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Pymosa Lodge, No. 271, A. F. and A. M. was organized under a dispensation granted by John Scott, the then Grand Master of the State of Iowa, on the evening of November 22, 1869. Seventeen brethren assembled, and proceeded to organize the lodge. The following officers were chosen and appointed: Wm. Waddell, W. M.; C. B. Osborn, S. W.; C. J. Wynkoop, J. W.; D. H. Stafford, Treasurer; A. S. Churchill, Secretary; H. E. Griswold, S. D.; J. H. Needles, J. D.; S. M. Childs, S. S.; Chas. S. Nealley, J. S.; J. W. Winslow, Tyler. The Worshipful Masters of the lodge have been William Waddell, 1869 and 70; C. B. Osborn, 1870-71 and 72; D. F. Hawks, 1872-3; C. B. Osborn, 1873-4; C. F. Loofbourow, 1874-5-6 and 7; C. B. Osborn, 1877-8-9 and 80; R. G. Phelps, 1880-81 and 82; Lafayette Young, 1882-3 and 4. The total membership, since the organization has been not far from two hundred, and there are now (1884) one hundred and seventeen members in good standing. Death has invaded their ranks several times, and made as many vacant places in the lodge. The brothers who having finished their work on earth, and have been called to another sphere, were William T. Walker, William Reynolds, Jr., R. S. Beatty, J. W. Montgomery and I. M. Verveer.

This lodge is in a highly prosperous condition and does most excellent work. They own the finest lodge rooms in this section of the State, if not in Iowa. The Telegraph, in January, 1883, has the following description of it:

"The Masonic Hall is in the new Whitney block and occupies the entire third story of that building.

"The main lodge room is 30 feet wide and 24 feet and 4 inches long. The three stations are placed in their proper positions, and are grand and imposing, having pilasters with moulded bases, fluted dies, paneled shafts, and foliated caps, with a classic entablature with dental cornice. The ceiling has a large cove over the entablature and panelled above, and in the center is a square dome 16x20 feet, in the center of which is a skylight 8x12 feet, and in the center of that a round ventilator three feet in diameter. The skylight is made of galvanized iron, filled with fluted glass and is a grand feature in the hall. On either side of the hall are six large windows with transoms of ground glass, except for the transom lights, which are emblemetically stained glass of rich design. The finish for the doors and windows is of massive moulded architraves with panel keystones. The walls are wainscoted as high as the window sills, and are grained oak and highly polished. The walls and ceiling are handsomely frescoed at a cost of $1,500. The ceiling and dome are sky blue studded with gold stars. There is a roadway on two sides of the hall five feet wide, commencing at the reception room and extending to the rear corner of the hall. On the south side of the building is placed the banquet hall, 14x46 feet. This room is lighted on two sides, and is entered from the roadway. Adjacent to the banquet hall and connecting with it is the kitchen, 10 feet 6 inches by 14 feet. The ante-room situated at the west of the hall is 15 feet 4 inches by 16 feet inches, and is connected with the hall by wide double doors. Adjacent to this, and also connecting with the hall by double doors is the preparation room, 9 feet 5 inches by 13 feet 6 inches. Off this room is a dark room and an examination room, which connects with the main stair hall, and which is 6 feet 6 inches wide. On the other side of the stair hall is the large reception room, 23 feet 6 inches by 21 feet 6 inches. Adjacent to this room and communicating with it is a committee room 8 feet 3 inches by 13 feet 9 inches, and also the armory, 14 by 32 feet 6 inches. The height of the hall and other rooms is 17 feet 6 inches and it is 26 feet to the top of the dome.

"The whole suite of apartments above enumerated are finished in rich style, and are unsurpassed by rooms for similar purposes in Iowa. The Masonic fraternity have already ordered carpets costing over $500, and the whole furniture and fixtures for the rooms will cost $2,000, or more."

