estory of Kansas

Ben W. Graybill, Author • Forrest D. Haggard, Editor • Council of Administration-1974

M.·. W ... Forrest D. Haggard Grand Master

R:. W:. Robert H. Arnold R.-.W ... RalphD. Walker Deputy Grand Master Grand Senior Warden

R.·. W.·. William F. McIntosh W.·. Chester L. Gilbert (ex officio) Grand Junior Warden Grand Senior Deacon

~.' --(OF£Kf) ~ Copyright-The M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas-1975 Introduction

The settlement of the area which now comprises the lands it was necessary that white men should have State of Kansas was unique. The natural development liberty to settle in their vicinity in numbers. Therefor, of the United States had been the gradual expansion of the tribes moved for the organization of the Territory agriculture westward from the Alleghenies generally and that a provisional government be established. following the course of rivers which provided a means The Wyandots had been named by the other tribes to of transportation. During the great migration to be keepers of the Council fire. and adhering to their California in the late 1840's and 1850, thousands of ancient custom the others looked to the Wyandots to people came by way of the Ohio and Missouri rivers to take the initiative. Subsequently, under the leadership the junction of the Kansas river where water transpor­ of William Walker, the other tribes were asked to send tation to the southwest and California terminated. delegates to a convention to be held in the Council The land west of the Missouri border was designated House at Wyandot on July 26, 1853. Indian territory and settlement was restricted to It was the intention of William Walker that one of his Indians and only such white persons as were then in the brothers. either Matthew R. Walker or Joel Walker, capacity of service to the Indians. The emigrant tribes splendid business men of great energy and both of Indians residing in the territory had been removed possesFreemasonry in Kansas. It is a credit to the resident development of Freemasonry in Kansas. The foregoing Masons that they were willing to overlook their political pages were written only to give a background differences and establish an independent Grand Lodge descnbing the men who gave birth to our Fraternity in at a time when this critical schism existed. Various this State, why they were' here, how they lived and their attempts were made to form a Territorial Government, motivation. Freemasonry Enters the Territory GROVE WDGE U.D. (WYANOOITEi The first action to establish Masonry in the territory Masons recorded in the minutes as being present. there west of the Missouri River was by an 1Uldated petition would have been no reason to induct a lady to perform addressed to the Most Worshipful Grand Master of as a Lodge Officer. After much research, it is the Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri, writer's opinion that Mrs Walker may have been used requesting dispensation to meet as a regular Lodge at in a Tyler's capacity during the preliminary discussions the home of Matthew Walker, in Wyandot Territory, to prior to the granting of the dispensation. discharge the duties of Masonry in a constitutional The second meeting of the new Lodge was held in manner, etc.. The petition also requested that the new August 25, 1854, when G. I. Clark, D. Dofflemyre, Lodge be named Grove Lodge, No. , and Edwin Garrett and Henry Garrett were elected to recommended that John M. Chivington be appointed receive the degrees. The first three listed were Worshipful Master; Matthew R. Walker, Senior initiated on September 15, 1854. passed on September Warden and Cyrus Garrett. Junior Warden. (Garrett 20, and on September 22, 1854, G. I. Clark and D. was a nephew of Matthew Walker and later served as Dofflemeyer were raised to the Sublime Degree of a third Master ofthe Lodge.) The petition was signed by: Master Mason. Thus, G. I. Clark, Secretary of the first John M. Chivington, Butlerville Lodge No. 135, Ohio: provisional