Clearcreek Twp Societies
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Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 23 Oct 2004

Sources:
The History of Warren County Ohio
Part IV, Township histories
Clear Creek Township
(Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992)

Page
595

In 1867, a lodge of F. & A. M. was organized at Springboro. The charter members were Robert Hurd, Dr. Moses Smith, Ambrose Taylor, J. S. Thomas, Joseph Warwick, William Langsdon and Jacob S. Hopkins. Robert Hurd was the first Master of the lodge. After maintaining their organization until about two years ago, they surrendered their charter and disbanded, the principal reason being, perhaps, because of their proximity to Franklin, where a strong and flourishing lodge was maintained, which curtailed the territory of the Springboro society, thus rendering it weak from the start and consequently destroying its effectiveness.

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596

Belief Lodge, No. 148, I. O. O. F., located at Springboro, was instituted by Grand Master Earle, February 27, 1850. The charter members were John Fye, W. B. Linell, Mahlon Wright and Daniel Moon, all of whom, except Mahlon Wright, are living. On the same night, thirteen members were initiated. viz., George Archdeacon, W. P. Peebles, W. F. Hayner, Charles Hughes, John Comer, Ira Thomas, W. M. Bateman, Randolph Robbins, A. S. Thomas, W. W. Brown, Robert Martin, Joshua Anderson and W. H. Ballard, all of whom, except Comer, are still living. Clear Creek Encampment, No. 145, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted July 6, 1871.

About the year 1870, a secret organization, known as Patrons of Husbandry, sprang up in the West and spread with great rapidity throughout the Western and Southern States. In a few years, it had assumed gigantic proportions, and bid fair to ultimately include in its membership almost the entire agricultural class of the West and South. But dissensions arose, the interest of the members abated, chiefly, we think, because the idea obtained (whether justly or not, we do not pretend to say), that the members were using the organization for their own personal pecuniary and political benefit, and it declined as rapidly as it had advanced, until now comparatively few societies exist.

The different societies were styled Granges and were classed as National, State and Subordinate Granges. The membership was originally limited to those engaged in or depending on agriculture and horticulture, but those engaged in other pursuits were afterward admitted to membership.

Had the primary principles of the order been strictly adhered to, great good might have been accomplished. These principles were to foster mutual interest and co-operation; to stimulate a pride in the calling of the farmer; to make home more attractive, thus strengthening the attachments of our youth to rural life; to encourage and promote economy and education—in a word, to develop the higher and better life of the farming community.

The founders of the order rightly claimed that an organization of this nature was almost absolutely necessary for the farmers, as, owing to their comparative isolation, they were deprived of many of the social and educational advantages possessed by almost every other class of society; and that self-interest and self-protection demanded a combination of some kind; hence the organization of the order.

The first grange in this township was instituted at Springboro October 1, 1872, S. H. Ellis, Master. This was soon followed by one at Red Lion, with John Gustin as Master; one at Ridgeville, with Dr. Keever as Master, and one at Utica, with Lawrence Rogers as Master. These were all the granges located in the township, although there were many in the township who were members of granges situated outside of this township.

The Springboro Library Association was organized in 1832 by Jonah D. Thomas, William S. Bedford, Dr. Joseph Stanton, Josiah and Mahlon Wright and others. The first Librarian, Dr. Stanton, was an uncle of Hon. E. M. Stanton, the noted Secretary of War. William S. Bedford is the only one of the original members now living. He has been President of the association for the past thirty years. They have a well-selected library of about 2,000 volumes. The present officers are: William S. Bedford, President; J. J. Baner, Secretary, and F. W. Wright, Librarian.

The Warren County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Association indemnifies its members for losses sustained in the destruction of or damage done to their farm buildings, from whatever unavoidable cause. In case of total destruction of property, the sufferer receives three-fourths of the appraised value, and the assessed amount of damage when only partially destroyed. A re-appraisment is had every three years. The association was formed in 1860, and the follow-

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597
ing board of officers was elected: Joseph Stanton, President; William S. Earnhart, Vice President; B. G. Easton, Secretary; Job Mullin, Treasurer: William Carpenter, Thomas Parker, S. Clevenger. Appraisers. When first organized, membership was limited to citizens of the township, and the number of members to twenty, but now it may include any farmers of the county to the number of forty; at present, it numbers about thirty members. It is claimed that it costs its members less than one-twentieth of 1 per cent per annum.

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