NAOMI FLETCHER, LECTURER
14685 25.75 Road
Rapid River, MI 49878
Tel: 906-399-2815
Naomi.fletcher54@gmail.com
MARCH/APRIL 2025 GRANGE NEWS
It's March already!! and April isn't far behind! Have you planned ahead for Grange Month? There are numerous resources available onthe National Grange website to get youstarted. Have you visited the National GrangeFacebook page? Even more ideas there! The UptonGrange in Massachusetts recently posted a very informative article on Susan B. Anthony. The textfrom the article is below. I hope this helps youbuild a program for Grange Month. The Grangewas the fore-runner including women as a full member of the organization from its inception. We can thank Caroline Hall for her insistence that the woman's role on the farm was important to the success of the farm/community success, and the Grange should recognize that with full membership.
Susan B. Anthony 1820-1906
Very sincerely yours,
Susan B Anthony
The National Grange continued to support the women’s suffrage movement over the years, and even had a Committee on Woman’s Suffrage. At the fiftieth annual session of the National Grange, this Committee made the following recommendations:
Resources: https://www.nationalgrange.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/150thMailing-FINAL.pdf
It's March already!! and April isn't far behind! Have you planned ahead for Grange Month? There are numerous resources available onthe National Grange website to get youstarted. Have you visited the National GrangeFacebook page? Even more ideas there! The UptonGrange in Massachusetts recently posted a very informative article on Susan B. Anthony. The textfrom the article is below. I hope this helps youbuild a program for Grange Month. The Grangewas the fore-runner including women as a full member of the organization from its inception. We can thank Caroline Hall for her insistence that the woman's role on the farm was important to the success of the farm/community success, and the Grange should recognize that with full membership.
Susan B. Anthony 1820-1906
Ms. Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts. Ms. Anthony is noted for being an American reformer and was one of the greatest leaders in the advancement of women. She founded the first state Women’s Temperance Society and was one of the founders of the National Woman Suffrage Association. She was very active in the anti-slavery movement.
In 1869 she founded the Woman’s Suffrage Association along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She was arrested, tried and fined in 1872 for attempting to vote under the Fifteenth Amendment in New York. Susan Anthony looked to the Grange for support in her cause, since women in the Grange were equal to men in all the roles within the organization. Many Grange women supported her cause.
On November 10, 1895 Ms. Anthony wrote a letter to The National Grange and delegates. The letter is as follows:
My dear Friends:
I see by the newspapers that you are to meet in national convention in the good city of Worcester on November 13th, and while feeling grateful for the many resolutions you have passed in favor of woman’s enfranchisement during the last several years, and also for your practical recognition of “equal rights for all” by the election of women to the various offices of your association, I still want to remind you that now is the time for you to give a stronger expression in favor of woman suffrage than ever before.
We have obtained school suffrage from the legislatures of twenty-three states, municipal suffrage from one, full suffrage by constitutional provisions in three, and there are today pending woman suffrage amendments to the state constitutions of five different states, viz: New York, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and California. In California, the amendment is to be voted upon at the election of 1896, and you surely will agree with me that the hope of carrying it depends very largely upon the constituencies of the Patrons of Husbandry and of the Grange in that state.
It therefore becomes the duty of your National Convention to send out recommendations, if not instructions, to your local branches in California to do all in their power to carry the amendment at the polls. The suffrage Amendment Committee of California with Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper and Mrs. Ellen Clark Sargent at its head, is now organizing township societies throughout the rural districts and ward societies in the cities, for the purpose of forwarding the educational work on this question and a word of encouragement from your national body will do a great deal to stimulate the members of your branches in that state to unite with and help on the work of this campaign committee.
In the hope that you will throw the weight of your influence on the side of the establishment of a genuine “republican form of government” in every state in the Union, and wishing you the best of success in your convention, I am,
In 1869 she founded the Woman’s Suffrage Association along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She was arrested, tried and fined in 1872 for attempting to vote under the Fifteenth Amendment in New York. Susan Anthony looked to the Grange for support in her cause, since women in the Grange were equal to men in all the roles within the organization. Many Grange women supported her cause.
