John R. Thompson
Founder of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
About John R. Thompson
Lived 1834 – 1894 (aged 59). John R. Thompson was an American.
John Richardson Thompson (July 28, 1834 – February 12, 1894) was one of the eight founders of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, a fraternal organization in the United States.
Biography Thompson was born on July 28, 1834, in Littleton, New Hampshire and grew up on the family farm. He served in the American Civil War with the 15th Vermont Volunteers, rising to the rank of colonel. Following the war, he took a job at the United States Department of the Treasury, where he remained for many years.
Thompson is believed to be the first to whom Oliver Hudson Kelley talked about his dream of setting up a fraternal organization of farmers. Thompson's Freemasonry training became a valuable tool in developing the ritualistic work of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, revolving the ritualistic teachings around the farm and farm family. He died on February 12, 1894.
Legacy The other founders of the Grange were:Oliver Hudson Kelley, William Saunders, Francis M. McDowell, John Trimble, Aaron B. Grosh, William M. Ireland and Caroline A. Hall.
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Important facts
People in John R. Thompson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John R. Thompson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John R. Thompson?
Founder of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
When was John R. Thompson born?
John R. Thompson was born on 28 July 1834.
When did John R. Thompson die?
John R. Thompson died on 12 February 1894.
What nationality was John R. Thompson?
John R. Thompson was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John R. Thompson. https://biography.guide/john-r-thompson/
MLA: "John R. Thompson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-r-thompson/.
Chicago: "John R. Thompson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-r-thompson/.
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