Clinton County, Indiana - Chapter 14: Agricultural, 1913

The early agriculture of Clinton county was somewhat primitive, from the necessities of the case. Agricultural implements had not reached a high state of development anywhere, and on the frontier, where the settler had trouble enough transporting his family, and the absolute necessities of life, nobody bought any fancy machinery. Practically all plows had wooden moldboards, usually home-made, and some of them did not have the iron point and share which made a "bar-share plow." The harrowing was done with bushy topped saplings, drawn over the sowed fields. Everything that could be made at home was home-made, and with few tools. The farmer who had a saw and an augur, in addition to his ax, was pretty well supplied. Of course these conditions gradually changed as the country became more settled, but the process was much slower than the present generation realizes.

The finer breeds of stock were unknown for over twenty years after the first settlement of the county, and the lack of transportation caused many things that are now produced for sale, such as butter, milk, eggs, and poultry, to be raised almost wholly for home consumption. There was not so much need for raising animals for meat while game was fairly abundant, and the principal domestic animals used for food were hogs. These were of the "razor-back" variety, and in early days many of them ran wild and. were hunted as "wild hogs." Bees were not kept, but occasionally a "bee-tree" yielded a supply of honey. Some fruit trees were planted at an early day - mostly apples - but not of choice varieties as a rule.

It was worth a farmer's while to know some things then that are not of much importance now. One of them was the dressing and curing of skins of fur-bearing animals. These always had a cash value - indeed, sometimes served all the purposes of money - and as the smaller fur-bearing animals were abundant they furnished one of the most convenient means for getting ready cash. The fur production of Clinton county was much larger, and continued much longer, than is generally understood - -in fact, it is of some importance to this day. Cicero Sims killed the last deer known to have been killed in the county in 1856, but smaller game remained, and "coon" skins, and "skunk" skins, and muskrat skins retained their value as well as the rarer wolf, fox, mink and otter. On November 21, 1903, the Times published an interview with James S. Keys, of Frankfort, who had then been buying furs for thirty-five years, and he stated that the smaller fur-bearing animals, excepting the raccoon, were almost as numerous as tlrey were fifteen or twenty years earlier. The export of fur-skins from the county at that time was estimated at $10,000 a year.

The call for improvement in agriculture came from the southern, earlier settled counties of the state, and on February 7, 1835, an act was passed authorizing the formation of county agricultural societies, and also a state board of agriculture. The movement grew gradually, and on February 17, 1852. the law was revised, and greater powers given to county societies and the state board, especially in the matter of holding fairs. In 1833 the Clinton Countv Agricultural Society was formed, and in the first week of October, 18^3. its first fair was held at Frankfort. It was an unexpected success, and the Crescent stated that most people were saying "they had no idea of meeting such a crowd, seeing such stock, or witnessing such interest."

The premiums were small, but interesting, the largest being S5 ; twentysix were given in Class A - horses, jacks and mules - which were taken by I. G. Smith, James Ghent, John Allen. Isaac Cook. Ephraim Byers, Jesse Tsgrigg, Clinton Lucas, Samuel Aughe, Martin Dunn, George Smith, Joseph Boggs, Joseph Tenkins, Robert Moore, X. S. Brown, Jacob Michael, John Price, Timothv B. Cox. John Pence. Amos Breese, Arthur Compton. William Trotter, Tohn Ewing, A. Fowler, Andrew Farier. and James Scott. Eleven premiums for cattle were taken by James Ghent, Samuel Anderson, J. E. Blair, T. I. Penett. Tohn A. Moore. David Clark, and A. Holcraft. Only one premium was awarded for sheep, George \\ ilson getting S2 for the best fine-wooled ewe. ' Perrv Sommers and David oung took the tw o premiums awarded for hogs.

