Hi Larry. Thanks for the response. I've dug a little deeper given your information and it appears the masonic Samuel M. Todd (middle name Manning) was pretty high up the ladder. See the few paragraphs halfway down the page, starting with "Following the War in 1866": http://masoniclight.com/papers/12THE%20DEVELOPMENT%20OF%20SCOTTISH%20RITE%20AND%20ITS.txt

Given that (and this all speculation), I don't know that this is the Samuel M. Todd of the Prairie Rangers. From what I can find, the Rangers formed in St. Landry Parish on July 20, 1861 (see: http://www.acadiansingray.com/3rd%20(Harrison's)%20Regt.%20Cav.htm ). This was a full nine months prior New Orleans falling and it would seem odd that a successful New Orleans businessman and citizen would leave his home and travel across state to start a militia that he could easily form in his own backyard. It would not seem as odd, however, that a fraternal organization would name its lodge after a faraway, high-ranking member if that member held them in his jurisdiction.

Like i said, it's all guesswork at this point -- at least for me. Do you have any information or clues that show these two to be the same man?

Doug