USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 7
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34,950
781
L
.tons
66,916
95,020
403,835
66,676
47,959
167,856
Totals
237,218
$2,362,455
238,275
$1,709,497
CROPS
Acres
Product
Value
Acres
Product
Value
Winter wheat.
.bu.
17,812
213,744
8149,621
15,816
316,320
$189,792
Corn.
bu.
104,383
1,878,894
657,612
85,063
2,126,575
744,301
Oats ..
.bu.
20,494
614,820
184,446
23,926
837,410
209,352
Rye ..
.bu.
749
11,984
5,992
138
2,070
828
Barley
. bu.
5
100
30
20
400
160
Buckwheat.
bu.
22
330
198
42
630
472
lrish potatoes.
.bu.
1,511
90,660
54,396
1,302
104,160
78,120
Sweet potatoes
bu.
48
4,800
4,800
101
10,100
10,100
Sorghum
bu.
5,769
57,690
86,535
8,946
89,460
80,514
Cotton
Ibs.
11
3,300
264
Flax ..
.bu.
643
6,430
5,787
830
8,300
7,055
Tobacco ..
lbs.
2
1,200
120
Broom corn
lbs.
253
126,500
4,427
165
99,000
3,465
Millet and Hungarian.
.tons
11,431
22,862
114,310
5,250
10.500
42,000
Timothy
3,138
37,143
216,618
292
* 5,437
38,059
Blue grass.
2,406
1,896
Other tame grasses
1,366
41,227
164,908
43,555
24,049
96,196
Totals
250,621
81,667,440
206,205
81,520,075
* Product of 1886.
16,418
14,268
Clover
2,793
Orchard grass
.tons
388
17,495
592
19,540
Millet and Hungarian.
.tons
10,922
36,042
198,231
Orchard grass.
. tons
547
2,497
Blue grass.
tons
Prairie grass, fenced.
1886
1887
Corn
54
486
365
.bu.
. tons
63,250
1,208
Prairie grass, fenced.
524
Castor beans
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
:
56
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
TABLE SHOWING THE ACRES, PRODUCT AND VALUE OF FIELD CROPS IN LABETTE COUNTY.
CROPS
Acres
Product
Value
Acres
Product
Value
Winter wheat.
.bu.
14,066
267,254
$221,820
22,703
431,357
$267,441
Spring wheat .. Corn.
.bu.
70
1,120
784
26
416
199
Oats ..
.bu.
17,495
804,770
169,001
14,418
360,450
50,463
Rye ...
.bu.
271
5,420
2,439
383
9,575
2,681
Barley
bu.
30
900
315
Buckwheat
.bu.
36
540
405
13
130
78
Irish potatoes ..
.bu.
1,027
92,430
60,079
1,349
134,900
53,960
Sweet potatoes
.bu.
114
10,260
10,260
120
12,000
4.800
Castor beans
. bu.
2,306
20,754
20.754
2,431
17,017
30,630
Cotton
lbs.
7
2,100
168
14
4,200
336
Flax
bu.
725
5,800
5,220
682
5,456
5,456
Tobacco
.lbs.
86
51,600
5,160
2
1,200
120
Broom corn
ibs.
56
44,800
1,568
10
6,000
210
Millet and Hungarian.
tons
5,430
10,860
43,440
5,077
10,154
40,616
Timothy
10,393
Clover .
1,628
3,057
Orchard grass
tons
170
*4,829
28,974
209
+7,972
31,888
Other tame grasses
5,628
606
Prairie grass, fenced
. tons
45,066
27,808
83,424
71,149
30,969
92,907
Totals
188,209
$1.344,540
216.914
$1,029,016
1890
1891
CROPS
Acres
Product
Value
Acres
Product
Value
Winter wheat.
.bu.
21,380
256,560
$223,207
43,542
740,214
$577,366
Spring wheat.
.bu.
10
100
82
5
80
60
Corn.
bu.
42,254
1,056,350
422,540
62,187
1,243,740
460,183
Oats
bu.
15,752
472,560
165,396
44,122
1,147,146
321,200
Rye.
.bu.
