USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 41
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
ever they were needed, in every township, and a short term of free school was taught in each. The greatest want was then found to be good teachers, and there was great difficulty in securing such as were competent. The examinations as then conducted were simple and easily passed, embracing only reading, writing, arith- metic, geography and grammar. But gradually new methods were introduced and the schools improved. That now indispensable feature in every school-room, the blackboard, made its appearance, and with it came progress.
The system of county superintendency has had a most beneficial effect. Township and county institutes have accomplished much good work, teaching the teacher, giving him a broader view of his vocation, and cansing him to abandon old, worn-out and useless methods. To-day the people of Steuben County may well take pride in the excellencies of their school buildings, the general in- telligence and high character of their teachers, and the good man agement exhibited in all departments of school affairs. Although there is still room for improvement, magnificent results have al- ready been accomplished by the free-school system.
NORTHEASTERN INDIANA LITERARY INSTITUTE, OR ORLAND ACADEMY.
The hardy New Englanders who settled this county brought their free-school ideas with them, and Orland, or "Vermont settle- ment," was always a center of intelligence. Hardly was the country around sparsely settled with young farmers when the citizens of Orland began to discuss the practicability of founding an institution where a higher mental training could be obtained than in the common schools. The Northeastern Indiana Literary Institute, which name was given to the Orland Academy when it was first established, began its career in 1850. It was first started under the more direct auspices of the Baptist church of Orland, and the association with which that church was connected. But the matter, as an educational enterprise, immediately received the earnest, hearty support and patronage of all the people, irrespec- tive of denominational connection. The times, the wants of the country and the needs of the people in this regard all conspired to waft the institution into the fullest success.
It was, however, to the individual energy and determination of one or two individuals who took more than ordinary interest in the enterprise that the school owes the credit of its establishment and operation. Notably among these "fathers" of the school should
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be mentioned Captain Samuel Barry and Elder E. R. Spear. There were others in Orland and vicinity who did perhaps as much and as well as did the bluff, energetic, sputtering, eccentric, though earnest old Captain but none could have done more nor much better than he did.
Prof. Samuel Harper, a graduate of the University of Michigan, then a young man and unmarried, now a farmer and a grandfather, was the first principal and teacher of the school. He was a success- ful manager, as well as teacher, and under his tuition scores of young men and young women stepped from the common schools of the country through his classes to a completer discipline and greater progress in intellectual attainments, and to that higher culture, which have rendered them eminently useful and respected in life. Mr. Harper now lives in Lagrange County, which he represented for a number of sessions in the State Legislature. The academy prospered equally well under subsequent principals, among whom should be mentioned Profs. G. W. Gibson, John Barnard, Neihardt, Fast, Gillespie, Williams, Cowen and others, who sent out from the portals of this institution hundreds to fill honorable positions in life. The institution prospered until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when many of the young men, in- cluding three teachers, entered the service of their country. This caused a decline in its prosperity from which it never fully re- covered until 1878, when it was merged with the common-school system of the township.
TRI-STATE NORMAL COLLEGE.
This is a young institution, but its success may be considered as already assured. It is a creditable school, from an educational point of view, and thus adds to the literary advantages of the youth of Northeastern Indiana and the adjacent portions of Michi- gan and Ohio, while at the same time it adds to the business of Angola. It also gives social advantages that are of great benefit. All these considerations were in the minds of the founders of the college, who have given their money solely for the benefit of An- gola and the surrounding country. They do not hope to profit by their investment.
The association which controls the Tri-State Normal College was founded at a meeting held July 23, 1883, when the following officers were elected : President, Hugh D. Wood, M. D .; Vice- President, L. A. Hendry; Secretary, W. W. Ferrier; Treasurer,
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Lawrence Gates; Trustees, O. Carver, O. Goodale, L. A. Hendry, J. S. Draper and L. R. Williams. Six acres of land were pur- chased at a cost of $4,200, and a neat and substantial college build- ing was erected on a commanding site. Near by stands the dormi- tory. The college property is estimated to be worth $20,000.
The school was opened in June, 1884, and dedicated with appro- priate and impressive ceremonies on the 17th of that month. = The dedicatory address was delivered by J. M. Olcott, of Indianapolis. The college year contains five terms, and there are no vacations between terms. The first commencement was held May 20, 1885, when there was a class address by the president, and a contest by the literary societies, as well as other exercises. The second year began June 1, 1885, after a brief vacation. So far the attendance as averaged 100, a remarkably good showing, while the insti- tution is as yet so little known abroad.
