What is the chain on this tombstone?

Ever see a 3-link chain on a tombstone? It was fairly common in the late 1800s and early 1900s and is the sign of a group that is still around today.
#genealogy #familyhistory #cemetery

[geraldwalker]

One of the most beautiful cemeteries in our area is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery.

[lisareed]

I had a woman who was furious that a chain, which she misinterpreted as a symbol of slavery was on several headstones. 😮

[bforman]

Burying the dead is something the Odd Fellows take seriously, so there are a lot of Odd Fellow cemeteries around. Like tending the sick and educating orphans, though, the government takes care of things that private organizations had to step up for in the past. Active Odd Fellows lodges in modern times look for current needs within their local communities.

[judyluthy]

My father 'went through the chairs' in LA in the Odd Fellows at the same time my mother did the same with the Rebeccas. I have many happy memories of those years

[Smithy]

My dad was an odd fellow and my mom was a Rebecca!

[MorpheusOne]

I've heard of an organization that had a name that had the words _"Odd Fellows"_ in it & in that order. I don't remember much about them; but, I believe they were in the city of Philadelphia. And I heard that they had something to do with charity.

[pelenaka]

An ancestor (uncle) who at the time of death was divorced & estranged from his only son. He bequeath $3, 000 to his IOO lodge. Made national news. The building still stands in the village his & mine GreatGrandfather founded.

[blueeyedkygirl]

I have tin photo pins of a male and female in my family that have these symbols but I can’t find out who they are.