A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 1, Part 32

Author: Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cincinnati : Western Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 724


USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 1 > Part 32


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).


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The original stock of our improved horses, which were at an early day brought into this part of the State, came from New Jersey, Long Island, Virginia, and Mary- land. Their get constituted the base upon which subse- quent improvements have been made. And in addition to the strains of horses, and particular horses above given, it is proper to state that many other horses of good qualities have been used by our breeders. Among these we can give the names of " Orphan Boy," " Comet," " Miami Chief," " Friendly Tiger," "Top Gallant," ". Young Cad- nius" (by " Cadmus," and dam by "Sumpter"), " Bell


Founder," " Archie," " Lightfoot," " Mambrino," " Vic tor," " Highlander." and " Perfection." Others of equal merit, whose names are not readily called to mind, have had their part in the improvement of our stock. 0


We have not relied alone upon our own stock. That which has been introduced into neighboring counties has been used, and its improving influence is manifest. One thing we have carefully avoided : We have not deterio- rated our stock by using what Dr. Clemens styles the "Morgans of to-day," and what he describes as stock "not suited for any thing, badly gotten up, and bogus."


STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER AND VALUE OF HORSES FOR THE YEARS NAMED. -


YEARS.


No. horses.


Value.


YEARS.


No. horses.


Valne.


1836, .


7,846


$313,840


1862, .


11.817


8603.100


1843,


7,970


318,800


1863,


11,512


666,386


1844, .


8,102


324,080


1564,


11,375


803,422


1845. .


8,618


344,720


1865,


11,055


925.926


1846, .


10,590


427,600


1866,


11,219


935.550


1847,


10,516


400,027


1867, .


11,165


956.678


1848, .


10,507


388,513


186S. .


11,414


975,002


18-19, . .


10,632


400,009


1869, .


10,471


863,499


1850, .


10.319


412,805


1870. .


10,342


854,415


1851,


10,175


430,707


1871, .


10.800


830,342


1852,


8.465


402,081


1872,.


10.899


819,410


1853, .


10,894


586,319


1873. . .


10.504


779.457.


1854, .


11,262


694.233


1874, .


10.470


709.255


1855, .


10,963


687,471


1875,


10,638


951,822


1856, .


11,160


801,867


1876, .


10.809


735,417


1857, .


11.307


894,093


1877, .


11.277


722.138


1858. .


11,400


870.583


1878. .


11,442


680,147


1859, .


11,799


859,932


1879,


11,452


645.492


1860, .


12,551


S30.511


11,246


625,004


1861, .


12,023


728,550


1881, .


11,300


050,019


-----


It will be seen, by reference to the foregoing table, that the number of horses in this county for the last thirty five years has undergone but a very slight change. Their average price, however, has undergone very de- cided fluctuations. The average value of horses, as re- turned for taxation in 1847 was 838.04. The average value in 1866 was 883.39, an increase of about 109 per cent, a decided change in twenty years The decrease in the value of horses as returned in 1862 was violent and excessive, resulting from the apprehensions of all classes that the effects of the rebellion would be to destroy the value of all of our property. The mistaken views of all were soon made apparent, and the result is that in 1866 the value of horses per head had increased in four years from $51.04 to 883.39, being an increase of 63 per cent.


The average value for 1865 and 1866 of the horses of Butler County was 863.50 per head. That is a higher average than was attained in those years by any county in the State, save the connty of Hamilton. Notwith- standing the many five single horses, and fancy watched horses of great value, owned in the cities of Dayam. Col- unbus, Toledo, and Cleveland, the averages in their ro. spective counties did not equal the average value of the horses in this county. This fået conclusively sustains the


.... ...


AGRICULTURE.


131


assertion that we very confidently made, that in the blood, size, fine style, symmetry of form, aud enduring qualities of the horses of this county, we are not excelled. With this confident expression of our opinion we conclude what we have deemed it proper to say upon this division of our report.


Mules, by consanguinity, and the uses to which they are applied, rather than by numbers or value, next claim our attention. They have never been received with favor by our farmers. Their appearance was not prepossessing, and a strong repugnauce to permit any uncomely mongrel to supersede the noble horse has seriously interfered with their introduction into this county. They were, there- fore, slow in gaining a foothold among us. Now they have some fast friends who regard them as indispensable helpmates in the work of the farm-as reliable and en- during slaves, and as profitable stock to raise and feed for market. The slow progress of their introduction, and. their numbers and value, will be seen by the fol- lowing table :


YEARS ..


No. Innles


Valne. .


. YEARS. .


No. mules


Value.


1.846, .


1864, .


295


320,585


1847,


9


$530


1865, .


262


25,407


1848,


12


438


1866,


309


32,180


1849,


13


458


1867,


303


32,724


1850,


25


938


1868,


540


45,684


1851,


22


1,048


189,


509


44,040


1852,


47


2.281


1870,


516


47.265


1853,


4S


2,882


1871,


489


46,902


1854,


96


5,982


1872, .


530


43,304


1855


154


9,533


1873, .


533


47,070


1856,


169


13,500


1874.


574


47,245


1857,


161


14,220


1875,


50,664


1858,


249


21,295


1876,


666


52.500


1859,


240


18,800


1877, .


725


56,476


1860,


217


16,964


1878,


S22


53,510


1861,


226


14,461


1879,


707


51,714


1862,


281


11,455


1880,


790


52,715


1863, .


252


15,050


iss1, .


721


51,209


CATTLE .- The quality of the cattle of this county does not compare favorably with the quality of the horses, the sheep, or the hogs. The infusion of improved blood, by crosses of our common cattle with other breeds, has not made much progress. More attention to this important branch of good farming has been given within the last ten years than during the twenty preceding years. Al- though men can be impressed with the fact that the value of our stock would be enhanced in four years fifty per cent by judicious crossing with the finer breeds of rattle, yet there scems to exist an inveterate repugnance on the part of some who are abundantly alle to expend money for the accomplishment of so great an improve- ment. There are some who appreciate good stock, and who feel the importance of setting a good example before those who, from obstinate prejudices and selfish but short- -ightel views, are unwilling even to promote their own interests. Progress has been made in the right direction, and sooner or later we shall have good cattle in abini-


[ dance. The breeds which have received attention from our farmers are Shorthorn Durhams, Devons, and Ayr- shires. The former breed has been more extensively used for crossing than both the others. Devons have been purchased by some under the singular delusion that they stand pre-eminent as a breed of cattle for milk. Those who so highly commend the Devon for their milking properties would most likely disparage the Ayrshire cow as a good milker. Crosses, however, with Devons, even if made under mistaken views, will accomplish good re- sults, and may induce our farmers to consider the propri- ety of making further experiments in crossing and im- proving their stock, even at the cost of a few dollars, well invested.


As it will be seen, by examination of a table hereafter given, our stock of cattle has been fearfully reduced in numbers within the last score of years. In 1855 we had 20,914 head of cattle, while now our numbers have been very improvidently reduced to 16,519. This is an actual reduction of twenty per cent in twenty-six years. This great falling off has very unwisely been permitted to take place, notwithstanding the increase of our own immediate population and the exceedingly rapid increase of Cincin- nati and of all the principal cities in the country, which are constantly making greater deman is upon farmers for beef. The numbers of our cattle should at least grow with the increase of our population. But it has not been so with us.


The above reduetion is not only injudicious and im. provident, but, if correspondingly continued, will tend to the serious impoverishment of our soil, and must reduec our position from a first-class producing county to one of the second class. The bigh prices which meats of every kind have commanded has unwittingly induced our farm- ers to sell not only their aged cattle, but their ealves. They have not only parted with the golden egg, but they have foolishly sold the hen that laid it. The places of the aged cattle made into beef have not been filled by younger stock raised upon the farm. On the contrary, a short- sighted and avaricious policy has induced many to destroy their capital by selling off all their ealves for veal. instead of bestowing upen them extra care to make them more than fill the places of those previously and properly sold.


As a general rule, every good system of mixed hits- bandry, in order to be profitable and promotive of the permanent prodnetiveness of the soil, should be based upon the amount of manures that may be relied upon from the domestic animals maintained upon the farnt. . No arbitrary rule as to the number to be kept can be definitely fixed. All such rules would be liable to fre- quent modifications, depending upon the character of the soil, the climate, the grains grown, the grasses produced. and numerous other important considerations. Besides. temporary circumstances might, for a brief scason, ju -. it's it departure from any well-considered rule which may have proved to be generally correct.


ske


.


1


i


1


132


HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.


In this climate, with our highly productive soil, alike suitable for grains and grasses, it can not be unsafe to prescribe, as a general rule, that the number of our do- mestic animals should bear that proportion to our popu- lation which is found to be wise and appropriate in for- eigu countries less productive than ours, which proportion to population may be modified by the extent of arca upon which such populations, respectively, may be found to exist.


Let us see, therefore, what proportion the cattle of other countries bear to their population, and what pro- portion they bear to the aggregate number of aeres in such countries, so far as we can find the necessary data for giving the proportion.


In Great Britain to every head of cattle, 5.20 of population.


" Prussia


66


3.40


. As our population is much less dense in Ohio than in the above-named foreign countries, and our ability to feed stock is far superior to their ability, it is apparent that our cattle in Ohio are not so numerous as they should be. The proportion of cattle to population in Butler County, as it existed in 1855, was no better, all things being considered, than that above given for Ohio. The present exhibit, therefore, for Butler County, is re. prehensibly low. Our number of cattle ought to be speedily increased, for our credit as well as our profit.


If we rightly estimate our productive ability to sus- tain a large amount of stock, the great and increasing demand at remunerative prices for cattle in every condi- tion, and their value in providing the most reliable means for maintaining the fertility of our soil, we can not hesitate to come to the conclusion that Ohio, as well as Butler County, has been pursuing an unwise policy in not maintaining and increasing her stock, not only in number but in quality. The population of Butler County was, in 1855, 33,301, and is now 42,580: and yet while this increase of population of 9,289 has taken place, our cattle have decreased from 20.914 to 16,519. We should resolve speedily to regain our former position, and then put forth new energies to make our county one of the best counties in the West for the production of beef and milk.


.


No carefully conducted experiments have been made to determine the most cconomical mode of raising and fattening stock. The general custom of bestowing as little attention upon the stock of the farm as possible often prevails. We have, however, many exceptions, where intelligent and well-directed efforts are given to |


increase the number and to improve the quality of our cattle.


The number of marauding cattle found upon the pub- lic roads has sensibly decreased. The law npon that sub- jeet has had a salutary effect, not only in restraining the wayward footsteps of famished cattle, but in educating their owners to a higher sense of their obligations to their neighbors. Yet there are sore-heads who have not yet become reconciled to the necessity of caring for the prop- erty, the rights, or the comfort of others.


The following table will give the number and value of the cattle in this county since 1843 :


YEARS.


No. cattle.


Value.


YEARS.


No. cattle.


Value.


1836,.


8,151


$65,268


1862, .


15,548


$173,714


1843,


8,671


69,369


1863, .


16,236


200,479


1844, .


8,608


CS 864


1864, . 14, 470


232,438


1845, .


9,077


72,616


12,623


311,673


1846,


12,946


103,568


1566, .


14,781


395.197


1847.


11,751


107,063


1867,.


18,724


421.305


1848.


12,838


103,358


1868, .


17.238


157.903


1849,


12,420


107,329


1869, .


15,732


429.005


1850, .


12,618


112,861


1870, .


17,236


161.824


1851, .


13,044


122,718


1871. .


17.493


441.710


1852, .


13.360


135.226


1872, .


16,800


346,56S


1853, .


20,095 20,913


257,057


1871, .


17,999


375.000


1855, .


20,914


227.198


1875, .


16,054


313,989


1856, .


19.829


256.881


1876, . 1877. .


15,388


317.228


1858, .


17,050


245,999


1878, ..


16,404


357,757


1859, .


17,705


200.283 + 1879.


16.852


1800, .


16,55S


230.72€


1850,


16,906


$56.401


1861, .


16,431


211,774


1881,


16,519


331,092


66


2.70


" Hanover


66


66


2.20


66


" Austria


66


66


2.20


66


" Bavaria


60


1.40


66


:


" Butler Co. in 1855 "


66


1.60


66


2.66


66


1866 " 18SI "


60


2.57


66


219,045


1573. .


16,522


359.552


1854. .


15,630


333,183


1857. .


18 252


218,182


The breeding and fattening of hogs is an important branch of the business of farming as conducted in this county. No county in the United States of equal area has produced so many hogs of a superior quality as the county of Butler. The breed which is here so highly es- teemed is the result of careful and judicious selection, conducted by the best breeders in this county and the adjoining county of Warren, for the last fifty years.


The precise history of the method adopted to produce this popular breed of hogs can not be given as fully and as reliably as its present value and importance demand. The best information of a reliable character which can be obtained gives us to understand that as early as about 1820 some hogs of an improved breed were obtained and crossed upon the then prevailing stock of the county. Among the supposed improved breeds of hogs there were the Poland and Bycficht. They are represented as being exceedingly large hogs, of great length, coarse bone, and deficient in fattening properties. Subsequently more de- sirable qualities were sought for, and the stock produced by the crosses with Poland, Byefield, and other breeds underwent very valuable modifications by being bred with an esteemed breed of hogs then becoming known, and which were called the Big China. They possessed import- ant qualities in which the other breeds were sadis de- ficient. At a later period Mr. William Neff, of Cincin-


" France


2.60


" Holland


" Sweden


2.00


1.50


66


" Denmark


" Ohio in 1866


66


2.05


133


AGRICULTURE.


nati, an extensive pork-packer, and fond of fine cattle and hogs, made some importations of fine stock from England. Among them were some Irish Graziers. They were white in color, of fair size, fine in the bone, and pos- sessing admirable fattening properties. Berkshires, about the same time, were attracting much attention, and both breeds were freely crossed with the then existing stock of the county. The result of these crosses was highly ad- vantageons in the formation of a hog of the most desira- ble qualities. The Berkshires had obtained, with many breeders, great favor, while others objected to them be- cause they thought them too short and too thick in the shoulder. Nevertheless the Berkshire blood was liber- ally infused into this stoel of hogs, but in such a judicious manuer as to obviate the objections urged against them, and to seeure their conceded good qualities.


Since the formation period of this breed of hogs, as above stated, there have been no material or decided in- novations upon the breed thus obtained. Breeders have carefully selected and judiciously bred from the best ani- mals thus produced among us. Wherever defective points were apparent, they have been changed by careful breed- ing. There has been for many years no admixture of any other breed of hogs. This breed is now, and has for nearly fifty years been the stock predominant in this county. Breeders believe that they have a well-established breed of hogs, which is nosurpassed in the most desirable qualities of a good hog. This breed of hogs, although of comparatively recent origin, may be regarded as thor- oughly and permanently established. They have been bred so long, and with such judgment and uniform suc- cess, that they may be confidently relied on as possessing such an identity and fixity of character as a distinct breed as to give assurance that they will certainly and unmis- takably propagate and extend their good qualities.


For many years there was some diversity of opinion as to the proper name to be given to the popular and prevailing breed of swine. The subject was thoroughly « iscussed, and the name definitively and authoritatively determined by the action of the National Swine-breeder?' Convention, held at Indianapolis in November, 1872. That convention settled on the name Poland-China. The action of the convention has been almost universally adopted by breeders throughout the country.


While we claim that Butler County has more good hogs than any county in the State, yet we do not desire to, do our neighbors aby injustice by appropriating all the credit for this breed of hogs to ourselves.


Warren County assisted in the formation and estab- lishment of this breed of hogs. . They continue to raise them in their purity and perfection, and take into the mar- ket as fue lots of hogs as have ever been raised and sold.


lu verification of what we claim we propose to show the averages of hogs sold and delivered to packers-not isolated cases, nor single specimen hogy, but the lots of hays raised by our farmers and sold in the market.


These hogs are usually kept over one Winter, and are sold at ages ranging from eighteen to twenty-one months.


Mr. David M. Magie has made the following sales :


Onė lot of 63 hogs, average weight, 114


40


16 417


433


66 30 400


72


413 408


100 43


167


66


120 45S


Thos. L. Reeves sold 39 head, 173 months old, averaging 459 Jeremiah Beaty .. averaging 66


L. Miltenberger


Abraham Moore " 40


Win. Gallager :1 4


473


Win. Gallager. the first 22 head of same, averaging. . 525


These are individual lots, among many which have been noticed as remarkable for their high average. Al- though they have never been equaled, so far as the pub- lic know, yet some may regard another kind of evidence as more conclusive. To such we submit the following facts, kindly furnished by Mr. Chenoweth, who, for many years, weighed the hogs packed by Jones & Co., at Mid- dletown, in this county. The hogs there packed are mainly furnished by citizens of this county and Warren County. The following table will explain itself':


THE SEASON WHEN PACKED.


No. packed.


Whole av- · erage.


In season of 1862 and 1863, .


4,956


305 lbs.


66


1863


1861, .


5,538


276


66


186-1


1865,


5,570


282


66


1865 4


6,003


345


1866


1867,.


5,013


$35


Such an average, for -so many seasons, where so great. a namber has been packed, we believe to be uncynaled.


Below we give a statement of several lots of hogs packed at the above house during the season of 1857:


NO. IN EACHI LOT.


Average.


NO. IN EACH LOT.


Average


Lot of 32 head, .


423


Lot of 13 head. .


=


10


461


6.


21


66


17


66


426


66


26


+++


IS


66


ITS


66


6


66


38


66


492


=


50


.6


155


66


433


2'


12


510


These figures, which are obtained from unquestionable sourees, must decide the superiority of our breed of hogs over all others. To produce such averages, the stock must be of the best quality, and then care and judgment in breeding must be practiced, and good attention given in raising and fattening.


The rose adopted in breeding, rearing, and fattening our hogs, as practiced by our successful breeders. is very uniform indeed. Young sows are usually preferred for breeders. They and the boar are carefully selected, so


80


451


66


13.4


HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY. .


as to perpetuate good points and to avoid any that may be deemed either defective or unsatisfactory in their ap- pearance. Breeders aim to have their pigs come between the 1st of March and the 15th of April. The sows, with their pigs, are carefully attended until weaning time, when they are duly separated, and the pigs are then abundantly supplied with slop and other feed, so as to prevent them from losing growth or flesh in consequence of their weaning. Whenever they attain sufficient age they are turned into clover, where they remain during the continuance of grass. During the ensuing winter, they are kept in a thrifty growing condition. In May of the second year, they are turned into clover pasturage, where they remain until AAugust or September. This Summer pasturing upon clover is deemed essential to the proper de- velopment and growth of the hog. They increase rap- idly in size, 'and become in the best possible condition for receiving fat-producing food, which is given to them with care and regularity until they are ready for market.


Some feeders deem it advisable to give the stock they propose to fatten a slop of meal or shorts during a part of August and September. Others rely upon noth- ing but coru, fed to them in the ear, or by " turning in " upon standing corn. This latter mode would seem `to be a very slovenly and improvident manner of feed- ing hogs. It is, however, not always so. When the weather is favorable there is economy of labor and no waste of grain in thus fattening hogs. If turned in early they consume a large portion of the stalks and all the corn. There is another reason in favor of feeding off corn by turning hogs early in the season upon the corn : The hogs take off but little from the land, and it is, therefore, less exhausting to the soil than feeding the grain produced in any other way. To feed hogs thus in a wet season is very objectionable. Grain is lost, hogs do pot thrive so well, and the' land is very liable to be- come injured by compacting and baking.


As yet, no carefully conducted experiments have been made in this county to test the advantages of cooking food for fattening hogy. Farmers estimate that it re- quires from eighteen to twenty-five bushels of dry corn to fatten cach head of a fair lot of hogs. In two in- stanees the experiment of fattening hogs with corn boiled on the ear has been tried. One gentleman, some years ago, fattened some twenty-five head on boiled corn. and stated that he had done so by using about seven or eight bushels per head. Another gentleman claimed to have produced the same results by using half the usual quan- tity .of corn. There is but little question but what an immense saving would be effected by cooking all cur corn used for fattening purposes.


The prevalence of that fearful, and usually fatal dis- case, the hog cholera, has done its work with us as with others. It does not prevail as extensively now as here- tofore, nor is the disease as virulent. Farmers now watch the condition of their stock with more care than hereto-


tofore. While there is no reliable remedy known for curing the disease, yet careful attention to the health and growth of stock, and the use of some supposed prevent- ives may be efficacious in staying the ravages of the dis- ease, and saving us from great losses.


For the purpose of showing the capacity of Butler County for raising hogs, and making pork for the market, the following statement is submitted, showing the number and value of hogs assessed for taxation purposes :


YEAR3.


No. of hogy.


Their value.


YEARS.


No. of hogs.


Their value.


1846,


54,077


1864, .


39,629


$133,596


1847,


60,604


$156,190


1865,


27,886


180,932


1848,


64,007


97,514


1866,


29,959


233,906


1849.


63,425


116,446


1867,


10.527


230,712


1850,


52,467


86,688


1868,


38,083


198,702


1851,


41,515


87,720


39.03-4


227,303


1352


51,362


165,360


1870,


36,490


264,620


1853,


66,249


225,901


1571,


43.036


286,751


1854,


66,695


184,765


1872,


44,856


180,149


1855,


53,137


118,504


1873,


41,352


272,311


1856.


47,399


163,845


1874,


41,455


193,101


1857,


49,566


201,739


1875,


39,524


236,730


1858, .


49,655


182,162


1876,


36,704


276,443


1859,


42,012


132,524


1877,


14,242


24-4,095


1850, .


40,279


154,01S


1878,


52,706


196,020


1861,


49,992


208,267


1879, -


16,079


157,383


1862,


56,306


142,127


1880,


32,367


134,709


1863,


12,012


126,672


18$1, .


28,255


133,072


This table shows the increase and decrease of numbers, as well as their aggregate values, for the last thirty-six years. It will be seen that the number of hogs reported has undergone decided changes. The largest number was 66,695 in the year 1854, and the lowest muumber was 27,886 in 1865. While our population was increasing at nearly the rate of 550 per annum, amounting in 11 years to about 6,000, the number of hogs decreased in the same time about 55 per cent. The variableness in price has been remarkable. They were worth, in 1848, $1.52 per head ; in 1855, $2.23; in 1863, 83; and in 1866, 88.




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