Washington County, Ohio - Chapter 22: County Societies, 1881

Chapter 22: County Societies

Organization of the Marietta Historical Society in 1842 - The Present Washington County Pioneer Association, Organized in 1870 - Brief Notes of Some of its Meetings - -Its Officers - -List of Members - The Agricultural and Manufacturing Society of Washington and Wood Counties, Organized in 18r9 - The First Fair Held in 1826 - Premiums Offered for Wolf Scalps - The Present Washington County Agricultural and Mechanical Association, Organized in 1846 - List of its Officers.

Historical And Pioneer Associations

The first historical society which had an existence in Washington county, was organized in Marietta in 1842, as appears by the following circular, which was printed in the American Pioneer of that year, and which is believed to be the only record of the society in existence:

Marietta Historical Association

Ephriam Cutler, president; Arius Nye, vice-president; Caleb Emerson, corresponding secretary; Arius S. Nye, recording secretary; William R. Putnam, John Mills, A. T. Nye, curators.

It is not a little singular that the known and acknowledged importance of history has heretofore induced so little effort for its accuracy. The classification of history as a branch of fictitious literature would, alas! for it, be not altogether false. We have recent indications of better things to come. 'The formation of historical societies, local as well as general, is very encouraging. 'The Marietta Historical association aims to establish a library, cabinet, and repository worthy of the oldest settlement in Ohio. The members hope their zeal may prove not incommensurate with their views. But the efficiency of the institution must depend much on the aid of others.

That aid is invoked in the furnishing of books, pamphlets, newspapers, memoirs and manuscripts illustrative of western history, particularly of Ohio, and especially of the earlier settlements. The donation of books is asked as a contribution for public utility. Any book, publication, record, or manuscript, will be acceptable. The association hopes todo its share in the preparation of western history, and respectfully suggests the formation everywhere of like associations, holding friendly correspondence and rendering mutual aid.

A. T. Nye, esq., is authority for the statement that this society never held a meeting after the first, at which the organization was effected. Caleb Emerson, as its secretary, collected some valuable papers.

After 1842 no other historical or pioneer society had an existence in Marietta or Washington county until the present one came into being in 1870. The first mention of this organization was the following call:

: MARIETTA, November 19, 1869. Dear Sir: Of the company of forty-eight men that landed at this place on the seventh of April, 1788, or the members of those families that landed here on the nineteenth of August following, none are now living. A few that came out at a later period still survive. In Cincinnati, and other places, '' Pioneer Associations" have been formed, to keep alive the recollection of early events in the history of the State. It seems to us proper that in the oldest town in the State such an association should be formed. It has been deemed best to invite some of the sons of the pioneers to meet at the library room of the Marietta library on Tuesday, February 22, 1870, at 10 o'clock A. M:, to take into consideration the propriety of forming such an association for this county, and if deemed best to enter into such an organization. You are respectfuily invited to attend this meeting. Respectfully yours, which Enoch S, McIntosh, of Beverly, was appointcd chairman, and A. T. Nye, secretary. On motion of A. T. Nye it was resolved that it was expedient to organize a pioneer association in Washington county. On motion of John Mills, A. T. Nye was appointed to prepare and report to the meeting a constitution for the government of the proposed society. Mr. Nye reported the following, which was adopted:

Constitution Preamble

In view-of the fact that all the company of pioneers that landed at Marietta on the seventh day of April, 1788, and the several members of the first families that landed there on the nineteenth of August, of the same year, have passed away, and that time is also making inroads upon the children of our pioneer fathers, it seems important that some organization should exist, having in view the perpetuation of the memory of those pioneer fithers and mothers, and the collection of papers which may give valuable information in regard to the early history of this county and State, we deem it expedient to form a Pioneer Association for Washington county, and adopt the following constitution:

ARTICLE 2. The object of the association shall be to cultivate social intercourse with each other, to gather and preserve personal narratives of persons and events connected with the early history of Washington county and the State, and generally any other information which may be valuable as a part of the history of the county and State.

ARTICLE 3. Any person may become a member of this association by signing the constitution and paying annually the sum of one dollar to the proper officers of the association, provided such person lived in the State prior to the year 1830. The wives of any members may become members, although they may not have resided in the State as early as that year. The association may, by a majority vote of members present at any meeting elect corresponding members.

ARTICLE 4. The officers of the association shall be a president, vice-president, corresponding secretary, a recording secretary, treasurer, and an executive committee of five, who shall be elected by ballot annually, and who shall perform the duties usually assigned to such officers, and hold their offices until their successors are chosen.

ARTICLE 5. The annual meeting, at which the election of officers shall take place, shall be held on the seventh day of April, except when that day falls on Sunday, when the meeting shall be held on the Monday following.

