USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 11
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115
GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Following the purchase of the largest addition of land in 1892, a half- mile speed ring was surveyed and many new buildings erected, which im- provements were followed a few years later by the erection of a grand stand with a seating capacity of six thousand. In 1913 a permanent administration building was erected and the improvements contemplated in the near future include an exhibit hall or coliseum of ample proportions
Every year since its formation has seen the association more successful, until at the present time it stands as one of the most stable of the organ- izations of its kind in the Middle West. The boast that Gibson county has one of the best county fairs in Indiana or surrounding states is not an idle one. It has kept pace with modern thought and as conditions have changed, so has the policy of the fair management been changed, except as to the fundamental ideas upon which its success has been built. It has always been the policy to not limit competition in the matter of exhibits, except during the first three fairs which were held, and in the awarding of premiums the non- resident of the county stands an equal chance with all. Quality alone is con- sidered. The fair, in a strict sense, is not a county fair.
From the first the Gibson County Fair Association has been capably officered, which fact alone is responsible for much of the success which has attended it. A roster of its officers and directors contains the names of many of the most conscientious and influential men of Gibson county.
Throughout southern Indiana and Illinois and northern Kentucky the Gibson county fair has become famous as an event when a day of enjoy- ment can be spent free from all immoral influences. From the outset it has always been the policy of the association to bar all exhibits and attractions which were lacking in morality. Gambling in all its phases has always been strictly forbidden, as well as the sale of intoxicants on the grounds. In the well-grounded belief that running races attracted an undesirable class of people, no speed contests have been staged except harness events. In the strict and impartial enforcement of these rules, lies much of the success of the fair in all the years of its successful operation.
The Gibson County Fair Association was among the first to be organized in the state. In the few years following, fairs were organized generally throughout Indiana, but in no single instance has success crowned the efforts of the early organizers in a larger degree than in Gibson county. In many counties interest in the fair organization lagged after a few years and in many others in their efforts to instill new life into the organization and revive the waning interest, features were introduced which led ultimately to com- plete failure and in the end to a complete eradication of the county fair idea
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
and in its stead came racing meets, carnivals and like events of no lasting benefit. Through all the years, however, the Gibson county fair has re- mained true to the first great principles laid down by its organizers, an event where the best that is produced in this and surrounding counties may be ex- . hibited, a time when friends and neighbors may meet to renew friendship, a place where family ties may be again renewed.
Too much credit for keeping alive interest in the Gibson county fair during the years when it seemed to lag and fairs in surrounding counties were being disbanded, cannot be given to the memory of Robert A. Mitchell, who filled almost every office on the board of directors at some time in his career, with credit to both himself and the association. The fair organiza- tion has never had a more faithful and energetic worker than Mr. Mitchell and the firm foundation of the association today stands as a monument to his enthusiastic endeavor.
From the first year when the exhibits were few in number and the premium list but thirty dollars, the fair has grown until the entries each year are numbered by the thousand and thousands of dollars are distributed annually in premiums. From seven hundred dollars, the first record of paid admissions, the attendance has grown until more than six thousand dollars is paid annually by those who pass through the gates.
Great pride has always been taken in the grounds and they are un -. equalled in point of beauty by any similar grounds in Indiana. The natural forest trees have been conserved, large exhibit halls maintained and in every way the comfort of exhibitors and patrons kept in mind.
There are many interesting features connected with the grounds of the Gibson County Fair Association, aside from the fair itself, chief among which was that they furnished camping space for three regiments of soldiers which went out of Gibson county during the Civil war, the Fifty-eighth, Sixty-fifth and Eightieth Indiana Volunteer Regiments, which were re- cruited on the fair grounds and it was here that the men received their first military instruction.
In the sixty years the grounds have been maintained there have been but few accidents or tragedies which have occurred within their confines. A few years following the Civil war, David Williams, a young man, was killed in a runaway accident and in the late eighties Miss Gertrude Downey, of Francisco, was murdered by Sylvester Grubb, a jealous suitor.
The grounds have been the gathering place for many reunions between families, veterans of the Civil war and fraternal societies and many dis- tinguished men and women have passed through the gates.
