HISTORY: Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, PA, Roland D. Swoope, 1911, Chapter 20 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other chapters: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm ________________________________________________ TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS BY ROLAND D. SWOOPE, JR. PUBLISHED BY RICHMOND-ARNOLD PUBLISHING CO. F. J. Richmond, President C. R. Arnold, Secretary and Treasurer CHICAGO, ILL. CHAPTER XX AGRICULTURE AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 239 The Patrons of Husbandry, "Grange" - Object of the Society - When Founded - The First Grange Founded in Clearfield County - Other Branches of the Society in Clearfield County - The Clearfield County Agricultural Society. The Patrons of Husbandry - Grange At the city of Washington, D. C., on the 4th day of December, in the year 1868, O. H. Kelley and William Sanders, both of whom were then connected with the national department of agriculture, took the initial steps and laid the foundation for this vast organization, and brought into existence the National Grange. In each State are societies subordinate to the national order, and which are known as State Granges. Auxiliary to the State Grange, are County, Township and District Granges. As the name implies, the aim, object and purpose of the society is to improve the condition and advance the interests of all persons, and their families as well, who may be engaged in agricultural pursuits; not only to improve their condition through a free interchange of opinions in social gatherings where subjects pertaining to agriculture may be discussed, but by thorough organization and honest, open, determined effort to bring about such action on the part of the general government, and also that of each State, as will effectually and permanently overthrow all oppression from monopolists, unwise and unfair discrimination on the part of railroad corporations, and the exorbitant and needless charges of commission men in every department of trade. So rapid, indeed, has been the growth of membership of the Grange throughout the land that it now numbers among the millions. In the year 1875, the movement reached this county, and on the 13th day of April of that year, the enterprising farmers of Penn township met at the residence of Samuel Widemire, where, through the district deputy, O. S. Cary, of Punxsutawney, the first Grange organization was perfected. Although in point of seniority, Penn Grange is entitled to first mention, it is but a district or township Grange, yielding to Pomona Grange the first place, as that although of more recent organization, is a county institution, to which the others are subordinate. Pomona Grange, P. of H., No. 33, was organized January 1, 1879, with the following charter members: J. R. Read, Mary W. Read, William L. Read, O. D. Kendall, E. M. Kendall, Catharine Davis, George Emerick, R. L. Reiter, Hettie Reiter, A. Rankin, M. C. Ran- HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 240 kin, J. L. McPherson, Leander Denning, Eliza Denning, W. P. Read, James Spackman, Mary E. Spackman, W. P. Tate, Martha C. Tate. At the time of its organization the following officers were elected: Master, George Emerick; overseer, Elisha M. Davis; lecturer, Leander Denning; steward, A. Rankin; chaplain, W. P. Read; treasurer, James Spackman; secretary, W. P. Tate; assistant steward, O. D. Kendall; gate-keeper, R. L. Reiter; ceres, Catharine Davis; pomona, Sister Spackman; flora, Sister Kendall; lady assistant steward, Mrs. L. Denning. Penn Grange No. 534, P. of H., was organized April 13, 1875, by District Deputy O. S. Cary, with twenty-five charter members. The first master was Samuel Widemire; secretary, Miles S. Spencer. Lawrence Grange, No. 553, P. of H., was organized by Deputy O. S. Cary, on the 12th day of May, 1875, with twenty-one charter members. This Grange is located in Lawrence township, from which its name is derived. Goshen Grange, No. 623, P. of H., was organized November 18, 1875, with a charter membership of eighteen persons. Its first master and secretary were H. H. Morrow and J. A. Fulton, respectively. This Grange is located in Goshen township, on the road leading from Shawsville to Clearfield. Troutdale Grange No. 677, P. of H., was organized by Deputy J. B. Shaw, on the 15th day of March, 1876, with twenty-nine charter members. This is an organization of Bell township. Greenwood Grange, No. ---, P. of H., was organized by Deputy J. B. Shaw, May 12, 1876, having a charter membership of twenty-three persons. First master, C. A. Thorp; secretary, J. S. McQuown. It is located in Greenwood township. Bloomington Grange No. 715, P. of H. was organized by Deputy J. S. Reed on the 26th of June, 1876, with thirty-three charter members. First master, James R. Norris; secretary, Mrs. Ella M. Bloom; located at Bloomington, in Pike township. Sylvan Grove Grange, No. 765, P. of H., organized by Deputy W. P. Reed, October 24, 1882. Number of charter members, twenty. First officers: Master, O. P. Reese; secretary, B. F. Wilhelm; location of Grange, Kylertown, Cooper township. Laurel Run Grange, No. 769, P. of H., was organized March 10, 1883, by Deputies Davis and Bloom, with a charter membership of fourteen. Adam Kephart was elected its first master, and Elijah Reese, Jr., secretary. This Grange is located in Decatur township. Fairview Grange, No. 783, P. of H., was organized May 2, 1884, by Deputies Elisha M. Davis and James C. Bloom, with twenty-three charter members. The first officers were: Master, W. A. Smeal; secretary, W. B. Barger. The Grange is located on the Grahamton and Deer Creek road, two and one-half miles south of Deer Creek bridge. Girard Grange, No. 788, P. of H., was organized September 16, 1884, by Deputies Elisha M. Davis and James C. Bloom, with eighteen charter members. The first officers elected were: Isaac Smith, master, and Louisa Shope, secretary. Mont Foy Grange, No. 584, P. of H., was organized August 10, 1885, with twenty-five charter members. The first officers were: Master, J. B. Shaw; overseer, Matthew Ogden; secretary, J. B. Ogden. This organiza- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 241 tion is formed mainly of residents of the north part of Lawrence township. Narrows Creek Grange, No. 796, P. of H., was organized by Deputy Elisha M. Davis, January 2, 1886, with fourteen charter members. The first master elected was W. H. Liddle, secretary, Isaac Hess; location of Grange four miles east of DuBois and two miles west of Summit tunnel on A. V. Railroad. Union Grange, No. 802, P. of H., was organized by Deputy E. M. Davis June 3, 1886, with twenty-one charter members; first master, Henry Pentz; secretary, William Welty; location of Grange, thirteen miles west of Clearfield, on turnpike leading to Luthersburg, at the village of Rockton. Du Bois Grange, No. ---, P. of H., was organized October 20, 1886, by Deputy Davis, with a charter membership of sixteen persons. Its first master was S. C. Liddle; secretary, William Woods. It is located in the south part of Sandy township, about two miles distant from Du Bois borough. Clearfield County Agricultural Society The Clearfield County Agricultural Society was incorporated January 14, 1860. The purpose of this society is to encourage the development of agriculture in the county. Notwithstanding the fact that there was very little attention paid to farming in Clearfield county for many years of the county's earlier history, yet this society for a number of years held annual fairs at Clearfield that were well attended and gave indications of the development of this much needed branch of industry. For the last few years, however, the society has not been holding fairs but is now offering prizes for the most successful efforts in various lines of agriculture, and in the breeding of fine stock. The present officers of the society are: T. L. Way, president; R. E. Shaw, secretary.