USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 27
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During the year 1916 the farmers of Fayette county discussed the question of securing a county agent. County Superintendent Trusler and the county board of education took the lead in advocating the establish- ment of the office in the county, and as a result of their joint efforts a meeting was held in the Commercial Club rooms at Connersville on December 21, 1916, to perfect arrangements for the establishment of the office. County Superintendent Trusler represented the county board of education and Louis Perkins, J. Edgar Scholl, W. S. Brown, Grant Williams, James K. Fielding,
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Anthony Riebsomer, Howell Pike and Elmer Scholl represented the farmers of the county. It was announced at the meeting that the guaranty fund of five hundred dollars was raised and that the board of education would pass a resolution at its regular January meeting calling upon the county commis- sioners to take steps at once to employ a county agent. This notice on the part of the board of education, backed by a petition signed by twenty free- holder citizens, makes it mandatory for the county council to take action. By the time this volume is issued the county will undoubtedly have the office filled, and if the agent measures up to expectations, the county will derive great benefit from his services.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND FAIRS.
In the summer of 1834 an attempt was made to organize an agricultural society in Fayette county. Horace Van Vleet, then editor of the Watchman, published at Connersville, wrote several articles on agriculture and explained the importance of an agricultural society. On the solicitation of a number of farmers he published a call for a meeting, which was responded to and resulted in the appointment of General Caldwell for president and Horace Van Vleet, secretary. About forty dollars was subscribed and paid in for the organization to Van Vleet, but soon after this Van Vleet died. No claim was made for the agricultural fund, and the first attempt to organize an agricultural society came to an end with the death of the man who tried to establish it.
In the year 1841 a call was published for an agricultural meeting, to be held on the Fourth of July, the meeting to be held in the court house. Dr: Philip Mason was appointed president, and Charles Shipley, secretary. There was lack of animation in the meeting which went to show that the commun- ity was not quite prepared for a permanent organization. Samuel W. Parker was present and made a few remarks. He then turned the meeting to account by getting subscribers to the Indiana Farmer, then published at Indianapolis, and succeeded in less than an hour in getting fifty-four subscribers. So ended the second attempt.
During the year 1851 seven agricultural meetings were held to establish an agricultural society. The attempt was discouraging, but several who were faithful to the cause persevered, and success crowned their efforts. On Octo- ber 18, 1851, a permanent organization of one hundred and forty-six sub- scribers was formed and a constitution adopted. John Spivey was elected president and D. W. Welty, secretary. According to the official report, as required and sent to the State Board of Agriculture, forty-eight dollars were
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received by the society. Because it was so late in the fall no exhibition or fair was held, and the money was loaned out.
THE FIRST COUNTY FAIR.
The first county fair in Fayette county was held in Connersville in Septem- ber, 1852. The fair ground site occupied the land on which now stands the residence of E. W. Ansted and other homes between Central avenue and the canal, from the cemetery to the Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Western rail- road. By the fall of 1852 the membership had increased to 410, while by 1856 it had grown to 1,213.
At the first fair held, A. G. Saxon was awarded the first premium for the best cultivated farm, and Benjamin Thomas the second premium for the second best.
The receipts of the first fair were $1,052.06, the expenses $600.54, leaving a balance of $451.52 in the treasury. The fair continued to prosper, the receipts reaching as high as $3,233, and expenses in proportion, until 1861, when the society declared its intention to dissolve and transfer its interests to a joint stock company.
The second annual fair was held in the fall of 1853 and was known as the Fayette County Agricultural Fair. The third annual fair was held on September 20, 21, and 22, 1854. Samuel Heron was the secretary. Premiums were given on crops, cattle, horses for all purposes, geldings and mares, asses and mules, swine and fine wooled sheep. Sweepstakes were open to the world. In another department premiums were offered on flowers, needlework, fowls, grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, farming implements, plowing match, woodwork, blacksmithing, leather work, casting, iron, etc., woolen manufac- tures, designs, miscellaneous. To the best female equestrienne, exhibiting the most grace and ease in riding, was awarded a splendid embossed side saddle, valued at fifty dollars, given by John Cassaday, of Connersville. Rozie, daugh- ter of Caleb B. Smith, won the prize. The judges of the contest were Dr. George Chitwood, Greenbury Rush, B. M. Pumphrey, M. W. Davis and Charles Frost.