BOYS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST CORN CONTEST HELD IN GIBSON COUNTY.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The spirit of keeping alive the county fair idea and making it live into the next generation has always been the first thought of the officers and directors and at the present time the legacy which has been handed down by our forefathers is held in sacred trust.
GIBSON COUNTY BOYS' CORN SHOW.
From early times Gibson county has had the reputation as one of the best corn growing counties in the state, and it has kept pace with other counties in modern and progressive methods of cultivating that cereal. There was a time when little attention was given to methods of corn cultivation, the selection of seed for planting, etc., these things being considered of minor importance in the primitive farming days. Then it was the custom of the farmer to prepare his ground by skimming over it with a light plow, harrow it, sometimes, lay it off in crooked furrows, and then it was ready for the seed. The seed was selected from the corn crib, from what corn was left over from the winter's feeding, with little care whether the grain was perfect or shriveled and worm-eaten. The seed selected, the ground "laid off," and other preparations made, then the indispensable boy with his tin bucket was called into service. The boy followed the furrow, dropping the corn from the seed carried in his bucket, three or four, sometimes more grains to the hill, followed by the man with the hoe who covered thie grains. After a time some of these grains sprouted, but a "good stand" was an unusual and unexpected result. Re-planting was usually necessary.
But all this has been changed, by the application of scientific study and the exercise of common sense. The farmer of today not only gives attention to the study of the character and preparation of the soil, but also to the quality of the seed. The seed is not only carefully selected, but is tested, and that which does not meet the required test does not go into the ground, but goes to the hogs.
These progressive ideas in farming are due largely to the teaching and influence of Purdue University, and the introduction of this study in the com- mon schools. The result is that the boys have become interested. It has been demonstrated that education and science applied to farming, as well as to other occupations, are necessary to obtain the best results. As a conse- quence of this awakened interest in scientific farming, the boys are turning their attention more to that vocation, and not so much to becoming lawyers. doctors or preachers.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The man who has done more than any other one person in Gibson county to interest the boys in this industry is W. A. Barnett, of Hazelton. A few years ago he gave a notice through the papers that he would furnish one hundred boys each one quart of high class seed free, if the fathers of the boys would furnish the ground in which to plant the corn and agree to give the boys all the proceeds from the crop produced. A corn show at the end of the season was also promised the boys, every boy to get a prize. Books were to be furnished by Purdue University, by which they were to keep a record of planting, cultivating and harvesting, with bulletins from the same institu- tion for instruction. Eighty boys responded to this offer, and when the records were submitted the production shown was from sixteen to twenty- five bushels from the seed furnished.
The promised corn show was held in Princeton, January 18, 1911, which was largely attended, not only by the boys interested in the contest, but by farmers from this and adjoining counties. Concerning this event a local paper said :
"It has been up to the standard, both in attendance and interest, and the corn show was really better than any former affair of this kind. All who visited the show of corn produced by these boys were impressed with the progress made in corn culture in the last ten years. To produce such corn specialization was necessary, as well as application of brain and muscle. The boy farmer of today has profited by the experience of his father, and, by the study of soil and conditions, has learned the elements that are most necessary to produce the best."
As promised by Mr. Barnett, all the boys who accepted his offer and entered the contest were given a prize. The boys were also treated to a fine dinner, after which they repaired to the court house steps and had a group photograph taken. This photograph is reproduced in another place in this volume. Following are the names of the boys in this contest :
PRIZE WINNERS IN THE GIBSON COUNTY CORN SHOW.
