Coshocton County, Ohio - Chapter 11, 1876

Chapter 11

The agricultural interests of Coshocton county lifive in all its history vastly exceeded all others in the amount invested and the revenue derived. Manufactures, mines, and commerce never have, even combined, borne any imposing proportion to agriculture. There are in the county something more than three hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, and it is estimated that with the exception of some fifty thousand* all have been productive of crops, of fruit, or pasturage.

The number of cultivators of the soil probably reached its limit about 1850 ; since which time, there has been little increase in the number of acres tilled. From the outset among the crops raised " corn " has been " king." More acres of it have been planted, and more bushels gathered, than of anything else. In 1857, when the cultivation of this crop reached its maximum, when there was much discouragement in relation to the growing of wheat in consequence of the pests to which it had been for a succession of years subjected, and when the sheep interest had not yet become so great, there were more than a million and a half bushels of corn raised.

The wheat crop has always in Coshocton county ranked next to corn in amount and value. The period of its most successful cultivation may be set down at from 1835 to 1850. The largest crop ever secured was in 1846. The roads to the canal-warehouses and mills were often studded thickly for many rods with wagons waiting their turn to unload. In 1850, there was a larger acreage than in 1846, but the yield was not so great. In 1862, a half a million of bushels was reported as the yield. About 1850, the Hessian fly made its appearance ; it w^as succeeded by the weevil ; then there was serious trouble about winter freezing, and for twenty years this interest was much depressed. About 1870, farmers began to take good heart again, and in 1874 there was a magnificent crop. The crop of 1875 was very seriously aftected by an unusually rainy season just at the harvest time. In earlier and better days the average yield was quite up to eighteen or twenty bushels per acre, but in late years thirteen to fifteen is regarded as good. In the days of high prices, three dollars and twenty-five cents per bushel was paid for good wheat - the lowest price now within the memory of men hereabouts was twenty-five cents.

Kye was more cultivated in earlier days than now, but was never a very big item in Coshocton county. In 1867, the largest acreage for a number of years was put in, viz. : Four thousand seven hundred acres.

Flax in early days received considerable attention. During the war (1861-5), when cotton goods got so high, renewed interest was manifested in this crop. In 1862, there ' were sixty acres of it planted.

From 1820 to 1835, maple-sugar and syrup were " big things." Even as late as 1865, there were reported as produced in the county four thousand pounds of the sugar, and three thousand gallons of syrup.

In a good season, forty thousand bushels of Irish potatoes are produced in the county. The Colorado beetle, in 1872-5, aflected the yield, but not so largely as they increased the labor in caring for the crop.

There have been several efforts in the cheesery line, but they have not been long persisted in, nor very satisfactory. The most notable cheese factory was one set up, about 1866, in Clark township. The farmers became tired of the constant and regular effort in the matter of furnishing the milk, and competition was heavy, and the factory, after running seven or eight years, was closed.

A considerable amount of tobacco has been raised in Coshocton county. More than forty years ago there was the " tobacco fever." The farmers all went to raising it ; the supply exceeded the demand, and there was considerable disgust. In 1858, there were only two and one-half acres raised. During the war, there was a temporary extension of this interest, but not a very wide one.

Sheep

The first Merino sheep of thorough blood brought into this county were bought by old Major Robinson and Major Simmons, from old Seth Adams, who, as partner or agent of General Humphries, brought to the Muskingum valley some of General Humphries' importation from Spain, and had them in Muskingum county, near Dresden, as early as 1812. They were not cared for, and no trace is left of them. Fine-wooled sheep, of uncertain and mixed blood, were gradually introduced by farmers from eastern counties, and from the Pan Handle and Western Pennsylvania, between 1830 and 1836 or 1837, when Beaver & Bowman brought out from Washington county, Pennsylvania, about two thousand, and placed them on Bowman's section, adjoining Coshocton. This movement proved a failure, most of the sheep dying the next spring, and the remainder being disposed of and scattered so as to leave no trace.

About 1842, S. T. Thompson and one or two of his neighbors brought from W^ashington county, Pennsylvania, a few sheep, and founded flocks. These were the first really good Merinos that have left their mark, and still exist.

In 1846, or thereabouts, Wm. Batchelor and George Wolf brought out a few sheep obtained from General Harmon in the State of I^ew York ; they were selected by Mr. Batchelor, and, compared with what were here before, were heavier-wooled and stronger sheep. They did well.

