USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana: containing a history of the townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies, etc., etc. > Part 13
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During the year 1851 seven agricultural meetings were held to establish an agricultural society. The attempt was discouraging, but several who were faith- ful to the cause persevered, and success crowned their efforts. On the 18th of October, 1851, they suc-
ceeded in organizing permanently and adopted a con- stitution.
John Spivey was elected President, and D. W. Welty, Secretary. According to the official report, as required and sent up to the State Board of Agri- culture, $48 were received by the society. On account of the late period, no exhibition or fair was held, and the money was loaned out. In 1852 the first fair was held. The receipts were $1,052.06, the expenses $647.54, leaving a fair balance in the treasury, which was very flattering for the beginning. The fair con- tinued to prosper, the receipts reaching as high as $3,233, and expenses in proportion, until December, 1861, when the society declared its intention to dissolve and transfer its interest to a joint stock asso- ciation. A committee was appointed and the affairs of the organization were closed up.
Other of the early Presidents of the society were Matthew R. Hull and William Watton.
Up to the fall of 1865 the fairs were held on leased premises, but in the fall of that year twenty- six acres of ground were purchased of A. J. Clay - pool, situated about one mile north of the court house in Connersville, upon which were subsequently erected suitable buildings. In 1870 these grounds were val- ued at $20,000.
The society organized with a membership of 146; in 1852 it had increased to 410, and in 1856 to 1,213.
At the first fair held A. G. Saxon was awarded the first premium for the best cultivated farm, and Ben- jamin Thomas the second premium for the second best.
One of the prominent features of the fair held in 1858 was that the late Hon. Horace Greeley, of New York City, was present, and delivered an address. Premiums had been offered for this fair for the " best cultivated and improved farm," for which there were two entries, Hon. S. W. Parker and Alexander Heron, Esq. (the present Hon. Secretary, State Board of Agriculture). The committee being unable to determine whether there was a preponderance for either, recommended a premium to each, to the former for the best improved farm, and to the latter for the best cultivated farm. A premium was also offered for the best essay on agriculture, which was awarded to Mr. Samuel Little:
During the eleven years of its existence about $23,000 was handled by the society.
The joint stock association referred to above was known as the Fayette County Joint Stock Agricult. ural and Mechanical Society, and was organized December 21, 1861.
The earliest report we had access to of this soci- ety was the one made in 1867, at which time A. B. Claypool, Esq., was the President. The entries for
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
this year were as follows: Live stock, 220; mechani- cal, 90; agricultural, 277; miscellaneous, 196. Amount of premiums-live stock, $1,242; mechani- cal, $404; miscellaneous, $118. The total receipts of the fair, $4,480.40.
This society, according to a report of the Secretary, met with a series of reverses discouraging to the man . agers, and no fair was held in 1876-the only year without a fair since the organization of the society which held the first fair in 1852. The accumulation of debt against the society caused the property of the association to change hands, which was secured by a new organization under the title of the Eastern Indi- ana Agricultural, Mechanical and Trotting Park Asso- ciation. This organization was effected Angust 5, 1877, with a capital stock of $6,000.
Following is the Secretary's report for 1877:
"During the last decade the live stock interest has predominated, but latterly it is giving way to the raising of grain; about 6,000 head of hogs were lost in the past season by cholera. Cattle raising is prof- itable, and more attention is given to the breeding of improved stock; 3,676 head reported this over 3,322 last year. More attention is given to the breeding of good horses, especially heavy draft horses, for which this county is becoming famous. Statistics show an increase in number, 1,420 head against 1,328 the year before. Mules are used more than formerly, and are much improved in size and appearance."
Fairs have been held annually ever since, and conducted successfully. At a meeting of the associ- ation held February 12, 1884, the stock-holders sur- rendered their charter and resolved to offer their grounds for sale.
CHAPTER X.
POLITICAL.
RESULTS OF ELECTIONS, POLITICAL EXTRACTS AND NOTES-MEMBERS OF CONGRESS-MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
TN 1819, at the time of the organization of Fayette County, the public affairs of the State were in the hands of the Hendricks, Jennings, and Noble divi- sions of one political party.
RESULTS OF ELECTIONS-POLITICAL EXTRACTS AND NOTES.
