Semi-Centennial History of the Patrons of Husbandry #247574

At the close of the first half century of the existence of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, it seems entirely appropriate that someone should write a Semi-Centennial History of the Order. The author has but little inclination to undertake such an important and responsible task, but having collected a mass of material bearing upon the history of the Grange, and having been urged by many members of the Order to do so, I decided to go through this material and arrange it for publication.<br><br>I do not feel that any apology is necessary for presenting this book to the Grange and farmer public, notwithstanding its many imperfections. Its preparation has afforded me agreeable occupation, and I feel confident those who may read it will not be unprofitably engaged while doing so.<br><br>First and last, much has been written about the Patrons of Husbandry, the Grange, and the "Granger Movement"; but, aside from what has appeared in the newspapers and magazines and in the state and national Journals of Proceedings, nearly all this writing has been confined to the formative period and the decade from 1870 to 1880, and many of these writers seem to have reached the conclusion that the Patrons of Husbandry disappeared about 1880.<br><br>A number of books have been published dealing with the founding and early history of the Grange, and what they called the "Granger Movement," all of which have been more or less helpful in preparing this history. My trouble has not been to find material, but to determine what to use of the material at hand.