USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 29
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NEW ORGANIZATION.
The new organization at once proceeded to business, took possession of the grounds, assumed the debts and placed the association on a firm financial basis. The following are the names of the stockholders of the new associa- tion: Charles Skinner, Richard Burke, John W. Smith, Peter H. Yaker, Warren Harris, James B. Carnes. John W. Cherry, M. L. Boyles, R. N. Belshe, Jacob Goldenburg, Joseph L. Nichols, Judson Davis, John G. Hen- ley, G. D. Smith. George H. Hubbell. William Holt, Elkano Payne, J. A. Webster, C. A. Evans, William W. Hubbell. John H. Shanklin, George W. Moberly. D. R. Miller, A. J. Spitler. I. Brainerd. William M. Pond, Alonzo Walker, A. Y. Shanklin, James Austin. George W. Smith, Jacob W. Morris. Emory Wild. M. V. Thompson, F. A. Dinsmoor, Henry J. Herrick. Valen- tine Briegel, A. R. Sate, Jacob R. Custard, Daniel Welch, H. M. Anderson.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
William Anderson, R. D. Haley, D. C. Pugh, R. A. DeBolt, B. F. Thomas, Pleasant W. Bain, W. C. Swayze, R. O. Carscadin, J. HI. Kerfoot, Arthur Hubbell, George Tindall, George Hall, and M. A. Low.
A board of directors was elected as follows: Charles Skinner, George W. Moberly, John W. Smith, James B. Carnes, William Pond, P. H. Yakey, A. Y. Shanklin, Elkano Payne, George W. Smith, Daniel Welch, Isaiah Brainerd, C. A. Evans, Emory Wild.
Officers -- Charles Skinner,* president; P. II. Yakey,t vice-president; John W. Smith, secretary; James B. Carnes, treasurer.
First executive committee -- Charles Skinner, P. W. Yakey, J. W. Smith A. Y. Shanklin, and G. W. Smith.
CONSTITUTION.
The following constitution was adopted unanimously:
ARTICLE 1. The board of directors of this society shall consist of thirteen members, who shall be elected annually. The officers shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, all of whom shall be elected annually, at the first meeting of the board of directors.
ART. 2. The election of the board shall be by ballot, on the second day of the annual fair of each year, at 10 o'clock A. M. of that day and the directors elected shall enter upon the discharge of their duties the first day of Jannary following, and shall hold their offices until their successors are elected and qualified.
ART. 3. The treasurer shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, execute his bond to the society in the sum of three thousand dollars for the faithful discharge of his duties and the paying over of all money that shall come into his hands, in sums that the board of directors shall from time to time order.
ART. 4. No person shall be an officer who is not a member of the society.
ART. 5. The annual exhibition of the society shall be in the months of September or October of each year.
ART. 6. All articles offered for premiums must be owned by the persons offering the same, or by the members of his or her family.
ART. 7. Awarding committees of three persons each shall be annually appointed by the board of dircetors of the society, for judging the different classes of articles offered in competition, and awarding premiums for the same. If not present when called, a committee will be appointed by the superintendent of that class.
ART. S. A list of articles on which premiums are to be awarded by the
*Charles Skinner, elected president, was the first president of the old association and the only one, and is its president to this day, having been elected annually since its last, as well as its first organization. He has proved a competent and faithful officer.
George W. Moberly was elected vice-president, but declined.
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society, shall be published at least a month previous to the day of the exhi- bition.
ART. 9. Competitors for premiums on crops shall be required to have the grounds accurately measured by some competent person, whose statements shall be verified by affidavit.
ART. 10. Premiums on grain and grass crops shall not be awarded for less than one acre, and root crops not less than one-fourth of an acre. The whole quantity produced on the ground specified shall be measured or weighed-root crops to be estimated by weight (divested of the tops), sixty pounds to the bushel, and grain crops to be measured or weighed by the usual standards. The rules in relation to other crops are to be agreed on by the board of directors.
ART. 11. When articles or animals are deemed unworthy of a premium, the judges must refuse to award one.
ART. 12. A report shall annually be made by the president and secretary to the State Agricultural Society, embracing, first, a copy of the printed list of premiums offered and awarded by the society, together with an abstract of the treasurer's report; second, the statement of the competitors for pre- miums on crops and improvements; third, a report giving a general account of the proceedings of the society, the number of members and the prospect of its progress, usefulness, etc., a statement of the principal kinds of agri- cultural products in the county, and, so far as practical, the aggregate amount of the same, the valne, amount, price of products in market, and such information as may aid the State board in keeping a statistical state- ment of the products of our county.
