1905 Past and Present
COUNTY FAIR
The Greene County Agricultural and Musical Association was instituted April 15, 1854. Its first officers were Luman Curtins, president; J. C. Winters, vice presidnet: F. P. Vedder, secretary: and A. W. Bridges, treasurer. There was also a general committee chosen, consisting of the following members: Carrollton precinct, Samuel Thomas and Jacob Bowman: White Hall, L. E. Worcester and Benjamin Baldwin; Northwestern, L. J. Patterson and A. J. Whiteside; Walkerville, A. Sweeten and Michael Kimser; Bluffdale, William Halbert and J. W. Calvin: Woodville, T. W. Vigus and W. L. Greene; Kane, Samuel Longstreet and David Thompson; Eastern, J. H. Vanarsdale and George L. Burruss; Greenfield, W. H. Ellis and Isaac R. Ostrom: Fayette, John Rives and Martin Thorpe; Athensville, Thomas J. Short and Mathan King; Mineral Springs, Perry McConnathy and James D. Martin; for the county at large, Elon Eldred and William Black.
The first fair was held October 12, 1854, on the farm of J. E. Brace, just northwest of the city of Carrollton. It seems to have been in every way a brilliant success, and some said, as has been remarked more recently of other displays, that the show of fast and fine horses was superior to that of the state fair. As a number of the citizens of the county who were exhibitors and took premiums at this fair are still living, a list of the premiums awarded will, we think, not be without interest here, and we therefore append the same;
Class I— Cattle.
To Jeremiah Turpin, best bull, Filmore, 3 years, 1st premium, silver cup and diploma.
Anthony Potts, 2d best bull, 4 years old, 2d preinium, silver cup.
Eri Edwards, best bull, 2 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and diploma.
J. J. Eldred, 2d best bull, 2 years old, 2d premium, silver cup.
Silas Eldred, best bull, 1 year old, 1st premium, $4.00 and diploma.
Henry Tunison, 2d best bull, 1 year old, 2d premium, $4.00.
Jonas Ward, best cow, 6 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and diploma.
Jeremiah Turpin, 2d best cow, 4 years old, 2d premium, silver cup.
James W. Gregory, best heifer, 2 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and
diploma.
Elon Eldred, 2d best heifer, 2 years old, 2d premium, silver cup.
Elijah Dee, best heifer, 1 year old, 1st premium, $4.00 and diploma.
Eri Edwards, 2d best heifer, 1 year old, 2d premium, $4.00.
Elon Eldred, best bull calf, 1st premium, $3.00.
R. N. Neece, 2d best bull calf, 2d premium. $2.00.
J. Turpin, best heifer calf, 1st premium, $3.00.
Elon Eldred, 2d best heifer calf, 2d premium, $2.00.
James J. Eldred, best working oxen, diploma.
Elijah Dee, best fat heifer, diploma.
Class II — Horses and Mules.
E. H. Chorn, best stallion, 8 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and
diploma.
William Crane, 2d best stallion, 7 years old, 2d premium, silver cup.
J. H. Waller, best brood mare, 9 years old, diploma.
Michael Kinser, best stallion, 3 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and
diploma.
Anthony Potts, best stallion, 2 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and
diploma.
W. O. Greaves, 2d best stallion, 2 years old, 2d premium, $3.00.
Anthony Potts, best stallion, 1 year old, 1st premium, silver cup and
diploma.
A. Minsterman, 2d best stallion, 1 year old, 2d premium, $2.00.
J. P. Henderson, best filly, 3 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and
diploma.
Jeremiah Turpin, 2d best filly, 3 years old, 2d premium, $4.00.
Daniel Morfoot, best filly, 2 years old, 1st premium, silver cup.
Peter M. Brown. 2d best filly, 2 years old, 2d premium, $3.00.
Milton Williams, best filly, 1 year old, 1st premium, $4.00.
Lemuel Jackson. 2d best filly, 1 year old, 2d premium, $2.00.
Benjamin Roodhouse, best draught horse, 5 years old, premium, $4.00.
Same, best gelding, 7 years old, premium, $3.00.
