Order of the Eastern Star

The Order of the Eastern Star is a fraternal organization that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all theistic beliefs. It has approximately 10,000 chapters in twenty countries and approximately 500,000 members under its General Grand Chapter. Members of the Order are aged 18 and older; men must be Master Masons and women must have specific relationships with Masons. ~ from Wikipedia

At a meeting of Evergreen Lodge No. 144, A. F. & A. M., February 23, 1895, steps were taken to organize an Eastern Star Chapter in Lansing, and a petition was prepared and forwarded to the Grand Chapter of Iowa, meeting with approval March 27 of the same year. Sister Sarah A. Woods, grand worthy matron, organized Martha Washington Chapter No. 177, with a membership of twenty, and sixty-eight members have since been added. The chapter has lost through demit and death thirty-three members, leaving a present membership of fifty-five. The first officers were: W. M., Martha T. Hemenway; W. R., L. E. Fellows; Assoc. Mat., Libbie K. Pape; Secretary, Susie M. Bacon; Treas., Selma K. Riser; Cond., Lizzie M. Davis; Assoc. Cond., Mary P. Bascom; Chap., Mary S. Fellows; Ada, Anna Smith; Ruth, Elsie S. Fellows; Esther, Mary Piers; Martha, Louisa Boeckh, Electa, Lydia Hazleton; Warden, G. L. Pape; Sentinel, H. W. Riser.

The present officers are: W. M., Louisa Boeckh; W. R., B. F. Thomas; Assoc. Mat., Fanny E. Hemenway; Secretary, Susie M. Bacon; Treas; Martha T. Hemenway; Cond., Frank V. B. Cavers; Assoc. Cond., Gennet Schafer; Chap., Louise M. Boeckemeier; Ada, Libbie K. Pape; Ruth, Mary Gilbertson; Esther, Fanny K. Thomas; Martha, Ruby Fitchen; Electa, Laura Saam; Warden, Mina Boeckh; Marshal, Klara Schafter; Organist, Katie Saam.

~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913; chapter 21

Postville Chapter, No. 238, Order of Eastern Star was organized in March, 1898, and is a strong and active society, with constantly increasing membership. Present officers: W.M., Ruby Webster; W. Patron, Hugh Shepherd; Assoc. Matron, Josephine Durno; Treasurer, Mrs. D.E. Harrington; Secretary, Blanche Durno; Conductress, Mrs. F.H. Welzel; Assoc. Conductress, Mrs. W.C. Thoma; Adah, Mrs. F.H. Luhman; Ruth, Mrs. F. Gates; Esther, Mrs. E.P. Durno; Martha, Mrs. G.D. Harrington; Electa, Mrs. B.E. Tuttle; Chaplain, Mrs. Florence Rathburn; Marshal, Mrs. Ray F. Topliff; Organist, Crystal Leithold; Warden, Mrs. Arthur S. Burdick; Sentinel, Herman Webb.

~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913; chapter 22

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1894

At the annual meeting of the Eastern Star Chapter No. 238, held on last Monday evening, all the old officers were re-elected and will be installed at the next regular meeting. Following the meeting a dainty luncheon was served by the committee. The officers elected are as follows:

Worthy Matron - Mrs. Wm. C. Thoma.
Worthy Patron - Mrs. Wm. J. Klingbell.
Associate Matron - Mrs. R. F. Topliff.
Secretary - Mrs. E. P. Durno.
Treasurer - Mrs. A. A. Schmidt.
Conductress - Mrs. Mrs. R. M. Hecker.
Associate Conductress - Mrs. F. H. Luhman.

~Postville Herald Dec. 05, 1919, in the "Postville 25 Years Ago" column. The old news was taken from the files of the Iowa Volksblatt of Dec. 07, 1894, and the officers elected were for 1895.
~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson
~Note: the dates may be incorrect since the organization wasn't organized until 1898, researchers should verify

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1899

The Order of the Eastern Star has now been organized for eight months. It commenced with 19 members and now has 37. It has made an almost phenominal success, and the ladies are to be commended for their zeal and earnestness.The following officers were elected for the ensuing year.

