The Lower Merion Society for the Detection and Prosecution of Horse Thieves and the Recovery of Stolen Horses

Horse Company Archives

Lower Merion Horse Company memorabilia, ephemera, history and lore acquired prior to its affiliation with the Lower Merion Historical Society. Other than the year 1818, records start in 1870. The original Society was divided two times and records have not been found prior to 1856.

OFFICERS

Presidents

  • 1870 to 1879 Charles Kugler
  • 1879 to 1887 Joseph C. Pearce
  • 1887 to 1896 Dr. Samuel S. R. Smith
  • 1896 to 1915 Josiah S. Pearce
  • 1915 to 1955 Luther C. Parsons
  • 1955 to 1972 Edward H. Snow
  • 1972 to 1989 Albert F. W. Vick, Jr.
  • 1989 to 1989 Charles L. Campbell
  • 1989 to 2005 F. Nicholas Imperato
  • 2005 to 2019 G. Minshall Painter IV

Vice Presidents

  • 1870 to 1887 Dr. Thomas G. Lodge
  • 1887 to 1906 Enoch Enochs
  • 1906 to 1908 George W Hansell
  • 1908 to 1915 Luther C. Parsons
  • 1916 to 1918 George Grow
  • 1918 to 1925 Patrick Reagan
  • 1925 to 1939 W. Walter Latch
  • 1939 to 1954 Charles G. Latch
  • 1955 to 1964 William H. Supert
  • 1964 to 1971 Raymond T. Ohl
  • 1971 to 1972 Leland W Hovey
  • 1972 to 1974 Dr. Edward L. McQuaid
  • 1974 to 1981 Edward L. McQuaid, Jr.
  • 1984 to 1989 Charles L. Campbell III
  • 1989 to 1989 F. Nicholas Imperato
  • 1989 to 2005 George M. Painter III
  • 2005 to 2015 Harvard C. Wood III

Treasurers

  • 1870 to 1898 David Morgan
  • 1898 to 1919 Charles J. Pryer
  • 1919 to 1933 Dr. Herbert A. Arnold
  • 1933 to 1935 Howard G. Kurtz
  • 1935 to 1945 Dr. C. H. Arnold
  • 1945 to 1961 William P. Landis
  • 1961 to 1966 Guy L. Cornman
  • 1966 to 1968 Andrew Sheard
  • 1968 to 1969 H. Stuart McMoran
  • 1969 to 1985 Roy Lipman
  • 1986 to 1989 Thomas O. Thompson, Jr.
  • 1989 to 1998 John J. Kelly III
  • 1998 to 2019 Roy P. Wolfe

Secretaries

  • 1870 to 1873 J. H. Bevan
  • 1873 to 1886 Josiah S. Pearce
  • 1886 to 1909 Paul J. Kugler
  • 1909 to 1956 Richard J. Hamilton
  • 1971 to 1984 Charles L. Campbell III
  • 1984 to 2015 Robert C. Ball

Corresponding Secretary (officer added 2009)

  • 2009 to date Tamara Coulton Waters

Aims of Our Ancient and Honorable Society

title page of the Constitution and by-laws
“The News” Print, Bryn Mawr, Penna. 1887.

Constitution and By-laws of the Lower Merion Society for the Detection and Prosecution of Horse Thieves and Recovery of Stolen Horses

Originally adopted 1818; revised November 9, 1974

Article I. This Society shall be termed the Lower Merion Society for the detection and prosecution of Horse Thieves, and Recovery of Stolen Horses.

II. Every person on becoming a member shall subscribe to these articles, and pay One Dollar entrance money.

III. The Officers of the Society shall consist of a President, Treasurer and Secretary, who shall be elected annually on the last Saturday in February.

IV. The President shall take the chair at all meetings of the Society, and shall sign all orders on the Treasurer — It shall also be his duty to call a special meeting whenever three members may request it.

V. The Treasurer shall take charge of all monies belonging to the Society; shall pay all orders regularly drawn on him; and shall annually exhibit a fair statement of his accounts.

VI. The Secretary shall enroll the names of all the members; shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Society, and shall advertise all stated meetings at least two weeks before the time appointed.

VII. The stated meetings of the Society shall be held on the last Saturday of February, May August and November. The annual meeting to be in February at the Buck; the others at any place to which the Society may adjourn.

VIII. Every member shall contribute to the funds of the Society, at each quarterly meeting, twenty-five cents. Any member neglecting to attend either a stated or special meeting, shall, unless a reasonable excuse be given, pay of fine of twelve cents and a half.

IX. All elections for members shall be by ballot; in which it shall be necessary, for the admission of any one, that two thirds of members present concur.

