|
12 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY CHAPTER II INDUSTRIES BASED ON THE SOIL THE CULTURE OF WHEAT-ROTATION OF CROPS-THE GRASS CROP- CORN, A HARDY GRAIN-GOOD POTATO COUNTRY-SORGHUM AND TOBACCO, FAILURES-BEST AGRICULTURAL SECTIONS-FORAGE AND LIVE STOCK AREAS-BEST FRUIT DISTRICTS-AS AN APPLE COUNTRY- PEACHES AND PEARS-SMALLER FRUITS AND BERRIES-THE RAISING OF LIVE STOCK-WAR AGAINST WOLVES AND SHEEP-KILLING DOGS -INTRODUCTION OF MERINO SHEEP-TRIALS OF EARLY CATTLE RAISING-IMPORTATION OF BLOODED STOCK-HORSES, FARM AND FANCY- WILD AND CULTIVATED HOGS-POULTRY-THE STARK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-FIRST EXCLUSIVE GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS-THE NEW GROUNDS AND IMPROVEMENTS-THE EXHIBITS AS AN INDEX OF RURAL LIFE. From the time the Moravian missionaries planted themselves in what is now Bethlehem Township, in 1761-62, until the county was erected in 1808, the settlers from Pennsylvania formed a decided majority of the pioneers who came to Northeastern Ohio south of what eventually became the Western Reserve. Further, most of them migrated from the wheat districts of Western Pennsylvania, and naturally brought with them a strong preference for the raising of that grain. That was the prime reason for the early superiority of Stark as a wheat-growing county—a standard still maintained in the eastern-middle states, although the far West has long since forged ahead as a whole. THE CULTURE OF WHEAT In the early culture of wheat many discouragements were met. The weevil and rust destroyed the grain year after year, and when it escaped these the frost often cut down the harvest. But perseverance and the adoption of precautions and methods advocated by the Government, agricultural literature, granges and other farmers.' societies, gained the upper hand of these natural drawbacks and made wheat a fairly dependable crop, although to this day corn is considered to have the advantage in HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 13 that regard. Among the best known varieties of wheat cultivated in the early days were the Mediterranean and Todd. For many years the latter was the favorite, as it seemed to possess strong resisting qualities to both insects and frost. Its husk was thick, and at first the grain was long and dark, hardly superior to rye ; but the effect of new soil and climate greatly improved its qualities, and it soon grew a plump, fair grain, strong in straw and a good bread maker. The Todd wheat, however, proved on the whole superior, as it had long been acclimated to the American belt embracing the Ohio region, and rapidly improved both in hardiness and nutritious qualities. For some years Stark led MODERN THRESHING SCENE the counties of the state in the yield of wheat, but lost that ascendency through the ravages of insects and frost for a number of successive years and was never able to recover it. It is of interest to note the words of the Ohio Gazetteer, a standard publication of 1839, as to the agricultural status of the county at that early period : "It is among the best wheat growing counties in the state, and vast quantities are annually produced and manufactured into flour for the New York and other markets. Horses and cattle, to a considerable amount, are also sent to the seaports." ROTATION OF CROPS As to the best methods of wheat culture, experiments have demonstrated that the crop should not be raised oftener than once in three 14 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY years from the same field ; that it is well to follow barley or oats with wheat or rye, but bad to have wheat or corn follow each other ; that clover, or some other legume, should be sown periodically to restore phosphorus to the soil, thus ensuring it vitality and adequate nourishment. THE GRASS CROP The grass crop of itself has always been a great source of wealth to Stark County. A kind of spear-grass and white clover are indigenous to the soil, soon spreading over any cleared and uncultivated land, making a fair pasturage, but proving too short for a good hay crop. Timothy grass, with clover, is mainly relied upon for the supply of hay, the meadows being turned over about once in five years. Orchard and blue grass have also been introduced, but clover is still the chief grass crop under cultivation. It thrives best on the uplands, but it does reasonably with plaster, on all grounds. Clover is generally mown the first and second years for hay, and the third year, when full grown, is plowed under for wheat or corn the next spring. It is usually sown with timothy for meadow, the latter being sown in the fall and the clover, with