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The Green Valley Lodge No. 603 I.O.O.F. had its beginnings at Foote, Iowa in 1892.
EARLY LODGE HISTORY:
Organized At Foote, Iowa County by Men from Hinkletown and Green Valley.
Met at Masonic Hall at Foote. Merged with North English in 1920s.
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The Green Valley Lodge # 603, I.O.O.F., had its beginnings at Foote in 1892, with all of its thirteen charter members bearing addresses of Foote Post Office and residing in the Hinkletown and Green Valley vicinity. Original lodge records for the Foote/Green Valley I.O.O.F. were found with the collection of artifacts and records of the North English Lodge in the 2nd floor of the I.O.O.F. building at 103 S. Main St., for many years owned by the Evans family and operated first as Evans Photography and later as the Lifetouch Photo Studio. The North English I.O.O.F. met in the 2nd floor of the building. The records of both lodges are being preserved at the English Valleys History Center, 108 N. Main St., North English. The memorabilia consists of ritualistic trappings including robes, masks, flags and banners, tools, props for reenacting rituals, the original charter, membership and treasurers records of Odd Fellow and Rebekah Lodges for Green Valley and North English. The Green Valley and North English Odd Fellows Lodges merged around 1925, thus the Green Valley records and artifacts of Green Valley Lodge were removed to North English at that time. AT LEFT: Historic robes and memorabilia from Green Valley and North English I.O.O.F. lodges that combined in the 1920s. On permanent display at English Valleys History Center, North English, Iowa. |
The record book, Signatures to Constitution, January 1895, contains the following thirteen names as Charter Members, all residence Foote, Iowa:
J. B. Lloyd Age 28 J.P. McDowell Age 53
E. L. Hall Age 43 E. Patterson Age 40
A. E. Walton Age 37 W.W. Davisson Age 29
A. Moffit Age 37 C.L. Dillon Age 43
Ed Lamoraux Age 38 C. S. Long Age 25
J. F. Burkett Age 34 S. E. Berry Age 28
J.J. Maule Age 29
The first treasurer’s book of dues collected for each member begins with September 11, 1894. In addition to the names above, the following members appear to have been initiated with the Charter Members:
L. G. Huffman D. R. Wade
G.W. Patterson Age 33 Wm. G. Oldaker Age 29
A. E. Winslow E. Berry
J. D. Miller
The following were initiated November 15, 1894 and January 17, 1895:
John B. Chapman Age 35 G.W. Long Age 29
William Hall Age 29 Jacob Chapman Age 25
Edward F. McArtor Age 36 J.M. Oldaker Age 58
J.H.P Miller
The following were initiated March 26, 1896:
Theodore Zilmer Age 21 Alphens Walton Age 32
The following were initiated April 30, 1896:
Hugh Moffit Age 49 Alonzo Wade Age 44
D. S. Netser Age 28 Edward Maule
Amos Ryan Age 37 Charles H. McArtor Age 57
Fred Ruegsegger Age 22 D. C. Dixon
John L. Powell
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During the late1890s, the popularity of lodges at Hinkletown and Green Valley grew sufficiently to begin to draw membership from outside of the Foote Post Office area, and included Greene Center in Greene Township, Lime Creek Township in Washington Township, and Liberty Township, Keokuk County. Members initiated into the Green Valley Lodge between 1897 and 1900 include:
Lewis Jones S.K. Johnson Age 35
Nick Schnegg Age 36 John W. Lefever Age 39
C. J. Cover Age 29 J.K. Cover Age 37
Fred O. Chapman Age 44 Orin Long Age 31
J. A. Ogle Age 45 W.E. Wade Age 36
W.W. Dowis Age 41 Jess Ponchard Age 35
Jess Hudson Age 30 Francis Wade Age 32
A.W. Moore Age 39 Lincoln Miller Age 35
Jess Hall Age 22 C.W. Hall Age 39
