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From: "W Swinarton" <>
Subject: Odd Fellows--Some early Ohio history--part 2
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 13:43:09 -0500


On pages 1960, 1961, Journal of the Grand Lodge of Ohio for 1878,
there appears the following:
"The Secretary (of the Grand Lodge of Ohio) was ordered January 25th
1832, to write to the Grand Lodge of the United States to give them the
necessary information relative to the Grand Lodge of Ohio, as well as to
inform them that we received a letter from them directing us to commence
the said Grand Lodge; but as yet have not received any other authority;
and to request them to send us any books, papers, or any other matters
that may be useful to us in their opinion. Although the regular
'formation' of the Grand Lodge did not take place until 1833, the one
organized under dispensation on January 2d, 1832, was to all intents and
purposes a Grand Lodge, and exercised all the powers of such a Body."

The following is the list of the first Officers of the Grand Lodge of
Ohio, as taken from its Journal of 1878, page 1962: Richard G. Cheavens,
G.M.; Samuel Peel, D.G.M.; J.G. Joseph, G.W.; Jacob W. Holt, G.C.;
William West, G.T.; Samuel Cobb, G.Sec.

After a review of the case the conclusion arrived at is, that the
Grand Lodge was not "regularly" instituted until February 7th, 1833,
when it was done by the Grand Sire.

The removal of the Grand Lodge to Columbus was approved September
20th, 1851.

Wildey Encampment, No. 1, was instituted at Cincinnati, December 7th,
1832, by Grand Sire Wildey.

The Grand Encampment was instituted at Cincinnati, September 24th,
1839. The following Officers were installed: R.R. Andrews, G.P.;
William S. Kelley, G.H.P.; Samuel B. Neill, G.S.W.; Jacob Keller, G.
Scr.; William Runnells, G.T.; James Read, G.J.W.; Jacob Ernst, G. Sent.

December 31st, 1886, there were 676 Subordinate Lodges and 49,267
members; 187 Encampments and 10,926 members; 120 Rebekah Degree Lodges
and 7,219 members. (End)

Additionally, a few Ohio names are found in Chapter II--The Sovereign
Grand Lodge. "The following is a list of all the officers of the Grand
Lodge of Maryland and of the United States, I.O.O.F.; the Grand Lodge of
the United States, I.O.O.F.; the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, and the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the I.O.O.F., the several
names of the Supreme Authority of the Order, from 1821 to the present
time:"

Grand Sire.
8. Thomas Sherlock, 1845-1847; Cincinnati, Ohio
15. Samuel Craighead, 1858-1860, Dayton, Ohio

Grand Chaplain.
12. Rev. Isaac D. Williamson, of Ohio....Installed, September 18th,
1862.

Grand Marshal.
23. Belden Seymour, of Ohio.....Installed, September 27th, 1880.

Good luck in your searches!

Bill Swinarton,
Scarborough, Ontario.

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