“Benjamin Dudley Williams, physician was born January 11, 1851 at Oxford and died at that place March 12, 1911. He was educated in the schools of Calhoun County and studied medicine.
From 1886 to 1890 he served as physician to the Ute Indians, having been appointed to that work by President Cleveland; and was a member of the Chippewa Indian Commission 1893-1896.
He married December 14, 1881 to Mollie T. Williams and they had one son and three daughters.
Benjamin Dudley Williams was affiliated in Oxford, with Hartwell Lodge #101 June 28, 1882 and was Secretary of that Lodge in 1882.
“James Andrew Bilbro, lawyer, was born February 20, 1844 at Tuskegee, Macon County; son of John Berryman and Anne Lumpkin (Rutledge) Bilbro. The former born in Surry County, Va., removed to Talbotton, Ga., where he married and in 1842 located in Tuskegee, was clerk of circuit court of Macon County about eighteen years, was treasurer of the county twenty-five years, which office he held at the date of his death, December 24, 1908. He was the grandson of Benjamin Bilbro, of Virginia, and of William Owen and Elizabeth (Partridge) Rutledge, the former a member of the noted Rutledge family of South Carolina, who was born May 30, 1790, in Harris County, Ga.
Judge Bilbro was educated at the Tuskegee Institute under noted teachers, one being E. M. Law, afterward a distinguished confederate general, and who with his brother, had charge of the military department of the Institute. Judge Bilbro was Captain of one of the companies in 1860 and 1861. He studied law in 1868-1870 in Tuskegee, under David Clopton, afterwards Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. He began the practice, 1870, removed to Gadsden in 1889 and was County Solicitor of Macon County for six years from 1872; Mayor of Tuskegee, 1882-82; a member of the legislature, 1884-85; Judge of the 9th judicial circuit from August 1, 1894 to January 19, 1905. He was elected Judge of the 16th circuit under “Lusk bill” but did not serve, as it was declared unconstitutional. He was Judge of the city court of Gadsden, 1920-16 and a member of the board of trustees, Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Auburn for 10 years.
In April 1861, he joined the Tuskegee light infantry, which became a part of the famous Third Alabama infantry regiment, under COL. Tennet Lomax; was in the Army of Northern Virginia until May 1862, when he was discharged on account of ill health; was then appointed lieutenant in camp of instruction and held this position until close of the war.
He was a Democrat, a Methodist, a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a Knight of Pythias.
He married April 24, 1866 at Tuskegee, Francina A. daughter of Chancellor Wylie Washington and Matilda Warren (Catchings) Mason, the latter was born at the homestead of her grandmother, Mrs. Wilfres Catchings, in Washington, Ga., was twice married, first to COL. John C.. McNeil; and after his death to Chancellor Wylie W. Mason; granddaughter of John Clarke Mason a Welsh nobleman of Guston Hall, Wales. Children: (1) James Early (2) Mathilde (3) John B. and (4) Wylie Mason.
James Andrew Bilbro was initiated in Tuskegee Lodge Feb. 17, 1866, Passed March 3, 1866, and Raised March 17, 1866. He demitted July 1, 1889 and affiliated with Gadsden #236 Aug. 13, 1889. James Andrew Bilbro is properly recognized as the father of the Masonic Home. He entered Resolutions to establish a Masonic Orphans Home and College at the 1882 Annual Communication and was appointed to serve on a Select Committee of Five to perfect some plan to carry out the ideas of the resolution. James Andrew Bilbro died Dec. 22, 1924 at the age of 80”
“General Harrison of Opelika, was a descendant of the original Virginia Harrison family which emigrated from England to the Old Dominion. This family included two presidents of the United States as and was conspicuous in laying the foundation stones of the state on the shores of the first English Colony. He was born on the ‘Monteith Plantation,’ near Savannah, Ga. March 19, 1841, and bears his father’s name in full. His father was for many years prominent in Ga. politics, serving many sessions in the legislature of that state from Chatham Co. During the war between the states, the elder Harrison commanded a brigade of state troops and after the war, was chosen a member of the constitutional convention of Georgia.
