Banner depicts Farmersville's Historic "Onion Shed" This image was chosen not just because of its history, but also because Odd Fellows represent the common working-class man banding, together to help each orther. No doubt there were many agricultural employees who were Odd Fellows during our glorious past.
Early Farmersville Pride History
IOOF LODGE BUILT 1899
(click to enlarge image)
The IOOF Farmersville Pride Lodge No. 228 was organized in 1875, with charter members being Dr. A.H. Neathery, J.A. Aston, C.T. Tatum, L.D. Kitchens, L.H. Marble, Thomas Glass, Henry Carver, J.T. Howard, W.R. House, W.J. Boulware, Joe Fleming, R.M. Chapmen, L.E. Bumpass, D.K. Allison and I.H. Harless.
The original Charter for Farmersville Pride Lodge No. 228 is displayed in our lodge hall which is now located at 801 Windom Street in Farmersville, Texas. The Charter has the fifteen charter member’s signatures on it. Also hanging on our lodge hall walls are large photographs of many of the early lodge members. These pioneers’ pictures give our lodge hall a museum quality. We also have several antique pieces of furniture that have been in our lodge since its institution. (see Photo Album page)
Here are a few interesting facts about some of our charter members.
J.A. Aston was a president of a private bank named The Exchange Bank it was housed in the rear of the Aston Brothers Store (1885). In 1887 the Exchange Bank merged with the First National Bank of Farmersville Texas. J.A. Aston's internment was at Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
Dr. A.H. Neathery was a Pioneer Doctor he also served as the first president of the First National Bank of Farmersville Texas. (1887) His son was Dr. Allen G. Neathery, also a prominent doctor had started his practice in Farmersville but later moved to a town that is about 220 miles west of Farmersville,Texas. Both father and son's internment are at the IOOF Cemetery in Farmersville, Texas.
L. E. Bumpass was a cashier for the First National Bank of Farmersville, Texas (1887). During his latter years he was the president of the Duncan Light and Ice Company in Duncan, Oklahoma. Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
C.T. Tatum was a director and stockholder of the First National Bank of Farmersville, Texas. (1887) Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
R.M. Chapmen was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge IOOF of Texas (In 1892) . He also was a Greenville, Texas Mayor (In 1914) Interment, Burial: East Mount Cemetery Greenville, Texas.
J.T. Howard was a Precinct 3 District Judge (1901) Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
I.H. Harless Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
W.R. House Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
Henry Carver Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
In 1899, the The Odd Fellows established the IOOF cemetery in Farmersville.
Also in 1899 a Farmersville IOOF Lodge building was built at 200 McKinney St. Downtown Farmersville. (See above Picture) It has a total Sqft: 9,450 with 3 Floors. The lower floors of this building have been used for several things over the years including Farmersville Hardware and a furniture store. It is now a gift, novelty, and souvenir shop that was established in 2005.
The Odd Fellows no longer own this building. It was sold in 2009 and is presently owned by Diane Piwko (an Odd Fellow member and one time mayor of Farmersville, Texas.) who operates her business at that location. Pride Lodge built another lodge building near the IOOF Cemetery grounds some years back.
The original Charter for Farmersville Pride Lodge No. 228 is displayed in our lodge hall which is now located at 801 Windom Street in Farmersville, Texas. The Charter has the fifteen charter member’s signatures on it. Also hanging on our lodge hall walls are large photographs of many of the early lodge members. These pioneers’ pictures give our lodge hall a museum quality. We also have several antique pieces of furniture that have been in our lodge since its institution. (see Photo Album page)
Here are a few interesting facts about some of our charter members.
J.A. Aston was a president of a private bank named The Exchange Bank it was housed in the rear of the Aston Brothers Store (1885). In 1887 the Exchange Bank merged with the First National Bank of Farmersville Texas. J.A. Aston's internment was at Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
Dr. A.H. Neathery was a Pioneer Doctor he also served as the first president of the First National Bank of Farmersville Texas. (1887) His son was Dr. Allen G. Neathery, also a prominent doctor had started his practice in Farmersville but later moved to a town that is about 220 miles west of Farmersville,Texas. Both father and son's internment are at the IOOF Cemetery in Farmersville, Texas.
L. E. Bumpass was a cashier for the First National Bank of Farmersville, Texas (1887). During his latter years he was the president of the Duncan Light and Ice Company in Duncan, Oklahoma. Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
C.T. Tatum was a director and stockholder of the First National Bank of Farmersville, Texas. (1887) Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
R.M. Chapmen was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge IOOF of Texas (In 1892) . He also was a Greenville, Texas Mayor (In 1914) Interment, Burial: East Mount Cemetery Greenville, Texas.
J.T. Howard was a Precinct 3 District Judge (1901) Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
I.H. Harless Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
W.R. House Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
Henry Carver Internment, Farmersville IOOF Cemetery.
In 1899, the The Odd Fellows established the IOOF cemetery in Farmersville.
Also in 1899 a Farmersville IOOF Lodge building was built at 200 McKinney St. Downtown Farmersville. (See above Picture) It has a total Sqft: 9,450 with 3 Floors. The lower floors of this building have been used for several things over the years including Farmersville Hardware and a furniture store. It is now a gift, novelty, and souvenir shop that was established in 2005.
The Odd Fellows no longer own this building. It was sold in 2009 and is presently owned by Diane Piwko (an Odd Fellow member and one time mayor of Farmersville, Texas.) who operates her business at that location. Pride Lodge built another lodge building near the IOOF Cemetery grounds some years back.