HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

CHAPTER X.

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

The only organization having for its object the promotion of agricultural in Fairfield county, is that which had its inception during the year 1851, and culminated in the formation of a regularly constituted system for the holding of annual agricultural fairs, on the plan of awarding premiums for best specimens and samples of all products of the soil, including fruits of all varieties, stock of all varieties, mechanical arts, the fine arts, agricultural implements and flowers. The subject had, however, been incubating more or less for several years, The first meeting of the society was held in October, 1851, with John Reeber as president, and John S. Brazee, as secretary. The time for holding the annual meetings was fixed by the constitution to be in October, viz: always beginning on the day succeeding the state election, on the second Tuesday of that month, and continuing four days. That rule has never been changed. During the thirty years of the society, the general interest has been uniformly on the increase. With the exception of three or four falls, when foul weather set in during fair week, the meetings have been largely attended, and in all respects a success has been attained, seldom equalled by any county in Ohio of equal or approximating population and general wealth. A large attendance and competition from abroad are annually present. The first fair, in October, 1851, was held on the grounds, belonging to John Reeber, situated on the west side of Columbus Street, at the north end, nearly opposite the reservoir, and within a temporary enclosure. This first fair was a flattering success---greater than its sanguine prime movers anticipated; but as no regular system of book-keeping was begun for several years, no statistics are possible. In anticipation of the future and growing success of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society, John Reeber was commissioned by the board of trustees to purchase suitable and permanent fair grounds. In pursuance of that trust, in the early part of 1852 he purchased about fifteen acres of the old farm of Thomas Wright, situated at the base of Mount Pleasant, and on the west side. The purchase was made on very advantageous terms to the society, and the work of putting the grounds in order for the fall meeting was speedily pushed to an early completion, under the energetic and efficient management of Mr. Reeber, as president, and in ample time for the October fair. Subse- quently, a small tract of land, lying immediately on the west of the fair grounds, and known as the Widner place, was purchased, together with two or three acres on the north side, from Mrs. Van Pearce, thus making the aggregate of twenty-two acres. During the fall---possibly summer---of 1880, fourteen additional and adjoining acres, on the west, 61

were purchased from Henry Orman and the Weakly heirs, making in all about thirty-six acres, which constitutes the present fair grounds. The purchase price of the two last named lots, constituting the fourteen acres, was $7,972. Since this last purchase of ground, the society has expended, for fencing and grading the same, the sum of $1,588. An additional sum has also been expended, in filling and leveling up the "Orman pond," so called, and for the erection of a sheep barn. A trotting park was constructed on the old grounds, of about one- third of a mile in circumference. All of the buildings of the society are large and ample, and very substantially built. They consist of two very large amphitheatres, facing on the trotting park, and capable of seating about fifteen hundred persons, each; an art and agricultural building, two stories, and about one hundred feet in length; a music stand, judges stand, floral hall, refreshment booths, sheds and platforms for exhibiting furniture, and boarding houses, and an unusually large number of animal stalls and pens. The grounds are amply supplied with wells of pure water, and of easy access. Since the addition of 1880, of the new grounds, a contract has been entered into for the construction of an extension to the trotting park, to the distance of a half-mile track, a part of which is to be raised ground, at a cost of $3,350. The total cost of erecting the art and agricultural hall, erected about seven years since, was $3,111.59. The two amphitheatres, erected in the same year (1873) was $2,115.57. In 1874, the total receipts of the society, from all sources, were $10,631.15, showing a deficit of $262.00. There was due the society from all sources, $262.69, leaving a balance in the treasury of sixty-nine cents. Receipts for 1879, from all sources, $8,098.84. Receipts for the year 1880, from all sources, $8,000.99. The society pays, annually, liberal premiums, and at present carries a debt for the purchase of land. Thirteen years ago, a systemetic course of book-keeping was begun, from which extracts have been taken. Mr. J. Reeber, who was the first president, served in that capacity several years, and, after an interim, was re-elected. The names of other officers, before the beginning of the recorded series, cannot now be furnished. In 1868, when the regular records begin, John S. Brazee was president, and John G. Reeves, secretary. Since then the officers have-been: Presidents, John Reeber, 1869-71; B.W. Carlisle, 1871-72; A. J. Musser, 1872-74; J. C. Kinkead. 1874-76; Thomas H. Busby, 1876-79; Isaac Claypool, 1876-80; A. B. Gillet, 1880-81. Secretaries, John G. Reeves, 1869-75; William Davidson, 1875-81. Treasurers, John C. Weaver, 1869-72: William Noble, 1872-1876; S. J.Wolfe, 1876-81. The subjoining agricultural statistics, of the county, for 1878, will show not only the staple products, but the wealth of the farming population. This year maybe accepted as about an average agricultural one, of the twenty-eight proceeding years, excepting corn and wheat, which are both for this year in excess, something, of the average. The total number of bushels of wheat, as well as the average to the acre, 62