Among the women judges of the third annual fair were Catherine McCarthy, Amanda Mccullough, Sallie Lockwood, Elenora Youse, Helen Heron, Eliza Cockefair, Mrs. Hannah Spivey, Mrs. Phobe Caldwell, Mrs. Elizabeth Veatch, Mrs. Nancy Jane Fiant and Mrs. Rebecca Montgomery. Among the men who acted as judges were Minor Meeker, Alex Heron, - Helm, Josiah Smith, O. H. Woodcock, Christian Heller, Josiah Millikin, Christian Brown, Othniel. Beeson, John Schull, W. W. Thrasher, Wilson
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Dale, Daniel Morrison, William Johnson, Byron Stephens, Milton Gardner and Stephen Thomas.
Premiums were commonly paid in money ranging from one dollar to ten dollars. In some instances premiums were paid with silver medals.
HORACE GREELEY ADDRESSES THE FAIR.
One of the prominent features of the fair held in 1858 was Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, who was present and delivered an address. Premiums had been offered for the best cultivated and most highly improved farm for which there were two entries, S. W. Parker and Alexander Heron. The committee being unable to decide between the two, 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, this being awarded to Samuel Little.
During the ten years of its existence about twenty-three thousand dol- lars was handled by the society.
The joint stock association referred to above was known as the Fayette County Joint Stock Agricultural and Mechanical Society, and was organized December 21, 1861.
Until 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 and subsequently suit- able buildings were erected. In 1870 the grounds were valued at twenty thousand dollars.
The earliest report accessible is the one of 1867, at which time A. B. Claypool was the president. The number of entries for this year were as follows: Live stock, two hundred and twenty; mechanical, ninety ; agricul- tural, two hundred and seventy-seven ; miscellaneous, one hundred and ninety- six. The amount of premiums-live stock, one thousand two hundred and forty-two dollars; mechanical, four hundred and four dollars ; miscellaneous, one hundred and eighteen dollars. The total receiptts of the fair amounted one hundred and eighteen dollars. The total receipts of the fair amounted
The secretary's report for 1877 makes the following statement :
During the last decade the live stock interest has. predominated, but latterly it is giving away to the raising of grain; about six thousand head of hogs were lost in the past season by cholera. Cattle raising is profitable, and more attention is given to the breeding of improved stock-three thousand six hundred and seventy-six head reported this over three thousand three hundred and twenty-two last year. More attention is given to the breeding of good horses, especially heavy draft horses, for
FIRST FREE FAIR AT ROBERTS PARK, 1903-THE ONLY FREE FAIR IN THE UNITED STATES.
EARLY OFFICERS OF THE FREE FAIR ASSOCIATION.
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which this county is becoming famous. Statistics show an increase in number, one thousand four hundred and twenty head against one thousand three hundred and twenty- eight the year before. Mules are used more than formerly, and are much improved in size and appearance.
Fairs were held annually until 1884, when, at a meeting of the associa- tion held on February 12, 1884, the stockholders surrendered their charter and resolved to offer their grounds for sale. Between 1884 and 1903 Fay- ette county was without a fair of any kind, the present so-called free fair dating from 1903.
FREE COUNTY FAIR.
