Summary of 1879

The lodge was in its 8th year since it received its initial dispensation on March 14, 1870. 

There were 205 lodges under the Jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Virginia. The 14^th Masonic District consisted of six lodges, including Unity Lodge No. 146.

District 14

The lodge was among six Lodges in the 14th Masonic District that encompassed Frederick County, Clarke County, and Warren County. Having 47 Masons, its membership consisted of 23% of the district. The District Deputy Grand Master, Marshall McCormick, Esq., based in Berryville, visited Unity Lodge No. 146 on Tuesday, May 6, 1879.

Lodge Officers

Lodge officers were elected on June 28, 1879 during a stated communication. Worshipful Smith S. Turner was elected to be Master of the lodge for his last time in 1879.

Office	Beginning of Year	June 28 Elections
Worshipful Master	William O. Rust	Smith S. Turner
Senior Warden	G. H. Hill	George H. Bowman
Junior Warden	John G. Brown	Charles E. Hennings
Treasurer	Edward C. Bathis	Edward C. Bathis
Secretary	George H. Bowman	George W. Forsyth
Senior Deacon	John W. Guillie	Thomas L. Kirby
Junior Deacon	Charles E. Henning	Thomas M. Roy
Chaplain	–	C. W. Hollis
Tiler	David W. Jones	David M. Jones

Lodge Officers of Unity Lodge No. 146

Past Masters

Year	Past Master
1878	William O. Rust
1877	Thomas L. Kirby
1876	Smith S. Turner
1875	Thomas W. Petty
1874	Thaddeus Haynie
1873	Thaddeus Haynie

Brethren

Two members had withdrawn their membership.

• R.M. Marshall
• Julian Smith

Occupations & Happenings

Murder of James Foster

While concealed 30 yards from the road sitting on a plank in a blind made of pine brush, Mr. Jonas Hockman, an independent old man, ambushed, shot a bullet into the brain and murdered James Foster on April 14 at 10 am, dying on April 16th, while he was riding his horse from Front Royal to Luray at the 12th mile post near Bentonville. He was on his way to pay a debt of $5.50, but his effects were not rummaged through. Mr. Foster, father of six children and Confederate veteran, was so poor that his widow had to sell her cow to purchase his coffin. Details of the case had been reported to newspapers in New York, Baltimore, and Richmond.

Captain Smith S. Turner, Esq, the Commonwealth’s Attorney at the time was trying to discover the murderer. On April 23, the Governor of Virginia offered a reward of $100 for the arrest and delivery to the Warren county jail, paid upon conviction. Justice of the Peace, George E. Roy, took an affidavit by T. A. Jenkins, and Constable Thomas L. Kirby arrested Mr. Hockman on May 15. Mr. Hockman applied to Judge Turner to grant him bail. George Roy conducted a preliminary examination of witnesses at the trial on May 17 and 19 while Henry H. Downing, Esq., was the prosecutor as the new attorney for the state. Mr. Hockman had the benefit of being represented by General James H. Williams of Winchester, Giles Cook, Jr. Esq of Front Royal, and J. Y. Menefee Esq. of Rappahannock county.

On Saturday, September 20, the jury found the prisoner not guilty of murder in the 1^st or 2^nd degree, but guilty of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced him to two years confinement in the Penitentiary. In October, deputy sheriff William O. Rust conducted Mr. Hockman to the Richmond Penitentiary to serve out his sentence.

Transportation

Railroad track was laid beyond Berryville by October, and there were plans to erect a depot at Front Royal in the near future. Railroads would often run a discounted rate for excursions for large groups. Directors met at the Carter house, in which John Lovell was elected as a director of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad Company in October. 

Education

The School Board Trustees included D. Cone, William O. Rust, and Gibson E. Roy as the superintendent. G. Hill was appointed by the County Board of Public Instruction to supply school books. W. Cass Weaver also sold school books at W. C. Weaver & Co.

Smith S. Turner was on the Board of Visitors to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) for Warren County. John Lovell was on the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College in Blacksburg.

Political Party

A few Masons were in the Warren County Conservative Committee and appointed as delegates or alternates for the upcoming Senatorial Convention. Some members included William O. Rust, Ewell Baker, D. Cone, Thomas L. Kirby, Leroy Leach, Smith S. Turner, James R. Richards, and John Lovell – who was the chairman.

