534 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



be procured competent to carry on his work. Upon 

 relinquishing it his fellow citizens, grateful for what 

 he had done for them, elected him Superintendent of 

 Public Schools for the county; and he retained the 

 position for six years, resigning it only to devote 

 himself entirely to the interests of the Grange. 



When the Order of Patrons of Husbandry was insti- 

 tuted and offered to the farmers of the country, Mr. 

 Thompson was quick to recognize it as a great boon 

 to the agricultural class, and as the best remedy for 

 their grievances that could be suggested ; and promptly 

 identified himself with it. In February, 1870, he be- 

 came a member of Greenwood Prairie Grange, No. 41, 

 of Minnesota, and thus became one of the pioneers of 

 the movement in that State. The Order was an ex- 

 periment then, and a Granger's position was not alto- 

 gether a pleasant one. The Order had to fight its way 

 to popularity; and, thanks to its early adherents, it 

 did so. 



Soon after becoming a member of the Order, Mr. 

 Thompson was elected W. Master of his own Grange, 

 which was the first organization of its kind in this part 

 of Minnesota ; and in February, 1871, upon the organi- 

 zation of the State Grange of Minnesota the first State 

 Grange in the United States he was unanimously chosen 

 its W. Master. He held this position for two years, 

 laboring actively in the interest of the Order ; and, in 

 1873, was chosen Lecturer of the National Grange. 



The choice was a wise one, and gave great satisfac- 

 tion to the Order. The post of Lecturer is one of great 

 importance and responsibility. He is charged with in- 

 troducing it into communities where it is yet a stranger ; 

 and with the delicate task of popularizing it, and over- 



