The Jurisdiction of Ohio, is recognized as the mother State of more presidents of the United States than any other in the union, so in Negro Masonry, Ohio is the mother of more Masonic Jurisdictions, than any of the other states. This was done mostly through the efforts of Bro. Richard H. Gleaves, the father of Negro Masonry in the state of Ohio. Corinthian Lodge #17, the first lodge in the state was organized January 16, 1847 and chartered by African Grand Lodge of North America located in Philadelphia, Pa. On March 18, 1847, True American Lodge #26, was organized and chartered by the same authority and on May 20, 1848, Saint Johns Lodge #27 was constituted by the same Grand Lodge.
All these lodges were organized by Bro. Richard H. Gleaves under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and all were located in Cincinnati. On May 3, 1849 a general assembly of the craft was held for the purpose of organizing a Grand Lodge for Ohio, which was accomplished by the election of Bro. Thomas W. Stringer as M. W. G.M; Bro. Richard H. Gleaves as R. W. D. G.M. and the other and received new ones under the Grand Lodge. Bro. Gleaves was elected M. W. G. M. in 1850 and his lodges in Ohio were very favorably looked upon by the white Masons who often visited their meetings and helped them in their work.