Person:John Taddiken (1)

…John G. C. TADDIKEN, Trustee Secretary 1863-66 and since 1870 …

... The following account has been furnished us, however, by our worthy secretary, Mr. John G. C. Taddiken, who happened to be present. ...

... Without any further delay or hesitation, the following persons were appointed a committee to work out a plan for and suggest the way how said fair was to be conducted: Rev. Dr. Wedekind, H. F. Hoops, Gerd Busch and John G. C. Taddiken. The committee was an excellent one for that purpose. ...

... On December 20, 1880, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the congregation was observed with appropriate services. The Committee on Arrangement for the same consisted of Rev. Dr. Wedekind, Messrs. H. F. Hoops, D. Fink, Gerd Busch, E. H. Heins and John G. C. Taddiken. The latter prepared a very instructive, highly interesting and greatly appreciated report, covering the past twenty-five years of the congregation. This report was read immediately after the sermon at the morning services and entered in full upon the minutes. ...

... The first delegate to the Synod was Mr. John G. C. Taddiken, and he was also the first delegate of the congregation to the General Synod. ...

... Those days of a new beginning were wonderful and eventful indeed. Before we bring them to a close, we must refer to one movement belonging to that interesting period of our church's history. This was, of course, something new also. Fortunately the church council is the only responsible party in this somewhat peculiar but successful innovation. The many new beginnings had doubtless left them under the impression that almost anything could be begun in those days. Hence they went so far as to present one of their own number, Mr. John G. C. Taddiken, with a cane, and Mr. H. F. Hoops was even appointed by them to give it to him. Of course, we have every reason to believe that the church council had unanimously agreed that Mr. Taddiken, who had been one of the most faithful secretaries of the congregation, deserved such treatment, just at that time. Fortunately it did not take place in the church, but in the victim's own home, and that on the eve of his departure for Europe. Happily Mr. Taddiken is one of those few men who can put up with almost anything. Hence, he submitted to it most gracefully and is even proud of the fact that his fellow councilmen had considered him worthy of such treatment at that time. ...

... The renovated church received a number of handsome memorials. ... the baptismal font, [was donated by] by Mr. John G. C. Taddiken ... The dedication of the beautifully renovated church did not take place till the fourth Sunday in Advent, the same year. Rev. Dr. Wedekind, Messrs. H. F. Hoops, H. C. Willmann, Gerd Busch and John G. C. Taddiken made the necessary arrangements for the great event. ...

... To preach in both languages is not an easy task. Hence few are inclined to do it, even among those able to handle both. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Gerd Busch, H. C. Willmann, F. Van Axte, H. F. Hoops and John G. C. Taddiken, was appointed to look for a suitable man to fill the vacancy. ...

... Messrs. F. Van Axte and John G. C. Taddiken were now sent to Richmond, Ind., to see whether they could not induce Rev. J. J. Young, D.D., pastor of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church to come to New York. ...

... Here the parochial school was opened and flourished for a while under the name of St. John's Academy. Its first school board consisted of Messrs. G. Albers, H. Halbe and John G. C. Taddiken. ...

New York City Death Index, 1862-1948

John G C Taddiken
Immigration: New York, USA
Age: [Blank]
Nationality: OLDENBERG
Roll: 267
Court: SUPERIOR COURT, NEW YORK COUNTY.
Witness: Charles H Mammen
Publisher: NARA
Publication #: M1674
Publication title: Soundex Index to Petitions for Naturalizations Filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts in New York City, 1792-1906

JOHN G.C. TADDIKEN
To present to the craft the career of such an earnest, devoted Masonic veteran as John G. C. Taddiken, of Park Lodge, No. 516, Free and Accepted Masons, is an honor which no Masonic student can assume without a feeling of pride. There is no grander tribute to the stability of our institution than that it "enthuses" the young Mason and retains its charms even for those who have passed the allotted span of life according to the saying of the Psalmist. Experience is one of the best tests of worthiness, and an order must have in it a more than ordinary share of all that is grand, noble, elevating and enduring when men who have been active in it for thirty, forty or fifty years can say that with each passing year their devotion ro it has increased. This has been the case with the subject of this sketch.

John Gerhard Christoph Taddiken was born in Germany in 1828. He came to this country in 1852. Soon thereafter he embarked in commerce as a manufacturer of mineral waters in this city, and was successful in his efforts, retiring from an active business life in 1885.

His Masonic career commenced in John D. Willard Lodge, of this city, where he was initiated, passed and raised in the fall of 1859. He was one of the twenty-four petitioners for the dispensation and charter for the founding and establishment of Park Lodge, and on the granting of the warrant by the Grand Lodge he at once became one of its charter members.

Worthy Brother Taddiken and his associates determined that Park Lodge should be a sterling institution of Freemasonry, a truly spiritual and intellectual institution, where whatever the name of Masonry implies was to be taught and circulated. How well they succeed in these praiseworthy efforts is known to every member of the fraternity in New York.

Worthy Brother Taddiken at once took an active interest in the work, under the dispensation. In 1860 and 1861 he served for one year as Junior Master of Ceremonies and one year as Junior Warden, and on the granting of the charter he was elected the first Junior Warden of the Lodge. In December, 1870, he was elected Treasurer of the Lodge, serving for seven successive years and vacating this office to receive the highest honor the members could confer upon him, namely, the Mastership of the Lodge, to which position he was elected in December, 1877. He was honored by a re-election, in December, 1878, closing two of the most successful years in the history of the Lodge. He then served for several successive years as one of the Trustees of the Lodge, and also as its Chaplain. In December, 1893, he was again elected to the Treasurership, which position he still occupies. In 1878 Worthy Brother Taddiken was the recipient of a handsome set of resolutions, and in 1880 of a costly Past Master's jewel, as tokens of the love and esteem entertained for him by his associates in the Lodge.

After much diligence and study, Worthy Brother Taddiken succeeded in attaining the Royal Arch degrees, which were conferred upon him in Union Chapter, No. 180. He was created a Knight Templar in Manhattan Commandery, No. 310. He then took an active interest in the organization of York Commandery, No. 55, and subsequently became one of the charter members of this flourishing body of Knights Templar.

He has been an active member of St. John's Church (Lutheran), in Christopher Street, for more than forty years. In 1860 he was elected one of its Deacons; in 1863 he was elected a Trustee; and the Board of Trustees then made Brother Taddiken its Secretary. Both positions he is still holding, and he is happy in devoting a large part of his leisure hours to Christian work.

Although our beloved brother has passed the ripe age of three-score years and ten, he is to all intents and purposes only in the prime of his usefulness. His courtesy and sweetness of disposition enter into and are a part of his life, and the high qualities of fidelity and disinterestedness which imperfect human nature struggles so hard to attain are the spontaneous growth of his character.