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234 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY CHAPTER XIII AGRICULTURE History of the Shelby County Agricultural Society On the 12th of April, 1839, the legislature of the state passed "An Act to Authorize and Encourage Agricultural Societies in the Several counties in the State and Regulate the Same." Under this a call was made by William Murphy, Esq. (then auditor of the county), for a meeting of the county to be held in the court house, on the 21st of August, 1839, to form an agricultural society. The meeting was organized by calling Stephen Wilkin to the chair, and appointing J. S. Updegraff secretary. At this meeting seventy-one names were recorded as members of the society. The organization was perfected by the election of the following officers : president, H. Thompson ; vice president, Luke Fish ; corresponding secretary, William Fielding; recording secretary, W. A. Carey ; treasurer, John Shaw. A committee, consisting of George D. Leckey, William Fielding, and J. S. Updegraff, was appointed to draft a constitution. An adjournment was then had until the second Monday in September, at which time a constitution was reported and adopted, and 150 copies ordered printed. The first annual meeting of the society was held on the 27th day of June, 1840, when the following officers were elected : president, Stephen Wilkin ; vice president, James McLean ; treasurer, Samuel Mathers ; corresponding secretary, H. S. Conklin ; recording secretary, H. Thompson. John Shaw, late treasurer, made his report. Balance in the treasury $27.81 1/4. A committee was appointed to wait on the county commissioners and solicit a donation from them in aid of the society in-accordance with law. On the 8th of October, 1840, the board met at the office of Dr. H. S. Conklin, and fixed the time for holding the first county fair on the 17th of October, and at the same time prepared a premium list amounting to $45.00. Among the premiums awarded at this fair was one of $5 to George D. Leckey for the best acre of corn, 99 3-7 bushels ; one to Stephen Wilkin of $2 for the best IA. bushel of potatoes, 146 bushels ; and one to J. H. Kirkindall, $5, for the best stallion; Tuckahoe. At this fair there were twenty-six premiums awarded. The record shows that the fair was considered a success, and augured well for the future success of the society, and that Shelby county was destined to take a prominent rank among the grain-growing and stock- - 234 - AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 235 raising counties of our flourishing Miami valley. The place of exhibition was in the court square. The second annual meeting was held at the court house on the 12th of June, 1841, when the following officers were elected : president, Benjamin Fulton; vice president, David Reynolds; treasurer, H. Thompson; recording secretary, William Murphy; and corresponding secretary, J. S. Updegraff. The second annual fair was held at Sidney September 28th and 29th. The list of premiums at this fair amounted to $52.00. The prediction made by the secretary at the first fair was not realized, for we find that there were but two fairs held under that organization; and that on the 9th day of August, 1845, a meeting was held at the court house for the purpose of reviving the society (a period of four years having elapsed since a fair was held). But we cannot learn that an organization was completed until April, 1851, when a constitution was reported and adopted, and an election for officers was held under it, as follows : president, Irwin Nutt; vice president, H. Walker; secretary, J. P. Haggott ; treasurer, T. Stephenson. The fair for this year was held October 15, 1851, in the market place on Poplar street. March 26, 1852, the annual meeting Was held, and the following officers were elected : president, Irwin Nutt ; vice president, Curtis Kelsey; secretary, J. P. Haggott; treasurer, Thomas Stephenson. At a meeting of the board held in August, it was resolved to have but one day of fair, as there was a show advertised for one of the days of the fair. This fair was held on the 28th of September. The exhibition of stock was very good. Twenty-three premiums were awarded on horses, fourteen on neat cattle, with a fair display of sheep, hogs, farm products, and miscellaneous articles. At a meeting on the 6th of December, 1852, the treasurer made his report : Receipts $186, $67 of which had been received from the county; $73.59 paid for premiums ; balance in treasury, $112.41. An election for officers was held : president, W. J. Thirkfield; vice president, Sam. Stephenson; secretary, S. Alexander