The Maccabees were
one of the more successful of fraternal benefit societies which sprung
up after the Civil War. Many insurance companies were not interested in
sales to ordinary people and there was little in the way of "safety
nets". Groups like the Maccabees, Foresters, Woodmen, and so on
provided a safety net along with pleasant social meetings and other
gatherings. The Maccabee order was founded in London, Ontario in 1878.
Before 1914, it was known as the Knights of the Maccabees. Originally
it operated on an assessment basis: whenever a member died, each living
member was assessed 10 cents to go into a pot
to provide the widow $1000. After reorganization, it became much more
sophisticated, collecting monthly assessments based on payouts. By the
1890s it provided not only death benefits but also sick
benefits of $4 to $10/week; total and permanent disability benefits of
$50, $200, or $300 annually (depending on the size of your assessment);
$175-$2000 for loss of hands, eyes, feet, etc.; funeral benefits, and
so on." Coal miners, "aeronauts" and other dangerous professions
excluded. Manufacturers, sellers, and drinkers of alcohol also
excluded. |
S. K. C. - Fred E. Smith S. K. L. C. - Harry L. Dunton S. K. P. C. - Fred L. Benham Prelate - Chas. Humphrey Sergeant - Chas. J. Purdy R. K. - Oscar Steinline |
F. K. - Wm. H. Fox M. at A. - Frank Castle 1st M. of G. - Hiram Debow 2d M. of G. - Chas. Sheffield Picket - Frank Babcock Sentinel - Ed. Bounds |
Com. - Justice Sheldon Lieut. com. - Fran VanBuren R. K. - Clinton Ballard F. K. - Frank Huntoon Chap. - Wm. Beals Serg. - George Baker |
M. at A. - Harry Forshay 1st M. G. - Charles Robbins 2d M. G. - James Sherdume Sen. - Frank Tiffany Pic. - Adam Black |
Commander - Clinton L. Ballard Lt. Commander - Charles L. Ballard Record keeper - Frank Huntoon Finance keeper - William C. Seihl Chaplain - W. J. Beals Physician - Dr. John Melvin |
Sergeant - Charles Robins Master at Arms - Dorman Coats 1st Master of Guard - Harry Forshay 2d Master of Guard - Joseph Winters Sentinel - Julius E. Snyder Picket - Justus Sheldon |
P. C. - James E. Fogarty Com. - James L. Bates Lieut. Com. - Ed. T. Bounds R. K. - W. W. Coe F. K. - W. H. Fox Chap. - Smith C. Fuller |
Serg. - Frank Williams Phy. - A. L. Beahan, M. D. M. A. - A. L. Penoyer M. of G. - C. R. Mather Sen. - William Johnson Pick. - W. S. Cooper |
Lady commander - Mrs. Lottie Siscoe Past lady commander - Mrs. Sarah C. Mills Lieutenant lady commander - Mrs. Clara Crain Lady record keeper - Mrs. Eleanor Huntoon Lady finance keeper - Miss Jessie V. Terry Lady prelate - Mrs. Charles Robbins |
Lady sergeant - Mrs. Minnie Van Bussom Lady mistress at arms - Mrs. Hattie E. Corey Lady sentinel - Miss Lizzie Stevens Lady picket - Miss Mary Sullivan Organist - Mrs. I. G. Mason Medical examiner - Dr. J. Melvin |
Commander - M. H. Parmele Lieut. Commander - J. H. Chase Finance Keeper - W. T. Bridgland Record Keeper - W. B. Adams Sergeant - Spencer Saxby Chaplain - Remer Chase Physician - Dr. S. R. Wheeler |
Master at Arms - John H. Adams 1st Master of the Guard - Wm. Paul 2nd Master of the Guard - Fred Sleight Sentinel - Chas. M. Norton Picket - Fred Page Sir Knight Past Commander - F. L. Adams |
Sir Knight Past Commander - Ed. Chapman Commander - Wm. Pitt Lieutenant Commander - William Pulver R. K. - J. A. Staysa F. K. - C. L. Crosier Chaplain - Wm. Crego Physician - A. D. Allen |
Sergeant - Wm. O. Valentine Master of Arms - Chas. Johnson First Master of Guards - Fred Kindelberger Second Master of Guards - L. Walters Sentinel - A. Young Picket - Ed. Excell |
