USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 26
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The fourth annual fair was held in October, 1863. At the election in 1864 the following officers were elected : president, E. Lytle; vice president, H. M. Reed; treasurer, John Duncan; secretary, A. B. C. Hitchcock. The fifth annual fair was held on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of September. On the 16th of January, 1864, J. A. Lamb was elected trustee to supply the vacancy occa- sioned by the death of I. T. Fulton. January 21, 1865, at the annual election the same officers were continued, and the annual fair held in October. J. C. Coe tendered his resignation as trustee, and Edmund Lytle was elected to
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supply the vacancy. The annual fair was held in October. January 20, 1866, the following were elected officers: president, William Shinn; vice president, James A. Wells; treasurer, John Duncan; secretary, A. B. C. Hitchcock. The annual fair was held in October, 1867. The same officers were elected. At the annual meeting in 1868 the following were elected: president, John Dun- can; vice president, \V. A. Carey ; secretary, J. S. Read; treasurer, O. J. Tay- lur. At the annual meeting in 1869 the following were elected : president, J. A. Wells; vice president, J. R. Kendall, with secretary and treasurer as before. The tenth annual fair was held in October. At the election in 1870 the following were elected : president, J. R. Kendall; vice president, Morris Honnell; secretary and treasurer same as before. The eleventh fair was held in October. In 1871 the following were elected: president, J. R. Kendall; vice president, Morris Honnell; treasurer, L. E. Mathers; secretary, H. B. Blake. The twelfth annual fair was held in October. In 1872 the following were elected : president, R. Joslin ; vice president, D. M. Line ; treasurer, L. E. Mathers ; secretary, J. S. Read. The thirteenth annual fair was held in Octo- ber. In 1873 the following were elected : president, R. Joslin ; vice president, S. Alexander Leckey; treasurer, C. C. Weaver; secretary, J. S. Read. In 1874 the officers were: president, S. A. Leckey; vice president, M. Honnell; treasurer, O. O. Mathers; secretary, J. S. Read.
The fifteenth annual fair was held September 22, 23, 24, and 25, 1874. At the election held January, 1875, the following officers were elected : presi- dent, Francis Bailey ; vice president, Morris Honnell; treasurer, O. O. Math- ers ; secretary, J. S. Read.
The sixteenth annual fair was held September 21, 22, 23, and 24, 1875. Officers elected January 15, 1876: president, Francis Bailey ; vice president, M. Honnell; treasurer, John Duncan; secretary, J. S. Read.
The seventeenth annual fair was held September 19, 20, 21, and 22, 1876. Officers elected January 20, 1877: president, S. Alex. Leckey ; vice president, Ed. E. Nutt; treasurer, C. C. Weaver ; secretary, J. S. Read.
The eighteenth annual fair was held September 25, 26, 27, and 28, 1877. The total amount of receipts for the eighteenth annual fair from all sources was $2081.28. Total disbursements were $2084.94, leaving a deficit of $3.66. The election for officers for the year 1878 resulted as follows: president, S. Alex. Leckey; vice president, Ed. E. Nutt ; treasurer, C. C. Weaver ; secre- tary, J. S. Read.
The nineteenth annual fair was held October 1, 2, 3, and 4, 1878. The total number of entries made in the different classes was 1320, an advance of more than fifty per cent over that of the year before, showing that the Institute was at this time in a flourishing condition. The result of the election held January 18, 1879, was the re-election of all the officers of the preceding year.
The time of the twentieth annual fair was September 30th and October Ist, 2d, and 3d. The total number of entries made at the twentieth annual fair was 1,618. Total receipts from all sources $2,590.08. This included $106.63 in treasury from the last year. Total disbursements, $2,160.30, leav-
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ing a balance of $419.76 in treasury. At the election held January 17, 1880, the same officers were elected as those of the preceding year.
The time of the twenty-first fair was the last three days of September and the first of October, 1880.
This year, 1880, the Institute purchased six and a half acres of ground in addition to their former grounds, for which they paid the sum of $1,300. The number of acres in the grounds at this date was twenty-six and a half. Cash value of the grounds and improvements was $8,000.
September 6, 1880, S. Alex. Leckey, the president of the Institute, died. By his death the society lost one of its most efficient members. Appropriate resolutions were passed in honor of his memory, and the same were recorded in the secretary's book.