government in the Territory of Kansas, Matthew R. Walker, Heroine Lodge No. 104, K. C., became the first to receive the degrees of Masonry in Mo.; Cyrus Garrett, Heroine Lodge No. 104. K. C., Kansas and D. Dofflemeyer, the second. Clark was Mo.; L. C. Matthews, Mitchell Lodge No. 86, almost immediately appointed Treasurer of the Lodge. Columbus, Mo.; Jacob Bran~, Heroine Lodge No. He was the last Head Chief of the Wyandots. This 104, K. C., Mo.; Lewis Farley, Heroine Lodge No. 104, event could well have been the inspiration for the K. C., Mo.: Russell Garrett, Heroine Lodge No. 104, K. designofthe Seal of The Grand Lodge of Kansas which C., Mo.: A. P. Searcy. (Heroine Lodge No. 104, was was adopted later. chartered in 1849. the first to operate in Kansas City, Mo.) J. M. Chivington presided as Master at seven The petition was referred to Compass Lodge No. 120, meetings of the Lodge between August 11 and Parkville. Under date of July 5, 1854, it was November 14. 1864, when he moved to Omaha, recommended to the Grand Master of Missouri, that a dispensation by granted to the Brethren whose names appeared on the petition. On August 4, 1854, M.·. W .'. L. S. Cornwall. Grand Master, issued letters of dispensation to Grove Lodge, u.n., authorizing them to meet as a regular Lodge at the home ,of Matthew R. Walker, naming John M. Chivington, Worshipful Master; Matthew R. Walker, Senior Warden and Cyrus Garrett, Junior Warden. This action set the stage for the first meeting of a Masonic Lodge to be held in the territory. On August 11, 1854, a meeting was called to institute the Lodge, when R. G. Piper, Deputy Grand Master of Missouri, installed the officers and authorized them to work in the three degrees of Masonry. This meeting was held in the Hall of the Sons of Temperance. There is a I d that the wife of Matthew Walker acted as Tyler the first Masonic meeting. Obviously, this bas no foundation for there were present the eight who had signed the petition for authorization to organize the Lodge; four members of Golden Square Lodge No. 107 and two from Heroine Lodge No. 104. With fourteen M:.W.·.I. M. advin8ton 2 Nebraska where he became Presiding Elder of the that his Lodge bad approved the el!ltabliahmeDt of tbe Methodist Church. He was made a Mason in new Lodge and recommended thai authoritr be pmted Butlerville Lodge No. 135. Ohio. in July, 1846. He was to establish a Lodge at Smithfield. In view of &his educated as a Methodist minister and was a circuit action, Gic:ldings wrote the Grand Secretary of Mis80uri rider in the M.E. Conference. Pleasant Grove. Mis­ on September 23, 1854, requesting that a di8pensadon souri, for several years. He affiliated with what is now be forwarded to him as there was no mail serviee in the Capitol Lodge No. 3 on September 3, 1857 and was Terriiory. The dispensation. dated October 6, 1854. present at the formation of the Nebraska Grand Lodge was issued and mailed to Giddings. September 20, 1857. where he was appointed Grand Chaplain. He, also served on several Grand Lodge The first communication of Smithfield Lodge, U.D., Committees. was held NOVember 30, 1864, on the top of a hiD From Nebraska Brother Chivington went to Colorado overlooking the Missouri River and cJoae to the abode where he became a charter member of Union Lodge No. of Brother Smith. The Great Lights of Masomy were 7. He was elected the first Grand Master of the Grand placed on a burr oak stump and the Tyler who faithfully Lodge ofColorado when it was organized on August 21, guarded the Lodge was mounted on a horse. The Lodge 1861. He was re-elected in December of that year but was opened on the Third Degree by John W. Smith, was unable to attend the second annual communication Worshipful Master; E. W. Reinhart, Senior Warden; D. owing to being in the United States Army. He bad been Vanderslice, Junior Warden; John H. Whitehead, called to Colorado to assume the position of Presiding Secretary; W. P. Richardson, T:reasu.rer; J. H. Merrill, Elder of the Rocky Mountain