History of Labette County, Kansas, from the first settlement to the close of 1892, Part 7

Author: Case, Nelson, 1845-1921
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Topeka, Kan., Crane & Company
Number of Pages: 392


USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, from the first settlement to the close of 1892 > Part 7


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38


1,302


104,160


78,120


Sweet potatoes


bu.


48


4,800


4,800


101


10,100


10,100


Castor beans.


bu.


5,769


57,690


86,535


8,946


89,460


80,514


Cotton


lbs.


11


3,300


264


Flax


bu.


643


6,430


5,787


830


8,300


7,055


Broom corn


lbs.


253


126,500


4,427


165


99,000


3,465


Millet and Hung'n


tons


11,431


22,862


114,310


5,250


10,500


42,000


Timothy


16,418


Clover


3,138


2,793


Orchard grass


tons


388


37,143


216,618


292


* 5,437


38,059


Blue grass


2,406


1,896


Other tame grasses.


1,366


1,208


Prairie, under fence ... tons


63,250


41,227


164,908


43,555


24,049


96.196


Totals


250,621


$1,667,440


206,205


$1,520,075


42


630


472


Irish potatoes


,bu.


Sorghum.


524


17,495


592


19,540


Tobacco.


lbs.


2


1,200


120


Orchard grass


tons


547


2,497


Millet and Hung'n


tons


10,922


36,042


1,238


54


486


365


Corn


1886.


1887.


* Product of 1886.


14,268


330


198


Other tame grasses. .tons


68


HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.


TABLE showing the acres, product and value of field crops in Labette county.


1888.


1889.


CROPS.


Acres.


Product.


l'alue.


Acres.


Product.


Value.


Winter wheat


hu.


14,066


267,254


$221,820


22,703


431.357


$267,441


Spring wheat


bu.


70


1,120


784


26


416


199


Corn


bu


80,702


2,501,762


650,458


80,577


2,417,310


410,942


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


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


Sorghum


1,215


40.269


1,001


36,252


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.


hu.


725


5,800


5,220


682


5,456


5,456


Hemp.


lbs.


1


700


35


Tobacco


lbs.


86


51,600


5,160


1,200


120


Broom corn.


1bs.


56


44,800


1.568


10


6.000


210


Millet and Hung'n


.tons


5,430


10,860


43,440


5,077


10,154


40,616


Timothy


10,393


1


10,809


Clover


1,628


3,057


Orchard grass


tons


170


* 4,829


28,974


209


+7,972


31,888


Blue grass


1.688


Other tame grasses


5.628


606


Prairie, under fence ... tons


45,066


27,808


83,424


71,149


30,969


92,907


Totals


188,209


£1,344,540


216,914


$1,029,016


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


44,121


1,147,146


321,200


Rye ...


bu.


230


2,990


1,495


494


7,410


4.594


Barley


.bu.


2


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


Sorghum


424


15,264


442


17,680


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.


1,200


120


Broom corn


lbs.


48 3,055


9,600


288


69


34,500


1.121


Millet and Hung'n


tons


4,582


18,3:28


2,770


5,540


22,160


Alfalfa.


10


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


Prairie, under fence ... tons


48,315


19,809


69,331


63,363


23,783


83.240


Totals


153,836


₣1,130,510


249,683


$1,638,865


* Product of 1887.


+ Product of 1888. į Product of 1889.


$ Product of 1890.


375


30


750


Buckwheat


bu


1890.


1891.


2.271


§ 8,541


42,705


69


INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, ETC.


TABLE showing the acres, product and value of field crops in Labette county.


CROPS.


Acres.


Product.


Value.


Winter wheat.


bu.


37,170


520,380


$286,209


Corn


bu.


49


490


245


Oats


bu.


59,317


889,755


284,721


Rye ...


bu.


30,749


737,976


184,494


Barley.


bu.


112


1,456


655


Buckwheat


bu.


8


80


60


Sweet potatoes.


bu.


481


19,360


14,520


Castor beans


bu.


43


3,440


3,784


Sorghum.


bu.


1,625


11,375


14,218


Cotton


lbs.


10


2.500


175


Tobacco.


bu.


3,711


25,977


22,080


Broom corn


1bs.