Turner Ashby Lodge No. 232

A two-story frame building 40’x20’ was being built in Markham, Virginia, where the second story was for the lodge-room of Turner Ashby Lodge No. 232. The building contractor was Hugh L. Kerrick. Macatee, Beyer & Co. was furnishing weather-boarding, window frames, sash, flooring, doors, etc. which were shipped from Front Royal by Virginia Midland Railroad.

Captain Ewell Baker was a circuit court clerk. He was seriously sick, but recovering on May 16th. As a member of the Warren County Conservatives, he represented the Front Royal District as a delegate at the House of Delegate Convention.

William Bathis was reported as butchering two of the largest and heaviest hogs in the area on November 28th. One weighed 311½ pounds, while the other was 283 pounds.

George H. Bowman, serving as the lodge’s Senior Warden, ran for Trustee of the Corporation of Front Royal and was in 5th place with 79 votes.

Captain Irving A. Buck has an old home in the area. While visiting with intent of staying a few weeks, it was reported on December 12th, that he received a telegram after a few days to return to Baltimore where his lady fell ill while taking care of her ill sister.

It was reported that Marcus B. Buck, Esq. purchased the Belmont estate 30 years ago.

John G. Brown was advertising the sale of his goods at auction when closing his business at the beginning of the year. However, he was then advertising selling his goods starting in July again, up to the end of the year. He sold groceries, boots and shoes, suits, ready-made clothing, dry goods, notions, tobacco, and cigars. He often offered the lowest prices at the lowest profit.

D. Cone was the president and manager of the Riverton Mills Co. Limited. He purchased flour, feed, meal, etc. He was a county school board trustee. As a member of the Warren County Conservatives, he served as an alternate for the Fork District for the Senatorial Convention of Delegates. He hosted a “Pound Party” at his home in Riverton for Reverend S. M. Athey on November 25th. His 12 year old son was reported to have caught a bass weighing five pounds, six ounces in August.

William L. Fuller owned the Mont-View bar on the West end of Main Street. In April he purchased a corner lot at Main Street and Manor Avenue and built a Restaurant and bar-room on the south side across from his old place of business. “Fuller’s Saloon” opened in July and also sold Cigars and Tobacco.

Dr. G. H. Hill, M. D. keeps the old city drug store selling drugs, toys, and notions. He was one of a few authorized agents for supplying school books appointed by the County Board of Public Instruction. In December, he advertised that Santa was letting him hold onto toys and presents for distribution and that parents could call on him to give them away at low prices.

Reverend C. W. Hollis, serving as the lodge’s Chaplain, preached at the Presbyterian Church on first Sundays at 11am, and the third Sundays at 7 p.m.

David W. Jones was reported as butchering one of the largest and heaviest hogs in the area on November 28th, weighing 263 pounds.

Thomas L. Kirby was a constable that arrested Mr. Jonas Hockman in May for the murder of James Foster. Mr. Kirby was an agent of the firm, Jackson & Kirby, often traveling north to acquire goods. He sold dry goods, groceries, and notions on Chester Street, three doors north of the post office. The firm was  discontinued in September with the authorization to sell remaining stock cheap to close out and pay off the store’s debts. In turn, Thomas L Kirby & Co. opened its doors in October, bringing in goods from Philadelphia. T. L. Kirby was also a delegate of the Front Royal district for the House of Delegates Convention for the Conservative Party of Warren County.

George W. Leach ran for Commissioner of the Revenue of Warren County, but came in sixth place. He owned a bar room in the Front Royal Hotel on public square in which he left Mr. Ellison Ramey in charge.

Captain Leroy Leach was the Sheriff of Warren County, twice elected, and running for the third time, promising to appoint William O. Rust as his deputy sheriff. He had many duties as Sheriff, including transporting people to Dr. R. Barksdale at the Central Lunatic Asylum in Richmond, as well as administrating, appraising, and selling property of the deceased. Mr. Leach was also a delegate in the Front Royal district for the House of Delegates Convention of the Conservative Party of Warren County.

Judge John Terrill Lovell was the editor and owner of the local newspaper in Front Royal, the Warren Sentinel. He was often called away out of town on business, leaving Henry H. Downing, Esq. to take charge as the associate editor and giving his work high praises upon his return. 

Mr. Lovell was on a Committee of Board of Visitors of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College in Blacksburg, to which they often met at the Novell House in Lynchburg. He took great care to look after his own community, such as recommending a 16 year old boy, Kimble Byrne from Winchester, to be appointed as a student there. 