On November 10, 1895 Ms. Anthony wrote a letter to The National Grange and delegates. The letter is as follows:
My dear Friends:
I see by the newspapers that you are to meet in national convention in the good city of Worcester on November 13th, and while feeling grateful for the many resolutions you have passed in favor of woman’s enfranchisement during the last several years, and also for your practical recognition of “equal rights for all” by the election of women to the various offices of your association, I still want to remind you that now is the time for you to give a stronger expression in favor of woman suffrage than ever before.
We have obtained school suffrage from the legislatures of twenty-three states, municipal suffrage from one, full suffrage by constitutional provisions in three, and there are today pending woman suffrage amendments to the state constitutions of five different states, viz: New York, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and California. In California, the amendment is to be voted upon at the election of 1896, and you surely will agree with me that the hope of carrying it depends very largely upon the constituencies of the Patrons of Husbandry and of the Grange in that state.
It therefore becomes the duty of your National Convention to send out recommendations, if not instructions, to your local branches in California to do all in their power to carry the amendment at the polls. The suffrage Amendment Committee of California with Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper and Mrs. Ellen Clark Sargent at its head, is now organizing township societies throughout the rural districts and ward societies in the cities, for the purpose of forwarding the educational work on this question and a word of encouragement from your national body will do a great deal to stimulate the members of your branches in that state to unite with and help on the work of this campaign committee.
In the hope that you will throw the weight of your influence on the side of the establishment of a genuine “republican form of government” in every state in the Union, and wishing you the best of success in your convention, I am,
Very sincerely yours,
Susan B Anthony
The National Grange continued to support the women’s suffrage movement over the years, and even had a Committee on Woman’s Suffrage. At the fiftieth annual session of the National Grange, this Committee made the following recommendations:
- That the National Grange reaffirm its unqualified endorsement of woman’s suffrage and urge all State Granges to take similar action.
- That the National Grange endorse and support the movement to secure equal suffrage by amendment of the Federal Constitution.
A Brief Biography of Susan B Anthony by Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Journal of Proceedings of the National Grange 1895, Vol.26-29 page 49.
MAY/JUNE 2025 GRANGE NEWS
Ice. We enjoy it in a cold drink, we keep foods cold in a cooler with it, we even use it on sore joints. But what we normally don't use it on is taking out 3 million acres of forest in northern Michigan. The Ice Storm of 2025 was devastating to over 500,000 people, some still without power even as I write this on Easter Saturday, three weeks after the storm. Cutting a swath from a parallel line from Grayling to the Mackinac Bridge, ice accumulated on everything and anything. We didn't get it as bad here in the Central UP, but we did lose branches on our farm. Nothing compared to our neighbors to the east and south. I'm sure there's a need for financial assistance for the area, including replacing food stores in homes. Dedicating a fund-raiser to the area would be greatly appreciated.
Day of Learning: The Day of Learning at Fredonia Grange was very informative for those who attended. We learned about each department's programs and had a great lunch. We even made mini barn quilts! And everyone went home with a door prize or two. I hope you'll put it on your calendar for next year. I'd also like to thank the Granges who donated quilts to the UP All-Female Honor Flight traveling to Washington DC in May.
Day of Learning: The Day of Learning at Fredonia Grange was very informative for those who attended. We learned about each department's programs and had a great lunch. We even made mini barn quilts! And everyone went home with a door prize or two. I hope you'll put it on your calendar for next year. I'd also like to thank the Granges who donated quilts to the UP All-Female Honor Flight traveling to Washington DC in May.
Mother’s Day: Mother's Day is coming up in May, so I thought I'd give you a little history about it. In the mid 1800's, Ann Jarvis started Mothers’ Day Work Clubs to quell infant mortality by creating more sanitary conditions in homes. Ann had 13 children, 4 of whom survived to adulthood during trying times. "In the wake of the Civil War in 1868, Ann Reeves Jarvis coordinates a Mothers’ Friendship Day in West Virginia to bring former foes on the battlefield back together again. The initially tense day goes well, with veterans from the North and South weeping and shaking hands for the first time in years. Two years later, Julia Ward Howe, a mother and another forerunner of modern-day Mother’s Day celebrations, suggests a “Mothers’ Peace Day.” She makes the case that war is a preventable evil and mothers have a “sacred right” to protect the lives of
their boys. In 1873 the inaugural celebration of Howe’s “Mothers’ Day” takes place in June ." Sadly, Ann Jarvis passes away in 1905 on the 2nd Sunday of May.
