Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 54

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864


USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 54


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Farm tenants are those who, as farmers, operate rented land only. As reported nnder the census of 1910, these embrace three classes : (1) Share tenants who turn over to the land owner a certain share of the products for rent ; (2) Share-cash tenants, who pay a part of the rent in products and a part in cash ; and (3) Cash tenants, who pay all the rental in cash or in specified amount of products per acre. Farm Managers are those who condnet farming operations for the owner of land for wages or a salary.


FARM LAND .- Farm lands are divided into three classes : (1) improved land. (2) woodland. and (3) all other unimproved iand. Improved land includes all land regularly tilled or mowed. land pastured and cropped in rotation, land ly- Ing fallow, in gardens, orchards, vineyards and nurseries, and land occupied hy farm huiidings. Woodland includes all land covered with natural or planted forest trees, which produce. or later may produce, firewood or other forest products. All other unimproved land includes hrush land, rongh or stony land, swamp land, and any other iand not improved or in forest ..


TABULAR STATEMENT .- The following ta- bies present statistics of population, land and farm area, valne of farm property, domestic animals, number of farms operated by owners, tenants and managers, in Sagamon County for the year 1910 or 1909. according to circum-


stances, with occasionai statistics for 1900 for purposes of comparison. When no year is given in connection with any item, 1910 Is understood :


Population .91,024


Population (1900)


.71,593


No. of Farms


3,579


No. of Farms (1900)


8,907


Farmers-Color and nativity.


Native white


3,179


Forelgn-born white


362


Negro and other nonwhite


38


No. of Farms, classified, by area.


Under 3 acres


16


3 to 9 acres


204


10 to 19 acres


195


20 to 49 acres


423


50 to 99 acres


653


100 to 174 acres


992


175 to 259 acres 603


260 to 499 acres. 429


59


1000 acres and over


5


3,579


LAND AND FAAM AREA. ACRES


Approximate land area


.560,640


Land in farms


.520,999


Land in farms (1900)


514,256


Improved land in farms


489,591


Improved iand in farms (1900)


.478,809


Woodland in farms


22,809


Other unImproved land in farms S.599


92.9


Per cent of iand improved


94.0


Average acres per farm 145.6


Average improved acres per farm


136.8


VALUE OF FAAM PAOPEATY.


All farm property


.$85,743,114


All farm property (1900)


39,773,334


Per cent of increase


115.6


Land


72,053.228


Land (1900)


31,376,790


Buildings


7.318,616


Buildings (i900)


4,145,670


Implements and machinery


1,039,486


Implements and machinery (1900) 608,360


Domestic animais, poultry and bees 5,331,784


Domestic animals, poultry and bees (1900) Average values


3,642,514


Ali property per farm $23,957


Land and huildings per farm


27,177


Land per acre


138.30


Land per acre (1900)


61.01


DOMESTIC ANIMALS-POULTRY.


Farms reporting domestic animais 3.499


Value


. $5,148.568


Cattle, total number


32,645


Value


$1,152,118


Horses


26,099


Value


$2,645,530


Mules


3,612


Value


$463,763


Asses and burros


70


Value


$12,200


105,064


Value Swine


$782,498


Sheep


21,941


Vaiue


$91,221


Goats


316


Value


$1.238


Poultry


319,806


Value


$175,831


FARMS OPERATED BY OWNERS.


No. of Farms


1,836


No. of Farms (1900)


2.019


Land in farms (acres)


248,096


Improved land In farms (acres) 230,094


Value of land and hulidings


$38,481,425


Per cent of iand in farms


500 to 999 acres


.. . . . .


783


HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY


Farms of owned land oniy


1,318 518


Farms of owned and rented land


Color and nativity of Owners.


1,584


Native white


Foreign-born white 117


Negro and other nonwhite


10


FARMS OPERATED BY TENANTS.


No. of farms


1,690


No. of farms (1900)


1,843


Land in farms (acres)


263,986


improved iand in farms (acres)


251,046


Value of land and buildings


$39,306,129


Share-cash tenants


566


Cash tenants


26


Color and nativity of Tenants.


1,548


Native white


117


Foreign-born white


25


PRINCIPAL CROPS (1909).


