USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 7
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
ing was held, with the following result, in D. Dale's handwriting: "Now on the day appointed by previous notice for the purpose of perfecting the organiza- tion of the Taylor County AAgricultural society, the citizens of said county were called and came not. It was therefore considered that the time had not yet ar- rived for such an institution and further proceedings, therefore, came to a stop, and a general continuance was entered thereon."
From that until 1859 the Taylor County Agricultural society's history is a blank.
In 1859 a meeting was held ; the exact date is not given, but it was some time during the summer months. At this meeting Dr. Luther Bent was chairman and Hon. N. B. Moore, secretary. The old constitution of 1857 was adopted by sec- tions, and R. A. Moser was elected president ; Daniel Hoover, vice-president ; D. Dale, secretary, and E. W. Fouts, treasurer. A committee of two from each township was appointed to solicit members : Polk, Martin L. McKee and Jacob Taylor; Ross, L. D. Hatfield and Milton Phelps; Clayton, Vincent Bell and David Johnson; Benton, William Webb and Benjamin Perkins; Washington, William Carpenter and Ezra Fleming; Dallas, Eli Pangburn and D. A. Thomp- son ; Nodaway, Isaac B. West and James R. Foster ; Mason, John S. McClure and James Mason, Jr .; Marshall, Josiah Litteer and H. M. Rinker; Platte, S. W. Robinson and Oliver Jenks; Jefferson, J. R. Standley and L. W. Hillyer ; Jackson, James Gartside and John Keeney.
After discussion it was determined to have a fair the second Saturday in October of that year, 1859, and an adjournment was taken to the first Saturday of September, preceding. On that date a meeting was had, and the committee appointed to procure members were called upon to state the result of their labors. Benjamin Perkins reported nineteen names and paid nineteen dollars into the treasury. J. S. McCloud secured one name and handed one dollar to the treas- urer. The balance of the committee had nothing to say. Austin Allen, for him- self and Charles Norse, announced a willingness to assist, and presented E. W. Fouts, the custodian of the society's funds, with one dollar. David Johnson did likewise, and thus they became members. It was then discovered that the so- ciety was minus printed certificates of membership and Benjamin Perkins was appointed a committee to procure them. It was also resolved "That premiums be awarded" at the coming fair, the second Saturday in October, 1859, and E. T. Smith, J. S. McCloud and Benjamin Perkins were appointed a committee to pre- pare a premium list. Asking the committee on membership that were delinquent in reports to be prepared on the fifteenth of that same month, an adjournment was taken to that date.
At the meeting September 15th, D. Dale, the secretary, was the only officer present, and James Brooks was chosen president pro tem. E. W. Fouts, the treasurer, refused to serve. E. T. Smith was elected to fill the vacancy and im- mediately filed a bond for five hundred dollars with approved security. James Gartside reported two names for membership, and made glad the new treasurer's heart with the sum of two dollars. John H. Liggitt paid one dollar and thus became a member. Benjamin Perkins reported four names with the required amount of cash. Alanson Arnold and John S. Boyd deposited the requisite amount of cash for membership, and David Johnson, of the committee, brought
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
in five names with the proper amount of money. The committee on premium list reported, and the list is a curiosity, and as it will continue to grow in that direction as time passes, we reproduce a portion of it. Comparison with premium lists of the present day will furnish interesting amusement to the reader.
FIRST CLASS-HORSES.
Best pair draft horses owned by one man, one year's subscription to the N. W. Farmer. Second, diploma. Best stallion, $2.00. Second, paper. Best three-year-old gelding and upwards, diploma. Best colt from two to three years old, $1.00. Best filly, $1.00. , Best brood mare (must have bred), $1.50.
Judges, William A. Weeb, James Brooks and John Taylor.
SECOND CLASS-JACKS.
Best jack of any age, $1.00. Best pair of mules of any age, paper. Best suckling colt, 50 cents.
Judges, David Johnson, T. F. Kimball and D. Griffith.
THIRD CLASS-CATTLE.
Best bull, three years old and upwards, $2.00. Second best bull of any age, paper. Best bull, two years old, $1.00. Second best bull, two years old, 50 cents. Best bull one year old, 50 cents.
Judges, S. Bristow, C. Coops and William Lundy.
FOURTH CLASS-COWS.
