Page 275 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Louis Ziegler: 1885-1887

If Washington Masonry had a monument like Mount Rushmore to
honor our Past Grand Masters, there is no doubt that the image of
Louis Ziegler would appear there along with those of Thornton F.
McElroy and Thomas M. Reed. Much like McElroy and Reed,
M⸫W⸫ Brother Ziegler served as our Grand Master for two terms
from 1885-1887. During this time, he dealt with several complex
questions and his solutions to these issues left an indelible mark
on the fraternity. Some of them, in fact, are as relevant today as
they were over 100 years ago. Prior to his service to the Grand
Lodge, Brother Ziegler served as the founding Master of Spokane
Lodge #34 and was the father of Masonry in the Spokane area.

Brother Ziegler was born July 17, 1837 in Kettrick, Rhenish
Bavaria, Germany. At the age of fifteen his parents moved to the
United States and settled initially in Ohio. They moved to
Maysville, Kentucky where Louis learned the trade of wagon
maker. Three years after moving to Kentucky, the family returned to Ohio and Louis took up his trade in
Russellville. Louis later moved to Bloomington, Illinois and pursued his trade there until 1859. He settled
in Chenoa, Illinois where he started the first wagon and plow business in that town.

By 1865, Brother Ziegler’s business had grown to such an extent that he was able to build a new factory
building with an investment of $6000. In 1870, Brother Ziegler suffered his first catastrophic loss when
his factory burned to the ground and put him out of business. During the two years following this incident,
Brother Ziegler became active in Illinois Republican politics and served as sergeant at arms of the Illinois
State Senate from 1870-1872. Following his service in the Senate, he returned to his native Germany for
one year and returned to Illinois in 1873. After his return, he and a partner purchased the Chenoa Flour Mill
which they operated until 1876 when it too was destroyed by fire. They were able to rebuild and re-open
but fire once again destroyed their business in March of 1878. Brother Louis spent the next seventeen
months concluding his affairs in the town before setting out for the Northwest in search of a new life.

In addition to his business, Brother Ziegler served as Justice of the Peace of Chenoa from 1861 to 1865
and as Mayor for two terms. He was made a Mason in Chenoa Lodge #292 in 1859 and served as its
Worshipful Master from 1861 to 1873. He was also active in the local Royal Arch Chapter and Scottish
Rite Consistory. From 1862 until his departure from the state, he was an active member of the Grand
Lodge of Illinois and served as its Senior Grand Warden in 1878-79. On Christmas Day 1862, Brother
Ziegler was married to Miss Margaret Jane Sample who blessed him with two daughters and a son. His
family life, much like his business life was marred by tragedy. He lost his youngest daughter Frederika
Louisa in March of 1872 when she was only five years old and lost his older daughter Jennie Louise shortly

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