Leckey; treasurer, T. Stephenson. The third annual fair was held on the 5th and 6th days of October, 1853, on the grounds west of Sidney (known as the Jordan property), then owned by Dr. H. S. Conklin. There were 181 premiums awarded at this exhibition, consisting of silver cups, money and diplomas. A greater display and variety of domestic and miscellaneous articles were on exhibition than at any previous fair held in the county. The display of poultry was the largest that had been seen in the county. A premium was awarded to Dr. Conklin for a fine specimen of rat terrier dog. December 6, 1853, the following were elected officers : president, Col. J. W. Carey; vice president, Hugh McElroy; secretary, S. Alexander Leckey; treasurer, W. J. Thirkield. April 22, 1854, the board met. The constitution was amended fixing the second dlay of the fair for the election of officers. The fourth annual fair was held October 12th and 13th, on the grounds 236 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY of B. W. Maxwell, east of the river. A fine display of thoroughbred cattle was exhibited by Dr. Thirkield, Spense, J. W. Carey, and others. An election of officers was held during this fair, which resulted as follows : president, A. F. Munger; vice president, H. Walker; secretary, W. P. Stowell; treasurer, W. J. Thirkield. The fifth annual fair was held on the grounds of I. T. Fulton, on the 4th and 5th days of October, 1855. There does not seem to have been the same interest taken at this time that there had previously been, for we find that this was the last fair held for several years, or until 1860, when the present independent society was organized, under the name of the Shelby County Agricultural Institute. The matter of securing a place to hold the fairs became burdensome and it was difficult to find grounds for the exhibition of Stock and for domestic, mechanical and miscellaneous articles. The grounds now owned by the Institute were purchased from W. P. Reed and J. L. Thirkield, as administrators of the estate of W. J. Thirkield, deceased, and contain twenty acres. Deeds were made on the 12th day of November, 186o, to John H. Mathers, S. Alexander Leckey, James A. Wells, I. F. Fulton, and J. C. Coe, as trustees for the Institute. For the payment of the purchase-money and the improvement of the ground there were 229 shares of stock subscribed, at $10 a share, by 222 persons, on which had been paid $2299.15, leaving a balance on stock subscribed and unpaid $290.85. From the above it will be seen that the grounds are not the property of the county, but belong to individuals who have invested their money for the purpose of furnishing a place for the accommodation of the agricultural and mechanical industries of the county to exhibit their productions, and from which the stockholders have never received one cent in the shape of dividends or interest on the investment—the annual receipts from fairs having been expended in the improvement and beautifying of the grounds, and much more is required at this time to make further improvements that must be made. At the first election in 186o for officers of the Institute the following were elected : president, James A. Wells; vice president, E. Lytle ; secretary, S. Alexander Leckey ; treasurer, John Duncan. The first annual fair was held on the 4th, 5th, and 6th days of October. At the second election in 1861 the same officers were re-elected, and the second annual fair was held on the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th days of October. At the election in 1862 the same officers were re-elected, and the third annual fair was held on September 3oth, October 1st, 2d, and 3d. At the election in 1863 the same officers were re-elected, with James I. Elliott as secretary. The fourth annual fair was held in October, 1863. At the election in 1864 the following officers were elected : president, E. Lytle; vice president, H. M. Reed ; treasurer, John Duncan ; secretary, A. B. C. Hitchcock. The fifth annual fair was held on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of September. On the 16th of January, 1864, I. A. Lamb was elected trustee to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of I. T. Fulton. January 21, 1865, at the annual election the same officers were continued, and the annual fair held in October. J. C. Coe tendered his resignation as trustee, and Edmund Lytle was elected to AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 237 supply the vacancy. The annual fair was held in October. January 20, 1866, the following were elected officers : president, William Shinn; vice president, James