In the month of August of that year, the first election in the new county of Fayette for State offi- cers was held. The candidates for Governor were Jonathan Jennings and Christopher Harrison, and the vote in the five townships into which the county had been divided, for these men were as follows:
JENNINGS. HARRISON'
Connersville
.364 7
Brownsville
86
Harrison
.109 . 8
Jennings.
21
1
Columbia
51 4
Totals. 631 20
For State Senator, William C. Drew received 367 votes in the county, and for the same office James Gondie, 73 votes.
The candidates for the office of Representative in the State Legislature were Robert Hill, Enoch D. John, Jacob Graves, Robert Swann, John Sutherland, Conrad Sailor, Zachariah Ferguson, Allen Crisler, Joseph Holeman, Andrew Wallace, Simon Yandes, John Brison, Jonathan Kidwell and Matthew Sparks; and they received 49, 324, 116, 61, 106, 190, 156,
408, 50, 56, 75, 140, 17 and 14 votes respectively.
There were ten candidates for the office of Sher- iff and six for that of Coroner.
In 1820 there was no opposition to James Monroe, and he was re-elected President of the United States, with the electoral vote of every State in the Union. Affairs in the State were going on quietly under the control of the several divisions above referred to, and the people of Fayette were hardly aware that a Pres- idential election had taken place, and yet as good and quiet an administration followed as any that is likely to be produced by our exciting elections at this day.
At the election for Governor in August, 1822, the votes of Fayette stood: William Hendricks, 687; Erasmus Powell, 314. Two years later the vote of the county stood: for President, Jackson, 456; Clay, 393; Adams, 122. The vote of Connersville Town- ship standing: 354 for Jackson, 277 for Clay and 92 for Adams. Posey Township lacked 2 votes only of being solid for Jackson-the 2 were given for Clay ; Columbia Township gave, in proportion to its popu. lation, the largest Clay vote-44.
The candidates in 1828 for President were Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. The peo- ple of Indiana gave the electoral vote of the State to the former, believing, it seems, that he was a friend to the Protecting System, and a friend to Internal Improvements, but in which they were disappointed,
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
and in 1831 retalliated by electing Gen. James Noble to the Gubernatorial chair by a majority of 2,320.
The Jackson vote in Fayette in 1828 was 650, against 516 for Adams.
The great national question which at this time was disturbing the Republic, was not without its influence upon all elections throughout the country, from the most humble to the most exalted stations. The names of the two national political parties at this period were the Nationai Republican and the Democratic. In the Congressional election in the district of which Fayette then constituted a part, the people of both parties, in a measure, threw off the servile trammels of bigoted partyism, and voted like rational men. The Presidential question probably never ran higher. Gen. Jonathan McCarty, of Con- nersville, and Judge John Test, of Brookville, were in the field alone, Oliver H. Smith, who was then a member of Congress from this district, having pre- viously withdrawn from the contest, giving in print the following as the canse:
" It was not known to me at the time I declared myself a candidate that there would be more than one candidate besides myself, but on my return I found that two other candidates were before the people, and from all that I could learn, the result would be, should we all continue, that a majority of the number would be defeated by a minority, in the election of either of the candidates, and having no desire myself to be continued the representative of this district, against the will of a majority of the electors, which from the excitement that has been created, and the false state- ments which have been circulated in my absence, I am satisfied would be the case in the event of my elec- tion, I have resolved not to be a candidate."
Judge Test aud Mr. Smith were of the National Republican Party, and Gen. McCarty of the Demo- cratic. The parties were nearly equal in number; the conflict resulted in the election of Judge Test by a triumphant majority.
During the period of which we have been writing candidates were generally placed before the people without the intervention of party caucus, a political convention or a primary election. After the estab- lishment of a newspaper in Fayette County, candi- dates for political favor usually announced themselves, or were announced by others through its columns. In 1826, when Oliver H. Smith became a candidate for Congress, he remarks: "Stump speaking was just coming in fashion; the people met our appointments by thousands."
