HISTORY OF THE WHEEL. 69 



may have been blessed more abundantly than they dared 

 to hope; but the unselfish devotion, the indefatigable 

 will and determined perseverance of this little band of 

 men should be handed down to future generations as a 

 monument of unselfish and devoted patriotism. Others 

 there have been who have fallen in line and placed them- 

 selves amid the thickest of the fight; whose untiring 

 efforts have aided materially in spreading the good work 

 so well begun, and whose names ought to go down to 

 posterity as benefactors of their race; but the halo of glory 

 which centers round the importance and grandeur of this 

 noble organization should shed its light full upon the 

 names of that heroic band, who first met at the McBee 

 school house, and emblazon them in letters of gold that 

 will go down through the corridors of time receiving the 

 blessings of future generations. 



As W. W. Tedford states, articles of incorporation 

 were filed in the. Circuit Clerk's office on the 22d day of 

 August, 1882; and the first Grand or State Wheel was 

 organized April 9th, 1883. Articles of association were 

 filed with the Secretary of State, September 28th, 1885. 

 E. R. McPherson was the first Grand President. On July 

 i8th, 1883, the State Wheel met at GofPs Cove. At this 

 time there were thirty-nine Subordinate Wheels organized, 

 most of which were represented at that meeting. At this 

 meeting B. R. McPherson was re-elected Grand President, 

 and steps were taken to extend the organization. A reso- 

 lution was passed prohibiting the organization of Wheels 

 within the limits of incorporated towns. The next meet- 

 ing of the Grand Wheel was held at Stony Point, on 

 January 9th, 1884. The Order had now increased to 114 

 Subordinate Wheels, most of which were represented by 

 delegates to this meeting. Some very important business 

 was considered. A committee on crop reports was ap- 

 pointed, and a system devised by which reports could be 



