The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-10-12
Gnrrrspunhrnrn nf tbr 1fmurrat.
WINCHESTER, PREBLE Co. OHIO.
October LIST, 1859.

interests of Portage Co, and still feeling a
deep interest in the advancement of agricul-
ture that nohlest employment of nam
thought an account of the Preble Co. Fair,
might not be uDinteresting to you and your
readers hence, submit the following as con-
tanning the most interesting facts. in as concise
terms and limited space as possible.
The grounds contain FIVE acres o! land, sit
uated one-half mile South east of the town OF
Eaton, and are well arranged. with horse
and driving ring one fourth OF mile IN cir
and cattle ring three halls for
the Horticultural aud Floral department, the
department of Domestic Manufacture, and the
Mechanical department /; and sheds for the
accommodation of Stock.
The Fair begun on the goth of September.
and continued foar days with increasing inter-
est and is said to have been better this year,
than on any prior occasion, and indeed 1t did
credit to people just emerged from the agri-
cultural darkness of pioneer life, for although
Prebe Co. has been settled as long as Portage
Co, it is far behind it in agricultural pursuits.
1t is estimated that $4,000 people visited
the grounds during the Fair. .......
Competition was open to the world
A larger number of entries than usual, were
made, and the quality of articles on exhibition
was better than ever before
The horse kind was we'll represented in point
of numbers, and the Stations for general pur-
poses were good, but none of them were noted
for speed. A class of geldings and mares called
" fast horses" | thought we're, on the whole,
decidedly behind time" The following is
the time of trotters-mie heats: 3,04, 3,0l,
3,32, 4.01, 3.15, $50, 3,l5, 25S $50, Only
two PAGERS we're entered time, 3,29. III
The trial of draft horses attracted considera
BILE attention Four horses we're entered, only
two of which made airy show of a dead pull,
and they did not hang over FIVE seconds each.
The horses were hitched to rope fifty feet
long and the best draft was 625 Tbs.
The exhibition of Cattle was good, and
shows that the farmers of Preble take some
interest in keeping fne stock. The cattle were
nearly all Durhams, and fine specimens of the
breed.
A large number of sheep mostly coarse
wooled, were exhibited, of a good quality
The fine wooled sheep were but few, and not
of the first rate order, said 10 be Spanish Me
rino, but displayed few of the peculiar char
acteristics of that breed.
The ladies of Eaton and vicinity, did them
selves great credit in the selection and arrang
ment of beautiful boquets. which decorated
the Floral and ii orticultural Hall /; also il
examples of housewifery in the form of But
ter Bread, and Cakes, tsiIver Cake and sponge
Cake) which could not fail to please the mos
fastidious epicure.
The Department of Domestic Manufacture
was very full and displayed good degree OF
taste and skill Some of the coverlets and
quilts were delightful, and if beauty will keeE
a man warm, no man ought to sleep cold un
/ der them.
The show of mechanical skill although moi
very abundant, was quite creditabe. Only
two Harvesting machines were exhibited, ane
of these the i" Iron Harvester was though
by all to be preferable. A Corn Shelter ant
Cider Mill combined, elected the admiration
of all.
The variety quality, and quantity of veget
abies exhibited by the farmers, showed plainly
that they take 10 little interest, and labor will
no little success in the cultivation of vegeta
bles generally, and apples, peaches, and grape
in particular. There were monstrous Melons
Pumpkins, Cabbages, Beets, Turnips, and Pc
taioes, Irish and sweet) &c, &c, in grea
abundance. An Apple Pie made of Water
melon which is not fit to eat raw, was exhib
tied, yet it may be cooked in any way tha
apples can Seeds were for sale at 25 cent
per dozen. 'tr'f
Some antiquities brought in to add interes
to the Fair, were eagerly songht after, and ex
, amiued by all. The oldest was German hi
BILE, printed in Hague, & ermany, 222 years ago
It is 19 inches long, II inches wide, and in
ches deep. Next came a copy of the "oh
Republican" bound vols in one for the yea
1914, and 1915, published at Dayton, o. 4
vest made of cloth, carded, spun and wove b.
hand, and needle worked by deaf and duml
-, girl, in l776 VIM. Bruces wedding stock
ins 70 years old, of linen fabric knit by hano
!. Wm. Bruce was the original proprietor o
, the land on which Eaton now stands. I
/ Gourd owned by Wm., Arrasmith, of Prebt
g Co. o, 200 years old, in good state of pres
ervation, was exhibited. Also a small Sac
forty-six years old, and used by VIM. ARA
smith in which to carry coffee during the wa
, of 1913, under the command of Gen. VIM. q
Harrison. 1t was made in Bourbon Count
;. Kentucky. Some Linnen Drapery made b
f Mrs. Abby Ayres, in the year 1870, very nice
4 was shown. A Geological specimen c
petri6ed Turtle. Specimen of needle lette
work by the wife of Col. Piper, of Pa in th
= yetr l743, l16 years old. A piece of the frs
o house built in Eaton, by D. Wapson, in III
= year 1905; also small piece of Furnitur
made by Alexander Mitchell, in 1914 and
:. Tea kettle brought from Germany 80 year
Il ago, and supposed to be $50 years old, owne
by Mrs Samuel Silver, Eaton, o.
The Balloon Ascension made by Mr. Shott
., was the great closing attraction of the Fa
=, He took his ariaI flight about three o'cIoc
> P. M, the Balloon moving off majestically an
= rather rapidly in an Easterly direction, ami
e the cheering of the multitude of spectators
e His Balloon monster, it being A feet i
= diameter, and IS feet high-was inflated wit
hot air. only, and with it he reached the alt
: tude of one mile, and returned to terra firm
i- two miles East of the Fair Grounds.
u ..- A. G. M.
8, ------ ------
Resignation Of Judge Swan.