The Wmson Co Medical Association was organized in Mary 1875, by Drs HV Ferrell, SH Bundy and AN Lodge. The officers are WH Bentley, president; MM McDonald, vice president; AN Lodge, secretary, and HV Ferrell, trearurer. The association has 17 members at present and it meets bi-monthly at Marion.
Fellowship Lodge of A F & A M, No 89 was chartered 08 Oct 1850, with James Askew, WM; Willis Allen, SW; JH Caompbell, JW and other brothers as charter members. At the present writing the lodge has about 60 members and the officers are WL Benson, WM; JW Evans, SW; Joseph Fozard JW; WS Washburn, secretary, and James M Burkhart, treasurer. The lodge owns the hall where it meets, is in good working order and in good financial condition.
Marion Chapter, No 100 was chartered 05 Oct 1866. Its charter members were: CM Edwards, PHP; JS Rice, King; AB Scurlock, scribe; William R Hall, secretary and MW Robertson, treasurer. The present membership is about 45, and it is also in good working order and in good financial condition.
Wmson Lodge IOOF No 392 was chartered 12 Oct 1869 with SWS Pribble, John O Bagwell, James N Jension, Pierce L Jension and David M Fligor as charter members. The present membership is about 65, and the officers are EE Mitchell, NG; HH Coffer, VG; GW Yound, secretary' and WL Benson, treasurer. The Lodge is active and has over $1200 in its treasury.
Benevoleny Encampment, No 171 of IOOF was chartered 10 Oct 1876, with George W Young, WH Eubanks, DA Davis, JV Grider and others as charter members. Its present membership is about 40.
Marion Lodge, No1944, K of H was chartered 05 Jan 1880 with WH Eubanks, JH Duncan, MC Campbell, MR Hooper, Z Hudgens, M Cantor and others as charter members. The present membership is about 40.
Egyptain Lodge No 325, K & L of H was chartered 01 Jun 1880 with JM Burkhart, MC Campbell and wife; Thomas Sunaway and wife; Elijah Spiller and wife, and others as charter members. It has a membership of 30.
Marion Post No 319 GAR was chartered 02 Aug 1883 with LD Hartwell, PM Parker, William Rex, JP Copeland and others to the number of 15 as charter members. It has about 35 members, and is in a fair condition financially and otherwise.
The Marion Building and Loan Association was incorporated in Mar 1887, with a capital stock of $50,000. The officers are LA Goddard, president; JW Westbrook, vice president; EE Mitchell, secretary and HT Goddard, treasurer. The board of directors are WH Eubanks, HC Mitchell, JM Burkhart, AJ Benson, JC Mitchel, JB Bainbridge. JW Westbrook, LW Goddard and WH Warder, the latter also being attorney for the association. AS son as the books were opened all the stock was subscribed, and applications made for more. By the end of the present year the association will probably increase the capital stock to $250,000, and confine all loans and improvements to the county.
In regard to other secret societies, taking in the whole county, Milo Erwin, in his history, says: "In 1862 the Golden Circle reached a membership of over 800, and in 1864 the Union League numbered 1200, In 1872, the Kuklux (KKK) numbered 135 members; but the same year they were broken up, and did not meet again until 1874, when a few of them formed a klan in the west side of the county. The Grange was introduced in 1874, and has since spread, rpidly among our farmers." Since the above was written, the Grange has been supplanted by the Farmers' Mutal Benefit Association, which is now very strong in the county. In Aug 1862, when the Golden Circle was exerting a very bad influence, AD Duff, WJ Allen, AP Corder, John Clemison and AC Nelson were all arrested by United States officers, and taken first to Cairo, adn thence to Washington, where they were confined about 3 months in the old Capital prison. They were charged with belonging to the Golden Circle and of making rebel speeches, both of which charges they denied, and after being confined as above stated they were released without trial.