USA > Missouri > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Missouri : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Clinton County in the late war, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 28
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The first election of Vincil Lodge, which occurred December, 1867, resulted as follows : Elias Parrott, W. M .; M. M. McPhetridge, S. W .: Taylor Criss, J. W .; John Stokes, Treasurer ; A. T. Baubie, Secretary; Lawrence Forrest, S. D .; Moses Joiner, J. D., and B. F. Jones, Tyler.
At the election of December, 1868, the following were chosen : Elias Parrott, WV. M .; Milton Helwig, S. W .; E. T. Walker, J. W .; John Stokes, Treasurer ; John S. Nelson, Secretary; Lawrence Forrest, S. D .; S. S. Hare, J. D., and Benson C. Stokes, Tyler.
December 4, 1869, the following were chosen : Elias Parrott, W. M .; Lawrence Forrest, S. W .; J. J. Osborn, J. W .; John Stokes, Treasurer ; John Nelson, Secretary; Milton Helwig, S. D .; B. C. Stokes, J. D., and Jesse S. Hake, Tyler.
The officers elected in December, 1870, were Milton Helwig, W. M .: John Sebbett, S. W .; J. M. Joiner, J. W .; Lawrence Forrest, Treasurer ; S. S. Hare, Secretary; John Nelson, S. D .; G. S. Merwin, J. D., and Nathan Goodrich, Tyler.
December, 1871, were elected Lawrence Forrest, W. M .; John F. King, S. W .; Nathan Goodrich, J. W .; John Lindsay, Treasurer ; G. W. Gribben, Secretary; M. Helwig, S. D .; B. C. Stokes, J. D., and George Hornbrook, Tyler.
The election of December, 1872, was as follows: N. S. Goodrich, W. M .; James Osborn, S. W .; J. M. Lindsay, J. W .; J. M. Handay, Treas- urer ; S. W. Baum, Secretary; J. M. Joiner, S. D .; John Nelson, J. D., and S. H. Black, Tyler.
December 6, 1873, the election for officers resulted as follows : N. S. Goodrich, W. M .; George Willis, S. W .; George S. Merwin, J. W .; John Livingston, Treasurer ; George W. Gribben, Secretary ; Laurence For- rest, S. D .; P. Quigley, J. D .; W. A. Nusbaum, Tyler, and Rev. Thomas Allen, Chaplain.
December, 1874, the officers elected were : George A. Willis, W. M .: H. S. Beery, S. W .; Newton Ellis, J. W .; John Livingston, Treasurer ; S. S. Hare, Secretary ; E. L. Nelson, S. D .; W. G. Sloan, J. D., and E. Fist, Tyler.
December, 1875, the officers were : G. A. Willis, W. M .; H. S. Beery. S. W .; N. Ellis, J. W ; John Livingston, Treasurer ; S. S. Hare, Secre- tary ; W. G. Sloan, S. D .; George W. Kendrick, J. D., and H. W. McClel- lan, Tyler.
December 1876, the election resulted as follows : H. W. Beery, W. M .; S. S. Hare, S. W .; W. G. Sloan, J. W .; John Livingston, Treasurer ; A. T. Baubie, Secretary ; N. S. Goodrich, S. D .; E. N. Nusbaum, J. D .; H. W. McClellan, Tyler.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
December, 1877, the officers elected were: H. S. Beery, W. M .; George W. Sloan, S. W .; E. M. Nusbaum, J. W .; W. D. Corn, Treasurer ; A. T. Baubie, Secretary ; James H Frame, S. D .; N. Garrett, J. D., and H. W. McClellan, Tyler.
December, 1878: H. S. Beery was elected W. M .; George Sloan, S. W .; George WV. Howenstein, J. W .; W. D. Corn, Treasurer ; John Nelson, Secretary ; T. E. Potter, S. D .; G. S. Merwin, J. D., and George Kendrick, Tyler.
December 6, 1878, the election resulted as follows: W. G. Sloan, W. M .; James H. Frame, S. W .; John Nelson, J. W .; W. D. Corn, Treasurer ; S. S. Hare, Secretary ; E. J. Smith, S. D .; J. R. Brockman, J. D., and H. W. McClellan, Tyler.
The election of 1880, was in favor of W. G. Sloan for Worshipful Mas- ter ; James H. Frame, S. W .; John Nelson, J. W .; \V. D. Corn, Treasurer ; S. S. Hare, Secretary ; E. J. Smith, S. D .; J. Jacobus, J. D., and D. H. Eberly, Tyler.
The present (1881) membership of Vincil Lodge is sixty-four. The organization is in a highly prosperous condition.
Cameron Lodge No. 296, A. F. & A. M. was instituted under dispen- sation November 10, 1874, and set to work by James Y. Whitset, D. D. G. M. of the Thirteenth Masonic District of Missouri, with the following officers : Milton Helwig, W. W .; William McCullum, S. W .; E. T. Walker, J. W. The following officers were then chosen ; Solon Hyde, Treasurer ; Jarvis S. Rogers, Secretary ; Chester D. Combs, S. D .; Alvan Harriman, J. D. and James McKee, Tyler.
Under charter of October 30, 1875, the following officers were elected : Milton Helwig, W. M .; William McCullum, S. W .; E. T. Walker, J. W .; L. Forrest, Treasurer; J. S. Rogers, Secretary; C. D. Combs, S. D .; James S. Bassett, J. D .; R. M. Johnson and J. W. Lancas- ter, Stewards, and W. W. Knoop, Tyler.
December 9, 1876, the election of officers resulted as follows: Milton Helwig, W. M .; William McCullum, S. W .; B. L. Hatch, J. W .; E. T. Walker, Treasurer; M. S. McKee, Secretary; C. D. Combs, S. D .; C. D. Redicker, J. D .; E. F. Kenney and A. D. Stevens, Stewards ; M. Raney, Tyler.
December 1877, the following were chosen : Milton Helwig, W. M .; J. S. Rogers, S. W .; T. E. Conklin, J. W .; Lawrence Forrest, Treasurer ; W. J. Rogers, Secretary ; C. D. Combs, S. D .; C. D. Redicker, J. D .; A. Harriman and B. L. Hatch, Stewards, and E. Walker, Tyler.
December 1878, the following officers were elected: M. Helwig, W. M .; Chester D. Combs, S. W .; William McCullum, J. W .; C. D. Red- icker, Treasurer ; E. T. Walker, Secretary ; A. Harriman, S. D .; Fred- erick Isabel, J. D .; M. T. Klepper, Chaplain ; J. S. Bassett and E. F. Kenney, Stewards, and L. Forrest, Tyler.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
December 1879, the election for officers resulted as follows: E. T. Walker, W. M .: A. Harriman, S. W., J. S. Bassett, J. W .; C. D. Red- icker, Treasurer; N. Follett, Secretary ; M. Helwig. S. D .; F. Isabel, J. D. and J. W. Wright, Tyler.
The present (1881) officers are A. Harriman, W. M .; N. Follett, S. W .; J. W. Wright, J. W .; L. Lowry, Treasurer ; Solon Hyde, Secretary ; J. Judson, S. D .; S. E. Thompson, J. D., and John Grant, Tyler. They were elected December 11, 1880. The organization has a membership of fifty.
