HISTORY OF THE WHEEL. 77 



this meeting was the adoption of an amendment to the 

 Constitution, providing that at the death of a member in 

 good standing, the Secretary of the State Wheel be author- 

 ized to make an assessment of one dollar on each subor- 

 dinate Wheel, and pay the proceeds to the family of the 

 deceased. This amendment has been in effect nearly two 

 years and has been the means of assisting a number of 

 needy families. The State Wheel again convened Au- 

 gust 22d, 1888. This meeting was held with Independ- 

 ence Wheel, No. u, at West Point, Lamar county. 



The influence of the Order on agriculture has been 

 highly beneficial; resulting in better methods of farming, 

 greater diversification of crops and an increased tendency 

 to grow all of the home supplies possible. 



THE WHEEL IN KENTUCKY. 



S. J. Thacker, of Dukedom, Tennessee, organized 

 the first subordinate Wheel in Kentucky at Felisianna, 

 Graves county, January 2Oth, 1886, with Harrison Pigg, 

 President, and P. H. Johnson, Secretary. James Ham- 

 mon then organized other Wheels in Graves county, and 

 on the aoth of February, following, the Kentucky State 

 Wheel was organized at Felisianna. S. B. Erwin was 

 elected President. The second meeting of the State 

 Wheel was held at Mitchell's School-house, Graves 

 county, July i5th 1886. At this meeting delegates were 

 elected to assist in forming a National Wheel. A called 

 session was held in Stubblefield, August 27th, 1886. 

 The organization of the National Wheel was ratified, 

 though considerable dissatisfaction existed on account of 

 the word ' ' white ' ' being left out of the eligibility clause 

 in the Constitution, which impeded the progress of the 

 organization to some extent. The State Wheel next met 

 in regular session at lyebanon, in Graves county, January 

 1 5th, 1887. 



