Walworth County, Wisconsin - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 4 of those read), 1882 (part 1 of 3)

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 4 of those read)

Early Organizations - First County Fair - Fair Grounds - Officers - Constitution - One of THE Early Fairs - A Contrast - Agencies of Success.

AGRICULTURAL societies are now prominent institutions tlu-oughoiit the country where husbandry is the leading avocation of the inhabitants. All thi-ough New England and New York, the "cattle show" fifty years ago constituted one of the three big gatherings of the year; the other two being the celebration of the 4th of July, and the annual muster of militia.

The early settlers of Walworth County were mostly from the Eastern States, and brought with them the traditionary habits of their ancestors, not only as to industry and thi-ift, but also as to religious observances and poi)ular soiu'ces of recreation. The -tth of July was celebrated s of yore, but the cattle show and muster came not. So quite early it was determined by a few o supply the want by inaugiu-ating this beloved institution on the Western prairies. Accordingly, through the preliminary work of Seymour and Homer Brooks, S. B. Edwards, the Burgit brothers, Emery Thayer, John Feamly, A. M. Perry, Augustus Smith, J. Pike West, S. G. West, S. M. Rockwood, Edward Elderkin, P. G. Harrington and others, a fair or cattle show, the fii-st ever held in the county, was held at East Troy October 36, 1850. In comparison with the annual county fairs of later years, it would not be considered a success, but, as it was the beginning and the starting-point of the present society, its importance cannot be measured by its magnitude or magnificence. The following report of it was given in the Wisconsin and Iowa Fanner, an agricultural monthly, then published in Racine, by Mark Miller, who edited the ]iaper, assisted by F. K. Phoenix in the horticultural department:

The first annual fair of the Walworth County Agricultural Societj' was held on Wednesday, October 16, in the village of East Troj-. The pleasure of the day was marred by frequent showers. Notwithstanding, the interest on the occasion was such as to call forth a large attendance of people.

Tlie exhibition of stock was not over large, but of a superior quality. A very tine show of horses of all kinds, working oxen, steers, cows and calves of improved breeds, reflect great credit <ipon the Walworth fanners. Two extra line Durham bulls, imported by Josiah F. Brooks, of East Troy, would compare favorably with the best Eastern breeds, are especially wortliyof notice. Mr. Brooks also imported a number of choice Bucks of the French and Pauler-Merino and Staple Saxon breeds, which will be of much importance to our wool-growers, and show in after fairs.

The number of swine was small, but quality good. Dairy products limited, but highly spoken of by the inspectors. The show room was well tilled by household manufactures, such as carpets, caps, bonnets and fancy work. A veiy fine article of figured gloves was shown by Mrs. John A. Larkin, of East Troy, reflecting great credit on the manufacturer.

The Horticultural products were extraordinary for Wisconsin. Some twenty-five varieties of apples by r. Pha?nix, of'Delavan, together with pumpkins, squashes, tomatoes and other vegetables made a display rthy of our climate and soil.

The show in the mechanical line was well represented by sowing machines (seeders), drills, plows, buggies, cabinet-ware, ready-made clothing, etc.

The Committee on Miscellaneous .Vrticles awarded to F. K. Phrenix, of Delavan, for several varieties of apples raised by him $1.50; to Mr. McNair. for flannel sheets. 11.90; to E. Pound, for garden vegetables. 50 cents; to W. Taylor and Calvin, for garden vegetables, .50 cents each; to Alfred Payne, for paintings, $1; to James F. Wiilson, for flower-baskets. 50 cents; to C. W. Powers, for coat and pants, |1; to C. Bull, for cabinet work. $1: to William Bates, for buggy. $1; to Mrs. J. A. Larkin, for fringed gloves,. |1; to William Child, for carpet, f 1; to Sanuicl Oilliard. for garden vegetables, 50 cents.

The plowing match was deferred until October 25. in consequence of the copious showers in the after part of the day. The competitors were not numerous, but veiy spirited, and showed how the "Badger Boys" can handle the plow when excited by a proper spirit of rivalry.

The time occupied in plowing a quarter of an acre, varied from fifty-tlu'ce minutes to one hour and four minutes. One yoke of cattle, used and owned by Mr. Pettit, made their time in one hour and two minutes; work done in a superior manner. All jjassed off in gooil feeling, and a lively interest was manifested.

After the plowing was disposed of. the sale of two Durham bulls took place. Bull, Herod, seven years old, imported by Josiah F. Brooks, from Western New York, was sold to Jacoli Burgit., of East Trov, for 1310; bull. Defiance, five years old, to Stephen Koshon, of Rockford. 111., for $150.

The members tlien proceeded to elect their otficers for the ensuing year. Tlie vote stood: For President, William Child; Vice President. Robert K. Potter; Secretaries. Edward Elderkin and Seymour Brooks ; Treasurer, S. M. Rockwood ; Managers, T. Mower, .Jr.. William HoUin.shead. .Taroli Burgit.

Resolced, That we publish our proceedings in the Wimcoiisin Farmer, and procure two hundred copies for distribution. Augustus Smith, President.

No records of the receipts of this fair are to lie found. What money was disbursed for premiums was stibscribed by those instrumental in getting it tip. and much of it came back to them in premitims, as they were the principal exhibitors. Although it was, as will be seen by scanning the premium list, virtually an East Troy exposition, it brought some competitors from other towns and awakened an interest throughout the county, and it was at that time resolved by those present to complete the organization of the society, and thereafter hold an annual fair which should represent the agricitltural interests and resources of the entu-e cotuity.

The first meeting looking to the comjiletiou of the organization of a county society was held at Elkhoru April IK), 1851, at which Robert K. Potter, of La Fayette, presided. It does not appear that any constitution was adopted at that meeting. It was, however, resolved " to enlarge the scope " of the society, so that it shoitld embrace the whole county, and premiums were offered for the best, second-best and third-best acre of wheat, and the best, second-best and third-best cultivated farm in the county. A committee was appointed to view the competing acres and the competing farms, and, as appears in the awards at the ensuing fair, the committee made an award on the best and seconcl-best acre of winter wheat. No awards were made on the best cultivated farms.

It was held in Elkhorn October 14 and 15, 1851. The exliibition of stock was held on the lot now occupied as a residence by H. Bradley. In addition to the stock exhibit, the ladies made their show of hottsehold iudixstries at the court hotise. It was, as comjiared with the magnificent exhibition of later years, cjttite meager, consisting of quilts, bed-spreads, rag-caiiaets,. woolen blankets, bonnets, bread, butter and cheese. A full list of those who bore off the prizes at this pioneer contest so many years ago, appears elsewhere, in contrast with the premium list of 1881. Mrs. H. J. Starin was awarded the prize, $3, as the best bread-maker: Mrs. J. W. Newton received $2 for the best cheese; Mrs. Crosier received $1 for the best bed-quilt; Mrs. N. Beckwith, 5() cents for the best bonnet; Mrs. G. Bunker, $1 for the best rag-carpet, and Mrs. C. D. Long, 5() cents for the best woolen blanket.

At this meeting the present agricultural society was organized. A constitution (which appears elsewhere) was adopted and the first officers elected. They were: President, David Will- iams, Geneva; Vice President, Axigiistns Smith, Troy; Secretaries, Edward Elderkin, ElkLoru; Seymour Brooks, East Troy; Treasiu-er, Edwin Hodges, Elkhorn; Managers, M. R. Brittain, Spring Prairie; William Hollinshead, Delavan; H. J. Starin, Whitewater. The total amount of premiums paid were $133.75. The receipts for membership were $45. The deficit was made up by private subscriptions.

There was no immediate effort made to perpetuate the society by the purchase of grounds, thereby giving it an individuality and a local habitation, as well as a name. It consequently, for a few years succeeding its organization, led a vagrant, peripatetic sort of life, depending entirt^ly upon the weather and the whims of the people for a continuation of its existence. Diu'ing these years of infancy, it held fairs a^, follows: 1852, at Elkhorn; receipts for membership, $45; 1853, Delavan; receipts not stated; 1854, Elkhorn; receipts for membership, $65.

Up to this time the society had struggled along with only success sufficient to prolong its existence. Its real life and vigor, which has developed it into the most successful institution of its kind in the State, dates from 1855. At that time the first piuchase of land was made, which, by subsequent additions, has gi'own into the extensive and well-appointed fair grounds now owned by the society in Elkhorn. It consisted of six acres of grovmd, which was purchased by the society from Edward Elderkin, for $100 per acre, on ten years' time at 10 per cent interest. The energetic President, Otis Preston, backed by the Executive Committee, stipulated to fence the lot and make the other imjsrovements necessary, looking to the receipts of the coming fair, the success of which depended on the weather and a hundred other contingencies for his reimbursement. Fortitnately for Mr. Preston and the futiu-e of the society, the weather was superb and the crowds that attended were unprecedentedly large, sufficiently so to place the society for the first time on a sound financial basis. The imperfect records of the Treasurer show receipts of nearly $1,100, and a balance on hand at the close of the fiscal year of $648. Annually, since that time the county fair has been held on the grounds, and the society has continued to grow in strength and numbers. It is to-day the foremost county agricultiiral society in the State, and has done more to develop the husbandi-y interests of the county to their present high gj'ade of excellence than all other agencies comljined, and to the spirit of emulation it liegets, the nnitual exchange of individual experiences it enables, and the yearly exhibit of improvement made and new inventions tried and approved or condemned - though there are many other advantageous means, all centering aroimd, or having their inception in the society, Walworth County has become the banner county, with a more diversified and a more profitable showing of agi'icultural results than can be shown elsewhere in the State. Fair week has now become the gala week of the year, and is the unmistakalile index of the prosperity, refinement and contentment of a people, than which, none more thrifty or prosperous dwells ujion the earth.

