McHenry County, Illinois - Chapter 13: Agriculture and County Fairs, 1922

Statistics Registered Farm Names Importance Of Agriculture

When the pioneer settlers who came to McHenry County during the years 1834 to 1838, inclusive, secured their original farms, they were able to obtain the land from the government for the entry fee of $1.25 per acre. The settlers who followed a little later bought many acres of fertile land at prices but a little in advance of the government fee. Oftentimes they were able to purchase farms upon which considerable improvements had been made for sums so small as to seem incredible in these days of high prices. While they were engaged in tilling the soil, the importance and dignity of agricultural labor had not been recognized, aud the farmer operated his farm to obtain a living, not as a business proposition. For this reason, and the facts that land was plenty and transportation poor, the best acreage sold at low figures, and there was no special inducement to anyone who had the inclination to go into farming on an extensive scale.

With the building of the great railroad systems, thus bringing the farmer into closer touch with the centers of demand ; the installation of cars built upon the cold storage plan; the invention of labor-saving machinery, and the appliance of motor power, a complete revolution occurred,' and the man who owned farm land began to realize that he had a plant which, if properly conducted, would yield him a handsome

Many men who had been born and reared on farms, but later left them, lured to the cities by ambition and hope of riches easily obtained without the strenuous labor of the rural districts, returned to the soil, and put to practical use the lessons they had learned many years before. Those who had been sensible enough to remain on the farm expanded in every way, buying more land, put in modern equipment, and took advantage of the opportunities offered by federal and state government experimental stations. In fact, although somewhat late, the agriculturist came into his own.

With this expansion came an appreciable advance in land values. Twenty years ago the prophecj' that Illinois farm land would sell for at least $200 per acre, was laughed at. Now many McHenry County farmers are refusing $250 per aci'e and over for their holdings.

Within the past few years new conditions have arisen which will make the agriculturist still more important, for upon his shoulders rests the burden of feeding the world. It will be many years before the war-devastated area can be brought back to its former productiveness and it is to the United States that the rest of the world is looking, and will have to look for some years to come, for its very subsistence.

No manufacturer, banker, merchant, or professional man is today of more actual value to his generation than is the farmer who understands his work and takes an interest in it, and in rendering to humanity the service that lies in his power. Organization of the agricultural forces of the state and nation have, during the past few years, exerted a very marked and powerful influence upon the country's development. Granges, Farmers' Institutes, Agricultural Fairs, Farm Bureaus, Farmers' Elevators, Shipping Associations and other farmer organizations have all had much to do in placing agriculture in the higher position which it now holds in relation to the other industries.

The Farmers' Institute of McHenry County is a potent factor in progressive agriculture in the county. It holds one or more successful meetings each winter. The speakers engaged to address these meetings are men and women of recognized authority on the subjects they present and much good has been accomplished through the inspiration and enthusiasm engendered. In arranging excursions to the agricultural colleges, securing agricultural scholarships for the boys and girls, in encouraging improved methods and in many other ways the Farmers' Institute has been an influence for good to the agricultural interests of the county.

1898-1899 - President, George A. Hunt, Greenwood; vice-president, William A. Saylor, "West McHenry ; secretary, George L. Murphy, "Woodstock; treasurer, E. H. Cook, Huntley.

McHenry County was the third county in Illinois and among the first twenty in the United States to organize a Soil Improvement Association, or Farm Bureau, as it is called in many of the counties. This organization in McHenry County, which is a unit of the state and national associations, has had a very important part in the agricultural development of the state. A great many marked changes have taken place in the agricultural conditions in this county during the time which has intervened since the organization of the McHenry County Soil Improvement Association. This association was organized in February, 1913. Several members of the County Farmers Institute were instrumental in perfecting this organization. Among those most active in promoting this movement may be mentioned M. J. Wright and C. W. Hart of Woodstock, J. H. Turner of Hebron, H. E. Whipple, F. C. Wells, R. F. Marshall and T. H. Murray of Harvard, and Bert Thomas of Ringwood. Funds for the support of this organization have been received from the following sources:

For the year 1920 the supervisors appropriated $5,000 to be divided equally between the Soil Improvement Association, the Home Bureau and the Boys' and Girls' Club work. Additional funds for the work of the association are received from the membership fees. This fee was first placed at $5 per year, and afterward increased to $10 per year, one-half of the fee being paid for membership in the Illinois Agricultural Association. The membership fee was again increased at the beginning of the special drive for members in July, 1919, to $15. This fee of $15 also included membership in the state association, and in the American

Soon after the organization was formed, Delos L. James, a resident of the county and a graduate of the Illinois College of Agriculture, was employed as advisor for the association. He served in this capacity for three years. At the beginning of 1916 he left to accept the position of superintendent on ex-Gov. Frank 0. Lowden's Sinnissippi Farm at Oregon, 111. He was succeeded by Arthur J. Gafke, of Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Mr. Gafke is a graduate of the "Wisconsin College of Agriculture, 1910, and was agricultural advisor in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, several years. He came to McHenry County in 1916 and is still advisor for the county at the present writing.

Before this organization was formed not over five percent of the grain sown in the county was treated for smut. At the present time probably not five percent is untreated. This treatment has resulted in a gain of approximately 500,000 bushels of grain per year for the past two or three years, showing a good gain each year. The number of pure-bred sires used in the county is four times as great as were used five years ago. In one cow testing association only fifty percent of the members were using pure-bred sires at the beginning of the work. At the close of the year's work in 1917 all but one of the members had pure-bred sires.

The census of 1910 showed an acreage in the county of ten times as much timothy as alfalfa. The assessor's book for 1920 showed more than 5,000 acres seeded to alfalfa, the wonder crop, in McHenry County. More than 1,000 acres of this acreage being reported from McHenry Township. The wisdom of this is very apparent this season of 1921 when the first cutting of alfalfa is yielding one and one-half tons or more to the acre, while clover right beside in the same fields is yielding not over half a ton to the acre. This first cutting on some farms is being sold standing at prices ranging from $15 to $25 per acre. Along with alfalfa culture was begun the use of limestone.

In 1917 between 30 and 40 cars of limestone were used to correct the acidity of the soil and to permit the growth of bacteria on the roots of the legumes, the function of which is to draw nitrogen from the air and make it available for the use of the plants. Excellent results have also been obtained by the judicious use of i*ock phosphate,' of which nearly three thousand tons have been used in the county during the past five years.

applied to McHenry County soils. As a result of the use of lime and phosphate a much better quality of small grain, clover and corn has been produced. The yields have also been greatly increased. In some instances the yields have nearly doubled those of five and six years ago. Herbert Kiltz just doubled the yield of alfalfa on his farm south of Woodstock by the use of lime and rock phosphate. Good results have also been brought about by the proper spraying of orchards. Where it has been done thoroughly the codling moth, curculio and apple scab have been practically destroyed. This is particularly true in the orchards of Henry Street, Homer Whipple, Jacob Olbrich, R. E. Corlett, Bert Thomas, Wm. George, Frank Gustafson, E. G. Turner, and others.

Two standard varieties of corn adapted to the soil and climate have been established in the county, namely Murdock (yellow) and Wisconsin No. 7 (white), known also as Silver King. This is the outgrowth of the Boys' and Girls' Club work which was started in 1917 with 190 plats. The boys and girls sold 800 bushels of seed corn from these plats. The yield, even in 1917, a very poor corn year, were as high as forty bushels per acre of dry corn. This corn was acknowledged to be the best corn raised in the county that year. In the spring of 1918, when good seed was very scarce, the Farm Bureau distributed 2,800 bushels of seed corn among the farmers of the county at cost plus the actual expense of handling the corn. This project was financed by the American National Bank of Woodstock, the corn being selected from sections where it would be best adapted to McHenry County conditions. Much improvement has been made in the general yield of farm crops by the increased use of improved seed.

