The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-09-30
For the Jeffersonian Democrat.
The Free Agricultural Fair,

Mn EDlToE:-lIeying q day Of leisure, ! i'm.
proved the opportunity of attending the Free
Agricultural Fair, at Clordon, on Friday. Sept.
3d. 1889; and, with your permission, will give
you a tithe of what saw and thought.
arrived about o'clock, at the Fair Grounds.
which are located at the center of Cluridon, and
enclosed with 4 substantial board fence. Tho
Ring" in which all exhibitions OF Stock are
made, is enclosed by posts and single rail, pro-
tecting it from all improper intrusion and per-
mitting an unobstructed view to all. On the east
Of the Ring had been erected seats, in the form
OF an amphitheatre, sufficient to accommodate ff-
teen hundred or two thousand people, to which 4
free invitation was given.
The first peculiarity noticeable, was the absence
Of erc}pSireaess. Everything spoke Of Free
Fair" the voice OF money changers not being
heard at any gate Of entrance. A County Fair
should be the farmers annual re-union-his fes-
tiyal-the occasion on which all agriculturists
should assemble, with their families bringing with
them the fruits of their toil and skill, to compare
notes speak of hopes and successes fears and fail
ures-t0 reason together of new theories, new
plans, new inventons--to form and perpetuate
friendships. Fairs should be so conducted as to
become great practical lessons TO the youth OF tho
land, teaching them that the occupation Of their
fathers it honorable, and worthy to be pursued by
them. If this be the object and mission Of Fairs,
why should they not be free
Those who inauguratei the Claridon Fair could
see no good reason why such institutions should
not be free; and hence they proceeded, procured
ground, erected Hall, and sent out their invita-.
ton 10 all, to come 10 the entertainment thus pro-
videl-enjoy its pleasures, reap its rewards.
After my arrival, | first visited the lower room
in the Hall, and there found beautiful specimens
OF every variety of vegetable production, we'll ar
ranged and classified, well as all kinds Of ngri-
cultural implements thus far introduced TO public
notice. This department OF the Fair was partic.
uurly well filled and attractive. / then passed
into the Hall above, where to complete the sum of
its attractions, almost every department of nature.
as well as art had been laid under heavy contribu
ton. Here | found specimens OF almost every
variety of fruits ard Aowers-curious specimens Of
the handicraft of the "Mothers OF the Revolution"
as well as of the taste and skill Of the Daughters
Of oung America" Among others, I noticed
counterpane, cnriously worked and embroidered by
the greats t.graudmother of the wife Of the Hon. NJ
c, Garfield, Of Chardon, and by Mrs. Garfield pre-.
secuted for exhibition. In this Hall, many speci
mems of natural curiosiies were 20 be seen
The Hall itself was beautifully decorated with
evergreens. On the walls, were several uPpropri'
ate notices, formed in large letters out OF ever
green's by the ladies Of Claridon,
Outside Of the Hall, and north Of the "Ring,"
the managers had erected platform, on which
were seated several old ladies, engaged in the va.
rious industrial agencies familiar to all house,
wives, half century ago, but which are now so
well nigh forgotten
Among the ladies thus employed noticed Mrs.
Polly Humphrey Winters, a venerable mntron now
81 years OF age, busy engaged in spinning fax,
much more skiIliuly, think, than many lady OF
only twenty summers. Mrs. Winters was born
in New Hartford, Conn, in l774, and was married
about 1900, to Mr., A. Humphrey. On The lthd day
of October. 1911, with her husband and small
children, she left New Hartford, her home, and
started to find another home on the Western Re-
serve, which she did November 18th, 1911 in Clar-
don Thirty.three days for Journey full Of dan
gers and trials, now made in cushioned coaches.
drawn by steam over iron tracks, in a many
hours! Mrs Winters was the first white woman
who crossed the Cuynhoga River. She moved
upon farm purchased by her husband. soon sitor
her arrival, and has ever since lived on the same
farm. In 1879, Gen. Hull surrendered his army to
the British, on the receipt Of news of which Mr..
Humphrey, her husband, volunteered into the ser.
vice of the country and with him every white man
in tho township of Cloridon, and marched to
Cleveland, thus leaving his wife and FIVE small
children in township of five miles square tho
whole Of which was wilderness without white
man in it! During this absence of Lieut. Hum