USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 33
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On the whole, the fair of 1874 was a success, and awakened a new interest in its support.
Pursuant to notice, the society met at the county auditor's office, and, after hear- ing the treasurer's report, and ordering it referred to a committee, a resolution was passed at this meeting to amend the con- stitution, so that thereafter there should be thirteen directors of the society. One thereof should be chosen from each township, there being twelve townships, and also one director at large. There- upon the following persons were unani- mously chosen directors for the ensuing year: J. K. Richards, of York township; Levi Cowell, of Riley; W. G. Hafford, of Baliville; Platt Brush, of Sandusky; Adam Bair, of Scott; John Sandwish, of Woodville; Casper Stausmire, of Madi- son; David Fuller, of Townsend; R. B. Hayes, Fremont, director at large.
Of the preceding board the following directors held over and were also part of the board for 1875, namely: Henry Lud- wig, of Jackson township: Joseph Wag- goner, of Washington: S. S. Rathbun, of
Green Creek; and Fred Smith, of Rice township.
On the 13th of February, 1875, the board met and elected the following offi- cers: William W. Stine, president ; Charles A. Norton, vice-president; Isaac M. Keeler, secretary; Henry Baker, treas- urer.
A premium list was prepared and adopted by the board at their meeting, May 1, 1875.
The board of directors appointed the time for holding the annual fair to be Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Sep- tember 21, 22, and 23.
An extended premium list was prepared and the fair was held according to ap- pointment. This year the fair was not as successful as the year before. The entries for exhibition were about one hundred and fifty less than at the fair of 1874. Another injurious fact was the unfavorable weather of the first two days, which greatly reduced the entries, the attend- ance, and the amount received at the en- trance gstes.
RECEIPTS.
Cash received front treasurer. . $ II 78
Cash received from city of Fremont 100 00
Cash received from annual fair. 3,438 14
$3,549 92
DISBURSEMENTS.
Paid interest on loans $ 182 67
Paid premiums on class 18 417 00
Paid annual premium list. 818 25
Paid L. Q. Rawson, on land. 615 95
Paid permanent improvements 575 00
Paid printing and stationery 180 00
Paid Light Guard Band, music. 75 00
Paid secretary, for services 50 00
Paid Bank of Fremont, note IO1 75
Paid bills of 1873 and 1874.
72 00
Paid expenses of the fair. 437 00
Paid cash in treasury 30 00
$3,549 92
The wheat crop of 1875 was reported not to be as good nor as large as that of 1874, but was, notwithstanding, above an average crop.
223
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
The fair was actually held four days, the last two of which brought fine weather and greatly increased the attendance and swelled the receipts, and also rescued the society from the losses of the first two days.
SHADE TREES.
This year the board, to encourage the . planting of shade trees along the high- ways in the county, offered premiums for their planting. To the owner planting the best row of not less than forty trees, twenty dollars. For best row containing not less than twenty-five trees, ten dollars. The trees were to be planted during the year ending June, 1876, and the premi- ums to be awarded at the annual fair, in 1876.
Pursuant to notice published, the mem_ bers of the society met at the auditor's office, on the 5th day of February, 1876. A committee was duly appointed to report the names of seven directors, whose time had expired, and one director at large. This committee consisted of Henry H. House, Joseph Waggoner, James Wickard' William J. Smith, and Nehemiah Engler, who reported the following names: W. B. Lewis, director at large for one year ; W. D. Stine, one year; Casper Stausmire, William J. Smith, James D. Benner, S. S. Rathbun, W. H. Hineline, and E. A. Beebe, each for two years. The directors holding over were J. K. Richards, Levi Cowell, W. G. Hafford, P. J. Gossard, and John Sandwish. This board met on the 12th of February, 1876, and elected the following officers for the year: Gen- eral R. P. Buckland, president; J. P. Elderkin, vice-president; Henry Baker, treasurer ; Isaac M. Keeler, secretary.
Afterward, Vice-President Elderkin be- ing about to remove from the county, re- signed his office, and Henry Coonrod was elected to fill the vacancy. The premium list was agreed to and duly published.
The fair was held October 3, 4, 5, and 6, 1876. The number of entries for pre- miums was eleven hundred and seventy- five. The membership tickets, at one dollar each, were twelve hundred and sev- enty-eight. The total receipts of this fair amounted to three thousand two hundred and seven dollars and forty cents. The premiums paid, including races, amounted to one thousand four hundred and thirty- seven dollars and seventy-five cents. The" more particular items of disbursement are not given, but the fair was a success, as the receipts appear to embrace no loans.