ACRES BUSHELS


Corn


. 215,664


9,155,739


Oats


60,294


2,142,634


Wheat


47,441


984,456


Barley


38


767


Potatoes


2,038


185,617


Hay and forage, total


38,787 tons 51,038


Hay and forage includes timotby, clover, al- falfa and millet, of which the largest production was timotby, while clover came next. The acreage of alfalfa was small, but the average production per acre was larger than that of any other, being more than two and a half tons per acre.


CHAPTER XXIV.


MANUFACTURES.


SPRINGFIELD AS A MANUFACTURING CENTER-IN- FLUENCE OF TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES-SOME EARLY MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES-THOSE OF THE PRESENT DAY-ILLINOIS WATCH COMPANY -ITS FOUNDERS AND PRESENT OFFICERS-RACINE- SATTLEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY-DESNOYER SIIOE COMPANY-THE IDE MACHINE WORKS- WILLIAM FETZER COMPANY-UNITED ZINC & CIIEMICAL COMPANY-CAPITAL FOUNDRY & MA- CILINE WORKS-SPRINGFIELD BRIDGE & IRON COMPANY-RAYFIELD MOTOR CAR COMPANY- DAWSON BRICK & TILE COMPANY-BOILER MAN-


UFACTURING COMPANY-OTHER MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES NOW IN OPERATION.


Although an inland city, Springfield is well located for a manufacturing center. Transpor- tation facilities have been steadily growing in number and excellence since the first railroad was built through the city. A large percentage of the population finds employment in the fac- torles of Springfield and the immediate vicinity, thus insuring progress and development along various otber lines. Among the industries which flourished in earlier days may be men- tioned tbe following : Ide's Machine Works, established in 1870 and still In existence; tbe Springfield Iron Company, organized in 1871; Excelsior Foundry and Machine Works, estab- lished in 1854; Aetna Iron Works, established in 1848 by James L. Lamb; Drake & Palmer Boiler and Sheet Iron Works, originally estab- lished by John M. Wilson in 1863; Myers, Da- vidson & Henley's wagon and carriage factory, organized in 1874; the S. F. Eastman Machine Works; Withey & Brothers' carrlage and wagon manufactory, established in 1853; tbe Elevator Milling Company, originally founded and op- erated for some time by Asa Eastman & Com- pany ; John A. Kikendali's sash manufactory ; the Excelsior Mills, the Home Mills and Spring- field Woolen Mills; Springfield Trunk Factory ; Globe Spice Mills ; Henry W. Rokker's printing and binding concern; and the Illinois Watch Company, the latter being organized in 1870 as the Springfield Watch Company.


ILLINOIS WATCH COMPANY .- This is one of the largest manufacturing concerns in Spring- field, employing 900 men and women, and bav- ing a capacity for tbe turning out of 500 Iili- nois watch movements per day. The buildings occupy two square blocks and are located on Ninthi and North Grand Avenue. The concern was established in 1870 as tbe Springfield Watch Company, with John T. Stnart as Presi- dent and W. B. MIller Secretary. Immediate steps were taken for erecting buildings, and in March, 1872, the first watch was turned out. During the first year 3,845 watches were pro- duced, and during the next two years the num- ber was greatiy Increased. In consequence of financial troubles, in 1875 but 8,550 were made, and but 1,075 in the following year. In 1877 the company was reorganized, with Jacob


Share-paying tenants


370


728


Tenure not specified


Negro and other nonwhlte


784


HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY


Bunn, Sr., as President, and Charles Smorowski Secretary, since which time there has been a healtby aud vigorous growth. Mr. Buun was an able business man and after taking the pres- idency gave bis attention to building up the business, his efforts in this direction meeting with early success. He came to Springfield in 1836, began husiness as a grocer in 1840, and continued in that and in the banking business until 1878. He was a heavy stockholder in the Watch Company before becoming its President. In 1878 the name of the concern was changed to its present form. The present officers are : Jacob Bunn (a son of Jacob Bunn, Sr., the former head of the concern), its present Presi- dent ; Henry Bunn, Vice President, and George A. Bates, Secretary. The firm has a wide rep- utation for the high class of watches turned out and furnishes many watches for the use of railroad employes.


