The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-04-03
FOUNDER or THE UNION.
A Short Sketch Of the Life of Newt
Gresham by His Dauqhter.

My father, Newt Gresham, the
founder of the Farmers Union, was
born in Lauderdale County, Ala, Feb
ruary Goth, 1856. When he was six
years old, his parents moved to Kauf.
man County, Texas, where they soon
died, thus leaving him, at an early
age, to battle against the world and
its hardships. 1t was, undoubtedly,
during this time that the foundations
Of his character were laid. The
strength developed in these early
struggles helped him in shaping and
leading Americas greatest organiza-
ton for farmers.
He was a member and a leader in
the Farmers Alliance, and was never
reconciled, after the death Of that or
der, until he succeeded in having an.
other take its place.
My father never had the opportuni-
ty Of attending a free public school.
All the education he received was the
result Of his own labor and determina-
ton. He was not a polished scholar,
but by dint Of hard work he secured
good practical education and a vast
amount of general information.
In May, 1877, with seven dollars in
his pocket, he left his home at Cedar
Hill, in Kaufman County, and went to
Terrell, Texas, where he boarded a
train for Fort Worth, on his way to
Granbury, Hood County, Texas. There
was no railroad from Fort Worth to
/ Granbury, and not having money
enough to hire a private conveyance,
he walked the entire distance of fo$'
ty miles. He then hired himself to
work on a farm at thirteen dollars a
month.
In January, 1881, he married Miss
Ida Peters, whose home was in Gran
bury. He joined the Alliance in It's
infancy, and was the first man in the
State to receive a commission to &c
beyond State borders to do organizing
work. He was the best posted man re
gardlna farmers organizations in Tex
as. Leaving his young wife with hel
parents. he went to the very cOmmun
| itv In Alabama in which he was born
While there he organized good lOca
Alliance, and before leaving the state
year later, ne succeeded in organic
ing many thousands into the Alliance
He then went to Tennessee, taking nix
wife with him, but remained there
only a few months, having to returI
TO Texas on account of his wife's II
health.
In January, 1896, he went into The
newspaper business at Granbury. II
1899 he moved to Greenville, IeXas
where he was engaged in newspape
work also. In January, 1902, he moved
To Point. Rains County, Texas, and IL
the fall of this year, after many hare
efforts, he induced nine men OF KAN
County to unite with him and secur'
a charter from the State. My tatne
was made General Organizer, and II
the face of every encouragement be
gan the work of building up our grea
Farmers Union.
give a list Of the names or Tn
ten men who were instrumental i
bringing about the F. E. c. U. OF A.
Newt Gresham, o. H. Rhodes, d. L
seamster, W. H. Cochran, B. F. MOI
ris, James Turner, Tom Donelsol
Jesse Adams, Tom Pounds, W. :
Sisk.
Nv father was honest, sincere, sci
sacrificing, always seeing the goo
noints in a fellow man, and never sl'
ing a thought to the bad. He was
; loving husband and father. He Ole
the 10th Of April, 1906, after an II
ness of five days. Our earnest WIS
was that he might have lived longe
so that he could rejoice in seeing Tn
great work he started going on s
faithfully and helping all VINO D.
longed to the great organizations
otto CroChon am