230
2,990
1,495
494
7,410
4.594
Barley
bu.
2
32
32
112
1,680
1,512
Irish potatoes.
bu.
1,341
80,460
80,460
723
43,380
24,726
Sweet potatoes
bu.
20
1,600
1,600
55
4,785
4,067
Castor beans.
bu.
3,727
37,270
46,588
2,640
21,120
26,400
Cotton
lbs.
28
11,200
896
20
5,000
400
Flax .
bu.
1,192
21,920
27,400
10,542
63,252
50,601
Hemp
lbs.
10
7,000
350
Tobacco.
lbs.
2
1,200
120
Broom corn.
lbs.
48
9,600
288
69
34,500
1,121
Millet and Hungarian. .
.tons
3,055
4,582
18,328
2,770
5,540
22,160
Timothy
9,768
12 650
Clover .
2,856
3,693
Orchard grass
.tons
89
±8,229
57,603
52
Blue grass.
1,553
1.456
Other tame grasses.
792
695
l'rairie grass, fenced.
.tons
48,315
19,809
69,331
63,363
23,783
83,240
Totals ..
158,836
$1,130,510
249,683
81,638,865
bu.
80,702
2,501,762
650,458
80,577
2,417,310
410,942
Sorghum
1,215
40,269
1,007
36,252
Hemp
lbs.
1
700
35
Blue grass.
1,688
2,271
30
750
375
Buckwheat
bu.
Sorghum
424
15,264
442
17,680
Alfalfa .
10
§8,541
42,705
-
*Product of 1887.
+ Product of 1888. #Product of 1889.
$ Product of 1890.
1888
1889
10,809
57
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
TABLE SHOWING THE ACRES, PRODUCT AND VALUE OF FIELD CROPS IN LABETTE COUNTY
CROPS
Acres
Product
Value
Acres
Product
Value
Winter wheat
. bu*
37,170
520,380
8286,209
57,537
621,396
$260,986
Spring wheat.
.bu.
49
490
245
90
Corn.
.bu.
59,317
889,755
284,721
43,207
820,933
229,861
Oats ..
bu·
30,749
737,976
184,494
30,667
858,676
171,735
Rye.
bu
112
1,456
655
537
6,444
2,770
Barley
bu-
8
96
40
9
Buckwheat.
bu
8
80
60
2
16
12
Irish potatoes.
.bu
484
19,360
14,520
407
16,280
11,396
Sweet potatoes
bu-
43
3,440
3,784
78
5,850
5,850
Castor beans
bu.
1,625
11,375
14,218
747
5,229
6,013
Sorghum
274
6,632
360
6,930
Cotton
lbs.
10
2,500
175
Flax.
bu.
3,711
25,977
22,080
2,088
18,792
15,973
Tobacco.
lbs.
1
600
60
2
1bs.
65
26,000
845
50
20,000
600
Millet and Hungarian.
1,992
2,988
11,952
1,052
1,578
7,890
Milo maize
8
32
112
Kaffir corn.
41
164
574
Jerusalem corn
12,237
10,508
Clover ..
2,302
1,175
Blue grass.
1,668
* 9,706
48,530
24
8,915
53,490
Alfalfa.
.tons
7
48
13
Other tame grasses.
506
780
Prairie grass, fenced.
.tons
38,957
23,603
70,809
27,770
15,448
54,068
Totals
191,343
$950,031
178,523
$828,274
CROPS
Acres
Product
Value
Acres
Product
Value
Winter wheat.
.bu-
51,004
1,077,186
$430,874
62,895
691,845
$415,107
Spring wheat .
bu-
Corn.
. bu-
48,303
1,449,090
478,199
50,718
1,267,950
316,987
Oats.
bu-
33,459
632,367
183,386
44,600
1,338,000
200,700
Rye.
bu.
306
5,202
2,080
479
4,790
1,916
Barley
.bu.
15
150
60
26
520
156
Buckwheat
bu.
5
40
24
Irish potatoes.
bu.
635
50,800
25,400
818
65,440
26,176
Sweet potatoes.
.bu.
85
8,075
4,037
5,846
3,741
Castor beans.
bu.
