CHAPTER XIV.

                AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES, FAIRS, ETC.

    The first effort on the part of farmers and others of the county to
organize an agricultural society was made in 1853. In the Eel River Pro-
peller of August 27th, the first issue of that paper, appeared the follow-
ing editorial on this subject:
    “There is considerable talk among the farmers of this county at the
present time in regard to the organization of an agricultural society. We
hope they may persevere until they accomplish their object. The farmers
will find it much to their advantage, and should not cease working in
the matter until a society is organized. They have a newspaper in the
county now to attend to the publishing department, and there is no excuse
for any further delay.”
    Following this, a call was made for a meeting at Bowling Green, Sat-
urday, September 28th, when a partial organization was effected and an
adjourned meeting called for October 15th. At this meeting it was deter-
mined, on motion of John Osborn, to go into a permanent organization by
the election of officers to serve one year. John B. Nees was chosen presi-
dent, Hale C. Conaway, vice president, Oliver Cromwell, Sr., treasurer,
and Jonathan T. Grimes, secretary. The board of directors chosen were
Jeremiah M. Wyatt, Posey township; Thomas I. Cromwell, Dick John-
son; George G. McKinley, Van Buren; James Short, Jackson; John
Donham, Perry; David Puckett, Lewis; Presley Owens, Harrison;. John
J. Lanning, Carrithers; Thomas Sloan, Washington, and William L.
Cromwell, Cass. Calls were issued for subsequent meetings, of which
there are no reports on record, but on the 15th of May, 1854, a meeting
of the board of directors was held, at which it was decided to hold the
first annual fair for Clay county at Bowling Green, October 4th and 5th,
and a premium list was adopted and published. As this time came in con-
flict with that of the state fair, the board changed to October 19th, one
day only, when the first exhibition was held, and passed off satisfactorily.
The ground on which the society located lay immediately on the south
side of the town, the brick school house now standing on the plat.
    On the 20th of August, 1855, the society met and re-organized for
the second year by the election of the following officers: William L.
Cromwell, president; N. D. Walker, vice president; Hale C. Conaway,
treasurer, and John Osborn, secretary. The board of directors selected
from the several townships were Alfred West, Posey; W. F. McCul-
lough, Dick Johnson; George G. McKinley, Van Buren; William Low-
dermilk, Jackson; George Donham, Perry; James P. Thomas, Washing-
ton; George Grimes, Sr., Sugar Ridge, and H. H. Carrithers, Cass,

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