Union Township

County Organization

Associate yiidgcs. - John Sleeth, Wm. Goodrich, 1822; Joseph Dawson, 1825; A. Wilhams, 1826; L-a Bailey, Thomas Cotton, 1836; Joshua B. Lucas, 1843; Jacob Kennerly, 1S50; Deivid Thatcher, Calville Pierce, 185 1.

human famil}' have been subject in all time past, and the degree of proficiency attained has always depended upon the activity and zeal of the members of the profession. To secure the knowledge indispensable to the proper treatment of human ailments and the restoration of the organic functions to their normal condition, union of effort and mutuality of counsel have been universallv acknowledged as essential. This would suggest the necessity for the organization of societies in which members may meet, and bv a comparison of individual experiences deduce the most practical methods.

Early in the fifties an effort was made by a few of the leading physicians of Shelbyville to organize upon a pernament foundation, and although the organization was effected its existance was but temporary.

What was known as the Shelby County Medical Societv, with headquarters at Morristown, was organized April 3, 1854. ^^e membership of this society was made up of the following phvsicians who lived in the northern portion of the countv: D. S.McGauhev, J. G. Wolf, J. M. Adams, J. H. Spurrier, F. M. Pollitt. W. W. Rigdon and T. M. Stevens. The first officers were Dr. D. S. McGauhey, President; J. M. Adams, Secretary : J. G. Wolf and W. W. Rigdon, Censors: and J. H. Spurrier, Treasurer. This organization continued until 1864, a period of ten years, when it disbanded and has never since been revived.

Of the early history of the profession, but little can be said. There having been no early organization, there is in consequence no record from which the data may be obtained. It is remembered by the oldest residents that the first to offer his professional services to the people of Shelby County was Dr. James Kipper, who came probably, as earh' as 1820. He was a man of verv ordinarv abilitv, with very little professional learning, although he is said to have been reasonabl}- successful in the treatment of diseases most prevalent in those da3's. Dr. Sylvan B. Morris came the following year, 182 1, and opened an office in the house of Alexander Van Pelt, at the mouth of Conn's Creek. The next year, 1822, he moved to Shelbyville, where he remained until his death, 1843. Dr. Morris was a native of Pennsylvania, but spent the greater part of his boyhood davs in Warren County, Ohio. He was one of the best educated of all the early physicians of the county, being a literary graduate of Lebanon Academy, and a medical graduate of the famous Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. Dr. John T. Kennedy came in 1828. He was a surgeon in the War of 181 2, a man of much intellectual force and a very successful practitioner. Drs. Archibald Smith and Edward Beall came a few years earlier.

Others who may be classed among the pioneer physicians are as follows: Drs. Harrison (a son of Gen. Harrison), Nathaniel Teal, Homberg, Cummins, Davison Gaskell Free, W. W. McCoy, Albert G. Webb, John Forbes. George Fleming, Charles Fishback, Graham, Sanders, Cull, McGauhey, Elder, Milton Robins and Samuel D. Day. The two last named are still living in Shelbyville.

In the history of the profession in Shelby County there is little that ma}' be said. The incidents of the early practice are similar to those of all western communities. Milk sickness, a disease now unknown to the profession, was prevalent in some localities in the latter part of the thirties. Of the disease, but little was known, further than that it was by drinking the milk or eating the meat of cattle that were atflicted with a disease of the same name. The disease was not necessarily fatal, but the rate of mortality was considerable. In 1845, the black tongue prevailed; cholera in 1850; a malignant form of dysentery in 1851, and cholera again in 1866. The "- chills and fever," was the most prevalent, and gave the settlers the most inconvenience. It was a terror to new-comers; in fact but few of any class escaped. It was not contagious, but derived from impure water and air, which are always developed in the opening up of a new countr}-. The impurities were absorbed from day to dav until the whole body became saturated with the poison, and then the shock came. It had a fixed beginning and ending, coming, generally, on alternate days with a regularity that was surprising. After the shock came a fever that was burninghot and lasted for hours. When a person had the chill, he couldn't get warm, and when he had the fe\'er, he couldn't get cool. The patient felt languid and stupid; back was out of fix, the head ached and the appetite was crazed. The eyes had too much white in them, the ears, especially after taking quinine, had too much roar in them, and the whole bodv and soul were entirely woebegone, disconsolable, sad, poor and good for nothing. It is claimed bv one of the pioneer physicians that there was not a single person who Hved in the county, during the decade of the fifties, that was not a victim of this malady. The patients, after a long continued struggle, became weak, emaciated and thin, and the following can hardly be said to be a picture of the imagination :

Agricultural Societies. - The most important of the occupations into which the labors of mankind are divided is that of aijriculture. This is true not only because a larger per cent, of the population is engaged in tilling the soil, but because it forms the basis of the prosperity of ever}' country. It has long since been conceded that intelligence is as necessary on the part of those engaged in the cultivation of the soil as in the other vocations of life. It is for the dissemination of knowledge and the diffusion of better methods amono- the farmers that agricultural societies have been established and maintained throughout the State. There is no doubt that through the agency of these societies, great changes have been wrought during the latter half of the present century. No considerable progress was made in the organization and maintenance of agricultural societies until the enactment of a law, February 14, 185 1, providing for the encouragement of the same. A State Board of Agriculture, with Gov. Joseph A. Wright as President, was organized pursuant to this act, and throuirh the influence of said board many district and county societies were formed.