Daughter, Anna Jarvis, decided to honor her mother with an unofficial holiday in 1908. The day was marked by small events in Grafton, West Virginia, and celebrated in Philadelphia, where Anna Jarvis resided. At the church where her mother taught Sunday School, Jarvis sent 500 white carnations — her mother’s favorite—to be worn by the sons and daughters in their mother's honor. The governor of West Virginia makes Mother’s Day an official holiday on the second Sunday in May 1910. Anna Jarvis spread the word of Mother’s Day by writing countless letters and to advocate for a worldwide recognition of Mothers. Congress made Mother's Day an official holiday in 1914. Canada followed in 1915. Unfortunately, Anna's campaign to keep the holiday humble and out of commercial hands failed miserably. She died a pauper in a sanatorium in 1948 at 84. She is buried next to her mother. She never had any children of her own." (Text from UNAVF Website)
Question of the Month: What is the unofficial drink of the Michigan State Grange?
Daughter, Anna Jarvis, decided to honor her mother with an unofficial holiday in 1908. The day was marked by small events in Grafton, West Virginia, and celebrated in Philadelphia, where Anna Jarvis resided. At the church where her mother taught Sunday School, Jarvis sent 500 white carnations — her mother’s favorite—to be worn by the sons and daughters in their mother's honor. The governor of West Virginia makes Mother’s Day an official holiday on the second Sunday in May 1910. Anna Jarvis spread the word of Mother’s Day by writing countless letters and to advocate for a worldwide recognition of Mothers. Congress made Mother's Day an official holiday in 1914. Canada followed in 1915. Unfortunately, Anna's campaign to keep the holiday humble and out of commercial hands failed miserably. She died a pauper in a sanatorium in 1948 at 84. She is buried next to her mother. She never had any children of her own." (Text from UNAVF Website)
Question of the Month: What is the unofficial drink of the Michigan State Grange?
Grangers vs. Patrons (Mifflin Grange #1725)
If you are familiar with, or a member of our Order, you have undoubtedly heard the term “Granger” applied to our members. It is interesting to note, that the proper nomenclature is “Patrons,” and that while we often use these terms interchangeably, there was a point where the former was used as a derogatory remark!
During the strained years of the struggle between farmers and monopolies, the term “Grangers,” emerged as a term of ridicule as the opponents of our farming organization sought to belittle both our position and our organization.
During the strained years of the struggle between farmers and monopolies, the term “Grangers,” emerged as a term of ridicule as the opponents of our farming organization sought to belittle both our position and our organization.
To quote Rev. A. B. Gross, one of our founders, on the subject:
“As to deriving the name for our members from the place where they meet, instead of using the correct name of Patrons, it is just as improper as it would be to call Masons, Odd Fellows, and Good Templars, Lodgers; Or Sons of Temperance, Divisioner’s or Rechabites and Sons of Jonadab, Tenters. Propriety and justice
demand that each organization have its own chosen name, whatever that may be: In this case the chosen
chartered name is Patrons; in full, Patrons of Husbandry.
Despite the earnest efforts of Mr. Gross, as well as others, the use of the term “Granger” not only persists, but has stood the test of our Patrons and in many ways become quite our own. Time has healed the original slur so fully, that we no longer realize it was ever a point of contention. We are proud of our rich history in this, our Country and equally proud to hold the title of Patron...or Granger, whichever association and title links us in your minds with the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry
Despite the earnest efforts of Mr. Gross, as well as others, the use of the term “Granger” not only persists, but has stood the test of our Patrons and in many ways become quite our own. Time has healed the original slur so fully, that we no longer realize it was ever a point of contention. We are proud of our rich history in this, our Country and equally proud to hold the title of Patron...or Granger, whichever association and title links us in your minds with the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry
