William Parish Chilton, PGM 1869-1871

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“William Parish Chilton was born in Kentucky in 1810. He was plainly educated and read law in Nashville, Tenn. His father was a Baptist minister and his mother a sister of Hon., Jesse Bledsoe, the Kentucky jurist. He came to this State in 1834, and established himself in the practice at Mardisville, in Talladega, associated with Mr. George P. Brown. He was subsequently associated in the practice with Messrs. G. W. Stone, J. T. Morgan, and F. W. Bowdon.

In 1839 he represented the county in the legislature, and in 1843 was the unsuccessful candidate of his party for congress. He removed to Macon County in 1846, and was at different times in partnership there with Messrs. William McLester, W. C. McIver, and C. A. Battle. He became Chief Justice when Justice Dargan resigned, Dec. 6, 1852, and held the eminent position till Jan. 2, 1856. He was chosen to the senate from Macon in 1859, over Col. Graham. In 1860 he resided in Montgomery and was the law partner of Hon. William L. Yancy. He was elected to represent the Montgomery district in the provisional congress of the Confederacy, and was re-elected to the two congresses under the permanent constitution. “It was a common remark that he “was the most laborious member of the body,” says his colleague, Hon. J.L.M. Curry of Talladega. At the peace he continued his professional labors in association with Col. Jack Thorington, and was so engaged at the time of his death, Jan. 20, 1871.

Both houses of the legislature, the Supreme Court, the federal court, all in session at the time in Montgomery, adjourned in respect to his memory, and spread resolutions of sorrow on their journals. The circuit court of Mobile, the bar there and at Selma, took similar action; while the Masonic bodies throughout the State, of which order he was Grand Master, united in the general expression of sorrow.

“His public career was distinguished by a pure, unselfish patriotism, an incorruptible integrity, a and a capacity and willingness to labor which seemed inexhaustible.” His life was a conclusive refutation of the popular fallacy that the practice of law is inconsistent with a pure Christianity. No public man of the State has exhibited more of the characteristics of a good and useful citizen.

Justice Chilton was twice married, each time to a sister of Gen. Morgan of Dallas, and two of his sons were attorneys at the Montgomery bar. Col. Anderson Abercrombie of Texas, and Dr. U. R. Jones and Mr. Wm. S. Thorington of this county, married daughters of Judge Chilton. Hon. Thomas Chilton of Talladega, deceased, who was for eight years a member of congress from Kentucky, was a brother.”

Dr. George D. Norris, PGM 1867-1869

“On the 12th day of February, 1890, the death Angel came into our midst and summoned to the reward of the just, our highly esteemed and dearly beloved Brother, Past Grand Master George D. Norris, of New Market, Alabama.

After the Civil War, Grand Master George D. Norris renewed the need for an Orphans Home. He traveled through the rain, in a stage coach, on a steamboat, and by rail. He traveled two months in 1869 visiting Lodges, lecturing, working and settling points of Masonic Law.

Brother Norris was one of the oldest and brightest stars in the Masonic constellation of this State, and his love, devotion and zeal for the cause of Masonry were equaled by but few and surpassed by none. Always at his post of duty, ever ready and willing to sacrifice and be sacrificed for the good of the Fraternity, he was a model Mason, and in his Masonic life we have an example worthy of imitation by all who have assumed the obligations of the mystic brotherhood

Wilson Williams, PGM 1865-1867

Brother Williams passed away in 1882

William C. Penick, PGM 1864-1865

“William C. Penick and Elizabeth (Byers) Penick were natives of Cumberland County, Virginia and York district, South Carolina, respectively. William C. Penick was born July 17, 1800 to Nathaniel Penick and Zilla H. Allen. He was educated at Hampdon-Sidney College, Va. He graduated in medicine at Transylvania College, at Lexington, Kentucky about 1824. He married Elizabeth Narcissa Byers Nov. 24, 1825 in York SC. Elizabeth Narcissa Byers was born Nov. 10, 1807 in York, SC . to David (Davie) Byers and Mary Gordon.  William practiced medicine in the York District of SC. until 1835 when William and Elizabeth relocated in Alabama. They settled at Wetumpka, where he was engaged in merchandising but resumed the practice of medicine in 1839. He continued his medical practice with great success until the fall of 1846 when he bought a considerable farm near Wetumpka and continued in the business of agriculture until his death on the 16th day of Oct. 1872.