In 1850, Howe & Batchelor brought out from Vermont a French ram, of thorough Merino blood, which had been imported from France by S. W. Jewett, from the government flock at Rambouillet. After trial, they rejected him, and disposed of his increase. They then, in connection with T. S. Humrickhouse, brought out some thirty head of Humphries' Atwood sheep, obtained from Edwin Hammond, of Addison county, Vermont. These are the kind now recognized on all hands as the best, and improving all other fine-wooled sheep. They have been added to from time to time by Mr. Batchelor and others.

In 1834, Isaac Maynard emigrated from England, and settled in this county. He brought with him a small flock of South Downs and a few Lincolnshires. The Lincolnshires were entirely lost, and most of the South Downs. In 1842 or thereabouts, Wm. Henderson, Dr. Edmund Cone, and James Meskimens furnished old Mr. Bache with money to go to England, and bring back with him some sheep. He brought back quite a number of Ellman South Downs and a few Leicestershires, or, as sometimes called, Dishleys or Bakewells, which were divided among the owners. The Leicestershires soon disappeared, but the South Downs are the source of most of the South Downs now in the county. They have been added to by Bluck and others, who purchased rams at difi'erent times from various sources. The Cotswolds have been of late tried by various parties - those of Judge Thornhill, Wm. Hanlon, Robert Moore, and J. W. Dwyer having attracted much attention and commendation.

Many were sold at one dollar per pound - one fleece brought twenty-two dollars and fifty cents. When prices fell after the war, and the condition of things was unsatisfactory otherwise as to the profitableness of sheep raising, thousands of the poorest sheep were killed and fed to hogs, the pelts selling for about as much as the live sheep. Thirty years ago there was some talk in certain localities of the county about the sheep having sore feet, but about 1866 there was much complaint of " foot rot." Remedies were devised, and care was taken in the selection of pasturage, and the evil soon passed away.

A Coshocton county "Wool-growers' Association was organized about 1864. In February, 1876, the ISTational Merino Sheep Breeders' Association was organized at Coshocton, in a meeting attended by delegates from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Missouri, and other states.

Fine Cattle

In comparatively early times, John Meskimens, Judge Robinson, and Daniel Miller brought some fine cattle into the county. More than thirty years ago, Frank McGuire and Geo. Wolf bought some superior stock in this line from E. P. Prentiss, of Albany, New York, and afterward some from D. D. Campbell, of Schenectady, New York. About 1851, Arnold Medberry and Samuel Brown made purchase of some very fine cattle from Dr. Watts, of Chillicothe. In 1855, Thomas Darling imported a lot from Kentucky, and not long thereafter Samuel Moore, Frank Mc- Guire, and T. S. Humrickhouse became prominently connected with the same line of work. John G. Stewart, a few years ago, exhibited a very superior herd, and has taken much interest in that kind of " stock." J. W. Dwyer has of late also interested himself greatly, especially in the Jerseys and Alderneys.

The hogs of the earlier day in Coshocton county were all that could be made by an abundance of corn and little care : but the original stock not being very good, and Uttle eflbrt being made to improve it, long snouts and blue skins were the rule. The McGuires and the "Wolfs were about the first to give attention to improved breeds. Afterward the Lennons, the Burrells, and Matthew Johnson interested themselves in the same line. G. W. Silliman, after his visit to Europe, took an interest in the Berkshires, and brought into the county some of that breed. The Chester Whites became and continued great favorites. The Leicestershires have found many approvers, and are just now with many the favorites.

In early days, one and a half cents per pound was considered a fair price for hogs, live weight. In 1864, Wm. E. Hunt got fourteen cents a pound for a few Chester White hogs, but he must have received the usual " Preacher's favors," inasmuch as farmers McGuire and Moore got only eleven and three-fourths cents for their best specimens.

Blooded Horses

" Blooded " horses have from the first received a good deal of attention in Coshocton county. Old Colonel Williams and his compeers had the Virginia notions about these things. The race-course was not then, as now, circular and leveled and rolled, but they had one from the earliest days down. There was one on the Butler place up the W^alhonding. The road to Lewisville has been used. But the favorite track for years was on what is now Fifth street in Coshocton, along which two parallel narrow tracks were cleared. " Tests of speed " were there made - not witnessed by elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen, such as now-a-days throng the county fair-grounds, but by the " homespun '' crowd. It is claimed that if the associations of the place were less refined, the honesty was not less than now. They meant square business or simple fun in those days, and were severe on "jockeying." They did not then sell " pools."