804
8,040
8,040
255
2,040
2,040
Sorghum
510
10,877
433
43,300
12,990
For forage or grain.
lbs.
1
200
12
Flax
bu.
3,158
22,106
22,106
6,349
50,792
35,554
Tobacco
lbs.
14
8,400
840
1
500
70
Broom corn.
1bs.
97
29,100
1,018
91
43,680
873
Millet and Hungarian ..
tons
1,043
1,043
5,215
1,962
4,905
24,525
Milo maize. .
tons
3
75
33
7
28
84
Kaffir corn
. tons
242
4,840
2,420
624
2,496
7,488
Jerusalem corn
tons
tons
13,499
11,865
Clover
tons
710
664
1
Blue grass.
tons
1,710
§ 7,923
47,538
74
7,076
30,073
Orchard grass
tons
20
32
Other tame grasses
.tons
2,854
579
Prairie grass, fenced.
tons
29,288
12,041
48,164
31,824
10,355
31,065
Totals
187,821
$1,270,327
217,811
$1,123.464
2
4
22
Timothy
1894
1895
For syrup or sugar.
gals.
1,375
13,750
Cotton
14
56
168
Timothy
Alfalfa
tons
56
2,074
Wheat on hand March 1, 1893, 43,452 bushels; March 1, 1894, 72,826 bushels; March 1, 1895, 85.336 bushels. Corn on hand March 1, 1893, 123.771 bushels; March 1, 1894, 87,326 bushels; March 1. 1895, 108,378 bushels.
*Product of 1891. +Product of 1892. §Product of 1893. Product of 1894. #Product estimaled in tons for 1895; in bushels for 1894.
1892
1893
Broom corn
tons
1,369
Orchard grass
58
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
TABLE SHOWING THE ACRES, PRODUCT AND VALUE OF FIELD CROPS IN LABETTE COUNTY.
CROPS
Acres
Product
Value
Acres
Product
Value
Winter wheat.
bu.
50,699
557,689
$334,613
63,107
631,070
$492,234
Spring wheat
bu.
5
Corn .
bu.
60,556
1,877,236
319,130
70,519
1,339,861
267,972
Oats
bu.
38,078
685,404
75,394
30,194
754,850
120,776
Rye. .
bu.
170
3,400
1,530
104
1,664
549
Buckwheat.
bu.
15
Irish potatoes.
bu.
589
23,560
11,073
590
23,600
12,272
Sweet potatoes
bu.
. 69
6,555
3,605
102
8,160
5,059
Castor beans
bu.
347
2,429
1,943
516
2,580
2,451
Sorghum, for syrup or sugar
. gals.
163
13,040
3,912
214
12,412
7,451
Flax.
.bu.
4,411
26,466
15,879
2,376
19,008
15,206
Broom corn
lbs.
35
17,500
350
37
18,500
462
Millet and Hungarian. .
tons
1,898
3,796
11,388
2,019
5,048
15,901
Milo maize.
.tons
71
213
553
10
35
.105
Kaffir corn.
tons
1,993
7,972
20,727
1,671
5,848
17,544
Jerusalem corn
tons
7
21
54
46
161
483
Timothy
5,734
6,004
1,065
Blue grass.
2,145
* 2,499
8,747
156
46
Other tame grasses.
119
673
Prairie grass, fenced.
tons
28,616
18,221
44,553
27,738
15,987
41,566
Totals
197,817
$862,469
211,425
$1,018,525
CROPS
Acres
Product
Value
Acres
Product
Value
Winter wheat.
bu.
73,783
442,698
$243,483
67,301
605,709
$321,025
Corn.
bu.
65,800
1,316,000
315,840
: '75,670
1,891,750
454,020
Oats
bu.
35,081
666,539
126,642
32,648
914,144
173,687
Rye. ..
bu.
227
1,816
726
135
945
453
Barley
bu.
58
1,160
324
Irish potatoes.
bu.
354
26,550
11,947
661
45,609
25,084
Sweet potatoes.
bu.
163
16,300
7,335
93
7,812
4,843
Castor beans.
bu.
