Every person who researches their family tree eventually learns about the I.O.O.F.
Back in the day when guilds were forming, belonging to an occupational fraternal organization had great benefits. But some occupations did not have an organization to call their own. These "odd" (or unusual) occupations grouped together and formed the Odd Fellows.
Their biggest claim to fame was in providing free burial plots and funerals to the poor folks who could not afford to bury their family members. The I.O.O.F would take care of everything EXCEPT a grave marker.
My family came to America to work the anthracite coal mines in Pennsylvania. I have tons of folks buried in I.O.O.F. cemeteries.
t. geneologyfag