Fulton in Whiteside County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Modern Woodmen

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2023

1. Modern Woodmen Marker

Inscription.
This house was the head office of the Modern Woodmen of America, a fraternal life insurance society. When that organization first became an Illinois corporation in 1884, the house was the home of Dr. Henry M. Kennedy, head clerk of the fraternal society from 1884 to 1888. The society was founded in 1883 by Joseph C. Root of Lyons, Iowa. Between 1886 and 1897 the office occupied three other sites in Fulton before being moved to Rock Island, where it is presently located.

Erected 1969 by Fulton Junior Woman's Club and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 41° 52.164′ N, 90° 9.937′ W. Marker is in Fulton, Illinois, in Whiteside County. It is at the intersection of 4th Street and 7th Avenue, on the right when traveling north on 4th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 707 4th St, Fulton IL 61252, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Northern Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Market Place (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dement House (about 800 feet away); The Lincoln Highway – The nation's first coast-to-coast highway! (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lincoln Highway (approx. 0.2 miles away); Illinois Lincoln Highway (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Illinois Lincoln Highway (approx. 0.2 miles away); Martin House (approx. ¼ mile away); Fulton: A River Town (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fulton.

Also see . . . A Brief History of Modern Woodsmen. Space Archives PDF (Submitted on November 26, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional commentary.
1. Erection

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2023

2. Modern Woodmen Marker

Date
According to the Illinois State Historical Society's 1989 marker textbook, the marker was erected in 1970. This obviously does not match with the date of 1969 on the marker itself, but I thought that this might be interesting to note. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted August 16, 2026.

Modern Woodmen's First Home image. Click for full size.

City of Fulton (Public Domain), August 10, 2023

3. Modern Woodmen's First Home

The Henry M. Kennedy home/office served as the fraternal organization's headquesters for its first 14 years.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 282 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on August 14, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 10, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.