USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches > Part 13
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
ART. 4. Competitors for premiums must be members of the society. ART. 5. A list of the articles for which premiums are to be awarded by the society must be published in a newspaper or on hand-bills, at least one month previous to the day of exhibition.
ART. 6. All articles offered for premiums must be owned by persons offering them, or by members of their families; and products of the soil, or manufactured articles must be produced or manufactured within the county or district.
ART. 7. Awarding committees of three persons each shall be annu- ally appointed by the board of directors of the society, for finding the different classes of articles offered in competition, and awarding pre- miums for the same.
ART. 8. The awarding committees must comply with the provisions of the law in requiring competitors for premiums on crops, and other improvements, to furnish full and correct statements of the process of culture, production, etc.
ART. 9. Competitors for premiums on crops should be required to have the ground and its produce acurately measured by not less than two disinterested persons, whose statements shall be verified by affi- davit.
ART. 10. Premiums on grain and grass crops shall not be awarded for less than one acre, and on root crop, not less than one-fourth of an acre. The whole quantity produced on the amount of land specified shall be measured or weighed-root crops to be estimated by weight (divested of tops) sixty pounds to be considered a bushel, and grain crops to be measured or weighed according to the usual standards; the rules in regard to other crops and productions to be agreed upon by the board of directors of the society.
ART. II. The annual exhibitions of the society shall be held at Ea- ton on the third Thursday and Friday of October. The premiums of crops may be awarded at a later period if thought necessary.
This last article was amended in a year or two so that the fair could be held at any time between the first of September and the first day of November.
The by-laws were as follows:
First. The election of officers of the Preble County Agricultural society, shall be held annually on the last Saturday in December, be- tween the hours of ten o'clock A. M. and three o'clock P. M. of said day, in the town hall of the town of Eaton, after twenty days' previous notice being given by the secretary in the county papers.
Second. No person shall be entitled to vote at said election, unless he is a member of the society. All elections shall be by ballot.
Third. There shall be two judges and two clerks of said election, who shall be appointed by the president, and in his absence by the vice-president, and in absence of both, by the members of the society who may be present, by viva voce; and the said judges and clerks be- fore entering upon their duties, shall first be sworn to the faithful and impartial discharge of the same, as judges and clerks of said election.
Fourth. They shall, after duly counting all the votes cast at said election, certify the result of the same, giving the names of those elected, with the office, to the secretary of the society, whose duty it shall be immediately upon receipt of the same, to forthwith notify them so elected ; and it shall also be his duty to enter the result of all elec- tions upon the minutes of the board.
Fifth. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meet- ings of the board of directors, and preserve order and promptly put all questions that may be offered by members of the same ; and faithfully and impartially discharge all and singular the duties that are incumbent on a president or chairman. And in his absence the vice-president shall preside, and in the absence of both the board shall appoint a president pro tem.
Sixth. The treasurer shall keep a faithful account of all the receipts and expenditures of said society, and before entering upon his office shall give bond to the society with approved security, in the sum of not less than one thousand dollars, or more at the discretion of the board, and do and perform all the duties of a treasurer.
Seventh. The secretary shall make and keep a faithful record of all the proceedings of the society, and do and perform all the duties of a secretary.
Fighth. The board of directors before entering upon their several duties, shall first be sworn to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of their said offices to the best of their skill and ability ; and any five of whom shall constitute a quorum to transact business.
Ninth. There shall be four stated meetings of the board in each year. The first shall be on the second Saturday after the meeting of the State board ; the second on the second Saturday in March ; the third on the second Saturday in June, and the fourth on the second Saturday in November, at which last meeting there shall be an annual settlement of the society, by its officers giving a full statement of the financial condition of the same, which shall be published as is now required by law.
Tenth. The treasurer shall pay out no money except upon the order of the president, countersigned by the secretary, and no order shall be given for any claim until said claim is first allowed by the board, ex- cept the premiums awarded by the society, a list of which shall be made out by the secretary, and examined by the board, and placed in the hands of the the treasurer, who shall take a receipt of each person to whom he pays the premium awarded, which receipt upon settlement of his accounts shall be a sufficient voucher for the amount so paid.
Eleventh. The executive committee shall consist of three members of the board, whose duty it shall be to carry into effect all arrange- ments made by the board for annual exhibition or otherwise, and to fill vacancies that may occur in awarding committees, which committee shall or may be chosen annually.
Twelfth. The vice-president shall act as marshal upon days of annual exhibition, and in case he declines, the executive committee shall appoint.
Thirteenth. The executive committee may call meetings of the board in case it should be deemed necessary, and it shall be the duty of the secretary to notify the members of the board, by written notice, of all meetings at least ten days beforehand.
Fourteenth. The board of directors shall have power to fill all vacancies which shall occur in this body from any cause whatsoever.
Fifteenth. Any officer who shall refuse or neglect to take the oath of office after being legally notified of his election, his office shall be declared vacant.
Sixteenth. Any officer who shall neglect to attend two meetings of the board in succession, his said office shall be declared vacant, if the board see fit so to do.
Seventeenth. The treasurer shall furnish the judges and clerks. on the day of annual election of officers, a list of the members of said society or corporation, which shall be evidence of legal and qualified voters, which list must be alphabetically arranged.
The time for holding their exhibition, according to the constitution, was on the sixteenth and seventeenth of October. The court house was selected as the place for displaying the horticultural portion of the exhibition, and the commons south of town, near the present site of Morgan Huffman's residence, was chosen for the display of stock. The premium list was printed on the large hand-bills, and was considered very large and liberal, still the contents of the horticultural hall could all have been very easily carried in a two-horse wagon, but was thought to be, and in fact was, a very fine display for the first fair. On the commons where the stock was dis- played long hitching racks were built, and the stock was tied to them, awaiting their turn to be examined by the judges. No stables or sheds were built for their accom- modation, but the owners were expected to look after their own interests, and either take them home in the evening or stand guard over them during the night.
The board met on the twenty-sixth of April, 1851, and adopted a premium list which amounted in the ag- gregate to three hundred and eleven dollars. The list embraced premiums on field crops of every description, including corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, tobacco, flaxseed,
Digitized by Google
NATHANIEL BENJAMIN
JACOB VANCE
CHRISTIAN SAYLER
SAMUEL BUNGER SR.
JOHN OTT
Digitized by Google
----
Digitized by Google ___
57
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
sweet and Irish potatoes, timothy hay, etc .; also premi. ums on horses from five years old down to a sucking colt. In the department of cattle, no particular class was specified, as it is very questionable if any pure bred cattle were raised in the county at this time. Premiums in the different departments of sheep, hogs, farming im- plements, mechanical arts, blacksmiths' ware, including a premium of two dollars for best pair of shovel and tongs, shoemakers' and tailors' manufactures, dairy, bak- ing, fruits, embracing a premium of a diploma offered for the "best barrel of unfermented cider to be drunk by the society," also cooperage, poultry, and on various mis- cellaneous items, including premiums for the best culti- vated farms of forty and twenty acres.
At a meeting of the directors on the twenty-sixth of May, 1851, judges were appointed to award premiums in the different classes. And at a meeting held at the Eaton & Hamilton railroad office, it was ordered that a premium of three dollars be offered for the best bed quilt, the examination of it to be allotted to the commit- tee on dairy products.
From this small beginning has sprung a department that embraces a greater number of entries at the present time than any other, and attracts as much notice, and adds so much to the beauty of the fair as perhaps any other class. At this meeting the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved, That Enoch Taylor, J. B. Stephens and W. H. H. B. Miner be, and they are hereby appointed a committee on behalf of the board, to make all necessary and proper arrangements for the ap- proaching fair; to get up, publish and circulate hand-bills, prepare and have printed diplomas, and such other matter as they may think proper; to prepare cards of exhibitors and exhibited articles, to pre- pare grounds, buildings, etc., fill all vacancies that may occur in any of the various committees heretofore appointed, as the same may occur either before or after the meeting of the fair; appoint a suitable number of marshals, and make all such other preparations and arrangements for the accommodation of the several departments, including pro_ grammes, etc., as they may consider necessary and proper.