675
6,075
5,771
711
4,266
3,839
Cotton
lbs.
26
6,500
325
Flax ..
bu.
2,009
14,063
11,250
2,332
16,324
14,691
Broom corn
lbs.
56
28,000
700
93
55,800
1,813
Millet and Hungarian.
. tons
2,330
5,243
13,107
2,237
4,474
13,422
Sorghum, for syrup or sugar.
. gals.
294
17,640
5,292
385
27,720
8,870
Milo maize ..
tons
66
264
792
20
90
180
Kaffir corn
.tons
1,277
5,108
15,324
1,555
3,499
10,497
Clover .
1,177
1,366
Blue grass.
2,150
+ 4,009
15,033
86
Orchard grass.
36
11
Other tame grasses
653
740
Prairie grass, fenced
.tons
26,811
14,884
40,931
23,082
19,522
58,566
Totals
219,647
$821,090
218,211
$1,118,755
lbs.
1,044
6,264
1,806
9,030
Timothy
5,407
4,922
2,337
4,313
18,330
Alfalfa
.tons
170
Hemp
20
8,000
400
Clover.
335
Alfalfa
tons
138
Orchard grass
21
2,931
3,938
14,767
for forage or grain.
1,603
8,015
1,315
3,723
tons
1896
1897
1898
1899
for forage or grain
tons
Wheat on hand March 1, 1896, 69.231 bushels; March 1, 1897, 17,758 bushels; March 1, 1898. 36,364 bushels; March 1, 1899. 33,729 hushele. Corn on hand March 1. 1896, 289,308 bushels; March 1, 1897, 322 117 bushels; March 1, 1898, 334,015 hushels; March 1, 1899, 212 144 bushels. *Product of 1895. +Product of 1896. +Product uf 1897. $Product of 1898.
59
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
TABLE SHOWING THE ACRES, PRODUCT AND VALUE OF FIELD CROPS IN LABETTE COUNTY
1900
1901
CROPS
Acres
Product
Value
Acres
Product
Value
Winter wheat.
.bu.
42,076
673,216
8410,661
Corn.
.bu.
82,698
2,398,242
671,507
Oats ...
.bu.
45,773
1,464,736
292,947
Rye ...
bu.
34
510
255
Barley .
bu.
Buckwheat. .
.bu.
1
10
7
Irish potatoes
bu.
513
46,170
24,008
Sweet potatoes.
.bu.
100
11,800
6,844
Castor beans.
. bu.
644
5,152
5,122
Cotton
lbs.
.bu.
1,946
19,460
25,298
Hemp.
lbs.
Tobacco
lbs.
392
313,600
1,254
Millet and Hungarian ..
gals.
406
40,600
13,804
Sorghum, for syrup or sugar .. for forage or grain
.tons
2,502
17,514
Milo maize.
.tons
7
28
56
Kaffir corn.
.tons
2,929
11,716
23,432
Jerusalem corn
. tons
5,741
Clover.
1,193
Blue grass.
2,697
* 3,559
16,905
Orchard grass.
5
Other tame grasses
607
Prairie grass, fenced
.tons
37,867
19,571
68,498
Totals
231,103
$1,599,670
Wheat on hand March 1, 1900. 30,856 bushels.
Corn on hand March I. 1900, 240,332 bushels.
*Product of 1899.
FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONS.
Almost from the commencement of our history, the farmers have in one form or an- other been more or less effectively organized for the promotion of agriculture, and the ad- vancement of their interests.
FARMERS' CLUBS.
The first organization of this kind of which I have any knowledge was the Farmers' Club, of Oswego township, which was organized in October, 1870. F. Swanwick was elected pres- ident, and J. P. Jones secretary.
The Richland Township Farmers' Club 4
was organized April 6, 1872, although steps toward the organization of a club seem to have been taken a year previous. S. K. Thomas. was chairman and J. N. Watson secretary of the temporary organization, and T. J. Calvin and J. N. Watson were the permanent presi- dent and secretary.
In January, 1881, the Hackberry Club was organized, with D. B. Crouse as president.
