Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-07-17
THE ORANGES OF THE PATRONS OF
HUsBANDRY.

HUSBANDhf.
The following account Of the origin,
rise and progress OF the Oranges will
be of interest to all classes of citizens;
"The idea Of the order of the Patrons
of Husbandry was originally borrowed
from an association which for many
years had maintained feeble existence
in n community of Scotch farmers in
North Carolina. The objects Of this
Scotch society, so far as can be ascer-
tanned, appear to have been the purchase
Of all needed supplies from first hands
and at wholesale rates, and the cultiva-
ton of more intimate social relations
among its members; that is, il was a Sc
cret cooperative, industrial and social
association among those already allied
by mutual work and interest and sympa-
tby. II was meager in number and mar
row in influence, to a degree that the
fact of its existence was not known
beyond the limits of the little COM
munity affected by its institutions.
Nor was It until the spring of 1873
that the idea of these Scotch farm
ers first began to be mooted abroad
and become known to the people of the
West During the previous winter Mr..
o. H. Kelley, OF Itasca, Mimi, and a
dozen other leading agriculturists OF the
West happening together in Washing
ton, held frequent interviews in relation
TO the interests OF the farming popula-
ton Of the great West. 1t was at this
time and place that the farmers move
ment first suggested itself to their
minds, upon learning Of the character
and operation of the little Scotch So
ciety in North Carolina, whence sprung
the agricultural revolution in its present
shape. At once the idea was seized
and adapted to meet the purposes Of
national organization. Early in the
year 1863 a Grange was organized
at Itasca, Minnesota, under the supervi-
sion Of Mr.. Kelley. This was the
first Grange organization in the United
States, except the organic germ in
North Carolina. Another Grange was
speedily organized at Newton, Jasper
county, Iowa; and in short time a
third entered upon feeble existence at
Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa. Here
and there in various parts of the West
and Northwest, other Oranges were or
ganized from time TO time; but the
movement had not yet taken firm root,
and its existence was still precarious.
At the end OF 1871, the order had been
introduced into Iowa, Minnesota, Wis
consin and Illinois, but, up to the close
of the year 1871, its entire number IN
the four States named is estimated at
not over seventy-iye thousand. An
exchange makes the following signifi-
cant comments on this secret order
"Quickened by a new impulse, and
strengthened by powerful vitality, its
progress within the past twelve months
beginning with the year, has been not
less than wonderful. From its weak
army of seventy-fye thousand, it IS
claimed that, in the same four States, its
membership has swelled to the more
formidable number Of four hundred aud
fifty thousand, and is constantly increas-
ing with the same rapid vigor. AT the
same time, the order has been introdnc-
ed into large proportion of the remain
ing States, and some Of the territories,
and is extending not only to the North
and West, but also the South and East
1t is this prodigious growth, rapid ad-
vance, and general diffusion throughout
the country that gives the deepest sig |
nifcsnce 10 this movement In Tennes-
see, Alabama, Mississippi and particu-
larly in Georgia, the agricultural classes
are organizing Oranges with the same
ayidity which characterizss the move
meat in the Northwest. Altogether it is
found in active operation at the present
time in twenty States, two or three ter
ritories, and in the Canadas"