USA > Indiana > Boone County > History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Volume I > Part 22
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The sessions were at first held south of Lebanon, but early in the history of the association, it began to plan to buy land and establish a permanent
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
home. The first that was bought was on the north of Lebanon, where it added from time to time until now it has ample possessions for accommo- dation of all its interests, and is well provided with buildings and improve- ments. About the time of the Centennial of our nation, the representatives of the farming interests of the counties of Montgomery, Clinton and Boone held a meeting and perfected an organization for agricultural advancement and arranged to hold annual exhibits and award premiums. The place of meet- ing was just east of Thorntown on the Strawtown road. There were several grand meetings held at this place and great crowds gathered annually from surrounding counties and from over the state. Finally these meetings closed and all the interest along this line centered at Lebanon, under the management of the Boone County Agricultural Society. After the centralizing of all the agricultural interest in the County Association, it took on new life and soon grew into one of the most active and energetic agricultural societies of the state. We can not follow its growth and activities through all the years to the present but will give the report of the year that marks about the middle of its existence from its organization to the present time. It is taken from the report given in the Lebanon Pioncer, of November, 1886.
The first agricultural fair was held just south of Lebanon, in the fall of 1855, and was well attended and much enthusiasm manifested. Everybody seemed to be wonderfully interested in the success of the fair and looked upon it as their individual interest and were under obligations to make it a great success. It more than came up to the expectations of the management, and every person went home rejoicing and feeling confident that Boone had ex- perienced a great fair of her own, and she would be henceforth recognized along with the great counties of the state.
From the Lebanon Pioncer of November 13, 1886:
The stockholders of the Boone County Stock Agricultural Society, met in annual session in the circuit court room on Saturday last. The meeting was called to order by President J. M. Ball, when on motion of S. L. Cason, John Higgins was elected chairman. Treasurer B. F. Coombs submitted the following report of receipts and expenditures for the year 1886:
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
RECEIPTS.
From former treasurer
$ 188.04
Gate receipts 3,505.99
Stands and shows 566.30
Stall rent
215.50
Amphitheater
I33.60
Entry fees
30.00
Insurance on old floral hall
295.50
Proceeds of note 600.00
Rents by John Adair
13.80
Total receipts $5,538.03
DISBURSEMENTS.
Premiums and expenses
$5,275.03
Balance on hand 263.00
Total $5,538.03
Secretary John W. Kise submitted a report of the money passing through his hands as follows :
RECEIPTS.
May 1, 1886, cash from treasurer $10.00
August 2, 1886, cash from treasurer 8.50
August 19, 1886, cash received at fair 30.00
Total $48.50
DISBURSEMENTS.
Postage, wrappers, etc.
$II.21
Advertising 10.25
Draying
.75
Cash to treasurer
30.00
Total
$52.21
Balance due secretary 3.71
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
The secretary submitted verbal report of insurance now on the society's buildings and the president made report of purchase of grounds, improve- ments, etc. The certificate of the secretary of the State Board of Agricul- ture was submitted, showing that our society had been properly represented at the annual meeting of that board, and that the secretary had made all necessary reports to the State Board. This concluded the forenoon session. At 1 P. M., the society convened and proceeded to the election of officers and directors as follows: Officers-John M. Ball, president; Riley Col- grove, vice-president; S. L. Cason, treasurer; E. G. Darnell, secretary; T. R. Cobb, superintendent.
Directors-C. C. Padgett, Marion; William Brenton, Clinton; John Higgins, Washington; Joseph A. Campbell, Sugar Creek; W. B. Taylor, Jefferson; S. S. Heath and James Nealis, Center; W. H. Dooley, Union ; Jacob Jones, Eagle; John B. Witt, Perry; F. L. Lane, Harrison; R. C. Mc- Cann, Jackson, and Benjamin Booher, Worth.
The society voted that the Executive Committee be selected by the Board of Directors. The railroad fare of John Higgins to attend the meeting of the State Board of Agriculture was ordered paid by the society. On motion, the Directors were authorized to appoint the committee of revision of pre- mium list for the year 1887, after which the stockholders' meeting ad- journed.
DIRECTORS' MEETING.
