Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 30

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149

USA > Ohio > Butler County > Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio > Part 30

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).

In 1876 the meetings were changed from quarterly to monthly, and for several years thereafter the meetings were held reg- ularly and the prosperity of the society var- ied with the interest and enthusiasm mani- fested by its members.

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On November 7, 1894, the laws of the society were amended, so as to provide for holding the regular meetings on the first

Wednesday evening of each month at eight-thirty o'clock. This arrangement, however, was soon found to be inconven- ient to many of the members, and on Janu- ary 15, 1896, the society returned to the old custom of holding its meetings at three o'clock in the afternoon. In 1898 the meet- ings were changed from monthly to quar- terly.

In 1902 the society was reorganized to conform to the provisions of the National and State Societies, and the by-laws were amended so that any physician residing in Butler county who is legally qualified and registered as such. is eligible to member- ship.

The following are members of the But- ler County Medical Society : Hamilton-F. M. Barden. S. L. Beeler, Walter Brown. Edward Cook, George M. Cummins, F. M. Fitton, John Francis, L. H. French, John A. Graft. G. A. Hermann, C. W. Hodges. F. G. Hornung. C. N. Huston, W. C. Hus- ton, Leon Iutzi. M. M. Jacobs. Henry Krone, Jr .. Otto Mayer, Wm. C. Miller. Mark Millikin, Dan Millikin, J. H. Roll. J. C. Scheel, August Schumacher, C. A. Shaefer, Thomas D. Sharkey, E. C. Sill. George C. Skinner, A. L. Smedley, J. E. Torrence, J. F. Trump, H. H. Twitchell, C. C. Wasson. Georgetta Williams. Mary Manning and Louis Frechtling. Homeo- pathic-Prudence Fennemann, Jas. W. Overpeck. S. H. Schell, W. Z. Kumler, J. M. Clark and J. D. Marshall. Eclectic- O. P. McHenry, John A. Burnett, L. C. Bell, C. Markt and A. H. Nesbitt. Middle- town-T. A. Dickey. George Lummis. D. B. Bundy, C. M. Corson, Bryan Sharkey, S. L. Krauss, W. T. Sipe and A. J. Dell. Oxford-Hugh M. Moore, H. H. Smith,

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D. D. De Neen and W. S. Alexander. Mill- ville-W. D. Hancock and E. M. Cox. Darrtown-Andrew B. Wilkie. Bethany- Otto Walter. Jacksonburg-J. B. Owsley. Monroe - James Macready. Okeana -

Frank J. George. Shandon-Cary F. Hull. Ross-Ora J. Smith. Collinsville-R. E. Burdsall. Reily-Walter J. Smith. Tren- ton - Henry Schoenfeld and James G. Grafft.

THE COUNTY FAIR.

The Butler county fair is an institution of the people. It was founded by the peo- ple and has ever been fostered by them. With it have been connected many of the most prominent men the county ever knew. Men who had the interest of the county at heart. Men who sought no financial ag- grandizement but were impelled only by a desire to further the agricultural and in- dustrial interests of the county. and by a spirit of friendly competition to bring the people together, year by year, in mutual in- tercourse and to thereby stimulate the county's development and posterity. As far as it is possible. from all the sources available for information, the history of the fair has been carefully compiled and its progress from an humble beginning to its present high standard is a story of much interest and instructiveness.

While the distinction of having the pioneer fair of Ohio does not belong to Butler county, it was one of the first to award premiums for the exhibition of farm products. The first agricultural society or- ganized in Ohio, was in February. 1819, and was called "The Agricultural and Manu- facturing Society. of Washington county, Ohio, and Wood County, Virginia." ! little later, in the same year. "The Cincin- nati Society for the Promotion of Agri- culture, Manufacturing and Domestic

Economy" was organized, with William Henry Harrison as president. In a few years these societies began the custom of giving exhibitions of farm products, cereals and stock at the county seats of their re- spective counties. The term "fair" had its origin from the French "foire." meaning market place, as the market place was usu- ally at the county seat, in the public square, and the products were displayed much the same as they are in the market places of today, such exhibitions came to be called fairs. Sometimes the court house served as the floral and art hall for the limited dis- play in those lines of culture, and the streets surrounding the public square were used to display the farm products.

The first fairs held in Butler county were pigmies in comparison with the mod- ern "Greatest Fair on Earth." The agri- cultural resources of Butler county had reached nothing of the development of later years. The farm implements employed then were of the very rudest character. The wooden mould-board plow was the most highly perfected piece of farm machinery then in use, and the primitive hoe. grain cradle, scythe and sickle were the common implements employed. The products of the farm displayed at the first fairs of Butler county, produced by these unimproved im- plements were few and of a less valuable

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quality than those of today, hence an ex- ciety held its first fair in Hamilton on Wed- tended space was not required in which to nesday and Thursday, October 26 and 27. 1831. The committee appointed by the so- ciety to make the necessary arrangements for the fair were John Woods. Robert Hewes, Stephen Millikin, John Knox, C. K. Smith, Samuel Dick and Caleb DeCamp. make the exhibits. For several years the Butler County Agricultural Society fol- lowed the custom of other societies, in hold- ing its fairs on the public square. The ex- hibits were brought in and arranged on wagons, and presented about such a scene A. F. Chittenden. president of the so- ciety, on October 15th, appointed the fol- lowing committees for the purpose of awarding premiums and certificates, to the exhibitors entitled thereto on the productions and domestic animals exhibited : Committee on horses-William W. Phares, Stephen Minor. John Eichelberger. Fergus Anderson, Dr. Peter Vanderveer; com- mittee on neat cattle-Abner Phillrick. John Sutherland, Jesse Corwin. John Knox, Andrew Millikin; committee on hogs and sheep-John Hall, Alanson Roots. Abner Enoch, Lazarus McNeal. Wilkinson Beatty : committee on domestic manufacture-Caleb DeCamp. Thomas Kenworthy. H. S. Ear- heat. Jonathan Pierson. Joseph Woodruff ; committee on agricultural products-Cor- nelius W. Hall, Samuel Barnett. Lewis West : committee on ploughing matches- James Comstock, Samuel Dick. Jr., Robert Scott: marshal-John M. Millikin; assist- ant marshals-John Green, William Ander- son. as now may be witnessed on any ordinary market day in Hamilton. These fairs usu- ally lasted for two days, and exhibits were arranged during the early morning hours of the first day of the fairs. The fair days were the farmers' holidays, and from far and near the people came in covered farm wagons and on horseback, and by crowds, to witness the big show. The committee on awards soon completed their work. after which a distinguished orator who had been engaged for the purpose entertained the assemblage with an address upon some popular theme. At noon the basket dinner was enjoyed by all. The afternoon of each day was spent in racing. plowing matches and other amusements. East High street was utilized as a race track, and much in- terest was given to the various kinds of rac- ing. At the horse racing, betting was fre- quent and the excitement ran high. Thus the day was enjoyably passed, and when the lengthening shadows commenced to appear. with many good wishes, the crowds passed out and went cheerfully homeward.

From this small beginning, nearly seventy-five years ago, the Butler county fair has steadily kept pace with the march of progress in invention and scientific cul- ture and agricultural development until it is one of the most magnificent exhibitions of the character in the country today.

The Butler County Agricultural So-

The Hamilton Intelligencer. in its issue of November 1. 1831, gives the following account of the first Butler county fair :

"We were much gratified with the pro- ceedings of the Butler County Agricultural Society, on Wednesday and Thursday last. Notwithstanding the rain which continued to fall during the first day, a very numerous assemblage of our citizens collected to wit- ness the exhibition. It was said by com-

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petent judges that the exhibition of brood mares was highly creditable to the farmers, and the cattle which were shown proved that many of them improve their stock by procuring and rearing the best breeds.

"The ladies who favored the society by exhibiting specimens of their industry and taste, received general applause for the ex- cellence of their fabrics, which were all so good that the committee found no little dif- ficulty in deciding which was entitled to the palm of superiority.

"The proceedings of the second day were not less interesting than on the first. The ploughing match excited general at- tention. We have often seen crowds as- sembled to hear rival lawyers, or opposing politicians, display their talents and elo- quence; but the scene was new to witness a large concourse, watching with lively in- terest the spirited competition between rival ploughmen.

"The address of William Bebb, Esq., was received with general approbation, and we saw not a few old farmers listening, with kindling animation, to the appropriate re- marks of the speaker."

The address was subsequently published. and excited much favorable comment in the newspapers of the country. The New York American Advocate was particularly strong in its praise of the address, and among other things, said: "There is something, to us peculiarly delightful in such a voice from the West; it speaks volumes for our free institutions. One such solid. substantial man as Mr. Bebb, speaking out in the lan- guage of bold, yet well-tempered American feeling, as it reaches the Atlantic shores. comes as from the genius of our country, who, having sought a residence, uncontami-

nated with foreign prejudices and predilec- tions, tells only of our own resources in the ennobling pursuits which strengthen every natural feeling of attachment to the natal soil."

Mr. Bebb, who later became governor of Ohio and who was a typical early settler, and who had the good of his county and the country at heart, spoke in part as fol- lows :

Look at Butler county-her situation, the cen- ter of the Miami valley; but half a day's ride from Cincinnati and the Ohio river. Her soil, unrivaled for its fertility, and the ease with which almost every acre of it may be cultivated. Her climate, inferior to none in the United States, or in the world. Her water power, and her facilities of transportation, almost unequaled. Her population, virtuous, hardy and enterprising. No drones in the hive; no lords, no beggars; no haughty mas- ters, no servile slaves.

"I would not have a slave to till my ground, To carry me, to fan me while I sleep, And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth That sinews bought and sold, have ever earn'd."

My native county, thank God, is free from "human nature's broadest, foulest blot." Look at her Miami University, her academies, and her free schools. Look at her resources and her free population, and tell me what you think of her future prospects. Is this a place for a farmer to fold his hands in idleness, and content himself with a barren subsistence, where competency and wealth are knocking at his door for admittance? Is Butler county the place for weeds to rot fences and briers to take fields? Is the Miami country the place to raise more dogs than Merino sheep, when wool is so much in demand and hydrophobia stares us in the face? I think not; and I hope to see the day when this society shall have awak- ened every man in the county to a sense of his own true interest.

It is time we should rise in our strength, rally our resources, and march, with a steady step, to the greatness that awaits us. We have but to will it, and the grape will redden in our vine- yards, and flocks of Merino sheep, as rich as Saxony can boast, will whiten our hills. We have

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but to resolve it, and our wives and daughters may rustle in silk of our own production and of our own manufacture. * *

* * .

We must all remember that we have something to do if we expect to derive advantages from this association. It will avail us little to pay fifty cents per annum, enroll our names as members of the society, spend two days yearly in examin- ing horses, witnessing plowing matches, and hear- ing speeches; and then go home, having neither communicated nor acquired, one single idea, worth crossing a road for. There is experimental knowl- edge enough in this county to make our society an honor to the West. Let every member do his duty.

Finally I must express the ardent hope which I entertain that this society will not only arouse public opinion, and concentrate experimental knowledge, but that, so far as its influence extends, it may be instrumental in dispelling the clouds of ignorance and error which have so long envel- oped the moral atmosphere of agriculture.

On April 4. 1832, the Butler County Agricultural Society met at Blair's Hotel, in Hamilton, and selected officers for the ensuing year, to wit : President, .\. F. Chit- tenden; first vice-president, William Bebb; second vice-president, Lewis West: treas -. urer. Sephan Millikin: recording secretary, Charles Smith: corresponding secretary, John M. Millikin.

The members of the agricultural society were undecided at first just where to hold the fair. When the project was first pro- posed the members from Oxford and neigh- boring townships being in control were in- clined to select Oxford as the proper loca- tion for holding the fair. It was argued. however, that Hamilton being the county seat, the fair should be held there. Finally the supporters of Oxford consented to this arrangement for holding the first fair, with the understanding that Oxford should have the fair the following year. As the time ap- proached for holding the fair in 1832, the

people of Oxford and vicinity insisted on having it located there, and it appeared that they would control the action of the agri- cultural society and succeed in having the fair held at the classic village. The farmers east of the Miami river and the citizens of Hamilton were very much averse to having the fair held anywhere else than at Hamil- ton, and set about just as determinedly to retain the institution at the county seat. They succeeded only by forcing a re- organization of the agricultural society, and by greatly increasing the membership, from among those who favored retaining the fair at Hamilton.

The fair of 1832, like that of 1831, was held in the streets of Hamilton. Annually for several years thereafter this custom pre- vailed, but sometime in the late forties the annual exhibition was removed to a com- modious lot belonging to the late Dr. Jacob Hittle, at the southeast corner of Dayton and Fourth streets.

On November 25, 1850, a public meet- ing was held in the court house for the pur- pose of reorganizing the Butler County Agricultural Society, under the then exist- ing state law. Aaron L. Schenck was chairman and Richard McGee secretary.

The following named gentlemen were appointed a committee to prepare rules and regulations for the society: John M. Mil- likin, William Sheeley, A. P. Miller. Daniel Hendrickson, Frederick Hansel, J. Hartley. Richard McGee, Fergus Anderson and John Cox.

On January 1, 1851, the above men- tioned committee and a general meeting of people met at the court house and reorgan- ized the Butler County Agricultural So- ciety. The first fair, under the reorganiza-

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tion, was held October 2, and 3, 1851, in a scrub oak grove on the north side of the old Hamilton canal basin. extending east from the present plant of the Hamilton Gas Light and Coke Company to a point where Eighth street is now located.

The display at this fair consisted of a small number of horses and cattle tied to the fence and trees. Of field crops but few entries were displayed; an excellent show- ing was made in swine. There was a fine collection of domestic fabrics, fancy articles, paintings. etc.

The plowing match took place at 2:30 o'clock P. M., in Hon. L. D. Campbell's field on the north side of High street, op- posite the fair grounds. The judges, all of whom were practical farmers, after a full. fair and critical test, awarded Wilkinson Beaty the first premium for being the best plowman in Butler county. William Vaughn was adjudged the second best plow- man in the county.

In 1852, more space was needed to meet the phenomenal growth of the association. The fair of this year was held in the old Bigham grove-then located in what is now known as the east addition to Greenwood cemetery, where the annual exhibits of the society took place until 1856.

The annual fairs of 1853 and 1854 were held under favorable auspices, and rapid strides were shown in the agricultural de- velopment of the county. On November 3, 1854, Hon. Absolom Dunn, president of the society, died and was succeeded by Daniel Hughes. In 1855 the fair was held for three days, on September 12, 13 and 14. In 1856 the fair had outgrown its quarters, and another move became necessary. Early in this year the society purchased thirty-nine

and eight-tenths acres of land in section 22, Fairfield township, for three thousand seven hundred dollars, which was the nucleus of the present fair grounds where the society has continued to hold its annual fairs ever since. The fair for this year was a grand success, and surpassed all former ones. The following note was made by Lewis D. Campbell and attached to the report of the awarding committee :

The awarding committee report [and the board of directors approve and confirm the recommenda- tion] that they find themselves unable to decide by mere inspection between the "Iron Harvester" manufactured by Long, Black & Allstatter and the "Ohio Harvester." That they believe they are both No. 1 machines and destined to be the lead- ing reapers and mowers of the West, and com- mend both to public favor. That they believe each ought to receive a premium of five dollars, as a combined machine, without dividing the premiums offered between mowers and reapers and mere reapers.

The fairs of 1857, 1858 and 1859 showed a marked increase in attendance and a decided improvement in exhibits.

The annual fair, 1860, of the Butler County Agricultural Society was a pro- nounced success.

The display of horses and other stock was large; of agricultural productions the specimens exhibited did credit to the farm- ers of old Butler, and showed the pro- ductiveness of the season. The fruit and floral hall departments were full to over- flowing.

The fair of 1861 was not so well at- tended on the first two days as the corre- sponding days of 1860. Considering that a great Civil war was upon us, and other ad- verse circumstances, the fair was a success.

The Butler county fairs of 1862 and 1863 were largely attended, though the

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weather was inclement both years. Butler county had now become famous for the ex- cellence of her fairs.

The entries for the fair of 1864 were quite large. The only department in which any falling off could be noticed from former years was in fruit. However, one pomo- logical curiosity was displayed in the shape of a collection of eighty varieties of apples from the same orchard-that of William Hunter, of Union Center, Ohio.

Near the west end of the art hall hung an interesting Revolutionary war relic, a dress sword. carried by Colonel John C. Symmes. in 1776, and by General William Henry Harrison, in 1812.

In 1865, the annual festival of the farmers and mechanics of old Butler was largely attended. It was a creditable ex- hibition of the resources, products and man- ufactures of this county.

The display of stock was very good, the best that had been made in several years.

The number of people who attended the annual Butler county fair held in 1866 was greater than any previous year, although the weather was not the most favorable.

The fair of 1867 was fully up to the average of former years. The exhibition was complete in every department. The number in attendance on Thursday was es- timated at thirty thousand. By three o'clock the grounds were alive with people. The halls were crowded to their utmost capacity ; the main ring was surrounded by at least fif- teen thousand people.

The 1868 exhibit surpassed any other county fair held in this state, and was a formidable rival to the state fair of Ohio. In point of entries in the several branches. attendance and general interest manifested.

the exhibition exceeded any previous fair held in this county.

During the fair of 1868 the ice cream, candy and pop corn privilege was controlled by A. W. Wood, a well-known confectioner of Dayton. Captain Philip Rothenbush su- perintended the sales; money was plentiful and trade was large. In the manufacture of the candy, conducted on the grounds, four- teen barrels of sugar was made up, averag -. ing three hundred pounds to the barrel and costing eighteen cents per pound. This vielded twelve sticks of candy to the pound, which sold at ten cents straight per stick. On Thursday of the fair thirteen barrels of pop corn were sold, averaging three hun- dred balls to the barrel. The money ten- dered in payment was fractional ("shin plas- ter") currency of that day and on Friday after the fair was over the shin plasters taken in. and which had all been collected, were placed in two barrels and expressed as "pop corn" to Dayton.

The fairs in 1869 and 1870 were very successful. Exhibits were made from Springfield. Dayton, Miamisburg, represent- ing agricultural machinery. Indiana and the neighboring counties vied with the But- ler farmers in the exhibition of thorough- bred cattle and hogs.

Everything combined to make the fair of 1871 a glorious success. The crops were good. fruit abundant, and the farmer blessed with a prosperous season.

On February 11, 1871, the Butler County Agricultural Society purchased from August Hutzelman thirteen and eighty-six one hundredths acres of land. adjoining its grounds, for the sum of five thousand dol- lars.

The fair of 1872 opened auspiciously and

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closed in a blaze of triumph. The weather was fine, the display good, and the crowd tremendous. Every branch of the stock de- partment was well represented. There were many fine specimens of wheat on exhibition. The corn display was unprecedented: the show of apples and peaches was unusually large.

The products of Butler county made the fair of 1873 a famous one. Its attractions excelled those of adjoining counties and equaled those of the state fair. Our hogs had no superior in the country; our horses and cattle were among the best, and met competitors from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. The display of farm produce and mechanical arts were such that no other county in the state could equal.

In 1874 and 1875 the annual fairs were marked by their large attendance. The dis- plays were not materially different from those of previous years. In June, 1876, the county commissioners submitted the follow- ing proposition :

We, the commissioners, agree to lease the But- ler County Agricultural Society enough land on the east side of the original fair grounds for a half-mile track at fifteen dollars an acre per year; for road way from Princeton pike twenty-five dol- lars per annum. We agree to pay the society an- nually, one hundred and fifty dollars for pasturing the original grounds and the contemplated track, and nine dollars per acre for the ground used for hitching purposes; the lease to run ten years.

The board of directors accepted the above proposition.

On July Ist the society decided to lay off a new race track, commencing at a cor- ner three hundred feet from the Middle- town pike, in front of the cattle stalls, and ten feet ten inches from an oak tree west of the corner; thence to run south seven hundred and fourteen feet to a corner, the

west line for the outside track; said track to be sixty feet wide on the west stretch. and fifty on the east stretch; said track to be three hundred and eighty feet wide on the inside lines, or say, seven hundred and fourteen feet long by three hundred and eighty feet wide; the ends to be a complete semi-circle; to be just one-half mile. En- gineers John W. Erwin and John C. Weaver reported the above dimensions to be the same as the Dayton track. By measure- ment the tract of land occupied by the race track, taken off the infirmary farm contains eleven and seventy-three one-hundredths acres ; the Hutzelman tract, nine and thirty one-hundredth acres; the Millikin tract, one and eighty-two hundredths acres. The so- ciety advertised for sealed proposals for the construction of the track, according to the specifications of Messrs. Erwin and Weaver ; bids to be received until 12 o'clock, noon, Saturday, August 5, 1876. The bids on the race track were as follows: Joseph Combs, $700; F. W. Frederick, $760: Henry Frechtling & Co., $560; F. R. Vin- nedge, $700; John G. Sallee, $560; C. Mc- Cune. Jr., $575; Andrews & Jackson, $800; Joseph Dougan, $1, 100; B. Jenifer, $890; A. M. Hall, $725; James Ryan, $897. The contract was awarded to Henry Frechtling & Co., at their bid of $560. The directors had reason to feel a pardonable pride in the work they had put upon the grounds during the season of 1876. On the old race track the grove was so dense as to render a clear view of the horses impossible when they were at the farthest point from the stand in the race; but on the new one they were in full sight of everybody, judges and spec- tators alike, from the start until the finish. Looking at the smooth and beautiful course.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 30

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1149

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149