USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of DeKalb County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns and biographies of representative citizens : Also a condensed history of Indiana > Part 40
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The maximum yield of corn in De Kalb County is eighty bushels per acre; the minimum, twenty. The maximum of wheat is forty bushels; the minimum, ten. Hay ranges from one ton to two and a half tons per acre. Potatoes are successfully and extensively cul- tivated; they are almost priceless from the quantity produced one year, and are scarce and valuable the alternate year. The same statement holds true regarding apples, of which, some years, thou- sands of bushels remain ungathered beneath the trees. Orchards are found in village lots, and on almost every farm. Peaches, once abundant, are now au exceptional crop. Cherries are reliable, and return bountifully for labor in planting. Plums and pears are partial failures. Grapes are cultivated more generally, but only with a view of home consumption, and no vineyards have been planted. Small fruits, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and currants are not cultivated by every one, but the return for labor bestowed is very bountiful and highly remunerative.
The farmers of De Kalb County have steadily increased their sav- ings, until now they are a wealthy community. The average value of a quarter-section is $6,000. On the organization of the " Gran- ger" movement, so wide-spread and so short-lived, a number of granges were formed in this county, and upheld vigorously for a time, but Jan. 1, 1880, the last meeting of the Auburn Grange was held, to dispose of their effects, and the Patrons of Husbandry in De Kalb County are a memory of the past.
Some statistics are herewith given for the crops of 1882 and
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1883, which will give an approximate idea of the status of agricult- ure in the county:
In 1883, 28,524 acres (more than a square township) were planted to wheat, yielding 418,652 bushels; in 1882, 27,227 acres yielded 293,595 bushels; in 1881 the crop was 255,838 bushels; in 1880, 566,746 bushels; in 1879, 644,723 bushels. In 1883, 22,894 acres (nearly equal in area to a township) were planted to corn, but ow- ing to unfavorable weather the crop was only 365,994 bushels; in 1882, 20,211 acres produced 650,157 bushels; the crop in 1881 was 569,795 bushels; in 1880, 552,293 bushels; and in 1879, 762,918 bushels. In 1883, 13,547 acres were planted to oats, and 465,480 bushels of the grain w ere gathered; the crop of the preceding year being 388,375 bushels. Barley was planted on thirty-five acres, and 670 bushels were harvested, while the previous year 3,623 bushels was the yield. Rye was planted on 173 acres, yielding 2,364 bushels, against 2,652 bushels for the previous year. In buck- wheat, 107 acres in 1883 yielded 897 bushels. But one acre is re- ported as planted to tobacco, the yield being 500 pounds. In 1882 thirty-seven pounds were raised, and in 1881, 2,000 pounds,
In 1883, 1,063 acres of potatoes yielded 61,570 bushels, while in 1882 the total yield was 81,475 bushels. No sweet potatoes were reported for 1883, but 2,032 bushels were raised in 1882. Timothy. was raised from 13,175 acres, amounting to 19,303 tons in 1883; 14,750 tons were cut in 1882; 15,547 acres of clover yielded 23,- 043 tons of clover, the previous year's cut being 12,812 tons. Seed was reported saved for planting in the years named, as follows : Timothy, 1883, 222 bushels, and 1882, 342 bushels ; clover, 1883, 2,789 bushels, and 1882, 8,598 bushels; }blue grass, 1883, eighty bushels, and 1882, sixty-nine bushels.
In 1883, thirteen acres of flax yielded sixty-seven bushels of seed, while the previous year 9,822 bushels were reported ; and seven tons of flax straw were raised also in 1883. In this latter year, also, fifteen acres were devoted to castor beans, and thirteen acres to navy, or bunch beans. Maple sugar is something of a product, as 8,119 gallons of syrup and 24,479 pounds of sugar were produced in 1883, and 6,431 gallons of syrup and 25,444 pounds of sugar the previous season. Sorghum molasses was reported to amount to 3,819 gallons in 1882, and 2,848 gallons in 1881; and 234 pounds of sugar are also given for 1882. One acre only is re- ported for melons, each of the years 1883 and 1882; three acres were in cabbage in 1883, and two the former year; and of
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
onions, one acre was cultivated in 1882, and three acres in 1883.
Tile drain is extensively used, as it has been found a profitable investment; 79,435 rods were reported in 1883, against 62,003 rods the year previous.
