Eckerty

Here is a list of lodges that once existed in Eckerty, IN. Each lodge will be updated with various information as I obtain it.

Free and Accepted Masons (Boston) Lodge #498

Chartered date: May 25, 1875
Year of closure: May 21, 1921

Information:

Boston Lodge No. 498 F. & A. M. held its meeting at Boston (present day Eckerty) in a room rented from Fred and Julia A. Weedman on lot 73 for twenty-five dollars per annum. In the book recorded December 6, 1873, a notation is written that Fred Weedman should be allowed the above sum for rent of the hall. The lodge was started by the following chartered members:

Brown, G. W. L.
Brown, B. J.
Brown, S. L.
McBurney, William J. *
Egerty, Christopher
Gresham, Elias
Knight, Henry
Miller, Fred *
Highfill, S. G.*
Weedman, Fred
King, J. B.
McKenzie, William *
McCowan, Wilford H. *
Denbo, Joseph
Newton, Peter
Newton, P. F.
Ott, Malicah
Scott, J. M. B. *
Smith, Fred *
Speedy, James *
Tucker, Harrison
Walls, Joel *
Walls, William C.

*Chartered Members who were members of Posey Lodge No. 188 U.D.

The officers for 1873 and 1874 were:
Worshipful Master: S. G. Hillfill
Senior Warden: W. J. McBurney
Junior Warden: Elias Gresham
Treasurer: Joseph Denbo
Secretary: James Speedy
Senior Deacon: Fred Weedman
Junior Deacon: Christopher Egerty
Tyler: Henry Knight

The officers for 1875 were:
WM: G. W. L. Brown
SW: Edward Crecelius
JW: John Williams
Treasurer: Samuel Hueston
Secretary: James Speedy
SD: Henry Newton
JD: W. J. McBurney
Tyler: Christopher Egerty
Steward: Henry Knight
Steward: Simon Polen

Following is a list of the Past Masters who served Boston Lodge No. 498 and the years they served in that capacity:
S. G. Hillfill 1873
G. W. L. Brown 1875
J. W. Williams 1876
W. J. McBurney 1877
A. B. Tucker 1878
A. B. Tucker 1879
James Thuston 1880
John W. Tarr 1881
John W. Tarr 1882
James Thuston 1883
E. R. McKenzie 1884
James Thuston 1885
Thomas Hobbs 1886
E. R. McKenzie 1887
E. R. McKenzie 1888
George W. Speedy 1889
E. R. McKenzie 1891
James Thuston 1892
James Thuston 1893
E. R. McKenzie 1894
H. M. Sturm 1895
R. Crawford 1896
George W. Speedy 1897
James Thuston 1898
H. M. Sturm 1899
H. M. Sturm 1900
Uriah W. Marting 1901
James Thuston 1902
George Lynch 1903
George W. Speedy 1904
Porter Eckerty 1905
George W. Speedy 1906
Webster Ott 1907
Uriah W. Marting 1908
Webster Ott 1909
Porter Eckerty 1910
Webster Ott 1911
Peter Newton 1912
Porter Eckerty 1913
Webster Ott 1914
Alex F. Fields 1915
Ivan Bobbitt 1916
Sam Wright 1917
H. F. Madley 1918
Lewis S. Jones 1919
Ruben Cox 1920
Ruben Cox 1921

Individuals who served as Secretary for Boston Lodge No. 498:
James Speedy 1873 – 1875
H. M. Sturm 1876
James Speedy 1877
J. R. Williams 1878
W. W. Pavey 1879
Pulaska T. Auston 1880
James G. Thuston 1881 – 1882
H. M. Sturm 1883
J. G. Thuston 1884
George W. Cuzzort 1885
E. R. McKenzie 1886
James Speedy 1887
James. G. Thuston 1888
E. R. McKenzie 1889 – 1890
James. W. Thuston 1891
E. R. McKenzie 1892 – 1893
H. M. Sturm 1894
W. S. Kellams 1895
H. M. Sturm 1896
E. R. McKenzie 1897
H. M. Sturm 1898
George W. Speedy 1899
E. R. McKenzie 1900
Hazen M. Sturm 1901 – 1903
George W. Speedy 1904
Hazen M. Sturm 1905
George W. Speedy 1906 – 1907
Hazen M. Sturm 1908
P. A. Newton 1909 – 1911
Hazen M. Sturm 1912
H. M. Sturm 1913 – 1916
P. A. Newton 1917 – 1921

