What a great photo!

As a collector of Odd Fellows antiques I can say that all the symbols in the star as well as the three links (FLT - Friendship, love, and Truth) are indeed connected to the International Order of Odd Fellows. Usually the dove is a symbol used by the Rebekahs a female auxiliary of the Odd Fellows.

I'm thinking Jack Hannah Jr. (if that is the old man's name) qualifies as an outsider artist. That's mighty fine carving and some fearsome symbols on the star. The dove of peace is an especially nice touch. Working as a switchman must have left him plenty of free time to pursue his art.

I agree that what he was whittling on didn't look like a GAR emblem or medal. The GAR Medal looked enough like the Congressional Medal of Honor that around 1917 there was a review of CMH medal recipients. The GAR Medal has a five pointed star hanging with two points up. Each point has a symbol: a bugle, crossed sabres, crossed rifles, an anchor, and crossed cannon barrels. In the center are a soldier and sailor shaking hands. None of these seem to appear in the whittled version.

The emblem bears a resemblance to the G.A.R. insignia. However, the three links above the star suggest the Odd Fellows. The emblems within the star, heart in hand, all seeing eye, etc., imply a fraternal order. Also, the star in the G.A.R. medallion is reversed.

[As it says in the caption, the G.A.R. was a fraternal order. - Dave]

That's a man with a lot of time on his hands.