On the 2d day of November, 1876, at night, floral hall, the pride of the fair grounds, was totally consumed by fire, which was said to be no doubt the work of an incendiary. It was, however, fully insured.
In the secretary's report to the State Board of Agriculture, on the fair of 1876, the following showing is made :
RECEIPTS.
Amount received for tickets of member- ship, single tickets and tickets to the grand stand, . $2,672 90 For booths, refreshments, stands and per-
mits. 357 00
From other sources.
437 25
On hand from 1875 .. 39 42
DISBURSEMENTS.
$3,526 64
Paid premiums. . $1,438 00
Paid permanent improvements. 1,057 16
Paid fair expenses. 928 00
Paid balance to new account. 103 48
$3,526 64
This must have been a prosperous year for the society, for the fair made by this showing more than a thousand dollars' worth of permanent improvements, paid all expenses and left a balance of one hundred and three dollars and forty- eight cents, in the treasury. Besides the items of receipts given in the secre- tary's annual report to the State Board of Agriculture, the State Board had paid
224
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
the society one hundred and twenty-seven dollars and fifty-one cents, and the insur- ance on floral hall was paid into the treasury on the 3d day of February, 1877, amounting to one thousand dollars, which amounts do not appear in the secretary's report, and were no doubt standing to the credit of the society for the succeeding year, or promptly applied to the society's indebtedness. These two items were probably received too late to be included in the financial report of 1876, though paid in before the annual election of offi- cers.
This fair was remarkable for a better exhibition of horses, cattle, and sheep than any preceding one, also for a better ex- hibit of mechanic arts, and of machinery, among which latter the Hubbard mower and reaper, manufactured by the Fremont Harvester works, was prominent; also June & Company's portable engine, man- ufactured in Fremont, and invented here. Lehr Brothers, also of the city of Fremont, had on exhibition agricultural implements and other articles, which did great credit to the growing manufactures of the county. At this fair it was shown that the farm products of grains, seeds, vege- tables, butter, cheese, etc., were greater and better than ever before. Fruits, ex- cepting peaches, were fine and in great variety. The hay crop was unusually abundant and good. Potatoes were what is commonly expressed as a short crop.
In the report of 1876, the secretary es- timates the value of the fair grounds and improvements, the land being about twenty-eight acres, at fifteen thousand dollars, which is generally thought to be a low estimate.
Lewis Balsizer, of Riley township, raised on seven and one-eighth acres, two hun- dred and forty-eight hushels of wheat by weight, and on seven and one-eighth acres five hundred and thirty bushels of corn,
and being the only one who made an entry for premium on these crops, took a premium of ten dollars on each. It is not improbable that other farmers raised an equal and even greater quantity per acre than Mr. Balsizer, but did not see fit to make the entry for the premium.
We have mentioned that the property of the society was estimated at fifteen thousand dollars at the close of the year 1876. On the 17th of February, 1877, the secretary, Mr. Isaac M. Keeler, en- deavored to ascertain accurately the entire indebtedness of the society, and after doing so stated it to be, on the 17th of February, 1877, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight dollars and thirty-two cents. This showing indicates a healthy financial condition, which prom- ises well for the future.
Assets in real property. .$15,000 00
Debts 1,900 00
Net balance on real estate $13,100 00
At a meeting of the members, held at the auditor's office, on the 17th of Febru- ary, 1877, the following directors were elected, to-wit: At large-Hiram Pool, Ballville township. For two years-W. D. Stine, Sandusky; Fred Smith, York; Joseph R. Clark, Riley; James Wickard, Ballville; D. S. Tinney, Scott; Henry Herman, Woodville. For one year-T. D. Stevenson, Madison, to fill vacancy.
The directors holding over were: Wil- liam J. Smith, Jackson; James D. Benner, Washington; S. S. Rathbun, Green Creek; W. H. Hineline, Rice; David Fuller, Townsend.
This board of directors met on the 3d day of March, 1877, and elected the following officers: L. Q. Rawson, presi- dent; W. W. Stine, treasurer; Isaac M. Keeler, secretary.
The executive committee was then chosen, consisting of the following-named persons: C. H. Bell, W. W. Stine, W. H. i
225
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
Hineline, James D. Benner, James Wick- ard, and Hiram Pool.
The board, at their meeting April 25, 1877, resolved to encourage the planting of Osage orange hedge, and offered a pre- mium of twenty dollars for the best forty rods, and ten dollars for the best twenty rods.
