The purpose of this story is to add LIGHT to an already existing history of our lodge, Sinclair Lodge No. 154, presently located in West Columbia, SC. During some accidental research, I was approached by a Brother while visiting Boyleston Lodge 123 inquiring as to my being a member of Sinclair Lodge No. 154. I told him I was a Past Master, and he stated to me that I might be interested in some old photo’s he had. He told me his name was William B. (Billy) Rauch. He is a 3 time Worshipful Master of Little Mountian Lodge No. 281 in Little Mountain, S.C. I got his phone number and told him I would love to talk with him during a time where we could sit down and talk. Month’s later I called him and we set a date and time for my visit. WB Billy Rauch was full of information that led me spending a whole Saturday with him. “WOW” was he full of knowledge.
Here is a little bit about this Brother.
WB Billy Rauch was born on 10/3/30 about 5 miles south of Chapin, S.C. down a road we now know as Amick’s Ferry Rd. He was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on 4/1/55 in Little Mountain Lodge No. 281. He is a Past Master 3 times. He is proficient in the Fellowcraft Lecture and has been giving it for 57 years. (still giving it ). He is 90 YOA.
During my visit he showed me a Historical Book of Macadonia Lutheran Church located on the waters of Lake Murray (Newberry County). In this book are several photo’s of his Great Grandfather (mothers side) Drayton Isiah Epting which leads to this story.
Drayton Isiah Epting was the First Tiler of Sinclair Lodge U.D. 1869. This Lodge when started shared with a school known as Pine Ridge Academy, Lexington County, S.C. It was a two-story lapboard building and the school was downstairs and the Masons met upstairs. This area of Lexington County was known as the Piney Woods area. At this time in history Lake Murray did not exist. This area was served by 3 churches (All Lutheran), They were descendants of Dutch German Immigrants.
Bethel High Hill Lutheran Church (now under Lake Murray)
Macedonia Lutheran Church (Prosperity)
St. Peters Lutheran Church (Chapin)
The FIRST Lodge (1870-1874) was located at Amicks Ferry Rd. and Lakemont Dr. Chapin, S.C. (SC-S-32-1323) at the O.D. (DAR) Frick home. In his front yard next to the fence line is a marker of granite stone and states the following:
“Sinclair Masonic Lodge 154 AFM. First meeting held at Pine Ridge on this site Dec. 18th, 1869. Chartered Nov. 16th, 1870. Moved to John Riddle Place Bush River Rd. Sept. 18th, 1874”.
Site Location (N 34. 06. 474 / W 81.22.659 )
At this time in history (1869), the Grand Lodge of SC (AFM) located then in Charleston, SC received a (RETURN) from Sinclair U.D. and held it’s first meeting under special Dispensation on December 18th, 1869, at Pine Ridge in the Dutch Fork section of Lexington County, SC. This location is the present location of “Fricks Store” and was behind Mr. Darr Fricks’s house, which was the home of Rev. Daniel Efird in 1869. The Masonic Grand Master, MW James Connor, appointed the following men to serve as officers of the new Lodge.
Place of Meeting,—–Pine Ridge, Lexington County, SC
Time of Meeting,——First Saturday evening after Full Moon
OFFICERS:
B.R. Wyse W.M (Benjamin R. Wyse)
M.H.Witt S.W. (Martin H. Witt)
F.W. Derrick J.W. (Frederick W. Derrick)
J.S. Derrick Treasurer (John Samuel Derrick)
J. H. Counts Secretary (John Henry Counts / Magistrate)
J. N. Shealy Senior Deacon (John Noah Shealy / Confederate)
S. D. Hiller Junior Deacon (Silas David Miller)
D.L. Epting Steward (David Leopard Epting / Conf.)
Noah Frick Steward (Noah Frick)
D.I. Epting Tiler (Drayton Isiah Epting / First Tiler)
The following information is a little about each of the Brother Officers who were the founders of Sinclair 154:
B.R. Wyse (Benjamin Robert) – Born November 21, 1825, son of Frederick and Julia Kelly Wise. Married Charlotte Eleazer and lived his entire life in the Dutch Fork. He was a Medical Doctor. He died in 1903 at the age od 78.
