B. F. Christian

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PGM Ben F. Christian
I.O.O.F. Grand Master of Texas in 1872
From: Whitesboro, Texas

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When a man dies and those who knew him all say he was a good man, and his life has been worthy to be an example for every young man, then those who knew him not will appreciate anything that will perpetuate the memory of such a noble character. Such a man was Benjamin F. Christian, who first saw the light in Tennessee about the year 1814. He came to Texas in 1844 and settled in Upshur County. He removed from there to Bonham shortly afterward, and married a daughter of Capt. Mabel Gilbert. In 1858, he located in Sherman and engaged in the hotel business. His wife died in 1863, and in 1864 he was married to Miss
Lou Davis, daughter of Micajah Davis, one of the earliest settlers of Grayson County. After the loss of the late war he removed to Whitesboro and engaged in the mercantile business with Capt. Sam B. Savage. He died October 16th, 1886. His last wife survives him.

"Uncle Ben," as he was familiarly called, was a devoted Odd Fellow. It may be justly said of him that he was the father of Odd Fellowship in North Texas. For years he traveled from the Sabine to the extreme western frontier, even when the Indians deprecated the western counties, organizing Lodges and lecturing. Under dispensation of the Grand Master of the Sovereign Grand Lodge, he instituted the first Lodge in the Indian Territory, at Caddo. He was a charter member and organized the Lodge at Whitesboro, which was named for him, in the year 1868. In 1872 he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas.
He was a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and one of the most active workers in the Old Settlers' Association, having delivered a most touching valedictory at the reunion in Sherman in August 1886, about two months before his death. He was buried at Oak Wood Cemetery in Whitesboro, Texas.

The post above, came from an old 1874 Grand Lodge proceedings booklet. Evidently there were still some I.O.O.F. members that still had animosity toward American Indians and wanted some old laws to be enacted. Or maybe they just wanted to test the G. L. U. S. laws. Caddo Lodge No. 1 was instituted just the same. We read nothing else of the charges brought against B. F. Christian. It is assumed that the charges were dropped.

PGM (DDGM) Ben F. Christian was an Installing Officer of the first Choctaw Nation I.O.O.F. Lodge, Caddo Lodge #1 (1875)
With Oklahoma statehood in November 1907, the Indian Territory Grand Lodge was extinguished.

From I.O.O.F. of Texas Proceedings Book

Located at Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro, Texas. He was born July 1, 1817, Died Oct. 12, 1886

ODD FELLOWS CEREMONIAL GAVEL, PRESENTED TO B. F. CHRISTIAN LODGE #102 IN 1888.

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1872 Texas Historical Event - Construction of Railway began.