Ophir Chapter, No. 84, Royal Arch Masons, was organized under a dispensation, March 29, 1877, with the following list of charter members: William Waddell, D. F. Hawks, M. Kuhn, C. S. Newlon, M. Wingate, N. Richards, W. T. Walker, Alfred Green, D. H. Stafford and J. W. Scott. The first officers were William Waddell, H.P.; D. F. Hawks, K.; M. Kuhn, S.; D. H. Stafford, T.; J. W. Scott, Secretary; J. W. Brown, C. H.; C. S. Newlon, P. S.; M. Wingate, R. A. C; N. Richards, M. 3d V.; W. T. Walker, M. 2d V.; Alfred Green, M. Ist V. The following gentlemen have held the position of Most Eminent High Priest of this chapter since the organization: William Waddell, two terms; C. B. Osborn, 1880-81; D. F. Hawks, 1881-2; C. S. Newlon, 1882-3, and Lafayette Young, 1883-4. The chapter started with but a few members but has prospered greatly and now numbers about seventy-five members, the first business men in the city of Atlantic. The officers for the present year, (1884) are as follows: C. S. Newlon, H. P.; J. M. Emmert, K; Alfred Green, S.; W. M. Nichols, T.; L. Anderson, Secretary; G. E.Pennell,C. H.; H. L. Frost, P. S.; J. P. Jones, R. A. C; L. Young, G. M. 3d V.; H. S. Newlon, G. M. 2d V.; and William Waddell, G. M. 1st V.

Kedron Commandry, K. T., was instituted, under dispensation. May 24, 1884, with the following charter members: William Waddell, Lafayette Young, George E. Pennell, Austin D. Hall, Moses Wingate, Cyrus S. Newlon, D. F. Hawks, J. M. .Emmert and A. A. Hubbard.

Atlantic Lodge, No. 175, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized at Atlantic, July 30, 1869, by District Deputy Grand Master, W. L. Biggs, of Council Bluffs, under dispensation, with the following charter members: S. E. Huse, H. T. Jones, A. C. Tharp, John Bennett, William Reynolds, Jr. and J. K. Powers. Quite a number of members of the order from Lewis and Council Bluffs were present to assist in the inauguration of the new lodge and the installation of the officers. These latter were: S. E. Huse, N. G.; John Bennett, V. G.; H. T. Jones, S.; William Reynolds, Jr., T.; A. C. Tharp, P. S. Since that time the following have held the position of presiding officers of the lodge, in the order named: J. Bennett, H. T. Jones, J. K. Powers, F. W. Miller, W. B. Temple, J. H. Barnwell, H. E. Bacon, R. F. Bain, T. P. Bruington, G. W. Chambers, H. T. Decker, C. H. Radley, E. C. Mills, Fred H. McIntosh, E. H. Buel, G. S. Treehouse, J. J. Harding, F. W. Scheel, Henry Moeller, W. H. Archer, John W. Foley, M. J. Stearns, L. G. Hesser, F. J. Murphy, A. D. Pine and W. F. Needham. This the oldest organization in the city, has had a most successful career, and now has a membership of over one hundred and twenty, and among whom are the first men of the city. The lodge owns the building wherein their hall is located, and which is valued at $10,000. It started with but a few charter members, and in a poor way, but by careful and economical management, it has become one of the strongest in this section of the State. John Bennett, W. Reynolds, Jr., both charter members, F. W. Miller, W. D. Frantz, Robert L. Jameson, Levi Smith, D. F. Gaylord and J. J. Harding, have died since the organization of this, and been admitted to the Higher Lodge. The charter was granted to this lodge, October 21, 1869. The officers for the present term are as follows: J. W. Allmann, N. G.; W. M. Lynch, V. G.; W. H. Archer, R. S.; Robert Shields, P. S.; Enos Sayers, T.; B. E. Harkins, R. S. N. G.; A. D. Pine, L. S. N. G.; H. C. Hansen, W.; Edgar Johnson, C; W. B. Martin, R. S. S.; C. Mendlekow, L. S. S.; M. B. Haywood, O. G.; A. B. Landet, I. G.; W. R. Wilds, R. S. V. G.; J. J. Harkness, L. S. V. G., and J. A. McWaid, W. B. Temple and Samuel Harlan, trustees.

