Born in New Hampshire in 1782, Lewis Cass served eighteen years as Governor of the Territory of Michigan from 1813 to 1831 and then served the nation for thirty years as Senator, Minister to France, Secretary of War, and Secretary of State. He visited Zion Lodge No. 1 in 1812 and later affiliated, became a permanent Michigan resident, served three terms as Grand Master of Ohio, and was the first Grand Master of Masons in Michigan from 1826 to 1829. Cass County was organized in 1829 and named in Governor Cass' honor, and Cassopolis was created a village in 1863, became county seat, and was also named to honor Lewis Cass. He died in June 1866 and received last Masonic rites on June 20, 1866.