Masonry Marches Forward with Danville

A Prosperous City Sprouts From Early Trading Post, And the Lodge Keeps Step

By Dr. G. Haven Stephens

TO KNOW THE HISTORY of Olive Branch Lodge 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is to know the history of Danville and Vermilion County.

            They run hand in hand.  When Danville was only a few years old, the men who had the planning of our city in its infancy also were present when Olive Branch Lodge was brought into the world and made a major part of the social and fraternal side of people of that early date.

            It was in 1826 our city had its very humble beginning when the State Legislature appointed William Morgan, Zachariah Peters and John Kirkpatrick of Sangamon County to explore the county and designate the place, which on being located, should forever remain the permanent seat of justice of Vermilion County.  A former commission had located the county seat some six miles west of the present Danville and back a distance from the south side of the Salt Fork.

            A more unfavorable place could not have been chosen.  It would have been impossible ever to have attracted enterprising businessmen to such a spot.  If the county seat had been established there, on the cold, flat, clay ground, it would never have grown to the dignity of a city, or even attained the respectability of the average modern town.  It would have remained an unsightly, ragged, sickly village, to go the way of several seats in the state that lingered along for years, only to die and be forgotten.

            Fortunately, the man who had lease on the chosen site refused to yield his rights and the legislature was petitioned for another site for the founding of the county seat.

            On Jan. 31, 1827, the new commission reported that, in its opinion, the land donated by Guy W. Smith and Dan W. Beckwith, near the mouth of the north fork of the Vermilion River, was the most suitable place in the county for the new town that was to grow into the thriving Danville of today.

            A most fortunate choice it was.  A better site could not have been selected; there was not a spot of ground where nature had combined so many advantages of drainage, surface soil, water, coal, timber, stone, gravel, and all else required for the successful growth of an inland city.  The site had been selected more than 100 years before by the Piankeshaw Indians as one of their villages and had been given the name of Piankeshaw.

Early Danville a Rugged Scene

            Let us, in our imagination, picture the scene when the town of Danville, named in honor of one of its founders, Dan Beckwith, came into existence.  Let us remove all semblance of civilization as we know it now—all house, fences, gardens and lawns gone.  Remove the streets and walks and other signs of civilization, restore the trees to a surrounding forest.  Then imagine a line of stalwart oaks to the river bluff and others scattered at intervals on an open plain.

            Westward from Stony Creek are patches of jack oak and hazel brush.  Along the bluffs of the North Fork and Vermilion Rivers, some distance apart, are numerous springs that bubble out of the hillsides and the remains of Indian wigwams of bark or naked lodge poles, telling us of the struggle of the Piankeshaws as they were driven away from their village by the Potawatomies and the Kickapoos.

            The Piankeshaws are gone and desolation reigns over their ancient city.  Into this picture has come just a few log huts and lean-tos, protecting in a weak way not more than a dozen pioneer families.  Truly, it was a wild and rugged scene made more dangerous by hundreds of rattlesnakes which had their dens in the banks of the river.

            A few months passed and the town was laid off in lots.  Notice of sale had been published in the Illinois Intelligence at Vandalia, the State Capitol, and also in a paper published at Indianapolis.  On that momentous day, a large number of persons had collected.  Bidding was lively and 42 lots were sold, the county realizing $922.87 as the result of the sale, an average of about $22 a lot.

            This seems a trifling price as compared with the present value, as most of the lots sold were on Main or Vermilion streets in the vicinity of the square.  Just recently in a real estate transaction, $100, 000 was paid for two lots more than a block from the square.

            Thus we see the beginning of the city of Danville, with no streets lined out or cut.  A stranger passing through would have seen houses scattered around without any apparent order, some of them hidden in clumps of bushes and, if the day were pleasant and it was early in the week, he might have seen the family wash out drying on the small trees on Main street in front of the Log Cabin, which harbored the family of one of the first citizens of Danville.  Our stranger then could have followed the only traveled road which cut its path zigzagging in its course, across lots in a northwesterly direction to the place where the Woolen Mill Bridge now crosses the North Fork and around which point had sprung up quite a trading post.

