Fayette County, Indiana - Chapter 9: Agriculture, 1885

Chapter 9: Agriculture

" Oh, friendly to the best pursuits of man, Friendlj to thought, to virtue and to peace, Domestic life in rural leisure passed ! Pew know thy value, few taste thy sweets. Though many boast thy favors, and affect To understand and choose thee for their own."

IN the early settlement of this section, ponds, marshes and swamps abounded where to day are found fertile and cultivated fields. The low and marshy ground was avoided for the higher grounds, not only on account of the wetness but for sanitary purposes. The cabin was built usually by or near a spring, and convenience alone was considered in the location of other buildings; the corn-crib was as apt to be in close proximity to the front door as in the rear of the dwelling. These were all built of logs, and often in their riide, round form. For years in places no fences enclosed the pioneer's possessions; however, the first substantial enclosures did not differ materially from the old "worm" fence constructed of rails as those of to-day appear. The soil was new and productive. For years the crops were not extensive, for with the pioneer so remote from a place of market, it was a mere question of home supply. Yet his remoteness from the point from which indispensable and necessary supplies were to be obtained, was a question of no little moment to him. Salt, iron and other commodities are indispensable even to a rude state of civilization, and great hardships were undergone to secure them. As acres were cleared and the crops increased, the market question became one of consideration, and the difficulty of getting the crops of the soil to the nearest market, then Cincinnati, situated sixty miles distant, was embarrassing. These commodities had to be wagoned over hill and through dale, the way often being almost impassable, as the only roads were mere paths, with the old logs and underbrush cleared out. Some few are yet living who will remember the "three notches" along these paths indicating a public highway. Days were consumed in making the journey, and little encouragement had the farmer to increase the products of his fields beyond the home and neighborhood demand. Speaking of the travel over one of these roads, one of the pioneers of Fayette writes: "Nothing was more common than lo find by the wayside at nearly every place where good water could be had, a camping ground where the weary wagoner had camped, as also had the emigrant with his family. They generally tied their horses to the wagon-tongue, on which was fastened a feed-trough, which, when traveling, they carried swung to the hind-gate of their wagon, for the purpose of feeding their horses. They would build a fire by which to cook their scanty meal, and, if night had overtaken them, the ground was their bed and the star-decked heaven their canopy, and fortunate would they consider themselves if they had a small bundle for a pillow."

In 1810 bacon sold at 2J cents per pound; corn 20 to 25 cents per bitshel; but there was a season of great scarcity when it sold for $1.25 per bushel. Butter for a long time sold for 3, 4 and 6 cents per pound. While produce was so low the farmer had to pay 50 cents per yard for muslin that can now be bought for 8 or 10 cents. Common calicoes cost 37^ cents per yard. In 1820 oats sold at 8 cents per bushel. The late Dr. Mason, who settled in the county, in his autobiography, in referring to this subject says, "Corn was often sold for 6 cents a bushel and wheat for 25 cents; and il was difficult to get money at that, and then only in small amounts. Salt was often as high as $2.50 and $3.00 a bushel. When the farmer could sell his pork on foot at the rate of $1.50 per hundred, net weight, he felt rich and began to thrive." But the pioneer farmers supplied their homes liberally with the comforts of the period and contentment and happiness generally characterized their homes.

In the preparation of their fields for crops the mattock or hoe was called into service ; this mattock, as some styled it, vras a tool nearly two feet long, one end of which was a blade probably about three inches wide, strong with a sharp steel edge, the other end being brought to a sharp edge designed to be used as an axe. If the field was too full of stumps it was planted in corn. Sometimes a field would be grown producing what was termed " sick wheat." Such has been described as differing little or none from the wheat now grown, except in the appearance of a red spot on the grain or an indication of sprouting. The cause for wheat thus styled has by some been attributed in this locality to the excess of vegetable matter producing an excess of straw and not unfrequently a kind of rot or blight in many of the wheat grains, which rendered it unfit for use and was so denominated from the effect on the stomach of one eating it.

Agriculture is a term hardly applicable to the farming of early times. The implements were then necessarily few and of rude and simple construction, and could be manufactured by indifferent blacksmiths. The plows used were the bar-share and the shovel. The iron part of the former consisted of a bar of iron about two feet long, and a broad share of iron welded to it. At the extreme point was a coulter that passed through a beam six or seven feet long, to which were attached handles of corresponding length. The mould board was a wooden one split out of winding timber, or hewed into a winding shape in order to turn the soil over. The whole length of the plow from the fore end of the beam to the ends of the handles was eight or ten feet. Newly cleared ground was with this plow broken up with great difficulty. On this subject a pioneer says : " The old bar-share plow, with a coulter and wooden mould-board, was the best plow then in use, though by far the greatest number used only the shovel plow, which answered an excellent purpose in the loose rich alluvium soil in its virgin purity free from weeds and grass. The shovel was all the iron connected with the plow, and not unlike those in use at the present day. The gearing or harness used by a majority of our pioneers was so novel in its construction that I must describe it. The bridle for the horse was an iron bit. the balance being of small rope. The collar was made of shucks (the husks of the corn). The hames were shaped out of a crooked oak or a hickory root, fastened at the top with a cord and at the bottom in the same way. The traces were of rope, the backband being of _tow cloth. The whiffle-tree or singletree was of wood, with a notch on each end ; the trace hitched by a loop over the whifHe-tree, and to the hame through a hole. The whiffle-tree was attached to the double-tree by a hickory withe, and sometimes by a wooden clevis made of two pieces of some tough wood, with wooden pin; 'the double-tree fastened to the end of the plow beam by the same wooden form of clevis and sometimes an iron one. To the rope bridle was attached a cord, called a single line, by which the horse was driven. By far the largest number of plow-teams was only with a single horse, geared as before described, and hitched to the shovel plow, the ground broken up, crossed off and tended by the same plow and horse."

The land in the early history of this region was much better adapted to corn than small grain, especially wheat, owing to the excess of vegetable matter in the soil. Sown seed was "bushed in" by a sapling with a bushy top, or by a bundle of brush from a tree top, dragged butts forward. In the course of time the roots sprouts, and other obstacles gave way in a measure, and the ground admitted of the harrow, which implement was triangular in form, resembling the letter A; the teeth were probalily as heavy again in weight as those now used, in order to stand the collision with the roots and stumps over and among which they were to be drawn. The cast- iron plow was slowly introduced, the harrow was improved, the cultivator invented, drills for sowing and planting came into use, and other labor-saving implements, and the aspect of farming wonderfully changed.

The sickle for cutting the grain was first used, but as soon as the decay and removal of the stumps permitted of a larger instrument and a more rapid method, it was succeeded by the cradle, which in southwestern Ohio gradually became into use at a period beginning about 1825. The cradle in many parts of the country has given way, while in some sections it is still in use. Reaping with the sickle, one of the most ancient of farming implements, was always slow and laborious, Among those still with us are men who used the sickle and know how to swing the cradle and scythe. Reapers gradually superseded the cradle, and mowers the scythe. The first reaping machines merely cut the grain; a rake was necessary to gather the grain into sheaves, ready for the binders. Selfraking machines soon followed, and about 1878 selfbinding machines were introduced. Grain was threshed with a flail, which, in its rudest form, was made of a hickory sapling about two inches thick, and seven or eight feet long. About two feet and a half from one end it was roasted in the fire, and at this place it was bruised or beaten, so as to cause it to bend. With this, grain was beaten out on the ground, if there was no barn floor. Flails were often made in various other ways. Another of the old-fashioned method of threshing the grain, and the most common, was by tramping it out with horses. There were no fanning-mills to separate the grain from the chaff; to raise the wind a linen sheet was taken from the bed, and held at the corners by two men; and by a semi rotary motion, or swinging of one side of the sheet, the chaff was driven from the falling grain, the pure wheat lying in a pile ready to be garnered. The sheet process was at length succeeded by the fanningmill. This slow and wasteful method of separating the grain has passed into history, and the steam oihorse-power threshing machine has taken its place, by which the grain is not only separated from the chaff,

How wonderfully striking is the change! Imagine the pioneer with sickle ib hand entering one of Minnesota's wheat-fields, of from 200 to 800, or 1,000 acres, and the invention of the self-binding reaper will be appreciated.

A lad of ten years can mow from fifty to one hundred acres of meadow in an ordinary haying season, and the hay is all raked dui'ing the same time by a single hand.