On May 7, he was elected as a director of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad Company, once meeting in the Carter House in October.

He often gave many public speeches. On Memorial Day, a collection was taken at the courthouse to fund the replacement of wooden Confederate Headstones with Marble. After a procession to Prospect Hill Cemetery, John Lovell read a poem; afterwards graves were strewn with flowers. On September 12th at the Tournament and Ball on Spring Hill (the old Elliott Farm) near Milldale, he delivered the charge to the knights, Queen of Love and Beauty, and Maids of Honor – followed by his associate editor, Mr. Downing, delivering an address. 

Mr. Lovell had a political career, where he had six years of experience in the lower House of Delegates for Warren County. He was the chairman of the Conservative Convention Committee of Warren County, and had made preparations for the Senatorial Convention for the 12th District. He ran on the conservative ticket. His name was associated with the position for a year, and he was unanimously nominated without opposition on September 24th for conservatives of the 12th senatorial district at the Senatorial Convention as a candidate. He later won the State Senate seat against J. W. Ware on November 4th. He was elected to the next General Assembly on December 3rd representing the 12th District for Clarke, Frederick, and Warren. While at the Senate, he was on the standing committees for Courts of Justice, Roads and Internal Navigation, Public Institutions, and Executive Expenditures.

The farmers at Bentonville accepted Honorable John T. Lovell as their representative at a meeting on November 6.

He had represented Warren county in the House of Delegates in the past and was a delegate to the General Assembly. He often spoke in favor of the McCullock bill settlement. He had approved a debt bill at the House of Delegates. He campaigned that voters should prefer to pay 3% rather than 6% taxes by voting for him. In the past, he had fought against and repealed the Insurance Deposit Law.

He also gave an hour-long speech regarding the state debt and other subjects on his campaign trail to Fork district voters at Leary’s School House along with Henry Downing. He followed Captain Smith S. Turner for a speech more than 1½  hours long at Mr. Lafayette Updike’s large store-room in Browntown on his six year course as a county delegate in the General Assembly. He also spoke on the state’s debt settlement act of March 28, 1879.

John Lovell was often in favor of reducing the expense of the state government. In the spring, he had declined an office offered by Governor Holiday with a nice salary. The office was made available to him due to a death, but Mr. Lovell had been against the necessity of the office.

Starting in September, Mr. Lovell was also a local agent for the Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance Company.

At the start of the year, Thomas W. Petty was in the wagon-making business at the old stand of his deceased father, John B. Petty. His father was buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery which was enclosed that year with an iron fence by H. M. Kuhn, an agent for Young & Turner in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Major James R Richards’ sister, Mrs. Ann J. Kiger, passed away at her son’s house, aged 77 in May. On one occasion, he appraised the personal property of the recently deceased, H. Dorsey in July. In October, he sold his farm to General H. Dilger for $6,500, who had been in the area twice last summer and wanted to move from Chicago. In November he was chosen as a Delegate of Warren County Conservatives in the Fork District for the Senatorial Convention. His son, Lieutenant James R. Richards, Jr. was reported to be encamped on the Ute River in the Sangro de Cristo mountains in Colorado with the first battalion of 4th US Cavalry also consisting seven companies of US Infantry.

Justice Gibson E. Roy was a justice of the peace. He oversaw a preliminary examination of witnesses of Jonas Hockman’s murder trial of James Foster in May. He won the reelection with 200 votes. In one case, he sent Daniel Watson Strother to jail for stealing a bay mare from Mr. James W. Boyd after being caught by police in Richmond. In the same month, he sent John Spinner to jail after confessing to stealing a horse from Mr. Silver. In October he sent Jacob N. Sloat to jail for 20 days with a $25 fine for assaulting W. H. Barley in his store while drunk with a knife.

He was a school trustee and the superintendent, placing notices in the local paper for County School Board Trustees to attend various meetings, and determining the amount of county and district school tax asked to be levied by Supervisors. When Captain William N. Nelson, the Conservative Nominee for House of Delegates, had visited him as the Superintendent. They visited the graded school and Mr. Roy introduced Mr. Nelson to teachers and scholars.

He ran for reelection and remained as the Mayor/President for the Corporation of Front Royal. 

In October he sold his 368 acre farm near Bentonville to Barley, Beaty & Co. in a partial exchange of a corner lot on Main Street and Manor Avenue. The sale included the new brick buildings, and an agreement that they would erect another frame residence.