will be found to be a little above that of any year since 1874. Still the report makes manifest the status of Fairfield among the other counties in Ohio. The figures may vary a little from absolute correctness, they being the returns of the township assessors. WHEAT:---Crop for 1878, 40,849 acres; 624,707 bushels. Buckwheat 49 acres; 479 bushels, Rye, 634 acres, 8,056 bushels, Oats, 6,237 acres; 158,368 bushels, Barley, 488 acres; 18,471 bushels, Corn, 55,080 acres, 2,274.639 bushels. Timothy, 12,999 acres. Tons of hay, 18,410. Clover, 5,787 acres; tons of hay, 5,657; bushels of seed, 7,454. Acres plowed under for manure, 261. Flax, 2 acres; bushels of seed, 25. Potatoes, 1,426 acres; bushels, 104,491. Sweet Potatoes, 95 acres; 6,857 bushels. Tobacco, 8 acres, 1,604 pounds. Sorghum, 175 acres, 17,075 gallons of molasses. Maple Sugar 2,645 pounds of sugar, 4,217 gallons of molasses. Bees, 3,871 hives; 45,394 pounds of honey. Taxable land in Fairfield county, 133,331 acres; pasture, 78,847 acres; wood lands, 52,307 acres; uncultivated waste lands, 5,712 acres. Total number of acres in the county, 270,197. Domestic animals,-Below is a statement of the number and value of horses, cattle and mules, in Fairfield county, in the year 1879, as shown by the assessors returns. Number of horses, 9,853; total value, $524,835. Number of cattle, 23,693; total value, $433,487. Number of mules, 168; total value, $9,595. Number and value of sheep, hogs and dogs in the county in 1879; Sheep, 28,892; total value, $62,162. Hogs, 42,962; total value, $125,278. Dogs, 4,263; total value, $1,764. Wool product, sheep killed by dogs, and the amounts paid for them by the county in the year 1878: Total amount of wool shorn, 98,469 pounds. Number of sheep killed by dogs, 362; value paid, $1,138. Number or sheep injured by dogs, 279; damage paid, $349.00. Aggregate amount paid by the county for injury to sheep, including the killed, $1,487. Domestic animals died from disease in the county in 1878: Number of hogs, 4,143; total value, $12,475. Number of sheep, 548; total value, $1,432. Number of cattle died, 220; total value, $4,799. Number of horses died, 104; total value, $6,511. HORTICULTURAL.---Grape culture in this county, as a specialty, began in 1860, with great earnestness, amounting during several years to almost a furor. The chief excitement was within a radius of a few miles around Lancaster, and the vineyards were on the hill sides and high lands, generally. Charles Dunbar first planted a vineyard on a large scale, on his farm, three miles south of Lancaster, on the State Farm road. He was soon followed by others, including F. J. Boving, J. C. Kinkead, John S. Snyder, John A. Fetters, Mr. Moury, the State Farm, and many others on smaller scales, until the maximum of the excitement had been reached, when the grape average of the county exceeded three hundred acres. The principal varieties were the Isabell, Concord, Catawba and Ives Seedling. For a number of years the growers were very sanguine; grapes were produced in large quantities, and found a ready market 63

