San Joaquin

County History

History of San Joaquin County, California with Biographical Sketches - Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA - 1923

CHAPTER XXI
SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS

        STOCKTON is more than blessed with secret and kindred organizations, there being more than sixty societies and auxiliaries. The oldest and the greatest in number is the Free and Accepted Masons, with four blue lodges, three Eastern Star chapters and seven branch organizations. Masonry dates back to the days of King Solomon and the building of his temple, and Masonry in Stockton is as old as the city. Among the gold seekers who immigrated to California, there were hundreds of Masons and early in 1850 a number of Master Masons assembled one evening at the gate of Captain Weber's home on the peninsula and discussing the matter concluded to apply for a charter and institute a Masonic lodge. The first public announcement of any secret organization in the city was April 20, 1850. Hyram Green, a past worshipful master, inserted a notice in the Times inviting the brethren of the Masonic fraternity to attend a meeting in Dr. Hill's office over Nichols & McPherson's store. A number assembled and, having a dispensation issue, they instituted a lodge, calling it Yale lodge, after Gregory Yale, a San Francisco attorney with high rank in Masonry. The lodge existed only sixteen months and was disorganized September 10, 1851, as many disreputable persons had gained admittance.

San Joaquin Lodge No. 19, F. & A. M.

        A second attempt to institute a lodge was successful and January 13, 1852, a notice appeared requesting all members in good standing belonging to the Masonic fraternity to send their names to H. Osborn Matthews, grain store, near the Main Street Hotel, the site now of the Farmers & Merchants Bank. San Joaquin lodge No. 19 was organized and February 11, 1852, we read "The members of San Joaquin lodge are requested to meet at their new hall on Center Street." May 11 the lodge was duly constituted and the following officers installed by the most worshipful grand master, B. D. Hyam; J. G. Candee, worshipful master; E. G. Andrews, senior warden; Rasey Biven, junior warden; E. W. Colt, secretary; J. C. Morris, treasurer; William Hunter, senior deacon; R. F. May, junior deacon; M. Kierski, tyler, and Rev. James Woods, chaplain.

Morning Star Lodge No. 68, F. & A. M.

        Politics was hot in those days over the slavery question and the members of San Joaquin lodge were not in harmony regarding slavery. When the American or Know Nothing party was organized in 1854, it created great dissension in the lodge, and many members withdrew from San Joaquin lodge December 28, 1854, and organized Morning Star lodge. The following were the first officers: Lemuel Lyon, worthy master; George S. Warren, senior warden; E. G. Vaughn, junior warden; J. M. Vansycle, treasurer; William H. Gray, secretary; V. M. Peyton, senior deacon; C. C. Gage, junior deacon; W. W. Stephenson, chaplain. Three of the fourteen charter members—W. W. Stevenson, H. C. Benson and J. C. Simmons—were ministers. The charter members were J. C. Jenkins, H. C. Benson, W. W. Stevenson, O. C. Gage, W. H. Gray, W. G. Landers, E. G. Vaughn, J. C. Simmons, W. F. McKee, E. G. Bateman, J. Burkhalter, J. M. Vansycle, Allen Lee Bours and Lemuel Lyon.

Delta Lodge No. 471, F. & A. M.

        No more blue lodges were organized until 1918, when H. H. Grow, a very enthusiastic Mason and late arrival, thought it a good idea to organize another Masonic lodge. Without taking a member from the two pioneer lodges, the Delta lodge was organized January 12, 1918, and twenty-five members on the charter roll. The following were the first officers: Fred W. Moore, worthy master; P. E. Grady, senior warden; Samuel Gearhart, junior warden; R. M. Rosensteel, secretary; Will Davenport, treasurer; W. Thrayer, junior deacon; H. H. Grow, senior deacon; George M. Pease, senior steward; Harry M. Hudson, junior steward; Rabbi Emanuel Jack, chaplain.

Stockton Lodge No. 498, F. & A. M.

        This lodge was instituted Feb. 2, 1921, with the following officers: Oliver Wisler, worshipful master; Joseph S. Cochran, senior warden; Daniel A. Hathaway, junior warden; Arthur C. Potter, treasurer; Robert J. Le Clert, secretary; B. Randolph McGee, senior deacon; George Riceborough, junior deacon; John, F. Blinn, senior steward; Samuel Lerner, junior steward; Irving M. Smith, chaplain. The institution was a very notable gathering of the brethren and the three lodges, San Joaquin, Morning Star and Delta, presented the new lodge with a set of fine jewels.

The York Rite Bodies

        In the York rite bodies are the Royal Arch Chapter, the Royal and Select Council and the Knights Templar; on the opposite branch, the Scottish Rite comprises the Lodge of Perfection, the Chapter of Rose Croix, the Council of Kadosh and the Consistory; Stockton Chapton Chapter No. 28, R. A. M was chartered May 10, 1861, with eighteen charter members as follows: Robert Porterfield, Fletcher C. Andrew, Royal B. Parket, James A. Jackson, D. E. McDonald, L. Kullmann, Alex Burkett, William H. Neal, Cornelius Carpenter, F. Bonacina, James Littlehale, C. L. Benedict, E. D. Eldridge, S. Eldridge, Charles Grunsky, I. D. Hamilton, E. B. Lockley and Lawrence C. Van Allen. The first officers were Robert Porterfield, high priest; Fletcher C. Andrew, king; Royal B. Parker, treasurer; James A. Jackson, captain of host; D. F. McDonald, principal sojourner; L. Kullman, royal arch captain; Alex Burkett, master third vail; W. H. Neal, master second vail  C. Carpenter, master first vail; James Littlehale, secretary; F. Bonicina, treasurer; C. L. Benedict, guard. Stockton Council No. 10, Royal and Select Masters was instituted March 31, 1869, with the following charter members: William A. Davies, G. B. Claiborne, Alex Burkett, Frank Stewart, R. W. Stevenson, D. W. Gelwicks, William T. Browne and S. H. Fickett. The first officers were: William A. Davies, thrice illustrious master; Gilbert C. Claiborne, deputy, I. M.; Alex Burkett, principal conductor of the works; Frank Stewart, treasurer; R. W. Stevenson, secretary. The Commandery No. 8, Knights Templar, the military branch of the order, was instituted April 3, 1867, with the following officers: S. H. Fickett, commander; R. C. Gridley, senior warden; James Littlehale, junior warden; William Black, standard bearer; David Deal, prelate; D. Brown, sword hearer. These officers and Rev. P. G. Buchanan. F. Bonicina and James Campbell constituted the charter membership.

        The Scottish Rite bodies in Stockton are of a late date, Stockton Lodge of Perfection No. 12 having been instituted May 19, 1904, with the following officers: E. C. Stewart, venerable master; J. W. Rupert, senior warden; P. C. Krog, junior warden; Frank W. Goodrum, secretary; Fred W. West, treasurer. The charter members were: Michael Arndt, Peter C. Krog, E. Clement Stewart, Albert Pike Chapter No. 9, Knights of Rose Croix, was instituted January 31, 1906, with nine charter members: George F. Hudson, Fred L. Kincaid, John W. Moore, M. Arndt, Frank S. Boggs, John J. Cavanagh, Peter Krog, E. C. Stewart and Charles H. Wright. The officers were George F. Hudson, wise master; C. M. Kenniston, senior warden; Frank S. Boggs, junior warden; Frank Goodrum, secretary, and F. M. West, treasurer. W. Frank Pierce Council No. 9, Knights of Kadosh, was instituted April 1, 1911, with the principal officers: E. C. Stewart, preceptor; George F. Hudson, first sub-preceptor; J. E. Crump, second sub-preceptor; Fred L. Kincaid, chancellor; Frank S. Boggs, treasurer, and Frank W. Goodrum, recorder. These officers, including M. Arndt, George L. Brown. J. W. Moore, Francis A. McCan and E. C. Stewart are the charter members. Stockton Pyramid No. 5 of the Sciots was instituted June 16, 1917, with the following officers: Toparch, St. Elmo Trask; mohib, Dr. F. M. Caldwell; haruspice, Frank V. Mayo; pastophori, Dan P. Eicke; chancellor, C. T. Lyman; scribe, Henry Glick.

Home Chapter No. 50, O. E. S.

        The order of Eastern Star dates from 1850, at which time the degrees were arranged by Robert Morris of Kentucky, and admits to membership the wives, daughters, sisters and mothers of Masons. Home Chapter No. 50 was instituted May 21, 1881. At that time the lodge was organized with the following officers: Worthy matron, Mrs. Hannah J. Thresher; worthy patron, Fred M. West; associate matron, Frank H. Kinsley; secretary, Eugene Lehe; treasurer, Benjamin F. Bagley; conductress, Hannah L. Henderson; associate conductress, Henrietta Lehe; Adah Elmira West; Ruth, Louise M. Hatch; warden, Milton P. Henderson; sentinel, Morris H. Bond. The additional charter members were: M. S. Thresher, Frank S. Hatch, August McKinnon, Lucretia Campbell, D. L. Campbell, Charles D. Ruggles, Alexander A. Brooks, S. G. L. Dunbar.

Golden Poppy Chapter No. 355, O. E. S.

        This lodge was instituted August 4, 1819 [?], with the following officers: Worthy matron, Hettie L. Beaver; worthy patron, Herbert H. Grow; associate matron, Amelia W. Owen; secretary, Alta L. Lucas, treasurer; Mary Y. Merritt; conductress, Ottilie D. Fink; associate conductress, Leora Ellis; chaplain, Clementine Grant; marshal, Carrie E. Burton; organist, Thora A. Booth; Adah, Bertha H. Kinney; Ruth, Mary Rosensteel; Esther, Queenie E. Ray; Martha, Lulu L. Marnell; Electra, Marion C. Grow; warden, Effie C. Grimm; sentinel. Bertha L. Howard.

Stockton Chapter No. 373, O. E. S.

        Stockton Chapter was instituted in May, 1921. The officers of the chapter are: Worthy matron, Stella Thornton; worthy patron, J. Sterling Cochran; conductress, Veda Hull Knowles; assistant conductress, Emma E. Tretheway; secretary, Laura Louden Sherick; chaplain, Alice Hensom; warden, Mary M. Knight; sentinel, Mabel Weaver; marshal, Alice Mary Potter; Adah, Jessie Leona Rose; Ruth, Frances Mary Dees; Esther, Ida May Bennett;  Martha, Cyrene Mary Mallett; Electra, Nellie Lucy Cox.

