HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 399 (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) CHAPTER XXXIII AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES Closely identified with the agricultural prosperity and growth of the county, are the different farmers' societies that have had a wonderful influence in uplifting and elevating the masses by bringing people of all classes together and infusing a spirit of mutual dependence and interest in each other. Prominent among these is the Erie County Agricultural Society. Its history properly antedates the formation of Erie County it having been first known as the Huron County Agricultural Society, organized in June, 1833. The records of the Erie County Agricultural Society from 1833 to 1878 contain many facts of the early history of the society and are exceedingly interesting. At the time mentioned Huron County embraced the present limits of Erie. The following is copied from the minutes of the first meeting: "In pursuance of an act of the Legislature of the State of Ohio, passed February 25, 1833, to authorize and encourage the establishment of agricultural societies in the several counties of the State, public notice is hereby given that a public meeting will be held at the court house in Norwalk on the last Friday of June, 1833, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society to be called the Huron County Agricultural Society." Accordingly the meeting was held as above and one of the first, if not the first agricultural society in the state was organized by the election of the following officers: Amos Woodward, president ; Timothy Baker, vice president ; Lemuel Morse, Levi Barnum, Lester Cone, John Millen, John Fulton, Aaron Corbitt, Arunah Eaton, Wm. P. Mason, Daniel Beach, and Charles B. Simmons, directors. Eben Boalt, treasurer ; John V. Vredenburg, corresponding secretary ; Joseph M. Root, recording secretary. The first annual fair was not held until October 18, 1838, at Norwalk. We append the program : "The Throne of Grace was first addressed by the Rev.. Mr. Higgins ; Agricultural address, by F. B. Sturgis, Esq.; awarding premiums." From the reports of the latter we cannot refrain from taking a few items. Best acre of corn, George Powers, 63 bushels shelled. Best one-half acre of potatoes, John D. Allen, 100 bushels. One-half acre beets, J. V. Vredenburg, 125 bushels. Samuel Preston is reported to have raised from seven square rods of ground, at the rate of 685 bushels of potatoes per acre. We find first premium on "improved cooking stove" given to William Gallup, the only utensils of any kind on exhibition. The amount in premiums offered at this fair was $70. At a meeting of the Agricultural Board, December 14, 1838, a 400 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY proposition was received from Licking County Agricultural Society to send delegates with them to Columbus for the purpose of organizing a state agricultural society and O. Jenny and J. V. Vredenburg were sent as delegates. At the second fair held in Norwalk, October 17, 1839, $118 was offered as premiums, and at the end of the year $67 were in the treasury. In 1840 $129 were offered as premiums, but no account of a fair being held is given. The fair for 1841 was held at Norwalk, November 2. There is no record of any fairs being held in 1842-3-4-5-6 and 7. HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY Agreeable to public notice in the newspapers of the two counties on the 15th of March, 1848, the above society was organized in the sheriff's office in the courthouse at Norwalk, and a constitution adopted. This district society embraced the limits of Huron and Erie counties. In the spring of 1838 the County of Erie had beeen organized from the northern townships of Huron County. The complete formation of Erie County as it now is, was not completed until 1840. Platt Benedict was the president of this new society, Benjamin Benson, secretary, and Luke S. Stow, of Erie, one of the directors. The latter was afterwards one of its efficient secretaries. It held its first fair at Norwalk October 12, 1848. This new district society, organized. from the two counties, seems to have been heartily supported from its inception. At the annual meeting in March, 1849, the officers of 1848 were re-elected and Andrew Ainsley, of Erie, added to the directors. A premium was offered for the best farm essay to be read at the coming fair, an example worthy to be commended to our fair managers now. This fair of 1849 was held at Milan, and the Press said : "The display in all the departments far exceeded any previous fair, and was attended by at least three times the number of spectators. It is pleasing to note the growing interest manifested in agricultural and industrial affairs, and we confidently anticipate the day when Erie and Huron counties will rival in their efforts those of any other in the State." In competition on field crops the following yields were reported per acre: Wheat, 34 3/4 bushels ; corn, 135 bushels ; barley, 58 1/4 bushels; oats, 65 3/4 bushels ; potatoes 360 bushels. In 1850 Philo Adams, of Erie, was president ; E. M. Barnum, secretary, and Isaac T. Reynolds, one of the directors from Erie. The time of holding the fair, October 10 and 11, at Norwalk. The number present, 8,000. One of the best points made by the speaker of the occasion, who gave the agricultural address, was : "That the ulterior object of these annual gatherings for competition is an improvement in the breed of farmers of men." In 1851 Philo Adams was president, I. T. Reynolds vice president, and Luke