They now embrace a tract of 23.51 acres inside the inclosure, besides a small tract outside the main entrance, bought of Robert Richmond August 21, 1868. The grounds are located northeast of the center of Elkhorn Village, on the southwest quarter of Section 31, Town 3, Range 17 - a part of the La Fayette Township, prior to the defining of the limits of the present town of Elkhorn. In shape, the plat is irregular. It has five sides of uninjual length. The south line runs due east and west from the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad - Eagle Branch - to the land of Virgil Cobli; thence due north to the intersection of the old plank road; tlience northeast, on the line of the plank road, to the land of J. H. Snyder; thence southeasterly to the line of the railroad before mentioned, that road being the eastern bonndaiy of the grounds. Although a five-sided jiolygon in shape, it is, for practical purposes, a square, varying but little in its extreme length and extreme l)readth.

The land was pmchased at different times as follows: Six acres, under contract and bond, from Edward Elderkin, in August, 1855; five and seventy-eight one hundredths acres, from Mr. Elderkin, in 1859, at which time the first bond was canceled and the society received a warrantee deed from E. Elderkin for both tracts, 11.73 acres in consideration of $1,173; February 10, 1870, the society purchased 11.78 acres of adjoining land from Mr. Elderkin for $824.60. August 21. 1868, the society bought from Robert Richmond a small triangular piece, outside the inclosure, at the intersection of the western boundary line with the plank road, at the entrance

Few of the old improvements remain. The old fence and speaker's stand, with the booths, pens and other buildings first put up, have been repaired or replaced by more substantial structures. The speaker's stand was a large raised platform, capable of seating two or three hundred persons. It occupied the site of the present floral hall. It >vas, on fair days, gay with bunting, and demonstrative in big-lettered mottoes, evincing the big pride and unfettered hopes that inspired the society. Of the mottoes, these are remembered: "Walworth County - Her Sons and Daughters Will Vindicate the Dignity of Labor;" ''Agrieulture and Mechanical Arts - Their Interests Rest not upon the Mudsills of an Indolent Aristocracy, but upon the Solid Granite of an Elucated D^mjjracy." Th stand was, during the earlier years, the grand center of attraction. Orations, coucerts, declamations, competitive readings, announcements of awards and a hundred other incidents will be remembered in connection with the old stand. It is gone, but in the memories of the eaidier members of the society and attendants of the fair, it still remains the central figm-e whenever they recall the fairs oi Auld Lang Syne.

The grounds to-day, as has been stated, comprise nearly twenty-foiu- acres. They are inclosed by a substantial board fence. The entrance is ou the west side from the plank road. A small building for office business and the selling of tickets during eshil)itions, stands at the entrance. Permanent sheds and pens line the south and west sides of the ground. The priacipal Ijuildings are floral and agricultural halls, both standing southeast of the entrance. They are adjacent, and, when connected, give an exhibiting area of 350x30 feet under one roof. In addition, the society own a canVas pavilion, which, when erected, covei's half the space of the halls. There is a tine half mile track on the grounds, with stand and terrace seats. There are several wells, the deepest being bored to the dejith of 128 feet, with windmill and pumping apparatus. Altogether, it is as finely appointed a fair ground as is owned by any county organization in the Si-ate. The jwoperty, with improvements, cost not less than |7,000, and would sell above that valuation.

The officers of the preliminary East Troy Society, as well as those chosen in 1851, after the constitution was adopted and the society fully organized liave been already mentioned. Below is a full list of officers from that date to the present year:

1855 - President, Otis Preston, Elkhorn; Vice Presidents, H. J. Starin, ^^^litewater; S. B. Edwards. East Troy; P. S. Carver. Delavan; Secretaries, Edward Elderkin and H. S. Winsor, Elkhorn; Treasurer, S. Mallory. Elkhorn; Managers, Emery Thayer, O. Ai'mstroug. Abial Manning, P. G. Harrington, R. T. Seymom-, H. M. Ray, Charles Martin, Abram Bloodgood, A. M. Perry. This year, by amendment of the constitution, the Board of Managers was increased to nine.

The election did not occur as heretofore at the September meeting, but was posti^oned to January 6, 1858 - the old officers holding over - so that the above list of officers were the officers for the year 1858, and thus in the chronological record following 1858 is omitted.

An Advisory Committee of ladies was chosen this year for the tirst time, to act with the Executive Committee in the revision of the premium lists in such departments as they had an interest. The committee was constituted as follows: Mrs. Orris Pratt, Spring Prairie; Miss Hattie Edwards, East Troy; Mrs. R. D. Harriman. La Fayette; Mrs. John A. Cowles, Geneva; Miss Libbie Hollinshead, Delavan.

1882 - President, W. A. Knilans, of Richmond; Vice President, Orris Pratt, Spring Prairie; Secretai-y, W. H. Morrison, Elkhorn: Treasui'er, Hollis Latham, Elkhorn.

For each year since 1875, there has been appointed a Ladies' Advisory Gommittee. The names of ladies serving do not appear in the records of the society, from which the foregoing list of officers is compiled, except for the years in which they appear in the foregoing rosters. The names of officers on the fair grounds - Superintendents, Committees of Award, etc., etc., are not recorded.

It was adopted in 1851 and re-adopted September 11, 1856. The re-*ioption was in order to enable the society to avail itself of some advantages offered by the State, and was made in accordance with the following resolutions adopted at the annual meeting:

' ^ Whereas. The Legislature of Wisconsin did. at its last session, pass an act, entitled, "An act for the encouragement and promotion of Agriculture," which act was approved March 31, 1856; and, whereas, it is proper and expedient that the society should bring itself under the provisions of said act. and avail itself of the benefits therein conferred upon the Countv Agricultural Societies of this State by a re-organization of said society, therefore,

BesoUed. That the members of the Walworth County Agricultural .Society do now re-organize themselves and associate themselves together, under and by virtue of a law of the State of Wisconsin, entitled, "An act for the promotion of Agriculture," approved March 31, 18.56, and that we adopt the constitution and by-laws which have heretofore governed us, and are now on record, and that we do now proceed to complete said organization by the election of officers for the ensuing yeai-.

Art. III. Anj- person may become a member of tlie .society by paying an admission fee of one dollar to the Treasurer, and may continue a member on pavnient of a like sum, on or before the annual meeting in each year thereafter.

Art. IV. The officers of the society shall be a President, Vice President, two Secretai-ies and a Treasurer, who, together with nine managers, to be chosen by the society, shall constitute an Executive Committee, all to be elected annually by a majority of the votes of the members present - and said committee shall have full power to fill any vacancies occurring in their own body.

Art. V. The President, and, in his absence, the Vice President, shall preside at all meetings of the society, of the board of managers and at all exhil)itions and fairs of the society, upon which last occasion the President shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, an address upon appropriate subjects ; and, in case of the absence of l)oth the President and Vice President, the Board of Managers shall have power to appoint a President pro tern.

Art. VI. The E.xecutive Committee shall appoint committees to examine farms, crops, stock and all other articles that ma\' tie offered for premiums, whose dutj' it shall be to report with all convenient speed thereon ; and, it shall also be the duty of the Executive Committee to obtain members, collect funds and perform all duties ccmnected with the objects of the society.

Art. VII. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum, who shall exercise a general supervision of the societ}', appropriate the funds in such a manner as will, in their judgment, best secure its interests and promote its ol)jects. They shall have power to call special meetings of their own body, or of the society, to offer premiums to lie awarded by the Examining Committees ; to receive and distribute all seeds, plants and other property donated to the society, appropriate for distribution.

Art. VIII. The annual fair and cattle show shall be held on the fair grounds of the society, at Elkhorn, at such time in each year as shall be provided and determined by the Executive Committee of the society.

Art. X. All comijefitors for premiums must be members of the society, and the wife and children of a member may also compete for ]H'cmiunis.

Art. XI. This constitution may be amended or changed at any annual meeting for the election of officers, by a majority vote of all the members present.

Preamble. The name of this association shall be the "Walworth County Agricultural Society." Its object shall be im]iroveraent in the character and operations of agriculture, horticulture and the mechanical and household arts.

Article I. Any person may become a life member of this society by subscribing his name to this constitution, and paying to the Treasurer of the society the sum of ten dollars. Any person may become an annual member l)y paj'iiig to said Treasurer the sum of one dollar.

Art." II. The officers of this .society shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, to be elected annually at the annual meeting of the society b}' ballot. Also, one Manager from each town in the county, to be chosen at the said annual meeting, who, together with the above-named officers, shall constitute an Executive Committee. The President, Secretary and three of the managers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Art. III. The President, and, in his absence, the Vice President, shall preside at all meetings of the society, the Executive Committee, and at the exhibitions and fairs of the society. It shall also be the duty of the President at each animal fair, to deliver, or procure some person to deliver, an address upon appropriate subjects. In ease of the absence of both President and Vice President, the Executive Committee shall have power to ajipoint a President pro tern.

Art. IV. The Secretary shall keep the minutes and records of the society, carry on all the correspondence of the society with its members, officers and committees, and with other societies, and read the minutes of the last meeting, as the first order of business after the meeting is duly organized. He shall take charge of and preserve or distribute, as shall be proper, all seeds, plants, books, implements, models and other property transmitted to the society. It shall also be his duty, unless otherwise directed by the Executive Committee, to take charge of the fair grounds, and all other property appertaining thereto, belonging to the society, see that the same is kept in proper repair and iireserviition. fle shall also have charge of all comnnmications designed for publication for the u.se oi' bi'neflt of the .society, anil, witli the advice of the Executive Committee, shall arrange and publish the same in such manner as will liest promote the interests of the society. He shall make out and submit to the society, at its regular annual meeting in each year, a report of its doings, which report shall be recorded in the records of the .society. It shall be his duty also to make out and publish in each year, previous to the annual meeting, a statement of expenditures, improvements, reports and doings of the preceding year, in conformity with the laws of the State, as they may at that time exist.

AnT. V. The Treasurer shall hold the funds of the society, and disliurse them in payment of proper claims against the society. He shall make a full report of his receipts and disliursements at t lie "annual mec'tings, which shall be read as the second order of business. He shall give bonds for the sum of twice the amount that shall be likely to come into his hands, with two sufficient securities, to be apjjroved b.y the President and Secretary, conditional for the faithful performance of his duty, and to deliver over to his successor all moneys, books, paiiers and other things in his liands belonging to the society. It shall also be his duty to comply with the law of the State, in regard to transmitting to the Secretary of State, and to the Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, a statement of all the moneys received from the State, and from members and other sources, as said law now does or may exist at the time of making sucli statement.

