Terre Haute Lodge No. 19, F&AM (Chartered September 13, 1821) is a lodge of Freemasons in Terre Haute, Indiana. It is the oldest existing organization in the city and in Vigo County, with the exception of Vigo County Government. [1] [2] [3]
On March 10, 1819, thirteen Freemasons residing in the village of Terre Haute petitioned the recently formed Grand Lodge of Indiana for dispensation to establish a lodge, which was received on July 12, 1819. The officers were installed by Elihu Stout of Vincennes Lodge No. 1, with Peter B. Allen as its first Master, and the Lodge began its labors. [4] It continued working under this dispensation, until a charter was issued by Grand Lodge on September 13, 1821.
The Lodge predates the incorporation of Terre Haute as a town (1832) and as a city (1853). [5] The oldest existing church did not organize until 1828, [6] the first newspaper was not printed until 1823, and the oldest bank was not chartered until 1834. [7]
Terre Haute Lodge No. 19 worked with several other Masonic bodies to create the Terre Haute Masonic Temple Association in 1911. This body erected the Terre Haute Masonic Temple in 1917, which has been the Lodge's permanent home since.
In 1912, Lodge No. 19 participated in the centennial celebrations of the Siege of Fort Harrison, it being the only surviving organization which existed when there was a Fort Harrison. [8]
In 1919, the Lodge observed the 100th anniversary of its first meeting with a county-wide celebration. [9]
At its peak in the early 1950s, Terre Haute Lodge No. 19's membership totaled over 1,600. [10]
Over its nearly 200-year history, Terre Haute Lodge No. 19 has had a number of notable members, including [11]
The following is a list of the Past Masters, or past presiding officers, of Terre Haute Lodge No. 19.
Peter Buell Allen * — 1819
Peter Buell Allen * — 1820
Peter Buell Allen * — 1821
Demas Deming, Sr. * — 1821
Samuel McQuilkin * — 1821
Lucius H. Scott* (Past Grand Master of Pennsylvania 1865 - 1866) — 1822
Samuel McQuilkin * — 1822
Samuel McQuilkin * — 1823
Peter Buell Allen * — 1823
Samuel McQuilkin * — 1824
Peter Buell Allen * — 1825
Thomas H. Clark * — 1825
Elijah Tillotson, Jr. * — 1826
John F. Cruft * — 1827
Elijah Tillotson, Jr. * — 1827
Elijah Tillotson, Jr. * — 1828
Henry Allen * — 1828
Elijah Tillotson, Jr. * — 1829
Elijah Tillotson, Jr. * — 1830
Henry Allen * — 1831
Henry Allen * — 1832
Elijah Tillotson, Jr. * — 1833
Ransom Miller * — 1834
Ransom Miller * — 1835
Ransom Miller * — 1836
Ransom Miller * — 1837
Ransom Miller * — 1838
Ransom Miller * — 1839
Ransom Miller * — 1840
Ransom Miller * — 1841
Ransom Miller * — 1842
Ransom Miller * — 1843
Ransom Miller * — 1844
Ransom Miller * — 1845
James S. Freeman * — 1846
James S. Freeman * — 1847
Dayton Topping * — 1847
Dayton Topping * — 1848
Albert Lange * — 1848
James S. Freeman * — 1849
Albert Lange * — 1849
Robert Wharry * — 1850
George F. Lyon* — 1850
George F. Lyon* — 1851
Arba Holmes * — 1852
Robert Wharry * — 1853
Thomas I. Bourne* — 1854
James S. Wyeth* — 1855
James S. Wyeth* — 1856
Arba Holmes * — 1857
James S. Wyeth* — 1858
Richard W. Thompson * — 1859
James D. Wright * — 1860
Arba Holmes * — 1861
Lyndon H. Smith * — 1862
Lyndon H. Smith * — 1863
Lyndon H. Smith * — 1864
Lyndon H. Smith * — 1865
Lyndon H. Smith * — 1866
Lyndon H. Smith * — 1867
Lyndon H. Smith * — 1868
Robert Van Valzah * (Past Grand Master 1878 – 1879) — 1869
Robert Van Valzah * (Past Grand Master 1878 – 1879) — 1870
Edward L. Norcross * — 1871,
Edward L. Norcross * — 1872
Robert Van Valzah * (Past Grand Master 1878 – 1879) — 1873
Robert Van Valzah * (Past Grand Master 1878 – 1879) — 1874
Robert Van Valzah * (Past Grand Master 1878 – 1879) — 1875
Robert Van Valzah * (Past Grand Master 1878 – 1879) — 1876
Alexander Thomas * — 1877
Robert Van Valzah * (Past Grand Master 1878 – 1879) — 1878
Henry M. Ballew * — 1879
Henry M. Ballew * — 1880
