Family: FIRESTONE, William Leroy / FISHER Elizabeth Belle

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Oak Grange Wedding 1882

"The first wedding that ever occurred "within the gates," was celebrated in Oak Grange, Wednesday evening, March 1st, Mr. William F. (should be William L.) Firestone and Miss Belle Fisher, of Mission Center, being the "twain made one." The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, also simply called "The Grange," is a fraternal organization for American farmers that encouraged farm families to band together for their economic well-being. They were also an important social outlet. Many rural farm families lived relatively isolated lives, often meeting only on Sundays for church, and on market days. Granges provided a place to socialize and discuss area issues. The first Grange opened in Kansas in 1872. Within a few years there were more than 1000 granges in Kansas, claiming more than 30,000 members. Granges later began advocating for farmers politically, fighting for example railroad monopolies, and advocating for rural mail deliveries. Grange farmers banded together to buy equipment, built community grain elevators; some even started community savings and insurance pools to avoid higher cost bank loans and cover members medical costs .The byline on the article suggests the Oak Grange may have been located in Valencia, KS but was more likely located in Mission Township, KS area where William and Belle lived in the early 1880s.

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