Masons

Flint village saw the beginning of two leading benevolent associations, the Masons and the Odd Fellows. The first lodge of the order of Free and Accepted Masons was convened in Flint, April 6, 1848, and was organized as Genesee Lodge No. 23. Its first officers were H. I. Higgins, worthy master; Chauncey S. Payne, senior warden; Willard Eddy, junior warden; Charles Reighley, secretary and treasurer; ? Wright, senior deacon; Benjamin Boomer, junior deacon; ? Ingals, tiler. The lodge held its early meetings in the Starr building, in the first ward, owned by Chauncey S. Payne, and since has burned. The first member initiated was Col. E. H. Thomson. It then moved into the Hill building, on the south side of Saginaw Street. In December, 1845, it surrendered its charter and its books and papers where, by order of the grand lodge of the state, together with jurisdiction over its membership, transferred to Flint Lodge No. 23, Free and Accepted Masons.

Michigan Counties
Alcona	Alger
Allegan	Alpena
Antrim	Arenac
Baraga	Barry
Bay	Benzie
Berrien	Branch
Calhoun	Cass
Charlevoix	Cheboygan
Chippewa	Clare
Clinton	Crawford
Delta	Dickinson
Eaton	Emmet
Genesee	Gladwin
Gogebic	Grand Traverse
Gratiot	Hillsdale
Houghton	Huron
Ingham	Ionia
Iosco	Iron

Isabella	Jackson
Kalamazoo	Kalkaska
Kent	Keweenaw
Lake	Lapeer
Leelanau	Lenawee
Livingston	Luce
Mackinac	Macomb
Manistee	Marquette
Mason	Mecosta
Menominee	Midland
Missaukee	Monroe
Montcalm	Montmorency
Muskegon	Newaygo
Oakland	Oceana
Ogemaw	Ontonagon
Osceola	Oscoda
Otsego	Ottawa
Presque Isle	Roscommon
Saginaw	St Clair
St Joseph	Sanilac
Schoolcraft	Shiawassee
Tuscola	Van Buren
Washtenaw	Wayne
Wexford