Masonic Events

        In 1852 Madame Biscaccati, an Italian opera singer, gave a concert in Stockton. then offered to give a benefit concert. It was a kind offer, gratefully accepted, and the Odd Fellows and Masons marched to the church in a body; they realized about $200, each lodge taking one half. When their brother Mason, William Brown, was killed by an assassin the lodge offered a reward of $1,000 for his capture. It was the custom of both orders to parade in full regalia every Fourth of July, until 1860, but after that none but Union men celebrated the day. They celebrated St. John's day, June 24, sometimes with a parade and banquet, sometimes with a ball, and on one occasion, June 24. 1881, they chartered the steamer Herald and about 300 Masons and their families sailed to Mare Island; and after visiting the island they were the guests of the Vallejo Masons, returning home the following day.

        Gilbert B. Claiborne, past master of San Joaquin lodge in 1860, was elected grand master October 16, 1865. As grand senior warden he took part in the laying of the cornerstone of the Agricultural Society building, where now stands the Yosemite building. Forty odd years passed, and Orrin S. Henderson, past master in 1890 of the Morning Star lodge, was elected grand master in 1902. Elected junior warden of the grand lodge in 1899 he was tendered a splendid reception by his Masonic brethren. One of the quaint members of the fraternity was Judge A. G. Brown, many years Justice of the peace of Stockton, whose hobby was attending auction sales. Born in Maine in 1801, he came to California around Cape Horn in July, 1849, and located in Stockton. His first wife dying at the age of seventy years, he took a second bride. A past grand of Charity lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., for nearly twenty years he was their financial secretary. For many years he was the chaplain of San Joaquin Lodge, F. & A. M. Over six feet in height, with his long gray hair and whiskers, in every Masonic parade, as he carried in front of him a large open Bible on a stand, and wearing a tall beaver hat, he was the most noticeable and venerable figure in the procession. At the time of his death. October 13, 1884, he was one of the oldest Masons in the United States. Mrs. Pauline W. Dohrmann, one of the noblest of Stockton's philanthropic women, elected worthy matron of Homo Chapter O. E. S., was elected grand matron in 1902.

        The Masons, Odd Fellows and Sons of Temperance held their meeting in the same hall until 1855. Then the seceding members from San Joaquin Lodge rented and fitted up a hall in the north end of the Weber House. R. B. Parker, a Mason and a prominent merchant, concluded to move his grocery to the east, and purchasing a lot opposite the Hunter Street engine house he erected a two-story brick building 35x100 feet. This was in February, 1861, and fitting up the second story for the Masons, both lodges there remained for seven years. It was the first time that they had a suitable and convenient lodge room. It contained a lodge room 33x59 feet; a library, an ante room, wardrobe and reception room. In 1867 the Masons rented the south half of the third story of the Odd Fellows' building, fitted it up in splendid style and there remained some seventeen years.

The Masonic Temple

        Some years previous to their removal to their own home the Masonic Hall Association was formed, April 29, 1874, with a capital of $40,000. The object of the association was to purchase real property, erect a building, improve, rent, and use the same. The Association was incorporated and articles filed May 8 with the following directors: E. R. Hedges, Frank Stewart. John K. Doak, George B. Claiborne, H. T. Dorrance, Joseph D. Peters, William Baggs and Dr. George A. Shurtleff. The destruction of the St. Charles Hotel by fire gave them a fine location, as they supposed, for a Masonic Temple and in February, 1875, they purchased the property. It was not considered large enough for their purpose and in 1883 they purchased additional property on the east where had stood the City Hotel, this giving them a lot 90x140 feet. At that time the Association had been reorganized with J. D. Peters, George A. McKensie, H. T. Dorrance, E. R. Hedges and John Caine directors, and the capital stock had been increased to $80,000. A three-story brick building was planned to cover the entire lot, with Masonic lodges in the third story, the second story a public hall, 60x86 feet and a stage, and stores in the first story. The cornerstone was laid June 9, 1883, with the members from the two Masonic lodges acting as grand officers. The corner stone box of copper and iron was presented to the order by J. D. Peters, then president of the Association. The box contained his picture, a set of false teeth made by R. W. Henderson in 1858, the Masonic history of Judge A. G. Brown, a Mason since 1826, and many other articles.

        The building was erected at a cost of nearly $100,000 and as it was heavily mortgaged it was a losing proposition from the beginning. Merchants considered it a poor business location, and the first story was vacant half of the time. The mistake was made not only in the location but in erecting the building some three feet above the street level, for it has been discovered that buyers are unwilling to walk up steps in entering a store. The interest on the mortgage was eating up the principal, and the Association began levying assessments. The members began selling their stock at any price and J. D. Peters bought it up. Suddenly, to the surprise of everybody, he renounced the Protestant religion, resigned, from Masonry and becoming a Roman Catholic, sold all of his stock to Arthur Noble. The property was sold some two years ago to an Italian corporation. As heavy a loss as it was to the Masonic order, the hall was a great benefit to the citizens of Stockton, for it was and is today and will be until the erection of the splendid city auditorium, the only place in the city for large public gatherings. First we had the city hall, which would seat about 200; then Pioneer hall, on El Dorado Street, seating about the same number; Hickman hall seated probably 400; then the Masonic hall, with a crowding capacity of nearly 2,000 persons. This is the historic hall where assembled the state Democratic convention that fired from the party Stephen J. Field, judge of the Supreme Court, and Thomas Marshall, the attorney general. From that stage some of the finest orators and singers in the nation have entertained large audiences. State fraternal orders have there assembled, and many local entertainments have been held. Some years ago the hall was badly damaged by fire. At that time the entrance was on Bridge Street at the eastern corner of the building, and the stage in the west end. In refitting the building Mr. Noble at a cost of some $13,000 changed the entrance to El Dorado Street, and the stage to the east end of the hall, and laid a first-class maple wood dancing floor. Today the Masons, at a cost of nearly a half million dollars, have erected one of the most beautiful and convenient temples in California, on the site where I attended school in the late '50s.

        In the early days, as we have already stated, there was much suffering and destitution among the pioneers, and to relieve that condition of affairs relief associations for the benefit of the Odd Fellows were formed in San Francisco, Sacramento and Stockton. In Stockton a relief association was formed November 13, 1850. They met in the law office of A. C. Bradford, an Odd Fellow and Mason; R. C. Chamberlain was elected chairman and they passed a resolution, "That an association of members of the I. O. O. F. be formed for the purpose of extending the benefits of the order to sick and indigent brothers and that members constitute a temporary committee to tender such aid to suffering brothers as may he necessary." They did not again assemble, for in the changing condition of those times, here today and there tomorrow, probably not one of those Odd Fellows were again in Stockton.

Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F.

        No further attempt was made to form an association, nor were any Odd Fellow movements made until January, 1852. At that time the Odd Fellows started a lodge movement and in the San Joaquin Republican, January 10, 1852, this call appeared: "The members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows residing in Stockton are requested to meet on Thursday evening next, January 13, at the common council rooms, McNish building, on business of importance to the order." It would seem by this notice as though they had had meetings previous to the 13th. Allowing no time to be lost, the day following their meeting, this notice was published :

        "A meeting of the members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows will be held at the city council chambers, McNish building (this stood on the northwest corner of Hunter and Channel streets), on Saturday evening next, the 17th, for the purpose of taking the preliminary step for the formation of a lodge. All members are invited to attend." There was no suitable room in town large enough for an assembly hall, but fortunately about this time a gambler named Shirley completed a small brick building on Center Street about 100 feet from Levee, rented the second story jointly to the Odd Fellows and Masons. On February 7 this notice was published: "An adjourned meeting of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows will be held at their new hall on Center Street, in Shirley's brick building, on this Saturday evening. It is to be hoped that every member of the order of Stockton will be present as all things are ready for the organization of a lodge." Again they were disappointed, for they had neglected to obtain a dispensation and without authority from the proper officer no lodge can be legally instituted. Post haste to San Francisco, E. G. Greenfield was sent to obtain a dispensation. In a few days he returned with a charter and on Saturday afternoon, February 14, instituted Charity Lodge No. 6 with six charter members: E. G. Greenfield, P. G. of New York; H. O. Mathews, P. G. of Pennsylvania; R. K. Chamberlain, P. G. of Alabama; Samuel McLean of Louisiana; William Garvin of Mississippi, and J. J. Bytler of New York. The following officers were elected and installed by E. G. Greenfield, deputy district grand master; Isaac Zacariah, noble grand; Samuel McLean, vice-grand; George B. Buffum, secretary, and H. Mitchell, treasurer.

        The name Charity originated from an act of kindness to a brother in the fall of 1850. At that time a pioneer, named Jacob Letcher, a merchant of Mariposa, came to Stockton for medical attendance. His only acquaintance in the town was William Taylor, a Stockton grocer whose store was in the Mexican adobe building on Main Street just west of Center Street. The sick man was taken to his store, there being lodging rooms in the second story. Mr. Letcher gradually grew worse and the physician told him he could not recover. Being a member of Rockbridge lodge of Odd Fellows in Vermont, he inquired of his attendant, "Are there any Odd Fellows in Stockton?" "I don't know," he replied, "but I will ask Taylor." "Yes," answered Taylor, "Hugh Mitchell is an Odd Fellow." Mr. Mitchell was found and until the day of Letcher's death the sick brother received every possible attention. Brother Mitchell then going to the office of the Stockton Times ordered printed at his own expense a number of circulars with the three links at the top. The circulars which were posted on the houses, fences and trees, stated that an Odd Fellow brother, Jacob Letcher, died December 4 and that all Odd Fellows were requested to attend the funeral at the Taylor, Reed & Co. store. About twenty Odd Fellows were in attendance. A plain redwood coffin had been obtained at a cost of $50 and the body was taken to the place of burial, now the site of the county jail, there being no cemetery at that time. The brothers marched behind the body and at the grave repeated the prayers from memory as best they could, also the burial service, and sang the funeral hymn, "Brother, to thy grave we come at the beat of funeral drum," and thus was the first Odd Fellow in San Joaquin County buried.

Stockton Lodge No. 11, I. O. O. F.

