The Maccabees were a fraternal insurance group. The following is from a webpage run by the Shelby County OH Historical Society, taken from a 100-years-ago column in a February 1999 article in the "Sidney Daily News" newspaper. "Mrs. Marie Johnston, Lady Commander of the local hive, gave an address on behalf of the Lady Maccabees. She gave a brief history of the order of Lady Maccabees. The order originated in Muskegon, Michigan, and the Michigan State Hive was organized in May 1890. In July 1892, the first hive was organized in Ohio. It was in Cleveland. In 1894 the first Ohio State Hive was organized. Ohio now has a membership of over 11,000. In October 1892, the Supreme Hive was organized. The aggregate membership now with all its branches is 100,000. The work of the Maccabees is a striking example of what the women can do. N. Wilbur, Deputy Supreme Commander, gave an address on behalf of the Knights of the Maccabees. He spoke of the growth of the order and its object both from a social and from an insurance standpoint." As you read, the women were usually called Lady Maccabees, not Ladies of the Maccabees, but it is the same thing. The group obviously grew beyond Michigan and Ohio to many other states. 'V.G.' Johnson, Independence MO