St. Joseph County, Indiana - Aobicultuee in St. Joseph County. Agkicultural Sooietiks. -, 1880

Aobicultuee in St. Joseph County. Agkicultural Sooietiks. -

KATE OF TAXATION AND TAXABLE VALUATION OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR 1S79-'S0 . - AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OF 1880. COUNTY EXPENDITURES. OFFICIAL CENSUS. - AGED PERSONS.

St. Joseph county boasts, and truthfully too, of being one of the best agricultural counties in the State, and not only in the State, but in the entire Union. In the fifty years of its organized existence, there has not been a total failure of crops, and but one total failure of the wheat crop. In 1835, in the early part of June, when wheat was in full bloom, there came a heavy frost which totally destroyed the crop. All products of the earth that can be raised in this latitude thrive in St. Joseph county and the industrious fanner can each year make his calculations as to the amount of products he will raise. In 1879 there were threshed 811,037 bushels of wheat, 143,791 bushels of oats, and 829,554 bushels of corn.

Agricultural Societies

The value of a public display of the products of the county and the encouragement that should be ofliered to those engaged in agricultural and mechanical pursuits, were realized by the early settlers of this county. Agreeably to an act passed by the State Legislature, Feb. 19, 1838, a notice was published in the South Bend Free Presa for three consecutive weeks for a public meeting to be held in the town of South Bend for the purpose of organizing an Agricultural and Mechanical Society. This meeting was held June 12, 1841, and there were present George Sumption, David Hoover, Israel DeCamp, Charles Sumption, Matthew B. Hammond, William S. Vail, Aaron M. Parker, Sr., John J. Doming, Evan Chalfant, Samuel Brooks, James Stuckey, Charles W. Poraeroy, Francis R. Tutt, T. P. Bulla, TyraW. Brav, Hiram Doolittle, Wi'lliam Milliken, Samuel Witter, Thomas D. Baird, Charles M. Tutt, William H. Patteson, E. S. Sheffield, Joel Garst, Albert Monson, William Cosgrove, Samuel C. Sample, Elisha Egbert and John Gilmore. Of these there are still living William Cosgrove, F. R. Tutt, T. P. Bulla, William S. Vail. Joel Garst, William Milliken, Samuel Witter and William H. Patteson.

The meeting was opened by electing Samuel C. Sample President and F. R. Tutt Secretary. All those whose names are recorded above voted to incorporate under the State law, and taxed themselves one dollar each per year. They then proceeded to the elec- (561) tion of permanent officers of the society with the following result: John J. Deraing, President; Thomas D. Baird, Vice President; Tyra \V. Bray, Secretary, F. II. Tutt, Treasurer. T. P. Bulla, George Sumption, Hiram Doolittle, M. B. Hammond, Jonathan A. Liston, Samuel Brooks and Israel DeCamp were elected Directors for the year. Judge Deming was appointed to deliver an address at the autumnal meeting. The premium list for that year contained but twenty-three articles for which premiums were offered. Among these were premiums for the best ten yards of jeans; best ten yards of flannel; best ten yards linen; best sample of sewing silk; best cheese, not less than ten ]iouuds; best specimen of beet sugar, not less than ten pounds ; best half acre of r uta-bagas ; best five acres of tame grass; and best cultivated farm of not less than thirty acres.

This society did not have but one annual exhibition, the county at that time being too thinly settled, and money too scarce to make such an institution profital^le. The fair was held upon the second Monday in October, ISil.

A number of citizens friendly to the re-organization of the societj' met at the court-house on Saturday, April 19, 1S51, when George C. Merrifield was elected Chairman, and Schuyler Colfax, Secretary. A constitution, framed in conformity with a legislative enactment upon the subject of agricultural societies, was reported by Schuyler Colfax, from a committee on that subject, and adopted. The meeting selected the following named officers: Powers Greene, President; R. Dnnn and G. Towle, Vice-Presidents; Schuyler Colfax and George C. Merrifield, Secretaries; William Miller, Treasurer. George C. Merrifield was requested to deliver an address at the next meeting.

On the lYtli of May the society met agi-eeable to adjournment. Mr. Merrifield delivered an address on the subject of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture. At this meeting tiie number of members were reported to be one hundred and thiry-two. J. L. Jernegan was selected a delegate to attend a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture.