1


600


60


Millet and Hungarian.


lbs.


65


26 000


845


Timothy


tons


1,992


2 988


11,952


Clover.


2,302


Alfalfa ..


tons


7


* 9,706


48,530


Orchard grass


48


Other tame grasses


506


Prairie, under fence


... tons


38,957


23,603


70,809


Totals


191,343


$950,031


* Product of 1891.


FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONS.


Almost from the commencement of our history the farmers have in one form or another been more or less effectively organized for the promotion of agriculture, and the advancement 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 president, and J. P. Jones secretary.


The Richland Township Farmers' Club 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 secre- tary of the temporary organization, and T. J. Calvin and J. N. Watson were the permanent president and secretary.


In January, 1881, the Hackberry Club was organized, with D. B. Crouse as president.


It is not improbable that clubs were organized at other points, of which I have received no information.


bu.


96


10


Irish potatoes


274


6,632


Flax


12,237


Blue grass


1,668


?


189:2.


Spring wheat.


70


HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.


FARMERS' ALLIANCE.


On May 20, 1882, a Farmers' Alliance was 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 organization is the following announce- ment 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 Labette City, on the Labette river ; not only for the purpose of celebrating our nation's anniversary, but for the purpose of declaring our independence and emancipation from the thralldom 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 themselves from.


J. F. PIPER, RICHARD BAKER, W. HOUCK, Committee."


GRANGE.


The farmers' organization known as "The Grange," or "Patrons of Husbandry," was introduced 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 11, 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 adjourned meeting was held, in which 70 delegates were present representing 20 granges. Women, who had been excluded from the former convention, were ad- mitted to this. The county organization was now completed, and the fol- lowing officers were elected : J. J. Woods, master; J. F. Hill, overseer ; John Richardson, treasurer; D. C. Thurston, secretary ; S. W. Collins, business agent; and the following executive committee : J. T. Lampson, S. M. Canaday, and T. A. Fellows. The first meeting after its organiza- tion was held February 24, 1874. At this meeting the secretaryship was


71


INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, ETC.


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 or- ganizer.


STORE .- In 1874 a grange store was opened at Labette, with an au- thorized capital stock of $4,000. S. W. 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 finan- cial 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 action of the County Commissioners in regard to their refusal to accept aid to the destitute of Labette county." At the same time the following resolutions were adopted :


"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 yeomanry of this State, do bitterly de- nounce and condemn the late action of the Senate of the State of Kansas in regard to relief to the destitute 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 indorse 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 requiring the same from the destitution that visited 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, although there may have been a few local organizations kept up somewhat longer.


EXAMINING COUNTY OFFICES .- In July, 1874, the county council of Patrons of Husbandry appointed a committee of five, consisting of Col. J. J. Woods, chairman, John F. Hill, secretary, S. M. Canaday, Thomas Bates, and J. Merwin, to make a thorough examination 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 in- vestigation made an exhaustive report, filling over five columns of news- paper. A number of recommendations were submitted by the committee, pointing out defects in the law which should be remedied and of admin- istration which should be corrected. It is not improbable that good re-


72


HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.


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 MECHANICAL SOCIETY.


On January 31, 1868, a number of the citizens 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. Newlon, 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 subscription to its capital stock. This organization never succeeded in starting a fair, or doing anything that looked practically to that end.


LABETTE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL 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 re- sult. On that day there was quite a gathering of the citizens of the county, who effected a temporary organization by electing D. B. Crouse chairman and Nelson Case secretary. The establishment of a fair was discussed, and it was finally agreed to organize the Labette County Agri- cultural and Horticultural Society. A board of directors representing all parts of the county was selected, and the following officers chosen : D. B. Crouse president, Jonas Clark vice- president, 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 society 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 charter was obtained, and the association put on a firmer basis. Fair grounds were purchased in the northeast part of Oswego city, and a commencement made toward improving and fitting them up for the holding of fairs. As indicating 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


73


INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, ETC.


