IAGenWeb Project

Shelby County
IAGenWeb

CHAPTER XXIII - FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS. (CONT'D)

CARTHAGE LODGE NO. 65, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.

Carthage Lodge No. 65, Knights of Pythias, was instituted June 30, 1885, with thirty-four charter members. Of the first officers, H. M. Neumeyer, the pioneer barber of Harlan and Shelby county, is the only one now residing in Shelby county. Among the men who early held membership in this organization were Judge N. W. Macy, Hon. H. W. Byers, Joseph Stiles, Dr. B. F. Eshelman, D. B. Sheller, J. W. Harrod, H. L. Schofield, Gus Dasbach, Thomas Hathaway, Michael Headly, W. E. Cooper, Menzo Fretz, T. N. Franklin, J. F. Brock, G. K. Patterson, J. H. Ramsey, J. F. Huntzinger, J. F. Pexton, and others. The lodge is yet in existence, but does not have a large membership. W. T. Smith is the present chancellor commander. There were at one time Knights of Pythias lodges at Defiance and Shelby, but both of these lodges have long since ceased to exist.

CATALPA CAMP NO. 188, WOODMEN OF THE WORLD.

Catalpa Camp No. 188, Woodmen of the World, was organized at Harlan March 19, 1898, with the following officers: I. T. Welch, consul commander; T. M. Hathaway, vice-lieutenant; H. W. Nieman, banker; F. F. Wunder, clerk; L. Larson, escort; F. L. Swain, watchman; H. B. Closson, sentry; William Anthony, S. W. Parker and George W. Roberts, managers; H. H. Stoner, physician. The present officers of the camp are: W. T. Smith, commander; Henry Hildebrand, vice-lieutenant; D. M. Deen, banker; Asa Dunnington, clerk; Drs. Moore and Yanatta, physicians; George Stevenson, watchman; Roy Custer, sentry; N. O. White, Kenneth Leach, Earl Wallace, managers. The present membership of the camp is one hundred and four.

HARLAN HOMESTEAD NO. 959, BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICAN YOEMEN.

Harlan Homestead No. 959, Brotherhood of American Yeomen, was established November 7, 1902, and was reorganized January 3, 1913. The first officers of the lodge were: L. S. Moore, foreman; Albert McDowell, master of ceremonies; T. H. Baer, correspondent; Carl Lage. master of accounts; Anthony Petersen, physician; Aimer J. Roland, overseer; Samuel S. Hudson, watchman; George Hoisington, sentinel; Thomas Rogers, guard; Carrie C. Hudson, Lady Rowena; Ruth F. Hoisington, Lady Rebecca.

In 1903 A. L. McDowell was foreman, and in 1913, W. T. Smith. The present officers of the lodge are: W. T. Smith, foreman; Harry Blair, master of ceremonies; Fred A. Smith, correspondent; Anna Wilson, master of accounts; Nora B. Shipp, chaplain; Charles Hansen, overseer; George Wilson, watchman; Roy Custer, sentinel; Frank DeBord, guard; Ruth V. Book, Lady Rowena; Lola Custer, Lady Rebecca.

PALM LEAF CAMP NO. 1934, ROYAL NEIGHBORS OF AMERICA.

Palm Leaf Camp No. 1934, Royal Neighbors of America, was organized at Harlan, Iowa, January 6, 1900. The first officers of the lodge were: Oracle, Mrs. Julia Mockler; vice-oracle, Ina McDonald; recorder, Mrs. Ella Gibbs; receiver, Mrs. Stena Hansen.

The position of oracle of the above named camp has been held by the following named persons, to-wit: 1901, Mrs. Julia Mockler; 1902, Mrs. Julia Mockler; 1903, Mrs. Ruth Booth; 1904, Mrs. Mamie Lana; 1905, Mrs. Nettie Bauder; 1906, Mrs. Nettie Kent; 1907, Mrs. Olive Young; 1908, Mrs. Vina Birkholm; 1909, Mrs. Olive Young; 1910, Mrs. Ethel Mayne; 1911, Mrs. Ethel Mayne: 1912, Mrs. Dollie Stewart; 1913, Mrs. Isie Babcock. The present officers of the lodge are: Oracle, Mrs. Isie Babcock; vice-oracle, Mrs. Winnie McCoy; recorder, Mrs. Ella Gibbs; receiver, Mrs. Olive Young. The organization at present has a membership of fifty-seven.