Much interest was manifested in the Boys' and Girls' Club work. In 1917 135 girls canned between 8,000 and 9,000 quarts mostly vegetables, a large part of which would otherwise have been wasted. The girls did this work themselves. The Boys' and Girls' Club work increased to such an extent that it became necessary to have a special man to take charge of it. T. H. Murray, of Harvard, Illinois, was selected for the club work in which he has been very successful. In 1918 there were 210 boys and girls growing Murdock corn ; 350 boys and girls in canning clubs; 125 boys and girls raising pigs, most of them being pure-breds and being raised for breeding purposes. In 1918 an exhibit of the McHenry County Club work was made at the Illinois State Fair. This exhibit won a number of the best prizes, including first on Corn Club Demonstration work by Chemung Township Team. Second, on canning demonstration work by the Ringwood team ; fourth place by the McHenry County Club in the pageant representing the different phases of the work ; first on canned fruit, exhibit by the Chemung club ; fourth on canned vegetables by the Ringwood team. In 1920 more than 700 boys and girls were enrolled in the club work which included Calf Club, Pig Club, Tractor Club, Corn Club, Potato Club, Cow Testing and Judging Club, and Garment and Canning Club. The major work with the boys consisted of the dairy problems, the object being to teach them how to select, judge, buy, feed and care for the cows. There were thirtyeight entrants in the judging contest at the county fair. Then prizes were awarded. A later contest was held at Waleowis Farms, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Five of the best in this contest were sent to the University of Illinois for three days' training. Four of these were selected to represent the state at the National Dairy Show against nineteen other states. The boys in this team were from ten to fifteen years of age. This team won first on judging Holsteins; second on all breeds; third on Guernseys. One of the boys, Edward Schutt, of Harvard, won sixth on Holsteins; Carl Anderson, McHenry, third on Holsteins; Clarence Doran, Harvard, won first on Holsteins; second on Ayrshires, third on all breeds. The team representing McHenry County won more places than any other team at the show. Clarence Doran won more places than any other boy in the contest. The major work with the girls was sewing. The Corn Club raised over 2,000 bushels of corn and sold 387 bushels for seed. The Pig Club produced 5,000 pounds of pork. The Potato Club raised 760 bushels of potatoes. The Canning Club canned 6,103 quarts of fruits and vegetables. The Garment Club made 631 garments. The Dairy Club kept records on feed and milk production on 437 cows. The club work of McHenry County ranks first in Illinois. This has been splendid training for the boys and girls and Mr. Murray is entitled to great credit for the success of the club work.

McHenry County now has a Farm Bureau, a Home Bureau, a County Holstein Breeders Association, and nine subsidiary organizations as follows : A Federal Farm Loan Association ; A Cow Testing Association ; A Farmer's Co-operative Association, and six Livestock Shipping Associations. Twenty-one farmers have availed themselves of the privilege of the Federal Farm Loan to date. $150,000 was loaned to farmers of the

The managers of the Livestock Shipping Associations at the various points are as follows : Marengo, Max Wilson ; Harvard, Adam Weaver ; Woodstock, Fern Rogers; Hebron, Henry Mickle; Spring Grove, John Kattner ; Pleasant Valley, F. J. Sleezer.

