Masonic -Knights Templar \"Civil War Death\" Medals & 1 OH Grand Ldg 50 Year Medal
![Masonic -Knights Templar \](img-large/g/xBgAAOSw2GlXFWKI/s-l1600/Masonic-Knights-Templar-Civil-War-Death-Medals-1-O.jpg "Masonic -Knights Templar \")
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Masonic -Knights Templar \"Civil War Death\" Medals & 1 OH Grand Ldg 50 Year Medal:
$59.99
United States Civil War Veteran\'sKnights Templar/FreemasonMedalswith\"Veteran\" DesignationThese three medals were obtained from the estate of the family of Silas Howell Towler in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
[PLEASE NOTE: we have learned that we initially dated these medals incorrectly. We believe that only the Ohio medal dates from before the 1940s. We thank \'s Delhistory for his help with this listing.]
The two white Maltese Star (Malta Jewel) Medals, one with the barinscribed \"veteran\" on it above a black ribbon, were most likely second degree medals of the Knights Templars, an organization in which Silas Towler was very active.
The medal for 50 years of service in the Grand Lodge of Ohio, which has a blue ribbon and a \"veteran\" bar at the top, is inscribed to Silas Towler.
Towler was born in Xenia, Ohio in January of 1846. He enlisted in the Civil War Union Army in May of 1862 and rose from Private to First Lieutenant. He eventually became anAdjutant General andartillery officer. He left the army in 1865, settling in Columbus, Ohio.
In 1864 Towler moved to Minneapolis, MN. He had been extremely active in the Freemasonsprior to his settling in Minnesota and he continued his involvement, especially inthe Knights Templer, after his move. In 1906 the \"Masonic Observer....\" reported that he was in the Commandery Zion No 2. (The above medal to the far left has as one of its two bars \"Zion No. 2\" with \"Minneapolis\" on a bar beneath it.)
In 1917, Towler was the Department Commander of the Minnesota G.A.R. and madearrangements for the Minnesota contingent of the GAR to take part in the 51st National Encampment. In 1919 he was elected Commandant of the Soldier\'s Home in Minneapolis. He died in April of 1930.
The medals in this sale are intertwined through the Civil War and the Masonic connections of the man who owned them: Silas H. Towler, a long time star in the Knights Templars and a Civil War veteran andactivememberof the GAR.
The current tale about the Malta Jewel medal is an urban legend. It says that the medal was given to the family of deceased solders from the GAR. This myth is debunked by George G. Klein in anarticle in Volume 20 (July-September, 2006), pp. 1, 3, 11. This article is currently online.
We were sold the medals as Civil War \"death\" medals -- only our research revealed that they were not.
We are convinced that these areauthentic medals, although not directly GAR medals. Two of them have the \"veteran\" bar. The one from Ohio was most likely earned by Silas Towler, perhaps with the \"veteran\" designation from his service in the Civil War [see note at end ofparagraph]. The other veteran bar post dates that one and was most likely earned by someone in Towler\'s family wellafter his death. [We have been informed by the gentleman who sent an earlier email educating us about these medals that the \"veteran\" designation was given to Masonic members who had served long terms for the Masons, not necessarily for men who had been soldiers in the Civil War -- and for this we thank him greatly. He goes by the name of \"Delhistory.\"]
We offer the above as the provenance of these items. If any viewer has questions, please write us and we will be certain to post helpful information to this site.
For scale -- the white stars on the medals are approximately 2\" across and in height. The Masonic 50 year service medal is a bit over 1 5/8\" in height.
We gladly answer questions or supply additional photographs. We ask that you make your inquiries prior to offerding.SHIPPING AND CONDITIONS:
- All our offerings are carefully packed, but we advise buyers to take out insurance. We cannot be responsible for uninsured items.
- We request payment within two days of the sale\'s close.
- Your address must be current with .
- INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: We ask international buyers to contact us regarding shipping costs prior to offerding.
Masonic -Knights Templar \"Civil War Death\" Medals & 1 OH Grand Ldg 50 Year Medal:
$59.99