John Richardson Thompson was one of the eight founders of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.
Background
John Richard Thompson was born on July 28, 1834, in Littleton, New Hampshire and grew up on the family farm.
Career
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.
He died on February 12, 1894.
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.
