Freemasonry

Freemasonry came to the United States from England in 1733, making it one of the earliest fraternal organizations in the country. For more than two centuries, it was an influential institution because of the membership of prominent individuals. Lodge records are generally limited to membership information: date of joining the lodge, rank attained, offices held, and so on. There may be biographical material on some lodge leaders. Members in the Blue Lodge or basic unit are divided into three degrees, with the highest being Master Mason. Membership information is available from existing units. Each state’s Grand Masonic Lodge maintains only membership status records but should be contacted first for the name of the probable membership lodge. Contact that lodge for more complete information. The Freemasons website is a good place to begin a search for membership organization.

If you come across acronyms such as AF&AM and FAAM, or symbols such as a pair of compasses with a right angled square symbol in your research, you probably have a Freemason in the family.

Biography of J. G. Worts

An historical record of the eminent and successful men of the Province of Ontario would most assuredly be incomplete, without a sketch of the members of this firm. Few men have been so intimately connected with, and interested in the development of Ontario, and more especially that part of it embraced in the City of Toronto, than Mr. William Gooderham and Mr. J. G. Worts. From the following extract from an article, published in 1877, in the Montreal Gazette, an approximate idea may be formed of the commercial importance of the firm: “The active season of this firm’s business is … Read more

Biography of Messr. William Gooderham

Biography of William Mostyn, M.D.

William Mostyn, late member of the Ontario parliament, and the oldest and leading physician and surgeon in Almonte, is of Welsh descent, the family moving into the county of Roscommon, Ireland, a little more than two centuries ago, and becoming large landed proprietors. Our subject is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Murray) Mostyn, and was born at Elphin, in the county of Roscommon, on the 5th of June, 1836. Before he was a year old, the family emigrated to Canada, and settled in Kingston, where he was educated in the grammar school and the university of Queen’s College, receiving … Read more

Biography of John Bell, Q.C.

John Bell, solicitor for the Grand Trunk railway company for nearly thirty years, and one of the oldest lawyers in Central Ontario, is a native of the county of Tyrone, Ireland, and was born in Straban, June 10, 1823. His father, Robert Bell, was a linen manufacturer, of Scotch-Irish descent, like the people generally in the north of Ireland; and his mother, before her marriage, was Catherine Wallace, whose father was Scotch. Before our subject was a year old, the family emigrated to the United States, and spent nine years in the city of New York, where the son laid … Read more

Biography of John Peter Featherston

John Peter Featherston, Mayor of the City of Ottawa in 1874 and 1875, is a native of Durham, England, and’ was born at Mewbus Grange, November 28, 1830. His parents were Jonathan Featherston, M.D., of Her Majesty’s 24th Foot, and of Blackhall, Northumberland, and Janet Dunbar Nicolson, daughter of Rev. Patrick Nicolson, of Thurso, and niece of Sir Benjamin Dunbar, of Hempriggs, Caithness. He was educated at Richmond School, Yorkshire; in 1858 he came to Canada and settled in Ottawa, where for ‘sixteen years he was engaged in the drug business. He was elected Alderman of St. George’s ward in … Read more

Biography of Robert Naylor Rogers

Robert Naylor Rogers, banker, son of Captain Robert Naylor Rogers, senior, and Elizabeth, nee Coleman, was born at Bandon, County of Cork, Ireland, May 16, 1832. He comes from an old military family, related to Sir Walter Raleigh, who lived in the days of “Queen Bess.” Members of the family built portions of Fort Gibraltar, and one of the streets there, called “Rogers’ Ramp,” was named from this family. A great uncle on the grandmother’s side, Major Wilkes, invented red hot shot, at Gibraltar, where it was first used when the fortress was besieged. Captain Rogers was Lieutenant 2nd battalion … Read more

