M. W. Brother John Satterthwaite, born June 22, 1786 son of William and Mary (Knight) Satterthwaite in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, immigrated to Ohio around 1802 and settled near Waynesville, Ohio. He married Elizabeth Linton. They were the parents of seven children.
John Satterthwaite was one of the most prominent men of his day; he engaged in the mercantile trade in Waynesville for several years. Later he was active in the milling business at what is now Mt. Holly, Ohio. In fact he was one of the founders of Mt. Holly.
He also established and ran a line of stages from Cincinnati to Columbus for many years. He was the contractor for and builder of the old Friends Meetinghouse, as well as many houses in the area.
John Satterthwaite may well have been the first and only Grand Master not to have served as Master of his lodge. Records do not disclose his degree dates, or lodge, but the annual return of Lebanon Lodge No. 26 lists him as a member on the reports of 1816, 1822 and 1827 (the only three early reports on file). He is not listed as a Past Master.
In January 1831, M. W. Brother Satterthwaite was in attendance at Grand Lodge as a delegate for Lebanon Lodge No. 26 and was seated as the Deputy Grand Master, pro-tem. At this session the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Senior Warden and Grand Junior Warden were all absent. He was later elected at this same session to serve as Grand Master.
He had first represented Lebanon Lodge at Grand Lodge in 1816 and was later appointed Grand Sword Bearer. In January of 1823 he served as Grand Treasurer, pro-tem. In January of 1826 he served as Grand Junior Warden, (although he had not been elected at the previous session to this post). In 1828 and 1829 he again represented Lebanon Lodge No. 26 at Grand Lodge, serving in 1829 on the Grievance Committee.
The Grand Lodge Session in January 1832 reflected the troubled times in the country. Masonicly of the elected and appointed Grand Lodge Officers only the Grand Treasurer, Grand Senior Deacon and Tyler were present, all other offices, including that of M. W. Brother John Satterthwaite, were pro-tem.
At this point M. W. Brother Satterthwaite’s Masonic record trails into the mists, as Lebanon Lodge was not represented at Grand Lodge between 1833 and his death a few years later.
M. W. Brother Satterthwaite died July 5, 1837 at the age of 51 and was buried in the Red Brick Friends Meeting House Cemetery, Waynesville, Ohio.