In Class E - "farming utensils" - James Gaster took the only premium, for a buggy. He also monopolized Class F - "manufactures" - taking premiums for the best buggy harness and best saddle. But in domestic manu- factures" the women came to the front. Mrs. Mary Cook showed the "best rag carpet, with Miss A. C. Kramer second. Miss Kramer took the premium for "best bed quilt, with F.lizabeth Allen and Mrs. Barbary Parkes second and third. Mrs. Maria Reed took the premium for the best blanket. Miss Kramer came in again for the "best five pounds of butter." and Mrs. F.liza Youkey for "one flower pot and artificial flowers."

G. W. Wilson took the premium for the "best five pounds of honey ; W'm. Davidson, "best pork barrel ": B. F. Byers, "best set of chairs": James Gaskill. "best varieties of apples" - John McClelland, "second best": A. Holcraft, "one-quarter acre of pumpkins, average weight of each. 35 pounds"; James Gaster. "span of matched horses" ; Xewton Harriman. "span of matched mules": John Youkey, "pair Shaghai fowls": Win. Moorhead, "yoke of work oxen" ; Eli Armantrout, "hay ladder" : Jonas Fry. "ten acres of oats, 550 bushels, or 55 bushels to the acre" : Samuel Aughe, "best cultivated farm." J. X. Randall got a record of "one waggon, commended, but not useful."

The county fair was quite outdone by the state fair, which was held in 1853 at Lafayette in the second week of October. Mr. T. Baker, who operated the line of hacks between Frankfort and Lafayette, announced that he would "put on the road sufficient force to carry thirty passengers, and more if necessary." The Crescent of October 13 said the state fair "has left our village in a state of destitution, so far as population is concerned." adding that "Lafayette is comfortably crowded, the landlords making some extra dimes, to the tune of two dollars a day for boarding." One of the attractions of this fair was an address on the advantages of scientific agriculture by Horace Greeley, which was printed in full by the Crescent of October 29 and November 5. It was full of good common sense, and two passages of it have so much historical significance that they are worth preserving.

The first is this: "There is not now one grapevine or fruit tree, except of the commonest and coarsest kinds, where there should be twenty, taking one state with another: and one consequence of this is an enormous and perilous consumption of flesh, as food, to an extent unknown in other counties. We are nationally surfeited with pork, and tainted with scrofula, not because we are so fond of pork, but because, for an important portion of each year, the majority of our population can get little beside. * * * Give us an abundance of the choicest fruits and vegetables, with fanners who know how to grow them and truly educated housewives who delight in preparing and serving them, and we shall enjoy health, elasticity and longevity to an extent now unknown. A flesh diet is the dearest, the least palatable and the least wholesome, and all that is needed to wean men from it is the presentation of a better. To secure this, we need only farmers who will feel a just pride in having the finest orchards and gardens." There has been a vast national progress in these lines since that day.

The second passage was this: T have been exhorting your young farmers to study and master the vocation to which their lives are to be devoted, and that is right, but what if they were to turn on me with the inquiry, 'Where shall we study?' How shall I answer them if they ask, 'How and where are we to learn how to analyze soils and make ourselves familiar with all the science which lies at the base of agriculture as well as mechanics?' I can only say to them. 'We in Xew York are determined, as soon as may be, to have a people's college to teach these important, vital truths to all who seek them, and to enable them to pay their way by their labor while learning: and we trust you in Indiana will speedily follow, if you do not precede us.' " Possible this was where John Purdue got his first inspiration.

The second Clinton county fair began on Thursday, October 2. 1854, and continued to Saturday. It was held in "Armstrong's grove, south of Frankfort," which was within the present city limits, south of Armstrong street, and west of Main. It was announced that a prize would be awarded ''for the best display of horsemanship by a lady." but there is no record of any award. The ladies probably contented themselves with less 'pectacular victories, of which thev had many. Mrs. Fitchpatrick carried off the premiums for "best pair of ladies hoes," abo "men's hoes" - presumably hose: and Mrs. Enos Hoover second best; Mrs. Xancv Armstrong, "best coverlet"; Mrs. James Wallace, "best counterpane" - Mrs. Jane Gamble second best; Mrs. Mary Rogers, best and second best bed quilts, "oak leaf": Mrs. S. S. Isgrigg, "best fanev lied quilt"; Miss Henrietta Freeman, "best specimen of needlework," "fancy fruit basket" and "toy lantern"; Mrs. Samuel Aughe, "best lot of butter": Mrs. X. Southard, "best net basket." "dozen sweet peppers," "jar of pickled peaches." "jar of preserved quinces"; Miss M. Vandyke, "chair tidy"; Miss Elizabeth Vandyke, "worsted braid skirt"; Miss Matilda Vandvke. "pair of fancy lamp mats": Miss Sarah Shortle. "box of artificial flowers"; Miss M. M. Weir, "stand cover." "lot of jelly"; Mrs. Dr. Byers, "fancy lamp mat"; Miss E. J. Armstrong, "fancy book marks"; Mrs. Janies Ghent, "hair wreath"; Mrs. Maria Henderson, "preserved peaches," "best braided dress."