The present faculty is composed of the following instructors : L. M. Sniff, A. M. (President), common branches and higher mathematics; L. W. Fairfield, natural sciences, rhetoric, and his- tory; F. E. Knopf, A. M., Latin, Greek and modern languages; Mrs. L. M. Sniff, elementary grammar and physiology; L. D. Creel, B. C. L., book-keeping, commercial law and penmanship; Miss Addie Shepherd, music; Mrs. F. E. Work, fine arts; Miss Allie Cline, telegraphy; Frank T. Burnham, phonography and type-writing.
Three regular courses are offered, teachers', scientific and class- ical; and there are also maintained special departments for music, engineering, fine arts, telegraphy, phonography and book-keeping. Board is remarkably cheap, ranging from $1.50 to $3.00 per week. The degrees conferred are A. B., B. S., B. C. E. and B. C. L.
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CHAPTER X.
AGRICULTURAL.
STEUBEN AN AGRICULTURAL COUNTY .- STEUBEN COUNTY AGRICULT- URAL SOCIETY .- ORGANIZATION .- FIRST FAIR .- SUBSEQUENT AN- NUAL FAIRS .- PLEASANT LAKE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY .- FAIRS AT ORLAND. - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
The best prosperity a county can have is agricultural. Manu- factures and mineral resources are desirable, but where they are the main dependence, there will invariably be a poor, ignorant, un- enterprising class of citizens controlled by a few capitalists. Here in Steuben County, property is evenly distributed, all are com- fortably situated, and all enjoy educational and social advantages. Steuben County is destined to remain an agricultural county, and it is well that it is so.
STEUBEN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
County societies for encouraging agriculture and for holding annual fairs are of very great advantage, and have so multiplied in the last few years that now almost every county in the land has its annual fairs.
The Steuben County Agricultural Society held its first meeting in 1855, among the prominent members being Alanson W. Hendry, George W. McConnell, Jacob O. Rose and George Harding. The society prospered, held several fairs before the war, and acquired a fine fair ground; but this was destroyed when the railroad was built through Angola in 1870.
Pursuant to call, a number of citizens of the county met at the au- ditor's office at Angola, Sept. 25, 1873, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society. The immediate occasion of this step was the fact that, in accordance with a State law, $500 had been de- posited in the county treasury for the benefit of any county agri- cultural society that might be organized. This failing, the money was to be given to the district society. The meeting appointed M. B. Butler, Chairman, and L. H. Stocker, Secretary. Officers were then elected as follows: President, A. W. Hendry ; Secretary,
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Lawrence Gates; Treasurer, Frank Macartney; Executive Commit- tee, Charles Chadwick, Calvin Powers, H. G. Croxton, Clayton Mallory and S. W. Scoville.
The society met July 25, 1874, at the court-house, representa- tives being present from every township. Calvin Powers, of York Township, presided in the absence of the President. After speeches were made by J. A. Woodhull, Dr. G. W. McConnell, Calvin Pow- ers, A. S. Sherwood, W. I. Howard, H. G. Brown and others, it was unanimously voted to have a fair the ensuing fall. W. G. Croxton, Wm. L. Orton and P. W. Russell were appointed a com- mittee on grounds. Directors were chosen as follows: Mill Grove, George Harding; Jamestown, Clayton Mallory; Fremont, Joshua Michael; Clear Lake, D. B. Teeters; York, William Moss; Scott, Thomas Tasker; Pleasant, A. S. Sherwood; Jackson, M. F. Gid- dings; Salem, Samuel Ferguson; Steuben, Samuel Carter; Otsego, Jesse H. Carpenter; Richland, S. W. Scoville, L. E. Weicht, Allen Fast and L. Anderson. These directors were authorized to fix a time for holding a fair, make up a list of premiums, appoint judges and make all other necessary arrangements.
