USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 15
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That each person presenting stock, or other articles upon which premiums are to be awarded, shall on or before 9 o'clock, on the 15th of ' hand when the actual laborer, the supporter of human life, will October. 1852. register their names in the Secretary's office and property to be entered :
That a committee consisting of five be appointed, whose duty it shall be to have the grounds prepared and attend to the reception of stock on the day of the fair : committee consists of A. H. Bowen. James H. Stew. ! of torms which speaks of the degradation of useful labor and the art. S. D. Melutosh, James Odell and Vine Holt :
That each person entering the show grounds pay. as entrance money. 10 cents :
That the committee be instructed to publish the rules and regulations for the fair in a hand-bill, to be by them gotten up :
That the Committee of Arrangements select some person to deliver an . but, also, with a body to labor and endure all that would be nec. address upon the day of the fair.
At a later date, an adjourned meeting was held. when prelim- inary arrangements were consummated for the management of the fair, and Bowen's Grove selected as the place for holding it. Editorial notices were given from time to time of the progress of events expressing the reflex of public opinion on the subject. From one of these the following quotation is made: '
" Next Friday, the 15th inst .. will be held our first Carroll County Agricultural Fair. Arrangements for it are being made ' practical pursuits. . There is no employment. the direct tendency at Bowen's Grove. We hope to see a goodly number of competi- tors for premiums on both stock and manufactured articles. In- teresting addresses will doubtless be delivered on the occasion -- besides, we look for a goodly mumber of essays for premiuins. This is an important, and, we hope, will be an interesting society. Every farmer. every mechanic, every merchant and every scientific. man should be engaged in it. In it is deeply implanted the in-
" Little more than a quarterof a century has elapsed since the spot on which we stand was an unbroken wilderness, where the ax of the woodman had not been heard. and the fertile soil had not been stirred by the farmer's plow. Our beautiful river was terests of our county. With it is connected the interests of the "navigated only by the light canoe of the Indian; and the wolf, people. Already it is calling forth the energy and arousing the ambition of its members."
Accordingly. the first agricultural fair. the first exhibition of the premium products of Carroll County soil, labor and skill, was held at Bowen's Grove, adjacent to Delphi. on Saturday, October 15. 1852. which was attended by a very large proportion of the
provident farmers, mechanies, merchants and business men of the county, all giving their countenance to, and exerting their influ- ener in behalf of. this new enterprise, inaugurated for the more complete development of the latent resources of the county. The exhibition was every way a creditable one. considering the pre- vions experiences in that direction, and was well calculated to, and did, exert a beneficial influence in exemplifying what may be accomplished by united effort. Forty two premiums were awarded, ranging from 50 cents to $5 in amount: in the aggre- gate. $65.35, with twelve diplomas for articles, for which no spe- cial premiums were offered. The highest premium, $5. was awarded to Andrew Burntrager, for the best-cultivated farm, and the next, $2,50, to George Whistler. for the second-best cultivated farm. Noah Sandifur was awarded a premium of $2.50 for the
Thomas Ferrier, $1 each for four best specimens of fine-wooled sheep: William Dunkle. $2, for the best farm-wagon: Mrs. Adam Porter. $2.50. for the best five yards of rag-carpet: Mrs. H. P. Tedford, $2, for the best bedquilt and thus through the entire catalogue. all articles of especial merit receiving just recognition.
Rov. E. W. Wright was the orator of the occasion, and his ad- dress contained many excellent thoughts and practical suggestions applicable to the subject under, disenssion. The following ex tracts contain some of the most salient points in the discourse:
" The different professions of men should be measured by their useful results and practical tendencies in promoting the welfare of society, and not by the dignity and leisure which may be on- joyed in their pursnit; and we doubt not that the time is near at "be more respected than the incumbent of any profession, whose time is not fully occupied in study and effort to advance the in- terests of society aud benefit his race. That is a great perversion dignity and honor of having nothing to do. In his original cro- ation. man was endowed. not only with an intellect, to enable i him to think and reason in accordance with his high respon- sibilities, with a heart to adore the infinite goodness of JJehovah. essary in the cultivation of a genial soil. nneursed. as it then was. on account of sin.