Best milch cow, $1.00. Second best milch cow, 50 cents. Best two-year-old heifer, paper. Best one-year-old heifer, 50 cents. Second best one-year-old heifer, diploma. Best calf under one year old, diploma.
FIFTH CLASS -- HOGS.
Best boar one year old and upwards, $2.00. Second best boar, one year old and upwards, diploma. Best boar under one year old, paper. Second best boar under one year old, diploma. Best breeding sow under one year, $1.00. Second best breeding sow under one year, diploma. Best sow and pigs, $1.00.
Judges, A. M. Simpson, F. Walker and Joseph Edgerton.
There were twelve classes in all. The remaining ones were: Class 6, sheep ; class 7, poultry ; class 8, grain; class 9, farming utensils ; class 10, dairy ; class II, domestics ; class 12, miscellaneous articles. In class 7, poultry, reads : "Best blooded rooster, diploma. Best blooded hen, diploma." This will be amusing to the many fanciers and breeders of fine poultry in our county to-day. After the adoption of the premium list, the citizens of the adjoining counties were invited to compete for premiums. This will appear to be an extremely generous offer, when we consider the fact that the entire cash premiums amounted to thirty-one dollars. We could hardly expect a citizen of another county going to the trouble or expense of competing for the entire amount, yet many did attend from Page, Adams, Ringgold, and from Missouri, also, which shows the enterprise of the men, who at that early day were beginning to improve the breeding of their stock, and it is this spirit of enterprise that has made this region the home of the best blooded stock in the world.
The next meeting of the society. the regular annual one, occurred May 12, 1860. On. motion the constitution was so amended that one person could be elected from each township to constitute a board of directors and giving them power to elect their own president, secretary, and treasurer, to be taken from
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their own number. The following board was then chosen: Benton township, Benjamin Perkins: Clayton township, R. A. Moser; Dallas township, Eli Pang- burn : Mason township. J. S. McCloud; Marshall township, Josiah Litteer ; Noda - way township, Isaac B. West; Platte township, Oliver Jencks; Polk township, Cyrus Hickenlooper ; Ross township, Asa Webb; Washington township, Harlan.
The price of membership was reduced to fifty cents and Thomas Cobb was elected president ; Ira Harrington, vice-president; Austin Allen, secretary ; and J. H. Turner, treasurer.
Another meeting was held May 19th, and a new premium list was adopted. The board also resolved that those who were receiving agricultural papers as premiums could have the cash instead if they so desired ; and it was also decided to charge an entry fee of twenty-five cents on all first-class articles, and fifteen cents on second class. The fair was then set to be held September 27th and 28th. all entries to be made the first day, and all committees to report by 10:00 o'clock the second day, which was faithfully carried out according to program. The attendance was very large for those days, and a happier occasion had never been known in the history of the county. One hundred and twelve premiums were awarded, and not one of them was paid in money. Instead of cash the suc- cessful competitors for first premiums received an agricultural paper paid for by the society. There were thirty of these. To the balance diplomas were issued. Thus was laid by our unselfish farmers of that day, who preferred wholesome literature to dollars, that firm foundation which has given Taylor county people a name throughout the state for their intelligence. From the seed thus sown a glorious harvest has been garnered, which we find well marked in their children and in the sons and daughters of those who soon followed, for what county in Iowa can show better schools, better teachers, and a people of better educational attainments ? At a meeting of the society, December 15, 1860, the members got down to substantial business. A committee was appointed to examine lands and select a suitable site for a fair ground. This committee consisted of Benjamin Perkins, Josiah Litteer and Daniel Hoover. The society on this occasion voted five dollars in cash to be paid the person raising the best five acres of wheat in 1861, and a similar premium was offered for the best five acres of corn. A mo- tion was also passed that the members solicit life memberships at five dollars each. January 12th another meeting was held and the fair ground committee reported. Their selection was the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 25, township 68, range 34, containing ten acres. They recommended its purchase at eight dollars and fifty cents per acre, amounting in full to eighty-five dollars. The society voted to make the purchase at once, instructing the officers to first examine the title of the land. The record of the meeting goes on to say: "It was then voted that the officers of this society get printed petitions for the directors of each and every township, headed with the section of law relating to the assistance of agricultural societies in improve- ments, signed by the secretary and president, said petitions to be circulated by the directors and presented to every voter in their respective townships for signa- tures ; said petition to be presented to the board of supervisors at their next meeting in June."
