I guessed it was a fraternal organization of some kind and found "Knights of the Golden Eagle" listed in several of the Steubenville, Ohio, city directories of the time. It told the days, time, and location of meetings.
Next I searched the catalog of the Ohio Archives Library at the Ohio Historical Society and learned that it has an undated catalogue of uniforms and paraphernalia manufactured by The M. C. Lilley & Co., in Columbus, Ohio, for the Knights of the Golden Eagle. It seems that Lilley & Co. began making swords in 1865 and then expanded its product line to include uniforms and other accoutrements for various organizations.
The catalogue (cover and one page below) has illustrations and price lists for its items for sale. It would have been interesting to photocopy and post the whole catalog because it had some pretty unusual looking garb in addition to what's pictured below. Looking through the catalogue I wondered what kind of organization this could possibly be. It all seemed so strange.
I decided to see what other information I could find. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania shares the following information about the Knights of the Golden Eagle:
Founded in 1873 by John Emory Burbage, the Knights of the Golden Eagle is a fraternal organization with rituals based on those of the crusaders. Members pass through three stages: pilgrim, knight, and crusader. In addition to giving moral and intellectual guidance, the society provided relief to sick or unemployed members and gave survivor benefits to widows and orphans. In 1900 the Knights of the Golden Eagle had approximately 20,000 members and functioned in twenty states. The society's motto is 'Fidelity, Valor, and Honor,' and rituals reflect the emphasis placed on the word of the Bible.
The Phoenixmasonry Masonic Museum and Library devotes a section of its website to the Knights of the Golden Eagle. There you can see photographs of two young men in their uniforms and learn more about the organization.
Do you have an ancestor who belonged to the Knights of the Golden Eagle?
--Nancy.
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The information at Phoenixmasonry was really interesting. I have run across several fraternal organizations, IOOF and Knights of Pythias are the ones I learned more about. The way we socialize has really changed!
ReplyDeleteI have a massive, ornate medal, in the box, and on the medal the ribbon says Supreme. It may be the high order given, and only to the Supreme Leader.
ReplyDeleteI suspect "Supreme" indicated the medal was used by an officer of the Supreme Lodge (national level). Other lodge levels may have been "Grand Lodge" for state (regional level).
DeleteI believe my grandfather John E. Davis 1874-1939 was a K.G.E. He lived in Schuylkill Co., PA until 1878, then Weld Co., CO 1878-1900. Then Fremont Co., CO 1900-1906. Then Weld Co., CO 1906-1939. He was a barber but lived in coal mining communities.
Peace, James R. Davis, 6708 Austin Way, Sacramento, CA 95823
james.davis1@sbcglobal.net - - 6/4/16
Thanks for the suggestion that Supreme may have signified a lodge at the national level, James. I hope perhaps Anonymous (whose comment you responded to) will come back and read your comment, too.
DeleteDid your grandfather leave behind any records of his KGE membership or parts of his KGE uniform? They would be a treasure if he did, I'm sure.
I want to be part of this
ReplyDeleteIn doing genealogy research, I found my grandfather's or great grandfather's gold watch and on the chain was a small KGE medal. Are there any membership lists from Bethlehem, Pa. from 1900-1928?
ReplyDeleteYou have a treasure, John. I've not been able to find any membership lists for KGE members, but that's not to say they aren't available somewhere. I hope you find them.
DeleteMy grandfather, Byron Sloppy was a kge in Newmill port PA and I.have his decorate ribbon and sword,
ReplyDeleteWhat treasures! Lucky you.
Deletenever met my great grandpa but found the sword in my grandpas and asked what it was and he told me it was his dads my grandpa was born in 1920 not sure when his dad was a member wondering if there’s pictures or more to find he is from ohio his name is george stahl is there a way to find out the year of the sword
ReplyDeleteGosh, I wish I could help you. It's been hard to find much information about the KGE and I haven't seen any lists of members anywhere. I hope you find information somewhere.
DeleteFrom PA here. I found a wealth of information about my ancestor members in the local papers.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy and Nancy, The Knights of the Golden Eagle (KGE) started about 1872 and was to Philadelphia by 1875.
DeleteI wonder where I can find newspapers for the PA towns of:
Minersville, Schuylkill Co. 1870-1880
Plymouth, Luzerne Co., 1874-1880
My ggpa John E. Davis 1833 Wales-1900 CO may have been a KGE in PA.
......About 1880 my DAVIS family moved from PA to CO.
My gpa John E. Davis 1874 PA-1939 had mourners at his funeral from the KGE and the Knights of Pythias.
Peace, Jim
James Davis, Sacramento, CA
Like you, Kathy, I've found information in newspapers, too. I love to use them because I learn about the times of my ancestors, too.
DeleteHi, Jim. I found this link listing three newspapers from Schuylkill County and several from surrounding areas: https://roadsidethoughts.com/pa/minersville-xx-schuylkill-localpapers.htm.
And this one for Plymouth, Luzerne County: https://roadsidethoughts.com/pa/plymouth-xx-luzerne-localpapers.htm.
Both links give links to the newspapers themselves but I'm not sure if the links to go paying or free websites.
Also, you can look for free newspapers in your area of interest at these two websites:
> https://news.google.com/newspapers?hl=en
> https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
I hope you're able to find information!
Thanks Nancy for those wonderful links to Schuylkill Co. and Luzerne Co., PA newspapers. Also the more generalized newspaper links. This is great. I've already started searching but now will dig deeper. This is fun and I hope to find our more about the KGE and their specific lodges (Castles).
ReplyDeleteNot sure why I was called Anonymous with my last post.
Peace, Jim
James R. Davis, Sacramento, CA
You're welcome, Jim. I hope you find newspapers and that they provide you with interesting information.
DeleteAnother place to look for the KGE castles is in city directories, if only to know whether a castle exists in that city.
Best wishes for success!