Ledyard, George Robinson

LEDYARD, ROBINSON, WHITTIKER

Posted By: S. Ferrall (email)
Date: 12/31/2003 at 04:01:44

Note: This is both a memorial & a biography.

-In Memory-
George Robinson Ledyard
Born at Albion, N.Y., Nov. 29th, 1834
Initiated, February, 1856
Exalted a Royal Arch Mason, 1870
Created a Knight Templar, May 4th, 1875
Elected Worshipful Master, June 21st, 1858
Elected High Priest, Oct. 11th, 1876
Elected Grand King, Oct. 16th, 1878
Elected Eminent Commander, Sept. 30th, 1879
Elected Grand Captain General, Oct. 5th, 1880
Died at Newton, Iowa, March 1st, 1882

"He was a zealous and active Mason; he excelled as a ritualist, and was a good disciplinarian. In life he was a man in its fullest and noblest sense; a good citizen, a kind father, and a loving husband."

________

Biography/Obituary
by Horace S. Winslow, P.G.C.

The subject of this sketch, George Robinson Ledyard, was born at Albion, in the state of New York, on the 29th day of November, 1834, and died at Newton, Iowa, March 1st, 1882. Of his early life we have no personal knowledge, but, from information derived through other sources, it was similar to that of many youths of the land. He was the third and youngest child of Joseph C. and Lydia A. Ledyard, nee Robinson. His father was a cabinet-maker by trade, and kept a small furniture store, manufacturing many of the articles he kept on sale. Young Ledyard, from choice or necessity, while yet but a boy, adopted the calling of his father, and soon became an adept in this occupation. His opportunities for an education were such as were afforded by the common schools and academies of that time and place, and he, by diligence and close application, made the most of them, laying the solid foundation for the successful prosecution of an active business life, which in after years was fully developed.

In 1854 he started for the then far west, with nothing but willing hands and self-reliance with which to build for himself a home and fortune, stopping for a short time at Oskaloosa, in this state. Two years later he married Sarah A. Whittiker, a woman every way worthy of his warmest affections. This union, responsive to young love's first awakening, was blessed and crowned with a trust and devotion unbroken even by the cruel hand of death, for it reaches forward to and touches "the great unknown" beyond the grave, hope kindly speaking, the heart fondly believing, that the separation here, upon the shores of time, shall know a reuniting in that land where sorrow, tears, and parting shall be known no more forever. As the fruits of this marriage, three children survive -- George W., Ella E., and William R. -- all of whom have arrived at manhood's and womanhood's estate.

From Oskaloosa Sir Knight Ledyard removed to Pella, and there engaged in business, and so remained until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion. Upon the first call of the President, he enlisted in the volunteer army, and remained in that service until the close of the war and the conclusion of peace. He was a true and trusty soldier, and upon more than one bloody and hotly contested battle-field demonstrated his courage, constancy, and fidelity. He won the admiration of the men under his command, and had the respect and confidence of his superior officers, and old comrades in arms to-day speak his name in softened tones and with bated breath.

Upon his return home, he found his business taken by another, and the necessity of beginning again anew. This he did in the town of Monroe, but he was not permitted to remain there long.

In 1869 he was elected auditor of Jasper county, and was reelected thereafter for four successive terms, having held the office continuously for ten years. While a partisan, he was not offensively so, and always ran largely ahead of his party ticket. As an officer, he was patient, affable, and courteous to all who had business transactions with him or the office, and made friends with all with whom he came in contact. At the conclusion of his fifth term, he declined to ask a re-election, and sought in temporary retirement from active and exacting duties to find a restoration of health that become impaired even to a greater extent than he or any of his friends had supposed; indeed, the seeds of disease had then been implanted which caused his death while but in the prime of life and in the glory of ripened manhood.

Possessed of good brain power and an enlarged knowledge of human nature, active temperament, and a pleasant and agreeable manner, he was a power in any cause which he championed or undertook. In his life-work he has left his impress, his self-reliant individuality, upon whatever his hands found to do, and the highest compliment that can be paid him is that it was well done.

Sir Knight Ledyard's masonic history is just such as we would look for from such a source. He was initiated in Pella Lodge, No. 55, A.F. and A.M., February 18th, 1856, passed March 24th, and raised April 26th, of the same year. Having passed the Warden's chair, he was elected Master of his Lodge June 21st, 1858.

At the time of his removal to Monroe, the brethren there were without a masonic home, and Brother Ledyard at once took the necessary steps to secure a dispensation for Fairview Lodge, U.D., which was granted, he, by appointment, becoming its first Master, to which office he was subsequently reelected for the two succeeding years.

After his election as auditor, he removed his home to Newton, and took the Chapter degrees in Gebal Chapter, No. 12, receiving the Royal Arch degree in 1870. After serving in several subordinate positions, he was elected, October 11th, 1876, High Priest of his Chapter, and at the session of the Grand Chapter held at Marshalltown in 1878, he was elected Grand King.

The Templar order was conferred upon him in Oriental Commandery, No. 22, May 4th, 1875, and he was elected its Eminent Commander September 30th, 1879, and, with his command, acting as escort to the Grand Commandery of the State of Iowa, led the Sir Knights upon the occasion of the triennial parade in Chicago. He was elected Grand Captain-General of the Grand Commandery in October, 1880, and served in that position at the last Grand Annual Conclave.

He was a zealous and active Mason. He excelled as a ritualist, and was a good disciplinarian. In his death the order has lost one whose place cannot be easily filled, and whose counsels were timely and good. A chair is vacant, and a light is extinguished, for he is gone, and his companions mourn. In life he was a man in its noblest and fullest sense, a good citizen, a kind father, and a loving husband. In the words of one who knew him long and well: "Brave soldier, good brother, kind companion, courteous Sir Knight, hail and forever farewell."

[source: Transactions of the Grand Chapter of the State of Iowa, for the Years 1878 to 1882, Inclusive", Vol. IV, Original Edition; Muscatine, Iowa - published by order of the Grand Chapter, 1883; memorial -page 315, bio/obit -page 328-330.]

-transcribed & submitted for the Jasper co. IAGenWeb by Sharyl Ferrall (I am not related)

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