Preble County, Ohio - Chapter 9: Agriculture and Stock Raising, 1915

Chapter 9: Agriculture and Stock Raising

Preble county is essentially an agricultural county, and one of the best in the state for the raising of all the crops grown generally by the farmers of our state. But some crops produce better results in certain parts of the county than in other parts, because there seems something in the soil that these crops demand. It is being admitted that the lands drained by Big Twin creek produce the best yields of wheat and tobacco, while the western part of the county is admitted to be the great corn-producing section of the county. Of course, there are farmers scattered over the county who may challenge those statements, but when the areas mentioned are considered as a whole, I think the statements will be admitted to be correct.

Corn does exceedingly well everywhere, and this fact has led our farmers to be great and successful raisers of hogs for market. A number of our citizens in the past, and some yet living, have devoted themselves to the improvement of the various breeds, notably Poland China, Duroc Jersey and Chester White, and are known in many states as successful breeders, bringing home many red and blue ribbons from various state fairs. In the year 1914, it is claimed that more than five hundred carloads of hogs were shipped to market, so that it may be said that the dying out of the distilleries increased the pork business.

The Fragrant Weed

The first tobacco raised in the county was in the Twin creek valley some twenty years previous to the Civil War. The raiser had trouble finding a buyer, but when he finally did sell, the crop was so remunerative that it induced him and some of his neighbors to continue the experiment, which they did with success. Its culture had secured a good start when the Civil War came, and the demand for cigar tobacco increased largely by reason of the lack of southern tobacco that had been largely used for smoking. This demand made the tobacco crop a much more paying crop than any other. It spread rapidly and has become a permanent feature, until today

There are also many cattle and horses raised in the county, but sheep seem to find less favor, there being less sheep in the county now than forty years ago. The reason may be that while the assessor's returns show less sheep, they also show more dogs. The assessor's returns show that there are one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three dogs and only five thousand two hundred and ninety-six sheep in the county in 1914, being a decrease of nearly three thousand sheep in four or five years.

The Preble County Agriculture Society, now called the Preble County Fair Board, was first organized in 1850, the charter members being, Levin T. McCabe, Jesse Stubbs, Newton Larsh, Peter Shidler, Jacob Smith, Henry Montfort, and Enoch Taylor, who have all been gathered to their fathers.

From Small Beginnings

The first fair was held in 1851, using the court house for the household display, while the stock show was held on the land south of Israel street, between Barron and Maple streets, which was then a field of the Hardin Bruce farm. The premium list called for three hundred and eleven dollars for the displays, which included all farm crops raised, and cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs. In 1852, the house display was made in a building on the east side of Barron street, just south of the first alley north of Main street, while the stock show was held on the land east of Barron street, and north of High street, which was then an open field. The admission was fifteen cents. In 1855, the society purchased ten acres of land east of the railroad and north qf the present fair grounds, and it continued to be held at that place with varying success. It becoming apparent each year that the grounds were inadequate, and after much discussion, the present fair grounds of about forty-five acres were purchased by the county commissioners in the name of the county in 1866. The society sold the old grounds and used the money in the erection of buildings on the new fair grounds, since which time it has been and is in reality a county fair, the board consisting of one member from each township and a president, or thirteen members in all.

From those small beginnings the fair has grown until today it is one of the best county fairs of the state. Each year may be seen all manner of stock and poultry, competing for the prizes, that have been successful competitors at the state fairs of this and neighboring .states, and they did not always win a prize in this county either. So much has it come to be recognized as a county institution, that most of the schools of the county close on Thursday and Friday of the fair week, and it seems that everybody and their cousins and aunts are at the fair, the grounds being crowded almost to overflowing. Conservative judges have placed the number at twenty thousand present on Thursday, several times in recent years; while some enthusiasts place it much higher. The fair is generally held in September, and, of course, the excellency of the races on Thursday and Friday bring many people. In 1914, it was claimed that over twenty-two hundred autos entered the grounds. Of course, each year our fair board advertises the fair far and wide. Those who attend once generally repeat, and on the two days mentioned the Pennsylvania railroad runs special trains, and the interurban railroad doubles its car service to carry and care for the crowds in attendance.

Every citizen of the county who holds a one dollar membership ticket has a vote for the fair board members, whose terms expire one half each year, which vote is generally cast on the last day of the fair. Our people are sensible enough to continue the members so long as they give us a good fair, but if they fail for a couple of years, the people swap horses. Hence for many years past no effort is spared to insure success, and at the fair, no matter what the provocation, each member of the board wears a smile that will not come off, while he is stem and unrelenting in his calling down fakirs, who are attempting a swindle. John Kaylor was prominent in organizing the first fair, and his son, J. J. Kaylor, was president of the fair board for a dozen or more years, retiring but a year or so ago. The disease must have got into the family blood.