Cameron Royal Arch Chapter, No. 67, was set to work U. D. August 1, 1870, by M. A. Lowe, D. G. H. P. The officers under this dis- pensation were Homer Dunn, H. P .; Dr. J. H. Snyder, K .; E. Parrott, S .; Milton Helwig, P. S .; S. E. Johnson, C. of H .; L. Forrest, Treasurer ; G. B. Salmon, Secretary ; J. M. Nelson, R. A. C .; J. E. Goldsmith, G. M. third V .; Jacob Taylor, G. M. second V .; A. Hostadter, G. M. first V .; W. H. Stafford, Guard. They were granted a charter October 6, 1870, in which Homer Dunn, Dr. J. H. Snyder, and Elias Parrott were respect- tively named High Priest, King and Scribe. At an election, the first held under this charter, at a special communication November 22, 1870, the following named officers were chosen : Milton Helwig, H. P .; J. E. Goldsworthy, K .; E. T. Walker, S .; J. M. Nelson, C. of H .; J. H. Sny- der, P. S .; D. T. Adams, R. A. C .; Jacob Taylor, G. M. third V .; S. E. Johnson, G. M. second V .; W. H. Stafford, G. M. first V .; L. Forrest, Treasurer ; E. Fist, Secretary ; G. B. Salmon, Guard. M. Helwig served as High Priest till December 27, 1872, when his successor, Judge E. T. Walker, was installed. Judge Walker was successively re-elected, serving till December, 1876, when he was succeeded by B. L. Hatch, who served till December 24, 1878, when he was succeeded by E. T. Walker, who served till December, 1879. William McCallum was then elected High Priest and served till December, 1880, at which period the present officers were elected, viz : E. T. Walker, H. P .; Z. Provolt, K .; S. E. Johnson, S .; John Livingston, Treasurer ; J. H. Frame, Secretary ; L. Forrest, C. of H ; John Judson, P. S .; J. B. Handy, R. A. C .; Alvin Harriman, G. M. third V .; C. D. Redicker, G. M. second V .; J. J. Osborn, G. M. first V .; J. M. Joiner, Guard. The membership in 1881 of this chapter is sixty-five.
Signet Council No. 19 of Royal and Select Masters was set to work, under dispensation, October 12, 1872, with the following officers : James Thompson, Th. Ill. G. M .; John M. Lindsay, Deputy T. I. G. M .; Robert Hall, P. C. W .; Fred. Henshaw, Treasurer ; E. Fist, Recorder ; Joseph Truex, C. of G .; John L. Nelson, C. of C .; T. W. Moore, Steward; I. G. Willis, Guard. On the granting of a charter by the Grand Council, October 9, 1874, the same officers were retained. These continued to hold their respective positions till August 20, 1875, when they were suc-
18
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
ceeded by the present (1881) officers : E. T. Walker, Th. III. G. M .; L. Forrest, Deputy Th. Ill. G. M .; John Nelson, P. C .; Fred. Henshaw, Treasurer ; E. Fist, Recorder ; W. F. Moore, C. of G .; John Judson, C. of C .; Thomas Crowder, Steward ; R. S. Osborn, Sentinel. The present membership of this Council is 22.
Kadosh Commandery No. 21, Knights Templar, was organized in Hamilton, Missouri, under a dispensation granted by the Grand Com- mandery, April 25, 1872, and was set to work by D. P. Willingford, Deputy of the R. E. G. C. of Missouri, with the following officers : Sir William Wilmot, E. C .; Sir Marcus A. Lowe, Generalissimo ; Sir A. C. Menefee, Captain General ; Sir D. P. Wallingford, Prelate ; Sir John A. Nicely, S. W .; Sir Robert L. Dodge, J. W .; Sir Robert F. Mccullough, Standard Bearer; Sir J. J. Squier, Warder ; Sir Duncan D. Gant, Sentinel.
October 23, 1872, a charter was granted by Oren Root, Jr., Esq., Grand Commander, and signed by George Frank Gouley, Grand Recorder. The first officers elected under this charter were : Sir William Wilmot, E. C .; Sir Marcus A. Lowe, Generalissimo; Sir Alney C. Menefee, Captain General; Sir Henry Hayden, Prelate; Sir Enos J. Dudley, S. W .; Sir Alvin G. Cook, J. W .; Sir James J. Squier, Treasurer; Sir Henry Cloren, Recorder ; John Corester, Standard Bearer ; Sir J. W. Plum, Sword Bearer; Sir Albert G. Davis, Warder.
The following officers were elected in this Commandery December 4, 1873 : Sir William Wilmot, E. C .; Sir M. A. Lowe, Generalissimo ; Sir A. C. Menefee, Captain General ; Sir J. S. Orr, Prelate ; Sir A. M. Irving, S. W .; Sir George T. Rogers, J. W .; Sir Joseph Truex, Standard Bearer; Sir J. S. Spratt, Treasurer ; Sir M. O. Hines, Recorder ; Sir Henry Cloren. Warder ; Sir C. M. Morrow, Sentinel.
December 3, 1874, the following were the officers elected : Sir A. C. Menefee, E. C .; Sir D. M. Ferguson, Generalissimo ; Sir J. W. Harper, Captain General ; Sir J. S. Orr; Prelate ; Sir E. J. Dudley, S. W .; Sir George F. Rogers, J. W .; Sir J. F. Spratt, Treasurer ; Sir William Parton, Recorder ; Sir C. H. Young, Standard Bearer; Sir W. D. Patterson, Sword Bearer ; Henry Cloren, Warder.
The election of December 2, 1875, resulted as follows : Sir Joseph W. Harper, E. C .; Sir J. F. Spratt, Generalissimo ; Sir J. S. Orr, Captain General ; Sir William D. Patterson, Prelate ; Sir H. C. McDougal, S. W .; Sir George F. Rogers, J. W .; Sir R. B. Houston, Treasurer, Sir William Wilmot, Recorder; Sir J. T. Dunn, Standard Bearer ; Sir Charles H. Young, Sword Bearer ; Sir Henry Cloren, Warder ; Sir C. M. Morrow, Sentinel.
December, 1876, the following were the officers elected : Sir J. W. Harper, E. C .; Sir George F. Rogers, Generalissimo ; Sir A. C. Menefee, Captain General ; Sir Wm. D. Patterson, Prelate ; Sir John F. Spratt, S.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
W .; Sir C. H. Young, J. W .; Sir R. B. Houston, Treasurer ; Sir William Wilmot, Recorder ; Sir George S. Lamson, Standard Bearer ; Sir J. W. Plum, Sword Bearer ; Sir E. J. Dudley, Warder ; Sir C. M. Morrow, Sentinel.
The election of December, 1877, resulted as follows: Sir Wm. D. Patterson, E. C .; Sir George F. Rogers, Generalissimo ; Sir A. C. Mene- fee, Captain General ; Sir J. F. Spratt, Prelate ; Sir Wm. Rhodes, S. W .; Sir Enos J. Dudley, J. W .; Sir William Wilmot, Recorder ; Sir R. B. Houston, Treasurer ; Sir Isaac N. Hopkins, Standard Bearer ; Sir J. W. Plum, Sword Bearer ; Sir James S. Orr, Warder ; Sir C. W. Morrow, Sentinel.
The officers elected December 5, 1878, were : Sir George Rogers, E. C .; Sir J. W. Harper, Generalissimo ; Sir John F. Spratt, C. G .; Sir A. C. Menefee, S. W .; Sir Henry Cloren, J. W .; Sir William Patterson, Prelate ; Sir R. Houston, Treasurer ; Sir D. M. Ferguson, Recorder ; Sir James McCray, Standard Bearer ; Sir J. W. Plum, Sword Bearer ; Sir E. J. Dudley, Warder ; Sir C. M. Morrow, Sentinel.
By virtue of a dispensation granted by the Grand Commandery of the state, Kadosh Commandery No. 21 was moved from Hamilton to Cameron, where it held its first meeting in Masonic Hall, Musser's block, July 3, 1879.
The election of December, 1879, the first this Commandery held in Cameron, resulted as follows : Sir George F. Rogers, Eminent Com- mander ; Sir J. H. Snyder, Generalissimo; Sir H. C. McDougal, Captain General ; Sir A. M. Dockery, Prelate ; Sir Z. Provolt, Treasurer ; Sir E. T. Walker, Recorder ; Sir William McCallum, S. W .; Sir A. M. Irving, J. W .; Sir C. F. Wyman, Warder ; Sir Fred. Henshaw, Standard Bearer ; Sir J. A. Wickham, Sword Bearer ; Sir M. Helwig, Sentinel.
