108                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

    Mr. James Ferguson then made appropriate remarks explaining the
use of the United States Signal Office and giving his experience with
seed sent out by the Agricultural Department.
    The question of donations for improving the Fair ground was then
discussed at some length without coming to any definite conclusion. It
was then determined to postpone further action for the time being and
meet again on the next Saturday, at Knightsville, at two o’clock P. M.,
where the parties were requested to present lists of subscription and lease
of Fair ground for the consideration of the Society.
    On motion of H. L. Ashley, the society then adjourned to meet at
Knightsville, on Saturday, the 29th of June, 1872, at two o’clock P. M.
    The Knightsville meeting was followed by another, at Brazil, when
the preliminary steps were taken to organize a society combining various
features and interests, which was perfected in June, 1873, under the title
of the Clay Trotting Park Association, and located permanently at Brazil.
The capital stock of this society was put at $3,000—300 shares at $10
each. At the permanent organization, John G. Ackelmire was chosen
president; I. W. Sanders, secretary; John Andrew, treasurer; and Sam-
uel Weaver, James R. Painter, William Jarboe, John McDowell, Edward
McClelland, John B. Richardson, I. M. Compton, H. L. Ashley, J. B.
Warner S. G. Biddle and Campbell Daugherty, directors. This society
leased forty acres of ground from Abel S. Hill, for the period of fifteen
years, for racing, Scottish games, celebrations of national holidays, and
county fairs. The first exhibition was held September 11, 12 and 13, 1873,
and annually thereafter up to the year 1877, inclusive.
    On the 1st of May, 1878, the Clay County Fair Association was
organized to succeed the Trotting Park Association, with a capital stock
of $1,550—310 shares of $5 each, to run ten years from the 12th day of
June following. The first election of permanent officers took place.
October 2d of the same year: James M. Hoskins, president; Jonathan
Croasdale, vice-president; P. F. Sharp, secretary; A. W. Turner, treas-
urer; Silvan Weaver, superintendent; R. M. Wingate, John G. Ackelmire,
and W. H. Cordery, executive board. Under the auspices of this
organization fairs were held annually in the month of August or Sep-
tember, the first one, that of 1878, in September, of six days’ duration,
from the 16th to the 21st inclusive. The last fair given by this society
was that of 1883.
    In the fall of 1882, A. J. Baber rented grounds on the Henry Coop-
rider place, adjoining Clay City, which he temporarily provided with
accommodations for the holding of what he named “The Clay City Indus-
trial Fair”—an exhibition of three days, Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
September 28, 29, 30. No charges Were made for entries.
    Stimulated by Baber’s efforts to establish an agricultural and indus-
trial society in the south end of the county, “The Harrison Township
Agricultural Society” was organized in the month of August of the
following year, William Graber, president; Eli Cooprider, secretary;
Uriah Cooprider, treasurer; John S. Tipton, superintendent. This organ-
ization leased the grounds of the Cooprider place occupied the year
before by Baber and gave its first annual fair the first week in October,
1883.
    Encouraged by the success of the exhibition given, and thinking to
enlarge the sphere of interest and co-operation in the future conduct of
the enterprise which they had put on foot, the promoters of this society