CHAPTER XX
BATTLE MOUNTAIN LODGE NO. 23
Battle Mountain NVNot to the fervor of the Franciscan monk who crossed over from California in 1775 to bring his doctrine to the native Indians and penetrated into the unknown territory which we today designate "the Sagebrush State"; not to the fortune mad mobs which rushed to the gold laden sands of California's rivers in '49; not to the hardy pioneers who crossed the desert wastes of unknown, forbidding territory to found an inland empire; nor yet to the Mormon saints looking for a country where unmolested they might establish their church and worship according to the dictates of their conscience, are we indebted for our knowledge of that vast expanse of western territory of which Nevada is a part. But all of these agencies combined to bring into existence a new western republic, and added Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah to our national constellation, destined to scintillate among the stars of nations, as the greatest country in the world's history.
Among the first of the overland travelers came the Pathfinder, John C. Fremont in 1842; then came Jim Bridger, who claimed to have been the first white man to look upon the waters of the Great Salt Lake; then came Carson and Goedy, following in their wake.
In 1847 the rumble of a covered wagon caravan disturbed the silence of the old buffalo trail, afterwards known as the Overland Trail, and the advance guard of the followers of Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, trekked their way across the plains to leave the old trail where it branches to finally pass through Emigration canyon in Utah, and emerge into the valley of Great Salt Lake, where the nucleus of a great inland city was planted, from which would later be sent out a tide of emigration to colonize Utah, parts of Nevada and California.
It was by reason of this colonization movement that some of the principal settlements in Nevada were founded and farming communities were established, destined to become commanding factors in the history of the state, and contributing agencies in the progress and prosperity of that section of Nevada through which the rails of the Southern Pacific and Central Pacific railroads would wend their way.
With the passing of the railroad through the extreme northern part of Lander county, Nevada, such a settlement was established in the summer of 1857, where the town of Battle Mountain now stands. There was nothing spectacular in the making of this settlement when the rails were laid through the district; one or two farms had already been located in the neighborhood and were being tilled. When the railroad reached that point and its advantageous location for a possible distributing station was seen, a small freight house was erected, though it was but little past shanty proportions, and the road continued its eastern advance. In time this little way station, then unchristened, was joined by a companion shanty built in the vicinity, and later yet another larger structure appeared across the way, and the nucleus of a new town was formed. Thus was that isolated hamlet, later named Battle Mountain when it had assumed greater proportions, born; to become in time an oasis set in the midst of the desert, a place of irrigated land, trees and grass, and peaceful homes with substantial stores and rural enterprises.
--- Legend ---
The early history of the district involves the presence of a tribe of Indians who lived along the banks of the Humboldt river just over the adjacent mountains, but whose hunting grounds were in the section where the town is now located. There is a tradition that discord and inharmony developed among the members of this tribe, and that they gathered for a "pow-wow" in the center of the valley around which the range of mountains known as the Battle Mountain range almost circles. The pow-wow lasted for many days, but the strife among the factions could not be appeased, and tribal war was declared, the factions retiring to opposite sides of the valley, one to find shelter among the rocks and crags of the mountains, the other to hide in a cave high up among the ledges of a mountain directly across the valley. From these points of vantage they would venture forth to meet upon a battleground in the valley, and by force of arms or cunning and conniving, endeavor to satisfy their honor. And so, it is said that their forces became depleted and but a remnant of their former number remained.
The climax was reached when the Indians who occupied their retreat among the rocks and crags, stole away from their mountain fastness one night, climbed to the cave in which the other faction was immured, built an immense fire at the mouth of the cave, and virtually roasted the other faction out, for they are said to have mysteriously disappeared. Whether they escaped by some other egress or retreated to distant parts of the cave and were overcome by heat and smoke and perished, is not determined. Sites are still found in the mountains where the teepees of the Red Man once stood, and the charted remnants of old council fires are unearthed even today, and at times flint arrows and spear heads are found where once raged a mighty tribal war and where the toll of battle almost exterminated a once powerful tribe, and where the legends born of daring deeds of that combat are still recited to the descendants of the victorious tribe, legends which are interwoven into the exciting history of the early days of Nevada, and have found lodgment in the story of Battle Mountain.
However, Battle Mountain did not acquire its name by reason of this tribal strife, but is said to have received its christening through a battle fought in 1857 between John Kirk of Placerville, Calif., who headed a party of road builders who were constructing a grade through the district, and a band of hostile Indians. The engagement was fought near the mountains across the valley through which the old grade of the railroad formerly ran, and is said to have resulted in the complete rout of the Indians.