At the same meeting the president and vice-president were appointed a committee to select the place and decide upon a plan for a new floral hall. The plan for the hall was made by J. C. Johnson, architect, and the place chosen near the site of the one destroyed by fire.
The contract for building the hall was awarded to Henry Shively on the 2d day of June, 1877, at the price of one thousand six hundred and fifty-nine dollars. Floral hall was insured while being built, and was ready in time for the fair.
On the first day of the fair of 1877, be- ing October 2, at 9 o'clock in the evening, fire broke out at the northeast corner of the fair grounds, a locality occupied by trotting and running horses. In a very short time a block of stalls, twenty-two in number, were consumed. The loss on the stalls was fully insured. Mr. J. H. Harley, of Huron, lost a valuable mare, and some valuable harness, and some sad- dles were also burned.
This fire was said to have been caused by fire communicated to straw in the halls from candles used by men who were sleep- ing in the stalls, and who went to sleep without properly caring for the light they had used. Perhaps the man fell asleep while reading. The damage done to the property by this fire was less than one hundred dollars, and was repaired by vig- orous work the next day, without inter- rupting the proceedings of the fair.
The receipts and disbursements of the society, for the fair of 1877, were as fol- lows:
RECEIPTS.
Amount in treasury from 1876. $ 161 81
Gate fees and entrance. 2,714 84
Stand rents 465 00
Permits
75 25
Pasturage, racing, etc
455 55
3,872 46
DISBURSEMENTS.
Amount of premiums paid ... . . $1,400 00
Paid on real estate and improve- ments. 1,288 95
Current expenses other than pre- miums 1,217 75 3,872 46
Funds in treasury December 14, 1877 15 76
The society, at the date of this report, had a membership of fifteen hundred and fifty persons, with an indebtedness of two thousand five hundred and seventy-one dollars and sixty cents.
Directors were elected on the 2d day of February, 1878, for the ensuing year, as follows: Henry Filling, Madison town- ship; Joseph D. Benner, Washington township; W. H. Hineline, Rice town- ship; W. J. Smith, Jackson township: E. A. Beebe, Townsend township; Henry Herman, Woodville township, each for two years, and Henry Coonrod, of Fre- mont, director at large.
On the 16th of February, 1878, the board of directors met and elected the following officers: L. Q. Rawson, presi- dent; Charles H. Bell, vice-president ; W. W. Stine, treasurer ; John Landgraff, jr., secretary.
The president then appointed an exec- utive committee, as follows: L. Q. Raw- son, C. H. Bell, Henry Coonrod, W. W. Stine, and William J. Smith. This committee, on the 5th of March, ar- ranged a premium list for the next fair.
In this list, for the first time, a premium was offered to encourage bee culture.
This year the board designed and com- pleted a building for the use of the officers of the society, on the grounds.
The fair was held on the Ist, 2d, 3d,
29
226
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
and 4th days of October, 1878, and was attended by an estimated number of ten thousand persons. The weather was of the most favorable character for the exhi- bition. The arrangement was good, the grounds in better order than ever before, and the fair a success in all respects. The Driving Park Association were permitted to use the race track for a consideration, which no doubt contributed to swell the. attendance.
The receipts and expenditures for the fair of 1878 are as follows :
RECEIPTS.
Amount in treasury February, 1878. $ 15 76
Received from State allowance for 1877. 127 52
Received from sale of tickets. 2,888 40
Received from stands and permits 852 00
Received from county. 507 00
Received from other sources 402 66
$4,793 34
DISBURSEMENTS.
Premiums paid .. $1,609 50
Paid for permanent improvements. 860 21
Paid on old indebtedness. 1,325 82
Paid for current expenses. 992 51
Balance on hand December 19, 1878 5 30
$4,793 34
The great financial success and the suc- cess in other respects of this fair, encour- aged the society to hope that in another year it would free itself entirely from debt, and be on the highway of advancement clear of all obstructions.
This year's statistics showed that there were forty thousand acres of wheat raised in the county, and that the average yield was twenty-two bushels to the acre.
The exhibition of machinery exceeded any thing done in that way on the ground at any previous fair. The inventions for binding grain were first exhibited at this fair, and attracted much interest and close attention.
On the Ist of February, 1879, the members of the society met at the court- house in Fremont, for the election of direct-
ors. At this meeting, before proceeding to the election, the president, as a matter of advice, wished an expression of the sense of the members on the question of allow- ing the sale of beer on the fair grounds.
After considerable discussion, on motion of L. W. Ward, a vote was taken to ex- press the opinion of the meeting on the question, but not to be binding on the directors, nor to take away their control of the matter. The vote was taken by ballot. The whole number of votes was forty-three ; of this number thirty-two were in favor of allowing the sale, and eleven against it.