District. Two years later S.D.; G. R. Wllson, J.D.; Joseph Crippin, Tyler. Four he entered the Army as a Major and rose to the rank of visiting Brethren from Savannah lDdge No. 71 were Colonel. also present. John Milton Chivington was a man of commanding The records indicate that the lDdge continued to bold physique, being 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 200 their meetings on this hill during the time they worked pounds. At the conclusion of the Civil War he resigned under dispensation and until the first communication his commission and returned to his home state of Ohio. after receiving their charter, when they met in a He returned to Denver in 1875 filling various civic warehouse at the resulfmce of John H. Whitehead, offices with distinction and was engaged in the Secretaryofthe Lodge, Which waS about ten miles nom freighting business. He died October 4, 1894. At his Smithton. Changing the name of his town apparently request the Grand Lodge conducted funeral services. paid no dividends to Smith for it never became a reality. His Lodge, Union No.7, acted as escort for the Grand The move to Whitehead waa intended to be temporary Lodge and more than 600 Masons were in the but as Smith's huilding was never completed, the procession. Interment was in Fainnount Cemetery, lodge moved to the town of lola on June 13, 1856, Denver. which was about eight miles northwest of Troy, where they met in a storeroom built by Vanderslice. On November 8, 1856, they returned to the Nemaha Indian S:MITHFIELD WOOE U.D. (SMITHTON) Agency, meeting in the home of T. J. Vanderslice, whose family was obliged to go to the house of Daniel The pioneers in Masonry in the northeast comer of Vanderslice near by, during the Lodge meetings. Kansas were guided by John W. Smith and Daniel The location was changed to Iowa Point, June 5, Vanderslice. In the late summer of 1854, seven Masons 1857. At that time it was a prosperous town on the residing in that area determined to establish a Lodge in Missouri River and an important trading point as many the community and had several meetings at the abode boats landed there. It was not until this time that the of Brother Smith, which was a "dug out", in the location of the Lodge was inserted in the charter, the southeast part of Doniphan County, or at the home of space having been left blank when the charter was Brother Daniel Vanderslice at the Nemaha Indian issued by the Grand lOOge of Kansas. The Lodge Reservation, of which he was the Indian Agent. This remained at this location until January 20, 1872, when Agency was located in the northwest part of the county. the location was changed to Highland where it still John W. Smith hoped to establish a town on his remains. property but his dreams only progressed to a partially completed building. Other villages sprung up and the Various reasons are given for the many relocations. possibility of a town named Smithfield disappeared. Some attribute it to the political conditions of the day. Under date of September 23, 1854, the group Other that it was done for the convenience of the submitted a petition to the Grand Lodge of Missouri greatest number of members. Political opinions were requesting authority to establish a Lodge at Smithfield. at variance, but all disagreements were dispelled as The petition was signed by Harvey Foreman, John soon as they entered the Lodge. Certainly no question Whitehead, William Richardson, Joseph Crippin, J. W. can be raised as to their Masonic zeal, for neither Smith, E. W. Reinhart and D. D. Vanderslice, distance, danger nor weather prevented them from recommending that Smith be named Master; E. W. meeting, many being obliged to ride twenty-five miles Reinhart, Senior Warden and D. D. Vanderslice, Junior and to remain over night. Warden. The petition was referred to Savannah Lodge No. 71. Under date of September 23, 1854, Thomas H. Clarke, Secretary of Savannah lodge reported to U. B. Giddings, D.D.G.M. for the First District of Missouri, 3