Past commander - Albert L. Knapp Commander - Henry A. Clarke Lieutenant Commander - Walter S. Throop Record keeper - George A. Miles Finance keeper - E. G. Leescher Chaplain - Rev. J. Frank Pearse |
Master at arms - George E. Lewis 1st Master of guards - Ed Shaw 2d Master of guards - Charles Rogers Picket - Charles Cooley Sentinel - W. H. Cross Physician - Dr. John R. Pratt |
Lady commander - Mrs. Lottie Burgdorf Lady lt. commander - Mrs. Sarah Van Dyne Lady record keeper - Miss Ida Bentley Lady finance keeper - Mrs. Alma Mather Lady prelate - Mrs. Mary Moor |
Lady sergeant - Mrs. Roberts Lady mistress at arms - Miss Nina Hildreth Lady sentinel - Mrs. Frank Caton Lady picket - Mrs. Ada Benham Past lady commander - Mrs. Perbasco |
Past commander - M. H. Parmele Commander - Charles M. Norton Lieut. commander - Edgar Norton Record keeper - W. F. Bridgeland Finance keeper - J. H. Leete Sergeant - L. H. Childs Master-at-arms - J. H. Adams |
1st Master guards - Albert Pope 2d Master guards - W. C. Page Sentinel - Luther Rice Picket - James Steele Medical examiner - Dr. H. H. Wheeler Chaplain - R. D. Chase Organist - Frank Appleton |
Past commander - A. L. Knapp Commander - Frank J. Howard Lieutenant - Charles Rogers Record keeper - Walter S. Throop Finance keeper - Frank Russell Chaplain - Frank Hyde Physician - Dr. John H. Pratt |
Sergeant - Lester W. Short Master-at-arms - Harry Bennett 1st master of guards - Clarence Payne 2d master of guards - George Shaw Sentinel - Edgar J. Burns Picket - Chas. E. Harrington |
Past commander - William Fisher Commander - Charles Siler Lt. commander - Robert Fisher Record keeper - Byron C. Wilcox Finance keeper - George W. Smith Chaplain - Charles W. Brown Physician - William F. Garlock |
Master at arms - George Flack Sergeant - James Barragan 1st master of guards - John White 2d master of guards - George Strong Sentinel - John Flack Picket - Antonio Bogart |
Past commander - James L. Bates Commander - S. C. Fuller Lt. commander - F. R. Williams Record keeper - N. W. Thompson Finance keeper - N. W. Thompson Chaplain - William S. Lord Physician - B. T. McDowell |
Sergeant - E. C. Robinson Master at arms - G. T. Randall 1st M. of G. - William Johnson 2d M. of G. - H. C. Case Sentinel - J. Q. Wells Picket - C. H. Fried |
Com. - E. J. Burroughs Lieut. Com. - E. Smith Record keeper - T. Bibb Treasurer - J. Hennessy Sergeant - J. Wealls |
M. at A. - C. Fisher M. of G. - J. Dadson 2d M. of G. - J. Frank Sentinel - M. Frank Picket - B. Rogers |
Past. Com. - C. M. Norton Com. - A. J. Pope Lieut. Com. - L. N. Rice Rec. Keeper - W. S. Hicks Chapl. - F. S. Conklin Physician - S. R. Wheeler |
Sargt. - E. F. Burt Mat. A. - J. H. Adams 1st Mo. J. - A. B. Mason 2d Mo. J. - Wm. Spaulding Sent. - H. Wilkins Pickt. - C. G. Cummings |
Past commander - William Ginther Commander - Ray H. Van Wie Record keeper - W. H. Townsend Finance keeper - W. C. Higley Chaplain - Lewis Bunnell Physician - John Hutchens |
Sergeant - A. L. Bunnell Master at Arms - Arden Brandow 1st master of guards - Fred Parshall 2d master of guards - Avery Jameson Sentinel - Charles Townsend Picket - M. H. Booth |
Commander - C. M. Sisco Lt. commander - F. J. Chism Record and Fin. keeper - S. Forshay Chaplain - A. M. Flack Physician - Dr. J. Melvin Sergeant - L. Eberts |
Master at arms - H. D. Coates 1st M. at guard - G. Haggerty 2d M. at guard - A. Russel Sentinel - N. D. Aldrich Picket - I. G. Mason |
P. C. - Mrs. A. J. Fuller Com. - Mrs. M. Blanchard I. C. - Mrs. Martha Bates P. K. - Mrs. Alice Thompson Chap. - Mrs. Mary A. Pruner Serg. - Miss Nellie O'Brien |
M. A. - Mrs. Bertha Boyle 1st G. F. - Miss Bertha Allen 2d F. G. - Miss Mary Hosey Sen. - Mrs. Mary Cherry Pic. - Miss Lizzie Saunders Organist - Mrs. Clara Scott |