Art. VI. The Executive Commiltee shall annually make out and publish a premium list of all animals and articles on which a premium is offered, together with the amount offered on each animal or article. They shall fix the time of holding the annual fair. They shall make all needful rules and regulations in regard to, or necessary for, the annual exhibition, and appoint a Marshal, and any other officers necessary to conduct the same. They shall appoint the Examining Judges to pass upon the several animals or articles exhibited, and they shall also have power to fill all vacancies which may occur in any of the offices before the time of the annual meeting.

Art. VH. The society shall hold its annual meeting on the .second Wednesday in January in each year, at the village of Elkhorn, at which time all of its officers shall be elected. Provided, That in case general attendance of members at the annual meeting is prevented by some general unavoidable obstacle, then, such members as may be present, at their discretion, may postpone the election to some future time, not exceeding two weeks, at which adjourned meeting, the usual and appropriate business of the annual meeting shall be performed.

Art. VIII. The society shall hold an annual cattle show and general fair on their fair gi'ounds, in the village of Elkhorn, on such day or days as may be appointed by the Executive Committee, and the President, Secretary and Treasurer, or a niajority of threel shall have power to call extra or special meetings of the society or of the E.xecutive Committee, by giving jiroper notice of the same.

Art. IX. The fiscal and official year of this society shall commence on the first day of January in each year. Provided, That all officers shall" bold their places until their successors are elected.

Number 1. All animals or articles from other counties or states shall be allowed to compete for premiums on the same footing, as though owned or manufactured in this county.

No. 2. No animal or article shall be entitled to draw the first premium for two successive years in the -same class, but shall be entitled to notice of merit.

No. 5. No animal or article shall compete for or take more than one premium at the same exhibition, except in the payment of an additional entrance fee, in any class, as fixed by the society.

No. 7. All animals :,nd articles, while on exhibition, to be at the risk of the owner, although the society pledges it.self to the utmost vigilance, to secure articles from loss or injury.

No. 8. It shall be the duty of, the Executive Committee, at its iuniual meeting, to appoint a committee of three from their number, who, together with the President and Secretary, shall constitute an Auditing Committee, whose duties it shall be to meet at such times and places as shall become necessary, for the purpose of auditing all miscellaneous accounts against the society.

No. y. These rules may be amended or changed at any regular annual meeting, by a vote of a majority of the members present, or by a vote of a majority of the Executive Committee at any regular meeting.

In addition to tLe above, the following was passed at the annual meeting of 1875 : Renolved. That the Executive Committee shall not have authority to change the import of any resolution,

One Of The Early Fairs

To those who remember the society in the heyday of its youth, the following accoimt of the fair of 1858, given liy Prof. J. W. Hoyt, will be read with interest :

The AVahvorth County Fair, at Elkhorn. likewise fell upon as pleasant days as it is within the power of sunshine and a charming locality to produce. The last day particularly, October 1. was the fairest of the fair.

A somewhat intimate acquaintance with the enterprising officers of the society, together with assurances that Walworth was to be the bunner county on fairs, had jirrparcd us for a fine display, and the crowded trains from Beloit anil Racine gave e\idence that every body was going to see whether the hopes of friends were not too sanguine. The village, when we arrived, was literally full of people. Brass bands, of which there were five in competition for premiums, were discoursing excellent music in different quarters, and several fire and military companies were parading up and down the streets to and from the depot with beautifid banners, keeping alive their own excitement, and kindling the enthusiasm of every man. woman and child within the corporation.

We were immediately conducted to the grounds, which we found ample, splendidly fitted up, and filled to overflowing. The area, of some twelve acres, was bordered with stalls and pens full of some as fine stock as we have seen in the State; implements of all sorts strewed the lawn, and a very large hall near the center of the grounds was absolutely stufEed with fruits of the earth, products of the dairy and household and works of art. Next year we hope this hall will be elongated about a hundred feet, so that aj-ticles may be better displayed, and visitors may get about with more satisfaction.

Among the numerous articles worthy of mention, did space permit, we noticed fine premium specimens of wheat, raised by our friends. E. and F. Perkins, of Spring Prairie; excellent premium cheeses, from the dairy of Messrs. S. A. & A. II. Thurston, and beautifid bread and cake, made by Jliss Louisa Preston, daughter of the efficient President.

The speaker's stand, a large square-covered platform erected in the center of the inclosure, was ornamented with flags and appropriate mottoes, and .surrounded with seats for the multitude, which, during the address and declaring of awards, thronged about to the number of five to ten thousand.

The riding and trotting (tame off in the afternoon, and were witnessed by .some eight thousand delighted spectators. In the trotting-match, "David Hill," the same that afterward took the premium at the State Fair, won the prize.

Among the new features of this mammoth fair, there are several with which we were particularly pleased. First, the grounds are fitted up in particularl}' attractive stvle. Secondly, premiums were offered for many things not absolutely agricultural, liut well calculated, I)y their essentiality to a true social life, to e.xert a refining influence upon the too rigid and stoical farmer. We would not have the substantial products of the farm and workshop superseded by works of art, nor would we have the useful encouraged to the exclusion of the beautiful. The more the jjeople of the town can be brought into contact with the real producers of the country, and the people of the rural districts with the refinements of city life, without either forsaking their proper sphere, the better for both; the pale-faced, aristocratic dweller in the city will learn to respect and foster that noble, primal art upon which his own existence and the life and business of the world depend; and the sturdy, hardy-fisted old farmer will more fully appreciate the truth that it is not all of life - even the f.irmer's life - to produce fat calves and big ]iotatoes, and plod like an ox from the cradle to the grave. Our advice, then, to all agricultural societies would bo to make agriculture pre-eminent, but to avail themselves of those refining influences which, while they heighten the immediate interest of public exhibitions, also promote the amenities of the fanning life.

In addition to the five bands of music, already referred to, there was vocal music of a high order, as any of our readers, who heard the " Farmer's Home,'' by the Badger Club, at the State Fair, wiH be prepared to believe.

Thirdly, the premiums were chiefly preservablc as mementoes, consisting of silver table-ware, and agri cultural books. Among the latter, the Wiscoiuin Farmer appears to have been popular, inasmuch as 212 copies of the bound volumes for 1856 and 1857 were awarded.

The fourth novel feature was the delivery of the books and silverware at the time of declaring the awards. When a prize is announced, it affords us pleasure to see the victor, and we think it a capital idea to call them upon the stand and let the people enjoy their modest blushes. On the occasion referred to, one J'oung ladj' of thirteen years. Miss L. May Gardner, by a strange, good fortune, was called to the platform three successive times to receive prizes on best wheat bread, biscuit and worsted embroidery, each time modestly retiring amid the shouts of the multitude.

A Contrast Then And Now

The growth, both of the society and of the agricultural industries of the county, during the past thirty years, is shown in the following contrasted premium lists and other details of the first and last fairs held by the society.

Horses. - Best stock horse, J, Van Slyke, $3; second best, M. Buckley. $2; third best, George Whitmore, $1; the best breeding mare, Richard Flack, $3; second best, William Hollinshead, 12; third best. Daniel Heimbauch. $1; best span of pleasm'e horses. Robert Richmond, $!3; best span of carriage horses, Emery Thayer, $2; second best, E. H. Ball, $1; best span of draft horses, George W, Wylie, $3; second best. Emery Thayer. $2; third best, Daniel Heimbauch, $1; best yearling colt. Dudley Harriman, $2; second best. John Dunlap. $1; best twoyear-old colt. J. R. Kinne. -'12; second best, N. D. Niblack, $1; best three year-old colt, William Aldrich, $2; second best, Richard Flack, II.

Neat Stork. - Best bull of any age. Jacob Burgit. $3; second best, G. Bunker, $3; third best, J. Lauderdale, $1; best milch cow, H. Lake, $3; second best, R. K. Potter, $2; third best, S, Brooks, 11; best two-year-old heifer, H. Brooks, $2; second best. E. Hodges, $1; best stock cow, H. Brooks, $2; best pair of working oxen, R. K. Potter. .f3; second best, H. Cross, $2; third best, H. Cross, $1; best f)air of three-vear-old steers. C. Wiswell. $2; second best. C. K. Phelps, $1; best calf, J. Burgit. $3; second best. S. Brooks, $2; third best, W. Mattison. $1.

Dairy Products. - Best twentv-five pounds cheese, J. W. Newton. 12; second best, A. Smith, II; best ten poimds of butter, Mrs. M. R. Brittain, $2; second best, Mrs. J. W. Newton, $1.

Discretionary Articles. - Best steel spring buggy, W, Isham. $1; second best specimen of brick, Levi Lee, 50 cents; best pair of boots, John Krotchman, 50 cents; best bushel of apples, I. Williams, $1; best samples of pears and grapes and the gi-eatest variety of apples, F. K. Phoenix, $1; best broad-cast sower and spring- tooth harrow, S. B. Edwards, 75 cents; best dovible harness, F. S. Walling. $1; best single harness. F. S. Mason, $1; best jack and jenny, U. C. H. Nickerson, $1: best specimen of brick, O. Eldred, $1; best mule, Z. Chittenden, $1.

Plowing i/ate/i. - - Best quarter-acre plowing (with horses), William Hollinshead, $3; second best. J. J. Olds. $2; third best. R. Richmond. $1; best quarter- acre plowing (with oxen), R. B. Flack. $3; second best. R. Richmond. §2.

Female Skill, Taste and Industry. - Best bed-quilt. Mrs. Crosier, $1; second best, Mrs. Meacham. 50 cents; third best. Mrs. Conklin, 50 cents; best variegated bed-spread, Mrs. H. Freeman, .|1; best rag carpet. Mrs. G. Bimker, $1; best specimen of needle work. Ladies' Social Union Society, $1; best bead pm-se. Miss Bunker, 50 cents; best overcoat, Mrs. Hugh Long, 50 cents; best woolen blanket. Mrs. C. D. Long. 50 cents; best bonnet, Mrs. N. Beckwith, 50 cents.