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J. H. Turner, J. S. McCleland and Benjamin Perkins were appointed a com- mittee to draft a premium list for 1861, which they did and reported on the 26th day of March, 1861. It was more complete than any the society had yet had, and was really an excellent one. There were sixteen classes, each class made into divisions, some of them running as high as four. The first premiums were usually in farm journals, which seemed to be the desire of all. At this meeting the directors reported two hundred and three names to the petitions for presenta- tion to the board of supervisors. As this time, Lexington, a small town in Mar- shall township, and located nearer the geographical center of the county than Bedford, was aspirant for county seat honors, and it also wanted the Taylor County Agricultural society to locate its fair grounds there. So some of the prominent citizens in that vicinity brought down what was called the "Lexington donation," a consideration in the promise of money, or its equivalent, if the so- ciety would locate its grounds there. This created considerable heated debate. but action was deferred, and as far as the records show, the question never came up again. The meeting adjourned to Saturday, May 25, 1861. May 25, 1861, came, but there was too much excitement of another kind to think of agricul- tural fairs. On April 12th of this year Fort Sumter had been fired upon by the confederates and the whole north was ablaze with indignation. On April 15th President Lincoln had issued a call for seventy-five thousand men to suppress the rebellion. In response to this call, Samuel J. Kirkwood, then governor of Iowa, on April 17th issued a proclamation, calling for volunteers. The air was full of rumors of war. The northern people loved their flag and their country and were willing to sacrifice their lives and fortunes if need be for the preserva- tion of the Union. The excitement extended to Taylor county. Agriculture and stock raising were forgotten. The patriotic heart was kindled and the war was all that could be talked about, and our boys, one by one, and in squads of three and four, deserted the old homestead and joined the Union armies that were des- tined to throttle and destroy seccession. So there were but few left to carry on agricultural exhibitions, and those who remained had little spirit for such enter- prises. We find no record of any action of the Taylor County Agricultural so- ciety after March 26, 1861, until October 31, 1863. At this date a meeting was held. Jesse Evans served as chairman and Ira Harrington as secretary. R. A. Moser was then elected president of the society; Washington Baker, vice-presi- dent ; J. R. Standley, secretary, and Benjamin Perkins, treasurer. The society then adjourned to the second Saturday in July, 1864. Before that date, how- ever, the president called a meeting, which was held at Bedford, February 13, 1864. Dr. J. R. Standley refused to act as secretary and W. F. Walker was elected to fill the vacancy.
At this meeting it was determined to have a fair that fall, and the time, place and arrangements in regard to premiums were left to a committee of one from each township. Another meeting was held, March 5th, but little of importance was done. There was appointed a committee to prepare a premium list-to fix en- trance fee for persons not belonging to the society, and wishing to compete for premiums, and to fix the time and place for holding the fairs, from which it would appear that the grounds had not yet been purchased. It was ordered that the
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
canvassing committee report to the secretary once a month, pay over all funds, and take his receipt therefor.
August 27th the society met again. The sixteenth and seventeenth days of September were fixed upon as the dates for the fair. Three general directors-a sort of executive committee-were chosen to manage the exhibition. The men composing the committee were: L. W. Hillyer, J. C. Meehan and W. A. Webb. J. R. Standley was elected marshall and R. A. Moser, general superintendent. The premiums of classes one and two were reduced one-half. A motion was car- ried that the exhibition of manufactured articles by the manufacturer be stricken from the list. At this date the membership of the society was as follows :
Allison B. Perkins, Daniel Hoover, John C. Meehan, W. A. Wysong, James Gartside, Robert Reid, J. H. Liggett, Henry Graham, A. J. Cathcart, R. Rogers, W. A. Webb, D. Underwood, William Aitkins, James Walters, L. Houck, Josiah Litteer, Joel Brown, Keller Thompson, Charles Cope, Charles Steele, D. W. At- kinson, Abner Dougherty, Jesse Lasonee, Squire Dunn, W. D. Snow, O. Perkins, L. D. Hatfield, Benjamin Hoover, R. A. Moser, E. T. Smith, William Reeves, David Johnson, J. R. Stanley, J. M. Windsor, T. Brock, J. W. Wood, John Campbell. J. S. Hall, A. J. Littcer, Elihu Baker, Simeon Wright, B. L. Johnson, Eugene Brown and John Derrickson-forty-five in all.