City’s Early Growth Was Slow

The few years that elapsed from this beginning to the time when the town numbered about 500 passed slowly.  In 15 years, very few families were emboldened to try their fortune in this uninviting place where only the salt wells gave promise of any future.  But among those who came, there were those who had lived in the East, and had enjoyed the fellowship which came from Masonic membership. They found this understanding a great pleasure as they met as strangers in this new country, became friends and passed long evenings in visiting and relating their experiences to each other.  Soon, the desire became stronger to foster a closer relationship in the formation of a lodge or society where they could pool their strength and be a power for good in the growing hamlet.

True, it was virgin soil but well adapted to the growth of the organization which practiced its peculiar rites and ceremonies with none to behold but the All-Seeing Eye, and those so fortunate to be admitted behind the veil of secrecy.

In the winter of 1846, a meeting was called in the home of one of these Masons and plans were perfected to petition for the privilege of organizing lodge.  Those who attended knew full well the influence for good such an organization could be.  The putting into activity the principles of friendship, love, morality, truth, charity and relief found a fertile field and was one of the great blessings which came to this pioneer community.

A temporary organization was formed and William E. Russell, a Mason who had received his degrees in Pennsylvania, was given authority to contact the Grand Master, William F. Walker, who lived in Chicago, and present the petition.  It was a long trip to make but he set out on it with the determination to get the coveted authority.  He returned in about ten days and, calling the brethren together, delivered the dispensation by early candle light on the evening of April 7, 1846.  This official document read thus:  ‘I grant a dispensation to Brother William E. Russell, John Payne, John Thompson, and the requisite additional brethren to form and open a lodge at Danville, in this state by the name of Olive Branch 38, and designate William E. Russell as master, John Payne as senior warden and John Thompson as junior warden.  The fee of $15.00 was paid for the dispensation.’  The minutes show that the lodge was opened in peace and harmony in due and ancient form.  The first master, William E. Russell, was about 50 years old at that time and took an important part in the civil activities of his time.  He was a trader, or perhaps what we would term a real estate dealer, and interested in the sale of government lands.

To him, Masonry owes more, perhaps, than any other man in the early development of our fraternity.  He not only made the trip to Chicago for the dispensation but in the fall of that year went to Peoria where the grand lodge held its annual session and obtained the charter which made the organization complete.  All this was done at his own expense.

He also organized the Masonic Lodge at Georgetown, now called Russell Lodge in honor of the founder.  He was the guiding spirit which brought Milford Lodge into being, and in 1849 was elected junior grand warden of the Grand Lodge of Illinois.  He guided Olive Branch lodge through a very critical time as master in 1846-1847-1848 and 1849.

16 Members Get First Charter

There were 16 members in the lodge when it received its charter and there were six petitions presented at its first meeting.  By 1847, the membership had increased to 31.  Meetings were at the homes of its members for some time and then the organization took over a hall, the second story of a store standing about where the Savoy Hotel now stands.  (Note: the Savoy Hotel was on the north side of the unit block of West Main Street between the current Collins Tower and the City Hall Building.)

During 1848 the first emergency meeting was called to pay last respects to the memory of Brother Isaac Delay who had been killed by lightning.  It is said that he was returning from work on a log house which stood somewhere behind the west side of Vermilion street, about where the Sears-Roebucks store is.  He had a saw and a hammer under his arm when he was struck and killed.

The members of the lodge were ordered to wear crepe on their arms for 30 days.

At the end of four years, the first master gave way to one of the leading men of the town.  Judge Oliver L. Davis.  He was of eastern parentage and came to Danville in 1841 where he read law.  A leader in his profession, not only in Danville but in the state, he was for many years a judge of the circuit court and afterwards of the Appellate Court of Illinois.  The lodge continued to grow, showing a membership of 45 during this year.