Among those actively interested in the horse line, the following may be named : One of the Butlers, in New Castle township, had charge of two horses belonging to Peter Casey, one of the first associate judges of the county, brought ill before 1812. They were called " Whistle Jacket" and " Highflyer." Colonel Williams, of Coshocton, bought in from Virginia a horse, long famed in this region, called " Medley." Robert Farwell brought from New England to Keene township " Sir Archie." Joseph W. Rue, about 1830, introduced " John of Jersey," and "Patrick Richards," colts by a horse entered for a race against " Eclipse," the famous trotter on Long Island course, but withdrawn on account of lameness. Matthew Stewart is remembered in connection with " Hickory." Lewis Rice and John Johnson had a horse called " Premium," and A. G. Wood one called " Sir Charles." Sam. ^ Baker's horse was " Snowball." -j- WCLAAjtiCJi

In 1866, D. L. Triplett and Wm. Bachelor brought from Kentucky "Abdallah," who met the sad fate of being burned to death in a stable consumed in the fall of 1869. The County Horse Fair Association was organized in 1866.

Fruit Culture

The first orchards planted in Coshocton county were, for the most part, if not entirely, from seedling trees. Top grafting upon these was afterward resorted to in a small degree, but without materially changing the general character of the fruit, except in a few instances. Some of the early settlers coming in from Maryland and Virginia brought with them sprouts from the orchards of their home regions, and these of course contained those varieties. Some of these still have a place in the orchards of the descendants of those who brought them.

In 1832 Joshua B. Hart, of Tiverton township, had a bearing orchard of grafted fruit, consisting of the kinds brought out by the Ohio company, when they settled at Marietta. Mr. Hart propagated some by grafting, but could not sell his trees, and quit in a short time.

Joseph F. Munro had a large orchard planted for him by old John Matthews, also of the Marietta sorts. The Robinsons had a few trees of the same.

George Henderson had a bearing orchard of apples, and practiced grafting in a small way. His orchard was on "White Eyes, and consisted of Western Pennsylvania kinds.

Old Mr. McFetridge had planted an orchard, not then yet in bearing. He brought his trees from Steubenville, and they were of the kinds grown in the Kneisley nurseries.

A nurseryman in Fairlield county, about 1830-31, brought by canal a large lot of grafted apple trees, but found no sale for them for orchard planting, and traded or in some way disposed of them to Nathan Spencer, who planted them in a kind of nursery, and sold them to John Frew. Eighty of them were planted by T. S. Humrickhouse in an orchard on Mill Creek in the fall of 1838.

Old John Elliott planted an orchard of the same kind on his farm in Bethlehem township. Every tree of this lot was true to name, and the whole selection proved most admirable.

Wishing to plant two or three apple orchards, and not being able to find all the kinds he wanted in any one nursery, T. S. Humrickhouse, about 1835, commenced making a collection and grafting in nursery. He took from all the orchards above mentioned all the varieties they contained, and added from a distance all the kinds he could hear of that gave promise of being valuable, and has continued that sort of work to this day.

When James Matthews was in Congress he procured most of the native and many foreign varieties, and they were thoroughly tried. Most of the foreign and many of the native were discarded. Both Mr. Matthews and Mr. Humrickhouse, about 1840, gave considerable attention to pears, peaches, plums, and grapes, introducing many fine varieties.

For the last twenty years very heavy importations of fruit trees have been made. In one year the sales of tree-peddlers reached nearly $8,000. Those who experimented most largely in the purchase of these trees do not exult much at their success. An immense proportion of the trees died, and many of the varieties which were most highly commended proved really very inferior ; and it has been discovered that it is sometimes better to go to a home nursery and get a few good varieties than to get a larger list pressed upon them by some one from without.

Joseph K. Johnson probably planted the largest peach orchard ever set out in the county - some eighty acres - on his place, about a mile east of Coshocton,

Among the most successful fruit-growers of late, as indicated by county fair displays and premiums, have been John Yance and Hugh McFadden, of Tuscarawas township ; Simeon Ellis, of Washington ; William McCormick, of Keene ; and William C. Saunders, of White Eyes.

