History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 34

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207

USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions > Part 34

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ton ; directors, John H. Findlay, John T. Maxey, John G. Dun, Jesse Watson, Jonathan Farrar.

On motion, Messrs. Toland, Findlay and Stutson were appointed a committee to draft a constitution for the society, which was reported and unanimously adopted. On motion it was resolved that a committee of one for each township in the county be appointed to solicit names for members of this society, whereon John Melvin was appointed the committee for Jefferson township; John Williams, Stokes; Charles Phellis, Pike; Henry Alder, Canaan; John Smith, Darby; David Morris, Monroe; W. B. Davis, Fairfield; John H. Kennedy, Somerford; James Q. Minshall. Range; James Robinson, Pleasant; R. B. Winchester, Union; John G. Dun, Deer Creek. On motion, it was resolved that one hundred and fifty copies of the constitution of the society be printed for distribu- tion through the county. On motion, it was resolved that John T. Maxey, Richard Cowling, and Jonathan Farrar be a committee to wait on the directors of the late Clark and Madison Agricultural Society, and obtain from them the portion of the money in the hands of the treasurer of the said society that was contributed by and properly belonged to Madison county.

THE FIRST ANNUAL FAIR.

The first fair of the Madison County Agricultural Society, was held in London on September 28 and 29, 1853. The officers of the society, under whose auspices this fair was held, were elected on June 4, 1853, and were as follow : John H. Findlay, presi- dent; James Foster, vice-president ; John Rouse, treasurer; J. F. Freeman, secretary; Richard Cowling, Charles Phellis, James Burnham, William Harrold and John F. Chen- oweth, directors. The day prior to the opening of the fair, the sale of the imported thoroughbred stock, brought from Europe a short time before, took place, and gave the new enterprise of the agricultural society an impetus it could have received in no other way. Hundreds of leading stock men attended the sale, and remained for the fair, which proved a grand success. In September, 1854, the society purchased eight acres and eighty perches of land, in survey No. 5670, from John T. Maxey, paying for the same four hundred and twenty-five dollars. This tract is located in the northeast part of London, and the fairs were held there for fourteen years, with varying success. The last exhibition was held on September 18, 19 and 20, 1867, and the following were the officers at that time: J. Swetland, president; John Reed, vice-president; S. W. Dur- flinger, secretary ; Preston Adair, treasurer; directors, David Haskell. William Curtain. Robert Deyo, Adam Young; committee of arrangements, J. Swetland, L. Mount, Preston Henry Tyler, James Converse, Charles Phellis, John Mitchel, L. Mount, Daniel Boyd, Robert Deyo, Aam Young; committee of arrangements, J. Swetland, L. Mount, Preston Adair, Henry Tyler; marshals, William Summers and J. C. Bridgeman.

Many causes led to the abandonment of these fairs. In the fall of 1868, a Union Agricultural Society was organized at Mechanicsburg, which had for its promoters some of the leading citizens of the northwestern portion of Madison county. These men had previously belonged to the Madison county society, and their withdrawal from it, together with the starting of a new association so close to the north part of the county, naturally had a dampening effect upon the old organization. A second cause was the absence of a track where horsemen could exhibit their animals. The grounds were small. and races were not a part of the program at these fairs; hence one of the prin- ripal attractions was missing. Efforts were made at different times to purchase addi- tional ground, with the object of constructing a good track thereon, but nothing was ever accomplished in that direction. The principal cause, however, why the holding of fairs in London was abandoned, was on account of the rapid growth of the Madison county stock sales, at that time and for years the glory and pride of this portion of

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Ohio. This county needed no annual fair, for it held one every month. The Madison County Agricultural Society, however, still lived; its organization was kept intact and its financial condition healthy. Its officers were: Stephen Watson, president; Jeriah Swetland, vice-president ; J. C. Bridgeman, treasurer; Edwin Phifer, secretary ; Preston Adair, Joseph Williams, Stephen Watson, James Millikin, John Pancake, Charles Phellis, Jr., R. G. Dun, Philip Durflinger, J. C. Bridgeman, W. H. Summers, Daniel Boyd, Jeriah Swetland, Adam Young, Robert Boyd and Erwin Phifer, directors.

LONDON DRIVING-PARK ASSOCIATION.

The first step taken toward the revival of the county fairs was probably the organi- zation of the London Driving-Park Association. This association was formed early in the year 1883 and soon after leased sixty acres of land for a park of R. B. Cowling, about one mile east of London, between the railroad and the Jefferson pike. On March 23, of the same year, they gave the contract for building a half-mile dirt track to Morris Nevils for three hundred and thirty-nine dollars, the track to be finished by May 1. During that spring the local papers began the discussion of the revival of the old county fairs. Stables on the driving association's park were erected by E. S. Vent and a high board fence was placed around the grounds by A. L. Slagle. The park was opened on July 4, with the following program of races: Gentlemen's trot; 3:00 trot. purse one hundred dollars; 2:40 pacing, purse one hundred; 2:35 trot, purse one hun- dred and fifty; one-half mile running; one-half mile bicycle. Admission was placed at fifty cents for gentleman; ladies free. Of this association C. F. Richman was presi- dent; A. W. Boyd, secretary and F. T. Creamer, treasurer. This meet was a great suc- cess and it was estimated that there were from five to seven thousand people present.

On August 8, 1883, another successful race program was held. The following year the following directors were chosen : F. T. Creamer, C. T. Richman, A. T. Landers, W. H. McKinna, Fred Gillett, Leon Minsball and Albert W. Boyd. There were two hundred shares of stock in the association, of which one hundred and eighty-two were sold. Another race meet was held on the Fourth of July that year, with a similar large crowd.

In the Democrat for March 4, 1885, is found the following: "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, Ohio, and recommend that said convention be held at the court house in London on Saturday, the fourteenth day of March, 1885, and respectfully invite all persons interested to attend said convention." This call was signed by about one hundred and fifty of the most prominent citizens of the county. The immediate results of this meeting are not now quite clear, but it is recorded that on January 5, 1886, the Madison County Agricultural Society met and elected the following officers : Stephen Watson, president; F. C. Gillett, vice-president; Erwin Phifer, secretary; Job J. Clark, treasurer; and Jacob Peetrey, S. Bonner, H. C. Guy, Job J. Clark, Walter Dun, John F. Lotspiech, Noah Thomas. F. C. Gillett, William Curtin, Erwin Phifer, A. H. Underwood, Austin Hutson, H. Toland, and Matt Rea, directors. At a meeting of the board of directors, January 15, 1886, it was decided to sell the old fair grounds and secure new grounds, and a committee com- posed of H. C. Guy, Harford Toland and M. L. Rea, were appointed to purchase or lease new grounds. A committee composed of J. J. Clark and William Curtin was appointed to prepare a premium list. However, for reasons unknown, no fair was held in that year.

In January, 1887, G. W. Wilson, then president of the Madison County Agricul- tural Society, met the directors of the London Driving Park Association and submitted the following proposal :

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"To the London Driving Park Company:

"The Madison County Agricultural Society desires, if practicable, to hold a county rair this year. The society is without funds to purchase grounds, and can only purchase if favorable terms can be had.

"The most convenient grounds for a fair are now occupied by the London Driving Park Club, by virtue of a lease from the owners of the grounds. We understand that there is a clause in the lease binding the lessee not to re-lease the premises. If so, perhaps the association would not lease the same to the society. But if we cannot lease and control the grounds, you may grant the society the privileges of holding a fair on your. grounds.

"The agricultural society would be pleased to have the association consider the matter of granting the privilege of holding a county fair on the grounds and take such action as shall seem best. If thought best, a committee of both associations could be appointed to meet, consider and report."

This proposition was favorably considered by the Driving-Park Association, which at that time was about one thousand dollars in debt and in poor financial shape, and the members offered to assign their stock to the agricultural society if the latter would assume that indebtedness, or, offered to rent the grounds for the remainder of the lease, six years. But the hopes for a fair that year were dashed by the county commissioners refusing to accept a quit-claim deed for the old fair-grounds from the Madison County Agricultural Society on the grounds that the society had abandoned the grounds.

PERMANENT REVIVAL OF INTEREST.

