The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-12-27

Jshn w. Smish, Well knewn 70 the kariy
HMss Wiss..s q isci.iive i. Sse WeriA-A
Bii or Histsry lnseressisE 70 Kansas Massas'
From the Atchson Patriot
John W. Smith, the man who organized ana
was the first Master Of the first lodge ever or
ganized in Kansas, and who also was the nrst
Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge OF the
State is dead as will be seen in the extract pub
lished below, taken from the keoknk Constellation.
His death suggests bit Of history that VIII be
interesting to Kansas Masous.
In 1854, John W. Smith organized lodge Q,
Free Masons ut White Cloud, in this State, and
afterwards opened the same on the prairies, be,
meath the canopy of heaven. The lodge was named
"Smithton No. l." in honor of its founder. The
lodge is still in existence, under tue OLD name
but, a few years ago, was moved 10 hignianu'
T. J. Vanderslice is the present Master. After
wards in 1S55, twenty-five years ago, smith was
present, and assisted in organizing the Grand
Lodge of the State, and was then elected its first
Deputy Grand Master.
He left the State many years ago, and has
travelled in nearly every country on the globe.
He earnest, ardent Mason, and made Ma
sonry a study, wherever he went. OF late years
he had made his headquarters at keokuk, Iowa
where he kept stored Masonic supplies of which
he was the manufacturer aud Travelled over the
United States and Canadas, selling the same to
different lodges. Last October he was present
at the twenty second annual communication OF
the Grand Lodge Of Kansas, and from the pro-
ceedings of the lodge, We take the following ex-
tracts:
"On motion of Bro. NJ. s. Adams, Bro John W.
Smith, aged eighty-eight years, who first raised
| the gavel in Kansas, was invited to address the
Grand Lodge.
"This venerable brother, for nearly sixty years
q Free Mason, though very infrm, proceeded to
address his brethren, giving an account of the
early struggles of Masonry in the State of Kan
sas, dwelling on the sufferings of the widows
and orphans of those who fell in our civil strife,
and giving vivid picture OF the noble efforts Of
the remaining Craftsmen for their relief. His
remarks directed to the younger brethren were
very appropriate. They were cheered on in the
pathway of duty. and besought not to forget the
high social and moral prerogatives which they,
as MasOns, were entitled to enjoy. All were
Joined to maintain, and by the purity Of their
lives to illustrate, the grand tenets of the order
At the conclusion of the address, many moist
ened eye told of the deep impression made by the
brothers excellent counsel.
"On motion of Bro. NJ. NJ. Miller, q rising vote
of thanks was rendered Bro. Smi til.
"On motion of Bro. NJ. s. Adams, the sum of
S25, as a testimonial, was appropriated to Bro.
John W. Smith, a former Grand Officer of this
Grand Lodge
When the old man bade farewell to the Lodge,
he said that the brethren of Kansas would never
see him again, and his words have come to pass.
He has found home in the ''Silent City
The following is from the Consultation
"Last nights dispatches brought the intelli-
Smith, of this city. He was found dead in the
| street, near the Mississippi & Tennessee railroad
depot, evidently, the dispatch says, having died
| of heart disease.
zens, having lived in Keokuk for eighteen or
twenty years, and quite character in his
way. He was born IN Virginia, but spent the
| greater portion of his life in the West num-
Der of inventions Of his have been patented, and
a number he never had patented. because they
proved impractcable He is known the pat
entee of the becfsteals tenderer, and inventor of
burglar traps, gnns which coud not be spiked,
| and numerous other articles.
''While in Jacksonville, ILL.,, during the war, he
was arrested by the Government for correspond
ing with Confederate officers, in regard to tor
| pedO he had invented. He was thrown into the
| Old Capitol prison, at Washington, hut was
soon released.
"His principal business was dealing in Masonic
lodge room furniture, which he had manufactur-
ed here. During bis residence here, Col. a. & b.
Mcqueen took charge of his business, and acted
| as his agent. After Col. Mcqueen moved away,
Geo. Hill & Co. attended to his business, and
we're his agents at the time of his death.
"Mr. Smith told those most intimate with him
here, that he had no living relatives in the world.
He was S5 years old ut the time of his death, and
had been q prominent member of the Masonic
fraternity. He. was Sir Knight, and at one
time was Deputy Grand Master of Kansas. In
that State he organized a lodge called after him,
at Highland, which agreed, in case of his death
TO have his remains buried there, and erect q
monument to his memory.
Deceased had always provided en- Ough money
for his funeral expenses, leaving it in the hands
of Gen. Mcqueen. He became little hard mp,
not long ago, and drew some of the money. Mr..
Hill telegraphed to Gen. Mcqueen to-day, for in
| structions in regard To Smiths burial, and re-
| ceved for reply that the General had telegraph
ed to Highland for instructions, and that the
General had fifteen dollars of Smiths money.
"Therc is but little doubt but the body will be
buried in Highland, Kansas"
There are some errors in the above. Smithton
Lodge was not organized at White Cloud, but at
| town called Smithton, in Burr-Oak Township,
laid out by Mr.. Smith. There is not vestige of
the town now remaining. The Lodge did not
remain there long, but was removed by Mr..
Smith to Iowa Point, where it remained until
five or six years ago, when, its members being
principally in the neighborhood of Highland, the
Lodge was removed to that place, where it is
now located. 1t has always retained its name
of Smithton Lodge. Thomas j. Vanderslice is
not Master of the Lodge, nor has has he been for
some years. Lewis Wilmington is the present
Master. Mr.. Smith was the contractor for build
ing the first Court House in Hiawatha.
The Indianapolis Journal opposes an income
tax, and wonders that any Democrat should pro-
pose one. in view of Mr. Tilden's efforts to evade