Cattle

Many of the early cattle of Fayette County were brought with the immigrants; especially did those coming from the adjacent States, Ohio and Kentucky, bring with them a cow or two. Cattle were also brought from various quarters, but all were then of the more common class, but in every way sufficed the wants and answered the purposes of the pioneer times. The early farmers suffered their cattle to run at large, and wanderingly they went through the woods, over uncultivated grounds, browsing for their living, and by this means some of the native grasses were extirpated by being- tramped down and cropped off early in the season before giving the seeds time to form. Whether with always an object in view or not, there seems not to have been a step taken by the pioneer that was not without a purpose or followed by some good result. Few buildings sheltered their herds from the cold and piercing winds, the deep snows and chilling rains of the winters. They hovered around the stacks of wheat straw, which served the double purpose of shelter and subsistence. However, after corn husking in the fall they were given these fields and here found their food, and at intervals unhusked corn was thrown to them, the ground constituting their feed troughs.

Kentucky and Ohio early manifested an interest in the improvement of the stock of cattle, and from these quarters came into Fayette County a better breed of this animal. Early in the history of southwestern t)hio the Shakers at Union Village, in Warren County, were in possession of the early descendants of the Kentucky importation of English cattle, made in 1817, and to that locality importations of thoroughbred Short-horn cattle direct from Scotland were made in 1854.

Cattle from Union Village were brought to Fayette County, but at what period we have no definite knowledge. Jfewton Claypool, Gen. William Caldwell and William Daily, not far from the year 1838, went to Kentucky, and among them purchased three heifers and one bull, descendants of the importation of Short-horn cattle of 1837, which were brought to Fayette County. The bull was owned by the three, and there being but one Democrat in the number he insisted on naming the animal, which was consented to, and the same was christened "Van Buren."

Not a great while subsequent to this period the man of whom these cattle were purchased brought a drove of the same breed of Short-horn cattle to this locality.

Several years subsequent to the time that Messrs Claypool, Caldwell and Dailey brought the cattle referred to above to this locality, the Hon. W. W. Thrasher purchased a Short-horn bull and two cows of one Cunningham, who resided near Lexington, Ky., which he brought to the county.

The Devins breed were to some extent raised in the county, but were not very popular as they seemed not to have answered the purpose - were wanting in size for beef cattle, and they never became numerous.

Isaac B. Loder, James McCollem and Train Caldwell brought from near Lexington, Ky., several thoroughbred Short- horn cattle; and among the number was the bull styled "Bellmont." This was in the year 1853.

From time to time excellent Short-horn cattle have continued to be brought into the county, until they are now found in almost every locality. Of recent years the Jersey cattle has made its appearance, and is a favorite with some on account of the richness of the milk of the cow, and its properties for butter-making.

From reports made, through the President, by the Secretary of the Agricultural Society at intervals during the past thirty years, we gather some facts concerning stock, which we give below:

Report of 1852. - "The cattle are chiefly driven from hence to a foreign market, and the number sent from this county during the past year is estimated at 6,000."

Report of 1853. - "The stock cannot be beat by any other county. Caldwell and MeCullum's bull, of this county, took the first premium at our fair, and was equal to any at the State fair. We are made, however, to deplore the number of scrubs among us. This cannot be remedied so long as we have scrub farmers among us. They can only be removed by emigration or death."

In horses, Fayette has claimed a high grade for some years. Oxen, in many localities in the early period of the county's history, were used to a better advantage than the horse. Over such roads as have been described, and in working the ground among the tangled roots and stumps, the ox was well adapted, and to many played well his part in preparing the way for a succeeding step in the progress of things. In 1830 there were in the county 282 working oxen. Judging from the Secretary's report to the State Board of Agriculture in 1880, the improvement in the horse has, perhaps, hardly kept pace with the advancement in other directions. "The exhibition of horses, cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry showed improvement, but not so marked in the horse department, being evident that the introduction of a little more good blood would be advantageous. " However, throughout the county is a good stock of horses of all classes, which is steadily advancing in improvement. Many horses daily appear on the streets of Connersville that reflect great credit on parties engaged in breeding, raising and handling the animal.

