Farmington Lodge #192 A.F&A.M 134 E. Fort St. Farmington, IL 61531
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History of Farmington Lodge #192 By: Bro. Patrick J. O'Brian
In 1844 a dispensation was granted to 7 lodges in the State of Illinois, one of which was Farmington, IL. At that time, the nearest lodges were Peoria, Macomb, Peru, and Rushville as near as 20 miles and as far as 80 miles away. The Bro. that was granted the dispensation was Bro. Aaron Kinney. However, the Grand Lodge received no report from Farmington in the years 1844 and 1845 but there was a charter granted to a Morning Star Lodge #30. There was no record of a dispensation that was granted to the Canton based lodge, however a list of members included Bro. Kinney who was granted the dispensation as Master of Farmington Lodge. As of 1846 there was still no report from Farmington that a lodge had been formed so the dispensation then ceased to exist. In 1849 there was a fire at the Grand Lodge in Peoria in which all records were lost. Then in 1850 the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the State of Illinois called a special session in April to try to recover the lost records. Then in 1851 a second dispensation was issued to a lodge in Farmington, Il to be named Trinity Lodge. However without any report as to degrees conferred or any other action from Trinity Lodge, the dispensation was once again recalled. Finally a brother named C. W. Rockhold, who was initiated, passed, and raised at Morning Star Lodge #30 in Canton was issued dispensation to form and open a lodge at Farmington, Il in the County of Fulton to be called Farmington. There were 21 lodges issued dispensations in 1853, Farmington being the 7th, and received charter #192. Finally after 13 years and 3 tries, Farmington Lodge #192 was consecrated and constitued by an appointed brother named Bro. James Slack.The lodge started with a membership of 14 bretheren and met on the Saturday on or after the full moon to assist the bretheren by having more light to travel to and from their meetings as there were no street lights back in the middle 1800's. By the year 1860 the lodge had grown to a total of 37 members. The lodge was flourishing by nearly tripling it's member ship in a little over 5 years. However, many of the members were from the neighboring town of Elmwood and in 1861, with a desire to form their own lodge in their hometown, 10 of the bretheren demitted and joined to form Horeb Lodge #363. Then came the Civil War which crippled the lodge. The charter was surrendered in this year as a means to keep the lodge in working order. In 1865 a dispensation was issued to "A Unit" #459 in Farmington. So it is plausible to say that Farmington has received 4 charters as #30 in 1845, #104 as Trinity Lodge in 1851, #192 as Farmington Lodge in 1853 or even #459 in 1866. But the current charter #192 has been retained since 1856.
In 1873 a 3 story building was erected on the site of a former plow shop that had been destroyed by fire in 1870. The Masons and Odd Fellows jointly owned the 2nd floor and the hall was fitted as one of the most comfortable in the state. It was carpeted, had a square piano, and closets for the fine paraphernalia and wardrobes for the Masons, Odd Fellows, Royal Arch, Rebekahs, and Eastern Star. The lodge flourished for the next 29 years growing to a membership of 84 in 1900. Then on February 26th, 1901 more hardship was caused to the Masons. A fire ravaged their hall and destroyed the building and most of the records from the lodge leaving the bretheren with nothing but $1,200 of insurance money to start over. However, the determined bretheren met at a stated meeting on March 1st, 3 days later, and appointed a committee to build a Masonic Hall. Just two weeks later on March 15th the right to occupy the 2nd floor of a building at 134 E. Fort was secured in a 99 year lease agreement. The cornerstone was laid on May 12th and the construction of the new building was commenced. The building was finished in September of the same year 1901 and was ready to be furnished. The hall was dedicated on October 9th, 1901 with a huge gala affair attended by some 350 people. The cost of the furnishings of the lodge and banquet hall was $1,684, $800 of which was donated by the Eastern Stars and the remaining balance covered by donating members of the bretheren. The lodge purchased the bottom level of the building in 1908 at a cost of $6,000 and still owns it to this day.
The culmination of the perserverance of the bretheren of 1901 was the Sesquicentennial celebration of Farmington Lodge #192 which was held in 2006. A committee was appointed consisiting of W. Bro Matthew K. Ulm, W. Bro. Timothy M. Allen and W. Bro. Anthony M. Smear. A dinner, program and reception were all included in the celebration. The menu consisted of: roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli medley, fresh baked rolls, assorted pies and a beverage lineup of coffee, iced tea and lemonade. Absent from the menu were the most famous food of Masons, green beans. The reception included an introduction of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois who spoke on Masons and Masonry as a fraternity. There was also entertainment provided by the Ulm family singers, a collection of the celebrated Masonic family of Ulms that specialize in Christian music.
Farmington Lodge #192 is a very proud lodge and lives on through a collection of family legacies. Some notable surnames that are relevant and celebrated in Farmington Lodge are the families of Anderson, Gilstrap, Redlingshafer, Murphy, Tuttle, Dennis, Gentle, Stokoe and most notably the Ulm family which consists of 9 of the Past Masters of Farmington Lodge including 8 living which are all still active figures in the lodge.