Mr. E. A. Carncross, graduate of the Wisconsin College of Agriculture, 1912, and later agricultural advisor at Green Bay, Wis., was employed as Assistant Advisor in October, 1919. He had charge of the cow testing, shipping associations and other livestock work which he handled in a satisfactory manner. Mr. Carncross resigned early in 1921 to accept the position of agricultural advisor in Du Page County, 111. The officers of the McHenry County Farm Bureau since its organization are as follows: 1913, H. E. Whipple, Pres.; T. H. Murray, Vice Pres.; A. M. Shelton, Secy. ; Fremont Hoy, Treas. 1914, H. E. Whipple, Pres. ; T. H. Murray, Vice Pres. ; A. M. Shelton, Secy. ; Fremont Hoy, Treas. 1915, H. E. Whipple, Pres. ; T. H. Murray, Vice Pres. ; A. M. Shelton, Secy. ; Fremont Hoy, Treas. 1916, H. E. Whipple, Pres.; T. H. Murray, Vice Pres.; A. M. Shelton, Secy. ; Fremont Hoy, Treas. 1917, H. E. Whipple, Pres. ; Wm. Bonslett, Vice Pres.; A. M. Shelton, Secy.; Fremont Hoy, Treas. 1918, H. E. Whipple, Pres.; John R. Wells, Vice Pres.; D. T. Smiley, Secy. ; Fremont Hoy, Treas. 1919, H. E. Whipple, Pres. ; John R. Wells, Vice Pres.; D. T. Smiley, Secy.; John M. Hoy, Treas. 1920, H. E. Whipple, Pres.; John R. Wells, Vice Pres.; C. W. Gibbs, Secy.; Jacob Olbrich, Treas. 1921, John R. Wells, Pres. ; H. C. Gilkerson, Vice Pres. ; C. W. Gibbs, Secy. ; Jacob Olbrich, Treas.

A county Holstein Breeders Association was formed about ten years ago, and in 1914 this association put out an advertising booklet that was not surpassed by any other at that time, and the association had a good start but for some reason it was allowed to go down. However, in the spring of 1919 through the efforts of Advisor Gafke the association was reorganized and as a result of the work fifteen or more of the members have placed their herds under Federal supervision. It is the determination of the members to have their herds placed on the accredited list as being free from tuberculosis. Among the herds so tested may be mentioned F. M. Barber, B. L. Thomas, J. O. Tupper and Henry Eppel, Woodstock; W. H. Gardner, Solon Mills; R. W. Stewart and A. D.

Cornue, Hebron; H. C. LaBrec and R. E. Corlett, Harvard; and C. W. Gibbs, West McHenry. The officers ofi the Association are as follows: President, C. W. Gibbs, West McHenry; Vice President, Don Geyer, Crystal Lake; Second Vice President, R. E. Corlett, Harvard; Secretary, R. W. Stewart, Hebron ; Treasurer, B. L. Thomas, Ringwood.

After a short preliminary organization work the Home Bureau of McHenry County was organized in June, 1918, for the purpose of putting homemaking on a sounder basis. The officers elected the first year were, President, Mrs. E. E. Seward, Marengo; Vice President, Mrs. G. A. Miller, Woodstock; Secretary, Mrs. Fred B. McConnell, Woodstock; Treasurer, Mrs. Will Hoy, Huntley. Executive Committee: Mrs. D. T. Smiley, Woodstock; Mrs. E. G. Turner, Richmond; Mrs. Jack Walsh, McHenry ; Mrs. J. C. Furlong, Spring Grove ; Mrs. A. J. Gaf ke, Woodstock, and Mrs. W. E. Doyle, Harvard. Miss Eva Blair, of Sullivan, 111., was employed July 1, 1918, as Home Advisor. She gave lectures and demonstrations in the organized townships on such subjects as canning, household equipment, gardening and poultry raising. Under her direction special schools in poultry raising and clothing conservation were carried on with the help of specialists from the university of Illinois. During the war the problems of the Home Bureau were mostly those of conservation of food and clothing. After the war its activities were broadened to assist in the development of all sides of home life and to cooperate with all organizations intended to benefit the community. In July, 1919, Miss Blair left to become Assistant State Leader in Extension Work in West Virginia, and Mrs. Mary B. Dalbey was employed as Home Advisor. Special effort has since been put upon beautifying home grounds, home management, and child welfare. As a result of the child welfare work hundreds of children have been weighed and measured, and the hot school lunch has been established in many of the rural and town schools. The Home Bureau office was combined with the Woman's Club Rest Room in the courthouse at Woodstock, making a convenient place to come for help in Home Economic. The officers for the year beginning July, 1920, are as follows : President, Mrs. Henry Echternach, Marengo ; Vice President, Mrs. G. A. Miller, Woodstock; Secretary, Mrs. L. A. Stockwell, Marengo; Treasurer, Mrs. E. G. Turner, Richmond; The Executive Committee, Mrs. Jack Walsh, McHenry; Mrs. B. C. Bottum, Woodstock; Mrs. M. G. Shipton, Woodstock; Miss Mary Stevens, Marengo; Mrs. Frank Silliman, Woodstock.