Individuals made Master Masons and the year they were initiated in Boston Lodge:
Able, Willard 1882
Adkins, Henry 1881
Adkins, Joseph 1881
Adkins, Martin F. 1874
Allstott, C. E. 1917
Andrews, William 1881
Ash, Ora R. 1919
Atkins, Isaac 1878-79
Atkins, M. F. 1878-79
Austin, James C. 1886
Auston, P. T. 1878-79
Auston, W. S. 1881
Beard, Moses 1883
Belcher, George 1919
Belcher, Ivan 1914
Blunk, Amos 1875
Blunk, George 1877
Blunk, John 1878-79
Bobbit, Irvin 1891
Bobbitt, Archie 1916
Bobbitt, Ivan C. 1911
Bracken, John 1877
Brady, James 1880
Brown, Baly Jr. 1874
Brown, Elisha 1874
Brown, G. W. L. 1878-79
Brown, J. N. 1877
Brown, Lawrence 1920
Brown, Orville 1919
Brown, Schiler B. 1874
Buford, Lawson 1880
Burr, David 1902
Chandler, John 1880
Chandler, William 1880
Clark, W. B. 1875
Conley, George 1885
Conner, Milo 1878-79
Connor, Robert 1876
Connor, Milo (not entered)
Courtney, Thomas 1880
Cox, George R. 1887
Cox, Reuben 1919
Crawford, Robert 1894
Crecelius, Edward 1874
Crecelius, W. H. 1876
Crews, Clay 1916
Crews, Nathan 1897
Cuzzort, G. W. 1878
Deich, Valentine 1915
Denbo, Joseph 1878
Dewitt, Henry 1875
Eastridge, Daniel W. 1918
Eckert, Martin 1881
Eckerty, James 1894
Eckerty, John 1911
Eckerty, Porter 1904
Enlow, Bloomer 1909
Falkner, Joseph 1882
Felkner, Peter 1874
Fields, Alexander 1907
Fisher, Andrew J. 1874
Garland, Lewis 1875
Gibson, Victor 1907
Gilliatt, Samuel R. 1918
Gilmore, Earl 1920
Gilmore, Evert 1919
Gilmore, John 1907
Gilmore, Owen 1919
Gilmore, Torrence 1906
Gobble, Valentine 1883
Goldman, Martin 1878
Goldman, Thad 1914
Graves, G. W. 1888
Grimes, William H. 1919
Hammond, Scott 1882
Hanger, David M. 1900
Hardin, Aaron L. 1917
Hazelwood, John 1886
Helmbrecht, Louis A. 1905
Higginbotham, Rupert 1916
Highfill, Charles D. 1894
Highfill, Lemuel 1913
Highfill, Sam C. 1875
Hobbs, Thomas 1875
Hooten, E. P. 1911
Hotem, John 1874
Howeret, Isaac 1881
Hubbard, A. J. 1883
Hubbard, C. J. 1883
Huff, E. R. 1880
Huff, J. E. 1918
Huston, Samuel 1873
Huston, William 1875
Jarbo, William 1887
Jones, A. R. 1885
Jones, Louis S. 1906
Kellams, William 1881
Kendall, William A. 1874
King, Frank 1906
King, Henry 1881
King, John J. 1919
King, Major B. 1916
King, N W. 1886
Knight, John 1874
Land, Orville 1878-79
Leonard, B. T. 1878-79
Lofton, Russel C. 1919
Lynch, George 1875
Madley, Frank 1906
Main, Joseph 1881
Marting, C.F. 1898
McKenzie, Eli R. 1880
McKenzie, Scott 1913
McKenzie, W. E. 1898
McWilliams, J. A. 1883
Miller, P. F. 1878-79
Miller, Samuel 1878-79
Miller, Walter 1918
Mitchell, Isaac 1874
Mock, Floyd 1915
Mock, Iris 1917
Morgan H. E. 1913
Morris, P.H. 1884
Nash, Samuel M. 1874
Nelson, Louis S. 1899
Newton, Peter A. 1907
Newton, William 1875
Nulton, Henry 1874
Ott, Webster 1906
Palmer, Balis 1888
Parks, Alonzo 1904
Pavy, Wallas W. 1874
Peters, Luther 1910
Polen, Simon 1875
Pollard, J. S. 1876
Rowland, Stephen 1874
Shafer, Martin 1874
Shanks, Moses 1886
Shrader, Lee B. 1912
Sigler, Isaac 1886
Sigler, John 1874
Speedy, G. W. 1888
Speedy, W. S. 1887
Spencer, Frank 1880
Stallings, George 1911
Stewart, John 1878-79
Straughn, Admiral 1911
Stroud, A. W. 1913
Stroud, F. M. 1887
Stroud, Henry 1891
Stroud, Roy 1911
Sturms, Jacob 1874
Swayze, R. W. 1897
Tarr, J. W. 1877
Taylor, W. J. 1883
Thuston, J. G. 1875
Thuston, James J. 1874
Tower, John 1876
Tucker, Allen B. 1874
Tucker, Clyde 1916
Tucker, Floyd C. 1913
Tucker, James M. 1908
Tucker, Mack 1917
Tucker, Sam A. 1913
Tucker, Samuel 1878-79
Tucker, Sherman 1920
Underhill, John 1874
Waddle, John 1884
Waddle, Milton 1881
Walls, Thomas 1875
Walton, James F. 1882
Whaley, Irvin C. 1880
Whaley, Theodore 1882
Williams, G. W. 1878-79
Williams, John R. 1874
Williams, John W. 1874
Williams, Jordan 1875
Wilson, George W. 1916
Wilson, James 1913
Wolf, Samuel 1913
Wright, E. R. 1895
Wright, Lee 1907
Wright, Lewis 1919
Wright, Samuel 1907
Wright, W. D. 1917
Yates, J. M. 1887