X. The Society shall be divided by the President, Treasurer, and Secretary, into two classes, who shall perform duty alternately, subject to the disposition of the member by whom they may be called into service. They shall go sixty miles in pursuit if necessary; and, upon good information, may proceed as much farther as they may deem proper. They shall receive one dollar and fifty cents per day, travelling expenses. If any extraordinary expense should be incurred it may be submitted to the society and if judged reasonable, shall be refunded. Any member who shall not perform duty when called on, nor find a substitute approved both by the Class and person from whom a horse has been stolen, shall pay a fine of Five Dollars, unless the Society, upon good grounds, shall think proper to remit it.

XI. A Brand containing the letters L.M. shall be procured, and kept by the Treasurer for the use of the members; but no one shall hold the same in his possession longer than twenty-four hours, under a penalty of twelve cents and a half for every day in which it shall be so retained.

XII. A Reward of Twenty Dollars shall be given to any person who shall have apprehended, and furnished evidence for the conviction of a thief who may have stolen a horse from a member of the Society.

XIII. The expenses of the Society at their meetings shall not exceed twelve cents and a half for each member.

XIV. Any person may be excluded from this Society, by two thirds of the members convened, who may, in their opinion, have conducted himself in an improper manner.

XV. A majority shall have power to pass By-Laws; but nothing shall be done either to amend or render void any article of this constitution, without notice having been given at a previous stated meeting, and the concurrence of two thirds of the members present.

Constitutional Amendments adopted November 14, 1959

Amendment I. Article I, Section II is changed to read: “Every person on becoming a member shall subscribe these articles and pay Two Dollar entrance money”.

Amendment II. Article I, Section III is changed to read: “The Officers of the Society shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Associate Treasurer, who shall be elected annually at the annual meeting in November.”

Amendment III. Article I, Section IV is changed to read: “The President shall take the chair at all meetings of the Society, and shall sign all orders on the Treasurer — It shall also be his duty to call a special meeting whenever necessary.”

Amendment IV. Article 1, Section VI is changed to read: “The Secretary shall enroll the names of all the members; shall keep a record the proceedings of the Society; and shall advertise all stated meetings at least two weeks before the time appointed. These duties may be otherwise delegated by the President.”

Amendment V. Article I, Section VII is changed to read: “The stated meeting of the Society shall be held on the second Saturday in November at “THE BUCK,” or at such other place as the Officers of the Society shall adjourn the meeting.”

Amendment VI. Article I, Section VIII is changed to read: “Every member shall contribute to the funds of the Society, at each annual meeting, 300 cents ($3.00). Any member neglecting to so contribute within one year shall be stricken from the rolls of the Society and shall forfeit all protections and benefits of the Society.”

Amendment VII. Article I, Section IX is changed to read: “All elections for members shall be by ballot; in which it shall be necessary, for the admission of any one, that two thirds of the members present concur. This rule may be by annual motion, substituted by a resolution to admit invited guests of the Society with approval of the President.”

Amendment VIII. Article I, Section XIII is changed to read: “The expenses of the Society at their meetings shall not exceed twelve cents and a half for each member, unless the President and Officers and Stewards shall deem it necessary to exceed this sum, in which case they shall so declare themselves to the members.”

Amendment XV. Nine members of the Society shall be chosen to serve as a Board of Stewards to work with Officers of the Society in the arranging of the business affairs of the Society The Stewards shall meet with the Officers of the Society at least once each year. They shall have an equal voice with the Officers in ordering the affairs of the Society.

Amendment XVI. Three members for the Board of Stewards shall stand for election each year and each Steward shall serve for three years. The President may appoint a Steward to complete an unfinished term of office if a Steward resigns, or removes from the Society.

Amendment XVII. BENEFITS Whenever a horse shall have been stolen from any member of this Society such member shall be and he is hereby authorized to offer a reward in the name of the Society of $30.00 for the recovery of the horse and a further reward of $50.00 for the detection and conviction of the thief which reward he shall be at liberty to publish six times in any four of the newspapers printed in the City or County of Philadelphia and three times in any two papers published in New York and Baltimore that he may think proper and he shall also be and he is hereby authorized to have 100 hand bills to be distributed in such manner as he may judge advisable. The above reward together with the expenses attending to the publishing and printing, and the further expense of prosecution when incurred shall be paid out of the funds of the Society. In the event of a horse not being recovered after having been stolen at least one month, the owner of said horse is authorized to offer the opinions of two or more of his neighbors, to whom the horse is known, of his value, to the President, Treasurer and Secretary, and that then the President after the value of said horse be determined — be authorized to draw upon the Treasurer, in favor of the owner, for said valuation, provided the sum to be paid does not exceed $150.00. If a horse shall be recovered at any time subsequent to the payment by the Society of his full value, it shall be the duty of the owner immediately to notify the President, who shall, together with the owner, call upon three competent and disinterested men to value him, full value of which shall be paid by the owner within one month after the valuation, provided it does not exceed the sum received by him from the Society.

Amendment XVIII. Membership shall be limited to Male American Citizens of Good Repute. To be a member a man shall have attained the age of eighteen years and be acceptable to the Officers, Stewards, and members of the Society.

Adopted in entirety November 9, 1974.