Aug 27

Tombstone Tuesday-Knights of Pythias Flag Staff

This is a Knights of Pythias flag staff, located at the Feasel monument, Willshire Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio.

Knights of Pythias flag staff, Willshire Cemetery (2024 photo by Karen)

This flag staff incorporates many of this fraternal society’s symbols.

Its general shape is that of a sword, topped with a knight’s helmet.

Inscribed below that in a triangle are the letters F C B, an acronym for the society’s motto, Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence.

Below the triangle are the large letters K P, the initials of Knights of Pythias.

Knights of Pythias flag staff, Willshire Cemetery (2024 photo by Karen)

The rest of the flag staff looks like a sword.

The Knights of Pythias symbol is also carved into the Feasel tombstone.

Knights of Pythias symbol, Willshire Cemetery (2024 photo by Karen)

Below is the Knights of Pythias logo:

Knights of Pythias logo

What an attractive and unique flag staff.  

Karen

Greetings from the Chattanooga, Ohio, area. Yes, Ohio has its very own Chattanooga, aka Chatt, a small village in west-central Ohio, near the Indiana border. I have been doing family history research for over 20 years and am a Board-Certified genealogist, certified by the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. My main genealogical interests are family research, cemetery research, and historical and genealogical research of the Chatt area, with a focus on two area Lutheran Churches, both named Zion Lutheran, one in Chatt and the other in Schumm, Ohio. Family names I am researching include Miller, Schumm, Brewster, Rueck, Reid, Headington, Huey, Bryan, Whiteman, Schinnerer, Scaer, Breuninger, Bennett, and a few others. I belong to several lineage societies, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, U.S. Daughters of 1812, First Families of Ohio, and First Families of Mercer and Van Wert Counties. I am also a retired dental hygienist and our church organist. I hope you enjoy Karen's Chatt.

4 comments

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    • Sondra Samples on August 27, 2024 at 9:40 am
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    Karen, my dad was a member of the Knights of Pythias and Mom was a Pythian Sister back in the 1950s. It was a very active lodge and met on the second floor of the Opera Block building, above what was Spitler’s Grocery. They had a lot of fun family activities that included their kids.

    1. How interesting. From what I have seen, I am not surprised to hear that Willshire had a very active lodge. I believe their emblem is still on the brick building in town. Great to hear from you.

    • Farrel Krall on August 29, 2024 at 12:18 pm
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    Karen & Sondra,

    Sharon’s dad Merle Hoverman was a K of P member. I am wearing his K of P Ring. I recall the Willshire Boy Scouts held their meetings upstairs in the K of P building with Scout Master Roland Marbaugh. Access to the upstairs was via a stairway located between the Spitler’s Grocery (later Willshire Variety Store) and the American Legion Building. When Marbaugh’s relocated to be with daughter Lynn in Atlanta, GA area, Les Strickler and I took over managing the Scout Troup.
    Farrel

    1. That is an interesting piece of Willshire history you have. It sounds like their K of P was very active. Thanks for the additional information.

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