The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 50

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIV.

AGRICULTURE DURING TIIE PIONEER DAYS-ITS GROWTH AND PROGRESS -BUILDINGS, IMPLEMENTS AND CROPS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS-PI- ONEER FARMING AND TEAMING-LABORERS, STOCK AND MAR- KETS-FINE STOCK-HARDIN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SO- CIETY-ROADS AND PIKES-RAILROADS.

B® Y reference to the topographical description of the county in another chapter, the reader will readily infer that, although covering a small area of territory compared with other counties, few possess finer agricult- ural advantages. In the earlier settlement of this section, ponds, marshes and swamps abounded where to-day are found fertile and well-cultivated fields. The low and flat places were avoided for the higher grounds, not only on account of the wetness, but for sanitary reasons. The proximity of a spring, also, had much to do with the location of a cabin; but in the se- lection of places for the erection of other buildings, convenience was the ordinary test. The corn-crib, made of rails or poles, and covered with prai- rie hay or clapboards, as convenience suggested, was as apt to be in close proximity to the " front door " as at the rear of the building, or near the stable. In the matter of stables and corn-cribs, very little improvement took place until long after material changes had been made in the dwell- ings, and we wonder at this day at the want of consideration : hown, not only in the general arrangement of these outbuildings, but of many things connected with the household work. which now are considered of prime im- portance. Agricultural implements were, at the first, necesarily rude, and the state of agriculture of a corresponding character. Even had such a matter been known, there was little need for "scientific" agriculture. The soil was new and productive, and it was a question simply of home supply, while for many years the markets within reasonable distance scarcely re- paid the labor of hauling. The methods and implements employed fully answered the purposes for which they were intended.

The first substantial inclosures were constructed of rails in the form still used, called the worm fence-in a new country with abundance of tim- ber the cheapest, most substantial and durable fence that may be built. After the sod was broken, the ground was mellow and plowed with oxen. The plow in common use was a long wooden one, somewhat after the shape of the plow now in use, with an iron sole and point and an iron cutter. The immigrant usually brought his plow with him, but many did not own one until he made it, or had it made by some mechanic of the settlement. If the field was too full of stumps and roots, the mattock and hoe were re- quired to do good service and the field was planted in corn. The corn was dropped by hand-in which work the girls took part-and was covered and cultivated with the hand hoe. Many farmers in the later days followed the same method, but the horse-hoe or shovel-plow soon began to be used, and gradually worked its way into general use, to mark out the rows and cross-furrows for the "dropper," and to follow after to cover the seed. Finally the "double-shovel " plow drove the hand hoe from the corn-field,

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while the horse, with the changes in implements, superseded the ox. In- vention has kept pace with the demand for better improved machinery, but after the lapse of more than three-quarters of a century, the science of corn- raising is still far from perfect. Though great changes have been made in modes of planting and culture, as well as in the style of the implements used, it is questionable whether larger corn crops are raised than were pro- duced fifty years ago. The future will probably show material changes in these, rather than in the form of the machinery, and the past ten years have made great changes in both respects. To-day, save in the cutting, shocking and husking, the use of machinery enters into every process, while in Illinois a machine is now in use for cutting and shocking corn at the same time. Invention has come to the assistance of the farmer, as it has come to all other industries, and lifted from his life the drudgery of toil; yet it is a matter of surprise that none of the great labor-saving agricult- ural implements have been invented by farmers. In the cultivation of wheat, greater changes have perhaps taken place than in the planting and gather- ing of corn. The land was plowed the same as for corn, and harrowed with a wooden-toothed harrow or smoothed by dragging over the ground a heavy brush, weighted down, if necessary, with a stick of timber. It was then sown broadcast by hand, at the rate of a bushel to a bushel and a half per acre, and "harrowed" in with the brush. Though corn-meal was the main reliance for bread, and continued to be for many years, yet wheat was raised at an early day. Occasionally a field would be grown producing what was called "sick wheat," so named from its tendency to cause vomiting. Vari- ous devices were adopted to obviate this difficulty, but none of any avail; but this class of grain was usually converted into whisky. The cause of this poison in the wheat has never been definitely ascertained; whether it was on account of the malarial locality in which it was grown, the variety of wheat, or simply caused by the wheat getting wet and sprouting is yet a matter of dispute. It has been described as differing little or none from the wheat now grown, except in the appearance of a red spot on the grain, indicating a sprout; but whatever the cause, it has totally disappeared.