There were notable improvements in two classes of exhibits. In farm implements, Cyrus Gray took premiums for "best cultivator" and "best stub- ble plow"; while John Pence took premiums for "best cutting box," "best wheat drill," ''best stalk cutter" and "best sub-soil plow." In fruits and vegetables David Young took premiums for "best varieties of apples and pears"; John Morehead, "best variety of quinces" : Amos Henderson, "best bushel variety of potatoes"; J. K. Harlin, "best lot of sweet potatoes" ; Elijah Avery, "best lot of turnips"; A. Xorris, "best lot of onions"; Samuel Aughe, "best specimens of corn and wheat." It is also significant of progress that John Price received a premium for the "best bee-sive and specimen of honey." and Lemuel Cohee for the "best rat trap."

The third fair began on Thursday, October 4. 1855. and continued to Saturday. The notable feature of it was the broadening of the premium list in certain lines, as announced by C. J. Miller, the secretary of the society. In farm implements premiums were offered for the "liest threshing machine," "best roller," and "best fanning mill." In fruits, premiums were offered for the best exhibits of apples, peaches, pears, quinces and grapes, and the "best sample of dried fruit, not less than one-half bushel." In vegetables, in addition to Irish and sweet potatoes and pumpkins, premiums were offered for the best exhibits of beets and cabbages. In domestic manufactures, in addition to bed covers and rag carpets, premiums were offered for the best pieces of jeans, plaid flannel, white flannel, and woolen hose. In poultry, premiums were offered for the best Shanghais, Cochin Chinas and Brahmas. A premium was offered for the "best cheese," and finally, to show appreciation of all industries, a premium for the "best hearse." It may be noted that at this time Baldwin's Foundry and Machine Shop, at Lafayette, in addition to "all sorts of engines." was advertising corn-shellers, threshing machines, and separators.

The newspaper advertisements also tell the story of a beginning of improvement in stock. In April. 1855, H. A. Butler announced a lot of Durham cattle for sale at Samuel Aughe's farm, near Jefferson, and said : "I have the past winter sold to the farmers in the vicinity of Jefferson, among whom are Samuel Aughe, David Young, Taylor Heavilon, Samuel Anderson, and many others, who are well satisfied with their purchases." On July 28 George Smith announced a Normandy Percheron stallion, wrhich had been imported bv Judge John W. Blake, and sold to a local company. On the same day T. O. A. Youkev announced a supply of full-blooded Shanghai fowls, which he wras ready to supply at $2 to S5 a pair.

The county fairs continued to grow in interest during the fifties, as the agricultural conditions continued to improve ; but the civil war had a paralyzing effect on enterprises of that kind, and during its progress, and the years immediately following it, the annual fair practically dropped out of existence, not to be revived till the "boom times'' of the early seventies. Then some enterprising Warren township people took up the fair proposition, and on January 4, 1872, at Middle Fork, organized the Middle Fork Union Agricultural and Horticultural Society. It was a tri-county enterprise, with 100 members and twelve directors, of whom four each were selected from Carroll, Howard and Clinton counties. The Clinton county directors were Henry Baum. Isaac H. Storms. Thomas Avery, and G. W. Unger.