THE RACINE-SATTLEY MANUFACTURING COM- PANY's buildings occupy seven acres of floor space and the entire plant covers four square blocks, located at Ninth Street and South Grand Avenue. This concern was established as the Sattley Manufacturing Company, in Taylorville, Ili., and removed from that place to Springfield in 1888. It was consolidated with the Racine Wagon & Carriage Company, of Racine, Wis., under its present name, in 1903. The company manufacture a large variety of agricultural im- plements and vehicles, especially including piows and cultivators, exporting goods to Can- ada and South America, as well as supplying a large demand in the United States. They em- ploy 500 men.


DESNOYER SHOE COMPANY .- This concern came to Springfield from Belleville, Ill., in 1903, its main office being at St. Louis, Mo. It occu- pied a building on the northeast corner of Tenth and Enos Avenue. The Desnoyer Company went into bankruptcy during 1911, but a few months later its property was sold, the Robert, Johnson & Rand Shoe Company of St. Louis, finally com- ing into possession. The latter company re- opened the factory in November, 1911, with its original force of 400 employes, which it is stated will be doubled with enlargement of the factory buildings.


A. L. IDE & SONS .- This is one of the oldest concerns at present in operation in Springfield, having been established in 1870, by Albert L. Ide, at the corner of Fifth and Madison Streets,


a location which it still occupies. Mr. Ide pur- chased from the city a building which had beeu erected some years before and used as a mar- ket house. For several years he operated under the firm name of Ide's Machine Works, manu- facturing various kinds of heating apparatus and steam pumps. Later he perfected and pat- ented an engine, giving it the name "Ideal," which was made up of his surname, with his initials added. This invention found great fa- vor and Mr. Ide also perfected a self-oiling de- vice to be used on the engine. The product of the factory bas become widely known and the firm has met with financial success. Its preseut members are: Harry L., Francis P., Roy W. and Chester E. Ide, sons of the founder, who was a soldier of the Civil War and later be- came Superintendent of the Springfield City Railway Company, but who died in 1897.


WILLIAM FETZER COMPANY .- This company is engaged in the manufacture of a large line of grain and fertilizing drills, and otber seeding machinery, transplanters, potato planters, dise harrows and other farm machinery, having a large foundry of their own. The factory build- iug covers 70,000 square feet of space, and the factory grounds embrace about six acres along the Chicago & Alton Railway and the Illinois Traction System line. The factory was estab- lished in Dayton, Ohio, in 1858, and inoved to Springfield in 1908. It occupies a modern, fire- proof building, with brick and concrete walls, tile roofing and concrete floors, and 150 men are employed. The officers are: William Fet- zer, President and Treasurer ; J. Francis Milier, Vice President ; W. H. Minton, Secretary.


THE UNITED ZINC & CHEMICAL COMPANY, located on the west side of the Chicago & Alton Railway, two miles north of Sangamon Avenue, was established in 1907. They manufacture pure zinc metal and employ 350 men 365 days in the year. They have ten furnaces aud sev- eral hundred retorts. The men who stand at the head of the concern live outside of tbe State.


CAPITAL FOUNDRY AND MACHINE WORKS .- This concern, with plant located on the south- west corner of Tenth Street and Enos Avenue, manufactures a full line of gray iron castings for railroad and jobbing trade. It was estab- lished in 1898 and employs about 50 men. The proprietor is Joseph Farris.


SPRINGFIELD BRIDGE & IRON COMPANY .- This


ILLINOIS WATCH FACTORY, SPRINGIFELD


785


HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY


company was established iu 1895, and is lo- cated at Tenth and Cook Streets. Jerome Bur- tle is the President and S. J. Willett, Secretary, of the firm. The company manufacture struct- ural iron aud are contractors and engineers for the construction of steel bridges.


RAYFIELD MOTOR CAR COMPANY .- This firm was established July 1, 1910, and they have a factory at Harvard Park, where they employ 50 muen, mostly skilled mechanics, in the manu- facture of automobiles. four and six cylinder "'Rayfield cars," and aiso a line of toois and gigs. The officers are: Burke Vancil, Presi- deut ; J. F. Miller, Vice President ; E. E. Staley, Secretary ; William Rayfield, Treasurer.