On the 14th of June Mr. Jernegan made a verbal report to the society of the proceedings of the State Board. The Society then entered npon a conversational discussion of the best mode of cultivating corn, which was participated in by M. B. Hammond, William Miller, J . D. Robertson, A. E. Drapier, Thomas P. Bulla and others. A list of premiums was adopted to be awarded at the time of holding the annual fair.

On the 2Sth of June another meeting of the society was held, the subject of conversation being "Insects injurious to trees." An order of the society, adopted at this meeting, inviting Ariel E. Di-apier to deliver an address on the interests of agriculture was fulfilled on the 16th of August.

"Vice President; John M. Veasey, Secretary; William Miller, Treasurer. A director IVom each township was chosen, as follows: Olive, A. A. Whitlock; Warren, Reynolds Dunn; German, Samuel Witter; Greene, M. B. Ilauimond; Portai^e, Elmer Rose; Peiin, George C. Merrifield; Centre, Alexander Foote; Clay, Thomas P. Bulla; ITnion, Edwin Pickets.

In order to work up a membership for the society, a committee of three was appointed in each township to solicit, and Elmer Rose, Daniel Hatch, M. Rupp and John Ham for the county at large. The township committees were:

Olive - Lot Vail, John Reynolds .and J. Druliner. Warren - R. Dunn, W. W. Brick and Isaac Frame. German - S. Witter, William Miller and James Good. Clay - E. Chalfant, S. R. Jennings and William F. Bulla. Harris - E. M. Irvin, John Metzger and R. Kennedy. Fenn - G. Towle, J. J. Doming and H. Dooliule. Portage - Schuyler Colfa.x, Lester Webster and Collins Adams. Centre - N. Rose, J. Farneman and Alexis Foote. Greene - D. Barrett, J. Rudduck and T. L. Holloway. Union - A. Mills, H. Henderson and W. H. Robinson. Liberty - S. G. Williams, J. Cole and John Rupel. Madison - T. Longley, P. Bennett and J. Stuart.

At a meeting of the president and directors, Sept. 6, 1851, it was resolved that the first annual fair of tliis society be held in South Bend, on Thursday, the 16th day of October, 1851.

This very creditable exhibition was accordingly held in the court-house yard on that day. The following is an exhibit of business done: receipts, $185.00; exoenses, $110.08; balance in treasury, $68.92.

Jan. 3, 1852, a meeting of the society was held for general business. The following named are the officers elected for this year: Powers Greene, President; John J. Deming, Vice President; J. M. Veasey, Secretary; William Miller, Treasurer, (^ne Director from each township, as follows: Penn, G. C. Merrifield; Portage, E. F. Dibble; Clay, Thomas P. Bulla; German, Samuel Witter; Centre, Alexis Foote; Union, E. Pickett; Greene, J. D. Robertson; Warren, Orson Marble; Olive, Lot Vail; Liberty, Franklin Pearce; Harris, E. Irvin; Madison, Philo Bennett.

The fair for the second year of the society was therefore held in Mishawaka, the good citizens of that place paying all the expenses thereof. The annual address was delivered by John B. Niles, of La Porte.

No account of the current receipts and expenditures of the society appears on the records for the years 1852, 1853 and ISol. The secretary was allowed ten dollars for his services for the year

1852. The Mishawaka Fair was a very satisfactory exhibition for that day, and the members of the society were well pleased with their efforts.

On the 8th of January, 1853, the annual election of officers of the society was held. John J. Deming was elected President; E. F. Dibble, Secretary; Thomas P. Bulla, Treasurer. Directors: S. C. Sample, Portage; William Miller, German; Eeynolds Dunn, Warren; Harmel Reid, Olive; Franklin Pearce, Liberty; J. D. Robertson, Greene; William Robertson, Union; William Clugston, Madison; Evan Chalfavit, Clay; Elias Smith, Penn; Alexis Foote, Centre; E. M. Irvin, Harris.

The third annual fair was held at South Bend on tlie 4th and 5th days of October, 1853. Two acres of land on Washington street, three blocks west of the court-house, were leased and fitted up for that purpose. The same land afterward became the property of the society. Tlie South Bend Forum^ published at the time of the fair, had the following commit upon it:

" Those who can remember and compare things, affirm that this exhibition was inferior to that of last year at Mishawaka, in all respects, except the stock and poraological departments."