This made Frankfort "sit up and take notice.'' In June, 1872, the Clinton County Agricultural Society was organized once more, and went into business on an imposing basis. "Armstrong's Grove" was discarded; and the society bought the present grounds, forty-eight acres, south of the city, for $6,000. and spent $7,500 in improvements ; for a large part of which it went into debt, giving a note signed by twelve of the promoters to a local bank. The society was a stock company with a capital of $10,000 in $25 shares. Both societies held very successful fairs in 1872, and entered the field of competition just in time to be struck by the panic of 1873. The fairs of 1873, 1874, and 1875 were successful enough for both societies to keep receipts above expenditures, but the receipts fell off each year under the prevailing financial stringency. The demand for liquidation of debt increased: land values shrank enormously, and banks were hard pressed for money. The Clinton Count}' Society note was sued on, and the fair grounds sold to pay the judgment.

The county had taken $2,500 of the stock, and to protect it the county commissioners bid in the grounds on June. 10, 1876. for $7,199.40. A question was raised as to the power of the board to make the purchase, and the county treasurer, John Fleming, declined to pay. although ordered to do so by the board on September 27. 1877. Tn the meantime the fairs of both societies in 1876 had been made disastrous failures by heavy rains. Both of them had to make assessments to pay premiums. The Middle Fork Society w ent to pieces, but a joint-stock company was promptly organized to go on with the work. The "hard times" continued in 1877 and 1878, and in both years the fairs were again crippled by rainy weather.

In 1879 Senator James V. Kent got the Frankfort financial tangle straightened out by an act of the legislature legalizing the action of the Clinton countv commissioners in the purchase <>t the fair grounds, and vesting the title in them. (Acts of 1879, p. 100.) Fairly successful fairs were held bv both societies in 1879, l'iat at Frankfort being marked by a novel contest. Maurice Thompson had got a large part of the country excited over "the witchery of archery," and archery clubs were the fad of the time. At the Clinton county fair of 1879 the archery clubs of Crawfordsville, Frankfort, Kokomo and New London came into competition, each club being represented by four archers, who shot thirty arrows each, ten at 40, ten at 50 and ten at 60 feet. Clinton county made a poor showing at "drawing the longbow," the score standing: Crawfordsville, 1,654; New London, 1,244; Kokomo, 1,066; Frankfort, 960.

In 1880 interest had dropped off so much that the Clinton County Society held no fair; but the Middle Fork Society was in worse condition. Middle Fork had no railroad, and no prospect for one; while Frankfort had the Vandalia, the Lake Erie and Western, and the local divisions of the Toledo, St. Louis and Western, which was completed in 1 88 1 . In addition to this, the Middle Fork fair was accompanied by an unfortunate saloon brawl, in which a man named Thompson was killed. Under these depressing circumstances the Middle Fork Society was dissolved in 1881, and a clear field was left for the Clinton County Society, which has held a fair every year from 1881 to date, most of them fairly successful. In 1903, the fair buildings having become dilapidated and insufficient, a reorganization was effected and a new start made, under the leadership of Andrew Laird and Wallace Himmelwright, who have been, respectively, president and secretary of the society since that time. The new basis was a membership of too, each of whom subscribed $100. An agreement was made with the county commissioners for a twenty-year lease, conditioned on an expenditure of $10,000 on the grounds.

The society, which was reorganized on January 24, 1903, expended nearly $14,000 on the grounds the first year, and made a profit of $2,000 at its fair in 1903, which, with an assessment of $20 on the members, put it out of debt. Since then it has usually paid small dividends, and has expended on an average about $1,000 a year on the grounds, which are now in excellent condition. The membership has not always been full, though practically so, and the society is now in a prosperous condition, with every prospect of long continued usefulness.

