BUTTONS
Federal/Militia Rifleman's Button
Found: May 23, 2011
Location:
Blackford County, Indiana
Details:
Dated from 1820-1830.
One piece, jacket-sized flat button.
Backmarked "Superior Rich"
Location:
Blackford County, Indiana
Details:
Dated from 1820-1830.
One piece, jacket-sized flat button.
Backmarked "Superior Rich"
Civil War General Service Uniform Button
Found: May 16, 2011
Location: Blackford County, Indiana
Details: This is only the second Civil War button that I have found, These are few and far between in this part of the country. These buttons can easily be found in the southern states where battles and troop movements occured, but here in Indiana they are a little harder to come by. This one is in decent shape, although you can't tell from the picture. I was unable to get a "backmark". (name of the manufacturer is usually on the back) Backmarks help narrow down the date the button was made.
Location: Blackford County, Indiana
Details: This is only the second Civil War button that I have found, These are few and far between in this part of the country. These buttons can easily be found in the southern states where battles and troop movements occured, but here in Indiana they are a little harder to come by. This one is in decent shape, although you can't tell from the picture. I was unable to get a "backmark". (name of the manufacturer is usually on the back) Backmarks help narrow down the date the button was made.
Civil War Infantry Uniform Button
Civil War Infantry Uniform Button
Location: 6 miles northeast of Hartford City, Indiana
Found in a farm field in the middle of nowhere, this is an infantry uniform button from the civil war period. This was a completely random find. I have been unable to find any traces of a homestead or occupation at this site. There is no glass, pottery, brick, block or metal to suggest that there was ever a home/settlement at this location. (However I WILL continue to aggressively hunt this site!)
Let's call this find "a needle in a haystack".
Found in a farm field in the middle of nowhere, this is an infantry uniform button from the civil war period. This was a completely random find. I have been unable to find any traces of a homestead or occupation at this site. There is no glass, pottery, brick, block or metal to suggest that there was ever a home/settlement at this location. (However I WILL continue to aggressively hunt this site!)
Let's call this find "a needle in a haystack".
Star of David/Jewish Button
This button is similar to the Star of David, which is also on the silver 3 cent pieces, which could date it to the 1850's.
There are 18 dots in the middle, so it is definitely a Jewish related button.
The number 18 is very significant, because it is the numerical value of the word Chai, meaning life. The two Hebrew letters that make up the word "chai" are chet and yud. In Gematria (the numerical value of Hebrew letters), chai is equivalent to 8 and yud is equivalent to 10. So "chai", chet and yud together, equals 18. Donations to Jewish charities and gifts are routinely made in denominations of 18 for that reason.
Perhaps it was a token that was given in exchange for a donation, or it was part of a nice set of buttons that was given as a gift.
There are 18 dots in the middle, so it is definitely a Jewish related button.
The number 18 is very significant, because it is the numerical value of the word Chai, meaning life. The two Hebrew letters that make up the word "chai" are chet and yud. In Gematria (the numerical value of Hebrew letters), chai is equivalent to 8 and yud is equivalent to 10. So "chai", chet and yud together, equals 18. Donations to Jewish charities and gifts are routinely made in denominations of 18 for that reason.
Perhaps it was a token that was given in exchange for a donation, or it was part of a nice set of buttons that was given as a gift.
Unidentified Button
Researching
Select Knights Button
AOUW Button
Found: 10/17/2010
Details: Jacket button from the Ancient Order of United Workmen (AOUW).
Front: Select Knights E.I.U. - crest reads AOUW
Back: McLilliey & Co. Columbus, O.
Background: The AOUW was founded by John Jordan Upchurch and thirteen others in Meadville, Pennsylvania on October 27, 1868. Each member paid $1 into the insurance fund to cover a death benefit paid to a members dependents when he died. Each time a member died, $1 was due from the surviving members to reestablish the fund. Fraternal benefits societies soon became quite popular as a means of providing financial protection to working class people at an affordable rate. Additionally, Fraternal benefits societies typically maintained a lodge w members could meet together in a spirit of fraternalism and brotherhood. In at least one case - the Populist movement - the fraternity evolved into a powerful political organization providing a voice for their members. By 1887, the AOUW had more than 176,000 members in 3,200 member groups (called lodges) across the country. The order had about died out by the late 1940's."
Details: Jacket button from the Ancient Order of United Workmen (AOUW).
Front: Select Knights E.I.U. - crest reads AOUW
Back: McLilliey & Co. Columbus, O.
Background: The AOUW was founded by John Jordan Upchurch and thirteen others in Meadville, Pennsylvania on October 27, 1868. Each member paid $1 into the insurance fund to cover a death benefit paid to a members dependents when he died. Each time a member died, $1 was due from the surviving members to reestablish the fund. Fraternal benefits societies soon became quite popular as a means of providing financial protection to working class people at an affordable rate. Additionally, Fraternal benefits societies typically maintained a lodge w members could meet together in a spirit of fraternalism and brotherhood. In at least one case - the Populist movement - the fraternity evolved into a powerful political organization providing a voice for their members. By 1887, the AOUW had more than 176,000 members in 3,200 member groups (called lodges) across the country. The order had about died out by the late 1940's."
After light cleaning. I am afraid to go any farther in the cleaning process.
Copper Cigar Button
Copper Cigar Button
Found: 10/26/2010
Location: Private Residence (HSC)
Details: This button is a post 1900 cigar-shaped cutback copper button. It was found at a depth of 5 inches and registed as a penny.
Location: Private Residence (HSC)
Details: This button is a post 1900 cigar-shaped cutback copper button. It was found at a depth of 5 inches and registed as a penny.