M.H. Witt (Martin H.) – Born Ca. 1837, lived in the Dutch Fork until 1884 or 1885. Moved to New Brooklyn (West Columbia) and ran a store. He was Worshipful Master of Congaree Lodge, now extinct.
F.W. Derrick (Frederick W. Derrick) – Born January 23, 1827 and died February 8, 1896. Married Lucinda Caroline Unger. Buried near present Lake Point near Hilton.
J.S. Derrick (John Samuel) – Born October 6, 1832. died November 8, 1882. Son of Andrew and Catherine Hiller Derrick. Married Elizabeth Caughman, born March 14, 1840 and died October 21, 1935.
J.H. Counts (John Henry) – Born June 30, 1803 and died June 8, 1883. Married Catherine Dreher, daughter of John Dreher and sister of Rev. Godfrey Dreher. He was a Magistrate and ran a store (Countsville) near Saluda River. He also owned a large plantation.
J.N. Shealy (John Noah) – Born 1833 and died 1894. Son of Adam and Nancy Corley Shealy. Married Susannah Catherine DeHardt. Lived near St. Peters (Piney Woods) Church. Moved to Pomaria in 1880.
S.D. Miller (Silas D. ) – Born ??? He was the son of John and Martha Lybran Hiller. Martha was a daughter of Henry and Mary Barbara Ballentine Lybrand. Silas was the father of James Hiller who owned the “Hiller House” restored in Chapin.
D.L. Epting (David Leopard) – Born June 29, 1847 and died August 15, 1923. He was killed in a wagon he was driving when hit by a car at the “Sycamore Tree” on Hwy. 1 and New Brookland (West Columbia). Brother was D.I. Epting (Drayton Isiah).
Noah Frick – Born Ca. 1839. Son of Thomas Frick IV and Elizabeth Frick. Brother of Robert Frick who later lived in Chapin.
D.I. Epting (Drayton Isiah) – Born August 1, 1834 and died February 6, 1930. Married Kissiah Sulton, born February 26, 1832 and died January 14, 1908. He was a Confederate Veteran and brother of David Leopard Epting. Son of William and Rosa Fulmer Epting. His house is under the water’s of Lake Murray. He lived to be 96 YOA and passed living with his daughter. The building of Lake Murray took his land.
D.I. Epting and D.L. Epting were paternal brothers and Bro. Masons.
MASTER MASONS:
J. F. Wingard (Job Franklin Wingard)
J. J. Wessinger (John Jesse Wessinger)
J. J. Derrick (Jacob John Derrick)
J. E. Fullmer (Joseph E. Fullmer)
S. J. Wiggers (Samuel J. Wiggers)
T. L. Black (Tillman L. Black)
J. F. Fulmer (John Frederick)
J. B. Hyler (John Barnett Hyler)
J. A. Ballentine (John Ansley Ballentine)
H. C. Derrick (Henry Calvin Derrick)
Additional Information on the following Brothers:
J.F. Wingard (Job Franklin) – Born October 11, 1828, son of Jacob and Christina Lybrand Wingard. Christina was the daughter of Henry and Mary Barbara Lybrand.
J.J. Wessinger (John Jesse) – Born November 29, 1835 and died June 19, 1914. Married Martha Derrick Ballentine. Ran the store at “Wessinger” (location known as Wessinger) It was also a Post Office. He was a Confederate Veteran.
J.J. Derrick (Jacob John) – Born November 7, 1848 and died March 18, 1929. Son of Emmanuel and Rutha Lybrand Derrick. Married Mary Jane Hiller.
J.E. Fuller (Joseph E.) – Born October 6, 1818 and died October 3, 1883. Married Elizabeth Epting, born June 12, 1818 and died September 20, 1907. He was the father-in-law S.J. Wiggers and brother of J.F. Fuller. Son of Adam Fuler and grandson of Captain Jacob Fulmer.