The officers elected December, 1880, are : Sir J. H. Snyder, Emi- nent Commander ; Sir A. M. Dockery, Generalissimo; Sir J. W. Harper, Captain General ; Sir A. Harriman, Prelate ; Sir Z. Provolt, Treasurer ; Sir J. S. Orr, Senior Warden ; Sir E. T. Walker, Junior Warden ; Sir J. H. Frame, Warder ; Sir J. F. Spratt, Standard Bearer ; Sir W. E. Blake, Sword Bearer; Sir E. T. Walker, Recorder ; Sir M. Helwig, Sentinel. The membership of Kadosh Commandery in 1881 is fifty-seven.
Adah Chapter No. 17, of the Eastern Star, was chartered in the winter of 1874, with the following officers: Mrs. Sarah Snyder, W. M .; George A. Willis, W. P .; Mrs. McCullom, Treasurer, and Miss Fannie Reid, Secretary. The original membership was sixteen. This institu- tion has prospered abundantly, and now (1881) includes a membership of thirty-eight. Of the Chapter, Mrs. Snyder is W. M .; J. H. Frame, W. P .; Mrs. Goodrich, Treasurer, and Mrs. King, Secretary. The ele- gantly upholstered oriental chairs, organ, etc., above referred to, in Masonic Hall, were provided through the enterprise of the ladies of this
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
order, who raised, by holding festivals, the means of defraying the cost of the same. They also contributed one hundred dollars towards defray- ing the expense of the elegant carpet which covers the floor of the lodge room. Mrs. King and Mrs. Snyder are both members of the Grand Chapter of the State.
THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOW'S
are, in order of time, the second secret benevolent body instituted in Cameron. Star of Hope Lodge No. 182, I. O. O. F., was organized by them under authority of N. M. Smith, D. D. G. M., February 20, 1868. The first officers were E. R. Saulsberry, N. G .; E. T. Walker, V. G .; J. G. Encel, Secretary ; J. J. Tipton, Treasurer ; J. F. Harwood, Permanent Sec- retary. The charter members were E. T. Walker, J. J. Tipton, E. R. Saulsberry, J. G. Encel, George Hornbrook, Frank Gantz and D. A. Munsell. The present (1881) officers are J. J. Tipton, N. G .; A. Talbott, V. G .; J. W. Munsell, Secretary, and N. S. Goodrich, Treasurer. The Board of Trustees are N. S. Goodrich, J. N. Munsell and Z. Provolt. The present membership of the lodge is fifty-six.
Cameron Encampment No. 62, I. O. O. F., was instituted in Cam- eron June 19, 1871. The following were its first officers ; N. S. Goodrich, C. P .; William Hollington, H. P .; J. J. Tipton, S. W .; J. F. Harwood, Scribe, and H. S. Beery, Treasurer. This body of the order is also in a highly prosperous condition, and includes a membership of seventy. The present officers are D. B. H. Brown, C. P .; J. N. Munsell, H. P .; G. WV. Stoner, S. W .; J. J. Tipton, Scribe, and N. S. Goodrich, Treasurer
The hall now occupied by both bodies of the order is an elegant apartment in Musser's block, which was occupied by the Masonic organ- izations till they moved in January, 1881, in their present equally ele- gant, but more expensive apartments in the same block, as above described.
Temple Lodge No. 38, A. O. U. W. was organized December 7, 1877, with the following officers : R. R. Daviess, Past Master Workman ; J. N. Munsell, Master Workman ; W. D. Corn, Grand Foreman ; G. W. Stoner, Overseer ; C. N. Burnham, Recorder ; L. E. Burr, Financier ; E. M. Nusbaum, Guide ; M. L. Walker, Receiver ; A. L. Spore, Inside, and E. J. Smith, Outside Watchman. The charter members were R. R. Daviess, J. N. Munsell, W. D. Corn, G. WV. Stoner, C. N. Burnham, L. E. Burr, M. L. Walker, E. M. Nusbaum, A. L. Spore, E. J. Smith, P. C. Kishpaugh, J. H. Frame, B. M. Blachley, J. H. Kittridge, C. D. Redicker, J. H. Snyder, D. H. Eberly, George Purple, C. H. Mitchell, Harrison Groves, H. L. Freeman, C. H. Rollins, T. E. Conklin, William Wardell, W. H. Miller, G. W. Kendrick and O. B. Lingle. The present member- ship is twenty-two. They hold their sessions in Odd Fellows' Hall.