The wheat harvest ripened in the earlier part of July, and farmers ex- pected to be pretty fairly in the field by the " Glorious Fourth." The im- plement used was either the sickle or cradle, and, not infrequently, both, in the same field. The sickle was at first the only instrument; but soon the cradle came into common use, and finally superseded altogether the more primitive implement. The reaper followed in the course of time, and has now as well nigh effectually displaced the cradle as the latter did the sickle. Life on the farm necessarily compels the husbandmen to be a " jack-of-all- trades," and there were many farmers over the county who could not only make a tub or a barrel, but the frame work and fingers for the cradle. Sometimes an ingenious backwoodsman made it a business of repairing all classes of farm implements, and manufacturing new ones. When such a man lived in a neighborhood, he was usually well patronized.

There were few farmers who did not know how to swing the scythe and cradle, and there was no more pleasant picture on the farm than a gang of workmen in the harvest field, nor a more hilarious crowd. Three cradles would cut about ten acres a day, and one binder was expected to keep up with each cradler. Barns for the storage of the unthreshed grain are a comparatively modern invention, and as soon as the shock was supposed to be sufficiently cured, it was hauled to some place on the farm convenient. for threshing and feeding, and there stacked. Prior to the introduction of

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threshing machines, this work was performed by flails, or tramping with horses, but generally the latter plan was adopted. The flail was used in stormy weather, on the sheltered floor, or when other farm work was not press- ing, the threshing by tramping, commonly in clear weather, on a level and well- tramped clay floor, or in later days, if the space was sufficiently large, on the barn floor. When sufficiently tramped, the refuse straw was thrown into a stack, and the wheat cleaned by a fanning mill, or prior to the use of these mills, by letting it fall from a height of several feet, subject to the action of the wind. Other modes were also in vogue which the descendants of the pio- neers are familiar with.

The next step was to get the wheat to market, but in the early days there was little surplus after the home demands were satisfied. This, however, did not continue many years, as each year added to the number of produc- ers and as early as 1840 the hauling of wheat and other products to distant markets was the general practice. The custom was for several farmers to go in company. The roads were heavy and full of marshy places and the frontiersman's skill with the ax and ingenuity in " fixing up " a " break-down" were always in requisition. When heavy loads were hauled, it was not unusual to take relays of horses, with provender for the trip, the exchange of horses being made at about the half-way house on the road. Teamsters carried their own provisions, and camped out whenever nightfall came on, or, if corn and hay taken for the trip were consumed, to turn into the yard of one of the inns, to be found along the line of all the great thoroughfares, "for man and beast."

In a letter written us by B. R. Brunson, who for many years was a lead- ing citizen of Kenton, but row a resident of Indianapolis, the writer in speaking on this subject says: "Forty years ago, I was engaged in the mercantile business in Columbus, Ohio, which at that time was to all ap- pearances a finished town. In looking about for a growing town, I learned that there was a railroad to be built from the lake to the Ohio River (this being the only railroad then thought of in the State), and the idea struck me to locate on the line of the proposed railroad. As the country had set- tled from the lake south and from the river north, Hardin County lying be- tween the two settled portions of the State, was the new part "the far West." The distance to market north or south was so great that it required one week for a farmer to make the trip with his produce. At that time cash for country produce of any kind was unknown. I bought the first wheat for cash that was ever bought in the county, and wagoned it to Tiffin, then the southern terminus of the Mad River & Lake Erie Rallroad."

Laborers were abundant, and the farmer had little or no difficulty in supplying himself with " hands," either for the season or for an emergency. Almost every one could swing the scythe or cradle, or perform any other work on the farm. The rule was, not only with the hired laborer, but with the farmer and his boys, to be at work with the early light. A day's work on the farm was the labor that might be performed between "sun and sun," and this was understood and accepted on the part of the employer and em- ploye, though it was usual to perform the " chores" after the return from the field. The price of labor was 50 cents a day, which was also the wages of a harvest hand. A good farm hand could be hired at from $8 to $10 per month. There was no fixed price for produce or stock. Old settlers tell us that they have sold wheat as low as 25 cents per bushel, and stock at correspondingly low prices. In 1830, wheat hauled to Cincinnati brought 37} cents per bushel; a cow and calf, $12, and a brood sow, $5. A load

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of flour containing eight barrels was exchanged at Cincinnati, in 1815, for two barrels of salt.

The swine of the early settlers, compared with the hogs of 1883, would present as wide a contrast as it is possible to conceive. Whatever the breed may have previously been called, running wild, as was customary, the special breed was soon lost in the mixed swine of the country. They were long and slim, long-snouted and long-legged, with an arched back and bristles erect from the back of the head to the tail, slab-sided, active and healthy ; the " sapling-splitter,"and " razor-back," as he was called, was ever in the search of food, and quick to take alarm. He was capable of making a heavy hog, but required two years or more to mature, and, until a short time be- fore butchering or marketing, was suffered to run at large, subsisting mainly as a forager, and in the fall fattening on the "mast." Yet this was the hog for a new country, whose nearest and best markets were in Detroit, Cincinnati and Baltimore, to which places they were driven on foot. Persons, then as now, engaged in the purchase and driving of swine or cattle as a special occupation, and, by means of trustworthy agents, vis- ited distant sections to buy up large droves. It was not uncommon to see a drove of hogs driven to a certain place to be weighed before starting them on their long journey. As each porker was caught, it was thrust into a kind of leather receptacle, which was suspended to steelyards. As soon as the hog was fairly in the contrivance, the whole was lifted from the ground, and thus, one by one, the drove was weighed and a minute made of each, and with a pair of shears, a patch of bristles was cut from the hind- quarters or some other mode of marking followed as evidence of the fact that the hog had been weighed. Two or three days' drive made the hogs quiet enough to be driven along the highway without much trouble, mov- ing forward at an average gait of from eight to ten miles a day. When- ever the animals were wilder than usual, they were enticed into a pen, there caught, and their eyelids "stitched," or this was done during the weighing process. Thus blinded, the hogs seemed instinctively to keep the road, and reaching their destination a clip of the scissors or knife made all things right again. Almost every farmer raised a few hogs for market which were gathered up by drovers and dealers. The delivery of hogs be- gan usually in September, and the business was carried on past the middle of winter. The price ranged at about $1.25 per 100 pounds, though at times running up to $3.25 or $3.50, with a fair margin after driving to Cin- cinnati or Baltimore. About 1840, the hog trade was brisk, and speculation ran high. Many men about this time laid the foundation of subse- quent fortunes, while doubtless others lost all in wild speculation. In no stock of the farm have greater changes been effected than in the hog. From the characteristics of this wild animal, long legged, slab sided, roach-backed, muscular, tall, long, active and fierce, it has been bred to be almost as square as a store box, quiet as a sheep, taking on 250 pounds of flesh in ten months. They are now ranked in two distinctive breeds, which as far as Hardin County is concerned, have mainly narrowed to the Poland-China, though other breeds are found here.

In the early history of the county, there were few stock speculators, but those few supplied a want very much needed and appreciated by the first settlers. To raise cattle and hogs was not very difficult or expensive; but the difficulty consisted in getting them to market. There were but few marketable points within reach of the settlements, and the demands of these were in limited numbers only. The government agencies at San-

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dusky or Detroit were ready purchasers for a small amount of this class of farm products. Subsequently, however, in the latter place, Canadian spec- ulators purchased largely of cattle and hogs that were packed for the En- glish markets. In addition to these places, some of the towns in the neighboring counties did a small amount of this kind of business; but the Eastern markets were the principal points of trade, yet to reach them was a difficult task. All this stock must necessarily be driven on foot a dis- tance of hundreds of miles, with such surroundings as were peculiar to a country like this. With the coming of railroads, all such difficulties van- ished as these great tramways of progress brought into easy access the most distant markets.

FINE STOCK.