William Penick and Elizabeth had the following children: (1) William Smith Penick (b. Oct. 20, 1826 York Dist., SC d. Aug. 2, 1894 Wetumpka, Elmore Co.,Alabama)(2)John Byers Penick (b. Feb. 5, 1832 York, SC d. Dec. 12, 1840 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (3) Frances Anna Penick (b. Feb. 5, 1848 Wetumpka, Coosa Co., AL d. Sep. 12, 1885 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (4) Holmes Allen Penick (b. Mar 1, 1845 Wetumpka, Coosa County, AL d. Oct. 9, 1874 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (5) David Johnson Penick (b. Mar 8, 1834 York, SC d. Nov. 12, 1834 York, SC) (6) Louisa Josephine Penick (b. Apr. 25, 1842 Wetumpka, Coosa Co., Alabama d. 1843 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (7) Alemeth Byers Penick (b. Apr. 30, 1836 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL d. 1862 Mississippi) (8) Nathaniel Edward Penick (b. June 3, 1830 York, SC d. Sep 1, 1864 GA) (9) Mary Frances Penick (b. Sep 4, 1828 York, SC d. Aug. 3, 1845 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL) (10) Sarah Elizabeth Penick (b. Dec. 26, 1838 Wetumpka, Coosa County, Alabama d. Apr. 12, 1916 Wetumpka, Elmore Co., AL)

He was a public-spirited and prominent man in his day. He was a strong unionist in 1833, and an ardent secessionist in 1861. He was a delegate to the Baltimore convention in 1860 from Alabama and assisted in nominating John C. Breckenridge for president. Prior to his death he had acquired a large property in slaves and lands. He died Oct. 16, 1872 and is buried in Wetumpka County Cemetery, Elmore County, Alabama.

John Adams Loder, PGM 1863-1864

John Adams Loder was the son of Benjamin Hoagland Loder (b. June 9, 1795 d. Sep 6, 1828) and Maria (pronounced Mariah) Bowie (b. Feb. 3, 1799 d. Feb. 18, 1899. His parents were married Feb. 3, 1819 in the 6th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. John Adams Loder’s siblings were Jane Bowie Lodor born Nov 4, 1821 and died March 20, 1904. Napoleon Loder born Oct 10, 1823 d. aft. 1854, Sarah Lavinia Lodor born August 2, 1825 died Dec 15, 1906, Harriet South Lodor b. Aug. 28, 1827 d. March 30, 1915.

John Loder resided in Cahawba, Dallas County, Alabama in the 1840 and 1850 census of Cahawba, Alabama and the Dallas County census of 1860. He was born 6 Dec 1819 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died Nov. 5, 1865.

He was a an attorney and resided in 1840-1850 at the corner of Oak and 4th St. in Cahawba, Alabama. He married Bettie S. Duke. Bettie was born about 1826 in Kentucky. Their children were John Loder who died in infancy, A. Duke Loder born about 1851, James Craig Loder born about 1853, Napoleon Loder born about 1856 (married Susan Dabney), Reginald Heber Loder, Annie Matthews Loder, Bessie Duke Loder b. about 1858 and Edward Perrine Loder born about 1865

William Hutchinson Norris, PGM 1861-1862

“BROTHER NORRIS, born about 1793, was a highly successful planter and legislator, having served in the Legislature and in the Senate from 1840-47. He received his degrees in Dale Lodge No. 25 in 1838-39. He became the Charter Master of Liberty Lodge No. 65 in 1845 and in 1849 he became the Charter Master of Fulton Lodge No. 98. In 1859 he became the Charter Master of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 266 and remained a member there until about 1866 when he and his family sailed for Brazil from the Port of Mobile aboard the Ship “Talisman.” He had purchased a farm in Brazil in 1865 and
later joined a colony of Alabamians who went to Brazil to make their homes there.

Most Worshipful Brother NORRIS was very active in forming new lodges in Alabama and continued his great interest in Masonry by forming in 1874 the George Washington Lodge at Santa Barbara, Brazil. This lodge was constituted under the Brazilian Great Orient with special dispensation to function using the English language. This lodge is not in existence today and records are vague as to the date it ceased to function. Indications are that the columns made by Col. Norris for George Washington Lodge are in use today in a Blue Lodge in Santa Barbara, Brazil.

Brother Norris’s farm was a settlement approximately ten miles from Santa Barbara. The settlement is now called the Village of Americans and is presently a city of 200,000. In February 1972 there was formed in the Village of Americans the Loja Simbolica Coronel WILLIAM HUTCHINSON NORRIS No. 151 (Symbolic Lodge Colonel Norris). This lodge presently has forty-four members, one of whom is a great grandson of Brother NORRIS. Most Worshipful Brother Norris died July 13, 1893 at the age of 93 years, in his home at Santa Barbara, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, leaving behind a devoted wife, nine children, thirty-nine grand-children and twenty-three great-grand-children. Both are buried in the American Cemetery near the village of Americans. ”

Stephen Fowler Hale, PGM 1860-1861

“Stephen Fowler Hale was born in Crittenden Co. Kentucky, Jan. 31, 1816. His father, a Baptist minister, was from S.C.; his mother was a Miss Mannahan of the same State. After his 1837 graduation from Princeton College, Princeton, Kentucky, Stephen taught school about a
year in Eutaw before returning to Kentucky and study law. He graduated from Transylvania Univ. two years later and returned to Eutaw, Al. He practiced at different times in association with Messrs. Alexander Graham and T. C. Clarke. In 1843 he was elected to the legislature
for the first of numerous terms. Three years later, he marched to war in Mexico as first lieutenant of a company of Greene County volunteers.
He also served as president of the Alabama Great Southern Railroad Company, devoting much time to advancing that important enterprise. In 1853 he was the nominee of his party for Congress. From 1857 to 1861 he again represented the county in the legislature, and was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in the State at the same time.

Col. Hale married a sister of Mr. F. M. Kirsey at one time sheriff of Greene, and one of his sons was a member of the bar of the Greene County. A daughter married Capt. E. B. Vaughn of Sumter County, Alabama.

Bro. Hale presumably received his Masonic degrees at Amity Lodge #54 in Eutaw, where he served for many years as Worshipful Master. He was chosen Junior Grand Warden in both 1844 and 1845, Senior Grand Warden in 1858 and held that position until he was elected Grand Master for 1861.

In December, 1860, when Alabama’s secession from the Federal Union became a serious possibility, Stephen Hale was chosen by Governor A. B. Moore to enlist the cooperation of his native state. On his return from Kentucky, the Alabama Constitutional Convention named him to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, then meeting at Montgomery. However, Hale soon abandoned politics for the more manly business of soldiering. In June, 1861, Hale became Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th Regiment Alabama Volunteer Infantry, of which Sydenham Moore was Colonel. After a short period of training, the regiment was ordered to the front, becoming part of General Cadmus Wilcox’s Brigade of what would later be called the Army of Northern Virginia.

At precisely 7 P.M. on Monday, December 2, 1861, the gavel sounded to open the 41st Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of AL. However, the premier Mason in Alabama Grand Master Stephen F. Hale – was nowhere to be seen. Deputy Grand Master William H. Norris, who sat in the East, informed the brethren that the Most Worshipful Grand Master could not be present because he was serving “with the patriotic Confederate Army in Virginia.” On June 27, 1862, Colonel Hale led his men into combat at the fiercely fought Battle of Gaines’ Mill. Seeing his color bearer fall, he moved forward, waving his sword to pick up the flag, when
he received two slight wounds and fell. He lingered three weeks, dying in Richmond, July 18, 1862. He was only 46 years old when he died. He left a widow, several daughters, and a teenage son who was serving as a midshipman in the Confederate Navy. His remains were interred in Eutaw at Mesopotamia Cemetery some months after.

The Grand Lodge of Alabama honored his memory by presenting a special Masonic medal to his family and when the Alabama Legislature proposed to divide Greene County, its citizens agreed on the condition that the new county must be named for their esteemed fellow citizen Stephen Hale. Hale County came into existence by an act signed on Jan. 30, 1867.”

Robert H. Ervin, PGM 1858-1860

“Robert H. Ervin was a native and resident of Wilcox County, Alabama. His father Samuel Ervin, a South Carolinian, was in Alabama in 1814; while his mother’s father, Mr. John Eades, was here even earlier. Born at Coal Bluff, in 1822, he received a plain education, but graduated in medicine at Transylvania University in 1845. He retired from an extensive practice in 1853 when elected to represent the County in the legislature.

In 1858 he was Grand Master of the Masons of Alabama.  Early in 1861 he entered the army in a mounted company, and participated in the battle of Shiloh.

From 1863 to 1865 he represented Dallas and Wilcox counties in the State Senate. He later gave his public attention to agriculture. Dr. Ervin was stout and robust with a brusque but kind deportment. He was prudent and sagacious, his mind was of the practical order. Moral and honorable, he was a fair type of the Southern gentleman. He married a sister of Major Felix Tait.”