Charles Hudson Age 31 Bert Popham Age 25
Issac Maule Age 29 Thomas F. Hudson Age 59
C.W. Carter Age 40 F. Yoder Age 65
Members initiated 1900 – 1910 were as follows:
George E. Powell Age 28 Joseph A. Powell Age 26
Francis Yoder J.M. Gillen
Jess Long Age 23 James Aggson Age 25
Henry Aggson Age 33 Elmer S. Long Age 22
M.A. Gladwin Age 48 L. T. Kelly Age 45
V.M. Bell Age 22 N.J. Bell Age 30
C.L. Hall Age 23 Delmar Ash Age 28
Dan Donahey John Chapman
Roy Clingan John Godbur
Members initiated 1911 – 1920 were as follows:
James D. Morrison R.R. Grimm
Ed Wade Glenn Bucher
Ray Jordan Arthur Husted
Bruce J. Patterson Wilson K. Plecker
L. G. Huffman Ray Moffit
R. G. McDowell Thomas B. McDowell
W. S. Moffit Age 31 L. A. Moffit Age 35
Steve Carter Age 42 Harrison Wade Age 25
G. L. Ruegsegger Age 40 M. E. Hall Age 24
Bert M. Kilday Age 29 Edward Vesely Age 30
Clarence Humphrey Age 35 W. F. Wade Age 42
C. E. Long Age 21 H. C. Wells Age 25
We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, agree to abide by the Constitution of Subordinate Lodges as adopted by the Grand Lodge of this Jurisdiction, as it now is or may be hereafter legally amended, and to yield obedience to the Lows of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The complete list of names from the Book of Signatures to the Constitution, by date of admission are as follows (dates and notes may vary from records above):
DATE NAME AGE RESIDENCE NOTES
1/6/1895 J.R. Lloyd 28 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 J.P. McDowell 53 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 E.L. Hall 43 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 E. Patterson 40 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 A.E. Walton 37 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 W.W. Davisson 29 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 A. Moffit 37 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 C.L. Dillon 43 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 Ed Lamoreaux 38 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 C.S. Long 25 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 J.F. Burkett 34 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 S.E. Berry 28 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 J.J. Maule 29 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 J.M. Oldaker 58 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 J. B. Chapman 35 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 G.W. Patterson 33 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 W.G. Oldaker 34 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 G.W. Long 29 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 William Hall 29 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 Jacob Chapman 25 Foote Charter
1/6/1895 Edward F. McArtor 36 Foote Charter
4/2/1896 Theodore Zillmer 21 Foote Initiated
4/2/1896 Alphonz Walton 32 Foote Initiated
4/30/1896 Hugh Moffit 49 Foote Initiated
4/30/1896 Alonzo Wade 44 Foote Initiated
4/30/1896 D.S. Netser 28 Fillmore Twp. Initiated
4/30/1896 E. Maule None Greene Twp. Initiated
4/30/1896 Amos Ryan 37 Keokuk Co. Initiated
4/30/1896 Charles H. McArtor 57 Greene Twp. Initiated
4/30/1896 Fred Ruegsegger 22 Green Center Initiated
4/30/1896 D.C. Dixon None None Initiated
4/30/1896 John L. Powell None Green Center Initiated
2/13/1897 Lewis Jones None Greene Twp. Initiated
8/14/1897 S.K. Johnson 35 Greene Twp. Initiated
3/19/1898 Nick Shnegg 36 Lime Creek Twp. Initiated
3/19/1898 John W. Lefever 39 Lime Creek Twp. Initiated
4/23/1898 C.J. Cover 29 Greene Twp. Initiated
5/07/1898 J.K. Cover 37 Greene Twp. Initiated
8/10/1898 Fred O. Chapman 44 Fillmore Twp. By Card
