USA > Wisconsin > Jefferson County > The history of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches > Part 55
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On the 5th of February, 1856, the following Board of officers was clected : President, Justus Carpenter, Palmyra ; Vice Presidents-N. P. Parsons, Cold Spring, and E. D. Masters, Jefferson ; Secretary and Treasurer, Milton Snell, Fort Atkinson. Executive Committee- Kelly Atwood, Lake Mills ; H. H. Wilds, Koshkonong ; William Sanborn, Jefferson ; G. Crane, Oakland ; D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington; C. D. Topping, Waterloo; Giles Kinney, Cold Spring; C. Bartlett, Milford; Peter H. Turner, Palmyra ; John H. Wileox, Hebron ; J. A. Hadley, Water- town ; J. F. Ostrander; Aztalan ; H. L. Colton, Concord ; J. Nutter, Sullivan, and E. R. Adams, Ixonia ; the Committee being increased to fifteen, each town being represented therein.
During that year, the Society received the $100 appropriated by legislative enactment to each county agricultural society that held an annual fair and made a report to the Secretary of State.
The fourth annual fair was held on the Society's grounds in the village of Jefferson, October 2 and 3. 1856, J. F. Ostrander delivering the address ; and at a meeting held December 23 fol- lowing. the annual Board was elected, viz .: President, Justus Carpenter, Palmyra; Vice Pres- idents-E. D. Masters, Jefferson, and Milo Jones, Koshkonong ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mil- ton Snell, Jefferson. Executive Committee-A. B. Smith, Lake Mills ; H. H. Wilds, Koshko- nong ; George Hyer, Aztalan ; Nelson Frever, N. P. Parsons and Giles Kinney, Cold Springs ; O. P. Dow, Palmyra; D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington; E. R. Adams, Ixonia ; Gerard Crane, Oakland : Myron Smith, Sullivan ; John A. Wilcox, Hebron; C. Bartlett, Milford; John Crosby. Waterloo, and William Sacia, Concord.
During the following year, the grounds were enlarged by the addition of one aere, and the fifth annual exhibition held on the 17th and 18th of September, 1857, the terms of admission allowing the holder of a member's ticket to compete for premiums being $1.
At a meeting of the Society held January 22, 1858, the following ticket was elected : Presi- dent, Milo Jones, Fort Atkinson ; Vice Presidents, D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington, and A. B. Curtis, Jefferson ; Secretary and Treasurer, Giles Kinney, Cold Spring. Executive Committee -Kelly Atwood, Lake Mills ; H. H. Wilds, Fort Atkinson ; J. D. Waterbury, Aztalan ; James Barr, Jefferson ; Justus Carpenter, Palmyra ; Edwin Montgomery, Farmington ; N. P. Parsons, Cold Spring ; E. R. Adams, Ixonia ; Gerard Crane, Oakland; Peter Tubbs, Sullivan; John A. Wileox, Hebron ; C. Bartlett, Milford ; John Crosby, Waterloo ; and William Sacia, Coneord.
The sixth annual fair was held at Fort Atkinson about the last of September, and the fol- lowing officers were elected January 10, 1859: President, Milo Jones, Fort Atkinson ; Viee Presidents, E. B. Fargo, Lake Mills, and Benjamin Nute, Milford ; Secretary, Robert Fargo, Lake Mills ; Treasurer, D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington. Executive Committee-H. H. Wilds, Koshkonong ; Justus Carpenter, Palmyra ; James Barr, Jefferson ; C. Bartlett, Milford ;
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Lamb, Waterloo ; Giles Kinney, Cold Spring; George W. Blanchard, Lake Mills; J. D. Water- bury, Aztalan; and Edward Ward, Oakland. The seventh annual fair was held at Lake Mills, September 22 and 23, 1859, at which Giles Kinney, of Cold Spring, delivered the address, the receipts aggregating $154.36.
