Independent Order Of Odd Fellows
The national order was first instituted in Baltimore, Maryland, in
1819, by five people; a blacksmith by the name of Wiley being the head
organizer. The first local lodge instituted and chartered was Rock Island
Lodge, No. 18, in 1850; some of the older members being Washington L.
Sweeney, Charles B. Knox, William Bell, W. T. Norris, Henry Burgower,
Ernest Krell, Charles Engel, Cyrus Churchill, Jacob Huber, John B. Hawley
and W. T. Magill.
Ucal Lodge, No. 608, was chartered in 1876; the older members being Jonas
Bear, Reuben Bollman, Frank Bahnsen, Benjamin Hartz, Herbert Scott, John
South and Charles Hodgson. The Odd Fellowship Association have a strong
bond of help or assistance, which they contribute to the dead or sick.
Rock- Island Lodge, No. 1S, giving a burial fund of eighty-five dollars,
and a weekly sick benefit fund of four dollars. Ucal Lodge, No. 608,
giving a burial fund of two hundred and ten dollars, and a weekly sick
benefit fund of three dollars.
The membership of the two lodges at the present time is four hundred and
six.
Rebekah Lodge, No. 73, Ladies' Auxiliary
The founder of this auxiliary to Odd Fellowship, was Schuyler Colfax, who
later was vice-president of the United States. It was organized in 1850,
fifty-eight years ago.
Rock Island County Organizations and Societies
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908