At a meeting held January 15, 1881, the following officers were elected : president, Morris Honnell; vice president, Daniel Staley; treasurer, O. J. Taylor; secretary, H. Guthrie.
The time of holding the twenty-second fair was September 27th, 28th, 29tlı, and 30th. During the year 1881 the Institute purchased one and a half acres of land adjacent to their grounds, for which they paid the sum of $325. The receipts for the fair held in September, 1881, were as follows: received from sale of tickets. $2, 190; entrance fees, $209; received from state, $120.68; balance from last year, $180.77; from all other sources, $593.40; making a grand total of $3,293.85. Total disbursements, $2,433.22. Balance in treas- ury, $860.63. At the election for officers for the year 1882 the same persons were re-elected of the year previous.
The twenty-third annual fair was held September 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th. This was one of the most successful fairs ever held in the county, although the weather was very unfavorable, raining every day. The entries in all departments (excepting that of fruit) were better than those of any pre- vious year. The general attendance was better, and it is safe to say that if the weather had been favorable the receipts of the fair would have exceeded those of the year previous by from $500 to $1,000. The total receipts for this fair were $3,061.71. Balance on hand from previous year, $860.63. Total, $3,922.34. Disbursements for the year, $3.545.03.
At the annual meeting of the society held January, 1882, a resolution was offered to prohibit the sale of ale, beer, and wine on the fair grounds. This resolution met with some opposition, but was adopted by the board. The year previous they had received for the permit of the eating-house and the sale of beer, ale, and wine the sum of $135. This year they could get no offer for the privilege of an eating-house. It accordingly was given to the ladies of the First Presbyterian church of Sidney free of charge, who made a success of it and gave universal satisfaction.
A noticeable feature at this fair was the quietness and good behavior of the large crowd of people in attendance. No drunkenness or disorderly con- duct was seen. This proved, not only to the board of directors but to all who were there, that beer, ale, and wine are not essential to the success of a fair in Shelby county.
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The election for officers held January, 1883, resulted as follows: presi- dent, Daniel Staley; vice president, Isaac Betts; secretary, Harvey Guthrie; treasurer, O. J. Taylor. The time for holding the fair was September 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th.
At the stockholders' annual meeting held January 19, 1884, Isaac Betts was elected president, H. C. Wilson vice president, O. J. Taylor treasurer, and Harvey Guthrie secretary.
September 23d to 27th inclusive was fixed for holding the twenty-fifth exhibition.
January 17, 1885, the same officers were re-elected and the time for hold- ing the fair fixed for September 22d, 23d, 24th, and 25th. G. C. Anderson was elected February 7th, to fill out the term of H. Guthrie, secretary.
At the annual stockholders' meeting held January 16, 1886, the board of officers was continued as amended and the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th days of September fixed for holding the twenty-seventh annual fair.
During this year the first Farmers' Institute was held in Monumental hall under the auspices of the Shelby County Agricultural Society and the Ohio State Board of Agriculture. The institute convened February 10, 1886, for a two days' session and was addressed by the Hon. J. H. Brigham, of Delta, \V. H. Scott, president of Ohio State University, and John Gould, dairy editor of the Ohio Farmer. W. J. Chamberlain delivered his lecture on "The Boy in Town and Country." Local speakers and singers varied the programme of a most profitable and interesting session.
Officers elected for 1887 were E. Blanchard, president; J. T. Kelsey, vice president ; G. C. Anderson, secretary ; O. J. Taylor, treasurer. The fair for 1887 was fixed for September 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th.
At the annual meeting of stockholders January 21, 1888, 'the election of officers resulted in E. Blanchard for president; J. T. Kelsey, vice president ; G. C. Anderson, secretary; Isaac Betts, treasurer. The time for holding the fair September 25th and 28th inclusive.
The second Farmers' Institute was held in Monumental hall February 3, and 4, 1888, and was addressed by Secretary Bonham of the State Board of Agriculture, who delivered lectures on improvement of live stock.
James McGregor spoke on various topics and gave a most interesting lec- ture on Modern Civilization. Local speakers throughout the county talked on various phases of farm life and the session was a most profitable one.
The fair association's officers for 1889 were H. Guthrie, president; W. W. Huffman, vice president; G. C. Anderson, secretary; Isaac Betts, treasurer.
At the annual meeting January 26, 1889, it was decided to limit the pay- ment of premiums to Shelby county but not to prevent exhibits from other counties or states.
The fair exhibit was fixed for September 24th to 27th, inclusive.