A. Wells; treasurer, John Duncan; secretary, A. B. C. Hitchcock. The annual fair was held in October, 1867. The same officers were elected. At the annual meeting in 1868 the following were elected : president, John Duncan; vice president, W. A. Carey; secretary, J. S. Read; treasurer, O. J. Taylor. At the annual meeting in 1869 the following were elected : president, J. A: Wells; vice president, J. R. Kendall, with secretary and treasurer as before. The tenth annual fair was held in October. At the election in 187o the following were elected : president, J. R. Kendall; vice president, Morris Honnell; secretary and treasurer same as before. The eleventh fair was held in October. In 1871 the following were elected : president, J. R. Kendall; vice president, Morris Honnell; treasurer, L. E. Mathers; secretary, H. B. Blake. The twelfth annual fair was held in October. In 1872 the following were elected : president, R. Joslin ; vice president, D. M. Line; treasurer, L. E. Mathers; secretary, J. S. Read. The thirteenth annual fair was held in October. In 1873 the following were elected : president, R. Joslin; vice president, S. Alexander Leckey; treasurer, C. C. Weaver; secretary, J. S. Read. In 1874 the officers were : president, S. A. Leckey; vice president, M. Honnell; treasurer, O. O. Mathers; secretary, J. S. Read. The fifteenth annual fair was held September 22, 23, 24, and 25, 1874. At the election held January, 1875, the following officers were elected : president, Francis Bailey; vice president, Morris Honnell; treasurer, O. O. Mathers ; secretary, J. S. Read. The sixteenth annual fair was held September 21, 22, 23, and 24, 1875. Officers elected January 15, 1876: president, Francis Bailey; vice president, M. Honnell; treasurer, John Duncan; secretary, J. S. Read. The seventeenth annual fair was held September To, 20, 21, and 22, 1876. Officers elected January 20, 1877: president, S. Alex. Leckey; vice president, Ed. E. Nutt; treasurer, C. C. Weaver ; secretary, J. S. Read. The eighteenth annual fair was held September 25, 26, 27, and 28, 1877. The total amount of receipts for the eighteenth annual fair from all sources was $2081.28. Total disbursements were $2084.94, leaving a deficit of $3.66. The election for officers for the year 1878 resulted as follows : president, S. Alex. Leckey; vice president, Ed. E. Nutt; treasurer, C. C. Weaver; secretary, J. S. Read. The nineteenth annual fair was held October 1, 2, 3, and 4, 1878. The total number of entries made in the different classes was 132o, an advance of more than fifty per cent over that of the year before, showing that the Institute was at this time in a flourishing condition. The result of the election held January 18, 1879, was the re-election of all the officers of the preceding year. The time of the twentieth annual fair was September 30th and October 1st, 2d, and 3d. The total number of entries made at the twentieth annual fair was 1,618. Total receipts from all sources $2,590.08. This included $106.63 in treasury from the last year. Total disbursements, $2,160.30, leav- 238 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY ing a balance of $419.76 in treasury. At the election held January 17, 1880, the same officers were elected as those of the preceding year. The time of the twenty-first fair was the last three days of September and the first of October, 1880. This year, 1880, the Institute purchased six and a half acres of ground in addition to their former grounds, for which they paid the sum of $1,300. The number of acres in the grounds at this date was twenty-six and a half. Cash value of the grounds and improvements was $8,000. September 6, 1880, S. Alex. Leckey, the president of the Institute, died. By his death the society lost one of its most efficient members. Appropriate resolutions were passed in honor of his memory, and the same were recorded in the secretary's book. At a meeting held January 15, 1881, the following officers were elected: president, Morris Honnell; vice president, Daniel Staley ; treasurer, O. J. Taylor; secretary, H. Guthrie. The time of holding the twenty-second fair was September 27th, 28th, 29th, and 3oth. During the year 1881 the Institute purchased one and a half acres of land adjacent to their grounds, for which they paid the sum of $325. The receipts for the fair held in September, 1881, were as follows: received from sale of tickets, $2,190; entrance fees, $209; received from state, $120.68; balance from last year, $180.77; from all other sources, $593.40; making a grand total of $3,293.85. Total disbursements, $2,433.22. Balance in treasury, $860.63. At the election for officers for