The Patrons' Guide

In 1867, Oliver Hudson Kelley, along with several other like-minded individuals formed the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry. Its local affiliates were known as "Granges" and the members were called "Grangers". Pendleton County had several local affiliates. For more on the national Grange movement, this link may prove helpful: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h854.html . As time went on, the Farmer's Alliance replaced the Patrons of Husbandry, albeit, the organizations were very much alike.

Dr. George F. Henry published and edited the "The Patrons' Guide" and later published and edited a weekly paper called "The Guide" at Falmouth. E.E. Barton, local attorney and historian, described "The Patrons' Guide" as published in pamphlet form and the pages stapled together. It was six inches by nine inches and had a light blue paper covering it. Mr. Barton transcribed a cover page of one of the editions as seen below.

The Patrons' Guide was comprised of the following departments: The Farm, Law, Health, Detective, Ladies Department, and Children's Department. Department editors were James G. Carter, Law; Emma F. Henry, Ladies; and the nom de plume "Aunt Charity" was the Children's editor. The paper featured the serial story taken from " Blackwood Bride or Marriage Under Difficulties". Market prices, prepared by Colonel W.H. Hill of Cincinnati, appeared in each edition. Several leaves in the front and in the back of The Patrons' Guide were reserved for advertisements.

Some of the excerpts of articles, as recorded by Mr. Barton (important since none of the originals are known to exist), appear below.

The first issue of "The Patrons' Guide" was dated June 2, 1881.

"Doudsville, Ky. May 19, 1881. Mr. W.C. Wilson is almost convalescent.... Mr. C. Price has a good store in Doudsville. S.M.L." (S. M. Looomis)

"Wiliam A, Brann and J.L. Henry were appointed by Pendleton County Pomona Grange to investigate concerning the sale of intoxicating liquors in a district where Local Option law had been voted on and carried. They made their report. (Editor's Note: The Pomona Grange was located at Falmouth.)

"Butler, Ky. May 27th. - Twilight Star Grange is still prospering."

"Births: To the wife of John Hunter, a girl- Peasly May; to the wife of Ben Tucker, a girl; to Jo Chalk and wife, a girl. "

"Miss Mollie Thompson and Dr. Hughes, of Scott County, were married recently. Rev. Rains officiating. (From the Williamstown Courier)"

"Rev. R.B. Neal is making his paper, "The Christian Worker" very interesting."

N.D.C. Mains, of Bachelor's Rest, had an advertisement in this issue. He advertised "Coffees, Teas, Sugars, Dry Goods and Notions generally; Vick's Fresh Garden Seeds, and Proprietary Medicines." J. W. Bagby of Morgan advertised honey bees for sale.

"The Patons' Guide" dated 9 Jun 1881:

"Levengood, Ky. Items submitted by "Cleo":

The little child of Mrs. P.C. Keith's, which was bitten last week by a dog, is much better."

"There was an attempt last Sunday night to break into the grocery of Mr. W.H. White."

"R. F. Minturn has been employed to build the tobacco warehouse for C.C. Cockerill."

"Levengood Lodge No. 1529 at their last regular meeting elected the following officers for the present quarter: J.W. Slade, W.C.T.; Maggie Coleman, W.V.T.; Sue. E. Cockerill, W.Secty; Lon Cockerill, W.F. Sec.; T.G. Purdy, W. Treas.; B. Antrobus, W.M.; P.C. Cockerill, W. Chap.; J.E. Antrobus, P.W.O.T.; Edward Cooper, W.O.G.; Mollie Antrobus, W.I.G."

(Editor's note: At this time, the best explanation of the letters behind the names is that it seems the 'W" stands for 'Worthy' as in 'W.M.' standing for 'Worthy Master')

"Funeral of L.J. Newkirk- Saturday, June 4, 1881, being the day appointed for the funeral of our worthy brother, L.J. Newkirk, of Greenwood, Pendleton County, Ky., and it was one of the most delightful mornings of the season, at a very early hour people began to arrive at Mt. Moriah Church from each of the many roads converging at that point. By nine o'clock members of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, and Good Templars assembled at a school house near, and soon organized a long procession and marched to the church, where the people continued to arrive, coming on foot, on horse back, in buggies, road wagons, etc. until no more standing or sitting room could be secured in the house, and nearly as many people were left outside. At ten o'clock Rev. McConnel delivered a very appropriate funeral discourse, after which the order formed a procession and marched to the grave of the deceased brother where the beautiful and impressive ceremonies of the Order of Patrons were participated in by a larger number of members than men of ordinary merit attracts as a tribute of respect from the living, in commemoration of the dear departed. - J.L.H."

"Death of John W. Baskett. The afflicted son of Jesse Baskett, decd. and Mrs. Edie Baskett. John W. Baskett died suddenly June 3, 1881. He was first taken sick January 31, 1861. He was born Oct 24, 1839, and was afflicted half his life......M.E.B."

"At the Republican convention in Falmouth, Ky. last Monday, Mr. Jerry Wells was nominated as a candidate to the legislature."

"Born to the wife of A. Carter- a boy."

"The Odd Fellows give a big pic-nic on Thursday, the 16th inst. in W. H. Yelton's grove near Butler, Ky. Schuyler Colfax, ex-Vice President will deliver a lecture."

"The Patrons' Guide" dated June 16, 1881:

"Oakland Church, Pendleton County, Ky. June 7, 1881- submitted by Jimmie H. Moore

"John Moore of near Falmouth is visiting friends at this place."

