The Grange Hall of Fame
Mortimer Whitehead
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Name: Mortimer Whitehead
Date or Year plus Place Born: Middlebush, NJ 1841
Date or Year plus Place Died: May 11, 1922
Residence as an adult: Middlebush, NJ
Biography:
Whitehead introduced a resolution in 1876 to “bring about close fraternal and business relations between the Patrons of Husbandry and the Dominion of Canada”. Relations between the parent Grange (US) and the Canadian Granges had become strained. Mr. Whitehead is credited with relieving these tensions.
In 1908 provision was made for the dedication of Grange farm homes. Such a service was prepared by Past National Grange Lecturer Mortimer Whitehead. This dedication was used extensively for dedicating new farm homes throughout the Western states.
Mr. Whitehead wrote many of the finest pieces of literature ever prepared in behalf of the Grange work were the products of his pen. His was a rare gift of stating Grange ideals so distinctly that all immediately caught the vision. His reports to the National Grange were models of constructive literature and he expressed Grange principles with rare effectiveness.
Mr. Whitehead was the first person to appear before a Congressional Committee to advocate for rural free delivery mail. He labored persistently to have this service become available to farmers. This hard work along with another State Master helped get the passed in the U S Senate by a 27 to 25 vote.
He wrote and published numerous articles and pamphlets about agriculture in a variety of magazines.
Mr. Whitehead was a veteran of the Civil War serving in the Northern Army through the greater portion of the war. So, he understood the plight of the American farmer throughout the country. He was a speaker of rare ability and was almost constantly on the public platform, voicing the aspirations of the American farmer, urging them to united action and spreading the Grange gospel as effectively as any man who ever expressed the cause.
After serving two years as National Grange Assistant Steward he was elected NG Lecturer to non- consecutive terms 1877-1879 then 1886 to 1893. In 1890 he brought honor to himself and the National Grange by being appointed Chief of the division of agricultural statistics for the Eleventh Census.
Just prior to his passing in 1922 he made this significant statement,
“I am getting old, and I sometimes feel a little loneliness as I hear of so many old friends answering the last roll call. I have given my life to help the great cause of humanity, and I have no vain regrets.
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