J. E. Brace, best single mare, 4 years old, premium, $4.00.
A. S. Seeley, best matched horses, 6 years old, premium, $4.00.
Felix Morris, best gaited saddle horse, 5 years old, premium, $4.00.
Peter Roodhouse, best single horse in harness, 4 years old, premium, $4.00.
Henry Spencer, best sucking colt, 1st premium, silver cup.
William Black, 2d best sucking colt, 2d premium, $4.00.
E. B. Eldred, 3d best sucking colt, 3d premium. $3.00.
L. H. Thomas, best jack, 3 years old, premium, silver cup and diploma.
George L. Burruss, best jack, 2 years old, premium, $4.00.
Same, best jack, 1 year old, diploma.
Hiram Keach, best jennet, 3 years old, diploma.
Same, best jennet, 2 years old, diploma.
L. H. Thomas, best jennet, 1 year old, diploma.
William Cannedy, best pair mules, 2 years old, $4.00.
E. W. Johnson, best single mule, $2.00.
Class III — Sheep.
James W. Gregory, best fine buck, premium, $2.00 and diploma.
Same, best fine ewe, premium, $3.00.
Jeremiah Turpin, best coarse buck, premium, $2.00 and diploma.
Same, best coarse ewe, premium, $3.00.
No. 2 Swine.
French N. Hazel, best boar, 1-1/2 years old, premium, 2d and diploma.
William Black, 2d best boar, 1 year old, 2d premium, $2.00.
Elon Eldred, best breeding sow, 1 year old, premium, 2d and diploma, $1.00.
Same, 2d best breeding sow, 2 years old, 2d premium, $2.00.
Same, best lot of pigs, 6 months old, 1st premium, $3.00.
J. E. Brace, 2d best lot of pigs, 6 months old, premium, $2.00.
Samuel Longstreet, best pair of pigs, 6 months old, premium, diploma.
Class IV.
No. 1 — Poultry.
J. E. Brace, best pair chickens, premium, $1.00 and diploma.
No. 2 — Cheese and Butter.
James J. Eldred, best cheese, premium, $3.00 and diploma.
David Black, best lot butter made in June, premium, 2d and diploma.
Alfred Hubbard, best lot butter made at any time, premium, 2d and diploma.
J. B. Samuel, 2d best lot butter made at any time, 2d premium, $2.00.
David Black, 3d best lot butter made at any time, 3d premium, $1.00.
Class V. Grain, Vegetables and Fruits — No. 1.
Samuel Longstreet, best sample fine white corn, diploma.
Jesse Ridings, best lot yellow corn, premium, $1.00.
David Black, best bushel timothy seed, premium, $1.00.
Samuel Longstreet, best ½ barrel yellow corn, diploma.
Samuel Thomas, best bushel clover seed, premium, $1.00.
David Black, best sample white wheat, diploma.
Same, best sample red wheat, premium, $1.00.
Price Lovelace, best sample flour corn, premium, $1.00.
No. 2— Fruits.
Samuel Longstreet, best winter apples, 1st premium, $1.25.
James D. Martin, 2d best winter apples, 2d premium, 75 cents.
Jacob Bowman, best fall apples, premium, diploma.
No. 3 — Vegetables
Drury Overby, best lot white turnips, diploma.
Samuel Longstreet, best lot sweet potatoes, premium, 50 cents.
Class VI. — Household Manufactures — Boots and Shoes.
Mrs. John L Thomas, best 10 yards woolen flannel, premium, 50 cents.
Mrs. William Potts, best double carpet coverlet, 1st premium, $1.00 and
diploma.
Mrs. Benjamin Baldwin, 2d best double carpet coverlet, 2d premium, $1.00.
Mrs. J. Thomas, best single carpet coverlet, premium, 50 cents.
Mrs. E. Morfoot, best pair woolen knit stockings, 1st premium, $1.00 and
diploma.
Mrs. John T. Williams, 2d best pair of woolen knit stockings, 2d premium, 50
cents.
No. 2.
Frederick Cook, best pair boots, diploma.
Class VII.
Benjamin Roodhouse, best carriage, diploma.
John Long, best bedstead, diploma.
Class VIII. — Articles not Enumerated.
