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CHAPTER XXVIII.
AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
MUSKINGUM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY— FIRST EXHIBITION—OHIO STATE FAIR—THE OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION—EASTERN MUSKINGUM AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY—POMOLOGY—THE MUSKINGUM COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
THE MUSKINGUM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.—This Society was organized January 21, 1848, under an Act of the Legislature " for the encouragement of agriculture, passed February 28, 1846.
The first officers were :
President—Cornelius Springer, of Springfield township.
Vice President—George W. Gibbons, of Wayne township.
Treasurer—James L. Cox, of Zanesville.
Secretary—Uriah Park, of Zanesville.
The Board of Managers, acting in conjunction with these officers, were : Caleb Hall, of Blue Rock township ; Matthew Gillespie, of Springfield township ; Philo Buckingham, of Wayne township ; Benjamin Wheeler, of Zanesville ; Isaac Dillon, of Fall township ; all of whom are dead.
The first formal exhibition, or fair, under the auspices of this society, was held in the autumn of 1848, although informal exhibitions of the agricultural interests of the county, were held in two or three preceding years. There are no records in possession of the present officers of the society of its proceedings from the time of organization, until 1865. In that year, James Buckingham was President, Valentine Best was Treasurer and F. A. Seborn was Secretary.
The first exhibition of the society was held in the old Market House. The first fair grounds were situated in Springfield township, on what is now known as Luck avenue, and comprised about twenty acres of ground, the same now owned by Howard Stanberry. These grounds, proving too small, were sold, and the present beautiful and commodious tract, situate about a half mile south of the former site, on the old Cooper Mill road, was purchased, and the necessary buildings erected.
The Ohio State Fair was held on these grounds in the fall of 1859.
During the war of the Rebellion, the fairs were discontinued several years, and the fair grounds made a military camp, designated " Camp Goddard," in honor of General Charles B. Goddard. December 23, 1865, the Board of Directors organized and elected the following officers :
President—Valentine Best.
Vice President—W. P. Imlay.
Treasurer—James Buckingham.
Secretary—Frederick A. Seborn.
From this date, the society has held regular annual fairs. In December, 1866, the Board of Directors elected the following officers :
President—Henry Blandy.
Vice President—A. C. Howard.
Treasurer—James Buckingham.
Secretary—F. A. Seborn.
In 1867, these officers were re-elected, excepting the President, to which place Valentine Best was chosen.
In September, 1869, the following officers were elected :
President—V. Best.
Vice President—B. F. Leslie.
Treasurer—Jeff. Van Horne.
Secretary—E. W., Allen.
F. A. Seborn served as Secretary continuously more than ten years, and to him, more than to any other man, is due the prosperity of the society. He originated the present method of book-keeping, which was adopted by the society.
In 1871, the following officers were elected :
President—John M. Lane.
Vice President—James Colvin.
Treasurer—Jeff. Van Horne.
Secretary—A. W. Train.
In 1872, the officers were :
President—John M. Lane.
Vice President—Thomas McLees.
Treasurer—Leroy Robinson.
Secretary—Frank H. Southard.
In 1873, the officers were :
President—John M. Lane.
Vice President—J. B. Tannehill.
Treasurer—George Poundstone.
Secretary—Frank H. Southard.
In 1874, the officers were continued, except that T. F. Spangler was chosen Secretary.
From 1874 to 1881, the officers remained the same, except the Treasurer, Mr. Poundstone, who declined to serve, and Charles Gorsuch was elected in 1876.
At the meeting of the Directors in January, 1881, the President, John M. Lane, whose term extended into 1882, announced his intention of resigning his position in the Board, and his office as President (which he had filled for ten years), giving as his reason for so doing, that age precluded that active interest in the affairs of the society, that he deemed necessary.
The society accepted his resignation, amid expressions of sincere regret.
Mr. Lane was largely instrumental in clearing off the heavy indebtedness of the society ; and during his administration, the fair grounds were very greatly improved, and he left the society in the ownership of most excellent fair
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grounds, embracing about forty-three acres of land, said to be worth from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars.
The officers for 1881, are :
President—James B. Tannehill.