Biography of Dandridge E. Kelsey

For thirty-six years Shawnee County was the home of Dandridge E. Kelsey, not only one of her pioneer settlers but unmistakably one of her most respected and valued men. He came to Kansas three years after the close of the great Civil war, in which struggle he had borne an honorable part, and in Shawnee County sought the opportunity of providing, through toil, patience and prudence, a comfortable home for his family and a competency for old age. All this he did but those early years were hard as the tragic days of Kansas had not all been lived through. … Read more

Virginia WW2 NMCG Casualty List – S Surnames

SALVAGE, John Waltz, Lieutenant, USN. Wife, Mrs. Betty Carter G. Salvage, Carcassonne, Smithfield. SANDERS, William Howard, Baker 2c, USN. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Sanders, Rt. 1, Box 20, Coeburn. SANTILLAN, Emeterio, Chief Officer’s Steward, USN. Wife, Mrs. Alida Pagan Santillan, 412 3d St., Portsmouth. SAUNDERS, Cecil H., Pfc., USMCR. Father, Mr. Ivor L. Saunders, Rt. 1, Box 300, Danville. SAWYER, Foster Lowrie, Gunner, USN. Wife, Mrs. Eleanor Virginia Sawyer, 4516 Newport Ave., Norfolk. SCHAFFER, Earl Junior, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1c, USN. Wife, Mrs. Edna Louise Schaffer, 318 W. 25th St., Norfolk. SCHILLING, Otey Pelling, Jr., Cpl., USMC. Wife, Mrs. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Hon. Hamilton

Hon. Joseph Hamilton, real estate, loan and collection agent, was born in New York City July 14, 1826. He resided in his native city until 1849, when he removed to Milwaukee, Wis., to take charge of the mechanical department of the Milwaukee Daily Sentinel. In 1850, he started a job printing office, and shortly afterward he started, with W. D. Wilson, the Milwaukee Daily Journal. In 1852, he sold his interest in the Journal to his partner. In 1857, he again connected himself with the Daily Sentinel, and remained with that institution until 1863, when failing health compelled him to … Read more

History of Free Masonry in Keene, New Hampshire

Keene, as is known to many through the sketches of Mr. Frank Whitcomb, has a very interesting Masonic history. A year had not elapsed after Free Masonry had been welcomed to New England before New Hampshire was blessed with its light. During the early days of Free Masonry in this country there were two Grand Lodges in Massachusetts, organized in Boston: St. Johns Grand Lodge, deriving its authority from the Grand Master of England, which held its first meeting July 30, 1733, and Massachusetts Grand Lodge, deriving its authority from the Grand Master of Scotland, which was organized December 27, … Read more

One Week After the Great Disaster

By slow degrees and painful labor the barren place where Johnstown stood begins again to look a little like the habitations of a civilized community. Daily a little is added to the cleared space once filled with the concrete rubbish of this town, daily the number of willing workers who are helping the town to rise again increases. To-day the great yellow plain which was filled with the best business blocks and residences before the flood is covered with tents for soldiers and laborers and gangs of men at work. The wrecks are being removed or burned up. Those houses … Read more

Biography of John Crete, Sr.

The Fatherland has furnished to America many of her valued citizens, men who have crossed the Atlantic to ally their interests with those of “the land of the free.” Adapting them-selves to entirely new surroundings, customs and manners, they have achieved success and won a place among the representative men of the communities in which their lots have been cast. Such is true of John Crete, the genial, well-known and popular proprietor of the War Eagle Hotel, at Silver City. Born in Hasbrouck, Hanover, Germany, April 25, 1832, he was a son of a Ger-man soldier who afterward became a … Read more

Biography of Newell Jonathan Brown, M. D.

The well established family physician obtains an influence in any community which is more far-reaching than that of any man sustaining other relations to the public. The reasons for this are too obvious to require mention here. Dr. N. J. Brown is to the people of Hailey the ideal family doctor, and he is the oldest physician and surgeon in the place. He cast his lot with the citizens of Hailey in 1883 when the town was but two years old, and from that time he has practiced his profession in Hailey and its tributary territory, and shown a helpful … Read more

Biography of William F. Smith, M. D.