Cattle Department. - Judges, Classes 1. '1 and 3. H. S. Manning, Chairmau. Lyons; Wilson Stockdale, La Grange: S. J. Nichols. Linn: Classes 4. 5, 6, 7 and S. Washington Ross. Chairman. Geneva; A. R. Langley. Richmond: R. H. Gage. Richmond. Class!. Short- Homs, sixteen premiums. 190; Class 2, Short-Horns (special), sixteen premiums. $90; Class 3. Devons. seventeen premiums, $100: Class 4, Ayrshires. seventeen premiums. $100; Class 5, Jerseys and Alderneys, seventeen premiums. $100: Class 6. Holsteins. seventeen premiums. $100; Class 7, natives and grades, eight premiums. $45; Class 8, steers and dairy cows, nine 2)remiums, $54. Total, 117 premiimis. $679.

Horse Depnrtiiient. - Judges, Classes 9 and 1(). H. D. Barnes, Chairmau. Spring Prairie; I. E. "Weaver, Sugar Creek; L. S. Wilson, Richmond; Class 11, F. W. Tratt, Chairman, Whitewater; L. G. Foster, Lyons; James Grier, Bloomfield. Class 9, stallions, thirty premiums, $87; Class 10, carriage, draft, single and horses for general purjioses. twelve premiums. $71; Class 11, brood mare, mare and gelding colts, thirtv premimns, $117. Total, seventv-two premiums, $275.

Sheep DepartmeHt. - Class 12. Judges. Eugene A. Watrous. Chairman. East Troy: Johnson Matteson, Darien: Garrett Mereness, Sharon; Class 13. H. H. Austin. Chairman, East Troy; John Matheson, Troy; M. W. Kinney. Lyons. Class 12, fine-wool sheep and long-wool shoep. thirtv- two premiums. $158; Class 13. wool, nine premiums, $18. Total, fortv-one premiums. $173.

Poiiltrij Department. - Judges, Joseph Reek, Chairman, Linn: O. T. Hubbard, Spring Prairie; C. R. Gibbs, AVhitewatei-. Class 15. Division A, Asiatic, fourteen jiremiums. $21 : Division B. Dorkings. Dominiques and Plymouth Rocks, six premiums, $9: Division C, Spanish, six premiums, |9; Division D. Hamburg, four premiums, $fi: Division E. Polish, four premiums. $6; Division F. French, two premiums, $3: Division G. tm'keys, four premiums, $4; Division H, ducks, twelve premiums. $12: Division I, geese, foui' premiums, $4; Division J. rabbits, three premiums. $3. Total, fifty-nine premiums. $77.

Farm Products. - Judges. William Hollinshead, Chairman, Delavan; Rodney Seaver, Darien; Amos Ives, Richmond. Class 16. cereals, forty-one premiums. $71: Class 17, vegetables, forty premiums, $64. Total eighty-one premiums, $135.

Household Manufactures. - Judges. Class 21. ]Mrs. H. A. Briggs, Chairman. Dehivan: Mrs. J, A. Cowles, Geneva; Miss Alice A. Salisbury, Elkhorn; Class 22, Mrs. Sidney Buell. Chairman, Bloomfield: Mrs. Nellie Gray, Sugar Creek; Miss Alice Green. Spring Prairie: Class 23. Mi-s. Peter Orrell. Chairman, Lyons; Mrs. J. W. Brownson. Sharon: Mrs. Sevmour Bi'ooks, East Troy. Class 21, carpets, quilts, shirts, plain sewing, exhibition of tact and skill in making clothing, etc., seventy premiums, $87; Class 22. ornamental work. 135 premiums. $131: Class 23, pantry stores, bread, cake, pickles, canned fruits, jellies, etc. seventy-six premiums. $109. Total. 281 premiums. $327.

Fruit Department. - Judges. F. K. Phcenix. Chairmau. Delavan: James L. Tubbs, Elkhorn: J. A. Herrick. Geneva. Class 24. apples, plums and gi-aj^es, seventv-four premiums, $95.

Youtli.s Department. - Judges, Mrs. M. L. Van Alstine. Chairman. Delavan: Mrs. J. B. Johnson, Darien; Miss Ella Mereness, Sharon. Class 25, boys under sixteen, girls under fomieen years of age, drawing, penmanship, mechanical work, needle work, bread-making, etc., 108 premiums, $98,

Parlor and Conservatory Requisites. - Judges, same .as Class 25. Class 26, fountains, aquaria, ferneries, vases, bird-cages, stuffed birds, natiu-al curiosities, seven diplomas and two premiums. $10.

Fine Arts. - Judges, Mrs. H. H. Rogers, Chairman, East Troy; Mrs. C. R. Gibbs, Whitewater; Mrs. Hem-v Bradley. Elkhorn. Class 27, oil paintings, painting in water colors, crayon work, pencil drawing, wax work of flowers and fruit, sixty-one premiums, $109.

Dairy Products. - Judges Asa Foster, Chairman, Sugar Creek; C. R. Beach, Whitewater; Miss Clara Noui'se, Troy. On Cheese, J. M. Hawks, of Lyons, and T. W. Curtis, of SjTacuse, N. Y. Class 29, butter and cheese, nine premiums, $67.

Miscellaneous Department. - Judges, same as Class 29. Class 20 embraced all articles not provided for in the foregoing classes, which, if meritorious, were to be awarded suitable premiums.

Trials of Speed. - Judges, Charles Dimlap, Chairman, Geneva; H. G. Hollister, Delavan; John Matheson, East Troy. Class 31, five divisions were advertised, fifteen premiums, .$530. The total number of premiums offered was 1,051. The aggregate amounts of premiums offered was $2,968. Total number of entries made, 4,098. The average attendance was not far from 5,000. On Thursday, the crowd could not have numbered less than 12,000 people. ^^

On the following pages will be found a tabular statement of the financial progress of the society, so far as shown by the records. Those of the earlier years are necessarily incomplete, as the books, if any were kept, ai'e not now to be found :

Treasurer's rejiort incomplete. To tho amount of income should be added the sums collected and disbursed by ihe Prejiident, which do notappear recorded.

Agencies Of Success

The difterent agencies that have combined to render this one of the most succesBful societies of its kind in the country are worthy of mention.

The fundamental element of success to which all others are subordinate, and lacking which the executive ability of its officers, and all other con-elative agencies, would have proved valueless, is to be found in the constant and faithful support it has had from the farmers and stockgrowers of the county, who. by their never-failing appearance with stock and other material going to make the agi'icultural attractions of the fair, have furnished the show itself, from which the income has been derived. Some have e.xhibited, regardless of distance, unfavorable weather or pei'soual expense, at every fair, from the first, held in East Troy, to the present time. Se}TQour Brooks, of East Troy, with his brother. Homer, are among tlie number who nm-sed the society in its feeblest infancy, and, as its constant fi'iends, have sustained it through thick and thin up to the j)resent day. Special mention is made of them, as they were two of the leading exhibitors at the East Troy fair of 1S50, and have not failed to lend their aid at each and every fair since. Others no less reliable might be named. They are examples of the unfailing soiu'ces from which comes the material of whicli the exhibit is made.

Hardly less important as an auxiliary to success has been the faithful and constant work of the VFomen of the county, who have been its stanch friends from the first exhiliit of the products of their household skill at East Troy, more than thirty years ago. to their last, in Floral Hall, which they filled to repletion with articles evincing their skill in tlie useful household arts, and the more refined, if less important, feminine accomplishments that make up the embellishments of the affluent and refined life they have cjme to enjoy, thi-ough the honest toil of the years gone by. During the whole life of the society, the women have kept even pace with the men, and vied with them in the increasing excellence and variety of each annual display. Floral Hall is the necessary outgi'owth of the women's work, and was erected especially to fm-nish suitable and commodious room for their e.xhibition. which, for its utility and attractiveness, stands only secondary in value, and fii'st in sustaining an interest in the annual fairs, and rendering them each year an assured success. The hall, since its erection, has been under the direction of a Superintendent and a corps of female assistants, appointed to the chai'ge of the several departments for which they were peculiarly fitted by their taste or education. In addition to the household departments, which display in every conceivable form the excellence of their dairy products, and their skill in cookery and needle work, is a floral exliibition, including a display of rare house plants; an art gallery of paintings and dravpings. many of them of rare excellence; mineral and geological collections, curiosities, musical instruments, embroideiy. fine needle work, etc. . etc. Whatever the weather, this feature of the fair is each year an increasing success. The hall has, fi'om its building, been fortunate in its Superintendents. It was in charge of Mr. Thomas M'. Hill, a man of intelligence, refined taste, and possessing rare ability for the position, from 1865 to the time of his death, which occurred in 1879. He was succeeded by Mr. S. G. West, the long-time Secretary of the society. He still remains in chai'ge of that department, [replaced this year by Gen. I. C. Abbott], and has shown the ability to hold it to the high standard of excellence it had attained under his lamented predecessor.

Another element of success is found in the good fortune which has attended the society in the selection of its executive officers, all of whom have proved exactly fitted for the emergencies of the time. From the first start of the society in its career of financial prosperity in 1855, to 1881, no serious mistakes have occuiTed. The best evidences of the managing ability of the various incumbents is given in the financial exhibits of the annual fairs which have been heretofore given.

As the details of the work of inaugiu'ating and conducting the annual fairs have increased, the clerical labors have grown to be more laborious and important, and the executive work has devolved more and more upon the Secretary of the society, the work of the President and other officers becoming more advisory. Indeed, from the beginning, the labors of an efficient Secretary have been indispensable. He must of necessity take the laboring oar, and do the gi-eater share of the perplexing, and oftentimes thankless, labor that is essential to the successful work of an agricultural society. For this most important office, the society has had the good fortune to have, in succession, four incumbents as efficient as could be found in the countv, and having no superiors elsewhere. It showed wisdom in retaining them through long terms of service. Edward Elderkin served twelve years, and was the faithfnl friend of the society thi-ough the critical period of its infancy, and till long after it had attained to full strength. Hollis Latham succeeded Elderkin, and served four years. He has for the past twelve years held the fiduciary office of Treasurer. He was succeeded by Stephen G. West, who, after a faithful and efficient service of nine years, on the death of Mr. Thomas W. Hill, was selected his successor as Superintendent of Floral Hall. Mr. West was succeeded by the present incumbent, Mr. W. H. Morrison, who has served for the past fom- years, and has evinced such ability as to place him in the foremost rank of agi'icultiu'al officials in the State.

