The San Francisco call., 1907-03-05
Memorial Services tC
Be Held Here for
Oronhyatekha

The Independent order of Foresters
OF san Francisco viii hold memorial
services at a date to be selected for
Dr. OrOnhyatekha, the supreme chief
ranger of the order, whose death was
reported yesterday from Augusta, Ga,
where he went recently for his health
While the supreme chief ranger had not
been a well man Cor two years. his
death came as a shock TO the members
n this city.
Upon becoming apprised OF the death
High Chief Ranger j. p. Murphy OF the
High Court OF California Immediately
sent a telegram Of coincidence on be-
half OF the order in the northern part
Of California 10 the son and daughter
of the deceased at the OrOnhyatekha
Castle. DesorontO. Forest Island, Can
ada
Last evening Companion Court Pc
ralta, the first subordinate Of the order
TO meet after receipt OF the SAD news,
opened and adjourned out of respect TO
the memory Of the head of the organi-
zation-
High Chief Ranger Murphy viii no
tify all the courts in his Jurisdiction 10
meet and take proper action, and he
viii soon call the twenty-four courts
Of this city TO meet jointly to hold an
appropriate memorial service.
GIANT IN STATURE
DR.. Oronhyatekha was man Of com
handing presence, 6 feet tall, and dark,
as he was a Mohawk Indian, born on
the Mohawk reservation at Brantford.
Ontario, August 4. sixty-siX years ago.
He was the son Of the chief Of the Mo-
hawks. IN early youth he was an eager
student and became prominent among
his people.
When the Prince OF Wales. now King
Edward VII, visited Canada and the
United States ia 1860. young Oronhya-
tekha was selected to deliver the ad-
dress OF welcome on behalf Of the Six
Nations to the Prince, and he so i'm
pressed the Prince by his Intelligence
and manner that Edward invited him
20 continue his studies, which he had
commenced in Kenyon College. Ohio,
followed by a course in the Toronto
University, in Oxford. The invitation
was accepted. He graduated with high
honors and returned TO Canada, where
he engaged in the practice OF medicine
at Frankford, Ont fand then moved to
London, Ont
While there he became a member
OF the Ancient Order of FOresters, but
when there was a secession and the In
dependent order was formed he Joined
that and devoted much time to its up
building.
IN 1881 he was chosen supreme chief
ranger at $4,000 year and in order TO
foster the organization he abandoned
the practice Of his profession. He was
reelected at every session Of the Sd
preme body since that time and his
salary was increased from time 70 time
until it was placed at $4,000.
BUILDS ORPHAN HOME
For several years he expended one
third OF his salary in defraying the
expenses Of building a home at Des-
oronto for orphans Of members Of the
order
He It was who FIRST conceived the
idea OF creating a reserve fund for fra
ternal beneficiary organizations. and
under his administration the fund Of
the order has grown to nearly $1,000,
600. and is growing at the rate OF
$4,000 a year.
AT the time OF the disaster inAthis
State last April DR.. Oronhyatekha's re-
ply to the question What should be
done2" was laconic. II was Help the
distressed members"
He visited California several times
and purchased ten acres OF land near
Folsom, on which he intended TO build
at his own expense a home for aged
and disabled Foresters, but subse-
ouently he saw a place near Hollister
and was negotiating for that with the
3dea Of such a home in view when
death summoned him.
Dr. Oronhyatekha was true frater-
nal man. Mason. an Odd Fellow and
st one time president OF the National
Fraternal Congress. So loyal was he
70 his order that a few years ago he
refused $4,000 a year from life in
surance company.
In 1863 he married Ellen Hill, a
great at-granddaughter Of Joseph Brant
Of the Alohawks. His wife died
about FIVE years ago. He leaves
hyatekha, and a married daughter.
J. l. Hughes wrote Of him: ~One of
the most original, one OF the most ac-
complished and one Of the best execu-
tive officers the American continent has
yet produced"