The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-11-20
Patrons Of Husbandry-History of the
Organization.

In view of the rapidly increasing interest
in this order, the following from the Nilsson:
ri Republican will prove acceptable to our
readers. There is much apprehension ex-
isting in the public mind in regard to its
objects and purposes. Because of its Sc
crecy it is looked upon as dangerous. If it
be for moment considered that among the
members there are ladies, and that each
member is pledged 10 works of hencyolence
and love toward his associates and neighbors,
the danger is n6t so threatening. The idea
was originally borrowed from an association
which has existed for many years in COM
munity of Scotch farmers in North Carolina.
This Scotch society seems to have bad for
its object the purchase Of all needed supplies
from first hands, and at wholesale rates, and
the cultivation of more intimate social rea-
tions among its members. 1t was really
nothing more than Il secret cooperative, IN
dustrial and literary association. The num-
bcrs composing it were few and its influence
small. Indeed the fact that such a society
had an existence was not known beyond the
limits Of the community affected by its 'nstl-
tutions. 1t was not until the spring OF 1868
that the order of the patrons of husbandry
became known to the people Of the West.
During the preceding winter, Mr.. IL, p.
Kelley, of Itasca, Minnesota, and several
other leading agriculturists of the West,
happening to be in Washington, had fire.
ouent interviews in relation to the interests
of the farming population of the great West.
1t was about that period that the character
and workings of the Scotch society of North
Carolina became known to them The idea
was seized, elaborated and matured to adapt
it to more general purposes of a national or
der. In the beginning of 1868, the order
was introduced into the West by the organl'
zation of Grange at ltasca, Minnesota In
short time another Grange was organized
in Jasper county, Iowa; third Grange soon
came into existence ut Waukon, Almakee
county, in the same State. From the
year 1868 the order made little progress
until the past twelve months. a few Gran
res were organized in Iowa, Minnesota, Wis
consin and Illinois, bat up TO the year 1877
il is estimated that the whole number OF
members in the four States did not exceed
seventy-fvo thousand. 1t is claimed that III
the same States how there are at least touI
hun lred and fifty thousand patrons IhC
order seems to be intended to exercise mo
raj supervision over is members, and pro
vides for the care of such rs may be rntor
tnnalc. The social character of the order
is made prominent, but the material inter
csts of the class exclusively represented "
its secret ccnclaves are, it is said, most -
siduously guarded 1t will be seen iron
tho particulars given above that tbs orde'
j. very compactly or.anizcd, and. when ta
ken in connection with It's vast increase u
numbers. lis general diffusion over the "ho!(
country and its manifestations OF power an'
is existence constitutes most interesting
study for the soc;clo--t, as well rs the pub
lir'st. The moral and intellectual welfare
uf it. members though strictly attended %
docs not reveal the broader and deeper sIS
l,,icancc of the existence of this organI]a
ton. Already in many localities has the &c
rupaiiou ut the AGENTS or "middIe lheu'
ylo deal in manufactured wares consumed
H.. farmers become ,h,.'ctc. The trangc'
have appointed middcmen OF Their own
through whom an interchange OF products Il
+ A. .ctrl at the minimum cast. In some
+ place. they have purchased or leased gran
elevators. At othcr places they have EN-
ploycd forwarding aac'.,s Of their own order
in Iowa they have aIrrady built an ogricul
,ural implcmcnt factory of extensive capaci
ty Thus far they claim that those enter