Mr. Hollis Latham and Mr. George W. Wylie have served as officers of the society the longest periods. Sir. Latham having served almost continuously as Corresponding or Recording Secretary and Treasiu'er for twenty-six years; Mr. "\\'ylie having sei'ved as Chief Marshal since 1856. with the exception of three years, during one of which he was President of the society, and the remaining two being absent in the army service during the war.

Without further individual mention, it will be seen that the long terms of meritorious officers is peculiar to the society, and doubtless has had much to do in promoting its welfare and prosperity.

The rules and principles adopted for the conducting of the annual fairs are in some features characteristic, as the following resolutions, adopted in 1873, and since then generally ad hered to, will show. The resolutions are as follows:

Whehe.\s, Petitions from the ladies of several towns of the county of Walworth have this day been presented to the Walworth County A^Tieultural Society now in session at the court house in Elkhorn. asking said society to suppress and ]in)hibit tlie sale of intoxicating and malt liquors and cider on the grounds of the society and the grounds adjacent to them, now therefore be it

Resolved, By the members of said Walworth Count}' Agricultural Society that hereafter, at our annual fair, all intoxicating and malt liquors and cider shall be totally suppressed and prohibited on the gi'ounds of the society, and the grounds adjacent to them; and for such violation of the rule, each offender shall be liable on conviction before a proper otKcer of said societ\-, to the highest penalty known to the laws, and shall also be forthwith exi)elled and ]irohil>itcd from any future participation in the interests of said society. And all lotteries and gamliling devices are equally prohifiited and forbidden b_y said society.

The excellence of the police regulations is another element of success. There has never been any serious disorder, and the detective force is so admirable that roughs, pick-pockets and other disreputable gentry who ply their ti'ades and reap their harvests in unsuspecting crowds, no longer put in an annual appearance on the grounds.

The conduct of the business of the society from the beginning has been strictly non-partisan and non-sectarian. No political party or religious sect has ever prostituted the professed objects of the society to selfish purposes. The officers know no political or religious affiliations in the common and definite objects which the society was organized to promote, to wit, " to promote improvement in the character and operations of agrieultiu-e, horticultm-e, and the mechanical and household arts."

The variety of entertainments provided from year to year, in addition to the display of cattle, horses, agricultm-al implements and machinerj', household and dairy products, and all else that goes to make up an agricultm-al fair, has had much to do with the large attendance and financial profits accruing to the society. Public addresses, essays, poems, military displays, concerts, band contests, firemen's contests, trials of speed, plowing matches, velocipede races, foot races, and niimerous other public entertainments that the officers could devise, have, at different fairs, been added to the ordinary exhibition to enhance its interest andswell the receipts.

The excellence of entertainment at the various dining-booths, all conducted by the women of Walworth County, has, from the beginning, been a great element of success. The fame of the W^alworth County Fair dinners is co-extensive with that of the society itself. Th(^ booths are generally rented for a small sum to the ladies of various religious societies, who, with the insignia of the sect they represent spi-ead in bold letters over the entrance, forthwith forget that they are Baptist, Congregationalist, Methodist, Universalist or Catholic, and set about the friendly emulation of providing the best dinner, knowing full well that sectarianism does not appeal to the empty stomach with the force of a well-cooked meal.

These are among the agencies that have brought the society to its present high state of efficiency and excellence. Other societies can have no surer guarantee of prosperity than in following the example of this, the model agricultiu-al society of the State. t;

Old Settlers' Society

This society was, after several preliminary meetings, permanently organized and a consti" tution adopted March 80, 1869. The first meeting was held at the above-mentioned date, in the village of Darien, in Clark's Hotel. At this meeting, a constitution was adopted, and the first officers chosen as follows: President, Daniel Salisbury, Sirring Prairie; Vice Presidents, Prosper Cravath. Whitewater: Thomas P. James. Richmond: John Bruce. Darien: Cjtus Lippitt, Sharon: C;iTus Chiu-ch. Walworth: Henry Barlow, Delavan: P. G. Hairington. Sugar Creek; William Houghton. La Grange; Sylvester G. Smith, Troy; George W. Dwinnell, La Fayette; Le Grand Rockwell, Elkhoru; Osborn Hand, Geneva: Allen McBride, Linn: William D. Chapiu. Bloomfield; Z. B. Bm-k, Lyons; A. L. Men-ick, Spring Prairie: S. B. Edwards. East Troy; Recording Secretary, James Simmons, Elkhorn: Corresponding Secretary. Edward Elderkin, Elkhorn; Treasurer, HoUis Latham, Elkhorn: Executive Committee, P. Golder, S. G. West, G. W. Wylie. J, W. Peek and Charles Wales.

Except the adoption of a constitution and the choice of the officers above named, no business was transacted. It was voted that the next meeting should be held at Elkhoru.

Aetici.e I. The first .settlers of Walworth County do liereby associate tliemselves together under the name and style of the " Old Settlers' Society of Walworth County. Wisconsin."

Aet. II. The objects and aims of this society shall be to revive and perpetuate the friendly a.ssoeiatious lieretofore existing among its members, by a yearly social re-union; to collect and preserve in oiir records the names of all the early settlers of this eo'unty, and especially of those who have already passed from earth, together with such incidents in their and our pioneer life, and such statistics of the early settlements of tlie county as may lie of interest to the present and future generations; and generally to promote such ends as may be deemed worthy the consideration of the society.

Art. III. The otHcers of this society shall be a President, a Vice President from each town, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treastu'er, and a Central Executive Committee of five; all of whom shall hold their offic(;s until tlie next annual meeting succeeding their election, and until others are elected to fill their places.

Akt. IV. The duties of these several ofiicers shall be such as usually appertain to like officers in organizations established for mutual benefit. The President .shall preside at all meetings of the society, or, in his absence, the senior Vice President who may be present. The Recording Secretary shall keep the records of the society. The Corresponding Secretary shall correspond with early settlers in each town, with a view to collect all such items pertaining to the early settlement of the county as may be of interest to the society. The Treasurer shall faithfully keep all moneys belonging to the society, and disburse the same upon the order of its Executive Commitee.

Art. V. The annual meeting of this society shall be held on the first Tuesday of October in each year, at such place as the preceding annual meeting may have determined by a majority vote.

Aet. VI. Each old settler of the county who came into it to reside in the year 1845, or previous thereto, may become a member of this society by subs'cribing his name to this Constitution, and paying 50 cents into its Treasury.

The amendments to the constitution as above adopted have been few. The time of the annual meeting, as appointed in Article 5, was changed by amendment, passed October 5, 1869, to " the second AVednesday in June." and for six years that was the anniversary day. June 9, 1875, the anniversary day was again changed to the " fourth AVednesday of June," and Jtme 21, 1876, again changed "to the " third Wednesday in June," which still remains the established old settlers' day.

One other quite important amendment was made at the meeting June 14, 1871, At that meeting, iVi-ticle 6 changed the eligibility to membership, and amended so as to admit " any

This last amendment was not passed without quite earnest opposition on the part of the pioneers, who felt that, by right of prior occupation, they had the right of succession. An amendment was offered "that all members who settled prior to 1840 should be denominated pioneers," and those between 1S40 and 1850 as "old settlers." The amendment did not pass. So the society was put on a continuous basis of life. The old settlers die. and their children, in their time, become "old settlers." and "their children's children to the latest generation."

Since the organization of the society, it has been vital -not an anniversary has passed unobserved, and it is now the sturdiest society of its kind in the State. The old settlers still live in sufficient numbers to make the annual re-unions memorable, and as each year thins their ranks, the occasion of their re-union becomes more and more a time to be remembered. Each year addresses have been made, eulogies pronounced on those who had died, and a memorial service been held for the days of auld lang syne. Following is a synoptical sketch of the ann u al gatherings :

First Annual Meeting

The first annual meeting was held at Elkhorn, October 5, 1869. on the fair-grounds. Order of exercises was as follows: Opening remarks by the President; prayer by Rev. J. D. Stevens, who came to Wisconsin as a missionary to the Indians in 1827; business session; dinner; business session; singing by the Elkhorn Glee Club; historical addi-ess by Hon. Charles M. Baker, of Geneva; election of officers; music; speech by Prosper Cravath, Esq., of Whitewater; music, Auld Lang Syne, by the Elkhorn Glee Club; adjourned.

The address by Mr. Baker was the first efl'ort ever made to give a historv' of Walworth County. It was prepared under many difficulties, and diu'ing the intervals of leisure torn out of a very active professional life. It was a model of its kind. and. at the risk of detractinosomewhat from the originality of this work, extracts are given from the address sufficiently full to show its general scope.

Old Friends - permit uic to call you - old in ycar-s as well as in as.sociations, for a whole generation of men has heen swept from the earth siiiee tirst most of us here pitched our tents for our final earthly home. One-third of a century almost have w-e held intercourse, not only in the ordinary duties of life, but also in those pertaining to citizenship, in organizing and sustaining civil government. We" have together shared common privations, common hopes .and joys, and it is meet now in tlie autumn of our lives that we should come up, as we have this day from all parts'of our goodly county, to look again upon each other's faces, and take each other by the hand, and here together from tliis central outlook "review the last thirty years or more. a,s they move past in solemn mareh with all their pleasant, all their sad memories.

There are no more enduring ties than those formed by companions in dangers, hardships and privations, and they are as un.seltish as enduring. Travelers who have togetlier crossed arid plains and penetrated gloomy forests, forded rivers and sealed mountains, exposed to innumerable dangers; soldiers who have long shared the same tent, endured together the toils of weary marches, have stood sentinel in the same bivouac," and fought shoulder to shoulder in the same battles, form attachments enduring as life. And so is it with those who together in a new country have taken upon them the burden of subduing nature to the uses of man, and i)lanting and watering the seeds of human society.