At the annual meeting, held December 10, the following officers were chosen : President, Milo Jones, Fort Atkinson ; Vice Presidents, H. H. Wilds, Koshkonong, and J. F. Phillips, Lake Mills ; Secretary, Robert Fargo, Lake Mills ; Treasurer, A. B. Smith, Lake Mills. Exeeu- tive Committee-G. W. Blanchard, Lake Mills; Lewis Squires, Waterloo ; Edward Ward, Oak- land ; Cromwell Bartlett, Milford ; H. J. Munro, Hebron ; Milton Snell, Jefferson ; Joseph Lindon, Watertown; Marcellus Finch, Koshkonong; J. D. Waterbury, Aztalan ; and Giles Kinney, Cold Spring.
The eighth annual exhibit was given at Lake Mills September 19 and 20, 1860, and the officers elected at a meeting which convened at Jefferson February 19, 1861, were, namely : President, H. H. Wilds, Koshkonong; Vice Presidents, Justus Carpenter, Palmyra, and A. B. Smith, Lake Mills ; Secretary, James Barr, Jefferson ; Treasurer, A. H. Van Nostrand, Jeffer- son. Executive Committee-E. B. Fargo, Lake Mills ; George C. Smith, Oakland ; D. Folsom, Waterloo ; J. D. Waterbury, Aztalan ; E. D. Masters, Jefferson ; Milo Jones, Koshkonong ; W. W. Woodman, Farmington ; Nelson Freyer, Cold Spring ; Joseph Lindon, Watertown ; J. R. Dye, Ilebron, and H. E. Coon, Palmyra.
The ninth annual fair was held on the farm of Cyrus Whitney, one mile south of the city of Jefferson, and was liberally patronized. The lot on which it was held was but partially inelosed, and, considering the prevailing excitement incident to the war, the success was most gratifying.
The officers for the ensuing year were: President, Giles Kinney, Cold Spring ; Vice Pres- idents, E. B. Fargo, Lake Mills, and H. II. Wilds, Koshkonong ; Secretary, James Barr, and Treasurer, George L. Chapin, both of Jefferson : Executive Committee-J. B. Cooper, Lake Mills ; D. Foisom, Waterloo ; O. P. Hyer, Aztalan ; D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington ; Milo Jones, Fort Atkinson ; M. R. Clapp, Milford; H. J. Munro, Hebron ; Justus Carpenter, Palmyra ; Thomas Rutherford, Oakland, and Nelson Freyer, Cold Spring. At a meeting of the committee, held September 17, 1862, it was decided to indefinitely postpone the holding of the tenth annual fair, the existence of the war doubtless being the moving cause, and, at an election of officers held in 1863, the following ticket prevailed : President, M. R. Clapp, Milford ; Vice President, H. H. Wilds, Fort Atkinson ; Secretary and Treasurer. Robert Fargo, Lake Mills. Executive Committee-E. B. Fargo, Lake Mills ; H. J. Munro, Hebron ; D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington ; D. Folsom, Waterloo; J. D. Waterbury, Aztalan ; Robert Masters, Jefferson ; O. P. Dow, Pal- myra ; A. II. Nichols, Watertown ; Marvin Robberts, Oakland, and E. P. May, Fort Atkinson. The tenth annual fair of the Society was held September 17 and 18 of this year (1863), the receipts amounting to $286.85.
'At the annual meeting held in Jefferson, May 31, 1864, the following ticket was elected ; H. H. Wilds, Koshkonong; Vice Presidents, Daniel Folsom, Waterloo, and Joseph Lindon, Watertown. Executive Committee-Robert Masters, Jefferson ; Milo Jones, Koshkonong; H. J. Munro, Hebron : Austin Kellogg, Concord ; E. B. Fargo, Lake Mills ; Josiah Drew, Water- loo ; Hiram Ward, Oakland ; A. H. Nichols, Watertown ; S. Wright, Cold Spring; M. R. Clapp, Milford ; J. B. Waite. Farmington ; H. E. Coon, Palmyra; John Perry, Ixonia ; E. Schuyler, Aztalan ; Charles G. Hammerquist, Sumner, and W. P. Forsyth, Sullivan.