Of cider, 21,826 gallons were produced in 1882, and 167,365 gallons in 1881; of vinegar, 1,936 gallons in 1883, and 8,503 gal- lons in 1882. For the year ending April 1, 1883, 254 gallons of wine were also manufactured, and for that ending April 1, 1882, 278 gallons. The milk product is placed at 2,060,344 gallons for 1883, and 1,752,230 gallons for 1882. There were 962 stands of bees, producing 10,992 pounds of honey, in 1883, and 887 stands, producing 5,861 pounds, in 1882; and 513 stands are stated to have been killed during the year ending April 1, 1883.
The product of butter was in 1883, 570,426 pounds; and in 1882, 435,969; that of cheese, in 1883, was 22,828 pounds, and in 1882, 21,510 pounds. Of eggs in 1883, 255,026 dozen; in 1882, 298,714 dozen. In the former of these years 698 pounds of feathers, and in the latter 901 pounds were reported. The wool-clip in 1882 was 114,594 pounds; in 1881, 75,237 pounds; in 1883, estimated, 101,- 435 pounds.
Of apples, 3,692 bushels were dried in 1881, and 303 bushels in 1882; five bushels of pears in 1883, and twenty-five bushels in 1882; twenty-one bushels of peaches in 1882; 338 gallons of cherries were canned in 1881, and 235 gallons in 1882; 251 quarts of peaches were canned in 1881, and 15,836 in 1882 ; other small fruit, 12,320 quarts in 1881, and 19,145 quarts in 1882.
The live stock statistics are more interesting. There were in 1882, under one year old, horses, 435; one to two years, 297; two to three years, 300 ; three to four years, 361 ; over four years, 3,- 891 ; total, 5,284. In 1883 there were, under one year old, 569; one to two years, 413; two to three years, 274; three to four years, 329; over four years, 4,105; total, 5,690-a gain of 406 in one year. The reported as having died in the year 1883 was 132. The mules in 1882 under one year old numbered thirteen ; one to two years, five ; two to three years, five; three to four years, thirteen; over four years, ninety-nine ; total, 135. For the following year, those under one year old were in number, four; one to two years, nine ; two to three years, three ; three to four years, eight ; over four years, 103; total, 127; a loss of eight in one year. Nineteen died during the year ending April 1, 1883.
The cattle under one year old were in 1882, 3,556 in number;
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one to two years, 2,309; two to three years, 1,018 ; over three years, 6,704; total, 13,597. For 1883, those under one year old numbered 3,789 ; one to two years, 2,153 ; two to three years, 1,- 170; over three years, 4,734 ; total, 11,846-a loss of 1,751. Of the total number in 1883, 5,498 were milch cows. Those dying during the year ending April 1, 1883, were 219.
In 1882 there were 17,358 stock hogs, and 18,875 fatted hogs, the latter weighing 4, 208,835 pounds, and 1,292 died during the year. In 1883 there were 23,476 stock hogs, and 20,942 fatted hogs. April 1, 1882, there were 21,580 sheep, and 7,751 lambs; and one year later there were 28,502 sheep and 8,286 lambs; total, 36,788. During the year ending April 1, 1883, 266 were killed by dogs, and 1,115 died.
In 1882,1,345 cattle, 7,890 hogs and 171 sheep were slaughteredfor food; in the succeeding year, 1,121 cattle, 8, 724 hogs and 369 sheep.
The poultry sold and used by the producers was reported as fol- lows : In 1882, 138 dozen geese, 261 dozen ducks, thirteen dozen guinea fowls, 107 dozen pea fowls, 5,085 dozen chickens and 390 dozen turkeys; for the year after, eighty-four dozen geese, 132 dozen ducks, twenty dozen guinea fowls, five dozen pea fowls, 3,- 252 dozen chickens, and 265 dozen turkeys.
