Fraternal Organizations

Fraternal and benevolent organizations thrived in the late 1800s.  With at least several hundred in existence, they filled a need during a time of great societal change.  Westward migration, the influx of European immigrants and improved transportation all created a more fluid society that still searched for and socialized with those of similar values, political learnings and religious and ethnic backgrounds.  The largest fraternal organizations at that time all had chapters in Summit County:  the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Knights of Pythias.