The fair was located at Watertown for the three following years, the first of the series being held October 4, 5 and 6, 1864, the annual election for officers occurring during its continuance and resulting as follows : President, Daniel Jones, Watertown ; Vice Presidents, Joseph Sin- clair, Watertown, and J. D. Waterbury, Aztalan ; Secretary, Robert Tompkins, and Treasurer, L. A. Cole, both of Watertown. Executive Committee-Captain Robert Masters, Jefferson ; Hiram E. Coon, Palmyra ; W. P. Forsyth, Sullivan ; H. J. Munro, IIebron ; Alanson Pike, Cold Spring ; S. W. Budlong, Waterloo; John Whittet, Jr., Sumner ; Hiram Ward, Oakland ;
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
II. H. Wilds, Koshkonong : O. P. Hyer, Aztalan; Henry Francisco, Lake Mills ; Harrison Koons, Concord : E. P. Ingalls. Milford ; D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington ; E. R. Adams, Ixonia, and HI. II. Nichols, Watertown.
The annual fair was held September 13, 14 and 15. 1805, Iliram Barber, Jr., at present a Representative in Congress from Chicago, delivering the address. and $110 being paid in trot- ting purses.
An election for officers was held in Watertown, March 3, 1866, resulting as follows: Pres- ident, M. R. Clapp, Milford: Vice Presidents, J. Lindon, Watertown, and E. B. Fargo, Lake Mills; Secretary and Treasurer the Hon. Patrick Rogan and A. H. Nichols, both of Water- town. Executive Committee-J. D. Waterbury, Aztalan; William Sacia, Concord; Nelson Freyer, Cold Spring; J. B. Waite, Farmington : Amos H. Burnham, Hebron; E. R. Adams, Ixonia; E. D. Masters, Jefferson ; Milo Jones, Koshikonong; Homer Cook, Lake Mills; E. P. Ingalls, Milford; L. Stetson, Oakland: HI. E. Coon, Palmyra ; Myron Smith, Sullivan ; C. G. Hammerquist, Sumner; Clark MI. Whitney, Watertown: Col. Henry Bertram, Watertown City. and James K. Ryder, Waterloo.
The Treasurer's report. as submitted at the annual meeting, showed a net indebtedness of 837.64. The annual fair was held October 4. 5 and 6, 1866, at which the receipts from all sources amounted to $446.07; the disbursements to $453.57. Dr. John W. Ilovt, of Madison, delivered the address, receiving therefor the sum of $30. The Society decided to hold the fair at Jefferson for a period of ten years, and the following officers were elected for the year 1867 : President, H. Il. Wilds, Koshkonong; Vice Presidents. J. Lindon. Watertown. and O. Manning, Lake Mills ; Treasurer. George Trucks. Jefferson. Executive Committee-E. P. Ingalls. Mil- ford: William Eustis, Oakland; George W. Blanchard, Lake Mills; Elias Schuyler, Aztalan ; Milo Jones, Koshkonong; C. S. Crittenden, Hebron: C. G. Hammerquist, Sumner: II. E. Coon. Palmyra; Alanson Pike, Cold Spring: E. R. Adams, Ixonia; D. Folsom. Waterloo; Joseph L. Hall. Watertown; A. H. Nichols, Watertown City : D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington ; William Sacia, Concord : Earl Newton, Sullivan, and J. Barr, Jefferson.
At a meeting of the committee heki June 11, 1867, it was decided to locate its fair grounds one-half mile northwest of the village, which was done, and the exposition held thereon October 9, 10 and 11, J. C. Converse, of Beloit, delivering the address.
The officers for 1868 were: President, D. Folsom, Waterloo : Vice Presidents, D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington ; J. D. Waterbury, Aztalan, and E. P. May, Fort Atkinson ; Secretary, George J. Clapp, Milford : Treasurer, William Eustis, Oakland : Executive Committee-E. P. Ingalls, Milford ; Robert Thomas, Lake Mills: Harvey Foster, Aztalan ; II. H. Wilds, Kosh- konong : II. J. Munro. Hebron ; John Whittet. Jr., Sumner : H. E. Coon. Palmyra : N. Freyer, Cold Spring : E. R. Adams. Ixonia : J. C. Leonardson. Waterloo ; Clark M. Whitney, Watertown ; Walter Pease. Watertown City ; J. Aspinwall, Farmington : J. Frank, Concord ; D. Reed, Sullivan, and Orrin Henry, Jefferson.