ARTICLE 8. All moneys of the association shall be paid to the recording secretary, who shall make a record of the same and pay it over to the treasurer, taking his receipt for the amount.

ARTICLE 10. No alteration or amendment shall be made to this constitution except at an annual meeting and with the consent of not less than two-thirds of the members present.

After the adoption of the constitution the society adjourned, to meet in the afternoon at the same place. On coming to order at 2 o'clock Pp. M., the election of officers was taken up, with the following result: William R. Putnam, president; E. S. NcIntosh, vice-president; Samuel Shipman, treasurer; John M. Woodbridge, recording secretary; A. T. Nye, corresponding secretary. Executive committee: Augustus Stone, Sumner Oakes, George W. Barker, Henry Fearing, William Pitt Putnam.

intelesting progranime of services, opened with prayer by Rev. T. H. Hawks. The address, which was one of very interesting character, and highly appropriate to the occasion, was delivered by Dr. G. S. B. Hempstead, of Hanging Rock, Ohio, formerly of Marietta. This was followed by a narrative of Dr. John Cotton, prepared by Dr. S. P. Hildreth before his death, and read by Dr. J. Dexter Cotton. A. S. Curtis read a narrative of the Newberry settlement, made up of incidents which occurred soon after the location of that colony. The members of the association were photographed in a body. A collation was served in the new college building, after which the members enjoyed themselves socially, reviewing their reccollections of early years. In the evening historical exercises were again taken up, and a number of very interesting and valuable papers read.

Following are the present officers of the association: William R. Putnam,* president; E. S. McIntosh, vicepresident; A. T. Nye, corresponding secretary; W. F. Curtis, recording secretary; Beman Gates, treasurer. Executive committee: Henry Fearing, L. J. P. Putnam, I. W. Andrews, William P. Curtis, B. F. Hart.

The First Agricultural Society

At a meeting of a number of citizens of Washington county - and of Wood county, Virginia - held February 22, 1819, at McFarland's hotel in Marietta, was taken the first action looking toward the organization of the first agricultural society which had an existence in this immediate region. Captain Jonathan Devol was chosen chairman and A. 'IT. Nye clerk. A committee was chosen to form a constitution for a society and prepare an address to the people. Its members were Ephraim Cutler, Joseph Barker, and Alexander Henderson. They drew up the following constitution, which contains the rules on which the society was organized:

Favored with public patronage and encouragement agriculture and manufacture have ever been wont to flourish, especially whenever such favor has been bestowed in premiums on those who have excelled in the various productions of those great and important arts and a suitable spirit of emulation and enterprise thereby excited,

Under theseimpressions the subscribers have formed themselves into a society for the promotion and encouragement of improvements in agricuiture and domestic manufactures in the counties of Washington (Ohiv) and Wood (Virginia), and do hereby adopt the following articles as aconstitution of government:

ARTICLE 2. The officers of the society shall consist of a president, two vicepresidents, one recording and one corresponding secretary, and a treasurer, also a board of managers to consist of no more than twelve nor less than seven, provided always that the president and vicepresidents shall, ex oftcio, be members of the board.

ARTICLE 3. The society shall meet annually on the second Wednesday in November, unless otherwise provided by by-laws, at which meeting the officers of the society shall be elected (by ballot) by the members present, to hold their offices for one year or until others are elected in their stead.

ARTICLE 4. The board of managers shall have power to grant premiums as rewards of merit, exertion, discovery or improvement in the various branches of agriculture, economy in husbandry and useful domestic manufactures and the same to award, from time to time from the funds of the society; to make and establish such rules and by-laws as to them shall seem proper for the regulation and government of the society; and to do and transact all things necessary to carry into effect the intentions of this association.

ARTICLE 5. For the purpose of creating a fund to be used in promoting the object of this association, each member of this society on subscribing the constitution shall pay the sum of three dollars, and shall thereafter yearly and every year on or before the first day of February pay to the treasurer the like sum of three dollars, and in case of the non-payment thereof the person so neglecting shall be considered as voluntarily surrendering the privileges of his membership and no longer entitled to act in the society, but any member who may lose his membership by neglecting to make his annual payments, may be restored, on motion, atan annual meeting by paying up his arrearages, provided always that all payments made before the first day of January next shal] be considered as made for the year eighteen hundred and twenty.

ARTICLE 6. The funds of the society may be augmented from time to time by the patronage of the public; and in all cases where an individual shall bestow any money, or other article on the society for the purpose of encouraging any particular object within the institutions of the association, such donation shall be faithfully applied agreeably to the wishes of the donor.

