Organizations & Lists, Somerset County

Royal Arcanum – Dale City Council, No. 750, R.A., was organized in March, 1883. Officers:George H. Suhrie, regentDr. H. C. McKinley, vice-regentA. F. John, past regentDr. U. M. Beachley, oratorH. P. Hartley, treasurerM. A. Rutter, collectorE. M. Beachley, secretary Trustees:Jos. A. Ritter, guideJ. H. Bisell, wardenJ. J. HoblitzellJ. H. BisellJ. T. Shipley Medical Examiners:Dr. H. … Read more

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC R. P. Cummins Post, No. 210, G.A.R. (named in honor of Col. Robert P. Cummins, of the 142d Regt. Penn. Vols., who, while in command of his regiment, was mortally wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1, and died July 2, 1863), was organized June 16, 1881, by … Read more

This encampment was chartered April 11, 1852. The officers first elected were:Robert P. Cummins, C.P.William Roddy, H.P.Alexander Stutzman, S.W.John D. Roddy, J.W.H. P. Snyder, ScribeC. F. Beam, Treas.William B. Coffroth, GuideThis encampment went down, but no data have been furnished of the time. On the 30th of April, 1872, the encampment was reinstated on the … Read more

  About the year 1819, a masonic organization, known as Somerset Lodge, No. 84, A. Y. M., was organized in the town of Somerset, of which, at one time, the following named gentlemen served as officers:Chauncey Forward – W. M.Ankeny – S. W.John Patton – J.W.Harmon Updegraff – S.D.Jacob Graft – Tiler This lodge flourished … Read more

  The Somerset County Agricultural Society was first organized in 1853, and the first fair was held on September 25 and 26 of that year. The following year three and one-half acres of land were purchased and five hundred dollars expended in buildings, and fairs were held until 1861. From that time until 1873 the … Read more

This lodge was first chartered June 10, 1851, and at the first election, which occurred on the 1st of July the following were elected:John D. Roddy – N.G.Robert P. Cummins – V.G.John H. Cunningham – Sec\’yA. J. Long – Treas. In 1861 many of the members joined the Union army as volunteers, and as a … Read more

Somerset Lodge No. 358, F. and A. M. was organized September 20, 1865. Its first W.M. was Andrew J. Colborn. His successors have been: N. P. Kerr, W. A. Garman, William H. Sanner, A. Thomson Ankeny, Elias Cunningham, Frank Stntzman, Henry C.Beerits, Lewis C. Colborn, Jonathan H. Fritz and William J. Baer. The present officers … Read more

SOMERSET GAZETTE As early as 1806, a German newspaper, known as the Somerset Gazette, was published in the town of Somerset, but by whom published, when established, or when its publication ceased, are unknown. SOMERSET HORNET According to a brief paragraph which appeared in the columns of the Bedford Gazette early in 1806, Gen. Alexander … Read more

EARLY SOMERSET BOROUGH BANKS About 1853, John T. Hogg, of Fayette county, established the first banking-house in the town of Somerset. William Roddy, who still resides at Petersburg, in this county, was the manager. This house continued business some five or six years, and then closed up its affairs without loss. George Ross & Co. … Read more

SOMERSET Dr. William Gore Elder, was the first physician to locate in the town of Somerset. Dr. Norman M. Bruce appears to have been the next physician to settle in Somerset, who remained any considerable length of time. We find mention of his name in the records as early as 1814, and as late as … Read more