Fayette county is unique in having the first free county fair in the state. After the donation of the Roberts park by Col. James E. Roberts, of Indian- apolis, in June, 1902, to the city, the question of utilizing the site arose. Arising from the fertile mind of Mart Meyer and others was the original idea of a free county fair. On June 8, 1903, officials of the first free fair were chosen, and on June 12, 1903, an organization since known as the Free Fayette County Fair Association had its birth. The first officials included the following: F. T. Roots, president; W. F. Downs, secretary; Mart Meyer, marshal. On August 28, 1903, ground was broken for the erection of the main pavilion in which the townships made their exhibits. The formal open- ing of the grounds took place September 9, 1903, when Colonel Roberts and Charles W. Fairbanks were present. In 1904 an educational department was inaugurated through the instrumentality of Dr. L. D. Dillman, ably assisted by the educators of the county. In 1907 the city council built a cement seat- ing terrace and in 1909, a number of public-spirited citizens of the city and community erected a magnificent amphitheatre building, built of steel over this concrete work built by the city. The complete structure seats three thousand people. General improvements have been made and now the grounds are provided with all of the requisites necessary to a successful county fair. The officers of the fair association for 1917 are the following : James C. Mount, president : James K. Mason, vice-president ; E. W. Tatman, treasurer : Jasper L. Kennedy, secretary ; O. M. Hempleman, assistant secre- tary : T. C. McBurney, superintendent. The fair is on a firm financial basis as is evidenced by the fact that at the end of 1916 the association had a credit balance of three thousand dollars.
In this connection it is quite appropriate to make mention of the name of Tod Sloan, a Fayette county lad, who became the world's most famous jockey. He began his career at Connersville and for some time was one of the feature attractions at the county fairs in this section of the state.
CHAPTER X.
MILITARY ANNALS.
Fayette county has had a part in the four wars waged by the United States: War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War and Spanish-American War. Although the county was not organized until 1819 it played a part in the War of 1812 and there seems to be evidence of participation by some of the settlers of the territory now within the county in an Indian raid even as early as 1810. Reference has already been made to the settle- ment of John Conner on the present site of Connersville about 1808. Some time before 1810 Conner and other citizens built a rude log fort or stockade in the village for protection against marauding Indians, and it was from this fort that William Abernathy, then living at Fairfield, in Franklin county, lead a company of volunteers in 1810 against some hostile Indians on Blue river. The expedition proved successful and evidently convinced the Indians that the settlements in the White Water valley were amply able to protect themselves ; at least, there is no evidence that the Indians ever attacked any of the settlements in the valley.
There is no record extant of the names of these courageous settlers of 1810 who made the foray against the Indians, but it is probable that most of them were from the vicinity of Brookville and Fairfield. Franklin county was not yet organized, all the territory north of the present county of Dear- born which had been purchased from the Indians being a part of that county. There were undoubtedly a few of the settlers from Conner's Post, as it was then called, who joined the expedition, but they could not have been many in number.
. It is not generally known that a company of soldiers was stationed in the blockhouse in Connersville some time during 1812 and 1813. It is known that William Helm, later an associate judge of the county (1819-26), com- manded the troops, but how many there were, or who they were, is a point concerning which no record has been found. All the facts obtainable of this military station in Connersville have been collected by J. L. Heinemann,, of Connersville, and set forth in his brochure, "The Indian Trail Down the White Water Valley," which may be seen in another chapter in this volume.
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THE MILITARY PERIOD, 1816-1846.
When the forty-three delegates representing the fifteen organized coun- ties met in June, 1816, they made ample provision for a state militia (Art. VII). All able-bodied white citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty- five, except those conscientiously opposed to bearing arms, were required to be enrolled in some militia company and undergo such training as might be prescribed by statute. The article in the constitution was a lengthy one of ten sections and prescribed in detail how the military arm of the state was to be built up. Subsequently statutory provisions elaborated upon the constitution, until it might be said that the state really. inaugurated what we might now call a system of "militarism."
This complex military system was in operation for thirty years, although after the danger from Indian uprisings had subsided the system gradually fell into decay. Little change was made in the system from the time of the first Legislature until 1831. In 1828 the adjutant-general of the state reported that there were sixty-five regiments, organized into eighteen brigades, enroll- ing a total of forty thousand officers and privates. This sounds like the people were militant, and especially so in view of the fact that the state experienced difficulty in 1916 in raising only three regiments for duty on the Mexican front. But these volunteers of the twenties, not to be classed as volunteers as they are known today, knew that they were not in any imme- diate danger of being called out for duty.
