Which ‘Shadow Societies’ Are in Iowa, Minnesota & South Dakota?
Last week, while driving along Highway 20 in Iowa, a lone motorcycle zipped past me. Normally, I wouldn't think twice of it, but this particular Harley driver had a large patch on the back of his leather jacket that read "Sons of Silence". I had seen this type of logo before, but never really delved into it too deeply. And down the rabbit hole I went.
This gallery is a look at several of the most prominent and mysterious 'Shadow Organizations' that operate in the Upper-Midwest states of Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Some of these groups are relatively harmless, others, are questionable at best. But all of them live outside the boundary of "normal" everyday life.
Founded in Niwot, Colorado, in 1966, the Sons of Silence Motorcycle Club is classified by the U.S. Department of Justice as one of the country’s major "one-percenter" outlaw motorcycle gangs, a term coined after a famous 1947 motorcycle rally statement claiming that 99% of riders are law-abiding citizens, while the remaining 1% are outlaws. Just two years after forming, the Sons of Silence established their very first expansion chapter in Iowa in 1968. Over the decades, their Midwest footprint grew steadily, establishing a lasting presence across Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Operating under the motto "Vis Amoris" (The Force of Love) and recognizable by their eagle logo, they maintain a notoriously low public profile while remaining one of the most prominent traditional outlaw clubs in the Upper Midwest.
Unlike modern, mainstream motorcycle clubs that host public charity rides, run active Instagram pages, or sell merch online, the Sons of Silence operate almost completely in the shadows. Members live by a strict internal code that prohibits talking to outsiders, journalists, or law enforcement about internal club business. So, we rarely get a "peek behind the curtain" with this club.
Their controversy largely stems from federal law enforcement designations. The U.S. Department of Justice classifies them as an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG). Over the decades, federal agencies like the ATF and FBI have conducted substantial undercover operations (including in Iowa) against various chapters.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) couldn't be more different than our previous entry on the list, yet it also is shrouded in secrecy and mystery.
If you’ve ever looked up at the brick facade of an old main-street building in Iowa, Minnesota, or South Dakota, there's a decent chance you've seen three interlocking chain links stamped with the letters FLT. These stand for Friendship, Love, and Truth, the motto of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF).
The group was founded in England in the late 1700s, before eventually making its way across the ocean to Baltimore, Maryland. Initially, the group's main focus was to support workers, the sick, orphans, and widows, all before things like Social Security came around.
These days, the group operates in every state (including lodges in Iowa, Minnesota & South Dakota), and several countries around the world. Local lodges focus heavily on philanthropy, including community service, disaster relief, blood drives, and youth/senior programs.
The secrecy comes from the group's initiation process, use of bizarre passwords, and anonymous charity work.
Previous members include some of the most famous individuals of the 20th Century, like P.T. Barnum, Wyatt Earp, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Lindbergh, and Al Pinkerton. Heads of state like Winston Churchill and Franklin & Elanor Roosevelt were also members of the historic organization.
The Republic for the United Republic of America (RURA) operate throughout the US, including rural pockets in Iowa and Minnesota. Its members believe the official U.S. government was secretly replaced by a corrupt corporation over a century ago. They establish their own "sovereign courts," appoint their own "judges," and issue unofficial passports and license plates. They meet in private halls and farm properties, holding private grand jury sessions that attempt to "indict" local government officials.
Although the organization is still operational, it was severely crippled over a decade ago when it's leader, James Timothy "Tim" Turner, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States.
To read about more 'secret societies' in the US, including the Freemasons, Knights of Columbus & more, check out this article from History.com.
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Gallery Credit: Wood
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