TAZEWELL COUNTY, NC - MISCELLANEOUS - Harman Lodge #222 Information ============================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the North Carolina USGenWeb Archives by: Karen Eagle Moman arizonaeagle@qwest.net ============================================================================ Alexander Waltham (Alex) Tabor, Master Mason of Harman Lodge #222, (Graham) Bluefield, Tazewell County, Virginia, 1887 - 1888 and Other Harman Lodge Data. Compiled by Karen EAGLE Moman Clinch Valley News Tazewell, Tazewell County, Virginia Friday, July 25, 1902 Submitted from Italy Leaks A. W. TABOR, the brightest Blue Lodge Mason in this part of the section, was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason 30 years ago July 25. Also twenty-four years ago to the very day he received the mark of Masters Degree which was conferred upon him by Dr. Jas. O’Keeffe in another state. Dr. A. M. is a (pillar) of information in Masonic circles, and a more zealous Mason never passed through the mysteries of this great order. [A. W. Tabor was the Master of Harman Lodge # 222 in 1877-1888. Alexander Waltham ‘Alex’ Tabor, s/o Amos H. Tabor & Cynthia McPherson. I believe Dr. A. M. to be a typo. I have seen A. W. Tabor referred to as a doctor in other articles but I have no proof that he was a doctor other than those times he was mentioned as such and each time in the News. Alex Tabor’s brother, Sidney J. Tabor was a medical doctor. In the1900 Tazewell County, Clear Fork District, Virginia Census Alexander Tabor was listed as a Miller. I have taken artistic license and put capital letters where, in this article, I thought they needed to be placed]. Friday, August 1, 1902 Submitted from Italy Leaks DR. A. W. TABOR , of Falls Mills, paid our camp a visit last Monday evening dining with us at Little Italy hotel. [I have not seen Alex Tabor referred to as a doctor anywhere but in the Clinch Valley News. Other mentions of Dr. A. W. Tabor, or his occupation]: Friday, March 10, 1905 From Taborsville, Va., March 9 DR. A. W. TABOR, of Falls Mills, is suffering a great deal with rheumatism this week. We hope to see him out again soon. Friday, March 24, 1905 Submitted from Taborsville, Va., March 22 A. W. TABOR, the post master, who has been ill for some time with rheumatism, is we are sorry to say, getting worse. …….. Friday August 22, 1902 Submitted from Italy Leaks The oldest Mason in the march at Harman Lodge last Sunday in Graham was A. W. Tabor, of Falls Mills. While his companion second in age was L. J. Barbee, of Graham. These two gentlemen are great pillars of information in Masonic circles in this section. [Lee J. Barbee, Sr., b. Jan 1862 was the Master of Harman Lodge # 222 from 1895-1896, and he and his wife, Fannie, had a son Lee J. Barbee, Jr., who married Myrtle Belle Wagner, d/o James Henry Wagner & Cassie Ellen Belcher . James Henry Wagner, s/o Rev. Adam Edward Waggoner & Juline Elinor Tabor who was the d/o Francis Tabor & Mary SHRADER]. …… Friday August 22, 1902 Submitted from Italy Leaks Our friend A. W. Tabor, say not only is his heart in the Masonic work at Graham, but there are other enterprises which (are) equally as interesting. This leaves us room to judge for ourselves, we will keep an open eye on the doctor in the future. [Here, once again, A. W. Tabor is referred to as a doctor. Perhaps someone can help with this riddle- why was he called a doctor? Keep in mind that this next article was a matter of fun between friends] Friday, September 5, 1902 Falls Mills, Va., August 27 Your Italy correspondent wrote us up as being