Bureau County, Illinois - Chapter 28: County Agricultural Society - the Improved and Unimproved, 1885

? published for a meeting of the people to organize a County Agricultural Society to meet in the Court House. This was signed by J. I. Taylor, John H. Bryant, Alfred F. Clark, H. V. Bacon, Lazarus Reeve, R. T. Templeton, Benjamin Newell, Justus Stevens, J. V. Thompson and Stephen G. Paddock.

The meeting convened - Caleb Gushing, Chairman, S. G. Paddock Secretary. R. J. Woodruff, Arthur Bryant and Thomas S. Elston were appointed a committee to draft an address to the farmers, and prepare a constitution and by-laws for the society. S. G. Paddock was appointed Corresponding Secretary, and Milo Kendall his assistant. The proceedings were ordered to be published in the Post.

The second meeting convened July 7, 1855 - Austin Bryant, Chairman, S. G. Paddock, Secretary. Favorable reports were received from the various townships. The Committee on Address reported. The constitution read and adopted. One thousand copies of the address and constitution were ordered printed. The committee was thanked for its able address and constitution. The Society permanently organized, and elected the following officers: President, R. J. Woodruff; Vice-President, W. R. Bruce; Secretary, S. G. Paddock; Treasurer, R. T. Templeton; Directors, Hezekiah W. Terry, Alpheus Cook, V. Aldrich, Thomas Grattige, Fred. Moseley.

At the meeting February 10, 1859, Mr. Thompson offered a resolution reciting that there was much grumbling about the management of the society, therefore resolved we dissolve it. This was voted down, and an amended constitution was adopted. The new officers elected at this meeting were: H. C. Field, President; W. E. Brace, James M. Dexter and Ira P. Evans, Vice- Presidents; S. G. Paddock, Eecording Secretary; E. S. Phelps, Corresponding Secretary; E. T. Templeton, Treasurer; and William Trimble, John B. Crosby, Aquilla Triplett, L. D. Whiting and Thomas Tustin, Directors. A general committee of one from each township was appointed as follows: Clarion, David Wells; Lamoille, J. P. Knight; Ohio, Charles Wood; Walnut, O. Chapman; Greenville, J. M. Draper; Fairfield, Whicher Dow; Westfield, William Morrison; Berlin, Julius Benedict; Dover, Joseph Morrison; Bureau, C. D. Trimble; Manlius, M. Carpenter; Gold, A. Morrissey; Hall, E. C. Hall; Selby, Joseph N. Kies; Princeton, C. T. Wiggins; Center, N. C. Monrose; Concord, I. L. Sweet; Mineral, T. Grattige; Leepertown, D. F. Mc- Elwain; Arispie, Alanson Benson; Indiantown, Asy Barney; Macon, W. H. Patterson; Brawby, William Norton; Wheatland, S. M. Clark; Milo, I. G. Freeman.

officers were re-elected, except Dr. Woodruff, was elected Corresponding Secretary. The new Directors were: Fred Moseley, M. L. Goodspeed, Alpheus Cook, John V. Cottrell, and Edward C. Hale. The old general committee was re-appointed, except K. S. Steinhauer for Milo, and J. W. Bush for Ohio.

