Morrow County, Ohio - Chapter 1, 1880 (part 2 of 2)

The county is far behind the most of its neighbors, having but nine miles of graveled pike, and that until recently a toll-road, and not a single foot of plank road. This graveled road has recently been abandoned, and is in as poor a condition, at this writing, for teaming purposes, as the mud roads. This feature is the more important from the fact that it often happens that in the winter the farming community is practically travel-bound for two or three months. One of the important drawbacks to improvement in this direction is the absence, as it is thought, of any considerable deposit of gravel in the county ; but a more insuperable obstacle lies in the impenetrable conservatism of the farmers who are most to be benefited by the improvement. The bridging of the county is not an important item of expense. The forks of the Whetstone are the only considerable streams in the county, which can be easily spanned anywhere in one hundred feet. The old covered bridges, the early favorites of the county, are fast passing away. Of late years, all bridges of spans of fifty feet and upward have been constructed of iron, there being now in the county some fifteen of these structures, built principally within the last five years.

Among the agricultural institutions of the county should be mentioned a horticultural society, which maintained an existence for a few years, about 1865. The principal movers in this project were M. Lewis, John Gardner and Mr. Albach. Horticulture requires so much study and persevering research, that it seldom finds the favor or support that it deserves with the general farming community, and here, as in most small villages, the society died out by the removal or the increasing age of the few who were its life. For some years, the display of this society at the fair was a marked and interesting feature, and it has accomplished much for the fruit growing of the county. The Morrow County Fair Association was formed in 1850, and held its first exhibition on the 17th of October of that year, on the grounds now owned by Bradford Hull on North Main street, Mount Gil- ead. There were no premiums, no admittance fees no inclosure, and but little exhibition. The principal feature remembered now, is the riding on horseback of certain ladies, who displayed their equestrian abilities to the admiration of the gathered people. The exhibitions were held here for two or three years, when seven acres were purchased on the east side of Main street, just south of the Whetstone. These grounds were inclosed, suitable buildings erected, and later a fine fountain was constructed which proved a very attractive feature of the grounds. In 1867, thirty acres were purchased on the west side of the street, where the fair is now held. The grounds are well laid out, furnished with every convenience for the exhibition of stock, fruits and vegetables, and manufactures, and are provided with one of the best half-mile tracks in the State. The early founders of this association struggled against a great many difficulties, not the least of which was the apathy manifested toward the project by the farmers. For years a few chosen spirits did the work, made the entries, and drew the premiums to be turned back into the society's treasury to help pay expenses. Of late years, there has been some improvement in this respect, but the interest has not yet reached the point where the highest success can be attained. Among the early movers in this matter may be mentioned G. Winters, John Dumble, A. H. Wrenn, W. S. Irwin, Joseph Mozier. Dr. Bebee, William F. Bartlett, Samuel Hayden and John Farley. In 1857, the society secured Cassius M. Clay, to deliver the annual address. He was in Ohio at that time, on a political tour, and he cordially responded to the request of the association. There were about fifteen thouand persons present to hear him, a number that would have been largely augmented had the board felt certain enough of his coming to advertise the fact extensively. In the evening, Mr. Clay made a political speech, which won him hosts of admiring friends in the county. In 1857, an independent fair was held at Chesterville, called the " Chesterville District Fair." This was continued for a few years when it passed away. An attempt was made a year or two ago to secure permission of the Legislature to raise a tax of 3-lOths of a mill for fair purposes. This proposition was so violently opposed by many of the farmers, that the subject was never seriously considered by the Legislature. Public opinion has since been changing and many who have received from $5 to $10 in premiums from the association began to feel that it is no more than right to pay a single levy of $2 or $5 in return. The efiect of the associaton upon the farming population is marked, and has had no small share in bringing about the general progress which has been made in the agricultural education of the country community. In substantial educational attainments, in moral culture, and in social accomplishments, Morrow is the peer of any agricultural county, and her progress in these directions seem only to have reached the morning of their development.

The following results of meteorological observations made at Urbana, latitude 40° 6' north, longitude 84° 43' west, for this region, are here appended. They were made by Milo G. Williams, in accordance with the methods adopted by the Smithsonian Institution, the hours of observation being 7 A. M., 2 P. M., and 9 P. M.