Members admitted from other lodges and the year joining Boston Lodge 498:

Brown, E.P. 1893
Brown, Joseph 1886
Brown, S. L. 1891
Clark, B.F. 1889
Crews, J.R. 1884
Denbo, R.T. 1886
Duffin, D.O. 1882
Elswick, J.W. 1882
Fisher, J.D. 1876
Kellams, W. S. 1893
Meiks, Lewis 1891
Morgan, Samuel 1877
Nash, John O. 1886
Synder, Daniel 1892
Marting, Uriah 1895
Wenegar, E. W. 1889

The Boston Lodge rented their lower room after it was completed in 1881. The following businesses were in the lower room:
1881 – August 1, 1884: W. H. Ott store
August 11, 1884 – 1885: Luckett Brothers’ Drugstore
May, 1885 – 1886: I. S. Wade General Store
1886 – 1889: Ott’s and Seaton Store
1891: Charles Murphy’s Store
Feb. 20, 1892 – 1894: J. D. Kessner’s Store
1894 – 1912: Uriah M. Marting store *
1912: M. G. Real and Ivan Bobbitt Store
1914 – 1921: M. G. Real general store

The charter of the lodge was pulled for various reasons, and the Grand Lodge of Indiana took control of all the assets of the lodge.

*Above information from the Crawford County Historical and Genealogical Society (research by Jim Kaiser, Richard Eastridge and Densil Wilson)

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Free and Accepted Masons Lodge #719

Chartered date: May 23, 1923
Year of closure: Still open!

Website: https://www.facebook.com/EckertyLodge719

Information:

Eckerty Lodge under dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge of Indiana January 3, 1922. Omar B. Smith Grand Master of Indiana constituted and appointed Webster Ott as the Worshipful Master, C. J. Tucker as Senior Warden, Henry F. Madley as Junior Warden. The first meeting of the Lodge was on Jan. 10, 1922 and Worshipful Master Webster Ott appointed the following officers: Porter Eckerty as treasurer, Peter A. Newton as secretary, Lawrence Brown as Senior Deacon, Purl Graves as Junior Deacon, Sam R. Wright as Senior Steward, Ora R. Ash as Junior Steward and George Belcher as Tyler.

When Boston Lodge No. 498 had their charter revoked in 1921 the lodge hall became the property by deed to the Grand Lodge. Eckerty Lodge U. D. had to pay twenty five dollars rent and by November the rent was thirty five dollars a month for the use of said building. Also the Grand Lodge received the $520.00 from the bank account of Boston Lodge No. 498 and after several appeals the account was never returned to Eckerty Lodge No. 719. ($9,159.58 in 2024 dollars)

Eckerty Lodge U.D. received their charter May 23, 1922 and on June 5, 1922 the officers for 1922 were installed by Henry Mock, Special Deputy of the Grand Lodge.