        This lodge was instituted June 24, 1853 by Deputy District Grand Master Edwin W. Colt. Its charter members, all former members of the present lodge, were: Thomas K. Hook, noble grand; Dr. Christopher Grattan, vice-grand; Alden Spooner, secretary; E. G. Greenfield, conductor; Westley Harris, Hugh Mitchell, M. Lindauer and J. C. Edwards, ex-Governor of Missouri. To pay their current expense they borrowed $1,500 of Charity lodge at three per cent interest per month. That lodge eight years later had plenty of money and they advertised in November, 1860, "To loan, $3,500 on city property, J. D. Wilkins, Moses Severy, Andrew Wolf, trustees." The first officers were: Thomas K. Hook, noble grand; Dr. Christopher Grattan, vice-grand  Alden Spooner, secretary, and E. G. Greenfield, conductor. Parker Encampment, which is the highest branch of the order, was instituted June 10, 1853, with the following charter members: E. W. Colt, Andrew Wolf, C. O. Burton, Rev. John B. Hill, M. B. Kenney, C. B. Phelps and John Fulton. The Encampment was instituted by Grand Master Samuel Parker and named in his honor. The first officers were: E. W. Colt, chief patriarch; M. B. Kenney, high priest; W. G. Phelps, senior warden; J. Fulton, junior warden; John B. Hill, guide; C. O. Burton. scribe; Andrew Wolf, treasurer. The Grand Encampment, organized in 1855, met that year in Stockton. They again met here in 1867, and October 8, 1918. C. O. Burton of No. 6 and Westley Minta and George Roesch of No. 11 are past grand patriarchs.

Truth Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F.

        This lodge was instituted December 18, 1884, by deputy grand master George W. Gallup, assisted by the grand secretary, Wm. B. Lyons and Daniel Norcross of San Francisco. The lodge was named Truth at the suggestion of J. Pitcher Spooner. Of the twenty-five charter members not one was drawn from the two older lodges. The following officers were elected and installed: C. C. Keniston, noble grand; J. P. Spooner, vice-grand; Ed C. Neilson, secretary; O. F. Cook, treasurer; A. M. Woods, warden; J. A. Bonney, conductor; Thomas Dinning, inside guardian. That evening they elected 135 candidates and initiated 118 in relays of 12, many being unable to attend because of the muddy conditions of the road.

The Rebekah Degree

        The Rebekah degree of Odd Fellowship was the work of several women of New York, assisted by Representative Schuyler Colfax, a past grand. Adopted by the Sovereign Grand Lodge September 20, 1851, it was simply a side degree of Odd Fellowship conferred upon Odd Fellows or their wives. The degree was first conferred in Charity Lodge March 8, 1852, upon fourteen members. In 1859 the following wives were given the degree: Mrs. Amada Wolf, Mary Matthews, Rhoda J. Randall, Eliza Pierpont, Elizabeth Benjamin, Sarah C. McKensie, Catherine Ellsworth, Margaret Odell and Catherine Matterson. In 1863 the degree was conferred upon Margaret Severy, Almira Oldham and Delia Wolf. In 1868 the Sovereign Grand Lodge took the degree out of the jurisdiction of the subordinate lodges and organized a Rebekah degree lodge managed and controlled by women, subject to the approval of the Grand bodies.

Lebanon Lodge

        This lodge was named Lebanon by Louis H. Lang, a charter member. The dispensation was granted to form a lodge January 19, 1878, and January 24 the lodge was instituted by Grand Master F. W. Dann, assisted by Past Grand Masters J. McDougal. R. E. Wilhoit, and H. T. Dorrance. The charter members comprised thirteen brothers and sisters: M. A. Lang, E. Tretheway, A. M. Rodgers, M. Stamper, Mary F. Thorndike, Martha Saunders, A. L. Torrance, K. G. Long, E. Waring, A. Steiney, E. Shoemaker, Louis Bond, A. Van Valear. The first officers were A. J. Hyde, noble grand; Mary F. Thorndike, vice-grand; and Louisa Bond, secretary.

Rainbow Lodge No. 97

        Rainbow lodge, the third largest in the state, was instituted April 19, 1886, by G. W. Gallup, deputy grand master. The charter membership comprised thirty-six Odd Fellows and the following Rebekahs: Mrs. Sarah Spooner, C. A. Ritter, J. E. Williams, Eliza Spooner, Emma Reynolds, Hattie Chapman, and H. D. Campbell. The officers installed were Hattie Chapman, past grand; Emma Reynolds, noble grand; Mrs. C. A. Ritter, vice-grand; Frank Goodrum, financial secretary; F. W. Ritter, recording secretary; and John Hammond, treasurer.

        The Odd Fellows in 1859 celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the order, and it was the finest celebration ever held in Stockton. After parading the streets in their handsome new regalias, they marched into the Stockton theater, where a fine program was given. It comprised music by Condy's band, prayer, song by the Musical Union, reading proclamation by A. C. Bradford, oration, Nathan Porter of San Francisco; benediction by Rev. John B. Hill. The Odd Fellows and their wives then marched to the city hall, where a banquet was spread. The hall was handsomely decorated with flags and banners. The feast closed with responses to twenty-four toasts and the affair ended with a grand ball. Three years later the lodge held a memorial service in honor of Thomas Wildey, the founder of the order on April 26, 1819. His death was flashed over the overland telegraph October 21, 1861, the first "news" over the wire.

        Odd Fellowship in San Joaquin County, according to its number, has been honored more than any other county in the state, as five grand masters, four grand presidents, two or more grand patriarchs have been in office from this locality. H. T. Dorrance of Charity No. 6 was a past grand master of Vermont, and H. A. Manchester of Stockton lodge, who died April 29, 1877, was a deputy grand sire, the second highest office in the gift of the order. Edwin W. Colt was installed as grand master in May. 1855, Charles O. Burton was grand master in 1865, Karl C. Brueck was grand master in 1898, and three times has been elected representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge; George F. Hudson from the same lodge, Stockton No. 11, was elected grand master in 1911, and Lloyd Cohen of No. 11, now grand warden, will be grand master in 1923. In the Encampment C. O. Burton and Wesley Minta were chief patriarchs in early days; George F. Roesch was elected in 1894, and John R. Cronin in 1918.

        The Stockton Rebekahs also have been signally honored, and Mrs. Elizabeth Condy, a past noble grand of Lebanon lodge, was the first district deputy grand master in the state. Her appointment was dated December 5, 1887, and it came about in this manner: In September of that year the Sovereign Grand Lodge authorized the appointment of women district deputy grand masters, now known as presidents. Elwood Bruner of Sacramento, then grand master, was an intimate friend of Wesley Minta of Stockton, and in redistricting the state, Grand Master Bruner made Stockton District No. 1 and appointed Mrs. Condy deputy. In 1896 Mrs. Marion Greenwood was elected as grand president. Mrs. Etta Stewart was elected to the same honorable position in 1910, Mrs. Laura Lawrie in 1918, and Mrs. Fannie Clancy of Woodbridge Lodge, elected in 1921, also served as grand president.

Canton Ridgely No. I5

        Many secret organizations have their military branches; the Masons have their Knights Templar, the Knights of Pythias their Uniform Rank, and the Odd Fellows their Cantons. In 1870 this branch was created in the Encampment and known as the Uniform degree. The degree was organized in Stockton October 6, 1884, and named in honor of James Ridgley, a very prominent Odd Fellow and the author of the past grand charge. In 1885 the branch was organized and known as the Canton Degree, and its members were hailed as chevaliers. Canton Ridgley was instituted February 25, 1886, with the following members: S. P. Bailey, H. M. Balch, Theodore Bohlen, Julius Cohn, James S. Dunham, J. W. Fitzgerald, Rudolph Gnekow, Joel Greenwood, Edward L. Gnekow, J. E. Hail, A. F. Hillman, George Hinkley, H. E. Holman, John Jackson, Charles M. Keniston, D. F. Northrup, H. E. D. Petsinger, George Roesch, George F. Schuler, E. A. Taylor, Ed Tretheway, and Wm. W. Woodbridge. The officers elected were W. W. Woodbridge, commandant; C. M. Keniston, lieutenant; E. L. Gnekow, ensign; George F. Roesch, clerk; and J. E. Hall, accountant.

        The Encampment meets annually in various cities of the state and with them go the Cantons. They assembled in Stockton October 15, 1895, and they have gathered here several times since that date. In that year, on the evening of October 14, they were the guests of Lebanon Rebekah lodge, in the Odd Fellows Hall. The next day, after holding an all-day session, they were tendered a reception by all of the lodges in the Masonic Hall. The program included music, recitations, a speech by Grand Scribe Barnes, and dancing. Wednesday, their degree work concluded with a banquet given by the Rebekahs in the Commercial Hotel. Thursday there was a splendid parade and Canton drill on Hunter Street after the arrival of Brigadier J. F. Crossett and staff, and Cantons Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento with their bands. That evening the pavilion was crowded with Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, at least 5,000 being present. After prize drills by the Cantons the decoration of chivalry was conferred on Major Mefret of San Francisco. This was a beautiful and impressive ceremony in which the decoration was conferred by General Crossett, assisted by Canton San Francisco, Mrs. Alice Kafitz, Maude Southworth. Louise Schuler, and Carrie Roesch. Finally, kneeling, the candidate was approached by little Elsie Robin, who pinned upon his breast the badge of chivalry.

Odd Fellow Hall and Building

        Their first hall was the second story of a brick building on Center Street, still standing. It was about 20x60 feet in size with an entrance by an outside wooden stairway. When holding meetings the members were compelled to close the iron shutters of the windows, thus making it a sweat box in the heat of summer. It was rented by the Odd Fellows and Masons for $250 a month from a gambler named Shirley who had a saloon and gambling tables in the lower floor. The lodges fitted up the hall at an expense of $377, quite a sum for lodges of less than forty members. In less than six months Shirley told them to vacate their hall as he wanted it for gambling tables. Biven & Branco, grocers, had just erected a brick building just south of the Shirley building and Biven, being an Odd Fellow and Mason, the firm rented the second story to the order. In February, 1855, the jewelry store of John & Conrad Ling on El Dorado Street was destroyed by fire. Erecting a two-story brick building the Lings, who were Odd Fellows, offered to fit up the second floor for the order. The organization accepted the offer, and the hall was dedicated July 10, 1855, by Deputy Grand Master E. W. Colt, and Newton Booth delivered the oration.

Grand Lodge Convenes at Stockton

        In May, 1855, the Grand Lodge met in Stockton, the first and only time except in 1867. Their meeting was held in the city hall, and the second evening Isaac Zacariah gave a grand display of fireworks at his beautiful garden, corner of Park and Grant streets, for the entertainment of the delegates. They again assembled in Stockton May 7, 1867, and during their visit they were tendered a reception and ball in Hickman's hall, just completed, and a banquet in Lewis & Darcy's restaurant on the Levee. On May 11, the new grand master, Charles N. Fox, and the grand secretary, T. Rodger Johnson, visited Lockeford and instituted Progressive Lodge No. 134. The following officers were elected: Peter Moore, noble grand; Philip B. Wagner, vice-grand; S. B. Sabine, secretary; and Philip Cahill, treasurer.