" The art of cultivating the earth, then. is not only the most ancient, but manifestly one of the most honorable of all human pursuits, being assigned to man in his first state of holiness. It is the basis of, all other arts. . In every civilized country its exist - once is coeval with the dawn of civilization, and more than five- sixths of the population of the civilized world are engaged in its of which is so much calculated to promote health of body, energy of mind and the acquisition of useful knowledge, and none so absolutely indispensable to the prosperity of a State or nation.
the deer and the panther roamed at large in our forests. Now we can see the produce-wagon and the canal boat hourly passing our doors, bearing off' to a distant market the productions of the rich and delightful farms which surround us on every side. * *
* What has accomplished this wonderful change, converting a wilderness into a finely-improved and densely-populated country
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
in so short a period? The industry and enterprise of our farm. ing population: and all we have to do to make this valley the richest of the Western world, is to improve the advantages which nature has afforded us, and continue the same industry and enter- prise which has heretofore marked us as a people. * * * We cannot conend to you too highly the importance of taking an interest in the agricultural society of our own county and State."
The success attending the management of the affairs of the society during the first year, with the accumulated interest creatod through the ageney of the tirst annual fair held in this county, was instrumental in enlarging the sphere of usefulness contemplated by the organization of the society; hence, with the experiences of the two years preceding the work laid out for the third year's operations, occupied a greater range than before, with better pros- poets of success. The officers for 153, were Isaac Jackson, Presi- dent: Theodore Sinoyer, Vice President; Andrew H. Evans, Sec- rotary; and Thomas Stirlen, Treasurer, with a Board of Directors consistingof one from each civil township, who had general charge of the interests of the society, with authority to meet on their own ndjournments for the transaction of necessary business.
On the 20th and 21st of October, 1853, the second annual fair of the society was held at Camden, in this county. " About two acres of ground was neatly inclosed by a high board fence for the purpose. Thousands of persons were npon the ground each day, and the exhibition of stock, machinery, etc .. was highly creditable to the county." The classes of articles upon which promiuns were offered were numbered from A to N, both inchi- sive, embracing a very large variety of articles, including, among others, domestic manufactures, dairy products, farming utensils, farm stock, poultry and farm products, and premiums awarded on seventy five distinct articles and products. The first premium on raising corn was awarded to Adam Van Gundy, and the second to Alexander Saunderson
" Mr. Van Gundy's corn was raised on the Wabash bottom. The ground was broken about four inches deep, and the corn planted about the 15th of May. After planting, the ground was harrowed before plowing plowed a part twice and a part three times, two furrows in a row. The yield per acre was 109 bushels 2 pecks 3 gallons and I quart. Mr. Saundersou's was raised on upland. The ground had been in cultivation near twenty years, and was in corn in 1852. It was, for the last crop, broken early and deep -- harrowed well before planting-planted in squares about three feet and eight inches wide. After planting, it was worked once with a cultivator, harrowod once, and plowed three times; once, two, and twice, three furrows in a row. The aver- age yield per acre was 106 bushels and 3 peeks." The average yield of corn per acre raised in the county, in 1853, was about fifty bushels.
The amount and value of farm products, shipped from the county during the year 1853, were as follows:
Corn. 153.182 Imshels, worth .. $61.272 80
Wheat. 129,475 bushels. worth. .
161.525 70
Clover seed. 2. 155 bushels, worth.
9.158 75
Flax seed. 1,016 bushels, worth 1.016 00
Oats. 300 bushels, worth ... 100 00
Potatoes, 150 bushels. worth 25 00
Shoulders and hams. 526,601 pounds, worth. 31.596 06
Hard. 397,667 pounds worth
31.818 36
Dry hides, 7.202 pounds, worth 546 16
Wool. 2.664 pounds, worth. . 1,261 80
Pork, 5.226 barrels, worth
13,161 00
Beef, 59% barrels, worth. 3.766 00
Flour. 2.803 barrels, worth. .. 9.810 50
Sheepskins, 300 mumber, worth ..