It is not improbable that clubs were or- ganized at other points, of which I have re- ceived no information.
FARMERS' ALLIANCE.
On May 20, 1882, a Farmers' Alliance was
Broom corn
lbs.
tons
2,870
7,175
21,525
Timothy
Alfalfa.
.tons
102
Flax.
60
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
organized at Chetopa, with Isaac Butterworth president and A. E. Bartlett secretary. I know of no other alliance being organized prior to the general move some years later.
FARMERS' UNION.
The only account I have of this organiza- tion is the following announcement for a 4th of July celebration, made by them June 14, 1873:
"There will be a basket picnic and meeting of the Farmers' Union of the county at Hart's Mill, two and one-half miles northwest of La- bette City, on the Labette River ; not only for the purpose of celebrating our nation's anni- versary, but for the purpose of declaring our independence and emancipation from the thrall- dom of monopolies and corporations that now, through their moneyed influence, oppress the laboring classes (the bone and sinew of the nation) to an extent more alarming than the tyranny our forefathers emancipated them- selves from.
J. F. PIPER, RICHARD BAKER,
IV. HOUCK,
Committee."
GRANGE.
The farmers' organization known as "The Grange," or "Patrons of Husbandry," was in- troduced into this county in the summer of 1873. I do not know where the first grange in the county was organized, but John Nelson, of Neosho township, was county organizer, and on September II, 1873, he organized the Pleasant Valley Grange. in District No. 3.
On October 15. 1873, Richland Grange was organized, at Watson's school-house, with D. J. Doolen master, J. C. McKnight overseer, and John N. Watson secretary.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION .- On December
19, 1873, the various granges of the county met at Labette to form a council. J. F. Hill was chosen chairman, and C. W. Olmstead secretary. At this meeting a constitution which did not allow women to vote was adopted, but it was unsatisfactory to the local organizations. On December 27th an ad- journed meeting was held, in which 70 dele- gates were present, representing 20 granges. Women, who had been excluded from the for- mer convention, were admitted to this. The county organization was now completed, and the following officers were elected: J. J. Woods, master; J. F. Hill, overseer; John Richardson, treasurer; D. C. Thurston, secre- tary; S. W. Collins, business agent ; and the following executive committee: J. T. Lamp- son, S. M. Canaday, and T. A. Fellows. The first meeting after its organization was held February 24, 1874. At this meeting the sec- retaryship was changed, and given to I. W. Patrick; and a grange store was authorized to be started as soon as possible. H. C. Cook was appointed county organizer.
STORE .- In 1874 a grange store was opened at Labette, with an authorized capital stock of $4,000. S. WV. Collins, the business agent of the council, was salesman. In June, 1875, J. T. Lampson was appointed agent of the grange store in the place of Samuel Collins. From a financial standpoint the store never proved a success, and quite an amount of money was sunk in the enterprise.
CONDEMNATORY ACTION .- On March 20, 1875, at a meeting of the county council, it was, on motion of J. C. Murphy, "Resolved, That the county council condemn the late ac- tion of the county commissioners in regard to their refusal to accept aid to the destitute of Labette county." At the same time the fol- lowing resolutions were adopted :
61
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
"Resolved, By the Labette County Council of Patrons of Husbandry in its regular session, that we, as a body, asking boot from no one, and in sympathy with our unfortunate yeo- manry of this State, do bitterly denounce and condemn the late action of the Senate of the State of Kansas in regard to relief to the desti- tute of this State, as miserly, misanthropic in its nature, wrong and injurious to its loyal. · destitute, and a shame and a disgrace to the fair name of grateful Kansas.
"Resolved, That we will heartily endorse any action of the Governor of this State, by way of appropriating a portion of the surplus accumulated funds of the treasury of this State, to render aid, relief and assistance to those re- quiring the same from the destitution that vis- ited the State last season.
"Resolved, That we will not support for office anyone who would not be willing that the next legislature legalize the same."
These organizations were maintained in the county but two or three years, or at least there was no active work done after that, al- though there may have been a few local or- ganizations kept up somewhat longer.