In 1830 the names of several candidates for the State Legislature had been announced in the press of the county, and in the Political Clarion of July 10 of
the same year appeared the following, signed by "many voters: "
"It is very important to the people to know the sentiments of those who aspire to the honor of rep- resenting them on the great and leading measures of the State and Federal Governments. It imposes too great a burden on candidates to require them to give these opinions personally to all, but through a public newspaper will be found a medium of communication convenient for them, and more beneficial to the peo- ple. In this manner the candidates will neither be so liable to be misunderstood, nor their sentiments so Subject to the misrepresentation of the designing. It is believed, from the character of the candidates before the people of this county for Representatives, that none of them will refuse for one moment to answer through the press such questions as may tend to give the people necessary information in relation to their opinions concerning the great, public measures in which the people are so deeply interested. Should any fail or refuse to answer explicitly, the people may be able to judge of that man.
" Candidates, will you answer the people the fol- lowing questions ?
"1. Do you justify the President of the United States in putting his veto on the several bills passed during the last session of Congress, in favor of inter- nal improvements ?
" 2. Do you believe, with the present Administra- tion, that Congress has no power to appropriate money to be expended within the States, on works of internal improvements, but that all money expended must be confined to the Territories ?
"3. Do you believe that Congress has the power to make an appropriation to assist in making a turn- pike road from Lawrenceburg to Fort Wayne, and if Congress should pass such an act would you justify the President in putting his veto on it, and thus defeat the appropriation ?
"4. Do you approve of the doctrines of rewarding those who vote for the President with all the offices and punishing those who voted against him, by turn- ing them out of office ?
" 5. Do you believe that the Senate of the United States have a right to know the reasons why removals and appointments submitted for their 'advice and consent' were made; or do you believe that the Senate has no control over the nominations of the President, except to register his decrees?
"6. Do yon believe the policy adopted by this administration iu relation to the Indians, correct?
"7. Would you vote for a resolution requesting Congress to aid us in contemplated road from Law- renceburg to Fort Wayne which must pass through this county ?
87
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
"8. Would you vote for an appropriation of $5, 000 or $6,000 of the people's money to furnish the Gov- ernor's house with carpets, side-boards, looking- glasses, etc., etc.
" The above questions are easily answered, and we hope to see your answers in the next Clarion, as we have a right to know your opinions before we are called upon to select two out of your number to rep- resent us."
The personal popularity of the candidate and his fitness for the office were of paramount importance to his views on national political questions.
On this point we have an illustration in the elec- tion referred to above in the choice for Representatives.
The Palladium, then printed at Lawrenceburg, was exulting in consequence of the result of the election in this county and the sample it gave of the " tre- mendous effect of the veto," which brought forth the following from the editor of the Clarion :
"This county has long been one of the most decidedly Jacksonian in the State. At the late elec- tion, we had two Representatives to select for the General Assembly, and five Jacksonians offered them- selves as candidates. The veto message appeared, and forthwith three of the five renounced the admin - istration and are now friendly to the cause of Mr. Clay. The Palladium grossly misrepresents us, when it states that Col. Hankins was elected in ' opposition to the joint efforts of the Clarion, the Times and other Clay papers.' So far from this gen- tleman's being 'opposed' as stated, he was brought out by the friends of Mr. Clay, and would not have been elected had they not supported him. Even the editor of the Clarion gave him his support. The other gentleman that was elected received between 100 and 200 votes from the friends of Mr. Clay. So long as there is a majority of Jacksonians in Fayette County, and they are disposed to send one of their friends to the Legislature, the Clarion will be far from affording 'opposition.' But whilst we believe that injurious political tenets are abroad, we shall never withold one 'jot nor tittle' of our energy to convince and reform those who hold them. But we hope ever to have our skirts clear of even one effort to contravene the will of the majority, notwithstand- ing the example given by the Administration. In relation to the effect of the veto in Indiana, our most sanguine expectations are more than realized. In this county we had a very pretty test of its " effect ' on the candidates for the Legislature; and it will also be found, when our citizens, generally, are called upon to attest their affection for Mr. Clay, that they have not been very fastidious concerning the same matter."
The vote for President in the county in 1832 stood
762 for Henry Clay, and 762 for Andrew Jackson-a tie vote.
As yet there had been no two newspapers published in the county at the same time. The Observer, we believe, was quiet on political questions, but its suc- cessor-the Clarion, which had an existence for two years under that title, during which time it was ably edited and conducted by Samuel W. Parker, the sub- sequently distinguished citizen of Connersville-was almost exclusively given to politics.