Walworth and Rock Counties composed one election district up to Felii-uary 24. 184.5, when they were separated. Col. James Ma.xwell. then of Big Foot Prairie, was the tirst member of the Council for the two counties, _,and Gen. William B. Sheldon, of Janesville, the first member of the House; Othni Beard.sley, of Troy, was the tirst member of the House from this county for the joint district, and was elected in the summer or ifall of 1838. The first member of the council from this county, after its separation from Rock in ISt."), was, if I am not mistaken, Jesse C. Mills. And the tirst merabers'of the House were Caleb Croswell, Warner Earl and Gaylord Graves.

The first land sale for the Milwaukee laud district, of which we formed a part, was appointed for November 16, 1838, but at the earnest request of the settlers, who desired longer time to raise funds to purchase, it was postponed till into February, 1839, when it took place.

As near as I have been able to ascertain, Walworth County was surveyed in 1835 and the spring of 1836, the running of the section lines being completed at the latter period by John Brink and John Hodgson, the surveyors imder the Government contractor, one Millett, of Detroit. The first eleeticni of county officers was held in 1838. The first county officers elected and appointed were, for Conunissioners, Benjaiiiin Ball. Nathaniel Bell and William Bownuan. They organized the board at the house of Daniel E. Bradley, Elkhorn. on the 7th of January, 1839, and appointed \'olney A. MeCraeken, Clerk. Gen. S. Walling was elected Sheriflf, LeGrand Rockwell. Register of Deeds, and he was also appointed Clerk of the District Court. Joseph Griffln was appointed Judge of Probate, and C. M. Baker, District Attorney, in the winter of 1838 and 1839. William

The first District Court was held by Hon. David Irwin, .Judsre, in April, 1839, in a small frame building erected that spring by LeGrand Rockwell for a Register's and Clerk's oflice. I believe it is still in existence, though removed from its original site near the northern limit of the puldic square in Elkhorn. The courts wereheld here a number of terms. Thej- were ne.vt held for some time in a small frame schoolhouse situated near the western boundary of the public square. The old log jail was built soon after, and stood an unsighthmonument of the olden time, till within a recent period, the terror of no one, except, perhaps, unruly l)oys. The present court house was built in 1841-43, by Levi Lee, the contractor, and the first term of court was held in it in April, 1843.

In these mementos of the early history of our county, Judge Irwin, om- first United States District Judge, is deserving a passing notice. He was a Virginia gentleman of the old school. Social, kind-hearted, aristocratic as became a Virginian of the F. F.'s, he was a bachelor wit li Ins whims and peculiarities. He was a great lovei-of hunting, particularly of prairie hens, in the shooting of which he was an expert, and in which he prided himself, and no one must excel him if he would keep in his good graces. He was also learned in the knowledge of horses and dogs, as well as in the law, and his own horse, Pedro, and his dog. York, to whom he was much attached, and whose superior blood often formed the theme of his conversation, were as well known to the bar as the Judge himself. They were necessary appendages of the Judge and the court, and it was said by the wags, if one wanted to win his case before the Judge, he must praise his dog and his horse.

But in truth it can lie said of him, he was a lover of justice, detested meanness, was well-grounded in the principles of the law, and was possessed of very respectable perceptive reasoning powers. He seldom consulted law books, of which the bar of those days was poorly supplied: but on the whole, for the times, was a fair and respectable Judge. He suffered much fvoni neuralgia in the back, and, on that account, had his judicial beneli constructed in the form of a lounge with one end raised, into whieli were fastened iron clamps to sustain an upright board slanting back a little, against which he could recline wldlst trying cases. Permit me to say that this ancient seat of justice is in existence, in my office, confessed Ijy me here publicly, to be the property of Walworth County, and I think they could do no more worthy act than to donate it to the Old Settlers' Soclet} of Walworth County.

Following. Mr. Baker gave a detailed sketch of each town in the county. The address aroused a strong feeling of brotherhood among the old settlers, and was the first starting-point in the compiling of the pioneer history of the county. The interest in the work has never slept since, and. although circumstances have not favored the jiublication of a complete history under the direct auspices of the society, much valuable material has been gathered and preserved, will become the basis of the early history, of which this is a part.

Second Annual Meeting

The second annual meeting was held June 8, 1870, at the court house in Elkhorn. The progi'amme was as follows: Announcements of the decease of members were made. H. S. Winsor announced the death of L. G. Rockwell, and pronounced an eulogy on his character as a business man; C. D. Long announced the death of John Bruce, of Darien; Edward Elderkin annoTinced the death of Hezekiah Wells, an early settler of Delavau. A vote was taken to ascertain the year of settlement of members present, which resulted in the decision that there were present three of 1885, five of 1836, fourteen of 1837. ten of 1838. eight of 1839 and seven of 1840.

Resolutions commemorative of deceased members - Rockwell. Bruce and AVells - were presented by Edward Elderkin. and passed by the society. The election of officers followed, after which the orator of the day, Hon. Prosper Cravath, an old pioneer of Whitewater, pronounced his address, from which the following extracts are given : you meet on your annual festival day, to fulfill the object and aim of yoin- society, as expressed in Article H of your Con.stitution, the first and prominent object as therein writtett, being "to revive and perpetuate the friendly associations lieretofore existing among its members." All who came into the county to reside in 184.5, or previous thereto, are cordially invited to attend this, our annual gathering. And well it is to assemble annually on this festive occasion, and to extend to each other the grip and password of a squatter sovereign, and meet with that heartfelt greeting which only a pioneer can know or feel.

A quarter of a century has gone since those of 184.5 first united themselves to Walworth County, and to-day they can celebrate their silver wedding. A generation has passed away since you, the first pioneers, pitched your tents in this Land of Promise.

As "you ex])lored what is now Walworth County, you found a country of prairie and opening, with a mostly undulating surface, with no hills nor mountains, but a range of blufe extending across the country, north" and south." Not a solitary white inhabitant could be found; the red man tlien reigned - sole possessor of the land. The prairies and openings, swept from the ruljbish of the year by the annual fires kindled b}' the red man were as destitute of an_y undergrowth of shrubs as the most carefully kept lawn, and presented to the eye an extended and unobstructed range of vision, ever opening to view new delights and fresh lieauties. No sound of the ax liad then invaded these solitudes; no i>low had turned the rieh and virgin soil, but delicately tinted flowers bloomed where now are seen fields of growing grain, or mi'adows over which herds of cattle roam. No habitation met the traveler's view, giving promise of welcome; no track was seen to mark his route save a little path made by the former occupants. This highway of a nation was but a narrow path, scarce fifteen inches broad; but deep worn by the tread of manj^ feet. One trail, extending from Chicago to Green Bay crossed the country, passing through Geneva, Whitewater anil other towns onlhe line. Another extending from Milwaukee to" Mineral Point, crossed the northern part of the county, passing through La Grange and Whitewater. These cros.sed each other on Section in Whitewater, while patlis less worn branched oflf leading to their hunting and fishing grounds. Such, farmers, you who were first to erect a dwelling, tirst to stir the soil, first to liring forth food for the new-comers - such was this land when you first spied it out. You looked over the land; you saw it dotted with small lakes and traversed by creeks, brooks, rivulets, but with no streams wortliy the name of river. You examined the soil, you pronounced it rich and productive, and for the purposes of agriculture, unsurpassed. You came not for commerce, you came not as manufacturers, not as miners to dig for gold and silver, but you came to till the soil, and to combat the thorn and thistle, if any there should be, by " the sweat of your brow," to secure for yourselves a comfortable dwelling place, and to provide the means of support in your declining years. Yes, farmers, you are the tirst in any new country to follow the fur trader and trapper. You came the first of pioneers; you realized when you selected your location that a dwelling must be erected, the yet undisturbed soil must 'be plowed, roads laid out and worked, bridges built, schoolhouses and churches erected, marshes drained, and highways constructed across them; yet, having energy, strong muscles and a determined will, you here pitched your tents.

When your dwelling was erected, each stood ever ready to throw open his door and welcome the traveler in search of a homestead, and often from two to eight, or even more, would find a well-prepared meal and rest in a log hou.se, 16x30 feet in size or less. After the new-comer had selected his quarter-section, came the raising at which all around stood ready and willing to lend a helping hand, and a right jovial time you had. With a hearty good will you rolled up tlie logs (men six feet and strong were then in demand). I'ou talked and chatted, and chatted and talked, occasionally drinking something from a jug or bottle that added glibness to the tongue. After a game of l)all or other athletic exercise, all turned liomeward wishing blessings and nothing but blessings on the new-comer. Next, roads and schoolhouses were to be located, and to say lohere commenced the fight. All did not think alike, one wanted it in one place, and one in another - each was sure he was right, each expressed his views freely, and was often tenacious in maintaining them; would get together and spar, call hard names; sometimes, not often, would have a brush - all showed pluck. But one thmg was of note; after the location was decided upon, all was then good feeling, no pouting, no grumbling after; the hatchet was then buried, the pipe of peace was smoked, and the next'dav were as'good friends as ever, and as ready to assist each other. * * * »

Following the pleasant remembrances recalled above, Mr. Cravath, continued, giving remin iscences of early times, and alluding feelingly to the recently deceased members.

Third Annual Meeting

The third annual meeting was held June l-t, 1871. at the court house in Elkhorn. Memorial resolutions were passed on the death of A. C. Goodrich, of Lyons, and officers chosen. After dinner. Hon. J. W. Boyd addi-essed the assembly extemporaneously. Short sjieeches were also made by Hon. Samuel Pratt. P. G. Harrington. Hon. Wyman Spooner and many others.

Fourth Annual Meeting

An examination of the list showed foiu- members deceased during the year, viz. : Hon. C. M. Baker, of Geneva; J. Ward, of Bloonifield; Samuel H. Tibbets, of Sugar Creek; Samuel Dunbar, of Geneva. Fitting resolutions were passed and short eulogies read by E. Elderkin. Rev. P. S. Van Nest and others.

Fifth Annual Meeting

Proceedings were opened by prayer by Deacon Daniel Salisbury, no clergyman being present. Music was furnished by the Springfield Cornet Band. The Secretary read the proceedings of the last annual meeting; also, the constitution and list of members. The only member reported deceased during the past year was G. Frank Brewster, as to whose life and character appropriate remarks were made by O. Hand. No oration was pronounced, but. in its place, the address of Judge Andrew G. Miller, reeeutly delivered before the Old Settlers' Club of Milwaukee, was read by F. J. Harrington. Officers were elected, and the meeting adjourned to assemble in Geneva next year.

