Pennsylvania State Grange
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Background information about the Grange organization and a brief history of the National Grange is shown here.  

For details about the fascinating story of the Grange in Pennsylvania, click on the History Committee pages:
http://www.pagrange.org/history-committee.html.











The Grange Story

On December 4, 1867, in a small Washington D.C. office building, the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry was born. Here, sitting around a plain wooden table, a small group of seven earnest men, planned what was destined to become a vital force in preserving and expanding American democracy. They were all men of vision – they had faith in God, in their fellow man and in the future.

​The seven founders of the Grange were Oliver H. Kelley, William Saunders, Aaron B. Grosh, John R. Thompson, Francis M. McDowell, William Ireland and John Trimble. They were assisted by Caroline Hall, a niece of Kelley.

Oliver Hudson Kelley is regarded as the father of the Grange. In 1866, serving as a staff member of the Department of Agriculture, he was sent to make a survey of the farm conditions of the South following the Civil War. During this time, Kelley conceived the idea that a fraternal organization, composed of farmers from all section of the country, would help heal scars caused by the war, as well as improve the economic and social position of the farm population.

Upon his return to Washington, Kelley communicated his ideas to some of his friends in government service, and enlisted their support. They framed an organization based on seven degrees and a constitution. Caroline Hall was the first to suggest that women be admitted to membership on a basis of equality with men.

In 1873 the Grange movement took root in Pennsylvania and on September 18th 1873 in Reading PA a meeting was held to organize the Pennsylvania State Grange. At the time there were 25 local Granges in PA.   As of 2019, there are 186 local Granges with over 6,300 members serving the communities of the Commonwealth.



Past State Masters/Presidents

David B. Mauger*           1873-1876
Victor E. Piollet *             1876-1880
Leonard Rhone*             1880-1898
W.F. Hill*                           1898-1908
William T. Creasy*          1908-1914
John A. McSparran*       1914-1924
Philip H. Dewey*             1924-1927
E.B. Dorsett*                    1927-1932
J.A. Boak*                          1932-1938
Kenzie S. Bagshaw*        1938-1944
Sharp Fullerton*             1944-1950
Beatty H. Dimit*              1950-1956
J. Collins McSparran*     1956-1962
John Scott*                       1962-1968
A. Wayne Readinger*     1968-1974
J. Luther Snyder*             1974-1979
Robert E. Steese*           1979-1979
Charles E. Wismer*        1979-1988
William H. Ringler*         1988-1992
Gordon Hiller                  1992-1996
William A. Steel               1996-2002
Betsy E. Huber                2002-2010
Carl H. Meiss                   2010-2014
Elizabeth A. Downey      2014-2017
Wayne D. Campbell       2017-


* = deceased
PA State Grange
20 Erford Rd, Ste 216
Lemoyne, PA 17043


(717) 737-8855 or (717) 737-8856
pagrange@pagrange.org

​Fax: (717) 737-8858
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • communications
    • Contact Us
    • Distinguished Grange Program
    • Find a Local Grange
    • Grange Background & History
    • State Grange 150th Anniverary
    • Upcoming Events >
      • PA State Grange Convention
  • Departments
    • Deaf & Community Services
    • Family Activites
    • Grange Foundation
    • History Committee >
      • Pennsylvania's First Grange - Eagle #1
      • Listing of Pennsylvania Granges (Charter Ledgers)
      • Charter Applications
      • Grange Records Preserved at PA State Archives
      • Historical Highlights by Terms
      • Brief History Slide Program
      • Published Histories
      • Journals of Proceedings >
        • Journals of Proceedings 1873-1899
        • Journals of Proceedings 1900-1924
        • Journals of Proceedings 1925-1949
        • Journals of Proceedings 1950-1974
        • Journals of Proceedings 1975-1999
        • Journals of Proceedings 2000-Present
      • Newsletter Publications >
        • PA Grange News 1905-1909
        • PA Grange News 1910-1919
        • PA Grange News 1920-1929
        • PA Grange News 1930-1939
        • PA Grange News 1940-1949
        • PA Grange News 1950-1959
        • PA Grange News 1960-1969
        • PA Grange News 1970-1979
        • PA Grange News 1980-1989
        • PA Grange News 1990-1999
        • PA Grange News 2000-2009
        • PA Grange News 2010-2019
      • Executive Committee Minutes
      • Officer Registers >
        • Officer Registers Prior to 1900
        • Officer Registers 1910-1919
        • Officer Registers 1920-1929
        • Officer Registers 1930-1939
        • Officer Registers 1940-1949
        • Officer Registers 1950-1959
        • Officer Registers 1960-1969
        • Officer Registers 1970-1979
        • Officer Registers 1991-2000
        • Officer Registers 1980-1990
        • Officer Registers 1991-2000
        • Officer Registers 2001-20100
        • Officer Registers 2011-2020
    • Juniors
    • Lecturers
    • Legislative
    • Membership >
      • Grange Membership Blog
      • Member Benefits
    • Youth
    • Pennsylvania State Grange Heritage Quilt Trail >
      • Heritage Quilt Trail Map
    • Grange Store
    • Grange Marketplace
  • Documents