Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-01-09
Fifty YEARS A TYLER
BEETOWN MASONS HONOR j. E.
WISE, A WORTHY BROTHER
SOME RECOLLECTIONS.

Beetown Lodge 1876, F. e A NJ, held
its annual installation on Dec. 9th,
1917. On that date a rather notable
event occurred. J. E. Wise, Tyler of
the order since 1868, was again in
stalled for another term. This makes
Mr.. Wise's fiftieth term in this office.
Mr. Wise is in his 81st year and has
lived in Beetown nearly all his life.
He is veteran Of the civil war, hav-
ing served four years in the defense
OF his country. Mr.. Wise is hale and
hearty despite his great age and takes
a keen interest in the worlds affairs,
Masonic and otherwise.
On behalf Of the lodge Geo. Peter
son presented Mr. Wise with gold
headed ebony cane as a testimonial
OF the esteem and affection he is held
in by his fellow lodge members A
historical sketch of the lodge was read
by ]. G. Anstey. F. w. Rafferty, acted
as installing officer. A banquet was
served at the hotel in the typical
BeetOwn style at which fifty Masons
and their wives did full justice. Del
egations were present from Lancaster
and Bloomington lodges.
Mr.. Wise's early "reminiscences of
They are as follows:
April "a, 1866, Mr.. Wise petitioned
the lodge. Investigating committee
Bros. Blewitt, Burns and D. B. Ar
thur.
May 18th, 1866, petition accepted
June 23rd, 1866 initiated.
Dec 8th, 1866, passed
March "a, 1867, raised Officers pres
ent at that time, F. R. Willard, w M;
J. B. Turley, S. W.. L. J. Arthur, J.
W.; L. J. Blewitt, Treas; W. R. Beach,
Sec; Jas. Orr, S. D.; Geo. Parkins,
J. D.; Isaac Tyndall, Tyler.
Members of Beetown lodge year of
l868-Evans Arthur, David B. Arthur,
Llewellyn Arthur, Christmas Arthur,
John L. Arthur, Delos Abrams, Wood
Beach, Luther Basford Michael Burns
Henry Burgess, J. w. Brown, James
Blewitt, Geo. r. Blackburn, Alfred
Frances, Jas. A. GilkersOn, Robt Har-
kins, w. A. Holloway, l. N. Harsh
berger, A. P. Hale, A. N. Johnson, VIM
Knotwell, w. w. Likens, Geo. W.
Lumpkins, F. r. Willard, P. B. Math-
ews, Geo. Merrill, Mathew Metcalf,
II. @. Maynard, Jas. Orr, Douglas Oil
yer, JAS T. PaytOn, Geo. Parkins, Jno
B. Roberts, VIM. E. SHETLAND, Jas. W.
Scott, J. F. Thompson, J. B. Turley,
Isaac Tyndall, Jas. Trainer, W. G.
Wilcox, w. ]. Winney, John E. Wise
Sam'l Birch.
Those now living of this member
ship are-L. ]. Arthur, California;
Geo. Parkins, Lancaster; SamI Birch,
Beetown; John E. Wise, Beetown.
The officers installed at the last in
stallation are-L. G.. Kraut, w. M;
G. B. Thorpe, S. w; Grover Hough-
ton, J. w; Chris Garner, Sec'y; AL
bert Sturmer, Treas; J. G. Anstey,
S. D.; John Lancaster, J. D.; J. E..
Wise, Tyler
Beetown in 1868 was thriving vii
lage. 1t had upwards of 500 miners
and the mining industry was in its
heydey. The men mentioned in this
sketch were the pioneers of the reg
ion and helped materially in the de-
velopment of Grant county. The Bee
town lodge was among the first in the
county and MasOns from many miles
away attended lodge at Beetown
Many were indicted into Masonry in
BeetOwn Lodge 146. The Beetown
lodge has f1ourished through the years
and at present has regular attend
ance and membership of about 40.
j. c. Anstey.