Brother Davis was succeeded by John W. Myers, at that time a businessman of about 33.  He, too, was a trader and politician, afterward becoming the sheriff of the county and helped to build the Lincoln Opera House which attracted people from miles around.  It was during the regime of Myers that the by-laws were completed and printed, and a committee was appointed to have Brother G. print them, “if he will do the work as cheap as anybody else.”

The closing act of the master’s year was the appointing of a committee at Christmas to see to the wants of needy widows in the town and vicinity and the lodge appropriated $20 for such relief.

The next master was A. Y. Harrison, who was a newspaper man and ran The Plain Dealer, forerunner of the present Commercial-News.  He had a broad influence and attracted many prominent men to the fraternity.

We now come to the next master of Olive Branch lodge and find him a man not only well known in the city and county but really a national character—Ward H. Lamon.  He came from Virginia to Illinois in 1847 and practiced law, later becoming a law partner with Lincoln.  It is said that the partnership was successful because Lincoln did the work but would never charge for his services, while Lamon always collected liberal fees.  It was notable partnership too, physically as well as mentally, for Lincoln was six-feet four and Lamon was six-feet two.  Lincoln was quaint, direct and practical while Lamon was inclined to be flowery and fervid.  Above all other characteristics, Lamon was fearless and for that reason Lincoln chose him as his companion and bodyguard on his trip to Washington in March of 1861 when he knew of the threats and plots to assassinate or lynch him. 

            There were plots revealed almost daily and Lamon had the responsibility of breaking them up.  This was hard, because the President often broke away from the protection of those who guarded him and would be found walking alone to the stores or on a visit to his friends.  Lamon was not present when the President was assassinated.

52 on Lodge’s Roster by 1858

The next master played an important part in the affairs of the lodge and city.  He was James H. Phillips, a prominent businessman and one of the founders of the Building and Loan Association with which he worked for many years.  He was installed publicly as Master Dec. 27, 1858 and upheld the dignity and reputation of Masonry during the stormy times preceding and during the Civil War.  The lodge had grown steadily to a membership of 52 and on its membership role were the names of many prominent and influential men of this vicinity.  The affairs of the lodge soon were taken over by a farmer, the first in the list of masters who had followed that vocation.  He was Reason Hooton, father of George Hooton who afterwards became the master.  There have been two other instances where father and son have attained the honor of being masters, Walter S. Matthews and his son, Walter R., and Arthur F. Johnston and his son J. Reno.

Brother Hooton was 53 when he was elected master, but he had been an active mason for many years and came within two votes of being nominated as vice president of the United States.  He was succeeded by W. M. Payne, who lived where Payne Ave. starts on North St., that street having been named after him.  He was the sheriff of Vermilion County and many times was called upon to settle riots and other disturbances caused by discussions on slavery.

Masonry was passing through a trying time caused by the Civil War and its effects.  The business of the lodge was taken over by Hiram Beckwith, one of a family which had played an important part in the early history of Danville and whose father’s first name was the source of the name of Danville, (Dan Beckwith).  He was elected in 1863, at a time when every strong healthy man of proper age had answered the call of his country.  Many received their degrees in a limited time before going.

General Carnahan, who distinguished himself as a soldier, was one of those who had all degrees conferred on him in one day.  Dues were remitted on all men in the service and the lodge sent supplies and clothing at various times for their comfort.  It was a trying time but Masonry weathered the storm and proved in every way that its members were loyal, true Americans, fighting for one cause—the saving of the Union.

City’s First Dentist Is Master

In 1865, Jasper C. Winslow became master of the lodge.  He was a lineal descendant of Governor Winslow of the Massachusetts Bay colony, a Mayflower descendant.  One of the first locomotive engineers in the United States, he came to Danville as master mechanic of the Wabash Railroad when the division point was moved from State Line here.  Later, he became the first dentist in our city.  He was the first mayor under the present charter and organized and was a vestryman of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

With his other talents, he was a naturalist and his geological researches embraced matters which will be forever a part of geological science.  He was known as a man who was a leader in all things looking to the betterment of the community and his brethren as the lodge cooperated in all his undertakings. He was so successful in his leadership as master that he was honored by being reelected year after year and Masonry went forward, becoming a greater influence than ever for the upbuilding of all good things in the community.