General George Paul Harrison was classically trained in the famous academies of Savannah and later at the Georgia Military Institute at Marietta; graduated in 1861 with a degree of A.B. and C. E. as the first honor man of his class. He was scarcely twenty at the outbreak of the war, and on Jan.3, 1861, he shared in the seizure by the state of Ga. of Fort Pulaski. He enrolled in the service of the state and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the First Regiment of Ga. Regulars…… not quite 23 years old when he received his commission as a brigadier general….While in camp, General Harrison applied himself to the study of the law. After the close of the war he moved to Alabama, resided first at Auburn, and later Opelika.
He was elected commandant of the Alabama University, retired from that position, and made commandant at the state agricultural college at Auburn. After one year, he resigned and devoted himself to his law practice. He served the public as a delegate to the Alabama Constitutional Conventions of 1875 and 1901; as state senator from 1878 to 1884; and1901 –1902; elected a representative in Congress from the 3rd district in1894 and 1896. In 1899 he was elected Major General of the Alabama Division of United Confederate Veterans and served the United Confederate Veterans for many years…..
He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; married (1) in 1863 to Mary F. Drake, who died in June 1884, daughter of John C. and May A. Drake of Ga. (2) in 1886 to Mattie C. Ligon, who died August 22, 1892, daughter of Gov. Robert F. Ligon of Alabama (3) in November, 1896 to Fannie Louise Witherspoon, daughter of Hamilton and Nancy Witherspoon of Coldstream, S. C. who died in September, 1900 (4) on November 20, 1901, at La Grange, Ga. to Sara Katherine Nunnaly, daughter of GUSTAVUS ALONZO and Mary (BRISCOE) Nunnaly, of that place. Children by first marriage; (1) deceased; (2) MAMIE Harrison, first honor graduate of the Wesleyan female college; by fourth marriage, (1) George P. Harrison., Jr.
Bro. Harrison was initiated in Auburn Lodge No. 76 on Sep. 28, 1865, passed Oct. 3, 1865 and raised Oct. 5, 1865. He demitted from this Lodge on May 6, 1881 affiliated with Opelika Lodge No. 395; demitted Feb. 16, 1882 to become a Charter Member and first Worshipful Master of Lee Lodge No. 454. In the Grand Lodge of Alabama he was elected Junior Grand Warden December 4, 1889, regularly advanced and was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master Dec. 5, 1894 and again in 1895. He was appointed a Member of the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence in 1896 and was appointed Chairman of that Committee in 1901, serving as such until his death July 17, 1922.”
“Hon. Frances L. Pettus, attorney and counselor at law, at Selma Al. was born at Cahaba, Dallas County, Oct. 7, 1858 son of GEN.. E. W. Pettus, Hon. F. L. Pettus was reared for the most part in Selma, to which city his parents removed shortly after the Civil War. He received his early education in Selma and then sent to the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, Virginia where he remained for one year. He then in consequence of failing health returned to his home and for a short time engaged in farming. Upon recovering, he attended Davidson College, NC where he completed a classical course of two years. Leaving college in 1877, he went to Galveston, Texas where he was employed for a year in the commission house of John D. Rodgers & Co., large cotton factors. Returning to Selma he entered the law office of his father, with whom he read law and on April 9, 1879, he was admitted to the bar. He became a member of the Pettus and Dawson firm in Selma with his father GEN. E. W. Pettus and COL. N. H. R. Dawson. In 1880 he began to play an important part in the politics of the state, being elected a delegate to the state democratic convention, and he was a delegate to the state democratic convention for four subsequent state conventions, in 1882, 1884, 1886, and 1888. In 1882 he became Clerk of the Supreme Court of the State, and continued to hold that position until November, 1884., during which time he resided at Montgomery. In 1886 he was elected as a Democrat to the lower house of the Legislature to represent Dallas County and was re-elected in 1888, in 1890 and in 1892. From the first Mr. Pettus took an active part in shaping legislation and soon gained a reputation amongst his constituents for faithfulness and ability, thus securing their confidence and esteem. In 1888 he became chairman of the Judiciary committee of the house, and such was his display of intelligence and power that during the session of 1890 he became a strong candidate for Speaker of the House. The contest was an enthusiastic and heated one, and though he was defeated it was only by a very small majority, showing that he was a popular and highly esteemed member of the house.
Mr. Pettus was a prominent Mason, being Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the state. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias of the Elks.