The breeding of thoroughbred stock is not carried on so extensively in Hardin County as in the older counties further to the south and east; but it can claim a goodly number of those progressive men, who have done so much all over Ohio toward building up and improving the fine stock cult- ure. In July, 1859, Justice C. Stevens, of Kenton, purchased, in Madi- son County, a fine bull calf, out of "Starlight," an imported animal owned by Hon. Charles Phellis, of Madison County, Ohio. Starlight was brought from England in 1853 by the "Madison County Stock Importing Company," and sold to Mr. Phellis for $3,000. This calf was the first short-horn ani- mal that was brought to Hardin County, and may be said to have been the pioneer, though many years elapsed ere Mr. Stevens went into the business of breeding and dealing in fine stock. About 1870, he embarked regularly in the growth of thoroughbred short-horns, and has since continued in the business. At the present time, he says, " My herd numbers about sixty head of the following families: Rose of Sharon, Red Roses, Phyllises, Craggs, Louans, Clarksvilles, Victorias, Matildas, Denannas, etc. It is headed by the Pure Princess bull, Bell Bates, from the Fourteenth Duke of Thorndale, that sold at Mr. Bedford's sale for $17,900. My herd is large in size, mostly red, and many will make fine show animals when in flesh." Mr. Stevens is a resident of Kenton and President of the Farmers' and Me- chanics' Bank.

Commencing some time after Mr. Stevens in the breeding of fine blooded stock, but cotemporary with him in the quality of his herd, may be classed E. S. Butler, of Hale Township. We have been told that he possessed one of the finest show herds in Hardin County up to the fall of 1882, when he sold off the greater number of his animals, though still pos- sessing some of the choice strains of the short horn breed. We also under- stand that he anticipates replenishing his herd in the near future, as he has always taken a deep interest in the growth and prosperity of the business.

Among other fine stock breeders of Hardin County, we have been given the names of Daniel H. Waggoner, of Pleasant Township; E. and John Allen, of Buck; J. W. Stinson, of Round Head, and Americus Hartel, of Goshen. William Moore has been in the business, but has now abandoned the growth of thoroughbreds.

There are many very fine flocks of sheep scattered over the broad past- ures of the county, but among those best known as fine sheep breeders are W. J. Emmons, of Goshen; E. S. Butler, of Hale; J. B. Pumphrey, of Goshen; D. H. Benton, of Buck; D. H. Waggoner, of Pleasant; J. R . Dunlap and J. B. Murray, of Marion; Aaron Curl, of Hale; George P. Frame, of Buck; John Woods, of Blanchard; A. S. Rannev, of Taylor Creek, and Jasper N. Welsh, of Kenton.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

The principal Poland-China hog breeders are S. W. Phillips, of Marion Township; J. B. Pumphrey, of Goshen; Jasper N. Welsh, of Kenton; George Ansley, of Hale, and J. C. Stevens, of Kenton. We do not mean to say that the names here given are the only men in Hardin County who own and breed thoroughbred cattle, sheep and hogs, but they are considered the largest and best known breeders and dealers in fine blooded stock. In- deed, there are few good farmers in the county who do not possess some fine sheep, hogs or cattle, but they do not make a specialty of the business, and only raise them for the general market as they do any other productions of the farm.

In the last few years the breeding of thoroughbred horses has been com: menced in Hardin County by Asher Letson, of Kenton. Though other horse fanciers own and deal in fine blooded horses, Mr. Letson continues to be the principal breeder in this county. It is a business that few men care to risk their money in, and it will, doubtless, be some years ere it reaches any magnitude in this portion of the State. It requires a wide exper- ience and large means in this age of fast horses to breed. develop and suc- cessfully train those animals, and the owner of them finds the business everything but money-making.

HARDIN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Pursuant to previous notice, a large number of the farmers and other citizens of Hardin County, Ohio, met at the Court House in Kenton on the 14th of February, 1851, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society. David Kinnear called the meeting to order, whereupon Shepard Green was elected Chairman, and Charles Ashton, Secretary. Moved by David Kinnear that the chair appoint a committee of three to draft a con- stitution and by-laws-adopted. Accordingly the chair appointed Thomas Rough, William Kinnear and Walter King as said committee. David Thomson then ably addressed the meeting, showing in a brief speech the necessity of and advantages to be derived from an agricultural organiza- tion. Edward Stillings being called upon ably showed the benefits to be derived from farming by an intelligent system, and the best way for farm- ers to procure the necessary information. The committee appointed for this purpose then reported a constitution and by-laws, which, after a few amendments were adopted.

The society then elected the following officers for the present year: John F. Henkle, President; Thomas Rough, Vice President; Joel K. Good- in, Secretary; Walter King, Treasurer; Shepard Green, Obed Taylor, Moses Kibie, Daniel K. Seig and Abraham Dille, Board of Managers.

