Untitled Document

MASONIC.

Preemption Lodge, No. 755, A.F.A.M., was organized June 27, 1877 , under dispensation, and so held meetings till October 21 of the same year, when they received their charter from the grand lodge. The charter members were W. C. Gray, Henry H. Hayford, James H. Seyler, H. H. Hammond, Wm. Steinhauer, Geo. Bartlett, B. W. Thompson, J. B. Harris, jr., Wm. H. Hickock, Samuel Bailey, S. F. Everett, Geo. C. Gray, Leander Stiles, John Weiler.

The following officers were appointed under dispensation and elected when organized and chartered : Wm. C. Gray, W.M.: James H. Seyler, S.W.; Joseph B. Harris, J.W.; B. W. Thompson, S.D.; Samuel Bailey, J.D.; S. E. Everett, Treasurer; H. H. Hayford, Secretary ; H. H. Hammond, Tyler ; Geo. C. Gray and John Weiler, Stewards. They now have a membership of twenty-six. with seven on the way to full membership. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, with the present board of officers : James H. Seyler, W.M.; W. J. Armstrong, S.W.; H. H. Hammond, J.W.; Wm. Steinhauer, Treas urer ; W. W. Hickock, Secretary. Regular meetings are held on Friday evenings on or before full moon in each month. They have lost one member by death, Bro. Geo. Bartlett, who died in Kansas in 1881.

ORANGEMEN.

Preemption Loyal Orange Lodge No. 132, was organized July 3, 1876, by Matthew Mayne, of Chicago, with the following charter members James Connelly, W.M.; Thomas Doonan, Deputy W.M.; Wm. Holden, Secretary ; John Holden, Treasurer ; Wm. Wilson, Chaplain ; Thomas Wilson, Tyler ; and Thomas J. Armstrong, James Gawley, James F. Johnston, Robert Wadsworth, George Wadsworth, John Wadsworth, James Doonan, James Al1well, John H. Johnston : in all fifteen. There is now a membership of forty.

The first year they held their meetings in the school-house of district No. 2, after which they built a hall on the farm of Joseph B. Johnston, about two miles west of the village of Preemption. D. W. Little is the present secretary. Their established holiday is on the twelfth of July, when they meet, as is to them a time honored custom, and with singing, speaking and martial music commemorate the day when protestantism gained the ascendancy in Ireland at the battle of the Boyne in 1690.

History of Henderson and Mercer Counties

Illinois Ancestors