Dr. John Hardtner, best set teeth, diploma.
Mrs. Luman Curtins, best jar preserved peaches, diploma.
Misses Pierson, best embroidery, diploma.
Same, best crab apple jelly, diploma.
Mrs. J. B. Eldred, best single coverlet, premium, $1.00.
Mrs. David Dodgson, best quilt, premium, $1.00.
Samuel Longstreet, best cherry wine, diploma.
The society at that time numbered over two hundred and thirty members and
was rapidly increasing in numbers and interest. With reference to the
premiums mentioned above we find the following order entered on record at
the time: "N. B. — All the above premiums will be paid in silverware or
agricultural books on the first Monday in December next, at the annual
meeting of the society to be holden at the court house in Carrollton, at
which time officers are to be elected for the ensuing year, and transact
such other business as shall be considered necessary. A general attendance
is most earnestly solicited. LUMAN CURTINS, President. F. P. VEDDER,
Secretary.”
The second fair was held on the grounds which since the first meeting of the society had been purchased by the one hundred and sixty stockholders, located near the present site of the Carrollton public school building. This property was enclosed with a substantial fence, supplied with stalls and other conveniences, and served the purposes of the society until 1860, when, becoming too small, it was sold and the present large and beautiful park was purchased and the improvements moved thither.
The first financial statement of the condition of the association which we find on the records was made in 1856, and is as follows: "Receipts from fair, $950.15; paid for premiums, $500: expenses, $45.95; total, $545.95; balance on hand, $404.20."
During the early fairs the premiums consisted almost entirely of silverware, and we frequently find in the treasurer's report a list of such ware left on hand after the premiums had all been paid, and in one instance we find that a valued officer is voted a $5.00 cup as a mark of appreciation of his faithfulness. During successive years the receipts were as follows: 1857, $1,338.15; 1858, $1,615.34; 1859, $1,882.25; 1860, $2,025.82, and so on the expenses increasing in the same or greater ratio. In 1866 a commodious ampitheater in semi-circle form was built on the south side of the exhibition ring. In 1872 the name of the association was changed to "Greene County Agricultural Board." During the war and for some time after the fairs did not pay expenses, and the result was that in 1874 the board found itself saddled with a debt of over $6,000. In order that it might be paid off and the prosperity of the fairs insured, in the autumn of that year a resolution was passed to form a new corporation, and D. M. Woodson, J. W. Gregory, G. L. Burruss, J. H. Rives, S. F. Greene, L. F. Wheeler and John Kaser were appointed incorporators. License was issued February 27, 1875, authorizing George W. Davis, J. F. Ballinger, L. S. Eldred, George L. Burruss, N. J. Andrews. J. H. Rives and George W. Witt, as commissioners, to open books of subscription to the capital stock of the "Greene County Agricultural and Mechanical Association." Eighty-one citizens at once subscribed for from one to three shares each at $50 per share, and a charter was issued by the secretary of state bearing date of March 26, 1875. The subscriptions to the capital stock readily raised the $6,000 required, and the old indebtedness was paid off. The capital stock was afterward increased $2,000, bringing it up to $8,000, the greater part of which was soon subscribed. The new society took possession of the property, and with Mr. Nathaniel J. Andrews, its indefatigable secretary, in the lead, continued the annual exhibitions with more or less varied success until 1893. In 1894, owing to the financial stress upon the country, and the people having not yet recovered from a surfeit of exhibitions at the Columbian Exposition at Chicago, no fair was held.
On May 27, 1895, Hon. H. T. Rainey, Leroy McFarland and S. Elmer Simpson filed with the secretary of state an application for a charter to organize the Greene County Fair Association. The charter was granted, authorizing capital stock of $4,500 at $20 per share, duration of charter twenty-five years.
On the 15th of June of this year the stockholders met at the court house and elected the following board of directors: Leroy McFarland, John H. Stubblefield, J. K. Farrelly, Charles W. Hollenbeck, J. T. Madden, Donald Simpson, Jr., Lester Vineyard, C. G. Edwards, George W. Witt, H. T. Rainey, S. E. Simpson, N. Walthrop and Daniel Flatt.