Their building, which they erected in 1881, is a good handsome brick one, twenty-five by ninety-five feet, ground area, two stories high, the first story being rented for store purposes, the upper used as a lodge room.

The relief benefits of this lodge for the year 1883, amounted to $452. Cass Lodge, No. 361, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, dates its organization from January 4, 1877, when it was opened with ten charter members. These were, T. R. Wallace, Fred Haver, H. J. Cavanaugh, S. E. Smith, T. E. Luccock, J. A. Kinney, H. A. Smith, J. D. Patton, J. M. Haver, D. G. Williams. The first officers were as follows: J. M. Haver, N. G.; J. A. Kinney, V. G.; S. E. Smith, R. S.; H. J. Cavanaugh, P. S.; J. D. Patton, T. The lodge meets every Thursday evening, and has a membership of about a hundred in good standing. Present officers: D. R. Love, N. G.; J. H. Willey, V. G.; F. P. H. Daly, R. S.; A. Block, P. S.; John L. Bean, T.

Hawkeye Encampment No. 54, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was duly instituted on the 14th of March, 1872, with the following charter members: J. K. Powers, H. T. Jones, J. J. Van Houten, H. C. Dunning, H. Lichtenstein, W. B. Temple, F. S. Thomas, Samuel Harlan, M. H. Willetts, J. H. Willey, S. E. Huse, T. W. Miller and J. B. Conrady. The first officers of the Camp were the following mentioned: J. H. Willey, C. P.; J. K. Powers, H. P.; S. E. Huse, S. W.; W. B. Temple, S.; F. S. Thomas, T.; J. J. Van Houten, J. W. The Encampment has had a very prosperous career, and now numbers some seventy-eight members. Thrice since its organization has death broken the mystic circle of its brotherhood, and taken from it three of its links. F. W. Miller, D. F. Gaylord and J. J. Harding, have been called on to take their places in the Upper Camp, and to receive a higher degree. The present officers are as follows: C. V. Wilder, C.P.; J. E. Moreland, H. P., Amos Bye, S. W.; A. Block, R. S ; W. B. Martin, F. S.; H. T. Jones, T.; W. H. Sanders, J. W.; F. P. H. Daly, G.; J. L. Bean, 1st W.; I, D. Wise, 2d W.; R. Zook, 3d W.; H. Heyman, 4th W.; J. Hunt, I. S.

Lotos Lodge, No. 87, Rebecca Degree, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized November 4, 1876, wih the following charter members: E. C. Mills, Mrs. Ada Mills, Mrs. C. P. Willey, M. H. Willetts, Mrs. Mary E. Willetts, J. A. Kinney, Mrs. J. A. Kinney, C. H. Railing, Mrs. C. H. Railing, J. T. Jones, H. F. S. Thomas. The present officers are: T. Jones, N. G.; Mrs. H. Heyman, V. G.; A. Block, Sec'y; Mrs. A. Block, Treas.; Mrs. M. H. Willetts, C; M. H. Willetts, W.; H. Heyman, I. G.; Fred Haver, O. G;; Mrs. F. Haver, L. S. N. G.; Eva Jones, R. S. V. G.; Mrs. T. Archer, L. S. V. G.

