McDonough County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 18 of those read), 1878

Oil the sixteenth clay of April, 1855, a few citizens of this county, interested in Agricultural and Mechanical Arts, met in Macomb for the purpose of effecting an organization, having for its object improvement in the same. AV. J. Merritt was called to the Chair, and S. K. Pedrick appointed Secretary, iiemarks were made by various persons, and the feasibility and importance of the proposed organization discussed. A Constitution and By-Laws were then adopted, and the following officers elected for one year : President, Thompson Chandler; Vice Presidents, Joseph Lownes, William Brooking and S. K. Pedrick ; Corresponding Secretary, L. Jl. Waters ; Secretary, Joseph E. Wyne : Treasurer, Joseph P. LTpdegraii. An Executive Committee was also appointed, and books opened for membership.

The committee and ofhcers entered at once upon the discharge of their duties ; a fair was announced to be held on the second Thursday in October, continuing two days, and a list of awards were made out and a speaker engaged to deliver an address - Thomas Camp, a practical farmer of the county.

The old college grounds, now owned by Prof. Branch, was secured for the purpose of holding the fair. Saj^s the Macomb Enterprise of October 25th.

" Our county fair exceeded our most sanguine expectations. The weather was delightful, and the attendance on both days was very large. What surprised us most was the number of articles on exhibition."

Then followed a description of some of the most important, among which was Cy. Lawson's 800 pound pig, Broaddus' plows, Ilarker's hay rake, Price's Avashing machine, Harris' churn, some " 'orful' pumpkins, potatoes, wheat, and the handiwork of some of McDonough's fair daughters."

The officers, we believe, were all contiuned, and a fair announced for Thursday and Friday, October 9th and 10th, 1856. This exhibition was an improvement upon the other, and we may here remark that all exhibitions since have confined to improve. The exhibition was held at the same place as the year before, but the ground was found entirely too small for the purpose. Thomas E. Brannan delivered a most excellent address, and all w^ere well pleased with the success of the Society.

The next year the fair was held in the pasture of Thompson i Chandler, in the northwest part of the town. Like those previously held, the fair was a success in almost every respect, and it | was determined that rene>ved eiForts should be made to make the society efficient and permanent. The grounds were leased from Thompson Chandler, fenced and cleared for the purpose of holding the annual exhibitions, in which the people all manifested considerable interest. The fourth annual fair was held on these grounds, which are now known as the old fair grounds, and was well attended.

We cannot well help drawing a contrast between the fairs then and now. At that time, although they were spoken of as being successful, yet the entries w^ere few indeed, in comparison to what are now made each year. For years that old white bull of Thompson Chandler's was the principal attraction. Blooded stock was then scarce indeed. Ko such fine herds of cattle as are now owned and exhibited each year by Joseph Lownes, the Hustons and others ; no such droves of hogs as Work, Dixon and others show ; no imported horses like those of Westfall, Gloyd, Brooking, Rexroat and others own. Floral hall, at an early day, would blush if placed side by side with the magnificent structure now owned by the Society, and filled each year to overflowing. hS

For the first four or five years two days was all-sufficient to exhibit the few articles placed on exhibition. After this the society required three, then four, then five days, and now the entire week is required to satisfy the thousands who annually attend the McDonough county fair, the reputation of which is extending year by year, and even now it is no meaji competitor to the State fair. Articles are now brought to its exhibitions from all parts of the State, while other States, and even the Dominion of Canada, have contributed to its exhibitions.

The Society has been uniformly fortunate in its choice of officers. Thompson Chandler, the father of it, exerted himself nobly to make its exhibitions successful, and great credit is due to him for carrying it through the lirst years of its existence. Messrs. Joseph Lownes, J. P. Updegraff, William Pointer, Amos Dixon, and E. C. Knapp have each labored to promote the best interests of the Society. Joseph Burton, as Secretary, was an indefatigable worker, spending a great amount of time and money to bring the Society up to its present high standard.

During the last two years. Dr. W. O. Blaisdell has been President, and W. H. Ilainline, Secretarj'. These two gentlemen have co-operated together well in behalf of the Society, and are fully determined not to retrograde, or even stand still, their motto being -'onward and upward." There are no obstacles which they do not feel able to overcome, and which they will not overcome, if zeal, combined with pluck, will accomplish anything. The last two years there has been continued rain during the weeks of the fair: but notwithstanding, the people turned out very well, and the Society was enabled, from their receipts, to pay oti entire their large premium lists, dollar for dollar, as well as all their outstanding contracts. We do not believe there is another County Fair in the State that can say as much.

In 1867 the Society purchased their present grounds just south of the city, on which they have made improvements, including price of land, of over $10,000. They now own the finest and most convenient grounds in the State, and year by year, as their means will warrant, will continue to improve them.

The past year (1876) was the first in which it can be said there was anything having the appearance of a failure, and this not in respect to the number of articles on exhibition. Every department was well represented, but the elements combined against it, the rain pouring down almost constantly, so that the attendance was not one-fourth that of ordinary years. For twenty-one years the Society had paid its premiums dollar for dollar, with no debts ever protested. This year, however, the Society could only pay fifty cents on the dollar, and only that b}' the stockholders being assessed a very heavy per cent.

The present Officers and Board of Directors are as follows : President, AV. O. Blaisdell; Vice-President, Aaron P. McKee; Secretary, W. II. Hainline ; Treasurer, C. V. Chandler ; Directors, T. Chandler, J. C. Moore, A. Y. Brooking and J. W. Mcintosh.

In 3 870, the McDonough County Stock Association was regularly incorporated, and held its first exhibition in July of that year. Exhibitions were also held in 1871 and 1872. In 1873 the Association failed to have an exhibition, and the following year it united its fortunes with the Agricultural Society, and the two combined are now known as the McDonough County Agricultural and Stock Association.

Every citizen of the county should take an interest in the exhibitions of this Society, and should use his utmost endeavors to make the annual meetings a success. Xothiug tends more to incite men to action than the comparison of stock or the products of each, and we attribute in a great measure the advanced step taken by our people in the production of fine stock and the growth of the various products to the exhibitions previously held.