By odds, the most exciting fair ever held in Clinton county was in 1895. The management had gone in for "attractions," and had secured a hippodrome outfit from Peru, and Irwin & Cooper's Wild West Show. On Monday. August 13, the hippodrome people gave a steeplechase race, in which Miss Ella Lazell, a lady rider, was thrown from her horse, falling under its feet. It was feared she would be trampled to death, but she was only rendered unconscious, and soon recovered. On Tuesday night the Wild West people became dissatisfied with their location, and moved their tent in between floral hall and the amphitheater, shutting off the view of the race track. The superintendent ordered them to move, and they refused. He threatened to call the police, and they said to "bring them on" ; that they would "make them climb a tree." W eaver went to the police, and Chief George Bird had him swear out warrants for trespass, for protection in case of trouble. The cowboys were reputed "bad men," and were said to have run the police off the grounds at Sheridan. Bird took officers Denton, Burns. Berry, Beech and Welty. gave them an extra supply of cartridges, and ordered them not to shoot unless a cowboy drew on them, and then for all to shoot to kill, without further ceremony. On arrival the cowboys came out on horseback, fully armed. The officers seized their bridles and ordered them to dismount. They refused. The "Montana Kid" started to draw his gun, but Chief Bird covered him and told him to stop or be killed. Meanwhile one of the cow ladies had drawn her revolver. Chief Bird ordered her to drop it. and she obeyed. The officers now all had their guns in hand. A cowboy, whose bridle was held by Berry, undertook to ride him down, but Berry threw his horse, and the rider fell under him. The Wild West then subsided. They were disarmed, taken to town and fined. Fine and costs - $19.90. No further trouble.

There can be little question that the Clinton county fairs have had an important effect in stimulating the improvement of stock as well as the development of agricultural science. There has been a steady growth in the quantity and quality of live stock to the high standard now held. Among the leaders in this development may be named Henry Baum. Jesse Lane, Wm. Silverthorn, Androval Hillis, Dr. I. S. Earhart. the McGill brothers, Perry Gaskill and W. G. Morris, as cattle breeders: E. W. Avery, J. N. Pyle, S. S. Earhart, Eli Miller and Messrs. Alter, Haffers and Unger, as swine breeders; Moses Allen and David F. Allen, as sheep breeders ; Hugh R. Hamilton and Dr. R. O. Young, as bee-keepers; Ed N. Maish, as a poultry breeder; among those who were known as horse breeders were Abner Pence, Samuel Kyger, John Snyder, James Ressor, David Slipher, John Boyd, William Moore, William Wild and James Niles - to these may lie added a little later John Burgett and George Scircle.

The statistics of crops show the fertility of Clinton county's soil and the excellence of its cultivation. Corn is the most important crop, there being 76,668 acres of it in 1910, with a yield of 3.621.684 bushels; and 74,637 acres in 1911, with a yield of 3,473,452 bushels. This made Clinton in 1910 the seventh county of the state in acreage, but the fourth in production. In 1911 she dropped to eleventh in acreage, but was fifth in production. The next largest crop is oats, and in this Clinton county in 1910 was tenth in acreage, but eighth in product; in 1911 she was eighth in acreage, but fourth in product. In 1910 Clinton county was twentieth in acreage of clover, but eleventh in production. In 1911 she was third in both. In both years the average production of corn and oats in Clinton county was greater than the average production of the state for twelve years past.

Some other crops appear to be less certain, or more dependent on conditions of weather. The county had 30.564 acres of wheat in 1910, with an average product of 18.68 bushels to the acre. In 191 1 the acreage was 29,934, with an average product of 14.84 bushels. In 1910 the county was thirtieth in wheat acreage, but eleventh in average yield. In 1911 she was thirty-first in acreage and thirty-seventh in average yield. So with potatoes, the average yield in 1910 being only 39 bushels to the acre; but in 1 9 t i it was 76 bushels, which is greater than the average yield of the state for the past twelve years.

