Martin and Joseph Gross roofing the YMC

Picture by Angie Wright Meyer

 

Societies.

The secret and benevolent societies are well represented here and have a very large membership. Among those represented are the Masons, Odd Fellows, United Workmen, Modern Woodmen, Knights of Pythias, Druids, G. A. R. Posts and Knights of Honor.

Masonic Order

The Masonic Order in Rock Island has about 400 members which help to make up the half million in the United States. The hall in which they meet is over the Rock Island National Bank, and is one of the best arranged and most elaborately finished and furnished of all in the State. The order is in a prosperous and harmonious condition, having two blue lodges, one chapter and one commandery. The board of control of the order in Rock Island, whose duty it is to look after and take charge of its various interests, hall property, etc., is composed of the following members : H. C. Cleaveland, Henry Burgower, A. F. Fleming, John Evans, Dr. W. T. Magill, Alex. Steel, J. M. Montgomery, Henry Carse.

During the early days of the order in this city meetings were held in a small room opposite the Rock Island House on Second Avenue. From this location they moved west to 1,610 Second Avenue, where they had quite a comfortable room. As the order increased in numbers, still better accommodations were required, so a hall was rented that stood upon the site of Harper's Theater building. In 1878 the present Mason ic Temple was made ready for their occupancy. This is one of the finest halls in the State and reflects great credit upon all instrumental in its erection and furnishing. The entire third story is fitted up in an elegant manner. In addition to the large and hand­ some lodge-room there is a parlor, Knights Templars' room, kitchen, dining, waiting and toilet rooms and water-closets—everything that tends to make it comfortable and home-like. A lease was secured for 20 years.

 

Trio Lodge, No. 57, A. F. & A. M., was instituted Oct. 4, 1848, and is the oldest lodge in the city. When first organized its membership was composed of members from Cambridge, Milan and Rock Island. When the other towns had a sufficient number of members lodges were formed in those' places. Now Trio Lodge is confined to Rock Island. The lodge has been and is now in a very prosperous condition, with a membership of 142. One of its number has been honored with office in the Grand Lodge: Henry C. Cleaveland, who was Grand Junior Warden. The present officers are M. M. Briggs. M. W.; G. F. Kramer, S. W.; H. A. Dunker, J. W.; Henry Burgower, Treas.; Wm. B. Pettit, Sec.

 

Fort Armstrong Lodge, No. 186, A. F. & A. M., was instituted Oct. 6, 1856, with seven charter mem­ bers—P. A. Whitaker, W. M.; A. W. Barber, S. W.; S. S. Plummer, J. W. The lodge continued to exist but a few years, and then suspended.

Rock Island Lodge, No. 658, A. F. & A. M., was instituted Oct. 4, 1870, with 26 charter membe.rs. The charter was granted to Moses Rosenfield, W. M.; Charles A. Benser, S. W.. Milton A. Nills, J. W. It has had a prosperous career, and now has a membership of 71. The officers for 1885 were Arthur Borrall, W. M.; J. A. Montgomery, S. W.; James Inglis, J. W. ; J. W. Baker, Treasurer; John E. Fleming, Secretary.

Barrett Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M., was instituted Sept. 30, 1853, with P. A. Whitaker, H. P.; William Paris, King; G. Goldsmith, Scribe. This is the only chapter in the county; therefore it is in a most flourishing condition, having 194 members in good standing

Rock Island Council, R. A. M., was chartered Oct. 4, 1866, with 35 charter members. It ceased to hold meetings some years ago.

Everts Commandery, No. 18, K. T.,was instituted Jan. 4, 1866, with nine charter members. It has been quite prosperous, with a present membership of 116, and the following-named officers: H. C. Cleve­ land, E. C.; James M. Montgomery, Generalissimo; M. M. Briggs, C. G.; W. S. Parsons, Rec.; W. T. Magill, Treas.; J*. Frank Robinson, Prelate; O. F. Soper, S. W.; C. Denkman, J. W.

Odd Fellowship is established in this city, with three subordinate lodges, one Encampment and uni­ formed Degree Camp, and one lodge of the Rebecca Degree. All meet in Odd Fellows' Hall, corner of Second Avenue and i8th Street, except Hecker Lodge, which meets over No. 1901 Second Avenue.