In this connection it may be stated that in 1855 J. K. Johnson planted quite a considerable vineyard on his place, one mile east of Coshocton, and for a few years soon thereafter a considerable quantity of wine was made under his direction. The most of this was used by sick friends, of whom there proved to be a good many, and for church purposes. From the experiment, as made by him, there was no disposition on the part of himself or neighbors to enlarge this interest.

Some years subsequently, J. B. Elliott and F. Seward established a vineyard in Keene township, but the operation was not accounted a large success.

A Mr. Shitz, in Crawford township, is perhaps the only one now operating in this line in the county. Most excellent grapes of such varieties come into the county as individual tastes approve, are grown in domestic way, and soils

As early as 1835, the county commissioners, under provisions of law, directed a call to be issued for a meeting looking to the formation of a county agricultural society. But nothing efiective was done under that call, or in any other way, for many years. The association of those chiefly interested in the cultivation of the soil progressed slowly. Tlw matter at length was taken up by such men as Dr. H. Williams, Colonel C. F. Sangster, Dr. E. Cone, Judge Burt, John Davis, and determined and successful efforts accomplished the organization.

*The earlier records can not be found, after much inquiry. Plenty of people in this, as in other matters, "can tell who can tell" where they are.

- For a number of years the expenses of the society, iuchidiug the premiums, were defrayed by annual fees paid by the members. Any one may become a member by the payment of one dollar per year ; receiving, also, four tickets of entrance to fairs.

The first fair under the auspices of the society was held at Jacobsport, in 1850. The fairs for several years thereafter were held in the public square at Coshocton. From the first there was a choice selection of stock, and a gradual increase in other lines. The Elliotts and John Davis soon had some good displays of agricultural implements. The farmers' wives and daughters warmly seconded their husbands and fathers.

The fair of 1856 was not remarkable for display, but the talks among farmers and stock-breeders had their effect in awakening interest, and then settled these annual gatherings as things to be kept up. That year an arrangement was made for leasing for a term of years the John Burt fair ground (since laid out into lots), extending from Seventh street to the foot of tlie blutt", and from Main street to the south side of Iliram Beall's property. This tract contained about nine acres. It was properly fenced, and buildings and stalls erected on it, and the fair of 1857 was held there. By 1865, these grounds became insufiicient, and in that year the society purchased from Dr. S. H. Lee twenty acres, about four hundred yards east of the Burt tract, and proceeded to fit up more extensive and, as was supposed, more permanent buildings. The amount paid for these grounds was $3,200. To assist the society in purchasing these grounds, the county commissioners agreed to donate $500, and to loan the society $500 more, to be repaid out of their receipts whenever the commissioners should require. It is understood that this was repaid when the grounds were sold by the society, as they were in the winter of 1872-3, having been cut up into lots, the society having in November, 1872, purchased of J. W. Dwyer the grounds now used for fair purposes. These grounds, lying a quarter of a mile south of the Burt fair ground, include a large grove (which was a chief attraction in the purchase), and are more convenient in the matter of access to water, not lying so high above the river level as the Lee ground. The amount of laud embraced is thirty-four and fifty-eight onehundredth acres, and the cost of it $10,488. Of this, from proceeds of sales of old grounds and otherwise, some $4,000 have been paid. For improvements on the new ground nearly $6,000 have been expended. The fair receipts for 1875 were $2,389, and the premiums paid about $1,500.

It is not understood that there are any granges of the Patrons of Husbandry in the county, but there are several "farmers' clubs ;" those of FraukUn, Linton, and Lafayette townships being seemingly the most vigorous and successful.

The " Centennial Fourth of July celebration " for Coshocton county was held on the grounds of the society, and under its auspices. Messrs. Elliott, De Moss, Dwyer, and Miller were the committee of arrangements. Despite the frequent showers of rain, there was a very large attendance of people from all parts of the county, the number present being in excess of any company of people assembled previously in the county. Music and flags and banners lent interest to the occasion. Thomas Campbell, Esq., was the president of the day. The Declaration of Independence was read by J. M. Compton, Esq. R. M. Voorhees, Esq., read a sketch of the history of Coshocton county, prepared by Rev. William E. Hunt (previously appointed, but detained from the ground by illness). William Sample, Esq., delivered an "Address on the Agricultural Interests of Coshocton County." Appropriate songs were sung by the whole company, led by J. Glover and by the Welsh Quartette, under the leadership of E. Prosser.