Thomas M. Roy was a salesman at McKay & Co. in the brick Fristoe Building near the depot selling fall and winter goods, dry goods, notions, hardware, glassware, boots, shoes, groceries, etc. As a Trustee, he sold a mare, yearling cult, two-horse wagon, and two sets of gear in front of the Front Royal Hotel in May.

William O. Rust was the master of the Lodge until June. He was a deputy sheriff, and was paid $2.65 in September. In October, He took Mr. Jonas Hockman to the Richmond penitentiary to serve a two year sentence after the voluntary manslaughter of James Foster. He also took John Spinner to the Winchester jail after confessing to stealing Mr. Silver’s Horse in Frederick.

He was also a trustee of the County School Board. In June he was placed on the committee to examine reports of the county treasurer and clerks of five school districts. He was appointed as an alternate for the Front Royal district at the Senatorial Convention Delegates of Warren County Conservatives in September. 

On November 7, he was elected as a representative to the Grand Lodge of Good Templars taking place in Winchester on November 25, at IOGG Front Royal Lodge No. 207.

Captain Smith S. Turner, Esq. became the Worshipful Master of the lodge in June. He was the Commonwealth Attorney for Warren County. He was often assigned as a General Receiver for receipts and disbursements of funds in cases. He was sometimes assigned as a public defender in the County Court. In May, he defended Thomas J. Fritts against John S. Timberlake on a bond of two warrants of distress for rent against his goods and chattels for $206.56 in front of a jury of seven and won his case. He was also a public defender in a felony case for Daniel Watson Strother.

He was often noted as being in attendance at various Circuit Courts such as Shenandoah County in April, and Page County in September.  In May he was trying to discover the murderer of James Foster.

He was a special commissioner to sell 480 acres of W. D. Timberlacke’s farm starting in March. He also commissioned to sell the S. D. Boyd properties of 276½ acres, a third of 155 acres, and a sixth of 141 acres, all of which were in Gooney Manor adjoining the land of James W. Boyd in August – in which S. D. Boyd purchased the properties at $3.25 more per acre than originally assessed.

He resigned as the Incumbent for Commonwealth’s Attorney for Warren county, recommending Henry H. Downing run for office, who ran with the National Democratic Greenback Club of Warren County.  Henry H. Downing, Esq. served as the new state attorney and prosecutor against Mr. Jonas Hockman as the murderer of James Foster in May.

At the end of April, it was reported that he left for Baltimore on professional business. He was a home agent selling Tontine Insurance policies, and for Equitable Life Assurance Society starting in July.

On his campaign trail, he often gave speeches. He gave an hour-long speech on September 16 at the Discussion of State Debt where Conservatives and Readjusters were both speaking. He was in support of the settlement that was previously made, explained the history of how the State debt was created, and how money was borrowed by the State in favor of the Valley to build Railroads, Turnpikes, and Canals before the war that everyone had benefited from. He was certain that the States ability to comply with the settlement would not increase the taxes. He begged his confederate companions to preserve the state’s honor and received applause throughout his speech. The local paper ran that victory was decided for the friends of the McColloch Bill. In another speech, he addressed the people of Middletown on September 20. On October 11, he gave a speech at Leary’s School house on debt and other subjects. He spoke in Mr. Lafayette Updike’s large store-room in Browntown for more than an hour on the State’s debt on October 25, followed by John Lovell.

He was re-elected as the chairman of the Conservative Committee of Warren. He was a delegate for the Front Royal district to the Senatorial Convention, and one of the committeemen. When Captain William N. Nelson arrived in Front Royal on October 21, Captain Smith S. Turner introduced him as the Conservative nominee for member of the House of Delegates from Clarke and Warren who fought in two wars – one of when Mr. Nelson had fallen by his side at the first battle of Manassas, shot through the lungs at the war between the states.

He was on the Board of Visitors to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) for Warren county.

M. Scott Weaver ran as a candidate for the Commissioner of the Revenue. In April, he had entered a business enterprise that affected his Candidacy of Assessorship. In May, he had posters made at the Warren Sentinel offering the highest cash price for wool to be posted in various towns nearby. He also sold his 30’x170’ lot on the south side of Main Street, opposite of the depot of Virginia Midland Railroad Co. for $350 to Jacob Metzinger to build a two-story frame building for a store and residence in June. In August, Mr. Weaver constructed a two-story frame building 18 feet square for a business between his Drug Store property and the lot of Mrs. E. B. Jacobs. In October, Mr. Weaver served on a special grand jury in the county court for the Front Royal district.

