F.O.P Kansas contact info please...

Question

My brick wall 2nd great grandfather William Rainey Hughey Sr. was in the F.O.P in Kansas and they posted his death in 1907. It was suggested to me by a Wikitreer to contact the Order to find out any bio info on him. Great idea! I Googled for 2 hours only to find NO contact info for them. Does anyone know how I can find this out?  Here is the information from his profile that is in reference to this:  

KANSAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY-- 1907 Death Notices of Members of Fraternal Orders Results of Query: Surname: hughey Name Death Date Member of Lodge (Location) Hughey, Wm. R. 2 January 1907 AOUW Lodge No. 23 (Oswego, Labette Co.)

Hoping this will help me break this brick wall! Thanks!!

Comments

Debbie, Have you tried Newspapers.com?  The Kansas State Historical Society has partnered with them and many Kansas newspapers are available there.  I see there is an obituary for William in the Oswego Independent on 4 January 1907 that contains great biographical information.  There are also other mentions of him and his family in this database.

The state of Kansas started recording death certificates on 1 July 1911.  Prior to this you may find a local source for the death in a city clerk's or county record, or at a local funeral home.

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Hey Michelle, I just saw this post. I am actually the one in Newspapers.com that clipped hundreds of articles on the Hughey's. Thanks for noticing!!  I am hoping to find his parents or siblings etc. I recently wrote to a librarian in Oswego, KS from their Facebook page, but have not heard anything back. I am not surprised though. I actually worked at a public Library for about 12 years, so I understand. I wondered if you have access to Labette County, KS records???? I live in Indiana and have no idea how or when I could travel there and look...  :\

Answer 1

Hi Debbie,  He was a Member of the AOUW which was the Ancient Order of United Workmen.  Here is a link to info about them  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Order_of_United_Workmen

Looks like they disbanded but their records are evidently at the Kansas State Archives  https://www.kshs.org/archives/40117

and it says:  Associated materials: Other records of the organization are at the Harvey County Historical Society (Newton, Kan.)

Comments

Thanks Laura, for the clarification and help! I will take any and all bread crumbs!!

Answer 2

Problem with Kansas.They were late keeping records.It was abt 1911-1915.

Before that they were Indian Territory.Kept no records.

Comments

I know what you mean, Wayne. So frustrating abt lack of Kansas records, including obits in 1907. Same with S.C. with his birth. No record keeping until years after he was born. So stuck. Maybe one day I will find a church  in SC with his birth record in it and a KS church with his death record in it? I hope someone out there knows where to find more bio information on him! I just noticed today that the sources in his bio has a new item uploaded by someone...it's awesome, but always need more.