Masonic Bellefonte bankers attended the funeral of President, William McKinley

By Dale Moore, in partnership with Bellefonte Victorian Charm

In all my research on historical homes and businesses, it never ceases to amaze me that generally, the trail leads to big money, politics, other influential people such as those at the Bellefonte Masonic Lodge, or otherwise intersects with historic national events or people involved in them.

This story is a great example of where all the above intertwine to an amazing piece of history. The story starts on September 27, 1901 when the Democratic Watchman reports a pair of Bellefonte bankers attended the funeral in Akron, Ohio for the President of the United States, William McKinley, who had been assassinated earlier in the month.

The Bellefonte men, Col. James P. Coburn and William Humes, Esq, acknowledged they had little hope of gaining admittance to the church as thousands would seek to see the funeral proceedings. The Church seated only 300. Fate stepped in when two seats-of-honor, reserved for high government officials, appeared to be going unused. A trustee for the church hurried and grabbed two random people outside the church to fill the seats. Coburn and Humes were ushered in at the last moment. Not only did they get into the church but were seated next to the coffin of President William McKinley and immediately facing the new president, Theodore Roosevelt.

The government officials for whom the seats had been reserved for could not get in the church due to the throng of people outside the church and in the streets. No one wanted empty seats to be seen on the anewa media for the very first time. Thomas Edison himself was filming the funeral with his new invention, the movie camera. Video of the McKinley funeral is available in the public domain with a simple internet search.

Col. James P. Coburn was President of the First National Bank in Bellefonte. Coburn was from Aaronsburg. He had great involvement in the railroad industry. He had served in the Civil War with the 141st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company B.

Coburn had replaced Edward Humes, the founder of The First National Bank, of Bellefonte in 1856. Edward Humes served as president of that bank until his death in 1895. Humes founded the bank with H.N. McAllister, James T. Hale and Andrew G. Curtin. Edward Humes was the businessman of the group. He was a merchant with a great reputation. Humes lived in the old library that sits at the corner of Allegheny and Howard Streets. He got the house after marrying the daughter of the property owner, William Wilson Potter, who was a lawyer and congressman. Potter gained a name for himself in Washington DC, especially concerning the thorny matter of the United States Bank.

The First National Bank Building Fred Smith Collection

Andrew G. Curtin began the study of law with his mother’s cousin, William W. Potter. Curtin entered the law office of Potter in Bellefonte and at age 22 in 1837, he was admitted to the Centre County Bar. Curtin would later become Governor of Pennsylvania.

Edward Humes son, William Potter Humes, carried on the family’s association with banking. He was a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank for 36 years. By the will of the last Humes survivor, Anna Elmira Humes, the house was bequeathed in 1935 to Bellefonte for use as county library.

This bunch of men had a strong tie to the Bellefonte Masonic Lodge. The Curtin, Potter and Hale family of men had all belonged to the Bellefonte Lodge # 268 of Free and Accepted Masons. James Coburn joined the Bellefonte Masonic Lodge on October 15, 1972.

Col. James Coburnas love and affection for President McKinley came from different areas. Coburn was a civil war veteran. McKinley is the last President of the United States to have served in the Civil War. McKinley was also a very prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. Then Major William McKinley joined the Masons in 1865 after having served in the Civil War with other Masons and was impressed by them. McKinley remained active in the Masons until his death in 1901.

McKinleyas Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt, was also an active member of the Masonic Lodge. President Roosevelt addressed the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in 1902 on the anniversary of George Washington’s initiation. Washington, and 13 other Presidents, had been members of the Masonic fraternity.

Coburn would have also liked President McKinley for his support of business. McKinley was married to the daughter of a banker. McKinley is credited for bringing the United States out of the so-called aPanic of 1893a which led to a crippling economic depression in the United States. McKinley won the Presidential election in 1896 and again in 1900.

Soon after taking office, McKinley called a special session of Congress to raise customs duties, an effort he believed would reduce other taxes and encourage the growth of domestic industry and employment for American workers.

The result was the Dingley Tariff Act (sponsored by the Maine congressman Nelson Dingley), the highest protective tariff in American history. McKinley’s support for the Dingley Tariff strengthened his position with organized labor, while his generally business-friendly administration allowed industrial combinations or “trusts” to develop at an unprecedented rate.

Sadly, many people are not aware of William McKinley. His successor, Theodore Roosevelt, is thought of as one of the five greatest Presidents of the United States. He is on Mount Rushmore with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. President Roosevelt, like McKinley, would later be shot while about to give a speech in Milwaukee. During his speech, Roosevelt said, aIt takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.a He survived the attack, and the bullet remained in his body until his death in 1919.

The red building you see today at 125 North Allegheny Street in Bellefonte was originally a two-story, five bay brick house, built in 1835 by the Humes Family. The third story was added in 1900. Records show the Masons bought this building in 1903 at a cost of $6,000. It is still the Bellefonte Masonic Hall. The First National Bank Building still exists today on the Northwest side of the Diamond in Bellefonte.

Bellefonte Masonic Lodge by Bellefonte Victorian Charm