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IHISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
The present (1881) officers of Temple Lodge are William Wardell, Past Master Workman ; O. B. Lingle, Master Workman ; H. Groves, Grand Foreman ; John Yeaman, Overseer ; L. E. Burr, Receiver ; H. W. Gar- rett, Recorder ; J. C. Loutzenheiser, Financier ; W. F. Russell, Guide, and D. H. Eberly, Watchman.
The Order of Royal Templars was organized in Cameron, January 1, 1876. The founders of the order were J. N. Munsell, J. H. Frame, B. R. Helwig, D. I. Thornton, and W. F. Cane. Mr. J. N. Nunsell was the author of its laws and secret work, and the institution lay dormant for some time after its organization. In November, 1879, it was firmly established by the creation of a Supreme Council of which its founders are permanent members. This Supreme Council is empowered to issue charters and open working temples, etc.
Independence Temple No. I, Independent Order of Royal Templars, was instituted November 18, 1879, and is in a prosperous and growing condition, with a present membership of sixty-eight. The officers of the Supreme Council of the order are : B. R. Helwig, S. G. C .; J. H. Kittridge, S. G. H. P .; J. H. Frame, S. G. C .; J. N. Munsell, S. G. Scribe ; M. Helwig, S. G. Treasurer ; A. T. Newton, S. G. M .; D. T. Thorton, S. G. S. The officers of Independence Temple No. 1, Independent Order of Royal Templars, are (1881): A. L. Newton, T. K .; Y. M. Mun- sell, H. P .; J. Musselman, S. C .; C. H. Munsell, Scribe ; Frank Hallowell, Treasurer ; W. R. Stout, R. C .; Jacob Stoner, R. G .; Erwin Tellers, Guard.
Cameron Lodge No. 2,259, Knights of Honor, was organized July 3, 1880, with the following charter member : J. Garnett, Dictator ; T. E. Potter, Vice Dictator ; J. F. Harwood, Past Dictator ; J. C. Tracy, Assis- tant Dictator ; C. N. Burnham, Reporter ; J. R. Hamer, Financial Reporter ; R. B. Elliott, Chaplain ; A. F. Cecil, Guide ; H. L. Freeman, Treasurer ; F. W. Hort, Guardian ; J. R. Ritchie, Sentinel ; W. D. Corn, J. B. Dawson and S. H. Black, Trustees. The other members were J. W. Thompson, J. W. Crawford, J. H. Frame, George H. Miller and J. A. Patterson. The present (1881) officers are ; H. L. Freeman, Dic- tator ; Fred. W. Hort, Vice Dictator; J. F. Harwood, Past Dictator ; C. H. Rollins, Financial Reporter ; J. R. Hamer, Treasurer ; H. L. Free- man, Representative to the Grand Lodge ; S. S. Black and J. W. Thomp- son, Trustees. The lodge holds its sessions in Odd Fellows' Hall.
Cameron Grange No. 960, Patrons of Husbandry, meets in the after- noon of every second Saturday. In 1881, II. M. McCartney was Worthy Master and E. C. Packard, Secretary.
The members of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Mutual Aid Associa- tion, of St. Louis, met in Cameron, November 4, 1881, and organized a local society there, of which Theodore B. Casterline was chosen Presi- dent ; Edwin C. Wright, Vice President ; Solon Hyde, Secretary ; Dr. Kishpaugh, Treasurer ; Samuel Hamer, Chaplain ; Drs. Sharp and Kish-
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
paugh, Medical Directors ; W. J. Stoner, Deputy, and S. S. Hare, Agent ; Committee on Finances, Dr. Sharp, W. Kuhnert and W. J. Stoner ; Room Committee, Stoner and Hare ; Care of Sick and Poor, Hyde and Sharp ; on Applications, Pollard, Wilhelm and Hamer.