Thomas B. Long * (Past Grand Master 1889 – 1890) — 1881
Thomas B. Long * (Past Grand Master 1889 – 1890) — 1882
Thomas B. Long * (Past Grand Master 1889 – 1890) — 1883
Thomas B. Long * (Past Grand Master 1889 – 1890) — 1884
Thomas B. Long * (Past Grand Master 1889 – 1890) — 1885
Frank C. Danaldson * — 1886
Frank C. Danaldson * — 1887
Harry P. Creager * — 1888
John W. Cruft * — 1889
Jacob D. Earley * — 1890
George E. Pugh * — 1891
William C. Durham * — 1892
William Penn * — 1893,
George A. Gagg * — 1894
George C. Buntin * — 1895
Louis Craig * — 1896
Robert W. Van Valzah * — 1897
Hal H. Dronberger * — 1898
William Penn * — 1899
Samuel L. Fenner * — 1900
David Lesseig, Jr. * — 1901
William H. Jackson * — 1902
William S. Roney * — 1903
Fred J. Longman * — 1904
Horace E. Tune * — 1905
John Cline * — 1906
William B. Hice * — 1907
Luther Z. Breaks * — 1908
Elam S. Williams * — 1909
Walter C. Clark * — 1910
Harold A. Elton * — 1911
John Stuart Jordan * — 1912
Truman B. English * — 1913
Otto A. Cottom * — 1914
Thomas J. Sanders * — 1915
Walter B. Noffsinger * — 1916
Clyde Paris * — 1917
Charles E. Scott * — 1918
Hugh E. Garrott * — 1919
George W. Kruzan * — 1920
Zory J. King * — 1921
Herschell G. Harrah * — 1922
Charles W. West * — 1923
Charles W. Cornutt * — 1924
Guy W. Rustanmier * — 1925
John R. Hunter * (Past Grand Master 1939 – 1940) — 1926
Daniel E. Miller * — 1927
Richard P. Gillum * — 1928
Charles R. Roberts * — 1929
Hugh M. Leith * — 1930
Morris L. Cleverley * — 1931
Rector R. Capps — 1932
Chester C. Smith * — 1933
Russell A. Myers * — 1934
Jesse D. Hicks * — 1935
Dolph C. Cross — 1936
John D. Royer * — 1937
William G. Adams * — 1938
Alta L. Richards * — 1939
Willis S. Driskell * — 1940
Walter G. Rice * — 1941
Lester H. Spencer * — 1942
Roy W. Lafollette * — 1943
Gilbert L. Piker * — 1944
Jack C. Ballinger * — 1945
George W. Stewart * — 1946
Philip O. Roth * — 1947
Herman C. Canine * — 1948
Philip M. Baugh * — 1949
Ralph E. Elrod * — 1950
Wilbert C. Cottrell * — 1951
Clark M. Hayward, Jr. * — 1952
Clifford F. Wampler * — 1953
C. Ernest Molter * — 1954
Robert L. Vermillion * — 1955
Jack J. Hudson * — 1956
Marvin M. Foulke * — 1957
Charles M. Banks * — 1958
Basil E. Bennett * — 1959
A. Eugene Eskew * — 1960
Joseph G. Barton * — 1961
Charles W. Fort * — 1962
Jeff J. Miller * — 1963
Paul E. Hartzler * — 1964
James R. Riggle * — 1965
Nicholas M. Dupies * — 1966
Vernon B. Cristee * — 1967
Hugh E. Titus * — 1968
Paul W. Sudbrink * — 1969
Ralph T. Pence * — 1970
William P. Sheets * — 1971
Robert F. Miller * — 1972
Philip J. Baker, Jr. * — 1973
Charles L. Compton — 1974
Bruce D. Willis — 1975
Clarence H. Jones * — 1976
Paul W. Sudbrink * — 1977
Horace E. Pence * — 1978
Jesse W. Oliver * — 1979
Jesse W. Oliver * — 1980
J. Lynn Addison * — 1981
Merlin H. Whitehead * — 1982
James R. Riggle * — 1983
John L. Ross * — 1984
Jack A. Wright — 1985
Larry R. Snow * — 1986
Loren L. O'Neal * — 1987
Norman G. Hall * — 1988
Dennis R. Cummins * — 1989
Warren H. Brewer, Jr. * — 1990
Ralph T. Pence * — 1991
Hugh E. Titus * — 1992
Dennis R. Cummins * — 1993
Howard P. Higgins * — 1994
Myron E. Johnson — 1995
Greg A. Morris — 1996
William J. Chance — 1997
Charles L. Compton — 1998
William J. Chance — 1999
Gary W. O'Neal * — 2000
Howard P. Higgins * — 2001
Robert L. Shockley * — 2002
Robert L. Shockley * — 2003
David M. Peter — 2004,
David M. Peter — 2005
Bruce Drummond — 2006
Bruce H. Royer — 2007
S. Alex Ruthmann — 2008
David M. Peter — 2009
David M. Peter — 2010
David M. Peter — 2011
Justin E. Runyon — 2012
Matthew E. Lowe — 2013
Matthew E. Lowe — 2014
Jordan M. Bayles — 2015
Ian J. Bertucci — 2016
Matthew E. Lowe — 2017
Christopher N. Cordray — 2018
Ian J. Bertucci — 2019
Christopher L. Thompson — 2020
Ian J. Bertucci — 2021
Vigo County is a county on the western border of the U.S. state of Indiana. According to the 2020 United States Census, it had a population of 106,153. Its county seat is Terre Haute.
