Lafayette County, Missouri - Chapter 11: Agriculture and Horticulture, 1910

Chapter 11: Agriculture and Horticulture

In all ages of the world people have looked upon the pursuit of agriculture as high and honorable, and the tiller of the soil has from early centuries been recognized as the man who has furnished his fellow beings with that which has been indispensable for their sustenance. It was long ago said that "He who causes two blades of grass to grow where one grew before is a benefactor to mankind." Again, it is from the hardy, sun-burned farmers that have come our noblest statesmen and lawmakers. The farmer, in fact, has come to hold the balance of power and holds the crown of a king within his soiled, but truly manly hand. Nowhere on earth's fertile fields is this statement more nearly correct than in this great Missouri valley and the state of Missouri.

During the first decade after the settlement of Lafayette county men were too busy to organize for mutual good and for the interchange of thoughts, but each pioneer sought to provide for his family, as best he could, by the rudest and most primitive methods. Game was plentiful, fruits of the uncultivated varieties abounded on every hand, and the richness of the virgin soil brought forth crops without great care. It was not until about 1854-55 that our farmers sought to organize themselves, aided by the business factors of the county, into a society known as the Lafayette County Agricultural and Mechanical Society.

First Agricultural Society

In 1855 a society was incorporated, for the purpose of "promoting improvements in agricultural and mechanical methods, and in the raising of stock and fruits."

As the incorporators furnish the reader with a fairly good list of the better class of citizens of that date, the list of names is here appended :

One of the stipulations of the articles of the above incorporation was that the society should never hold to exceed thirty acres of land, and other property, including buildings, not exceeding the value of ten thousand dollars. The first president of the society was Judge William T. Wood, with E. Winsor, Esq., as secretary. The society built the old, now historic, "Fair Ground," about two miles to the southeast of Lexington. There it held many excellent annual exhibits, and interest was unabated until the days of the Civil war, which forever put an end to the activities of the pioneer agricultural society. The war came on, property was destroyed by invading armies, business was demoralized; the days of "reconstruction" came, and the dawn of brighter days made glad the heart of both the victor and vanquished. It was not until September, 1880, however, that matters shaped so that a new organization was formed for agricultural advancement by the farmers and business men of the county.

The above was the title of an organization perfected at Higginsville in September, 1880, though it was not incorporated until June, 1881. The following were the officers : President, Capt. A. E. Asbury ; secretary, L. T. Bell ; general superintendent, Dr."C. W. Seeber. The board of directors were the following gentlemen : Jackson Corder, Joseph Davis, Ryland Toddhunter, Charles Hoefer, W. H. Waddell, John O. Lockhart. T. B. Campbell, H. J. Higgins, W. A. Redd, C. W. Seeber, George P. Gordon, J. D. Connor, H. C. Chiles.

The capital stock was fixed at eight thousand dollars and the grounds purchased amounted to forty acres. Good buildings were erected, barns, shed, yards, drinking ponds, a good half-mile race track, etc. These grounds are three-fourths of a mile from the center of Higginsville. The Alton railroad tracks run near the grounds.

The first annual exhibit was in August, 1881, and proved a pronounced success. The managers of this first fair at Higginsville were : Dr. C. W. Seeber, general superintendent ; B. S. Higgins, chief marshal ; J. D. Connor, superintendent of the floral hall, agricultural and mechanical department; W. C. Beatte, superintendent, and Mrs. R. Toddhunter, assistant superintendent of home, field and garden ; Mrs. H. C. Chiles, superintendent of fruits and flowers; Mrs. Jackson Corder, superintendent of fine arts; Mrs. H. J. Higgins, superintendent of textile fabrics and materials : George Catron, superintendent of poultry department ; H. C. Chiles, superintendent of sheep and swine.

The society ran along for many years and prospered, but finally it did not meet with as good financial success as was at first anticipated and at last failed. The property was sold for the debts against the society and then local men took the matter up and formed an unincorporated company. The grounds were divided into town lots and sold at fifty dollars apiece, the same being drawn by lot. From the funds thus raised the old debts were paid off and a new era was ushered in. It is now known as the Lafayette County Fair, but has no regular corporate organization or real stockholders. This change was wrought in 1878, since which annual exhibits have been held and much attention paid to stock and speedy horses. The sum of seven thousand, five hundred dollars is paid out each season for premiums to exhibitors of stock, agricultural, horticultural and speed exhibitors. These annual exhibits are usually held in August.