LOURIE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, successor to the Nationai Hydraulic Tire Setter Company, came to Springfield from Keokuk, Iowa, in August, 1910. Their factory Is located on Yaie Boulevard, south of Stanford Avenue. Herbert M. Lourie is President of the concern, which is a large manufacturer of hydraulic tire set- ters and other hydraulic machinery, including box-presses and hub-binders. They employ 50 men and have an export trade to ail parts of the civilized worid.


FREDERICK R. COATS, manufacturer of jewel- ers' toois and materiais, watch materiai and dentai burrs, has a factory at Eleventh and Ash Streets, where he empioys about 90 men and several women. This industry was estab- lished in 1896 and enjoys a good patronage.


THE DAWSON BRICK & TILE COMPANY is one of the older manufacturing concerns of Spring- field, having been established in 1881. Their plant is located at Tenth and Carpenter Streets, where they turn out various kinds and sizes of farm and drain tiling, and have a capacity of 5,000,000 brick annualiy. They employ about 30 men.


THE SPRINGFIELD MATTRESS COMPANY was es- tablished in Springfield in 1900 and incorporated in 1898. The officers are: William M. Mont- gomery, President, and Harry D. Montgomery Secretary. Their plant is located on Miller and West Grand Avenue, where they employ about 30 men and women, and have a capacity for the output of 75 to 100 mattresses daily. Their output inciudes elastic cotton mattresses and other grades.


THE SPRINGFIELD BOILER AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY was established in, 1891, and its plant is located at East Capitol and East Grand Ave-


nues. The officers of the concern are: Presi- deut aud Treasurer, Ansley Brown; Vice Presi- deut, Logan Hay ; Secretary, H. H. Dickerman. They make a specialty of manufacturing boilers and have an export trade in this iine. They are also founders and boat builders, making a high grade of steel plate.


OTHER MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES .- The United States Gypsum Company is engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of piaster, their plant being located at Tenth and Madison Streets. The concern was established in 1896.


Manning Brothers have a plant at No. 206 North Fifth Street, for the manufacture of trunks, suit cases, bags and similar goods. They also manufacture a iine of cigar boxes. This concern was established in 1897 and employs five men. The members of the firm are John P., James A. and William M. Manning.


Abbott Brothers manufacture a line of cigar and packing boxes at their plant located on Enos Avenue at the northwest corner of Tenth Street. The business was established in 1893 and the members of the firm are: Samuel E .. Louis E. and Joseph P. Abbott. They empioy nine men and use 1,500,000 feet of lumber per year.


Weaver's Roller Jaw Chuck Company (Ira A. Weaver, proprietor) was established in the Har- vard Park Addition in 1910. They employ seven men in the manufacture of machine toois, making a specialty of drili chucks.


Frank Godley is proprietor of a mill located at 1515 East Madison Street, where he manu- factures ail kinds of shoddy goods, empioying twelve men and women. The concern was es- tablished in 1878.


The Iilinois Blological Laboratory manufac- tures a serum which has been sent to farmers and stockmen throughout the State for the pur- pose of treating hogs for the prevention of dis- ease. During 1910, 60,000 hogs were treated, probably saving $1,000,000 to the farmers. Dr. A. T. Peters, State Biologist. is in charge, and .the work is carried on under the direction of the State Board of Live Stock Commissioners.


A stiii further list of enterprises at present in operation in the city will be found below :


Acetylene Lamp Manufacturers-M. D. Baker Manufacturing Company.


Automobile Tire and Tube Manufacturers- Glilette Vulcanizing Works.


Awning and Tent Manufacturers-R. H.


786


HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY


Armbruster Manufacturing Company ; Spring- field Canvas Goods Company.


Baking Powder Manufacturer-Emanuel F. Lomelina.


Boiler Manufacturers-Otto & Sherf.


.


Brick Manufacturers-Lincoln Park Coal & Brick Company ; Henry Mester's Pressed Brick Yard; Springfield Paving Brick Company ; West End Brick Plant.


Bridge Builders-Capital Bridge & Iron Com- pany ; Springfield Bridge & Iron Company.


Harvard Brush Company, manufacturers.


Carriage and Wagon Manufacturers-August Brand ; Johnston-Hatcher Company ; Myers & Van Duyn; Rustemyer Bros.


Gibson Gear Manufacturing Co.