The Board of Directors met immediately upon the adjournment of the stockholders' meeting, and, on motion, appointed the following committee on revision of premium list: J. M. Ball. John Higgins, James Nealis and R. C. McCann. The board selected as an executive committee, Benjamin Booher, William Brenton and S. S. Heath.
ONE REGULAR ATTENDANT.
Boone county can boast of at least one regular attendant at the annual fairs. John Edlin, living south of Lebanon, at the age of eleven years at- tended in 1855, the first fair and has been a regular attendant to and including the last fair held August, 1914. He has witnessed the growth of the institu- tion from the beginning to the present and marked the great changes that
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
indicate the growth of the county and the changes of the manners and cus- toms of the people from the ox team of the fifties to the automobile of 1914; from the simple farm implements of his young manhood to the various im- provements that mark this day and age.
AL-SI.
Do you know these people? Better make their acquaintance. They are the coming folks, bringing comfort and good returns for all labor put upon them. If you welcome them we will assure you that Mr. Al will be good to you no matter how dry and hot the summer becomes. He has a habit of diving deep into the earth and hunting for moisture. He is a comparatively new comer in Boone and our people are not well enough acquainted with him to know all his virtues. He is ahead of Mr. T. and Miss C. is not to be compared to him. It is true you will have to treat him pretty nice when he first comes on your farm or he will not stay. He resents bad treatment or neglect. You must be sure to give him a good bed to lie in. Make it soft and mellow and give him good food to live upon when he is young. Be sure and see that he does not have wet feet. He is very fond of lime, especially, if your soil is full of alkali. Give him plenty of lime and see that it is made into fine meal. You need not cook it. Another thing, you must be careful of, if you desire Mr. Al to remain with you as a permanent boarder and pay well for his keep. It may put you to some trouble and may be some expense. Do not mind this, for we assure you that you will be abundantly rewarded for all your labor and care bestowed. We were going to call your attention to Mr. Al's dislike to bad company. He will not tolerate it for even one season. The fact of the business is, he is not fond of any kind of com- pany. He would rather be alone and selfish-like eat up all the food you prepare for him. But bear in mind that he will not tolerate noxious weeds.
The way to have good Al-Fal-(there I came near spelling out his full name) is the same as to have good boys and girls. Keep them from evil associates. In short you must not have any weeds in the home where you are rearing Mr. Al. It would be safe to observe the same rule with boys and girls .. Be sure that you do not have any weed seeds in the cradle, where you
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
put Al to sleep. If you keep this rule faithfully you will enjoy the wonder- ful effect it will have on the growth of the youngster, and you will thank your stars for the great reward that he will give you for all your care. Just try it and try it faithfully and see, if you will not really love the new comer and will be anxious too for him to remain with you forever. Ask some of your neighbors, who have been boarding and caring for him four or five years and hear what they will say.
What's Si got to do with Al? Much every way. That is the sequel of the story. When Al gets his full growth and wants to come in out of the hot sun, you must have a good place to keep him from harm. Of course the old hay mow will do if you have nothing better, or can build nothing better. You can dry him out and store him away like you do Mr. T. and Miss C. hut let me say a word. I want to whisper in your ear. Bring in Mr. Si. He is big and round and can take the best of care of Mr. Al in the world and preserve all his succulent virtues the same as they were in the days of his youth when he was vigorous and growing in the field. Mr. Si will do for Mr. Al what he does for Mr. Corn. He will preserve him in his natural state and in the dead of winter when the snow is on the ground and the wind playing a blizzard around the barn, old brindle will roll up her meek eyes as delighted as when knee deep in clover on a lovely day in June. She will fill the pail with pure white milk from which will come rich layers of cream and golden globules of butter. Can you think of anything more heavenly on a farm? Won't it pay to adopt the new way of doing things? What's the use of sticking to the old when there is a better way? You can knock old Boreas back into his northern home and have soft summer tarry with us the year round if you fix for her. Just fix, that is all. It will not take a bit more work. Instead of skimming over twenty or forty acres of ground to get winter food for five or six head of cattle, two horses, six sheep and a few pigs, make a good bed of five or six acres of ground for Mr. Al, tuck him in right and then instead of buying an automobile (unless you have skillets of money), introduce Mr. Si on your farm to take care of Mr. Al and his other friends when the winter is on and you will have summer in your barns all the year and roses will bloom on the cheeks of your children and everything about your home that has life will be fat and sleek and happy.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
STORY OF AN AUTOCHTHON.
