Evening star., 1896-10-31

Dowen of New York. Rev. A. B. Grosh Of
Pennsylvania and VIM. NJ. Ireland Of Penn
sylvania.
This meeting was the result of consider
able discussion on the part of the gentle
men assembled, all Of whom. with the ex-
ception Of Mr.. Mcdowell, We're government
employees. Mr. Mcdowell being large vim
yardist of Wayne. n. Y.
Mr.. Kelley probably first conceived the
idea of uniting the farmers into a secret
semi-social and educational organization.
He came TO Washington in the winter Of
1864 and was appointed to a clerkship in
the Department of Agriculture. owing to
the influence OF his lifelong friend, Senator
Ramsay Of Minnesota Through the in
strumentallity of a mutual friend he was
met on his arrival by Rev. John Trimble,
jr., and taken to the latteI's boarding house.
where he met two gentlemen who were to
form SO conspicuous place in the history
of American agriculture.
situation in the south.
He retained this position until the spring
Of 1866. when he returned to Minnesota.
October 20 of that year he was recalled to
Washington by Commissioner Newton. and
arrived early in November. By direction
Of President Johnson he was commissioned
on January l. and sent south on a mission
OF investigation and inspection as to the
needs of the agricultural classes of that
section From the beginning of his trip
Mr.. Kelley was struck by the gloom and
isolation that overshadowed that once
bright section Seeing that people were
far from being reconciled to their cond-
uon, which was at that time anything but
pleasant, as man of liberal views and
warm heart. he desired to awaken an in
terest III these people that would divert
their attention from the war and its eff
fects to matters that would tend to restore
the ante-bellum social and business status.
He was so full of his observations that
ne could not keep them to himself, and
n - f- tef-
shadoU.ng the south to all he met
On his return to Washington. April II,
he naturally sought his senatorial friends
at the Capitol, and there one afternoon
met Col John r. Thompson of Vermont
They began TO discuss his trip and the
needs of the south. Both men were loyal
Union men and soldiers of the federal
army. and both were men with warm
hearts. This discussion continued way into
the night. and from IL sprung the grange.
These facts are recited in a speech deliy-
ered July 4, 1877. at ST. Johnsbury. VT. by
Col thompson. when the Vermont state
grange was organized by him, assisted by
MI Kelley, and which was reported in full
In the papers of that place
In me conversation between Messrs. Kel-
Ley ana thompson above referred to the
FORMER stated the necessity for bringing
the southern farmers into closer contact
than they had previously enjoyed since the
war.
Saunders and Kelley Meet.
VA MI. kolley to
MI Saunders. a thoroughly practical busi-
ness man, full of sound Scotch sense. and
probably the best known and ablest horti-
cultural writer in the country-Mr Saun-
ders having for many years advised
through the press the unification of the
farmers (oEe article having appeared in the
Maryland Farmer on this subject nearly
hfteen years before. Joined heartily in the
spirit OF the movement and made many
valuable sugGes stions, and contributed by
MS wide acquaintance with leading horti.
cuitursts and farmers and his earnest and
acuVe work largely to the success of the
then embryo order
Dr. John Trimble was the conservative
member OF the coterie of friends, and
CHECKED the enthusiasm of Mr.. Kelley to
such an extent that the latter in his his
Tory OF the order. dubs him the I'VE,
b'anket The doctors wet blankets, how
ever, while they chilled the maturing OF
some OF the visionary plans of the earnes,
enthusiasts (who. as has often been since