In 1831 the Legislature revised the militia laws of the state, but from that time interest gradually died out in local militia. The year following the revision of the militia laws, the adjutant-general reported 50,913 officers and privates and this marks the high mark in the number of enlisted men under the law of 1831. The one reason why the militia was kept up was the annual muster of all enlisted men.
MUSTER DAY.
Holidays were few and far between in the early days of Indiana, but there was one day in the year to which old and young looked forward with pleasant anticipation. This was the annual muster day-the day on which the local militia donned their uniforms, shouldered their muskets and side-arms, and paraded before an admiring public. Records have not been kept in Fayette county which show the number of men in the local militia companies, but they must have numbered several hundred. Regimental mus-
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ters were held either in the spring or fall, usually at the county seat, and on a level tract known as the "parade grounds." On this eventful day every- body in the county who could possibly get away was present. They came on horseback, on foot and in wagons; the young and the old; men and women, and, as one early settler said, there were as many dogs present as militiamen. The people came partly to see the muster, partly to see each other-and many came to eat and drink. More blood was shed in fistic encounters on this day than all the rest of the year put together.
The muster itself must have been an interesting sight. The men had to parade whether they had uniforms or not, and the great majority of them were not uniformed. They wore all sorts of hats, or no hats at all; hundreds of them were barefoot; most of them were in their shirt sleeves or at best with linsey wamuses. As for arms, they lined up with all sorts of weapons. Some had their old squirrel rifles, others had canes, others bore hoop-poles, some were equipped with corn-stalks, still others had fence rails. And this motley arrayed and strangely armed soldiery paraded for hours to their own glorification and the amusement of the onlookers. They marched two abreast, four abreast and ten abreast; some were drunk, some sober. Ludicrous as this must have been, yet it constituted a muster in the eyes of the law.
This annual performance continued in much the same manner up to the time of the Mexican War, although by the close of the thirties it had ceased to have the importance that it had previously enjoyed. No effort was made to keep the companies full, or the men equipped according to law. The Indians had all been removed from the state; England was no longer to be feared and consequently there did not appear to the hard-headed Hoosier any good reason why he should spend so much time in drilling and parading. During the progress of the Mexican War the Legislature passed an act putting an end to the local militia-and thus the muster days of our forefathers came to a legal end.
MEXICAN WAR.
An examination of the official records of the Mexican War shows that Fayette county did not have a regularly organized company in any one of the five regiments which the state raised for that struggle. Furthermore, a detailed study of the rosters of these regiments does not disclose any volun- teers from the county, although the method of crediting enlistments does not make it possible to determine the counties from which they were made. In that struggle of the latter forties ( 1846-48) the counties were not required
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to furnish a definite number of men, hence the official records furnish no clue as to the number who may have come from Fayette county. It is known, however, that there were a number of enlistments from the county and also that a number of Mexican War veterans from other counties in the state later settled in the county.
THE CIVIL WAR.
On Sunday morning, April 14, 1861, the streets of Connersville were filled with people discussing the fall of Ft. Sumter, which had taken place the day previous. It is doubtful whether a more solemn Sabbath had ever ยท been observed in the United States. For more than a decade there had been threats of disunion, though no one really believed that the South would ever openly secede-but the fall of Ft. Sumter was conclusive proof that the long expected break between the North and the South had finally come. To tell in detail the story of Fayette county and of the part it played in the Civil War would take more space than could be given in this work.
No better description of conditions in Connersville ou the eve of this great struggle can be given than that contained in the issue of the Conners- ville Times of April 25, 1861. This was written during the week the events here chronicled were taking place and presents a vivid picture of the actual state of affairs at that time :
The greatest enthusiasm has existed during the past week. Meetings of all the citizens of all the parties express a determination to aid the government with means and money to be utmost capabilities of Fayette county, if need be. A cannon squad- has been organized under the command of W. W. Frybarger, tendered to the governor of the state, and accepted. They comprise a small band of brave hearts and stout arms, and they will preserve the honor of Fayette county untarnished in the trying hour.