the growing wheat, in the spring. The yield varies from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 tons per acre. CORN, A HARDY GRAIN While too far north to be an ideal corn country, Stark County raises quite a little of that grain—especially since the coming in of silos and the utilization of all portions of the plant for fodder. It is well said that corn "may be slighted in its cultivation with greater impunity than any other crop." The soft varieties of seed are generally preferred and are usually planted on sod ground. The old rule of "going through" the field a certain number of times before "laying-by" the crop has long since been abandoned by the better class of farmers. The last plowing, after the corn has reached the height of five or six feet, is considered the most effective, but either heavy rains or intense hot weather often interfere with that final attention. GOOD POTATO COUNTRY Potatoes are raised readily and profitably in Stark County. The soil is well adapted to them, the average yield is good and the root is not often affected by disease or insects. The Early Rose and the Peach Blow have becn cultivated, with other later varieties, for many years. HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 15 SORGHUM AND TOBACCO, FAILURES For many years an attempt was made to establish the cultivation of sorghum in Stark County, but it proved a failure for various reasons. It was introduced about 1857 and planted in small quantities by many farmers, who appeared to soon lose interest in the experiment and a large proportion of them never took the trouble to harvest their crops. Two or three mills were built or bought, but little molasses was manufactured. The second crop was worse than the first, and the whole movement was a fiasco. The same judgment applies to the attempt to successfully and profitably cultivate tobacco ; both crops had to be forced in an inhospitable climate and were doomed to failure. Oats follows corn in the usual rotation of farm crops and generally the yield per acre is large. Rye and barley, although not distinctly foreign to the county, are not farmed extensively. BEST AGRICULTURAL SECTIONS As to the best agricultural areas in Stark County, it may be said the northern tier of townships are the leaders—Plain, Lake and Jackson— and in the plains country near Navarre and Richville, in the western sections. The wheat, which is largely harvested in these portions of the county, is gathered into the elevators of such grain centers as Canton, Louisville, Greentown and New Berlin. The neighborhoods of Hartville and Middlebranch in the northern part of Stark County are noted for their production of potatoes and celery ; in fact, they are prolific vegetable districts. FORAGE AND LIVE STOCK AREAS The clay soil in and around Louisville not only stamps that section as an industrial producer of building material, but a natural producer of hay. Much of the eastern and northeastern portions of the county, especially Marlboro Township, are devoted to grazing and dairy purposes. Within the past few years Stark County farmers have experimented with alfalfa and have been fairly successful. BEST FRUIT DISTRICTS In the southern and southeastern portions of the county, where the land is broken by hills, are found the best fruit farms, the peach production being especially large. Ohio apples also maintain their old-time reputation there, although such counties of Southern Ohio as Lawrence, Scioto and Ross are more favored in soil, climate and contour of country. 16 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY As AN APPLE COUNTY As early as 1806 apple orchards were set out, several of them springing from the historic activity of Johnny Appleseed. In the year named Rev. Mr. Gans, of Lexington, and Valentine Weaver, of Plain Township, planted apple orchards, and two years later James Gaff, Simon Essig and Frederick Stump commenced to raise the fruit near Canton. Care was exercised in the selection of varieties and in the cultivation of the trees, with the result that some of the early varieties still hold the market. Among these may be mentioned the Pippin and the Bell Flower, while the spicy, juicy Spitzenberg seems to have disappeared —more's the pity ! Among the early varieties the Blair, though a small apple, was a prime favorite, and was readily sold at $1 a barrel! The Roamite was especially marked as an excellent keeper and was also in good demand. During the pioneer years apples were a luxury and found a. ready sale when brought into the new settlements from the older communities. They were imported from Steubenville as early as 1809 and were on the regular bill-of-fare on such special occasions as the training days of the militia. On these occasions the wagon loads of apples were hailed with as much enthusiasm as the loads of watermelons at the later-day fairs, and were quickly sold at a shilling a dozen. Among the modern varieties in which Stark County particularly excels may be mentioned the Baldwin, the Red Canada and the King. The last named, long known as King of Tompkins County (New York), held favor for many years and is still greatly relished as an eating apple. It has a fine flavor, but, if anything, is too large to keep well. Smaller and more compact varieties are also better for drying, preserving or cider making. For many years Germany was one of the best markets for the dried apples of Stark County and Northeastern Ohio. PEACHES AND PEARS Peaches commenced to be grown in the county as early as 1809, and from the first Sandy and Pike townships have produced the largest and most luscious fruit. The early and late Crawfords are still in vogue. Pears were found in Stark County at an early date, the first being cultivated on the Oberlin place, the Fulton Road, in the northwestern portion of the county. In the early '80s, when that fruit was at the height of its cultivation, the county took third place in the state. The Barlett, Flemish Beauty, White Doyen and Siecle have always led. HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 17 SMALLER FRUITS AND BERRIES As to the smaller fruits and berries, cherries are readily cultivated in Stark County, English Morellos having been most generally raised. It is a natural plum country, and until 1845 this was considered the surest fruit produced by Ohio soil ; but about that year the cumuli̊ came and destroyed all the confidence which had been strengthening before its invasion. Persistent efforts by Government and individual have since almost eradicated the pest, but the plum has never regained its old-time favor. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and grapes all flourish, however, and find a ready market, adding to the enjoyment and health of residents, as well as to the general prosperity of the county. THE RAISING OF LIVE STOCK Although live stock has always done well in Stark County, it has never formed a large proportion of her wealth, for the reason that most of the land was so productive that large tracts of it could not be used for pasturing and breeding cattle, horses, sheep and swine. The raising of live stock has always been supplementary to agriculture and the industries, and in early times was generally undertaken for domestic purposes to eke out the family support or income. WAR AGAINST WOLVES AND SHEEP-KILLING DOGS In the plans of the pioneers of Stark County sheep formed a conspicuous element, as the production of wool for the various articles of clothing seemed indispensable. But the number and the boldness of the wolves made sheep-raising a burden upon the frontier farmer, taxed as he was with the labors and expenses of a "clearing," that he could ill afford. Many soon dropped the experiment, while others doggedly persevered. After the wolf had been exterminated through liberal scalp bounties the dogs assumed the havoc formerly caused by the wolves, and the fight against the sheep killers continued. It is said that a sheep-killing dog would sometimes get at a flock of sheep and in a single night slaughter, or maim to the death fully two score. So the sheep-killing dog had to go, hut although the county has never been entirely without sheep since they were first introduced in the early part of the nineteenth century, at times the number has been very small. INTRODUCTION OF MERINO SHEEP At one time, before the development of the vast sheep ranches west of the Mississippi River, Ohio as a state was noted for the fine wools Vol. 1-2 18 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY produced by its flocks. The introduction of the famous merinos into Stark County is thus told by a writer some thirty-five years ago: "It is difficult to determine the characteristics of the early sheep. In 1816, Wells and Dickinson, large woolen manufacturers at Steubenville, Ohio, had large flocks of Spanish merino sheep, derived from the Humphrey importations. These were pastured at the time on the Stark county plains, and were the talk of the stock admirers of the state. In 1824 the failure of this firm caused these sheep to be scattered in small parcels all over the state, and they fell into the hands of many who cared more to improve the common stock than to breed full-blooded animals. These FLOCK OF HARDY SHEEP sheep were characterized by a light carcass and fleece, though the latter