ART. 13. The constitution may be altered or amended at any meeting of the board of directors by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.
BY-LAWS.
ARTICLE 1. All entries must be made by noon of the second day of the fair and not afterward, unless by order of the executive committee.
ART. 2. Competitors for premiums on stock will be required to furnish the secretary with a statement of the ages of stock on exhibition, and in case false statements are made, the premium will be forfeited.
ART. 3. No member of a committee shall sit as judge in the class in which he may be a competitor, but his place shall be filled by the superin- tendent, as in other vacancies, and no competitor shall interfere, or in any manner attempt to influence the opinions of the judges under penalty of forfeiting any award made him.
ART. 4. Persons exhibiting contempt for this society, by tearing off the ribbon placed upon a premium article or animal by the judges, shall be debarred from competing in this society hereafter.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
ART. 5. Awarding committees shall make their reports in writing to the secretary, signed by a majority of the same, immediately after their decision.
ART. 6. Persons liaving stock or manufactured articles to sell may have admission to the ground by paying one dollar for entry of articles for that purpose, provided they do not in any way interfere with the operations of the society.
ART. 7. All premiums which may be awarded, if not called for within thirty days next after the fair, will be considered as donated to the society.
ART. 8. No animal or article shall be entered except by or in the name of the actual owner, and if done otherwise the premium will be forfeited, if awarded.
ART. 9. No eating-houses shall be allowed on the ground without per- mission of the executive committee.
ART. 10. There must be two or more entries to constitute a ring, and if not more than one entry be made, entrance-money will be refunded.
ART. 11. No fast driving will be permitted on the grounds, and the marshal will see that this rule is strictly enforced.
ART. 12. No person shall have access to the secretary's books, nor shall the secretary give information as to entries made in any ring.
ART. 13. All horses and teams admitted at the gates will be assigned to a place within the fair grounds by the marshal.
ART. 14. The blue ribbon shall designate the first premium, and the red the second.
ART. 15. No animal will be allowed to run at large, and to hitch to the trees is positively forbidden. A violation of this rule subjects stock to exclu- sion from the grounds.
ART. 16. Evidence will be required of animals as breeders that they are not barren, and that they have produced offspring within the past two years.
ART. 17. The marshal shall announce, in the ring, the decision of the awarding committee, which shall be final. He shall be chief of police with power to appoint assistants and make arrests.
ART. 18. All keepers of eating-houses, etc., will be required to lay in their supplies before 8 o'clock each day.
ART. 19. The gates will be open at 7 o'clock A. M. of each day, and at that time every officer is required to be at his post.
ART. 20. The exhibition in the amphitheater will commence on the first day at noon, and on all subsequent days precisely at 10 o'clock A. M., and continue until the programme of the day is through.
ART. 21. Until the award has been made, marks of any kind, or other indications of ownership, will not be allowed.
ART. 22. Every article or animal upon the grounds shall, during the fair, be under the control of the board of directors, and whilst every possible precaution will be taken for the safe keeping of the same, the association will, in no case, be responsible for any loss or damage that may occur.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
ART. 23. No person, except the awarding committe on duty and officers of the association, will be allowed inside the area whilst the exhibition is going on.
ART. 24. Exhibitors in the amphitheatre must be careful to have the entry card in a conspicuous place on the animal, that the committee may be facilitated thereby in making awards.
ART. 25. If it be ascertained that an exhibitor has made, or caused to be made, any false statement in regard to animal or article exhibited, or if any exhibitor shall attempt to interfere with the judges in the performance of their duties, by letter or otherwise, he shall be excluded from competi- tion.
ART. 26. The exhibition of the stock in the amphitheatre will commence at the time and proceed in the order specified in the programme. Animals not ready at the proper time and place will be ruled out of competition.
ART. 27. Committees are particularly requested not to give encourage- ment to over-fed animals in the breeding classes.
ART. 28. In judging of blooded stock, regard will be had to the purity of blood, as established by size, form and action, and general characteristics of the various breeds, making proper allowance for age, feed and general circumstances.
ART. 29. Stalls for horses and cattle, and pens for sheep and hogs, will be furnished, as far as practicable, to such as are exhibited. Grain and hay will be furnished on the ground at prime cost. The stalls and pens are numbered and will be assigned in regular rotation.
ART. 30. The president of the association will wear a white, each mem- ber of the board of directors a blue, the secretary a red, and the superinten- dent of the fair ground a yellow rosette, and the marshal and his assistants red scarfs.
ART. 31. Any member of the board of directors failing to attend three consecutive meetings, without a good excuse, shall cease to be a member of said board, and a majority present at any regular meeting shall have power to appoint a successor.
ART. 32. No spiritnons, malt or vinous liquors shall be permitted upon the ground or in the neighborhood of the fair.
ART. 33. No gaming of any kind will be permitted within the enclosure or vicinity of the fair ground.
ART. 34. All officers of agricultural societies and members of the press are invited to attend the fair, and will be admitted free.
ART. 35. An auctioneer will be upon the ground each day of the fair to make sales of stock and articles offered, and will charge but a reasonable commission for his services.
ART. 36. The gates to the ground will be opened at 7 o'clock each morn- ing of the fair, and the exhibition will commence at 10 o'clock.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
ART. 37. The gate fee will be: Footmen, 25 cents; team and wagon, 25 cents; horse and buggy, 25 cents; saddle-horse, 15 cents.
ART. 38. Persons taking premiums in all classes where no entrance fee is required will receive two-thirds and stockholders three-fourths of pre- miums offered, except in classes A, B, C, G and H, where full amount will be paid.
ART. 39. Any horse or mare having taken a premium during the fair will not be permitted to compete again for another prize, except in the fol- lowing rings; viz., For all purposes, speed, roadsters, brood-mare, with colts by her side, and they can take but two premiums at the same fair, after which such animal will be barred from further competition, except as one of a matched pair, sweepstakes and speed.
The by-laws were revised in 1880 by a committee appointed for that pur- pose composed of the following named gentlemen: Jno. H. Shanklin, W. W. Hubbell, R. A. DeBolt, E. Payne and C. A. Evans, and the above is the late revision and now in force.
The officers of the association for the present year (1881) are: President, Chas. Skinner; vice-president, Geo. W. Smith; secretary, G. D. Smith; corresponding secretary, Geo. Tindall; treasurer, James Austin; marshal, W. W. Hubbell. The grounds are about one mile from the center of the city, just outside of the limits and within about one square of the Quincy, Missouri and Pacific division depot of the Wabash Railroad. Considerable improvements have been made the present season, including a fine, new judges' stand, a large and commodious floral hall. A racing meeting was held in June, continuing for three days, and the coming fall meeting of the association promises to be the best the society has ever held.
CHAPTER VIII. PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
When Organized-First Officers-List of Granges-Declaration of Purposes-200 Wagons and 10,000 Bushels of Wheat.
The success of the order was very great in the county and it was at its best in 1874. The order had flourished greatly throughout the State, and Grundy county was no exception to the general result. It was, no doubt, of great benefit to the people, especially to the farming community, and so long as the interests of the farmer and the mechanic were the chief end and object of the organization, just so long it flourished, and rapidly added to the material interests of the agricultural element of the State and county where located.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
The first organization and adoption of a constitution and by-laws for Grundy county was on August 30, 1873, and the constitution was accepted by a meeting of the order in the city of Trenton. A great many granges had been formed in the county and the central or county organization became an important fac- tor in extending the order until the whole county was a network of granges. The constitution and by-laws were perhaps best expressed in the "dec- laration of purposes," the minor details relating simply to the rules of the local granges. In 1873 twenty-five granges had been established, and reached their highest number in 1874, when there were thirty-four granges es- tablished and in full fellowship.
The first officers of the county grange were as follows: Chairman, E. Ryder; overseer, George Spickard; steward, H. Gregg; A. S. steward, C. S. Mace; chaplain, J. B. Gass; lecturer, Geo. H. Hubbell; treasurer, J. H. Groff; secretary, A. Haynes; gatekeeper, N. W. King; L. A. S. steward, Mrs. E. Ryder.
The groundwork of their faith was a unity of spirit and of action in all things essential, that which was only of personal interest, full liberty in indi- vidual action, and charity exercised when wisdom taught that it would do good. As these granges flourished and grew within the county a strong feeling of friendship between all connected with the farming interest sprang up, and to this day there is among the agriculturalists of Grundy county a strong, brotherly affection for one another that has grown stronger as it has grown older.
The following are the correct names of the different orders in this county :
LIST OF GRANGES.
Oak Ridge, No. 204-J. Washburne, master; Y. M. Cantwell, secretary; Trenton, Missouri.
Hickory Grove, No. 363-James Weigel, master; John Eagle, secretary; Trenton, Missouri.
Rural Dale, No. 22-E. Ryder, master; Robert Eveland, secretary; Rural Dale post-office.
Blooming Grove, No. 97-H. Gregg, master; W. C. Fenner, secretary; Rural Dale, Missouri.
Goodwill, No. 340-Samuel Wilson, master; Alfred Chapman, secretary; Alpha, Missouri.
Independence-G. G. Jewett, master; J. A. Hall, secretary; Lindley, Missouri.
Defiance, No. 1846-At Winter's school-house, in Liberty township, William Bevans, master; S. J. Adkinson, secretary; post-office Lindley, Missouri.
Pleasant Grove, No. 1848-At Pleasant Grove school-house, in Jackson
276
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Township, Francis Sproull, master; Jas. M. Sproull, secretary; post-office, Farmersville, Missouri.
Lebanon, No. 1819-Fulkerson school-house, in Taylor township, Josiah Cloar, master; J. W. Mackley, secretary; post-office Edinburg, Missouri.
Lincoln, No. 115-Aaron Haynes, master; R. K. Carpenter, secretary; Trenton, Missouri.
Eureka, No. 339-J. B. Gass, master; J. L. Lafferty, secretary; Trenton post-office.
Tindall, No. 165-James Proctor, master; V. Briegel, secretary; Tren- ton, Missouri.
Prairie View, No. 202-P. Z. Delano, master; - - Lehew, secretary ; Trenton post-office. .
Liberty, No. 164-D. W. Haley, master; J. W. Root, secretary; Tren- ton, Missouri.
Friendship, No. 342-Wm. Downing, master; J. H. Willis, secretary; Lindley, Missouri.
Bethel, No. 161-J. H. Merryman, master; C. A. Conrads, secretary; Alpha post-office.
Madison, No. 543-Joshua Casebeer, master; A. R. Tate, secretary; Trenton, Missouri.
Fair View, No. 471 -- S. M. Williams, master; J. M. Merrill, secretary; Spickardsville, Missouri.
Grand River, No. 1573-H. S. Lewis, master; J. H. Walker, secretary; Oriental, No. 163-Geo. Spickard, master; Wm. Spickard, secretary; Spickardsville, Missouri.
Franklin, No. 162-N. W. King, master; J. T. Wyatt, secretary; Spick- ardsville, Missouri.
Friendship, No. 2-Felix Wild, master; P. W. Thompson, secretary; Buttsville, Missouri.
Commerce-Henry Wharton, master; Daniel Wright, secretary; Trenton, Missouri.
Edinburg-S. K. Witten, master; W. W. Barnes, secretary; Edinburg, Missouri.
Jefferson-Wm. Collins, master; J. S. Collins, secretary; Jamesport, Missouri.
Muirton, No. 309 -- C. S. Mace, master; B. F. Snodgrass, secretary ; Muirton, Missouri.
Industry, No. 987 -- James Mack, master; Y. J. Janes, secretary; Farm- ersville, Missouri.
Perseverence, No. 952 -- C. H. Longfellow, master; Hiram Smith, secre- tary; Jamesport, Missouri.
Jefferson, No. 554- master; secretary; Trenton, Missouri.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Confidence-Nathan Cravens, master; J. B. Reid, secretary; Trenton, Missouri.
North Union-C. Hoffman, master; W. J. Jackson, secretary; Rural Dale, Missouri.
Fidelity-A. Y. Shanklin, master; B. M. Ford, secretary; Trenton, Missouri.
Harrison-Henry Mason, master; B. C. Oiler, secretary; Trenton, Mis- souri.
Trenton, No. 108-G. H. Hubbell, master; Warran Harris, secretary; Trenton post-office.
The declaration and purposes of the Patrons of Husbandry, that which caused the order to spread so rapidly over the country were of that spirit of brotherly love, and opposition to all manner of oppression, which has gained the heart of a people reared in the cradle of liberty, and staunch defenders of a republican form of government. Could the order have prevented the politician from becoming a feature in its organization, and the efforts of a few aspirants for power and pelf to make it a stepping-stone to their polit- ical ambition, it would have flourished to-day as it did a few years ago. As a political party, its successes were of a transitory nature and local effect, yet what reforms they did succeed in carrying out were of essential benefit to the great agricultural interests of the country, and it is to be regretted that the order to this day is not enlarged and united for the work of reform, as declared in its public profession of faith. Believing that these expres- sions should not die, and that they are the groundwork of a people's inter- ests and prosperity, those principles and purposes for which and under which the noble order flourished are given a place in this history. Future generations can look back with pride to their ancestors who made these declarations the groundwork of their civil and political actions. It will show them that the true spirit of brotherly love and noble manhood inspired their forefathers of this day and generation. The following is the " declara- tion of purposes " as given forth by the order of the Patrons of Husbandry in convention assembled :
DECLARATION OF PURPOSES OF THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
"1. United by the strong and faithful tie of agriculture, we mutually resolve to labor for the good of our order, our country and mankind.
"2. We heartily indorse the motto: 'In essentials, unity; in non-essen- tials, liberty; in all things, charity.'
"3. We shall endeavor to advance our cause by laboring to accomplish the following objects: To develop a better and higher manhood and woman- hood among ourselves; to enhance the comforts and attractions of our homes and strengthen our attachments to our pursuits; to foster mutual under- standing and cooperation; to maintain inviolate our laws, and to emulate
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
each other in the labor to hasten the good time coming; to reduce our expenses, both individual and corporate; to bny less and produce more in order to make our farms self-sustaining; to diversify our crops, and crop no more than we can cultivate; to condense the weight of our exports, selling less in the bushel and more on the hoof and in the fleece; to systematize our work and calculate intelligently on the probabilities: to discountenance the credit system, the mortgage system, the fashion system and every other system tending to prodigality and bankruptcy. We propose meeting to- gether, talking together, selling together, buying together, and, in general, acting together for our mutual protection and advancement as occasion may require. We shall avoid litigation as much as possible by arbitration in the grange. We shall continually strive to secure entire harmony, good will, vital brotherhood among ourselves, and to make onr order perpetual. We shall earnestly endeavor to suppress personal, local, sectional and national prejudices; all unhealthy rivalry; all selfish ambition. A faithful adher- ence to these principles will insure our mental, moral and social advance- ment.
"4. For our business interests, we desire to bring producers and con- snmers, farmers and manufacturers into the most direct and friendly rela- tions, hence we must dispose with a surplus of middle men; not that we are unfriendly to them, but we do not need them; their surplus and their exactions diminish our profits. We wage no aggressive warfare against any other interest whatever; on the contrary, all our acts, so far as business is concerned, are not only for the benefit of the producer and consumer, but also for all other interests, and tend to bring these two parties into a speedy and economical contract. Hence, we hold that transportation companies of every kind are necessary to our success; that their interests are intimately connected with our interests and that harmonious action is mutually advan- tageous, keeping in view the first sentence of our declaration of principles of action, ' that individual happiness depends on general prosperity.' We shall, therefore, advocate for every State the increase in every practical way of all facilities for transporting cheaply to the sea-board, or between home producers and consumers, all productions of our country. We adopt it as our fixed purpose to open ont the channels in nature's great arteries that the life-blood of commerce may flow freely. We are not enemies of railroads, navigable and irrigating canals, nor of any corporations that will advance our industrial interests, nor of any of the laboring classes. In our noble order there is no communism, no agrarianism; we are opposed to such a spirit and management of any corporation or enterprise as tends to oppress the people and rob them of their just profits. We are not enemies to cap- ital, but we oppose the tyranny of monopolies; we long to see the antago- nism between capital and labor removed by common consent and by an en- lightened statesmanship worthy of the nineteenth century. We are opposed
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
to excessive salaries, high rates of interest and the exorbitant per cent of profit in trade. They greatly increase our burdens and do not bear a proper proportion to the profits of the producers. We desire only self-protection and the protection of every true interest of our land by legitimate transac- tions, legitimate trade and legitimate profits. We shall advance the cause of education among ourselves and for our children by all just means within our power. We especially advocate for our agricultural and industrial col- leges that practical agriculture, domestic science, and all the arts which adorn the home be taught in their courses of study.
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