The following is an extract from the salutatory of the Clarion under date of May 22, 1830:
"As a warrior and a martial benefactor, we es- teem Gen. Jackson as second only to the Father of this country, but against many of the acts of our Gov- ernment since he came in civil power, we enter an un- qualified protest. As an undefiled patriot-an able and unyielding advocate of the rights of man, and the welfare and glory of our common country-we regard Henry Clay only as the younger brother of Washing- ton, Franklin and Jefferson. Believing the eyes and the affections of the American people to be turned up- on him, to enable them to acclaim on the 4th of March, 1833, 'Redeemed, and disenthralled,' to him, for the next Chief Magistrato we yield a hearty and unwavering support." * * *
Mr. Parker was a forcible writer and his labors were untiring for the support of Henry Clay. Other extracts are here subjoined from several issues of the Clarion. November 12, 1831. - "We do not believe that Jackson can be re-elected. We will do our best to expose the hideous deformity of his career, and to undeceive the blind. If then he triumphs, the Re- public can withstand the battling of another four years tempest-the political heavens will be the more serene when the warring elements are' once more stilled. We think that we are not ignorant of what we are doing, or of our responsibility-our course is right onward."
From the Clarion May 26, 1832. - "Nos mutamus et tempora mutantur in nobis-'We change, and the times are changed with us.' 'What!' exclaims our old and constant readers, 'you have not 'changed' to a Jacksonian, we hope-No! no! no! dear sirs. A thous- and leagues further from it, if possible, than when we made to you our first bow, two years ago. Suffice it then to say that this number not only concludes the second volume, but terminates the existence of the Clarion."
Following the Clarion was published the Indiana Sentinel by Caleb B. Smith and Matthew R. Hull, which paper supported Clay. The following is ex- tracted from an editorial under date of October 13, 1832.
"In our prospectus we pledged ourselves to sup-
.
88
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
port a system of Internal Improvements, and to advo- cate the re-chartering of the United States Bank. We believed then as we do now, that those are meas- ures of vital importance to this county, and that the interests of the people call in the most emphathic terms for their support. In order to sustain those measures it is necessary to support for the Presidency, such an individual as will be favorable to their adoption. We would not support those measures without opposing for the Presidency an individual who might be opposed to them. It is for this reason that we have deemed it our duty to oppose the re-elec- tion of Gen. Jackson. *
* In the event of * his re-election that system of internal improvements from which we have heretofore derived the most in- calculable benefits, must be destroyed. The United States Bank must be prostrated, $30,000,000 must be withdrawn from the circulation of the western country, the farmer's pork, his beef, corn, whisky, plow horses, cattle, and in fact every article produced in the West must depreciate in value at least 25 per cent, and the sources of our wealth and national prosperity must be dried up. * * * His attempt to destroy the bank of the United States must if it succeeds destroy our commerce, produce universal depression in all our markets, and render the poor and industrious part of the community a prey to the extortions of usurers and sharpers. His utter contempt of the Supreme Court of the United States, his disregard of its decisions and his declarations that he is entirely independent of its authority, mani- fest a disposition to assume arbitrary and unlimited power, and would eventually, if contenanced by the people, destroy that invaluable institution, which may be regarded as the key-stone of the arch of our liber- ties. * *
* It is then against such doctrines and measures as these, and many others supported by Gen. Jackson, that we contend."
The only apology we offer for so liberal quota- tions in this connection, is the distinguished posi- tions these editors subsequently occupied in State and national affairs.
In August, 1831, the candidates for Congress in the Third District, which was then composed of Rush, Wayne, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Decatur, Franklin, Dearborn, Union, Switzerland, Ripley, Ran. dolph, Fayette and Allen Counties, were Gen. Jona- than MeCarty, (Jackson) Judge John Test and Hon. Oliver H. Smith (both Clay), and the result was the election of the Jackson candidate, Gen. McCarty, by a majority of 954 over Mr. Smith, the second in the race. The vote of Fayette County was for McCarty 775, Smith 580, and Test 68.
It was in this year (1831) that the first National Convention ever assembled in the United States met.
in the city of Baltimore, prior to which time nomina- tions for President and Vice President had been made by members of Congress.
In the course of time the custom of making party nominations for candidates in States and counties became in vogue, and not many years elapsed until candidates for the Legislature and other minor offices in Fayette were made in this way.
The great campaign of 1840, characterized as the hard cider and log-cabin campaign, was of unusual interest in Fayette County, as was it all over the United States.
