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.

Renfrow, Earl J. – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon Services were held Tuesday morning, July 7, in the Salas Brothers Funeral Chapel in Modesto, Calif., for Earl Jackson Refrow, son of Edward and Mary Renfrow, early pioneers of lower Lost Prairie. He was 77 years of age and had been in failing health for some time, although he didn’t enter the Oakdale Hospital until a few days before his death. The services were conducted by Rev. Eleon Shuman of the Modesto Advent Christian Church of which he was a member, and burial was in Lakewood Memorial Park. Earl Renfrow was born in Troy, Oregon and … Read more

Hall, Fred Carper – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Services Held For Fred Hall Fred Carper Hall, a veteran of World War I and a retired stock ranch manager, passed away March 13, 1972 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital where he had been a patient for six days. He was born April 23, 1898 at Johnson Mill (Coquille), son of Charles and Isabelle Hall. On May 20, 1920 he was married at LaHabra, Calif., to Ruby Noble who preceded him in death at Enterprise on June 28, 1971. He was a lifelong member of Vista Elks Lodge 1968 of California and belonged to Veasey Lodge 82 … Read more

Burnaugh, Samuel L. – Obituary

Portland (UPI) – Funeral was to be held today for Samuel L. Burnaugh, 91, a former mayor of Enterprise and ex-state representative from Union and Wallowa counties. He died Friday. Burnaugh, a 1903 graduate of Oregon State, was in the pharmacy business in Enterprise and Portland. La Grande Observer Tuesday, August, 8, 1967 Front Page Burnaugh, Samuel L., 4128 NE Going; father of Lyle; brother of Nellie Galloway; grandfather of Ross McGowan, Mrs. Terry Sue Meyers; 2 great grandchildren, Cindy and Kristrin Meyers. Services Tuesday, Aug 8, 3 p.m., at 48th and Sandy. Friends invited Mt. Hood Lodge No. 157 … Read more

Glenn, Keith E. – Obituary

Summerville, Union County, Oregon Keith E. Glenn, 84, formerly of Summerville, died Friday evening at his home in La Grande. A service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Daniel’s Valley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Scott Pricer of La Grande officiating. Fraternal services will be under the auspices of Elgin Lodge No. 67 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Commital and vault and interment will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. Friends may call until 8 p.m. today at Daniel’s Valley Funeral Chapel, 1502 Seventh Street. Keith was born on Jan. 14, 1909, on the family farm at Summerville, … Read more

Streiff, Edward – Obituary

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 3 Contributed by: Sue Wells

McDonald, W.G. – Obituary

W.G. McDonald Stricken At Pythian Gathering Wesley G. McDonald, owner of the McDonald Electric company at La Grande, suffered a stroke while attending the district convention of the Knight of Pythias last night in KP hall. Taken to Grande Ronde hospital, he had not recovered consciousness this morning, and friends report that according to his physician, he will remain in a coma for several days. The Observer Newspaper, La Grande, Oregon, Monday, April 28, 1952 McDonald, George Wesley McDonald Rites Set Tomorrow Funeral services for George Wesley McDonald, 53, owner of the McDonald Electric Co., who died Saturday night after … Read more

Laurence, Harold W. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Harold W. Laurence, 86, of La Grande died Aug. 5 at his home. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday Aug. 10 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11 also at Daniels Chapel. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Mr. Laurence was born in Dec. 9, 1919, to Joe and Daisy Hayward Laurence in Mount Vernon. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School, and married Raema Helen Davis. He worked as a meat cutter and apprenticed to become a watchmaker. He … Read more

Stewart, Thomas G. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Thomas G. Stewart, 82, of La Grande died April 3 at the home of his friends, Kay and Vernon Slippy. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Daniels-Knopp with Rev. Vernon Slippy officiating. Thomas was born Sept. 18, 1925, to Thomas A. and Mary Jane (Gale) Stewart in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. He served in WWII in the Canadian Navy as a Telegraphist Trained Operator serving in the Atlantic, in the D-day invasion, and in the Pacific on board Corvettes and Mine-sweepers. He moved, with his parents, to New Westminister, B.C., during the war. After … Read more