S. Stow, secretary. The fair was held at Milan, October 8 and 9 ; the number estimated to be present, 10,000. The stock was tied to stakes and trees in different parts of the town and an admission fee was HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 401 charged to the Lockwood Temple, where vegetables, grains and domestic articles were exhibited. The fifth annual fair was held at Norwalk, in 1852, October 5, 6 and 7. The members of the society numbered at this time 800. The amount received from all sources $2,129.75; amount expended $1,083.53; amount on hand at end of fiscal year $1,046.22, a very good financial showing. At the annual meeting January 20, 1852, two resolutions were offered to the effect that the connection between the two counties in this society be dissolved, and that the board of managers be requested to settle up the affairs of the society. These resolutions were referred to a committee, and the committee, at a subsequent meeting, reported adversely and the resolutions voted down. The fair in 1852 was held October 5, 6, and 7, at Norwalk, and over $1,000 was offered as premiums on a largely increased variety of articles. The entries numbered 700. The best one acre wheat, 451/2 bushels; one acre corn, 101 bushels shelled ; one acre oats, 74 bushels; one acre potatoes, 382 bushels. No manure was applied to the soil to raise any of these premium crops. In 1853 I. T. Reynolds was president, L. S. Stow, secretary, and the fair was held at Monroeville. The seventh and last fair of the two counties, jointly, was held at Norwalk, October 1854, and like its predecessors was profitable and successful. At the annual meeting January 2, 1855, after a spirited debate the following resolutions were adopted : Resolved, That in the judgment of this meeting the general interests of agriculture will be best promoted by the existence of separate societies in each of the counties of Huron and Erie. Resolved, Therefore, that with a view of separate organizations in these counties this society be dissolved as soon as the financial matters can be closed up, and that a committee of three from each county be now appointed to adjust the funds belonging to the society. A committee was appointed and $511.10 was the amount found in the treasury. This was divided according to the population of each county, Huron County receiving $299.06, and Erie County $212.04. Thus closed the pleasant associations, as a society, formed through seven years of intimate labor together, years that had seen the formation of the society, its unexpected growth, and the still more surprising advancement of agricultural and mechanical industries. The separation was not made without pain, for the annual reunions at the fairs had been seasons of glad fraternal greetings and pleasure. The ties were strong that mutual friendship and labor had woven, and united the two counties as one family. By the dissolution of the old society, Erie County was thrown upon her own resources, with only $212.04 in her treasury. It seems hardly possible that the Erie County Agricultural Society could attain to its present gigantic proportions from so modest a beginning. As early as February, 1855, immediately following the dissolution, we find the lead- V. I -26 402 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY ing spirits of agriculture in Little Erie convened at Huron to organize the ERIE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY A notice had been published in the papers of the county to that effect. I. T. Reynolds was called to the chair, and Hon. F. D. Parish made secretary. It was resolved that it be the sense of this meeting that it is expedient that we organize an agricultural society at this time. Thirty-seven members united with the society at this meeting and the following officers elected : I. T. Reynolds, president ; Harvey Chase, vice- president ; F. D. Parish, secretary ; C. N. Ryan, treasurer ; B. H. Rogers, J. W. Thompson, A. W. Prout, Sr., Elijah Bemiss and Elam Ward, directors. The following preamble and resolutions will show the spirit of the meeting at this time. They were severally adopted, viz. : Resolved, That our board of directors offer no premium on tobacco or intoxicating liquors. Whereas, A well directed and vigorous system of agriculture is among the indispensable requisites to individual and national prosperity and happiness, and a thorough knowledge of mechanics, arts, manufacturers, commerce and facilities for transportation is essential to the hfe and progress of such a system, therefore be it Resolved, That whatever measures tend essentially to improve the quality or to increase the quantity of agricultural productions, or to the improvement of stock, to increase the diffusion of the knowledge of mechanics and commerce should receive the constant attention of the entire community, and "common interests demand common efforts." 2. That we regard agricultural societies in connection with public affairs as among the most obvious and efficient means to the accomphshment of these ends. 3. We deem it, therefore, both the interest and duty of every member of the community to lend his influence and contribute his show to add to the efficiency and to extend the influence of such societies. 