Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-05
GRANGE WORKERS.
Some Maine professional Farm
ers" CD


msrs, and Who Work for the Good Of
Agriculture.
Since Secretary Morton's inuendoes
against the grange and his charges that its
leaders are not real farmers, but ratl er
selfish wire pullers who farm the farmers"
it has been a matter of some interest with
US to follow up these charges and prove
their fallacy.
The last issue of the New England Far
mer contains an excellent article upon the
grange workers of Maine, to whose intelli-
gent zeal our State is so largely indebted
for much of its material growth and pros
perity. From it we are glad to make some
generous abstracts:
HON. EDWARD wIGGIN
of Pressure Isle, the master of the State
Grange, has farm of lG5 acres, with pota
toes his especial crop. He is also inter-
ested in dairyipg, sheep husbandry and has
a growing orchard. He has been president
of the North Aroostook Agricultural Society
for number of years and was for three
years a member of the Maine board of
agriculture. In 1885 he was president of
the board. He is strong man of good
ability which he makes felt for the elevation
of the interests of the farmers of his State.
HON. FREDERICK Robe,
though a college graduate (Bowdoin AL,
and an ex-governor, is by no means mere
gentleman farmer" but is in genuine touch
with practical agriculture.
Being blessed with good executive ability
and considerable property, his talents are
in demand in various business institutions,
and has been president of the First National
bank of Portland for several years and
spends the summers in Gorham. The farm
| in which he is interested consists of $50
acres, and is carried on by his son, VIM. p.
F. Robe, who is also a Patron of Hus-
bandry. He keeps quite q herd of cows
and devotes his time and energy to the de-
mands of this department of farming and
sells milk to customers.
He was master Of the Maine State Grange
| from 1881 for eight years. In manners
Governor Robe is always genial and CON-
panionable, which qualities have given him
large circle of personal friends.
He served CALAMITY during the war and
returned home lieutenant colonel. He is
a prominent member of the G. A. r.
| L. II. LIBBY
of Auburn, deputy of the State Grange is
q farmer and lives on his farm of 20 acres
three miles out of the city of Auburn. He
is not specialist, but is engaged in "gen
eral farming" He keeps a small herd of
jersey cows for butter and is raising a
pair of grade Percheron colts. He be-
lieves farmers would be better off had they
given this breed of horses the care and at
tention that they have to tryingto raise trOe
ters(?)
Mr.. Libby makes q success of raising
yellow corn and strongly advocates farmers
raising more of this easiest of crops to grow
and send less money West for feed. He be-
lieves in the best farm machinery and has
been the means of introducing several of
the best implements into hi, State.
Mr.. Libby joined the grange in 1874,
while living in Nebraska, where he was a
"Homesteader" three years, returning then
to his native state and to the farm where he
now resides with his wife and three children.
Mr.. Libby is an earnest worker in the
grange, has been secretary of his county
grange for the past II years as we'll as one
of the leaders in his own grange. He be-
lieves in cooperation and has saved to the
Patrons of his county hundreds of dollars
in the price of fertilizers alone. The edu-
cational features of the grange are by far
the most important in his view and this he
urges at every opportunity.
d. II. THING
of Mt. Vernon, is 20 years old. He was
born on farm in the town where he has
always lived. He has been justice Of tine
peace for 40 years, selectman for 20 years,
county commissioner of Kennebec six yesrs,
master of the State Grange four years,
member of the Legislature one year, men,
Der of the board of agriculture and presi-
dent of the same, member of the Kennebec
County Agricultural Society and president
Of the eame. Eight years since be was
burned out and last year sold his farm, re-
tanning 90 acres of land and buildings.
| G. NJ. TwITcHELL
began his connection with the agricultural
press when a boy. His love for the science
of natural things led him to continue his
studies and reading even while in the prac-
tice of his profession. Obliged to surren-
der that by reason of i'll health, he turned
instinctively to the farm where he remained
until public duties and calls solely in agri-
cultural fields commanded his entire time.
As associate editor of the Maine Farmer,
secretary of the State Agricultural Society,
popular lecturer in institutes in Maine,
Vermont, Massachusetts,, Rhode Island and
the Provinces and in grange work, his time
il fully occupied. He has served as lee
turer of the State Grange.
A. l.. WALKER
of Hampden has been farmer for 60
years. For many years potatoes and hay
were the crops for cash in Penobscot comfy,
but dairying has been his special business
for some years and he thinks it the most
profitable line of farm work. He believes
that every farmer should have good poul
try house well filed. He believes in pro-
tective tariff. Mr.. Walker organized the
1rst grange in Maine, and the first grange
IN FIVE counties before the organization of
the State Grange. He has been in the good
work ever eince snd looks back over it with
much satisfaction. He is now 76 years