Clerks and marshals were appointed from each town- ship at this meeting, and the following speakers were selected to deliver addresses in the afternoon and even- ing of each day of the fair: James Denniston, David Barnet, Samuel Kessler, Jacob Smith, Jesse Paramore, Newton Larsh, Henry Kisling, and J. B. Stephens. Persons were also selected in all the towns in the county for the purpose of selling tickets and soliciting member- ship for the society.
Competition at this first fair was not very strong, and the list of awards not very lengthy, but the writer is in- formed that Newton Larsh received the first premium on a bull, which history calls the "Penneroyal bull," over whom the poet describes the tall grenadier-since a cele- brated lawyer of the Eaton bar-standing guard during the long hours of the night of the first day. Wash. Bruce took a premium on a stallion that was considered then one of the finest in this section of the State. Hardin Bruce received four dollars on a four year old mare, and Peter Shidler was awarded two dollars for the best boar. The fair was a very successful one in every particular, giving general satisfaction. The receipts were sufficient to pay all the premiums offered, and left a
small balance in the treasury. The departments all had one or more articles competing for a premium, but the records fail to inform us whether the barrel of cider was furnished for the use of the members of the board.
Thus closed the first exhibition of the Preble County Agricultural society, and at the regular meeting for the election of officers for the ensuing year, held on the last Saturday of December, 1851, the following officers were chosen: James Denniston, president; J. B. Stephens, vice-president; Pliny M. Crume, secretary ; W. H. H. B. Miner, treasurer; and Newton Larsh, Peter Shidler, Jesse Stubbs, Archibald Campbell, and William Ireland, managers.
It was determined to add one more day to the fair this year, making it three instead of two as the year be- fore. The time decided upon was the fourteenth, fif- teenth and sixteenth of October. The premiums offered this year were the same as the year before, with some few changes.
At a meeting held in April, 1851, the requisitions of competitors on farm crops were decided to be as follows, for the purpose of showing accurately the profits derived or expected to be derived, from the mode of tillage or production, and the expenses and value of the same : First, a statement of the previous crop, and how ma- nured; second, the kind and condition of the soil, and location of the farm; third, the quantity of manure on the crop, the manner of its application, and the quantity and kind of seed used; fourth, the time and manner of preparing the ground for, and sowing or planting the crop; fifth, a detailed account of the manner and ex- pense of cultivation ; sixth, the actual yield by weight, grain to be weighed by the usual standard-root crops, sixty pounds to be considered a bushel; seventh, the ground and its products to be accurately measured by not less than two disinterested parties, whose statements shall be verified by affidavits.
The applicants for premiums on fat cattle were com- pelled to furnish particular statements of the manner of feeding, the kind, the quantity, and cost of food, etc. Persons desiring to compete for premiums on milch cows had to first furnish a statement of the food used during the trial, which had to be made for ten successive days, in the months of May, June, or August; also, the age and breed of the cow, and the time of calving, the quantity of milk and butter made during each period of ten days. We thus see that the managers were almost as particular and careful to prevent fraud, and as desirous of general and useful information as they are at the present time, and if each fair would endeavor to improve on its prede- cessor, as the second did on the first, we would soon ar- rive at a point bordering on perfection.
