Montpelier Societies

    The Freemasons once had a lodge at Montpelier, numbering at one time as many as forty members, but surrendered their charter February 6, 1883.

    Montpelier Lodge, No. 410, I. O. O. F., was organized February 1, 1873, Grand Master John W. McQuiddy and Grand Secretary B. F. Foster signing the charter. The present membership is forty-seven. Officers -George B. Rollf, Noble Grand; L. L. Howard, Vice Grand; John Twibell, Secretary; William Jarrett, Treasurer; E. W. Gale, Financial Secretary; T. B. Warden, Warden; J. V. Geary, Conductor; Calvin Shields, Guard; Thomas Shull, District Deputy.

    Social Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah, No. 129, was organized September 21, 1874. Richard Orrin, Grand Master and B. F. Foster, Grand Secretary, signed the charter. The lodge is still alive and in a flourishing condition.

    Lu Loo Sa Tribe, No. 71, Improved Order of Red Men, was organized December 19, 1884, by M. G. Mock, of Muncie, District Deputy Grand Sachem, with seventeen members. The first officers were George Frish, Sachem; George B. Rollf, Senior Sagamore; Jacob V. Geary, Junior Sagamore; Daniel Arnold, Prophet; S. L. Vanhorn, Chief of the Records; George Saunders, Keeper of the Wampum.

    The membership has increased to fifty, and the officers for 1887 are S. L. Vanhorn, Sachem; O. F. Hall, Senior Sagamore; F. G. Miller, Junior Sagamore; J. H. Twibell, Prophet; Henry C. Geary, Chief of the Records; William Twibell, Keeper of Wampum. The tribe meets every Monday night, in their well equipped wigwam, where they have a nice initial collection of Indian relics, stuffed birds and animals, etc.

    Johnson Post, No. 368, G. A. R., is named from two brothers, fine young men, who were killed early in 1863 in a little skirmish in Mississippi. The post was instituted in July, 1885, by Mustering Officer Ezra M. Stahl, of Hartford City, with about fifteen members, and the following officers: George B. Rollf, Post Commander; E. K. Corey, Senior Vice-Commander; E. K. Corey, Junior Vice-Commander; and Daniel Arnold, Adjutant. The post declined, and in the spring of 1887 was reorganized, having now a membership of nineteen. Present officers: George B. Rollf, Post Commander; J. C. Sommerville, Senior Vice-Commander; Hiram Fogle, Junior Vice-Commander; C. C. Remington, Chaplain; Daniel Arnold, adjutant; Daniel Kritz, Quartermaster. the post meets every Saturday night, in the Red Men's "wigwam."

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.