On February 11, 32 years ago, a petition was filed to the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Kentucky to organize a Knight Templar in Harlan. The name was to be Duffield Commandery. Officers were appointed until the commandery could elect them.

Uniforms for the commandery, were to be selected by E.R. Clayton, Oscar Hoskins and Lynn Estes. The cost was 90.18 each, which included all the regalia and were ordered from the M.C, Lilley Company in Ohio. The official record book showed a balance of $70 on hand at the first meeting.

When the charter was granted, Finley Lay was elected senior warden; Lynn Estes, junior warden; Dr. E. M. Howard, prelate; Homer Highbaugh, treasurer; E. R. Clayton, recorder; Frank Blackburn, standard bearer; Henry Smith, warden and Pearl Noe, sentinel.

It was customary to assemble at some church every Easter. The picture was made on Easter Sunday, 31 years ago. The group went to the First Presbyterian Church for services

Has 200 Members

At that time the court house was under construction. At the meetings a collection was always taken for some charitable institution. Usually the meetings began at 7:30 p.m., and on some occasions held as late as 1:30 a.m.

Today the Duffield commandery is still active with a membership of more then 200. Will Ward Duffield, for whom the commandery was named, was known by all of his friends as a true friend to all.

An old timer once said"the way you find him today is the way he was yesterday, and it is a safe bet at any odds that it the way you will find him tomorrow." He was a "prince of a fellow" to all who knew him.

He was a loyal friend, a trustworthy aid and a man loved for himself and what he was by rich and poor alike.

Native Of Detroit

Duffield, was a surveyor and engineer. He was so throughly linked with Harlan County that few people knew he was born in Detroit. He was said to have known more about land lines and more about surveying history of this country than any living man.

Many deserving compliments have been said of Duffield, for whom the first commandery was named.

Sunday November 29, 1953

Volume 52 Number 278

Pages 1 & 8

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