Notwithstanding the first fair passed off very smoothly, and to all appearance very harmoniously, we are told that as the time approached for holding the second an- nual exhibition, there were one or two persons connected with the association who were possessed with the idea that the knowledge of the manner in which a fair should be conducted, had been transmitted to them and to no one else; consequently, when some measure for the pro-
Digitized by Google
8
58
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
motion of the interests of the society was proposed, it was discovered that there were eight stubborn men and one allwise one, and as a result of this we find the fol- lowing novel premium offered under the department of "Jacks and Mules":
Resolved, That a premium of three dollars be awarded to the live man who really has no interest in promoting the objects of this society; to be decided by the members and others present, and paid by the treasurer, upon the deposit with him of a daguerrotype likeness of the applicant, for the future reference and use of the society.
The archives of the society do not furnish posterity with the valuable information as to who was the fortu- nate "live man" who received the three dollars; neither can we find, after a dilligent search, any deposit of the "daguerrotype likeness" of the applicants, for the fu- ture use and reference of the society, but we are informed that the resolution had the desired effect, and that the society flourished like the green bay tree for several years subsequently ; and allow the writer to suggest right here, that if a premium of a similar kind was offered every few years, experience has taught him that it would obviate a great deal of the contention, bickering and strife for petty prominence in a society intended to pro- mote the interest of bulls and boars.
At a subsequent meeting we find that the clerks, judges, and marshals were appointed, the former to be under the control of the secretary, and the latter to obey the president ; that the decisions of the awarding com- mittee were decided to be made out in writing, sealed up and handed to the secretary. Also, at the same time they selected the speakers for the ensuing fair, and we notice that they exhibited the same desire for progress in this matter as in every other branch. The large post- er for this year states that tre board have secured the following named gentlemen to address the people at the fair: Governor Joseph A. Wright, of Indiana; Hon. Cassius M. Clay, of Kentucky; Colonel Samuel Medary and Professor W. W. Mather, of Columbus, Ohio; and Dr. J. H. Warder, of Cincinnati.
The price of admission was fixed at fifteen cents per day for one person, and families were allowed the priv- ilege of purchasing tickets that would admit the whole flock during one day, for forty cents. Efforts were made to secure the court house, the same as the year before, but on account of court being in session, resort was had to the building situate on Barron street, immediately south of the Eagle hotel, then owned by the vice-pres- ident of the society. Rough shelves and benches were erected along the sides of the room, upon which were placed the display of pumpkins, squashes, and big ears of corn; here and there could be seen a bed-quilt and piece of homespun jeans, with a waistcoat, pair of pant- aloons, and a pair of woollen socks dangling from nails driven in between the bricks. Conspicuous on the bench devoted to "garden truck," as it was called, was a cucumber fourteen inches in length, which an indiscreet lad, now a prominent dry goods merchant of Eaton, had purloined fron. his mother's garden, and which she had been anxiously saving for seed. We are told that he re- ceived ten cents from the society for his public-spirited- ness, and a sound flogging from his mother for his indis-
cretion. The eight acre commons owned by Captain L. T. McCabe, situate on Barron street in Eaton, imme- diately north of the old white school-house, answered the purpose for the display of stock this year.
No record of awards are come-at-able, and with the exception of an isolated case, we are unable to state who carried off the red and blue among the stock.
John P. Acton was then as now in the milling busi- ness, and had then as now some very fine draught horses, which the society were anxious for him to display, but owing to a press of business, he was unable to enter them in proper time, and happening to drive his mill team past the "commons" on the second day, the judges on horses hailed him, and he hitched his team, unhar- nessed one of his horses, took him into the fair and received the red ribbon, whereupon he put the harness on him again and went to the country after logs. The fair closed with an address by Colonel Samuel Medary, and the people dispersed to their homes, all delighted with the success of what the year before was considered a very doubtful venture, but which by the success of this year's exhibition was a permanent institution.