12/10/1898 Oren Long 31 Fillmore Twp. Initiated
12/31/1898 J.A. Ogle 45 Fillmore Twp. Initiated
1/07/1899 W.E. Wade 36 Fillmore Twp. Initiated
1/14/1899 W.W. Dowis 41 Iowa County Initiated
1/14/1899 Jess Ponchaud 35 Iowa County Initiated
1/14/1899 Jess Hudson 30 Iowa County Initiated
1/14/1899 Francis Wade 32 Iowa County Initiated
3/04/1899 A.W. Moore 39 Iowa County Initiated
3/04/1899 Lincoln Miller 35 Iowa County Initiated
3/11/1899 Jess Hall 22 Iowa County Initiated
3/18/1899 C.W. Hall 39 Iowa County Initiated
3/18/1899 Charles Hudson 31 Keokuk County Initiated
4/01/1899 Bert Popham 25 Iowa County Initiated
4/08/1899 J. Maule 29 Iowa County Initiated
4/08/1899 T.F. Hudson 59 Iowa County Initiated
5/08/1899 C.W. Carter 40 Iowa County Initiated
8/31/1899 F. Yoder 65 Fillmore Twp. Initiated
8/31/1899 George E. Powell 28 Farming Initiated
8/31/1899 Joseph A. Powell 26 Farming Initiated
8/31/1899 Francis Yoder None Fillmore Twp. Initiated
10/5/1899 J.M. Gillen None Greene Twp. Initiated
2/15/1902 Jess Long 23 Foote Initiated
2/15/1902 James Aggson 25 Foote Initiated
2/15/1902 Henry Aggson 33 Foote Initiated
11/11/1905 E.S. Long 22 Foote Initiated
11/25/1905 M.A. Gladwin 48 Foote Initiated
12/30/1905 J.J. Kelley 45 Greene Twp. Initiated
2/17/1906 V.M. Bell 22 Greene Twp. Initiated
3/10/1906 N.J. Bell 30 Washington By Card
3/17/1906 C.L. Hall 23 Greene Twp. Initiated
8/24/1907 Dellmar Ash 28 Foote Initiated
8/09/1908 Dan Donahey None Fillmore Twp. Initiated
8/22/1908 John Chapman None Fillmore Twp. Initiated
9/19/1908 Roy Clingan None Washington Co. Initiated
2/25/1911 James D. Morrison None Washington Co. Initiated
12/14/1912 R.R. Grimm None North English Initiated
12/14/1912 Ed Wade None North English Initiated
12/21/1912 Glenn Bucher None North English Initiated
12/21/1912 Ray Jordan None Parnell Initiated
1/04/1913 Art Husted None Green Valley Initiated
1/04/1913 B.J. Patterson None Wellman Initiated
1/11/1913 W.K. Plecker None North English Initiated
1/18/1913 L.G. Huffman None Parnell Initiated
1/25/1913 Ray Moffit None North English Initiated
8/16/1913 R.G. McDowell None North English Initiated
11/15/1913 T.B. McDowell None North English Initiated
3/02/1918 W.S. Moffit 31 Greene Twp. Initiated
3/08/1918 L.A. Moffit 35 Greene Twp. Initiated
3/08/1918 Steve Carter 42 Fillmore Twp. Initiated
3/22/1918 Harrison Wade 25 Fillmore Twp. Initiated
3/22/1918 G.L. Ruegsegger 40 Greene Twp. Initiated
5/24/1919 M.E. Hall 24 Greene Twp. Initiated
4/10/1920 B.M. Kilday 29 Greene Twp. Initiated
4/10/1920 Edward Vesely 30 Fillmore Twp. Initiated
10/2/1920 Clarence Humphrey 35 Greene Twp. Initiated
10/16/1920 W.F. Wade 42 Greene Twp. Initiated
10/16/1920 C.E. Long 21 Greene Twp. Initiated
10/16/1920 H.E. Wells 25 North English By Card
When the Odd Fellows organized at Foote in 1892, they did not have a lodge hall to hold meetings. They approached the members of the Masonic Lodge at Foote, then meeting at Green Valley, Greene Township, approximately one and one half miles east of Hinkletown. The request was made to rent space in the Masonic Hall to hold Independent Order of Odd Fellows meetings. The following excerpt of minutes of the Farmers Lodge # 168, A.F. & A. M., indicates that the two lodges began meeting in the same hall at Green Valley, and that the relationship appeared to be one of “on again – off again” over the seven years the Odd Fellows met in the Masonic Hall:
May 19, 1892: The committee rented Farmers Lodge to the Odd Fellows. Was to report again. Sherman Aggson, Sectretary.
June 11, 1892: Lodge vote on rent the Lodge to the Odd Fellows. Vote, three white balls and four black balls. Sherman Aggson, Secretary.
