Grange No. 213 of Tonica, Illinois. Records, 1881-1899

This collection consists of a record book from the Tonica Grange No. 213, with meeting minutes from 1881 to 1899.

The village of Tonica, LaSalle County, Illinois, was founded in the mid-19th century as a stop on the Illinois Central Railroad about a hundred miles southwest of Chicago. Many of the people of Tonica were farmers, and the town produced large amounts of livestock.

The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry was founded after the Civil War in 1867. The Grange is a United States organization that encourages communities in agriculture to advocate for their economic and political interests. In the nineteenth century, the Grange lobbied state legislatures and US Congress for changes such as regulating rates set by railroads and implementing US Postal Service delivery to rural locations. It is the oldest agricultural advocacy group in the United States and is still active today.

This collection consists of a record book with meeting minutes for the Tonica Grange No. 213, dated August 20, 1881, to February 18, 1899. The book is 229 pages, with a red leather binding and a marbled cover. The meeting minutes include votes taken by the group, lists of dues, a copy of the membership application, and information about where meetings were held.

The Library purchased this collection with support from the Bruce C. Creamer Fund in 2022, along with record books from the Ladies Missionary Society of the Congregational Church (MS 1120) and the Tonica Music Association (MS 1119).