enough to pay expenses and premiums, and a small indebtedness was thereby created. The next year or two was more successful. In 1880 a large amphitheater was erected, whereby an indebtedness 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 virtually disbanded, and made no other attempts at holding a fair. The following is a list of the presidents and secretaries of this association after the first fair : Presidents-1871, D. B. Crouse : 1872, Isaac Butterworth; 1873, C. M. Monroe; 1874-5, J. J. Woods; 1876, F. A. Bettis: 1877-8, R. W. Wright; 1879, J. P. Updegraff ; 1880. R. W. Wright; 1881, C. O. Perkins; 1882-3, C. Montague. Secretaries- 1871, C. H. Lewis: 1872-4, C. B. Woodford; 1875-7, C. A. Wilkin : 1878, C. B. Woodford, 1879-83, C. A. Wilkin.


NEOSHO VALLEY STOCK ASSOCIATION.


In the summer of 1884, it having become apparent that the Agricultural and Horticultural 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 premiums were paid, but diplomas were given according 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, secretary ; and J. W. Marley, treasurer. Quite a successful fair was held, commencing Sep- tember Sth.


LABETTE COUNTY HORTICULTURAL AND AGRICULTURAL FAIR ASSO- CIATION.


No attempt was made at holding a fair at Oswego from 1885 to 1891. During the summer of 1891 a number of the citizens organized the Labette County Horticultural and Agricultural 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 expenses, which amounted to $260.


In 1892 the association held its second fair, from September 29th to Oc- tober 1st. The officers this year were : J. B. Montgomery, president ; J. D. H. Reed, secretary ; George Pfaff, treasurer ; and J. G. Bradley, super- intendent. The receipts were $600, and all premiums and obligations were paid in full.


74


HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.


LABETTE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATION.


In the summer of 1872 a number of the citizens in 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 decided 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 organization for the purpose of holding a fair at that place. The Parsons Fair and Driving-Park Association was formed, with a board of directors 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, inclusive, 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, 1834, the Short-Horn Breeders' Association was organized, with the following officers : Dr. B. R. Van Meter, president; Chas. W. Stoddard, vice-president ; M. E. Williams, secretary ; J. C. Christian, treas- urer.


LABETTE COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.


Those engaged in horticulture and fruit-growing were only a little be- hind those interested in agriculture and stock-raising, in taking steps to unite their interests for mutual improvement 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 organiza- tion ; 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 may mention the follow- ing : H. S. Coley, J. L. Williams, 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 under- stood as giving in this list the names of all of those who have been prom-


75


INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, ETC.


inent workers 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-growing 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.


OTHER COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS.


COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.


There is no existing record of the organization of this society. It was probably organized early in 1869. The first minutes I have been able to find of its meetings are those for a semi-annual meeting held at Oswego on November 7, 1870; the society was then called the Osage and South- ern Kansas Medical Association. C. M. Gilkey was president and Rob- ert Steele secretary. At this meeting it was voted to change the name to the Labette County Medical Association ; W. S. Newlon was elected president, George Lisle vice-president, Robert Steele secretary, and J. W. Wier treasurer. - A uniform schedule of fees was adopted.


On June 8, 1871, a meeting of the society was held, at which W. S. Newlon was president and D. D. McGrath secretary.


On June 16, 1875, after a lapse of two or three years, a meeting was held, and the association revived. George Lisle was elected president, W. S. Newlon vice-president, C. Humble secretary, and B. R. Van Meter treasurer.


On May 18, 1885, the society again organized, and elected J. J. Kack- ley president and A. H. Garnett secretary.


The society now maintains an organization and holds regular meetings.


BAR ASSOCIATION.


On September 15, 1881, the members of the bar met at the court-house and organized a county bar association, with the following officers: H. G. Webb president, Nelson Case and George S. King vice-presidents, J. H. Morrison secretary, J. A. Gates treasurer. This association was never very active, and after a brief existence it was abandoned; since which time no effort has been made to organize or maintain an association.


HOOSIER ASSOCIATION.


On June 19, 1886, the former residents of Indiana met at Labette City and organized a Hoosier Association. Wilf. Cooper was elected president and W. W. Cook secretary. This association has held several annual meetings since then, and maintains a feeling of friendship and pride among the old "Indianians."


76


HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.


OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.


