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Richland County


History of Richland County Organizations and Groups
"History of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland Counties"

Knights of Pythias

I.O.M.A. Olney Lodge, No.95

Catholic Knights of America

Calhoun Lodge, No. 166, A.O.U.W.

List of Deaths

Olney Encampment, No 61, I.O.O.F.

Noble Lodge No. 482

Memorial Day, May 30, 1881



Knights of Pythias-Marmion Lodge,No. 52, Knights of Pythias, was organized and instituted September 30,1874, by D.G. C.,J.V.Swarthout, of Centrailia,Il, with the following charter members: N.S.Marshall, W.F. Beck, Jacob Carter, William Ratcliff, O.C.Moorhead, H.V.Fulton, Ed.F.Ridgway, G.C. Ridgway, A.Chaplin, L.Johnston, D.J.Parish, H.Marshall, W.M.Robinson, George Passmore, J.W.Phillips, H.C.Sands, F.P.Borden, T.Tippit, A.Tippit. The first officers were, Jacob Carter, P.C.; N.S.Marshall, C.C., W.F.Beck, V.C.; J.W.Phillips, Prelate; Thomas Tippit,M. of E.; G.C. Ridgway,M.of F,;O.C.Moorhead, K. of R. and S; W.M. Robinson, M. at A; Lou Johnston, I.G.; A.Chaplin, O.G. From that time the Lodge has progressed steadily, taking a front rank among the benevolent orders in our city. Its membership is composed mostly of  young men, and among its ranks you will find the County Clerk,Circuit Clerk, County Superintendent of Schools, City Clerk, the editors of both the county papers, many merchants and influential citizens of Olney. They have lost but three members by death,viz; Ed.F.Ridgway, John O.Ebert, and Jonathan Mills. They occupy an elegantly fitted room in Wisshack's building, and have property and moneys amounting to nearly $1200. Its present membership is seventy-five, among who are ten Past Chancellors. The Lodge has one member who is an officer of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, in the person of W.F. Beck. There is also the Endowment Rank of the K.P's with a membership of Twenty, who carry a insurance on their lives of $40,000.The Present officers are as follows: P.C.; T.M. Richardson,;C.C. R.N.Stotler, V.C., J.B.Newman, Prelate.,H.B.Wheeler;M. of E., J.T.Ratcliff;M. of F., O.C. Palmateer; K.of R.. and S., N.A. Lough;M., at A., Ed. Von Grunten;I.G.,C. Weiland;O.G., A.Ensey;Trustees:W.F.Beck, R.N.Stotler, T.M.Richardson.


I.O.M.A.-Olney Lodge, No.95, of I.O.M.A.-of Illinois, was organized October 5,1880, with thirty-five members, by M.L.Ross,D.G.P; of Quincy,Il(since deceased). Orginal Members: Fletcher T.Phillips, Fred.Sterchi, William Allen, Samuel P. Herron, J.M.Price, S.S.Millner,William Voight, John Balmer, Frank Boon, L. Gossman,H.J.Hahn, A.E.Stamm, Simon B. Reinhard, Austin F. Struble, Alex. Tennyson, N.S.Marshall, W.J.Wolfe, J.J.Coons, S.Y.Pearson,Chris.Balmer, D.Bryan, Albert Ratcliff, peter Dietrich, S.A.Whitney, John T. Shaw, Peter Brillhart, William A. Thompson, F.M.Bourrell, H.H.Kingsbury, G.H.B.Tolle, J.L.Randel, L.A.Warren, W.H.H.Tooley, Jonathan Mills,(deceased), John Gries. Joined since, up to November 30, 1883, G.W.Armsey, G.W.Sparr, J.F.Runyen, F.E. Schonert, Charles Fletcher, Martin Mantz, W.A.Cope, Chris. Launer, B.E.Betebenner, John Krieg, David Jones, John Robards, H.G. Fabs, A.H.Newsum, D.H.McGrahey, William Rhode, William Ferriman, L.W. Palmateer. The officers at organization were:Past President, J.J.Coons;President, S.S.Millner, Vice President, H.H.Kingsbury, Recording Secretary, W.J.Wolfe, Financial Secretary, J.M.Price, Treasurer, F.M. Bourrell, Trustees, N.S.Marshall, J.J. Coons, S.P.Herron,; Conductor, A.Tennyson; Inside Guardian, P.Brillhart, Outside Guardian, J.Balmer;Chaplain,J.T.Shaw. Present Officers:President, B.E. Betebenner, Vice President, J.F.Runyen, Recording Secretary, N.S.Marshall, Financial Secretary, J.M.Price, Trustees; Fahs, Mcgahey, Runyen; Conductor,W.A.Cope, Inside Guardian, John Balmer, Outside Guardian, P.Dietrich. The Lodge is in a flourishing condition, financially and otherwise.


Catholic Knights of America- Olney Branch, No.173, Catholic Knights of America, was chartered March 31,1881, with the following charter members: Rev. John W. Muscher, Thomas Brassie, John T.Dolan, Richard Lewis, Maurice Buckley, Felix Brassie, William Steed, Sebastian Gast, William Harget, Frank P. Gillespie, Isadore Brassie, Augustus Brassie, and L.J. Schifferstein. Charter received and organized, Ambrose Schneider being admitted with member with card from Trenton Branch, No.50,C.K.of A. and following officers were elected to serve until last meeting in December, except two trustees, which were to serve, one for one year following from last meeting, and second for two years following from last meeting in December; following officers were elected:Rev. John W. Muscher,Spiritual Director; Frank P. Gillespie, President; William Hargart, Vice President; Ambrose Schneider, Recording Secretary; John Thomas Brassie, Financial Secretary; Felix Brassie,Treasurer; William Steed,,Sentinel; Isadore Brassie, Sargeant-at-Arms; L.J.Schifferstein, maurice Buckley,A.Brassie, Trustees. The Branch is in a flourishing financial condition, and has a membership of thirteen. Following are the present officers(December, 1883): Rev. John W. Muscher,Spiritual Director; William Hargart,President; William Steed, Vice President; Ambrose Schneider, Recording Secretary; John Thomas Brassie,Financial Secretary; Sebastian Gast, Treasurer; Isadore Brassie, Sergeant-at-Arms; Richard Lewis, Sentinel; Isadore Brassie, Trustee for one year;Rev.John W.Muscher, for two years; Maurice Buckley for three years.


