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Source:
From The Heritage Collection Biography and History from Unigraphic -
The Household Guide and Instructor with Biographies
History of Guernsey County, Ohio
with Illustrations
VOLUME II
Cleveland: T. F. Williams.
1882
CHAPTER VII.
SCHOOLS AND MERCANTILE
Pg. 431
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FIRST MASONIC LODGE.
[Pg. 431]
There was among the early settlers of Guernsey county a
social feeling that is sadly lacking in these latter days.
That this feeling might be cultivated, as soon as there were enough
Masons in the county convenient to any one locality, they sought the
organization of a lodge. The first meeting for this purpose
was held at the house of George R. Tingle, in Cambridge, on
the 22d day of June, 1822, or, as Masons count it, A. L. 5822.
There were present, Zaccheus Beatty, Lloyd Talbott, Francis
Dusonchett, Benjamin F. Bill, Andrew Metcalf, James M. Bell, George
H. Sinclair, and William Taylor, all Masons of the
Ancient York Rite. Beatty, Talbott, and Bell
were appointed a committee to establish a lodge. At teh second
meeting held at the same place on the 1st of July, the committee was
authorized to borrow sixty dollars on the joint note of the persons
named. That sum, then comparatively a large one, was thought
[Pg. 432]
sufficient to pay the expenses of procuring a dispensation and
ultimately a charter. It was agreed that it should be called
Guernsey lodge, and J. M. Bell was chosen for master; A.
Metcalf for senior warden, and B. F. Bill for junior
warden. The other officers were appointed. The sixty
dollars to procure the dispensation was borrowed from Thomas
Lenfesty, John Barton, Hans Weaver, and John Dickson.
The sixty dollars to procure the dispensation was borrowed from
Thomas Witten. The committee procured the large room
up stairs in the court house of the meeting of the lodge, and the
north small room, as stipulated, for "such purposes as they may
desire."
On Tuesday, Aug. 20, A. D. 1822, A. L. 5822,
"Guernsey Lodge No. 66, A. Y. M.," was opened. By-laws were
adopted and the fee for degrees fixed at three dollars.
Robert B. Moore, of Frankfort, Guernsey county, Ohio, was the
first Mason made in this county. William Skinner the
second, and William Clark the third; Daniel D'Yarmett
was the fourth, and Amrah Day the fifth. The first
meeting were held under a 'dispensation issued by John Snow,
grand master of Ohio, but after the next meeting of the grand lodge
a charter was received signed by John Snow, grand master, and
Thomas Corwin, deputy master. The old officers were
re-elected, and the lodge began work on the 1st of February, 1823,
by initiating William Findley, of Senecaville.
GUERNSEY COUNTY'S FIRST BANK.
Up to the year 1848 the banking business
necessary for the business of Guernsey county was done at Wheeling,
Zanesville, and Mount Pleasant, in Jefferson county. In those
days the raising of live stock for the Eastern markets was the chief
source of income in money to the county, and there were many drovers
who were dependent on banks for accommodation. In 1845 the
Legislature passed an act establishing the State Bank of Ohio, with
its system of Branch banks. Early in 1847, the question of
establishing a bank in Washington was discussed, and resulted in the
circulation of papers for stock subscriptions; $100,000 of such
subscriptions were secured on the 17th day of December, 1847.
After three ineffectual attempts the formal proceedings were
satisfactorily completed, and the bank authorized to do business
under the name of the Guernsey branch of the State Bank of Ohio, at
Washington. This was on June 24, 1848. John McCurdy
was president of the bank from its organization to its clsoe.
Its first cashier was William Skinner. The first board
of directors was composed of John Craig, Henry H. Evans,
John McFarland, Kileon Hagar, Charles Hare, John Beymer, Francis
Rea, and John Hall. the bank enjoyed at every
moment the full confidence of the whole community.
INDUSTRIES.
The oldest store in Guernsey county,
that has continued to do business in the same name, is that of
John B. Luccock, in Liberty. It was established by the
grandfather, Naphtali Luccock, in 1831, with whom his father,
Hon. Thomas S. Luccock, became a partner in 1852, and of
which he succeeded to the sole proprietorship in 1668. He was
succeeded by his son, the present houses in the county, and probably
does more business, including all the departments, than any other
outside of Cambridge.
Mr. Sarchet manufactured the first salt made in
the county. He drilled a well on the land now owned by his
son, David Sarchet, in 1820. He ran two furnaces and
sold immense quantities for many years. Before than, all salt
was brought from the East and sold for $6 a bushel.
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