The record of W. D. Reynolds, the next master, merits some space in this brief history.  He became the master following Jasper C. Winslow.  He was a jeweler and opened the first jewelry store in Danville.  This was an innovation for the town and proved a busy place in the business district.

No history of the lodge would be complete without relating some of the life of John P. Norvell, probably the most enthusiastic Mason who ever lived in Danville if we measure his untiring work and his unselfish devotion to the institution.  He was master 12 years, was well beloved by all the members, as well as by the community at large.

This is attested by the fact that he was several times elected to the best paying and most responsible job in this community, that of assessor and collector, notwithstanding that he was of a political party which was outnumbered two to one by the opposition.  He served as alderman and was postmaster during Grover Cleveland’s administration.  Norvell was a clean, whole-souled gentleman of the old type with a heart big enough to take in the whole world if necessary.  He was truly one of God’s noblemen and put into his life and actions those principles which he learned in his Masonic lodge.  Under his guidance, the fundamentals of Masonry in this city were felt in every avenue and strata of life and became a real power for good in the hearts of men.  This was shown by the report to the Grand Lodge at the close of Norvell’s term when the lodge showed a membership of nearly 200.

In 1879, the lodge was fortunate in W. J. Calhoun as its leader.  He was a young and enthusiastic member of the bar and a personal and lifelong friend of President McKinley, who entrusted him with appointments of great responsibility.  The President sent him on an important diplomatic mission to Venezuela in which he was most successful.  He was given later the appointment as ambassador to China and on his return to this country became a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission.  During his two years as master of Olive Branch lodge, he displayed his leadership in many ways and built up the Masonic Institution to a very high level.  The Lodge room was in the Schmidt block on W. Main St. where it had very commodious and pleasant quarters.  This lodge room was the busy center of fraternal and social activities during the next decade.

Lodge grows steadily to 300

Under the direction of such masters as Thomas B. Castleman, D. D. Evans, J. W. Hamilton, E. R. Danforth, W.H. Bergstresser, Charles Ohmstead, Ben McMillan, D. E. Paul, Judge Morton W. Thompson, and Levin D. Gass, the membership grew to nearly 300 and the town of Danville also grew into a thriving city with its mule-drawn street cars giving way to electric, and its cobblestone pavements to brick.  Automobiles were seen which scared horses and caused consternation among the pedestrians who crossed streets at the wrong time.

Olive Branch had secured a lot at the corner of Vermilion and North Streets and had dreamed of a home of its own in which to house itself and the other Masonic bodies which, from time to time, had come into being.  An agreement was signed by which this piece of property was sold to Judge E. R. Kimbrough and Louis Platt and Olive Branch and the other Masonic bodies took a lease on the sixth floor for a period of 15 years.

These quarters were complete with a large lodge room and a very commodious dining room and kitchen.  The lodge membership increased until in 1910 it numbered 425.

Perfection of the ritualistic ceremonies became the objective during the terms of Walter S. Matthews, Joseph B. Johnson, Frank Davies, Clint L. Sandusky, George Cockerton, and W. H. Harvey, and when John Fairchild was elected, he passed an examination in the lectures and ceremonies which made him the first Grand Lecturer in the history of the lodge.  State schools of instruction were held and Danville took its place as an outstanding Masonic town, known for its proficiency in the work.  Only one of the masters of the lodge which have been named is living today.*1946   He is Joseph B. Johnson, 83, now living in Florida.

As the time drew near when the lease on the quarters in the Temple Building would terminate, plans were perfected toward the erection of the present temple and the cornerstone was laid in 1916 by Ralph H. Wheeler, grand master of Masons of Illinois.  A year later it was dedicated with due and ancient ceremonies and stands today, an imposing monument to the memory of those pioneers who in April, 1846, laid the foundation of Masonry in a log cabin on the plains of the then rugged and undeveloped country.

William Y. Ludwig, Henry P. Blose, Krank Kester, G. Haven Stephens, Charles M. Karns William H. Pundt, Oscar J. Chapman, and Arthur F. Johnston served as masters from 1910 through 1916.