Calhoun Lodge ,No.166,A.O.U.W.- of Fairview, Madison Township,Richland County,ILL, was instituted in April, 1880, by W.F.Beck,D.G.M.W., with some eighteen or more charter members, whose names, as well as those of the first officers,are to the writer unknown. At this date(January 1884), the Lodge has a membership of some fifty or sixty, and is in a flourishing condition, both financially and otherwise. The Lodge contemplates the erection of a new and elegant hall during the coming summer. The first or charter members were: Warren Frazee, J.E.Wilson,F.M.Heath, S.S.Canby, R.A.Hunt,James Dodds, D.W. Pritchett, F.M.Kent, J.H.Deem, J.P.Soliss,J.R.Roberts, Cable Hauser, Levi williamson,R.F. Crandell, M.Von Congdon.Officers: M.Von Congdon, P.M.W.; J.P. Soliss, M.W. Levi Williamson,F., Warren Frazee,O.; R.A.Hunt,Financier; J.E.Wilson,Receiver; S.S.Canby,Guide; James Dodds,G.W.; F.M. Heath,O.W.; J.H.Deem, R.F.Crandell, and D.W.Pritchett;Trustees. Opened with fifteen members, now have forty-eight, have lost two by death. Our first assessment was $15. The first Financier's Report was $6.50, and the Receiver's Report $7.50. We now have over $200 in notes, in the hands of the Trustees, and the last report of the Receiver was $77.50.. The Financier's Report of November 24, was $63.75.


List of Deaths-John Banks, J.H. Cartwright, L.M. Parker, Charles Wetzlau, Henry Palmer, John Palmer, H.J.Sheets, William Calvert, Alexander Steward, A.J.Goetz, J.C.Armstrong, O.Armstrong, George W. Heap, James Cochran, Jacob Blackford, W.E. Robinson, I.S.Robinson, S.S.Burnett, J.M. Brown, William Cobbs, J.B.Gharst, David Holms, J.H.Parker, Henry Seibert, W.W.Wise, A.W. Brewster, F.S.Benton, E.Kitchel, M.Chaplin, A.J.Finch. Sick and Funeral benefits paid$4,375.00.


Olney Encampment, No 61, I.O.O.F.- was organized April 5, 1866, by Dr. Samuel Willard,G.C.P. of Chicago,Il. Charter members: J.H. Cartwright, J.R.Hargraves, F.J. Hinman, Asher Gaslin, J.Brillhart, J.Oldendorf, P.Hires. First Officers:  C.P., J.H. cartwright, H.P., F.J.Hinman, S.W., J. Brillhart, J.W., J.R.Hargraves, Scribe, J.Oldendorf, Treasurer, P.Hires. Past Chief Patriarchs: J. H. Cartwright, J.Brillhart, Asher Gaslin, William Newell, W.C. Richard, J.R. Johnston, O.Armstrong, J.D.Chauncy, A.A. Allbright, John A. Bourrell, G.H. B.Tolle, A. Martin, J.S. Armstrong, Joseph Bourrell, J. H. Roberts,  O. Jones, R. Ginther, M.Froehlich, H.L.Ince, S.S. Millner, J.Gruber, C. Hasler, M.Mantz, A.H. Knost, W.A. Cope, W.F.Rolen. Total membership at last report, eighteen. Present officers: C.P., John Balmer, H.P., H.L.Ince, S.W., B.E. Betebenner, J.W., W.A. Cope,; Scribe, A.Martin,; Treasurer, John Gruber. Financial condition at present, $400. Deaths since organization: John Brillahrt, G.W. Heap, J.H. Cartwright,  O.Armstrong, J.S. Armstrong, John M. Brown. Sick and funeral benefits since organization, $278.


Noble Lodge, No. 482-Charter granted March 12, 1872. Charter Members: I.S. Armstrong, George Ellis, W.E. Alcorn, Henry Cox, and N.Fryburger. James C. Beeler was the first man initiated. I.S. Armstrong was the principal mover in the institution of the Noble Lodge. George Ellis and H.Friburger, are the only surviving charter members. First Officers: I.S. Armstrong, N.G.; W.E. Alcorn, V.G.; N.Fryburger, Secretary;H.Cox, Treasurer.Present Officers: Ira P. Jones, N.G.; John Shields, V.G.; harry C. Falconer, Secretary; George Ellis, Treasurer. Since the institution of the Lodge, there have been sixty-seven members inititated.  The Lodge now has twenty-eight active members. Property worth at least $400, and $300 in the treasury. The Lodge is in a most prosperous condition.


Memorial Day May 30, 1881-was duly observed by the Post, whose membership at this time had swelled to one hundred. The Olney Cornet Band and the different societies of the city, in full uniforms and regalias, assembled at the schoolhouse yard, where the vast crowd listened to music and speeches by Comrade William Matoon and Gov. John P. St. John of Kansas; thence proceeding to the cemetery in the presence of $5,000 people, the ritualistics services of the G.A.R.  for Decoration Day was held in an impressive manner.

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