P. - C. N. Shaw Com. - W. F. Vincent Lt. Com. - Joel Cares R. K. and F. K. - E. L. French Chap. - Enos McMillan Serg. - A. B. Pelton |
M. at A. - G. D. Peterson 1st M. of G. - E. L. Schellenger 2d M. of G. - E. H. Wilcox Sent. - G. F. Seigwalt Pick. - G. E. Miller Delegate - J. E. Vincent |
P. C. - Dr. G. H. Cutler Com. - G. S. Bennett Lt. Com. - E. Baltwood R. K. - Sidney Pinner Sgt. - James Driscoll |
Chaplain - Ray Vandenbergh M. of A. - J. Atkins Sentinel - George Keasel Picket - John Harrington Physician - Dr. C. A. Rowley |
Past commander - C. M. Norton Commander - A. J. Pope Lt. commander - L. N. Rice Record keeper - W. B. Adams Finance keeper - E. B. Case Physician - Dr. S. R. Wheeler Chaplain - R. D. Chase |
Master-at-arms - Edgar Norton Sergeant - E. F. Burt 1st master of guards - A. B. Mason 2d master of guards - C. A. Murrell Sentinel - C. W. Murrell Picket - Fred Page |
Commander - John C. Briggs Lt. commander - Charles F. Stillwell Record keeper - Truman S. Stevens Finance keeper - J. Murray Franklin Chaplain - Chester N. Daniels Master at arms - John Litzendorf |
Tent physician - Edwin Gilbert Sergeant - Dr. H. J. Abell 1st master of guards - F. H. Kent 2d master of guards - George S. Brown Sentinel - H. H. Curtis Picket - Silas J. Wilson |
Com. - J. E. Vincent Lt. com. - Jose Caves R. K. - E. L. French F. K. - E. L. French Chaplain - Enos McMillen Sergeant - H. C. Bussey |
M. at A. - G. D. Peterson 1st M. of G. - J. A. Doen 2d M. of G. - Fred White Sentinel - Duwayn P. McMullen Picket - Fred Wolfe |
Past commander - Mrs. Mary Ballard Commander - Mrs. Lottie Siscoe Lt. commander - Miss Mary Sullivan Record keeper - Mrs. Ella Harbertson Finance keeper - Mrs. Florence Upham Chaplain - Mrs. Hattie Corey |
Sergeant - Mrs. J. H. Sheldon Mistress at arms - Mrs. Florence Robbins Sentinel - Mrs. Charles Anderson Picket - Mrs. Charles Doley Organist - Mrs. Minnie VanBussum |
Past commander - C. M. Siscoe Commander - F. J. Chism Lt. commander - L. H. Ebertb Rec. & Fin. keeper - H. S. Forshay Chaplain - A. M. Flack Physician - Dr. D. A. Eiseline |
Sergeant - H. D. Coates Master at arms - Seward Furner 1st master of guards - Eugene Haggerty 2d master of guards - W. C. Barnhart Sentinel - A. F. Mills Picket - Charles Anderson |
Past commander - Mrs. William Blanchard Commander - Mrs. C. J. Farnum Lt. commander - Mrs. Mary Hannah Record keeper - Mrs. G. R. Hall Finance keeper - Mrs. F. R. Williams Mistress-at-arms - Mrs. Ashley Fountain |
Sergeant - Mrs. A. C. Cappon Chaplain - Mrs. Mary Cherry Sentinel - Mrs. E. Boyle Picket - Mrs. Carl Huebler Pianist - Miss Grace Blanchard |
Past commander - Mrs. Harriet Shaw Commander - Mrs. Adora McMullen Lt. commander - Mrs. Lydia Wolfe Record keeper - Mrs. Charlotte Caves Finance keeper - Mrs. Mary Peterson |
Chaplain - Mrs. Mary Harvey Mistress-at-arms - Mrs. Fannie Ranney Sergeant - Mrs. Mary Siegwalt Sentinel - Miss Laura Donnelly Picket - Mrs. Carrie Savage |
Lady commander - Mrs. Minnie Van Bussum Lt. commander - Mrs. J. L. Mather Record keeper - Mrs. Ella Harbertson Finance keeper - Mrs. Florence Upham Prelate - Mrs. W. Bradley |
Sergeant - Mrs. Ella Huntoon Mistress-at-arms - Mrs. Anna Packard Sentinel - Mrs. Charles Anderson Picket - Mrs. Catherine Doley |
Commander - Mrs. Charles Farnum Lt. commander - Mrs. J. M. Van Devyver Record keeper - Mrs. George Hall Finance keeper - Mrs. Frank Williams Chaplain - Mrs. Allen Mistress at arms - Miss Jennie Chisholm |
Sergeant - Mrs. W. H. Criddle Sentinel - Mrs. E. Boyle Picket - Mrs. Henry S. Squier Trustees - Mrs. Wm. Blanchard, Mrs. Wm. Pruner, Mrs. A. C. Cannon |