ARTICLE 7. The first meeting of the society shall be at the court house in Marietta on the second Wednesday of November next, at ten o'clock A. M.

Address

FELLOW CITIZENS: Ina country like ours, extremely favorable to the production of all the necessaries and some of the luxuries of life, agriculture is and must be the grand source of public and individual prosperity. Itsinterests are inseparably interwoven with those of commerceand manufactures. To promote these interests, in the improvements of our agricultural products and domestic fabrics, is the object of this society.

That the most happy and beneficial effects have resulted in all countries from the establishment of such societies is beyondall question. In our own, particularly, have they been eminently useful in correcting erroneous habits of culture and giving Stimulus and facility to industry, by granting premiums to those who have excelled in practical husbandry, in domestic manufactures, in improving the different breeds of domestic animals and the various implements of husbandry.

To effect these desirable objects requires the exertions of experience and associated patriotism. Man is the child of habit. He is cold to precept and falters at experiment, but add the fame of example and you callinto action the energies of his body and mind to the accomplishment of every object within the reach of perseverance and industry. Among the first objects contemplated by the society for the improvement of our agricultural and manufacturing interests, are the collection of such interesting facts as are the results of practical information, and encouragement and reward of experiments and improvements requiring time, care, situation and expense, not within the reach of every individual, and thus promote the interest of all by the encouragement of industry and enterprise and the improvement of productive labor. For the attainment of these objects we solicit the patronage of a liberal and enlightened public.

A meeting was held in pursuance of the call (in "the seventh article of the constitution) at the court house and adjourned to the seventeenth of November, 1819. Upon that date there was a good attendance. Paul Fearing, esq., was chosen chairman and Dr. S. P. Hildreth clerk of the meeting. The business of organizing the society was then taken up and the choice of officers resulted as follows: President, Benjamin Ives Gilman; first vice-president, Christian Schultz; second vice-president, Wiliam R. Putnam; recording secretary, S. P. Hildreth; corresponding secretary, Nahum Ward; treasurer, David Putnum; board of managers, the president and vice-presidents, ex officio, with Ebenzer Battelle, John Griffith, J. B. Regnier, A. W. Putnam, A. Henderson, George Neale, Ephraim Cutler, Benjamin Dana, Paul Fearing.

But in that year, upon Octuber 18th, the agricultural and mechanical association had an exhibition at Marietta. The committee of arrangements consisted of Nahum Ward, S. P. Hildreth and John Mills. The president of the society at that time was Joseph Barker; the secretary, William A. Whittlesey; the marshal of the day, Captain F. Devol. A procession was formed in front of the court house, and escorted by a band of music, marched to the front of the congregational church, where president Barker delivered an address.

A dinner was served at three o'clock and the awards announced after the members of the society had regaled themselves. Henry Fearing took the first premium for the greatest crop of corn - nearly one hundred and five bushels per acre - a ten dollar Winan's plow. Colonel John Stone of Belpre got a similar premium for the largest yield of wheat, which was a little over thirty-two bushels peracre. He also received a ten dollar premium for the best corn and a similar one for the second best merino sheep. William P, Putnam had the second best crop of corn - ninety-eight and three-fourths bushels per acre. Stephen Dana, of Newport, had a premium for the best yield of potatoes - one hundred and seventysix bushels from half an acre of ground. Mrs. William P. Putnam took a premium for a specimen of linen, and O. R. Loring and Wm. P. Putnam for domestic cheese.

In the spring prior to the first exhibition (March, 1826) it was resolved at a metting of the society, that among the premiums should be given one of ten dollars to the person who should destroy the greatest number of wolves within the county between January 1, 1826, and October rst, of the same year, and that another of five dollars should be given to the person killing the next largest number. 'Two whelps under the age of six months were to be considered equal to one old wolf.

The Present Association

At a meeting held at the old court house in Marietta, June 24, 1846, with the Hon. Joseph Barker in the chair, and Darwin E. Gardner acting as secretary, this association was organized under an act of the legislature entitled "an act for the encouragement of agriculture," passed February 27, 1846, as the Washington County Agriculcultural society. At this meeting a constitution and bylaws were adopted, which continued in force as amended from time to time, until the adoption of its present constitution and by-laws. The present constitution was adopted by the board of directors August 5, 1875, and by the association at its annual meeting held Septeniber 9, 1875. The present by-laws were adopted by the board August 5, 1875.

At a meeting of the board held August 7, 1858, the name was changed to the Washington County Agricultural and Mechanical institute. At a meeting of the board, held June 29, 1867, the name was changed to the Washington County Agricultural and Mechanical association, its present name.