- LEAVENWORTH WDGE U.O. as follows: G. B. Panton, Treasurer; Charles Mundee, Secretary; L. J. Eastin, Senior Deacon; J. J. Benz, Simultaneously with the seeds of Masonry bursting Junior Deacon. It was agreed to dispense with the into fertility at Wyandotte and in Doniphan County, election of a Tyler for the present. J. M. Alexander there emerged a person with an abundant knowledge served as Junior Deacon for the opening and J. J. and experience in the Craft, in the City of Leavenworth. Benson as Tyler. Richard Ridgeway Rees had crossed the river from Visitors present were: Beverlin Beck, W~n Lodge Platte County, Missouri, in 1854. He immediately No. 53 and Dr. S. F. Few, Friendship Lodge, Virginia. sought out Brother Masons in the community for he had Petitions for initiations, accompanied by a $5.00 fee, gained distinction -.s Master of Independence Lodge were receivd from Dr. J. H. Day and Dr. Samuel No. 35 from 1845 to 1850 and had. served as District Phillips. Deputy Grand Master of the fourth Masonic District of It was resolved that the fee for an admitted Brother Missiouri, which included Jackson County. He was the should be $2.00. Petitions for affiliation were received Charter High Priest of Independence Chapter No. 14 of from Christian Beck and Beverlin Beck of Weston Royal Arch Masons from 1848 to 1850 and served as Lodge No. 53 and S. F. Few of Friendship Lodge, Va. Deputy Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of This meeting was a memorable occasion for Kansas Missouri for one year. Masonry, for those present included the following: Brother Rees succeeded in his efforts to organize a Richard R. Roos, the first Grand Master of the Grand group interested in establishing a Lodge in Leaven­ Lodge of Kansas, who served in this capacity from 1856 worth. No record has been found indicating the thrOugh 1859; the first Grand Treasurer, Beverlin Beck activities during the fonnative period but an undated in 1856; Christian Beck, Grand Treasurer from 1858 petition was mailed to D. P. Wallingford, Deputy Grand through 1891 and Charles Mundee, Grand Secretary Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, stating their from 1856 through 1860. Rev. leander Ker served as desire to fonn a new Lodge in the town of Leavenworth, the first Grand Chaplain in 1856 and reappointed in Kansas Territory, to be named leavenworth Lodge, 1857. recommending that Richard R. Rees be named Master; Archibald Payne, Senior Warden and Auley McCaulay, Junior Warden. The petition was signed by: William LAWRENCE LODGE U.D. O. Webster, Joel Hiatt, W. G. Evans, G. B. Panton, LaFayette Mills, leander Ker. A. McCaulay. Richard The records of Lawrence Lodge No.6 were destroyed R. Kees, Lucian J. Eastin. J. Marion Alexander, John by fire during Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Friday, J. Benz, A. Payne and Charles Mundee. August 21,1863. Fortunately the Lodge, realizing the importance of obtaining first hand information regard­ The application bore the following endorsement: ing the formation and early years of the Lodge, Hall of Platte Lodge No. 56, Platte City, Mo. prevailed upon Brother James Christian, the first Master, to write an account of the events preceding the Dec. ,4, A.D. 1854, A.L. 5854 receipt of their dispensation to operate as a regular Lodge. The within petition-, praying the D:.G:.M:. of At the time of the request he was living in Arkansas Missouri to grant them a dispensa,tion to open a new City where he had moved from Lawrence on October Lodge at leavenworth, Kansas Territory, by the name 15, 1875. His report was printed in full in the history of Leavenworth Lodge, was presented to this Lodge, published by the Grand Lodge for the Semi-Cente~ and on motion this Lodge recommends that the prayer celebration he1U ~ Topeka on February 22, 1906. It IS of the petition be granted. well and-securely preserved in that volume, therefor, WilliamA. Fox, W:.M:. we. will tmly use pertinent excerpts for historical purposes in this compilation. It is dated January 16, Attest: 188&. James Christian was Master of Prairie Lodge No. 90, P. Jackson Collins, Sect'y p.t. Harrisonville, Missouri, in 1854. L. S. Cornwall, Grand Master of Missouri, paid an official visit to his Lodge Complying with the application and it's recom­ dwing the SWDDle.r oUBS-L Christian relates that he mendation by Platte Lodge No. 51, a dispensation was mentioned to Cornwall that he intended to move to granted to the signators ofthe petition to open a regular Lawrence and that he asked how he should proceed to Lodge near the town of leavenworth by the name of obtain a dispensation to work as a Lodge in his new Leavenworth Lodge and naming 'Richard R. Rees, home community. Cornwall, among other instructions, Master; Archibald Payne, Senior Warden and Auley infonned him that it would be necessary to obtain the McCaulay, Junior Warden. The dispensation was recommendation of the nearest Masonic Lodge of signed by D. P. Wallingford, Deputy Grand Master and Missouri. This was located at Westport, Jackson attested by A. O'Sullivan, Grand Secretary of the County. Grand Lodge of Missouri, under date of December 30, 1854. Quite a number of settlers had located in the city of The first communication of leavenworth Lodge U.D., Lawrence during the spring of 1855, when Christian was held January 19, 1855, opened by Richard R. Rees, arrived there. He stated that political difficulties Worshipful Master with Archibald Payne and Auley existing at that time made it difficult to find a man who McCaulay in their stations respectively as Senior and would acknowledge himself to be a Mason or anything Junior Wardens. The Lodge elected the junior officers else but a F:ree-State or PnHIlavery man. By summer 4 S TATE LINE ~ ..- ..- ..- ..- ..- ..- ..- ..- ..- ..---..- ..- ..- .. eo

