The Republican journal., 1904-04-21
A PAST GRAND MASTER.
A WINTERFORT MAN WHO STOOD AT
THE HEAD OF MAINE ODD FELLOWS.
portland Sunday Times.)

portland Sunday TimeS.)
Otis Kaler of Winterport, the fif-
teenth grand master, was native of
Waldoboro, where he was born April
10, 1914. He was son of John and
Margaret Kaler Waldoboro was for
merly part of the Waldo patent.
General Samuel Waldo, the owner, Of
fered favorable inducements for Euro
pean inning ration and it was through
his means that, in 1749, German colo
nistS established the town of Waldo
boro Historian Joseph Williamson
speaking of these German settlers says:
"Their descendants, whose patronymic
names are retained, comprise many of
the substantial citizens of that local
ity." The town was named in honor OF
the general. Those German emlgrants
brought with them the sterling quail
ties which have characterized the Amer
lean settlers from that country. Otis
kaler was a descendant of those Ger
man people and in his life and charac-
ter illustrated their best traits. His
paternal great grandfather was among
those emigrants, and his grandfather
was born on shipboard while on the
the passage across the Atlantic. OTIS
Kaler's education was obtained IN the
common schools of his native town,
supplemented later i'll that greater
school-the school of actual expert
ence. In religion he was Congrega-
tionallst. He was carpenter by trade
and when young man Went to Ban
por where he worked with Mr.. Charles
SawteFle until 1898, when he went to
Winterport, then Frankfortl, where
he cor tinued in the same business for
time. Inls40 he married Maria, the
third daughter of Mr.. Benjamin
Thompson of Frankfort. Mrs. kaler
came from a family noted for its pat
rlotism during the wars OF the reVolu-
ton and 1872. Her earlier Ameri-
can ancestor was James Thompson,
who was born in Woburn, Mass, Nov.
%, 1874. The Rumtord house, in the
north village of that town, where
many generations of the Thompson
family were born, is still standing.
Mrs. kaler's father was educated in the
old academy in Charlestown and be-
came civil engineer. In 1896 he went
to Frankfort, Maine, then wilderness,
without roads. and laid out the town,
engaging also in trading in wood and
bark To his business as surveyor he
added that of a merchant. He was also
a school teacher. During the war of
1912 he was first selectman of Frank
fort, and was at one time confined on
board an English ship several days for
refusing to surrender the town papers
to the officers of His Majesty, the King
of England. Mr.. Thompson died at
Frankfort, March ), 1867, in the 93rd
year of his age.
Mrs. Kalers mother was Olive,
daughter of Capt. Tobias Oakman of
Mansfield. Mass, but her parents be-
fore her birth moved to Frankfort.
Her brothers made themselves famous
in the Revolution as captains OF priva-
teers, She died in Frankfort, March
"a, 1858.
In 1876. Otis kaler, with his brother
in-law, Capt. William Thompson, open
ed a country and ship chandlery store.
which was burned about 1859, Mr.,
kaer sustaining heavy loss. He went
into the corn and -four business with
Joseph Clark Mr.. kaler was Demo
crat and became interested III politics.
He represented his district in the
Maine legislature, and in 1861 he was
elected a senator of Waldo county
Being a loyal citizen and a lover OF his
country he entered the army during
the war OF the rebellion, as a member
of Company ID, TWeuty-sXth regiment
OF Maine Volunteers. He was appoint
ed quarter maSterser@eant and No
vember !, 1862, was promoted to second
lieutenant. Mr. Kaier participated
with his regiment i'll its active service
III Louisiana, where he was afflicted
with sunstroke, which subsequently
caused ms death. He was mustered
out Of the army August II, 1863 On
his return to Winterport he again went
into trade in the produce shipping bust
ness with Mr.. Clark, continuing until
lists when he purchased and conducted
the kirkwood house, Scarboro. He also
ran the hotel at Bryant's Pond, in con
nection with the kirkwood house.
While a resident of Scarboro he again
became representative in the Maine
legislature.
1t is not known when Mr.. kaler be
came interested in Odd Fellowship, as
the records of his lodge are DESTROYED.
He was a member of Astoria lodge, No.
IS, of Frankfort, which lodge was in
stituted April ,, 1876. Mr.. kaler be-
came a member of the Grand lodge of
Maine in July, 1851, where his talents
were Immediately recognized. In 1857
AN huo NiCNe0d lhtlN W
the Grand lodge of the United States,
and next year, 1855. he was elected
grand master. In 1885, while deputy
grand master, he presided at the SEES
sion in the absence of the grand mas
ter. 1t was the misfortune of Mr..
Kaler to have been grand master when
the membership ana interest was at
very low ebb. In 1859 at the annual
session of the Grand lodge he said: SIN
presenting this annual communication,
1t is not my province to chronicle the
bright hopes that have characterized
the reports of my predecessors. There
IS wide difference contrasting the
present with the past. There is not
that marked and determined interest
manifested in the order, that has at
tended it through its many years of
prosperity. There seems to be care
less Indifference pervading the whole
body, which is detrimental to the vital
interests of the order This indiffer
ence may be attributed to various
causes which we are conversant with.
The prostration of all branches of in
dustry IN our State the past few years
has had its effect to scatter and reduce
our numbers. California and the west
ern Wilds have made heavy drafts on
us, and we have bied at every pore. 1t
is in those regions that Odd Fellowship
is founshlng, marching triumphantly
rising in its strength to bless
tho race Snorac and b,,nfj rod, +l,o