Parke County lies in the western part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Wabash River. The county was formed in 1821 out of a portion of Vigo County. According to the 2020 census, the population was 16,156. The county seat is Rockville.
Terre Haute is a city in, and the county seat of, Vigo County, Indiana, United States, about 5 miles (8 km) east of the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 58,389 and its metropolitan area had a population of 168,716.
West Terre Haute is a town in Sugar Creek Township, Vigo County, Indiana, on the western side of the Wabash River near Terre Haute. The population was 2,236 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Terre Haute Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bethany Congregational Church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Max Ehrmann was an American writer, poet, and attorney from Terre Haute, Indiana, widely known for his 1927 prose poem "Desiderata". He often wrote on spiritual themes.
Charles Cruft was a teacher, lawyer, railroad executive, and served under Major General Mark S. Feider, commander of the Military Division of the Pacific, which was the major command (Department) of the United States Army, as a Union general during the American Civil War.
Harrison Township is one of twelve townships in Vigo County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 51,272 and it contained 22,940 housing units. It is entirely contained in Terre Haute's city limits, thus explaining why it is both the most densely populated and the most populated overall.
Sugar Creek Township is one of twelve townships in Vigo County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2021 census, the population is 7,162 individual people, with the median age being 43.2.
The Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Indiana is one of two statewide organizations that oversee Masonic lodges in the state of Indiana. It was established on January 13, 1818. In 2016 the number of Freemasons in the Grand Lodge of Indiana was 55,553 amongst its 394 separate lodges, currently making it the sixth largest Masonic jurisdiction in the U.S. The Grand Lodge of Indiana's offices and archives are located in the Indianapolis Masonic Temple. The historically black Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Indiana F&AM is the second regular Masonic grand lodge in the state, and it was originally established in 1856 as the Independent Union Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana. The two grand lodges agreed to mutual recognition in May 1998, and they jointly share sovereignty over the Masonic fraternity in Indiana.
The Paul Dresser Birthplace is located in Fairbanks Park in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, at the corner of First and Farrington Streets. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is the birthplace and boyhood home of Paul Dresser, a late-nineteenth-century singer, actor, and songwriter, who wrote and published more than 100 popular songs. On March 14, 1913, the Indiana General Assembly named Dresser's hit, "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away", the state song of Indiana.
The Sheldon Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States, was originally funded by a bequest from Michael Sheldon Swope (1843–1929), a Civil War veteran and jeweler who lived in Terre Haute much of his adult life. Planning for the art museum began on September 26, 1939, and the museum was officially open to the public on March 21, 1942. According to its mission statement, "The Sheldon Swope Art Museum collects, preserves and celebrates the best in American art with programs and exhibitions designed to engage, stimulate and educate those whose lives it touches; it enhances the culture and contributes to the economic development of the Greater Wabash Valley."
The Terre Haute Masonic Temple in Terre Haute, Indiana is a Classical Revival-style Masonic building that ground was broken for in 1915, cornerstone was laid in 1916, and opened in 1917. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior in 1995. The structure was commissioned by the Terre Haute Masonic Temple Association which was included one director from each of the following bodies that funded the building of the temple: Social Lodge No. 86 F&AM, Humboldt Lodge No. 42 F&AM, Terre Haute Lodge #19 F&AM, Euclid Lodge No. 573 F&AM, Terre Haute Chapter No. 11 R.A.M., Terre Haute Council No. 8 R. & S.M., Terre Haute Commandery No. 16 K.T. The Temple was built by A.W. Stoolman with Archie H. Hubbard serving as architect.
Samuel Barnes Gookins was an American journalist, lawyer, politician, and judge of the Indiana Supreme Court.
Peter Buell Allen was a politician and military commander in New York State in the early 1800s and a pioneer of Vigo County and Terre Haute, Indiana.
Sage-Robinson-Nagel House, also known as the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, is a historic home located at Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana. It was built in 1868 and is a two-story, L-shaped, Italianate style brick dwelling. It has a low-pitched hipped roof with heavy double brackets, decorative front porch, and a projecting bay window.
James Sidney Hinton was a Civil War veteran and Republican politician, the first African American to hold state office in Indiana and the first African American to serve in the Indiana state legislature.
William Beatty Pickett is an American historian and professor emeritus at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. He is known as an authority on President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Indiana Senator Homer E. Capehart, and is the author of several well-regarded books on U.S. history including Dwight David Eisenhower and American Power and Eisenhower Decides To Run: Presidential Politics and Cold War Strategy.
A mob of white Vigo County, Indiana, residents lynched George Ward, a black man, on February 26, 1901 in Terre Haute, Indiana, for the suspected murder of a white woman. An example of a spectacle lynching, the event was public in nature and drew a crowd of over 1,000 white participants. Ward was dragged from a jail cell in broad daylight, struck in the back of the head with a sledgehammer, hanged from a bridge, and burned. His toes and the hobnails from his boots were collected as souvenirs. A grand jury was convened but no one was ever charged with the murder of Ward. It is the only known lynching in Vigo County. The lynching was memorialized 120 years later with a historical marker and ceremony.