IOwo Point ~ ".~ .ola.• ""...... J\...1\ Sln.ea, Hitlliond S",ithti,'d ,- \ WhitthlOd' \

,~ • Arcana ('I (Dollitlholl) I

Alchilon. (

Hollon, Elk Cily "','\, .W.ston 6rO••:.PPlr ~ KiCkOPOO'? I~I., ,",., ( L.oYenworth \ , " ,Plott. Cily

~ o kOloosa. High Prairie. "'-.. Parkville '-,-,,.. WyondOI'1 FOri RillY, IndIanola. KANSAS..fH', ,W..parl Lecompton. C1TY r : O. Solo I BIg Sping; A b ,n ~!-AWRENCE = ~u. ~_ .Olotho ~---- I i· Palmyra Aubry. I • (Bald..i.)

~'".." Grove I • PaOlo :3 to Mon. i i;• i; ·,..~ Garneff Illaomino Grov. I, (Trading Po.,). • I t• Mound Cily • I

Eldora • ("'00,,/10.1

Map showing the development of Masonry in Kansas ror' C;:rOtf • 1854 to 1865, courtesy of Jimmie L. Grassi. W.·.M.·. Old Mission Lodge No. 153. 1974. 41. IDella Delia Feb. 17.1921 tAt Wedneeda,. 2021 Delphos Feb. 11. 1881 18t and .rd Monday.

8721 Denison ...... • Denison Feb. lIS, 1906 tat and 8rd Tueada,..

U91 Denton Denton Feb. I •• 1981 2nd and 4th Thurada,.. I 86/1 I Derb,. Derby Mar. 16, 1.66 2nd and 4th ThuradaYI 'I 40 I De Soto ...... 1 De Soto Oct. 20, 1868 1st and 3rd Mondaye I 92 I Devon Devon Feb. 18. 1897 2nd Thursday

U61 Dexter Dextt."t Od. 21. 1814 2nd and 4th Monday. 279 I Dili\'hton Uarney Feb. 16. 1887 1st and 3rd Tuesdays I 222 I Dodli\'e City l'l. Bernard Feb. 22. 1888 1st and 3rd Monday. I 81 I Doniphan Alocana Od. 17. 1860 1st Saturday I 161 I Douli\'la.. DougI".. Oct. 21. 1874 2nd and 4th Wednesda,.•.. I 1381 Dover Dover Feb. 20. 1902 2nd Thursday 2041 Downs Downs Feb. 16. 1882 1st and 3rd Mondays I 3741 Dwili\'ht Dwh,ht . Feb. 20. 1906 l.t and 3rd Thursdays j Exeept July and AUli\'ust 461~ 'Dee. 20. 1864 !fit and 3rd Saturdays 127 I Edgerton Palestine 0<1. 17. 1872 1st Rnd 3rd Mondays I I au IEdna Edna F ...I>. 18. 1892 1st an.1 Srd Tuesdays 48 ! Effingham Maeke)' Oet. 17. 1866 tat And 3rd Mondays 97 I EI Dorado Patmo!:' (h-l. 19. 1871 1st and 3rd Thursdays I 132 I Elk Cit,. ('arsun 0<1. Iii. 1878 2nd and 4th Thursdays Oct. 17. 18'72 2nd and 4th Mondays 128.~ Elk Falla Me.-idian 4221 Elkhart; .....•... Elkhart Feb. 17. 1921 2nd and 4th Thursda,..

21 71 Ellinwood Ellinwood . F.b. 22. 18SS 1st and .rd Thursday.

29'71 Em. . .. , ...... Apollo Feb. 16. 1888 1.t and ard Honda,..

1461 EII.worth Ellsworth Oct. 21. 18'74 1st and 8rd Monday•.

121 Emporia Emporia Dee. 20. 1864 tat and ard Frida,.. (13/ Enailrn Enslli\'n Feb. 22. un tat and 8rd Thunda,.. 4371 Enterprise ., .... . Enterprise Feb. 28. 1924 2nd and 4th Mondays.

76IErle., ...... Erie. Oct. 21. 1869 2nd and 4th Wedneadays.

201i 1Eskrid... Eminence Feb. Iii. 1882 2nd Monday

81 I Eudora ..... , .... Doric Oct. 20, 1870 2nd and Uh Tue.da,.. I I 106 I Eureka Fidelity Oct. 19. 18'11 1st and 3rd Tueeda,.. I lea I Fall River .,. Greenwood Oct. 21, 18TI lot and 3rd Wedne.da,.•. , I 114 I Florence ., .. Advance Oct. 16. 1872 2nd Tue.da,. I 181 I Fontana .,' ...... Equity Oct. III, UTI lit and Srd Tanda,..

88s1 Formolo .,""" Formoso Feb. 18. 1891 2nd and 4th Monda,.•.. • 11 IFt. Leavenworth Hancock Feb. 20, 1889 lit and Srd Thunda,..

8 I Fort; Scott Rlsln&' Sun Oct: It, 1867 1st and Srd Fridays I, 6'7 Franktort; Frankfort; , Oct. n. 18TT 1st and Srd W.dn..da,.•..

In Frederiek Fredertek. Feb. ZO. Uti lat and Srd Honda,..

95 Fredonia CONlwllelion . Oct. 20. 1870 1st and Srd Wedne.day,..

110 Fulton ...••...•• Fulton Feb. 21. 1111 2nd and 4th Kl!ftU,.

118 j