        In 1856 Charity and Stockton lodges were in a flourishing condition, and the members began discussing the question of erecting an Odd Fellows' building. They could find no satisfactory location until 1865. At that time, May 14, a fire destroyed all of the wooden buildings belonging to the city on the corner of Hunter and Main streets. The lodges now decided that that was the place for an Odd Fellows' building and a committee from the I. O. O. F. Association petitioned the council for the purchase of the corner lot, 65x96 feet. The association declared, "We propose to erect a brick building, a building which will be an ornament to the city and a credit to its citizens." The city sold them the lot for $3,000. The association was reincorporated with a capital stock of $30,000, 300 shares at $10 each. Immediately Charity Lodge took 800 shares, Stockton Lodge 300 shares, and Parker Encampment 40 shares. A building committee was appointed and work commenced August 24.

        The building was ready for the laying of the cornerstone November 28, 1865. The Grand Lodge was requested to perform the impressive ceremony, having laid the court house cornerstone in 1853. The lodges assembled at the El Dorado Street hall and preceded by Condy's band marched to the site. A very large crowd had assembled, for in that day the ceremony was a very important event.  After music by the band Grand Master Burton called the assembly to order and called upon the grand chaplain, Rev. P. G. Buchanan, for prayer; the Odd Fellows then sang their opening ode commencing "Brothers of our friendly order, Honor here asserts its way, All within its sacred border, Must its high commands obey." The grand secretary, T. Rodgers Johnson, then read a list of the articles deposited in the box, and the Grand Master, placing the box in the stone cavity, sealed it up with mortar. Then came the ceremony of the pouring of the oil, the strewing of flowers, and the scattering of wheat and then the Grand Master declared "In the name of Benevolence and Charity I lay this stone." The deputy grand master, H. T. Dorrance, then declared the cornerstone duly laid. Then followed prayer and the ceremony closed with an oration by John W. Dwinelle of San Francisco. The building was erected at a cost of $42,000. The beautiful hall, at the time the handsomest in California, was dedicated August 21, 1866, by Grand Master C. H. Randall of Sonora lodge No. 10. Long before the hour of dedication the lodge room was crowded with Odd Fellows' wives and family. After marching the streets the lodges entered the hall, and so crowded was it a person could scarcely move. The exercises opened with an anthem by the Episcopal Church choir, comprising Mrs. Charles Pinkham, Mrs. Robert S. Johnson, George Vincent and Charles Pinkham. After prayer and singing of the ode the grand marshal, C. F. Rae, proclaimed it the will of the Grand Master that the hall be dedicated. The president of the association, C. O. Burton, then handed the keys of the hall to the Grand Master and he in a short address declared the hall dedicated. The dedication was then proclaimed by R. E. Wilhoit, the Herald of the North; R. E. Young, the Herald of the East; C. H. Covell, the Herald of the South; and I. S. Smith, the Herald of the West. After each proclamation the trumpet sounded. The Grand Master then handed the keys to the two noble grands of the lodge, saying, "May joy be within its walls and peace a constant guest. May all of the influences that flow hence be good, now and forever, Amen." The dedication ceremony closed with an oration by Newton Booth. That evening there was a ball in Agricultural Hall, its principal feature a dozen or more canaries in cages suspended from the ceiling, and through the entire evening they sweetly sang. Fifty-five years past and January 21, 1922, Grand Master Ketterlin dedicated a new Odd Fellows' hall. Since 1892 the Odd Fellows had been talking of erecting a new building or remodeling the old building, but they could not agree regarding the location, or the size of the building. Finally M. Levy, who had occupied the first story for nearly a quarter of a century as a dry goods store, fearing the building might be sold over his head purchased it of the Association for $103,000, and the Association then erected a fine three-story building on the 50x150 foot lot which had been bought. The building was erected at a cost of $85,000 and the lodges are free from debt and money in the treasury. The building contains a large inside lodge room, closets, and a club room, on the second floor, and a large banquet and dance hall in the third story. A moving picture theater occupies the entire first story.

The Traveler

        An occasion of great interest to Odd Fellows was that of April 3, 1909, when the Traveler was received in Stockton was great ceremony and much rejoicing. One of the emblems of the order is a bundle of sticks, and so named Traveler. This bundle of sticks was of especial interest, because they were made by Odd Fellows on board the Atlantic fleet and traveled with them around the world. On each stick was handsomely carved the name of each battleship, and they rested in a handsome carved box. Finally landing in California the Traveler was presented by Odin, a Swedish lodge of Oakland. The Stockton lodges presented it to Sacramento, finally to be presented by the Grand Lodge of California to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. The Traveler was brought to Stockton during the afternoon, accompanied by about 100 members of Odin Lodge, who during the afternoon were given a collation in the Odd Fellows' hall. At six o'clock "the blasts, long continued, of the twenty-five whistles of the city gave notice to the public that the Odd Fellows' festival was on." The fraternity began assembling at the hall, and led by the band they marched to the depot to receive the Oakland and San Francisco Odd Fellows. On their arrival a parade was formed and led by J. E. Hall and W. X. Clark, of the committee on arrangements. Past Grand Master Ogden of Oakland and Charles Nicewonger, noble grand, Canton Ridgely, and the hundreds of Odd Fellows, they marched through the principal streets. At eight o'clock in Masonic Music Hall the ceremony took place of presenting the Traveler to the Stockton lodge. On the stage with the invited guests sat four members of the order who had been Odd Fellows over fifty-two years, namely, Andrew Wolf, eighty-seven years of age; John Grattan, eighty-four; Dr. Christopher Grattan, eighty-six; and Royal B. Parker, ninety years of age. They were escorted into the hall and returned to their homes by A. B. Parker, past grand. It was the delight of the various lodges in presenting the Traveler to present it in a unique or some unusually attractive manner, and Odin Lodge presented it in a model of a Viking ship. The drill team of the lodge were dressed in the Viking uniform of their ancestors and marching into the hall they rolled on a cradle before them the Viking ship. Bringing the ship to rest in the center of the hall and unfurling from the mast head a large, American flag, they sang the Star Spangled Banner. Then followed the program of the evening; prayer, B. M. Bixler of Truth lodge; address, "The Lessons of the Traveler," Wm. C. Wall, Truth lodge; baritone solo, James E. Ziegler; Presentation of the Traveler, by Odin lodge; acceptance by O. B. Parkinson, of Charity lodge; selection, orchestra; address, Past Grand Master Ogden of Oakland; duet, double quartet of Odin lodge; remarks, noble grand of Fountain lodge, Oakland; address, "The Cheer of the Traveler," Karl C. Brueck, past grand master of Stockton lodge. The visitors were then entertained in Odd Fellows' hall until two o'clock, awaiting the arrival of the west-bound train.

The Visit of the Grand Sire

        On the evening of January 19, 1920, the Odd Fellows of San Joaquin County celebrated the most important event in the history of Pacific coast fraternal organizations, in their reception to Grand Sire H. V. Borst of the Sovereign Grand Lodge. It was a very memorable event as never before had the highest officer visited the coast, save in September, 1878, when John B. Harmon, a California pioneer was elected Grand Sire. Grand Sire Borst was about to visit Australia, sailing from San Francisco, and Grand Representative Karl Brueck persuaded him to visit Stockton. The reception took place in the Masonic hall which was crowded with Odd Fellows and Rebekahs. After a selection by the orchestra and songs by Mrs. Bruce Olmstead and Frank Smith, the Grand Sire was welcomed to California by Grand Master K. C. Keene of Solano County. Responding to the greeting, the Grand Sire was then welcomed by Stella M. Merrick of Los Angeles, president of the Rebekah Assembly. Karl C. Brueck then introduced the Grand Sire, who then made the address of the evening. It was the largest assemblage of state officers ever seen in Stockton and seated upon the stage were a Grand Sire, grand master, two deputy grand masters, and grand secretary, grand treasurer, president, and deputy president of the Assembly, two past presidents, two past grand masters, two grand representatives, and a trustee of the Odd Fellows' Home.

Odd Fellows' Cemetery

        It is enjoined upon the Odd Fellows "to visit the sick and bury the dead," and Captain Weber in 1854 deeded the two lodges a block of land on Union and Flora Streets for a burial ground. Some three years later they began to improve the property by enclosing it with a picket fence, planting trees, and flowers, laying of walks and erecting a windmill and tank for the purpose of pumping water for the trees and flowers, and three years later the newspaper, lamenting the condition of the city cemetery said, "We have a fine Odd Fellows' burial ground." The grounds were used as a place of burial for the members of the order and their families until 1874, when interments were discontinued. Care was taken of the cemetery until 1909, when the block was sold to the Western Pacific Railroad. An Odd Fellows' plot was then purchased in the Rural Cemetery and all of the bodies transferred to the new home of rest.

The City Silent

The beautiful city of rest and peace

Where trouble and sorrow forever cease,

The city I love for my friends are there,

Whose spirits have flown to the bright somewhere.

        "The time is fact approaching," said the Republican in November, 1859, when measures must be taken to furnish more space for general cemetery purposes in this city. It is proposed to lay out a rural cemetery which it is desirable to fit up after the fashion of some of the eastern cemeteries." In the following year the same paper said, "The Odd Fellows are rendering their cemetery very attractive to the eye by tasteful improvements. They have built a windmill at a cost of $520 for the purpose of irrigating the trees and shrubbery and in a short time they will have the most beautiful city of the dead in the county."

        The example of the Odd Fellows, coupled with the cemetery law passed by the legislature in 1859, caused a few citizens to take action in regard to a new cemetery. A meeting was called for that purpose by 18 prominent citizens, March 20, 1861. The meeting was held in the city hall and the Rural Cemetery Association incorporated with the following officers and directors: E. S. Holden, president; Samuel Fisher, vice-president; V. M. Peyton, secretary and treasurer; B. Walker Bours, Wm. Biven and George West.

        The trustee selected for the cemetery purposes a tract of land about a mile north of Stockton belonging to Edward M. Howison. The tract comprised some seventy-five acres and to assist in its purchase, Captain Weber contributed $1,000. Sixty acres of the tract was devoted to burial purposes and fifteen acres for the superintendent's home. A place was set apart for Chinese burials, and for a potter's field. The lots, some 1,500 in number, varying in size from 12x20 feet to 24x40 feet, were sold from $20.00 to $150.00, according to the location. The cemetery was dedicated Sunday afternoon, August 31, 1862, in the presence of some 400 persons, including nearly all of the pastors of the city. The ceremony opened with a short historical talk by Dr. E. S. Holden, the chairman of the board of trustees; opening hymn by a choir of twenty-five singers from the various churches; address, Rev. Robt. Happersett of the Presbyterian Church; dedication prayer, Rev. John Gassman of Episcopalians; closing hymn by the choir. Since then many additions have been made to the grounds and today over 8,000 of Stockton's former citizens lay asleep in the City Silent.