4. We commend the consideration of this subject to our fellow citizens of Erie County and cordially invite them to become members of this society, and invite common effort to secure a common good. A premium list embracing every form of industry, was carefully prepared, aggregating $700 to be awarded at the first annual fair, which was held in Sandusky, and was a decided success, on vacant land just west of the residence of Philander Gregg, who lived on Monroe Street, between Lawrence and McDonough. The fairs for 1856-7-8-9 and 1860 were held at Huron, she having in 1856 at the annual meeting of the society bid $1,000 and free use of grounds for five years against the offer of Sandusky of $850 and free use of grounds. These five years were socially, financially and agriculturally successful, and the good people of Huron did all in their power to make these public gatherings pleasant and profitable. At the annual meeting in November, 1860, it was voted to locate the HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 403 fair for five years at Sandusky, and the following officers elected : E. Bemiss, president ; F. D. Parish, vice president ; C. C. Keech, treasurer, and George J: Anderson, secretary ; Isaac Fowler, I. T. Reynolds, William H. Crane, William D. Lindsley, C. B. Choate, directors. During the war, from 1861 to 1864, no fairs were held, all the energies of the people being given to preserve the life of the imperiled nation. April 5, 1865, a meeting was held at the courthouse, Sandusky, for the purpose of reorganizing the Erie County Agricultural Society. The officers elected were as follows : Hon. F. D. Parish, president ; W. H. Crane, vice president ; John McKelvey, secretary ; F. W. Cogswell, treasurer, and C. H. Botsford, Luke S. Stow, A. W. Prout, Sr., Samuel Bemis, Isaac Fowler, A. Hollister, D. C. Richmond, Calvin Caswell, Charles Carpenter, managers. A meeting of the board was held August 16, 1865, and a committee, appointed at a preceding meeting to locate and fit the grounds for holding a fair in 1865, reported that they had effected a conditional arrangement for securing by purchase the beautiful grove near the south part of the city known as the Pierson and Ankeytell lots, containing nine acres of land, for the sum of $4,800, and for the sake of completing the purchase the committee recommend the plan of petitioning the county commissioners to assist the society by appropriating not exceeding $5,000 for the purchase of said lots.. This plan met with the unanimous approval of the board, and blank petitions were sent to all the townships for the signatures of the principal taxpayers of the county. It was stated that the healthy condition of the county finances would warrant this appropriation. The petition was successful and the purchase made in 1866, and the property deeded-as all subsequent real estatae of the society was-to the county commissioners. The first fair was held on these grounds October 17, 18 and 19, 1865, and the Northern Ohio Grape Growers Association was held on these grounds at the same time. In 1868 another small piece of ground was bought to enlarge the tract of Jacob Wintersteen for $300, and in 1874 about eleven acres more were purchased by C. C. Keech of Jacob Wintersteen for the society for $15,000, which made about twenty acres, at a cost of $20,100 as the property of the society. After these purchases great improvements were made, substantial buildings erected, a fine tunnel made under the track, grounds thoroughly underdrained, and a roomy amphitheatre built; making the grounds second to none in the state. Total paid for land and improvements, $39,964. These grounds were located on Columbus Avenue and were exchanged several years ago for property on Camp Street where the fair has since been held. The old grounds were laid out in building lots and is at the present time almost entirely built up with beautiful modern homes, and is known as "Cable Park." W. P. Scheid is the present president of the Erie County Agricultural Society,- F. H. Zerbe, secretary, and John Quinn, treasurer. 404 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY IN ERIE COUNTY By Mrs. Mary D. Anderson Agriculture in ancient times was thought to be the most honorable of vocations. Cato,, a celebrated writer on the subject of agriculture, inherited a farm from his father on which he lived for years in the pursuit of agriculture, which was a source of pleasure to him. He was afterward chosen consul of Rome, which is the first instance of a farmer being chosen ruler of his country. History tells us that he was equal to the occasion, and by his strict integrity and nobility of character withstood many evils of the day. Fairs, agricultural societies and agricultural schools were organized for the benefit of the farmer, but there was little co-operation and unity until the organization of the Grange. It is of interest to know the history of its inception. This was the happy thought of O. H. Kelly, who when clerk in the Department of Agriculture in Washington was deputized in the year 1866 by Hon. Isaac Newton, commissioner of agriculture, to visit the southern states to examine their condition and report to the department. While traveling through the State of North Carolina he became acquainted with a society of Scotch farmers who had banded themselves together for the purpose of stronger social relations and to deal more directly with the manufacturer, thus eliminating the middleman. While visiting this society Mr. Kelly conceived the plan of organizing a secret society among the farmers for mutual benefit. On his return from the South he communicated his plans to six of his friends, who were as enthusiastic as himself, and on December 4, 1867, O. H. Kelly, William Saunders Read, Mr. Grosh, both of the Department of Agriculture; William M. Ireland, of the Postoffice Department ; Rev. John Trimble and J. R. Thompson, of the Treasury Department, and F. McDowell, a pomologist from Wayne County, New York, met in a little brown building embowered in trees op the corner of Forty-first Street and Missouri Avenue, and laid the foundation for the first National Grange, with Mr. Saunders as master. Mr. Trimble was secretary for many years, and with our own W. W. Miller as assistant for many years. Mr. McDowell and wife have held the treasurer's office up to the present time. What has the Grange done, not only for the farmer but for all people? Quoting from an address made by Hon. John Trimble : 1. The Grange has organized the farmers of America, who never were organized. 