The funeral of Mrs. M.C. Vanhook, wife of W.B. Vanhook will be preached at Oakland Sunday June 12, by Rev. M.C. Kurfees."

"The funeral of Albert Mains, at the Baptist Church Sunday June 19th by Rev. Henry Bell."

"F.M. Crawford, Supt of our Sunday School, and W.A. Browning, Secty."

Plum Creek, Ky. June 10 1881

"Miss Lizzie Willis is teaching here."

" J.W. Hornbeck had the bad luck to lose his last horse."

"The Patrons' Guide" dated June 23, 1881:

"Friday June 17, 1881 - The Pomona Grange of Pendleton Co. met in the pleasant hall of Twilight Star Grange, and was called to order by Worthy Master O.T. Lummis. Ky. State Asst. Sec. James G. Carter and his wife were present."

" The Pendleton County Fair promises to be a success. Mrs. J.T. Simon of Falmouth,

tells us everything is being made ready."

"The Charter of the Pendleton Co. Farmer's Alliance, dated June 10, 1881 has been received; and the members are requested to meet at the hall over the Grange Store in Falmouth at 10:00 a.m. on the first Monday in July."

(Editor's note: This store was built in 1873 by Abdellah Watson's sons supposedly against their mother's wishes. She took them to court. As a result, they had to sell it. A "Grange Store" opened here a few years after it was built. This is where the Farmer's Alliance would have met.)

"The Patrons' Guide" dated June 30, 1881:

"Hogg Rigde, June 18,1881 - Pa takes the Guide. I was eight years old in April. Our school was taught by Miss Sally Wadsworth, closed yesterday. Little Johnny Brandt is lying very low with diphtheria. Aunt Betty Mann gave us a little bantum hen with five little chickens. - Mollie Clinger"

"Demossville, Ky - Aaron Thrasher, Jr. is very low with malaria fever. The Good Templars Lodge and Grange are increasing in numbers. The Sunday School at Boone school house is the banner school of Pendleton County - average attendance 80 pupils. - R.M.A. (R.M. Anderson)"

"Peach Grove, June 25, 1881. Just met at Peach Grove school house and organized a Farmer's Alliance with fifteen members. Officers: Oliver Shoemaker, Chairman; W.B. Gray, Secty; O.P. Behimer, Committee &c."

"Notice - Dr. Melvin Wheeler will be at Ferris' Store from 1-4 p.m.Tuesdays and Fridays, after July 1st. Will be prepared to treat patients."

"Hilman T. Fightmaster and Miss Mamie Asbury eloped from Cynthiana last Thursday and were married in Cincinnati."

"Rev. Joel Shoemaker will preach next Sunday, at 11 a.m. and evening at 8:00 p.m. at the Christian Church at Morgan Station."

"The Patrons' Guide" Issue dated July 7, 1881:

"President Garfield Cruelly Shot (news item)"

"Dividing Ridge, Pendleton Co. June 14, 1881 - We have a union Sunday School here now, and singing at half after three in the evening. Mr. F. Dunn is teaching it. - Cardenis Gray"

"Harmony Grange met on 25 ult. Ten members enrolled in the Alliance: James McGraw, Chairman; James Finley, Secty.; T.R. Roberts, Treas.; J.B. Cornelius, William Fookes, R. Rand, T. Terree, S.E. DeCoursey, H. Forbes, G.W. Ford."

"The Patrons' Guide" dated August 4, 1881:

"Plum Creek, Ky. July 16, 1881. - We had a fine rain at last and crops look quite refreshed."

"Bros. Limerick and Shoemaker have been holding a revival at this place since Saturday last."

"I visited the Pendleton County Grange which met with Portland Grange the 15th inst. and had a fine time generally - plenty to eat, horses fed and well cared for. Bro. J.G. Carter, W.M. in the chair, Bro. Joel Shoemaker, Sec. Speeches made by Bros. Newkirk, G. Pryor, Bob Adams, and J.A. Carter."

"The Patrons' Guide" dated August 18, 1881:

"Pendleton County - Buck Craig of Harrison County was arrested at Falmouth last Friday for passing counterfeit money."

"The Co-operative Store at Falmouth is now owned by Ira Sharon, William A. Brann, and H.B. Bonar."

"David Fielder's residence near Butler was burned Sunday."

"Lafayette Tomlin was arrested Saturday for bastardy."

"Knoxville, Pendleton Co. Ky, August 12, 1881 - Dr. Scott and J.A. Johns are buying the remnant crops of tobacco at a long price."

"The Patrons' Guide" dated August 25, 1881:

Bachelor's Rest, Pendleton County, Ky. - We have had to undergo a severe drouth this summer, which still continues. Corn will be about half a crop; tobacco almost a failure, although George Galloway has 15 acres which is better than his previous crop. Fruit almost a failure. Vegetables almost all dried up. Rev. Joe Clayton preached at Oakland last Sunday. Rev. Henry Bell will preach at the Baptist Church the 3rd Sunday.- J.H. Moore"

"Bachelor's Rest consists of two stores, a post office, blacksmith shop, church, and a number of dwellings."

"President Garfield's condition has grown much more unfavorable... "

Sources: The Henry Family File of the E.E. Barton Papers

The Grange Movement: Patrons of Husbandry; http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h854.html

Farmers' Movement - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmers'_movement

Cultural Influences; US GenWeb - http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ky/state/counties/pendleton/historical/cultural_influences.htm