Montezuma Tribe No. 18, I. O R. M.

        The Independent Order of Red Men is the third oldest organization in Stockton In 1869 a number of citizens concluded to organize a Red Men's tribe and, assembling in the Hansel & Wollner hall, corner of Hunter and Church Streets, Montezuma tribe No. 18 was instituted, June 8, 1869, by several chiefs from San Francisco. The following officers were elected and installed: Peter Bargion, sachem; Minard S. Thresher, senior sachem; J. R. Selden, junior sachem; Eugene Lehe, chief of records; Steven Badger, keeper of wampum; and M. Bibero, prophet. The tribe grew quite rapidly and in 1870 they removed to the third story of the Hook Building on Main Street. The Red Men occupied the west half and the Champions of the Red Cross the east half of the building, both entering their halls by the same stairway. The Red Men fitted up their hall in a costly manner and it was dedicated February 14, 1860, the exercises concluding with a ball in Hickman's hall. This tribe was consolidated with Iroquois tribe No. 35 in 1885. This tribe was instituted June 21, 1870, with fifty-six charter members and the following first officers: J. R. Selden, sachem; E. H. C. Taylor, senior sachem; J. H. O. Brien, junior sachem; C. W. Pondexter, chief of records; Fingal S. Hinds, keeper of wampum; and Robert Stevenson, prophet.

        Kaw-Wah-Nita Council, Degree of Pocahontas, was instituted March 6, 1891, with the following charter members and elective officers: Pocahontas, Mrs. Anna Mobray; prophetess, Mrs. Alexander McWah; Wawona, Cora Small; Powhatan, A. F. Hillman; chief of records, Mrs. Fred Hilton; first scout, Mrs. Ed Cruse; second scout, J. L. Mobray; first runner, Mrs. Harlon; second runner, Miss M. Sexton; guard of tepee, Mrs. William Clark; guard of forest, Edward Coons. The additional members were; Mr. and Mrs. George Pierce, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Small, Mrs. Sophia, Mrs. Sarah Kaiser, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Winders, R. C. Bonn, Charles Williamson, Mrs. Elizabeth Harvey, Adolph Smallfield, and John Seiler.

        Pohono tribe of Red Men was instituted in Red Men's hall, November 6, 1867, by Great Sachem George W. Collins of San Francisco, and the following year, February 26, 1898, Hiawatha Council No. 21 was instituted. The following are the first officers; Pocahontas, Mrs. P. Brown; Wawona, Mrs. Carrie Hilton; prophetess, Mrs. J. Keith; Powhatan, J. F. Farnsworth; keeper of wampum, Mrs. John Earl; conductress of wampum, Ethel Willey. Their officers including Louisa Been, Ella Farnsworth, A. L. Easley, Nellie Washburn, Clara Hunter, Cora Baker, Frank W. Matteson, Edna Willey, L. O. Coon, W. C. Neinman, Grace Armburst, Phoebe Brown, W. Evans, J. Earl, M. S. Alexander, and W. C. Holden, constituted the charter membership.

The Knights of Pythias

        This order was introduced into Stockton by the organization of Charter Oak lodge No. 20, January 27, 1872, in Red Men's hall, with twenty-nine charter members. The only living charter member is Joseph Fyfe. The following are the first officers: C. M. Small, past chancellor; W. H. Keep, chief chancellor; W. F. Fletcher, vice chancellor; William Kierski, prelate; William H. Hatch, master of ex­chequer; Joseph Fyfe, master of finance; J. H. Barney, keeper of records; S. Y. Strait, master of arms; C. C. Lyons, inside guardian.

Uniform Rank No. 5, K. of P.

        The uniform rank Knights of Pythias was organized in August, 1883, with the following officers elect: John D. Gall, sir knight commander; William Aaron, sir knight lieutenant; Gus Gumpertz, sir knight herald; Henry Adams, sir knight treasurer; William Lesher, sir knight sentinel. The rank was instituted by fifty-five members of the San Francisco uniform rank. The city members in their new uniforms marched to the train to the martial music of Schmidt & Dreyfous band. As the parade marched down Main Street, roman candles filled the air and colored fire blazed all along the line. After the institution of the rank the entire membership marched to Pioneer hall, where covers were laid for 150 guests.

        The state conclave was held in Stockton in April, 1884, and nearly 2,000 knights were present from various parts of the state. Many of the business places were decorated in the Pythian colors and prizes were given for the best decorated building. Main and El Dorado Streets were covered with draperies and two

handsomely decorated arches spanned Main Street, a third arch being erected near the Masonic Temple, where the knights assembled. On the second day there was a parade with Thomas Cunningham as grand marshal with a review on Miner Avenue by the grand officers. The third day there was a drill for three handsome trophies by the uniform rank and that evening there was a dramatic performance in the Avon Theater for the entertainment of the visitors. The play was "Damon and Pythias," staged by the Stockton Dramatic Club. The conclave ended with a banquet and ball in Masonic hall.

        Stockton in 1901 was a well-known place of assemblage of state organizations, and May 20 the Knights of Pythias and Rathbone Sisters here assembled, the knights meeting in Masonic hall, and the Rathbone Sisters in the Pythian castle. The reception to the orders took place in Masonic hall on the evening of May 20, H. R. Campbell, the chairman of the evening, introduced Mayor W. H. Harrison, who welcomed the order to the city. The response was made by Grand Chancellor J. T. Jeter, then lieutenant-governor of the state. The ladies' quartette, Mrs. F. W. Gifford, Mrs. R. Oullahan, Mrs. R. G. Fyfe and Nan McCarty, then gave two songs, and Mrs. Mae A. Clark, chief of Damon temple, welcomed the Rathbone Sisters to the city. The grand chief, Mrs. J. Stibbens, replied. Wednesday afternoon there was a parade participated in by the uniform rank, Knights of Pythias; Canton Ridgley, I. O. O. F.; the Grand Lodge and local knights, and in the evening there was an exhibition drill and concert in the pavilion. The affair closed Friday night with a grand ball. During the week the business houses were trimmed with the Pythian colors, the court house was handsomely illuminated, and on the west side was a large illuminated sign, "Stockton Extends Greetings."

The San Joaquin County Pioneers

        An effort was made as early as 1856 to organize a pioneer society, an organization whose record is forever closed when its last member dies. In this first attempt to organize a society, a call was advertised in the newspapers that all citizens who came to San Joaquin County in 1849 were requested to meet in the city hall February 22 "for the laudable purpose of adopting measures to preserve such historical facts as are being yearly lost, for the future benefit of the county." A meeting was held at the time mentioned, and after some preliminary remarks Dr. G. A. Shurtleff was called to the chair and C. O. Burton appointed secretary. A committee of twelve was appointed to draft a plan of organization, the committee comprising W. W. Stevenson, O. C. Emory, J. M. Buffington, Samuel A. Booker, Dr. E. B. Bateman, Nelson Taylor, E. M. Howison, Judge J. K. Shafer, Amos Gove, J. W. Webster and R. K. Eastman. Another committee of three was appointed to obtain the names of all pioneers "who left their homes in '49 to come to California." A second meeting was held in the hall March 7 and the constitution in defining the eligibility of members declared that only those pioneers who landed in California previous to September 9, 1850, were eligible for membership. An organization was effected by the election of John M. Buffington as president, Dr. George A. Shurtleff, first vice-president; E. M. Howison, second vice-president; O. C. Emory, third vice-president, P. A. Athearns, fourth vice-president; Nelson Taylor, fifth vice-president; C. O. Burton, secretary, and George E. Drew, treasurer.

The Second Pioneer Society

        We hear no more of the pioneer organization until 1868. At that time, November 21, a notice appeared in the press, "To the Pioneers of the County of San Joaquin. Pioneers who arrived in this state prior to the first of January, 1851, are respectfully requested to meet at the city hall on November 23, at seven o'clock, for the purpose of organizing an association in this city." About 100 pioneers responded and when the meeting was called to order Dr. Robert K. Reid was selected as president and John H. Webster, secretary. A committee of nine were appointed to draw up plans for the formation of a society. This committee comprising John B. Hall, George S. Evans, Harry F. Hubbard, E. W. Colt, Dr. Christopher Grattan, George A. Keith, R. B. Smith, J. A. Spencer and E. H. Allen were all pioneers who came previous to the state's admission. Pioneer S. P. Gorham, who had previously canvassed the city for pioneers, then reported that he found over 375 who had arrived in California previous to January 1, 1851. This was the first proposed date of eligibility of membership, but the "49ers" kicked and to please them the date of membership was changed to September 9, 1850, and no person was eligible who arrived after that date. The roll was signed by forty-six pioneers, nineteen of the number arriving in 1849. December 7, they adopted a constitution and elected the following officers; Dr. George A. Shurtleff, president; E. W. Colt, secretary, and Thomas K. Hook, treasurer. The vice-presidents were J. B. Hall, John A. Jackson and S. V. Tretheway. The board of directors comprised B. Howard Brown, Dr. C. Grattan, S. P. Gorham, J. A. White, John Schraick, Al W. Brush, William Canfield, George A. Keith and E. W. Atwood.

Pioneer Hall

        In 1869 Henry Hodgkins built his fine two-story brick building, corner of Weber Avenue and Levee Street; the Independent newspaper office rented the corner of the second story and Hodgkins fitted up the south half of the building for a hall for the Pioneers. They occupied this hall until about 1890 when they purchased the lot corner of Weber Avenue and Sutter Street, together with the house, a one-story structure brought around Cape Horn. It was the home of John M. Buffington, and later sold to Rufus B. Lane, who sold the property to the Pioneers. They erected a fine two-story brick building, with a store occupied by E. R. Hedges and a fine hall and dance floor in the second story. The hall was dedicated June 3, 1891 by the roll call of the members by the secretary, W. F. Freeman; address, Theodore Lee, president of the society; solo and chorus, Ida Petty, Nellie Baker, Al Sanborn and Harvey Squires; address and poem by Mrs. Joseph Hale, the Stockton poetess; solo, Edward A. Baird; poem, Mrs. W. D. Ashley. The Pioneer Society at one time was very large and influential, embracing as it did the most prominent and wealthiest men of the county. They enjoyed many picnics, gave many social dances, and celebrated many September 9th anniversaries up to the organization of the Native Sons in 1884. The Pioneers then gave way to the younger body, as death and resignation had greatly decreased their number. In June, 1891, the pioneers sold the property to Hodgkins & Stitt. At that time comparatively few of the members were living, and for many months previous to the sale they had not held any meeting or celebrations.