On November 9, 1889, an enthusiastic meeting of the agricultural society was ueid at the court house and interest was revived in the proposed fair. A campaign was started to increase the membership of the society. A committee composed of G. W. Wilson, Fred Webster and D. T. Garnard was appointed to prepare a new constitu- tion. On April 14, 1890, the society held a meeting at the office of G. W. Wilson, and the matter of leasing and buying ground adjacent to the old fair-grounds on North Elm street was discussed, two parcels of land being in view-those of Robert Boyd and W. H. Chandler, Sr. It was finally decided to lease the Chandler land back of the old grounds, which . contained twenty-five acres, located suitably for a good . half-mile track. There were about eight acres in the old grounds, well shaded. The written proposi- tion of Mr. Chandler for a five-year lease at two hundred and twenty-five dollars was accepted'and the lease was ordered prepared at once. The committee on grounds was instructed to sow the hillside facing the proposed track with grass. Local horse fapciers were to build the track at their own expense, reserving the privilege of using the same for training purposes, the agricultural society to be put to no expense for the same. Committees on rules and regulations and on premiums were appointed and set to work. The state board of agriculture placed Madison county in the Ohio Valley. circuit and fixed the time for the fair for the week including September 1-5, inclusive. The track was laid out by Engineer Arnett and extended on to the grounds of Mrs. James Ham- ilton and A. J. Coover, eight acres of ground being leased from the former and three from the latter. On April 30, 1890, the village council of London voted five hundred dollars from its general funds to aid the society in the improvement of its grounds. On May 13, 1890, the contract for the building of the track was let to Patrick McDonough for five hundred dollars. The track was fenced, both inside and out, and a neat judges' stand was erected, purposely made small to exclude intruders. Over fifty box-stalls were erected. A large and commodious building for the exhibition of farm products, with an upper story devoted to fine arts, archaeology, etc., was erected and sheds for cattle, sheep, and hogs were built. Four wells were driven on the grounds to furnish water.

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The fair was a great success. Every department was patronized almost to its full capacity for exhibits, while several of them "crowded the limits" Thursday was the big day, it being estimated that twelve thousand people were on the grounds during that day. Rain on Friday prevented a large attendance and interfered with the races, which were postponed until Saturday, on which day rain still curtailed the sport. The total cash receipts reached about four thousand dollars, leaving a surplus, after paying the premiums and running expenses. The success of the fair was largely due to the indefatigable efforts of Fred Webster, secretary of the board, who was ably assisted by the president, G. W. Wilson, T. J. Houston, D. T. Genard and othera.

The Madison County Agricultural Society has continued to give an annual fair at the fair-grounds since, with varying success. In 1900 the lease on the grounds expired. On May 19 the commissioners voted to direct the directors of the society to extend grounds and to make improvements, not to exceed eight thousand dollars in cost. On September 3, the board bought twenty-six and one-half acres, partly in survey No. 8886 and partly in survey No. 5679, of Robert Boyd, for three thousand four hundred and seventy-eight dollars and twelve cents. In October of the same year the directors purchased of the W. H. Chandler heirs eleven and thirty-eight one-hundredths acres, in survey No. 5670, for one hundred and fifty dollars an acre. These purchases, with the eight acres already owned, gave the agricultural society a fair-ground of about forty- Ave acres. A new track was laid out and built that year. This is the track used at present and is considered by horsemen generally one of the best half-mile tracks in the state. In 1801 many improvements were made; many of the buildings were repaired and remodeled and a new grandstand, two hundred by forty-six feet, with a capacity of twenty-eight hundred people, was erected.

ORGANIZATION FOR 1915.

The twenty-sixth annual Madison county fair was held on August 24, 25, 26 and 27, 1915, with the following official roll : Marion Sanford, president; John L. Houston, vice-president; George Langen, treasurer; Lamar P. Wilson, secretary, all of London; directors (1916), J. W. Johnson, Range; J. P. Foody, Stokes; J. L. Houston, Somerford; George Langen, Union; Wm. Irwin, London village. (1917) Chas Prugh, Canaan; Charles Wilson, Darby; Henry Hildinger, Deer Creek; E. O. Fitzgerald, Fairfield; M. K. Hummel, Jefferson. (1918) Marion Sanford, Monroe; Robert C. Rea, Oak Run; E. T. Jones, Paint; Sweyne Kennedy, Pike; G. W. Hornbeck, Pleasant. J. Scott Chenoweth, marshal. Prices of admission- Membership ticket, admitting man, wife and children under 12 years of age one dollar; single ticket, twenty five cents; children under fifteen. years of age, fifteen cents; single borse, ten cents; double team, twenty cents.