In 1880, Mr. Pettus married Miss Mary Knox, daughter of MAJ. William S. Knox of Selma. Mrs. Pettus was an accomplished lady and conferred grace and dignity upon the domestic circle.”
“George M. Morrow one of the leading druggists of Birmingham, was born in Elyton, Alabama August 20, 1846. His father, Hugh Morrow, came from Kentucky to Alabama. His father died July, 1889 and his mother, Margaret Holmes died June 1891, the father at 85 and mother 67. George Morrow attended the common schools of his home until he was 16 years old, when, in 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate service, in company F. 7th Alabama Cavalry, under command of COL. L. B. Musgrove. The next year he was transferred to the famous Cavalry Brigade under command of GEN. Joseph Wheeler, and promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. He fought at Nashville and at Franklin. When he came home from the war, he attended school one year at Elyton, and took up the study of medicine under Dr. Joseph R. Smith.. The following year he attended the Miami Medical College, of Cincinnati, graduating in 1868 and at once began to practice at Ashville. He remained there until 1871, then going to Elyton, where he practiced until 1878. In the latter year he removed to Birmingham and embarked in the wholesale and retail drug business in company with Dr. F. D. Nabers, having abandoned the medical profession on account of ill-health. His career was marked by great financial success, and his warm nature and genial social qualities endeared him to a large circle of friends.
He was married, the first time in November 1868 to Mary E.. daughter of Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Margaret SMITH, of Elyton. They had one child, Margaret J. Morrow. His first wife died in 1873. His 2nd wife, whom he married in May 1874 was Miss Susie, daughter of O. S. Malinda (Nabers)Smith of Elyton. There were four children of the latter union—-Lucy O., Anna Bertha, deceased; George M. Jr. and Frank Morrow.
In Dec. 1890, he was elected Grand Master of the Masonic order of Alabama.
In 1891 he was elected sheriff of Jefferson County for four years. Both he and wife were communicants of the Baptist Church.”
“Henry Hart Brown was born August 24, 1837 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He died at his home in East Lake, Jefferson County, Alabama on January 9th 1903 at 65 years of age.
He was an attorney and a member of several organizations such as the Alabama Historical Society.
He was initiated at an Entered Apprentice in Northport Lodge No. 252 A. F. & A. M. in Feb. 12, 1859, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft March 26th, 1859, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason April 28th 1859. He evinced great interest and devotion and his development in was sure.” xliv[PRO 1903]
“In his annual address as Grand Master, Henry Hart Brown, urged “the importance of a more efficient system of lecturing the Subordinate Lodges in the work of conferring degrees.” As a result of his effort, the District Lecturer system was initiated in 1891. He appointed five members to take consideration the establishment of a Masonic Home for widows and orphans of deceased Masons of Alabama.” Xlv[Dictionary][1849 Pro][Masonry]
He served as Worshipful Master of Northport Lodge for a number of years. When he moved to East Lake, he became affiliated with East Lake Lodge No. 480 and continued as an honored member of that Lodge until his death. He was for many years a regular attendant upon the Communications of the Grand Body and its members were quick to recognize and reward his great zeal and worth. “He was elected Junior Grand Warden December 1885, Senior Grand Warden December 1886, Deputy Grand Master 1887 and Grand Master December 1888, which exalted station he filled with signal ability until December 1890. At the time of his death, he was Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia near this Grand Lodge.
In the midst of his great usefulness, our beloved brother was stricken down by a hopeless malady, which held him a helpless suffer for four long years, ere the ‘grim monster’ was welcomed as a kind messenger, and his noble spirit winged its eager flight from this imperfect, to that all perfect, glorious, celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.
Henry Hart Brown was every inch a man. An honest, able attorney, a brave Confederate soldier, a great pillar of strength in the Church, in Masonry, in affairs of government, in society; a tender loving spirit in the home. We miss his genial, noble face! Our sympathies go out to his sorely bereaved family. His memory is enshrined in our hearts. His works do follow him.
‘Brethren a Mighty Craftsman works no more
With maul and level, plumb and square and line;
His tools lie idle on the checkered floor-
The workman gone upon the Master’s sign,
Yet true and polished there his ashlar stands,
The chiseled witness of his cunning skill.
The name of Henry Brown glistens in its sands
The Temple waits the stone on Salem’s Hill.’
