E. K. Bachman

Edward Kelsey Bachman (E. K. Bachman) was a prominent figure in both the civic development of Bristol and the broader Masonic fraternity.

• Masonic Leadership: He served as Worshipful Master of King Lodge No. 461 from 1898 to 1900. His dedication to the craft eventually led him to the highest seat in the state, serving as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee in 1909. Within the rich historical traditions, ritual symbolism, and degree work of King Lodge, Bachman stands out as a cornerstone figure who carried local ritual expertise to the state level.
• Professional Life: Born on March 23, 1871, Bachman was a highly respected Sullivan County attorney. Near the end of his career in 1925, he formed the Bristol law firm Bachman & Brown. He was deeply entrenched in local business, operating an insurance agency (Howell & Bachman) on Sixth Street and taking on major civic responsibilities, such as acting as the court-appointed receiver for the Citizens Bank during a period of financial distress.
• Death and Burial: He passed away on July 5, 1926, and is buried locally at Glenwood Cemetery in Bristol.

The Masonic legacy of the Bachman family was a deep-rooted tradition in Bristol, with E. K. Bachman’s father and brother standing beside him as devoted members of King Lodge No. 461.

• Nathan DeWitt Bachman (Father): Born on December 26, 1844, Nathan DeWitt Bachman was a Confederate veteran who enlisted in the Civil War at just sixteen years old and surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse. After the war, he served as the county clerk for Sullivan County, Tennessee. Alongside his sons Edward and William, he was a dedicated Freemason and member of King Lodge No. 461.
• William Jonathan Bachman (Brother): William was not only a devoted member of King Lodge No. 461 but also a prominent York Rite Mason. He was twice elected to the presiding chair as the Eminent Commander of the St. Omer Commandery of Knights Templar. Professionally, he worked closely with his brother E. K. Bachman as a co-owner of the insurance firm Howell & Bachman.

The Tragic Death of William J. Bachman on the S.S. Columbia

In July 1907, 38-year-old William embarked on a West Coast vacation, a trip he was rewarded through his work as an insurance salesman. On July 20, he boarded the passenger steamship S.S. Columbia in San Francisco as a first-class passenger. Shortly after midnight on July 21, the Columbia became enshrouded in thick fog and was tragically struck by the oncoming schooner San Pedro.

The Columbia rapidly sank, claiming the lives of 88 people. While roughly 163 passengers were rescued, William J. Bachman was lost at sea, and his body was never recovered. In a heartbreaking conclusion, a trunk belonging to William was eventually recovered from the vicinity of the sinking and sent back to Memphis, Tennessee. Inside were posthumous gifts William had purchased for his family, which his brother E. K. Bachman took on the solemn duty of distributing. Although there is a large Bachman family plot at Glenwood Cemetery in Bristol, William rests at sea with no cenotaph marking his memory locally.