A company of volunteers of over a hundred men has been organized. tendered to the governor and accepted. The company is' styled the "Fayette County Guards," and is officered as follows: Captain, Joseph Marshall; first lieutenant, Joseph Greer; second lieutenant, Thomas J. Powell ; third, lientenant, Jesse Holton : first ensign. John Kensler ; orderly sergeant, John McCleary.
* * A Zonave company is being formed. A large number of citizens of Fayette county assembled in the court house square in Connersville on April 20th for the pur- pose of providing men and means for the defense and support of the constitution of the United States, and the laws passed by congress in pursuance thereof.
On motion. Elisha Vance was chosen president ; William II. Beck and William Watton, vice-presidents ; Henry Goodlander and Confucius B. Edwards, secretaries. After music by the Connersville band, the ladies and gentlemen comprising a choir for the occasion sang "The Star-Spangled Banner," which was received with immense applause.
On motion a committee of three from Connersville township and one from each of the other townships was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments
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of the people of the county. The committee consisted of the following gentlemen : Connersville. Benjamin F. Claypool, Judge Reid, Judge Wilson ; Orange, Samuel Little; Jennings, Joseph D. Ross; Jackson, James Smith; Columbia, Heman Jones; Fairview, John D. Lewis; Harrison, Thomas Moffitt; Posey. Isaac Powell; Waterloo, William C. Forrey.
RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.
Lafe Develin, of Cambridge City, was called to the stand and made an eloquent and patriotic speech. Subsequently the committee on resolutions submitted a series of resolutions, which were unanimously adopted with great applause. Patriotic speeches were made by Rev. George Campbell, Rev. P. Carland, Captain Joseph Marshall and Captain Newkirk. The resolutions were as follows:
"Whereas. In certain states of our county, citizens thereof having taken up arms and are now in open rebellion against the same; and whereas for the purpose of put- ting down said rebellion, maintaining the laws and authority of the government, and prosecuting the property of the same. the President of the United States has issued his proclamation calling upon the loyal citizens of the same to volunteer their services and. place themselves at the disposal of the government; and whereas, divers good and loyal citizens of the county of Fayette, have, pursuant to the said proclamation, tendered their services. Therefore, in consideration of the premises aforesaid, it is hereby
"Ordered by the Board of County Commissioners, That the sum of five thousand dollars of the funds of the county be and the same is hereby appropriated, to be paid out on orders to be issued from time to time, as may be necessary, for the purpose of maintaining and supporting the families of such persons as have volunteered or may volunteer, as may stand in need of assistance during the absence of the persons above referred to.
"Resolred, That the board of commissioners be instructed to appoint such agents in each township, as may be necessary for the purpose of acting as receiving and disbursing agents in order to supply the families of the absent volunteers, who may require assistance and support in maintaining the same.
"Resolred. That our senator and representative in the General Assembly be re- quested to vote at the called session of the Legislature for an efficient, judicious and military law, and for the appropriation of all money needed for a vigorous prosecution of the war in which our country is now involved.
"Resolred, That it may be necessary for the volunteers to furnish themselves with uniforms and articles necessary for their comfort at the opening of the campaign, it is requested that, in addition to the necessary uniform, each volunteer furnish himself with one common blanket, one spoon, knife and fork, and file his voucher for the cost thereof with the captain of his company for the reimbursement of the same.
"Resolved, That the county commissioners employ some competent person or house to furnish the necessary niforms for the volunteers, and that proper vouchers be taken for the cost thereof. so that the county may be indemnified by the state or central government.
"Resolved, That Misses Roxa Edmonds, Callie Disney, Augusta Mason, Fannie New- kirk, Fannie Durnan, Sophia Frybarger, of Connersville township; Misses Matilda Stone, Kitty Wagoner and E. A. Irwin, of Orange township; Misses Harriet Thrasher, Mary Bates and Jane MeCrory, of Fairview township: Misses Eda McMullen, Eliza Jones and Sallie Cole, of Waterloo township; Misses Mary Munger, Frances Loder and Lizzie Cole, of Posey township; Misses Margaret Thomas, Mary Dale and Rosa Thomas, of Harrison township; Misses Mary Jones, Mary Webb and Lydia A. Messersmith, of
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