On the TtJi of January the society held its annual meeting for the election of officers. J. D. Robertson was chosen President; E. F. Dibble, Secretary; John T. Lindsey, Treasurer.

Tiie society this year paid out in premiums $228.50, awarded at the fair held on the 19th and 20th of October. A vote of thanks was tendered Mr. Dibble for the efficient manner in which he discharged the duties of secretary. E. Burke Fisher for a time was secretary pro tern, during this year, and by his suggestion a plan of voluntary donations was adopted of money to the society's treasury, which afforded material aid in time of need, and so its officers were enabled to report a steady annual increase of entries and specimens.

The society met Jan. 5, 1855, and elected the following officers: Elmer Rose, President ; William G. George, Secretary (before the year expired Mi. George resigned and R. Burroughs was selected to fill the vacancy; Mr. Burroughs likewise resigning, Dwight Deming was chosen); D. Matthews, Treasurer. Directors - Minor T. Graham, E. M. Irvin, W. F. Bulla, M. W. Miller, M. Tibbitt, Thomas M. Holloway, Benjamin Rupel, Lot Vail, Stephen Fields, Alexis Foote, Squire Rush, Joel Garst. Executive Committee - W. G. Whitman. B. F. Price, T. S. Cowles.

This year was inaugurated the plan of connecting agricultural books with the premiums and diplomas. The number of articles entered for premiums was largely increased, amounting to 402. The total receipts was also largely increased, amounting to $-170.51, including memberships. Of this amount $196.68 was paid out for premiums. Other expenses this year were in excess of any previous year, the register of orders paid, including premiums, was $580.93, leaving a balance of only $5.43. Elmer Rose was sent as a delegate from the society to the meeting of the State Board of Agriculture.

The sixth annual election for officers of the society was held Jan. 5, 1856. The following officers were elected: John H. Harper, President; Dwight Deming, Secretary; Daniel Matthews, Treasurer. Directors - E. Rose, II. Myers, D. D. Jewell, John H. Kingery, Frank Kinney, T. L. HoUoway, Alexis Foote, Thomas R. Tutt'; Samuel Witter, M. Hupp.

Samuel Witter, Thomas L. Holloway, William F. Bulla, under appointment of the society, submitted at this meeting the list of premiums for the year, which were awarded at the close of a very brilliant fair held the 7th, Stli and 9th of October. The pay of officers is recorded this year as follows: E. Rose, delegate to State Board, $25; D. Deming, Secretary, $25; D. Matthews, Treasurer, two years, $30; N. T. Townsend, of the Ohio Agricultural College, Cleveland, for annual address, $15. The amount paid the secretary and treasurer was that fixed for annual compensation. The total receipts this year were $675.62; expenditures, $655.15; leaving a balance in the treasury of $20.53.

On the 6th day of January, the seventh annual election of the officers of the society was held, resulting as follows: Samuel Witter, President; Jonn M. Veasey, Secretary; Daniel Matthews, Treasurer. Directors - H. Doolittle, George Milburn, Jacob Snyder, Joseph Miller, Jacob Shimp, T. L. Holloway, Isaiah Roseberry, Peter Stambaugh, John Metzger, Samuel R. Jennings, Powers Greene, W. H. Robertson.

The treasurer's report this year gives the total receipts $889.27; expenditures, $654.59; balance iu the treasury and subject to draft, $344.68.

Thied Organization

The society this year was reorganized, and lots number 19, 20, 21, 25 and 26, in the State Bank's first addition to the town of South Bend, were purchased and improved for a third organization under a new constitution, conformably to the amended statute for the encouragement of agriculture, approved Feb. 17, 1852, and the regulations of the State Board of Agriculture.

March 15, 1858, at a special meeting of the society held for that purpose, on motion of Elmer Rose it was resolved unanimously to reorganize the body and to adopt a constitution.

Subsequently, under formal and appropriate legal orders of the society, the old grounds were abandoned and sold, and new grounds purchased as already 'stated. The new fair grounds embraced seven and one-half acres, all within the corporate limits of South Bend. The whole was enclosed by a tight board fence, seven feet high. In the inclosure, the native trees were all left standing. An office building, 16x20 feet, was erected on the eastern extremity of the grounds; and on either side were gate- ways for the ingress or egress of persons on foot. Near the center of the ground was a building erected for a floral hall, 24x-t8 feet, enclosed; two large folding doors at each end, and four windows on each side.

