Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-08-20
FARMER'S COLUMN.
Origin Of the Order Of Patrons Of Hus.
bandrv.

A gentleman who was a member o.
one of thee first Oranges organized, and
was acquainted with the gentlemen who
originated the Order, hands us the fol
lowing account Of the circumstances
which led to its organization
Much attention has recently been at
tracted to the Order of the Patrons Of
Husbandry, which has become quite an
important element in the political and
economical affairs of the country, while
but little has been published regarding
its origin. Now that it is so well estab.
lished, lis founders have concluded to
make public the circumstances of it's
origin and the rise and growth of the
organization which numbers among its
members hundreds of thousands of farm.
ers throughout the land.
In 1896 Mr.. o. II. Kelley, at that
time connected with the Department Of
Agriculture, was sent on tour of obser-
walton throi gh several of the Southern
States. While considering the state of
agriculture in that section and through
out the country, he formed plan for
organizing society, having for its OBJ
Ject She general interest of agriculture,
and on completing his tour, retired to his
farm in Minnesota, to perfect his plans.
In November of the same year he re.
turned to Washington and obtained a
clerkship in the Postoffice Department.
Then he began to look about for one to
&C operate with him. Most of those
whom be addressed on the subject had
but little confidence in the scheme. After
a time however, he succeeded in finding
few who engaged heartily in the move.
ment, and in August, 1867, the first
meeting of the Order was held.
Prominent among those who engaged
in the initiatory steps were Mr. William
Saunders, superintendent of the expert
mental farm belonging to the Agricultu.
raj Department; Mr.. VIM. Ireland, chief
clerk of the financial division Of the
Postotfice Department; John H. Thcmp-
son, and others Mr.. Saunders immedi-
ately started for tour in the west, and
on the 18th of August established a
Grange at st. Louis. He also ,aroused
the interest of a number of leading agri-
culturists in the west.
The National Grange was organized in
December, 1867, in Washington, at the
Office of Mr. Saunders, and circulars
were sent out announcing the objects of
the order.
The next spring Mr.. Kelley started
out to organize Oranges in the various
States, and though at first he met with
Indifferent success, be kept at work, and
in 1871, finding tha, the Order was grow
ing rapidly, he removed from Minnesota
to Washington City to reside. Being
Secretary of the National Grange, his
house Is used as the headquarters aud
business Office for the same
From the statistics it viii lie seen that
the strength Of the Order is mainly in
the West and South. New York has 5
yGrrges, Pennsylvania 3, Vermont 23;
Iowa has 1880 Oranges, Illinois 523,
Indiana over $50, Nebraska 266, Mime
sofa 255, and 80 on The membership is
varioasly estimated at from 100000 to
1000 600
These Oranges are composed of both
men and women, and there are eight de.
grees, four of which are for females. The
object of the institution is in great
measure to counteract railroad and other
monopolies and reduce the cost of trans
portation of produce to eastern markets.
But the Order takes account of all the
general interests of agriculture, and is
also sort of cooperative association,
one object being the purchase Of supplies
for its members at low rates 1t is not
intended to be a political organization,
though of late it has acted with effect in
Illinois, but it is presumed that its mem
bers will prefer to exert their political
influence outside of the association, ex
cept when great wrong against them is
to he remedied, as, for example, when a
great monopoly gets possession Of Leg