With the passing of the years, perspectives change and so, in relating the first historical sketches we have unearthed in any particular district of Nevada, it has been a natural sequence that stress is laid upon the romance and glamour of that period or decade in which these events occurred, and to erect around the personnel of the unique characters gathered in any certain locality, an exaggerated halo created through fanciful memories, or born of association with happenings incident to the development of a new territory, and partaking of the customs and practices of that section in which these characters lived.
At no time in the history of the West are we so apt to eulogize and place upon a pedestal of romance and excitement, and to immortalize its people as we are during the late fifties and sixties, and through the early seventies.
It is perhaps no wonder that we are inspired by the tireless energy and perseverance of those early settlers; no wonder that their abiding faith, undaunted courage and dauntless hope should impress us. From them, the blazers of the trails, emerged the West, to conquer which their path became the vanguard of progress - the great broad way that led to vast attainment.
Today as we behold the marvelous advancement of the West whose developed valleys teem with fruition and are dotted with commodious homes; whose modern towns and cities are comparable to any yet developed in older, more populous sections of our country - a West whose rugged features civilization has softened and where an empire has been developed as if by the magic of a Merlin, a land which fifty years ago was bare creation, we are impressed with the full measure of Berkley's lines: "Westward the course of Empire takes its way. The first four acts already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day. Time's noblest offspring is the last."
That history repeats itself is a trite but true saying, and so,gradually as Time moved on, the little way station of Battle Mountain expanded into a sizable community with a well developed Main Street following the line of the railroad and lined with good looking substantial stores, one or two boarding houses and a hotel to care for transient trade. Here and there sightly homes appeared on other streets, trees were set out, gardens were planted, while the tinkle of a tiny bell called the children of the community to foregather at a neat and comfortably equipped schoolhouse - and Battle Mountain was on its way.
"Time marches on" and in its passing, changes came to the little settlement which numbered less than a dozen people in 1859. By 1876 - the "Centennial Year" - it boasted of some 200 inhabitants, several stores catered to the community's needs, and a newspaper owned by Mark W. Musgrove, which he moved over from Ward, Nevada and edited under the name, "The Battle Mountain Messenger," chronicled the happenings of the community and published the news of the day. In the meantime, among the residents of the town and district who had settled there during the passing years, were members of the Masonic fraternity who were eventually drawn together by the invisible ties of brotherhood; at first there were but one or two known to live in the town but, as time marched on, others came and the urge to meet on a common level and enjoy Masonic contact in a legalized home of their own, impelled R. McBeth, Omar B. Vincent, D. A. Dunlap, Fred Dunn, A. R. Hastings and a few others to assemble in the latter part of March, 1881, to discuss plans for the organization of a Masonic lodge in the town. This meeting is said to have been held in what was then the John W. Williams building, but later acquired by A. D. Lemaire, and was called to order by F. W. Dunn, who was made chairman of the meeting, and D. A. Dunlap was appointed secretary. The next order of business was to select a name for the new organization. Four names were proposed: Battle Mountain Lodge, Eureka Lodge, Enterprise Lodge, and Capital Lodge, the first of which, Battle Mountain Lodge, being the unanimous choice of the brethren, who then proceeded to draft, sign and address a petition to DeWitt C. McKinney, Grand Master of Masons of Nevada, asking permission to open a Masonic lodge under dispensation in Battle Mountain. At the suggestion of David A. Dunlap, the by-laws of Crockett Lodge No. 139 of California were adopted and converted to the use of the proposed new lodge.
At the next called meeting of the brethren held on April 8, 1881, the aprons worn by the members and officers were presented as gifts from Mrs. F. W. Dunn and Mrs. David A. Dunlap. It is of interest to note that these aprons were used by the lodge until the more elaborate aprons acquired from the defunct Masonic lodge, No. 14 of Austin, Nevada, came into possession of Battle Mountain Lodge No. 23.
Prompt action was given to the prayer of the petition of the brethren at Battle Mountain; in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, held in Virginia City in June, 1881, is found the following: "April 11, 1881, issued a dispensation for a lodge to be holden in Battle Mountain, to be known and hailed as Battle Mountain Lodge Under Dispensation, By-laws and records of the lodge accompanied with a petition in regular form and with the usual fee, praying for a charter to perpetuate Said lodge. Signed: Jno. D. Hammond, Grand Secretary."
