| Life fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Charles Vernon Eddy |
| Born | September 13, 1877, in Winchester, Virginia |
| Parents | James Clarkson Eddy and Florence Alberta (Snapp) Eddy |
| Spouse | Katharine Graham Kurtz |
| Children | John Vernon, Richard Kurtz, and Charles Francis Eddy |
| Primary residence | Winchester, Virginia |
| Principal roles | Printer, publisher, Handley Library librarian, civic leader, and Masonic officer |
| Religious affiliation | Presbyterian |
Genealogy of Charles Vernon Eddy
This genealogical account was constructed from the family information contained in the biography below. No relationships or life facts have been added from outside sources.
Charles Vernon Eddy was born September 13, 1877, in Winchester, Virginia. He was a son of James Clarkson Eddy and Florence Alberta Snapp Eddy. His father was a millwright and a salesman of milling machinery. The account also identifies Charles’s brother, J. Frank Eddy, with whom he co-founded the Eddy Press.
On March 22, 1905, Charles Vernon Eddy married Katharine Graham Kurtz in Winchester. She was a daughter of George Washington Kurtz and Mary Frances Clayton Kurtz. Charles and Katharine Eddy had three children: John Vernon Eddy, born April 6, 1907; Richard Kurtz Eddy, born July 19, 1911; and Charles Francis Eddy, born August 14, 1914, who died in infancy.
Family outline
- Charles Vernon Eddy
- Father: James Clarkson Eddy
- Mother: Florence Alberta (Snapp) Eddy
- Brother: J. Frank Eddy
- Wife: Katharine Graham Kurtz
- Father: George Washington Kurtz
- Mother: Mary Frances (Clayton) Kurtz
- Children:
- John Vernon Eddy
- Richard Kurtz Eddy
- Charles Francis Eddy
Source
This biography appeared in History of the Shenandoah Valley: Family and Personal Records, Volume III (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1952), pages 21-22.
Verbatim biography
The following is a faithful transcription of the original biography. OCR errors have been corrected against the printed page images, but the original wording, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and factual claims have not been rewritten.
CHARLES VERNON EDDY — The name of C. Vernon Eddy, of Winchester, is identified with achievement in a number of fields. He has been successful in the printing and publishing business ; has done outstanding work as librarian, and has headed the Virginia Library Association; and has been equally prominent in the work of the Boy Scouts of America and the American Red Cross. Most notable on a nationwide scale, however, have been Mr. Eddy’s connections with Masonry. He has been a Freemason since 1899, and in 1948 was elected sixteenth Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States.
A native of Winchester, Virginia, born September 13, 1877, C. Vernon Eddy is a son of James Clarkson and Florence Alberta (Snapp) Eddy. His father was a millwright by trade, who also turned his personal qualifications to good account as a salesman of milling machinery. For his early education, C. Vernon Eddy attended private schools, and he was graduated from the Shenandoah Valley Academy of Winchester, class of 1896.
Mr. Eddy began his business career in that year as printer and publisher, being co-founder with his brother, J. Frank Eddy, of the Eddy Press, which assumed its corporate identity in 1901, in Winchester, Virginia. Although the brothers later disposed of this enterprise, it has continued to the present time as an organization engaged in printing and publishing, and is now located in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1913, Mr. Eddy’s vital interest in books and records took another form: he became librarian of the public library of the city of Winchester, known as The Handley Library, and has held that position to the present time. This library represents one of the benefits to the city stemming from The Handley Trust, controlled by the city of Winchester and having a corpus of over one and a half million dollars. Mr. Eddy became secretary of the Handley Board of Trustees in 1921, and that office, too, he has held to the present time. He has also been treasurer of the Handley Board of Trustees from 1931 to date. As a librarian, highly regarded among members of that profession, Mr. Eddy filled for two terms the office of president of the Virginia Library Association, the years of his election being 1924 and 1937. He has been secretary and treasurer of the Winchester, Virginia, Historical Society since 1931.
In the service of his community, Mr. Eddy has held, and continues to hold, a number of important offices. He is chairman of the park commission of Winchester; is secretary of the Winchester and Frederick County Chapter of the American Red Cross (hence a member of its board of directors), which office he has filled since 1917; and has been continuously a member of the local councils and later of the executive committee of the Shenandoah Area, Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Eddy became a charter member of the Rotary Club of Winchester when it was organized in 1921, and has retained membership to date, this being another channel through which his interest in civic betterment is expressed. He is also a member of the Commonwealth Club of Richmond.
C. Vernon Eddy’s eminence in the field of Freemasonry led, in 1948, to his selection as Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America. Mr. Eddy’s Masonic record, published at that time in Volume III of the “Annals of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America”, represents probably the best summation of his achievements in this order. We quote this record herewith:
He was Raised April 11, 1899, in Winchester Hiram Lodge, No. 21, in his home city; exalted and greeted in John Dove Chapter of that place that following year; and Knighted in Winchester Commandery one year after his raising. He is a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Richmond, and in 1947 he received the Rank and Decoration of K. C. C. H. by vote of the Supreme Council in Washington. He was Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in 1937; Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons in 1941; Grand Commander of Knights Templar in 1925. In 1929 he became Grand Recorder of the Grand Commandery, K. T., and still serves in that position. He is also Intendant General for Virginia of the Red Cross of Constantine; Celebrant, Virginia College Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis; Deputy for Virginia, Royal Order of Scotland, and a member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Masonic Clubs,—as well as being Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States, and also having been installed in 1947 as Grand Captain of the Guard of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States. In 1947, he was Grand Master General, Knights of the York Cross of Honour of U. S. A. and Prefect of the Grand Priory of America, Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cite Sainte. He is a Past Preceptor of Gethsemane Tabernacle, No. 2, Ordo Sacerdotalis Temple. He holds honorary membership in a number of Masonic Bodies and is generally, universally, looked on as a Mason of the kind that one likes to have dealings with.
Since the above was published, Mr. Eddy has been advanced to the office of Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar of the United States, and he has had similar advancement to the office of Grand Sentinel of the Grand Imperial Council, Red Cross of Constantine of the United States, the Philippines and Mexico. As a member of the order, he is referred to in the abovementioned publication in these terms:
“If in a group of people of all sorts and conditions one were told to pick the Mason as one thinks the Mason ought to be, one would feel the urge to go straight to Vernon Eddy, and no Mason would utter dissent… . He is one of the sort who hold that every honor but hides its responsibilities. And Vernon Eddy is perfectly willing to step in and do the task that is before him, without urging.”
Mr. Eddy is also fraternally affiliated with Winchester Lodge No. 867, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a Presbyterian in his religious faith, a member of the Loudoun Street Church in Winchester. He has been secretary of the Men’s Bible Class of that church for more than thirty years.
In Winchester, Virginia, March 22, 1905, Charles Vernon Eddy married Katharine Graham Kurtz, daughter of George Washington and Mary Frances (Clayton) Kurtz. To Mr. and Mrs. Eddy have been born three children: 1. John Vernon, on April 6, 1907. 2. Richard Kurtz, born July 19, 1911. 3. Charles Francis, born August 14, 1914, died in infancy.