Of the the fair of 1853 we have no record, and can not obtain any authentic information. We are told that the officers rented four acres of Cornelius Vanausdal, situate on the east side of the Franklin road leading out of Eaton, and immediately east of the present new school house situate in Eaton. The grounds were fenced in with a high paling fence, which was considered quite an improvement over the old commons. The grounds bore at the time, and retained for a number of years afterward the euphonious name of "Vanausdal's park." A few temporary buildings were erected for the accom- modation of the articles in the horticultural and mechan- ical departments, several sheds were built for the stock, and a track forty feet in diameter, was laid off, on which to show the horses. It was a great advancement over the year before, and was largely attended during the three days it was held. But one incident can be called to mind concerning this fair, and that was of Rufus Mc- Whinney showing a horse in harness, hitched to an old fashioned gig. It was the first time that a horse had been displayed with any harness on him other than a halter, and attracted considerable attention. So proud was Mr. McWhinney of introducing this new feature at the fair, that, attempting to drive faster than was prudent, in turning one of the very sharp corners of the track, the horse upset his vehicle, threw the driver against the paling fence, and entirely demolished the gig.
The receipts were ample to meet all the demands of the society, and, we suppose, must have left a handsome balance in the treasury, for in the next year we find the society had taken the advice since given by the lamented Horace Greely, and gone west. At the annual meeting of the members of the society, held in December, 1853, Enoch Taylor was chosen president, G. W. Gaus, secre- tary, J. P. Brookins, treasurer, Oliver Barbour, O. W. Peck, Archibald Campbell, Henry Harter, Silas Peters, and Ross Conger, managers. It was determined at this meeting to hold the next exhibition at New Paris, Ohio,
Digitized by Google
59
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
and it was called a farmers' festival; the time chosen was the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth of October, 1854. A park of four acres, most elegantly fitted up for the occasion, containing four halls for the different classifica- tion of articles, and two rings for exhibiting live stock, was donated by the citizens of New Paris, for the use of the society. Addresses were delivered from the public stand on the last day of the fair by Hon. Abner Haines and General George D. Hendricks. The price of admis- sion to this fair was fixed at one dollar for family tickets, good during the three days, and twenty cents for single admission.
The arrangements which had been made were ample and appropriate, and highly creditable to the enterprising citizens of that pleasant town. There was a large attend- ance on Thursday, and but for the rain which continued falling during the greater part of the afternoon, the entertainment would have been unusually interesting. The display of superior blooded cattle was the finest ever made in this section of country, there being twenty or thirty large bulls, mostly Durham, and about twice as many cows and calves. There were quite a number of horses exhibited, and some remarkably fine ones. But few sheep were on display, but these were of good quality. The swine were only about an average. The poultry display attracted fully as much attention as any other department, there being some fifteen or twenty different varieties. The other departments were all well represented with the exception of the grain and vegeta- ble products, which, owing to the dryness of the season, amounted to comparatively nothing. There was a new feature introduced into this fair which created consider- able bad feeling, and of which a great many disapproved. We allude to the negro performances, and "monkey shows." A great many thought that if the society could not stand upon its own merits, without the aid of such extraneous contributions, its existence had better cease; but be the justice of their arguments what they may, we know that the persons who objected so seriously at that time, now enjoy a good hearty laugh at such perform- ances, as well as the most "hardened sinner"-so much for educating a community. We notice among the premiums that Miss Anna DeGroot received the first premium-a set of silver spoons-for the finest equestrian performance, and Miss Sophronia Holderman, the sec- ond-a breast pin. The Eaton Register received two dollars for the best specimen of job printing, and Abraham Norris a diploma for the best cut shingles.
In 1855 the officers elected for the ensuing year were, General Felix Marsh, president; I. T. McCabe, vice- president; G. W. Gaus, secretary; J. P. Brookins, treas- urer; John Neal, Jacob May, Joseph Fisher, Silas Peters, and J. H. Stubbs, managers. They determined to pur- chase grounds, and no longer be under the necessity of renting, and looked at quite a number of tracts that were offered for sale before deciding, but finally pur- chased, of John Neal, ten acres, situated immediately north of where the present fair ground is. They paid six hundred and eighty-five dollars for it, which was con- sidered rather a large price for a society in its infancy to
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.