The members then proceeded to the election of directors for the ensuing year, with the following result: Sandusky town- ship, Manual Maurer, two years; York, T. E. Gardner, two years; Riley, Joseph R. Clark, two years; Ballville, James E. Wickert, two years; Scott, D. S. Tinney, two years; Woodville, H. Herman, two years; director at large, Joseph Waggoner, one year. Directors holding over one year were Joseph D. Benner, W. H. Hineline, William J. Smith, E. A. Beebe, S. S. Rathbun, and Joseph Waggoner, the di- rector at large.
On the 8th of February, 1879, the board met, and elected L. Q. Rawson, president; John L. Greene, jr., vice-presi- dent; William B. Kridler, secretary, and E. B. Moore, treasurer.
The executive committee for 1879 con- sisted of the following named gentlemen, who were appointed by the president, namely: Manuel Maurer, John L. Greene, jr., and William J. Smith. At this meet- ing the rule of the State Board of Agriculture, requiring the exhibitors of thorough-bred animals to furnish the secretary of the society a pedigree of the animal at the time of making the entry, was adopted. At the same meeting the board resolved to hold the next annual
22.7
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
fair on the 30th of September and the Ist, 2d, and 3d days of the month of Oc- tober, 1879.
The premium list was revised and pub- lished, and the fair was held at the appointed time. The receipts and expen- ditures of this fair, according to the treas- urer's report, were as follows.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in treasury, February, 1879. $ 35 89
From sale of 4,500 tickets. 1,127 75
From sale of 251 half-tickets. 25 IO
From sale of 856 grand stand tickets. 58.60
From sale of 1, 543 membership tickets. 1,543 00
Received from other sources. 81 80
$3,601 14
DISBURSEMENTS.
For current expenses. .$ 1,157 15
For permanent improvements. 958 96
For premiums paid. 1,977 IO
$4,093 21
The total indebtedness of the society on the Ist day of January, 1880, as stated in the journal of its proceedings, was one thousand three hundred and nineteen dol- lars and eighty-three cents. While appar- ently the expenditures of the society for the fair of 1879 exceeded the receipts by the amount of four hundred and ninety- two dollars and seven cents, it must be remembered that nine hundred and fifty- eight dollars and ninety-six cents were invested in permanent improvement of its property. This shows, in fact, a net gain of four hundred and sixty-six dol- lars and eighty-nine cents, which is doing well. It should also be noticed that the amount of premiums paid in 1879 is much greater than that paid at any preceding fair.
At a meeting of the society held at the court-house on the 7th day of February, 1880, Joseph Waggoner was elected di- rector at large, but declined to act as such, and William J. Smith was elected to the office.
The directors for the year 1880 were as follows : For Fremont township, M. Maurer, one year; York, T. E. Gardner, one year; Riley, Joseph R. Clark, one year; Ballville, James E. Wickert, one year; Scott, D. S. Tinney, one year; Woodville, H. Herman, one year; Madi- son, J. Marvin, two years, Jackson, Dan- iel Sueckert, two years; Washington, N. Engler, two years; Green Creek, Joseph Lutz, two years; Rice, Peter Darr, two years; Townsend, Frank Dirlam, two years ; Sandusky, Fred Smith, two years; direc- tor at large, William J. Smith, for one year.
Amongst the proceedings at this meet- ing was the passage of a resolution forbid- ing the sale of beer or any intoxicating liquors on the grounds of the society, which was passed by a unanimous vote of the members of the society present at the meeting. At this meeting another resolution was unanimously passed, that the directors be requested to obey the laws of the State of Ohio in the matter of gambling, and that no wheel of fortune or gambling device of whatever kind be permitted upon the society's grounds at their annual fair.
On the 14th day of February, 1880, the board of directors met at the city council chamber, and elected the following officers, namely: J. L. Greene, president; Joseph Waggoner, vice-president; William B. Kridler, secretary, and E. B. Moore, treasurer.
At this meeting, February 14, 1880, the time for holding the next annual fair of the society was fixed for the 28th, 29th and 30th of September, and the Ist of October, 1880.
The fair was held according to appoint- ment, and was a success, as the treasurer's report to the board, made on the Ist of February, 1881, will show, and which is as follows:
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in the treasury February 1, 1880 .. $ 189 17
Received from sale of tickets. 2,622 27
Received from sale of stands and permits. . 347 00
Received from other sources. 188 00
Received from pasturage. 95 50
Received from county .
