Leavenworth

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

Daughters of America (Ohio Belle) Council #29

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Free and Accepted Masons (Posey) Lodge #188

Chartered date: May 27, 1856
Year of closure: 2022

Information:

First chartered meeting was held on June 18, 1856. Charter members included: Merrill A. Weir – WM, Allan D. Thom – SW, Richard S. Kay – JW, John S. Collins – Secretary, William Penny – Treasurer, R. T. Anderson – SD, J. B. Admeyer – JD, Nathan Harris – Steward and Tyler, William H. Conrad, David C. Dodd, G. W. Lyon, Henry Bailey, Ira Wilbur, Otis Hosmer, Joseph A. Lyon, Allan B. Walker, Robert H. Rhodes and Henry Jenkins.

The lodge met in the Odd Fellows Hall until March 4, 1857, when they moved into another building that is not designated. In 1862, they moved to the Kendall building and in 1864 to the Mansfield building and thence to the Humphrey building in 1870. In 1883 they moved to the Oliver Whitcomb building. In 1889, this building was deemed not safe and the lodge moved to the M.C. Froman building and stayed there until the great fire of October 22, 1890. A building was rebuilt near the corner of Nelson and River streets, and the lodge stayed there until the flood of 1937. During 1937/38, the lodge held it’s meetings first in the room above Dr. Deen’s Store and then above Chester Elliott’s store and thence to the basement of the Presbyterian church on Campbell’s Hill. They eventually built the lodge on North First street, where they would remain until the lodge consolidated with Pisgah.

Upon closure, the lodge merged with Pisgah Lodge #32 in Corydon, IN (Harrison county).

Posey Lodge #188 entertained Thursday night, April 15, 1921, the Crawford Lodge #470 of English with a grand fish fry. About forty of the members from English attended. Over two hundred pounds of fish were fried. The members were pleased with the entertainment. Joseph Bell secured the steamer Richard Rhea and took the visitors for a ride on the beautiful Ohio up as far as the new Government Dam # 44. After the return of the boat the Crawford lodge conferred the Master Mason degree upon Marsh Jenkins of Leavenworth. The English members were pleased to learn that Posey Lodge, which is the oldest lodge of Masons in the county, was in good condition financially. Besides the English members, many attended from Alton, Marengo and Milltown. (History of Crawford County Indiana – HH Pleasant)

Thanks to Edward Whitmire for the interior pics, after the lodge was closed.

Independent Order of the Good Templars Lodge # (Blue River Lodge)

Chartered date: June 1873
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First organized at the Odd Fellows lodge in Leavenworth.

Independent Order of the Odd Fellows (Eureka) Lodge #142

Chartered date: ~1854
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Independent Order of Working Men (Jennings) Lodge #33

Chartered date: April 1877
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International Association of Rebekah Assemblies Lodge #675

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Junior Order of United American Mechanics council #58

Chartered date: February 26, 1916
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Knights of Honor Lodge #654

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Knights of Pythias (Wyandotte) Lodge #268

Chartered date: August 1, 1890
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Modern Woodmen of America (Leavenworth) Camp #9664

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Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #380

Chartered date: April 23, 1913
Year of closure:

Information:

On January 10, 1921, Thomas P. Ellsworth died
at Leavenworth. He had been sick but a few hours. He
was born in Leavenworth March 2, 1850. He enlisted and
served as a corporal in Troop F, Eighth Regiment, United
States Cavalry for five years during the Indian campaign
in the West. He was discharged in 1875.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at
Leavenworth and a charter member of the Order of the
Eastern Star and helped organize the chapter in 1912.
Ellsworth was Worthy Patron and his wife was Worthy
Matron when the chapter was organized.
The funeral was under the auspices of the Posey
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and all that was mortal
was laid to rest in Cedar cemetery.
Ellsworth was one of the prominent lawyers of
Leavenworth. He never grew tired of relating his experiences
with the Indians when they were on the “war path.”
On one occasion about twenty-two Indians were captured
by the soldiers, one of whom was a Mason. About
sunset one day the Captain called him out and ordered
him to do picket duty from twelve at night till day. The
orders were given to him in a queer way. He never knew
just why, but he did picket duty as best he could till he
was relieved next day. That morning the guards examined
the Indians and one was gone. He was the old Indian
who was a Mason. He went by Ellsworth some way
on his beat that night. When the Colonel heard about
what had happened he was angry, but no one was
court martialed. (History of Crawford County – H.H. Pleasant)