Also another memo which reads: "On April 11th, I granted a dispensation to a constitutional number of brethren to open and hold a lodge of Free and Accepted Master Masons at Battle Mountain, and instructed the worshipful master of that lodge that it was not necessary to install the officers of a lodge Under Dispensation, Signed: DeWitt C. McKinney, Grand Master."
In the meantime, a hall on the second floor of the August Desire Lemaire building, a two story structure located in the heart of the business district of the town, and admirably suited to the requirements and needs of a fraternal organization, had been secured by the housing committee for a future meeting place of the new Masonic unit, and with slight alterations and the installing of necessary lodge furniture, was pronounced ready for the brethren to occupy. In due time the brethren received the coveted dispensation, and a new lodge came into existence in the Nevada jurisdiction,a unit of Masonry destined to develop into a strong and prominent factor in fraternal circles, and to give to the order men of outstanding mental, moral, social and fraternal qualifications.
During the next two months the lodge was busy clearing the Trestle Board of accumulated work, and several new members were added to its roster.
At the communication of the Grand Lodge held in Virginia City in June application was made for a charter, reference to which is made in the Journal of proceedings for 1881, as follow: "The records and books thus far used by Battle Mountain Lodge are in a fine condition and neatly written. Its membership is small, but for the length of time it has been in existence, less than two months, an unusual amount of work has been done; this is not always a good sign of prosperity, for in the desire for membership, some bad material may creep into the lodge, against which we caution them. "We recommend doing away with the 'Book of Rules' adopted by the lodge and we offer in conclusion the following: "RESOLVED, That a Charter be granted Battle Mountain Lodge, and it be numbered Twenty Three, under the Jurisdiction of Nevada." Signed: William McMillian, Henry M. Jewett, Alexander Wise. Committee on Charters.
Pursuant to this resolution, a charter dated June 15, 1881, was issued to the following o8icers and members of the new lodge: Omar B. Vincent, worshipful master; Frederick W. Dunn, senior warden;Alvin B. Hastings, junior warden; Louis M. Pugh, treasurer; Jacob Gerrito, secretary; David A. Dunlap, senior deacon; John M. Brush, tyler. And the following Master Masons: Jos. A. Been, Robert McBeth, Edw. Palmer Lovejoy, Edward T. George, Jno. P. Meder, C. W. Hinchcliffe, Thomas Nelson; also, Daniel W. Willis, a Fellowcraft who, with the exception of Jacob Gerrito, signed the constitution and By-Laws in the order named. Just why Brother Gerrito who, as indicated was elected secretary of the lodge, failed to sign the record is not known, but it appears that his term of office was of short duration, for on September 9, 1882, Brother August Desire Lemaire, (father of Louis A. Lemaire, later becoming Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Nevada), was raised in Battle Mountain Lodge, and became secretary of the lodge almost immediately. He held this position for several years, serving with credit and honor the institution he loved, and to which and for which he devoted his time, financial support, and both mental and physical efforts to enable the lodge to carry on, and it may be said that to the untiring efforts of Brother Lemaire his lodge became a strong unit in Masonic circles. However, in justice to those who served with this outstanding member of Battle Mountain lodge, there was unity among the entire membership; all joined to make their lodge a forceful factor in the community, there were no drones among the membership, and the course of the lodge was onward and forward.
The jewels and officers aprons and gavels of the Master, Senior and junior Wardens, were at one time used and owned by Austin Lodge No. 10 of Austin, Nevada, before it surrendered its charter in 1871. The jewels were made from silver, mined, milled and smelted in Austin, and were donated to the lodge by various members of that lodge when it was organized, and were engraved with the name and number of that lodge, also with the name and the member donating the jewel. The gavels were made from native mountain mahogany grown and found on the slope of the mountain from which the silver used in the manufacture of the jewels was mined. The candle holders used in a triangular form within the lodge are unique, and are ingeniously made, embodying the use of an old fashioned pie pan for a base, on which is firmly soldered a trumpet shaped stem about thirty inches tall, topped with a disc which holds the candle. There are three of these holders, all painted black; they were made in Battle Mountain by Frank Weitman, a local tinsmith in 1881, and cost two dollars.
The aprons worn by the lodge officers are elaborate creations of blue velvet, tied by blue silken cords, with the station emblems worked in gilt braid, indicating that in selecting its lodge regalia, the brethren of Austin lodge No. 10 had secured the latest and best made in the market at that period.