Myles Jefferson Greene, a native of Baldwin County, Georgia, was born October 30th, 1827 and died June 27th 1892 in Montgomery, Alabama. He was educated in the country schools in Georgia and at Auburn. He received his medical degree from Charleston, S. C. medical college in 1851. He began the practice of medicine in Lochapoka shortly after graduation and practiced there, in Opelika and in Talladega, until his appointment as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge in December, 1888. He married Mary Anne Eliza, daughter of Dr. Reuben and Mary (Baldwin) Phillips of Loachapoka, on April 10, 1853. There were no children. He was a Christian gentleman and an educated physician, taking a high position amongst his professional brethren, which he maintained to the day of his death. As a physician he was an original thinker, and a careful and painstaking practitioner as well as skillful surgeon.
He was initiated May 17, 1849, passed June 9th, 1849, and raised June 28th, 1849 by Auburn Lodge No. 76 A.F. and A. M. In 1850 he located in Loachapoka, Macon County, and measures were soon taken to establish a Lodge in that, at that time, new and prosperous town. Dr. Greene was the first Worshipful Master of this Lodge. In 1877 he removed to Talladega, where he resided until 1888, save two years in Opelika. During that period he filled the office of Worshipful Master or a subordinate station in Talladega Lodge No. 261.
He was exalted by Opelika Chapter No. 74, R. A. M. in 1866. He soon thereafter demitted and assisted in the establishment of Lochapoka Chapter No. 80, being one of the charter members. He was the first and only H. P. of that chapter as long as he lived there. In 1877, he went to Talladega, became a member of and soon an officer in Talladega Chapter No. 23. At the time of his death, he was a member of Montgomery Chapter No. 22. He was knighted by Tuskegee Commandery of Knights Templar in 1873. After moving to Talladega he was unaffiliated until 1888 when he became a member of Montgomery Commandery No. 4 on whose record will no doubt be found a tribute to his memory.
Dr. Greene made his first appearance in the Grand Lodge in 1852 as Worshipful Master of Loachapoka Lodge No. 133. From that date he was seldom absent from the Grand Communications, having attended every one since 1867. In 1869 he was appointed a member of the Committee on Work. This position he held until 1881, when he was elected Junior Grand Warden. He was successively elected Senior Grand Warden, Deputy Grand Master and became Grand Master in 1877. He held this high office one year, when he was elected Grand Secretary, the position he occupied at the date of his death.
In 1869 he was appointed a member of the Grand Chapter Committee on Work. In 1869 he was elected Grand Captain of the Host and was regularly promoted until he became Grand High Priest in 1872 and filled that office for three years.
“John Gideon Harris, State Superintendent of Education in Alabama, is a native of this state, and was born in the thirties in Hale County, then a part of Greene County. He was educated at Greene Springs, under PROF. Tutwiler. He taught school for five years and then proceeded to Cumberland University, Lebanon Tennessee, and in 1858 graduated there in law. He opened a law office in Greensboro, Alabama.
He joined the Confederate army as a member of the Greensboro light artillery guards and proceeded to Fort Morgan. Later he raised a company of volunteers, Planter Guards, that became a part of the 20th Al infantry. He saw service with the western army and took part in nearly all the bloody battles of the memorable campaigns through Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. He was promoted to the rank of major in the winter of 1863. Returning home, he took up his residence at Livingston in Sumter County and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1870 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in a district overwhelmingly Republican before that time. He reduced his opponent’s majority to less than 900. In 1876 he was an alternate elector at large; in 1880 he was a district elector, and in 1884 he was again alternate elector at large. In 1886 he received the appointment at the hands of President Cleveland of register of the land office at Montgomery. He administered this post with signal ability; cleared up neglected business and left it in perfect shape to his successors, in 1889. In 1890 Maj. Harris was by a flattering vote, nominated by the Democratic Party for State Superintendent of Education. He was elected at the ensuing election and was re-nominated and re-elected in 1892.
Maj. Harris was a prominent Mason, having been at one time Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in this state. He was also a devoted member of the Baptist church, and was a pulpit lecturer while the regular minister had been detained away.