2. It has broadened the field of usefulness for woman and has prepared her for her place in the true republic, the full equal of man as a citizen. 3. It has brought light, recreation and cheer to hundreds of thousands of rural homes., 4. It has prevented the renewal of patents on sewing machines, thus reducing the cost 50 per cent. 5. Had passed and enforced the oleomargerine law. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 405 6. Had passed laws somewhat restricting alien landlords and corporations from getting Government land. 7. Had interstate commerce law passed. 8. Had a cabinet position created for agriculture. 9. Has had agricultural colleges, experiment stations and farms and farmers' institutes established in many states. 10. Has caused the reform ballot law to be passed in many states. 11. Has given rural free delivery to the whole United States. 12. Has established postal savings banks and parcels post. We are, as our "declaration of purposes" declares, united by the strong tie of agriculture. Our motto, "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity." The first Grange in Ohio was organized by 0. H. Kelly in East Cleveland, March 2, 1870, with sixteen charter members. It was four years later that the Grange came to Erie County. The first organization was Milan Grange, No. 342, on January 6, 1874; G. B. Jarrad, master ; R. N. Wilcox, secretary ; with twenty-five charter members. It was organized by J. Barrack, of Seneca County. The next day, June 7th, J. H. Brigham, of Welta County, who afterward was master of Maryland Grange and assistant secretary of agriculture of the United States, organized Berlin Heights Grange, No. 345, with twenty-four charter members. Henry Hoak, master, and J. P. Leslie, secretary. Margaretta Grange, No. 488; was organized January 30, 1874, with twenty-seven charter members. W. W. Miller, master, and Richard Fowler, secretary. Perkins Grange, No. 637, was organized March 2, 1874, by W. W. Miller, with thirty charter members. W. H. McFall, master, and T. B. Taylor, secretary. Erie County claims to have the first Grange organized by a woman, viz., Huron Grange, No. 1385, by Mrs. C. G. Norton, county deputy and member of Perkins Grange, With seventeen charter members, on November 28, 1891. J. S. McDowell, master, and Mrs T. J. Harris, secretary. Florence Grange, No. 1844, was organized in February, 1912, by James Jarrett, with sixty-five charter members. D. J. Stephens, president, and Mahlon Curtis, secretary. Erie County Pomona Grange, composed of members of the six subordinate granges, was organized at Perkins February 6, 1891, with a membership of 103. J. D. Parker, master, and Mrs. James Anderson, secretary. This Grange meets quarterly to transact business for the county. The grangers have made an individual exhibit at the fair for two years, each Grange receiving $20, regardless of the merit. The result ,has been that the Randall fair, near Cleveland, has offered large premiums if Erie County Grange will make an exhibit at its fair this year. We have our annual "field days" for the county, for social pleasures and mutual progress. Huron Grange has an orchestra of seven members, each one from the farm. They give concerts, stage dramas, and labor for general progress. The unity and harmony existing among the members of the order 406 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY prove conclusively that the seven pioneers of the Grange builded better than they knew. According to the census of 1910, in that year Erie County raised 337,972 bushels of wheat, 5,895 bushels of rye, 6,262 bushels of buckwheat, 527,274 bushels of oats, 1,049 bushels of winter barley and 5,050 bushels of spring barley, 556,485 bushels of corn, 52,042 tons of sugar corn, 8,197 bushels of tomatoes, 1,700 bushels of peas, 470,810 bushels of Irish potatoes, 2,290 bushels of onions, 462,628 dozen eggs, 400 pounds maple sugar and 2,400 gallons of maple syrup, 2,146,302 pounds of grapes, 54,021 bushels of apples, 48,835 bushels of peaches. The county consists of 114,752 acres of land, of which 65,571 are under cultivation, with 34,847 acres of pasture. The county has 4,809 horses, 6,765 head of cattle, 5,612 hogs.. GRAPE CULTURE AND WINE MAKING These interests, when carried to any considerable extent, are necessarily closely related. Grape raising on a very small scale was begun on the islands in this vicinity some years before grapes were produced in such quantities that it became necessary to convert them into wine for want of an accessible and profitable market. Mr. Charles Carpenter, of Kelleys Island, is credited with being the -first to foresee the great future in store for this uncommonly favored grape producing section. He came to the island in 1842, and noticing the few vines growing in gardens there, he was struck with the superiority of the fruit over that of the same varieties in the East. AIr. D. Kelley brought cuttings of Catawba and Isabella from Elyria in 1843, and, setting them in his garden, was much gratified