EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XVI. September, 19<»-t. No. 1. 



Hon. Joseph II. Brigham, whose death occurred suddenly June 29, 

 was the third person to occupy the position of Assistant Secretary of 

 this Department since it was raised to the first rank. In point of 

 service his term was longer than that of either of his predecessors, 

 extending over seven years, which marked a period of the greatest 

 development in the history of the Department. 



Colonel Brigham had been for many years a National figure in agri- 

 culture, and prominently identified with many of the more important 

 movements for agricultural advancement. He early attained promi- 

 nence in the Grange, being twice elected to the position of master of 

 the Ohio State Grange, and he served for nine years as master of the 

 National Grange. The latter office gave him a position of wide influence 

 and made him the representative of that great organization in the agri- 

 cultural matters of the day. 



His connection with the experiment station movement, and espe- 

 cially with the Ohio Station, was one of which he was justly proud. 

 During his term in the State senate in 1882 he introduced and secured 

 the passage of an act establishing- a State experiment station, and appro- 

 priating $3,000 a year for its maintenance. From the first he was quite 

 closely identified with the organization and development of that station, 

 for he was called upon by the governor to suggest the members of the 

 board of control, and as the founder of the station his counsel was 

 sought on important points. At that time there were barely a half 

 dozen stations in existence in the whole country, and there were few 

 people who appreciated the value of an experiment station or realized 

 what it should be. 



Upon the reorganization of the station under the Hatch Act in 1888 

 he was appointed a member of the board of control, which position he 

 held until 1895. It was partly through his efforts that funds were 

 secured for moving the station to its present location, and he lent his 

 aid in obtaining from the State the liberal appropriations for mainte- 

 nance and for buildings which have enabled it to grow to its present 

 proportions. 



1 