Felix Grundy Norman, PGM 1856-1858

“Felix Grundy Norman , was born January 4, 1808, near Smyrna, Rutherford County, Tenn. and died August 5, 1885 at Tuscumbia, Alabama. He received an academic course and in 1828 came to this (then Franklin) County and taught school. He was afterwards a merchant, but read law under Hon. William Cooper and was licensed in 1841. The same year he entered the legislature, and served for eight successive years. From 1845 to 1847 he was Master of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in the State. He was living in Tuscumbia in 1872. A Lawyer, a Democrat, a Presbyterian and a Mason. He was denied early educational advantages, but was taught in the rudiments by an older brother. He began life as a merchant, but later taught school for several years. He studied under William Casper, was admitted to the bar in Tuscumbia in the early thirties, and practiced at that point and the surrounding country until his death.

He was Mayor of Tuscumbia for many years, and represented Franklin County in the Legislature a number of times in the legislature for sessions of 1841, 1842, 1844, 1845 and 1847-8, inclusive. Although he supported the Confederacy with his means and influence, he was debarred from active participation on account of his age.[trifelixgrundy]

Felix Grundy Norman, grew up in the early settlement of west Tennessee and once spoke about his childhood and the difficulties his family faced each day, in the United States Senate, With eloquence, he related the following, “I was too young to participate in these dangers and difficulties, but I can remember when death was in almost every bush, and every thicket concealed an ambuscade. If I am asked to trace my memory back, and name the first indelible impression it received, it would be the sight of my eldest brother, bleeding and dying under the wounds inflicted by the tomahawk and scalping knife. Another, and another went in the same way. I have seen a widowed mother plundered of her whole property in one night; from affluence and ease reduced to poverty in a moment, and compelled to labor with her own hands to support and educate her last and favorite son-him who now addresses you. Sir, the ancient sufferings of the West were very great. I know it. I need turn to no document to tell me what they were. They are written upon my memory-a part of them on my heart. Those of us who are here are but the remnant, the wreck of large families lost in the settlement of the West.” xvii[Earlysett]

He was the son of John Norman and Margaret [Stockird or Stockard] Norman who lived at Smyrna, Rutherford county, Tenn. Married: August 17, 1848 at Dickson, to Jane Lavinia Cook. Jane, was born in Huntsville, Ala., Feb. 22, 1824, and died June 25, 1901. She was a daughter of Henry Cook and Jane [Shelton] Cook, of Spotsylvania County, Va., and a sister of Mrs. Amanda Barton. They resided for some years in Huntsville, later locating to Tuscumbia
where they spent the remaining years of their lives, in the former for some time as government agent for the disposition of Indian lands. Children: 1. John Henry Norman; 2. Felix Grundy Norman,[Jr.], m. Della Phares, Salinas, Calif.; 3. Mary Barton Norman, m. John R. Charlton, La Verge, Tenn.; 4. Kate Cook Norman, m. Hall S. Kirkpatrick; 5. Thomas Edgar Norman, m. Lee Ellis, Memphis; 6. James Beverly Norman, last residence: Tuscumbia.”

He and his wife are buried in the Oakwood Cemetery at Tuscumbia. Mrs. Norman before her marriage was Jane L. Cook, a daughter of Henry Cook and Jane Cook and Mr. and Mrs. Norman were the parents of several well-known children

James Penn, PGM 1843-1845

“James Penn was born in Amherst County, Virginia, September 22, 1794. While still in Virginia, Brother Penn married Martha and their first two children Virginia Ann Penn and James Littleton Penn were born there. In 1825, Brother Penn and his family moved to Triana, Madison County, Alabama. His sons Fearn Penn, George Nicholas Penn, and William Penn, born in Alabama, died of scarlet fever in January 1841. Two daughters were also born in Alabama. Brother Penn entered into law practice with Thomas J. Sumner of Huntsville, but maintained his office in Triana and on June 21, 1829, ran an ad in The Democrat, a Huntsville newspaper, to announce his candidacy for the Alabama Legislature. He served as speaker of the lower house for three years. After serving his final term in the legislature he dropped his law practice and became a cashier for the Branch Bank of Alabama, where he remained employed until his removal to Memphis, Tennessee in 1848.

