Lodge History

1. Pioneer Roots (1850s)

The lodge was established during a period of rapid development in St. Francois County. By 1860, St. Francois Lodge No. 48 was officially documented as a key institution in the Missouri State Gazetteer and Business Directory. At the time, Farmington was a small pioneer town with a population of just 450 people. Alongside three local churches, a seminary, and a Masonic Lodge, the Odd Fellows provided vital social framework and stability to the early settlement, helping residents navigate the difficulties of frontier life without a government safety net.

2. Pillars of the Community

Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, prominent local citizens anchored their lives around the lodge. For instance, Charles Tetley, owner of the historic Tetley's Jewelry Store, was described as one of the "shining pillars" of St. Francois Lodge No. 48, actively helping direct its affairs for forty years. Lodges of this era operated as foundational social networks where members regularly pulled together to pay for the medical expenses of sick brothers, support widows, and cover funeral costs.

3. The 1911 State Hospital Advocacy

One of the lodge's most defining historical moments occurred in April 1911 following the tragic death of Jim Taylor, a patient at State Hospital #4 in Farmington. Discovering that Taylor had died following an assault by two hospital attendants—and noting a pattern of neglect and incompetence by hospital officials—St. Francois Lodge #48 "went to bat" for the cause of justice.

The lodge generated massive public pressure and local agitation, ultimately forcing the Governor of Missouri to step in and order a swift board investigation to clean up the facility's loose methods and protect vulnerable patients.

4. The Odd Fellows Cemetery

Because one of the ultimate commands of Odd Fellowship is to "bury the dead," the lodge established the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Farmington, situated on the 1300 block of Ste. Genevieve Avenue. For well over a century, the lodge has conducted traditional IOOF graveside rituals for its passing members, establishing a final resting place that serves as a physical record of Farmington’s ancestral families.

5. Modern Operations

Today, the lodge remains active and stands as a living link to Farmington’s 19th-century history. While historical records note meetings at 110 S. Washington St., local members also gather at 211 W. Columbia St. in Farmington. True to their centuries-old roots, modern members host dinners and focus their fundraising efforts on local charities and community support initiatives.