EXAMINING COUNTY OFFICES,-In July, 1874, the county council of Patrons of Hus- bandry appointed a committee of five, con- sisting of Col. J. J. Woods chairman, John F. Hill, secretary, S. M. Canaday, Thomas Bates, and J. Merwin, to make a thorough examina- tion of the county offices "for the purpose of ascertaining where the money goes." The committee spent some time in the court-house, and at the end of their investigation made an exhaustive report, filling over five columns of newspaper. A number of recommendations were submitted by the committee, pointing out defects in the law which should be remedied and of administration which should be cor-
rected. It is not improbable that good re- sulted from this examination, if in nothing else than in making a large proportion of the people better acquainted with the way their business was conducted.
FAIR ASSOCIATIONS.
LABETTE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND ME- CHANICAL SOCIETY.
On January 31 1868, a number of the citi- zens of the county formed an organization for the purpose of locating fair grounds on the southwest quarter of section 16, township 33, range 21, and N. L. Hibbard, W. S. Newlton, C. H. Bent, Isaac Butterworth and others filed a charter in the office. of the Secretary of State On February 13th for the incorporation of the Labette County Agricultural and Mechanical Society. W. S. Newlon was elected president and W. P. Bishop secretary. The second issue of the Neosho Valley Eagle contains a notice that the books of the society are open for sub- scription to its capital stock. This organiza- tion never succeeded in starting a fair, or doing anything that looked practically to that end.
LABETTE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND HORTI- CULTURAL SOCIETY.
In the latter part of June, 1870, a call was made through the Oswego Register for those interested in the organization of a fair to meet at the court-house on July 2d for the purpose of taking steps to secure such result. On that day there was quite a gathering of the citizens of the county, who effected a temporary organ- ization by electing D. B. Crouse chairman and Nelson Case secretary. The establishment of a fair was discussed, and it was finally agreed
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
to organize the Labette County Agricultural and Horticultural Society. A board of di- rectors representing all parts of the county was selected, and the following officers chosen : D. B. Crouse, president; Jonas Clark, vice-pres- ident; C. H. Lewis, secretary; William Steele, treasurer. Under this management a fair was held on the south bank of the Neosho River, on the northwest quarter of section 15, in Oswego. The fair was a success. Annual fairs were thereafter held under the auspices of this socie- ty up to and including 1883. Most of these were successful both in the matter of securing a good display of the products of the county and in financial management. In 1873 a new char- ter was obtained, and the association put on a firmer basis. Fair grounds were purchased in the northeast part of Oswego city, and a com- mencement made toward improving and fitting them up for the holding of fairs. As indicat- ing what the success of some of the first fairs were, I may mention that in 1873 the receipts were $2,135.15, and the disbursements $1,- 957.61 ; in 1874 the receipts were $2,279.84, and disbursements $2,386.09. The following two years the receipts were not enough to pay expenses and premiums, and a small indebted- ness was thereby created. The next year or two was more successful. In 1880 a large am- phitheater was erected, whereby an indebted- ness was created, to secure which a mortgage on the company's grounds was executed; and this finally was foreclosed, and the property sold thereunder. In 1883 the association vir- tually disbanded,, and made no other attempts at holding a fair. The following is a list of the presidents and secretaries of this associ- ation after the first fair: Presidents-1871, D. B. Crouse; 1872, Isaac Butterworth ; 1873, C. M. Monroe ; 1874-75. J. J. Woods ; 1876, F. A. Bettis ; 1877-78, R. W. Wright; 1879, J. P.
Updegraff; 1880, R. W. Wright; 1881, C. O. Perkins; 1882-83. C. Montague. Secretaries -1871, C. H. Lewis; 1872-74, C. B. Wood- ford; 1875-77, C. A. Wilkin; 1878, C. B. Woodford; 1879-83, C. A. Wilkin.
NEOSHO VALLEY STOCK ASSOCIATION.