At the annual meeting January 18, 1890, the following officers were elected : H. Guthrie, president ; W. W. Huffman, vice president ; G. C. Ander- son, secretary ; J. S. Laughlin, treasurer.
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The thirty-first fair was appointed for September 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th.
H. Guthrie, president; W. WV. Ginn, vice president; G. C. Anderson, sec- retary and J. S. Laughlin, treasurer, constituted the board of officers for 1891 and the annual fair appointed to be held the 22d, 23d, 24th and 25th of September.
At the annual meeting January 16, 1892, H. Guthrie was elected presi- dent; W. W. Ginn, vice president; John Duncan, treasurer and A. L. Mar- shall, secretary, September 20, 21, 22, 23 were selected for the fair exhibit.
H. Guthrie, Isaac Betts, John Duncan, Al. Marshall, president, vice- president, treasurer and secretary, respectively, made up the fair board for 1893 and the annual fair appointed for September 19 to 22 inclusive.
In 1894 the same board of officers served for the year and the fair held September 18, 19, 20 and 21.
At the election of officers January 19, 1895, H. Guthrie, W. A. Graham, O. J. Taylor and G. C. Anderson were elected president, vice-president, treas- urer and secretary, respectively, and the fair dated for September 17 to 20 inclusive.
It being necessary to enlarge the grounds a meeting of the stockholders was held January 19, 1895, for the purpose of passing on the decision that the Shelby County Agricultural Society was a corporation. This was decided, a loan negotiated with the People's Savings and Loan for $8,000 and land bought of W. P. Reed, James Hennessey and wife, Frank Brown and Antony Braudewie at a meeting of the stockholders June 1, 1895. The Braudewie purchase involved twelve acres on the west and was used to make a race track and locate a grand stand capable of holding two thousand persons.
At this meting it was decided that the family tickets costing $1.00 each include the heads of families and all females under eighteen. Vehicle tickets for 25 cents which included vehicles with one or two horses and a price of 15 cents fixed for the grand stand.
The fair was dated for September 8 to 11 inclusive. At the annual stock- holders meeting January 18, 1896, Isaac Betts, S. M. Wagoner, J. E. Russell and A. L. Marshall were elected president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, respectively, and the fair date fixed for September.
The fair board elected January 16, 1897, was H. Guthrie, president ; E. WV. Stowell, vice-president ; J. E. Russell, secretary and O. J. Taylor, treas- urer and the fair dated for September 21, 22, 23 and 24.
The total receipts of the fair of 1897 were $2,450.52 and the disburse- ments $2,427.78.
The fair officers elected January 22, 1898, were E. W. Stowell, president ; H. C. Roberts, vice-president ; J. E. Russell, secretary ; \V. E. Lierman, treas- urer. The time for holding the thirty-ninth fair was fixed for September 20, 21, 22 and 23 inclusive.
At a meeting of the directors, February 8, 1898, an assessment of $5.00 was placed on each stockholder in order to pay the premiums due from the institute for the year 1897.
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There was no fair held in 1899 and for the three following years J. E. Russell, receiver, conducted the exhibitions under the order of the court.
The first fair was held on the present grounds the 4th, 5th and 6th days of October, 1860. At that time and until November, 1902, the property belonged to individuals, who had invested their money for the purpose of fur- nishing a place for the accommodation of the agricultural and mechanical industries of the county to exhibit their productions, and for which the stock- holders never received one cent, the receipts received from the annual fairs having been expended for improvement and beautifying the grounds.
At the November election, 1902, the electors of the county decided by ballot to authorize the county commissioners to take over the grounds by authority of an act of the legislature passed April 29, 1902, entitled "An Act, To Authorize the Board of County Commissioners of Shelby county, Ohio, to purchase and improve lands upon which to hold county fairs, and to issue bonds of said county and levy taxes to pay for the same."
The act provided that there should be elected from each township two persons to a board, styled, The Board of Managers of the Shelby County Agricultural Society and under this new management the receipts of the county fair are continually growing.
At a meeting of the board of managers, January 10, 1903. J. C. Royou, Elisha Yost, J. E. Russell, John Duncan were elected president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer respectively and it was decided to hold the forty- second fair on September from the 8th to the 11th inclusive. January 31, 1903, the board adopted new rules and regulations and fixed the bonds of the secretary and treasurer at $3.000 and $5,000. January 8, 1904, the board of managers convened and the secretary's books showed that the receipts were $6,878.13 and the orders issued by the treasurer $6,752.72, showing a balance of $123.40 for the fair of 1903.
