Article; Fox Lake Stock Fair, The Republican newspaper Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin, 30 March 1853 A local newspaper account. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives December 19, 2003 by Bill Porter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Transcriber's Notes: The following file was transcribed from a microfilm copy of The Republican newspaper obtained from the Wisconsin State Historical Society. Transcriber comments are shown between [ ] brackets. Volume 1, Number 8; 30 March 1853 Page 2, Column 3, as follows: [News item] FOX LAKE STOCK FAIR. We were much pleased at the exhibition of this Society, held at the village of Fox Lake, on last Thursday. The display of stock, though not large, was of excellent quality. Mr. Ferguson's full blooded Devonshire bull, which took first premium at our first state fair, held at Janesville a year ago last fall, was there, and was acknowledge [d] by all to be a superior animal. Mr. Webster also exhibited a fine bull 20 months old, for which he asked $200. Several fine stallions were exhibited, though we are not sufficiently conversant with the names of the owners to particularize. There were also several excellent blooded cows and sheep, and some swine of a superior breed. Mr. Porter exhibited one of the best three year old colts we ever saw, and there were several very creditable specimens of both horse and ox teams on the ground, together with carriages, wagons, &c., and taking it all in we are of the opinion that the results of such exhibitions tend greatly to benefit our farming community. This fair is got up on the old country principle, for the purpose of exhibition, sale and exchange, and we are informed that property to the amount of about one thousand dollars changed hands. Judge Green, of this place, bought a cow at auction, belonging to Mr. Porter of Fox Lake, for fifty dollars, and we doubt not she will prove a better investment than any of the cheaper cows there exhibited - at least he has already been offered ten dollars for his bargain. Mr. Ferguson sold two last spring bull calves, three-fourths Devonshire, for $25 each. They were very good calves though... [text cut off on copy, see microfilm again]. Volume 1, Number 8; 30 March 1853 Page 2, Column 4, as follows: [News item] For the Republican FOX LAKE FAIR. At a meeting of the citizens of Fox Lake and towns adjacent held on the 23d of December 1852 at the United States Hotel, an association was formed establishing an Agricultural and Horticultural Society, to be held quarterly on the third Thursday of March, June, September and December. The first fair was held on the 24th inst., and exhibited (for a county only eight years old) a most gratifying proof of the rapid advancement made in all the various branches of agriculture. The interest manifested on the first fair held in Central Wisconsin, argus well for the future; the public spirit and energy originating the association are worthy of all praise. It was altogether the largest assembly ever collected in this vicinity. A variety of property was sold, among others M. Porter Esq. of the firm Porter and Brother, sold a cow for $50; two Devonshire calves brought $50, sold by B. Ferguson; one other sold for $30, by M. Webster Esq.; one Merino buck sold for $30, by Mr. Atwood of Waupun; a draught horse for $110 by M. Porter. A stock colt (exhibited by M. Porter) of French extraction is a very fine animal; he refused $213 for him. Wm. Knight had on the ground a native bull of fine dimensions, a beautiful pair of matched oxen, and a cow and calf unsurpassed by any exhibition. B. Ferguson, M. Webster and John Davis each exhibited yearling calves that would have done honor even to old Orange Co., N.Y. A number of fine horses was on the ground. Mr. Brewster of Marcellon, Columbia Co., Mr. Dodge of Scott, Columbia Co., Mr. E. Morgan and Mr. Kelly of Fox Lake, each exhibited very fair specimens of stallions. This kind of stock should be improved and our farmers should look to it. Passing over the ground during the fair, a stranger would hardly believe that all he saw was the product of a country eight [years] old. No state possesses more of the natural elements of greatness and prosperity than Wisconsin, and the energy of her citizens will compare favorably with the most prosperous states in the Union. The officers of the Association for the present year, are – Francis Evans, President. George Knowls, Secretary. Miner Porter, Martin Webster and B. Ferguson, of Fox Lake; Francis Evans and George Knowles of Randolph; Gardiner Gallup of Portage Prairie; A.P. Beardsey of Columbus; Henry Merrill of Fort Winnebago; G.C. Gunn of Trenton; A. Ackerman of Beaver Dam; A.H. Atwater of Oak Grove; Hiram Barber of Juneau; E. Foster of Mayville; W. Knight of Alto; Calvin Carrington of Waupun; Geo. R. Steers of Little Green Lake; Committee of Arrangements. Juneau and Watertown papers please copy. W. K. H.