Earlier this week I wrote about the Improved Order of Red Men and their unique emblem, and I learned about them myself. I learn a lot when I write blog posts and that post was no exception.
As I wrote Tuesday, the Improved Order of Red Men was established in America about 1834 and still exists today. They are considered a secret society and claim direct descent from the patriotic colonial group, Sons of Liberty, devoted to inspiring a love for America and the principles of American liberty. Their insignia consists of Indian items, such as tomahawks, clubs, and war bonnets. Their women’s auxiliary is called the Degree of Pocahontas.
Improved Order of Red Men, Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Mercer County, Ohio. (2024 photo by Karen)
After seeing their symbol on the Riverside Cemetery tombstone, I wondered about the Improved Order of Red Men society in the area and did some follow-up research since Tuesday.
I learned that there were quite a number of Red Men “tribes” in the area. There were tribes in just about every local village-Van Wert, Rockford, Middle Point, Convoy, Scott, and Haviland. Convoy apparently had a fairly large tribe and sent a delegation of 80 to the annual meeting of the Ohio tribe in 1911.
The Van Wert group was the Abanaki Tribe No. 77 and they had a Pocahontas auxiliary group. I am not sure of the spelling. I read both Abanaki and Abenaki. Some of their meetings were called wigwams.
Abenaki Tribe No. 77, Red Men, Van Wert, Ohio, 1920
From the newspaper accounts I learned that the head of a tribe was called the Grand Sachem and the head of the auxiliary was called the Great Pocahontas. Degrees included a Chief’s Degree and a Warriors’ Degree. …The degree of teams of Abanaki Tribe Improved Order of Red Men will confer the Warriors’ degree at a meeting of the tribe in Rockford… (Van Wert Daily Bulletin, 8 Mar 1919)
The Van Wert Abanaki Tribe had apparently been around since about the 1870s: …Abanaki Tribe celebrated its 34th annual feast, a party of more than 300 in attendance. The tepee was nicely decorated in honor of the occasion. J. Val. Faudree was toastmaster. The address of welcome was by O.A. Balyeat and the response by Levi X. Jacobs. There was a musical and literary program, presented by Misses Spahr, Tumbleson, Tomlinson, Ensminger and Poling, and Earl Wallace and the Jacobs Orchestra… (Van Wert Daily Bulletin, 4 Dec 1907)
I do not know if the Abanaki Tribe had their own building or not, but a 1905 news article mentions the Van Wert Red Men’s Hall. In 1937 the Red Men’s lodge room was moved from the Brumback building to the third floor of the Rumpf building, East Main Street. (Van Wert Times Bulletin, 19 Oct 1937)
Red Men meet in Haviland, 1917
From one of their meetings: …The Grand Sachem…emphasized the strength and beauty of the cardinal principles of Freedom, Friendship and Charity. [He] dwelt upon the great force of Redmanship and the need of its exercise in the direction of crushing out Bolshevikism in event that monster show its head in the United States… (Van Wert Daily Bulletin, 8 Mar 1919)
The tribe at Middle Point had a Memorial Day observance in Middle Point in 1910. …enactment of the grand tribe of the order it is proposed that the annual observance of the day to the memory of the soldier dead shall be perpetuated by the Red Men, who are purely an American institution, with American ideas and sentiments in all matters. The Middle Point tribe has extended an invitation to the other secret societies there to join in the observance… (Van Wert Daily Bulletin, 23 May 1910)
The 10th District School of Instruction was held at Middle Point in 1910 and lasted all day and into the evening. At noon they adjourned for lunch, which consisted of corn and venison. The event included music by the Red Men’s Band. The Red Men’s Band was mentioned in several news articles. (Van Wert Daily Bulletin, 5 Oct 1910)
Red Men meet at Middle Point, 1910
In 1912 a large delegation of Red Men and Daughters of Pocahontas attended the annual meeting of the Great Council in Springfield, where about 2000 men and women participated in a parade. …quite a number of the Red Men appearing in Indian garb and war paint… The great council fire will not be extinguished until Wednesday evening… (Van Wert Daily Bulletin, 14 May 1912)
The Improved Order of Red Men also participated in funeral graveside services. From a member’s obituary: …Grover Snyder, as prophet, conducted the ritualistic services of the Red Men at the grave, during which a white dove was released… (Van Wert Daily Bulletin, 2 Nov 1912)
It is surprising that we do not see more tombstone symbols of this society in the area, considering how popular the group once was.