Among some of the early breeds of horses in the county were the "Kentucky Whip." A blood bay horse (with black legs, mane and tail) by this name was advertised in Connersville in 1829. In 1832 Merril Williams advertised "Hilander," an iron gray horse, sixteen hands high. Along about this period was introduced into the county a horse styled "Comet.' "Top Gallant" was another of the early horses at Connersville. He was in charge of John and Lot Abraham, and was described as a dark chestnut sorrel, sixteen hands high, lofty carriage and a good mover. He was brought from the State of Georgia to Butler County, Ohio, by a Mr. Titsworth; was sired by the imported horse "Matchless Bob" - his dam by the imported horse "Mast,'' and his grand dam by the imported horse "Diamond." About 1835 Josiah Piper brought a dun horse from Kentucky, which made noticeable and valuable improvement in the horses of this section.

The "Morgan," the "Bellfounder," the "Bashaw," the "Whip," the"HambletoniaD," the "Second Cadmus," the "Hilander" stock, have been introduced at different periods. The improvements in the horse are largely due to the infusion of the blood of the thoroughbred. The strains of blood have not been kept distinct, but the tendency has been to amalgamate it with the stock already in use.

"There has been a great increase, both in the quality and number of this most useful animal, during the past year in this county. The number is estimated at about 6,000 head The prices have

The report of the following year read: "Our farmers are paying attention to the improvement of horses and mules. We have as fine horses, mares and jacks in this as in any other county in the State."

A writer on the subject of the swine of the early settlers gives this glowing description of them: "They were long and slim, long-snouted and longlegged, with an arched back, and bristles erect from the back of the head to the tail, slab-sided, active and healthy. The 'sapling-splitter' and 'razorback,' as he was called, was ever in the search for food, and quick to take alarm. He was capable of making a heavy hog, but required two years or more to mature, and, until a short time before butchering or marketing, was suifered to run at large, subsisting mainly as a forager, and in the fall fattening on the ' mast.' "

What a contrasf between the hogs of that period and those of 1884! Probably no change wrought in the stock of the farmer is so marked as in this animal. Those of to-day mature early and are almost the reverse of the "razor-back," having a small head, small ear, short neck, with a long body and hams, and in general shape are almost square, and are capable of taking on 250 pounds of flesh in eight or ten months.

The people of Fayette County having in past years paid considerable attention to the raising of swine, a commodity which has added greatly to the wealth of the farmers, cannot fail to be interested in the history of the hogs that have been chiefly among them, hence we give them the benefit of the result of a thorough research on the subject made by Josiah Morrow, Esq., of Lebanon, Ohio, a^ published in the " History of Warren County, Ohio," of which he is the author :

"In 1816 John Wallace, then a Trustee of the Shaker Society, visited Philadelphia on business and was shown what was called the Big China hogs. He was pleased with them and purchased four hogs, and brought them the same season to Union Village. These four hogs were entirely white except one, upon which were some sandy spots, in which appeared small black spots. They were represented to be either imported or the immediate descendants of imported stock, and are believed to have been the first China hogs in southwestern Ohio. Subsequently other China hogs were introduced. TJjey were extensively raised and crossed with the best breeds then existing, and the product of these crosses constituted a breed of fine qualities, which was generally known as the ' Warren County hog,' sometimes as the ' Shaker ho^.' These hogs increased in good qualities and were extensively bred in great numbers in the great corn producing regions of Warren and Butler Counties.

" The Berkshires were introduced into Warren County 'in 1835 and 1836, by Mr. Munsou Beach, who operated in connection with his brother, Louis Beach, then a prominent merchant in the city of New York. Subsequently they made other shipments of the same stock to Warren and Butler Counties. The Berkshires introduced by the Messrs. Beach were generally black, with occasional marks of white, either on the feet, the tip of the tail or in the face. They were muscular, active and round bodied hogs, and, in most cases, had sharp pointed, upright ears. Some families, however, were large in size, deep in their bodies, with ears that lopped.

" The Irish Grazier breed of hogs was imported direct into southwestern Ohio, by William Neif, Esq., of Cincinnati, about 1839. The Graziers were white with only an occasional sandy spot which appeared about the eyes.

