Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-08-20
LOOKING BACKWARD,
The Progress of the Grange From
Insignificant Beginnings.


Achievements of the Grange Re-en-
forces Our Pride In What II Has
Done For the Farmers Of the Nation.
The following paper was read by
Mrs. M. L. Graham before grange In
Washington county, o., in commence
ration of the fortieth anniversary Of
the founding of the Order.
A few Of us here today can look
back to the time of the civil war, when
from every state there went out to
battle young and middle aged men.
Husbands fathers. sons, rushed for
ward to protect or secure their rights.
In time the struggle ended and all
quietly resumed civilian life. In every
vocation the want Of mans labor was
apparent, and In none was there more
restitution than In that Of farming.
The unused plowshare and the prun-
ing hook were eaten by rust, and the
two, three or four years of absence
had given to fields ragged appear
dated, forsaken look Farms and
farming were at a discount.
But in the northwest, where settle
ments were miles apart and cOnven-
fences and comforts few, there lived
a thoughtful, energetic, big hearted
farmer, full of faith, hope, charity and
tidelity toward his Creator and his fell
low men. Eventually he was employed
by the United States bureau of agri-
culture to gather crop statistics. His
extensive travel and close observation
gave him opportunity to reckon the
immense loss the farmer and horticul-
and scarcity of transportation facil-
tiles. Tons Of delicious fruit lay rot
ting under California's sun, while the
farmers families of other states were
vainly longing for just such fruits. In
other localities granaries were over
lowing with wheat and corn, valueless
for want Of a market. yet the eastern
and southern states were suffering for
a sufflciency Of these cereals.
This Minnesota farmer believed that
something might be done to overcome
this and other great disadvantages
under which farmers and fruit grow
ers were laboring. provided the bureau
Of agriculture could be so interested as
to demand a voice in the senate and
then give its influence to the upbuild-
Ing Of agriculture. The bureau made
the demand, but was denied the right.
1t was then discovered that the agri-
cultural bureau was agricultural only
in name and pOwerless to carry any
point favoring the rural population.
After much thought and effort 1t was
decided necessary to organize and labor
secretly.
Accordingly on Dec. 4, 1867, o. II.
Kelley. the Minnesota farmer; William
Saunders, the chief of the agricultural
bureau; Rev. A. B. Grosh of the same
bureau, w. NJ. Ireland OF the postoffice
department. ]. r. Thompson and Rev.
John Trimble of the treasury f. NJ.
Mcdowell, New York horticulturist.
and one lady, Miss Caroline Hall, niece
OF Mr.. Kelley, organized the Order OF
Patrons Of Husbandry. or the char
ter members only o. H. Kelley and
his niece, Miss Hail. still survive. Mrs.
Eva Mcdowell, the national grange
treasurer, Is the widow Of f. M. Nc
Dowell and Is still living in New York
state.
The present finds us, ON many issues.
conquerOrs. The agricultural bureau
is granted all rights and is one Of the
most popular. useful and honored de-
partments OF the government. Through
the enactment of the interstate COM
MERGE law freight and traffic charges
were made more reasonable. Rural
free delivery is an acknowledged sue
cess The bitter struggle for the now
popular rural free delivery covered a
period of thirty three years, but 1t was
great grange victory at last There
is still much to be overcome. Our eff
forts will be directed to better cultiva-
ton. The swords that we shall use
will be the plowshare and the pruning
hook. Today the grange is the equal
Of any national organization. In its
unity it is strong. its power for good
unlimited. We appreciate that much
Of its work has gone into history. To
day we are proud of the past and pres
emit and hopeful for the future