Maj. Harris was married in 1861 to Miss Mary J. Brown of Sumter Co. He had two children, both daughters, Mrs. L. G. Dawson and Mrs. J. T. Rushin, of Elmore Co. He served as president of the YMCA convention of Al and was chosen president of the International Sunday School Convention that was held at Pittsburgh, Penn. in June 1890.”
John Hollis Bankhead a descendant of Scotch-Irish stock was born on his father’s farm in Marion, now Lamar Co., near the town of Moscow, Alabama, and September 13, 1842. His father, James Greer Bankhead, a native of Union District, S.C. settled at that place in 1818 and resided there until his death in 1861. His mother, Sussan Hollis, was born in Darlington District, S.C. and came with her parents to Alabama in 1822 where she remained until her death at the age of seventy-five.
He was married November 13th 1866, at Wetumpka, Alabama, to Tallulah Brockman, a native of S.C. who had been reared in Alabama. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1916 at their home, “Sunset,” at Jasper, Alabama. Their five children (in 1920) Louise, (wife of A.G. Lund); Marie, (wife of Thomas M. Owen); John H, William B, Henry M. Bankhead.
He enlisted as a Private in Co. K, 16th Alabama Regiment Infantry Volunteers, of the Confederacy and was promoted to Captain after the battle of Shiloh. After the Civil War, he returned to his home and resumed life on the farm. In his early twenties, he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives of 1865-6 from old Marion County and this marked the beginning of long career in Public service. Some of the offices he held include; State Senator at various times, State Legislator, Warden of Alabama State Penitentiary, Congress, House of Representatives. He was instrumental in making the Warrior River a navigable stream as well as the development of Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee River. The Bankhead Highway beginning in Washington D.C. and ending in San Diego, Ca. is a just recognition by the public of the achievements wrought by John Hollis Bankhead in behalf of good roads throughout the nation.
His death occurred at his residence in Washington D. C, March 1st, 1920. Following a religious service in the Methodist Church at Jasper, Alabama, of which he was a member, he was buried by the Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Alabama.
“Rufus Willis Cobb was born on February 25, 1829, at Ashville, St. Clair County, Alabama, and died on November 26, 1913, at Birmingham. He was the son of John W. and Catherine (Stevens) Leak Cobb, who lived on a plantation at Ashville. Governor Cobb was educated at an academy in Ashville and graduated from the University of Tennessee, at Knoxville, in 1850. Returning to Ashville, he read law in the office of John C. Thommason and was admitted to the bar in 1855. He practiced law in St. Clair until he moved to Shelby County, Alabama, in 1867 and became a law partner of B. B. Lewis.
When war was proclaimed in 1861, Cobb joined the Confederate Army as captain of Co. C., Tenth Alabama Infantry Regiment, Forney’s brigade, and went to Virginia with that regiment. He remained there until, in 1863, he was assigned to General Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry in Tennessee and placed in charge of a scouting party. At the end of the war Cobb resumed his law practice.
Cobb was elected to the Alabama state senate in 1872 and in 1876. During his term in the state senate, he collaborated with Peter Hamilton of Mobile on a plan for readjusting the state debt, a plan subsequently adopted by the legislature. Cobb was a friend and advisor of Governor George Smith Houston during Houston’s administration. Cobb was elected governor in 1878 and reelected in 1880. “He had a quiet administration, without striking events.” (Owen, p. 357 ) The population of Alabama was growing, by 1880 the federal census recorded 1,262,505, and the problems of administrative finance and control of the railroads fell to Cobb. “His administration made improvements in tax assessment and reduced the cost of surplus in the state treasury.” Also during Cobb’s two terms, the State Railroad Commission, the State Bar Association, and the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute were created. The records of Governor Cobb’s administration reflect that a major controversy during his last term was prohibition. The prohibition forces attempted to pass a statewide local option law but were unsuccessful. After his term as governor had expired, he retired to private life for a time,
but in 1888 accepted the appointment to the office of probate judge of Shelby County. Cobb also served as president of the Central Iron Works at Helena from 1873 to 1891; was an attorney for the Louisville and Nashville Railway; and was involved in cotton planting and in developing an iron mine, the Delmar, in northern Alabama.
Cobb belonged to all the branches of the York Rite Masons and was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alabama. He was the only man who was Grand Master and Governor at the same time. He was a member of all the lodges of the Scottish Rite Masonry up to and including the thirty-second degree. Cobb’s last residence was Birmingham.”