150 00
Total vahi of article- shipped $5.599 13
The financial condition of the society, as shown by the report of the Treasurer, dated Jannary 5. 1954, was as follows:
Money on hand January 20, 1852.
Interest of the above amount. 1 44
Received from members initiation fees 106 00
Received as admittaner fee- at gate.
Received County Treasurer.
Total received. 8299 4:
Paid premiums and expenses of county fair.
Paid for printing and badges. . 11 75
Loaped at interest hy Treasurer. 100 00
896: 30
Balance remaining in the hands of Treasurer to meet. incidentalexpenses.
The society, on the 5th of January, 1854, mumbored 110 mnom bers, and was reported to be in a most prosperous condition. On the first day of the fair just referred to. Dr. F. G. Armstrong. of Camden, delivered a valuable address, which was well received by all present, and, by request, was published in the Delphi ,Journal.
The third annual fair was held also at Cantden, on the 12th and 18th of October, 1554. It was well attended and greater in- terest was manifested than before, warranting the brightest hopes for a prosperous future. In some departments the display was excellent, while in others there was little improvement, if any. over former years.
The fourth annnal fair was held at Delphi, on the 25th and 26th of October, 1855, though first appointed for the 11th and 12th, and postponed in consequence of the unusual amount of sickness prevailing at the time. Owing to adverse circumstances and conditions, the exhibition was less complete in the variety of articles, but fully up to the standard in quality. The expe- riences thus far indicated marked improvement in the quality and vale of stock and of manufactured articles, particularly those used in carrying on the operations of farm economy.
On the 8th and 9th days of October, 1$56, the Carroll County Agricultural Society holl its fifth annual fair, but with what re- salts information is not now at hand. ' In 1557. no fair appears to have been held by the society in this county. The sixth fair of the society, however, was held at Delphi, on the 29th and 30th days of September, and on the Ist day of October, ISSS. The report of the Secretary of the society for that year states: "We have located the place for holding our fair for five years, at Del- phi, and have inclosed about seven acres of ground with a per- manent fence. The attendance at the fair was larger than on any former occasion, and, as the fair is permanently located. the pros- pect is that a more general interest will be taken than formerly. The amount received for membership at the gate was $41. 50; the amount awarded as premiums was $391.50, leaving a balance of $50.30.
On the first day of the fair, an address was delivered in the interest of the society, by Dr. Samuel Grimes, which was deemed to be of such value that it was reported and published in the State Agricultural Report for that year.
After 1860, and until within a few years past, though the in terest in the improved condition of agricultural operations con tinued with little abatement, connty fairs were not held with the sameregularity as formerly. Recently, societies have been organ. ized hero on a basis somewhat dissimilar from the earlier ones. but, perhaps, not much more effective in the accomplishment of ! the good contemplated in the new organizations. A larger field
.
142
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
was opened for display, and greater competition has been voueh- safed: yet. it is questionable whether a more rapid advance has been made in the production of a more zealous ambition to excel in farm management than that which characterized the experiences of other years. The value of the society, however. as an auxiliary in directing attention to the importance of keeping up with the developments of the day. in all that appertains to the utilization of labor, cannot be too highly appreciated or more earnestly com- monded.
In 1872. a re-organization of the Agricultural Society of Car- roll County was consummated under favorable auspices. Under the new arrangement. Adam Van Gundy was elected President and Richard L. Higginbotham, Secretary. One of the chief pur. poses of the movement, at that time, was to concentrate the efforts of all persons interested in the continued progress of agriculture. mechanical and other pursuits. calculated to develop our latent resources.
From that time forward, a good degree of enthusiasm has been manifested, and more than ordinary activity has been exerted. As a consequence, therefore, the society has held fairs more or les- regularly, which were more numeronsly attended- than pre- viously. The exhibitors and the variety of articles exhibited had a tendency to encourage producers in the use of their best en deavors to achieve success. Between the years 1872 and 1881. six aunnal fairs were held under the direction of the society: with the assistance of outside contributors. the details of which. how- over. at this time, are not readily obtainable, but which, suffice it to say, were generally satisfactory to participants and competi- tors and promotive of the substantial interests of the society and people.
