Tipton County IN Archives History - Books .....Agricultural Society 1883
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Book Title: Counties Of Howard And Tipton, Indiana

THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

   The Tipton County Agricultural Society was first organized on the 11th of
August, 1855, and on the 1st of September a constitution and by-laws was
adopted. The first county fair was held on the 4th and 5th of October of the
same year. Considerable time and expense were employed in fitting up the
temporary grounds near the down-town depot with suitable sheds, etc., in which
to make the display, but when the time came, so heavy were the rains on both
days, that the display of stock and farm productions was very small. The rain on
the 5th fell so continuously that not a lady appeared upon the grounds. A start
had been made, however, and it remained for the future to continue the
enterprise. The society at this first fair numbered about seventy-five members.
N. J. Jackson was President and John Green Secretary. A few very large, fine
pumpkins were exhibited. A decided disposition for the improvement of stock was
manifested. The second fair was almost a failure, but little interest being
manifested. The third fair, held near Judge Green's residence, was more of a
success, both the receipts and expenditures amounting to more than $100.
Considerable stock was entered, and the ladies appeared with a creditable
display of domestic and fancy articles. For two or three years during the war,
no fair was held. At the close of the war, however, the society was again
revived. A fair ground was secured south of town, and the County Commissioners
were induced to donate $200 to fence the same. After several years, the society
again almost died out, but was fully re-organized in 1874, and became known as
the "Tipton County Joint-Stock Agricultural Society." This society purchased ten
acres adjoining the poor-farm of Thomas Smith and rented for ten years a strip
of the poor-farm, eighty rods long by twenty-three and one-half rods wide. These
two tracts of land constitute the present fair ground. There were 128
stockholders at the commencement of this new organization. Stock was $10 per
share, and the total amount of stock was $3,000, all of which was not
subscribed. For two or three years excellent fairs were held, the interests in
all departments running high, especially in the fast stock department. In 1879,
an entirely new organization, called the "Tipton County Fair Company," was
effected. This has endured until the present. In 1878, $1,247.25 was paid in
premiums, and in 1882 nearly $1,700. The cash receipts of 1882 were $1,793. In
1878, there were 690 entries; in 1882, there were 937. The present officers are
J. T. Hunter, President; D. A. Fish, Vice President; William Barlow, Secretary;
W. M. Grimshaw, Treasurer; W. A. Maze, General Superintendent; T. B. Bates,
Samuel Loucks, Jonathan Wolverton, J. J. Paul, Newton Campbell, George Weed, P.
F. Legg, D. B. Vice, G. W. Myerly, D. Wilkins, T. G. Pratt, Joseph Turner and
Lot Thomas, Directors. The fair ground and the interest shown will compare
favorably with other counties of the State.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

COUNTIES OF HOWARD AND TIPTON, INDIANA.

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
ILLUSTRATED.

CHARLES BLANCHARD. EDITOR.
CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO.
1883.


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