Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association
Encyclopedia
The Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association grew out of the agricultural unrest of the 1880s in the United States
. Farmers who felt that they were being taken advantage of by merchants and brokers formed cooperative
s for buying implements and house-hold supplies, and storing and selling crops. Many of these cooperatives in the state of Illinois
joined to form the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association.
As soon as the benefits of the association were made manifest through its operations, it took on a comparatively rapid growth and extended to several states in the Midwestern United States
, where a number of local or county associations were formed.
At a general meeting of the association held at Springfield, Illinois
in November, 1890, it was decided to send delegates to the Southern Farmers' Alliance
convention at Ocala, Florida
the following month. Delegates were accordingly selected, and although the association maintained for some time afterward a separate existence as an organization, it really became a part of the Farmers' Alliance movement, the effects of which were felt all over the country.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Farmers who felt that they were being taken advantage of by merchants and brokers formed cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
s for buying implements and house-hold supplies, and storing and selling crops. Many of these cooperatives in the state of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
joined to form the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association.
As soon as the benefits of the association were made manifest through its operations, it took on a comparatively rapid growth and extended to several states in the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
, where a number of local or county associations were formed.
At a general meeting of the association held at Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
in November, 1890, it was decided to send delegates to the Southern Farmers' Alliance
Farmers' Alliance
The Farmers Alliance was an organized agrarian economic movement amongst U.S. farmers that flourished in the 1880s. One of the goals of the organization was to end the adverse effects of the crop-lien system on farmers after the American Civil War...
convention at Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
the following month. Delegates were accordingly selected, and although the association maintained for some time afterward a separate existence as an organization, it really became a part of the Farmers' Alliance movement, the effects of which were felt all over the country.