Faulk County, SD History .....Chapter XXVII - A. F. & A. M. Masons 
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CHAPTER XXVII.

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.



ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.



    Among the first settlers of Dakota Territory were members of this ancient

and honorable order. Yet it was not until 1863 that a charter was granted for

St. John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons at Yankton, under the jurisdiction of

the grand lodge of Iowa, with the following: list of officers:



Melanhen Hoyt, Master. 

Douner T. Bramble, Senior Warden. 

John Hutchinson, Junior Warden. 

Moses K. Kingsbury, Secretary. 

George W. Kingsbury, Treasurer. 

George N. Proper, Senior Deacon. 

F. M. Liebach, Junior Deacon. 

Blight E. Wood, Tyler.



    This was followed by Increase Lodge No. 257 at Vermillion in 1869, Elk Point

Lodge No. 288 in 1870, Minnehaha Lodge No. 328 at Sioux Falls was instituted

that year and in 1875 Silver Star Lodge No. 345 was instituted at Canton.

Delegates from these five lodges met at the hall of Elk Point Lodge on June 22,

1875, and adopted a constitution and by-laws for a Grand Lodge and petitioned

the Grand Lodge of Iowa under whose jurisdiction they were acting for authority

to organize under a separate jurisdiction.



    It was not until the spring of 1887 that any decisive steps were taken to

organize a Masonic lodge in Faulk county.



    The following brethren having obtained their demits from the lodges to which

they belonged, received authority to meet and work under a dispensation from the

Grand Lodge of Dakota Territory, viz:



Ira C. Adams          Charles W. Dunkel

Roswell Bottum        Edward Ensch

John Butman           Charles H. Gardner

I. Allen Cornwell     Jeremiah H. Howe

John Darby            A. D. Hursh

Chalkley H. Derr      Herman A. Kaeppler

John Douglas          George A. Morse

Caleb H. Ellis        Charles C. Moulton

John A. Pickler       Donald W. Pillsbury

Tanson O. Sanborn     A. Smith

Frederick Teed        James H. Wallace

         Preston H. Wilson



    On the 17th of June, 1887. they met at Faulkton and perfected their

organization by the election of officers. While working under a dispensation

sixteen members were admitted. On June the first, 1888, the Grand Lodge of

Dakota Territory granted a charter for Faulkton Lodge No. 95, and on July

5,1888, the first regular communication was held at which brother James S.

Huston, of Redfield Lodge No. 34, having been appointed Deputy Grand Master

instituted the lodge and installed its officers. After appointing John A.

Pickler Grand Marshall he proceeded to install the following officers, they

having been duly elected:



Ira C. Adams, Worshipful Master. 

I. Allen Corn well, Senior Warden. 

George C. Bissell, Junior Warden. 

George A. Morse, Treasurer. 

Charles A. Morse, Secretary. 

H. A. Kaeppler, Senior Deacon. 

H. D. Chamberlain, Junior Deacon.

C. H. Derr, Senior Steward.

D. Bryden, Junior Steward.

D. S. Smith, Tyler.



    Since July 5th, 1888, there has been ninety-four men good and true, made

Masons in Faulkton Lodge No. 95.



    The following officers have been elected and installed for the year 1909:



Hubert L. Headly, Worshipful Master.

Frank T. Reid, Senior Warden.

Clark L. Streeter, Junior Warden.

Alvin M. Moore, Treasurer.

Janies P. Turner, Secretary.

I. Allen Cornwall, Chaplain.

Adelbert J. McDowell, Senior Deacon.

Arthur W. Phelps, Junior Deacon.

William J. Dodds, Senior Steward.

John Dignan, Junior Steward.

William Garrick, Tyler.



    While a number have removed from the county and taken their demits with

them, the grim reaper—Death has made his inroads, so that the present membership

is reduced to seventy-seven.



    After the division of Dakota Territory, North and South Dakota remained

under one Masonic Jurisdiction until 1899.



    Free Masonry has found a very fruitful field in South Dakota, counting among

its members many of the state's most talented, influential and reliable

citizens. Today there are lodges of Free and Accepted Masons and chapters of

Royal Arch Masons.



Additional Comments:
From:



HISTORY OF

FAULK COUNTY

SOUTH DAKOTA

CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS



TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS



ILLUSTRATED

19O9

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