Rock Island Lodge, No. 18, is the oldest lodge of this order in Rock Island, having been instituted July .4, 1846. Its meetings are held on Monday evenings of each week. The present membership of the lodge is 144, and it is in excellent condition in every way.The following-named were its officers in the fall of1885: H. N. Crippen, N. G.; George W. Reaugh, V. G.; W. B. Hancock, R. S.; Charles Engel, P. S.; W. L. Sweeney, Treasurer.

Ucal Lodge, No. 608, was instituted March 9,1876, with 12 charter members. It has had a prosperous career, and is now in fine working order. But one of its members has been removed by death, though there has been much sickness among them. The lodge financially is sound, having at present $U,ooo in the treasury. One of its members, James F. Van Horn, has been honored with office in the Grand Lodge. The present membership is 70, with the following-named officers : Charles Guldingopp, N. G.; Chris. Einfeld, V. G.; W. V. Stafford, R. S. ; James VanHorn, P. S.; M. S. O'Neil, P. S.

Rock Island Encampment, No. 12, was instituted November, 1848, with seven charter members. Its conditions has uniformly been good, those uniting having the work at heart and doing all in their power to advance its interests. The present membership is 70, and the present elective officers are A. H. Grimm, C. P.; W. H. Scott, H. P.; J. W. Herbert, ; J. F. Van Horn, Scribe; C. B. Knox, Treasurer; C. Engle,

Star U. D. Camp, No. 9, I. O.O. F., was instituted May 9, 1883, with 21 charter members. Its present membership is 26, and all supplied with handsome uniforms. The camp is in good working order, meet­ ing on the 2d and 4th Saturday in each month. ]. W. Stack is the present Commander; J F. Van Horn. Vice Commander; B. F. Knox, Secretary; C. B. Knox, Treasurer.

Rebecca Degree Lodge, No. 73, I. O. O. F., is in flourishing condition, having about 40 members. Its officers in the spring of 1885 were: B. F. Knox, N. G.; Mrs. J. F. Van Horn, V. G.; Mrs. W. T. Sug- den, Secretary; C. B. Knox, Treasurer.

The Ancient Order of United Workmen in this State had its beginning in Rock Island, and in the city it has, from the organization of its first lodge, been very successful, and has a large aggregate membership. The different lodges have always occupied the same hall. They first met in a hall below the Rock Island House, and remained there three years, moving from thence to a hall on the corner of Second Avenue and Seventeenth Street, where they also remained three years, since which time they have been meeting in their fine hall, on the corner of Third Avenue and Sixteenth Street. The upper rooms were specially arranged for the use of the order, having parlor, kitchen, dining and ante rooms, in addition to the regular lodge rooms. The rooms were fitted up at a cost of over $1,000.

Noble Lodge, No. i, A. O. U. W., was instituted Nov. 18, 1874, with 27 charter members. T. W. Russell was the first Master. The lodge has had a prosperous existence, and now numbers 98 members in good standing. Its officers for the last half of 1885 were: Chris Danielson, P. M. W. ; Ira C. Peck, M. W.; George L. Gorman, Foreman ; E. H. Barker, Overseer; Chris Oswald, Recorder; John Russell, Financial Secretary ; F. T. Hill, Receiver. Six deaths have occurred among its members: Frank D. John­ son, O. S. Grinereed, Edwin Sutcliff, George Zeigler, Axel A. Bodinson and T. A. Frey.

Island City Lodge, No. 4, was instituted April 23, 1875, with 9 charter members. For a time the lodge worked slowly, as the people had to be educated to a knowledge of the order and its principles; but it has had a gradual increase in membership. Two of its members have held office in the Grand Lodge—- E. W. Boynton, G. M. W., and E. G. A. Solander, Grand Recorder

Germania Lodge, No. 6, was instituted Sept. 18, 1875, its members being confined to those speaking the German tongue. It has a present membership of 76, and is in a highly prosperous condition. E. Krell, a member of the lodge, has been Grand Re­ ceiver of the Grand Lodge. The lodge has lost seven of its members by death. The principal officers at present are Victor Beck, M. W.; Charles Rolls, G. F.; Rudolph Schwecke, O.; Robert Koeh- ler, Recorder; F. Rudolph, Receiver.