The preliminary arrangements for the organization of an agricultural society in Shelby County, were perfected at a meeting held in the old court house in the summer of 1848. Forty acres of land lying southeast of the present site of the Shelby distillery was purchased by the association, and the lirst fair was held, probably, in the fall of the following ^ear, 1849. After the enactment of February, 1 85 1, went into effect, an association was organized on a different basis. The following historical sketch of the society was contributed to the report of the State Board of Agriculture, for 1854, by L. J. Hackney, Esq., Secretary of the Association:

" I have had an opportunity recently to observe in abstract form the progress of agriculture in this county since the 25th day of October, 1851, when the citizens friendly to agricultural improvement met at the court house and selected Rev. David Whitcomb to preside over the meeting, and David Thatcher, then editing and publishing the }\)Iiiiitcer, was chosen secretary. A societ}^ was formed, and November i, 1851, the venerable judge J. M. Sleeth, for a committee, reported a constitution, and Thomas A. Hendricks, Martin M. Ra}- and James ElHott, reported by-laws. A librarian was one of the officers of the society, and it was made his duty to subscribe for all such books and periodicals for the use of members as might be ordered, and to keep a register of the receipt and the return of the same by members. A committee was required to furnish two columns of agricultural newS weekly to the Volioifecr, and the librarian ordered to subscribe for the Cultivator, '^1.00; Horticiilturalist, $3.00; The PIozv, 50 cents; The Prairie Farmer, $1.00: The Plow, the Tooni and the Anvil, $2.00; Western Horticidtural Peviezc', $3.00; Ohio Agriculturalist, $1.00: 'Journal of Agriculture, $2.00; Pennsylvania Farm yournal, $1.00; American Farmer, $1.00; Iiidiana Farmer, $1.00; Ohio Cultivator, $1.00. On the first Saturday in Februar}', 1852, Governor Wright and W. T. Dennis, addressed the societ}'. In the moldy old volumes \\here this record is found, is a list of the premiums offered at the first fair of the pioneer society and it covers less than five and a half pages, written, in the book, 8x10 inches, and comprising farms, crops, horses, jacks and mules, cattle, hogs, sheep, fowls, fruits, farming implements, flov.'ers and domestic manufactures. In the first is a sensible award, though abandoned b}' modern management, ' the best arranged and cultivated farm, a silver cup worth $10; for second best, Stephen Farm book and a diploma.' The Farmers' Encylopedia, Coleman European Agriculture, American Farm Book, silver cups, spoons and butter knives, etc., constituted the premiums. In 1852, and 1853, these pages show that much annovance was experienced by ' huckstering near the fair grounds.'

"The progress of the societ}- during 1853, was reported to the State Board, showing great advancement by the " offering of 188 premiums, of which 120 were awarded, their cost being about $400, of which $230 is silverware, and the remainder in books and bound volumes of periodicals on agriculture and hundred topics." The score and a half of 3'ears, since this remarkable manifestation of agricultural interests, have brought us much of which to be proud. We have a ground, upon which there are permanent improvements of more than $10,000 in value, and the fair of the past season paid in cash premiums fully $5,000, and received in entry fees, privileges at the gates, amphitheater, and from stalls, $6,280.66, having paid more money for building forty new stalls than all the awards of our brethren of 1853, amounted to. Their efforts were laudable, and probablv more productive of good results than ours of this day, considering and comparing the circumstances affecting both. Certain it is, that we are reaping the harvest of prosperity, that have grown from the seeds of industry and hardships sown by them."

The present societv is a joint stock association, and was organized in 1874, with about 300 shareholders. The grounds which are just outside the citv limits is the property of the county, but all improvements were made by and belong to the association. The value of both grounds and improvements is probably $12,000. This fair under its present management is one of the best in the

Prominent among those who have contributed much to the success of the society since its organization the following names deserve special mention: John Blessing, Jacob Mutz, Christopher Girton, S. L. Van Pelt, Albert Gorgas, David Conger and L. J. Hackney.

Beside the above association the people of Shelby County contribute much to the success of the following district fairs: Shelby, Johnson, Bartholomew and Brown, Shelby and Rush.

The Shelby County Live Stock Association was organized in 1886, with H. B. Cole, President; D. H. Thompson, Vice President; Walter Elliot, Secretary, and William Kinsley, Treasurer. The principal public sales that have taken place within the county were that of T. A. Colton & Son, Wednesday, June 15, 1887; and that of Madison Talbert, W. R. Zike and R. H. Phillips, June i6, 1887.

Poultry Farmino-. - This branch of industry has since its inception, but a few 3'ears ago, grown to vast proportions. To Hon. Sid Con<rer is due the credit of first conducting the business of " fanc}- poultr}^ raising," on a large scale. He began the business in 1875 two Partridge Cochin pullets, given him by a friend, to which by purchase he added a cockerel, and with this beginning he laid the foundation of a business which is at present one of the most extensive in the west. In 1S77, Mr. Conger added to his stock the Plymouth Rocks, Buff Cochins, and later the WN^andottes, and in the same year began exhibiting at the fairs of Central hidiana. He has since exhibited at the principal fairs of the United States, and in 1885, won man}^ prizes at the World's Fair at New Orleans.

So great has become the reputation of Mr. Conger that he has sold a single chicken as high as $150, and a pen consisting of six females and one male for $500. Starting on a rented farm and with no means save what was borrowed, he has by his energy, integrity and correct business methods increased his business to such an extent that his patrons may be found in every State and Territory in the Union, besides Canada and England, and his sales of poultry and* eggs for the year 18S6, aggregated but little less than $9,000.

Other growers of fancy poultry who deserve mention in this connection, althouirh not so extensively engaged, are, T. E. Goodrich, Ph-mouth Rocks; Justus Clapp, Light Brahmas; James K. Bowers, Light Brahmas; Robert Hale and Charles Cage, of Shelbyville, and Frank Cory, of Morristown.