Walter Adams, Chester Armstrong, Darwin O. Spore, Orin Giesselman, Homer Alcorn, John Mobley, Frank Kimbrough, Oscar Sturges, Cato Powell, Wylie Woods, Oscar Kenner, Warner Johnson, Frank Gambrel, Darwin Woods, Wash Johnson, Thomas Taylor, Moody Blythe, Aaron Goodrich, Guy Loftin, Johnson Emmerson, Louis Marvel, Alfred Wirth, Arnold Mc- Carty, Darwin Simpson, Wayne Gale, Hobert Reed, Carl Woods, Charles
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Sides, John Onyet, Ernest Warren, Walter Ackman, Oscar Montgomery, Owen Wallace, Mike Hisker, Alois Knapp, Virgil Emerson, Virgil Jones, D. H. Kirk, Claude Robb, John Rutter, Virgil Seaman, Alfred Lamar, Hobert Lamar, Paul Braselton, Alex. Milburn, Earl White, Cloyd Hardiman, Ray Harris, Thomas Lynch, Wilbur Barnett, Ernest McFetridge, John Johnson, Vesper Morrow, Walter Yeager, Percy Droll-fifty-five.
CHAPTER IX.
GIBSON COUNTY NEWSPAPERS.
The first venture in the way of publishing a newspaper in Gibson county was made by a man by the name of John F. Buntin in 1845. The initial number was in July of that year and the form of the paper was a six-column folio, and was called the Princeton Chronicle. It made its appearance regu- larly every week for about six months, when it began to show signs of financial debility, and finally the publication ceased. - This was the first newspaper collapse in Gibson county, but was not the last by several.
In 1846 William Kurtz, then county auditor, was instrumental in the purchase of material for a printing plant and starting another newspaper in Princeton. On August 13th of that year the Democratic Clarion appeared, with William F. Hutchen as editor and publisher.
Wylie S. Hastings writes interestingly of the Democratic Clarion, as follows :
"The August sun was beating down on the thin rows of frame buildings about the public square with a vigor such as few of the old residents could remember. Horses about the hitch-rack around the court house clanked their trace chains in an effort to rid themselves of the pesky flies and at the same time get a mouthful of the short,wiry grass that fringed the yard. Two yoke of oxen hitched to a log wagon driven by a middle-aged man, sun-tanned and dusty, swung slowly up to the town pump along the old state road. Groups of men lounged carelessly in the shade of the trees that skirted the court house yard and discoursed lazily on politics and the Mexican situation. Apparently the town had settled, or rather melted, down into a state of stupid contentment, denoting peace with itself and the outside world.
"Such was the scene presented in Princeton in August, 1846. It was at this time a straggling little village with a few hundred inhabitants who made little or no attempt at outward show, but sometimes in their slumbers there flitted through their minds a dream that some day the village would grow into the metropolis of the 'Pocket.'
"But while there was a temporary tendency toward dullness and lethargy . on account of the heat and the hook-worm, there was one place in town
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
where activity was rampant. It was in a little building on the north side of the square. There was no shingle over the front door to designate what the building might contain, but most every one knew by this time that it was the office of the Democratic Clarion. It was a new establishment. Editor W. F. Hutchen was busily at work grinding out the first edition of Princeton's first regularly constituted newspaper, with the exception of the Chronicle, which had existed briefly in 1845. He had a burning message for the good towns- people, and it must be said that day.
"Mr. Hutchen was a man inured to toil, as most good editors are, but his stock of patience and physical endurance was strained almost to the breaking point on this day, as he had been battling against great odds. Writ- ing editorials in the humid atmosphere, preparing other copy, bumping over cases, lifting heavy forms, running the old hand press and a thousand and one other things incident to launching a newspaper and getting it before the public were things requiring great fortitude and supreme adaptability.
"At last on this date, August 13. 1846-the thirteenth, mind you-came the fruition of his mingled hopes and fears. It came in the shape of a four- page, five-column paper, part home print and other parts of foreign ex- traction. But it was nevertheless a home paper and well worthy of the courageous effort. The good people looked at it with a sense of wonder- ment. gazed at its odd mixture of headlines and then plunged in to devour its contents. However, there were few who realized fully that the coming of this little sheet to their homes marked a new era for the town. To us, who are removed more than three-score years from the time of Hutchen's first effort, the paper, though odd enough in form and general makeup, breathes a message of hope and prophecy. Harken to the sweep of the plucky editor in his salutation :
" 'Though we were disappointed and unable to issue our paper as soon as we expected, it is now before you, fellow citizens, and, we trust, will answer the highest expectations that have been induced by the circular which ushered it to your notice. In the mechanical execution of the Clarion, pains and expense have alike been disregarded; for we were persuaded that we should be amply compensated, and determined to print a paper worthy of the intelligence and liberality of the county in which, we are proud to believe, we have found a permanent home.'
