Lodges and Societies

Masonry was first introduced into Harrison County nearly seventy years ago. Bethany Lodge No. 97, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was organized May 7, 1853, with the following officers: J. P. Devers, W. M.; C. M. Scott, S. W.; W. R. Allen, J. W.; B. F. Whedbee, secretary; H. T. Monson, S. D.; Milton Fowler, J. D.; and J. W. Casebolt, tyler. The first person initiated was W. S. Clark, June 4, 1853, and on August 27 following Elijah Glendenning was raised to the degree of Master Mason.

Bethany Royal Arch Chapter was organized June 10, 1873, with the following officers and charter members: D. J. Heaston, H. P.; C. Crossan, K.; W. P. Robinson, S.; A. Crossan, C. H.; Joseph Corbett, P. S.; William T. Small, R. A. C.; C. Crossan, treasurer; Thomas H. B. Walker, secretary; Arthur Graham, master third veil; C. Cheney, master second veil; S. J. Scott, master first veil. A charter was granted by the Grand Chapter of Missouri October 9, 1873.

Bethany Commandery, Knights Templar, was organized March 8. 1883, Right Eminent Grand Commander of Missouri W. J. Terrell, of Harrisonville, officiating. The first officers were: C. Crossan, eminent commander; D. J. Heaston, generalissimo; M. S. Gillidett, C. G.; W. P. Robinson, S. W.; T. B. Ellis, J. W.; H. M. Craner, treasurer; G. H. Osborne, recorder; Theo. Newburn, S. B.; J. B. Thomas, S. B.; and T. B. Sherer, warden. The charter was dated May 1, 1883.

Cainsville Lodge No. 328, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in 1868. The first officers were: John Woodward, W. M.; J. H. Burrows, S. W.; Conrad Mooter, J. W.; and A. B. Montgomery, secretary. The lodge was granted a charter October 13, 1870.

Eagleville Lodge No. 257, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was organized about 1867. Mount Lebanon Lodge No. 332, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was organized at Mount Moriah about 1868. This lodge surrendered its charter, however, about five years later. A Masonic lodge was also organized at Lorraine when that town seemed to have a promising future and was maintained there until 1885, when it was transferred to Washington Center and in November, 1886, to Ridgeway. This lodge was originally known as Lorraine Lodge 128, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

There are now Masonic lodges in Harrison County at Cainsville, Hatfield, Eagleville, Oilman City, Bethany and Ridgeway, and a Knights Templar Commandery and Royal Arch Chapter at Bethany.

Odd Fellows

I.O.O.F Hall, Mariam Lodge No. 129, Bethany, Missouri

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was the first fraternal organization in Harrison County. Marian Lodge No. 129 was chartered at Bethany May 19, 1850. Among the first members of the organization here were the following: D. C. Threlkeld, 0. L. Abbott, D. D. Boyce, John E. Creyton, J. F. Collier, David Groucher, James Sevier, James Richster, Ephraim Stewart, H. M. Cuddy, P. H. Maxey, C. A. Nelson, William Martin, E. S. Munton, James Price, A. M. Dean, Samuel Ross, William P. Carson and Samuel Downey.

Cainsville Lodge No. 199, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized at an early date but the exact data on the organization of this lodge is not available. Eagleville Lodge No. 166, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized March 27, 1867, but owing to a decrease in its membership on account of deaths, removals and other causes the charter was surrendered in 1887. Mount Moriah Lodge No. 269 was organized about 1870, but owing to reduced membership the charter was later surrendered.

Ridgeway Lodge No. 377, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted October 1, 1881, with a membership of about twenty-five, most of whom had belonged to the Lorraine Lodge. February 16, 1877, the membership of Eagleville Lodge No. 166 was also transferred to Ridgeway.

There are now in Harrison County organizations of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows located at Melborne, Gilman City, Cainsville, Ridgeway, Blythedale, Bethany, New Hampton, Martinsville and Hatfield. The only Encampment in the county is located at Bethany.

Knights of Pythias

Pythian Castle Hall, Bethany, Missouri

Lodge No. 87, Knights of Pythias, was established at Bethany in 1883. The following were the charter members: S. W. Leslie, J. C. Wilson, T. R. Aufricht, W. J. Taylor, Frank Meyer, W. S. McCray, E. Dunn, J. H. Casebolt, J. D. Good, T. O. Tucker, W. L. Barry, J. T. Corcoran, Joseph Newland, H. D. Poynter, W. A. Templeman and Max Keller. This lodge continued for about three years when on account of diminished membership the charter was surrendered in 1886. However a Knights of Pythias Lodge was later established at Bethany which is now one of the strongest fraternal organizations in Harrison County. Knights of Pythias Lodges are organized at New Hampton, Bethany, Ridgeway and Eagleville. On December 30, 1913, the Knights of Pythias dedicated a fine Pythian building at Bethany. This is an imposing structure of brick and of neat design and was erected at a cost of $10,000. Herman Roleke, grand exchequer of the Knights of Pythias Lodge for several years, lives at Bethany.

Grand Army of the Republic

Grand Army of the Republic, T. D. Neal Post No. 124, was organized at Bethany November 22, 1883.
Cainsville Post No. 216 was organized October 7, 1884.

Rheutendale Post No. 223, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Eagleville in December, 1883. Bradshaw Post No. 201, Grand Army of the Republic, was established at Mount Moriah in September, 1885. Elwell Post No. 140, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Ridgeway January 22, 1884.
Wilson Stanley Post No. 208 was chartered at Blythedale September 22, 1884.

Many of these Grand Army of the Republic Posts which had large memberships and flourished in former days, are now practically abandoned, owing to the fact that the ranks of the veterans of the Civil War have been greatly depleted by the "grim reaper" in recent years.

There are a number of other lodges and fraternal organizations in Harrison County. In fact most of the leading fraternal orders are represented here.

American Legion

The American Legion, Wilson-Axline Post No. 216, at Bethany, Missouri, was organized at Bethany February 5, 1920, by the following charter members:

The membership was rapidly increased from the start and at this writing there are now over 150 members.

Wilson-Axline Post No. 216 was named in honor of Captain Carlisle "Chuck" Wilson and Lieutenant Arthur Andrew Axline, two Bethany boys who made the supreme sacrifice in the World War.

Captain Carlisle "Chuck" Wilson died in France November 7, 1918, from wounds received in the battle of Argonne Forest, September 27, 1918. He was the son of J. C. and Alice Wilson and was 27 years, three months and nine days old. He was captain of Company G, One Hundred Thirty-ninth Infantry.

Lieutenant Arthur Andrew Axline was killed in action at the Battle of Argonne, in France, September 28, 1918, at the age of twenty-nine years, eleven months and one day. He was first lieutenant of Company G, One Hundred Thirty-ninth Infantry, but at the time of his death he was commanding Company E. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Axline, of Bethany.

The first officers of Wilson-Axline Post were E. Newton Carter, post commander; Edwin Wightman, adjutant; Virgil Nelson, chaplain; DeWitt Newland, historian; and H. L. Collins, financial officer. The following are the present officers and are the second set of officers of the post; Melverne C. Cole, post commander; Robert H. Cowan, vice post commander; W. Merle Tyner, adjutant; Ben G. Crouch, finance officer; Rose L. Bender, corresponding secretary; Oscar L. King, sergeant-at-arms; Dr. W. S. Welsh, chaplain; and Ray J. Tilley, historian. 

 Harrison County| AHGP Missouri

Source: History of Harrison County, Missouri, by Geo. W. Wanamaker, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, 1921