USA > Ohio > Licking County > History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present > Part 47
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also, and the entries numbered more than seven hundred, among them being one of the swine family that weighed nine hundred and ninety pounds. It was held October 14th and 15th. On the last day Hon. Isaac J. Allen, then of Mansfield, gave an admirable address, which, like that of Professor Pratt, was published in pamphlet form. William S. Wright was delegate in the State board meeting.
1853 .- The officers in 1853 were William S. Wright, president; J. A. Tavlor, vice-president; G. F. Moore, secretary; H. S. Sprague, treasurer: William Barrick, Jonathan Smith, V. B. Alsdorf, J. H. Moore and H. B. McClelland, directors. Total number of members this year was three hundred and ninety-seven, and the treasurer re- ported the receipts to be 'one thousand one hun- dred and two dollars and forty-seven cents, .and the expenditures nine hundred and ninety-two dollars and forty-seven cents, showing the profits to have been one hundred and ten dollars. The fair was held October 7th and 8th, and was eminently successful in both the number of entries and the excellence of articles and animals ex- hibited. The best yield of corn on a single acre, reported this year, was one hundred and forty bushels, for which the first premium. was awarded to Charles H. Coe. William S. Wright was the delegate to the State Agricultural convention.
One of the most important events in the history of the society, during the year 1853, was the pur- chase by it of a portion of the grounds they now own and occupy, including the part known as the "Old Fort." The purchase first made was a tract of twelve and eighty-six one-hundredths acres, the deed for which, made by Henry Holler and wife, bears date December 13, 1853, the consideration being eight hundred and thirty-five dollars and ninety cents. Another purchase of twenty-nine and ninety-eight one-hundredths acres was made of Nathan H. Seymour, the deed bearing date December 22, 1853, the consideration being two thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight dollars. The money for paying for the foregoing tracts of land was principally raised by subscriptions ob- tained from the people of the county at large.
1854 .- The officers of the society in 1854 were William S. Wright, president; Jonathan Smith,
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vice-president; H. S. Sprague, treasurer. Eli B. Beckwith was elected secretary and served as such until May, when he resigned. E. Abbot and M. M. Munson served temporarily to the close of the year. Kinsey Hull, George F. Moore, E. Abbot, Jacob Winter, and P. N. O'Bannon, were elected directors.
A very successful fair was held on the new fair grounds on the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth days of October, the premiums awarded amount- ing to five hundred and seventy-seven dollars and twenty-five cents, the receipts from memberships and admissions being a little in excess of that sum. A rain on the two last days seriously affect- ed the receipts, and impaired the usefulness of the fair, this year. The State fair, which was held on the grounds of the society the week after, also tended to diminish the number of attendants, as many of our people who attended only one fair, preferred to be present at the State fair, and many, also, who intended to be at both, were pre- vented by the rain from being at the county fair. Hon. Samuel Shellabarger was the orator of the society this year, and delivered an able address, which came out in pamphlet form. W. S. Wright was the delegate to the State board convention.
The successful State fair held on our fair grounds this year was one of the important events of 1854. An addition of about four acres to the fair grounds of the society, as a gift virtually, from Mr. William S. Wright, the deed bearing date December 13, 1854, was a matter of no small importance to the society, and the generous act deserves honorable mention. Including this gift, the grounds of the society aggregated nearly forty-seven acres in 1854. In 1869, for the sum of two hundred and fifteen dollars, Abraham Lucas and wife conveyed a small parcel of land to the society for road purposes, the deed bearing date September fourteenth of said year; and on the' twenty-third of April, 1870, Evan Jones and wife sold to the society about five and one-quarter acres of ground for the sum of thirteen hundred and sixty dollars, which, added to the previous purchases, not including the road- way, made an aggregate of a fraction over fifty-two acres, which is the extent at present of the socie- ty's domains, obtained at a cost of five thousand four hundred and nine dollars. The grounds are
thought by some to be inadequate to the wants of the society, and a further addition to them is urged.
The "old fort," which is, in its entirety, within the grounds of the society, and outside of which, and nearly all around it, are the hundreds of sheds for the sheltering and safe keeping of the stock on exhibition at the fairs, is one of the most interest- ing and extensive of the works of the Mound Builders in the Ohio valley. A description of it will be found in the chapter on Newark township.