The fair was held on the date specified. The premium for the best stallion was one dollar and fifty cents and was drawn by J. B. Hoover, of Jackson town- ship. The second premium was the dazzling sum of seventy-five cents and was captured by W. H. Allison. B. B. Hoover took the first and second premiunis on the best brood mares, and his bank account was swelled seventy-five cents. Josiah Litteer had the best bull and received a premium of one dollar. W. A. Webb received one dollar having the best cow on exhibit. Dr. Standley had the best grove of planted timber and the best orchard. J. Wood had the second best orchard, and Dr. Standley had the best hedge "turned out" in the county. January 7, 1865. the society met again and elected : President, Daniel Hoover; Secre- tary. M. F. Walker ; Treasurer, Benjamin Perkins, and adjourned to April 27th ; at which time it was agreed to pay a premium of five dollars on the best five acres of corn, two dollars on the best two acres of spring wheat, two dollars on the best two acres of oats, two dollars on the best two acres of tame meadow, one dollar on the fastest walking horse, and one dollar on the best yoke of oxen. The society grew even more extravagant and offered a premium of one dollar on the fastest trotting horse, either in harness or under the saddle.
The fair of 1865 was held September 29th and 30th. Thomas Cobb, D. W. Young and Ira Harrington were the directors ; D. Dale, marshal, and Dr. J. R. Standley, general superintendent.
December 30, 1865, the society met and began preparations for an exhibition in 1866. A delegate was chosen to meet the board of directors of the state agri- cultural society at Des Moines, and was instructed to file a bill at the capitol of his expenses.
At the next meeting, which was held August 11, 1866, it seems the society had become possessed of grounds. A motion said: "The fair will be held on the society's grounds north of Bedford, October 13, 1866." It is therefore likely that at some time since the committee on grounds appointed January, 1861, had re-
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
ported the society had bought the grounds. At this meeting in 1866, there is no doubt that the society owned the grounds, for D. Dale, Charles Steele, Joel Walker and D. Underwood were made a committee to prepare a ring on the grounds and put them in proper shape. Frank Walker, the secretary, was sent to Maryville, Missouri, to procure the printing of the premium list. The fair came off at the appointed time and seventy-six premiums were allowed, amounting to forty-three dollars and seventy-five cents.
This was the last exhibition given by the first agricultural society of Taylor county. The war had caused a loss of interest in it. Sectional strife and the jealousies of aspiring men wrought it harm. But it had accomplished good for the county, despite the drawbacks and there was more genuine enjoyment in the pioneer fairs of Taylor county than in the more elegant ones of today. The last record was made February 2, 1867. Josiah Litteer was chosen president; E. W. Fouts, vice-president ; Robert Reid, secretary; and William Mahan, treasurer. Daniel Hoover, J. S. Boyd and R. D. McKee were appointed a committee to trade the land now owned by the society for a more suitable piece, or sell the same and buy another location more favorable. An adjournment was then taken to Satur- day, February 16, 1867.
That ended it. February 16, 1867, never came. On June 25, 1874, more than seven years since the last meeting of the old agricultural society, the citizens of Taylor county again met at the courthouse "to reorganize the old agricultural society of Taylor county," so the record says, "and to consider the question of holding a fair this fall." J. C. Day presided and Col. D. H. Hamilton was chosen secretary. A permanent organization was effected by electing Col. D. H. Hamilton, president; D. W. Hamblin, vice-president; Thomas Cobb, treasurer and Samuel Bowers, secretary. The society then adjourned to Saturday, July 18, 1874, at 10:00 o'clock, a. m.
From that time there is no record of a meeting until June 26, 1875. It is evi- dent that there was no fair in 1874, but the minds of men of that time are not clear regarding the matter and it is not possible to assign cause for the failure to make good the resolution to meet July 18, 1874, and to state why there was no fair.
At the meeting June 26, 1875, Samuel Bowers tendered his resignation as sec- retary, and Alex John was elected in his stead. In 1874, twenty-seven men paid to the treasurer one dollar each for membership for that year. It was the sense of the society that this money should be refunded to the various parties, and a motion to that effect prevailed. A committee, as follows, was appointed to solicit stock for the society, each share being tweny-five dollars :
Benton township. Thomas Cobb and James McCracken; Clayton township, C. Steele and J. C. Ray ; Dallas township, T. M. Moore; Gay township, R. W. Harvey ; Grant township, G. W. Dean ; Grove township, J. W. Dunn ; Holt town- ship. W. G. Meredith; Jackson township, J. W. Wood; Jefferson township, John Flick; Marshall township, J. Litteer; Mason township, James Mason; Platte township; J. Kilgore ; Polk township, J. Scrivner ; Ross township, R. G. Moore : Washington township, Abe McCracken.