479 48
DISBURSEMENTS.
$3.921 42
Amount paid for premiums. $1,861 17
Amount paid for permanent improvements 813 II
Amount paid for current expenses . . 794 09
Amount paid for interest on certificates. . 63 00
Amount paid on principal of debt 72 62
Balance in treasury 316 86
$3,921 42
At the meeting on February 1, 1881, the total indebtedness of the society was ascertained, and stated to amount to six hundred and sixty dollars.
This shows the society to be on a solid financial basis, with the good will of the people to support it in the future, and in possession of one of the most attractive county fair grounds in the State.
NOTE .- The reader will find inaccuracies in the figures forming the tables of receipts and disburse- nents, but wherever they occur the publishers have followed the manuscript exactly, and are not respon- sible for the errors and discrepancies.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE PRESS.
History of Newspapers Published in Fremont, Clyde, Bellevue and Green Spring-Their Editors, Politics' Changes, &c. - A Mistake and its Consequences.
T THE first step toward a complete civil-
ization of a people is to open a way by which facts and ideas can be conveyed to and deposited in the storehouse of each one's heart and memory. This pro- cess may be likened to the removal from a highly productive region of country to other and new regions, rich by nature but unimproved and yielding nothing. To clear the way and prepare the track to such new region of undeveloped hearts and minds of the people is the peculiar office and result of common education. And here the simile ends, for the whole earth may, within some vast period of time, be reached and subdued, and put in direct or indirect communication with every other part. But new territory to be reached and developed in the cause of civilization will be found in every succeeding genera-
tion of men, and will be as perpetual as humanity itself.
When education has opened the way to the hearts and understandings of the peo- ple, then next in importance comes
THE PRESS,
which may be likened to the locomotive and train attached, transporting rich car- goes of fact, science, thought, and infor- mation from the old to the new region; and when the new region is developed, the train returns with rich freights from the new to the old, thus establishing a vast exchange of new thought and facts to en- rich the world.
The later inventions of the telegraph and telephone have not yet superseded the newspaper. The first is used for busi- ness chiefly, and beyond that is the hand-
229
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
maid of the press only; the second is too limited in its capacity for communication with the great masses of the people.
Notwithstanding the wonderful progress of invention, the newspaper yet remains the great engine for the rapid diffusion and transportation of facts and thoughts from mind to mind, and to-day stands the . strongest helper in the great work of ele- vating mankind to a higher plane of sym- pathy and civilization.
It is probably true that the press has not always raised those seed thoughts of progress which have produced so much good. These have in part come from the scientist's laboratory, the advanced think- er's brain, or the pulpit. But the press has sown the good seeds of progress, from whatever source they came, further, wider, and more broadcast amongst the people than any other instrumentality among men.
It is, therefore, fitting that, whatever has been done toward establishing and sup- porting the press here should be made part of the county's history. Such a rec- ord will furnish interesting matter for ref- erence and comparison in the future, and at the same time be only an act of justice to those who worked so hard, under finan- cial discouragements, to establish this great medium of communicatiou amongst the people of the county.
LOWER SANDUSKY GAZETTE.
The first printing press brought to Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), was a small hand press, introduced by David Smith. The first paper printed on it was called the Lower Sandusky Gazette, edit- ed and published, and in fact printed by the proprietor himself, alone, he being the only hand about the office. The first number was issued in July, 1829. The size of this paper when opened and en- tirely spread out, was seventeen by twenty- one inches, by exact measurement. The
editor and publisher, type-setter and press man, all in one person, was a thin, pale, slip-shod specimen of humanity. He al- ways wore his shoes, or rather slippers, broken down at the heels, and his socks were ragged. He was afflicted in the au- tumn of the year 1829, soon after the comme: cement of his brave enterprise, with fever and ague, which at that time no person of fashion was without in the dread month of September, who resided at Lower Sandusky. The editor and pub- lisher's wood-pile was always out doors in front of his office, and the pieces were eight feet long, to be chopped by himself into proper lengths of about four feet for the fire-place, from which the whole office was to be warmed in the winter. He would leave the care of the press when- ever the temperature of his office fell near the freezing point, and go out to chop wood to replenish his fire, warm up the office, and then resume his place at the press, or case, or the editorial table, as the case might be. While, after a sudden, cold snap in the weather, Smith was cut- ting wood one winter in the snow, his heels being bare, were frozen before he could cut sufficient wood for the night, and his feet remained sore for a long time, during which kind friends volunteered to cut and carry in his fire-wood.
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