Worthy Matron, Mrs. Carrie Cornell Worthy Patron, Mr. James Perry Assoc. Matron, Mrs. Wm. Rollinson Secretary, Mrs. Etta Crosby Assoc. Conductress, Mrs. Ida Hart

Those appointed: Adah, Mrs. Hattie Prior Ruth, Mrs. Mattie Welzel Martha, F. Tuller Esther, Miss Ruby Webster Electa, Mrs. Sophia Perry Chaplain, Mrs. Wallis Warden, Annie Staadt Sentinel, Mr. J. F. Hecker Marshall, Mrs. Ella Hawkins Organist, Miss Mae Thomas

~Postville Review, Fri., December 30, 1898 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1905

The following will preside over Postville O.E.S. for 1905:

W.M., Etta Perry
W.P., Mr. Shepherd
Assoc. M., Mrs. Welzel
Sec., Blanche Durno
Treas., Mrs. Goetz
Con., Ruby Webster
Assoc. Con., Mrs. E. P. Durno

~Postville Review, Fri., Jan. 6, 1905 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1908

The following will preside over Postville O.E.S. for 1908:

Worthy Matron, Miss Ruby Webster
Worthy Patron, Hugh Shepherd
Associate Matron, Mrs. Hattie Prior
Treasurer, Mrs. Elizabeth Durno
Secretary, Miss Blanche Durno
Conductress, Mrs. Birdie Durno
Associate Cond., Mrs. Olga Palas

~Postville Review, December 20, 1907 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1911

Eastern Star officers for 1911:

Worthy Matron, Mrs. C. H. Flynn
Worthy Patron, Hugh Shepherd
Assoc. Matron, Mrs. Henry Miller
Secretary, Blanche Durno
Treasurer, Mrs. J. B. Hart
Conductress, Ruby Webster
Assoc. Conductress, Mattie Perry

~Postville Review, Fri., Jan. 13, 1911 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1912

Postville O.E.S. Officers for 1912:

Worthy Matron, Mrs. Henry Miller Worthy Patron, Hugh Shepherd Associate Matron, Mrs. E. P. Durno Treasurer, Mrs. Ann Harrington Secretary, Blanche Durno Conductress, Ruby Webster Asso. Conductress, Mrs. Wll Thoma Chaplain, Mrs. Rathbun

Warder, Mrs. A. S. Burdick Sentinel, H. D. Webb Organist, Delia Leithold Adah, Mrs. F. L. Eaton Ruth, Mrs. F. H. Welzel Esther, Mrs. F. J. Thoma Martha, Mrs. R. N. Douglass Electa, Mrs. B. E. Tuttle Marshal, Mrs. F. W. Meiske

~Postville Review, Friday, January 5, 1912 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1913

Postville O.E.S. Officers for 1913:

W.M. - Miss Ruby Webster W.P. - H. Shepherd Assoc. M. - Miss Josephine Durno Secretary - Miss Blanche Durno Treasurer - Mrs. D. E. Harrington Conductress - Mrs. F. H. Welzel Assoc. Cond. - Mrs. W. C. Thoma Chaplain - Mrs. Rathbun

Adah - Mrs. F. H. Luhman Ruth - Mrs. F. W. Gates Esther - Mrs. E. P. Durno Martha - Mrs. G. D. Harrington Electa - Mrs. B. E. Tuttle Sentry - Mrs. A. S. Burdick Marshall - Mrs. R. F. Topliff Organist - Miss Chrystal Leithold Warder - H.D. Webb

~Postville Review, Friday, January 24, 1913 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1914

Postville O.E.S. Officers for 1914. Meeting night- Monday on or before full of the moon.