" These two breeds - the Berkshires and Irish Graziers - were extensively used in making crosses by tho best breeders in Warren and Butler Counties, and to some extent in Clinton and Hamilton Counties. Having been carefully bred and intermixed with the descendants and crosses of the Big China with other breeds, the stock thus produced constituted the true and original basis of what is now known as the Magie or Poland-China hogs.

' " Many of the most successful breeders of these hogs resided in the vicinity of Monroe, near the Warren and Butler County line. Since 18-40 no new blood has been introduced. In 1870 the Illinois Swine Breeders' Association resolved to call these hogs the ' Magie breed ' (pronounced Magee), from the name of one of the most successful breeders of the stock in Butler County, but Poland-China is now the established name. The first part of this name, however, is a misnomer, as the best authorities agree that there never was a breed of hogs known as the Poland in the Miami Valley, and no Poland cross entered into the formation of tho breed. The first part of the name is believed to have originated from the fact that a Polandor, residing in Hamilton County, having purchased some of the Shaker or Warren County hogs, many years ago, disposed of them to purchasers who named them Poland or Polander hogs. The National Convention of Swine Breeders of 1872 retained this misnomer for the reason that the great mass of breeders so called the breed, and to change a name generally used is difficult."

It is thought that Jeremiah May brought the first of this breed to the county about the year 1832, from Warren County, Ohio. At any rate, this breed of hogs found its way into Fayette County, many years ago, and with little exception has been the hog of this section ever since. In 1851, in answer to some interrogatories from the State Board of Agriculture, the Hon. Matthew R. Hull, then a resident of the county, since deceased, replied as relates to the hog as follows:

" The Poland, crossed upon the Byfield and Russian, exceed all others for beauty, size and profit. They are a good grass hog, and are sufficiently lively and sufficiently industrious to make a good living off of good pasture. They mature early, have a small head, small ear, short neck, thick shoulder, long body and long ham, and are capable of bearing more fat than any other kind we have had amongst us. They are familiarly known here as the ' Warren County hog.' McGee (should be Magie), of Butler County, drives no other kind of hogs. His droves have averaged him more than 410 pounds for several years in Cincinnati. This kind may be had in our neighborhood."

For many years Connersville was quite an extensive pork market, where thousands of hogs were annually slaughtered and packed. The report sent to the State Board of Agriculture in 1852 was as follows: " 22,000 hogs have been slaughtered at and packed at Connersville during the past season, which will average 220 pounds per bead, for which the average price paid was $5.50 percwt. Some of these were from neighboring counties, but it is estimated that equally as many as, if not more than, were brought to the market from other counties, were driven from this county to a foreign market."

The report of 1853 exhibits: " The hogs in this county, and especially in Jennings Township, are superior, or at least equal, to any in the United States. James D. Ross & Bros, have hogs that are hard to duplicate. The pork butchered at Connersville this year will exceed last by at least several thousand head. It may reach 25,000." The report of 1859-60 showed that some 20,000 hogs were packed at Connersville.

Sheep

Some time in the decade between 1830 and 1840 W. W. Thrasher, residing on the western border of the county, brought some fine sheep to that section from near Lexington, Ky., of the breed known as " Cotswold," which were among the first, if not the first, fine wool sheep introduced into the county. Mr. Thrasher still breeds this variety, and has in the interim raised and sold perhaps thousands. The report made to the State Board of Agriculture ou this animal in 1852 showed that the total number in the county then was estimated at 15,000 head. Much interest was then manifested in the growing of wool, and an encouragiDg number of most valuable breeds had been imported and propagated. The price of the common breeds was from $1 to $1 50 per head. The report of 1853: " Many of our farmers are improving their stock of sheep and are growing more wool than in former years. Mr. Miner Meeker, William Thomas, John Caldwell, and the undersigned, President (M. R. Hull), have each tine flocks of finewooled sheep. ' '

In 1878 it was shown by the Secretary's report of the Fayette County Agricultural Society that the wool-growing interest of the county was " on the wane." For 1870 there were reported 8,105 head of sheep in the county, and for the year 1877 only 3,989 head.