The new organization paid the Greene County Agricultural and Mechanical Board for grounds and buildings and bought of the Curtins estate about six acres of land adjoining the old grounds for which was paid $600. Other improvements were made at this time. The amphitheater was removed to the west side of the grounds, as well as the art hall, secretary's office and some other buildings. The exhibition held in the fall of this year was a success, and the stockholders and managers of the new enterprise were greatly encouraged and entered upon the work of preparation for the next year's exhibition with renewed zeal.
In 1896 the old race track was remodeled, enlarged and graded at an expense, with some other improvements about the grounds, of $1,275. This new track is conceded to be one of the best in Illinois. In November of this year the capital stock was increased from $4,500 to $6,000, since which time the annual meetings of the association have been successes, and the interest among the farmers and manufacturers all over the county in the exhibitions is continually growing. Last year, 1904, notwithstanding the great centennial exposition at St. Louis in close proximity to us, the Greene County Fair was a splendid success. The association, however, met a little setback when on the evening of the close of the exposition the new amphitheater, just erected at a cost of $1,200, caught fire and was entirely destroyed. But already plans are being perfected for the erection of another one which will be enlarged and otherwise improved over the one destroyed, so that the 1905 fair will be no less a success on account of the misfortune. So it will be seen that old Greene still sustains her reputation of being one of the best "Fair" counties in the state, and while we do not purpose to make invidious distinctions regarding its management, we think we may safely say that to no one person are the citizens of the county indebted for this distinction more than to its present, and, for ten years, efficient and accommodating secretary, S. Elmer Simpson, and his worthy assistant, E. Z. Curnutt.
The present stockholders are the following well known citizens: W. L. Armstrong, George K. Ashliek, Fred Achenbach, N. J. Andrews, John Ashford, W. J. Armstrong, H. H. Ashliek. Jehu Ashliek. J. W. Beatty, L. S. Baldwin, Robert Bundy, W. A. Borium, W. H. Billings, Baltz Brothers, Charles Bradshaw, W. D. Bowie, Mrs. A. Boyd, E. E. Burroughs, H. D. Burruss, P. A. Brown, W. A. Brown, Dr. Howard Burns, J. C. Bowman, W. R. Bare, Thomas Brown, Willis Brooks, Sol. Baines, Charles Baines, E. V. Baldwin, J. L. Baker, Warren Beebe, John L. Brown, G. Byland, Connor Carmody, J. W. Carter, William Cobb, Henry Curtins, Clough Brothers, G. W. Christy, G. M. Cunningham, Daigger & Hensler, O. Dodgson, L. P. Dodgson, George W. Davis, E. L. Davis, Jacob Dahm, W. L. Doyle, William Darr, Hoff Eldred, A. C. Ellis, Guy Ellenberger, E. A. Eldred, Samuel Edwards, C. G. Edwards, J. K. Farrelly, F. A. Frost, Filleger Brothers, Thomas E. Ford, J. W. Flowers, Deelis Farrow, Daniel Flatt, Captain W. M. Fry, F. E. Felter. R. G. Fain, A. B. Gregory, George Griswold, O. F. Griswold, E. Griswold, Gano Brothers, C. H. Giler, S. F. Greene, W. B. Greene, R. W. Greene, J. H. Greene, William E. Greene, William Hillis. Hussey & Fishback, Robert Hardcastle, H. L. Horwitz, Thomas Henshaw, B. C. Hodges, Thomas Hough, A. R. Haren, C. W. Hollenback, Jacob S. Hunt, John Hubbard, E. D. Johnson, Peter J. Hobson, Theodore Hunt, Henson Brothers, Jasper Johnson, T. L. Johnson, H. C. Kenney, Mrs. W. T. King, John Kaser, George Keiper, E. and H. Keeley, Thomas Kessinger, John P. Kohm, John M. Linder, Louis Lembke, E. Lynch, Gus Lang, L. M. Linder, Even Linder, C. I. McCollister, John McQuerry, Michael McTigue, Leroy McFarland, Oscar McFarland, Anna