During the summer of 1867, a contraet was executed between the Society and Orrin Henry. by the terms of which the permanent occupation of the grounds whereon the Society held its fairs was secured to the latter (the Society) for a consideration of $1,000. Thereafter the grounds were handsomely inelosed, buildings for Horticultural and Floral Halls erected, a half- mile track raised and graded, and such other improvements perfected as were necessary to a sat- isfactory occupation of the premises. At the annual fair held September 22, 23 and 24. 1868. " Clementine," a now celebrated trotting mare, well known to the public for superiority in style, gait, action and speed, made her first appearance in public on this track, when hier fine points and superior excellence were exhibited. She was then owned by S. B. Higgins, Budd Doble being her present proprietor.
The annual election that took place at Jefferson, January 9. 1869, resulted as follows : President, Q. C. Olin ; Vice Presidents, E. P. May, Fort Atkinson, and Charles Stoppenbach. Jefferson ; Secretary, George J. Clapp, Milford ; Treasurer, William Eustis, Oakland : Execu- tive Committee-Cromwell Bartlett, Milford ; Hiram Ward, Oakland: C. 11. Phillips. Lake
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IIISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Mills ; J. D. Waterbury, Aztalan ; H. II. Wilds, Koshkonong; H. J. Munro, Hebron ; John Whittet, Jr., Sumner ; O. F. Weed, Palmyra : Nelson Freyer, Cold Spring ; E. R. Adams, Ixonia ; D. Folsom, Waterloo ; J. K. Ryder, Waterloo Village ; Walter Pease, Watertown; Clark M. Whitney, Watertown City ; James Kelmer, Farmington ; William Sacia, Concord ; E. Newton, Sullivan ; E. D. Masters, Jefferson : Orrin Henry, Jefferson, and W. M. Barrie, Fort Atkinson.
The annual fair was held one week prior to the State fair, and the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors appropriated $400 to the Society.
The officers elected in 1870 were : President, Q. C. Olin ; Vice Presidents, C. Stoppen- bach, Jefferson, and J. D. Waterbury, Aztalan ; Secretary, Jackson Jones, Jefferson ; Treasurer, William Eustis, Oakland : Executive Committee-O. Manning, Aztalan ; Nelson Freyer, Cold Spring : William Sacia, Concord : H. J. Munro. Hebron ; E. R. Adams, Ixonia ; C. Copeland, Jefferson ; W. W. Woodman, Farmington ; H. H. Wilds, Koshkonong ; J. D. Royce, Oakland ; S. B. Higgins, Palmyra ; George W. Blanchard, Lake Mills; N. S. Green, Milford; John Whittet, Sumner ; D. Fulsom, Waterloo ; H. Van Slyke, Waterloo City ; C. M. Whitney, Water- town : Walter Pease, Watertown City; F. Towne, Lake Mills Village, and F. C. Webb, Pal- myra Village.
The fair was held in September, 1870, and was reasonably successful.
The officers elected February 8, 1871, were: President, Q. C. Olin, Oakland ; Vice Pres- idents-R. Schwellenbach, Jefferson : A. D. Favill. Lake Mills, and S. B. Higgins, Palmyra ; Secretary, W. R. Harvey, Lake Mills : Treasurer, Solon Brown, Jefferson ; Executive Com- mittee-E. Schuyler, Aztalan : Nelson Freyer, Cold Spring; D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington ; E. R. Adams, Ixonia ; W. H. Tousley, Jefferson; Chas. Copeland, Jefferson Village; H. II. Wilds, Koshkonong; Milo Jones. Fort Atkinson ; Homer Cook, Like Mills; S. Lewis, Lake Mills Village ; Joshua Thayer, Palmyra; Miles Wilber, Palmyra Village ; Charles Woolensack, Watertown : Walter Pease, Watertown City ; H. M. Mead, Waterloo; J. Hazen, Waterloo Village ; D. Gardner, Milford; William Eustis, Oakland; Darius Reed, Sullivan; H. J. Munro, Hebron, and John Whittet, Sumner.
