. The three officers appointed under this dispensation were : A. S. Swartz, first master ; Andrew J. Moore, first senior warden ; Frederic Kemp, first junior warden. Un­der this dispensation the first regular communication was held at Sagetown, Illinois, Monday evening, November 23, 1668, when the master proceeded to fill the remaining offices, viz : A. McFarland, treasurer; A. J. Hedges, secretary ; E. J. Tremble, senior deacon ; Jesse Kemp, junior deacon ; William Kemp, tyler. Names of the stewards were as follows : W. H. Bridgeford and J. B. Fort. The above named officers constituted the lodge. The lodge working under this dispensation was very prosperous, which lasted until October 7, 1869.

The charter of Lodge No. 638, A. F. and A. M., Fortitude Lodge, was granted October 7, 1869, by Harmon G. Reynolds, grand master of the Grand Lodge of A. F. and A. M. of Illinois. The charter members under this charter were : Aram S. Swartz, J. A. Tremble, Samuel McElheney, Alexander McFarland, William Kemp, Peter Meyer, Henry Wenthe, William Zeipe, Erastus Rise, Robert Burris, Stephen M. Gearhart, David L. McMurtry, Samuel Galbreath, Charles A. Martin, W. H. Cook, Thomas G. Richey, William Lant, John A. Bruin, Joseph Nebergall, Daniel McMillin Marshal, Ira Putney, Jr., George Curry, Charles D. Fee.

The first election under this charter was held at Masonic Hall, Sagetown, Illinois, December 20, 1869, when the following officers were elected : E. J. Tremble, worthy master ; W. H. Birdgeford, senior warden ; A. J. Hedges, junior warden ; Alexander McFar­land, treasurer ; Robert Burris, secretary. The master appointed the following officers : S. M. Gearhart, senior deacon ; W. H. Cook, junior deacon ; E. Rise, chaplain ; Peter Meyer, tyler ; and Charles D. Fee, marshal ; Stewards were : Charles A. Martin and Joseph Nebergall. The officers were installed according to ancient form, at the Presbyterian church, by J. Simpson, past master, on the evening of the 25th of December, 1869. On this occasion Thomas H. Benton delivered an excellent oration.

This installation was witnessed by a large and interested audience. The number of members under this dispensation was ten ; under the regular organization, thirty. The highest number attained at any one time was fifty. The present mem­ bership is about thirty-five. Fortitude Lodge was very prosperous up to about 1875, since which time the lodge has lost a great many by moving away and death. A. M. Graham, worthy master ; A. McFarland, senior warden ; George Wilson, junior warden ; Samuel Galbreath, treasurer ; J. S. McFarland, secretary ; M. S. Hooper, senior deacon ; J. H. McFarland, junior deacon ; A. A. Cook, tyler ; Charles Martin and William Kemp, stewards, are the officers at present.

 

 

History of Mercer and Henderson Counties.

 

© Wini Caudell and Contributors

All Rights Reserved

Illinois Ancestors