Our folks are not great talkers, for we never have much to say. At one time in our life we are nearly all ears and we can hear lots of things. We learn the name of persons and objects by hearing. The creature you call man has most to do with us, and says lots of things about us. He treats us kindly at times but most of the time he handles us roughly, and we are help- less in his power, and have to take whatever he bestows upon us. We do not know anything of our origin except as we hear it from his lips. He calls us by more than one name. Most people call us corn, others say maize, others Indian corn and still others cereal. We do not care much about the name but there are those who sing praises to it. Like other people we are classed by our color. Some of us are white, others yellow, red and some actually black, so you see all races are represented. Of course this does not make much difference, the color is only skin deep so far as looks go; and we are all taken in as a class and treated pretty much the same. Speaking for myself, I never knew my mother. Our folks do not keep family records; and I never could learn much until my ears grew. Mother must have been good and kind and withal very systematic. She got a stick (some call it a cob), and lined us children all up in rows, stood us up side by side and scrouged us closely together, so we could not run around and get lost. She actually tied us to her apron strings and we had no strength within ourselves to move. We were all treated just alike. There was no outside or top row in the arrangement. There was a stick for each family and we had to stay together, and in this way moved about wherever the man or some other animal chose to place us. We had no power to move ourselves. The fate of most of us was to be eaten by man or beast. Some little animals would gnaw on our backs and torture us; others would tear us from our home and crush us with their hard teeth, and man was worse than all. He treats us very roughly as if we had no feeling. He literally tears us from the place where mother put us, and scatters us in every direction ; mashes us, grinds us into powder, cooks and actually devours us with his teeth. Some of us he puts into great vats and steams and soaks, bringing out the spirit of mean- ness ,in us. Then it is that we get even with him and set him on fire and con- sume his manhood.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
Some of our folks are very kindly cared for. The most comely are put to themselves, kept in a dry place away from animals and moisture and cold. They call us seed kernels. In the spring of the year we are separated from each other as families and thrown into a heap where we nestle close to each other half frightened, wondering what next. When the days warm up in the spring we are taken out of the bin, placed into a small round box where there are iron teeth that grab two or three of us at a time and thrust us down a hole into the ground and bury us alive. We are dazed. We can't think what to do. We lie still in the darkness a few days, until we get a sup of moisture and the sun warms up our dark chamber, and we learn from whence light and heat come. Then it is our little heart begins to throb and we realize that we are alive. We begin to search our way out of the grave. We first kick out our feet, reaching down in the earth for a drink to strengthen us for our work. Next we lift our heads upwards towards the light, heat and life. In a few days we feel our life and set to work to come up out of the grave.
Some of us had a hard time this year. We were buried in a few hard dry crumbs of earth. We thought for days we would perish of thirst. Along came the man that buried us with a big roller and pressed the clods down tight on us, so we could not move. Still we thirsted. We tried to press our hands and feet downward but there was nothing there to quench our thirst. The man came along and stirred the blankets about us as if we were too cold. We were warm enough but dying of thirst. If he could only have given us a drink we would have been thankful. We had almost given up all hope of life when the heavens opened and showered down upon us copious blessings. We revived, sprung into life, arose from the tomb, rejoic- ing with gratitude and joy. The poet sings, "Where near thee rises green the bladed corn," soon we will stand as an army, with banners tossing our plumes high in air, and array all our numerous offspring in close fitting jackets of green looped with finest silks of various delicate tints.
BOONE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENT.
The office of county agricultural agent was created by the 1913 Indiana Legislature; Vocational Education Bill, Section 12.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
This bill provided for the appointment of county agents in each of thirty counties for the first year, ending October 1, 1914, thirty appointments the second year and the remainder the third year, providing that number of counties desired such an office.