The various departments were managed by the following persons: Speed ring, E. T. Jones, G. W. Hornbeck, L. R. Watts and R. C. Rea; class horses, M. E. Hummel, H. L. Hildinger and J. Scott Chenoweth ; cattle, J. P. Foody, J. W. Johnston and Charles Shough; sheep, Charles Wilson, E. O. Fitzgerald and S. E. Thompson; swine, E. O. Fitzgerald, Charles Wilson and S. E. Thompson; poultry, Marion Sanford; farm products, fruits and flowers, Sweyne Kennedy and J. L. Houston; fine arts, etc., Charles Prugh and Miss Ethel N. Williams; manufacturers, William Irwin and L. P. Wilson; merchants' exhibits, William Irwin and L. P. Wilson; sale of privileges, E. O. Fitzgerald, William Irwin and L. P. Wilson; executive and finance, Marion Sanford, J. P. Foody, E. T. Jones and Henry Hildinger; auditing committee, R. C. Rea, E. O. Fitzgerald and J. L. Houston.

THE MT .. STERLING FAIR.

The first fair of the Mt. Sterling Fair Association was held during the week of Sep- tember 3, 1890. Details of information concerning this fair now are somewhat indefinite, but the meeting must have been a success, as the second annual fair was held on Sep-

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tember 2, 8 and 4, 1891. The grounds were located within the corporation limits of the village of Mt. Sterling and were easy of access. A good track was built and a grand- stand with a seating capacity of about three thousand people was erected. This fair continued until about 1898 when it was temporarily discontinued. In the fall of 1914 the fair was revived and a successful meeting was held that year and also in the fall of 1915.

THE GRANGE. By T. Hollon Orcutt, Secretary of Oak Run Grange.

Believing that everyone would be interested in perusing a history of the origin and purpose of the Patrons of Husbandry, and of the subordinate grange as well, I was constrained to prepare this short article for publication. It is given to but few men to set in motion great humanizing forces, agencies or influences, to be founders, builders, organizers, for humanity's sake. Such must have the prophet's vision coupled with the prophet's faith. They may dream dreams and see visions, but we bring things to pain. Such a man was Oliver H. Kelley, the originator and first among the founders of the order.

On October 20, 1865, Isaac Newton, then United States commissioner of agriculture, appointed Mr. Kelley as special agent of the department and to proceed immediately through the states lately in hostility against the government, to procure statistics and other information bearing upon the agricultural resources of the South and to report the same to the department for publication. Mr. Kelley left Washington for the South, January 13, 1866, and while on this trip conceived the idea of a secret organisation of farmers, north and south, to renew and promote a more fraternal feeling. Mr. Kelley told the following incident : "I was directed to visit a Mr. B., a very bitter Southern man, for some of my information. I proceeded at once to his residence and as I came up to the door Mr. B., seeing me approaching and that I must be a man from the North. said to me, 'No d-d Yankee can cross my threshold ! Get out of there! But Mr. Kelley, being a Mason, gave a sign as he turned to go and Mr. B., who also was a Mason, recognized the same and immediately a different feeling existed between the two men and Mr. Kelley secured his information without further dimculty."

Six months prior to the date of Commissioner Newton's letter to Mr. Kelley, or on April 9, 1865, Lee had surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, on April 14th President Lincoln was shot. Public feeling was intense. The nation was stirred to its depths. Agriculture was a thing quite forgotten. The devastated farms of the South bore crops of cannon balls, instead of cotton balls. On April 21, 1806, Mr. Kelley returned to Wash- ington from his Southern trip and proceeded to Boston, Massachusetts, to visit his niece. Miss Caroline A. Hall, at which time he explained to her his plans for the new organiza- tion, and it was she who suggested that women be given full and equal right of member- ship in the order. About this time Mr. Kelley had associated with him in his work two brother Masons, Ireland and Trimble, whose counsel he needed, particularly in preparing the ritualistic work. Also William Saunders, head of the government experimental grounds, and Ansen Bartlett, of North Madison, Ohio.

After much correspondence and discussion it was decided that the new order was to me known by the name of "Patrons of Husbandry." The first meeting, which was not at all formal, was held at Washington, November 15, 1867, W. M. Ireland presiding and Mr. Kelley, acting as secretary. A short time afterward a motto was decided on, i. e., "Esto Perpetua," meaning "let it be perpetual," and so it has become a mighty force for the agriculturist, extending from Maine to California; but, strange to say, the Southern farmers never took up the new order that was intended for their beneft. However. of late years. a few granges have been established in the South. There are seven degrees, as follow : First, second, third and fourth, constituting the subordinate; the fifth, of pomona; sixth, or state, and the seventh, or national.

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It was the intention of the organization to add other degrees as the order pro- gressed, similar to the Masons; for instance, the eighth degree was to be known as the "Degree of the Golden Sheaf." The membership of the Grange has grown very rapidly in the past ten years. At the present time we have a round million of Grangers in the United States, Ohio furnishing over sixty-five thousand and with about forty thousand voters and six hundred subordinate granges.

Madison county has seven well-organized granges, viz .: Darby, Canaan, Bradford, Oak Run, Madison Banner, Pleasant and Fairfield, with a membership of almost five hundred members in good standing. There have been organized in the United States one hundred and thirty-five new granges in three months, April 1 to June 30, 1915, Ohio. being second, with eighteen, and Kansas leading, with nineteen.

The principal corner stones on which the Grange is built are education, legislation (fraternity-sociability) and co-operation. Take the word "education" from our creed and the order can but die. The Grange stands for better education, better homes and better rural communities. Man is by nature a social being. Left to himself, he becomes narrow and selfish. Meeting together in a social way, as people do in the Grange, has a tendency to make them more intelligent ; "contact sharpens the mind." The Grange is non-partisan. yet partisan. Almost all the laws pertaining to agriculture have been enacted through the efforts of the Grange. One of the greatest conveniences that the farmer enjoys today (rural mail delivery) has come by the persistent efforts of the Grange.

Fraternity ! Fraternity ! Walter Scott said, "The race of mankind would perish. did they cease to aid each other. From the time that mother binds the child's head till the moment that some kind assistant wipes the death-damp from the brow of the dying. we cannot exist without mutual help. All, therefore, that need aid have a right to ask it from their fellow mortals; no one who holds the power of granting can refuse it without guilt."

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are saved each year by Grange co-operation. A great many examples might be given, but lack of space forbids it.

The initiation fee is one dollar for men and fifty cents for women. The dues are one dollar and twenty cents per year for the subordinate grange. The Pomona grange fifth degree consists of members of the subordinate grange. The initiation fee is twenty- five cents and twenty cents per year dues. The sixth degree is one dollar, without and dues, also the seventh. The Grange has a place in American history, because it has served agriculture and humanity. It will continue to hold its place as long as it is of service to the farmer and his family; to the community; to the state and to the nation.

OAK RUN GRANGE.

The membership of the grange at Oak Run has grown very rapidly in the past ten years. At the present time there are a round million of grangers in the United States. Ohio furnishing over sixty-five thousand, with about forty thousand voters and six hundred subordinate granges.

The Ohio state grange is officered as follow : Master, T. C. Laylin, Norwalk; over- seer, S. J. Pierce, Warren; treasurer, O. J. Demith, New Philadelphia ; secretary, Eugene F. Cranz, Ira.

Madison county has five subordinate granges, as follow : Darby at West Jefferson; Oak Run at London; Canaan at Plain City; Bradford, Brandford School; Pleasant at Mt. Sterling and a Pomona made up from the membership of the above granges.

Oak Run grange was organized at Oak Run school house on April 16, 1874, and survived for a short time. It was again reorganized at London and a duplicate charter bearing date of October 28, 1905 was granted. It has a membership of one hundred and fifteen and the following are the principal officers: Master, C. C. Hankinson; overseer, Mrs. Esta Gerrard; treasurer, A. J. Blue; secretary, T. Hollen Orcutt.

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A well-known member of the grange advances three reasons why farmers should belong to the grange. There is a social reason. Man is by nature a social being. Left to himself he becomes narrow and selfish. Meeting together in a social way as people do in the grange, has a tendency to make them more intelligent. "Contact sharpens the mind." One of the specific objects of the grange was and is to develop a higher man- hood and womanhood. Another reason why farmers should belong to the grange is for the improvement of the nature that the development of the fraternal spirit, "feels for the wants and relieves the distress of our brothers and sisters." A third reason why farmers should affiliate with the grange is because of the opportunity it affords for co-operation. The grange has a place in American history because it has served agri- culture and humanity. It will continue to hold its place as long as it is of service to the farmer and his family, to the community, to the state and nation.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 34

Author: Chester E. Bryan Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1207

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207