As an indication of the standing of the brethren who belonged to Battle Mountain lodge in its early history, one needs only to refer to its roster to note their outstanding merit. Glancing over the old record, we find the name of Charles Warren Hinchcliffe, who was raised in the lodge May 10, 1881, and who for some years continued to be an outstanding member of the lodge; upon his entry into the Grand Lodge of Nevada, his love for Masonry, his remarkable capabilities and his fitness to serve, marked him for advancement and resulted in his election as Grand Master of Masons of Nevada for the year 1889-1890.
Among the charter members of Battle Mountain Lodge we find the name of Omar B. Vincent, well known in the district for his fine community spirit, his pleasing personality and the esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. He was a trusted employee of the railroad, an accountant of rare ability whose records and accounts were most beautifully and neatly kept and the envy of all who saw them. His zeal for Masonry and his interest and effort in organizing a Masonic unit in Battle Mountain, led to his unanimous selection as first master of the new lodge under dispensation.
Another member of the lodge who was esteemed not only by his lodge brethren but by the community at large was David A. Dunlap, the first appointed Senior Deacon; Brother Dunlap was a tireless worker in the order, and for a long period of years held his membership in the lodge of his adoption. Later he removed to Lovelock and demitted from Battle Mountain lodge; eventually he moved from Nevada to Idaho and was elected sheriff while maintaining his residence in Nampa.
The business, political, civic, community and fraternal life of Louis A. Lemaire has been unusually interesting; his life has been colorful and his many activities instrumental in bringing to him prestige and favor from his colleagues and associates. The son and in later years a business associate of his father, the late Auguste D. Lemaire, by application and concentration absorbed many of the unusual business traits and principles of his father, and with his brother Henry continued to carry on the many enterprises left when the elder Lemaire passed away. Brother Lemaire is not only a shrewd and successful business man, but is also a student as well. He is probably one of the best posted men in Nevada on Indian chronology, customs and habits, and is an enthusiastic collector of Indian antiques and mementoes, his collection of pottery, arrow and spear heads and woven willow baskets would excite the Envy as well as the admiration of any collector. He is familiar with the language of the tribes, especially those who lived in Battle Mountain district, and possesses a fund of legend and tradition connected with the Red men who once roamed the hills and valley around the northern part of Lander county. The writer is indebted to Brother Lemaire for the Indian tradition referred to in this article. Brother Lemaire has served Lander county both as state senator and assemblyman, in which offices he gave a good account of his stewardship. He also served as county commissioner for several terms. His fraternal activities not only include a long and progressive membership in Battle Mountain Lodge No. 23, F. & A. M., of which he is past master, but he has also served the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Nevada, as Senior Grand Warden, and would have doubtless been advanced to preside as Grand Master of Nevada Masons, had not health and business prevented him from accepting this honorable and coveted position. He has, however, served the Grand Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as Grand Master, having been elected to that office in 1901.
Well known in the commercial, industrial and political activities of Nevada, is N. H. Getchell, who for years has been a member of Battle Mountain Lodge No. 23, and who has successfully served Lander county as state senator.
A younger, but by no means less known member of Battle Mountain Lodge is George P. Coleman, whose meteoric advancement in Masonry has brought honor and credit to him, and honor to the lodge of which he has always been a valued member. In 1934 he first joined the Grand Lodge official staff as an appointee to the office of Worshipful Grand Pursuivant. In 1936 he became Worshipful Grand Deacon. The death of Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master Frank E. Murphy on April 21, 1939, created a vacancy in that office, and at the annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Nevada the following year, Brother Coleman was elected to that chair, and in June, 1940, at the Communication of the Grand Lodge held in Virginia City, Brother Coleman was unanimously elected Grand Master. Always an ardent and conscientious worker in Masonic ranks, Brother Coleman has already given evidence that he will continue his good work, and that his administration as Grand Master will not only add fresh laurels to his record but will bring honor to our order, and peace and harmony to the brethren.
And so, for more than half a century Battle Mountain lodge has continued to carry on; some of the years have been lean, some of them have been prosperous and full; but, whether the years were full and the lodge prosperous, or whether the years were lean and reflected both numerical and financial loss, yet the fine spirit of loyalty and devotion of the brethren has never wavered, their courage has never faltered and they have continued to function, maintaining and promoting an active and progressive unit of Nevada Masonry.