the year 1882 the same persons were re-elected of the year previous. The twenty-third annual fair was held September 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th. This was one of the most successful fairs ever held in the county, although the weather was very unfavorable, raining every day. The entries in all departments (excepting that of fruit) were better than those of any previous year. The general attendance was better, and it is safe to say that if the weather had been favorable the receipts of the fair would have exceeded those of the year previous by from $500 to $1,000. The total receipts for-this fair were $3,061.71. Balance on hand from previous year, $860.63. Total, $3,922.34. Disbursements for the year, $3,545.03. At the annual meeting of the society held January, 1882, a resolution was offered to prohibit the sale of ale, beer, and wine on the fair grounds. This resolution met with some opposition, but was adopted by the board. The year previous they had received for the permit of the eating-house and the sale of beer, ale, and wine the sum of $135. This year they could get no offer for the privilege of an eating-house. It accordingly was given to the ladies of the First Presbyterian church of Sidney free of charge, who made a success of it and gave universal satisfaction. A noticeable feature at this fair was the quietness and good behavior of the large crowd of people in attendance. No drunkenness or disorderly conduct was seen. This proved, not only to the board of directors but to all who were there, that beer, ale, and wine are not essential to the success of a fair in Shelby county. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 239 The election for officers held January, 1883, resulted as follows : president, Daniel Staley; vice president, Isaac Betts; secretary, Harvey Guthrie ; treasurer, O. J. Taylor. The time for holding the fair was September 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th. At the stockholders' annual meeting held January 19, 1884, Isaac Betts was elected president, H. C. Wilson vice president, O. J. Taylor treasurer, and Harvey Guthrie secretary. September 23d to 27th inclusive was fixed for holding the twenty-fifth exhibition. January 17, 1885, the same officers were re-elected and the time for holding the fair fixed for September 22d, 23d, 24th, and 25th. G. C. Anderson was elected February 7th, to fill out the term of H. Guthrie, secretary. At the annual stockholders' meeting held January 16, 1886, the board of officers was continued as amended and the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th days of September fixed for holding the twenty-seventh annual fair. During this year the first Farmers' Institute was held in Monumental hall under the auspices of the Shelby County Agricultural Society and the Ohio State Board of Agriculture. The institute convened February io, 1886, for a two days' session and was addressed by the Hon. J. H. Brigham, of Delta, W. H. Scott, president of Ohio State University, and John Gould, dairy editor of the Ohio Farmer. W. J. Chamberlain delivered his lecture on "The Boy in Town and Country." Local speakers and singers varied the programme of a most profitable and interesting session. Officers elected for 1887 were E. Blanchard, president ; J. T. Kelsey, vice president ; G. C. Anderson, secretary; O. J. Taylor, treasurer. The fair for 1887 was fixed for September 27th, 28th, 29th, and 3oth. At the annual meeting of stockholders January 21, 1888, the election of officers resulted in E. Blanchard for president; J. T. Kelsey, vice president; G. C. Anderson, secretary; Isaac Betts, treasurer. The time for holding the fair September 25th and 28th inclusive. The second Farmers' Institute was held in Monumental hall February 3, and 4, 1888, and was addressed by Secretary Bonham of the State Board of Agriculture, who delivered lectures on improvement of live stock. James McGregor spoke on various topics and gave a most interesting lecture on Modern Civilization. Local speakers throughout the county talked on various phases of farm life and the session was a most profitable one. The fair association's officers for 1889 were H. Guthrie, president; W. W. Huffman, vice president ; G. C. Anderson, secretary ; Isaac Betts, treasurer. At the annual meeting January 26, 1889, it was decided to limit the payment of premiums to Shelby county but not to prevent exhibits from other counties or states. The fair exhibit was fixed for September 24th to 27th, inclusive. At the annual meeting January 18, 189o, the following officers were elected : H. Guthrie, president ; W. W. Huffman, vice president ; G. C. Anderson, secretary; J. S. Laughlin, treasurer. 