The annual fair was held on the 19th, 20th and 21st of September, 1871, and the total receipts were $996.25.
The officers elected at the Court House January 10, 1872, were: President, Q. C. Olin, Oakland ; Vice Presidents-E. Newton, Sullivan ; E. D. Masters, Jefferson, and H. H. Wilds, Koshkonong; Secretary, David E. Baker, and Treasurer, James Barr, both of Jefferson ; Executive Committee-E. Schuyler, Aztalan ; Nelson Freyer, Cold Spring ; Austin Kellogg, Concord ; D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington ; E. R. Adams, Ixonia ; Charles Copeland, Jefferson ; William Zohlaut, Jefferson City ; E. H. Bingham, Koshkonong; D. W. Curtis, Fort Atkinson; Homer Cook, Lake Mills ; Samuel G. Lewis, Lake Mills Village ; D. Gardner, Milford ; Will- iam Eustis, Oakland ; Joshua Thayer, Palmyra ; S. B. Higgins, Palmyra Village ; Robert Hays, Sullivan ; H. J. Munro, Hebron ; C. G. Hammerquist, Sumner ; Charles Woolensack, Watertown : Walter Pease, Waterloo Village ; D. Folsom, Waterloo, and J. K. Ryder, Water- loo Village.
The annual fair was held September 17, 18, 19 and 20th, with gratifying results.
Officers elected at Jefferson February 8, 1873, were : President, Q. C. Olin, Oakland ; Vice Presidents-D. W. Curtis, Fort Atkinson ; E. D. Masters, Jefferson, and Walter Pease, Watertown ; Secretary, D. E. Baker, and Treasurer. James Barr, both of Jefferson ; Execu- tive Committee-E. Schuyler; Aztalan ; William Mulks, Cold Spring; H. J. Munro, Hebron ; E. R. Adams, Ixonia ; Chas. Copeland, Jefferson ; W. W. Reed, Jefferson Village; H. II. Wilds, Koshkonong; Ed. Rankin, Fort Atkinson ; Joshua Thayer, Palmyra; S. B. Higgins, Palmyra Village ; Daniel Metealf, Watertown ; S. G. Randall, Watertown City ; Daniel Ful- som, Waterloo : C. P. Mead, Waterloo Village; C. G. Hammerquist, Sumner ; D. Reed, Sul- livan ; Homer Cook, Lake Mills ; George J. Clapp, Milford, and Hiram Ward, Oakland.
The fair was held during the latter part of September.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
The annual meeting was convened in the Court House at Jefferson on Saturday, January 3, 1874, at which a resolution, offered by W. D. Hoard, Esq., editor of the Jefferson County Union, providing that, in the future, the officers of the Society should consist of a President, two Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Recording and Corresponding Secretary, a Board of Directors, consisting of one from each town and incorporated village (seven of which should constitute a quorum), and an Executive Committee of five, appointed by the President, was adopted, and the following officers elected under its direction : President, Q. C. Olin, Oakland ; Vice Presi- dents-William Eustis, Oakland, and N. S. Green, Milford ; Secretary, D. W. Curtis, Fort Atkinson ; Treasurer, no record of any election; Board of Directors-E. Schuyler, Aztalan ; Knopf, Concord ; N. S. Cornish, Cold Spring : C. B. Scott, Farmington ; H. J. Munro, Hebron ; E. R. Adams, Ixonia : Charles Copeland, Jefferson ; George Trucks, Jefferson City; J. F. Morrison, Koshkonong; Edward Rankin, Fort Atkinson ; H. E. Coon, Palmyra; S. B. Higgins, Palmyra Village ; Stephen Favill, Lake Mills ; Charles H. Phillips, Lake Mills Vil- lage ; David Folsom. Waterloo; S. J. Conklin. Waterloo Village ; James Whalen, Watertown ; Walter Pease, Watertown City ; George J. Clapp, Milford; Hiram Ward, Oakland: Earl Newton, Sullivan, and Edwin Krump, Sumner ; Executive Committee-William Eustis. Oak- land; Stephen Favill, Lake Mills; George J. Clapp, Milford ; S. B. Higgins, Palmyra, and Orrin Henry, Jefferson.