The statistics of fruit show wonderful development. The apple trees of bearing age in 1882 were, in number, 85,874; under bear- ing age, 16,936; in 1883, bearing age, 106,094; under bearing age, 17,952. Peach-trees, in 1882, bearing age, 16,239; under bearing age, 10,131 ; in 1883, bearing age, 21,167; under bearing age, 9,- 887. Pear-trees, in 1882, bearing age, 3,030; under bearing age, 2,780; in 1883, bearing age, 3,980; under bearing age, 2,780. Plum- trees, in 1882, bearing age, 330; under bearing age, 514; in 1883, bearing age, 374; under bearing age, 463. Quince-trees, 1882, bearing age, 207; under bearing age, 598; 1883, bearing age, 240; under bearing age, 467. Cherry-trees, in 1882, bearing age, 20,- 087 ; under bearing age, 6,233; in 1883, bearing age, 23,283; nnder bearing age, 4,688. Siberian crab-trees, 1882, bearing age, 934; under bearing age, 650; 1883, bearing age, 915; under bear- ing age, 577. Grape-vines, in 1882, bearing age, 8,529; under bearing age, 4,047; 1883, bearing age, 11,521; under bearing age, 4,758. For the year ending April 1, 1883, 3, 754 apple-trees died, and 2,179 were planted, a loss of 1,575; 3,890 peach-trees died, and 3,698 were planted, a loss of 192; 286 pear-trees died, and 694 were planted, a gain of 408.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Blue and other wild grasses occupied 4,636 acres in 1882, and 5,596 acres in 1883; the unused plow land amounted to 10,419 acres in 1882, and 19,049 acres in 1883 ; timber land, 54,167 acres in 1882, and 56,518 acres in 1883 ; newly cleared land brought under cultivation, 1,485 acres in 1882, and 2,046 acres in 1883.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
So thoroughly has the system of holding fairs been identified with the great progress made in the agricultural interests of our country that they are now regarded as the true exponents of the achievements made by each locality where they exist, and it is now an index to the public mind that where they are not, there the great interests of our farming and mechanical classes have not at- tained that perfection so surely arrived at under their auspices.
County fairs are now established not only in our best farming districts, but also in many localities where the hardy pioneer has had but a few years to develop the resources and cultivate the soil; and so thoroughly are the citizens in such cases awake to their interests, the annual return of the week that gives an opportunity to compare in a spirit of emulation the varied products of the soil and their own handiwork is hailed with the same anticipations of joy as a festal occasion in the olden time, when the yeomanry were wont.to indulge in games and trials of skill and dexterity, and an almost total abandonment, for a time, to pleasure and good cheer.
But the custom is not yet universal throughout our broad do- main, partly because of the great area of country that has to be brought under cultivation and gradually advanced until the gen- eral prosperity would warrant the establishment of towns and cities, and the manufactures and commerce forced to follow in their trains; and partly, too, from the want of the necessary enterprise upon the part of the citizens to inaugurate its usefulness in their midst. In Indiana almost every county holds an annual fair.
Before the war an agricultural society was organized, which held fairs at Auburn for several years prior to 1860. Successive Presi- dents were S. W. Sprott, J. N. Chamberlain and W. W. Griswold. The lease for the land having expired, the war coming on, and other matters intervening, for several years no fairs were held in the county.
In 1871 leading citizens of Waterloo and elsewhere, prominent among whom were Dr. J. N. Chamberlain, John and A. S. Leas, R. J. Lent, S. J. Locke, C. A. O. McClellan, R. M. Lockhart, B.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
B. Long and R. W. McBride, organized the " Northeastern Indi- ana Agricultural Association," on the stock plan. A tract of land comprising thirty-one and one quarter acres, adjoining Waterloo, was bought and fitted up for holding fairs. Upon the grounds is the best half-mile track in the State, and there are ample accom- modations for exhibitors, in the shape of buildings, stalls and pens. The fair is held annually in October. It has uniformly proved suc- cessful, both in giving satisfaction to patrons and in fulfilling the financial expectations of the projectors. The stock of the associa- tion is fixed at $10,000, of which the greater part has been taken.
The first annual fair, held Oct. 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1872, was one of the best ever held in the county. As an experiment, it fully justified the expectation of the leaders in the enterprise, and war- ranted them in making more permanent and exten sive expendi- tures. Of the immense number in attendance at this fair, there were between 8,000 and 10,000 present on the third day. The at- tendance on the other days, while much less, was still good. The number of animals and articles entered was nearly 600, and the receipts from all sources were $2,502.01. The premium list was a very liberal one.
The show of pacing, running and trotting horses was a great success, and was, at that time, rather a new feature at county fairs. The carefully laid out and kept track attracted many favorable notices from visitors.