240 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY The thirty-first fair was appointed for September 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th. H. Guthrie, president ; W. W. Ginn, vice president ; G. C. Anderson, secretary and J. S. Laughlin, treasurer, constituted the board of officers for 1891 and the annual fair appointed to be held the 22d, 23d, 24th and 25th of September. At the annual meeting January 16, 1892, H. Guthrie was elected president; W. W. Ginn, vice president ; John Duncan, treasurer and A. L. Marshall, secretary, September 20, 21, 22, 23 were selected for the fair exhibit. H. Guthrie, Isaac Betts, John Duncan, Al. Marshall, president, vice- president, treasurer and secretary, respectively, made up the fair board for 1893 and the annual fair appointed for September 19 to 22 inclusive. In 1894 the same board of officers served for the year and the fair held September 18, 19, 20 and 21. At the election of officers January 19, 1895, H. Guthrie, W. A. Graham, 0. J. Taylor and G. C. Anderson were elected president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary, respectively, and the fair dated for September 17 to 20 inclusive. It being necessary to enlarge the grounds a meeting of the stockholders was held January 19, 1895, for the purpose of passing on the decision that the Shelby County Agricultural Society was a corporation. This was decided, a loan negotiated with the People's Savings and Loan for $8,000 and land bought of W. P. Reed, James Hennessey and wife, Frank Brown and Antony Braudewie at a meeting of the stockholders June I, 1895. The Braudewie purchase involved twelve acres on the west and was used to make a race track and locate a grand stand capable of holding two thousand persons. At this meting it was .decided that the family tickets costing $1.00 each include the heads of families and all females under eighteen. Vehicle tickets for 25 cents which included vehicles with one or two horses and a price of 15 cents fixed for the grand stand. The fair was dated for September 8 to I I inclusive. At the annual stockholders meeting January 18, 1896, Isaac Betts, S. M. Wagoner, J. E. Russell and A. L. Marshall were elected president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, respectively, and the fair date fixed for September. The fair board elected January 16, 1897, was H. Guthrie, president ; E. W. Stowell, vice-president; J. E. Russell, secretary and 0. J. Taylor, treasurer and the fair dated for September 21, 22, 23 and 24. The total receipts of the fair of 1897 were $2,450.52 and the disbursements $2,427.78. The fair officers elected January 22, 1898, were E. W. Stowell, president ; H. C. Roberts, vice-president ; J. E. Russell, secretary ; W. E. Lierman, treasurer. The time for holding the thirty-ninth fair was fixed for September 20, 21, 22 and 23 inclusive. At a meeting of the directors, February 8, 1898, an assessment of $5.00 was placed on each stockholder in order to pay the premiums due from the institute for the year 1897. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 241 There was no fair held in 1899 and for the three following years J. E. Russell, receiver, conducted the exhibitions under the order of the court. The first fair was held on the present grounds the 4th, 5th and 6th days of October, 1860. At that time and until November, 1902, the property belonged to individuals, who had invested their money for the purpose of furnishing a place for the accommodation of the agricultural and mechanical industries of the county to exhibit their productions, and for which the stockholders never received one cent, the receipts received from the annual fairs having been expended for improvement and beautifying the grounds. At the November election, 1902, the electors of the county decided by ballot to authorize the county commissioners to take over the grounds by authority of an act of the legislature passed April 29, 1902, entitled "An Act, To Authorize the Board of County Commissioners of Shelby county, Ohio, to purchase and improve lands upon which to hold county fairs, and to issue bonds of said county and levy taxes to pay for the same." The act provided that there should be elected from each township two persons to a board, styled, The Board of Managers of the Shelby County Agricultural Society and under this new management the receipts of the county fair are continually growing. At a meeting of the board of managers, January to, 1903, J. C. Royou, Elisha Yost, J. E. Russell, John Duncan were elected president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer respectively and it was decided to hold the forty- second fair on September from the 8th to the 11th inclusive. January 31, 1903, the board adopted new rules and regulations and fixed the bonds of the secretary and treasurer at $3,000 and $5,000. January 8, 1904, the board of managers convened and the secretary's books showed that the receipts were $6,878.13 and the orders issued by the treasurer $6,752.72, showing a balance of $123.40 for the fair of 1903. The same officers were re-elected for 1904 and the forty-third fair fixed for four days in September beginning with the 6th. At a meeting of the board of managers January 14, 1905, the secretary's books showed the receipts to be $8,120.11 and the treasurer's hooks the disbursements to have been $7,824.39 for the fair of 1904, furnishing a balance of $295.72. D. J. Cargill, E. Yost, J. E. Russell, John Duncan were elected president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, respectively and the forty-fifth fair fixed for the four days beginning September 12, 1905. January 13, 1906, at the annual meeting, D. J. Cargill, Wilson Dill, J. E. Russell and John Duncan were elected president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer and the forty-sixth fair dated for September II to 14, inclusive. At the annual meeting January 12, 1907, William T. Johnston, Wilson Dill, Thomas Quinlin, J. E. Russell were elected president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary and the forty-seventh was fixed for the fair days beginning September 1o, 1907. At the annual meeting held January 11, 1908, the secretary's books 242 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY showed the receipts of the fair of 1907 to be $7,149.40 and the treasurer'S orders to have been $7,397.66 furnishing an overdraft of $248.26. Martin Quinlick, president ; C. D. McCullough, vice-president; J. E. Russell, secretary ; Thomas Quinlin, treasurer were elected for the year and the fair fixed for September 15 to 18 inclusive. At the annual meeting held January 9, 1909, the secretary's receipts were $10,900.96 and the treasurer's disbursements $12,220.06 showing an overdraft of $1,319.10. The same board of officers was chosen for the year, and the fair appointed for the four days beginning September 14. At the annual meeting held January 8, 1910, the reports showed the receipts for the fair of 1909 to be $8,158.80 and the disbursements $7,545.83. The board of officers of 1909 was re-elected and the fair fixed for September 13, 14, 15 and 16, 1910. This was the fiftieth Shelby county fair and was to be made the golden anniversary, a home-coming celebration. August 6, 1910, Oscar McMillen was elected superintendent of the grounds. January 14, 1911, at the annual meeting, George Hagleberger, Earl B. Fristoe, James E. Burrons and J. E. Russell were chosen president, vice- president, treasurer and secretary for the year and the fifty-first fair appointed for September 12, 13, 14, 15. William Darst was elected superintendent of the grounds. At the annual meeting held January 13, 1912, the same board of officers was re-elected and the date for holding the fifty-second annual fair fixed for September 10, 11, 12, 13, 1912. The receipts for the Shelby county fair of 1912 were by far the largest of any fair ever held in the county. The receiptS were $11,444.05 ; disbursements, $9,584.86. The affairs of the Agricultural Society are in a most flourishing condition, enabling the officials to make extensive improvements at the grounds. The present fair ground is in striking contrast to days long gone. It is now one of the most beautiful in the state or country. The original ground, in a state of nature, was a magnificent forest of lofty oaks which have been carefully preserved with maples set out in vacant Spots which are now large and afford ample shade. The water works of Sidney have been extended by pipes so that an abundant supply of pure water from the artesian wells which furnish the city is convenient for stock as well as the people. The grounds have been increased from twenty acres to forty-three acres. The only director of the fair when the grounds were bought is Morris Honnell, now eighty-eight years old, who lives at his ease in retirement near the fair grounds in his delightful home, with his daughter 011ie. Secretary J. E. Russell has been in that office for seventeen years and to his efficient work is due the present prosperous condition. Most of the buildings are comparatively new with a fountain playing in the art and floral hall. The appointments are up-to-date and it is the design of the managers to keep abreast of the times. |