the oldest Mason of Harman Lodge that was in the procession at Graham last Sunday week. We thought for some time he was a little jealous of us, now we are convinced (he should) have said that we were the oldest member(s) instead of the oldest Mason(s). [I continue to get the biggest kick out of these Masonic brothers, which they must have been, "hooting" at one another, in a manner, where all of Tazewell County, Virginia was able to enjoy]. Additional Harman Lodge Data Harman Lodge N. 222 A. F. and A. M. (Ancient Free & Accepted Masons) Bluefield, Tazewell Co., VA. Brief History of the first 100 years. [A "Brief History" was issued to members in 1966 when George E. Kidd was the Most Worshipful Grand Master and Worshipful Eugene E. Fanning was the Master of Harman Lodge]: The lodge was granted its charter, signed on 12 Dec., 1866, when Edward H. Bane was the Grand Master of the state of Virginia. Action taken to create this lodge was from Masonic Lodge No. 62 at Jeffersonville, Tazewell Co., VA., [Now Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA]. Those who signed this petition were: John S. W. Neel Z. S. Witten John A Calfe Wm, F. Neel G. P. George J. Mosby Davis Wm. L. Graham "Harman Masonic Lodge No. 222 A. F. and A. M. (Ancient Free and Accepted Masons) is now located in Bluefield, Tazewell County, Virginia, but met on Bluestone through the year 1882, when it moved to Graham, [now Bluefield,Virginia]. The lodge met the first Saturday of each month in a log building on the top of the hill between the Alex St. Clair and the Tiffiney homes, near where, in 1966, the old St. Clair School stood at St. Clairs Crossing. The current building was started in 1895 after a fire destroyed the frame building in which it had been meeting at Graham, VA. C. W. Anderson was the Master in 1895. The cornerstone was laid in the new building on July 2, 1895. The Lodge was named in honor of: COL. EDWIN HOUSTON HARMAN, s/o Erastus Granger Harman & Sarah Bane, who was born February 13, 1835, in the Bluestone Valley, Tazewell County, Virginia. He was the son of Erastus Granger Harman, on of the first-born of that section of the county. On the 2nd of April 1861 Erastus married Miss Jennie King at the bride’s home on Back Creek, Pulaski County, Virginia; a few days thereafter (he) entered the Virginia Infantry. In the Spring of 1862 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment. He was a daring and accomplished soldier and officer; and it was strangely decreed by fate that he should fall in battle but a few miles distant from the place where he won his bride three years previously. On the 9th of May 1864, Colonel Harman was mortally wounded at the battle of Cloyd’s Mountain, and died from the wound two days later. His dust now rests in a hero’s grave in Thorn Spring Cemetery, about six miles west of where he fell in battle. The first Worshipful Master, of Harman Lodge, was Zachariah S. Witten. ALEXANDER WALTHAM "A. W." TABOR served as Master of Harman Masonic Lodge No. 222, in 1887-1888. Bailey-Bane-Shrader-Sluss-Tabor-Wagner Kin: Members of the Tazewell County Masons Listed in the 1966 Brief History of The Harman Lodge #222: J. E. BAILEY- I believe to be James Elwood Bailey, Sr., s/o James/Joseph Garland Bailey & Vicie Virginia Wagner, d/o Paris Witcher Wagner & Patria Ann Perdue. J. E. Bailey married Edna Morefield, d/o Charles & Rosa Morefield J. E. BAILEY, Jr- I believe to be the son of J. E. Bailey -above. James Elwood Bailey , Jr., married Betty Sarver but I have not been able to find the name of her parents. C. E. BANE- I believe