was of fine texture and good fiber. American cultivation has done much to improve these original and subsequent importation, so that at this day no fine-wooled sheep in thc world excel, and few equal the American merinos in the heavy product of their fleeces. or the size and stamina of their bodies. "Previous to the Wells and Dickinson flock, about 1809, 'Mr. Thomas Retch, a member of the Society of Friends, emigrated from Connecticut to this county, and brought with him a small flock of merino sheep. They were good, and a few of them were of the flock imported by Colonel Humphrey. At that early day he hoped, in twenty yearssi time, to see every farm in the county stocked with merinos. In this he partially succeeded, but a prejudice against the breed prevented them from becoming so general as he had anticipated. To this statement Secretary Klippart (of the Ohio State Agricultural Bureau, in his report of 1859) HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 19 adds a note to the effect that his wife, Charity, frequently solicited from him a fund which might be invested for charitable or benevolent purposes. But he hesitated, until one spring morning he gave her two sick merino lambs and told her that she might take them as capital for benevolent purposes. The noble-hearted wife thankfully accepted them, nursed and cured them. With this, as foundation of a flock, she accumulated a sum which, in course of time, became sufficient to build and endow the Kendall Charity School. "Many efforts have been subsequently made by farmers to improve the breeds, both native and those early imported. The Vermont merino, Cotswold and Leicester, have been introduced, but none have gained the suffrage of the whole county. The Dickinson merinos still hold their place with old wool-growers, while the younger portion prefer the Vermont sheep." TRIALS OF EARLY CATTLE RAISING The cow shared with the sheep and the horse the triangular honor of an almost necessary fixture to the pioneer household. Usually the two were driven overland from the migrating country and were installed as twin props to sustain the family in its forest home. But having arrived, the cattle required all the care and diligence of the settler to protect them against wild beasts and disease. The wolves seldom made way with a full-grown animal, but now and then a yearling or a calf would be carried off. But the murrain, fevers and other cattle plagues were hard to contend with, despite dosings with alum, soot and soft soap, and. aftcr some years, it became necessary to introduce new blood to maintain the breed. IMPORTATION OF BLOODED STOCK The short-horn Durhams were probably the first introduced, coming first from Kentucky, but in 1834 the Ohio Importing Company was formed to import them directly from England, and within the following twenty years similar companies were formed in Madison, Clinton, Clark and other counties in Central Ohio, the movement afterward spreading to other sections of the state. Stark County also joined the reformation of native cattle stock, and such dealers and breeders as Edward Brook and Son, of Marlboro Township ; John Shock and H. Reynolds, of Canton ; Thomas Chapman, of Bethlehem ; Benjamin Thompson, of Lake, and Jonas Braucher, of Jackson, established fine herds of blooded Durhams and Devons to invigorate and improve the native stock. Their suc- 20 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY cessors, such as the Canton Provision Company and James Carnes, of Sparta, have kept up the good work, thus permanently increasing the value of the cattle, both as beef and milk producers. WILD AND CULTIVATED HOGS Swine were among the earliest and certainly the most easily maintained of any stock on the frontier farms. In many parts of the county they were allowed to run at large in the forest, and many of them were found wild by the first settlers. They were thin of flesh, large of bone, thick of skin and long of tusk ; they had all the qualities which a valu- FULLY DOMESTICATED able hog should not have. Their skin could be tanned and used for horse collars, and that about spells the extent of their usefulness. They were sometimes called "land sharks," but more often "razor backs,'' and, if fortunate and industrious, would manage to put on two hundred pounds of flesh in two years. But they are now extinct, having these many years disappeared before the imported Berkshires, Suffolks and Chester Whites, with their various crosses. The outcome is a stock noted for rapid growth, fine form and fattening qualities. In Stark County, as in many other sections of Ohio, it is quite the custom for farmers to turn out their swine and