Oliver Kelley

Oliver Hudson Kelley (1826–1913) was an American agriculturalist and key founder of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, the first nationwide farm organization in the United States. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he moved to Minnesota in 1849, became a farmer, and later advocated for agricultural reform, experimenting with new crops and scientific farming methods. He is remembered as 'Father Kelley' by many Grangers for his central role in spreading the 'Gospel of the Grange.'