The Mankato free press., 1920-11-26
HISTORY OF THE EARLYDAY
ODDFELLOWSF1LP IN k1ANKATO


Some Of the brothers thought 1t more
their own 50 that they could do the
work In their native tongue. A number
Of them withdrew. to institute Schiller
Lodge No 90. And am thankful that
have Lived to Sc s them return to Man
"our memDership continued to in
crease and we were desirous OF owning
our own lodge property. 3, $50 50 we bought
son street in June. 1888.
'T want to say that building up
membership Of lodge has its dark days
No Is I had II it's af FUN share. WE We had had many amy
differences OF opinion, lots OF little petty
jeaiousies. real grief and joys. that all
the more bound US together. In those
OF true Odd Fellows and I would like to
he able to call the role Of every one Of
Wv. D. Tompkins. Or. BENJAMIN Dur
waibridge, who I think was our first
| death, Samuel winship. r. r. Everett
J. a. Fowler, George p. Griebel, w. L.
Pike; H Jensen; ;vs,srs James Karmany, ( :, ny a.
D. w. sellick. John w. Fowler. Chas.
Bennett. 8. w. Burgess, C.. Correll
John Diamond. John Edwards. e. ID.
names that come to my mind. but there
were many others.
I'VE owned a lot and had many a de-
bate as to what was best to do. We
price was too high and number OF the
members thought II best to sell the lot
and rent place.
Brother Jensen. who had been a
l>could float the lodges paper among the
members and outsiders to raise money
over what we could borrow on the
building; and the income S from the build 6I
know. we got the building.
"Out first plans were for two story
building but after the building was in
construction. 1t was decided to build a
I'm 1886 the lodge appointed build
ing committees: II. p. Jensen, j. C.
oele and J. w. Fowler They. contract
price OF $500. but when completed the
building cost us over $1,000.
"This building we occupied and held
our first lodge meeting January 8; 1857;
and Eagle Lake Lodge No SS took with
| drawal cards from Mankato Lodge No
15. At these times 1t always cut our
membership at the time but we man
aged to get more members to take their
AFTER we had our new lodge build
ing completed and everything rented,
Of the holders of our building bonds be-
came anxious to get them cashed. Here
Is where our Brother Herman Weicking
came in and helped US out. He said II
! their bonds and pay the cash for them.
as he considered them good paper. AS
we all know. when paper will bring the
cash. people are not as anxious to sell.
Things then moved along pretty smooth
ly and almost all our mortgage was paid.
ION April II, 1897, our building with
| our furnishings. was destroyed by fire,
! and / want TO say that 1t was one of
tha ,,,ost axcifinr fres Ma nk afo has ever
, had. 1t looked for some time as though
there would be a general conhagration.
"The Masons kindly offered us their
iGSsr tSeirs ROW We a accepted % schiiers S % offer.
"As soon as our insurance was ad-
justed. the lodge Immediately appointed
a building committee: H.. s. Holman,
NJ. currier. A. q. Meyer. Nels Ander-
son and c. L. Benedict. Frank Thayer.
Architect. Brother J. B. Nielsen. con-
aon June 10. 1868, Mankato Lodge No
Is. I. o. o. F., laid the corner stone Of
the Mankato atate normai school Shell
don F. Barney w, D. Tompkins and b.
b BrotSsp ItSSpfbar bssneg s1d ja say
January Is. 1856, schuler colfax.
vice president Of the United States. died
in the old Omaha depot at the corner
about 10 a. m. Mankato Lodge No ID
took charge OF the body. 1t was taken
to the residence of DIR. 2. g. Harrington.
corner of Jackson and Broad streets
by John Klein. undertaken. leaving
Mankato for South Bend. Ind, in.
special car about p. M. accompanied
by Brothers 3. D. Pay. L p; Hunt
Patterson It was a very cold night,
and when the cortege left for the denot
the taps Of the drum end the creaking
of the hearse wheels on the snow to-
nth fha fraad nf the IOCQa MEM
bers marching as an escort. made a
doleful procession. The family and
friends OF the deceased were very an
preciative of the courtesies shown to
Brother Coifax by Mankato Lodge No Is.
Our Canton was named in honor OF
Brother Colfax.
"on August ~. 1897 we laid the IT
Rebekah Lodge. Schiller Lodge and Man
kato Lodge, headed by the Concofiia
hand. marched to this corner, Brother j.
Ettis w wfs ompEne 81 read the list
of the contents OF the box to be depos,
ited in the stone. The brotehrs honored
me by placing my photograph IN the
.I II want to mention Brother Otto Koke
who carved the panel with the emblem
OF the order. and presented 1t to the
lodge. This panel Is of Mankato stone.
Jon % March w1rH 3 %. 1892 with eleven char
ter members, Minneopa Rebecca Bodge
No. 72 was Instituted andrywife. Mrs-
B. d. Pay. was elected noble granc.
IN the watertown Lodge No ?1: az
watertown. Wis. in October. 1852 l
totned ST Peter Lodge No lin order 70
get withdrawal card to helm institute
No tx have lived to see this lodge
grow from its infancy to whet 1t now IL;
and NV two eons and grandson are all
members of this lodge"
POULTRY SHOW BOOKED