The same officers were re-elected for 1904 and the forty-third fair fixed for four days in September beginning with the 6th.
At a meeting of the board of managers January 14, 1905, the secre- tary's books showed the receipts to be $8, 120. II and the treasurer's books the disbursements to have been $7,824.39 for the fair of 1904, furnishing a balance of $295.72.
D. J. Cargill, E. Yost, J. E. Russell, John Duncan were elected president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, respectively and the forty-fifth fair fixed for the four days beginning September 12, 1905.
January 13, 1906, at the annual meeting, D. J. Cargill, Wilson Dill, J. E. Russell and John Duncan were elected president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer and the forty-sixth fair dated for September 11 to 14, inclusive.
At the annual meeting January 12, 1907, William T. Johnston, Wilson Dill, Thomas Quinlin, J. E. Russell were elected president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary and the forty-seventh was fixed for the fair days beginning September 10, 1907.
At the annual meeting held' January 11, 1908, the secretary's books
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showed the receipts of the fair of 1907 to be $7,149.40 and the treasurer's orders to have been $7,397.66 furnishing an overdraft of $248.26.
Martin Quinlick, president; C. D. Mccullough, vice-president; J. E. Rus- sell, secretary; Thomas Quinlin, treasurer were elected for the year and the fair fixed for September 15 to 18 inclusive.
At the annual meeting held January 9, 1909, the secretary's receipts were $10,900.96 and the treasurer's disbursements $12,220.06 showing an over- draft of $1,319.10.
The same board of officers was chosen for the year, and the fair appointed for the four days beginning September 14.
At the annual meeting held January 8, 1910, the reports showed the rer eipts for the fair of 1909 to be $8,158.80 and the disbursements $7,545.83. The board of officers of 1909 was re-elected and the fair fixed for September 13, 14, 15 and 16, 1910. This was the fiftieth Shelby county fair and was to be made the golden anniversary, a home-coming celebration. August 6, 1910, Oscar McMillen was elected superintendent of the grounds.
January 14, 19II, at the annual meeting, George Hagleberger, Earl B. Fristoe, James E. Burrons and J. E. Russell were chosen president, vice- president, treasurer and secretary for the year and the fifty-first fair appointed for September 12, 13, 14, 15. William Darst was elected superintendent of the grounds.
At the annual meeting held January 13, 1912, the same board of officers was re-elected and the date for holding the fifty-second annual fair fixed .or September 10, 11, 12, 13, 1912.
The receipts for the Shelby county fair of 1912 were by far the largest of any fair ever held in the county. The receipts were $11,444.05; disburse- ments, $9,584.86. The affairs of the Agricultural Society are in a most flourishing condition, enabling the officials to make extensive improvemer ts at the grounds.
The present fair ground is in striking contrast to days long gone. It is now one of the most beautiful in the state or country. The original ground, in a state of nature, was a magnificent forest of lofty oaks which have been carefully preserved with maples set out in vacant spots which are now large and afford ample shade.
The water works of Sidney have been extended by pipes so that an abun- dant supply of pure water from the artesian wells which furnish the city is convenient for stock as well as the people. The grounds have been increased from twenty acres to forty-three acres. The only director of the fair when the grounds were bought is Morris Honnell, now eighty-eight years old, who lives at his ease in retirement near the fair grounds in his delightful home, with his daughter Ollie.
Secretary J. E. Russell has been in that office for seventeen years and to his efficient work is due the present prosperous condition. Most of the buildings are comparatively new with a fountain playing in the art and floral hall. The appointments are up-to-date and it is the design of the managers to keep abreast of the times.
