OUR FIRST WORSHIPFUL MASTER: ELI O. ACKERMAN
Eli O. Ackerman could well be considered the father of Neoacacia Lodge. No one was more active in promoting Free Masonry or more focused on forming a new lodge in North Columbus at the turn of the 20th century than he.
Eli Ackerman was born to John and Louvilla Ackerman on February 23, 1862. The family, including his older brothers, Monroe and Fremont, lived on a farm less than half a mile west of North Columbus. The road along the South boundary, Ackerman Road takes its name from this family farm.
After graduating from high school, Eli attended the newly founded Ohio State University (1876). He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1884, writing his thesis on “Railroad Engineering.” While at Ohio State Eli also distinguished himself in military science by winning a gold medal as the “best drilled man.”
This aptitude for discipline and regimen would mark him for success in an institution, the Masonic Fraternity, where such qualities were recognized and rewarded. In 1885, less than a year after graduating he joined New England Lodge #4 in Worthington. That same year he also joined Horeb Chapter #3, as well as the Scottish Rite.
Eli Ackerman’s life in the late 1880’s took an unusual turn. The silver and copper mining industries were booming in Western Montana and railroads were needed to serve the mines. He seized the opportunity to advance his engineering career and traveled to Phillipsburg, Montana, where he worked for several years. Though far from home, his interest in Masonry did not wane. While there, he helped form a new chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Philipsburg, serving as the first High Priest of Mountain Chapter in 1889 and 1890.
Following the death of his father in December of 1890, Eli Ackerman returned to Columbus to help care for his mother and the family farm. The Ackerman Road farm would be his home for the rest of his life.
In June of 1891 he married Carrie S. Shattuck. They had two children, Louise born in 1895 and Harold, born in 1901.
After returning to Columbus, he established himself as a successful engineer with the Columbus Railway and Light Company. He was responsible for the engineering whereby many of the streetcar rails were laid in the City of Columbus in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s.
Eli Ackerman’s Masonic career, however, was temporarily put on hold in 1891. He was expelled from the Fraternity as a result of the Cerneau conflict and its repercussions at New England Lodge. He applied for reinstatement, which was granted in 1895. He quickly advanced his stature in the Lodge and was elected Master of New England Lodge in the fall of 1900.
At the same time, Eli Ackerman was also promoting Free Masonry in the North Columbus area, leading the formation of the Acacia Club in 1898. He had the vision that a new lodge could be formed there and would prosper. This came about in 1906. Reflecting his standing in the Fraternity and the respect he commanded among his peers, he was chosen to be the Lodge’s first Master. He served as Master for two years, 1906 and 1907 and as secretary from 1909 through 1911. One position he maintained well into his later years was that of Marshall of the St. John’ day parade. He would proudly lead the brethren as they marched from the Lodge to one of the local churches.
Eli Ackerman went on to join other Masonic bodies, becoming a charter member of York Chapter #200, York Council #115 and Columbus Commandery #69. His position as one of the most prominent Masons in Columbus was well established. His crowning achievement however, remained the formation of Neoacacia Lodge. His address to the Lodge in 1915 (see Excerpts from Minutes) is a beautiful expression of his commitment to the Lodge as well as to the Fraternity at large. He later offered to donate part of his own property for the building of a new Lodge, but due to a lack of transportation to Ackerman Road, this was deemed unfeasible.
Eli Ackerman was a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church and also a trustee of Union Cemetery. He passed away on September 28, 1944 at the age of 82. His body lay in state in York Temple where funeral services were conducted under the direction of the Knights Templar. Interment followed at Union Cemetery by P. E. Rutherford Funeral Home.
Eli Ackerman was born to John and Louvilla Ackerman on February 23, 1862. The family, including his older brothers, Monroe and Fremont, lived on a farm less than half a mile west of North Columbus. The road along the South boundary, Ackerman Road takes its name from this family farm.
After graduating from high school, Eli attended the newly founded Ohio State University (1876). He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1884, writing his thesis on “Railroad Engineering.” While at Ohio State Eli also distinguished himself in military science by winning a gold medal as the “best drilled man.”
This aptitude for discipline and regimen would mark him for success in an institution, the Masonic Fraternity, where such qualities were recognized and rewarded. In 1885, less than a year after graduating he joined New England Lodge #4 in Worthington. That same year he also joined Horeb Chapter #3, as well as the Scottish Rite.
Eli Ackerman’s life in the late 1880’s took an unusual turn. The silver and copper mining industries were booming in Western Montana and railroads were needed to serve the mines. He seized the opportunity to advance his engineering career and traveled to Phillipsburg, Montana, where he worked for several years. Though far from home, his interest in Masonry did not wane. While there, he helped form a new chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Philipsburg, serving as the first High Priest of Mountain Chapter in 1889 and 1890.
Following the death of his father in December of 1890, Eli Ackerman returned to Columbus to help care for his mother and the family farm. The Ackerman Road farm would be his home for the rest of his life.
In June of 1891 he married Carrie S. Shattuck. They had two children, Louise born in 1895 and Harold, born in 1901.
After returning to Columbus, he established himself as a successful engineer with the Columbus Railway and Light Company. He was responsible for the engineering whereby many of the streetcar rails were laid in the City of Columbus in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s.
Eli Ackerman’s Masonic career, however, was temporarily put on hold in 1891. He was expelled from the Fraternity as a result of the Cerneau conflict and its repercussions at New England Lodge. He applied for reinstatement, which was granted in 1895. He quickly advanced his stature in the Lodge and was elected Master of New England Lodge in the fall of 1900.
At the same time, Eli Ackerman was also promoting Free Masonry in the North Columbus area, leading the formation of the Acacia Club in 1898. He had the vision that a new lodge could be formed there and would prosper. This came about in 1906. Reflecting his standing in the Fraternity and the respect he commanded among his peers, he was chosen to be the Lodge’s first Master. He served as Master for two years, 1906 and 1907 and as secretary from 1909 through 1911. One position he maintained well into his later years was that of Marshall of the St. John’ day parade. He would proudly lead the brethren as they marched from the Lodge to one of the local churches.
Eli Ackerman went on to join other Masonic bodies, becoming a charter member of York Chapter #200, York Council #115 and Columbus Commandery #69. His position as one of the most prominent Masons in Columbus was well established. His crowning achievement however, remained the formation of Neoacacia Lodge. His address to the Lodge in 1915 (see Excerpts from Minutes) is a beautiful expression of his commitment to the Lodge as well as to the Fraternity at large. He later offered to donate part of his own property for the building of a new Lodge, but due to a lack of transportation to Ackerman Road, this was deemed unfeasible.
Eli Ackerman was a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church and also a trustee of Union Cemetery. He passed away on September 28, 1944 at the age of 82. His body lay in state in York Temple where funeral services were conducted under the direction of the Knights Templar. Interment followed at Union Cemetery by P. E. Rutherford Funeral Home.