The Presidential vote of the county this year by townships, was: Orange-Harrison, 104; Vau Buren, 54; Waterloo-Harrison, 33; Van Buren, 91; Colum. bia-Harrison, 96; Van Buren, 36; Harrison-Harri- son, 131; Van Buren, 69; Posey-Harrison, 75; Van- Buren, 65; Jackson -Harrison, 102; Van Buren, 101; Connersville-Harrison, 532; Van Buren, 179; Jen- nings-Harrison, 17; Van Buren, 83. Total-Har- rison, 1,090; Van Buren, 678.
Probably the greatest political meeting held in Fayette County between 1840 and the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, was the Republican rally of August 7, 1860. The crowd was estimated from 6,000 to 8,000 people. There was a grand pro- cession of about one mile in length, composed of mil- itary and "wide awake" companies, brass bands, cannons, wagons; bedecked with banners and flags, etc., etc. Among the striking features of the parade were a blacksmith-shop on wheels from Bunker Hill, in which John Benedict was shoeing a horse; a wagon on which Andrew Moffitt and John Atherton were splitting rails; a car containing thirty-three voters, each bearing a red flag inscribed with the name of State; a Lincoln car gotten up by the young men of Connersville, containing thirty-three young ladies, and a wagon in which the typos of the Times office had their material, and were engaged in setting up documents for the people. The exercises of the day were held in Claypool's Grove; speakers, Col. Lane and Caleb B. Smith. There was a grand torch-light procession in the evening, after which the people assembled at the court house, where addresses were delivered by William Wallace, Charles P. Conlon and J. D. Farquhar.
Below will be found the vote of Fayette County at different periods subsequent to 1840:
1840-Vote for Governor: Samuel Bigger, 1,103; Telghman Howard, 765.
1843-Vote for Governor: Samuel Bigger, 923; James Whitcomb, 789; Wilson Demming, 5.
1844-Vote for President: Henry Clay (Whig), 1051; James K. Polk (Democrat), 908; James G. Birney (Abolition). 10. 1
89
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
1848 - Vote for President: Zachary Taylor, (Whig), 1,040; Lewis Cass (Democrat), 765; Martin Van Buren (Free Soil), 86.
1849-Vote for Governor: John A. Matson (Whig) 1,002; Joseph A. Wright (Democrat), 889; James H. Cravens (Free Soil), 32.
1852-Vote for President: Winfield Scott (Whig), 1,019; Franklin Pierce (Democrat), 872; John P. Hale (Free Soil), 83. Vote for Governor: Nicholas McCarty (Whig), 921; Joseph A. Wright (Democrat), 869; A. L. Robinson (Free Soil), 60.
1856-Vote for President by Townships: Con- nersville Township -John C. Fremont (Republican), 409; James Buchanan (Democrat), 292; Millard Fil- more (American), 17.
Jennings Township -- Fremont, 101; Buchanan, 64.
Jackson Township-Fremont, 125; Buchanan, 130; Filmore, 1.
Orange Township-Fremont, 85; Buchanan, 70; Filmore, 5.
Columbia Township-Fremont, 128; Buchanan, 68; Filmore, 5.
Fairview Township-Fremont, 76; Buchanan, 67.
Harrison Township-Fremont, 111; Buchanan, 88; Filmore, 3.
Posey Township-Fremont, 106; Buchanan, 125; Filmore, 9.
Waterloo Township-Fremont, 49; Buchanan, 98.
Total: Fremont, 1,190; Buchanan, 1,002; Filmore 40.
1860-Vote for President: Abraham Lincoln (Republican), 1,143; Stephen A. Douglas (Democrat), 917; John Bell (Unionist), 9; John C. Breckenridge (Democrat), 39.
1864-Vote for President: Abraham Lincoln (Re- publican), 1,318; George B. McClelland (Democrat), 860.
1868-Vote for President: Ulysses S. Grant (Re- publican), 1,475; Horatio Seymour (Democrat), 1,131. Vote for Governor: Conrad Baker (Republican), 1,473; Thomas Hendricks (Democrat), 1,178.
1880 -Vote for Governor: Albert G. Porter (Re- publican), 1, 752; Franklin Landers (Democrat), 1,237.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
The following list contains the names of men who have been honored with a seat in the National House of Representatives from the Congressional District of which Fayette County has constituted a part, who were residents of the county:
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