106 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



come from the widespread organization of 

 Teachers and Patrons' Associations. 



And where is Hesperia? It lies about forty 

 miles north and west of Grand Rapids — a mere 

 dot of a town, a small country village at least 

 twelve or fifteen miles from any railroad. It is 

 on the extreme eastern side of Oceana County, 

 surrounded by fertile farming lands, which have 

 been populated by a class of people who may be 

 taken as a type of progressive, successful, intel- 

 ligent American farmers. Many of them are of 

 Scotch origin. Partly because of their native 

 energy, partly, perhaps, because their isolation 

 made it necessary to develop their own institu- 

 tions, these people believe in and support good 

 schools, the Grange, and many progressive move- 

 ments. 



For several years there had existed in Oceana 

 County the usual county teachers' association. 

 But, because Hesperia was so far from the center 

 of the county, and because it was not easily 

 accessible, the teachers who taught schools in 

 the vicinity could rarely secure a meeting of the 

 association at Hesperia; and in turn they found 

 it difficult to attend the meetings held in the 

 western part of the county. A few years ago 

 it chanced that this group of teachers was com- 