Worthy Matron - Ruby Webster Worthy Patron - F. W. Gates Associate Matron - Josephine Durno Treasurer - Mrs. Ann Harrington Secretary - Blanche Durno Conductress - Mrs. W. C. Thoma Assoc. Conductress - Mrs. R. F. Topliff Chaplain - Mrs. Florence Rathbun Organist - Miss Chrystal Leithold

Adah - Mrs. F. H. Luhman Ruth - Mrs. F. W. Gates Esther - Mrs. E. P. Durno Martha - Mrs. G. D. Harrington Electra - Mrs. B. E. Tuttle Warder - Mrs. A. S. Burdick Sentinel - H. D. Webb

~Postville Review, Friday, December 26, 1913 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1919

At a special meeting of Postville Chapter No. 238, O.E.S., held Monday evening, the following officers were installed.

Worthy Matron, Mrs. Emma Thoma
Worthy Patron, Wm. J. Klingbeil
Associate Matron, Mrs. Josephine Topliff
Secretary, Mrs. Birdie P. Durno
Treasurer, Mrs. Otillie Schmidt
Conductress, Mrs. Etta Hecker
Assoc. Conductress, Mrs. Vera Luhman
Chaplain, Mrs. Alice Miller
Marshal, Mrs. Ethel Sanders
Organist, Miss Emma Nicolay
Ada, Miss Leila Schmidt
Ruth, Mrs. Glessner Webster
Esthe, Mrs. Ann Pettit
Martha, Miss Helen Tuttle
Electa, Mrs. Amanda Phillips
Warder, Mrs. Or Rilla Comstock
Sentinel, Hugh Shepherd

~Postville Herald, Fri., Jan. 24, 1919 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1920

Postville O.E.S., Chapter No. 238, Officers for 1920:

Worthy Matron - Mrs. Wm. C. Thoma Worthy Patron - Wm. J. Klingbeil Assoc. Matron - Mrs. R. F. Topliff Secretary - Mrs. E. P. Durno Treasurer - Mrs. A. A. Schmidt Conductress - Mrs. R. M. Hecker Assoc. Conductress - Mrs. F. H. Luhman Ada - Mrs. Anna Sebastian Ruth - Mrs. Glessner Webster

Esther - Mrs. F. W. Tuller Martha - Miss Helen Tuttle Electa - Mrs. A. J. Phillips Marsall - Mrs. Ethel Sanders Chaplain - Mrs. Henry Miller Organist - Miss Emma Nicolay Warder - Mrs. F. C. Comstock Sentinel - Hugh Shepherd

~Postville Review, Friday, January 9, 1920 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1921

Postville Chapter, No. 238, Order of the Eastern Star, installed the following new officers after their regular business meeting on Monday evening, Past Patron Hugh Shepherd acting as installing officer:

Worthy Matron - Mrs. Alice Miller Worthy Patron - F. C. Comstock Assoc. Matron - Mrs. Josephine Topliff Secretary - Mrs. Birdie Durno Treasurer - Mrs. Glessner Webster Conductress - Mrs. Amanda Phillips Assoc. Conductress - Mrs. Ethel Sanders Chaplain - Mrs. Emma Thoma Marshall - Mrs. Ada Schuette

Organist - Miss Emma Nicolay Ada - Miss Amy Daubenberger Ruth - Mrs. Helen Behrens Esther - Mrs. OrRelle Comstock Martha - Miss Elsa Nicolay Electa - Mrs. Anna Tuttle Warder - Mrs. Celia Sander Sentinel - Hugh Shepherd

~Postville Review, Friday, January 20, 1921 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1922

At their regular meeting Monday evening Postville Chapter O.E.S. elected the following officers for the ensuing year:

Worthy Matron, Mrs. H. Miller
Worthy Patron, F. D. Rounds
Assoc. Matron, Mrs. R. F. Topliff
Secretary, Mrs. Glessner Webster
Treasurer, Mrs. Emma Thoma
Conductress, Mrs A. J. Phillips
Assoc. Conductress, Mrs. Ethel Sanders

~Postville Herald, Thur., December 15, 1921 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1923

Postville O.E.S. Officers for 1923:

Worthy Matron - Mrs. Josephine Topliff Worthy Patron - Wm J. Klingbell Assoc. Matron - Mrs. Amanda Phillips Secretary - Mrs. Glessner Webster Treasurer - Mrs. Emma Thoma Conductress - Mrs. Vera Luhman Assoc. Conductress - Mrs. Ethel Sanders Ada - Ruth Hanks Ruth - Anna Putnam

Esther - Eltha Klingbeil Martha - Helen Behrens Electa - Bertha Rounds Warder - Amelia Sander Sentinel - Hugh Shepherd Chaplain - Mathilda Riley Marshal - Martha Bulman Organist - Emma Nicolay

~Postville Review, Friday, January 18, 1923 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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1924

There was a large and happy gathering at Masonic Hall on Monday evening of the members of Postville Chapter No. 238, O.E.S., who assembled to assist in the installation of the society's new officers and partake of the social features and refreshments incidental thereto, and it is quite needless to say it was a most enjoyable occasion. The following officers were installed:

Worthy Matron - Josephiine Topliff Worthy Patron - E.E. McMartin Asso. Matron - Amanda Phillips Secretary - Glessner Webster Treasurer - Emma Thoa Conductress - Vera Luhman Asso. Conductress - Ethel Sanders Chaplain - Florence Roberts Marshal - Anna Sebastian

Organist - Emma Nicolay Adah - Bernice Phillips Ruth - Anna Putnam Esther - Hattie Hill Martha - Helen Behrens Electa - Bertha Rounds Warder - Amelia Sander Sentinel - Hugh Shepherd

~Postville Herald, January 24, 1924 ~transcribed by S. Ferrall

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1926

O.E.S. Postville Chapter, No. 238 is now twenty-eight years old as their charge was given them October 26, 1898. The charter members were Mrs. Carrie Cornell, Mrs. Etta Crosby, Mrs. May Douglass, Mrs. Flynn, Mrs. Ida Hart, Mrs. Mary Hecker, Mrs. Mary McNeil, Mrs. Hattie Prior, Mrs. Ella Hawkins, Mrs. Mary Holter, Mrs. Belle Orr, Mrs. Sophia Perry, Mrs. Etta Perry, Mrs. Mary Stiles, Mrs. Anna Staadt, Mrs. Mary Rollison, Mrs. Eva Tuller, Mrs. Mate Welzel, Mrs. Sarah Wallis, Mrs. E. Webster and James Perry. Mrs. Carrie Cornell was the first worthy matron and James Perry the first worthy patron.

~Postville Herald, April 1, 1926 ~transcribed by S. Ferrall

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1928

At its regular meeting on Monday evening Postville Chapter No. 238, Order of the Eastern Star, installed the following officers for the ensuing year:

Worthy Matron - Helen Behrens Worthy Patron - Hugh Shepherd Assist. Matron - Ethel Sanders Secretary - Mattie Service Treasurer - Josephine Topliff Conductress - Frances Williams Asso. Conductress - Bertha Rounds Adah - Vera Luhman Ruth - Florence Musser

Esther - Mabel Meyer Martha - Stella Huebner Electa - Ellen Hangartner Marshal - Alice Miller Chaplain - Anna Putnam Warden - Mate Welzel Sentinel - Peter Service Organist - Dorothy Douglass

~Postville Herald, Thursday, January 19, 1928 ~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

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Golden Rod Chapter - No. 176, Order of Eastern Star, was chartered October 23, 1895, with the following officers: Mrs. J. C. Crawford, worthy matron; Mrs. Jennie Hubbell, associate matron; H. H. Stillwell, worthy patron. At present (1912) they consist of: Mrs. Anna Cooley, worthy matron; Mrs. Margaret Hendrick, associate matron; E. B. Gibbs, worthy patron, Miss Blanche Dial, secretary; Miss Jessie Lewis, treasurer.

~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913; chapter 20