One of the most attractive features of the town of Cameron is its
PUBLIC PARK.
This elegantly improved spot occupies the square bounded on the north by Fourth Street, on the south by Third, on the east by Chestnut and on the west by Cherry Street. It was set apart on the laying out of the town for the special purpose to which it is now devoted. Though for a long period remaining unimproved, in subsequent years it was planted in shade trees, neatly fenced in and otherwise improved and embellished. Its present (1881) appearance is eminently attractive. The beautiful ยท green swards of its surface slopes regularly and gently from Fourth to Third Street, while between the tall water maples appear, at regular intervals, a healthy growth of handsome evergreens. On the north side of this park the stately structure of the Cameron public school rears its elegant proportions. On the south Musser's Block, the most artistic continuous row of brick business houses in the city, appears. On the southeast corner is the sightly structure of the Park Bank, also a brick edifice, with semi-circular arched windows, and on the northeast the Methodist Episcopal, a neat brick church. The general style and charac- ter of the architecture of Cameron is metropolitan and substantial, and the business activity of the town would be creditable to a city of several times its population.
Among other elements of enterprise, the citizens of Cameron deserve especial credit for the inauguration and subsequent maintenance, for sev- eral successive seasons, of
FAIRS
which were held on a piece of ground directly north of and adjoining the town site of Cameron, and, consequently, in DeKalb County. From the circumstances of this ground being and lying within the limits of that county, its charter was derived therefrom ; and, though to all intents and purposes, a Cameron enterprise, it was styled the "DeKalb County Agricultural and Mechanical Association." Commonly known every- where, however, (as it properly was) as the Cameron Fair. The first president of this association was Judge Thomas E. Turney, and the first secretary, WV. D. Corn, Esq. This was in 1867. These fairs continued to be held regularly from the fall of 1867, when the first was inaugurated, for the period of three successive years, with, however, indifferent success, in a financial point of view.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
In 1873, the association changed membership, the ground, etc., hav- ing been sold to another company.
The Cameron District Fair was another organization, of which Hiram A. McCartney was President ; Zachary Provolt, Esq., Secretary, and J. R. McCartney, Treasurer. This company held but one fair. It was in the fall of 1876, and was the only one of these expositions which proved a financial success. We take the following from the Vindicator, of September 21, 1876:
As early as Monday strangers began to arrive in town, and the large number of guests that thronged our hotels indicated that our fair would be a success. By Wednesday the number had greatly increased, and hosts of farmers were in town with their stock and farm productions, but the extremely wet weather of the previous night and the continu- ance of the rain on that morning made it impossible for the association to proceed with the programme that day, and, owing to the fact that the prospects for good weather were so unfavorable, they thought seriously of postponing the exhibition for a few weeks, but the large quantity of goods, machinery, stock, etc., that was already on the ground, resolved them to continue the exhibition, let the weather be what it might.
On Thursday morning the weather was bright and clear, and the mud had dried up sufficiently to put the track in a very good condition, and to make the road to the grounds passable. At an early hour the Cornet Band, in their fine wagon, paraded our streets, and made it known that the fair had now commenced in earnest.
The first day was considerably better than the average first days of our previous fairs, and a great many of our citizens attended, and were somewhat surprised to find that the display was so good.
On Friday, the second day, even more stock had arrived, and the number of visitors was largely increased, and the association felt that their prospects were more flattering than any one had hoped for. The number of fast horses that were entered in the several races, on this day, was larger than that of any previous year, and great interest was mani- fested in each race. We regret to state, however, that the premiums offered were not sufficiently large to induce owners of the best horses in this part of the country to bring them here, but there were several ani- mals that have a very good record.
Saturday was the last and best day of the fair, and the attendance was very large, nearly all the business houses in town closing up in order that the proprietors, clerks and hands might all attend. The farmers were also here in larger numbers on that day, bringing their families and doing all in their power to make the show interesting, and we believe that all who attended were highly pleased with the manner in which the asso- ciation conducted the exhibition, the well arranged programme and with the entire affair. The racing on this day was more extensive than on
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