James Halley

James Halley belonged to Lebanon Lodge No. 7, as well as Excelsior Lodge No. 17 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Born in Perthshire, Scotland, he emigrated from there in 1856. He moved to Washington in 1860. He worked as a clerk at the Department of Agriculture from its inception in 1862 until his retirement 58 years later in 1920, as he entered his tenth decade. Before his death at age 96, he was believed to be both the oldest living and longest-affiliated Freemason in the District, having been in the brotherhood for 63 years.