Sixth Annual Meeting

The sixth annual meeting was held at Geneva June 10. 1874. The weather being unfavorable for out-of-door exercises, the meeting was held in Walker's Hall. Prayer by Rev. J. D. Pulis. After singing by the choir, the minutes were read by the Secretary, and four deaths of members, occurring dm-ing the past year, were noted, viz.: Asher Johnson, of Darien; John Hutton, of Delavan; Newton McGraw, of Delavan: Myron E. Dewing, of Elkhorn.

The annual addresses were delivered by James Simmons, Esq. , of Geneva, and Hon. T. D. Weeks, of Whitewater. The addresses were followed by the election of officers, report of the Treasm-er. reading of communications, and short speeches from members and guests. Appiopriate resolutions were adopted in memory of the deceased members.

Besolmd. Tliat the thanks of the old settlers of Wahvortli Countj' are hereby tendered to J. Simmons. Esq,, for his very excellent poem; to Hon. T. D. Weeks, for his eloquent address; to Hon. Roliert H. Baker.for his appropriate address; to Hon. A. T. Wheeler, of Iowa, for his excellent speech, and also to the Springfield Band for the splendid music disconrsed to us b3- them.

The seventh annual meeting was held at Geneva June 9. 1^7."). The day was stormy. The meeting was held in the office of C. L. Oatman. Little was done except the routine business of hearing the Treasurer's report, and the election of officers, when the meeting adjourned, to meet again at Geneva in two weeks.

The adjoiu-ned meeting was held in the grove, in fi'ont of the Seminary Boarding-House, in Geneva, June '23. 1875. Nearly six hundred old settlers and their descendants were present.

Prayer was offered by Rev, Orra Martin, a pioneer of 1840: a hymn was sung to the tune of old " Lenox, " imder the leadership of W, H. Hammersley, Hon. W. C. Allen, of Racine, delivered an excellent address, full of reminiscences of the past, and sketches oE the lives and characters of prominent early settlers. " Auld Lang Syne" was then sung, after which the following resolutions were adopted:

Wheiieas, Since our last annual gathering, eight members of our organization have been called to their last account, to-wit: Lemuel R, Smith, of SprincfPrairie, who was the first presidinc officer of this society, and claimed to l)e the earliest settler of Walworth'Countv; Ma.j, Ira Buell, of Linn; B. B. Freeman, of Richmond: Mrs. Patience Meacham, of Trov, widow of the late Maj. Meacliam; N, II. Carswell, Joseph Viles, and Gen. Sheldon Walling, of Elkhorn,"and John B. Shepherd, of Delavan, Thereupon,

Resolved, Tliat this comparatively large number of deaths from our society during the past year, cannot but remind us, each and all. of our own mortality, and, that before many years shall pass - and it may be within the current year - manv. and perhaps an equal or greater number of us may also be called to bid adieu to all things here lielow, Iii view, therefore, of the great uncertainty of life, we may well ponder on the truism, "In the midst of life we are in death."

Besolced. That without discriminatiim we, as a society, will cherish in memory the virtues and the useful lives of our departed members, among whom are two of our very first settlers, Mr, Smith and Mrs. Meacham, even as we hope that our own may be cherished, when the places that know us now, shall know us no more forever.

Resolved, That we sympathize with the more intimate friends and relatives of the deceased in the greater loss they have sustained," and trust that they have a consolation in the hope that these friends have gone to a higher a'nd a brighter sphere, where they who have gone and they who remain will again be united.

Eighth Annual Meeting

Opened by prayer by Rev. G. A. Cressey. of Elkhorn. The election of officers was held, and it was voted that Rev. A. C. Barry, the "oldest pioneer Universalist minister in the West, should be invited to addi-ess the meeting. The records give no account of his response to the invitation.

Whereas. The followins!: named members of our society have deceased since our hist meeting, viz. : John Curtis, Stephen Ingham, Israel Stowell, Mrs. David Vaughn. "Robert W. Warren and John Williaras.

Resolved, That we. as old settlers, having experienced suffering and sorrow, know liow to sympathize and do sympathize with those more nearly related to the deceased, in their atHictions, and with them will ever cherish in memory, the virtues of the departed.

Short speeches followed from J. W. Boyd, P. S. Van Nest, C. F. Ellsworth, Ltike Taylor, Osboru Hand, P. G, Harrington and others. " Old Hundred " was sung, and the meeting adjourned.

Ninth Annual Meeting

The ninth annual meeting was held at Delavan June 20, 1877. Music was fui-nished by the Delavan Cornet Band. Prayer was offered by Rev. D. E. Halteman. and an address of welcome by Rev. Joseph Collie. A severe wind and rain storm interrupted the proceedings. After the abatement of the storm, addresses were made by Hon. Harrison Ludiugton, Governor of Wisconsin, and Hon. Pliny Norcross, of Janesville.

Resolved, That we learn with great sorrow of the loss from our ranks by death, during the past year, of eight valued members, viz. : William Bell, Charles S. Bailey, Willard Isham, Robert Stewart, Perry G. Harrington, Mrs. P. G. Harrington. Jedediah W. Peck and Samuel Pratt; that by their loss we are reminded that we, too, are mortal, and .shall soon pass from earth; and that having experienced much of sorrow and suffering ourselves, we know how to feel for and with the relatives and more intimate friends of the departed, and we tender them our sincere and heartfelt sympathies.

Short eulogies of the deceased members were made : On Perry G. Harrington, by Stephen G. West; on Samuel Pratt, by Otis Preston; on 0. W. Peck, by H. S. Winsor; on William Bell, by W. C. Allen; on C. S. Bailey, by George Cotton; on Willard Isham, by A. D. Thomas. Mr. West also spoke of the death of A. B. Beardsley, an old settler, not a member of the society. After singing "America," the meeting adjom-ned, to meet at Delavan the next year.

Tenth Annual Meeting

The tenth annual meeting was held at Delavan June 19, 1878. The order of the day opened with a procession, led by the Delavan. Cornet Band, and Delavan Fire Department. The Delavan Glee Club furnished the vocal music.

Prayer was offered by Rev. D. E. Halteman, and the annual routine business done. The annual address was delivered by Rev. Joseph Collie. Obituary and eulogistic adch-esses were given on the members deceased during the past year by the following gentlemen: Otis Preston, in commemoration of Hon. Wvman Spooner; N. M. Littlejohn. for Hon. Samuel A. White; Charles Martin, for Mrs. Daniel Salisbury; S. G. West, for T, P, Barker and C. F. Ellsworth; Rev. T. C. Wilson, for Hiram Downer and Daniel Rowe; and Edward Elderkin, for Mrs, Betsey Bradley,

The meeting was one of the most successful ever held, and, in addition to the enjoyment of the occasion, resulted in the addition of fifty names to the list of members.

Eleventh Annual Meeting

The eleventh annual meeting was held at Whitewater June 18, 1879. This meeting, owing to its being held on the direct line of the railroad from Milwaukee, and the exertions of President Preston and other members of the society, drew a large concourse of old settlers, not only from all parts of the county, but from all parts of the State.

At 10 o'clock A. M. , a procession was formed under the direction of the Marshals, preceded by the Whitewater Cornet Band. The military was represented liy the " (Juster Rifles." Pioneer life was represented by a covered wagon drawn by an ox team and loaded with the household goods and numerous family of the emigrant: a large plow, drawn by several yoke of oxen - a moving scene of industrial life indoors, and one of farm life without. Following were the St. Patrick's C. T. A. Society, in uniform, headed by their cornet band; the Whitewater Hose Company, and a long procession of officers, committees, guests and old settlers, on foot and in carriages.

The meeting was held in a large tent provided for the occasiou. After music, the exercises were opened by prayer by Rev. S. C. Thomas; music, song of welcome, by the Whitewater Glee Club; address by Hon. N. M. Littlejohn; volunteer addresses from John Nazro, ex-Gov. Ludington, W. P. MeiTill and James S. Buck, of Milwaukee; William Rumsey, of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Henry Keep, of Chicago; and Prosper Cravath. of Wiitewater.

The afternoon exercises were opened by music by Evan's Orchestra, followed by an address from C. R. Beach, of Whitewater. After the address were the memorial addresses on the members deceased dm-ing the past year. They were as follows: S. G. West, on Mrs. Tibbets; C. R. Gibbs. on Emery Thayer; O. Hand, on John Dunlap; James Simmons, on the deaths of Thomas W. Hill and Reuben Rockwell.

Resoloed. That in our joy at meeting our old friends and acquaintances, tlie men and women who were our co-workers in laying the foundations and building up the walls of our civilization, we do not forget nor will we ever forget, those who have been taken from our ranks bv death during the past year, liut the names ivnd virtues of Thomas W. Hill. Reuben Rockwell, Samuel F. Randall, Emery Thayer, Allen Merriam, John C. Ford and Sylvester G. Smith shall ever be cherished in our memories. We feel deeply the rending of the cords which bound us to them, and we sincerely sympathize with the families and more intimate friends of the deceased.

The following preamble and resolutions, which embody the inception of the plan which has resulted in the publication of this history, were presented by Hollis Latham, and adopted:

Where.is, It is among the declared objects and aims of this society "to collect and preserve such statistics of the early settlement of the county as'may be of interest to the present and future generations," and, WHEREAS, our pioneers are fast passing away, and many facts worthy of preservation, which are now unwritten, but stored in their memories will soon become inaccessible and utteVly lost, therefore

Besoleed. 1. That we cannot better carry out that object of our society, than by taking measures to aid or procure tlie publication of a brief and authentic history of this county, and that in the absence of any present prospect of such a work being provided, we deem it high time for us to move in the matter.

2. That while we reeogiiizi' the utility and im|Hirtanrc of extended and minute town histories, and would give all encouragement in our power to the collection and ijri'servation of all the incidents of pioneer Hfe in this vicinity, wlilch can be of interest to our posterity or the world in general, yet, we deem it a sufficient undertaking for us at the present time to procure a more general history of the whole county.