Commander - S. C. Fuller Lt. commander - James S. Fogarty Record & finance keeper - N. W. Thompson Chaplain - Frank Newman Sergeant - Fred Newman Master-at-arms - Dwight Smith |
1st M. of G. - Wm. Johnson 2d M. of G. - Wm. Tracey Sentinel - H. S. Squier Picket - R. N. Jones Trustee for 3 yrs - J. M. Van Devyver |
Commander - A. Bosshart Lt. commander - A. H. Peachey Record and Fin. keeper - S. J. Flack Chaplain - J. P. Sheehan Sergeant - Geo. Muskett 1st Master of guards - Chas. Warfield |
2d Master of guards - E. E. Hayden Master at arms - John Love Sentinel - John Johannson Picket - Charles Moore Lodge physician - W. H. Reed |
Past Lady Com. -Etta Staysa Lady Com. - Carrie M. Young Lt. Com. - Etta DeGraff R. K. - Lizzie Ferguson F. K. - Elvira Alden |
Master at Arms - Nellie Perry Sergeant - Emma Link Sentinel - Sattie Lewis Picket - Emma Holcomb |
Past lady commander - Blanche Winne Lady commander - Susan Lynch Lt. commander - Mary Pratt Chaplain - Mary Washburn Mistress at arms - Clara Megaffee |
Sergeant - Maynetta Stearns Record keeper - Carrie Cornell Finance keeper - Marcia Miles Picket - Mamie Miles Sentinel - Barbria Braham |
Past commander - Louisa Genther Commander - Tina Dadson Lieut. Commander - Eunice Erhart R. K. - Anna Lindsay F. K. - Adah Sniffin Prelate - Charlotte McGloeton Sergeant - Harriet Davis |
Mistress at Arms - Jennie Erhart Sentinel - Susie Solder Picket - Phenie Groscup Pianist - Matie Smith Installing officer - Louisa Genther Conductor - Minnie Bibb |
Sir Kt. Com. - E. L. French Lieut. - Joel Coves Record keeper - J. H. Dorn Finance keeper - H. C. Bussey Chaplain - Enos McMillen Medical examiner - Dr. Mudge |
S. R. Serg. - R. J. Conner Master at arms - G. H. Howell 1st M. of G. - C. H. Goodman 2d M of G. - W. L. Hornbeck Sentinel - H. H. Austin Picket - F. Wolfe |
Past commander - A. J. Pope Commander - J. A. Adams Lt. commander - J. H. Chase Record keeper - R. D. Chase Finance keeper - Edward Case Chaplain - M. B. Eaton Sergeant - J. A. Lute |
1st master of guard - H. Dibble 2d master of guard - G. Sweeney Master at arms - James Saxby Sentinel - J. Trim Picket - Thomas Shearer Trustee - Wm. Hicks |
Lady commander - Mrs. E. G. Upham Past lady commander - Mrs. F. VanBussum Lady lieut. commander - Mrs. H. S. Forshay Lady chaplain - Mrs. H. Losey Lady sergeant - Mrs. J. Sheldon |
Lady mistress-at- arms - Mrs. J. Snyder Lady sentinel - Mrs. B. Bailey Lady picket - Mrs. A. Chillson Organist - Mrs. E. Knowles |
Commander - H. S. Forshay Lt. commander - E. Haggarty R. K. & F. K. - C. C. Ballard Chaplain - Charles Robbins Physician - Dr. Eiseline Sergeant - S. A. Losey |
M. A. - G. W. Stevens 1st M. G. - G. W. Eggleston 2d M. G. - Wm. Bailey Sentinel - J. A. Dunlap Picket - Frank VanBussum Trustee - H. S. Forshay |
Commander - W. H. Brandow L. C. - Charles L. Knapp B. K. - G. F. Wheaton Chaplain - N. H. Case M. at A. - Edson Tiffany Sergeant - E. Clement |
1st M of G. - F. E. Tones 2d M. of G. - Lee Smith Sentinel - A. Brandow Picket - W. Murray Trustee - H. M. Knapp |
Lady Com. - Carrie M. Youngs Past lady com. - Etta Staysa Lt. lady com. - Etta DeGroff R. keeper - Eliza Ferguson F. keeper - Elvira Alden |
Ms. at arms - Nellie Perry Searg. - Nellie Winagle Sen. - Mary Cook Pic. - Ella Kindleburger |
P. Com. - John Adams Com. - Albert Pope Lieut. Com. - Wm. Wheeler Record Keeper - R. D. Chase Finance Keeper - Wm. Hicks Physician - S. R. Wheeler Master at Arms - James Saxby |
Chaplain - Frank Forsyth
Sergeant - J. A. Leete 1st Member of Guards - Wm. McCutchin 2nd Member of Guards - Hurley Dibble Sentinel - Thomas Shearer Picket - M. B. Eaton |