Buffalo County, Nebraska - Chapter 55: Patrons of Husbandry Granges Organized in Nebraska Ix Early '7os, 1916

Chapter 55: Patrons of Husbandry Granges Organized in Nebraska Ix Early '7os

GRAIN SHIPPED DROUTH SUFFERERS - GRANGES ORGANIZED IN BUFFALO COUNTY IN 1875 LOCATION OF GRANGES AND THOSE ACTIVE IN THE MOVEMENT - POLITICS DISRUPTS THE GRANGE THE GRANGE MOVEMENT IN BUFFALO COUNTY IN

In the early '70s granges were established and the movement spread rapidly over the state. A State Grange was organized, with Church Howe as master, and an office opened and maintained at Lincoln in charge of P. E. Beardsley as secretary. A stock company, on the co-operative plan, in which many members of granges took stock, was organized, and under the supervision of the State Grange, engaged in the manufacture of farm implements (more largely corn plows), the buying, in wholesale lots, of family supplies and the handling and shipping of farm products. During the grasshopper invasion the officers of the State Grange were active in shipping many carloads of grain both for seed and as feed for farm teams out into the state for the relief of drouth sufferers. Unfortunately like relief sent out by the state, such grain (for seed purposes) was purchased at grain elevators, a mixture of the different varieties of wheat, oats and the like, and without being cleaned as it came from the threshing machine and containing many kinds of noxious weed seed, Avas shipped to the needy in all the newer portions of the state, thus seeding, for all time to come, thousands of newly opened farms with such noxious weeds.

The social feature of the Grange was of great and lasting benefit to the agricultural population of the state. The Grange meetings were attended by practically the entire rural population of the locality and visits were made to other granges. The members met on common ground, became acquainted, discussed questions in which all were more or less interested, such meetings going a long ways in helping to overcome the monotony and isolation of homesteaders in sparsely settled localities, often with oxen only as a means of travel.

The business ventures mentioned did not prove profitable. Whether conducted locally or those under the patronage of the State Grange, as before noted, the latter entailing considerable loss which was finally satisfactorily adjusted, in large part, at the personal expense of Church Howe, master of the State Grange. » 365

Granges were first organized in Buffalo County about the year 1875 by Maggie G. T. Mobley as state organizer. One of the largest granges was in Shelton Precinct and met in the schoolhouse in District No. 8. When organized V. Arnibus was its first master, and S. C. Bassett secretary. A Grange was organized at Gibbon, but soon abandoned. There was a flourishing Grange in Centre Precinct, the more active members, as recalled, being William F. McClure, George N. Smith, James Van Sickle, T. J. ^Mahoney and Robert Haines. At Crowellton (now Odessa) a Grange was instituted at the home of John D. Seaman, its meetings being held in the nearby schoolhouse. A Grange was also instituted at Elm Creek, of which George Aliller was "master" and a most active member. One of the most flourishing granges was located in Buckeye Valley (later called Butler), in Valley Township. As recalled, T. B. Williams was "master" of this Grange, and N. Morris one of its very active members. This Grange continued to hold regular meetings for many years after all other granges in the county had surrendered their charters.

There was a "Pomona" Grange, which met at the county seat (Kearney). This, the county Grange, was attended by representatives of the local county granges.

Politics Disrupts The Grange

The flourishing condition of the Grange movement was a tempting bait to designing politicians who made use of membership in the Grange for their own political advancement, not only in Buffalo County, but in other counties of the state. This caused dissension among the members of the Grange, and the Grange movement in Buffalo came to a speedy end.

The Grange Movement Revived

About the year 1912 the Grange movement in Nebraska was revived under the leadership of Hon. J. D. Ream of Broken Bow, who was elected master of the State Grange, and in the reorganization of the Grange members of the order in Buffalo County took an active part, the following being officers of the State Grange : C. E. Bishop of Riverdale, steward ; J. S. Cooper of Kearney, treasurer; Mrs. Belle Crosby of Kearney, chaplain; Mrs. George Bischel of Kearney, ceres ; Miss Gladys Eichmeir of Kearney, lady assistant steward ; George Bischel, chairman bureau of information.

George Bischel of Kearney served as organizer of granges in Buffalo County, and under his inspiration and leadership twenty-one granges were organized in the years 1913-15, with a charter membership of 687, and since their organization has a largely increased membership.

W^ith two exceptions these granges meet in schoolhouses in rural school districts. Herewith is given a list of granges in Buffalo County in the year 19 15, the school district in which located, the number of charter members, the name of the master and secretary.