poultry together. They can pick up a living where even sheep would starve, besides breaking up the ground and manuring it, the poultry especially adding to the soil much needed lime in a form which is readily absorbed. HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 21 HORSES, FARM AND FANCY The first horses brought into Stark County were common farm animals, and their owners did not pretend that they possessed any fine strains of blood. Among the earliest efforts to improve upon this stock was the importation of the thoroughbred, Merry Andrew, from Virginia in 1825. His owner was Doctor Simmons, and as Henry Barber, who was also a lover of fine horses, had at that time a fine imported mare, the progeny of the two animals gave a strong impetus toward the uplifting of the entire breed in Stark County. Windflower, the chestnut stallion of noble blood brought into the county by John Meyers in 1832, also sired many colts which spread their good qualities abroad. Napoleon Morgan came out of the East in 1849, and Green Mountain, in 1859, with other less noted but meritorious sires, and were crossed with high grade stock to further the strong points of Stark County horses. The English draft horses, Scotch Clyde and Plow Boy, were subsequently imported, and at a still later date, the Normans of France ; so that both farm and carriage horses have been continuously improved. Among the present importers of horses may be mentioned Shertzer & Fry, of Canton; Peter Graber, of Middlebranch, and Smith & Son, of Alliance. POULTRY The poultry in Stark County has always been of high grade. Commencing as early as 1860, the farmers took much interest in that branch of live stock, as the chickens, ducks and geese were not only useful adjuncts to the household and profitable, but could be largely cared for by the women and children. Several standard varieties of chickens were introduced, as the Shanghai, Dorking, Game, Brahma-Pootra and Black Spanish, and later, Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, Leghorns and Minorcas. Not a few turkeys have also been raised, as well as guinea and pea fowls, but no special effort has been made to improve them. THE STARK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY For sixty-five years Stark County has had an agricultural society, and its annual fair is an ever-recurring index of the progress made in products of the soil, whether they are considered as cereals, vegetables, fruits or live stock. It was organized on the 22nd of February, 1850, with sixty members, but when the first fair was held at Canton, on the 15th and 16th of October, the membership had increased to 235. The 22 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY exhibition of stock was held on the south part of the grounds belonging to the Presbyterian Church, while the domestic and fruit display was made in two rooms of the West Tuscarawas Street schoolhouse. The state report of that year says of this first county fair : "More than enough to pay all the expenses for diplomas, arranging grounds, erecting pens, providing feed, preparing rooms, paying hands and all the printing bills, were procured by the committee from the citizens of Canton. The streets of Canton during the whole time were thronged with the members of the society and with anxious and admiring spectators." FIRST EXCLUSIVE GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS After using this ground two years the society bought twelve acres of the Young Farm, now in the Second Ward of the city, inclosed them and constructed permanent buildings and a race track. Within a decade these grounds were also found to be too small, and a tract of land forty acres in area was secured in the northern part of the city, extending from Lawrence Avenue to the Louisville Road. There a half-mile track was constructed and substantial fair buildings were erected. The most elaborate structure was the Exhibition Hall, completed in 1866 at a cost of $6,400. The center was octagonal, eighty feet in diameter surmounted by a dome ninety feet high. The wings, which extended north and south, and were 56 by 22 feet, each also had a recess and a dome. In capacity and architectural attractiveness it is said to have been superior to any structure of the kind in the state at that time. THE NEW GROUNDS AND IMPROVEMENTS The annual fairs of the society continued to be held with sustained and ever-growing interest until, by the early '90s, even more extensive accommodations seemed to be demanded. The result was that in 1894 fifty-four acres were purchased in western Canton, along the Northern Ohio Traction line and about three-quarters of a mile from Meyers