Winfield Durbin - Indiana Governor. AASR Active for Indiana - History of Ancient Landmarks Lodge - 1864 -1866
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Winfield T. Durbin

Governor of Indiana  Jan. 1901 - Jan.1905
33rd Active for Indiana 1917 - 19xx 
 

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Born 1847 -- Died 1929

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Biographical information from 1924 History of Indpls Valley, AASR page 389
 
Governor Winfield Durbin, Member Ancient Landmarks Lodge No. 319 F&AM
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  "Brother Durbin, active member of the Supreme Council from Indiana, was born at Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, May 4, 1847, and with his parents moved to New Philadelphia in 1850.  He was the youngest of six brothers who served in the Civil War.  In 1869 he came to Indianapolis, where he engaged in the mercantile business with Murphy, Johnson & Co.  In 1879 he moved to Anderson where he engaged in the banking business with his father-in-law.

     "Brother Durbin was made a Master Mason in Ancient Landmarks Lodge No. 319, Indianapolis, February 21, 1871.  After moving to Anderson he demitted to Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 77, January 2, 1885.  He was mad a Royal Arch Mason in Keystone Chapter No. 6, Indianapolis, April 1, 1875, and later became a member of Anderson Chapter No. 52.  He was knighted in Raper Commandery No. 1, August 4, 1877.  He was one of the petitioners for a commandery at Anderson which was chartered in 1885, and of which he was named Eminent Commander.  He was started in the Grand Commandery line in 1890, and also was appointed Inspector General and as such did meritorious work.  He was regularly advanced in line and served as Grand Commander of Indiana in 1896.

    "In the Scottish Rite, Brother Durbin received the Fourteenth Degree in Indianapolis, January 27, 1875.  On his removal to Anderson he did not continue the work and it was not until December  9, 1886, that he received the Thirty-second Degree at Indianapolis.  He was made an honorary member of the Supreme Council, Thirty-third Degree, September 19, 1899, and as crowned an active member for Indiana September 20, 1917.  His Son William N. Durbin , of Anderson, also is a member of the Indianapolis bodies.

   "In business and civic life at Anderson, Brother Durbin attained a high place and became the head of successful enterprises.  In the Spanish-American War he was colonel of the 161st Indiana Regiment.  Always a staunch party worker, he was elected Governor of Indiana on the Republican ticket in 1900, and served four years.

    "Following his election as active member of the Supreme Council, Brother Durbin took and active part in the Scottish Rite war relief work and a lively interest in the affairs of the Indiana bodies, becoming also a frequent visitor and speaker at convocations in the Valley of Indianapolis..". end of quote page 390


Landmark Editor's Note: Emphasis Bold and Italics added 1999.  Above written in 1924 while Durbin still lived and was an AASR  Active for Indiana; An Honor which he shared with former Vice - President (and Fiji) Thomas Riley Marshall in those years.




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This Biographical Sketch of Winfred T Durbin, 33rd is directly quoted from, History of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in the Valley of Indianapolis, District of Indiana  1863 - 1924, Chapter XXII, Indiana Council of Deliberation, Page 389 authored by Charles E. Crawford, 32nd, Published 1924 by Adoniram Grand Lodge of Perfection


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