The second fair, Oct. 7, 8, 9 and 10, 1873, was also a splendid success, and an improvement, in most respect s, over the previous year's attempt. The weather for all four days was as perfect as if made to order. The number of entries was three times that of 1872, the increase being most noticeable in the agricultural depart- ment. There was a very fine exhibition of grain by the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company, comprising hundreds of specimens of wheat, corn, oats, rye, etc. There was a fair improve- ment in the stock department. The races were not considered as good as those of the year previous. The attendance was greater, as on the third day from 10,000 to 12,000 were present. Nearly 7,000 tickets were sold, while children, horsemen, exhibitors and officers were admitted free. The receipts were about $3,200, or $700 more than the previous year. From the first fair a dividend of twenty-five per cent. was declared upon the stock; but this second year, although the receipts were greater, the surplus was used in making a payment of $1,000 upon the grounds of the association.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The third fair, held Oct. 6, 7, 8 and 9, 1874, was a still further advance, nearly every department being a sharer in the improve- ment. The weather was at first very threatening, but the long, cold rain which so frequently comes at that season kindly refrained from visiting Waterloo. Thursday, the great day, opened dark and forbidding, but the weather improved during the day. The people were bound to have a good time anyway, and a constant stream of carriages was kept up after nine o'clock, from the town to the fair grounds. The attendance on that day was from 12,000 to 15,000, children being admitted free. The stock department was so full that many animals were turned out upon the grounds. The de- partment of farm and orchard products was also full. The receipts of the fair were sufficiently large to warrant a dividend upon the stock. The races were good on the last day, and, as an additional attraction, there was a buffalo chase.
The fourth annual fair came off Oct. 5, 6, 7 and 8, 1875. Al- though Tuesday, the first day of the fair, was very rainy, yet a number of people were on the ground, and a reasonable number of entries made. The second day was better, and the third day brought fine weather and a large attendance, 5,000 tickets being sold. The fourth day was equal to the third. Agricultural Hall presented a scene of astonishment to all. Samples of agricultural productions of monstrous size and superior quality filled the hall to its utmost capacity. There were beets two feet long and five inches in diame- ter, others nine inches in diameter, though not so long; radishes twenty inches in length and seven in diameter; carrots twenty inches long and four inches in diameter; cabbages forty-five inches in circumference; pumpkins two feet long, weighing over seventy pounds; onions four inches in diameter; ruta bagas one foot in diameter. Floral Hall was but moderately filled. The live-stock department was well filled with a very fine lot of cattle, sheep and hogs. The power operating the farm machinery was an especially attractive feature, receiving much attention. The races were be- low the average. This fair was a pecuniary loss to the association.
The fifth annual fair was held Oct. 10, 11, 12 and 13, 1876. The first of these dates, Tuesday, being general election day, but little attention was given to the fair, although a goodly number of articles were entered for exhibition. The next day was a busy one for the officers of the society, the entries keeping the secretaries constantly employed. The exhibition of live stock was fully up to that of previous years; machinery was not so good as in 1875, and neither
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
was the exhibition of vegetables and articles in Floral Hall. There was a creditable display of wagons and buggies, and the fruit dis- play was simply magnificent. Apples were most plentiful, and it must have been a tax upon the ingenuity of the committee to select the best out of over 300 plates of this standard fruit. On Thurs- day, the third day, over 5,000 tickets were sold, but still the at- tendance was rather less than usual on the third day of a fair. The weather during the week was fine. The receipts were $2,900. While this did not enable the association to pay any of its interest- bearing debt, it was sufficient to pay all current expenses and pre- miums, which was better than any other fair in the State did that year. The races were very good.
The sixth fair occupied the dates Oct. 2, 3, 4 and 5, 1877, and was a great success. The weather was propitious, the only rain coming in the night time. The Thursday's attendance was very large, as over 8,000 tickets were sold, while several thousand school children and others were admitted free. The receipts exceeded $3,500. The exhibition in the various departments was larger than at any previous fair, especially in live-stock, vegetables, and in Floral Hall. There were 2,000 entries-400 in excess of any previous record. The races were rather below par.
In 1878 the fair was appointed for Oct. 8, 9, 10 and 11. The attendance was respectable on Wednesday, and immense on Thurs- day. On the great day of the fair over 8,000 tickets were sold, and it was estimated that a larger number attended than ever be- fore. The exhibition was good in quality and quantity. The races were very good, except on Friday, when a rain made the track soft. " Excelsior" seemed to be the motto of the managers of the asso- ciation; for from 16,000 to 18,000 people attended on the fourth day of the fair in 1879, which was held Oct. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Nearly every department showed an improvement this year, the best advance being noticeable in Floral and Agricultural Halls, the machinery department, and in the horse, cattle and sheep depart- ment. The exhibition of swine was light, probably accounted for by the cholera of several years preceding. Tuesday night and Wednesday it rained, filling every one with the gravest forebod- ings of the success of the exhibition. At daylight, Thursday morning, it was still raining ; but by sunrise the weather cleared up, and then it seemed that every one for twenty miles around had had their teams hitched up, waiting for the rain to stop falling; and the moment it stopped all started for the fair, gladdening the
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
hearts of the managers with by far the largest crowd ever assem- bled on the grounds. Over 10,000 tickets were sold on that one day. Additional ground was bought and a new Floral Hall erected before the fair, and the result showed that they were needed, and justified the wisdom of the management. The races were as good as could be expected, with heavy track from the previous rains. One feature this year was a twenty-mile race, a man undertaking to ride twenty miles on ten horses in fifty minutes. This distance was completed in forty-eight minutes and forty-eight seconds, or one minute and twelve seconds inside of the time agreed upon. With the exception of three mile heats the horses were changed every half mile, the rider dismounting and monnting each time. As ten animals were used for the trial, the feat was not a very severe one on the horses; but as an exhibition of endurance on the part of the rider, who was on duty through the whole race, it would be hard to find its equal anywhere.