        The following are the names of the members of the Pioneer Society, the builders of San Joaquin County. They all landed in California previous to September 9, 1850. A few of the number were what was known as territorial pioneers, having arrived several years before the admission of the state.

        Daniel Adee, Elijah W. Atwood, Joseph Adams, Henry Adams, Wm. H. Ashley, Henry E. Adams, Geo. W. Ashley, E. H. Allen.

        A. B. Brown, Stephen Bergun, Louis Beysser, B. Howard, Albert W. B. Brush, Morris H. Bond, Charles G. Bruckman, Dr. E. B. Bateman, Henry Barnhart, John H. O'Brien, Wm. R. Barnes, John Behaps, A. B. Bennett, Sanborn Blaisdell, H. G. Boisseller, Charles D. Benjamin, C. D. Bidwell, Laogier Basilio, J. A. Blasingame, H. G. D. Barnhart, Wm. A. Ballard, Louis M. Booth, H. B. Bishop, A. C. Blossom, Charles W. Brunton, Wm. M. Baggs.

        Martin Cahill, '44, Edwin Colt, Wellington Canfield, Samuel Catts, '47, Cornelius Chaplin, N. C. Culver, Louis M. Chicard, Francis Culver, Wm. Colnon, Thomas Corcoran, Henry A. Chaplin, Peter Clapp, F. C. Condell, T. J. Chaloner, Dr. Asa Clark, J. H. Cole, H. K. Clifford, J. D. MacClelland, Edward Canavan,

R. W. Craig, Henry T. Compton, J. M. McCloskey, John Canavan, C. C. Cushman, Michael Caricof, W. McK. Carson.

        Manuel Dyer, David F. Douglas, Stephen H. Davis, Shubel Dunham, Charles Dial, James A. Davis, Charles Dallas, M. J. Drais.

        J. J. Evans, Ransom Eccleston, George S. Evans, Peter Esau, John S. Evans, Wm. Ennis, Ben E: S. Ely, W. W. Easten, Edward A. Everett.

        Samuel Ferguson, D. W. Fanning, H. L. Farrington, Philip Fitzgerald, John H. Field, F. M. Ferguson, John H. Fischer, Wm. F. Freeman, J. M. Fisher, John H. Fowler, Russell Farnham, Henry Fisk, J. W. Farley, H. S. Farrington, Wm. J. Floyd, W. H. Fairchilds, S. H. Fickett, J. M. Fowler.

        Wm. Gilebert, '44, S. P. Gorham, Dr. Christopher Grattan, George Gray, Andrew Girard, T. D. Gilbert, James M. Garnett, H. C. Gillingham, John Ginn, John Greer, Charles Grunsky, Wm. Graham, Amos E. Gove, John Gross, Wm. Glassen, Ed McD. Graham, John Grattan, Augustus Goodhart, C. Grupe, T. Gaffney.

        Thomas K. Hook, Thomas Henderson, John B. Hall, Joseph Hale, Henry H. Hewlett, Columbus Hampton, John H. Haines, George W. Hurley, Henry Hodgkins, Allen M. Harrison, J. B. Harrison, J. A. Henry, Wm. D. Howell, Ben C. Harris, J. D. Hamilton, T. D. Heisell, Charles I. Hamilton, John B. Hall, L. L. Huntley, Hiram Hamilton, J. M. Hogan, Josiah Hunter, N. S. Harrold, J. W. Hammond, Elias Hildreth, Hiram Hall, John W. Hammond, Rowie Harrison, Elias Ireland.

        David Jockers, Peter Jahant, Geo. A. Jahant, John Inglis, L. F. Jarvis, Wm. A. Jackson.

        George A. Keith, O. P. F. Kallenback, Oly C. Kroh, Joseph Kile, H. Kraft, Geo. M. Kasson.

        Wm. Lottman, A. Leatch, D. A. Learned, Theodore Lee, George Lemon, J. A. Louttit, Geo. S. Ladd, C. H. Lindley, Rufus B. Lane, Ben F. Langford, Theodore Lucas, John Lovejoy.

        J. A. Munson, J. B. McGowan, Edward Matteson, N. Milner, F. W. Moss, John N. Meyer, J. K. Mead, C. E. Murray. A. C. Meeker, J. P. McClelland, Samuel Myers, J. A. Mowbray, C. B. Montgomery, J. A. Mahoney, W. H. Minard, Jacob K. Myer, John P. Mason, Ira McRay, J. R. McDonald, H. O. Matthews, Jerome Myers, S. L. Morse.

        Eli E. Nelson, John Nagel.

        Henry Ortman, W. L. Overheiser, Edward Oullahan, Wm. O'Donnell.

        S. H. Pickett, John Perrott, Joseph D. Peters R. I. Patterson, Otis Perrine, D. W. Post, F. J. Pratt, Joseph Pratt, R. B. Parker, John Petty, W. H. Post, Enoch Peyton, V. M. Peyton, Joseph Putnam.

        Robert K. Reid, Henry Ramsey, Jeremiah Roberson, Wm. H. Robinson. Louis Reffel, C. D. Reynolds, Alonzo Rhodes, Arthur H. Rich, Armand Rolland, H. B. Rodgers, Ben F. Rodgers, C. R. Ralph, M. M. Richerson, S. F. Rodman, J. W. Rover, Wm. Robinson.

        Roscoe C. Sargent, Wm. Sanders, Thomas Sedgwick, Sr., H. C. Shattuck, John Seamons, Geo. L. Smith, John Shrack, James Smythe, Julius Steiney, Fred A. Spear, Daniel Severy, Russell B. Smith, Charles S. Stevens, Dr. Geo. A. Shurtleff, Charles Sedwick, John M. Small, Henry Stading, W. E. Sanders, James

E. Shepherd, J. G. Swinnerton, J. M. Sullivan, W. H. Smucker, W. H. Smith, E. R. Stockwell, Peter G. Sharp, Henry S. Sargent, Harvey Squires, Geo. W. Smith, Joseph W. Simmons, LaFayette Sellman.

        George W. Trahern, W. S. Taylor, John Tuohy, Wm. O. Tripp, Henry Tinkham, September 12, 1849, bark Lanark, F. B. Taylor, Thomas E. Tynan, S. V. Tredway, Ben F. Thompson, James Turner, A. J. Tibbetts, John H. Tone, Wm. Tierney, Dr. F. W. Todd, J. W. Vanscroten, August Vobbe, Nicholas Vicilich.

        Andrew Wolf, Roley E. Wilhoit, James T. Wadsworth, Septimus Williams, L. P. Whitman, John Wallace, John C. White, Charles F. Whale, Madison Walthall, Jr., Josiah W. Webster, Charles H. Walcott, Thomas S. Wood, M. Whipple. C. M. Weber, J. O. Winter, Fred Wright, Ben Watrous, John N. Wood, Albert Woods, E. W. S. Woods, Thomas Wilson, James Woods, E. H. Woodbridge, John Wasley, George West, Henry Wiggins, Wm. West, Wm. B. White, Wm. Wright, Geo. R. Wells, Ernest Wagner.

        Frederick Yost.

        C. E. Ziengenfelder, John H. Ziengenfelder.

Grand Army of the Republic

        The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, and ended in May, 1865. In that war, on both sides, 1,500,000 men were engaged, and on the Northern side alone 350,000 men were either killed in battle or died from exposure and disease. From the survivors of the army of the north there was organized the body known as the Grand Army of the Republic. This body of men, banded together by the strongest of humanities—a bond cemented by their life's blood—was organized "for the purpose, among other things, of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors and marines, who united to suppress the late rebellion." Annually these veterans assembled at their many posts to decorate the graves of their fallen comrades. It is a custom as old as civilization, first inaugurated in the Grand Army because of a little incident in the South. A number of Southern women who assembled in Columbus, Miss., in 1867, to decorate the graves of their Confederate dead, also decorated the graves of their fallen "enemy," the boys in blue. This beautiful trait of pure Christianity was the inspiration of the beautiful familiar poem that commences:

"By the flow of the inland river,

    Whence the fleets of iron have fled,

Where the blades of the grave grass quiver,

    Asleep are the ranks of the dead:

Under the sod and the dew,

    Waiting the judgment day—

Under the one the Blue,

    Under the other the Gray."

        The incident, first published in the North in the September Atlantic Monthly, 1867, finally led to the order issued May 5, 1868, by General John A. Logan, then commander-in-chief, naming May 30 as Decoration Day, a day on which every post throughout the Union shall assemble and, with appropriate exercises, decorate the graves of their fallen comrades. The day was first observed in San Joaquin May 30, 1869, by the members of the Stockton Post No. 9. Assembling that morning at their hall in the Parker building, they took carriages for Linden, where they decorated the grave of Lieutenant Lyman Davis, Third Infantry, California Volunteers. Over the grave Captain Thomas E. Ketcham and Dr. A. T. Hudson made a few appropriate remarks.

Stockton Post G. A. R.

        This post was organized in May, 1867, by Lieutenant R. A. Sedwick, Captain Thomas E. Ketcham, Adjutants E. S. Pilsbury, E. H. C. Taylor, W. N. Glenn and Lieutenant Edward Scott. The post did not receive its charter until February 18, 1868, when the following officers were installed: T. E. Ketcham, captain; Robert S. Johnson, adjutant; Richard Condy, musician, with the following additional members; Lieutenant R. T. Mason, E. C. Wilson, Eugene Lehe, Edward Scott, Charles H. Walscott, and Sergeants George Perry and George Teft. The post continued in existence about five years under the captainship of the following members: T. E. Ketcham, Eugene Lehe, Robert S. Johnson, Edward Scott and C. H. Walscott.

Rawlins Post G. A. R.

