Cataract Lodge #2 Memories

Moses Whittier Getchell  The 3rd Master of Cataract Masonic Lodge #2, served as such in 1855, 1859 and again in 1865 .. over 150-160 years ago...  

 Brother Moses was born in Maine in 1824, he became one of the first settlers of Dakota Territories, in an area of what is now Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

In the “History of the City of Minneapolis” by Isaac Atwater, Moses was listed as arriving in Minneapolis in 1848. It shows he became Marshall, Assessor and won election for the third ward several times. In 1853, land records show he bought 47 Acres and in 1856 another 160 Acres. The 1860 Census lists his occupation as Deputy Sheriff. In 1871, he was the Grand Commander of the Freemason chapter in Minnesota. Moses Whittier Getchell married Mary Syrene Townsend on November 29, 1855, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, when he was 31 years old. Sometime between 1875 and 1880, Moses relocated his family to California and bought a farm in Los Angeles next to his wife Mary’s Cousin, Frank Townsend (this is shown in a 1880 Census). The exact date of Moses & Mary’s death was hard to be definitely determined, the 1890 Census reports were all destroyed in a fire. today it is believed that he died in 1892. The old farm house he built was standing for many years. Please bear in mind the book was published about 1910 and the poh ole house may no longer stand...