Several attempts have been made to secure a permanent organization of the old settlers in the county. As early as April 16, 1884, there was a preliminary meeting held at the court-house in Oswego, at which a com- mittee was appointed to report a plan for enrollment at an adjourned meet- ing to be held thereafter. D. B. Crouse was chosen chairman and C. B. Woodford secretary. One or two other meetings were held the following month, and a form of constitution was adopted. However, this organiza- tion never did anything more than to have these preliminary meetings. In 1888 another effort was made to secure an organization, and a meeting of the old settlers was called through the Independent, to be held on the 22d of February of that year. A committee was appointed at this meet- ing to call a public meeting and arrange for a large attendance of the old settlers throughout the county. This committee called such meeting to be held at the fair grounds in Oswego on May 10, 1888. An organization was formed at this time, and since then some two or three other meetings have been held ; but the general interest has not yet been secured which it is to be hoped will be shown by those who have done so much to make the county what it is.


THE LABETTE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.


In its issue of July 6, 1878, the Oswego Independent contained a notice of about a half-dozen lines stating that a meeting of the citizens of the county would be held at the court-house on Tuesday evening following, for the purpose of taking steps to organize a historical society. It was understood that this notice was inserted by J. S. Waters, who was then doing editorial work on the Independent. On July 9, 1878, a few par- ties met at the court-house, pursuant to said notice. Alexander Duncan, of Canada township, was made temporary chairman, and J. S. Waters temporary secretary. The matter of a historical society was talked of, and before the adjournment of the meeting a committee consisting of Nelson Case, W. A. Starr and R. M. Donley, was appointed to prepare a plan for organization to be submitted in one week from that time. On Tuesday evening, July 16, the meeting met as per adjournment. The committee appointed to prepare the plan reported through Nelson Case, its chairman, recommending the formation of a society on a very simple basis, "keeping in view sooner or later the incorporation of a society," and submitting the draft of a constitution. The report of the committee was adopted, and the following officers elected : President, Nelson Case ; vice-president, George Lisle ; secretary, J. S. Waters; corresponding sec- retary, M. W. Reynolds; treasurer, C. M. Monroe ; with vice-presidents from each of the townships. There has never been any change in the


77


INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, ETC.


presidency since its organization. In 1879 W. A. Starr was elected sec- retary in place of Mr. Waters, who moved away ; this position he con- tinued to hold until his death. On November 21, 1881, the society became incorporated by filing its charter in the office of the Secretary of State. Since Mr. Starr's death E. B. Baldwin and J. R. Hill have filled the office of secretary ; H. C. Cook and M. E. Williams have held the office of treas- urer.


The society has as near complete files of the county papers as it has been able to obtain, and has collected quite a number of relics and objects of interest connected with the early history of the county, and it is to be hoped that its work of usefulness has but just commenced.


COUNTY CENTENNIAL BOARD.


On Saturday, September 19, 1875, a meeting was held at Oswego, which was attended by citizens from various parts of the county, for the pur pose of organizing a board auxiliary to the State board to secure a proper representation at the Centennial Exposition. The constitution and by- laws recommended by the State board were adopted, and a board of man- agers elected, consisting of the following individuals: W. S. Newlon, P. T. Rhodes, F. B. McGill, Henry Tibbitts, J. F. Hill, J. J. Woods, A. Gebert, H. C. Cook, and J. M. Cavaness. A quorum of the board being present, a meeting was held, and the permanent officers of the board chosen, with the following result : President, J. M. Cavaness; vice-president, F. B. McGill ; secretary, J. F. Hill ; treasurer, J. J. Woods. The board of offi- cers constituted the executive committee. The committees whose duty it was to make collections of the various articles requested by the State board were all chosen.


COLUMBIAN CLUB.


On August 26, 1892, a meeting of the ladies of the county was held at the parlors of the Oswego House, for the purpose of seeing the county properly represented at the Columbian Exposition. The following per- manent officers were elected : Mrs. M. M. Woodruff, president : Mrs. Mary E. Perkins, vice-president : Mrs. Alice Greene, secretary ; Mrs. Elizabeth Elliott, treasurer. Mrs. Woodruff having declined to serve. Mrs. Lyda A. Baldwin was elected president in her place.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.