Brother Penn was made a Mason as early as 1817 in Marshall Lodge No. 39 of Lynchburg, Virginia, and served as Master for several years and District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia in 1820 and 1821. He was Exalted in Richmond Chapter No. 3 R.A.M. in 1819, and soon became a member of Euclid Chapter No. 15, at Danville, Virginia, and was Grand High Priest of Virginia Royal Arch Masons in 1820-21. Brother Penn apparently received the R. & S. M. Degrees on the 16th day of February, 1820, from James Cushman, who held a patent from Jeremy L. Cross and who issued another patent authorizing Brother Penn as the first Thrice Illustrious Grand Master and others to open Washington Council No. 6 at Lynchburg, Virginia.

Brother Penn is not only distinguished as the “Father of the Alabama Ritual” but also as the “Father of Scottish Rite Masonry in Virginia” for his leadership in the movement to establish the Scottish Rite in Lynchburg and in the State of Virginia at large, thereby becoming a Charter member of Virginia Consistory in Brother Penn appears to have received the Scottish Rite Degrees, Forth to Thirty-second from James Cushman, a Deputy of the Supreme Council, at the same time he received the Cryptic Degrees. He affiliated with Triana Lodge No. 22 and served as Master from 1827 to 1834, then later with Helion Lodge No 1 in Huntsville where he served as Master from 1837 to 1842. In 1826, he was present at the Annual Communication in Tuscaloosa and served on including committees appointed to revise and amend the Constitution and another to exemplify the work. He also served as pro tem, Grand Senior Warden. He served as Grand Lecturer of the Alabama Grand Lodge from 1827 to 1833 and as Grand Master in 1843 and 1844.

Brother Penn died July 21, 1870, at age seventy-five. In a memorial written by Brother Albert Pike Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite at that time, and a personal friend of Brother Penn, he states “Our dear friend and brother was a man eminently of pure
heart and innocent life, a generous, genial, kind affectionate man, of blameless morals, in the truest sense a servant of the Cross, doing harm to none, and saying harm of none; and yet no negative man, but of firm convictions and energetic action, and resolute nature and quick decision, condemning with a lofty scorn every act unworthy of a Mason, and yet ever ready to forgive when that wrongly done had been repented of.” xvi[1979 Pro] [Grand Masters of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons The State of Alabama 1821-2008 by Donna R. Causey]

Edward Herndon, PGM 1839-1842

“Edward Herndon, planter and merchant, was born September 17, 1799, at Spotsylvania, Va., and died February 2, 1872, at Livingston, Sumter County: son of Edward Herndon and Mary Elizabeth (Sharpe) Herndon, of Cole Hill and Spotsylvania, Va.; brother of Thomas Hord Herndon (q.v.) He was educated under private tutors, and came to Alabama when he was a youth. He became a planter and merchant; owned lands at Erie, Greene County, 1818-1838; moved to Gainesville, Sumter County, 1839; was associated with Whisett Winston and others in the mercantile business until 1844 or 1845; devoted his entire attention to planting near Sumterville, 1845-1866; was elected treasurer of Sumter County, 1868; appointed U. S. census enumerator, 1870; and was register in chancery for Sumter County, 1869-1872.

He was always called major, and was probably on the staff of one of the governors of Alabama. He is said to have been appointed and commissioned to receive and entertain GEN. Lafayette when he visited the United States. He was a Whig until 1860, was a Union man, 1860-1865, and a Republican, 1865-1872. He was a member of the Church of England until 1824, then became a Presbyterian.

He was a Mason, serving as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, 1839-1841, Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge, 1844-1846, Deputy Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, 1840-1842, and Grand Treasurer of the Grand Chapter, 1845.

He was married to Malvina Ann Cammack, daughter of Robert Cammack and Elizabeth (Chew) Cammack, who lived at Cole Hill, VA. Her ancestors were Scotch, the Chew family having a crest and coat of arms. Their children: 1. Robert Edward Herndon, b. January 25, 1829, d. November 1859, unmarried, was a merchant at Hall’s Bluff, Tex.; 2. Thomas C. Herndon, d. 1906, m. Jane Krumbhaar, Pass Christian, Miss.: 3. Christiana C. Herndon., d. 1878 m. Anthony Winston Dillard 4. Emma J. Herndon., d. 1908, m. Thomas Rufus Underwood; 5. Addison C. Herndon., d. 1897, m. Mary Prades, 6. Lucy Bird Herndon, d. 1840; 7. Samuel C. Herndon. d. 1840. His last residence was Livingston, Alabama.”