OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 314 Today's Topics: #1 History of Sandusky Co. Fair -- Pa [RICKSORG@aol.com] ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 12:32:29 EDT From: RICKSORG@aol.com Subject: History of Sandusky Co. Fair -- Part 1 The following are excerpts from the book "HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY OHIO, With Portraits And Biographies Of Prominent Citizens And Pioneers" - by Homer Everett, Esq., Wilbur G. Zeigler, and "a writer in the employ of the publishers." Published by H. Z. Williams & Bro., Cleveland, Ohio; 1882. Reproduced in 1972 by Unigraphic, Inc.; Evansville, Indiana. Found on pgs. 208 - 217, in a discussion of the history of the Sandusky County Fair which was held almost every year, beginning in 1852, and the Sandusky County Agricultural Society which created and sponsored the event: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ CHAPTER XX. SANDUSKY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY It has been often said, and will bear repeating to each generation of men, as they succeed each other, that he who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, is a benefactor to mankind. The enlightened mind readily consents to the truth of this assertion. But it is equally true that he who invents the method of extracting from the earth sex heads of wheat where five grew before, or of obtaining four pounds of meat from the same space of earth which before produced only three, or from the area raises ten pounds of wool, or cotton, or sugar where before only eight pounds were produced, is equally a benefactor to the human race. The same may be said of all those whose observations and reasonings result in the improvement of our fruits and vegetables, and our domestic animals. Agriculture and horticulture of late years have made rapid advances toward the front rank of the sciences, but they still fail to stand where their real importance demands them to be placed, in the social and scientific scale. Among the noblest works of the earnest, thinking men of Sandusky county, is that to improve agriculture and bring the pursuit of it into a proper position in the opinions of high-minded and scientific men, by the organization of the society named at the head this chapter. COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY In the summer of 1852 Dr. LaQuinio Rawson, who had become the owner of valuable farming lands within the city limits, began to turn his attention to the cultivation of the soil. He at once began to call the attention of neighbors and friends to the advantages which would be derived to the farmers of the county, and the people generally, by the formation of an agricultural society. His reasonings and persistent urgency of the movement, soon brought others to his support, and resulted in a meeting at the court-house in Fremont, on the 31st day of August, 1852, at which the society was organized. At this meeting Hon. John Bell was chosen chairman, and Daniel Capper secretary pro tem. Sardis Birchard and Jonas Smith were made a committee for the appointment of a board of directors for the ensuing year. This committee, after consultation, reported as directors for the ensuing year the following names: La Quinio Rawson, president of said board; Samuel Hafford, vice president; Stephen Buckland, treasurer; Daniel Capper, secretary; and James Vallette, Isaac Glick, Samuel Skinner, Alvin Coles, and D. Adams, managers, which appointments and report, on motion, were adopted and approved by the meeting. The meeting then adopted a constitution..... The names of the members of this society when this constitution was adopted, are recorded in this work as upon a roll of honor, to be hereafter remembered with gratitude by the future patrons of husbandry in the county. They are: Matthew M. Coe, Samuel Hafford, James Parks, Edward Leppelman, Daniel Capper, John Bell, F. I. Norton, James Vallette, Isaac Glick, Samuel Skinner, Jonas Smith, J. F. R. Sebring, L. E. Boren, Jacob Lesher, David Garvin, Jacob Bowlus, Peter Burgoon, LaQ. Rawson, J. S. Olmsted, Alvin Coles, F. S. White, S. Birchard, C. D. Hall, George R. Haynes, L. B. Otis, E. F. Dickinson, C. Edgarton, S. Buckland, J. P. Haynes, James Mitchell, J. L. Greene, William Kepler, Horace E. Clark, F. Vandercook, R. P. Buckland, G. M. Tillotson, B. J. Bartlett, A. J. Dickinson, C. O. Tillotson, George Engler, J. R. Pease, D. Adams, J. S. Fouke, J. B. G. Downs, John S. Tyler, Homer Everett, John Moore, Samuel Thompson, Jesse Dorcas, Aaron Loveland, John Lefever, Daniel Tindall, Henry Nichols, J. C. Wales, J. Justice, Philip King, Paul Tew, Samuel Fennimore, C. J. Orton, Dean & Ballard, James