Lodge Free of Debt by 1919

With the dedication of the present temple, Masonry took on a new growth and at the end of 1919, when Robert I. Pettigrew finished his term as master, Olive Branch Lodge had attained a membership of 650 and was free of any indebtedness on the temple.  The terms as masters of the lodge of Ernest Balsley, Alfred A. Johnson, Earl R. Bean, Thomas A. Oaks, Lorain L. Lockard, Wallace E. Walker, Charles C. Webb, Ollie G. Robertson, Joseph J. Domgall, Charles Ray, and Ray C. Cox, brought further prosperity to the Masons of Danville and the influence of the institution was felt in every walk of life.

Olive Branch became a lodge of 1053 and as the mother lodge of Eastern Illinois had many children in the towns around Danville.  Closely associated were Anchor Lodge 980 and Further Light 1130, which had their homes in the temple and were active and healthy lodges carrying on the great work of brotherhood, charity and relief in a most successful way.

From 1936 to the present time, the following have served as masters:

Fallie Hix, Fred Howard, Clarence Balsley, Fred Lucas, J. Leslie Lowe, Charles Collings, Walter R. Matthews, Earl Crawford, Fred Dombroski, Floyd Keerns, Orville Miller, Claude L. McWhorter, Ray Leonard, George Burow, and S. Stewart Winters, each contributing in his own way to the furthering of the Masonic institution.

This brief history covering not only the 100 years of Olive Branch Lodge, but also reflecting the influence of the men who have built our city, would not be complete without noting the contribution which has been made when our country needed men in the troublesome war periods.  It covers the time during which our country passed through four wars, and Olive Branch Lodge has a record of having sent its best to answer the call for service.

During the years 1860, to 1865, the activities of the lodge were almost paralyzed because there were so many of its members away.

The Spanish-American War record found many of our young Masons answering the call and during World War I, the number of Masons from the lodge was greater than ever before.

74 Served Nation in Late War

            The records show that there were 74 members who went out to battle the Germans and the Japs in our late war.  We were very fortunate in the small loss of life in this number, only one of those that went did not come back.  Masonry has always been a patriotic organization and its fundamental teachings are obedience to the law and upholding the principles of the Constitution of the United States.  Our government was founded on the principles of equality, freedom of speech and religious liberty and Masons of those early days helped to frame the Constitution.  We are proud of their record and are pledged to preserve those sacred principles so that our happiness and the happiness of our children’s children shall not be lost.

            It is impossible in this brief history to do justice either to Olive Branch Lodge or to all those who had a part in its growth and influence over the century it has existed.  There are scores of men who, as true craftsmen, gave freely of their time and talents and whose records of achievement will never be recorded.  The practice of charity and relief over this space of time has been done quietly and without any publicity and thousands have felt its kindly hand and rejoiced in its coming.

            Masonry does not publish its deeds of charity and benevolence from the housetop but, on the contrary, it seeks to follow the teaching of the Lowly Nazarene who went about doing good.  No one knows, neither does any book record, the times when the widow and the orphan were made happy or when the distressed brother found joy because of the aid and comfort which was given in time of need.

            Unselfish service to man is the fundamental or basic principle on which Masonry rests and over the period of 100 years, the greatest in the world’s history, Olive Branch Lodge has followed that objective and discharged its responsibility in a full measure.

            The Grand Lodge of Illinois from a humble beginning of five lodges in 1840 has grown until now there are 1,000 lodges touching nearly every city and town in the state.  It maintains two homes, the Masonic Home at Sullivan and the Children’s Home at LaGrange, and it dispenses more than a half million dollars each year in its work of charity.

            Just as our beloved city has grown in size and influence, so has Masonry grown and expanded over the century and as the future of our city is bright and promising, so Masonry as practiced by Olive Branch Lodge and the other Masonic bodies of Danville will grow and expand through the next century, waxing stronger and stronger as the years mark the time when we celebrate another 100^th anniversary.