Black Hawk Lodge, No. 81, was instituted May 31, 1877. Like the other lodges in this city, it is in good working condition, with a membership of 46.

Eureka Legion, No. 27, Select Knights, was instituted Oct. 6, 1883, with 15 charter members.

St. Pauls, No.117, Knights of Pythias, was organized in July, 1882. Its meetings are held every Friday evening, in the A. O. U. D. Hall, Star Block. The order is in a nourishing condition in this place.

Gen. John Buford Post, G. A. R., was organized May 30, 1883. It has a large and rapidly increasing membership, the old soldiers of the city taking great interest in the work of the order.

Imperial Lodge, No.1,237, Knights of Honor, was organized Oct. 30, 1878. This lodge is doing well, and numbers among its members some of the best citizens of Rock Island.

The O-Sau-Kee Tribe, No. 15, Improved Order of JKed Men, was organized in April, 1879, and holds regular meetings in their hall every Wednesday eve­ ning.

Knights of Labor. —Freedom Assembly, No. 1,957, Knights of Labor, was organized in 1882, and meets in hall on corner of 17th Street and Third Avenue.

Rock Island Lodge, No, 169, I. O. B. B., was organized Jan. n, 1872, and holds its regular meet­ ings the first and third Sunday in each month. In the spring of 1885 the following named were its officers: Louis May, Pres.; J. E. Goldsmith, Vice- Pres.; H. Regensburger, Rec. Sec. ; I. Bainberger, Treas.

Rock Island Grove, No. 28, U. O. A. ., was instituted April, 1872. It has now 108 members, and holds its meetings every Thursday in their hall in Star Block. Ils officers in the spring of 1885 were: Jacob F. Ohlweiler, N. A.; Jacob Schillinger, V. A.; Chas. Oito, Sec.; August Schneid, Treas. This Grove has a maennerchor in connection.

 

The Rock Island Mutual Building, Loan and Savings Association was incorporated July 10, 1880, and since then has proven of great benefit to the men of small means and enabled many to secure lots and homes who would not have done so but for its inducements. It has a capital of $500,000 and 600 members, many of the leading and substantial citi­ zens of the place being included in this list. Officers : Alex. Steel, Pres.; Lothar Harms, Vice-Pres.; E. H. Guyer, Sec.; J. Frank Robinson, Treas.; M. E. Sweeney, Attorney or Solicitor.

Frederick Muench Lodge, No. 496, D. O. H.,was organised June, 1884, and is composed entirely of those speaking the German language. It has 35 members, its object being benevolence in its widest sense. Its meetings are held the first and third Friday in each month at 1609 Second Avenue. Its present officers are: Henry Kruse, O. B.; Christ. Limburg, U. B.; August Herkert, D. D. G. B.

The Rock Island County Medical Society was organized in the spring of 1884, and meets the first Tuesday of each month in the Board of Education rooms, Post office Block. The following physicians are its officers in 1885 : James Cozad, Pres.; Warren Hunter, Treas.; Geo. L. Eyster, Sec.

The Iowa and Illinois Central District Medical Association was organized in 1868, and has 60 members. It meets quarterly, alternately in Rock Island and Davenport, January, April, July and October. Its present officers are: M. B. Cochrane, Pres.; G. G. Craig, Vice-Pres.; A. W. Cantwell, Treas.; Geo. L. Eyster, Sec., having held this position since 1876.

The Arion Singing Society was organized November, 1881, and has at the present time 34 members, although at one time it had 85. Its object is voice culture and mutual entertainment, and it is in a finely organized and flourishing condition. Meetings are held every Wednesday night, corner First Avenue and i8th Street. Its officers in the spring of 1885 were: Gottlieb Beck, Pres.; Henry Peetz,Vice- Pres. ; Joseph Huber, Treas. ; John Westphal, Sec.; Emil Jacobsen, Librarian.

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Twin City Lodge, No. 29, was organized in 1880, and has now 83 members. Its officers in the spring of 1885 were : James B. Lidders, Master; Win. Clark, Vice-Master; J. M. Colburn, Financial Secretary ; Samuel Nichols, Chaplain.