Olive Branch Temple, No. 2, of the Patriarchal Circle, I. O. O. T. was established and instituted, in the fall of 1880, with the following charter members: H. T. Jones, A. Block, H. J. Cavanaugh, Fred Haver, John E. Moreland, Henry Moehler, F. W. Scheel, J. W. Hutton, R. W. Day, George T. Marsh and J. H. Johnson. At the first meeting the following officers were installed by J. K. Powers, the District Deputy Supreme Ofacle: H. T. Jones, Venerable Oracle; Fred Haver, Oracle; F. W. Scheel, Vice Oracle; A. Block, Sec'y.; R. W. Day, Treas. After running a while in good shape, the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the United States, made strong objections to the innovation of this degree, or conclave, and passed stringent laws against its adoption, or continuance. It is however believed that the matter will be compromised, and the Circle adopted as a regular adjunct to the order. In the interim, Olive Branch Circle, like all others is at a stand still.

Cass Lodge, No. 25, U. A. O. D., was organized October 1, 1884, with the following officers: Frank Havens, N. A.; John Wagner, Sr., V. A.; S. M. Jensen, P. A.; A. Block, Sec'y; John Wagner, Jr., Treas.; F. W. Turke, Conductor; John Shultz, I. G. The charter members were as follows: A. Block, John Schultz, Frank Havens, Henry Durr, Gus. Herbert, John Wagner, Sr., John Wagner, Jr., G. G. Hall, S. M. Jensen, Fred Saxe, Fred Herman, F. W. Turke, Joseph Moore, F. Litterst, Henry Smith, J. F. Harvey. This organization is beneficiary and has a membership in the State of two thousand. Upon the death of a member $2,000 is paid to the heirs.

Samuel Rice Post, No. 6, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized on the 13th of February, 1877, with the following charter members: H. E. Griswold, T. H. Hendrick, J. M. Haver, H. T. Jones, G. W. Norton, H. G. Curtis, W. B. Temple, E. C. Mills, Robert F. Bain, H. K. Macomber, Thomas Green, J. F. Hanna and George S. Wedgewood. The first officers chosen and appointed were as follows: H. E. Griswold, P. C; T. H. Hendricks, S. V. C; J. M. Haver, J. V. C; H. K. Macomber, Surg.; H. G. Curtis, O. D.; G. W. Norton, Q. M.; W. B. Temple, O. G.; E. C. Mills, S. M.; R. T. Bain, Q. M. S.; H. T. Jones, Adjt. This organization has had a great success, and has now a membership of ninety comrades in good standing. The present offices are: Robert Major, P. C; John Moreland, S. V. C; George F. Dashell,J. V. C; James H. Vinson, O. D.; T. N. Bray, Adjt.; William Sherwood, S.; J. D. Wise, O. G.; F. P. H. Daly, Q. M. The Post meets the second and fourth Friday evenings of each month.

Botna Lodge, No. 106, Ancient Order of United Workmen, was instituted on the 16th day March, 1877, with the following charter members: O. B. Thompson, W. B. Temple, J. B. McGrew, J. T. Hanna, William Gordon, A. Kelsey, E. H. Buell, A. H. Copeland, E. C. Mills, J. M. Emmert, PI. A. Smith, D. McGrew, H. H. Winter, T. R. Wallace, M. H. Willetts, C. N. Watson and R. M. Pearson. The first officers of the lodge were: W. B. Temple, P. M. W.; J. M. Emmert, M. W.; E. H. Buell, F.; A. H. Smith, O.; E. C. Mills, Recorder; H. H. Winter, F. I. N ; D. McGrew, Receiver; T. R. Wallace, I. W.; J. Kelsey, O. W.; J. B. McGrew, R. M. Pearson and J. T. Hanna, Trustees. Since the date of its organization there has been a total membership of seventy-five members, and there are now fifty-six in good standing, and the lodge is in a prosperous condition. The present officers are: J. A. Taylor, P. M. W.; J. B. Jones, M. W.; A. Hamann, F.; C. C. Mendlekow, O.; T. G. Steinke, Receiver; C. E. Eyller, Financier; H. J. Cavanaugh, Recorder; John Bach, G.; L. Lorenzen, I. W.; E. Linke, 0. W.; H. J. Cavanaugh, Robert Shields and L. Lorenzen, Trustees.

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, March, 2022 from: "History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 893-897.