Agricultural Societies

The McHenry County Agricultural Society was organized in 1852. Capt. William H. Stewart and Colonel J. M. Strode were appointed on the organizing committee, but most of the work devolved on Captain Stewart, who drafted the constitution and by-laws and was the prime mover in a laudable enterprise. He became the society's first secretary and treasurer. William Jackson was elected the first president. This organization remained as an agricultural society until 1874, when it availed itself of the offer made by the State, and then was under the name of the "Agricultural Board of McHenry County." For several years after organizing the society held its fairs in the streets of various villages of the county. Rail pens were built to hold the live stock, and rooms were rented in which to exhibit the "fine arts." By 1859 the society with the county had grown materially so that this society purchased ten acres of land, which formed a part of the later fair grounds so much appreciated by the county - just to the east of the city of Woodstock. There they built better shedding for the stock and held their annual fairs until 1866, when they organized a life membership, with an admittance fee of $20. Over one hundred names were added to this list, and this allowed the society to afford better accommodations, to enlarge its grounds which was carried out by purchasing five acres to the south of the first tract. They also then erected an agricultural hall, observatory, ticket office, etc. In about 1868 the society bought seven acres more to the north, making twenty-two acres in all. Here one finds a good halfmile track and here have been held some of the largest fairs in Illinois. Other improvements have been made with the passing years and much interest has been manifested and doubtless much of the present high standard of farm-life in the "Kingdom of McHenry" has been due to the efforts of those who have kept the county fairs alive, until the younger generation has caught the spirit of the age, and are not satisfied with less than the best in everything pertaining to county fairs.

Under the first society, the last executive board was composed of the following: D. E. Peck, Thomas McD. Richards, J. A. Wood, E. H. Seward, Robert Stewart, Richard Wray, E. Buck and J. E. Beckley. This was in 1872 when the old society changed to the new order of things and was thereafter known as the McHenry County Agricultural Board.

The amounts paid in premiums in the early years of the fair were very liberal considering the fact that very little encouragement was given county fairs through state appropriation. Prior to 1907 $200 was the largest appropriation any county or district fair could receive from the state and all received the same amount regardless of merit. In 1907 McHenry County started the organization known as The Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs. This organization secured a state appropriation for each fair of a sum equal to forty percent of the amount paid in premiums. This was afterward increased to sixty percent on the first $1,000 ; fifty percent on the second $1,000 j fort}' percent on the third $1,000 ; and thirty percent on the fourth $1,000 paid out in premiums. In 1867 the amount paid for premiums at the McHenry County Fair was $866.50; in 1868 it was $637.39; in 1875 it was $1,180.79; in the period from 1895 to 1901 from $1,400 to $1,600 was paid out for premiums not counting the money expended for speed. From 1903 to 1910, George A. Hunt, Secretary, the premiums were increased from $1,800 to $3,100 per year. In 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914, Theodore Hamer, Secretary, the premiums were $3,014, $3,028, $3,746 and $3,654. In 1915, P. R. Forman, Secretary, $3,019 was paid in premiums; in 1916, W. C. Bartelt, Secretary, $1,948 was the amount paid. In 1917, P. R. Forman, Secretary, $1,696.50 was paid in premiums. In 1918, Guy E. Still, Secretary, $1,110.70 was paid in premiums. In the years 1919 and 1920, Hoyt E. Morris, Secretary, $2,255 and $3,427.75 were the amounts paid.