CHAPTER XIV RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT
Pioneer Preachers-History of the Principal Religious Denominations in Shelby County-Churches and Pastors
THE PIONEER PREACHER
One of the first to enter the forest of Ohio was Charles Frederick Post, a Moravian missionary, a calm, simple-hearted, and fearless man, who was sent into Ohio after the defeat of Braddock to preach the gospel, as well as to win the Indians over to the cause of the English. At the close of the Pontiac war in 1761, Post returned to the valley of the Muskingum and settled among the Delawares. It was not until after the close of the Revolutionary war that the tide of pioneer preaching reached the real valley of the Ohio. It swept northward from Kentucky, headed by the good old itinerant, who rode from settlement to settlement with Bible and saddlebags, preaching wherever he could find a congregation, however small. He did as much to civilize the wilderness as those who wielded the axe, and built towns where naught but the unbroken forest had been. Strong and powerful men were the backwoods preachers, and their mentality was equal to their physical strength. They knew no fear. Imbued with the Holy Spirit, they set up their altars in the most remote localities. undaunted by adverse circumstances, and surrounded by dangers seen and unseen. These heroic men of different denominations came from different localities. The first Presbyterians emigrated from Ken- tucky. the Baptists from Virginia, where they had suffered much persecution, and John Haw and Benjamin Ogden were the first followers of John Wesley to cross the Alleghanies.
The Roman Catholics sought the new west from Maryland and loyal to their church, they grouped themselves in neighborhoods where they could enjoy its first instruction and offices. There was some rivalry between denomi- nations in this region and great controversies about baptism and Pedro-Bap- tism, Free Grace and Predestination, Falling from Grace and the Perseverance of the Saints, but at no time did the pioneer preachers lose sight of the holiness of their mission.
The office of the backwoods preacher was no sinecure. His salary rarely exceeded a hundred dollars a year and nothing more was allowed a man with a wife, for it was understood by the ministers of the old church that a preacher was a great deal better off without one.
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The early ministers of Shelby county had small encouragement in the way of pecuniary support to which they could look forward. They came to the wilderness to face perils, want, weariness, unkindness, cold and hunger. There was great force and stamina in the method of the first preachers of the country. They spoke loudly and with the whole body; their feet and hands were put in requisition as well as their tongues and head; they knew their hymn-books as well as their Bibles, for they had to make their sermons as they were traveling along the way from settlement to settlement. At this time there were few places dignified with houses of worship. There were many camp-meetings in the dawn of church history in this county. These were famous gatherings to which the whole neighborhood turned out and they lasted for days. There were some wonderful conversions during these meetings. The mourners' bench often erected in the forest always had its complement of sinners seeking grace. Everybody joined in singing old-fashioned hymns, the prayers were frequently interspersed with fervent "Amens," hundreds pro- fessed the new life and went on their way rejoicing.
The true worth of the pioneer preacher cannot be computed. He builded up little congregations, which in time became the foremost ones of the county. His whole soul was in his mission. He visited the sick, comforted the mourner, prayed with the dying and often read the burial service to the howl of the prowling wolf. He carried his saddle-bags through the snows of winter, forded the Miami amid the howlings of the tempest and appeared as a visit- ing angel to the family around the settler's hearth.
There are no living duplicates of these men, for the times have changed and the wilderness has disappeared. They were the men for the times, they came forth when they were needed, did their work nobly and left the infant church to the care of the earnest believers who were to come after them.
The picture given us in Oliver Goldsmith's incomparable "Deserted Vil- lage," of the village preacher, is a faithful painting of the pioneer preacher under whose ministrations our forefathers and foremothers worshiped.
"Unskilled he to fawn, or seek for power By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour ; For other aims his heart had learned to prize More bent to raise the wretched than to rise."
And again
"Thus to relieve the whetched was his pride, And e'en his failings lean'd to Virtue's side ; But in his duty prompt at every call, He watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt for all."
THIE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The Presbyterian church in Sidney had its beginning in 1820 or perhaps 1821. Then the first missionary effort was made to establish preaching. In a year or two an organization was effected which for some reason had but a brief existence. The first permanent organization was in the month of Septem-
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ber, 1825, through the efforts of the Rev. Joseph Stevenson, when a little band of people gathered together in the old court house standing where is now the Woodward building in Ohio avenue. The church originally consisted of eight members : Dr. William Fielding and his wife Elizabeth; John Fergus and his wife Margaret; William McClintock and his wife Sarah; James Forsythe and Sarah Graham. William Fielding and James Forsythe were the first ruling elders. Preaching statedly was furnished by the Rev. Joseph Steven- son for a few years, and then by the Rev. Sayers Gaylay. Uniting with the church at an early period in its history were Joseph and Mrs. Cummins, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Mccullough, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Wilson and Mr. and Mrs. Allen Wells. In the year 1833 the little congregation built its first house of worship, costing the round sum of $900, the house standing on the rear of the lot on which the present church now stands which was donated for that pur- pose by Charles Sterrell in 1819. In this little structure the people worshipped for thirteen years.
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