Modern Woodmen of America

Historical Highlights

1883 Joseph Cullen Root founds Modern Woodmen of America in Lyons, Iowa.

1884 The head office is organized in Fulton, IL.

1897 The head offices move to Rock Island, IL.

1901 Life insurance in force exceeds $1 billion.

1909 The Modern Woodmen Sanatorium for treatment of tuberculosis opens and eventually serves 12,000 members.

1910 Membership totals 1 million.

1942 The first Youth Service Club is formed.

1951 Modern Woodmen offers a polio benefit.

1964 Medic Alert membership is offered as a fraternal benefit.

1974 Teen clubs begin special programs.

1984 Modern Woodmen introduces CustomLife, a universal life product.

1987 The Family Helpline telephone counseling service is unveiled.

1991 The Good Neighbors program debuts to support the hands-on beautification efforts of members.

1993 The first Senior Camp is founded.

1995 The Home Office West Addition opens to better serve members and meet the challenges of a new millenium.

1997 The Modern Woodmen web site at www.modern-woodmen.org hits the Internet.

1998 Four new products are introduced, including two types of dividend-paying life insurance certificates.

1998 Modern Woodmen surpasses $4 billion in assets.

1999 Two new fraternal benefits are added, helping grieving families and helping members find affordable mortgages.

Today Modern Woodmen builds on its strong past to help members achieve secure futures.