The appointment is made jointly by Purdue University, the County Board of Education and the State Board of Education. The following is quoted from a letter of Mr. R. W. Imel :
My appointment was made to take effect July 1, 1913. There were previous to that time county agents in three Indiana counties, namely, La- Porte, Parke and Montgomery. At the present time there are twenty-eight men at work, and applications in from other counties, that have not been. filled.
Arriving at Lebanon, Boone county, Indiana, on July 1, 1913, as the first person to fill the office of county agent in that county, I found myself in much the same position that several other men were in at that time. I was an entire stranger to the people and conditions were more or less strange to me, so that the first thing to do was to get acquainted with the people and their conditions, crops grown, live stock produced and amounts of each.
The work being new in the county, as it was over the state, the office was not understood at first. However, office calls came in rather rapidly the first two months and farm visits were made to all sections of the county.
During the second week after being located here the business men of the town gave a reception to which the farmers in particular were invited. Mr. T. A. Coleman, assistant State leader was present and addressed the audience on the "New Vocational Law." This meeting afforded an opportunity to meet people that I would not have had otherwise.
In the third month the school work demanded a large portion of the time and since then the work of various kinds has gone steadily on, occupy- ing all the time.
ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNTY AGENT, FROM JULY 1, 1913 TO JUNE 30, 1914. DEMONSTRATION MEETINGS.
Series of demonstration meetings of various kinds have been taken up, the first of which were for the "Selection of Seed Corn." These were held on farms at various points of the county.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
SEED CORN MEETINGS.
Date. Place. Attendance.
October 2-W. H. Nelson 8
October 2-M. J. Barker 30
October 2-John Eaton IO
October 2 -- Charles Howard I7
October 3-No. 5 School, Jackson township 18
October 3-J. S. Baird 55
October 3 -- O. H. Starkey
10
October 3 -- George W. New 24
At these meetings the assistance of J. P. Prigg, of the Extension De- partment was secured. The plan of meetings was to give a description of ears to select for seed, and then have each person go to the field and select ears and stalks conforming to this description.
The storing of seed corn was also given an important place. While the attendance at these meetings was not large the interest was good, and results of it were noted throughout the county, as many made field selections of seed corn as they had not done before. To cite a specific example, I will quote a farmer of Union township :
"Before I attended your seed corn meeting, I had selected several bushels of corn in one day, but after hearing the discussion at the farm of George New, I spent one day in gathering about fifty ears." On other farms, seed corn racks of various kinds were put to use and in the spring individual ear test work was carried on.
SEED CORN TESTING WEEK.
The week of March 2-7, was set aside as the week to test seed corn in the public schools of the county. A circular letter was mailed out to each rural teacher, giving instruction how to make the test and the benefit to be derived from it. The co-operation of the patrons was asked and results of school tests carried home to them.
This work had the approval and support of the county superintendent of schools, E. M. Servies.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
ORCHARD DEMONSTRATION.
Orchard pruning and spraying has received a rather prominent place in the work. Demonstrations have been held at the following times and places :
Date. Place.
Attendance.
October 8-H. A. Flickinger 75
October 9-D. C. Taylor 150
March II-O. H. Starkey 25
April 15-L. O. Thompson 2I
March 24-Henry Baker 6
At three of these meetings assistance was secured from the State Ex- tension Department.
Interest was very good at all meetings, and spraying work in particular has been given a heavy impetus. One of the leading drug companies selling spraying supplies, reports selling ten times the amount of material sold in any previous year. Others have sold like quantities. I feel that as much or more progress has been made in orchard work than in any other.
MILK TESTING.
A small Babcock milk tester was secured and several testing demon- strations were held at rural schools and other meetings. A limited amount of work has been done on the farms of individual owners. The work ap- pealed especially to school children as results were something that could be actually seen.
I also assisted a member of the Purdue staff, H. S. Moredock, in form- ing a cow testing association in this county. A testing unit was also planned at Zionsville, but owing to change of plans by the State Department, no actual work was done although one hundred and twenty-five cows were enrolled to be tested.
Farmers in general will be more ready to take up testing in another year, as a branch of a milk condensary is being installed at this place.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
ALFALFA TOUR.
