USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions > Part 33
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151
Miss Hilton-David Watson, Union county
875
Alexandrina-David Watson, Union county
500
Blossom-David .Watson, Union county
Yorkshire Dairy Cow-Joseph Negley, Clark county 423
Monson-Joseph Rayburn, Madison county
295
$ 6,720
HOGS.
No. 1 .- Levi Oldham, Fayette county
200 No. 2 .- Michael Sullivan, Franklin county 80
No. 3 .- J. T. McKey, Franklin county 75 No. 4 .- J. T. McKey, Franklin county 35 No. 5 .- J. G. Gest, Greene county 41
No. 6 .- John Hadley, Clinton county 42
No. 7 .- John Hadley, Clinton county 28
No. 8 .- Henry Rule, Clinton county
16
Digitized by Google
-
-
-
-
-
-
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. 235
No. 9 .- W. A. Dun, Madison county
20
No. 10 .- Jesse Hegler, Fayette county
61
No. 11 .- John Hadley, Clinton county 200
120
916
BHLEP.
No. 1 .- Richard Cowling, Madison county
110
No. 2 .- W. H. Creighton, Madison county
45
No. 3 .- Chandler Mitchell, Madison county 45
No. 4 .- Jesse Watson, Madison county 60
56
No. 6 .- Robert Reed, Madison county
45
No. 7 .- T. Mathews, Licking county
100
No. 8 .- T. Mathews, Licking county
50
No. 9 .- C. Fullington, Union county
75
No. 10 .- John Hadley, Clinton county
85
No. 11 .- G. Howard, Champaign county
40
No. 12 .- D. M. Creighton, Madison county
75
80
No. 14 .- Richard Cowling, Madison county
100
No. 15 .- John Hadley, Clinton county
55
No. 16 .- C. Fullington, Union county
55
No. 17 .- Levi Lapham, Union county
35
No. 18 .- D. M. Creighton, Madison county
15
No. 19 .- C. Fullington, Union county
55
No. 20 .- C. Fullington, Union county
105
$ 1,286
Sheep
$ 1,286
Hogs
916
Cows
6,720
Bulls
17,855
Total $26,257
Jacob Chrisman was the cashier of the company, and, after paying all expenses of Importing, keeping, sale, etc., disbursed to the shareholders something over two hundred and forty dollars for each one hundred dollars originally put in. The selling was done by Benjamin Porter, the first auctioneer of the monthly stock sales, for which he received the insignificant sum of fifty dollars. Other companies and individuals of the Scioto valley besides. those mentioned have made importations from Europe of the choicest strains of pure-bred stock, the descendants of which are to be found not only in the valley, but distributed throughout the entire West, as well as other portions of the United States.
OTHER NOTABLE SALES.
Among the breeders and dealers in pure-bred stock, David Selsor and the Dun Brothers deserve special mention. The former possessed the finest herd of Shorthorns in Ohio, and one of the finest on the continent. His animals always won blue ribbons at the leading fairs of the country, and the fame of David Selsor, "the cattle king," has spread wherever the breeding of fine stock has been made a specialty. The biggest
Digitized by Google
No. 12 .- J. Q. Minshall, Madison county
No 5 .- Cyrus Larkin, Fayette county
No. 18 .- E. P. O'Nell
236
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
prices were paid for his animals, and the stockman who was fortunate enough to obtain a descendant of this choice herd was indeed lucky. Mr. Selsor spared no pains nor expense to keep his herd in the front rank with the finest in the world. Truly, Madison county should honor the memory of this man, who, during a long life of business activ- ity, did so much toward establishing and maintaining her reputation as a great live stock mart of Ohio. Mr. Selsor died on January 12, 1882, and his valuable herd was subsequently sold and scattered all over the land.
Robert G. and John G. Dun held their first annual sale of Shorthorns on May 6, 1868, and sold thirty-two animals, nearly all one and two years old. The records show that nine bulls and five heifers were bought by Madison county men. The purchasers were Robert Boyd, W. A. Dun, F. M. Chenoweth, Benjamin Linson, Harford Toland, J. A. Pringle, James Rankin, William A. Neil, Jr., Addison Watson, William Cryder, Benjamin Custer, Robert G. Dun, R. B. Cowling and Bell Bros. Of the remaining eighteen, seven went to Clark county, four to Union county, two to Champaign, two to Pickaway, one to Delaware and one to Fairfield county. The average price all round was $178.44; the lowest price, $75; and the highest $365. On the 4th of May, 1889, Robert G. Dun held his second sale, his brother John G. having previously disposed of his surplus at private sale. Twenty-three animals, mostly one-year-olds, were sold at public auction, nine of which were retained in Madison county. The purchasers were William B. Franklin, William Hall, Jerry Rea, Alfred Pringle, William A. Neil, Jr., George Linson and A. W. Thurman. The remaining fourteen head were distributed as follow : Four to Greene county, one to Licking, one to Hardin, one to Columbiana and one to Franklin county, Ohio; three to Parke county, Ind., and two to Syracuse, New York. The lowest price paid was $135, and the highest $405, making an average all round of nearly $221. These sales were followed by others, which attracted a large number of stock men from every portion of Ohio, and quite a respectable attendance from other states. Becoming familiar with the fine stockbreeders of this county, they soon began to draw regular installments from the splendid herds of "Old Madison," with which to improve and cross upon other herds, and as a nucleus of future herds in other sections. Thus does Madison occupy a proud position in the galaxy of counties, the first in quality and second to few in numbers.
THE MADISON COUNTY STOCK SALES.
The production of corn, wheat, cotton and other staple crops may add most to the wealth of a nation in the aggregate, but, as a rule, the stock interests of every county, in all times, have brought most wealth to the individual farmer. Men who devote part of the resources of their farms to the raising of stock are invariably found to be among the wealthiest in every agricultural community, possessing the most comfortable homes, and able to give their families a better education and more of the comforts of life than any other class of agriculturists. This is particularly true of Madison county, and the only drawback to the increase of her population and rapid development of her resources is that many of her citizens own large tracts of land upon which the tenant system prevails, and it is therefore difficult for a man of limited means to acquire landed prop- erty. The prevalence of log cabins in this age of frame and brick structures, and the large number of poor people occupying these cabins, is an invincible argument against the policy of large farms. Freedom and enlightenment go hand in hand with the own- ership of land, and wherever its acquisition is made difficult or impossible, it indicates the absence of a sound, political economy in that country.
The historical facts connected with the founding of the Madison county stock sales may be briefly told. The sale of imported stock on September 27, 1853, gave an impetus to the already growing interest in fine stock, which has contributed so largely
Digitized by Google
237
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
to the business success of the county. Other sales followed in due time ,and the project for regular sales in London began to be mooted. In 1855, William G. Jones, proprietor of the Phifer House, calleed a meeting at his hotel to consider the feasibility of inaugurat- ing monthly stock sales. Besides Mr. Jones, there were present at this meeting William H. Creighton, David Selsor, Jesse Rea, Mathew Rea, John G. Dun, James J. Jones, Peter Slaughter, and other wealthy farmers and stock men. There was no regular associa- tion organized, but the originators, having confidence that the project would succeed, got out handbills advertising a sale to be held in London on March 5, 1856. On that day was inaugurated an institution that made Madison county famous. These sales were held the first Tuesday in each month, and, from the beginning to the time they were abandoned, proved a grand success.
SOME OF THE LEADING STOCK MEN.
Benjamin Porter, a native of Virginia, was the pioneer salesman of this vicinity. He lived at Catawba, Clark county, Ohio; was a large, portly man, of fine physique and strong common sense. His tact as an auctioneer was equalled only by the extraordinary strength of his lungs, but the love for strong drink conquered "poor Ben" at last. He possessed splendid judgment as an auctioneer and was a man whom everyone con- sidered an adept in his business.
In 1856 J. C. Bridgman began his career as a stock salesman, and, in 1860, formed a partnership with Porter, which lasted until the death of the latter. From that time to the close of his active career, "Jack" Bridgman was the leading stock auctioneer of Madison county, and missed but few sales. He possessed all the shrewdness of the Yankee, combined with that freedom from ceremony and wholesouled manner, charac- teristic of the Western people. To know "Jack" was to be his friend, for he was always ready and willing to do a favor, and few men would go further than he to per- form a kind action. "Jack's abilities made him wealthy-a president of a national bank, a model of propriety, and a representative citizen. For many years he was engaged in the live stock business, and it is no exaggeration to say that there was not a better judge of stock in Madison county than this go-ahead successful, old-time auctioneer.
Charles Jones, of Jefferson, began selling at these sales upon their inception, and was considered a good salesman. Giles James, of London, was engaged in the business for about twelve years, while John Kilgore and William Douglass were auctioneers at these sales for years. Others from adjoining counties took part whenever called upon, and there can be little doubt that to this class of men is due much of the success which attended the growth and progress of the London sales from the beginning.
It will not be inappropriate to give a list of the men who, from the first, fostered and encouraged these sales, the reader bearing in mind, however, that others, perhaps, whose names do not appear, did something toward building up this wonderful institu- tion. The long-continued prosperity of the Madison county stock sales was unques- tionably due to the early activities of a certain class of her citizens, among whom the following names deserve mention : William G. Jones, William H. Creighton, David Selsor, Jesse Rea, Robert Boyd, Mathew Rea, John G. Dun, James J. Jones, Peter Slaughter, Peter Buffenbergh, William D. Wilson. J. Q. Minshall, James Wilson, Thomas Wilson, Alexander Wilson, Valentine Wilson, Jerry Rea, Robert Rea, John Pancake, Charles Phellis, Jr., Tip Guy, James Carter, the Weaver brothers, Chandler Mitchell, Newman Mitchell, Charles Mitchell, Thomas Bales, James A. Dun, Augustus Bonner, Walter Dun, Jr., Washington Withrow, Robert Reed, Eli Gwynne, Baldwin Gwynne, William Franklin, John Thompson, W. Morrow Beach, John McCoy, John Heath, Thomas Farrar, Marion Chenoweth, John F. Chenoweth, Frank and Joel Hicks, James Abernathy, Elijah Bragg, Otho Luffboro, William Johnson, Elijah O'Day, Manley
Digitized by Google
238
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
Bozarth, William A. Nell, John Lucas, the Bidwells, J. B. Morgridge, John Price, Will- iam D. Wilson, Jr., James Rankin, Abner Bateman, Adolphus Dunkin, William H. Summers, J. C. Smith, W. H. Smith, John Wilson, John McDonald, Henry, John and Darius Burnham, James Guy, Joseph Williams, Luther Johnson, William Minter, Hiram and Charles Richman, Charles H. Beale, William and John O'Day, George Kiona, William and David Heath, William Junk, Linson Brothers, Jesse and David Watson, Thomas J. Stutson, Clement Shockley, Smith Brothers, P. R. Asbury, Benjamin and Batteal Harrison, John T. Maxey, Daniel Boyd, Marcus Yates, Levi Counts, Fulton Armstrong, Edward Fitzgerald, Edward Roberts, Richard Johnson, James Converse, James Davis, Robert Deyo, James Robinson, Joseph Rea, W. H. Morgan, J. W. Byera, and doubtless a few others.
GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE ATTEND SALE.
From all of the adjoining counties, as well as many of those at a distance, came leading stock men to buy and sell. Dealers residing in Cincinnati and Chicago shipped stock from those cities to the little town of London, where they knew the highest prices in the Union were always paid for good cattle. Not only did Ohio pay tribute to the Madison county stock sales, but also the great states of New York, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Kansas. On the 2nd of March, 1809, the Ohio Legislature, with Governor Hayes, and other state officers, including many of the representatives of the press of Ohio, paid London a visit for the purpose of seeing how cattle sales were managed, and to examine this county as a location for the State Agricultural and Mechanical College. At the same time, the agricultural convention of the Scioto and Miami valleys met here in annual council. It was one of the most noted days in the history of the county. Some three hundred legislative, agricultural and other invited guests were entertained with a banquet at Toland Hall, and all honor was given to "Old Madison," the only county in Ohio or the West sustaining a stock sale. On that day, Daniel Boyd sold to David Selsor a mammoth steer, weighing three thousand and thirty pounds, for which the "cattle king" paid five hundred and forty dollars.
During the first thirteen years and a half that these sales existed, but four were missed. the fall of Vicksburg, in July, 1863; the state election, in October, 1863; the Fourth of July, 1865; and the cattle plague, in September, 1868, being the causes why no sales were held in those months. The average sales per year for that period . amounted to more than ten thousand dollars each month, but for the last five years of that time the average was often double that figure. The sales continued to increase in size and importance, until the average reached twenty-five thousand a month. Surely this showing entitled Madison county to that proud position which she so long main- tained as the "Queen of Cattledom."
The custom became rooted and grounded in its establishment. Without organiza- tion or officers, in the interests of no ring or clique, with but one other worthy of the name, the sale held at Paris, Kentucky, it stood for years unrivaled in the history of the nation. Good stock cattle brought better prices at the Madison county stock sales than at any other market on this continent. Madison county paid a higher valuation on her horned stock than any other county in Ohio, and, doubtless, in the United States. During the latter years of David Selsor's life, he annually shipped to New York the premium beef of the metropolis; and it is a well-known fact that this beef, fed upon the bluegrass and corn of Madison county, brought the highest prices in that market of epicures.
Digitized by Google
239
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
HERD ATTRACTS NATIONAL ATTENTION.
The herd of Red Poll cattle belonging to Frank Nelson has attracted national atten- tion, Mr. Nelson having received the following letter from B. H., Heide, secretary of the International Live Stock Exposition :
"Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Ill., "October 10,. 1914 .. "Mr. Frank Nelson, London, Ohio.
"My Dear Sir: As it has come to my attention that you have. some high-class Bed Polls which should be exhibited at this show, I felt it my duty to send you one of our premium lists so that you might be able to glance over the classes and thus be in a better position to reach a decision in this connection.
"If you should decide to bring some of your animals to this year's 'International,' I trust you will advise me of the fact at your earliest convenience so that the necessary, entry forms may be mailed to you without delay.
"Yours very truly,
"B. H. HEIDE, Secretary."
MADISON COUNTY PERCHERON BREEDERS.
It is not generally known that Madison county ranks fourth in the state among the breeders of Percheron horses. During the fiscal year ending October 31, 1914, breeders of this county recorded twenty-eight Percherons in the Percheron Society of America. This number was registered by thirteen breeders, all of whom belong to the society. In number produced the county is third in the state, but the ranking is done on a basis of the number of Percherons per square mile of the county. Following is a list of Madison county Percheron breeders and the number registered last year : Marion Bidwell, West Jefferson, three; C. A. Butler, Plain City, two; J. W. Goodson, West Jefferson, one; C. M. Jones, Plain City, five; Louis Matteler, Plain City, one; Wilbur Murray, London, one; P. H. Roberts, Route 5, London, one; Smith and Houston, Route 7, London, one; James E. Spencer, West Jefferson, five, and one imported; A. J. Torbert, Plain City, one; G. M. Van Dyke, London, one; Moses I. Weaver, Plain City, four; Cloud Smith, London, two.
RESIDENT LANDOWNERS IN MARCH, 1819.
The people of today hardly realize or appreciate what they owe to the large-hearted pioneer fathers and mothers, who, with their children, braved the perils of the wilder- ness; who reared their families in the fear of God, and implanted within them all . the virtues necessary to the welfare of humanity, and passed away, leaving to them an inheritance that is invaluable and that should ever be cherished and kept in sacred remembrance. The record of Madison county would be incomplete without some notice of these pioneers, who, by reason of their limited sphere of action, could not become conspicuous in the great drama of pioneer life, but whose busy hands and conscientious regard of duty made them great factors in the establishment of the solid foundation upon which the society of today rests. It is a little thing to preserve their names in the pages of history ; yet it is about all that is left to do. Their lives were much alike; they met the stern necessities of the hour, and were content in the consciousness of duty nobly done.
In March, 1819, the commissioners of Madison county prepared a duplicate of all the resident landowners of said county at that time, and while hunting through the musty pages stored away in the court house vaults, the historian fortunately discovered this record. It consists of a few sheets of paper sewed together, without back or cover ;
Digitized by Google
-
-
240
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
set for years it has preserved in its pages the names of those men who settled and built up the rich and prosperous county of Madison. It reads as follows:
"London, Commissioners' Office, March, 1819 .- Duplicate of resident land proprie- tors for the tax of 1819, with all new entries and transfers made in this office, Madison county, Ohio : John Adair, Jr., John Arbuckle, Charles Atchison, Jonathan Alder, Paul Alder, John Adair, William Alkire, Leonard Alkire, Samuel Alkire, Jacob Alkire, Abram Alkire, Robert Alkire, Samuel Adair, Samuel Adams, Charles Andrewa, William Akins, Francis Ayres, Annanias Allen, Jacob Blougher, Samuel Baskerville, John Beetley, Hezekiah Bayliss, William Blaine, Norton Bailey, Vestal Blair, Daniel Brown, Jonas Bradley, Jonathan Burgess, Peter Buffenburgh, Francis Brock, John Baird, James Bowls, Peter Baker, Thomas Baldwin, Willlam Buffenburgh, Elisha Bidwell, Isaac Bidwell, Joseph Bidwell, Stephen Buckman, Uri Beach, Ambrose Beach, Thompson Cooper, William Cummings, John Clements, Peter Cutright, Andrew Cypherd, Philit Cryder, Abijah Cary, Luther Cary, Calvin Cary, William Chard, James Criswell, James Cowen, Elizabeth Cary, James Curry, Samuel Colver, Levi Cantrel, Thomas Clark, Henry Coon, Louis Coon, John Caruthers, James Collins, Jeremiah Converse, Joshua Cope, Abner Chapman, John Carpenter, William Creath, Ashel Cleveland, Samuel Car- roll, David Colver, Levi Churchill, Otho W. Delashmutt, Joseph Downing, John Down- ing, James Dines, James Douglass, E. L. Delashmutt, George Deeds, Francis Downing Judah Dodge, Thomas Davidson, John Davidson, William Dakin, David Dennison, Walter Dun, Jesse Dungan, James Dungan, John Erwin, Joshua Ewing, James Ewing, Edward Evans, William Erwin, Reason Francis, Daniel Francis, John Fifer, William Frankabarger, Lewis Foster, David Foster, Joshua Foster, William Fleming, Isaac Freeman, Abram Fresher, Jacob Fairfield, Benjamin Garrett, Daniel Gamble, Nehemiah Gates, Thomas Gwynne, D. Gwynne, Fergus Grimes, John Grimes, James Grimes, David Groves, William Rennick, Henry Goodall, George Hoover, David Harris, Michael Har- pole, Martin Humble, Levi Humble, Cornelius Humble, Samuel Herrod, Israel Heath, John Heaton, William Howsman, Mary Holbert, Philip Holbaugh, Elisha Hard, Jebn Irwin, Jacob Johnston, Mary Johnston, William Jameson, John Johnston, Andrew Jame- son, Stephen Johnston, John Kelso, William Kirkly, Benjamin Kirkpatrick, James Kent, John Kent, Baltzer King, Thomas Kilgore, Nahum King, William King, John Lane, John Littler, William Linton, Dennis Lane, William Lapin, Elias Langham, William Lewis, Joshua Littler, George Linson, Nathan Low, Joseph Melvin, Jobn Marsuis, Jona- than Minshall, John Mozer, Hugh Montgomery, John Melvin, James McDonald, William Mann, Samuel Mitchell, David Mitchell, Samuel Mitchell, Jr., Moses Mitchell, David Mitchell, Jr., John McDonald, - Mathews, William McCoy, James Moore, James Marquis, Gabriel Markle, William Marquis, Roger Moody, John McNeal, Jacob Mozer, Rowan McCaully, Sally Moore, Jesse Mckay, John Mills, S. McDonald, Reuben Mann, Samuel Mann, Robert Nelson, Andrew Noteman, Ann Noteman, Robert Nicholson, Usual Osborn, George Prugh, William Patterson, Robert Powers, John Pepper, John Phoebus, Peter Paugh, Thomas Patterson, Samuel Powell, Samuel Pearce, David Park's heirs, James Pringle, George Phifer, Robert F. Pringle, Andrew Rea, Daniel Ross, Henry Roby, Thomas Robinson, James Robinson, Samuel Robinson, John Robinson, Thomas Reed, E. Reynolds, John Rathburn, John Simpkins. William Starnes, John Stroup, John Smith, Tobias Shields. Robert Soward, George Sutherland, John Sutherland, Abram Shepherd, Frederick Sager, Christian Sager, Samuel Sager, Philip Sidener, Jacob Sid- ener, John Selsor, Henry Smith, William Sharp, Benjamin Springer, Silas Springer, John Scott, Jacob Steele, George Sager, Henry Shover. Charles Sterret, Abram Sager, Henry Sager, Thomas Stoddard, John Stafford, David Sidener, Isaac Smith, Gibson Savage, John Taylor, William Taylor, Daniel Taylor, Richard Taylor, John Troxel,
Digitized by Google
-
241
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
Alexander Thompson, Enoch Thomas, Jacob Trumbo, Isaac Troxel, Joshua Thompson, Jonah Toppin, William Thomas, Robert Thomas, Phineas Trussel, Peter Vandevender, George Vanness, Joseph C. Vance, Jacob Vandevender, John Warner, Walter Watson, David Watson, James Withrow, John Williams, James Whitesides, William Woods, Jane Wingate, Isaac Williams, Delashmutt Walling, Valentine Wilson, James Wright, Daniel Wright, George Weaver, Joseph Wiley, William Wilson, Joseph Ward, Samuel Watson, Joseph Warner, William Warner and David Witter.
The historian cannot vouch for the accuracy of this list or that it contains the name of every landowner residing in Madison county in March, 1819. The list is copied verbatim, and it is presumed that such a record would be correct. The only object in printing it is to try and preserve the names of many who have long since been for- gotten. If this has been accomplished, the purpose of publication is attained, and it is felt that the reader may derive some interesting information from a careful perusal of a list of pioneers who laid the foundation of the present commonwealth.
MADISON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
In 1846, the Clark and Madison County Agricultural Society was organized, which held fairs alternately at South Charleston and London. The last of these fairs was held in London, on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of October, 1852. On the 13th of November, 1852, the following Agricultural notice appeared in the Madison Reveille: "We, the undersigned, citizens of Madison county, are in favor of calling a county convention, for the purpose of organizing a county agricultural society, within and for Madison county, separate and apart from Clark county; and recommend such convention to be held on Saturday, the 20th day of November, 1852. Paul Smith, Sabastian Roberts, Abraham Johnston, Thomas J. Stutson, J. Mccullough, R. Acton, G. W. Lewis, G. B. Oiney, N. H. S. Miller, Jennet Stutson, F. H. Olmstead, O. C. Standart, G. E. Hart- well, Nathan Burnham, E. S. Hancock, B. Crabbe, N. E. Davis, Evans Pennington, Henry Alder, Carlton E. Gregg, John G. Dun, Caleb Morse, James Burnham, John T. Maxey, Robert Armstrong, William C. Minter, Dr. J. Stutson, A. Toland, A. J. Ryan, John Williams, William Morris, Washington Withrow, Jackson Brock, W. A. Koontz, Cole- man Asbury, William Riddle, D. Haskell, P. R. Asbury." In response to this call, a large and enthusiastic meeting of the farmers, mechanics and business men took place in London on that date.
The meeting was organized by appointing T. J. Stutson, of Jefferson township, chair- man, and William H. Creighton, secretary. The chairman, in a brief but appropriate address, explained the object of the meeting, which was to dissolve the connection which had theretofore existed with Clark county in an agricultural society, and to organize such society for Madison county alone. The necessity of such a course was obvious. The fairs were held in Clark county "except occasionally by special favors, and by private individuals at London defraying certain expenses." The consequence was that a very large portion of the county was excluded from its benefits by being so remote from the point where the fairs were held. He urged that Madison county con- tained the elements within herself to produce the very best agricultural exhibitions of any county in the state. On motion of David Haskell, it was resolved to proceed to organize a Madison county agricultural society, and elect such officers as were neces- sary to conduct the affairs of such society. On motion of John Melvin, it was resolved that the officers of this society should be a president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, and five directors. The officers were then elected as follow : President, Richard Cowling; vice-president, Dr. J. Stutson; treasurer, John Rouse; secretary, W. H. Creigh- (16)
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.