BY JIM HANSEN
A cemetery trustee found a broken and rusty IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) FLT (Friendship, Love and Truth) marker. It was on a tree stump in the fence row close to the road next to the oldest part of the Layton Township Cemetery near Wal-nut, Iowa. The marker was given to me in hopes that its original location could be found. Since we are very familiar with the cemetery, also called the Walnut Ceme-tery, a search of burials in the immediate area of the find was soon begun. Due to the close proximity to the Mer-chant gravestone, research began with their history. Su-sannah Merchant, who passed away in 1895, had been a member of the Order of the Daughters of Rebecca, No. 224 IOOF. Hiram Merchant, who passed away in 1906, was one of the oldest members of the IOOF in the state of Iowa with al-most 60 years of membership. He had been a member of the Moriah Lodge No. 327. Branan Ornamental Iron of Walnut is repairing the bro-ken piece, which will be placed next to the Merchant stone.
JH