In the sumer of 1884, it having become apparent that the Agricultural and Horticul- tural Society was not going to hold a fair that season, a new organization under the name of the Neosho Valley Stock Association was formed, of which D. B. Crouse was president. Isaac Butterworth, vice-president, and C. B. Woodford, secretary. Under its auspices a fair was held on the fair grounds in Oswego, commencing the last of September. No pre- miums were paid, but diplomas were given ac- cording to merit. The treasurer's report at the close of the fair shows the total receipts to be $164.40, and expenses $156.65. In 1885 the officers were: J. F. Hill, president; D. Doyle, vice-president ; C. B. Woodford, secre- tary; and J. W. Marley, treasurer. Quite a successful‘ fair was held, commencing Septem- ber 8th.
LABETTE COUNTY HORTICULTURAL AND AGRI- CULTURAL FAIR ASSOCIATION.
No attempt was made at holding a fair at Oswego from 1885 to 1891. During the sum- mer of 1891 a number of the citizens organized the Labette County Horticultural and Agri- cultural Fair Association, and elected R. W. Wright, president ; J. D. H. Reed, secretary ; J. G. Bradley, treasurer and superintendent. A fair was held September 14th to 16th. The exhibits and attendance were encouraging. The receipts were large enough to pay all ex- penses, which amounted to $260.
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In 1892 the association held its second fair, from September 29th to October Ist. The officers this year were : J. B. Montgomery, pres- ident ; J. D. H. Reed, secretary ; George Pfaff, treasurer; and J. G. Bradley, superintendent. The receipts were $600, and all premiums and obligations were paid in full.
About the same course has been pursued each year since 1892. For two or three years past, instead of going to the fair grounds, a street fair in the city of Oswego was held year- ly, which was quite as interesting and brought out as good a display of the products of the county as a regularly conducted agricultural fair. Street fairs have also been held in Che- topa and Parsons.
LABETTE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL, HORTICUL- TURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATION.
In the summer of 1872 a number of the citizens of the vicinity of the town of Labette organized the Labette County Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Association, for the purpose of holding a fair at that point. F. C. Burnette was elected president and Wm. Houck secretary. A fair commencing the 8th of October of that year was held, with a fair degree of success. The following officers were elected for 1873: President, S. W. Collins; vice-president, J. F. Piper, secretary, William Houck; treasurer, Harvey I. Cox. It was de- cided to hold a fair in the fore part of October, but no fair seems to have been held; and this, apparently, was the last of this association.
PARSONS FAIR AND DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION.
Early in 1882 steps were taken by some of the citizens of Parsons to form an organiza- tion for the purpose of holding a fair at that
place. The Parsons Fair and Driving Park Association was formed, with a board of direct- ors composed of its leading business men, of which G. W. Gabriel was president and J. R. Brown secretary. Good grounds were secured and improved, and from 1882 to 1886, inclu- sive, successful fairs were held. After that no fair was held till 1892, when another effort was made, with a good result.
STOCK ASSOCIATION.
In August, 1884, the Short-Horn Breeders' Association was organized, with the follow- ing officers : Dr. B. R. Van Meter, president; Chas. W. Stoddard, vice-president; M. E. Williams, secretary ; J. C. Christian, treasurer.
LABETTE COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Those engaged in horticulture and fruit- growing were only a little behind those inter- ested in agriculture and stock-raising in tak- ing steps to unite their interests for mutual im- provement in growing and disposing of their products. The early records of the Labette County Horticultural Society have been lost, and I am not able to give the date of its organi- zation; but it was sometime prior to 1877. Nearly all of the fruit-growers in the vicinity of Oswego and a number in other parts of the county have been members and active workers of this society. Among those who have been most prominent as workers in the society I mention the following : H. S. Coley, J. L. Will- iams, N. Sanford, J. A. Gates, John F. Hill, J. B. Draper, D. Doyle, Isaac Butterworth, W. S. Newlon, G. A. Stover, Wilf. Cooper, Henry Tibbitts, George Pfaff. I do not wish to be understood as giving in this list the names of all of those who have been prominent workers
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
in this society, but only such as now occur to me. Had I the records of the society the list might be very much enlarged. During the summer the society frequently holds picnics, at which all phases of the question of fruit-grow- ing are fully and carefully discussed, and much of the success of the fruit-growing business may be fairly attributed to the work of this society.
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