S.J.Wiggers (Samuel J.) – Born January 1, 1836 and died October 22, 1917. Married 1. Louisa Fulmer, born December 28, 1843 and died January 13, 1863. 2. Mary __?__, born June 29, 1847 and died November 23, 1924. Lived near Bear Creek 3 miles south of Chapin.
T.L. Black (Tillman L.) – Son of Adam and Catherine Chapman Black.
J.F. Fulmer (John Frederick) – Born February 14, 1824 and died April 1, 1903. Son of Adam and Cathrine Rister Fulmer. Married 1. Elizabeth Cathrine Wheeler, Married 2. Sarah Ann Fulmer. Lived west of St. Peters Lutheran Church.
J.B. Hyler (John Barnett) – Born September 1, 1825. Son of Daniel and Mary Hyler. He was a member of St. Michael Lutheran Church.
J.A. Ballentine (John Ansley) – Son of William and Anna Riddlehoover Ballentine. Lived on Bear Creek on a part of present Timberlake Plantation.
H.C. Derrick (Henry Calvin) – Born April 29, 1846 and died January 5, 1922. Married Mary Ellen Fulmer, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Epting Fulmer. Lived on Hancock Branch west of Macedonia Lutheran Church.
The following is to be noted:
MW Bro. James Connor, Grand Master of S.C. 1868-1870 (AFM) mentioned earlier in this article, was born in Charleston, SC on September 1, 1829. He was a Brigadier General in the Confederate Army, losing a leg at the battle of Cedar Creek, Va. He died June26, 1883 and is buried in Charleston, SC.
FELLOWCRAFTS:
NONE
ENTERED APPRENTICES:
S.L. Smith (Nothing to report on this Brother)
EXPULSIONS:
NONE
SUSPENSIONS:
NONE
DEMISSIONS:
NONE
DEATHS:
NONE
AFFILIATIONS:
NONE
RECAPITULATION
$ 17.00
Note.–Every Lodge pays 50 cents for every Master Mason who is a member, and 50 cents for every Degree conferred. The annual Communication for the present year will be holden at Charleston, on Tuesday, 15, November 1870, to which the Masters and Wardens, or Delagates of the Lodge, are summoned to attend. All letters must be addressed, as heretofore, to the Grand Secretary, at Charleston. B.RUSH CAMPBELL, Grand Secretary.
The SECOND Lodge (1874-1902) was located at Johnson Marina Rd. and Riddle Landing Rd. At this location (2303 Johnson Marina Rd.) Is the second granite marker and it states the following.
“Sinclair Masonic Lodge 154 AFM relocated from Pine Ridge to this site Sept. 18th, 1874. Changed meeting place May 15th, 1902 from Sinclair to town of New Brookland”.
Site Location (N 34. 06. 595 / W 81. 16. 334)
This area became known as SINCLAIR as a post office was placed in the front room of the John Riddle place across the road from the Masonic Lodge known then as Bush River Rd. Let’s remember that all this took place way before the Saluda River was dammed forming Lake Murray.
Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of South Carolina at the Annual Communications, November 21, and December 19, Annos Lucis 5871 (1871).
M.W. R.S.Bruns, Grand Master
R.W. B. Rush Campbell, Grand Secretary
During this time in history Sinclair 154 (1872) was in the 4th District, along with the following Lodges:
Boyleston 123, at St. Johns Lutheran Church
Batesville 138, at Batesville (now Batesburg-Leesville)
Lexington 152, at Court House (Lexington, SC )
Sinclair 154, at Pine Ridge ( Location of first Lodge )
The District Deputy Grand Master was R.W. Bro. Z.W. Carwile. He served all Lodges in 3 counties. They are as follows:
Edgefield (14 Lodges)
Lexington (4 Lodges)
Newberry (3 Lodges)
The total of 21 Lodges in all.
Did he ride by Horseback or Buggy ?????
As of now there is one more item that I would love to find out and that is WHERE was Bro. Drayton Isiah Epting Buried ??????? (Our First Tiler)
Was it Macedonia Lutheran Church Cemetery ?????
I’ll Close for now Brothers.
Fraternally and Respectfully Submitted,
RWB Edward E. Smith, Jr. (PM)
Sinclair Lodge No. 154 