The fair was held September 23, 24 and 25, and was conceded a pronounced success, the receipts totalizing upward of $2,000. Premiums were largely increased in amounts on blood stock, and $50 paid as premium on butter and cheese.
A large number of improvements were made in the buildings of the grounds, the cattle- sheds, stalls, etc. A Rockford artist, at the instance of the Society, gave stereoscopie views during the continuance of the fair, and there were many other features of interest to visitors. Among the latter were members of the different Grange organizations throughout the county, who, on the last day of the exhibition, formed an escort to the Hon. Matt H. Carpenter, the orator of the day.
At the annual meeting, held at Jefferson December 19, 1874. the following list of officers was elected : President, Charles Stoppenbach, Jefferson : Vice Presidents, David Gardner, Mil- ford ; William Phillips, Lake Mills, and Daniel Folsom, Waterloo. A Board of Directors, con- sisting of one from each town, was also elected : and the annual fair was held on the 15th, 16th and 17th of September, 1875, which added largely to the Society's resources.
The annual meeting was convened at Jefferson December 21, 1875. at which several impor- tant amendments, recommended by a committee consisting of W. II. Porter, of Jefferson, W. S. Green, of Milford, and Q. C. Olin, of Oakland, were adopted and the election held. Among the most important of the amendments was the one providing that thereafter the life member- ship fee should be $10; conferring the management of the Society's affairs upon a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, who, with five Trustees, to be elected annually, were to constitute the Executive Committee, the interests of the Society in the several county towns being delegated to a Board of Directors made up of members from each town. The officers elected were : Charles Stoppenbach, of Jefferson, President; W. S. Green, of Milford, Vice President ; George J. Clapp, of Milford, Secretary ; Solon Brown, of Jefferson. Treasurer, and J. D. Bullock, of Farmington ; Henry Haskell, Jefferson ; N. Freyer, Cold Spring; Edward Rankin, Fort Atkinson, and Robert Fargo. Lake Mills, Board of Trustees.
At a meeting of the Executive Committee, held in Jefferson January 15, 1876, O. S. Cor- nish, of Fort Atkinson, and William Phillips, of Lake Mills, were appointed Trustees, vice Edward Rankin and Robert Fargo, resigned.
The annual fair was held on the 18th, 19th and 20th of September, 1876; but, beyond good exhibitions of speed and a match game of base-ball, no new features were presented. The receipts aggregated upward of $2,000.
The annual meeting was held at Jefferson January 9, 1877, when the election for officers was held, as follows: W. S. Green, of Milford, President; Charles Stoppenbach, of Jefferson,
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Vice President ; D. W. Curtis, of Fort Atkinson, Secretary ; S. Brown, of Jefferson, Treas- urer ; J. D. Bullock, of Farmington ; L. M. Goodhne, Koshkonong; Nelson Freyer, Cold Spring ; H. C. Drake, Milford, and D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington, Trustees.
The Society, through its Executive Committee, purchased one-third of an acre of land from C. D. Fuller, and three acres of Joseph Puerner, for $680, which gave them a beautiful grove and furnished accommodations for all of the buildings outside the track.
The annual fair was held at the usual dates in September, 1877, the entries being in excess of those of any previous year. All the departments were well filled, especially Floral Hall, which was very attractive. A. MeDonald, of Chicago, gave a chariot race daily, which was highly applauded, and all things combined to render the undertaking additionally successful, the receipts footing up $3,748.78. One feature of the fair this year was the exhibition of butter and cheese, which exceeded that of any previous season.