*Above information from the Crawford County Historical and Genealogical Society (research by Jim Kaiser, Richard Eastridge and Densil Wilson)

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Improved Order of Red Men (White Cloud) Council #389

Chartered date: September 30, 1921
Year of closure:

Information:

Started with thirty seven charter members. Great Pocahontas, Mae Stansbury was the instituting chief in charge of giving the rites to the women.

*Above information from the Crawford County Historical and Genealogical Society (research by Jim Kaiser, Richard Eastridge and Densil Wilson)

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Improved Order of Red Men (White Cloud) Tribe #561

Chartered date: July 8, 1916
Year of closure:

Information:

On Friday night, May 26, 1916, a meet was held for the purpose of organizing a Red Man lodge. The following would be members in October of that year:
Barringer, John
Belcher, George
Belcher, Ivan
Bobbitt, Ivan
Brackens, Henry
Bufford, Wallace
Courtney, Ivan
Cox, Reuben
Deich, Phillip
Eckerty, Porter
Farmer, Garland
Feltner, John
Flick, John
Gaither, Everet
Gaither, James
Gilmore, Owen
Gilmore, Rolly
Goldman, Ray
Hammond, Richard
Harris, Elmer
Hollowell, John
Jobe, Thomas
Jones, D.W.
Kaiser, Frank
Kaiser, Fred W.
Kaiser, Sammy C.
Kendall, Simon A.
King, Albert
Knight, Webb
Knight, Willie
Lamon, Chester
Lane, John
Lane, Willard
Loften, Joe
Mason, Isiah
Mason, Tom
Mason, William
May, Stanley
May, Walter
McMahel, Jess
Melton, Charles O.
Miller, John M.
Mitchell, William
Mock, Iris
Newton, Lovel
Newton, P.A.
Newton, Ralph
Newton, William O.
Norman, John
Ott, Webster
Peterson, Charles
Polen, Charles
Reasor, Clarence
Real, Michael G.
Riley, Thomas
Sinclair, George
Sinclair, James
Smith, Archie
Smith, Everet
Smith, Martin
Smith, Vollie
Speedy, Clyde
Speedy, Henry
Speedy, Webster
Trusty, Cleo
Trusty, Irvin
Trusty, James
Tucker, John
Williams, Martin
Wiseman, W.A.
Wright, Monroe

In 1919, White Cloud Tribe #561 received permission from Michael Real to build a second floor to his store. The lodge hall was thirty six feet wide and sixty feet long and was finished in late 1920. The rosters of members on March 3, 1921 was:

Atkins, Delbert
Belcher, George
Cox, Reuben
Gilmore, Owen
Lamon, Chester A.
Miller, John
McMahel, Jesse E.
McMahel, Todd
Newton, Howard
Real, Michael G.
Reasor, Clearence E.
Smith, Everett E.
Trusty, James J.
Weidman, James
Wiseman, Will

January 11, 1928, White Cloud #561 installed officers. They were: William Gresham SACHEM, James W. Newton SENIOR SAGAMORE, Cloice Ott JUNIOR SAGAMORE, Walter May PROPHET, Chester A. Lamon CHIEF OF RECORDS, E.C. Helmbrecht KEEPER OF WAMPUM, James W. Gaither TRUSTEE, Owen Gilmore TRUSTEE, Everett Smith TRUSTEE, Everett Dillard GUARD OF WAMPUM, and Oscar Newton GUARD OF FOREST.

*Above Information from the Crawford County Historical and Genealogical Society (research by Jim Kaiser, Richard Eastridge and Densil Wilson)

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Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge #617

Chartered date: May 20, 1886
Year of closure: 1893

Information:

Organized by D.M. Hammon, Deputy G.M., assisted by Thomas Love and A.L. Jack on January 28, 1886, with the following trustees: Irvin Bobbitt, A.A. Leonard, J.A. Wheatley, J.W. Synder, Phillip Miller, Charles Luckett, P. Cox, James Wilson, William J. Haskins, A.D. Skinner & James Bobbitt.