CHAPTER A P of P. E. O.

Chapter A P of the P. E. O. Sisterhood was organized at Harlan, Iowa, June 1, 1894, by members of Chapter A F of Atlantic. The charter members were Mrs. Josephine Sandham, Mrs. Celina Graves, Mrs. Hattie Eshelman, Mrs. Luella Cleveland, Mrs. Rachel Wyland, Mrs. Clara Shoudy and Mrs. Sophia Scutt.

The following ladies have served as president: Mrs. Josephine Sandham, Mrs. Sophia Scutt, Mrs. Lillian Griffith, Mrs. Nettie Cobb, Mrs. Althea Noble, Mrs. Rachel Wyland, Mrs. Edith Booth, Mrs. Celina Graves, Mrs. Mary Pierce, Mrs. Clyde White, Mrs. Tina Swift. The present officers are: President, Mrs. Minnie Overfield; vice-president, Mrs. Nettie Cobb; recording secretary, Mrs. Eily Wunder; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Lillian Pexton; treasurer. Miss Anne Hoyt; chaplain, Mrs. Mary Pierce; guard, Mrs. Rachel Wyland; journalist, Mrs. Alice Booth; organist, Miss Elizabeth Booth. The membership now numbers thirty-four active members.

The first member initiated by Chapter A P after its organization was Mrs. Lillian Griffith, who has always been an active and enthusiastic member, serving for two years as president of the chapter. In 1910 she was elected

(32)

state organizer, in which office she served for three consecutive years. She was then chosen first vice-president and, after serving in that capacity for one year, was in 1914 elected president, the highest honor which the state chapter can confer.

The P. E. O. Sisterhood was organized in January, 1869, by seven college girls of Iowa Wesleyan University, and is today the largest secret organization of women in the world independent of a higher organization of men. The sisterhood today has a membership of twenty-two thousand, with chapters in twenty-seven states, in the District of Columbia and in British Columbia. In Iowa alone there are one hundred and thirty-eight chapters, with a membership of five thousand four hundred and sixty-nine. Its work is educational, philanthropic and charitable, and the P. K. O. Educational Fund is a memorial to stand for the sisterhood. The educational fund was established to assist worthy young women desiring a higher education. The fund was started in 1906 at the supreme convention, and is now assisting sixty-five young women through college.

Chapter A P has always taken an active part in all that pertains to the advancement of the sisterhood and in all that pertains to the interest of the home town, in both education and charity. The greatest efforts have been exerted toward the establishment of a public library, the result being the collection of about fifteen hundred valuable books.

ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.

On June 12, 1879, there was organized at Harlan, Harlan Lodge No. 193, Ancient Order of United Workmen, with twenty-eight charter members.

LEGION OF HONOR.

On July 26, 1881, there was organized at Harlan an Iowa Legion of Honor, consisting of twenty-six charter members. Neither of these lodges is now in existence.

G. A. R. POSTS.

At the close of the Civil War many young men financially handicapped by a military service of several years at slight wages, found themselves obliged to build up their fortunes. Shelby county, at that time, affording many thousand acres of prairie unbroken, offered opportunities which hundreds of the veterans embraced. Indeed, it can be truthfully said that the early county government of Shelby county was largely managed and directed by veterans of the great conflict, during the late sixties, the seventies and even later.

Grand Army posts were established at Harlan, Irwin, Defiance, Panama and Shelby, of which there remain but two, Harlan Post No. 197, at Harlan, and the post at Shelby. The passage of fifty years since the close of the war has depleted the ranks of most of the posts so that they were obliged to discontinue their separate existence, the few members left by death and yet residing in the county taking up their membership either at Shelby or at Harlan. Harlan Post No. 197 was chartered July 10, 1883. The charter members were as follows: George D. Ross, Charles L. Wilder, Thomas Ledwich, G. H. Shoemaker, T. F. Simons, T. J. Robinson, J. H. Louis, M. K. Campbell, George Bennett, Michael Headley, R. L. Tompkins, H. D. Lacy, Samuel Potter, Thomas A. Long, R. I. Kinsey, F. Dunham, J. H. Weeks, C. L. Drake, D. F. Paul, George Chase.

During the history of the Harlan post there have been one hundred and forty-six different names on its roll. The commanders of the post, to date, are J. H. Louis, J. W. DeSilva, T. A. Long, W. H. Errett, J. O. Wickersham, G. M. Hubbell, E. F. Fish, J. H. Reynolds, H. W. Winder, George D. Ross. All of the foregoing commanders, save the first two, are yet living.