The annual meeting convened at Jefferson, January 8, 1878, and elected the following officers: W. S. Green, of Milford, President ; J. D. Bullock, of Johnson's Creek, Vice Presi- dent; D. W. Curtis, of Fort Atkinson, Secretary, and Solon Brown, of Jefferson, Treasurer ; Robert Fargo, of Lake Mills ; L. Stetson, Oakland ; A. T. Seaver, Jefferson ; R. S. White. Koshkonong, and J. C. Wilson, Palmyra, Trustees.
During the summer of 1878, additional improvements were made upon the grounds and buildings, and the officers contributed by every available means at their command to make a success of their undertaking that deserved encouragement. . The season opened on September 17, concluding on the 20th, and the display of each department, notably that of butter and and cheese, was especially fine. Floral Hall was a creation of artistic loveliness, and the Indian relics exhibited by Henry Haskell, of Jefferson, and Dr. E. W. Stone, of Fort Atkinson, attracted the admiration of the student and layman, for in them he saw the unwritten language of heroic deeds and tribal relations. A. McDonald illustrated in his chariot races a type of life which departed with the Conscript Fathers, and Signor Pedonto, a daring aerial navigator, that type of life which is rapidly attaining its solution.
On January 17, 1879, the annual meeting of the Society was held at Jefferson, when an election of officers occurred, with the following result: R. S. White, of Fort Atkinson, Presi- dent ; J. D. Bullock, of Farmington, Vice President, and D. W. Curtis, of Fort Atkinson, Secretary ; Henry Haskell, of Jefferson ; Hiram Ward, Oakland; J. C. Willson, Palmyra ; Robert Fargo, of Lake Mills, and C. S. Cartwright, Sullivan, Trustees.
The fair for 1879 was held on the company's grounds September 16, 17, 18 and 19, and was largely attended, the entries being liberal in all departments, particularly the agricultural and horticultural products. Floral Hall was especially attractive, being filled with the handi- work of the housewife, maiden and little miss. The department of fine arts was also generously filled with works of art contributed by friends and patrons of the association.
Among the features commanding notice was the Swarts steam road engine, which fur- nished power for a large portion of the machinery exhibited, and the Indian relics, specimens of Lake Superior ores, etc.
On Thursday, the 18th, Prof. Clark made a successful balloon ascension, starting from the grounds about 3 o'clock and pursuing a southwesterly direction until the farm of Zebina Wilson near the town of Palmyra was reached, where he landed, making the distance, eight miles, in forty minutes. Addresses were made by Gov. William E. Smith, of Wisconsin, and the Hon. L. B. Caswell, member of Congress from the Fort Atkinson District, which were to the point and well received.
The educational department, under the supervision of C. J. Collier, County Superintendent, was creditable to himself, the teachers and the county, the exhibits meriting and receiving much attention.
The total receipts of the fair from all sources were $3,800, while the prizes were of the most liberal character.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
The general practice of the farmers of the county is to crop the uplands with wheat, corn and oats, the two first mentioned being the principal crop relied upon for market. The prairie and burr oak lands, as a general rule, are the best for corn ; the white oak for wheat; the tim- bered and marsh lands for grasses. Clover is successfully grown, in favorable seasons, on the prairie and more compact soils, but is more reliable on the light and sandy portions and the timbered lands. Oats grow well in all parts of the county. The crop of this grain is usually good, except in dry summers. Spring wheat, too, is generally a fair crop. Winter wheat, which, at an early day, was usually a heavy erop and of fine quality. after awhile began to prove a failure, caused by dryness of winters and want of snow, as well as by continual crop- ping in succession. There are now indications of a return to the successes of former days in this crop. Corn is generally a fair crop-never an entire failure. The substitution of sheep husbandry for exclusive wheat growing, has been found profitable on the best grass lands. Stock-growing for dairy purposes has been found profitable in all cases where proper attention has been given to the selection of animals, and proper provision made for their earc and feed. The root crops used for feeding, grow luxuriantly with deep and clean culture, and produce bountifully on all dry lands not over-eropped.
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