USA > Ohio > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families > Part 32
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In the winter of 1907 the club celebrated its tenth anniversary with a banquet, an event which Is remembered as especially enjoyable.
The present membership consists of twenty-seven resident and six non-resident members. Four times in its eighteen years of existence, dark shadows have fallen and Mra, Mary Carroll, Mrs. Gertrude Stiles Cheney, Miss Oma Hadley and Mrs Adilla Hadley Lowes have departed this life. The charter members of the club were: Miss
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Marsbie Austin, Mra Fannie McDonald, Mrs. Allce Green, Mrs. Lucy Whinery, Mrs. Harriet Hiatt, Mrs. Eva Holland, Mrs. Jessie Orebaugh, Mrs. Myrtle McWilliams, of Wilmington; Mrs. Jessie Carroll Smith, of Whittier, California, and Mrs. Harriet Hola- day, of Manchester, England.
The present resident members are : Miss Effie Allen, Mrs. Elma Austin, Miss Florence Austin, Miss Marshie Austin, Mrs. Ada Brown, Miss Estelle Cleveland, Mrs Bertha Doan, Miss Margaret Ent, Miss Carrie Ent, Mrs. Callie Fairley, Miss Carolyn Farquhar, Mrs. Harriet Hiatt, Mrs. Eva Holland, Mrs. Alice Green, Miss Mary Mills, Mrs. Ella Mitchell, Mrs. Fannie McDonald, Mrs. Myrtle McWilliams, Mrs. Anna McCoy, Mrs. Jessie Ore- baugh, Mrs. Isabel Peebles, Mrs. Virginia Peelle, Mra. Harriet Purdy, Mrs. Eleanor Smith, Miss Lola Street, Miss Laura Sutherland, Mrs Genia Williams, Mrs. Eugenia Walker, and non-resident. Miss Olive Austin, Mrs. Ella Barrett, Miss Ina Cockerill, Mrs. Harriet Holaday, Miss Almeda Smith, Mrs. Jessie Smith and Mrs. Grace Colvin.
The Conversation Club looks forward to many years of Interest and activity, believing that it bas contributed something to the intellectual and social development of Wilming- ton and that its members have been broadened and uplifted by Its agency.
CHAPTER XVI. FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONS.
CLINTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Ohio state Legislature, through the efforts of Ell Gaskill, representative from Clinton county, passed an act on February 25, 1833, authorizing and encouraging the establishment of agricultural societies in the various counties of the state. Those interested in such matters speedily took advantage and on June 14. 1533, a notice was published in the Democrat and Herald, a Wilmington newspaper, that a meeting of interested citizens would be held the last Friday in that month for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society. The plans were successfully carried out and Azel Walker was chosen president, and A. E. Strickle, recording weeretary, of the organization. A meeting of the board of directors was held on July 28, 1833, at which it was voted that each member should pay the treasurer on or before the first Saturday of the ensuing October the sum of fifty cents. It was voted to hold the first fair on the last Saturday in October, 1:33. It was resolved to award premiums on horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, owned by members of the society, also on articles of all descriptions manufactured by said members. The fair was held on the premises owned by Richard Pierce in Wilmington.
The following officers were elected by the society on June 27. 184: El Gaskill, president : Isaiah Morris, vice-president : Lawrence Fitzhugh, treasurer; C. B. Harlan, recording secretary; R. B. Harlan, corresponding secretary; Samuel Wilson. Thomas How, Jr., Abraham Nordyke. Isaac Strickle, John B. Posey. Aaron Jenkins, Isaac Collett, William Hadley, Jacob Haines. Azel Walker, directors. In that year the fair was beld in Wilmington on the Pierce lot on October 31. In 1835. Ell Gaskill was president. and L .. Wright, secretary. The fair was held on the usual last Friday in October. Almut 1834, George D. Haworth Introdneed into Clinton county a new breed of cattle known as "short horns," and it is probable that he exhibited them at the fair of INM. The fourth fair was held in 1836, with the following officers: Eli Gaskill, president ; Isaiah Morris. vice-president : A. T. Sewell. treasurer: A. E. Strickle, secretary : Thomas How. Jr .. Jesse Hughes, Jr .. Gayer Starbuck, Isane Strickle, George MeManis, Jacob Haines, John B. Posey. James McFadden. Benjamin Nordyke and Cyrus Reed, directors. The fair of 1×37 was held on October 28, at the house of Richard Pierce; admission fifty cents, dinner extra. The year had witnessed the production of excellent crops of fruit and gralu and the amount and quality of stock was exceedingly creditable for that day. El Goskill was president, and A. E. Strickle, recording secretary. The judges of horses were Jacob Haines, Curtis Jackson. Benajah Nordyke. James McFadden. Simon Hadley ; judges of cattle. John Hadley. George D. Haworth. Cyrus Reed, Ell Gaskill. Abraham Nordyke; judges of sheep, swine, etc., Nathan Linton, Charles Russell, William Hadley, Gayer Starbuck. Thomas How, Jr .; judges of domestic manufactured articles, John B. Posey, Isaac Strickle, William Hibben, C. D. Hughes, Thomas B. Carroll.
After 1837 there is nothing to show that a fair was held until 1849. The report of the state board of agriculture for the latter year shows that a new society had been organized the year previous and that its first fair was held at Wilmington on October 17 and 18, 1849. The officers of the new sortety were: Ell Gaskill, president ; Josiah (so printed in the report-should be Isaiah) Morris, vice-president ; Isaac B. Thomas, treasurer: Grafton B. White, secretary ; Paul H. Vandervort, William Hibhen, Isaac Haslett, Curtis Jackson, Milton McMillan, managers. The fnir was held this year on the
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north side of the Washington pike, east of town. The receipts were one hundred fifty- seven dollars and fifty-nine cents, of which amount the county furnished. seventy-eight dollars and fifty-nine cents. Fairs followed annually after this yeur. In 1851, the court house was used as a building in which to exhibit farm products.
The officers iu 1851 were: El Gaskill, president; Isaiah Morris, vice-president, and G. B. White, secretary.
1852-Isaac Haslett was president ; E. L. Lacy, vice-president ; Joseph Wood, secretary.
1:53-Isaac Haslett was president ; D. Persenger, vice-president ; and Joseph Wood. secretary. This year the fair was held on new grounds now occupied by the nursery in the western suburb of Wilmington.
1854-EHl Gaskill, president ; Thomas L. Carothers, treasurer; A. W. Doan, secretary. 1855-Paul H. Vandervort, president ; William Crumly, treasurer; A. W. Doan, sec- retary.
1856-Thomas D. Austin, president : J. G. Starbuck, vice-president ; William Crumly, treasurer : A. W. Doan, secretary.
1857-A. E. Strickle, president : J. G. Starbuck. vice-president : A. W. Donn, secre- tary. This year the fair was held east of Wilmington on the land now occupied by the Wilmington College campus. This land was leased by Isalah Morris and fairs were beld here for nine years,
15S-A. E. Strickle, president : Jesse G. Starbuck, vice-president : William Crumley, treasurer: A. W. Doan, secretary.
1859-A. E. Strickle, president : Samuel Knowlton, vice-president : William Crumley, treasurer: A. W. Doan, secretary.
1800-P. H. Vandervort. president ; A. W. Doan, secretary.
1861-J. D. Hines, president : J. M. Haworth, vice-president, and subsequently presi- dent. Hines not serving: A. W. Doan, elected secretary. but in his absence L. C. Walker was appointed secretary pro tem., and discharged the duties of the office.
1802-B. W. Fuller, president : L. C. Walker, secretary.
1863-Cyrus Linton, president : L. C. Walker, secretary.
1>64-Cyrus Linton, president ; L. C. Walker, secretary.
1865-J. D. Hines, president ; L. C. Walker, secretary: William Crumley, treasurer. Mr. Crumley died in office and Charles N. Osborn was appointed on September 21. 1865, to All vacancy.
1866 -- Paul Vandervort, president ; 1 .. D. Reed, treasurer; S. M. Babb, secretary, In this year the present fair grounds west of Wilmington were purchased and the property of the society removed from the old grounds.
1887-A. W. Doan. president : L. C. Walker, secretary.
1868-James 8. Hoblet. president : Levi Mills, secretary.
1869-J. S. Hoblet, president : Levi Mills, secretary.
1×70-C. M. Walker, president ; Levi Mills, secretary.
1871-C. M. Walker, president : Lovi Mills, secretary.
1872-C. M. Walker, president : D. T. White, secretary.
1573-75-C. Rhonemus, president : D. T. White, secretary.
1876 -- (. Rhonemus, president : W. H. Rannells. secretary.
1877-C. Rhonemus, president ; N. M. Linton, secretary.
1×78-Cyrus Linton, president : 8. G. Smith, secretary,
1×7!10-2. H. Matthews, president : N. M. Linton, secretary.
1581 -- Leo Weltz, president : N. M. Linton, secretary. The fair this year was held in August.
1A42-David Peebles, president ; N. M. Linton, secretary.
1883-David Peebles, president : N. M. Linton, secretary. Fair beld on August 14.15; two hundred show horses on the grounds.
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1884-Leo Weltz, president; Joshua Lacy, vice-president; N. M. Linton, secretary, and C. W. Swaim, treasurer. The heads of the departments were: Executive, Leo Weltz, Joshua Lacy and M. J. Grady; horses, mules and jacks, L. D. Reed and J. H. Terrell. Fair held August 12-15.
1885-Leo Weltz, president; N. M. Linton, secretary. Fair held August 11-14. ISSU-Joshua Lacy, president ; N. M. Linton, secretary ; dates, September 7-10.
1887-0. F. Peddicord, president ; Leo Weltz, vice-president; N. M. Linton, secretary, and J. W. Denver. Jr., treasurer.
1888-O. F. Peddicord, president ; N. M. Linton, secretary ; directors, H. HI. Hadley, H. P. Malone, John Clevenger, Edgar Hadley, J. W. Richardson, Charles Vanniman, Leo Weltz, H. C. Denver, W. H. Probasco, J. W. Denver, Jr., J. M. Miller and Joshua Linton. Fair held from July 31 to August 3. A new grand stand was built this year.
1859-Fair held on September 10-13.
1800-H. P. Malone, president ; John Clevenger, vice-president ; G. P. Thorpe, secre- tary ; J. W. Denver. Jr., treasurer. Fair dates were September 9-12.
1801-G. H. Thorpe, secretary. The payment of premiums were guaranteed a sub- scribed fund raised in the county. The dates were September 1-4 ..
1892-J. M. Miller, president ; John Clevenger, vice-president; J. W. Denver, treas urer, and G. P. Thorpe, secretary. The receipts of the fair this year-September 6-9- were thirty five hundred dollars, and the expenditures were three thousand dollars.
1803-J. M. Miller, president ; Edgar Hadley, vice-president; J. W. Denver, Jr., treasurer. and G. P. Thorpe, secretary.
1504-The Agricultural Society decided that it would not give a fair this year, and the grounds were leased to the Wilmington Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, who held a fnir, September 25-28. The committee appointed by the lodge to manage the fair were Col. J. W. Denver. G. P. Thorpe, secretary, and J. M. Miller, president. The name was changed from the Clinton County Fair to that of the Wilmington Fair.
1505-The Knights of Pythlas again gave the fair. It was managed by Fred Weltz. president ; Kent P. Browning, secretary ; J. W. Denver, treasurer; Stanley Outealt and Tim Payne. The fair was held on September 4-0.
1596-There was no fair held this year and the grounds were rented by the county commissioners to J. R. Sloan for one year for the sum of sixty dollars.
1897-This year a new company was formed to give a Wilmington fair on September 23-24, with Miletus Garner as secretary.
From 1897 to 1904 there was apparently no fair given. The grounds were sold to U. N. Morgan.
1904-In this year the fair grounds were leased from U. N. Morgan by G. R. Ken- nedy, of Sardinia, Brown county. Obio. He organized the Wilmington Fair and Amuse- ment Company. with the following officers: G. R. Kennedy, president; B. E. Purdy. treasurer : A. W. Donn. secretary ; and G. L. Kinkald, assistant secretary. They spent some money remodeling the old grounds and held a fair on September 13-16. This was the first of the "Farmer Kennedy Fairs" This same company gave fairs on the following dates: August 22-25, 1:NG; August 25-31, 1906; September 10-13, 10007: September 8.11. 190$, and September 14-17. 1900.
In 1910 a new company, with Samuel Johns as president ; Claude Miller, vice-presi- dent ; O. J. Thatcher, secretary, and J. M. Lewis, treasurer, gave a fair on September 27-30. In 1911 there was no fair given.
In 1912, the Ohio Horse Sales Company, of which Al W. Doan was secretary and W. J. Galvin the general manager, held a fair on September 18.20. They held their second fair, September 17-19, 1912. but the heavy rains caused their failure.
In 1914. the Wilmington Fair Association was organized with W. J. Galvin as the general manager, and A. W. Doan, secretary. They held their first fair on September 2-4
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of that year. Their second fair and first annual horse show was held August 11-12, 1915. The officers of the association are: W. J. Galvin, general manager; Al W. Doan, gecre- tary; O. F. Peddicord, superintendent horse department; H. C. Feuker, superintendent art hall exhibits; Al W. Conrey, superintendent of grounds.
THE SABINA FAIR.
A general meeting of the citizens of Clinton and surrounding counties was called, to be held at Sabina in 1874, to consider the advisability and, if thought advisable, the means best adapted to the formation of an agricultural or fair association. At this meeting it was undertaken to start the formation of such a society, and committees were accordingly appointed to solicit subscriptions in furtherance of the project. After these committees bad obtained five thousand dollars in subscription to the stock, another meeting was held, at which the following board of officers were elected: E. B. Martin, president : J. R. Amos, vice-president ; D. C. Harrison, secretary ; H. H. Thorp, treasurer, and S. B. Lightner. B. J. Darbysbire, John Kirk, Jobn Borum. E. M. Morgan, H. B. Reed, C. M. Luttrell and J. W. Carter, directors. The organization was given the name of the Sabina I'nion Agricultural Society. Thirty-five acres of ground on the Washington pike, and adjoining Sabina on the east, were then rented from A. C. Mills, a lease of ten years being taken by the society. Work was at once commenced on the grounds and, during the Arst year, seven thousand dollars were expended on improvements to the grounds. The first fair, held August 18-21, 1874, was a great success, financially and otherwise, and after that the society continued to reap their annual reward for their labor until their disbandment. In 1851 the grounds were enlarged to forty acres. A half-mulle track, sixty feet wide, was made and shed room for fully two hundred horses erected. In addition to this were built commodious cattle pens, a toral hall, agricultural hall, dining hall, music stand, band stands, judges' stands, etc. Seating room for fully five thousand people was found in the amphitheater formed around one side of the speed ring. The officers of the society In 1882 were : A. Sellars, president ; H. A. Haynes, vice-president ; R. Curtis, treasurer : I. Roberds, secretary, and 8. B. Lightner, C. B. Vaniman, A. J. Gaskins, H. B. Reed. A. J. Wilson. C. E. Custis, E. J. Darbyshire and C. Rhonemus, directors.
On May 27. 1×5, the old society was reorganized under the same name, with C. Rhonemus, president : Martin Kennedy, treasurer; I. Roberds, secretary, and C. E. Custis, H. B. Reed, S. B. Lightner, C. B. Vaniman and A. J. Wilson, directors. A fair was held on August 24-28, at which three thousand dollars were put up as race premiums.
In 1858, the old society had again died, and on June 4 the Sabina Fair Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars and twenty-five members. The officers were: Alex Sellars, president : M. M. Dakin, vice-president ; H. H. Thorpe, treasurer; Isaac Roberds, secretary. This company gave the remainder of the fairs that were given at Suldna. Meanwhile, on the expiration of the old ten-year lease from A. C. Mills, the association had bought the fair grounds.
In 199 the officers of the company were: Alex Sellars, president; M. M. Dakin, vice-president : Janac Roberds, secretary ; H. H. Thorpe, treasurer, and Dr. A. J. Slaight. W. J. Sewell, S. M. Thorne. C. Rhonemins, G. W. Yeazel, William Custis. Foster Geffs and J. T. Sylvester. as directors. Probably the greatest and most successful fair ever given at Sabina was the one given on August 19-23. of that year. The crowds in attendance were large and the racing good. Governor Foraker paid it the honor of a visit.
In 1991, the fair was held on July 27-31. The secretary that year was C. Burnett.
The last fair held was from August 30 to September 2. 1892. with the following officers: C. Rhonemus, president ; M. M. Dakin, vice-president : Martin Kennedy, secre- tary ; William Custis, treasurer ; and S. M. Thorne, J. J. Cumer. G. A. Pavey, Charles Burnett, Alex Sellars. C. F. Allen and Albert Mills, directors.
As nearly as can be learned. there was no fair held In 1993. In December, 1803, (16)
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negotiations were begun by the Methodist Protestant conference camp meeting for the purchase of the fair grounds. The denl was closed and the transfer dated February 1. 1894, the fair company releasing all but two acres of the grounds for the consideration of fifteen thousand dollars.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
During the administration of President Johnson, In 1866, the agricultural affairs in the South were in such a deplorable state that it was decided to study the conditions among the farmers and ascertain if something could not be done for their betterment. The President decided to place this work under the jurisdiction of the department of agriculture, and Isaac Newton, who was then commissioner of agriculture, was placed in charge of the work. O. H. Kelley, of Minnesota, who was then a clerk in the agricultural department, was sent south to study the conditions among the farmers. On his return he made a report which disclosed such a frightful state of affairs that the idea of organizing the farmers Into a society was determined. This society was known as the Patrons of Husbandry, or Grangers, and the national Grange was organized at Wash- ington, D. C., December 4. 1867. The first national officers were: William Sanders, District of Columbia, master ; J. R. Thompson, Vermont, lecturer; Anson Bartlett, Ohio, overseer; A. S. Moss, New York, assistant overseer; William Muri, Pennsylvania, steward; A. B. Grosh, Pennsylvania, chaplain; William Ireland, Pennsylvania, treasurer ; O. H. Kelley, secretary ; and E. P. Farris, Illinois gatekeeper.
Dispensations were granted by the national Grange to the following cities: Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, first; Fredonia, New York, second; Columbus, Ohio, third. The agricultural bulletin of October 4, 1873, showed granges to the number of six thousand nine hundred and fourteen in the I'nited States. Obio had at that time one hundred and forty-seven. The master of the state of Ohio was S. H. Ellis, Springboro; the secretary of the state Grange was D. M. Stewart, Xenla. Simeon Moon, of Farmer's Station, was the first deputy in Clinton county.
In March, 1873, S. H. Ellis, of Springboro, Warren county, came to this county and organized the first grange in the county. It was known as Clinton Grange No. 122. On September 9, 1873, Wilmington Grange No. 123 was organized. Judge J. H. West was the first master, and Judge E. J. West was the first deputy. Other granges were organized in the county soon afterward.
On August 8, 1874, a county grange meeting was held at the fair grounds of Clinton county and all of the granges of the county were present. It was estimated that there were ten thousand people at this meeting. There were thirty-one granges in the county at this time and they were all well represented. This was a great gala day for the people of this section. There were speeches by the leading officers of the day and a parade through Wilmington and different amusements for the diversion of old and young. It seems that the granges were at the height of their existence at this time.
The prosperity of the granges received Its first setback with the coming Into existence of the organization known as the Farmers Alliance. The Grange was a non- political and non-sectarian organization. But the Farmers Alliance, which originated in the West, was a partisan society and intended to make their reforms through gaining political power. From this time on the granges began to decrease. One by one. they would surrender their charters and the members were dimited to other places. The last grange in this county to pass out ander the old regime was Oak Grove Grange No. 23. In the Blanchester fire of October 18, 1895. the paraphernalia, records, etc., of this lodge was destroyed and on June 15, 1898, the last meeting was held and the members given their cards of dimit.
Union Grange No. 77 was the first grange organized in this county since the awakening of Interest in this movement.
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BEECH GROVE GRANGE
Beech Grove Grange No. 1902 was organized on December 5, 1913, with the following charter members: C. J. Lnse, Mina Luse, W. 8. Wallace, Alice Wallace, C. J. Hempstead, Bertha Hempstead, Walter Garman, Leah Garman, John Ridgeway, Emma Ridgeway, H. R. Clark, John Wbitlow, Frank Hook, J. E. Hook, Oscar Whitlow, James Whitlow. William Fender, Hazel Garman, Jacob Garman, Ida Garrison, Orville Bevan, Nina Beran, Mollie Crites, Ray Rodgers, John Finney, Harrold Hook, Floyd Hook, Mrs. E. J. St. John, Mary Fender, Amos Carey, Anna Carey, Elba Andrew, Frank Carey and Earl Carey. On July 1. 1915, the grange reported eighty-seven members in good standing.
The grange meets at the Beech Grove church on the first and third Wednesday nights of each month in the year. The first officers were as follow : Master. C. J. Luse ; overseer, Harry R. Clark ; lecturer, Ray Rogers; steward, Walter Garman; assistant steward, Oscar Whitlow; lady assistant, Hazel Garman; chaplain, Bertha Hempstead; Garman; pomona, Nina Bevan; flora. Emma Ridgeway ; trustees, Clyde J. Hempstead, John Finney and Orville Beran.
The officers for 1015 are as follow : Master. C. J. Luxe; overseer, Harry R. Clark ; lecturer, George B. Jenks; steward. Harold Hook; assistant steward, Oscar Whitlow; lady assistant, Hazel Garman : chaplain. Sadle M. Davis; treasurer, Frank Hook ; secre- tary, Frank Carey ; gatekeeper, J. E. Hook ; ceres, Mary Davis: pomona, Mary Fender ; flora, Georgia Crites: trustees. Clyde J. Hempstead, John Finney and Orville Bevans.
This is one of the most active granges in the county and, although it is less than two years old, it has already done some excellent work for its members. It has done co-operative buying of fertilizer and binder twine, to the amount of thirty-five hundred dollars, at a great saving to the members. In other ways its usefulness has been demon- strated and it is safe to say that it will become a factor of Increasing importance. Under the energetle leadership of its master, C. J. Luse, Beech Grove Grange is taking its place . as a factor, not only in the economic life of the community which it serves, but in the educational, religious and social life as well.
BLANCHESTER GRANGE.
Blanchester Grange No. 1767 was organized on January 28, 1911. with seventy-one members, and the present membership remains the same. The first officers were as follow : Salathiel Jackson, master: William Kulp, overseer; Thomas Sharp, chaplain ; Roy J. Ross, treasurer; Sanford Brown. steward: William Reed, assistant steward; William Reynolds, secretary ; Wilford Ross, gatekeeper: Mrs. Albert Foote, pomona ; Marley Clevenger, flora ; Mrs. Chloe Starkey, ceres; Mrs. Harry Adams, lady assistant.
The officers for 1915 are as follow : L. O. West, master; William Kulp. overseer; Mrs. Nell Whitenack, lecturer; Ottis Watkins, steward; William Starkey, assistant steward: Harley Carnahan. chaplain : Roy J. Ross, treasurer; Mrs. Lucy D. Peters, secretary : Frank Tullis, gatekeeper : Eda Watkins, pomona ; Mrs. Chloe Starkey, flora ; Mrs. Elizabeth Kulp, ceres: Mrs. Rena Senrs, lady assistant. The grange meets on the first and third Saturday nights of each month in the Knights of Pythias hall in Blanches- ter. The programs are of a general nature and deal with all phases of agricultural life. Although the grange has been organized but a comparatively short time. it has already accomplished much good for its members.
NEW VIENNA. WESTROBO AND CLARKSVILLE GRANGES.
I'nion Grange No. 77, at New Vienna, has one hundred and ninety-six members, with the following officers: C. G. Blackhun, master; E. H. Edwards, lecturer ; Grace Bernard, secretary ; A. H. Terrell, legislative agent. Westboro Grange No. 1779 has fifty-six mem- bers, with the following officers: Milton Holaday, master: Charles Thompson, lecturer; F. R. Christ, secretary. Clarksville Grange No. 1005 has seventy-four members, with the following officers: George W. Orr, master; Mrs. Anna Wellar, lecturer; Oscar Wellar, secretary ; H. R. Harris, legislative agent.
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