During the years 1903 to 1910, inclusive, improvements to the value of over $10,000 were placed on the grounds of the society. The names of the presidents and secretaries of the McHenry County Fair since 1867, are as follows :

To A. S. Wright belongs the distinction of having served the society as secretary longer than any other incumbent of the office. He was first elected in 1880 and served for the years 1881 to 1889 inclusive, making nine consecutive years, and again in 1898, 1899 and 1900, making twelve years of service for the association. Mr. Wright made an ideal secretary and was a persistent advertiser. During the years in which he officiated as secretary, and by his invitation the association had the honor of entertaining many noted men. In 1882 General Oglesby, General Black, Gen. J. C. Smith, General Raum, General Chetlain, General Beem, and the French Consul, Edmond Bruevaert, were guests of the fair. In 1883 General Longstreet, Governor Hamilton, Hon. David Littler, Gen. Clark

E. Carr, and ex-minister Washburn were the association's guests. In 1884 Gen. John A. Logan, General Black, General Torrance, General Beem and Governor Fairchild were the guests of honor. In 1886 Hon. A. J. Hopkins, and in 1887 Hon. Samuel Randall of Pennsylvania, Hon. A. E. Stevenson, Vice President of the United States from 1893 to 1897, Congressman William Springer, Congressman Joseph G. Cannon, and

Hon. Joseph Fifer were the county's guests. In 1889 Gen. Russel A. Alger, and Lt, Gov. Lyman Kay visited the fair. Senator Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois, and Senator "Long" .lours of Wisconsin, visited the fair in 1899 and gave addresses to the old Bettlers of whom more than 300 registered their names at the Secretary's office. Gov. Frank 0. Low den visited the fair in 1917. Gov. John M. Palmer of Illinois, Governor St. John of Kansas, Gov. Richard Yates and many other noted nun have visited McHenry County at various times as guests of the county fair.

There is a strong probability that the Fair Association will be incorporated as a stock company in the near future. If this is clone it will undoubtedly result in a better business organization and with the strong movement under way for road improvement, and the increasing use of automobiles the future success of the fair should be assured.

Other Fairs

M. Zimpelman of Marengo was Vice President of the Illinois State Fair from the Eleventh District and Superintendent of Machinery for the years 1889 and 1900. He was succeeded the following year by C. F. Dike of Crystal Lake who served as Vice President from this District and served as Superintendent of Machinery for sixteen consecutive years, or until his death which occurred March 6, 1916. Charles Gilkerson, of Marengo was Assistant Superintendent of Dairy Products at the Illinois State Fair for the years 1908, 1909, 1910 and 1911. He was also Superintendent of Dairy Products at the National Dairy Show at Chicago for several years, also at Springfield, Massachusetts and Columbus, Ohio. George A. Hunt, of Woodstock, made exhibits of agricultural products for McHenry County at the Illinois State Fair in 1901 and 1902, winning first premium for the county both years. The exhibit for 1902 consisted of six tons of products. A reproduction of this exhibit was made at the McHenry County Fair in 1903. The grains and grasses and the samples of wood from this exhibit wei-e selected by the Illinois Commission to show at the World's Fair at St. Louis, 1904. Mr. Hunt was appointed Superintendent of Illinois Dairy Products for the World's Fair at St. Louis, 1904. The spectacular feature of this exhibit was the bust statues of President Grant and President Lincoln, made with pure creamery butter. Mr. Hunt secured the services of the well known sculptor, Leonard Crunelle, for this work.

