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I have been researching the founders of several fraternities. Two observations -- most were from well-off families and many died young. Neither should be surprising in that at the time many of the fraternities were born only the fairly wealthy could afford college, plus the number of folks who died young was substantial. Another interesting fact is how many went on to become preachers and teachers! All six of the Phi Delta Theta founders were of those professions.
Sigma Phi was founded in New York in 1827 by four young men from the south. Sigma Phi was exclusively northeastern before more than 125 years after its birth it finally placed a chapter in the south. One of its founders, Thomas F. Bowie, was from Maryland and later became a U. S. Congressman from that state. He was from a very prominent family and it is likely that Bowie State University and the town in which it is located were named either for him or another member of his family.
One of the founders of Delta Upsilon in 1834 was Stephen J. Field, who eventually became a justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. A large number of the Delta Upsilon also became ministers.
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