“Henry Clay Tompkins was born in Essex Co., VA. Sep. 14, 1842. He was educated at the schools and Academies of Virginia. Early in 1862 he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in the 44th Virginia cavalry as a private. He remained a private until March, 1864, when he joined the 22nd Virginia infantry, with the rank of Lieutenant, commanding Company F. Henry was captured at Sailors’ Creek just before the surrender at Appomattox. Returning home, he engaged in saw milling and farming, and continued so employed until the fall of 1886, when he removed to Montgomery Co., Alabama.
He taught a neighborhood school in the southeastern portion of the county for two years, devoting his spare time to the study of the law. He was admitted to the bar in Feb. 1869, at Union Springs, in Bullock Co. where he began his practice. He advanced steadily, aiding materially by extra professional labor as Chairman of the Democratic County Executive Committee in redeeming his county from the scalawags and carpet baggers. While living at Union Springs, he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd regiment of Alabama State troops, which position he held for several years. In 1878, he received the distinguished compliment of a nomination to the office of Attorney-General of the state, and was elected. He was re-elected for two additional terms. The acceptance of this office compelled him to remove to Montgomery, and he formed there a partnership with COL. Daniel S. Troy one of the ablest and best known practitioners in the state. The firm, during its continuance, did a very large and paying business. On the retirement of COL. Troy from business, the firm became Tompkins and Troy, the junior member being Mr. Alexander Troy. He was, for many years, a member of the State Executive Committee of the Democratic Party, and in 1886, he was elected Chairman of that Committee, in which position he continued until the spring of 1892 when he resigned. He was a delegate-at large to the National Convention of the Democracy in 1884 and 1888 and in each convention served on important committees. COL. Tompkins had been repeatedly mentioned for the US Senate, and he was singularly well equipped for that high post.
COL. Tompkins was married, in April, 1869 to Annie Baldwin, daughter of Marion Baldwin, Attorney-General of Alabama for 18 years. They have two children, a girl and a boy. COL. Tompkins’s father was Joseph Temple Tompkins, who was born in King County, Va. April 7, 1792. He was a farmer and a soldier in the War of 1812. COL. Tompkins’s mother’s maiden name was Jane Ford, a native of Fredericksburg, Va. His grandfather was Christopher Tompkins, a Virginian, a Captain in the Continental Army and a participant in the siege of Yorktown. COL. Tompkins’s ancestors on his father’s side came to America from England in the 17th century; those on his mother’s side are of Scotch and English stock.
Henry Clay Tompkins died suddenly at his office Sept. 12th, 1898.”
COL. Henry Clay Armstrong was a prominent citizen of Auburn, Alabama. During the Civil War, he was on GEN. ROSS’S staff, and later was State Superintendent of Education. He was a member of the State House of Representatives and under President Cleveland was United States Consul to Rio de Janeiro.
Col. Henry Clay Armstrong died at his home in Auburn, Alabama.
His Masonic career began in his early manhood. He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in 1865, exalted to the Holy Royal Arch in 1866, and knighted a Knight Templar in 1868. He was also a member of the council. He filled with credit the first station in the subordinate bodies of Ancient Craft, Capitular, Cryptic and Templar Masonry. He was Grand High Priest of the Chapter for three years, Junior and Senior Grand Wardens, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Master, respectively, for two years. At the time of his death, he was Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter, Grand Council, Grand Lodge, and Grand Recorder of the Commandery. He was well informed in Masonic law and precedent and thorough with the ritual. He was perhaps the most impressive exemplifier of Masonic work in the State.
As a citizen he has been true to his country, loyal in his political alignment and faithful in office. He fought valiantly for the lost cause, but accepted the result without a murmur, and there was nowhere a more loyal citizen of the United States. In the General Assembly of his State, both House and Senate, the former of which he was at one time speaker, in the office of State Superintendent of Education, as Consul General of the U. S. at Rio de Janeiro and in all public stations to which he was called, he discharged his duty as becometh an honest, faithful official, and with marked ability. He was appointed to serve on a Select Committee of Five to perfect some plan to carry out the ideas of resolutions offered to establish a Masonic Orphans Home and College at the 1882 Annual Communications.”
