412 ......that caused the great railroad kings to tremble, and monopolies in general to lower their banner of fraud and robbery and crawl at the feet of those whom they had so ruthlessly robbed and defiantly challenged to provide a remedy. Unfortunately for the farmer and the working man, the skilled mechanic and the artisan, traitors wormed themselves into the order, brazen political harlots succeeded in getting a foothold, and the order, which had promised so much, which had caused fraud of every kind to tremble, had but a few months of life, and then was gone forever. But it is not and will not be forgotten, and the day may come when the order will again arise, assert its power, and cause the organized bands of robbers, under the names of different monopolies, to hang their heads in fear. ITS OBJECT The order in all respects was one to be proud of. Its object and aim was the elevation of the great working classes of the country and to show them their rights, and how those rights could be secured by a unity of action and a concentration of purpose. Not only this, but the education and culture of all was one of its cardinal features. To enhance the comforts and attractions of their homes, to foster and encourage neighborly feeling, to lessen expenses by cooperation, to purchase cheaper by combining and purchasing in larger quantities, to avoid litigation, and to earnestly work to allay all sectional strife and make ours indeed one people and one country, were links in the chain which bound together those who had united with the order. There was enough in these desires to found an organization as durable as the rocks, but fraud enlisted the thousands that are ever ready to sell t heir souls to the devil for gain and what they could not and dare not do openly to oppose this organization, was done by treachery and deceit. While it flourished it did a large amount of faithful and earnest work. The granges will ever hold a green spot in the memory of all who were earnest and innocent members, and there are none who were but what will ever regret its downfall. its principles, however, will live, and it may again blossom, and perhaps live until the full fruition of its noble work. IN DAVIESS COUNTY The order in Daviess county began to grown in the fall of 1873, but its greatest strength was reached late in the summer of 1874. It then numbered 22 granges, with a central organization known as the county council, composed of the members of the different county granges, and from the central council the rules and regulations were made to govern the Patrons of Husbandry as a body. At the height of its power the organization numbered over 2200 members, and by combining they were able to secure cheaper goods and lower freights. Could politics have been kept out, the members ignoring party and voting pg 413 alone for the good of all, it might have been flourishing today, and thousands of dollars saved to the people of Daviess county by carrying out the aims and object of the order. The names of the granges organized in teh county are given below; also the names of the master and secretary in the order named, and the time of the meeting of each grange. NAMES Washington.....F. McCOY, W. A. SCOTT Western Star....J. OFFUT, J. F. BICKEL Monroe...J. P. SMITH, J. K. BAKER Farmers' Home... S. H. RAMSBOTTOM, W. J. WRIGHT Benton...J. M. CHRISTIE, T. J. MATTINGLY Sheridan....G. F. BARKDOLL, M. J. BENTON Jameson...Wm. D. McDONALD, F. K. FLETCHER; 4th Sat in each month Gallatin....D. L. KOST, J. H. FROST; 1st Sat. in each month Liberty...B. B. WORDEN, R. H. BENEDICT; 1st Thurs in each month Line...Hamilton REAGER, Jacob LOCKWOOD; one Thurs in each month Harrison...T. W. REED, J. M. REED Charity....H. B. WITTEN, J. L. BRADDEN Colfax....David CRALL, Stephen NORTON Jefferson...B. W. STOUT, Philo MUNSON; Thurs on or before the full moon Jamesport...R. C. WILLIAMS, N. NICHOLS; Sat on or before the full moon Santa Rosa....J. W. AMBROSE, T. T. ROBERTS Cypress...B. B. ADAMS, S. H. EVERLY Civil Bend...R. M. JACKSON, James L. POWELL Salem... Nathaniel GLAZE, J. N. NETHERTON; 4th Sat in each month Oak Forest...Israel COEN, John OXFORD Bancroft....J. DeGOLIA, R. WOODWARD In the fall of 1873 when there were only about held of the above granges in successful operation, a call was made for a mass meeting to form a county council with a constitution and by-laws. the meeting met Oct 15, 1873, and the granges already formed met and held a meeting and presented their credentials, having appointed their chairman and secretary. they elected the following officers: Wm. D. McDONALD, president, James L. POWELL, secretary; Gabriel FEURT, treasurer; J. P. DRUMMOND, Samuel KENDIG and R. M. JACKSON were appointed trustees; and B. G. KIMBALL business agent. The constitution and bylaws were adopted as reported by the committee and are as follows:............ [those are on page 414, which I did not copy.]