Fairs Of The Association

The officers of the society consisted of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and seven managers, elected annually by the society, until January 11, 1871, when the constitution was amended by increasing the number of managers to eight, dividing them into two classes, and providing for the election annually of four to serve two years, and also by vesting in the board instead of the society, the election of the secretary and

Vice-Presidents

[Owing to the war no fairs were held during the years 1861-6, and the managers elected at the annual meeting in 1860, held over until the annual meeting of 1867, except that June 15, 1867, Augustine Dyar was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of W. L. Rolston. |

Moses Blake, T. K. Wells, William: Thompson, John A, West, 1871 [January 11th, 1871, the number of directors was changed from seven to eight, and M. H. Needham was chosen as director. 'The directors were also at that time divided into two classes, and since then four are elected each year to serve for two years. |; George Davenport, Moses Blake, T. K. Wells, W. W. Northrup, William Thompson, James W. Nye, W. M. Buchanan, John A. West, 1872; William Thompson, James W. Nye, W. M. Buchanan, John A. West, W. W. Northrup, John Var'ey, Pemberton Palmer, T. K. Wells, 1873; W. W. Northrup, John Varley, Pemberton Palmer, T. K. Wells, William Thompson, James W. Nye, F. J. Cutter, Rufus Leget, 1874; William Thompson, F. J. Cutter, James W. Nye, Rufus Leget, A. A. Little, Theodore Devol, James Stevens, George R. Goddard, 1875; A. B. Little, Theodore Devol, James Stevens, George R. Goddard, William Thompson, James W. Nye, Rufus Leget, Robert Breckenridge, 1876; William Thompson, James W. Nye, Rufus Leget, Robert Breckenridge, A. B. Little, John C. Drake, F. J. Cutter, George R. Goddard, 1877; A. B. Little, George R. Goddard, F. J. Cutter, John C.- Drake, Robert Breckenridge, Joseph Wood, W. L. Bay, C. W. Knox, 1878; Robert Breckenridge, Joseph Wood, W. L. Bay, C. W. Knox, George R. Goddard, A. B. Little, F. J. Cutter, John C. Drake, 1879; George R. Goddard, A. B. Little, F. J. Cutter, John C. Drake, George W. Coffman,* I. B. Lawton,+ W. D. Devol, Jesse Sharp, John Blake, 1880; W. D. Devol, Jesse S. Sharp, John Blake, Robert Breckenridge, George Davenport, John Mills, jr., John Strecker, 1881.

Article

SECTION 2. - Object. - The object of this association shall be to promote the best interests of agriculture and mechanic arts, by disseminating useful information on those subjects, securing funds and distributing premiums, in accordance with the provisions of ''An act for the encouragement of agriculture," passed February 27, 1846.

Article Ii

SECTION 1, - Officers. - The officers of this association shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and eight managers, who shall constitute a board of directors for the general management of the affairs of the association.

SECTION 2. - Election of Officers. - The association shall annually, at the annual meeting, elect a president, vice-president, and four managers; and the board of directors shall, at the first regular meeting in each year, elect a secretary and treasurer for the current fair year.

SECTION 3. - Terms of Office. - The elective officers of the association, except when elected to fill an unexpired term, shall hold their respective offices for the terms following, to wit: The president, vicepresident, secretary and treasurer, one year, the managers, two years, and until their respective successors are elected.

SECTION 4. - Commencement of Terms. - The terms of office of the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer shall commence on the third Thursday of December in each and every year; and the term of office of the managers shall commence on the third Thursday of December next succeeding their election. :

SECTION 5. - Vacancies. - The board of directors may fill any vacancy occurring in the elective offices, but only for the unexpired term; provided, however, that when a vacancy occurs, by resignation or otherwise of a manager elected for two years, and previous to the annual meeting next succeeding such manager's election, then the board shall fill such vacancy only for the unexpired term of the first year of such manager's term, and the association at its annual meeting next thereafter, shall elect a manager for the second year of such unexpired term.

Article Iv

SECTION 1. - Membership. - -Any resident in Washington county, Ohio, of the age of twenty-one years, upon the payment of one dollar to the treasurer, may become a member of the association; and thereupon shall receive a membership ticket, entitling him to admission to the fair grounds during the annual fair held in the year for which such ticket is given; and the term of such membership shall commence on the day previgus to the first day of the annual fair held next thereafter.

SECTION 1, - Annual Meeting. - The annual meeting of the association shall be held at such time and place as may be designated by the board of directors, due notice of which shall be published.

SECTION 2. - Meeting of Board of Directors.--The board of directors shall meet on the third Thursday of December in each year, which meeting shall be the first regular meeting of the board for the ensuing year, and said board shall meet thereafter at such times as they may from time to time designate.