The state of Idaho, with its pulsing industrial activities and rapid development, has attracted within its confines men of marked ability and high character in the various professional lines, and in this way progress has been conserved and social stability fostered. He whose name initiates this review has gained recognition as one of the able and successful physicians of the state, and by his labors, his high professional attainments and his sterling characteristics has justified the respect and confidence in which he is held by the medical fraternity and the local public. A representative physician and surgeon of Mountain Home, … Read more

Biography of Joseph C. Gross

This well and favorably known pioneer of Silver City has been for many years the experienced and obliging clerk of the War Eagle Hotel, at Silver City. He is a native of the city of Neustadt, province of Hesse-Nassau, Germany, born February 18, 1835, was educated in his native land, and at the age of fourteen came with an uncle to the United States. For an occupation he worked at the shoemaker’s trade for a time. On the 22d of December, 1851, in company with his cousin, Charles A. Gross, he started for the Golden state, on the steamer El … Read more

Biography of George F. Moore

The professional politician, clamorous, aggressive and spectacular, may appear more often in public and in the public print that the quiet, unassuming, judicious business man who takes a patriotic interest in politics because of the effect of politics on the prosperity of the people, but he is usually not so potent a factor in political movement and his influence is not so lasting, because it is likely to be exerted spasmodically, when the politician has in view some alluring official reward for political service, and it loses part of its effect upon the public because the public is always a … Read more

Biography of William J. McClure

To the pioneer rightfully belong the honors of the land which he finds out and enriches and beautifies. The sturdy manhood which animates the pioneer is the kind that is required in the administration of the laws which have been made operative over his territory chiefly by his enterprise and devotion to the course of civilization. The makers of the new country should be, and if they want to be usually are, the governors. William J. McClure was born in Canada, in 1843, a son of Theophilus and Maria (McCracken) McClure. His parents, of Scotch-Irish descent, were natives of Ireland. … Read more

Danielson, Gustave Adolph – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Gustave Adolph Danielson, 79, Utica, Mich. who came two weeks ago to visit his son Ray H. Danielson of Alder Slope, died Monday at the local hospital following a short illness. He was born Jan. 24, 1893 in Sweden. He was a veteran of World War 1, and a retired employee of Chrysler Motor Company. He was a lifetime member of Lodge No. 4 AF& AM of Rochester, Mich. His wife Olive died in 1968. Survivors include two sons, Ray H. of Alder Slope and Glen of Palos Verdes Penin., California; one daughter Mrs. Dan (Joyce) Guthrie, … Read more

Streiff, Edward – Obituary

Services Tuesday For Edward Streiff Funeral services for Edward Streiff, 82, resident of 502 Spring St., who died Friday, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Daniels Funeral Home under auspices of the Masonic Lodge. Rev. Gordan Milldrum will officiate and burial takes place in Hillcrest cemetery. Born in Illinois, he was a member of the La Grande Lodge A.F. & A.M., Hope Chapter 13 Order of Eastern Star, Baker Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Al Kader Temple of the Shrine, and La Grande Chapter of Royal Arch Masons No. 9. Observer La Grande, Oregon Monday, November 29, 1965 Page … Read more

Isley, Madison Pennington – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon M.P. Isley, Pioneer Rancher of Joseph, Dies At Hospital Memorial services were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Bollman Chapel for Madison Pennington Isley who passed away at Wallowa Memorial Hospital on Saturday, October 16, 1965 after being a patient there for six days, Rev. LeRoy Brownell, pastor of the Joseph Baptist Church, officiated, and Mrs. Mae Stein was organist. Mrs. Claire Trullinger and Mae Stein sang “Shall We Gather At The River” and “Beyond The Sunset.” Casket bearers were: Luther Thornburgh, Fred Bird, Bill Cool. A. Daisley, Stone Butner, and S.W. Begley, and internment … Read more