Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 11, 1897

Chapter 11

When the first settlerf located in Madison county the 450 square miles, or 286,997.45 acres comprising its area were, with the exception of a small amount of prairie land, covered byunbroken forests out of whose sombre depths came no echoes save the howl of the skulking wolf, the panther, or the wierd halloa of the roving red man. The pioneers plunged into the vast solitudes with axe and grubbing-hoe in hand and it was but a short time until a number of small farms had been carved out of the wilderness. The soil was fertile, the woodmen unceasing in their toil, and each year added to the acreage of tillable land. Orchards were planted, gardens were laid out "where the brood of serpents used to nestle"' and the sturdy husbandmen began vieing witli each other in the production of the best of everything a fruitful soil could yield. They were encouraged in this not only by the gratifying results of their toil, but by frequent exhortations from the early governors of the state, who recognizing the fact that Indiana was from the nature of her soil and climate peculiarly adapted to agriculture, urged upon the legislature the importance of passing laws encouraging friendly rivalrv among those engaged in agricultural pursuits. Societies for the promotion of agriculture and stock raising were organized in difierent parts of the state and fairs were held, as far back as the early '30s, at which the farmers annually exhibited their stock and farm products.

Held in Madison county appears to have been a private enterprise in which Joseph Barnes and Archibald Parker were, as an old-timer expresses it, " the officers, board of directors and managers." This competitive exhibition was held in the year 1837, in " Andersontown "' and on the ground now occupied by the court house. The ground at the time was covered with stumps and Ex-Mayor Dunham, of Ander- son, asserts that the largest pumpkin he ever saw was exhibited from the top ot one of them. There was no admission charged at this fair and no premiums were awarded save the traditional red and blue ribbons. This fair did not result very happily so far as its promoters were concerned, as a decision by one of the committee on awards gave rise to a controversy between them which eventually resulted in the removal of Barnes from the count}'.

The next fair was held at Huntsville in 1839, but whether it was a success or not does not appear. The exhibit of agricultural products and stock, as well as the attendance, was necessarily small and no doubt discouraging. The late Hon. William Roach, of Anderson, was one of the directors of this fair. Conrad Crossley. John J. Lewis, John H. Cook and Isaac Busby also took an active interest in the exhibition, being members of the society under whose auspices it was given. The county evidently assisted this society financially, for at the March term. 1837, of the Board of Commissioners the following order was made : " Ordered ,by the Board that the sum of $25 of the county funds of Madison count}', be, and the same is hereby appropriated to. the agricultural society of said county." The society was shortlived and no more fairs were held in the county until 1850, when another society organized. Col. Townsend Ryan was president of the society. Andrew Jackson, William Craycraft and others constituted the board of directors. After the society had been organized, a tract of land containing twenty-five acres was leased of John Davis at Anderson. This land is now covered comfortable houses and is situated just west of the Big Four railway (C. W. & M). The grounds extended from what is now Eighth street to "Green's Branch," the entrance being on Eighth street. This street was then known as the " Strawtown road," and was traveled more at that time than any other thoroughfare in the county.

Fairs were held on these grounds until 1855 when the lease expired, and the society having no suitable grounds where they could conduct a fair, passed out of existence.

The Pendi-Eton Fair

On July 20, 1867. a meeting of gentlemen residing at and in the vicinity of Pendleton was held at that place for the purpose of organizing a Fair Association. At this meeting a committee on grounds and subscriptions was appointed, also a committee to draft articles of association. The tirst board of directors was elected February 1,1868. The directors were Thomas Wilhoit, Robert Blakely, John Z. Patterson, W. G. Walker, John H. Kinnard, Joseph (). Hardy and Hervy Craven. The board organized by electing J. H. Kinnard, president, E.Williams, secretary, and J.W. Bomgardner, treasurer. The association purchased grounds southeast of Pendleton a short distance, where annual exhibitions were given from the fall of 18(58 to the fall of 1876,when the association disbanded.

Laws were passed in the meantime with reference to agricultural societies that were more in keepirg with the improved condition of agriculture in the !>tate. A number of public-spirited citizens met and organized a joint-stock fair association. This society was organized on tlie 10th of Mav, 1868, at Crim's Exchange bank, in Anderson. The presiding officer at the meeting was James M. Dickson. Dr. Townsend Ryan acted as secretary. William Crim was chosen president of the association for the ensuing \'ear, Dr. Ryan, secretary. and John P. Barnes, treasurer.

On the 31st of May, a tract of land was leased across the road and a little to the northwest of the old fair grounds at Anderson. The grounds were eligibly situated and in every respect adapted to the purpose for which they were used so many years. They were at once inclosed, a fine half-mile race track constructed and that fall a fair was given which proved a gratifying success, not only to the management, but to exhibitors and the public at large. Annually for several years improvements were made on the grounds imtil they became famous throughout the State for their beauty and the accommodations afforded exhibitors and the public. From the time the association was organized imtil 1887. its vearly'expositions were largely partonized, Thursday being the " great day " of each meeting. The best races usuallj- occurred on that day, and thousands of people attended the fair to see and enjoy the sport. From 1887 to 1890, however, it became apparent that the people throughout the county were losing interest in the fair, notwithstanding the attractions and large premiums ofTered liv the associ.ition. The awards were alwaj's paid promptly and no comp.laints were ever made of the management. 15ut with the deciease in attendance the society became in\olved in debt. The growth of the city had extentled bejond the limits of the grounds in every direction and proceedings having been instituted for the opening of streets through the grounds, the stockholders very wisely concluded that it would be to the interest of the association and all concerned to dispose of the grounds, settle up its affairs and terminate its corporate existence. This determination was arrived at immediately after the fair in the fall of 1800, the attendance that j-ear being very small and a lack of interest in its success being manifested generally by its former patrons. That winter the legislature passed an enabling act autliorizing the " Madison County Joint-Stock Agricultural Society, of Madison county, Indiana, to sell and convey all her corporate property, distribute the proceeds, and end her corporate existence." After the passage of this act the grounds were divided into lots and sold, and the Madison County Fair Association became a thing of the past. The officers of the association the last year of its existence were: John P. Barnes, president; \V. T. Durbin, treasurer; Edmund Jolinson, secretary; and C. K. McCuUough, superintendent.

Noutii Anderson Driving Park Association

In 189i a number of citizens, several of whom were interested in fast stock, organized a racing association that was known as the North Anderson Driving Park Association, from the fact that grounds were purchased for the use of the association in that locality. H. C. Ryan was elected president of theassociation for the ensuing vear ; W.T. Durbin, treasurer ; C. K. McCullough, secretary, and N. A. Free, superintendent. Several large stables were erected on the grounds and a rnile track constructed that was regarded by horsemen as one of the iinest in the west. Meetings or races, were held in ISUl'--}, but were not very liberally patronized for various reasons, and this together with the fact that many who had subscribed for stock in the association refused to meet the assessments made against them compelled the directors to close up the affairs of the organization. Tlie grounds and belongings of the association were sold bv an order ot the circuit court in 1894.

This association was organized at Elwood, October 8, 1895, by the election of the following board of directors ; C. C. Dellority, M. J. Clancy, II. G. Ilarting, F. M. Harbit, D. G.

Evans and P. T. O'Brien. Grounds \vere purchased about a mile and a half northeast of Elwood, and in the following September, the society held its first meeting. Liberal premiums were offered in the various departments, and the fair was a gratifying success in every respect. The association will hold its meetings annually. The following are the present officer- of the association: N. J. Leisure, president; D. G. Evans, secretary; F. M. Ilarbit, treasurer; P. T. CVBrien, superintendent.