History of the Chautauqua County Granges

This story begins shortly after the end of the American Civil War. The terrible economic and social conditions of the South spurred President Andrew Jackson to commission a study of the situation there, especially in agriculture. He sent Oliver H. Kelley, a midwestern farmer working in Washington to examine the situation. From this study, it was hoped some constructive plan for assistance could be formulated. 

Kelley returned to Washington, but instead of giving recommendations to the Government, he founded, in 1867, a self-help organization which he called the Grange, or the Patrons of Husbandry. Kelley felt the Grange could help unite the people of the South and help them educate themselves in the principles of scientific agriculture. The Grange gained popularity in a short time and its influence spread quickly both in the South and the North. 

While Kelley was organizing this farm fraternity, he involved his niece, Miss Caroline A. Hall. It was she who suggested his plan include as members the women of the farms on an equal basis with the men. 

Kelley’s farm fraternity has four divisions: the Subordinate or Local Granges in the communities and villages; the Pomona, which is formed from Subordinate Granges of the county; the State Grange, composed of the Subordinate and Pomona Granges; and finally the National Grange, representing the other divisions and members. 

The first Subordinate Grange organized by Mr. Kelley was Fredonia Grange No. 1 in Chautauqua County, N.Y. on April 16, 1868. 

The Grange grew rapidly due largely to the belief by farm people that they were unjustly experiencing excessive freight charges on their produce by the railroad companies and the prices they were compelled to pay for their supplies was also excessive. In joining this organization, they saw the opportunity for relief of some of these injustices through the proposition of cooperative purchasing of supplies.

The record of achievements made by the Grange in influencing local, state and national legislation were good not only for the farmers, but for everyone. Some achievements include: the addition of a member in the President’s Cabinet representing Agriculture; the pioneer work in helping to establish the rural mail delivery and later the Parcel Post Delivery system. Obtaining legislation to supervise and control the nation’s railway systems; the bringing about of the establishment of agricultural colleges, experimental stations, farmers’ institutes and the teaching of agriculture in the public schools; developing and training leadership among the farm people. 

The Grange founded and supported other cooperative organizations like the farmers’ life, accident, and fire insurance companies, individual organizations like the G.L.F. (Grange, Dairyman’s League, Farm Bureau). 

One of the most important contributions was help farmers express themselves by discussing their points of view in public. Their conclusions would then be put in the form of resolutions, brought to the attention of the State and National Grange and through them to the State and Federal Government. An excellent example of this process is the work of Grange member, Eliza Gifford. She introduced the first women's suffrage resolution in the National Grange.

There were at least 40 granges established through Chautauqua County. Today – there are 8 active granges in the county according to the New York State Grange website. We are still exploring the reasons for the loss of popularity of the Granges in our county. A variety of factors comes to mind.