On motion, the following committee, consisting of one person in each township to solicit names to become members, was then appointed:

Abner Snoddy, of Hale; Peter C. Boslow, Jackson; Portius Wheeler, Dud- ley; Harvey Buckmister, Buck; Squire Yeager, Goshen; Jacob Holmes, Pleasant; David Kirkpatrick, Marion; J. P. Price, Taylor Creek; Bernard Matthews, Cessna; Barnhart Wagoner, Washington; Daniel Campbell, McDonald; John Tressel, Liberty; Hugh D. Miller, Blanchard; James M. White, Round Head.

The first fair was held by the Society at Kenton, Wednesday, October 22, 1851, and great efforts were put forth to make it a success. Temporary grounds were fitted up in a rude way on a vacant lot west of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad, on the north side of Columbus street. The weather was fine and a large attendance greeted the opening. The exhibit was a

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good one; nearly every portion of the county was represented, and the premiums were, therefore, equally distributed, while the fair as a whole proved a gratifying success and very creditable to its projectors and pro- moters. Thus was laid the foundation of the Hardin County Agricultural Society, whose prosperity, with the exception of a few years, has continued to the present. On the 1st of January, 1852, the Society held its second regular meeting at the court house. The President being absent, Thomas Rough, Vice President, called the meeting to order, and stated that the present was the annual meeting of the Society, for the election of officers, and such other business as may be brought before the Society. On motion of Isaiah McConnell, the constitution was so amended that the election of all officers should be by ballot. On motion, the Society then proceeded to the election of officers, which resulted as follows: Thomas Rough, Presi- dent; David Kinnear, Vice President; Joel K. Goodin, Secretary; Walter King, Treasurer.

Board of Managers-Obed Taylor, of Pleasant; Abner Snoddy, of Hale; Samuel Wilmoth, of Pleasant; John F. Henkle, of Round Head; Sheppard Green, of Buck.

On motion, a committee of three in each township was appointed to so- licit names for membership for the year ensuing, as follows: Abel H. Al- len, Harvey Buckmister and Thomas Dodds, of Buck; John Goodin, G. P. Ingman, and J. S. Robinson, of Pleasant; Abner Snoddy, Benjamin R. Beamer and Jonathan Seig, of Hale; Portius Wheeler, Elias Lounes and Miles W. Van Fleet, of Dudley; Bernard Matthews, F. M. Cory and James Leeper, of Cessna; R. M. Brayton, -- Corbin and Thomas Hueston, of Jackson; Reuben Huff, James Thompson and William Dempster, of Mar- ion; Robert Miller, Esquire Ridgeway and Robert Dixon, of Goshen; H. D. Miller, J. A. Thomson and Joseph Reed, of Blanchard; Hugh McElroy. James Candler and David Sleicter, of Liberty; Andrew Kridler. Blanchard Waggoner, Jr., and Squire Jones, of Washington; Samuel McCullock, P. K. Seig and Nathaniel Norman, of Taylor Creek; George Martin, J. F. Henkle and J. M. White, of Round Head; P. Weils, Alexander Given and Joseph Williams, of McDonald. The fair of this year was held on the same lot as the previous one. The two following fairs of 1853 and 1854 were held in the northern part of Kenton, in a lot between Detroit and Main streets, south of the railroad crossing.

Prior to the fair held October 5 and 6, 1855, the Society purchased five acres of ground west of Kenton for " county fair grounds." It was im- mediately inclosed and was used by the society until 1869. Early in that year, the property known as the " Trotting Park," lying south of the river, bounded by the Scioto, the railroad and the Round Head Pike, and containing twenty-eight acres, was purchased for the sum of $3,500. J. S. Robinson, J. C. Stevens and John R. Gunn were appointed a committee to superintend the fitting up of the grounds for the coming fair. In October, 1869, the first fair was held in these grounds, which were used as the fair grounds of the Agricult- ural Society for thirteen years. On November 15, 1881, this second ground was sold to J. C. Smith for the sum of $9,050; and, January 13, 1882, J. L. Clark, Chairman, W. A. Kelly, Jacob Kenzig, J. C. Marshall and D. H. Le Van were appointed a committee to select a site for a new fair ground. On the 3d of February, 1882, the committee reported that they had pur- chased from Asher Letson a tract of land for the new ground. The board ratified their action, and on the 17th of March the contract was signed and the sale became valid.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 50

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1076

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076