Division No. 106, O, R. Conductors, was organized . 3, 1884. Its meetings are held the first Monday and third Sunday in each month, in Star Block. A. S. Craig, C. C.

Brotherhood of Brakemen. —Island City Lodge, No. 11, Brotherhood of Brakemen, was organized June 24,1884. Its meetings are held the second Monday and fourth Sunday in each month. In the spring of 1885, J. W. Quinn was Master, and T. J. Flanigan, Secretary*

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. —Rock Island Division, No. 60, was organized Dec. 6, 1864, and has a large membership. Its meetings are held the first Sunday and third Saturday of each month. In 1885 James Ewing was C. E., and P. H. Wells, Secretary and Treasurer.

Deborah B Society meets on call at 1610 Second Avenue, its officers being Mrs. J. Rosenfield, President; Mrs. J. Levy, Vice-President; Mrs. B. Cohn, Secretary; Mrs. J. Bear, Treasurer.

Ancient Order of Hibernians was organized in 1881 and has 40 members, its object being " Friendship, Unity and True Christian Charity." Meetings are held first Sunday of each month over 1806 Sec­ ond Avenue. Its officers are at present: David Fitzgerald, President; John Mulcahy, Vice-President; John Mulligan, Recording Secretary; Pierce Kane, Financial Secretary; John O'Neil, Treasurer; Morris Mulcahy, County Delegate.

St. Patrick's Benevolent Society is another flourishing organization and holds meetings the second Sunday in each month at the Catholic Church school- house. The officers in the spring of 1885 were: Patrick Kinney, President; Thomas Shea, Treasurer; Martin F. O'Reilly, Secretary.

The Western Catholic Union has two branches, St. Joseph's and a German, the former meeting the second Tuesday of each month, its officers being: J. W. Cavanaugh, President; G. L. Wynes, Recording Secretary; Chas. J. Larkin, Financial Secretary; John Brennan, Treasurer.

St. Luke's Cottage Hospital is a new and one of the beneficial institutions of the city, its object being to care for the indigent sick and maimed people irrspective of sex, nationality, color or religious creed. The movement was started by the ladies of Trinity Episcopal Church, aided by other benevolent persons of the city, and the entire building has been fur­ nished by donations from the citizens. It is located at ' 915 Second Avenue, and following are the officers of the medical staff: D/. Thomas Gait, President; Dr. C. Truesdale, Vice-President; Dr. Geo. L. Eyster, Secretary.

The Rock Island County Bible Society was estab­lished May 31, 1844, and although it has no president at this writing yet it is doing a commendable work under those exemplary Christian gentlemen—E. W. Spencer and J. W. Stark, Secretary and Depositary respectively.

The Young Mens Christian Association has its rooms over 1719 Second Avenue, where general meetings are held the first Tuesday in each month at 7:30 p. m., and directors' meetings the last Tuesday in each month. Officers: Frank Nadler, President; A. M. Bruner and F. H. Kaupke, Vice-Presidents; Geo. P. Lyman, Secretary; J. D. Warnock, Treasurer.

Woman's Christian Temperance Union meets at the above rooms the first Tuesday in each month at 3:30 p. m. Mrs. H. Kingsbury, President; Miss Ella Taylor, Secretary; Miss Belle Fleming, Treasurer.

The Rock Island Business Men's Association is an organization instituted by a number of the leading citizens, its object being the promotion of the interests of the city in every possible way. I. W. Stewart is President, and J. Frank Robinson, Secretary.

The Rock Island Turn-Gemeinde was founded in April, 1857, and became an incorporated society in 1869. The society has erected in the rear of the hall a fine brick building, 50 by 30 feet, at a cost of $2,000, and used as a gymnasium, Theodore Bessing, an accomplished gymnast, being the paid instructor. The society numbers 75,among whom are a large portion of the best educated and liberal German citizens. The hall is located at 1518 and 1520 Third Avenue, and rented by him for public entertainments when not used by the turners. Officers: Julius G. Junge, President; C. J. W. Schreiner, Vice-President; Albert D. Huesing, Secretary; G. Otto Hickstaedt, Treasurer.

Historic Rock Island

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