"Continuing, the editor says, and we all admire him for his frankness and liberality of thought :
"'All are privileged to choose to which party they will belong-and we have been pleased to join ourself with that party denominated "democratie."
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
We were not guided in this step by a thought that the members of that party were more virtuous or more wise than those of the opposition-we have never believed, even for a moment, that all the principles of truth and virtue were contracted within the limits of a single party; on the contrary, we have always been taught to regard the masses of every party as morally and politi- cally honest.'
"Thus the first permanent home paper Princeton ever knew was Demo- cratic. Nothing strange about that, as the county at that time was, as it has been in more recent history, in the Democratic column.
"In his first paper, Hutchen gives the official statement of the vote in the county for the state and county officers, showing a Democratic lead on the vote for governor of forty-four. The Democratic majority had been cut perceptibly, however, which caused Editor Hutchen to remark: 'The party votes have been affected in favor of the Whigs by a system of swapping, which ought always to be discountenanced.'
"The 'system of swapping' to which Hutchen referred is now extinct in political affairs, thanks be to the good work of the newspaper editors.
"The official vote of the county in 1846 shows that on vote for governor, Patoka township gave Whitcomb (Democrat) one hundred and ninety-one against a vote of one hundred and forty-three for Marshall, the Whig candi- date. The entire vote for governor in the several townships of the county by both parties was seven hundred and eight. Stephenson was candidate for lieutenant-governor on the Whig ticket and Dunning for the Democrats, Stephenson winning by a majority of sixty-two. Shannon was candidate for sheriff on the Whig ticket and was elected, there being no opposing candi- date. L. Q. DeBruler, Whig candidate, was elected prosecuting attorney, there being no opposition.
"Leaving the political situation to take care of itself (which it did), let us consider the first issues of the Clarion. Like all country newspapers of that time, it was long on editorials, painfully short on advertising matter and totally barren of personals. A search of several files of the paper at the Princeton library fails to reveal any personals whatever. The only adver- tisements the first issue contain are that of the Morris National Press, a New York newspaper, and the job printing notice of the Democratic Clarion. No advertisements of merchants are found while Hutchen was running the paper. The most frequent notices are sheriff's sales, obituaries and public auctions. The obituary notices appear in the advertising columns. In the first issue of the paper is mention of the death of Mrs. Margaret Sturges, who will be well remembered by older inhabitants.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
"Judging by the frequent notices that appear in the early issues, the Princeton Guards were unusually active in those days. Here is a notice of them that appears in the initial issue of the paper :
" 'Attention !
" 'The Princeton Guards will meet on Friday evening next, at half-past six o'clock, at the seminary, for the purpose of drill. By order of W. Kurtz, O. Sergt. Capt. A. Lewis.'
"'N. B. The Court of Enquiry will meet for the assessment of fines, on Thursday evening next, at 7 o'clock P. M., at the court house, Princeton, Ind., August 13, 1846.'
"In a later issue of the Clarion appears another notice of special interest at the time :
"'Arms! Arms!
" 'This is to notify all persons having in their possession muskets, dag- gers, sabres, pistols and accoutrements belonging to the state of Indiana, will please deliver them to the undersigned, or inform him of their whereabouts, under the penalty of the law, he being authorized by the governor to collect the same. William Kurtz.'
"William P. Hall was the first lawyer to use printer's ink. His an- nouncement appears in the September issue, 1846, informing the public that he was prepared to practice in the courts of the fourth judicial district. Among the grain dealers advertising was the firm of Milburn & Fisher.
"Under date of August 20 this one appears :
" 'Princeton Seminary.
" 'The fourth session of this institution will commence on Monday, the 24th day of August, 1846. T. M. Munford, Principal.'
"No doubt several old citizens will recall this one :
"'IOOI
" 'Wednesday evenings are the times appointed for the regular meetings of this mystic association. Members will notice the appointments.'
