Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/233

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

G. A. R ., and their friends, without an appro­ priation from any source. A t the dedication Governor Stone was pres­ ent and delivered an address. Rev. G. M. Klejifcr, on behalf of the Post, presented the monumciu to the borough, and M iss Theresa W aters unveiled it. W. II. Rhawn making the speech o f acceptance fo r the borough council. A parade took place in the nuirning, in which the local and visiting Hosts, the Sons o f Veterans and several secret societies participatc<l. the Catawissa Band leading all the others. It is estimated that over five thousand people were in attcm bncc. SOCIETIES

Lieut. H. H. Hoagland Post, No. 170. Grand A rm y of the Republic, was organized in Octo­ ber. 1 8 ^ . with the following m em bers: M. M. Brobst, Samuel W alters, Daniel W alters, John G. Forborg, Thom as Harder, I. W. W illits, Clark H arder, Henry Thomas, A rthu r Harder, T. P. House. B. B. Schmick, George W. W aters, John R. Brobst, John Reicheldcifer. In 1876 It was disbanded and in 1880 reor­ g a n iz e with praciiciilly the same member­ ship. M any of the members have passed away in the years since, but a few of them are left to answer the roll call. Concordia l-odge. No. 60, Independent O rder o f Odd Fellows, w as organized Sept. 24, 1838, and has held regular weekly meetings since that date. T he first officers were Owen D. Leib, noble g ran d; John F. Mann, vice g ran d; Michael Farnsworth, secretary; Joel E. Bradley, assistant; Christian A. Brobst, treas­ urer. Meetings were at first hehl at the home o f Mr. Brobst, until 1882, when the Pine street schoolhouse w as used, having been purchased the previous year. T h is is the building now occupied by the lodge a s a place o f meet­ ing. It IS the twentieth oldest lodge of the order in the State, and is one of the permanent institutions of the town. The members arc vcn- proud of their long record o f usefulness. Catawissa Lodge, No. 349. F. & A. M .. was granted 3 charter Dec. 5, 1864. T he first o f­ ficers w ere: John Sbarpless, W. M .; W. M. Monroe, S. W .; W alter Scott, J. W. Catawissa Chapter, R oyal Arch Masons, was instituted Feb. 19. 1855. with Jam es D. Straw bridge. high priest; John K. Robbins and J. Boyd hfcK eIvy were other officers. T he Catawissa Masonic Association w as or­ ganized Dec. 8 ,18 6 9, by the following members of the chapter and lodge: I. H. Seesholtz, George S. Gilbert. M. V. B. Kline. W alter

5 k:ott, W. B. Koons, J. B. Knittlc, W. II. A b­ bott. C. Ellis, 1. .Monroe, John K. Robbins, C. B. H n xkw ay. John Thomas. A brick build­ ing w as erected at the head o f Main street, the cornerstone being laid in 1869 and the com­ pleted structure occupied in 1870. 'I'he cost of the building was $19,000. Storerooms occupy the lower floor, a meeting hall the second, and lodge rooms the third floor. T h e association became involved fmanciaUy in 1879 and the buililing was sold in Ju ly to George S. Gilliert and A. H. Sharplcss & Sons. In t888 Gilbert's interest w as so d to the Sharplcss family. In 1895 J. K. Sliarpless, J r ., bought his father’s interest, and in 1904 transferred it to his brother and sister, H arold and M ary Sharpless. T h is interest w as later acquired by the M.'isonic lo<)gc. and the interest of J . K . Sharp­ lcss, S r., conveyed after his death to Desdemona. widow o f Dr. L . B. Kline. T he title to the hall now rests in Ambrose H. Sharplcss, the Kline heirs and the lodge. Catawissa Council, No. 9(1. O rder o f United American Mechanics, w as chartered Oct. 1. 1866, with this membership: Simon Raup, Charles G am er, J. Q. A. Brobst, H enry S. Geiger, Valentine Betz, Jacob M illard, Nathan Nortlistcin, John Gelchcy, C. P. Reese, Gideon ilaldcm an, John M. Gordon. A ndy Bow ers. Charles H. I^ttccr. 1 'his body is now dis­ banded. Washington Camp No. 132. P. O. S. o f A ., w as organized A pril 3, 1870. with the follow­ ing membership: W. H. Imhoff, Jaco b Cool, J. K. Rh-nwii, H arry Yeager, Cliarles H. Bibhy, Jaco b Morrison. Samuel H. Young, C. P. P fa h ­ lcr, C. D. H art, George L. Kostenbauder. W. K. Russell, P. A. Brow n, Thom as E. H arder, Dennis W aters, William F. Bibby, Thom as B. Cullinan, A. W. StaiUlcr, Charles D. Cool. W. H. Abbott. O. D. Kostenbauder, Jacob Kostenhaudcr. T be officers in 19 14 a r c : Edw ard R i^ c l, president; Herbert Y. Harman, v ice president: Frank Riegel, nu ster o f fo rm s; Paul Schlieder, conductor; R oss Ervin, inspec­ to r: Charles Sassam an, gu ard; R. B ru cc W hcclcr, trustee; R. B. W heeler and D r. L. H. Kline, delegates to eight-county convention; C. A. Paul, delegate to Slate camp. The num­ ber of the camp is now 540. Catawissa Grange, No. 2 16. P a lro n so f H u s­ bandry. w as chartered A pril 30. 1874. T h e first members w ere: Matthias Hartman. J o ­ siah Roberts. E. M. Tew ksbury. Solomon H elwig, M artin T. Hartman. Samuel Fisher. Jo h n S. Mensch. The Catawissa Grange and H all AssocLition w as incor|x>ratcd M ay 25, 1883, and a commodious brick building w as e r e c t ^