Cement Block Manufacturers-Baum's Hy- draulic Cement Stone Works; Forsyth & Bentz ; E. W. Hocker & Son; Martin Rollinger & Com- pany.


Cigar manufactories are quite numerous.


Clothing Manufacturers-Hali & Herrick Com- pany.


Cornice Manufacturers-Armstrong Brothers ; H. R. Ashcraft ; O. A. Melcher.


Jacob Blesser, Machinist, Model and Die Maker.


Hummer Tool & Manufacturing Company.


Electric Meter Manufacturer-Sangamon Elec- tric Company ; J. B. Scholes Electric Manufac- turing Company.


Engine Builders-Eclipse Engine & Machine Company.


Flour Manufacturers-Elevator Milling Com- pany.


Founder and Machinist-Oscar Ausell.


Harrow Manufacturer-Springfield Harrow Company.


Hat Manufacture-Cari Mund.


Ice Cream Manufacturers-many.


Machinists-many.


Wastemo Chemical Company.


Cabinet Manufacturer-A. F. Winston. Pickle Manufacturers-Springfield Spice & Pickle Company.


.


Planing Mills-Aslag Eielson ; H. O. McGrue; C. A. Power; Peter Vredenburgh Lumber Com- pany.


Rug Manufacturers-Gilmore - Palm Rng Works.


Sausage Manufacturer-John Mohay.


Soda & Mineral Water Manufacturers-Ciut- · ter's Syrup & Bottling Company.


Stock Food Manufacturer-G. R. Bigler Company.


Varnislı Manufacturer-Surrey Varnish Com- pany.


Vinegar Manufacturers-Springfield Vinegar Company.


The estimated value of manufactures in the city of Springfield for the year 1905 was $5,796,637.


CHAPTER XXV.


STATE AND COUNTY FAIRS.


ORGANIZATION OF ILLINOIS STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY IN 1853-FIRST OFFICERS AND FIRST FAIR-PROF. JONATHAN B. TURNER, PROMOTER OF THE SYSTEM OF INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION, DELIV- ERS THE FIRST ADDRESS-SECOND FAIR AT SPRING- FIELD IN 1854-RECEIPTS, PREMIUMS AND EX- PENSES-LOCATION OF FAIRS UNDER A ONE YEAR SYSTEM-CHANGE OF SYSTEM IN 1863-SUBSE- QUENT LOCATIONS UP TO 1893-MOVEMENT FOR PERMANENT LOCATION-SPRINGFIELD, BLOOMING- TON, DECATUR AND PEORIA COMPETING CITIES- DECISION IN FAVOR OF SPRINGFIELD, JANUARY 11, 1894-VALUE OF GROUNDS AND OTHER GIFTS- SUCCESS OF FIRST FAIR UNDER NEW ARRANGE- MENT-SUBSEQUENT GROWTH IN ATTENDANCE AND EXHIBITS-BUILDINGS AND OTHER IM- PROVEMENTS ON FAIR GROUNDS-PRESENT CON- DITIONS OF ADMINISTRATION AND RECENT IM- PROVEMENTS.


(By Charles F. Mills.)


The first regular State Agricultural Society in Illinois was incorporated under the provisions of an act of the General Assembly approved February 8, 1853, and each State Falr has since been conducted under the supervision of this organization or its immediate successor, the present State Board of Agriculture. The original act of Incorporation was introduced in the General Assembly by Col. James N. Brown, then a Representative from Sangamon County, and he became the first President of the So- ciety, with Simeon Francis, of Springfield, and then editor of the "Illinois State Journal," as


ILLINOIS STATE FAIR GROUNDS


MAIN ENTRANCE, STATE FAIR GROUNDS, SPRINGFIELD


PHOTO. BY MATHIS.


GRAND STAND, STATE FAIR GROUNDS, SPRINGFIELD


MONSTER MACHINERY HALL. ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.