1855 .- The following gentlemen composed the board of officers of the Licking County Agricul- tural society in 1855: Jonathan Smith, president; Thomas S. O'Bannon, vice-president; William M. Cunningham, treasurer; Thomas J. Davis, secre- tary; E. Abbott, Jacob Winter, David Smith, John Brumback, and William Alsdorf, directors. Fair was held September 25th, 26th, and 27th. Pre- miums were awarded to the amount of seven hun- dred and fifty dollars. Professor Armor delivered the address, which was well received, and a copy solicited for publication. The fair was successful. Ladies' riding match was one of the features of the fair of 1855. Thanks were voted to the Utica band, for services. The receipts from all sources amounted to two thousand six hundred and ten dollars.
1856 .- The officers in 1856 were: Jonathan Smith, president; Thomas S. O'Bannon, vice- president; Thomas J. Davis, secretary; William M. Cunningham, treasurer; William Alsdorf, Joseph Pence, James Pittsford, John Brumback, and George W. Penny, directors. The fair was held on the eighth and ninth days of October, and was successful, the receipts amounting to nine hundred and seventy-four dollars and fifty cents.
1857 .- In 1857 the officers were: Thomas S. O'Bannon, president; William Alsdorf, vice-presi- dent; T. J. Davis, secretary; William M. Cun- ningham, treasurer; Joseph Pence, James Pittsford, William Maholm, J. S. Griffith, and Daniel Gard- ner, directors. Fair was held on the seventh and eighth days of October. The receipts from all sources, reported by the treasurer, amounted to one thousand four hundred and sixty-four dollars and forty-two cents.
1858 The officers for 1858 were; William Als-
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dorf, president; Joseph Pence, vice-president ; William M. Cunningham, treasurer; Thomas J. Davis, secretary ; William Maholm, Jacob S. Grif- fiths, William S. Wright, John A. Miller, and George J. Hagerty, directors. Fair was held Octo- ber 6th and 7th. Eleven hundred and eighty- eight membership tickets were sold. The total receipts from all sources during the fair amounted to two thousand one hundred and three dollars and seventy-five cents, and the secretary officially declared this fair the largest ever held in the county.
1859 .- The officers of the society for 1859, were William Alsdorf, president; William Maholm, vice- president; M. M. Munson, secretary; William M. Cunningham, treasurer; William Sherman, David Smith, I. C. Ball, and O. H. Wood, directors for one year, and Jacob S. Griffith, James Pittsford, Nelson Hardesty, and William Shields, directors for two years. The constitution of the society was so amended, since the last annual election, as to require the election of a board of directors of eight members, half of whom were to serve one year and the other half two years. Fair was held on the fifth, sixth and seventh days of October. Receipts one thousand six hundred and thirty-three dollars and sixty-four cents. Number of member- ship tickets, one thousand and eighteen-seven hundred and fifteen dollars and sixty-four cents realized from sale of tickets.
1860 .- The election of officers of the society for the year 1860 was held December 17, 1859, and resulted as follows: President, William Als- dorf; vice-president, William Maholm; treasurer, William M. Cunningham; secretary, M. M. Mun- son; directors, Willis Robbins, Christopher Stark, William Sherman and David Smith, to serve two years. Fair was held October 3rd, 4th and 5th. Total receipts two thousand and forty-three dollars.
1861 .- Election of officers for 1861 was held December 13, 1860, with the following result: President, William Maholm; vice-president, James Pittsford; treasurer, William M. Cunningham; secretary, Alexander Adair; directors, J. Bently Sutton, James Y. Stewart, William J. Cully, and Alpheus Reed. Fair was held on the second, third and fourth days of October. The attendance was large.
1862 .- The following is the list of officers of the society for 1862, elected December 14, 1861, to-wit: President, James Pittsford; vice-president, David Smith; secretary, A. Adair; treasurer, T. J. Davis; directors, William Sherman, Willis Robbins, M. M. Munson, and James Larimore. Fair was held on the first, second and third days of October, with a fair attendance.
1863 .- The officers for 1863, the election being held January 3d, of said year, were as follows: James Pittsford, president; David Smith, vice- president; A. Adair, secretary; T. J. Davis, treas- urer; William J. Cully, James Y. Stewart, T. B. Sutton, and Alpheus Reed, directors. The fair was held September 30th, and October Ist and 2d, with a large attendance. The society numbered over three hundred members.
1864 .- The officers of the society for 1864, the election being held January 16th, of said year, were as follows: David Smith, president; William J. Cully, vice-president; Thomas J. Davis, treas- urer; Waldo Taylor, secretary; James Larimore, Willis Robbins, M. M. Munson. H. L. Reed, direc- tors. The revenues of the society this year were as follows:
Received for membership tickets $322 00
Received for single admission tickets. 887 20
Received for children's admissions 38 30
Received for license of swing. 25 00
Received for license of eating houses 30 00
Received for rent of grounds. 100 00
Received for per centage on entries. 144 00
Total receipts. $1,546 50
1865 .- Officers for 1865 were as follows: David Smith, president; William J. Cully, vice-president; Thomas J. Davis, treasurer; Isaac W. Bigelow, secretary; Joel L. Tyler, Thomas Maholm, Charles H. Gardner, and John M. Fulton, directors. Fair was held on the fourth, fifth and sixth days of October, and was more largely attended than any previous one.
1866 .- The officers of the society for 1866, elec- tion being held January 13, 1866, were as follows: Joel L. Tyler, president; Henry L. Reed, vice- president; Thomas J. Davis, treasurer; I. W. Big- elow, secretary; L. B. Wing, M. M. Munson, James Larimore, Thomas S. O'Bannon, directors; A. Stevens, to fill vacancy occasioned by C. H. Gardner's resignation, and Jeremiah Grove, to fill
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vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Joel L. Tyler. Revenues amounted to two thousand four hundred and twenty dollars and fifteen cents. Fair was held on the third, fourth and fifth days of Octo- ber.
1867 .- The election of officers for 1867 took place June 12th of said year, with the following result: William Veach, president; John M. Ful- ton, vice-president; Isaac W. Bigelow, secretary; Thomas J. Davis, treasurer; J. Woolard, Charles Stewart, Thomas J. Maholm, and H. A. Fleming, directors. Six hundred and forty-two membership tickets were sold at the fair this year; six thousand three hundred and eighty-two single tickets and three hundred and forty-four children's, the largest number of any previous fair; the total receipts, including a balance of eleven dollars and eleven cents, being two thousand seven hundred and thirty-six dollars and ninety-five cents, not counting a balance due for pasture, of sixty dollars. The fair was held on the second, third and fourth days of October.
1868 .- The officers of the society for 1868 were as follows: William Veach, president; John M. Fulton, vice-president; I. W. Bigelow, secretary; Waldo Taylor, treasurer; M. M. Munson, Wm. D. Smith, George P. Eaton, and James Wiley, direct- ors. John M. Fulton and Joel L. Tyler were ap- pointed delegates to an agricultural convention in the Miami valley. Fair was held October 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th. Revenue, including four hundred and nineteen dollars and fifty-six cents of a balance, three thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine dol- lars and fifty-six cents. The constitution was so amended as that the board of directors shall here- after be composed of nine members, three of whom to be retired at the end of each year.
1869 .- The following gentlemen composed the board of officers in 1869: Henry I .. Reed, presi- dent; William D. Smith, vice-president; Isaac W. Bigelow, secretary; Waldo Taylor, treasurer; Will- iam R. Seymour, Joel I .. Tyler, and M. M. Mun- son, directors for three years; James Wiley, An- drew Weiant, and John M. Fulton, directors for two years; Jesse R. Moore, I. B. Wing, G. J. Haggerty, directors for one year. There were sold nine hundred and fifty-seven membership tickets, ten thousand six hundred and forty-six admission
tickets, and six hundred and forty-one children's . tickets, realizing three thousand six hundred and eighty-two dollars and sixty cents for tickets. Whole receipts, four thousand five hundred and seven dol- lars and ten cents. Fair was held on the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth days of October.
1870 .- Officers of the society for 1870 were as follows: Henry L. Reed, president; William D. Smith, vice-president; M. M. Munson, secretary; David Smith, treasurer; L. B. Wing, Jesse R. Moore and George J. Haggerty, directors elected. The fair was held this year on the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh days of October. The legisla- ture authorized a levy of ten thousand dollars to pay for additional ground, and for paying for some additional necessary buildings, such as a dining hall and fine arts hall. Said levy was made and . collected, and the society relieved of its embar- rassment.
1871 .- The following officers were elected for 1871: Joseph White, president; William R. Sey- mour, vice-president; Isaac W. Bigelow, secretary; David Smith, treasurer; Henry L. Reed, John M. Fulton and Andrew Weiant, directors. The total receipts from all sources, including a balance of seventy-three dollars and fourteen cents and ten thousand one hundred and twenty-four dollars and sixty-eight cents from the county, in pursuance of the act of the legislature authorizing a special levy in favor of the society, also a citizens' subscription of seven hundred and seventeen dollars, and re- ceipts from the sale of tickets and rents at horse fair, amounted to nineteen thousand one hundred and ninety-one dollars and thirty cents. The fair was held on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth days of October. Four thousand dollars were paid as premiums this year. The number of members was twelve hundred and sixty-nine, and the entries numbered three thousand eight hundred. The display was largely in excess of all former fairs.
1872 .- The officers of the society elected for 1872 were as follows: Joseph White, president; William R. Seymour, vice president; Isaac W. Bigelow, secretary; David Smith, treasurer; Sam- uel Motherspaw, Harvey Gates and Lewis Evans, directors elected. The fair was held on the first, second, third and fourth days of October. The total receipts were six thousand three hundred and
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ten dollars, and premiums paid, three thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.
1873 .- The following gentlemen served as offi- cers of the society during the year 1873: L. B. Wing, president; William Parr, vice-president; I. W. Bigelow, secretary; David Smith, treasurer; N. C. Fleming, James Kirkpatrick and James Richardson, directors elected. The fair was held September 30th and October 1st, 2nd and 3rd. L. B. Wing was the delegate to the State agri- cultural convention. The receipts were more than six thousand dollars, seventeen thousand four hundred and sixty-five tickets having been sold. There were large receipts from other sources.
1874 .- The following were elected officers for 1874, to-wit: L. B. Wing, president; Hiram Hitt, vice-president; C. A. Stevens, secretary; David Smith, treasurer; Henry L. Reed, John Montgom- ery and Martin D. Hartshorn, directors elected.
The receipts from horse fair in July amounted to. $2,537.50 Receipts from the annual October fair 6,370.34
Total. $8,907.84
The fair was held September 28th, and con- tinued four days. Lucius B. Wing was the delegate to the State agricultural convention, which was held at Columbus, January 6, 1875. The members of the society numbered eight hun- dred and sixty-four, and seventeen thousand four hundred and fifty-nine tickets were sold. About two thousand entries were made, and the fair throughout was a success. The premium awards amounted to three thousand three hundred dol- lars.
1875 .- The officers elected in 1875 were as fol- lows: Joseph White, president; C. R. Woods, vice president; C. A. Stevens, secretary; David Smith, treasurer; A. Weiant, J. N. Lawyer, and Stephen Hoskinson, directors. Fair was held October 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th. The attend- ance was large, the receipts amounting to about six thousand five hundred dollars, the premiums awarded amounting to five thousand dollars, and the members of the society numbered one thou- sand two hundred. An indebtedness of one thousand five hundred dollars was created this year by the erection of a structure known as the amphitheater. The entries exceeded those of any
previous year, and the fair throughout was regarded as pre-eminently successful. Henry L. Reed rep- resented the society in the State agricultural con- vention.
1876 .- The officers in 1876 were: James Pitts- ford, president; J. M. Kirkpatrick, vice-president: Edward Thomas, secretary; David Smith, treasurer; Francis Burkham, Allen T. Howland, and Samuel F. Van Voorhies, directors elected. Fair was held on the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth days of October, and was a success. Isaac Smucker was selected to prepare a centennial history of Licking county, pursuant to a resolution of the Ohio State board of agriculture, which he read at the fair grounds, July 4, 1876, two thousand copies of which were afterwards published in pamphlet form, by order of the society. James Pittsford repre- sented the society in the State agricultural conven- tion.
1877 .- The officers of the society in 1877 were as follows: Henry L. Reed, president; Harvey Gates, vice-president; Edward Thomas, secretary: James Pittsford, treasurer; Willis Fulton, Henry Moore, and Thomas Montgomery directors. Fair was held October 2nd, 3d, 4th, and 5th, and was well attended. The receipts into the treasury of the society, in 1877, amounted to five thousand two hundred and thirty-eight dollars. The membership this year numbered one thou- sand four hundred. Henry I .. Reed represented the society in the State agricultural convention, held January 9, 1878.
1878 .- The following is a list of officers elected in 1878: William Parr, president; G. W. Ingra- ham, vice-president; J. F. Lingafelter, secretary: I. W. Bigelow, treasurer; Andrew Weiant, Henry L. Reed, and James Richardson, directors elected. Fair was held on October Ist, 2d, 3d, and 4th, and as an exhibition was a success. Receipts in 1878, five thousand one hundred and thirty dollars and ninety-four cents. William Parr was . the society's delegate in the State agricultural conven- tion, held January 8, 1879.
1879 .- The following is a list of the officers of the Licking County Agricultural society, elected in 1879: William Parr, president; M. M. Miller, vice- president; J. F. Lingafelter, secretary; I. W. Bige- low, treasurer; Josiah Mckinney, W. R. Osborn,
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J. H. Bland, directors elected. The fair was held September 30th, and October Ist, 2d, and 3d, and was the thirty-second annual fair held since the organization of the present society, in 1848. To- tal receipts in 1879, six thousand thirty-three dol- lars and twenty cents, which indicates the contin- ued success of the society. By the death of Presi- dent Parr, before the fair, the duties of president devolved on the vice-president.
1880 .- The following is a list of the officers of the Licking County Agricultutal society for the year 1880: M. M. Miller, president; Thomas W. Mont- gomery, vice-president; J. F. Lingafelter, secretary ; I. W. Bigelow, treasurer; Andrew Weiant, Henry L. Reed, and James Richardson (one year), Josiah Mckinney, W. R. Osborn,, and J. H. Bland (two years), V. V. Lake, Harvey T. Black, and Henry Moore (three years), directors. Fair was held Sep- tember 28th, 29th, 30th, and October Ist, and the receipts were six thousand six hundred and twenty- eight dollars and thirty-five cents.
Pursuant to a resolution of the society, Isaac Smucker prepared the foregoing outline history of the county agricultural societies.
The following relating to the products of this county is taken from the State Agricultural Report for 1879, and from it may be gleaned some inter- esting facts connected with that most important branch of industry :
"Wheat, thirty thousand nine hundred acres sown, produc- ing four hundred and seventy thousand eight hundred and fifty- one bushels, or about fifteen and one-fourth bushels to the acre. This is several bushels above the average in the State, showing this county to be somewhat superior for wheat culture. Rye, one thousand three hundred and forty-two acres sown, produc- ing nineteen thousand and eighty-five bushels; buckwheat, four hundred and ninety-three acres sown, product, five thou- sand six hundred and eight bushels; oats, eleven thousand six hundred and nine acres, product, three hundred and sixty-three thousand and sixty-two bushels ; barley, fifteen acres, product, four hundred and thirty-eight bushels ; corn, fifty-five thousand four hundred and nineteen acres, product, two million three hundred and fifty-one thousand five hundred and fifty-one bushels; timothy, thirty thousand eight hundred and sixty-five acres sown, product, forty-two thousand six hundred and eighty-five tons of hay ; clover, three thousand one hundred and forty-five acres, product, two thousand eight hundred and ninety-three tons of hay, and one thousand five hundred and eighty bushels of seed; flax, two hundred and twenty-nine acres, product, two thousand four hundred and twenty-four bushels of seed; potatoes, one thousand six hundred and sixty acres, product, one hundred and twenty-two thousand two hundred and forty-eight bushels. This is an average of nearly
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seventy-four bushels to the acre-an average reached by but few counties in the State. Sweet potatoes, fourteen acres, pro- duct, five hundred and twenty-three bushels; tobacco, two acres, product, one thousand nine hundred and seventy pounds; sorghum, one hundred and fifty-nine acres, product, two hun- dred and forty-six pounds of sugar, and twenty thousand five hundred and forty-six gallons of syrup; maple sugar, nine thousand and twenty-one pounds, and thirteen thousand five hundred and eleven gallons of syrup ; hives of bees, three thou- sand three hundred and eighty-two, product, forty-nine thou- sand nine hundred and thirty-one pounds of honey. Only six counties in the State produce more honey than this. The total number of acres of land in the county is three hundred and seventy thousand six hundred and seventy-six, of which, one hundred and thirteen thousand eight hundred and three acres are cultivated, one hundred and seventy-eight thousand four hundred and thirty-eight pasture, seventy-four thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine wood-land, and three thousand four hundred and sixty-six uncultivated or waste land. It will be seen that the waste land in the county is much less than would be surmised, considering the large surface of hill, or upland ; in this, also, it compares favorably with any other in the State.
"In the production of butter it excels, the number of pounds being eight hundred and sixty thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine ;. few counties in the State excel this amount. The production of cheese was six thousand nine hundred and ten pounds, which compares favorably with other counties of the State, outside of the Reserve. It is a fact worth noting that the production of butter in the State has been steadily increas- ing for the last two decades; having advanced from thirty-eight million four hundred and forty thousand four hundred and ninety-eight pounds in 1860, to fifty million three hundred and thirty-two thousand and twenty-three pounds in 1878.
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