Clinton county was the seventh county of the state in the number of horses and colts on hand, both on January 1, 19] 1, and January 1, 1912; but was third in the number sold in T9 10, and fourth in the number sold in 1911. Clinton county was first in number of cattle sold in both 1910 and 1911, though only fourteenth in number of cattle on hand January 1, 1911, and thirteenth in number of cattle on hand January 1, 1912. In the number of hogs sold Clinton county was eighth in 1910, seventh in 1911. In number of hogs on hand the county was sixth on January 1, 1911, and fourth on January 1, 1912. Clinton does not abound in mules, reporting only 363 January 1, 1912. The county had 7.506 sheep on hand on January t, 1912, after selling 8,641 in 1 9 1 1. The wool clip in 1910 was 38.587 pounds, and in 1911, 38,420 pounds. Clinton came into the front ranks as a poultry county in 1 9 1 1 , with 10,210 dozens of fowls sold, and 1,137,005 dozens of eggs. This made her the sixth county of the state in poultry sold, and thirteenth in eggs sold.

But the most notable change has been in the county's rank as a butter producer. In 1910 Clinton was fourteenth in rank among the Indiana counties, with a product of 662.726 pounds. In 19TI she was sixth in rank, with a product of 780,750 pounds. Her record for 1913 will probably put her first, on account of the product of the creamery of the Schlosser Bros, at Frankfort. These enterprising gentlemen operate creameries at Indianapolis, Plvmouth and Brewer, and a distributing house at Chicago; but their largest creamery, and the largest in the state, is at Frankfort. It is producing now about r. 750,000 pounds a year, which alone is 650.000 pounds more than any county produced in 1911. This creamery commenced operation in 1912, and has been increasing ever since.

The material used, however, is not all Clinton county product, but is drawn also from fifteen other Indiana counties, and in part from Illinois. In this district the firm has ten expert butter men traveling as solicitors, who also hold institutes wherever practical, for the instruction of farmers in farm dairy economics. They also hold a weekly institute at their plant for the instruction of their employes. They do not ship milk or cream, but confine their operations to butter-making. There is also a small creamery at Kirklin, which was established in 1912, and is operated by a local company of sixtyfive members. It makes butter about four months in the year, and the rest of the time ships milk and cream. Its annual product is about 24,000 pounds. Its material is all drawn from Clinton county except a small part that comes from Boone.

It is commonly agreed that much of Clinton county's progress in agricultural matters is due to farmers' institutes; and in this work, as indeed in agricultural progress generally, the county is favored by being near enough to Purdue University to get the assistance of the experts there when wanted. There had been occasional farmers institutes in Indiana as early as 1880, but the work was not taken up generally and systematically until after the bill providing for it had been passed by the noted Democratic Legislature of 1889. which adopted the Australian ballot law, state school book law, state board of charities and correction law, and other great reform measures. Under this law institutes were held in fifty counties in 1889, and in forty-one in 1890. After that the appropriations were increased, and at least one institute was held in every county in each succeeding year. Originally they were on a county basis, but after a few years they were put on a township basis.

Clinton county was one of the fifty that began in 1880. the first institute being held at Frankfort on December 23 and 24 of that year. It was a notable success. The meeting was in the large court room at the court house, and there were about 150 present at the opening, the audience increasing to 200 in an hour nr two. Professor Latta. of Purdue, addressed the institute on "Rotation of Crops;'' Professor Webster on "The Xcw Corn Pest." giving an illustrated lecture on the "the green beetle." destructive of corn, and incidentally other injurious insects; Professor Stockridge on "Agricultural Education." Senator - later Governor - James A. Mount talked on "The Dignity of Farm Labor;" William M. Blackstock, of Tippecanoe county, on "The Relation of Agriculture to Other Industries;" M. .H. Belknap on "Our Dairy Interests;" and P. W. Pierce, of Peru, secretary of the State Swine Breeders' Association, on "Silos." The women were represented by Miss Phoebe Potts, who spoke on "Home Life on the Farm," and Mrs. J. A. Mount, who discussed "How to Better the Intellectual and Social Condition of the Farmer's Family."

The papers were each followed by discussion, and the program was interspersed with recitations and music. Resolutions were adopted indorsing the institute system, and calling on the legislature for increased appropriations for its support. Since that time there has been no lack of interest in the work, and several Clinton county people have taken an active part in it, among whom, as especially interested, may be noted D. F. Maish, whose fine dairy farm supplies Frankfort with a large part of the milk it consumes.