The seventh annual fair under the new organization was held by the society, at Delphi, during the week commencing September 26: 1881. The attendance and display, while, perhaps, not fully up to the standard of excellence anticipated by the most sangnine. were. however. under the circumstances, a success, considered in the light of the classes and qualities of the articles exhibited. coupled with the earnest zeal that actuated the members of the society, especially in their endeavors to make a respectable show- ing of the spirit that moved them in forwarding the enterprise. The entries of articles for exhibition amounted to more than 1,000. mubraced in classes imimbered from 1 to 33, inclusive. in addi- tion to specimens of domestic skill. canned fruits and textile fab- ries, etc. About 300 premiums were awarded, ranging in amount from SI to $100.
The floral hall was comfortably tilled with displays peculiar to that department, and were tastefully and beautifully arranged, reflecting great eredit upon the ladies and gentlemen who had those matters in charge. In the agricultural department, the dis- play was less complete than the floral. yet. the articles on exhibi- tion were of excellent quality, the matter of competition only be- i describing the bounds of each: and in each of such districts ap- ing deficient. The display of poultry was incomplete, but the specimens on exhibition were of the best quality.
An excellent display of farm stock was the chief object of in- torest, and was more fully up to the standard in munber, variety and quality. Of horses, the Normau and Clydesdale were par- ticularly noticeable. Durham cattle. Southdown sheep, Chester- Whites and Poland-China hogs, excellent specimens of their kind. were of the classes that attracted more than ordinary attention among their exhibitors and other specialists. As a whole, this fair made a good impression, and its influence will go far toward inducing greater competition in the future.
CHLAPTER XIV. EARLY SCHOOL SYSTEM.
ORIGINAL SCHOOL FUNDS-THEIR SOURCE AND HOW USED-FIRST SCHOOLHOUSES AND HOW THEY WERE BUILT - PRIMITIVE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-TEACHERS-HOW SUPPORTED-REVIEW OF SCHOOL ECONOMY IN THE COUNTY FROM 1824 TO 1852-EVI- DENCES OF PROGRESS-SCHOOL FUNDS PAST AND PRESENT-THE SCHOOL. SYSTEM OF TO- DAY, ETC.
TTNDER the laws in force at the time of the first settlement of Carroll County, and subsequently. at the date of its or- ganization, the school funds were derived cheifly from the sale of the sixteenth section. or "school section," as it was usually designated. in the several Congressional townships in the county. This, indeed, was the melens around which has accumulated tie magnificent school fund that now provides, by the interest thero- from. for the education of the more than soven hundred thousand children entitled to attend school in the State of Indiana. For the purpose of utilizing the proceeds of the sales of these sections by couverting them into school revenue, by the provisions of an act of the Legislature, approved January 31. 1824. "the inhabitants of each Congressional township, being either freeholders or house- holders, at the notice given by any three such inhabitants. set up for twenty days, at three of the most public places in such town- ship, shall meet at the section reserved by Congress for the use of schools, or at some place convenient thereto: and if there be present, at such time and place, twenty inhabitants of such town- ship, as aforesaid, they shall proceed to elect. by ballot, three persons of their township. as Trustees, who shall be freeholders; and upon- filing a certificate in the Clerk's office that such election was held in conformity to the provisions of this act. * * * * the inhabitants shall be a body corporate and politic. under the name and style of Township School, No. - , Range -, as desig- uated in the United States survey," etc.