Lanman, Billy E. – Obituary

Summerville, Oregon Billy E. Lanman, 79, of La Grande died April 4 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of his life will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Burial will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. Family members will host friends at a visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Daniels-Knopp. Billy was born Nov. 9, 1928, to Ira L. and Hazel F. Lanman at the old Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. His early life was spent in Summerville on a ranch and later on another ranch on Pumpkin Ridge. He … Read more

Coleman, Herschel Theodore – Obituary

Services for Herschel Theodore Coleman, 72, were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Guernsey Presbyterian Church. He passed away Sunday [March 17, 1974]. Mary Bahmer of Lingle officiated and burial was in the Valley View Cemetery in Torrington with graveside services being conducted by the Masonic Lodge No. 49 AF&AM of Guernsey. Mr. Coleman was born Jan. 23, 1902 in Ansley, Neb. And came to Guernsey 30 years ago. He was a member of the Methodist Church of Alliance and the brotherhood of Trainmen, Masonic Lodge No. 49 AF&AM of Guernsey. Coleman was employed for 38 years with the … Read more

Asa Todd of West Chesterfield MA

Asa Todd5, (Gershom4, Gershom3, Michael2, Christopher1) born June 28, 1756, died July 16, 1847, in West Chesterfield Mass., and was buried there. He married May 24, 1778, Abigail, daughter of Amos and Phebe Bishop, of New Haven, Conn. He was a Baptist minister and held pastorates in Whately and West Chesterfield, Mass., for more than thirty years, having been ordained the first pastor of the Baptist Society of Whately, Mass., Sept. 9, 1789. In 1803 he removed to West Chesterfield, Mass., where he was ordained the second pastor of the Baptist Society of that place, and was dismissed Nov. 2, … Read more

Timothy Todd of Rutland VT

Timothy Todd5, (Timothy4, Jonathan3, John2, Christopher1) born May 16, 1758, died Dec. 1, 1806, married Nov. 27, 1783, Phebe, daughter of Jehiel Buel of Killingworth, Conn. “Timothy Todd was sergeant after the Lexington Alarm, served as coast guard 150 days. Enlisted May 15, 1780.” He was a physician in Southern Vermont. Dr. Todd removed to Arlington, Vermont, having previously seen Vermont while in the Continental army as he was engaged in the battle of Bennington. “He was active, resolute and Persevering, his professional reputation rising and he soon had an extensive medical practice.” He was a man of considerable literary … Read more

Monroe, James Ross “Jim” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon James Ross “Jim” Monroe, 71, a longtime Baker City resident and former owner of Monroe Mortuary, died Oct. 23, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His funeral will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Susan Barnes of First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight and from 9 a.m., to 3 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Jim was born on July 7, 1933, at Santa Barbara, Calif., to Carl Thomas and Mamielee Riddlespurger Monroe. He was raised … Read more

Biography of Reuben H. Gulvin

Reuben H. Gulvin, chief of the fire department of Geneva, Ontario county, New York, is a fine example of a self-made man, in the truest sense of the word, rising entirely by his own unaided efforts from a position of dependence in England to that of the proprietor of the finest jewelry store in Geneva and its vicinity, and to a foremost position in the community in which he resides. Reuben H. Gulvin was born in Kent county, England, November 20, 1869, son of George Gulvin, who is still living in his native county, and is considered an expert in … Read more

Tumwater, Vancouver, Port Townsend, Washington

Tumwater, the initial point in the ‘history of the settlement of Puget Sound, was incorporated in Nov. 1869. In time it numbered more manufactories than any other town on the Sound. Vancouver and Early Settlers Vancouver was the fourth town in size in western Washington, having in 1880 about 3,000 inhabitants. It was made the county seat of Clarke County by the first legislative assembly of Washington, in March 1854, its pioneers, both English and American, long retaining their residences. Among the early settlers were James Turnbull, born in England, came to Washington in 1852, and with him William Turnbull, … Read more

Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire History

Keene, the county seat, lies in the central part of the county, in lat. 42º 55 and long. 4º 47, bounded north by Westmoreland, Gilsum and Sullivan, east by Sullivan and Roxbury, south by Swanzey, and west by Chesterfield and Westmoreland. The boundaries thus roughly given enclose a beautiful territory of about 22,010 acres, all included within the corporation limits of the charming little city of Keene. We say “little,” for it must be borne in mind that the city is yet in the swaddling clothes of infancy, and despite its large area has a population of less than 7,000 … Read more