Top, left to right: Mrs. Will Allen, female?, Mrs, Geo. Allen, Mr, and Mrs. Trevist, Mrs. Henry Danforth, Mrs. Ed. Schoff, Mrs. Charly Hall, Cora Ripley, Leon Ripley, Mrs. Edwin Trask, Nan Quimby, Frank Stapleton, Mrs. Stapleton, Nellie Young, Lucy Fuller, Mrs. Cagdeau, Ed. Schoff. Middle row: Mrs, Jef Baldwin, Mrs. Beckwith, in uniform: Geo. Allen, Irving Young, Henry Danforth, Jim Stapelton, Will Allen, Charlie Hall, Edwin Trask. Children, bottom row: Helena Hall, Pearl Quimby, Glenn Allen, Lucy Baldwin, Bea Young (Allen), Ethel Schoff, (boy) Schoff.
This is a remarkable piece of Coos County history. It captured a moment most probably in 1896 that perfectly illustrates the "Golden Age of Fraternalism" in rural New England.
The men in the center are prominent citizens of the West Stewartstown, a booming hub for the logging industry and dairy farming. They represent the "civilized frontier" of Northern New Hampshire. In the late 1890s, they belonged to frontier Lodge No. 46 (the local IOOF lodge) and its higher-ranking uniformed branch, Canton Coos No. 25, the semi-military "uniformed branch" of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), known as the Patriarchs Militant, this was the highest rank a member could achieve in the Order. Fraternal organizations like the Odd Fellows were the "social glue" of these communities. Fraternalism in America reached its "Golden Age" in the late 19th century.
By 1897, millions of American men belonged to these secret societies, and their uniformed branches were a staple of local parades and town gatherings during this exact time window. By 1896, the Odd Fellows was the largest fraternal organization in the world, even larger than the Freemasons. In a small town like West Stewartstown, being a member of the “Canton" meant you were likely a civic leader or a successful businessman. In 1896, the Odd Fellows were the center of social life. These fraternal organizations functioned as both a social safety net and a "who’s who" of the community.
The IOOF "Frontier Lodge No. 46" was named quite literally—West Stewartstown sits right on the "frontier" of the Canadian border. The group likely hosted members from both sides of the border, making it a truly international social hub in the 1890s. The 1890s saw many New Hampshire lodges celebrating their "Golden" or "Silver" anniversaries.
While the men belonged to the Canton, their wives likely belonged to the Rebekahs, the women’s branch of the IOOF. The Women: The women in the top row, including Mrs. Ed Schoff and Mrs. George Allen, were almost certainly members of the Rebekahs (the female auxiliary). For women in a remote area like Coos County, the Rebekahs provided one of the few formal avenues for leadership and social organization outside of the church.
Large group photos like this were usually taken during regional gathering where Cantons from across Coos County (and even Vermont/Quebec) would meet for drills and a parade. The combination of the men's specific regalia and the women's fashion confirms a date of 1895–1897.
Understanding the Scene from the photograph: the men in the middle row aren't just Odd Fellows; they are the elite rank.
- The Uniforms: The men are in the "Full Dress" of the Patriarchs Militant. Note the "PM" or the "Crown and Crossed Swords" on the collars. The men are wearing "Chevalier" uniforms modeled after U.S. Army officer dress of the late 19th century. Note the single-breasted tunics with a single row of nine brass buttons down the front, white belts, and ceremonial swords. Their headgear is the “chapeau-bras”. The "Crowned" Insignia is the hallmark of the Patriarchs Militant, which was officially organized in 1885 but reached its peak popularity in the mid-1890s.
- Rank & File: The men with more elaborate shoulder knots (Jim Stapleton and Will Allen) would have held leadership titles like Captain or Ensign.
- The Swords: These were purely ceremonial, symbolizing the "crusade" against vice and the protection of the "widow and the orphan"—the core mission of the IOOF. Unlike military swords, these were often highly etched with the owner’s name.
- The Symbolism: The Patriarchs Militant motto was Justitia Universalis (Universal Justice). Their goal was to display "knight-errantry" in a modern world, which is why they look like a military unit despite being a peaceful civic organization.
- Medals: Jim Stapleton is wearing a "Breast Jewel”; a medal likely features the "Three Links" (Friendship, Love, and Truth) synonymous with the Odd Fellows.
- The Setting: This was likely taken on the porch of a prominent local building in West Stewartstown, possibly the Frontier Lodge No. 46 meeting hall: The ‘’Odd Fellow Block’’ on Main Street. The building in the photo—with its massive white porch columns—was a hallmark of the grander "society" architecture of that era. Most of these large wooden blocks in West Stewartstown were multi-purpose: the ground floor usually held a general store or pharmacy, while the second and third floors were reserved for the "Secret Society" halls (the Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs). Research in local Coos County history reveals that West Stewartstown suffered a catastrophic fire in January 1912. This fire started in a nearby store and swept through the wooden "blocks" on Main Street, including the original Odd Fellows Hall.
Without uniform but also of notewhorty are The Schoffs: Ed Schoff appears at the end of the top row, while his wife is also present. This "husband and wife" involvement was a hallmark of the IOOF, which was more inclusive of families than the Freemasons at the time. The Ripleys were a prominent local family; Leon would have been a young man here, likely a newer recruit to the order. Fraternal events were often family affairs.
Fashion of 1896: The most reliable way to date late-Victorian photos is by looking at women’s sleeves. The "Leg-o-Mutton" Sleeves: Several women in the photo are wearing dresses with massive, puffed upper sleeves that taper at the wrist. This specific "gigot" or leg-o-mutton style exploded in size starting around 1893, peaked in 1895–1896 (becoming almost comical in scale), and then rapidly deflated and disappeared by 1899. High Necklines and Small Waists: The high-collared bodices and the "hourglass" silhouette created by the wide shoulders were the hallmark of the mid-1890s. The women's flat, decorated hats (millinery) match the "Gibson Girl" transition era of the late 1890s.
The Children: The children sitting in the front row are dressed in quintessential Victorian Sunday best—the girls in lace collars and the boys in "Little Lord Fauntleroy" style suits and caps.