Moore, William A. Hill, W. M. Stark, Isaac Knapp, Daniel G. Shutts, Joseph R. Clark, Christian Doncyson, H. Shiveley, James H. Hafford, Jacob Kridler, Thomas L. Hawkins, W. B. Stevenson, John Orwig, Seneca Hitt, J. F. Smith, N. P. Birdseye, Adam Jordan, Norton Russell, F. Lake, George Cogswell, A. B. Taylor, John Younkman, W. C. Shutts, Hiram Haff, Miles W. Plain, Jesse Emerson, Martin Bruner, Sidney Forgerson, Lyman Miller, C. King, Orlin Sylva, John Whitmore, Isaac Mowrer, Henry Bowman, Hiram Miller, A. J. Henper, Edwin Doud, S. H. Tibbals, F. M. Clayton. FIRST MEETING OF THE DIRECTORS The board of directors of the Sandusky County Agricultural Society, chosen as we have mentioned above, met at the office of the secretary on the 4th day of September, 1852 ; present, LaQuinio Rawson, Samuel Hafford, Stephen Buckland, Daniel Capper, James Vallette, Samuel Skinner. The board, after due consultation and deliberation, resolved that the first fair of said society should be held at Fremont, on the 13th day of October, 1852 ; and they also then and there resolved to invite all the members of the society to exhibit at said fair horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, field crops, fruit, dairy products, and manufactured articles, and at the same time fixed the premiums on the various articles to be exhibited. Although it might be interesting in the future to publish a detailed statement of the premiums offered at this first county fair, we omit the details, because we intend giving the premiums actually awarded, what for, and the amounts, which will give the reader will desire, and will avoid, at the same time, a repitition of matter in this connection. AWARD OF PREMIUMS At the first annual fair of the Sandusky County Agricultural Society, held in 1852, premiums were awarded as follows: Class A, Cattle. --- Best yoke of working oxen over four years old, to Isaac Glick, of Ballville, $5. Best bull over four years old, William Hill, of Scott township, $3; second best bull, Otho Lease, of Jackson township, $1. Best bull over three years old, D. Seaman, Ballville township, $3; second best over three years old, Lyman Miller, Green Creek township. Best bull over one year old, James Vallette, of Ballville township; second best bull, John Lefever, Green Creek township, $1. Best milch cow, John Moore, of Ballville township, $3; second best milch cow, James Vallette, Ballville township, $2. Best fat ox, John Moore, Ballville township, $3. Best two year old heifer, George Cogswell, Sandusky township, $2; second best two year old heifer, Samuel Fennimore, of Ballville township, $1. Best yearling heifer, William Kessler, of Sandusky township, $2; second best yearling heafer, D. Seaman, Ballville township, $1. Class B, Horses. --- Best stallion, S. H. Tiballs, York township, $3; second best stallion, John Colvin, York township, $2. Best brood mare and colt, P. Burgoon, Sandusky township, $3; second best brood mare and colt, John Whitmore, Townsend township, $2. Best pair matched horses, J. C. Wales, York township, $3; second best pair matched horses, H. Haff, Townsend township, $2. Best gelding over four years old, J. Hale, Sandusky township, $3; second best gelding over four years old, B. J. Bartlett, Sandusky. Best work horse over four years old, E. Doud, York, $1. Best carriage horse, William Tew, Townsend township, $2. Best three year old colt, C. G. Green, Ballville township, $3; second best three year old colt, N. Bowlus, Sandusky township, $2. Best two year old colt, W. Shutts, York township, $2; second best two year old colt, Hiram Haff, Townsend township, $1. Best yearling colt, John Whitmore, Townsend township, $2; second best yearling colt, John Whitmore, $1. Best three year old stallion, J. Gibbs, Riley township, $3; second best three year old stallion, William Shrader, $2. Best jack, Joseph R. Clark, Riley township, $2. Class C, Sheep. --- Best buck, Hiram Haff, Townsend township, $2; second best buck, S. Hafford, Ballville township, $1. Best pen of five ewes, D. Capper, Sandusky township, $2; second best pen of five ewes, S. Fennimore, Ballville township, $1. Class D, Hogs. --- Best boar over one year old, James Vallette, Ballville township, $2. Best breeding sow, John Moore, Ballville township, $2; second best breeding sow, James Vallette, $1. Best fat hog, S. Thompson, Sandusky township, $2. Best pen of pigs, William Kepler, Sandusky township, $2. Class E, Fowls. --- Best lot five domestic fowls, P. Brush, Ballville township, $2; second, James F. Hults, $1. Class F, Dairy and Kitchen. --- Best roll five pounds butter, Mrs. Treat, Ballville township, $2; second do. Mrs. S. Buckland, Sandusky township, $1. Best