The ninth exhibition was held three days of the lastweek in September, 1859. Bad weather interfered with the success, but there was a fine display of articles, and a very large attendance.

The society now seemed to be in a flourishing condition, and for several years it was quite prosperous, but misfortune finally overook it, and suspensiou followed. The last annual fair was held September 16-20, 1872. The next year, in connection with the Northern Indiana Fair, an exhibition was held, since which time it has not had an organized existence.

Official Census Of St. Joseph Countt

The net gain in the county in ten years was S,001. The largest gain anywhere in the county was in the Tiiird and Fifth wards. In 1870 these two wards constituted the Third ward, and the population was 2,679. The population now in the same territory is 5,629 - an increase of 2,950, or more than 110 per cent.

The deaths in the county from May 31, 1879, to June 1, 1880, were 400, divided as follows: Olive township, 17; Clay, 16; Mishawaka and Penn townships, 84; Portage township and First ward of South Bend, 30; Third and Fifth wards, 93; Second and Fourth wards, 54; Warren, 3; Greene, 6; Centre, 8; Madison, 17; Union, 31; Liberty, 24, and Lincoln, 17.

The following list ot persons over 75 is compiled from the census report as furnished by the different enumerators, now on file in the clerk's office at South Bend:

In the 1st ward of South Bend and Portage township E. W. Hoover reports 17 persons above 75 years. They are: John Boyes, 79; Madore Cratee, 77; Charity Cobb, 79; Sophia Coquillard, 76 Elizabeth Cleveland, 88; Dolly Caldwell, 86; John Degraff, 85 Benjamin Eckler, 76; Susannah Elbel, 80; Elizabeth Embick, 80 Jacob Hardman, 76; Henry Holtz, 83; John Kleindinst, Sr., 77 Lovina E. Ptleger, 79; Andrew Sherburg, 70; Rebecca Stude baker, 78: Lena Schidler, 79; L. Hain, 82; C. M. Heaton, 75 Thos. Fifield, 78; Mrs. Mary Kent, 76.

In the 3d and 5th wards John M. Deffenbaugh reports 26 as follows: Adam Bernhard, 75; Catharine Bernhard 75; Agnes Butchcoski, 90; Barbara Fritzer, 76; Susannah Gootlwin, 78; Plester Good, 79; Rosa Hantz, 80; James Huey, 75; Sarah Hall, 80; Anna Hack, 7(3; Henrietta Judia, 75; Joseph Keasey, 86; Max Konzen, 7'j; Elizabeth Konzen, 76; Martin Lasetski, Sr., 78; Charles Loring, 79; Catharine Ordt, 79; John D. Eobinson, 89; Henry Slnsser, 82; Ann B. Sample, 79; Doretta Schauchs, 80; Ephraim Trueblood, 79; Margaret Tnieblood, 76 ; Samuel Waldorf, Sr., 77; Nancy A. Whitlock, 76; Charles Morgan, 80; T. J. Seixas, 77. Oldest man in the city. Judge Robertson; oldest lady, Mrs. Butchcoski; both in the 3d ward.

Centre, Schuyler C. Carskaddon, enumerator, 3, as follows: Elizabeth Henson, 75; Susan Price, 77; Sophia Schaffer, 78. Oldest lady, Sophia Schaffer; no gentleman over 75 years.

Warren, Ashbury Lindlev, enumerator, 3, as follows: Martin Nailin. 75; Elizabeth Reprogle, 75; Rustin AYright, 78. Oldest gentleman, R. Wright; oldest lady, Elizabeth Reprogle.

Hun-is, A. D. Manning, enumerator, reports 8, as follows: Geo. Young, 82; Catharine Young, 78; William Snyder, 83; John Kohrer, 78; John Kerfus, 75; Michael Griffith, 80; Arbagast Zaehnle, 79; Horace Bonney, 78. Oldest gentleman, Wm. Snyder; oldest lady, Mrs. Young.

The oldest men in the county are David Griggs and George Jacobs, of Penn, and Andrew Kush, of Olive, each aged 90. The oldest women are Mrs. Butchoski, of this city, -nd Mrs. Nango, of Olive, each aged 90.