Ben Gregory and the above men were chartered members. Trustees elected in 1887 were Phillip Miller, Robert Gilmore and Irvin Bobbitt and the trustees for 1888 were A.D. Skinner and P. Cox. Sam Eckerty and Dan Campbell were members of the lodge.

The Odd Fellows bought lot 87 from William J. Haskins on August 30, 1889 for $25. They erected a lodge hall on the lot and it was completed by 1890. The lodge hall burned in May of 1890 and they lost their charter in 1893 and sold the property in 1900 to C.C. Binkley. No further data is available as the records were destroyed on October 3, 1944.

Partial membership list:
Bishop, J.
Bobbitt, Irvin
Bobbitt, James
Campbell, Dan
Cox, P.
Eckerty, Sam
Gilmore, Robert
Gregory, Ben
Haskins, William J.
Leonard, A.A.
Luckett, Charles
Miller, Phillip
Skinner, A.D.
Snyder, J.W.
Wheatley, J.A.
Wilson, James

*Above Information from the Crawford County Historical and Genealogical Society (research by Jim Kaiser, Richard Eastridge and Densil Wilson)

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National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry – Cross Roads Lodge #

Chartered date: March 12, 1874
Year of closure:

Information:

Located in Johnson township. Organized by Deput James W. Pankey. Charter members were:
Joseph Denbo
S.B. Brown
D.W. Pavey
Mary A. Clark
Sarah E. Brown
Elisha Brown
H.B. Doolittle
Elizabeth Brown
J.W. Walls
J.W. Denbo
William Scott
Lankery Denbo
B.J. Brown
Lot Hammond
S.G. Highfill
Nancy C. Denbo
G.W.L. Brown
Robert McFarland
Jefferson Speedy
Mary McFarland
S.W. Leonard
E.M. Van Winkle
Anna Hammond
Annie Walls

*Above Information from the Crawford County Historical and Genealogical Society (research by Jim Kaiser, Richard Eastridge and Densil Wilson)

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National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry – Hickory Lodge #1739

Chartered date: March 19, 1874
Year of closure:

Information:

Located in Patoka township. Organized by Deputy James Pankey. Charter members were:
J.M. Williams
Dan Williams
Jordan Williams
J.G. Thuston
Elizabeth Murray
Mary Williams
R.E. Crecelius
Martin Meyers
Fred Eckerty
Lydia J. Allen
Charles Deich
Archibald Allen
Valentine Deich
John Williams
Elizabeth Deich
Sarah J. Williams
Levi Trusty
John McWilliams
D.M. Sturm
M. Lawrence
J.E. Crecelius
Ellen Mavity
E.H. Crecelius
Moses Goldman
Chris Eckerty
John W. Williams
John Deich
Christian Meyers
John Hausfelt

Officers were: E.M. Crecelius MASTER, John Deich OVERSEER, J.E. Crecelius STEWARD, John McWilliams STEWARD, Archibald Allen a. STEWARD, J.G. Thuston CHAPLAIN, V. Deich TREASURER, John Williams SECRETARY, Charles Deich GATEKEEPER, Lydia J. Allen CERES, Elizabeth Murray POMONA, Ellen Mavity FLORA, Elizabeth Deich STEWARDESS.

April 30, 1874, delegates were selected to organize a Crawford County Council from Cross Roads, Joseph Denbo, B.J. Brown and Elisha Brown, and from Hickory Lodge, E.H. Crecelius, J.E. Crecelius and J.G. Thuston.

*Above Information from the Crawford County Historical and Genealogical Society (research by Jim Kaiser, Richard Eastridge and Densil Wilson)

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Women’s Christian Temperance Union #

Chartered date: 1912
Year of closure:

Information:

On May 2, 1912, Mrs. Elizabeth Stanley, Vice President of the WCTU, gave a talk about the organization. After the lecture, a local union was formed with about twenty members. The following officers were elected: PRESIDENT Mrs. Lizzie McBurney, VICE PRESIDENT Mrs. Emma Rowe, SECRETARY Miss Lizzie Eckerty, and TREASURER Mrs. Lucy Leaf.

*Above Information from the Crawford County Historical and Genealogical Society (research by Jim Kaiser, Richard Eastridge and Densil Wilson)