        We heard no more of the Grand Army until September, 1881. Then R. S. Johnson, signing himself as commander, and Edward Scott, as orderly sergeant, requested all of the volunteers of the late war to assemble at Mozart hall for the purpose of participating in the funeral of our lamented President, James A. Garfield. Some forty-seven comrades assembled and, having no uniforms they wore part of the Stockton Guards' old uniform—a dark blue blouse and cap, together with belt, cartridge box and bayonet sheath. They were the feature of the parade and much admired for their splendid marching and soldierly bearing. Again the G. A. R. passed from sight and memory until February, 1882, when S. D. Waterman as post adjutant issued a circular stating that Rawlins Post No. 23 had been organized and he was authorized to notify all veterans and to request their active cooperation. "All who now join can come in under the same fee as charter members." The post was chartered April 15, 1881, and the following were the charter members and installed officers for 1883:  Eugene Lehe, post commander; Robert S. Johnson, senior vice-commander; Robert Daly, junior vice-commander; Samuel D. Waterman, adjutant; Edward Scott, quartermaster; John W. Payne, officer of the day; Victor Heck, officer of the guard; Alfred Noack, chaplain; Robert K. Reid, surgeon; Richard Condy, quartermaster sergeant; Silas P. Adams, sergeant major; R. T. Worden, inside guardian; Emile Ellinger, outside guardian. There were enrolled 152 members, who had enlisted from nineteen Northern states. In the following month the Grand Army boys, uniting with the local military companies, the Stockton and the Emmet Guards and the Mexican veterans, again enjoyed the routine and pleasure of "tenting on the old camp ground." The encampment continued for three days, from May 10, and the camp was named Camp Ketcham, in honor of Captain Thomas E. Ketcham. On the last day of the encampment it was given out that a friendly competitive drill would take place between the organizations. The drill, however, was a scheme on the part of the Pioneers to present the post with a beautiful silk flag, under the guise of winning the prize. The judges selected by John Grattan, a pioneer and very enthusiastic Union man during the war, declared Rawlins Post the winner of the flag, but the local military companies protested against the decision, declaring that they had had no preparation for the contest.

First Memorial Day Observation

        In the Rural Cemetery a large plot of ground had been set aside for the burial of the Mexican veterans and the "boys in blue," and May 30,1882, Memorial day, was first observed. The post, parading the streets to a funeral dirge by the band, marched to the cemetery, where appropriate exercises were held under a large oak tree, and the graves of twenty comrades were decorated to the Grand Army. An oration was delivered by Judge Van R. Paterson, who admonished them to forgive "the enemy," for "remember, my friends, that from the victor is due the first proffer of friendship." Then calling their attention to the incident in the South, he declared, "No more shall the war cry sever, Or the winding rivers be red; They banished our anger forever When they laureled the graves of our dead." In the evening a memorial service was held in the Presbyterian Church. A memorial address was delivered by W. W. McKraig, and an oration by Rev. John Coyle of the Methodist Church. The singing of Keiller's "American Hymn" by the choir was followed by an original poem by Comrade L. E. Moshier. John Grattan then stepped to the platform with a large parade flag, which was presented to the post by Louis Elliott—a gift from the young ladies of Stockton. Eugene Lehe received the flag and the audience then sang "America."

Obtaining Money for Gridley Fund

        In decorating the graves in 1882 the committeed also decorated the graves of Charles M. Weber, Benjamin Tunis, a veteran of 1812, and R. C. Gridley, and at the head of the grave last named there stood this notice; "R. C. Gridley, who raised $275,000 for the Sanitary Commission." To him the Grand Army proposed erecting a suitable monument, and, having that object in view, in February, 1883, they held a reunion and camp fire, the proceeds of the entertainment to be given to the Gridley monument fund. The camp fire was held in Mozart hall. Five tables extended the entire length of the hall. On exhibition on the middle table was the original sack of flour and above it hung Gridley's portrait. At 8 o'clock the post marched in and occupied the center table. Each comrade saluted the portrait and still standing they sang "Auld Lang Syne." Then the order was given to "fall in" and the 480 plates and cups were soon filled with steaming hot pork and beans and coffee without milk. When the inner man had been satisfied, toasts were in order and speeches were made by leading citizens, while several patriotic songs were sung by the comrades. The last toast was "Reuel C. Gridley," and Henry S. Sargent, an old friend, in responding gave a short history of Gridley's life and the story of the sack of flour. He then began auctioning off name places on the subscription book, and quite a sum of money was obtained from the sale.

        The story of Gridley and his sack of flour leads us to Austin, Nev., where in April, 1864, R. C. Gridley was engaged in the merchandising business. On April 18th a municipal election was held, the two candidates for mayor being the Republican, Charles Holbrook, and the Douglas Democrat, David F. Buel. Great interest was taken in the election and a wager was made between Dr. Herrick and Gridley that if Holbrook was elected Gridley would carry a sack of flour on his shoulders from Austin to Clifton, the two points being about a mile and a quarter apart. It was further agreed that should Buel be elected Herrick would carry the flour. The Republicans elected their nominee, and the following morning Gridley appeared to pay the bet. He brought with him from his store a sack of flour, the sack being trimmed with flags and red, white and blue ribbons. A large crowd awaited his appearance and, being a very popular man, he was welcomed by loud cheers. The Austin brass band had been engaged with the understanding that if the Democrats won the band was to play "Dixie," if the Republicans won "John Brown" was the tune selected. A procession was then formed consisting of the city officials, thirty-six horsemen acting as escort, the brass band, then Mr. Gridley, accompanied by Dr. Herrick and Amos Gridley, the latter carrying a large American flag. As the novel procession marched the streets some of the crowd, joining with the band, began singing, "And his soul goes marching on," while others shouted, "Go it, Gridley ! Stick to it, old man! Hurrah for Holbrook !" On arriving at Clifton the laughable performance was carried out of the Democrats surrendering to the Republicans the large broom and sponge which they had carried in the procession, thus signifying that the victors had swept the town and now they could absorb all the offices. A nearby saloon keeper then invited the crowd in to take a drink. They quickly responded and the liquor was as free as water, Republicans and Democrats alike spending their money freely. Other saloons were visited and as the money was giving out they began discussing the future of the sack of flour—what should they do with it? One Republican suggested, "Make it into griddle cakes, but don't give any to the disloyal Democrats." This remark angered their opponents and they shouted, "We are as loyal as you." The time was at hand for the fulfilling of a remarkable event. Was Gridley inspired ? Who can say? A prohibitionist and a professing Christian, he had been quietly listening to the banterings of the liquor-laden crowd, and now he exclaimed, "This crowd of people had its fun at my expense. Let us see now who will do most for the sick and wounded soldiers. We will put this sack of flour up at auction, to be sold for cash, with the understanding that the buyer will return it to be again sold for the Sanitary Commission."

        The crowd was ready for any kind of an exciting joke, and the proposition was quickly accepted. The flour was put up at auction, and after many spirited bids it was sold to the Republican county surveyor for $350. The Republicans yelled loudly because one of their number had made the first purchase. Next it was knocked down to Gridley for $305, then Buel purchased it. He was broke, having spent all his money for drinks, but he offered in payment $1,115 in Indian Department scrip, having been the government agent, but the auctioneer refused it, the terms being cash. Buel then pledged several valuable lots in another town. The auction was continued until $4,400 was received, the money the following day being expressed to Henry Bellows, the president of the commission, then in San Francisco, filling the pulpit of T. Starr King, deceased.

        The news of this curious event spread throughout the state and three weeks later the citizens of Gold Hill invited Gridley to visit their city and bring his famous sack of flour. He consented and, arriving there May 16, a procession was formed which halted in front of the Maynard block. At this point Thomas Fitch, "the silver-tongued orator," in an eloquent speech, aroused enthusiasm by pleading for the sick and wounded soldiers who had risked their lives upon the battlefield that this glorious Union might be preserved. When the bidding began there was a spirited fight between the silver mining companies and the auctioneer stopped at $6,000. The procession then reformed and the "Army of the Lord," as the Gold Hill News christened them, with banners flying and bands playing marched down the canyon through the Devil's Gate to Silver City, and the flour was there sold for $2,000. Again put up at auction in four different places that day, the flour realized $24,000. It was taken on May 18 to Sacramento to the Sanitary Fair but it was not a money­maker there, selling for only $175. That night, however, in the Congregational Church, it was purchased a dozen times, the buyers paying $2,150. In San Francisco, May 28, in the Metropolitan Theater, a number of bidders paid $2,800, the bids running from $5 to $500. The flour was then taken to the Eastern States, and Gridley traveled with it to many large cities, but the returns were not as liberal as in California and he returned to Austin in 1865.

        It was found in the beginning that the flour without Gridley lacked inspiration, and he resolved to give his entire attention to its sale, paying his expense out of his own pockets.  The result to him was financial ruin, for the long continued travel undermined his health, none too strong at first, and returning, he found his business almost a failure. Selling out in 1866, he came to Stockton and began partnership in the grocery business with Henry S. Sargent on the site the San Joaquin Valley Bank now occupies. In 1868 he removed to Paradise, Stanislaus County, and there died November 24, 1874. By his own request he was brought to Stockton for burial, and after sacrificing his life and fortune for the Union cause, his body was interred in the Grand Army plot.

Dedication of the Gridley Monument

        Gridley's grave in the Grand Army plot was marked only by a redwood board, his name cut therein with a penknife. Believing "that the people of the Union owe to Reuel C. Gridley something more than a debt of gratitude," Rawlins Post in August, 1882, resolved to solicit funds for a suitable monument over his grave, starting the fund by an appropriation of $100, and this was followed in 1883 by the bean supper to obtain more funds. Committees were appointed from the post and from the leading citizens to obtain money for a memorial, but the coin came in slowly and not until 1886 did the committee have sufficient money on hand to warrant calling for monument plans. In that year, however, designs were drawn, the bid of A. C. Thompson of San Francisco accepted, and the monument was unveiled September 8, 1887. Early in the afternoon, the Pioneers, Rawlins Post, Emmet Guards, the fire companies and Stockton Guards, and citizens marched to the cemetery. On arrival at the Grand Army plot, in the center of which the monument had been erected, the immense crowd gathered round about and the exercises began with prayer by Chaplain A. C. Baine. Then followed an oration by James G. Swinnerton, and the reading of the receipts and expenditures of the monument, the total cost being $1,177, which had been collected by a citizens and a post committee through entertainments and subscriptions. The total height of the monument is twenty feet, the figure of Gridley being six feet ten inches. After reading the reports Stanton G. Carter pulled the cord and the Stars and Stripes which concealed the monument fell to the earth. A poem was written by Mrs. Charles Merrill to his memory, as follows:

    And Gridley's heart was staunch and true,

    And Gridley's arm was strong to save;

    He felt the work was his to do—

    The work of succoring the brave.

    And when on history's glowing page

    You trace the names inscribed to fame—

    Of soldier, bard and statesman sage—

    Then write the patriot Gridley's name.

        Upon his monument in Rural cemetery are these words: "To Reuel C. Gridley this monument was erected by Rawlins Post No. 23, September 9, 1887, for services rendered in collecting $275,000 for the Sanitary Commission."