at the result, as the Catawba, which ripens so imperfectly in inland places, matured to perfection here because of the protection afforded from frost by the waters of the lake. In 1845 Mr. Carpenter began planting in limited quantities, on account of the scarcity of vines, but by 1850 he had increased his vineyard to an acre. This was quite the most extensive vineyard to be found in this vicinity at that time. In the latter named year he pressed two small casks of wine (one each of Catawba and Isabella), which when it was a year old was pronounced by Cincinnatians the best wine they had ever tasted. Planting in a small way soon became quite general, and a ready market was found for the fruit at from 10 to 15 cents a pound, a price that would make millionaires in a few seasons of some of our present grape raisers, who are making very comfortable incomes by selling their fruit at from 1 to 3 cents. Vineyards Increased in size very gradually, there being considerable skepticism manifested with regard to a market when all should come into bearing. Mr. Carpenter, when asked if he thought it safe to plant as much as a quarter of an acre, replied that almost any quantity could be sold as soon as general attention was attracted by the planting of large vineyards. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 407 Phylloxera did not trouble the earlier grape growers as it does those of the present time ; and for some years there appeared to be nothing in the way of discouragements. So promising, indeed, was the outlook that land which in 1845 could be purchased for $15 an acre, was sold within a few years at from $500 to $1,000 an acre, usually paying good interest on the investment. In 1854 Mr. Carpenter built a wine cellar 30 by 90 feet, but this was soon outgrown, and in 1859 he commenced one in a seam between lime rocks in his quarry. He made the second cellar 36 by 123 feet, and covered it with a stone arch 16 feet high. The Kelleys Island Wine Company was formed in 1866. Renting Mr. Carpenter 's cellar for a few years, they found the business so profitable that they purchased it later on and created a main building 82 by 128 feet and three stories in height. The present large cellars are crowded to their utmost capacity, and sale for the product is found in all the leading cities of this country. The grape interests nearer Sandusky did not begin a general development until about 1860 or 1861, most dates being approximately fixed by those who depend on memory for their statements at "about the commencement of the great Civil war." Grape planting on a large scale began, we may say, in Erie County at Kelleys Island, and on the mainland east of Sandusky, in what is known as the "big field." From these points it spread toward the west side of Sandusky, and in many other directions, but in no case extending back to any great distance from the water, which is the great climatic equalizer that makes grape culture a success. Wines made from the grapes upon the islands and along the south shore of Lake Erie have a country-wide reputation and are sold everywhere. The wine industry is one of the more important of the city and its products go to all parts of the country wherever wines are used. Fifteen individuals, firms and corporations are engaged in the manufacture of this product, and all of them are prosperous. In addition, two other of concerns are exclusively engaged in the preparation of unfermented grape juice, which is rapidly becoming a popular beverage. Whether the extensive manufacture of wines in this district was due to the number and excellence of the grapes grown, or the vineyards are the result of the foundation of the original wineries, is a somewhat mooted question among old residents. But the fact remains that the culture of the grapes and their conversion into beverages have united here to the general prosperity of the community and its surrounding neighborhood. It is estimated that about 15,000 tons of grapes are annually pressed into wine and grape juice in Sandusky each year. The grapes are grown mainly on the adjacent islands of Lake Erie, and some of the) wings are made there, but the shore vineyards produce an equally fine quality of fruit and the acreage is being constantly increased. The varieties mostly used for wine making are the Catawba and Delaware grapes, which reach their highest perfection in this climate. The city's annual output of wines is about 5,000,000 gallons. This 408 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY includes both still wines and champagnes. The unfermented grape juice product is estimated at about 100,000 gallons. While, as stated, Sandusky wines go all over the country, the chief market is in the Middle West and the demand is constantly increasing. A good share of the product is shipped to southern states, particularly Louisiana, but owing to the growth of prohibition sentiment in the South, shipments in this section have not increased as rapidly there as in other sections. Practically all, of the wines of this section are of what is known as the dry variety, due to the fact that the grapes are higher in acidity than those of California. It is impossible to give exact figures on the amount of capital invested in this industry in this immediate territory, but the amount has been estimated at fully $2,000,000. The number of people employed varies with the seasons, but it gives employment to about 2,000 men. Incidental to the wine industry, a considerable quantity of brandy, cordials, soda water flavors and crushed fruits and other products of grapes and fruits are turned out each season.