Farmington Lodge #192 may have had a rocky beginning trying to actually form a lodge, but today it is as strong and proud as ever. It is still relevant in the community and it's members as relevant in the Masonic community, The involvement of the lodge in the Spoon River Scenic Drive was started by W Bro. Carroll Baylor and we are still active today with W. Bro. Anthony Smear spearheading the Masonic booth at the drive in recent years. Also, starting this year, Farmington Lodge #192 has taken the reins and restored the Farmington 4th of July celebration to heights never before seen. The parade and reception at James Reed Park was attended this year by an array of townspeople that were proud of their country and their town. This event was led by W. Bro. Matthew K. Ulm who worked tirelessy and his hard work paid off with the best 4th of July celebration the City of Farmington has ever seen. In the Masonic community, Right Worshipful Bro. Michael C, Hinds, a Grand Lecturer, Past Master, and current officer of Farmington Lodge #192 was given his Honorary 33rd degree in Washington D.C. in 2007.
In closing, Farmington Lodge #192 is in it's 154th year and is as strong as ever. It still meets on the first Thursday of every month at 730pm and it's current number of Master Masons is at 133 and growing. If you are a member of Farmington Lodge #192 you should be proud to know that you are part of a legacy that has lasted over 150 years and is still relevant in the social community as well as the Masonic community.
Credits: R W Bro. James Porter
Past Masters of Farmington Lodge #192Charles W. Rockhold-1856 Earl J. Mitchell-1961
Jonathan Coykendall-1857,1868-73 Thomas L. Hoover-1962
Thomas S. Gentle- 1873-76 Michael Balagna-1963
Robert A. Dickie- 1876-81 Alfred C. Murphy-1964
Emerson Clark-1881-86 H. W. Brentz, Jr.-1965
Iremus T. Scudder-1886-87 John Redlingshafer-1966
Almyron G. Morse-1888-91/1903-04 Gerald D. Huffman-1967
James M. Tenley-1891-93 John M. Fleming-1968
Alfred L. Hubbard-1892 Pete Airola-1969
William H. Miller-1894-95 Robert W. Heady-1970
Leslie W. Morton-1896 Robert D. Gilstrap-1971
W. M. Anderson-1897-98 William D. Gilstrap-1972
J.W. Connelly-1899/1902 Ralph E. Tuttle-1973
Eugene Christopher-1900-01 Richard L. Wagner-1974
A.A. Vandervoort-1905-06 Bennett D. Gilstrap-1975
J.E. Aigley-1907-08 Jimmy R. Ayers-1976
Adelbert Luckey-1909-10 Michael D. Redlingshafer-1977
George F. Hubbard-1911 Larry L. Ulm-1978
Clarence M. Routson-1912-13 Robert K. Ulm-1979
Howard S. Negley-1914-15 Timmie J. Ulm-1980/1999
James E. Wasson-1916-17/1923 Kerry R. Danner-1981
Ralph W. Gentle-1918-19 Frederick G. Major-1982
Charles W. Bolton-1920-21 Laurance L. Ulm-1983
Donald Parks-1922 Michael C. Hinds-1984
Henry A. Stockoe-1924 Gary V. Isbell-1985
Dennis C. Robinson-1925-26 Johnny M. Anderson-1986
John J. Worthington-1927-28 James M. Morgan-1987
Arthur C. Wood-1929 John C. Gagliardo-1988
Ross E. Jackson-1930-31 Keith E. Quin-1989
Roy V. Porter-1932-33 Carroll V. Baylor-1990-91
Ralph M. Bengsten-1934 Darrell G. Scott-1992-93
Edgar B. Moul-1935 Lee Roy Copple-1994
Charles Bennett-1936 Glenn R. Quin-1995-97
Harold G. Stokoe-1937 Richard L. Hitchcock, Sr.-1996
William E. Custer-1938 Maurice R. Crain-1998
Edwin J. Clark-1939 Kent S. Ulm-2000
Lawrence C. Elliott-1940 Tyler T. Ulm-2001
Lloyd J. Anderson-1941 David D. Gilbert-2002
Orville D. Spence-1942 Jimmie R. Ulm-2003/2007
James J. MacAfee-1943 Gilbert G. Harman-2004
Kirby C. Mathews-1944 Marvin L. Beecher-2005
John Wilson-1945 Matthew K. Ulm-2006
Harrison E. Dennis-1946 Charles R. Houston-2008
Thomas C. Wilson-1947 Timothy M. Allen-2009
Richard D. Chipman-1948 Anthony W. Smear-2010
J. Milton Dennis-1949 Charles W. Grice-2011
Ronald Williams-1950
Arbon J. Gingerich-1951
Louis W. Higgs-1952
Jarvis E. Wright-1953
Edwin R. Lane-1954
Lawrence H. Kimbrell-1955
Ernest C. Scudder-1956
Ralph L. Tuttle-1957
Nello Genoni-1958
John S. Reid-1959
James R. Porter 1960