MACHINERY HALL, STATE FAIR GROUNDS, SPRINGFIELD


787


HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY


Recording Secretary. The first State Fair was held in October of the same year, on grounds adjacent to the city of Springfield, which be- came "Camp Yates" in 1861, but is now em- braced in the western portion of the city near Washington Park. The late Prof. Jonathan B. Turner, of Jacksonville, who became head of the movement for the establishment of a sys- tem of "industrial education" which finally re- sulted in the founding of the University of Illi- nois and an "industrial college" in every State and Territory of the Union, dellvered a mem- orable address on this occasion, A year later the second Fair was held at the same place, Mr. Brown still acting as President, while Mr .. Francis retained the Secretaryship several years longer, always proving himself a most efficient supporter of the system. The aggregate re- ceipts at the first Fair amounted to $4,751.20, while the total of expenses was $2,954.04 and of premiums $944.45, leaving a balance of $852.71 in the treasury. The receipts at the second Fair (1854) were increased to $5,492.14, wlille the expenses were reduced to $1,754.56, and the premiums inereased to $3,146.79, leav- ing a balance, with that of the previous year, amounting to $1,443.30. These figures, by comparison with those of later years, will en- able the reader to judge of the growth which has taken place within a period of fifty-eight years.


LOCATION OF FAIRS .- For the next eight years Falrs were held successively, for one year each, at the following points : 1855, at Chicago ; 1856, at Alton; 1857, at Peoria; 1858, at Centralia ; 1859, at Freeport; 1860, at Jacksonville; 1861, at Chicago, and 1862, at Peoria. Each of these showed a varlable increase in receipts and ex- penses compared with those of the first two Fairs, the highest point being reached at Pe- oria in 1857, when the receipts aggregated $15.877.91, and the expenditures $14,637.39 (of which $8,104.54, was for premiums), leaving a balance of $4,551.43 in the treasury. In 1860, at Jacksonville, with a reduction in receipts of a little over $1,200 as compared with Peoria three years previous, owing to an increase in both expenses and premiums, there came a de- ficit (for the first time in State Fair history) of $670.88. There was a partial recovery from this in the next Falr held at Chicago, but in consequence of the Civil War being in progress in 1862, there was a practical abandonment of


the Fair to be held at Peoria for that year, the premiums, amounting to $715.50, being issued solely on field trials of agricultural implements. This also resulted in a second deficit amounting to $849.73.


In 1862 came a change in the adoption of a plan for the holding of Fairs for at least two years at the same place, on two occasions this being reduced to two places, and for two periods extended to four years. Under this arrange- ment during the next thirty years (1863-1892) Fairs were held at the following points : 1863-64, at Decatur; 1865-66, at Chicago; 1867-68, at Quincy ; 1869-70, at Decatnr ; 1871, at Du Quoin ; 1872, at Ottawa; 1873-74, at Peoria; 1875-76, at Ottawa; 1877-78, at Freeport ; 1879-80, at Springfield; 1881-82, at Peoria; 1883-86, at Chicago ; 1887-88, at Olney ; 1889-92, at Peoria. In 1893, on account of the World's Fair being in progress in Chicago, in which Illinois bore a more conspicuous part than any other single State in the Union, the holding of a regular State Fair was omitted. Within this period (1863-92), with the exception of two years- 1880 and 1881, the Fairs being then held at Springfield and Peoria, respectively, with a deficit at the former of $266.82, and at the latter, of $466.37-there was a balance in the treasury 'after each Fair, the lowest ($887.35) occurring at Ottawa in 1875, and the highest ($41,656.23) at Peoria in 1892. The place at which the largest number of Fairs were held up to 1892, was Peoria (with ten Fairs), Chi- cago coming second with eight, Springfield and Decatur, respectively, being the location of four each.


DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ORGANIZED,- Of a change which came in 1872, when by act of the State Legislature the State Agricultural Society was transformed into the Department of Agriculture (as it now exists), with in- creased powers, an article in the "Illinois Blue Book" of 1907, furnishes the following state- ment :


"In 1872 the Department of Agriculture was created by act of April 15, the administration of the department being theu placed in the hands of the State Board of Agriculture, con- sisting of a President, with a Vice President from each Congressional District of the State, to be elected by delegates from the County Agricultural Boards. The Treasurer and Seere- tary are elected by the State Board biennially,


.


788


HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY


but are not members of the Board. All the powers and privileges of the old society were vested in the new Board, whose duties were de- fined in general terms as the 'promotion of agriculture, manufactures and domestic arts.' The Board was given sole control of all State Fairs, and it was under the board powers con- ferred by this act that that Board decided that the State Fair should abandon its migratory habits and be permanently located at Spring- field."




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