Sept. 29 and 30 was fixed as the date for the fair, and a mod- est premium list was drawn up. Having no permanent grounds, the society held its first exhibition on open grounds, and charged no admission fee, except for vehicles, which paid 25 cents each. The fair was well attended, and for a beginning was a good one. The grounds and track were the property of Dr. McConnell, and the halls for exhibition purposes were merely hastily improvised tables. The total receipts were $357.20, and the disbursements, including $151.25 for premiums, were $287.54. At a meeting of the society held soon after, articles of association were submitted and adopted, providing for the formation of a joint stock company under the name of the Steuben Agricultural Society, with a capital stock not to exceed $15,000, divided into shares of $25 each. The following directors were chosen: E. A. Wilder, Thomas McClew, Myron Powers, Wm. G. Croxton, Moses Gonser, S. L. Clark, Will- iam Harding, D. B. Teeters, Thomas Tasker, Ziba Roberts, V. E. Simmons and S. W. Scoville. These directors re-elected the gen- eral officers. Through lack of interest, and perhaps from lack of able management, the society died, or at least relapsed into slum- ber, and for a time it seemed futile to attempt to breathe into it new life. A good many attempts were made at revival, but they only resulted in talk.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Two years passed by, and in the summer of 1876 the society was entirely reorganized, under the name of the Steuben County Agri- cultural Society. This organization went energetically at work and purchased a tract of land north of Angola, which was speedily put in good condition for an exhibition. The first fair under the new regime was held Oct. 18, 19, 20 and 21. Everything turned out equal to the most sanguine expectations of the management. The weather was favorable, the attendance was large and gener- ons, and the display was full and satisfactory, considering that it was very late in the season before arrangements were begun, and great credit was given to the officers. The stockholders held their first meeting Nov. 6, following, at the court-house, and elected officers as follows: President, A. W. Hendry; Vice-President, H. D. Wood; Secretary, M. F. Crain; Treasurer, F. Macartney ; Di- rectors, George W. Collins, H. H. Owen, Joseph A. Woodhull, L. M. Sowle, Joseph Gilbert, T. F. Wood, Horace Van Auken, Dwight Lewis, Stephen Hubble, A. S. Moore, O. H. Leas and A. D. Parsell; Executive Committee, William G. Croxton, P. W. Rus- sell, Orrin Sowle, A. S. Sherwood and Henry Dutter; General Su- perintendent, A. S. Sherwood.
The second annual fair, Oct. 11, 12 and 13, had to contend against the serions disadvantage of unfavorable weather. The va- rious departments showed the discouraging effects of this, although some were excellent. The attendance was poor, except on Friday, the second day. The aggregate attendance was 5,000. The en- tries numbered 1,400.
In 1878 the fair lasted three days, Oct. 2, 3, and 4. While the exhibition was very good, the main feature seemed to be the races, which extended over the three days. There were some very fast horses present. The track was well prepared, and it still has the reputation of being one of the finest in the State.
The fourth annual exhibition was held Sept. 24, 25 and 26, 1879, and was a success in every particular. The attendance was small on the first and closing days, but on the second day, Thursday, the number present far surpassed the sanguine expecta- tions of the managers. The number of articles entered for exhibi- tion exceeded 2,000. The stock show was hardly as good as usual. The races were exciting, and interesting to those who permit them. selves to witness horse racing. A 100-yard foot race was won in twelve seconds.
The fifth annual fair was held Sept. 28, 29 and 30, and Oct.
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1, 1880. There was a better display than at any previous exhibi- tion, in nearly all the departments, but the "clerk of the weather" was in bad humor, and as a result Tuesday and Wednesday were cold and disagreeable. Thursday morning, however, the sun rose in a cloudless sky and continued to shine brightly all day. In the afternoon nearly 7,000 people were present, and it required consid- erable elbowing and pushing to get around. Friday morning was rainy, but the clouds dispersed during the day. The peanut and popcorn vendors did a thriving business, as did also the sellers of warm candy. It was not an uncommon sight to see a young fel- low and his girl promenading around arm in arm, he munching a piece of gingerbread, while his inamorata had a stick of taffy which she was chewing with evident relish. The 10 cent dance was well patronized, and at times some of the devotees of the art furnished considerable amusement to a crowd of spectators outside the tent. No vendors of "snide" jewelry and prize packages were allowed inside the gates. The books of the secretary showed 1,541 entries, as follows: Cattle, 49; horses, 80; sheep, 56; swine, 26; me- chanics' hall, 80; agricultural hall, 362; poultry, 47.
In order to steer clear of the equinoctial storms, the managers fixed the dates for the 1881 fair, on Oct. 11, 12, 13, and 14. Their foresight was in vain, for after the first morning a persistent rainy season set in that lasted the entire week. In hopes of better weather, the fair was extended to include Saturday, the 15th; but this day was no better. The exhibition was very creditable, per- haps better than that of the previous year. On the third day 3,000 people were present, in spite of rain. The races were as inter- esting as could be expected.
The 1882 fair was held Oct. 10, 11, 12 and 13, and was a gratify- ing success. It was pronounced the best fair up to date ever held in Steuben County. The attendance was large, 12,000 tickets being sold on Thursday, the "big day." Rains interfered some- what with the races, which were partly postponed to the following week.