Vice President—Benjamin F. Leslie.
Treasurer—Charles Gorsuch.
Secretary—T. F. Spangler.
The first premium list of the society amounted to four hundred dollars. The list of premiums for 1881, aggregated nearly three thousand dollars. The premiums being increased, the society has prospered.
At the annual election of five members of the Board, September 8th, 1881, during the fair, the Directors whose terms expire in 1881, were re- elected by handsome majorities.
The Directors re-elected were : J. B. Tannehill, T. J. Spangler, H. C. Chappelear, J. B, Milhons.
THE EASTERN MUSKINGUM AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.—This Society was organized the 7th of August, 1889, and elected the following persons as officers :
President—G. H. Miller.
Secretary—M. L. Cherry.
Corresponding Secretary—J. P. Kelly.
Treasurer—L. D. Stoner.
And the following Board of Directors :
President—James Perkins.
Secretary—J. L. Geyer.
Marshals of the Association—W. J. Mason, J. Cline, T. Stewart, Joseph White, Thomas Marshall and Jesse Wortman.
The first fair was given September 29, 1880, on grounds near Norwich, owned by L. D. Stoner, and was well attended. The receipts were near four hundred dollars, and the society had a surplus of eighty-nine dollars in the Treasury, after paying all expenses.
April 23d, 1881, the society formed a stock company, for the ensuing five years, the mem- bership paying ten dollars each, for the pur- poses named. The company organized with sixty-five members, and elected the following officers :
President—G. H. Miller.
Secretary—J. L. Geyer.
Treasurer—L. D. Stoner.
And a Board of Directors as follows : J. White, T. Stewart, D. Hadden, W. P. Self, James Geyer, Jr., R. Buchanan and Alfred Wymer.
This organization leased grounds of L. D. Stoner, and propose erecting permanent build- ings thereon, for the purpose of holding annual fairs.
POMOLOGY AND THE MUSKINGUM COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY [BY JOHN GILBERT] .—A century ago, one looking over the grand old for- ests of Eastern and Central Ohio, would scarcely have thought of fruit as a feature of the landscape. Once this land had been occupied by the semi-nomadic mound builders. They, it might have been supposed, would have ornamented those mounds, we see around us, with some fruit-bearing tree or vine, new to the region. They died and left no such sign. Pomona had planted a few grape and strawberry vines, and where she could find room had cultivated a few papaws, and had been quite generous in the distribution of nuts and blackberries, and the supply was often beyond the demand, since the squirrels and birds, and a few wandering red men, were the only customers.
Old Time yawned lazily under the great trees, scarcely noting the eventful days as they expand- ed into weeks, months, years, and ages, but about a hundred years ago, a sharp, ringing sound, an unknown voice, came echoing through the forest strongholds, which startled him as with an electric touch, and he knew instinctively that a revolution was at hand. The white man had come. He carried a rifle—an insignificant toy— but the deadly weapon, whose voice awakened Old Time, and sent a despairing shiver through the heart of the huge trunk of the lordly oak, was this invader's pitiless axe. The fire, another agency almost as destructive, was engaged as an ally, and blackened patches appeared in the woodland, in which sprang up rude cabins, shade- less and grim as the stumps about them. These clearings, ever widening as they steadily en- croached upon the forest domain, grew gradually softer in their features. They bore corn and veg- etables, and supported life of man and beast ; but it was a homely and prosaic life. Fruit—Po- mona's generous gift, the poetry of food—was lacking.