to be Claude E. Bane, s/o William Howard Bane & Alice Dora Shrader, d/o Francis Marion "Pet" Shrader & Rachel Maloney Harman. * William Howard Bane the brother of Sidney Clay Bane and Charles Stewart Bane. Francis Marion Shrader of the Henry Shrader, Sr., line R. E. BANE- Roy E. Bane, s/o William Howard Bane & Alice Dora Shrader. See family line of C. E. Bane. Roy is a brother of Daniel Carr Bane. Roy E., Claude E. & Daniel Carr Bane (Brothers) are nephews of Charles Stewart Bane & Sidney Clay Bane. Sidney C. BANE- Sidney Clay Bane, s/o Joseph Howard Bane & Rachel Cammillie Whitten. Sidney married Callie M. Tabor, d/o Allen P. Tabor. Sidney Clay Bane is a brother of Charles Stewart & William Howard Bane. D. C. BANE- I believe to be Daniel Carr Bane, s/o William Howard Bane & Alice Dora Shrader (William Howard Bane a brother of Sidney Clay Bane & Charles Stewart "Sidney' Bane). Alice Dora Shrader of our Henry Shrader, Sr., line. LEE J. BARBEE, Sr.,- Master 1895-1896, a son, Lee J. Barbee, Jr., married Myrtle Belle Wagner, d/o James Herny Wagner & Cassie Ellen Belcher L. L. BEARD- Lacey Lindsey Beard, s/o Johnson Chapman Beard and his first wife, Margaret Stevenson (Margaret was of the Mudfork Stevenson family that lived up behind William Tracy Bailey & Viola Mae Chandler-known as Mae). M. BUNDY BEARD- Marvin Bundy Beard, s/o Johnson Chapman Beard and his second wife Priscilla Thurman Beard. M.Bundy (known as Bundy) Beard WALTER J. FINK,- Master 1911. Walter, was the s/o James C. Fink & Cynthia M. Dudley. C. W. HEDRICK- A possibility that this was Charles Hedrick, b. abt. 1898, and the s/o Benjamin L. Hedrick & Mary Jane Tabor who was the daughter of James Russell Tabor & Martha Jane Havens. Perhaps someone can verify this link. W. D. MARRS- A Possibility that this was William Dudley Marrs, b. July 1989/90 and the s/o Patrick Frazier "Patton" & Mary A. Marrs. Patrick Frazier Marrs was the s/o Henry Harvey Marrs & Lucinda Jane "Lucy’ Shrader of the Henry Shrader, Sr., line. Perhaps someone can verify this link. C. W. MATTHEWS- Charles Wesley Matthews, Sr., a CSA Civil War veteran who lived to be 102. This Matthews family is related to John Everett Beard. Charles Wesley "Wes" Matthews , Sr., married Cynthia Cregar who was a daughter of Montgomery Cregar and his first wife, Susan Felty . Another daughter of Montgomery Gregar and his first wife was Mary Frances Cregar who married Arthur Wiley "Amos" Phillips. A son of Arthur Wiley Phillips and Mary Frances Gregar, Everett Wiley Phillips, married Mary Susan Short. Everett Wiley Phillips and Mary Susan Short had two daughters; Nancy Frances "Nan" Phillips who married Russell Lee Coffey, and Lulu Ruth Phillips who married Marvin Bundy Beard. R. HAROLD MATTHEWS- Robert Harold "Big Daddy" Matthews-son of Charles Wesley "Wes" Matthews, Sr., ( Civil War) and Robert Harold Matthews is the father of Charles Wesley Matthews. R. EDWARD McGUIRE- Robert Edward "Edd" McGuire, s/o Charles McGuire & Mary Louise Conley. Edd was the brother of Kate Sally McGuire who married Thomas Sanders Pierce Shrader, Sr., of our Henry Shrader, Sr., & Louisa Kennedy line. C. D. PHILLIPS- Canary Drayton Phillips, s/o Arthur Wiley "Amos" Phillips & Mary Frances Cregar-see family data at C. W. Matthews O. M. PHILLIPS- Oscar Montgomery Phillips, s/o Arthur Wiley "Amos’ Phillips & Mary Frances Cregar-see family line at C.W. Matthews C. M. SADLER- Charles M. Sadler, s/o William W. Saddler & Chloe Ardelia Tabor, d/o Andrew Jackson Tabor-who fell in battle in the Civil War & Juline Belcher. I THINK C. M. Sadler married Margaret "Magie" Tabor, d/o James Brittan Tabor & Carmine/Connie A. Hawley (name earlier Holly/Holley). John H. SLUSS John Henry Sluss, s/o James Sluss & Clair Rinda Gouldy/Golden. John lived in Bluefield, Tazewell Co., VA., for 30 years. He worked as an engineer for the Norfolk & Western railroad and as a General Manager for the Red Jacket Coal Company. John was the brother of Margaret Rebecca Sluss, wife of Hugh Edward Tabor & Corrilda Alice Sluss, wife of Rufus Jackson Shrader. John Henry Sluss must have really been a "mover & shaker" as he made several trips to South America. W. E. STEVENSON- I believe to be William E. Stevenson who married Myrtle Laura Watson whose sister, Priscilla Thurman Watson, was the second wife of Johnson Chapman Beard- the father of Marvin Bundy Beard above in this list. A. W. TABOR- Alexander Waltham "Alex" Tabor, s/o Amos H. Tabor & Cynthia McPherson. Alex never married. Jacob D. "Jake" TABOR- I believe he was a member. Jake was the brother of Alex Tabor and as far as I know he never married at age 50 , in 1900 Tazewell Co., VA, Jacob was living with his cousin and her husband. The cousin is Martha Jane Columbus Tabor, d/o Russell B. Tabor & Elizabeth "Betsy" Crockett. See 1900 census below list) H. J. TABOR- Henry J. Tabor, s/o Stephen Paris Tabor & Eleanor Havens-sister of our Martha Jane Havens who married James Russell Tabor. Henry Tabor married Mary Arminta Wagner, d/o Rev. Adam Edward Wagner & Juliana Elinor Tabor, s/o Francis Tabor & Mary Shrader L.C.TABOR- Luther Charles Tabor, s/o Samuel Flummer Tabor & Charlotte "Lottie" Osburn. Luther is of the Daniel Tabor line. R. H. TABOR- Raleigh Harrison Tabor, s/o John Andrew Tabor and his third wife, Julia Ann Bailey, d/o Harvey G. Bailey & Nancy B. McDaniel/McDonall.Raleigh of the James Tabor line, A. G. WAGNER- Adam Green Wagner, s/o James Henry Wagner & Cassie Ellen Belcher. James Henry Wagner, s/o Rev. Adam Edward Wagner & Juliana Elinor Tabor. C. M WAGNER- (per Nancy Tabor Smothers) Charles McClelland Wagner, also know as "CM" or "Boss," s/o Paris Witcher Wagner & Patria Ann Perdue. C. M Wagner married Charlotte Lavinia Tabor, d/o Elgin Whitley Tabor & Octavia Zane Tiller. Cassie Ellen Belcher, d/o Isom Green Belcher & Mary Catherine Deaton. Isom Green Belcher, s/o Moses J. Belcher & Nancy Elizabeth Jane Tabor. G. W. WAGNER- Grover William Wagner, s/o James Henry Wagner & Cassie Ellen Belcher. Grover William Wagner married Virginia B. "Jennie" Hale, d/o Charles J. hale & Laura Elizabeth Shannon. Also see C. M. Wagner line. (Charles J. Hale was the brother of Joseph Moss "Joe" Hale, Sr., who married Stella Beatice Tabor). J. A. WAGNER- James Albert Wagner, s/o James Henry Wagner & Cassie Ellen Belcher. L. B. WAGNER- Lee B. Wagner, s/o James Henry Wagner & Cassie Ellen Belcher M. L. WAGNER- Martin Luther Wagner, s/o Paris Witcher Wagner & Patria Ann Perdue. T. J. WAGNER- Thomas Jennings Wagner, s/o James Henry Wagner & Cassie Ellen Belcher W. A. WAGNER- I believe to be William Allen Wagner, s/o Grover William Wagner & Virginia B. "Jennie" Hale. Taft Jefferson Wagner- (per Nancy Tabor Smothers) s/o Adam Stafford Wagner & Margaret Levenie Tabor, d/o James Russell Tabor & Martha Jane Havens. (The older Margaret Lavenia Tabor was the d/o Richard Adam Tabor & Mildred Permelia "Milly" Shrader. The older Margaret Tabor married Philip Kinzer). Source for Harman Lodge information: "Harman Lodge No. 222 A. F. and A. M., Bluefield, Virginia, Brief History" that was prepared for the 100 year anniversary of the lodge. Karen EAGLE Moman arizonaeagle@qwest.net May 2002