This fair being such a success, an equally prosperous affair could hardly follow in 1880, when the ninth fair was held, Sept. 28, 29, 30 and Oct. 1, but still it was a near approach, and in certain re- spects even an improvement. The best departments this year were Floral Hall and the machinery department. The races were also good.
The tenth fair, Oct. 4, 5, 6 and 7, 1881, was the victim of un- favorable circumstances. The partial failure of crops throughout the country made all county fairs poorer than usual. In addition, the weather during fair week was bad. Heavy rains at the begin- ning of the week only ceased Tuesday night; Wednesday was cold and the roads muddy, Thursday was chilly, and Friday was the only pleasant day of the week. The sales of tickets were about 8,000. The exhibition was, in many classes, full, especially in Floral Hall; fruit, agricultural machinery and blooded horses, in particular the heavy draft class; others were rather light. The number of entries was over 1,600, and the receipts were $500 in excess of the previous years.
Oct. 3, 4, 5 and 6, 1882, the association held its eleventh annual fair, which was a most gratifying success. The total number of admission tickets sold was over 15,500, which was 2,000 more than in 1879, the highest previous year. Thursday the, " big day," was also above any previous Thursday. The weather was all that could be desired. At times it was too warm for comfort, but the entire absence of rain, in the day time, gave everybody, both far and near,
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
an opportunity to see the fair. The gross receipts were $5,400; which paid all bills and left a surplus to apply on the indebtedness. The exhibition of live-stock was lighter than usual, except in cattle and horses. The other departments made an excellent showing. The races were good. This year the best time ever made on the track was accomplished, being 2:263.
The twelfth annual fair, Oct. 2, 3, 4 and 5, 1883, was on the whole about an average one. The weather being cold and unfavor- able, the attendance was thereby considerably lessened. The ex- hibition was in most departments creditable. Swine and sheep were better than ever before, and showed a great improvement in the character of the stock bred in this county, as compared with a few years ago. The Poland-China, Chester White and Berkshire varieties were the principal ones shown of hogs, and in sheep, the Merinos, or fine wools, largely exceeded all other breeds put to- gether. The exhibition in Floral Hall was very fine, particularly in the ladies' department, such as needle-work and fancy articles. In the agricultural hall the display of canned fruits and jellies, apples and potatoes was very fine, while the other classes were neglected. There was a large list of horses, and the races were on the whole better than for many years previous. Governor Porter had been advertised to be present, but failed to arrive, owing to sickness of a near friend.
At the annual meeting held in December, 1883, it was reported that the indebtedness was only $400. This is a most excellent showing, the long series of fairs having thns paid all current ex- penses and also furnished the means for buying the association's fine grounds, and erecting the buildings thereon. The stock held was reported at the same meeting to be $9,025; and the land and other property is valued at $10,500. The officers chosen for 1884 were as follows: President, R. N. Crooks; Vice-President, Dr. Mad- den; Secretary, Don A. Garwood; Treasurer, J. C. Boyer; Directors, John S. Boots, G. W. Draggoo, M. B. Willis, J. A. Barns, A. D. Moore, A. McCoy, Miles Waterman, J. N. Chamberlain, J. M. Brumbeck, E. Y. Williamson, Henry Hood, S. J. Locke, John Leas, L. J. Blair, G. O. Denison, C. K. Baxter.
The thirteenth annual fair was held Sept. 23, 24, 25 and 26, 1884, -two weeks earlier than usual. The weather was unfavorable the first two days, leaving only two days in which to make it a success. Under the circumstances, the enterprise was fairly well sustained.
The exhibition was very good, but the attendance was smaller
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
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