Year: 1874

Independence Day in Goodhue County.
Grange Celebration IN Bailey's Grore. 4


Glorious Success Of achich the Patrons Of the


State may be proud.


Bailey's Grove is situated about ten miles
south of Red Wing on the Red Wing and
Zumbrota road. It was on the farm of J.
V. H. Bailey, one Of the oldest settlers Of
the County, and is situated on knoll or
ridge of ground descending at an easy
grade to the north.


Toward this grove the thoughts of the
Patrons Of this rich agricultural county
had turned for many weeks past. The
nearest Grange. the Farmers Guild, had
been busted with hauling lumber, clearing
up the grounds, seating and building q
suitable stand. The morning opened fair
but terribly hot, yet the earliest dawn
found many on their way to the
place where they were to unite to celebrate
the day that gave not only birth to a
mighty republic, but hope and the possibil-
lty OF freedom to the oppressed Of the
whole world. At eight o'clock the people
commenced arriving at the grove and from
that time until half after eleven there
seemed to be constant stream of teams
coming upon the grounds. 1t was beauti-
full to see the wagons, and carriages drawn
by the best Of good, sleek, we'll kept horses,
and loaded with robust, intelligent, good
looking men and women, accompanied by
their families, in Grange bands bearing
their banners, coming from every direction
across the prairies, between rich fields of
wheat that seemed in their freshness
almost to unite in the shouts of iov that
were waited over them.


At eleven o'clock the greater number had
arrived, and W. S. Grow, the Marshal of
the day, called the throng to order and in
troduced the President, William Feather
stone, who stepped forward and took charge
OF the ceremonies in straight forward,
unassuming manner.


The Zumbrota Brass Band were called on
for music and came up manfully to the call
and their work, as might be expected of
true Patrons-to the satisfaction and pleas
ure Of all.


Then the Chaplain of the day, Rev. S.
P. Chandler, or Father Chandler, as he is
more Familiarity called throughout the
county, then led in prayer full of patriotic
and religious feeling.


The prayer concluded, the band gave
back an echo to the patriotism that beat in
every heart. DR.. Williamson read in O.
clear, round tone that noble Declaration
Of principles, Of the rights and wrongs of
the colonies which, to Americans, never
grows old.


"A quartette, consisting Of Prof Stiles
Raymond, DR.. Williamson, and the Misses
Norton, of Red Wing, sung patriotic glee
in way that filled the grove with harmony
and made all hearts rejoice.


Hon. J. A. Thacher, of Zumbrota, was
then introduced and spoke in substance as
follows:


You see me here in an unaccustomed
place am Granger and my place is on
the farm. They have cooped me up back
Of these boards and feel as though were
in the pulpit.


Yet am right glad to see and greet you
all in this beautiful grove, coming from all
parts of our rich ard beautiful county.
He thought Goodhue County was ahead of
Paradise in beauty, besides here grew no
forbidden fruits.


tie did not propose to pluck the feathers
from the American Eagle, but if possible
to say something which would advance the
common interest; this he believed was what
every Patron expected Of q speaker.


He placed education first as of most i'm.
portance to farmers. In this we do Coop
crate to a certain extent yet should do
more.


He urged the importance of teaching
music. How beautiful and pleasant to
have trained singers in every neighborhood
and in every Grange that could sing as
those to whom We had just listened, yet
he believed that there were those in nearly
every school district who with proper
training could do as well.


Farmers need business education that
will enable them to unite capital to their
own advantage-to put their heads together
for the advancement of their own interests.
They Reed to provide better facilities for