Alfalfa is a coming crop of Boone county. There is approximately three hundred acres of old seeding of from two to four years old. That much more will be seeded in the next year, if weather conditions are all favorable.
In view of the adaptability of much of the soil of the county for alfalfa production, an alfalfa tour was held in which a number of fields were visited and growing conditions noted. On May 26, 1914, the following farms were visited by fifteen autos carrying thirty-five people: John Powell, Henry Klinger, Carey Powell, Adolphus Wysong, O. H. Starkey, Dr. E. D. Johns, E. B. Bender, John Sicks.
On May 27, forty people in twenty autos, visited the farms of Jerome Kersey, Victor Crane, C. O. Brown, G. I. Neptune, Marley Riley, M. J. Barker, O. E. Dixon, William Montgomery.
This tour attracted more attention than any movement attempted since coming to the county. It was attended by business men and newspaper men, as well as farmers. The newspapers gave the tour much publicity and favor- able comment. It is evident that much interest in alfalfa was aroused throughout the county, as I devoted a large portion of my time for weeks afterward answering calls on alfalfa questions. Much ground is in the course of preparation for seeding either this fall or next spring.
The tour was accompanied by G. M. Frier and F. H. King, of the Ex- tension Department. They were a large factor in making the trip a success.
FIELD DEMONSTRATIONS.
I. Formalin Treatment for Oat Smut.
The seed to treat a fifteen acre field was treated except a check strip.
When results were checked up five per cent of the untreated check was found to be affected, while there was no noticeable smut on the treated oats. This was carried on with the assistance of T. W. Saltmarsh at his farm.
II. Fertilizer Tests on Corn.
(a) At the county farm, eight-tenths acre plats are being used to
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
demonstrate the comparative value of potash and phosphate fertilizers on clay and loam soils.
(b) On the farm of Earl Lowe, nitrogen, potash and phosphate are being used on tenth acre plats, alone and in combination.
III. Soy Bean Variety Test.
(a) George Richmann.
(b) R. V. Snepp.
In conjunction with the Crops Department of the Experiment Station, I am assisting the above men to carry on a variety test of soy beans, three varieties being used.
IV. Corn Variety Test.
(a) L. M. Church.
With the assistance of Mr. Church and in conjunction with the Crops Department this test is being carried on the same as with the soy beans.
There will be no results to check up for some time.
CONTESTS.
I. Boys Acre Corn Growing Contest.
This is being carried on under the rules governing the contest, as laid down by the State Extension Department. The township is a unit.
Prize money aggregating $180.00 has been voted by the County Bank- ers' Association, and this will be awarded to the winner in each township.
There are approximately thirty contestants.
II. Five Acre Corn Growing Contest.
This contest is conducted under the rules laid down by the State Corn Growers' Association, but the county is the unit.
The prizes for this aggregate $150.00 and was raised as follows : G. I. Neptune ( farmer) $100.00 Business Men 50.00
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
It will be distributed thus :
Ist prize $50.00
2nd prize 30.00
3d prize 20.00
Next five
10.00
There are twenty entries in this contest and several of them are first- class corn raisers.
COUNTY HORSE BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION. .
ยท On February 21, 1913, a meeting of those interested in horse breeding in Boone county, was called at the court house to organize a County Horse Breeders' Association. The organization was perfected, electing D. C. Price president and R. W. Imel, secretary.
March 21st, a stallion and mare show was held with forty-one entries. There were one thousand people at the show. Ribbons were placed on the prize winners. Mr. J. Schwab, of Purdue, acted as judge. The interest manifested at this meeting augurs well for the future.
CHOLERA CONTROL.
During the summer and fall of 1913, hog cholera was prevalent through- out Boone county. At various times throughout the year meetings were held to discuss the control of the disease by sanitary precautions and vacci- nation.
The following meetings were held :
Time. Place.
Attendance.
November 7-Lebanon I20
December 21-Thorntown
75
June 23-E. S. Stansel 18 June 24-O. B. Knowlton 16
June 24-Fayette 55 (16)
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
In addition to these central meetings a large number of office calls and many farm visits have been made to help control cholera. The disease is not nearly so prevalent this season.
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