W. F. Evans, Alex John and D. H. Hamilton were appointed a commitee to
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negotiate a loan sufficient to make the advance payment on the fair grounds, and an adjournment was taken to July 10th.
At this time the report of the committee to negotiate for fair grounds was pre- sented. approved and placed on file. The ground purchased was a fifty-acre tract, immediately south of town across the East One Hundred and Two river.
It seems that E. Houck, treasurer of the old society, had failed to settle with the treasurer of the new-had neglected handing over the funds in his possession, one hundred and ninety-four dollars and seventy cents, held by him since 1867. The society, therefore, appointed J. C. Ray and E. T. Smith to settle with him; and they were instructed to collect legal interest on the amount of funds belong- ing to said society, and retained in his hands after the expiration of his term of office. At a meeting held July 25th, the committee was not ready to report, and further time was granted it. The only trouble about the matter was that Mr. Houck was not satisfied that it would be agreeable to members of the old society to transfer their funds to the new. As soon as this question was settled the matter was amicably adjusted. At the July 10th meeting, J. J. Laws, Charles Steele, James McCracken, Thomas Robb and C. B. Pershin were appointed a committee to prepare a program and premium list for the fair of 1875. Charles Steele, J. C. Ray, N. Goodsill, H. McConvill and James McCracken were chosen to procure material for fencing the fair grounds, which they did. The fence was built by A. M. Campbell, at a cost to the society of three dollars and seventy-two cents per rod. J. Litteer, J. J. Laws, C. C. Mohler, N. P. Nelson and W. A. Webb were selected as the proper person to prepare the track, and to them we sup- pose is due the excellent track we have at the present day. An assessment of five dollars was made against each share of stock to meet the indebtedness of the so- ciety, and the secretary was instructed to collect the same at once. A motion was made to sell a portion of the grounds belonging to the agricultural society. At a meeting, July 21st, Charles Steele, E. T. Smith and Alex John were appointed a committee "to sell from ten to nineteen acres of the south end of the ground." About October 22d, of that same year, L. S. Morris purchased twenty acres at forty dollars per acre. August 14th, 1875, an assessment was made against all stockholders to the full amount of the unpaid portions of their respective shares, to be paid prior to August 21, 1875. At this date the following important com- mittees were filled by election :
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE-James McCracken, A. Goodsill and Charles Steele. FINANCE COMMITTEE-N. Goodsill, J. C. Ray and Charles Steele.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS-D. H. Hamilton, J. Litteer, J. C. Ray, Charles Steele, D. W. Hamblin, J. H. Jolly, E. T. Smith, W. F. Evans, William Mahan, B. B. Hoover, L. S. Morris and Thomas Cobb.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY-W. F. Evans.
August 21, 1875, at a meeting of the board of directors of the Taylor County Agricultural society, D. H. Hamilton was elected president ; W. F. Evans, secre- tary. E. T. Smith was instructed to circulate a petition to be presented to the board of supervisors, asking an appropriation of five hundred dollars, as pro- vided by law, to aid the agricultural society. September 1I, 1875, the sites for wells were located, and work on them was begun soon afterward. The secretary
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
and treasurer borrowed eight hundred dollars, and secured the same by mortgage on the south twenty acres of the society's grounds. The price of refreshment stands was fixed at two dollars per day, each. Hacks and busses were charged two dollars per day each. A judges' stand was erected under the superintendency of A. J. Litteer.
October 5, 1875, the superintendents of the different divisions were instructed to appoint the awarding committees in their respective departments. Charles Steele got a motion to pass "that the fair ground be rented from November I, 1875, until August 1, 1876, to be let on the last day of the fair to the highest responsible bidder, for the purpose known on day of sale." This was done for many years, or until the north side was set out in shade trees, since then the hay has been sold or "cut on shares."
October 8, 1875, the price of stands was placed at the following figures.
Warm meals, per day $ 5.00
Air gun, per day 3.00
Swing, per day 5.00
Dancing floor, per day
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