" 'One of the quaintest that appears is the postoffice notice which runs through several issues of the paper :
" 'Arrivals and Departures of Mails. "'John Arbuthnot, Postmaster.
"'Arrives from Vincennes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at I o'clock P. M. Closes at 12 M. for Evansville.
" 'From Evansville every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 9 o'clock A. M. Closes at 8 1-2 A. M. for Vincennes.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
" 'From New Harmony every Monday and Friday at 6 P. M. Closes at 6 1-2 P M. same days, and departs every Tuesday and Saturday at 6 A. M.
"'Arrives from New Albany every Monday at 2 A. M. Closes at I P. M. and departs same day.'
"Speaking about hot shots, however, try this one :
" 'Beware of. the Imposter !
" 'One A. C. Stratton, a large, corpulent and full-faced man, of sombre complexion, was apprehended in Princeton on yesterday, on a charge of swindling. He fraudulently uses the steelyards with which he weighs feath- ers in which he deals. And though he was discharged, the accusations were most clearly sustained, and we, citizens, feel called upon to make this state- ment, that the unprincipled scoundrel may be known and prevented from swindling others.
(Signed)
" 'Citizens.'
"Some of the news items that appear on the editorial page will be of interest. Here are a few short ones :
" 'The story that Robert Dale Owen had received an appointment from the president as minister plenipotentiary to England is untrue.'
"'We have the first number of a neat little paper printed at Jasper, in Dubois county. Its politics are of the proper order, and, we guess, pretty well understood by its editor. The paper is called the "American Eagle." Success !'
"'A bill, says the Cincinnati Enquirer, is pending in the house of rep- resentatives, changing sonie measure of the present rate of postage, making the cost of a letter from a distance of six hundred miles fifteen cents-estab- lishing the quarter-ounce as a single letter, and repealing the thirty mile ex- ception to newspapers. Under the present system the deficit of the depart- ment is $540,000.'
" 'From the Army.
"'We have heard nothing worthy of note. General Taylor is no doubt still moving forward, and will in due time be quartered at Monterey. The route from Chicago is by land, and is untimbered, so that the army will find its march extremely disagreeable-no shade, bad forage, and scarcity of water will be cause of much trouble and prosecution. It might, perhaps, have been well for the General to have stayed his forces at Chicago until the arrival of a better campaigning season.'
"In the issue of October 3Ist we were surprised to find the following little item, as we did not know our fathers indulged :
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
"'We understand that a laughing match will come off tonight at 9 o'clock on the public square. The competition is for $2.00 in money and twenty glasses of whiskey. Competent judges have been chosen to decide the contest and we have no doubt the whole affair will be of extraordinary interest.'
"No doubt! But as no mention of the result of the contest is given in later papers and no one living will 'plead guilty' to having taken part in the affair, there is no way of finding out.
"But let us turn from the laugh-makers and follow a little further the course of Editor Hutchen and his newspaper. The rest is not a long story, but on the other hand, is painful on account of its brevity.
"Under the date of October 17, 1846, this little bit of information ap- pears :
" Readers of this paper will attribute the lack of editorials to the ab- sence of the editor. He is canvassing the district and soliciting subscriptions. He will be in Boonville on Wednesday next and in Mt. Vernon on Friday and Saturday evening. Friends, do not let him "go away empty."'
"This, in itself, appears innocent enough-the editor is out on a business trip in the district. He will be back shortly and edit his paper again. But to the knowing ones, who have experienced the great trials of trying to keep a country newspaper on its feet, the meaning is deep and significant. Know you by this time the Clarion is on its last pegs. Editor Hutchen is making the final effort.
"Two weeks later, on November 7th, the following announcement ap- pears :
"'On account of circumstances unnecessary to be known to anyone but ourselves, we have disposed of the office of the Democratic Clarion. The gentleman whose name stands under the editorial head of this number we cheerfully recommend to our patrons as a gentleman and a sterling Demo- crat, and will fulfill our engagements with our subscribers. Goodbye. William F. Hutchen.'
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