This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Rise and Progress of Farmers Organizations in Illinois
A historical sketch traces the Grange movement from its 1867 Washington City founding to 1875, noting nonpartisan, nonsectarian aims and rapid growth to 1.6 million members. It recounts early county farmer clubs, the Livingston County and Kewanee movements, and the 1874 fusion-driven Farm ers party efforts, led by figures like Wm M Smith and Prof Samuel Etter, which failed to sustain lasting political power. The piece ends with reflections on the limits of third party movements and a local update from Hillside Cottage, Sparland, and Peoria trial settlements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington City
Marshall
John Strawn
Round Prairie
Henry
Lacon
Chicago
Venice
Col R. F Bell
Bell Plain Township
Col Bell
Dr Boal
L. P. Fyffe
Magnolia
Putnam County
Col Ball
Clay
Frelinghuysen
Polk
Dallas
Birney
Court House
Livingston County Farmers’ Club
Nebraska Township
Altho
Rural Messenger
Livingston County
Farmers’ Club
Ihru
Nebraska
Farmers’ Convention
Farmers
Farmers’ Clubs
Carroll County
Hon Dy Dame
Whiteside
Loo
Stephenson
Winnebago
Boone, Kane
la Balle
Bureau
Champaign
Jackson
Kewanee
Smith
Rewance
Springfield
Bia
Mrr Smith
Theo
Samuel M Etter
Etter
Henry County
Bloomington
Newton Bateman
Prof Etter
Democratic Party
Hoo David Gore
Macoupin County
Mr Etter
Messrs Smith
Gore
T. M. Marshall
Congress
Illinois
Fusion Alliance
Tom Ridgeway
Democratic Farmer’s
Kewanee’ Smith
Hillside Cottage
Sparland