Marengo Agricultural Board

111 1872 a Driving Park Association was formed in the village of Marengo, consisting of J. M. Anderson, R. M. Patrick, T. II. St. John, L. W. Sheldon, A. H. Vail, Calvin Gilbert, S. K. Bartholomew, W. A. Boice, Calvin Spencer and a few others. The association leased of Calvin Spencer for a term of years; also went to considerable expense in grading the track and erecting an amphitheatre, but after holding two exhibitions found it to be a financial failure. The association dissolved, and the property and lease fell into the hands of a few of the former members, who tried to run it for a time, hoping that foreign horsemen might come in and take it off their hands. Failing in this they turned the property over to an Agricultural Board which was soon formed at Marengo, consisting of A. Jones, R. M. Patrick, E. H. Seward and Calvin Spencer. These gentleman ran the grounds three seasons longer, when a state charter was secured and 220 shares of stock were issued at $10 per share. Under this plan Marengo held several excellent annual fairs, but between 1885 and 1890 the enterprise was discontinued. Their mile track was the wonder of horsemen everywhere. They had an amphitheatre holding 1,000 people, and ninety box stalls.

Kishwaukeb Farmers' Club

This was the name given to a club formed in March, 1875, in Marengo Township, through the efforts of Messrs. Israel Boice, T. McD. Richards and Patterson Pringle, who met at the house of Mr. Richards early that spring, and after discussing the feasibility of the matter among themselves, selected fifteen of the best neighboring farmers to join them. Their plans were heartily accepted by all, and it was not long before the club had a membership of more than fifty farmers. They held their meetings once a month, at the residence of some of their members, where they discussed in a friendly manner various modes of farming, in all branches of agriculture, horticulture, stockraising, dairy business, etc.

Some member was appointed at a previous date to prepare or secure a lecture on some given topic and this was read at the next meeting. The wives and daughters of the members had a part in the work, as well as the men, for they, it was supposed, would furnish the "eats" for as many as might be present, and this they did with cheerfulness. The first one to act as president of this early farmers' club was Thomas McD. Richards, and he held the position for six years, and was succeeded by

Fak.M Statistics

George A. Hunt, who had charge of the county agricultural exhibits at the Illinois State Fair in 1901 and 1902, and Director of Farm Institutes fur the Eleventh Congressional District published a neat booklet which accompanied the exhibit from McHenry County, and that publication contained many facts, including the following:

"The area of McHenry County is G12 square miles. Its population is about 30,000. (The present population of McHenry County, as shown by the Federal Census of 1920, is 33,164.) The chief industries are agriculture, dairying and stockraising, nevertheless there arc a large number of manufacturing establishments in this county, where many persons are employed. The soil over a large portion of the county is a deep dark loam with clay sub-soil admirably adapted to retain moisture. There is very little untillable land and a crop failure has never been known."

In speaking of crops, Mr. Hunt remarks that "Corn is the staple one, 100,000 acres being devoted to it ; average per acre from forty to fifty bushels, making a total of from four to five million bushels per year. The oats crop is second in importance, the acreage being 50,000 acres with an average yield of from thirty-five to forty-five bushels per acre. The total crop is usually about 2,000,000 bushels of oats."

"About 2,000 acres are devoted to Irish potatoes which go as high as 300 bushels per acre and sell at an average price of from forty to eighty cents per bushel" (remember, this was written in 1901).

At the time this booklet was written there were more creameries in McHenry County than in any other county in the United States. At the present writing there is not a creamery in active operation in the county.

McHenry County has about 75,000 head of cattle; 10,000 head of sheep; 17,000 horses; 100,000 hogs; poultry and eggs sold to fully $100,000 besides all that are consumed in the farmers' homes.

Again in 1914, in a book prepared for the Holstein Breeders' Association, he states: "McIIeijry County, Illinois, is in the center of the greatest dairy region of the world. This county contains more than 50,000 cows, producing over 200,000 tons of milk annually, a large portion of which finds its way to the Chicago market."

Under a recent-time legislative provision any farmer who pays a recording fee of $1 is entitled to have his landed estate given a select name - no two to be alike in the same county - and the same property recorded in the book made on purpose and kept in the county recorder's office. Also he is entitled to a printed certificate of the same, showing name, name of farm, and location of same. Many of the landowners here have taken out such certificates and had them neatly framed and hung upon their home walls. Up to this date (1921) the following is a list of such registered farms, the numerals refer to section, township and range of such tracts of land :