The eighth annual fair was held Oct. 10, 11 and 12, and resulted satisfactorily to all concerned. The exhibition was fully up to the average, all things considered, and the attendance was larger than ever before. The stock exhibit was the best feature. The year was a very unfavorable one for crops, and this was manifest in the agricultural part of the fair. Over 10,000 tickets were sold on the second day, Thursday. The number of exhibitors was 492; entries
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
of cattle, 100; horses, 125; sheep, 102; hogs, 110; poultry, 60; mechanic's hall, 101; agricultural hall, 1,100; floral hall, 1,245.
The ninth annual exhibition was held Oct. 8, 9 and 10, 1884, and visitors pronounced it the best ever held in this county. The stock show was unusually good. Floral Hall fell below its average in some respects. The greatest improvement seen was in Agri- cultural Hall, where every available inch of space was occupied. Another good feature was the machinery building, recently erected and provided with a line shaft with which a number of machines can be connected. The attendance on the afternoon of Thursday, the second day, was estimated at 7,000. A goodly crowd was present on Friday. Rain kept people away on Wednesday. At the races Grey Harvey trotted a mile in 2:294, the fastest time ever made on the Angola track.
PLEASANT LAKE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
In 1875 the citizens of Stenben, Salem, Otsego and Richland townships organized the Pleasant Lake Agricultural Society " for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an association for the promotion of agrienlture, horticulture and the mechanical arts." The first fair was held Sept. 23 and 24, 1875 ('Thursday and Friday). It was an unexpected success, both in the exhibition of articles and in the attendance. This was particularly true on the second day. The committee in charge, to whom the credit of the enterprise was due, were V. E. Simmons, Dr. T. C. Frary (Secretary), A. Shaff- stall, Samuel Carter, Wal. Williams, L. I. Matson and S. W. Sco- ville. The officers of the day were S. B. George and L. F. Welden.
Sept. 28 and 29, 1876, the association held another fair in Sim- mons's Park, Pleasant Lake. The unpropitious weather on the first day was succeeded by a pleasant second day, and 2,000 people turned out to the exhibition. The displays of stock, agricultural implements, fruit and miscellaneous articles in Floral Hall were very creditable.
The third fair was held Sept. 27 and 28, two as fine days as there were in the whole autumn. The exhibition was good in the agricultural and ladies' departments, and the attendance was larger than that of previous years.
The association held its fourth annual fair at Pleasant Lake, Sept. 19 and 20, 1878, and was fairly successful. One feature this year was a husking mateh, in which there were twelve contestants. The fifty ears allotted to each were husked by those receiving first
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
and second prizes in two minutes and ten seconds. The first pre- mium was awarded to Dan Hall, of Otsego, and the second to A. Lemmon, also of Otsego.
The next fair was held Oct. 3, 1879. No cash premiums were offered and no admittance fee charged; and therefore the exhibition part of the affair was not very pretentious. Curious games and races, closing with a dance in the evening, enabled the greater part of the visitors to have a good time. One feature was a "potato race." Rows of potatoes, forty in a row, were distributed, one in each place, at a distance of one to three feet apart, and these were to be picked up by boys, carried one at a time, and deposited in baskets at the head of the row; each boy to touch the base with his foot before dropping the potato into his basket. At a given signal the lads started in, and for a few moments the contest was lively and exciting. There were five or six contestants. A little later in the day a husking match came off, which was heartily en- gaged in by eight or nine persons. The task was to husk fifty ears of corn, time and quality of work to be considered. This match was a tie between A. Lemmon and Dan Fretz. Forty ears more were assigned to each, and this time Lemmon was declared the winner by one ear. He performed his work in one minute and twenty-five seconds.
FAIRS AT ORLAND.
In 1876 the farmers of the northwestern part of the county, aided by a few from neighboring counties to the north and west, organized and held a fair which, all things considered, was a great success, and a benefit to all concerned.
Their second fair was held Sept. 20 and 21, 1877, at Hunter's Trotting Park. The weather was superb on both days, and the track being in good condition, a number of fine horses were entered. The racing was the principal attraction. The exhibition of live stock was creditable in quality, but not large. The music for this fair was furnished by a ladies' band from Angola.
The following agricultural statistics, taken from the State reports, are as nearly correct as it was possible to obtain, and give the ap- proximate acreage and yield of crops for 1882 and 1883.
Wheat .-- Acres sown in 1883, 26,081; bushels grown in 1883, 381,328; acres in 1882,28,926; bushels in 1882, 340,032; bushels in 1881, 271,857; bushels in 1880, 528,827; bushels in 1879, 522,- 879.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Corn .- Acreage in 1883 was 21,954; crop same year was 478,- 125 bushels ; acreage in 1882, 23,162 ; crop same year, 815,755 bushels ; crop in 1881, 801,145 bushels ; crop in 1880, 680,331 bushels; crop in 1879, 890,719 bushels.