September 4, 1862, it was resolved to postpone the fair for that year. Old officers reelected. In 1863 C. P. Allen became the Eecording Secretary. It was resolved to hold a four days' fair, commencing October 6. S. G. Paddock became Corresponding Secretary, and B. S. Farris, Treasurer. In 1864 J. C. Weeks, President; John G. Buback, Eecording Secretary; C. P. Allen, Treasurer. In 1865 H. C. Fields again President; C. D. Trimble, Secretary; Directors, John Clapp, tary; M. C. Clark, Assistant; B. F. Cox, Super! atendent of Grounds. In 1878 the gate money was $2,281.42. The society was then in debt $4,100. The next year A. C. Boggs was President. Other officers and Directors re-elected. 1882, G. N. Palmer, President; Ellis B. Wood, W. T. Lewis, William McManis, Vice- Presidents; J. W. Templeton, Secretary; David Knight, Superintendent Grounds; Atherton Clark, Marshal. Total receipts, $5,239.75. Disbursements, $5,162.45. Clark Gray, Secretary _ 1883, John Grossman, President; Ellis B. Wood, William T. Lewis, Robert Hunter, Vice-Presidents; M. C. Clark, Secretary; C. A. McKinney, Assistant; C. G. Gushing, Treasurer; P. H. Zeigler, Superintendent Grounds; A. Dunbar, Marshal; Directors, Edward Dow, J. M. Draper, L. K. Thompson, James Dunbar, D. P. Smith, Willet Groves, N. Spratt, Daniel Weirick, TJ. J. Trimble, Henry G. Wells, R. Braden, Herman Gray, Edward Murphy, S. D. Abbott, Isaac D. Page, A. C. Boggs, Cyrus Colton, A. W. Walton, S. J. Miller, William Crissman, J. W. Harris, Ed White, A. R. Griswold, M. A. Lewis, Ed Borup. Gate fees this year were: Hacks, $37; single admissions, teams, etc., $2,596.15. Total receipts, $5,006.65. Disbursements, $4,868.49. Debt of society, $3,369.45. 1884, E. B. Wood, President; Vice-Presidents same as last year, except William Buswell, Third Vice- President; Treasurer, E. A. Washburn; Marshal, Ed White; Directors same as last year except Frank Rawson, in place of S. J. Miller; J. Stephens, wee M. A. Lewis; Frank Rawson vice Ed White.

The annual exhibit of 1884 was by far in all respects the most successful county fair, both in display and attendance, ever yet held in the county. The gate money on Thursday reaching the large figures of a

From 1856, the first year a county fair was held, to 1884, there was only one year, and that on account of the war, but that a regular county fair has been held. This was about the first that county fairs were organized in the different counties in the State. It has been only a few counties, but that the life of the county organization has been fitful and uncertain, and often running for some years, then disbanding and reorganizing, and in many the grounds have been allowed to go to creditors, and the improvements to decay or removed from the grounds. The opposite of this has been true in Bureau County. There has been a steady and continuous growth, and to-day it may be called a permanent and one of the most valuable institutions in the countv. The society owns valuable and very convenient grounds - comprising over sixty acres of land - and extensive and permanent houses, sheds, stalls, amphitheater, and all the conveniences of the well-equipped fair ground; is but a little in debt, and altogether may well be classed as one of the most prosperous agricultural fairs in the State. The people of the county are peculiarly agricultural in their pursuits. The county is without great towns and cities; until the present year (1884) there has never been a charter city in the county. There were simplytwentyfour postoffices, small villages and trading points. The whole was a vast aggregation of rich farms, and in the county were nearly 30,000 people identified with agriculture - nearly the entire population, and all directly, therefore, dependent upon the warm and generous soil, spread in such rolling splendors about them. In the county are 463,993 acres of improved land, exclusive of 5,300 at least $20,000.000. The total average in the county, improved and unimproved, ex- j elusive of town lots, 546,638 acres. It is i all rated on the Assessors' books as improved land except 82,637 acres. Think of all this agricultural wealth. The total tax of the county for 1884 is $269,665.59. And within the memory of persons yet living in the county, Charles S. Boyd paid the county tax one year - 70 cents.

There are several counties in Illinois which can show a larger tax-roll each year than Bureau County. But no exclusively agricultural county can. Every county that can or does pay as much has large cities, towns, and various manufactories within its borders.

each. There are fifteen water crafts and steamboats in the county; average value assessed $329.85. And $159,245 in goods and merchandise. The total manufactured articles in the county, 4,080. And agricultural machinery $46,439. Total of all personal property in the county, assessed $2,- 007,052. The total tax of the county, from all sources, 1883, was $280,695.

It will be noticed that the manufactured articles in the'county are infinitesimal compared to the resources of the county in other respects.