August 18, 1894: The business of renting the Lodge comes on. Brother Aggson makes motion to reject the communication for renting the Lodge room to the Odd Fellows. Brother C.W. Hall makes a motion to accept the communication and seconded by L.R. Moffit. Motion by Brother Ed Maule that the Farmers Lodge # 168 rents the Lodge room to the Odd Fellows for the sum of $1.00 for each meeting and seconded by Brother C.F. Lytle. Motion prevailed.
Account of Brother John Aggson for oil, coal, and lamp flue. Bill was allowed amount $7.00. The Odd Fellows to furnish their own lites and fuel, desks, etc. C.F. Lytle, Secretary Pro Tem.
April 1, 1899: The proposition for the consideration of the Lodge, to sell same to Mr. Brown and either go into partnership with the Odd Fellows, in building a hall at Green Valley, or consolidation with North English. H.W. Oldaker, Secretary.
September 15, 1900: Proposition to remove Farmers Lodge to Kinross, Iowa, by Brothers Van Kirk and Lytle of Kinross, Iowa. Secretary ordered by W.M. to notify absent Brothers to appear at the regular meeting October 13th to consider the same. H.W. Oldaker, Secretary.
October 13, 1900: Remarks on moving the Lodge to Kinross by Brothers John Vankirk , C.F. Lytle and C.W. Hall. Motion made to ballot on the proposition of moving the hall for the purpose of getting the opinion of members, by H.W. Oldaker, second by E.E. Moffit. Ballot spread. Result six for, to six against. H.W. Oldaker, Secretary.
January 5, 1901: The question was put before the members, shall the Lodge be moved to Kinross. All in favor write “yes” on your ballots. Contrary, “no.” Result – Eight (8) Yes. Unanimous carried. H.W. Oldaker presented bill for postage and writing paper 40 cents allowed. E.E. Moffit and Henry Aggson was appointed committee to confer with Mr. Brown in regard to buying or selling building. M.J. Chandler, Secretary.
June 8, 1901: Communication from the Grand Master read declaring the said Farmers Lodge #168 of Foote, Iowa removed to Kinross, Iowa. Also communications from Brother J.F. Baughman of North English asking to be reinstated. The following brethren handed in petitions for membership, C.F. Lytle of Napthalia Lodge #188, D. McDowell, Napthalia Lodge #188, H.T. Dildine of Adelphia Lodge #353, F.E. Kerr of Triangular Lodge #245, John M. Vankirk of Lodge #96. H.T. Dildine in his liberality gave the fraternity the use of his half of the Hall till January 1 free.
Interestingly, there were men who shared memberships in both the Odd Fellows and Masonic Lodge at Foote. When the Masons decided to move the Farmers Lodge # 168 to Kinross, Keokuk County, in 1901 in order to be closer to its population base, additional Masonic Lodge members who chose to remain at Green Valley joined the Odd Fellows Lodge.
Copyright 2008 © Hinkletown.com, English Valleys History Center and Farmers Lodge # 168. Information compiled and written by David B. Jackson.
Display of Odd Fellows Robes and memorabilia at English Valleys History Center.
Above: 1800s letterhead from Odd Fellows Lodge # 325, North English, Iowa. The Green Valley Lodge Lodge # 603 merged with the North English Lodge in the 1920s.
Below: The Schools at Hinkletown that educated the lodge members for the future.
 The second Hickory Ridge Schoolhouse at Hinkletown was built about 1874. This photo was taken approximately 1899 - 1901. The first school was a log cabin built by early settlers in the summer of 1849 and was documented by Jeremiah M. Suiter and brother Mordecai Suiter, settlers of 1846. The first school was called Hickory Grove, and was built on a hill just west of Hinkletown. Several students who attended this school became members of the Oddfellows or Masonic lodges at Foote, Iowa. |
 The third Hickory Ridge Schoolhouse at Hinkletown was built in 1906. This photo was taken on July 4, 1907. Teacher - Nellie Kernan, Photographer - V. L. Berryhill.
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Copyright 2007 - Hinkletown.com, Farmers Lodge # 168, English Valleys History Center, North English, IA, and Historic Photo Archives, Klemme, Iowa
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