An eccentric philanthropist, a Santa Claus in buckskins—they called him "Johnny Appleseed" —following the forest trails, sought out the little homesteads in Muskingum and adjoining coun- ties. The pioneer, dimly guessing at the value of the precious seeds he gave them, planted them in the rich virgin soil, and ere long the prospective Edens had something to tempt the youthful Eves and Adams of those primitive days,
These forest openings expanded and began to touch each other. Isolated life was passing away. People reached out and grasped the hands of neighbors, and there were common interests ; the social instinct asserted itself. They coveted fruit and flowers. The horticulturist is by act, and should be by intuition, a philanthropist, as well as a utilitarian, with thought of pleasing his friends, as well as himself; even if he begin with a selfish end in view, his occupation and experi- ence will develop generosity, if there is a spark of manliness in his nature. These nobler in- stincts led to consultations and plans, and mutual assistance for the introduction of more and bet- ter fruit, and, naturally enough, the acquisition of the apple orchard was the first thought. There was abundant room for large ones, for the old allies, the axe and the fire, had never ceased from their warfare. The grand old forests dwindled into isolated groves, and seemed not only likely to be annihilated, but considered as a myth of legendary days. Population began to crowd against itself, even in rural life. Individual enterprises,
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with better facilities than of old, were introducing new varieties of fruit. The delicate peach accepted their invitation, with modest timidity, and, for her charming grace, was crowned queen of summer fruits. Some aristocratic strawberry families, after traveling abroad and graduating in eastern pomological universities, came back, to put to shame by their magnificence, the simple charms of their rustic cousins at home. The accomplished French pears came over the seas and banished, by their courtly presence, the boorish roughs of the backwoods varieties. The grape fraternity, by immigration and mutual improvement association, became refined in horticultural morals. The great apple family, with a record coeval with the advent of humanity, reformed their habits, and have ceased to tempt mankind to their ruin.
Pomona was amazed at the diversity of feature and disposition of her numerous children, and in ecstacies over their varied accomplishments. She found homes in Muskingum county for every variety of fruit that can be grown in the temperate zone. Some are nestling on sunny hillsides, and in the warm valleys ; many more prefer the free air of the hill-tops, while some indolent spring-sleepers choose northern exposures for a home. The diversified scenery affords a choice for all.
Agriculture has, indeed, its poetic side. The fruit raiser is an actor in a perpetual romance. From the time of the exuberant blossoming of trees and vines, to the development and consummation of fruitage, he dwells in an elysium of beauty, fragrance, and luxury.. It is not strange, therefore, that horticulture became fascinating— drawing to itself the best and most generous of the agriculturists. Although its practical working became complicated, as the vast array of fruit varieties demanded recognition, and admission into the best circles of pomological society. Caution became necessary, to guard against the admission of vagabond adventurers, as well as to encourage respectable fruit families to settle. Thoughtful people saw the advantage of mutual help in welcoming friends and keeping out intruders. Such aid, to be permanently useful, needs organization ; hence, it was determined to form a "horticultural society." We will look in upon one of their meetings on a summer day. The host greets us with cordial welcome ; the scene is festive. Beneath the great shade trees, on chairs, benches, and rustic seats, we meet the reverend sire, the stately matron, the middle-aged manliness, and youth in vigor, graceful maidenhood, and happy childhood. In the centre of this joyous throng is Pomona's shrine. The tables groan with offerings. The finest of all the fruits are there, and, as if conscious objects of admiration; they look their best, in honor of their respective donors, and in emulation of each other. The president is affable, everybody is genial, and we are with friends, All questions relating to fruit raising, the best varieties, the adaptability of soil anti climate, the dangers from insects, frost and drouth, are, from time to time, thoroughly discussed. One may learn much of the art of husbandry, as well as fruit. Meanwhile there are croquet parties, and young people find pleasant walks in shady groves, in orchards and gardens —we need not think they waste time—good husbandry may come of that, too ! In due time the great picnic feast is spread ; offerings of fruit are made, and there is no lack of tempting viands. The envious sun now seems in haste to leave us, and, unless we wish to linger with those who will prolong the festivities into the night, the time to part has come.
Among those who have given attention to fruit growing in "ye olden time" were John McIntire, John Mathews, Isaac Van Horne, John Townsend, William Culbertson, Isaac Dillon, Charles Gilbert, Seth Adams, and Rev. C. Springer. Of the present day, Thomas McLees, C. Hall, Levi Scott, N. F. Claypool, James Heenan, Martin Hoosan, John Granger, and Henry Gray.
The Muskingum County Horticultural Society was organized about seventeen years ago, by Messrs. Imlay, Graham, G. W. Townsend, J. Jacobs Moore, Dr. Hildreth and others. Mr. Imlay was the first President ; G. W. Townsend, the first Secretary.