3. That in the effort to accomplish this object, we need and have a right to expect the earnest co-operation of all the surviving pioneers and of their descendants, and we coiitiilently appeal to them for written statements of such factsrelating to the early settlement of their own, or other towns as have come to their observation, and sketches of the fives and characters of deceased pioneers, as they may think will be useful in the preparation of the proposed work.

4. That the President and Vice President of this society be authorized and directed to appoint, as soon as practicable, one or more such persons in each town as will lie most likely to interest themselves in the work, to collect material therefor, and transmit the same to the Historical Conunittee, consisting of three members of the society, to be in like manner .appointed by the President and Vice Presidents, and that it shall be the duty of said "Historical Committee to examine the material so collected, and advise as to how much and what portions thereof are not of suflieient general interest to be inserted at length in the proposed history, but the whole shall be preserved among the records of the society.

5. That for the purpose o{ directing inquiries for the needed facts, the Historical Committee be authorized to issue at the expense of the society, and circulate as widely as they may deem advisable through the count_y. letters of inquiry containing questions to be answered.

6." That said committee be requested to use their best efforts to push forward the work, so that it may be completed during the present vear, and that they be authorized to select and employ some suitable person to take the materials so provided, and from them and all other authentic sources of information accessible to him, whether heretofore published or otherwise, to write, prepare for the press, and superintend the publieation of a history of the whole county, giving the history of each town with as much minuteness as said committee may deem practicable, without "too greatly enlarging the work, and that they be authorized to niake such arrangements for compensating the person so employed out of the proceeds of the work, or otherwise as they may be able to do without seriously burdening the society or its members.

The meeting adjourned, but, in piu-suance of the resolutions last quoted, a special meeting was held at the court house in Elkhorn September 2, 1879.

Special Meeting

A special meeting was held at Elkhorn September 2, 1879. At this meeting, the Historical Committee appointed was as follows: James Simmons, Geneva; Stephen G. West. Elkhorn; Rev. Joseph Collie, Delavan. Town committees for the collection of historical information were appointed as follows: Troy, Soldan Powers, J. R. Kling; Lyons, Z. B. Burk,

Enos Kinney, C. P. Taylor; Darien, H. A. Johnson, Arthur Maxou. C. T>. Long, Julius Seaver; Sharon, Hem-y Dennis, Julius A. Treat, Jared H. Topping, Alfred L. Mason; Sugar Creek, Jesse R. Kinne, John Rand, Daniel Bigelow, Harmon Gray; Whitewater, P. Cravath, C. R. Gibbs; Elkhorn, Hollis Latham, S. G. West. The other towns not being represented, it was resolved " that the Vice Presidents of the towns not now represented here be appointed Chairmen on the committees in their own towns, and be empowered to appoint such persons as they may select to assist them in the work. "

Twelfth Annual Meeting

The twelfth annual meeting was held at ^Vhitewater June 22. 1880. A procession opened the exercises of the day, led by the Whitewater Cornet Band. Like that of the year before, it had moving representations suggestive of pioneer life and earlytimes. The exercises on the grounds were opened by prayer by Rev. Daniel Smith, a pioneer of 18-47, followed by an address of welcome from Hon. T. D. Weeks; song of welcome, written for the occasion by Mr. Goodman, and sung by the Arion Club ; the oration, by Hon. Eleazar Wakeley, of Omaha, Neb. , a former resident of Whitewater. After the oration, short addi'esses were made by George W. Peck and others. A poem, "The Old Breaking Team, "was read by its author. Prof. S. S. Rockwood.

Dinner was followed by a business session, more speaking, and the customary resolutions of thanks to the officers, speakers, musicians and citizens who had rendered, by their joint efforts, the re-union a gi-and success.

Resolved, That our memories sliiill ever cherish the virtues and good deeds of Lorcn Perry, Freeman Pratt, Seth M. Billings, Mrs. Jennie Williams, E. O. Vaughn and James Holden, who have left us during the past year, and gone, we hope, to join the band of pioneers in a higher and better sphere. Their faults, if any. we will forget, but emulate all that was worthj' in their lives.

Thirteenth Annual Meeting

Music, cornet band; opening remarks by the President; invocation, Rev. S. E. Sweet; music. East Troy Glee Club: address of welcome, E. H. Spragne; address. Rev. J. Collie; music, cornet band; poem, Mrs. D. L. Fairehild; music, glee club; dinner; music, cornet band; business of the society; obituaries; music, glee club; Early Settlement of Bloomiield and Linn, Mrs. Buell; Early Settlement of Big Foot Prairie, Cyrus Church; music, cornet band; doxology, everybody.

The address of welcome by E. H. Sprague was followed by the annual address, by Rev. Joseph Collie, of Delavan. It is given below, as embodying the spirit of the good old times which still stirs the hearts of the old settlers who yearly come up to the Mecca of their early memories :

So many are the recollections which throng upon us at such an hour, that in order to avoid utter confusion we must fi.K attention on some single point, and bid memory busy itself around that. I would place prairie breaking before you as that one object. The days of prairie breaking ! In the center of the vision whicli rises before you at the utterance of these words, stands the prairie-Vireaking plow. We know the name of the inventor of the locomotive, and his name goes down illustrious to posterity. But what genius contrived the prairie-breaker ? Let our antiqu.arians take up the subject as it deserves, and let the name be linked with that of Stephenson and Fulton, and, in the midst of our grandest prairie, let his monument ari.se !

The prairie-breaking plow ! Where did it originate ? As I remember it in the year 18.36, it came on to the field - not fresh from the shop - liut work-worn and scarred. How massive the beam ! How peculiar the handle ! Like necessity they knew no law. How primitive the trucks - chopped out of some log not quite round - one wheel in the furrow and one out. They were guiltless of the acquaintance of saw, or plane or paint. How musical they were, all day long, squeaking out their song of the future ! But, like the song of the Indian brave and maid, it has jiassed from tlicse prairies and openings, never to be heard again.

Recall the prairie-breaking team ! Pour or five yoke of oxen, huge and sleek - Buck and Brown, Duke and Diamond, etc. How well .some of them could shy a kick, when the " gad" came too feelingly upon the flank I With what appearance of reserved strength, they march to their task I What so akin to the majestic movement of the freight train, as the calm and potent tread of the prairic-hreaking team ?

Some of us will recall that matchless scene in the annals of peaceful industry, when the new settler, sallying forth from the newh'-built log cabin in the edge of the timber, with ox team and plow, went out to plow round his claim It is a beautiful morning in June. Was there ever seen such an expanse of fertility ? Did Nature ever spread such a carpet, or loom ever weave its eijual ? IIow rich the green ! How profuse the bloom I How marvelous the floods of sunlight ! What emotions of hope and gladness stir the lireasts of the new settler, as he surveys the scene and thrusts his plowshare into the bosom of the virgin prairie I It is the wedding day of fertilit}' and industrj' ! Hear the cVeaking of the plow-truck ! What does it say ? It squeaks like a king. It cries in the ears of the new settlers, " Get a plentj' wliile j'ou're getting ; get a plenty while 3'ou're getting." Yes. he heeds that advice, and the furrow grows marvelously long. He is marking out a dukedom, and princes shall inherit it. Sometimes, there was something even of tlie sublime in prairie-breaking. The grand old plow is rolling over the green ribbons of fertile soil, spangled with flowers - prairie rose and prairie lily. It is the burial of the wild flowers. On that spot they shall l)e seen no more. They died not as their ancestors died - by the breath of autumn or the touch of Time'. The earthquakes of a coming civilization strikes them, and they meet an untimely fate. See them as they tremble on the curve of the wooden mold board.

Some of you, at least, will recall the circumstances of striking a " red root." That was the prairie-breaker's opportunity. Then he showed his mettle. Then his reserves were called forth. The share has struck the hidden root, and all the chains tingle with tension, Init in vain - vain the shout, vain the gad. The march of civilization is at a standstdl. The team is backed ; the plow is backed ; the file is drawn ; the share is sharpened. Then the ponderous instrmnent of human progress is righted up. and. if the new settler has boys, they are bidden to mount the l)eam. The decisive moment has come. American history shall not stop here. A shout - a grand exijlosiou of whip 1 These repeated in startling succession ! Duke and Diamond know that America expects them to do their duty. There is a tingling of chains ; there is a forward pushing of resistless shoulders ; there is a groaning of trucks ; a creaking of plow joints ; a rumbling underground ; a final crack - the red root is conquered, and Western progress goes on victoriousl}'.

Shall we suffer the services of the prairie-blow to go um'ecorded, or its image to fade from our memory ? In its day it had but one rival - its namesake - the prairie-lireaker jiig. The mounted brigade of hogdom. indispensable in the conquest of the country, independent, self-reliant, long-geared, slab-sided, sharp-snouted, quick-witted, ready to root, to fight, or to run, his whole luiitjue personage terminating in a cabalistic quirk, which seemed to saJ^ " I could a tail unfold."

In the daj's of prairie-breaking, life had a freshness and a zeal which no succeeding improvements can restore. Common tasks took on the form of romance and grandeur. There was a romance in going to mill. You remember it. The day before you started, food was cooked and things got ready ; j'ou were up with the dawn, and good-byes were said, and you started on what was really a career of adventure - adventure in bottomless sloughs ; adventure in bridgeless streams; adventure over night by the side of some haystack on the prairie, or adventure on the mill floor, where you passed the night waiting for the grist, and listening to the music of the wooden wheels which tinmed the stone.

There are fathers and mothers here who could tell you that there is now no such courting as was done in the prairie-breaking days. I have heard your modern orchestras, such as Thomas leads, but I have never heard strains more charming than those seemed which fell on my boyish ears at the first wedding in the days when we were breaking prairie.

Give all praise tothe heroism of your modern firemen ; but let it he not forgotten how grand a thing it was to fight a prairie fire while the prairies were yet unbroken. Shall we ever forget the wild, fierce charge, the flames, maddened by the winds, made on the stock yard ? Or the brave band of men, women and children which sallied from the fog house to repel the deluge ?