Women's Relief Corps

        In the afternoon of July 1, 1887, in Good Templar's hall, the Woman's Relief Corps, an auxiliary of Rawlins Post, was organized by Mrs. J. B. Russell of Oakland. It was organized "as an auxiliary and a help to the old soldiers and families in sickness or need." The charter members of the corps were as follows, including officers: Mrs. Lizzie D. Waterson, president; Lydia Henry, senior vice-president; Mary Johnson, junior vice-president; Jennie L. Southworth, secretary; Lizzie Condy, treasurer; Joseph Hyde, chaplain; Miss Hannah Browne, Sarah Tripp, Mary Heck, assistant conductor; Susie Keagle, guard; the non-official members being Mesdames H. H. Strong, J. E. Wood, Jennie Miller, Lenora Worden, Mary A. Stoddard, Zillah C. Wood, Nellie J. Weaver, Fidelia Browne, Sarah Tripp, Mary Heck, Jane Barber, Kittie Holman, Louisa A. Black, Nellie Atwood, Mary Lissenden, Flora A. Jacquerman, Lizzie McCoy, D. L. Swinnerton, Eliza Court, Ella M. Drown, Jennie Loomis, Sarah E. Hitchcock, Alma M. Hyde, Marion E. Steacy, Martha A. Hurd, and Alice Adams and Miss Eva Andrews.

        One of the objects of the Woman's Relief Corps is "to inculcate lessons of patriotism and love of country among our children and in the communities in which we live." Having this object in view the ladies purchased a large staff flag, and on Memorial day, 1890, it was presented to the high school. The procession in its march halted on San Joaquin Street, at what was then the high school, and after music by the band James E. Eaton in a short address presented a banner. The flag was run to the staff top, the comrades giving three cheers. Emanuel Wolf, of the high school, received the flag, and the procession then moved on to the Avon Theater, where the exercises of the day were held. That morning memorial exercises were held and flags raised over all of the public schools for the first time in the history of the city. May 28, 1891, the Woman's Relief Corps gave a flag festival and drill in honor of Rawlins Post, the stage managers being Mrs. Jennie L. Southworth, Cecelia Holt and Hannah Gray. The program comprised a march of thirteen girls representing the thirteen Colonies, with Emma Loomis as the Goddess of Liberty. The young ladies then sang "The Red, White and Blue," the scene ending in a tableau of the States and Colonies. Then followed exercises with Indian clubs by Grace Henderson, Maud McLaren and Minnie Rutherford. Gertrude and Amy Hopkins then sang a duet, "The Carnival of Venice," and Clara Goldsworthy recited "Uncle Sam and His Children." A cornet solo followed by F. E. Southworth, the performance ended in a tableau, "War—Peace."

        The memorial services conducted in the Rural cemetery in 1902 were unique, being conducted entirely by women save the prayer by Rev. Alfred S. Clark, rector of the Episcopal Church. Patriotic songs were sung by twelve school girls under the direction of Miss Emily Dodge. Lincoln's Gettysburg address was read by Lizzie Condy, and the address of the day was by Sarah Tripp, who gave much time and research to the statistical history of the Grand Army, including the number of men engaged, the number killed or wounded, and the number of battles and skirmishes. In the following year Governor George Pardee was the orator of the day. Over 500 school children were in the procession and about 5,000 persons assembled in "the silent city."

        By executive law, June 14, 1906, was established as flag day, and all citizens throughout the state were requested to throw Old Glory to the breeze. The Woman's Relief Corps also made it the flag gift day, and in 1906 flags with interesting ceremonies, were presented to the Children's Home and the Congregational Church; June 9, 1919, to the United Brethren; May 30, 1910, to the Grace M. E. Church, South; and June 14, 1909, to the city. On the date last mentioned the corps members marched from their hall to Washington Square, where upon the east side a forty-foot flagstaff had been set in cement. The audience formed a circle upon the hill, while the president, Laura Haines, made the introductory remarks. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. P. Jopson, and Sarah Tripp as patriotic instructor, introduced Arthur Ashley, who presented the flag to the city through Mayor George Hudson who, in a brief speech, accepted the standard. A quartet composed of T. T. Smith, Roy T. Moore, J. W. Ziegler and E. W. Butters, gave patriotic selections, and Mrs. Bertha Russell recited "Old Glory."

Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W.

        Stockton Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West, alike with other parlors, was composed not only of the sons of the pioneers but of young men born in California of white parentage. The peculiar feature of this order is, that like the Pioneer Society, it was the first order of its kind in the United States. Some six years after the organization of the first parlor, California No. 1, the Stockton Parlor was instituted March 12, 1881, by the grand president, Frank Huggins, of San Francisco. The following officers were elected and installed:  Samuel L. Terry, president; George Israel, vice-president; Hugh O. Haas, treasurer; Walter C. Hogan, chaplain; Frank E. Lane, marshal; and W. G. Wallace, Will R. Louttit and Leroy S. Atwood. Also charter members were George L. Wolf, J. G. Zignego, J. W. Glenn and Wm. Smith. The enthusiasm for the lodge soon staled and the attendance was scarcely large enough to form a quorum. Then the meetings were discontinued, but a renewed life was given the parlor in June, '81, by Leroy S. Atwood. He obtained new applicants for membership, and June 11, 1882, the parlor was reorganized in the Good Templar hall, Austin building, on Main Street, east of California. The parlor was reinstituted by Frank  Huggins, grand president, assisted by Frank D. Ryan, grand vice-president; Henry Lunstead, grand secretary; and T. R. Harold of California Parlor No. 1.

        It was customary for many years for the parlors to hold a state celebration in some large city, and Stockton was honored by the first celebration of that nature in 1883 and again in 1896. In order to obtain funds for the 1883 celebration, the Native Sons petitioned for an appropriation to be given towards the state Admission Day celebration to be held in this city, and Councilman John Doyle moved that an appropriation of $100 be given. W. F. Freeman, a pioneer, opposed it on the ground of economy. Hugh T. Corcoran declared that as the money was to be expended in celebrating the deeds and glories of our pioneers, and to perpetuate the admission of California into the Union, the resolution should pass. The resolution passed—ayes, Corcoran, Eschbach, Doyle, Fyfe, Link, Langhovel, Rodgers; noes, Abbott, Freeman, Paulk—August 7, 1883.

        Stockton has had the honor of the first and last state celebration, because at the last celebration, the parlors had tired of traveling from city to city and there were so many other events crowding into the years, that the civic authorities no longer encouraged native son pilgrimages. At the time of the '83 celebration there were but eighteen parlors in the state, Lodi No. 18 being the last instituted. At the session of the Grand Parlor in April that year they resolved to hold a state celebration September 9 of each year, and Curtis Lindley, then the grand president, succeeded in having Stockton chosen as the place of celebration. Admission Day came on Monday and on Sunday morning the steamer Mary Garrett arrived from San Francisco with some 400, including delegates from California and Pacific Parlors. They were escorted to Templar hall, also the Native Sons hall, in the Austin building on Main Street and given refreshments. That evening there was a sacred concert in the Avon Theater under the direction of Mrs. Juliet Belding Lane, Mrs. Mamie Huggins Miler and Mrs. O'Donnell Morrissey. Ugo Talbot, the famous English opera tenor, had charge of the musical program. At 9 o'clock trains arrived bearing the Modesto parlor and the Sacramento parlor, firemen and Sacramento Guard. The parade numbered over 1,000 men, this including Governor George Stoneman and his staff. Every organization in Stockton was in line, the Native Sons being dressed in black, wearing Alpine hats and bright blue sashes. The exercises were held on the plaza under a canvas tent seating 2,000 persons. The oration was delivered by the grand lecturer, A. M. Dorn of San Francisco, and Samuel Terry read an original poem. That evening there was a grand ball in the Avon Theater, Ralph P. Lane and Ruth Clifford leading the grand march. Preceding the march the Native Daughters presented the Native Sons with a beautiful flag; Miss Mamie Huggins making the presentation. In 1912 Stockton saw one of the largest gatherings and finest parade ever in the city. Monday was Admission Day and on the previous Saturday throughout the night trains were constantly arriving bringing Native Sons and visitors by the hundreds into the city. The parade on Monday was nearly four miles in length, composed of Native Sons and Daughters only, over 10,000 in the line, this including twenty bands of music and fifteen drum corps. The parade was led by William O'Conner as grand marshal and C. E. Mathey, John Perry, John R. Williams, George R. Baker and E. Welch of Lodi as aids. The National Guard of San Francisco were in line in their swell Zouave uniforms. One of the prettiest features was the turn out of San Joaquin parlor Native Daughters. They rode in canopied chariots two abreast, drawn by horses, handsomely decorated. The chariots were decorated in purple, white, pink, yellow and green, the Daughters dressed in the same colors. The exercises of the day took place in the Yosemite Theater, and included addresses by John L. Davis, grand deputy president and Lewis F. Byington, past grand president; vocal solos by Mrs. A. F. Flanigan and Frank Smith and the Lotus quartette, Thomas T. Smith, Ray T. Moore, Edward Butters and J. E. Ziegler.

San Joaquin Parlor No. 5, N. D. G. W.

        This parlor was instituted April 8, 1887 in Native Sons hall by Miss Richling of San Francisco, deputy grand president, assisted by Miss Fonterole. The parlor was instituted through the efforts of Miss Hannah Gray, who sent an application for a charter and secured the members. The following officers were installed: Mrs. Belle Cook Stockwell, past president; Hannah Gray, president; Mrs. Althea Hickman Dunlap, first vice-president; Kate Hilke, second vice-president; Mrs. F. E. Austin, third vice-president; Albertine Hickman, treasurer; Carrie O. Brien, marshal; Emma Debnam, recording secretary; Belle Grunsky, financial secretary; Mrs. Maggie Davis Close, inside sentinel; and Ella Abramsky, outside sentinel. The officers including the following charter members, Nellie Austin, Kate Abramsky, Mrs. Nellie Bossom Moore, Mrs. Kate Gerlach, May Goodell, Nellie Gerlach, Laura Hart, Ella Henderson, Albertine Hickman, Lena Hilke, Mrs. Hattie Keep Gerlach, Addie Clara, Maggie Leffler, Kate Pool, Hattie and Belle Miller, Mrs. Carrie Roesch Durham, Annie Sarah Russell, Nellie Smith, Clara Stier, Etta Smith, Kate White, Bernice Yolland. The parlor has been active among many lines of benevolent work. They organized the first Red Cross society in the county, were the pioneers in tree planting, one a laurel tree having been planted to the memory of Captain Charles M. Weber, in Jones Square. The Grand Parlor has been held twice in Stockton. Mrs. Carrie Roesch Durham was elected grand president at their session of 1889. Mrs. Lena Hilke Mills was grand president in 1897 and Mrs. Mamie Griffin Peyton was elected president in 1910.

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler