USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches > Part 12
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
COMPANY E.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain William A. Swihart. First Lieutenant James Gable. Second Lieutenant E. A. Patty.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
First Sergeant James W. Pottinger. Sergeant Joel Simpson. Sergeant James Gard. Sergeant Dennis Lewellen.
Digitized by Google
52
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
Sergeant John Q. Pottinger. Corporal William Barnet. Corporal J. W. Reed. Corporal G. W. Tucker. Corporal Thomas Griffin. Corporal I. S. Campbell. Corporal Benjamin M. Fornshall. Corporal James C. Burns. Corporal Hugh McLane.
PRIVATES.
J. P. Acton, T. C. Ancky, Stephen Bailey, Nelson Bennett, John I. Brown, James W. Brown, D. S. Bostick, Josiah Bookwalter, John Bookwalter, Levi Bookwalter, James Busenbook, Jefferson Clatter- buck, S. B. Campbell, Stephen Davis, John W. Decamp, B. A. Dug- gins, R. A. Douglas, Alexander Decker, Jonathan Decker, Morris Doty, John P. Elliott, J. P. Fornshell, Thomas A. Fornshell, David Fleming, Charles Falk, Lewis E. Grupe, Allen E. Huffman, Thomas Huitt, Philip M. Horner, John W. Jones, Finley Kincade, William A. Knidle, Peter Kimmel, Jacob Kinsey, James Kirkpatrick, John Kearns, Henry Keplinger, Benjamin Lamb, John N. Longnecker, John Leach, Samuel Maddock, A. D. Mills, Marquis Murphy, W. B. Mendenhall, William More, Lewis Overholts, James Pottinger, Alexander Pottinger, Daniel Pottinger, John S. Peters, Aaron Peters, Daniel Peters, H. H. Payne, Gasper T. Potterf, James Potterf, John C. Patterson, Jonathan Payne, Isaac Pugh, Henry Poffenbarger, Samuel J. Reed, Isaac H. Reed, M. S. Randolph, James Randolph,
. Michael Shannon, Aaron B. Simpson, William H. Sellers, James A. Samuels, Levi Stubbs, Daniel Trussler, John M. Teague, Frank Tay- lor, Peter J. Walker, William M. Walker, John Shrods, John Will- iams, William Walls, James Wright, Nathan Hornaday.
COMPANY F.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain L. F. Woofter.
. First Lieutenant F. Newton.
Second Lieutenant J. W. Weeks.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
First Sergeant Theodore P. Fleming.
Sergeant John F. Eliason. Sergeant Cornelius S. Sackman. Sergeant Joseph (Milfer) Mills. Sergeant M. E. A. Purviance.
Corporal James A. Morrow.
Corporal Adam Ranstan. Corporal T. R. Harvey. Corporal O. G. Sackman. Corporal William H. Garritson. Corporal John A. Bridge. Corporal C. C. H. Ireland.
Corporal John Mills.
PRIVATES.
J. H. Adams, William Austin, J. W. Aker, N. W. Burnan, James D. Brown, Clinton Brown, Robert F. Brown, Lucas V. Brown, Thomas C. Bronley, H. C. Bronley, Joseph Burgoine, John M. Bur- now, George L. Brutch, John W. Barnett, Charles W. Brown, Will- iam H. Bell, John Bilbee, T. L. Bradstreet, Isaac Cooper, Newton Cooper, David Emerrick, Thomas W. Ervin, D. P. Edwards, Samuel Fudge, Andrew Fisher, Cornelius Hilton, Abner D. Harvey, William Haller, Eli Huffman, J. J. Hurman, Fleming James, John B. Jagna, Hiram Johnston, John W. Judy, James A. Kessher, Clinton King, Samuel King, C. R. Letwich, Henry Longman, James D. Morrison, William V. Mitchell, A. Commal Mikesell, Peter Mikesell, John A. Mackey. James Murry, Joseph Murry, W. A. McDowland, Thomas McClelland, John Miller, Lewis Mackey, Jacob Nickademus, James H. Paul, T. L. Porterfield, James C. Rayburn, George W. Reinhei- mer, Jeremiah Snyder, John Stakebeck, Samuel Skeles, John M. Stubbs, William Sparkling, W. C. Street, George W. Thompson, J. G. Thomas, Peter Wortening, W. T. Whitridge, Edward Whitaker, Cyrus Young, Samuel S. Dicks, Asbery Morse, Andrew Scott, Abram Norris.
COMPANY H.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain J. R. McDivitt. First Lieutenant J. Skinner. Second Lieutenant P. Dils.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
First Sergeant J. V. Larsh.
Sergeant D. D. Murray.
Sergeant C. McManus. Sergeant B. W. Huffman. Sergeant W. H. Marshall.
Corporal C. Gray. Corporal J. G. Onier. Corporal C. McDivitt.
Corporal W. A. Davenport.
Corporal L. P. Harris.
Corporal J. R. Burson.
Corporal J. Runyen.
Corporal J. W. Lincoln.
PRIVATES.
D. Ammerman, W. Ammerman, E. B. Aker, J. Brower, W. A. Bailor, J. Bougher, W. Brown, P. Cline, J. E. Daily, J. E. Daily (second), J. W. Daily, J. Danner, J. H. Elliott, T. Friend, P. T. Gans, J. Grey, J. Greeding, W. Greenfield, A. Hilderbolt, D. W. Harris, H. Huffman, J. G. Huffman, W. Hambridge, J. Hornaday, W. Jellison, J. Kelley, Isaac Lewellen, J. R. Larsh, N. G. Larsh, L. A. Larsh, N. Mcclellan, J. S. Mills, S. Morris, H. Miles, B. F. McWhinney, J. McWhinney, H. C. Murry, J. Morrow, J. McComas, F. B. Norris, F. Newton, J. C. Patterson, H. Pottenger, Isaac J. Penny, G. W. Runyon, J. C. Rhea, J. J. Silvers, J. S. Shaw, Oliver Silver, M. N. Surface, A. Surface, P. Surface, J. Surface, J. M. Swain, G. W. Smith, T. B. Stiorr, W. Skillman, D. Suffrins, J. W. Shealer, D. H. Shealer, A. Slick, N. Turner, J. Thompson, J. Tur- ner, G. G. Taylor, Amos Taylor, Israel B. Taylor, A. Tosh, G. A. Wiley, J. P. Wisor, D. Wintz, John B. Parker, Thomas Slick.
SECOND OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER.
Corporal Walter P. Ledyard.
PRIVATE.
Charles Patterson.
FIFTH OHIO CAVALRY.
The work of raising this regiment was begun early in August, 1861, under the direction of Major General Fre- mont. The first name, "Second Ohio Cavalry," was changed to "Fifth " by Governor Dennison, upon the removal of General Fremont. From the first of Nov- ember to the February following, the regiment remained at Camp Dennison, engaged in preparation for active service. On the twenty-sixth of this month, marching orders arrived for Paducah, Kentucky. Although poorly equipped, the orders were joyfully obeyed, and, after re- porting to Brigadier General W. T. Sherman at Paducah, it proceeded to Fort Henry, thence to Danville, and finally up the river to Savannah. Previous to the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, the battalion was on numerous scouts, and had several skirmishes with the rebels in the vicinity of Purdy. Early on the morning of the sixth, while the men were preparing breakfast, the rebels began a storm of attack. The cavalry were soon the aim of the enemy's artillery, yet not a man of this raw cavalry regiment, in this the first fight-and that fight Pittsburgh Landing-failed to stand his ground. In fact, the be- havior of officers and men throughout this closely-fought and trying battle was highly commended by Generals Grant and Sherman. The Fifth advanced with the army in the slow siege of Corinth. The first and second battal- ions brought on the battle of Metamora. They fought bravely, capturing many prisoners. The third battle was with General Rosecrans at Corinth, and the command again behaved well. A part of it checked the advance of Van Dorn's ten thousand in the battle of Davis' Mill.
Digitized by Google
53
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
The conduct of this heroic handful of men shone so brilliantly, in contrast with the shameful surrender of Holly Springs, that it caused General Grant to recount their valor in general order, requesting the whole army to follow their example, and ordering that the "Fifth Ohio Cavalry inscribe on its colors, in addition to "Pittsburgh Landing," the name "Davis' Mill." On the twenty-first of March, the regiment moved from Ger- mantown to Memphis, and again picketed that city. While here, numerous expeditions were made southward against the enemy's cavalry, by which the regiment sus- tained some heavy losses in killed, wounded, and prison- ers. The corruption at Memphis was indescribable, and the men, in spite of discipline, would find ways of reach- ing the city. At length orders came, and the command moved toward Camp Davis, Mississippi, where it was joined by the Third battalion, under Major Smith, which had been detached for more than a year. While this battalion was acting independently, it was engaged in forty-seven skirmishes and actions. It captured more than three hundred prisoners, and as many horses and mules. It marched over fifteen hundred miles. In all, the number of killed and captured did not exceed twenty five. Resting but one day after the union of the three battalions, the work of the regiment was entered upon-the protection of Corinth. In anticipation of spending the winter at Camp Davis, a complete camp had been built, when from Major General W. T. Sher- man came the order "March at daylight (October 17, 1863) toward Chattanooga." There was skirmishing on the twentieth at Cherokee station; the twenty-second, twenty-third and twenty-fourth were likewiise employed. Arriving at Chattanooga, a part remained there and at Mission Ridge, guarding trains, while a part served upon the field, and followed the retreating rebels as far as Ringgold. After this time this command is heard of at Knoxville and other important points, bearing no small part in the service of suffering and enduring, as well as acting. During the spring of 1864, the regiment effected a veteran organization. July 13th, it reached Carters- ville, and remained the rest of the summer, protecting the railroad from the incessant attacks of the rebel cavalry. On the seventh of November, it was transfer- red to General Kilpatrick's cavalry division. Here the work of concentration had been going on for some days; but so short was the time allowed that hundreds of men were necessarily organized into a dismounted brigade. The First Ohio squadron, Gaptain Dalzell, was here at- tached to the Fifth. The cavalry arrived at Atlanta, November 14th, and the following morning commenced the "March to the Sea." The Fifth was in all the operations of the command, many of them arduous and dangerous, until after the fall of Savannah, when it was placed near King's Bridge. On the twenty-eighth of January, 1865, the command, for the first time, trod the "Sacred Soil" of chivalric South Carolina. On the eighth of February, the Third brigade, of which the Fifth was now a part, completely routed General Hagan's brigade of six regiments, capturing five battle-flags and a number of prisoners. After further marching and
skirmishing for more than a month, it was temporarily stampeded with its brigade, March 10th, in a night at- tack, by three divisions of the rebels under Wade Hamp- ton, losing seventy-three killed, wounded and missing. It was in the final actions of Sherman's army at Averys- borough and Bentonville, and was the first regiment to enter Raleigh, and restore the National flag to the dome of the capitol. After the close of the war, it occupied western North Carolina, preserving the peace in the turbulent districts, until October 30, 1865, when the glorious career of the gallant Fifth ended, and its mem- bers resumed their places as citizens of the common- wealth.
FIELD AND STAFF.
Major Phineas R. Minor. Major Joseph Smith. Veterinary Sergeant John G. Colvin.
COMPANY E.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain Joseph C. Smith. First Lieutenant Caleb Marker.
Second Lieutenant Lewis C. Swerer.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
First Sergeant Robert F. Alexander.
Quartermaster Sergeant William S. Harraman.
Sergeant John N. Parmerlee.
Sergeant Silas M. Brawley.
Sergeant John Wilkins.
Sergeant Alexander C. Ford.
Corporal Leander M. Brawley.
Corporal Uriah Vandeweer.
Corporal Samuel Swerer.
Corporal Adalbert Hazeltine.
Corporal Robert Clark.
Corporal Calvin Brumbaugh.
Corporal Archibald Bell.
Corporal Robert M. Wollerd.
Bugler Adam Wirts.
Bugler David A. Eliassen.
Farrier Alexander Keggy.
Farrier David Hart.
Saddler Charles Braffett.
Wagoner Josiah D. Phillips.
PRIVATES.
James W. Aker, John R. Bowerox, Frank Braddick, Charles H. Brawley, Jacob B. Boyer, James M. Conoway, John Cronen, Daniel Crickenbeyer, William Cullins, Thomas H. Cullins, George Disher, Lewis E. D. Enochs, Lewis Fawble, Michael Floyd, Holly H. Fleming, Wheeler Fum, Leopold Folhopper, Enos Gilpin, James F. Grayhann, William B. Harreman, Moses Harreman, Hiram Hepner, Adam Hapner, Henry Hapner, Gottlieb Hershman, Elias Heilman, Richard Henderson, John N. Judy, John Kitson, Benjamin King, Thomas Loom, James Lynn, Robert T. McKee, Cyrus Miller, Alexander McCowen, John C. McCowen. Alfred Mills, John J. Mc- Pherson, Charles H. McManus, John W. McWhinney, William Mc- Whinney, Marcus D. Purviance, Elihu Paxton, Cornelius Reese, Patrick Ryan, Daniel Reid, Jacob F. Rough, William P. Reid, Elias Smith, David Smith, William S. Spencer, Martin Spencer, Henry Spencer, Anderson Spencer, Lemuel J. Spencer, Mark Spencer, Barton Swerer, Walter B. Swain, Martin A. Swain, Balsar Shaffer, Frederick Strasser, Dewit C. Stout, James H. Tucker, Arthur L. Vanausdal, Al- bert Williams, Alexander D. Williams, Joseph Wolf, Jacob C. Walls, Ebenezer Wilt, John Wolburn, George Winning.
COMPANY F. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain Phineas R. Miner. First Lieutenant Charles B. Cooper. Second Lieutenant John D. Truitt. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
First Sergeant Robert W. Morgan. Quartermaster Sergeant David Culver.
Digitized by Google
54
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
Sergeant John W. Slayton. Sergeant John W. Christman, sr. Sergeant William A. Snyder. Sergeant Isaac N. Shelby. Corporal Charles Harbach. Corporal William Shearman. Corporal John H. Lonk. Corporal Isaac Masony. Corporal Eli Minor. Corporal Andy M. Weller. Corporal Robert Steel. Corporal Ferdinand Rice.
Bugler James Long. Bugler Frank McFarland. Farrier John G. Colner. Farrier Samuel Cuert. Saddler John H. Bruse. Wagoner Ephraim F. Barnes.
PRIVATES.
Joseph Adams, Jerry Achey. John W. Blair, Thomas M. Brock' William L. Campbell, John W. Christman, jr., John D. Christman, Thomas P. Cooper, William H. Colbill, Squire L. Collum, Allen Christman, William Collins, Nathan C. Emerson, Kilian Ghret, Gav- land W. Harris, James Hulburt, John Horin, John F. Homer, John Hinkle, James M. Jarrett, John Kenedy, John W. Knisly, David King, John Lazro, David Lonk, John McCauley, Edward F. Miles, John Mugavin, George W. McGrew, Samuel Miles, William H. Patterson, John H. Robinson, Willson Randall, Asa B. Randall, John H. Ridge- lev, Jeremiah T. Simpson, John F. Shippy, William Samuels, Alfred Stephens, Richard L. Shelly, Peter Schotsman, Sylvester T. P. Shippy, Matthew Tracy, Charles W. Town, Albert N. Thayer, Marcius L. Thomas, John Tign, Joseph Vale, Benjamin Wagoner, James Wal- ters, Thomas Y. Waters, John Wampler.
FIRST REGIMENT OHIO HEAVY ARTILLERY.
COMPANY C.
PRIVATES.
George H. Armstead, Ezra D. Lantis, Aaron F. Eshelman.
COMPANY K.
PRIVATE.
George W. Myers.
SECOND REGIMENT OHIO HEAVY ARTILLERY. NON-COMMISIONED OFFICER.
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Charles D. Kruse.
COMPANY G. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER.
Corporal Henry C. Aydelott.
PRIVATE.
James M. Coffin. EIGHTH OHIO BATTERY.
PRIVATES.
William Ingle, William Staats, Solomon Stubbs.
FIFTH REGIMENT UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS. PRIVATE.
Benjamin Stichme.
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS-COMPANY C.
PRIVATE.
David Fry.
COMPANY D.
PRIVATES.
William Booker, Allen Mitchell, George Simpson.
Besides the service in Ohio regiments and batteries, many Preble county men were in the gunboat service, and others, owing to the proximity to the Indiana State line, entered the service with commands from that State -the Eighteenth, Thirtieth, Thirty-sixth, Fifty-seventh, Sixty-ninth and Eighty-fourth infantry, also the Second
and Fourth Indiana cavalry, and the Third, Fourth, Seventh, Eleventh and Nineteenth batteries. The names of this, a certainly respectable part of the Preble county contingent in the great war, it is not now practicable to obtain.
Besides all these, and those who enlisted from Preble county in the regular army, whose names, like the others, it is not now practicable to obtain, there was also the noble army of
THE SQUIRREL HUNTERS.
The dangers threatening Cincinnati in the latter part of the summer 1862, led Governor Tod, (as we shall see more fully hereafter, in the chapter on "the siege of Cincinmati,") to make a general announcement to the men of Ohio, that all who reported with arms in hand would be transported at public expense to that city, and received for the time being, into the service of the State. Telegraphic tenders had already been made to the au- thorities of that city, of militia, in large numbers, from Preble, Warren, Greene, Butler, Franklin, and other counties; so that thousands stood ready to answer the call without delay. Before daylight of the next morn- ing after the proclamation of the governor, the tread of the advance of the grand army of Buckeye yeomen was heard upon the stony pavements of Cincinnati. As rapidly as possible the thronging hosts arriving were organized into companies and regiments, and sent to the works back of Covington, to the guard stations along the river, or to other posts of duty. The total number known to have entered this temporary service from the State at large is fifteen thousand seven hundred and sixty- six, which was doubtless exceeded by several hundred, at least-of which Preble county furnished three hundred and seventy-two. To the peculiarity of dress in many of them, and armament of numbers with light squirrel guns, suggested the happy title of "Squirrel Hunters," for the entire unique contingent, but by whom it was first applied, the historian has failed to learn. The designa- tion has, however, passed honorably into history. The squirrel, amid appropriate scenery, and the squirrel hunter, in fitting costume, and in the act of loading his firearm, appear in good style upon the discharge certificates granted the hunters upon the termination of their servi- ces; and a spirited page engraving, in the first volume of Mr. Reid's "Ohio in the War," further illustrates and commemorates their personnel and deeds.
The Hunters were not long needed. Their relief from service began within ten or twelve days after they were called out, and by the middle of September nearly all were relieved and had returned to their homes. On Saturday, the thirteenth of that month, Governor Tod telegraphed to Stanton, Secretary of War :
"The Minute Men, or 'Squirrel Hunters,' responded gloriously to the call for the defense of Cincinnati. Thousands reached the city. and thousands more were en route for it. The enemy having retired, all have been ordered back. This uprising of the people is the cause of the retreat. You should publicly acknowledge this gallant conduct."
At the next session of the legislature, an act was passed, and approved March 11, 1863, ordering the preparation and issue of formal discharge certificates
Digitized by Google
1
55
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
"for the patriotic men of the. State who responded to the call of the governor, and went to the southern bor- der to repel the invader, and who will be known in his- tory as the 'Squirrel Hunters.'" These papers, hand- somely engraved and printed, and issued to large numbers of those entitled to them, read as follows:
THE SQUIRREL HUNTERS' DISCHARGE.
Our southern border was menaced by the enemies of our Union. David Tod, Governor of Ohio, called on the Minute Men of the State, and the "Squirrel Hunters" came by thousands to the rescue. You, -, were one of them, and this is your Honorable Discharge. September, 1862. CHAS. W. HILL,
Adj't Gen. of Ohio. MALCOLM MCDOWELL,
Approved by DAVID TOD, Governor. Major and A. D. C.
This was accompanied, in each case, by this ringing letter from the governor, neatly printed for the purpose:
THE STATE OF OHIO, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COLUMBUS, March 4, 1863,
To Esq., of
County, O .:
The legislature of our State has this day passed the following resolu- tion:
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Ohio, That the Governor be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate out of his contingent fund, a sufficient sum to pay for printing and lithographing discharges for the patriotic men of the State, who responded to the call of the Governor, and went to our southern border to repel the invaders, and who will be known in history as the "SQUIRREL HUNTERS."
And in obedience thereto, I do most cheerfully herewith enclose a certificate of your service. But for the gallant services of yourself and the other members of the corps of patriotic "Squirrel Hunters," rendered in September last, Ohio, our dear State, would have been invaded by a band of pirates determined to overthrow the best Govern- ment on earth, our wives and children would have been violated and murdered, and our homes plundered and sacked. Your children, and your children's children, will be proud to know that you were one of this glorious band.
Preserve the certificate of service and discharge, herewith enclosed to you as evidence of this gallantry. The Rebellion is not yet crushed out, and therefore the discharge may not be final; keep the old gun then in order; see that the powder-horn and bullet-pouch are supplied, and caution your patriotic mothers or wives to be at all times prepared to furnish you a few days' cooked rations, so that if your services are called for (which may God in his infinite goodness forbid) you may again prove yourselves "Minute Men " and again protect our loved homes.
Invoking God's choicest blessings upon yourself and all who are dear to you, I am, very truly, yours,
DAVID TOD, Governor.
CHAPTER XV. PREBLE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY .*
FAIRS or stock shows, in Preble county, date from a period-to the time of which the memory of man runneth not back, we are told, and it comes to us in the shape of tradition, that but a few years after this settle- ment was christened with the name of Eaton, some of our public spirited men originated the idea of having a "show," by which to display their different possessions, in the shape of stock; and at irregular periods of time, gathered together at some stable, situated on a back
alley in Eaton, and there pointed out the different points of their respective stock. Some years they would hold two of these shows-one in the spring, and the other in the fall, but generally the time appointed was big muster day, and report says that occasionally the exhibitors would become so enthused with the idea that their displays were better than any one's else, that if they were not able to convince them by argument, they used moral suasion, in the shape of a hickory club. Of course, it was not long until the reputation of these shows spread over the county, and the result was the formation of the agricultural society. Of the various places of holding these displays we are not informed, but among the first was one held at the barn of William Bruce, near Eaton, which was said to be grand! Another was held in a stable near the present site of John Neal's stable, south of the Commercial block in Eaton ; but the finest was held at a still later day in the old public church, located near the banks of the raging Seven Mile creek.
At this show there was one stallion named Top Gallant ; a milk cow whom the owner had failed to milk for five days, in order to make her appear fat, and four "elm peeler" shoats. This was held in 1849, and such was the success of this year's display, both in attend- ance and quantity and quality of the display, that the succeeding year an agricultural society was determined to be formed. We thus see that what is now the pride of every citizen of our county, and is one of the largest and most pleasing organizations of our county, sprang from what would scarcely be called a respectable begin- ning.
The Preble County Agricultural society was organized on the thirteenth day of April, 1850, under a charter is- sued by the State. The charter members were Levin T. McCabe, Enoch Taylor, Henry Monfort, Newton Larsh, Jesse Stubbs, Jacob Smith and Peter Shidler. There are but two of them now living-Levin T. McCabe and Jesse Stubbs. The former took a very active part in the society in its incipiency, and aided its advancement not only by his time, but by his money. He still takes great interest in the fair, and is quite proud of the result of such a small beginning. Mr. Stubbs is still living on the same farm on which he resided when he was chosen one of the managers the first year; he still does all he can to promote the interest of the society, by each year displaying quite a large herd of as fine cattle as are raised in the county. No fair was held this year of any consequence, but at the December meeting of the next year, the following officers were chosen: Enoch Taylor, president; Newton Larsh, vice-president; Daniel Lesh, secretary; W. H. H. B. Miner, treasurer, and Jesse Stubbs, John F. Ireland, John Gray, Peter Shidler and J. B. Stephens, managers. It was decided to postpone the fixing of the time for the first annual exhibition till their next meeting in March, at which meeting they pro- posed adopting a constitution and by-laws. The consti- tution prepared, submitted and adopted by the society at their March meeting was short, but met all that was required in those early days. It was as follows:
* By Frank G. Thompson, esq.
Digitized by Google
-
56
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
ARTICLE I. This society shall be called the Preble County Agricul- tural society.
ART. 2. The officers of the society shall consist of a president, vice- president, secretary, treasurer, and five managers, who together shall constitute a board of directors for the general management of the af- fairs of the society. They shall be elected annually by the members of the society, and hold their offices until their successors are appointed. ART. 3. Members of the society must be residents of the county or district, and pay the sum of one dollar annually to the treasurer.
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.