lot cheese, Mrs. P. Tew, Townsend township, $2. Best bread, Mrs. P. Brush, Ballville township, $2; second do. Mrs. S. Buckland, Sandusky township, $1. Class G, Fruit. --- Best variety table fruit, Lyman Miller, Green Creek township, $2; second do. A. Loveland, Sandusky township, $1. Best lot winter fruit, H. Bowlus, Sandusky township, $1; second do. William King, Ballville, $1. Best lot grapes, Mrs. L. B. Otis, Sandusky township, $1. Best quinces, Mrs. Russell, Green Creek township, $1; second do. Mrs. S. Treat, Ballville township, $1; third do. Mrs. R. P. Buckland, Sandusky township, $1. Class H. --- Best acres of corn, H. Haff, Townsend township, $5; second do. William Hyatt, Ballville township, $2. Best variety garden corn, Mrs. Dickinson, Sandusky township, $1. Best potatoes, George Brim, Woodville township, $1. Best turnips, George Hyatt, Ballville township, $1. Best squashes, Miles W. Plain, Green Creek township, $1. Best beets, Mrs. Vallette, Ballville township, $1. Best honey, Mrs. S. A. Loveland, Sandusky township, $1. Class I. --- Best farm wagon, J. C. Wade, York township, $3; second do. M. Halderman, Rice township, $2. Best straw cutter, William Orr, Sandusky township, $1. Best dressed calf skin, Dickinson & Co., Sandusky township, $1. Best side harness leather, same, $2; second do. M. Justice, $1. Best buggy, William Raymond, Sandusky township, $3. Best barrel flour, James Moore, Ballville township, $2. Best bacon, M. W. Plain, Green Creek township, $2. Best two-horse buggy harness, James Kridler, Sandusky township, $2. Best farm harness, M. W. Plain, Green Creek, diploma. Best lot fruit trees, J. A. Watrous, Green Creek, diploma. Best tin roof, Canfield & Co., diploma. Best sofa, J. W. Stevenson, Sandusky, $3; second do, same, $2. Best card table, same, $2. Best panel door, F. Luke, Sandusky, $2. Best domestic carpet, M. W. Plain, Green Creek, $2; second do, S. E. Edgerton, Sandusky, $1. Class K. --- Best woolen stockings, Mrs. Tew, Twonsend [sic], $2; second do. Mrs. Tyler, Sandusky, $1. Best comforter, Mrs. Norton, Sandusky, $1. Best made quilt, Mrs. Hyatt, Ballville, $2; second do, Mrs. Zimmerman, Sandusky, $1. Embroidery, A. M. Olmsted, Sandusky, $2; do, Miss E. Knapp, $2; do. Miss A. Kepler, $1; do. Mrs. Thorndyke, $1; do. Miss E. Ball, $1. Needlework, Mrs. Thorndyke, $2; do. Mrs. Parker, 2; do. Mrs. Boren, $1; do. Mrs. J. Nyce, $2; do. Miss Taylor, $1; do. Momeny, $2. Best coverlet, Mrs. Younkman, $2; do. second do. Mrs. Treat. Embroidery, Miss Justice, $1; do. Miss S. E. Ball, $1. Drawing, Miss A. Norton, $1; do. Miss A. Norton, $1; do. Miss O. Dickinson, $1; do. Miss S. Dickinson, $1. Best variety house plants, Mrs. J. W. Wilson; do. Miss Olmsted. Best collection wax work flowers, Mrs. Orton, $1. Best basket of flowers, Mrs. C. King, $1. Needlework, Mrs. Wells, $1; do. Miss Montgomery, $1; do. Miss Raymond. RECEIPTS. From voluntary subscriptions and donations, and from fees............................................$236.54 From the county treasury under the law to encourage the formation of agricultural societies................................................... 200.00 For lumber sold after the fair.......................... 58.88 ______________________________________________ Total.........................................................$495.42 DISBURSEMENTS. For lumber...........................$105.00 For laborers........................... 88.00 For printing............................ 23.00 For brass band....................... 15.00 Premiums awarded................. 205.00 ____________________________________ Total expenses.........................................$436.00 _______________________________________________ Balance in the treasury on settlement............ $59.42 This detailed statement of premiums awarded, to whom and what for, and the statement of the receipts and disbursements of the first agricultural fair in the county, may not now be of much interest to the reader. But the time is coming when, like the incidents of early pioneer life, to the present age, all the particulars of the first fair will be deeply interesting to those who would watch the progress of the society in all its phases, and more especially to that portion of the people of the county who would measure the progress of the county in the most important of all the industries pursued by man. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Rick Sorg ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ researching - SORG, STROHL, WILSON, HARGER, HAGUE, VAN-WY (VAN-Y), HAWK (HAAG, HAG), TILLOTSON, HARRIS, KENNEDY -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #314 *******************************************