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Obed Francis Strickland
MWPGM-Utah 1872

Obed F. Strickland was born on the most trying and troublesome
April 3, 1833 at Dansville, Steuben, of Utah's history; with no adequate
New York. He studied Law and was law to meet the emergency, no court
an Attorney having a law offi ce in machinery to enforce the existing
ST. John, Michigan. Brother Strick- crude statutes in a hostile community;
land was made a Master Mason in St but he boldly and unfl inchingly faced
John's Lodge No 105, Michigan. In the situation and brought order out of
1863 hopeing to fi nd a climate more chaos.
comfortable he moved to the Nevada
City Montana Territory and opened a The following is taken from the
law offi ce with Ruben Robertson there Grand Masters Address during the fi rst
as Strickland & Robertson. When the annual communication of the Grand
Pacifi c Railroads were almost complete, they moved Lodge of Utah.
to Salt Lake City, where their law fi rm became widely
known. "Our success is certain, be the situation what it may.
As Master-workmen, we are equal to the emergency.
Brother Strickland helped organize Wasatch Lodge No. It is enough that we have suffi cient material; let the
8, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Montana workmanship of our hands attest the ability we possess
in 1866 at Salt Lake City. Brother Strickland was Senior in our vocation. What Masonry has done in the past it
Deacon in 1868, Senior Warden in 1869, and Worshipful can assuredly do in the future. Pat hands, coupled with
Master in 1870. During the organization of the Grand true Masonic energy, will make our success all we can
Lodge of Utah, in January 1872, he was elected as the justly desire."
Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Utah.
In 1882, M W Past Grand Master Strickland moved
In the early part of 1869, Obed F. Strickland was back to St John's, Michigan. MWPGM Obed Francis
appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Strickland died on June 28, 1887. He was buried at
Utah and remained upon the Bench 1869-1873, during DeWitt City Cemetery, DeWitt, Michigan.

Sources and References
Annual Proceedings, Grand Lodge of A.F.&A.M.for 1866 Sanders, Helena F, 1913, A History of Montana, Volume 1,
through 1872. p. 584, The Lewis Publishing Company.
Archives, Membership Records, Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. Grand Lodge of Utah Past Grand Masters, http://www.
of Montana, 1866 though 1870 utahgrandlodge.org/gl-past-grand-masters.php
Annual Return of Lodges, Grand Lodge of A.F. &A.M. of Brief History of Wasatch Lodge, Grand Lodge of Utah,
Montana, 1866 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870 and 1872 http://www.wasatchlodge.org/publish/lodge-history/

Miller, Robert E., The Hands of the Workmen, 1966 State
Publishing Co., Helena MT., p10,18-20,.22,83-86.

Montana Freemason Page 37 Jan/Feb 2022 Volume 98 No.1