McFarland, James McNabb, Mrs. Ella Meek, J. P. Morrow, W. M. Maberry, Rufus Meek, W. D. Moore, Daniel Morfoot, Luther Mitchell, Montgomery & Wheeler, E. P. Metcalf, G. W. Melvin, Thomas Meeks, H. H. Montgomery, Mrs. J. V. Marmon, J. P. Marmon, S. Melvin, M. F. Markham, Joseph Madden, Frank McDonnough, H. B. Nelson, Marens North, George Pare, J. G. Pennell, W. B. Osborn, J. H. Pierson, O. Pierson, D. D. Pierson, Thomas S. Packer, J. G. Pope, John Pope, George Painter, J. E. Patton. M. L. Reed, H. T. Rainey, E. L. Roodhouse, A. D. Rollins, Hal. Russell, Arthur Robley, Judge J. H. Rives, W. B. Robinson, H. W. Roodhouse, Michael Ryan, Clyde Stone, A. W. Scott, J. H. Stubblefield, Ed. Smith, Americus Seeley, A. S. Seeley, W. H. Seiverling, O. A. Seiverling, F. B. Strang, W. J. Stock, Asa Stone, E. L. Simpson, B. N. Shetterly, Drs. James and Marguerite Squier, C. R. Sheffield, Donald Simpson, Jr., S. E. Simpson, Jasper Short, John J. Sharon, W. C. Scanland, Ex-Governor E. O. Stanard, John Snyder, H. Taylor, S. L. Thomas, A. J. Tunnell, W. D. Thomas, L. C. Thomas, H. O. Tunison, John I. Thomas, G. W. Tunison, L. C. Tunison, Lester Vineyard, Mrs. Ann Vaughn, S. A. Vedder. F. D. Vanderheyden, E. S. Vanarsdale, W. T. Wright, J. M. Widdowson, Albon Wilson, Charles A. Weimer, W. T. Witt, H. T. White, F. A. Whitesides, Samuel Wehrley, Sr., Samuel Wehrley, Jr., A. J. Wright, Norman Wattriss, Thomas Weisner. John Woods, F. P. Williams, George W. Witt, J. B. Weisner, Jr., G. W. Wright, William M. Wright, H. C. Worcester, Foster Williams.
The disbursements of the new organization for premiums, improvements, etc., since the start are as follows: 1895, $7,927.19; 1896, $6,599.41; 1897, $5,585.98; 1898, $4,968.81: 1899, $3,969.61; 1900, $3,297.99; 1901, $3,100.92; 1902, $3,726.72; 1903, $5,319.21; 1904, $5,298.59, making a total of $49,794.53.
The officers of the association since its present organization are as follows:
1895. — C. W. Holnback, president; Leroy McFarland, vice president; B. C. Hodges, treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary. 1896. — C. W. Holnback, president: Leroy McFarland, vice president; B. C. Hodges, treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary. 1897. — C. W. Holnback, president; John Stubblefield, vice president; B. C. Hodges, treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary. 1898. — C. W. Holnback, president; John Stubblefield, vice president; B. C. Hodges, treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary. 1899. — J. K. Farrelley, president; George W. Witt, vice president; B. C. Hodges, treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary. 1900. — George W. Witt, president; J. P. Kahm, vice president: R. W. Greene, treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary. 1901. — George W. Witt, president; J. P. Kahm, vice president; R. W. Greene, treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary; E. Z. Curnutt, assistant secretary. 1902. — George W. Witt, president; J. P. Kahm, vice president; C. H. Eldred, treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary; E. Z. Curnutt, assistant secretary. 1903. — Donald Simpson was elected president but died before the fair was held, and J. P. Kahm served in his place; C. H. Eldred, treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary; E. Z. Curnutt, assistant secretary. 1904. — J. P. Kahm, president; J. G. Pope, vice president; C. H. Eldred. treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary; E. Z. Curnutt, assistant secretary. 1905. — Daniel Flatt, president: John Flowers, vice president; C. H. Eldred, treasurer; S. E. Simpson, secretary; E. Z. Curnutt, assistant secretary.
Extracted 21 Feb 2017 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Greene County, Illinois, by Ed Miner, published in 1905, pages 88-94.