W. Cass Weaver was the owner of W. C. Weaver & Co. He sold dry goods, notions, boots and shoes, ready-made clothing, groceries, hardware, queensware, drugs, medicines, etc. He moved into a new store on Main Street, opposite of the depot on May 1st and offered his old stock at a discount so he didn’t have to move it to the new location. He later sold herring, bacon, flour, corn-meal, and school books. He started a 5 cent counter in June. He announced that he was ready to settle customers debts starting on September 1st. In October, he hired Macatee, Beyer & Co. to build a house for him. In November the business was renamed as Johnson & Weaver. At the end of the year they were asking for 5,000 bushels of corn, and later increased to 10,000 bushels – shelled or in the ear.

Communications

The Lodge gathered for communications in Union Hall. Initially, the lodge met on Saturday nights, prior or on to the full moon.

Day	Date	Time	Notes
Saturday	Jan 4
Saturday	Feb 1
Saturday	Mar 15
Saturday	Apr 5
Saturday	May 3
Saturday	May 31
Saturday	Jun 28
Saturday	Aug 2	8	Stated Communication
Saturday	Aug 30
Saturday	Sep 27
Saturday	Oct 25
Thursday	Nov 22	7	Stated Communication John T. Lovell elected to represent Unity at Grand Annual Communication
Thursday	Dec 27

Masonic Events

District Deputy Grand Master’s Official Visit

Tuesday, May 6, 1879

The District Deputy Grand Master paid an official visit to Unity Lodge No. 146 on Tuesday, May 6, 1879.

Children’s Home Cornerstone in Barnesville

Tuesday, June 24, 1879

The cornerstone for the Children’s Home in Barnesville, West Virginia was laid on St. John’s Day, June 24th, 1879. The railroads were operating at reduced rates for the event. There was a grand parade in which lodges included those from neighboring towns in Bellair, St. Clairsville, Morristown, Quaker City, and Cambridge.

St. Johns Day Masonic “walk” in Steubenville

Tuesday, June 24, 1879

An old-fashioned Masonic “walk” was hosted in Steubenville, Ohio on St. John’s Day, June 24th, 1879. Large numbers of people were expected to arrive for a free dinner and an address by several eminent speakers. Various railroads provided excursion rates for the occasion.

Grand Masonic Picnic

Thursday, July 31, 1879

Scottish Right had a picnic and tournament in German Schuetzen Park.

Cornerstone at Library Building of Union Theological Seminary

September 1, 1879

Reverend B. M. Smith, D. D. gave an address at the laying of the cornerstone for the new addition of a Library to the Union Theological Seminary. Farmville Lodge No. 41 in Farmville, Prince Edward County. Although the Grand Master of Virginia masons was invited, he was unable to attend the ceremony.

Masonic Picnic at Byrnes Island

Saturday, September 13, 1879

Many people took the Shenandoah Valley Railroad to the Baltimore and Ohio Junction to get to Byrne’s Island for a Masonic Picnic. Criswell’s band provided the musical atmosphere.

Dedication of Hedgesville Masonic Hall

Saturday, November 1, 1879

The Masonic fraternity in Hedgesville dedicated the new Masonic Hall. The Honorable C. J. Faulker was introduced by George T. Kreglow, Esq., who then gave an address. The Hedgesville band played music for the occasion in front of a large number of citizens of the neighborhood.

Grand Annual Communication

Monday, December 8, 1879 to Wednesday, December 10, 1879

The Grand Annual Communication of Ancient York Masons took place in Alban’s Hall, Richmond on December 8 to 10, 1881 at night, Monday through Wednesday. John T. Lovell of the Warren Sentinel, had been elected for the seventh time to represent the Lodge and paid the Lodges dues of $23.50 at 50¢ per member.

During the Grand Annual Communication, John T. Lovell was appointed to a standing committee on Masonic Jurisprudence. The committee resolved several matters – two of which amended and re-enacted the fourth edition of the Methodical Digest. 

In summary, the following resolutions were passed. First, a suspended Mason may be restored to membership without a petition with a majority consent at the next stated communication, after payment of dues. Second, a member of another lodge must make his reasons of objection of a candidate’s initiation known to the worshipful master to let the lodge make a determination what action should be done. Third, a Senior Warden succeeds the Master upon death, resignation, or disqualification, but does not become a past master. A Junior Warden can do the same if the condition applies to both the Master and Senior Warden.