at remunerative prices. The idea of a wine company was projected, and matured. A wine house was erected, with two stories under ground, large preparations were made, and large quantities of wine manufactured under the supervision of John S. Snyder, The wine did not at first find a market to satisfy the majority of the stockholders, the enthusiasm began to decline, and many of the stockholders sold out, probably at sacrifices, until at last Mr. Snyder became the sole owner of the wine establishment, which he is still running with energy and probable success. Of all the varieties, the Catawba was most relied upon for wine. Next, the Ives Seedling. The Catawba was found at last to fail on account of the rot, some years amounting to very little. With its failure. the discouragement began, and increased until many abandoned the business, and changed their lands to other uses. The summer of 1881, the number of acres in grapes within the entire county does not perhaps exceed twenty. Mr. Snyder and the State farm are now the principal growers. Of all the varieties planted in the county, the Ives Seedling has proved the most invulnerable against the rot, and is at this time about the sole reliance. The Concord has done well, but it is chiefly valuable as a table grape. Mr. Boving, who has given the grape culture careful and practical attention from the start, says that at the time of the greatest prosperity of the vineyards in the county, 2,000 pounds to the acre was an average crop; equal to 200 gallons of wine. He says, also, that the grape business, with reference to wine making, has been a failure in the county, as money enough has not been realized on sales to reimburse the planting and other incidental expenses of the business. It was with special reference to the culture of the vine, and the straw- berry, that a Horticultural Society was organized in 1865, but since the partial failure of the grape, and the assured success of the strawberry, the society at first relaxed, and then ceased to meet, and may now be said to have no existence. THE STRAWBERRY.---The cultivation of the strawberry for the market began to receive special attention about co-equal with the grape, in this county, generally in the vicinity of Lancaster, and on the Reform Farm. John Gravit and a Mr. Hill were the first to appear in the market, with any considerable quantity. Their culture rapidly increased, and soon arrived at the point of shipping to outside markets. The Reform Farm alone, at one time, reached the capacity of more than a thousand bushels, largely shipped to distant markets. This was some years ago, and during the superintendency of George E. Howe, acting commissioner. It seems that they have given their culture less attention since. At this time the farm is said to contain not exceeding three acres of strawberry plants, in a less cultivated condition. The chief varieties of the strawberries planted in the county, as furnished to the compiler by John A. Fetters, are the Wilson, Albany, Kentucky, Green, Prolific and Forest Rose. Mr. Fetters, who is the proprietor of the latter, and who is sometimes spoken of as the straw- berry king, says of it, "The Forest Rose has now about superceded all other kinds on my plantation. I have furnished Forest Rose plants, that are now growing in every State and Territory in the Union, giving 64

general satisfaction. They have been sold by hundreds of thousands, so rapid has been the increase of the plant My sales of berries in the home market, have been about twenty-five bushels per day, besides shipping to Columbus, Cincinnati, Buffalo, New York and Boston. My average product to the acre has been about $300. worth. The history of the Forest Rose is a little remarkable. In 1871, Mr. Fetters discovered a stray plant among his grape vines, which he took to be a Wilson Seedling, or perhaps an Albany or Russell. It was a vigorous plant, and he removed it to a bed and cultivated it, to see what it might be. As the runners of the plant developed, they were set in a bed of four rows, each row about four rods in length. During the past few years he has continued to draw runners for his plantation, and to pick fruit from the old bed, for the market, at the rate of a bushel each picking. He chose a name for this new berry from the romance of "Forest Rose," written some thirty years ago, by Emerson Bennet, and because his plantation is within half a mile of Mount Pleasant, where the principal scene is laid. Professor E. B. Andrews, State Geologist, of Ohio, wrote as follows: "I visited the grounds of Mr. Fetters this year to see his Forest Rose strawberry. I never before saw vines loaded with such a wealth of berries; and they eclipse those of several other varieties, such as the Wilson, Albany, Charles Downing, Russell, Colonel Cheney, grown in the same soil, side by side, receiving the same treatment. In brief, in flavor, size and firmness, in bountiful bearing, in vigor and hardiness of vines, Forest Rose promises to be a strawberry of great merit." Dr. A. Warden, President of the Ohio State Horticultural Society, makes use of the following language, in his report, concerning the Forest Rose: "This new berry promises indeed to be a great acquisition to our stock of varieties. Here we have elegance of form, brilliancy of color, greater size, and firmness to bear transportation, all combined with table qualities of a higher order, than in the Wilson or Albany, which it surpasses even in field culture. Mr. Fetters furnished the Forest Rose plants, that have contributed so largely to the popularity of the establishment of the celebrated horti- cultural, berry and fruit gardens, of Leo Weltz, at Wilmington, Ohio. The acreage of the principal growers of the county, for the summer of 1881, is; Fetters, 6; Boving, 3; Stalter, 2; Clark, 4; Schory, 2; Snyder, 3 and State Farm, 3 acres, besides a great many of less ground. There is probably no county in Ohio that equals Fairfield in the production of strawberries, either in quantity or quality. Besides the home market, which is large, immense quantities are annually shipped away. Other berries are cultivated with an annually increasing attention, and are already liberally supplied in the markets, such as the different varieties of the raspberry, especially the black, which seems to be the most hardy. The common blackberry seems also to be greatly improved by cultivation. Fairfield county is probably below the average of the old counties of 65