By Section B of that act, it was provided " that the lands re- served by Congress for the use of schools, in each Congressional township. shall be vested in the corporation thereof, and such corporation, through and by their said Trustees, may dispose of all such lands, gifts or donations, made or reserved for the use of township schools, in such mamer as may seem most conducive to the best interests thereof: except that no sale of the fee-simple of any such reserved lands shall be made, nor shall any lease thereof be given or granted upon any other condition than that of forfeiture by the lessee, upon his failing. for one whole year, to perform the conditions of such lease, or any part thereof." It was provided, also, by Section 5. that the Trustees should, within one month after their election. proceed to divide all the territory of such township into as many school districts as might be noc- essary for the convenience of the inhabitants thereof. particularly
point three Directors, who should, within ten days after their appointment, call a meeting of the inhabitants of their respective districts, and ascertain whether it was desirable to have a school in such district. In case it was determined to have such school, the next stop was to select a site for and build a schoolhouse for the purpose. These schoolhouses were built by the united labor of the legal members of the district, and put in suitable condition for the purposes of the school and the comfort of pupils and teacher by the same process -- as near the center of the district as possible. Upon the erection, completion and furnishing of the house, in conformity with provisions prescribed. as soon as it had
143
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
been determined to have a school, and " whether they would suffer distributed among the several countries like those previously ap any portion of the tax for the support of such school to be raised in . propriatod. These constituted the productive branch of the school funds from which. since those several dates. the public schools of the different counties have been in a great measure supported. Besides the different funds above enumerated. there were other funds. an account of which is elsewhere given. known as pro spective and unproductive -- all of which. by estimate and other- wise, were set forth in the aggregate as follows, in the report of the first Superintendent of Public Instruction: Productive. 82. 278,588: unproductive. $1.560,400; and prospective. 81.150.000; aggregate, $4,988,988.
money, and if so, what proportion," and the term of time they wished to employ a teacher --- a teacher was employed on the most advanta- geons terms. Such employment. however. depended npou hisability to produce a certificate from the Township Trustees that they had examined him touching his qualifications, and particularly as to his knowledge of the English language, writing and arithmetic, with the additional opinion expressed by them that he would be a useful person to be so employed. As compensation for his serv. ices, the teacher was entitled to receive of the Congressional towu- ship fund. per capita, according to the number of days each pupil was prosent during the term of school. If this amount was igsuthi- cient. the residne was liable to be paid by the inhabitants in the same proportion. It was frequently the case that the money arising from the sale of the school section in the township was wholly insuffi- cient to meet the wants of the people for tuition purposes. In that case, in order to secure the benefits of the school. a special con- traet was made with the teacher at so much per head for each pupil sent. according to the time actually in attendance. Usually,
By the estimated amount for distribution among the several counties of the State for 1854. the first made under the law of : 1852. the proportion to Carroll County, on the estimated basis of Stt conts per capita, on the oumeration for that year. would be about $3,715. The apportionment of 1856, on the basis of 1.751 children in 1954, was $3,098.00. In 156, the amount was $%. 462.55, the emuneration showing 4,793 children in the county, be. tween the ages of five and twenty-one years; and the total amount expended for education, $1,653.72, the average length of school the employer agreed to soud a given munber of scholars, at a : being 2.8 months. In the reportof the Superintendent of Public given rate each. per term. and make up the minuber of scholars subscribed for by sending the number proposed the entire term. or a much larger mumber as long a time as was necessary to make up the whole time agreed upon. This plan. indeed. was the rule. rather than the exception, and in many instances worked well. and to the advantage of all parties concerned. Instruction, the following exhibit, being a summary of the County Anditor's reports for the same year, shows the amount of school lands, special and common, in Carroll County. Of the special school funds, there was $30,781.50 of Congressional township I'ands: amount refunded during the year. $3.472.99; interest col- lected. $1,668.36. Of common funds, there were $6,211.23 of the common school funds; amount refunded within the year, $260; amount unsafe or lost, $351.68; amount of interest collected. $416.26. Total amount of schoot funds, $36,992.73: total amonm of interest collected. $2,084.02: with school lands unsold of the vahte of $5,880.
The law in reference to the examination of teachers and the certificate issned to them by the District Trustees was slightly modified by the act of the Legislature, approved February 2. 1833. Under the latter provision, the teacher was required to sustain a satisfactory examination "tonching his ability to teach reading, writing and arithmetic." This fully expressed the extent The Superintendent's report for the year 1860 makes the fol- of qualifications required by law to authorize any teacher who i lowing showing as to Carroll County: Total ennumeration, 1919. inight present himself to engage to instruct the children of any district in the State in the branches prescribed as forming the basis of a practical English education. And. while the course of study was far less pretentious than that now required. it is true. nover- theless, that many of our best practical business men and women of to day enjoyed no better or as great facilities for acquiring an education than was supplied by that meager programme.
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