106                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

revive the interest and hold the usual exhibitions. Very little was accom-
plished, and fairs were abandoned for a time.
    Representative farmers of Clay, Vigo, Sullivan and Greene counties
met at Centerville (Lewis), Vigo county, Saturday, April 7th, 1860, to
discuss the organization of a joint or union agricultural society, when
John Willey, of Sullivan, was called to the chair and A. J. Baber, of Clay,
chosen secretary. Following an explanation by the chairman of the
objects of the meeting and a general interchange of views, on motion
of Isaiah Donham, of Vigo, it was agreed to hold a union agricultural
fair for 1860 at some convenient point near Centerville or Splunge Creek
Reservoir.
    A committee of five was constituted, on motion of A. J. Baber, of
Clay, composed of John S. Donham and L. L. Osborn, of Clay, Isaiah
Donham, of Vigo, Elijah Pierson, of Sullivan, and John O’Danol, of
Greene, to solicit contributions, donations, and membership at the rate of
one dollar each, with power to select an auxiliary committee of five
farmers and mechanics in each of the counties, and to report progress at
the next succeeding meeting, to be held at the barn of Thomas Bush, at
the crossroads, on the south side of Splunge Creek Reservoir, June 9th,
when a permanent society should he organized, officers elected, etc. This
meeting was held as appointed, but practically nothing accomplished
promising permanent results, because of the diversity of notions and
disagreement prevailing. However, it was decided to localize the move-
ment which had been put on foot by organizing the adjoining townships
of the counties named and holding an exhibition of stock, grain and other
farm and domestic products at Splunge Creek Reservoir, Thursday, Octo-
ber 18th, designating Isaiah Donham as president and John S. Donham
as secretary, premiums to be awarded by competent committees. The
townships which joined in this exhibit were Perry, Lewis and Harrison,
Clay county, and Riley and Pierson townships, Vigo county. From the
published reports of the doings of the day, which are but meager, the
women seem to have played a prominent part. On this occasion was
exhibited the first sorghum molasses to come into competition in the
history of the county, the first premium on which was awarded to Nathan-
iel Donham, the second to Mrs. Mary Ferguson. For the best variety of
pies the honors were awarded to Mrs. Rachel Bimker, and for the best
samples of jelly, to Mrs. Mary Ferguson. To the Misses Mary and
Pauline Jessup were awarded the first and second premiums in the
ladies’ horseback contest.
    In 1869 Clay was associated in a district organization with Owen,
Monroe, Morgan, Greene, Putnam, Lawrence and Hendricks counties,
and a fair held at Gosport, September 21st to 25th, inclusive.
    Local fair associations were organized and gave exhibitions in dif-
ferent townships, especially in the south part of the county, due mostly
to the interest and persistent work of “Uncle Jack Baber.” In 1857 and
1858, a series of township fairs were organized by the citizens of Lewis,
Harrison and Perry townships. For several years exhibtions were given
on the Baher farm, Lewis township, where grounds had been fitted up
with some degree of permanency. On the 7th day of September, 1859,
Harrison township held a fair at Middlebury. On the 30th day of Octo-
ber. 1860, Lewis township held an agricultural fair and social picnic at
Howesville.
Efforts were made in the year 1871 to revive the county organization,