the State for apples. It is below what it was forty years ago. The old orchards are failing, and the new ones are not doing as well as those of more northern counties. It is probable that the apple culture has ceased to be a specialty. Peaches have received better attention, though a good crop once in five years, is about all that is realized. The largest proportion of the peach trees of the county are of the cultivated kind. There are also many seedling orchards, which seem to stand the frost better than the budded trees, and, on the average, perhaps, produce more frequently than the cultivated trees. Plums and quinces are ordinarily in good supply, and seldom fail, especially the Damson plum. Pears are neither very abundant in the county, nor of very good quality. Very little attention is given to their culture. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.---A Horticultural Society was first organized in Lancaster, in 1865, whose members were distributed over the county. Its title was, "The Hocking Valley Horticultural Society." The object set forth in the preamble, was that of the promotion of gardening, floral and horticultural interest, upon improved systems. It constituent members were leading men in gardening and general agricultural pursuits, grape culture, &c. The call for the initial meeting, which was held on the 26th day of January, 1865, was signed by the following gentlemen: John A. Fetters, F. J. Boving, Charles Dunbar, John C. Rainey, J. C. Kinkead, Ambrose Bender, John D. Martin, John Gravit, H. V. Weakley, John S. Snyder, S. A. Griswold and John D. Clark. The officers of the first permanent organization were as follows: Joseph C. Kinhead, president; R. J. Black and F. J. Boving, vice Presidents; John D. Martin, Treasurer; John C. Weaver, Librarian; John C. McCracken, Recording Secretary. MEMBERS.---M. A. Daugherty, H. V. Weakley, J. C. McCracken, James Scott, John Gravit, Thomas H. White, P. B. Ewing, J. A. Fetters, R. J. Blaek, S. A. Griswold, J. D. Martin, Robert Work, R. J. Peters, C. Pairan, C. Speelman, Thomas M. Young, Emanuel Fetters, B. F. Reinmond, Martin Lundis, D. Talmadge, J. W. Lewis, E. O. Edwards, Robert Black, C. M. L.Wiseman, Daniel Ward, T. Broom- field, M. Effinger, J. C. Kinkead, Henry Borchers, C. F. Garaghty, F. J. Boving, John C. Rainey, John S. Snyder, John D. Clark, David Stalter, John Rhodes, J. C. Weaver, A. Dennis, E. E. Meason, J. R. Mumaugh, Kinnis Fritter, Samuel Barr, Salem Wolfe, John Artz, L. H. Olds, J. T. Busby, R. H. Hooker, George Kauffman, Chas. F. Schaeffer, Daniel Ream, Jacob Moyer, G. A. Mithoff, John B. M. Neill, William Van Hyde. During the first twelve years, ten of the original members died, viz., H. V. Weakley, John C. McCracken, Emanuel Fetters, E. V. Edwards, Henry Borchers, John C. Rainey, J. C. Weaver, E. E. Meason, Salem Wolfe and Daniel Ream. The special purposes for which the society was organized, having been materialy accomplished, their meetings were discontinued. PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.---The Order of Patrons of Husbandry, or "Grangers," was instituted at Washington, D. C., in July, 1867, 66

with William Saunders, Master, and O. H. Kelley, Secretary. The local organizations are called "Granges." The first grange organized in Ohio was in February, 1871, and the first in Fairfield county, in July, 1873. The growth of the order in Ohio was as follows: In 1871, one grange was established; in 1872, 1872, 7; in 1873, 315; in 1874, 779; in 1875, 128; in 1876, 63. The first officers were: Master, S. H. Ellis; Secretary, W. S. Miller. The members of the executive committee were: J. H. Brigham, chairman; J. P. Schenk, O. C. Cummings, A. R. Keller, N. H. Albraugh, H. McDowel, H. C. Ellis, and W. W. Miller. Nineteen granges were organized in Fairfield county, namely; Rush Creek, No, 67, at Bremen, July, 1873; Bloom, No. 397; Pleasant, No. 675; Violet, No. 683; Greenfield, No. 725; Hocking, No. 706; Union, No. 762; Cedar Hill, No. 763; Amanda, No. 815; Stouts- ville, No. 917; Harvey, No. 930; Walnut, No. 931; Berne, No. 959; Summit, No. 1038; Fairfield, No. 1148; Liberty, No. 929; New Salem, No. 971; Richland, No. 838; Clear Creek, No. 1011, Numbers 706 and 725 were afterwards consolidated; likewise 838 and 1148. Pleasant, Greenfield, Cedar Hill, New Salem, and Fairfield granges either built or purchased suitable halls. The largest membership, attained by the order in Fairfield county, was 1200, and it began to decline in 1876. At present but few of the local granges hold regular meetings. Mr. A. R. Keller, of Fairfield, a member of the executive committee, said, in 1876: ''The excitement of organization carried many into the order, who were influenced by purely selfish motives, and who expected to grow rich without effort. Some of this class have expressed dissatisfaction, and have been dropped from the rolls of their respective granges. But the order is in a much better condition than ever before, a majority of the most enterprising farmers having become identified with it." 67

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