Hancock County, Ohio - Chapter 24: Hancock County Agricultural Society, 1881

ON the 30th day of August, 1851, a number of the farmers and other friends of agriculture, met at the Court House in Findley, having lor their ohject the organization of an Agricultural Society. Aaron Hall, Esq., now a resident of Michigan, but for many years an active member and officer of the Society, was chosen President, and Robert Coulter, Secretary. Little else, however, was done at this meeting, other than to discuss the propriety of such an organization, and to adjourn until the first Saturday in October following.

At the meeting in October Judge Strother presided, and Henry Brown acted as Secretary. A constitution was adopted and officers elected as follows: President, Judge John Cooper; Vice President, Judge R. L. Strother; Secretary, William Taylor; Treasurer, Judge D. J. Cory, and John Dukes, Aaron Hall, Wm. Yates, Henry Lamb, John Moore, John Lafferty and Alex. Phillips, a Board of Managers.

Amongst the names of members recorded at that meeting, in addition to those already named, are these of Hiram Cox, A. P. Byal, Jesse Ford, Edson Goit, Elijah Barnel, James Elsea, Wm. Mungen, Samuel Howard, Chas. Oesterlin, xlbner Leonard, Samuel Kemble, Allen Wisely, S. R. Gray, J. H. Wilson, S. Carlin and Aaron Baker.

ber, 1852, on rented grounds, north of the river, on what is now known as Briiner's brick yard. Mr. Henry Brown, as Secretary, says in his report, " That the attendance was very large," The premiums awarded amounted to nijiety-nine dollars and twelve cents.

In 1858 the idea of purchasing, or permanently leasing grounds on which to hold the annual exhibitions of the Society, was broached at a meeting of the members of the Board, and Dr. Oesterlin, I. N. Teatsorth, W. C. Cox and R. S. Mungen were appointed a committee to " view sites, and receive proposals for the purchase or lease of grounds on which to hold Fairs, and to report to the Board of Officers the result of their labors, at their next meeting, for theii- action thereon."

At that same meeting officers were elected as follows : Israel Green, President ; A. P. Byal, Vice President ; S. F. Gray, Secretary; A. M. Hollabough, Treasurer; and A. W. Strother, E. Karn, William Vance, William Martin, A. Leonard, A. F. Parker, Aaron Hall, John Moore, Daniel Alspoch, David Fox, Baker Hales and A. Hodge, Managers.

On the 9th day of February, 1868, the Board met and accepted the proposition of J. H. Wilson for the sale of eight acres of land adjoining East Findley, at one hundred dollars per acre, payable in three annual payments.

The interest and attendance at the Fairs of the Society so increased that it became necessary to look around for more extensive grounds, to accommodate the patrons of the Society.

Accordingly at a meeting of the Board in October, 1867, G. W. Galloway, John Markel and C. L. Turley were appointed a committee to receive bids for the sale of the old Fair Grounds and to report at the next meeting.

In July, 1868, the whole matter was referred to A. W. Frederick, John Markel and C. L. Turley, The old grounds were sold to Samuel Hoxter, and the Society purchased of Timothy Russell twenty and one half acres of ground just south of town, to which was afterwards added five acres, purchased of John Powell. Mr. Galloway was appointed to superintend the improvements of the grounds.

The Society now owns twenty-five and one half acres of ground, in a most beautiful location, which with the improvements, are worth at least ten thousand dollars, and their annual exhibitions are surpassed by none in the State.

The present officers are A. P. Byal, President; Ezra Karn, Vice President; Henry Greer, Treasurer; D. B. Beardsley, Secretary; and David Downing, Chester Cook, Isaac N. Teatsorth, Rufus R. Hartman, James ]\I. Van Horn, George Wilson, John Cusae, Isaac W. Marshall, John M. Moreland and Jackson Robbins, Managers.