Oats. - Acreage in 1883 was 5,762 ; crop same year was 190,- 393 bushels; crop in 1882, 231,280 bushels.
Barley .- Acreage in 1883 was twenty-three; erop same year was 480 bushels; crop in 1882 was 3,432 bushels.
Rye .- Acreage in 1883 was 212; crop same year was 3,214 bushels ;. crop in 1882, 1,942 bushels.
Buckwheat .- Acreage in 1883, 128 ; crop same year was 1,444 bushels.
Irish Potatoes .- Acreage in 1883 was 1,104 ; crop same year was 89,900 bushels; crop in 1882, 87,995 bushels.
Timothy .- Acreage in 1883 was 6,908; crop same year was 11,- 035 tons; crop in 1882, 9,918 tons.
Clover .- Acreage in 1883, 14,562 ; crop same year was 22,342 tons ; crop in 1882, 12,366 tons.
Timothy Seed .- Sown in 1883, sixty bushels; sown in 1882, 249 bushels.
Clover Seed .- Sown in 1883, 1,888 bushels ; sown in 1882, 6,- 552 bushels.
Blue Grass Seed .- Sown in 1883, five bushels ; sown in 1882, forty-five bushels.
Maple Molasses .- Gallons made in 1883, 2,514; in 1882, 2,883.
Maple Sugar .- Pounds made in 1883, 17,041; in 1882, 21,527.
Sorghum .- Molasses made in 1882, 4,924 gallons; in 1881, 1,- 266 gallons.
Tile Drain .- Reported in 1883, 25,912 rods; in 1882, 21,604 rods.
Cider .- Gallons made in 1882, 19,163; in 1881, 75,804.
Vinegar .- Gallons made in 1883, 876; in 1882, 4,837.
Wine .- Gallons made in 1883, ninety-two; in 1882, 426.
Milk .- Gallons produced in 1883, 1,569,204 ; in 1882, 1,790,- 822.
Honey .- Stands of bees in 1883, 980 ; in 1882, 862 ; pounds of honey, 1883, 13,184; in 1882, 12,398; stands of bees killed during winter of 1882-'83, 590.
Butter .- Pounds produced in 1883, 497, 819 ; in 1882, 510,414. Cheese .- Pounds made in 1883, 63,210; in 1882, 142,895.
Eggs .- Dozens reported in 1883, 34,430 ; in 1882, 399,128.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Wool .- Clip in 1882, pounds, 178,000; in 1881, 149,561; esti- mated for 1883, 184,769.
Dried Apples .- Bushels in 1882, 832; in 1881, 8,574.
Canned Small Fruit .- Quarts in 1882, 24,979; in 1881, 16,809.
Horses .- Number reported in 1883 under one year old, 290; in 1882, 356; in 1883, between one and two years old, 268; in 1882, 322; in 1883, between two and three years old, 260; in 1882, 290; in 1883, between three and four years old, 325 ; in 1882, 426; in 1883, four years old and over, 3,496; in 1882, 3,609; total number April 1, 1883, 4,639; one year previous, 5,003.
Cattle .- Number reported in 1883 under one year old, 3,252; in 1882, 2,970 ; in 1883 between one and two years old, 2,032; in 1882, 2,062; in 1883 between two and three years old, 1,279 ; in 1882, 1,311; in 1883 over three years, 4,106; in 1882, 4,677; total number April 1, 1883, 10,669; year previous, 11,020.
Hogs .- Stock hogs in 1883, 20,092; in 1882, 16,229; fatted hogs in 1883, 18,465; in 1882, 30,147 ; weight of fatted hogs in 1883, 4,062,598 pounds.
Sheep .- Number in 1883, 37,173 ; in 1882, 38,319; lambs in 1883, 6,366; in 1882, 12,028; total in 1883, 43,539.
Apple-trees .- Number of bearing age, 1882, 125,069 ; under bearing age, 27,674 ; bearing age, 1883, 115,785 ; under bearing age, 14,158.
Peach-trees .- Number of bearing age, 1882, 36,295; under bear- ing age, 12,638 ; bearing age, 1883, 29,253 ; under bearing age, 11,673.
Pear-trees .- Number of bearing age, 1882, 3,293 ; under bear- ing age, 2,228; bearing age, 1883, 3,089; under bearing age, 2,370.
Plum-trees .- Number of bearing age, 1882, 981; under bearing age, 591; bearing age, 1883, 1,026; under bearing age, 728.
Quince-trees .- Number of bearing age, 1882, 377; under bear- ing age, 696; bearing age, 1883, 380; under bearing age, 293.
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