In the summer of 1834 an attempt was made to form an agricultural society in F''ayette County. Horace VanVleet, then editor of the Watchman, published at Connersville, wrote several articles on agriculture and the importance of an agricultural society, and, on solicitation, published a call for a meeting, which was responded to, and resulted in the appointment of Gen. Caldwell for President and Mr. Van Vleet, Secretary. About $40 was subscribed and paid in for the organization to Mr. Van Vleet. Soon after (in October. 1834,) Mr. VanVleet died. No claim was made tor the agricultural fund, and so failed the first attempt to organize an agricultural society.

In the year 1841 a call was published for an agricultural meeting, to be held on the 4th of July, which was responded to in the then old court house. Dr. Philip Mason was appointed President, and Charles Shipley, Secretary. An address was read by Dr. Mason. There was a lack of animation in the meeting, which showed that the community were not quite prepared for a permanent organization. Hon. S. W. Parker was present and made a few remarks. He then turned the meeting to account by getting subscribers to the Indiana Farmer, then published at Indianapolis, and edited by the now celebrated Henry Ward Beecher, and succeeded in less than an hour in getting fifty- four subscribers. So ended the second attempt.

During the year 1851 seven agricultural meetings were held to establish an agricultural society. The attempt was discouraging, but several who were faithful to the cause persevered, and success crowned their efforts. On the 18th of October, 1851, they succeeded in organizing permanently and adopted a constitution.

John Spivey was elected President, and D. W. Welty, Secretary. According to the official report, as required and sent up to the State Board of Agriculture, $48 were received by the society. On account of the late period, no exhibition or fair was held, and the money was loaned out. In 1852 the first fair was held. The receipts were $1,052.06, the expenses $647.54, leaving a fair balance in the treasury, which was very flattering for the beginning. The fair continued to prosper, the receipts reaching as high as $3,233, and expenses in proportion, until December, 1861, when the society declared its intention to dissolve and transfer its interest to a joint stock association. A committee was appointed and the affairs of the organization were closed up.

Up to the fall of 1865 the fairs were held on leased premises, but in the fall of that year twentysix acres of ground were purchased of A. J. Claypool, situated about one mile north of the court house 'n Connersville, upon which were subsequently erected suitable buildings. In 1870 these grounds were valued at $20,000.

At the first fair held A. O. Saxon was awarded the first premium for the best cultivated farm, and Benjamin Thomas the second premium for the second best.

One of the prominent features of the fair held in 1858 was that the late Hon. Horace Greeley, of New York City, vras present, and delivered an address. Premiums had been offered for this fair for the " best cultivated and improved farm," for which there were two entries, Hon. S. W. Parker and Alexander Heron, Esq. (the present Hon. Secretary, State Board of Agriculture). The committee being unable to determine whether there was a preponderance for either, recommended a premium to each, to the former for the best improved farm, and to the latter for the best cultivated farm. A premium was also offered for the best essay on agriculture, which was awarded to Mr. Samuel Little.

The joint stock association referred to above was known as the Fayette County Joint Stock Agricultural and Mechanical Society, and was organized December 21, 1861.

The earliest report we had access to of this society was the one made in 1867, at which time A. B. Claypool, Esq., was the President. The entries for this year were as follows: Live stock, 220; mechanical, 90; agricultural, 277; miscellaneous, 190. Amount of premiums - live stock, $1,242; mechanical, 1404; miscellaneous, $118. The total receipts of the fair, $4,480.40.

This society, according to a report of the Secretary, met with a series of reverses discouraging to the managers, and no fair was held in 1876 - the only year without a fair since the organization of the society which held the first fair in 1852. The accumulation of debt against the society caused the property of the association to change hands, which was secured by a new organization under the title of the Eastern Indiana Agricultural, Mechanical and Trotting Park Association. This organization was effected August 5, 1877, with a capital stock of $6,000.

"During the last decade the live stock interest has predominated, but latterly it is giving way to the raising of grain; about 6,000 head of hogs were lost in the past season by cholera. Cattle raising is profitable, and more attention is given to the breeding of improved stock; 3,676 head reported this over 3,322 last year. More attention is given to the breeding of good horses, especially heavy di-aft horses, for which this county is becoming famous. Statistics show an increase in number, 1,420 head against 1,328 the year before. Mules are used more than formerly, and are much improved in size and appearance."

Fairs have been held annually ever since, and conducted successfully. At a meeting of the association held February 12, 1884, the stock-holders surrendered their charter and resolved to offer their grounds for sale.