Lake. Thirty-four acres of the tract formerly belonged to the Woods Farm. Since the purchase of what are known as the New Fair Grounds the building improvements have been constant and well planned. For the past few years a new building has been completely annually. The larger structures are of cement, Educational Hall, completed in 1915, being a substantial and tasteful building of that material, 36 by 90 feet in dimensions. The Horticultural and Art halls are also creditable, and the Live Stock and Poultry buildings are well adapted to the purposes for which they are designed. HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 23 THE EXHIBITS AS AN INDEX OF RURAL LIFE The first department embraces horses and ponies. The highest grades on the premium list are registered Percherons, Belgians and English Shires and Clydesdales, and registered standard-bred trotters and pacers. In the latter classes beauty of form, action, size, endurance and speed are all considered. Draught horses also come in for their due share of attention, the qualities required in them being extra muscular development, good size, good walk and useful for heavy draught purposes. Then come the "general purpose" horses, which must be useful for carriage, plow or saddle--a considerable scope of requirements. In the FAT STOCK ON EXHIBITION pony class Shetlands cannot be over forty-six inches high ; unregistered ponies may reach fifty-two inches. As stated, there is no more complete or interesting epitome of the industries of Stark County, whether based upon the soil, the factory or the home, than the exhibits annually displayed by its agricultural society. In the cattle department all entries must be of registered stock, and the premium list indicates that Stark County live stock men have now blooded herds of Jerseys, Holsteins, Shorthorns, Red Poll. Aberdeen Angus, Guernseys and Ayreshires. Sheep must also be of registered stock, and include Delaine and Spanish Merinos. Cotswolds and Lincolns, Hampshiredowns and Oxford- downs, Shropshiredowns, Southdowns and Dorsets. Enough Angora goats are raised in the county to call far premiums on exhibits of this breed. 24 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY The swine department calls for registered Berkshires, Chester Whites, Poland Chinas and Duroc Jerseys, as well as a "miscellaneous class." Poultry premiums are offered on Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Langshans, Leghorns, Minorcas, Anconas, Orpingtons and Hamburgs, for chickens ; M. Bronze, White and Bourbon Red, for turkeys; White Pekin, Indian Runner, Colored Rouen, White Muscovy, Colored Muscovy, Black East Indian and White Crested, for ducks ; Gray Toulouse, White Emben, Gray African and Brown Chinese, for geese, and for ornamental pheasants, guinea fowls, pea fowls and pigeons. Ferrets, guinea pigs and rabbits are also in this class. The farm products department embraces wheat, rye, corn, oats, barley, buckwheat, seeds (clover and timothy), potatoes and yams, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, beans, peppers, tomatoes, squashes, pumpkins, melons, celery, turnips, rhubarb, carrots, egg plant, kale, leek, peas, parsnips, radishes and ornamental gourds. Stark County stands so well as a potato producer that it may not be amiss to note that the County Agricultural Society offers premiums on thirty-six varieties, viz. : Early Petoskey, Early Rapid Transit, Early Six Weeks, Early Irish Cobbler. Early Ohio, Early Bovee, Early Sensation, Early Bird, Early Norton Beauty, Early Eureka, Early White Ohio, Early Bliss, Red Triumph, Livingston, Cherry Blossom, Setic Beauty, Seneca Beauty, Delaware, Prosperity, California Russet, Blue Victor, Late Petoskey, Banner, Million Dollar, Carmen No. 3, Snow, Sir Walter Raleigh, Late Surprise, President Roosevelt, Uncle Sam, Rural New Yorker, Dooley, World's Wonder, Green Mountain, Jr., California Garnet, National and Whitten's White Mammoth. In the fruit class over sixty varieties of apples are listed, among them the familiar Baldwin, Ben Davis, Fall Pippin, Golden Russet, Jonathan, King of Tompkins County, Banana, Maiden Blush, Northern Spy, Rhode Island Greening and Rome Beauty. Pears and peaches, quinces, plums and grapes are also well represented. There is a flower department, calling for blossoms of such old- fashioned beauties as dahlias, asters, nasturtiums, phloxes, verbenas, petunias and coxcombs, and for such house plants as begonias, geraniums and fuchsias. The domestic and the woman's departments call forth the pride, the anxiety and even jealousy of housekeepers and householders, who are competitive exhibitors ; the admiration of the