The grounds are indeed exceptionally beautiful, being shaded by fine trees, with fine water provisions and the best half-mile track in Missouri. The present officers of this association are : M. C. James, president ; T. J. Miller, vice-president ; Daniel H. Holke, treasurer ; J. P. Chinn, secretary. The people have stood nobly by this enterprise, which is of a semi-private nature, and the attendance has been large each year under this arrangement of things.

Hemp Growing And Marketing

"The production of hemp necessitated its manufacture, and in 1828 or 1829, William P. Moore, who died in this county about two years ago, and John Buchanan established a rope walk in Lexington on a small scale, which they continued to operate for several years, but the business finally fell into the hands of the McGrew Brothers, and in later years their factory was destroyed by fire. The same fate followed these enterprising gentlemen when in after years they established their very extensive hemp works on the river levee. Twice on the levee they were burnt out, and finally abandoned business, and the half-ruined building on Water street, still bearing the McGrew sign, is the only remaining monument of the industry and perseverance of this family in one of our greatest antebellum enterprises." In September, 1843, tne on^y newspaper in Lafayette county - the Express - had this local item : "The patent hemp-brake, owned by Mr. Poyntz, is now fitted up in this place (Lexington), and it is to be put in operation every Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, if the days are fair, for the inspection of the hemp-growers of upper Missouri. The farmers are invited to come in and examine the said machine."

The Grange Movement

The Patrons of Husbandry, commonly known as the "Grange movement," at one time here, as in all parts of the United States, flourished among the agricultural classes, and was not without its benefits. Although that organization has almost become extinct, other farmers' associations and clubs have taken a part of the field that it was intended to cover. It came to be a semi-political order, and in many localities held the balance of power. Did a man want office, he first made friends with the Granges in his district, for without them he could not be elected. The movement was very strong in Missouri, and there were numerous township granges established, which were run well for several years. One of the principles of this farmers' order was that they did not believe in "middle men" and sought to cut off the retail man's profit by shipping and buying direct to and from the great markets. Local stores and grain warehouses were established, and for a time all went well, but finally discord arose in its ranks and its days were soon numbered. However, many good things resulted from the monthly meetings of farmers and their families. Farming, dairying and horticulture, etc., were discussed and the best methods were thus brought to obtain in practical farm life.

Among the Granges instituted in Lafayette county may be named these : Prairie Grange, in Davis township, was organized by Lewis Neale, Jr. It erected a neat frame hall in 1879, on section 5, township 49, range 24. Jackson Corder was its secretary in 1880.

Davis Creek Grange, No. 155, was organized in the early spring of 1873, with thirteen members. By 1880 it had increased to a membership of about sixty farmers. William Nois was the lecturer. They built a two-story frame building, "Grange Hall," costing about seven hundred dollars.

Greenton Grange, No. 559, was instituted by Lewis Neal, August 5, 1873. IR r88o it had a membership of one hundred and twenty. It flourished a number of years and did much good toward developing the best methods of farm and home life.

Corder Grange was instituted by Thomas Allen in 1881. John Board was the lecturer. It reached a membership of only eighteen and died with the going down of the popularity of the movement a few years later.

Lafayette Grange, No. 305, was instituted by Thomas Allen in 1873. The first master was Dr. W. C. Webb. It had a membership of about sixty intelligent farmers, with their wives. They met in the brick school house on section 15, township 50, range 25.

Chapel Hill Grange was instituted August 16, 1873. Charles T. Williamson was the lecturer for this Grange, which had, in 1881, a membership of forty-four. Meetings were usually held in the school house.

Chihuahua Grange, No. 1438, of Freedom township, was instituted by Lewis Neal, its charter bearing date of January 24, 1874. In 1881 this Grange owned a hall and enjoyed a membership of seventeen.

Statistics

At the date of the great Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, in 1876, Lafayette county possessed the following farm property (exclusive of lands) : Eight thousand, two hundred and twenty-six horses, valued at two hundred and ninety thousand dollars ; mules and asses, three thousand, seven hundred and ninety-three, valued at one hundred and seventy-one thousand, three hundred dollars; neat cattle, twenty-one thousand, three hundred, valued at two hundred and forty-five thousand, eight hundred dollars ; sheep, eight thousand head, valued at eight thousand dollars; hogs, thirty thousand, six hundred and forty, valued at one hundred and three thousand dollars. These valuations represent the assessed, and not true, value on the open markets of the world.