The present roster of officers is: Past commander, H. W. Winder; senior vice-commander, D. E. Morris; junior vice-commander, J. P. Gilmore; adjutant, S. F. Kohl; quarter-master, W. P. Kellogg (deceased), J. H. Reynolds (acting); surgeon, E. A. Cobb; chaplain, William Laughman; officer of the day, F. S. Kays; post inspector, George D. Ross; officer of the guard, H. Custer; sergeant-major, J. H. Reynolds; quarter-master sergeant, T. A. Long.

Harlan Relief Corps No. 178 was chartered March 11, 1889. The charter members were Mary M. Wickersham, Isabella Chance, Annie E. Gammon, Harrietta A. Truman, Linnie Griffith, Abigail L. Potter, Amelia Mead, Mary Corbin, Esther Carmichael, Nevada Errett, Sarah McDowell, Caroline Koolbeck, Emily Ross, Mollie Wyland.

BRANCH NO. 944, CATHOLIC KNIGHTS OF AMERICA, AT EARLING.

This organization was chartered May 20, 1906, and has a membership to date of eighty-six. It is the largest and most thriving branch of the order in the state of Iowa, and its work is greatly appreciated by the Catholics of Earling and vicinity. The officers of the order to date are: Rev. B. Kueppenbender, spiritual director; August Bicker, commander; M. A. Wilwerding, vice-commander; Hugo Hendricks, past commander; F. M. Gross, chaplain; George J. Kohles, recording secretary; William Blum, financial secretary; Frank Halm, escort; Joseph Hahn, guard; August Sonderman, treasurer; Steve Stephany, sentry; J. J. Langenfeld, F. W. Wilwerding, John Koesters, trustees; Dr. P. M. Sterck, Dr. F. E. Peters, medical examiners; H. V. Bicker, Joseph Shimerowski, Albert Langenfeld, musicians.

August Bicker, a member of Branch No. 944, Catholic Knights of America, of Earling, Iowa, is the state president of Iowa, and another member, George J. Kohles, of Earling, is the supreme deputy for the state of Iowa.

The ladies' branch, No. 1050, of the Catholic Knights of America, at Earling, was chartered on October 11, 1914, with a membership of twenty. The following persons in this order held the offices below named: Rev. B. Kueppenbender, spiritual director; Carrie M. Kohles, commander; Katie Anna Stephany, vice-commander; Francis Kobold, past commander; Dorothea Langenfeld, chaplain; Anna F. Hahn, recording secretary; Rose A. Langenfeld, financial secretary; Eva Marie Kobold, escort; Elizabeth Muenchrath, guard; Helen Langenfeld, treasurer; Mary Rose Langenfeld, sentry; Mary Ebert, Mayme Blum, Mary Anna Kuhl, trustees.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.

The Knights of Columbus have a council at Earling, known as Earling Council No. 1741. This council was instituted in June, 1914, with sixty-two charter members. The officers were as follows: N. V. Kuhl, grand knight; J. M. Albers, deputy grand knight; Theodore Scheuring, chancellor; J. N. Loeltz, recorder; Ed Mesenbrink, financial secretary; J. C. Heese, treasurer; M. M. Leuschen, warden; A. M. Toeller, advocate; Rev. B. Kueppenbender, chaplain; H. J. Albers, inside guard; P. C. Heese, outside guard; H. A. Schleier, lecturer; C. J. Weiland, Jacob Wilwerding, J. H. Schmitz, trustees.

The membership of the council at this time is 185 and the officers at this time are as follows: N. V. Kuhl, grand knight; F. M. Gross, deputy grand knight; Theo Scheuring, chancellor; M. M. Finken, recorder; H. A. Schleier, financial secretary; N. J. Albers, treasurer; M. M. Leuschen, warden; J. M. Albers, advocate; Rev. B. Kneppenbender, chaplain; H. J. Albers, inside guard; P. C. Heese, outside guard; H. A. Schleier, lecturer; C. J. Weiland, Jacob Wilwerding, J. H. Schmitz, trustees.

  Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, January, 2025 from the Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, by Edward S. White, P.A., LL. B.,Volume 1, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1915, pp. 49x-500.

< PREVIOUS NEXT >

  Copyright
Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer