History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 42

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Ohio > Knox County > History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present > Part 42

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).

Many interesting incidents occurred in connec- tion with the telegraph office here, during its early days, one of which, at least, appears of historical importance.

The older citizens of Mount Vernon doubtless remember the Hinton mail robbery. It occurred in the days of Neil, Moore & Company's stage line. Mr. Hinton was the superintendent of the stage line running from Newark to Cleveland via Mount Vernon. Money letters were so frequently. missed, that the general post office department placed detectives on the track. A detective visited every post office on the route on the arrival of the mail stage. The losses were sustained be- tween Mount Vernon and Wooster. Another re- markable fact was made known, that all losses occurred on the occasions that Hinton accompanied the stage. Then it took about thirty-six hours to perform the trip; the night driving occurred be- tween Mount Vernon and Wooster. A. J. Smith, then a banker at Newark, ascertaining that Hinton would pass over the route on a certain day, pre- pared a large decoy package for that day's mail, directed to Cleveland. Arrangements were made at Newark by Smith and General Jones (then United States marshal), at Mount Vernon, that they should have exclusive control of the wire that night after eight o'clock. Smith prepared a com- plete description of every note in the package, the letter, the number, the bank and denomination. All bills were of small amounts, so as to make the package as large as possible.

Smith had forgotten to furnish Jones with this . descriptive sheet-hence the wire came in use. The message received that night was probably the longest local message ever passed over the wires at that early period in the history of telegraphy. At ten o'clock that night Thomas Jones, a brother

230

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

of the marshal, started on horseback for Mansfield with that message in his pocket. At Mansfield he took the train for Cleveland, arriving there at day- light. Hinton was arrested, and bound over for trial. By some means he escaped from the clutches of the law. A few years since, a traveller reported that he met Hinton in Cuba, and recog- nized him. He bore another name then.

Express companies followed naturally the advent of the railroads. The American was the first to es- tablish an agency in Mt. Vernon, the office being at the depot, and up to 1873 the ticket agents were also the express agents. The United States estab- lished an office here some years ago, and a company called the Merchant's attempted to do some business about 1866, but failed. Upon the advent of the Cleveland, Mount Vernon & Columbus railroad, the Union express company opened an office in Mount Vernon, placing Mr. W. J. Horner in charge, who subsequently became the only express agent in the city.

A few years since the Baltimore & Ohio com- pany determined to control the express busi- ness on that road and opened an office in Mount Vernon, placing it in charge of John W. Stephen- son who retains the office at present.

George B. Potwin, in the prosecution of his pro- duce business, was one of the largest shippers by express from Mount Vernon. It was not unusual for him to ship in this way at one time fifty barrels of eggs and a hundred firkins of butter to the New York market. Perhaps the most valuable ship- ment ever made from the Mount Vernon office in one day, was made by the banks during the war, when fifty thousand dollars in coin was sent to the New York market.

CHAPTER XXV.

KNOX COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY -GENERAL PROGRESS-RE- PORTS OF THE FAIRS FROM THE FIRST TO THE PRESENT TIME.

A S agriculture is the avocation of the great ma- jority of the citizens of Knox county, and as it is the principal source of the wealth and pros- perity of the county, its introduction and develop- ment deserves a place in the county's history.

The first thing the settler had to do, after build- ing his cabin and domiciling his family therein, was to clear off a patch of land for corn and potatoes, in order to secure subsistence as soon as possible. Although the culture of these miniature farms was very imperfect, the implements being rude and cluinsy, yet the richness of the virgin soil never failed to produce abundantly.

As the clearing of the pioneer widened, his pro- ducts became more diversified; rye, oats, buck- wheat, etc., were added. Better implements and better culture followed. The introduction of agri- cultural papers stimulated inquiry ; inquiry led to associations for mutual improvement; hence the agricultural societies.

In the winter of 1846, William Bevans, B. F. Smith, Isaac Nicodemus, Adam Rinehart, and John and William Bonar, organized what they styled "The Morris Agricultural Club," with Wil- liam Bevans as its president. The object of the club was mutual improvement, by a free inter- change of opinions on all subjects pertaining to the farm. The club held regular weekly meetings for discussion, which was sometimes quite anima- ted. Two questions gave great interest to these discussions :

First. Does the moon, or the twelve signs of the Zodiac, or both combined, exert such an influence on vegetation as to make it necessary, in order to secure the best results, to be guided by their different phases, in our planting and sowing.

At that time scientific knowledge of the laws upon which successful agriculture is based, was not as widely diffused through books and periodicals as now. There were many ridiculous whims, founded on the ignorance of superstitious dreamers, who said "if you plant your cucumber seed when the moon is in the sign of the virgin, they will bloom but not bear; but plant them in the sign of the

231

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

twins, and they will bear abundantly." Strange as it may appear, such nonsense found credence in the minds of otherwise intelligent men. The discus- sion of this topic brought out experiences and facts of great practical value. The superstitious whims were exploded, and the truth established that close observation of the earth, rather than the moon and stars, give the best results in agriculture.

The second question to which allusion has been made, was in reference 'to the transmutation of plants, or does wheat, under unfavorable circum stances, degenerate into chess or cheat?

As might be expected, the moon farmers were to a man firm believers in transmutation. In the discussion of this topic, an unanswerable array of facts were brought to bear, proving the Scripture doctrine, that, "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," to be literally true, in the expe- rience of the husbandman. The practical working of these two opinions is, that the believer in the Scripture doctrine will be careful to keep his fields free from foul seeds, and sow pure grain, assured that in due time he will reap in kind.

One Saturday in November, 1847, The Morris Agricultural Club held a fair on the farm of William Bonar, of Morris township, in which Dr. J. N. Burr, who was an honorary member, took a lively inter- est. Adam Rinehart was the president. Although the day was unfavorable-being rainy-the display of grain, fruit, stock, etc., was quite encouraging to the friends of improvement. The record of this first agricultural fair exists only in the memories of a few of its participants and is therefore very meagre. Byram Leonard, of Wayne township, was there with short-horn cattle; Henry Wider, of Wayne, and Adam Rinehart of Morris, each had a fine display of apples. The record shows that Wider was so disgusted at the injustice done him by being brought in second best, that he ceased to be a competitor at fairs during life. . Premiums were offered as follows: For the best stallion; breed mare; spring colt; milch cow; bull calf; heifer calf; buck sheep (first and second best); ewe (first and second best); best two dozen apples (three varieties); best bunch of grapes; best plow, harrow and cultivator ; pair of blankets; pair of wool- len socks, etc., etc. The reasons for ignoring wheat were two: first, the poor crop of that season ; sec-

ond, the wheat was sown before the formation of the club.

From this humble beginning has been developed what is now known as "the Knox County Agricul- tural Society." This society confines its efforts to encouraging the improvement of farm products; including farm stock of all kinds; the products of domestic industry and skill; in short all that per- tains to rural comfort, convenience and elegance ; as well as the products of the skilled artisan and mechanic.

Prior to the purchase of the present finely lo- cated fair grounds, fairs were held under many dis- advantages. The floral hall was migratory. One year the court room of the old court house was used; another, the lecture room of the Union church, better known as the "Peacock church,' was called into requisition; still another year the church room of the Presbyterian congregation was thrown open to the society. For the stock grounds the then vacant lot on East Chestnut street oppo- site the Knox county jail was used for a few years. To prepare pens for the sheep and swine on exhi- hition, D. C. Montgomery, then sheriff of the coun- ty, and Dr. J. N. Burr, devoted two or three days prior to the opening of the Fair, in levying contri- butions upon the rails of neighboring farms to build those pens, and two or three days after the fair closed were occupied in restoring the rails to their former places. The spacious fields of the late D. S. Norton, on the west side of the town, were thrown open for eqestrian uses. Under such dis- advantages the infant society had to labor for sev- eral years. As to the stock, it was herded in va- cant lots throughout the town, and when wanted it was driven into the impromptu fair ground, viewed by the committees, and then driven home by the owners. The horses were hitched to fences and posts here and there, and when wanted were brought in, viewed, admired, and sent home. Fairs were thus conducted until about 1853 or 1854, be- fore permanent grounds were procured.

In 1857 and 1858, independent fairs were held at Fredericktown, but of their success or failure no trustworthy accounts can be found.

Careful researches among the newspapers of the day developes the fact that the subject of holding county fairs had not been given that attention its

232

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

importance demanded, for until the year 1849 no mention is made of a fair being held, except one held by the Farmers' club in 1847, and the report of the fair of 1849 is of little or no importance. But a few facts can be gathered bearing upon the subject. The officers were: President, William Bonar; secretary, Thomas T. Tress. The fair was held October 23d and 24th, but the place of hold- ing it is not mentioned.

From the reports of the committee it is learned that "horses on exhibition were few in number, but all were of excellent stock; that the whole number of cattle on the ground was four hundred ; that only about forty sheep were exhibited; that there was a poor display of fruit, and that of domestic manu- factured articles a large display was made."

The date of holding the fair of 1850 is not given. The officers were: William Bonar, president ; John Lewis, James Elliott, Richard Hunt, Aaron Nevis, and James Withrow, vice-presidents ; Thomas T. Tress, recording secretary; Dr. J. N. Burr, cor- responding secretary; M. M. Beam, treasurer ; William Bonar, Benjamin F. Smith, R. C. Hurd, Adam Rinehart, Asahel Allen, Job Rusk, Jennings Crawford, Mardenboro White, executive commit- tee.

The stock exhibited this year was of excellent breed, but few in number. The cattle entries were numerous, a large number being entered merely as a show, and not for premiums. The sheep few in number, but of good stock. Of hogs, the commit- tee remark: "The long-faced gentry were few, but respectable."

The fair of 1851 was the third in number. The officers were: President, William Bonar; vice- presidents, James Elliott, John McElroy, Eli Wil- lett, G. W. Jackson, and Asahel Allen; recording secretary, John Beaty; corresponding secretary, George W. True; treasurer, M. M. Beam ; execu- tive committee, J. N. Burr, William Bevans, Ben- jamin F. Smith, Jennings Crawford, Robert Gra- ham, Nicholas Spindlar, Melvin Wing, David C. Montgomery, Gilman B. Stilley.

The fair was held on the second and third days of October, and was well attended, and the show of articles quite creditable. The exhibition of horses, sheep and hogs was good. The number of cattle was not large; the quality, however, was excellent.

The exhibition of articles by the ladies was highly creditable to them, and attracted general attention and much praise.

So far as the fair of 1852 is concerned, no ac- count can be given further than the list of officers, which is as follows: President, William Bevans; vice-presidents, Benjamin F. Smith, James Elliott, William Babcock, Marvin Tracy, and John Denny ; recording secretary, A. Banning Norton; corre- sponding secretary, E. Alling; treasurer, Henry P. Warden; exective committee, William Bonar, Asa- hel Allen, J. N. Burr, Isaac Bell, Benjamin Tulloss, Job Rush, Mardenboro White, Daniel McGrady, and Hugh Oglevee.

But little can be found at this late date in refer- ence to the fair of 1853. Stock exhibited was very good. Floral hall was at the Union church, on North Main street, and attracted a large attend- ance. The contest for the prize for the best fe- male equestrian drew several thousand people to the field of Daniel S. Norton, west of town, where by universal consent the prize of a silver cup was awarded to Miss Eliza Thompson. The pleasure of the fair this year was destroyed by a serious ac- cident that occurred upon the fair grounds, about three o'clock in the afternoon.

A grey horse hitched to the topmost rail of the fence on the east line, broke away, carrying with him the rail, to which he was fastened about mid- way, and ran into the crowd at his utmost speed, endangering the lives of many. Judge Hurd was standing in the crowd, and was knocked down and seriously injured, being struck upon the forehead and rendered senseless. Drs. Burr, Kirk, and others, who were present, at once came to his aid, and did all in their power to relieve him. The judge, after a long spell of sickness, finally recov- ered, but for long years suffered from that blow upon his head.

The fair of 1855 was held October 3d and 4th. The officers this year, as far as can be ascertained, were-President, Benjamin F. Smith; secretary, William Dunbar.

From the published report of the doings of the fair this year, the conclusion is that the stock ex- hibited was meagre in number and poor in quality.

The committee report : They regret to say that there were but three lots of sheep exhibited, and those on exhibition were

233

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

not a fair sample of the most valuable wool sheep of our county; they being mostly a cross of French and Spanish Merinoes, growing a heavy, greasy wool, very unprofitable to manufact- urers, and if increased in our county, will have a tendency to re- duce the value of our wools, and lessen the competition in the purchase of them.

The lot of sheep exhibited by Mr. Parminter, being Cotts and Leicester sheep, your committee recommend them as the most valuable sheep for mutton.

The committee on grain reported that the only grain presented was a specimen of corn, the pro- duct of two acres, raised by Mr. C. C. Curtis, of Mount Vernon. The corn was of excellent quality, and the amount per acre was one hundred and fourteen and one-half bushels.

The mechanical work, and the ladies' work ex- hibited, were highly commended. E. W. Cotton took the first premium on marble work, and Dr. C. M. Kelsey the first premium on dental work. Mrs. Beardslee was awarded the first premium on quilts, and Miss White the second premium.

William Turner, by report of the committee on farms and farming, was voted a premium for the neatest and best arranged garden.

The fair of 1856 was held September 18th and 19th, the officers being: President, Henry P. Warden; vice-presidents, G. F. Beardslee and Henry Phillips; recording secretary, E. Alling; corresponding secretary, John Lamb; treasurer, William Bonar.

The fair of this year was one of the most cred- itable and largely attended yet held in the county. The ladies exhibited numerous articles of domestic and fancy work. The horses on exhibition were an improvement on those of the last fair, both in number and quality, in style and speed. To Dr. E. M. Mast was awarded the first premium on mules. About forty head of cattle, and a fine lot of swine were on exhibition.

The time of holding the fair for 1857, is not stated. The officers were: Henry B. Warden, president; Henry Phillips, Isaac T. Beum, Robin- son Frazier, John DeWolf, and Joseph Adams, vice-presidents; John Lamb, secretary; Israel Underwood, corresponding secretary, and C. S. Pyle, treasurer.

The executive committee consisted of twenty persons. The society numbered about three hun- dred members.

The total receipts were two thousand seven hun-

dred and thirty-six dollars and sixty-eight cents, and the expenses were three thousand nine hun- dred and sixty-seven dollars and ninety-six cents. The deficit was one thousand two hundred and thirty-one dollars and twenty-eight cents.

The following extracts are from the society's report to the State Board of Agriculture :

We have been struggling for existence several years and until the present year (1857) have not had what might be called an agricultural fair.

The executive board of the past year determined to make a bold movement, and with little encouragement and no means, purchased ten and three-quarter acres of land for a fair ground for two hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre, enclosed it in a board fence, erected permanent halls, stalls, pens, etc., and two temporary halls and offices. The county commissioners agreed that when the society had expended and paid upon it one thousand dollars they would appropriate a like amount.

The fair was a successful one, and a great deal of good has resulted from it. It has breathed new life into the society, and we think that the Knox County Agricultural society and fairs have become a fixed fact. There were over six hundred entries made of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, mules, fowls, farming implements, grain, vegetables, fine arts, needle and fancy work, domestic manufactures, painting, fruits, flowers, etc.

The fair of 1858 was held September 28th, 29th, 30th, and October Ist, and was a complete success. The officers were: Henry P. Warden, president; Lorin Andrews, I. T. Beum, C. P. Buckingham, H. W. Shipley, William L. King, vice-presidents; William B. Russell, recording secretary, Emmitt W. Cotton, corresponding secretary, and C. S. Pyle, treasurer.

Each township in the county was allotted a member of the executive committee.

The total number of entries was seven hundred and six.

It was evident from the amount of stock, and number of people in attendance, that the present grounds were too small, and a subscription of one thousand dollars was raised on the last day of the fair to purchase additional grounds.

The society numbered about five hundred mem- bers.

The total receipts were one thousand nine hun- dred and eighty-five dollars and twenty-seven cents, and the expenses were three thousand four hun- dred and sixty-three dollars and three cents. The deficit was one thousand four hundred and seventy- seven dollars and seventy-six cents.

The heavy frost of June, 1859, was, for a short time, the cause of much alarm to the farming

234

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

community, but the beautiful growing weather fol- lowing soon after, gave them hopes of plentiful harvests. The fair of that year was held Septem- ber 28th, 29th, and 30th, and was a very success- ful one. The officers of the agricultural society that year were as follows: Henry P. Warden, presi- dent; Lorin Andrews, C. Delano, and Henry Phil- lips, vice-presidents; William B. Russell, secretary; C. S. Pyle, treasurer.

The total receipts were two thousand one hun- dred and eighty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, and the expenses were one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four dollars and thirty-nine cents. The excess of receipts over expenditures was three hundred and twenty-two dollars and twenty-seven cents.

There was a large show of stock and machinery, and a good display of fruits and vegetables. Farm products were rather light, but of good quality.

The fair of 1860 was held on the society's grounds in Mount Vernon, September 19th, 20th, and 21st, and was reported "a complete success."

The society then owned nineteen acres of ground enclosed with a good board fence eight feet high. Upon the grounds good stalls, etc., had been erected. A splendid half-mile track had been laid out and so improved that when finished would make a beautiful drive.

The total receipts were one thousand nine hun- dred and eighty-nine dollars and fifty-nine cents, and the expenses were two thousand one hundred and thirty-nine dollars and nineteen cents. The deficit was one hundred and forty-nine dollars and sixty cents.

The date of holding the fair for 1861 is not specified. The display in all departments was meagre. The officers were: Joseph M. Byers, president ; Lorin Andrews, Samuel Israel, John Mc- Intyre, Jesse Davis, Robert Miller, vice-presidents ; William B. Russell, recording secretary; E. W. Cotton, corresponding secretary ; C. S. Pyle, treas- urer.

The fair of 1862 was held September 24th, 25th, and 26th. Officers-Joseph M. Byers, president ; Samuel Israel, C. Baker, Anthony White, C. L. Bennett, Robert Miller, vice-presidents; William B. Russell, secretary; E. W. Cotton, correspond- ing secretary ; C. S. Pyle, treasurer.

No account of the fair can be found, but as it

was the second year of the War of the Rebellion, it is presumed it was a slim affair. A new committee was created this year-a committee on asses- to which Dr. J. N. Burr and John Cooper were appointed.

The fair of 1863 was held September 23d, 24th and 25th. Officers-C. Delano, president; Harvey Cox, vice-president; Robert Thompson, secretary.

Samuel Israel, Charles Barker, John Lyal and Columbus Delano were appointed a committee to collect from the General Government the bill of damages due the society for injury done the fair grounds when occupied by the Forty-third regi- ment of Ohio volunteer infantry.

The note due the Knox county bank for five hundred and thirty-one dollars and twenty-six cents, was ordered to be renewed.

For 1864 and 1865 no records were made in the journal. The war occupied all minds and the people were more intent on having a country than a fair.

Officers of the agricultural society for 1866, were-George B. Potwin, president; Robert Miller, vice president; Alexander Cassil, secretary ; G. B. Dean, corresponding secretary; John D. Thomp- son, treasurer.

The date of holding the fair this year is not given on the journal. Incessant rains during the first and second days were disastrous to its suc- cess. The show of horses, cattle and sheep was unusually good. Wheat and clover-seed crops of the county were almost a failure." The corn crop was good, yielding forty-five bushels to the acre. Floral hall made a fine display.

Owing to the disturbed state of the country, fairs had been on the decline; those of the past three or four years had been poorly attended. They did not pay expenses.

January, 1866, found the Knox County Agricul- tural society heavily in debt. The vacancies in the board were filled up with new and energetic men, and new officers elected. By the exertions of officers, aided by liberal citizens, the fair of 1866 was one of the best ever held in the county.

Receipts of the fair, together with private sub- scriptions, were sufficient to pay all the premiums, and to expend large sums in necessary repairs to the grounds and buildings. January 1, 1867, the

235

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

society had on hand available funds sufficient to pay off the indebtedness. With prudent manage- ment and the proper appreciation of the enterprise by citizens, the society hoped that it would become one of the permanent self-sustaining institutions of Knox county.

Mr. John D. Thompson represented the society at the State Agricultural convention this year.

Officers for 1867 were-George B. Potwin, pres- ident; Robert Miller, vice president; Alexander Cassil, secretary; John M. Martin, corresponding secretary; John D. Thompson, treasurer.

Fair held September 17th, 18th and 19th.

Total receipts from all sources. .$4,500 06

.. expenscs. 3,782 33

Excess of receipts over expenses. $ 717 73

The fair this year was a grand success, more than equalling the hopes of the most sanguine. The attendance of visitors on Wednesday and Thurs- day was large.

The display in fine horses, cattle, sheep and hogs was unusually good. In the way of fruits, vegetables, domestic fabrics and machinery, the dis- play was not large but good. Much praise was awarded the officers of the society for their untir- ing exertions.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 42

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096