bachelors and the blushes of the young ladies, and sometimes almost assume the character of an informal matrimonial bureau. Domestic and suggestive of comfort and appeased appetities are the breads, biscuit, cakes, cured hams and dried beef, canned fruits and preserves, jellies and jams, fruit butters and HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 25 honeys, while various pictures of home felicity float in the youthful imagination before the variegated displays of big comforts and little infants' robes, hand-knitted stockings, shawls and sweaters, crocheted afghans, shawls and slippers, cotton and linen pillow cases, table cloths and curtains, fancy aprons, embroidered towels and doilies, point lace handkerchiefs and collars, tatting lingerie, shopping bags and fancy work baskets, and a hundred other articles suggestive of family life and affinities. The fine art department, while not quite so human, brings forth displays in oil paintings, water colors and pastels, as well as paintings and decorative work on china, which well illustrate the finer side of rural life. These departments for the older people of the county is supplemented by the educational department for boys and girls outside of the three cities of Canton, Massillon and Alliance, which designs to encourage them in agricultural and domestic work. The competitors are drawn from the township and sub-district schools. Toward that end premiums are offered for the best school exhibits, as well as the most meritorious individual work. An idea of the tests made may be gained by a mention of the individual premiums offered, which are for the following : Best loaf of bread, best light cake, best dark cake, best plate of cookies, best bird house, best milk stool, best, corn tester, best ten ears of corn, largest pumpkin, three largest potatoes, largest watermelon, best pie pumpkin, largest mangelwurzel; best free hand map of Ohio, showing railroads, cities and rivers ; best free hand map of Stark County, showing townships and towns ; best product map of Ohio ; best plain apron, best fancy apron, best specimen of embroidery and best hemstitched handkerchief. The premiums of the society provides, finally, for exhibits of bees, honey and hives, of merchandise and machinery, vehicles and implements, but these departments are usually overshadowed by the displays of agricultural and horticultural products, the domestic and feminine outlays and the live stock entries. The Stark County Agricultural Society, as now organized, exerts a wide and an elevating influence. It has a membership of 340 and its officers are as follows : J. B. Eberly, Beach City, president ; F. J. Bordner, Canton, vice president; William J. Pontius, Canton, treasurer ; Edward S. Wilson, Canton, secretary. Its sixty-sixth annual fair was held at Canton on September 22-25, 1915, and was as successful as any since its organization. 26 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY A horticultural society was organized in 1878 by J. K. Neisz, Levi Stump, Andrew Pontius, Lewis Essig, H. W. Firestone, J. F. Neisz, W. W. Reed and others. From that time to the present, 1915, meetings have been held regularly once a month in some small hall, church or home of a member. The program consists of essays, papers and discussions and a question box. An essayist and alternate is chosen for each meeting, or, frequently some one from the Experiment Station, State Board of Agriculture, or some prominent speaker is secured to give an address. The exhibits consist of fruits, vegetables, flowers and noxious weeds. The exhibits in each class are passed upon by a committee who give the report at the same meeting. The annual cards give the names of officers, standing committees, order of business, and places of meeting for the year. A report of each meeting is published monthly in some paper in the county and at the close of the year these reports are bound in pamphlet form for distribution among the members. The payment of one dollar annually entitles a family to membership. A social hour and a dinner are features of each meeting. The present officers are B. M. Stier, president, Paris ; J. I. Hursh, vice president, Canton ; Mrs. S. O. Eggert, secretary, Massillon ; H. H. Sefert, treasurer, Paris. The work of this society during the past thirty-six years without doubt has exerted a progressive spirit and healthful influence upon the fruit, vegetable and flower growing interests of this county, which today occupies a leading place in horticulture, among the list of counties in this great State of Ohio. The Horticultural Society every year has a very creditable exhibit at the Stark County Fair. |