The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-09-18
Sandusky County Agricultural
Society.
ITS ORIGIN, CONSTITUTION,
PROGRESS AND PRESENT
CONDITION.
The Annual Meeting for 1874.


to farming, it will readily be con-
ceived how essential is the existence
of well-conducted society which
brings into friendly competition the
skill and ability of those who try to
excel, in natures field" in produc-
ing the fruits of the soil. Many
years ago in view of teaching the
young idea how to shoot" our old
pioneers were not slow to introduce
the principle of holding annual
county meetings, at which the lead
ing feature should be tue endeavor
of numbers to emulate their sires in
the improvement of their stock and
| produce. In surrounding counties.
probably settled before ours, the
scheme worked well, and the result
being Enthusiastically apparent, our
county duly gave the matter careful
consideration. Probably we may
ascribe the earliest idea of forming
our society to the progressive spirit
of local interest and enterprise actu-
ating our much esteemed citizen, L.
Q. Rawson, who in his younger days
as In the present-was ever fore
most to lerd his best efforts to the
interests of the community in which
his lot was cast.
In 1852 Mr.. Rawson first suggest
ed the proprietv of establishing the
present society to Mr.. James VAL
lette, then a merchant of this city,
but who had resided here so early
as in 1S32-some twenty years pre-
viously. Mr.. V. saw the idea was q
feasible and good one, and therefore
gave it his hearty cooperation,
though, of course, there were in
those days, as in the present, iDnU-
merable old "slow coaches with no
more enterprise than superfuous
bills, who threw "cold water on the
scheme as unnecessary and impossi-
BILE of consummation. Nevertheless,
Mr.. Rawson and Mr. Valette did
meet with some encouragement, and
the result was, at length, calling of
q meeting of the tradesmen and farm
ers to thoroughly ventilate the sub
ject. There was large gathering,
and thanks to the superior judgment
of a majority, it was at once decided
to adopt the following
CONSTITUTION.
cat q meeting held at the Court
House, Fremont, in the county of
Sandusky, Ohio, on the 31st day of
August, 1852, for the organization
and management of a County Ag-
rieultural Society, the Hon. John
Bell was chosen chairman, and Dan
iel Capper Secretary, pro tenn. There
upon Sardis Birchard and Jonas
Smith were made a committee for
the appointment of Board OF Di-
rectors for the ensuing year; who
thereupon made their report as fol
lows: L. Q. Rawson, president of
said Board; Samuel Hafford, vice
president; Stephen Buckland, treas
Urer; Daniel Capper, secretary; Jas.
Vallette, Isaac Click, Samuel Skin
ner, Alvin Coles, B. Adams, manag-
ers, which appointment on motion
was approved, ana thereupon the
following was adopted:-First the
officers shall consist Of president,
vice president, treasurer, secretary
ard five managers, who together
shall constitute a Board of Direc-
tors for the general management Of
the affairs OF the Society. They
shall be elected annually by the
members of the society, and
hold their offices till their
successors are appointed
Secondly, Members of the society
shall be residents of the county and
pay 81 annually to the treasurer.
Third, competitors must be mem
bors of the county. Fourth, list
of articles, for which premiums are
to be awarded, must be published
in newspaper, or hand bills, at
least one month previous to the ex-
hibition. Fifth, all articles offered
must be owned by persons exhibi-
ting the same, or by members of
their families and products of the
| soil or manufactured articles must
be produced or manufactured with
in the county. Sixth, awarding
committees, Of three persons each,
shall be annually appointed by the
directors for judging the several
classes of articles and awarding
premiums. Seventh, the awarding
committees shall comply with the
provisions of the law in requiring
competitors for premiums on crops
and other Improvements to furnish
full and correct statements of the
process and expense of culture or
production, DC. Eighth, competi-
tors for premiums on crops shall be
required to have the ground aud its
produce accurately measured by not
less than two disinterested persons,
whose statements shall be verified
BY affidavit. Ninth, premiums
on grain and grass crops shall not,
be awarded for less than one
acre, and on root crops for
not less than one-fourth of an acre.
The whole quantity produced on the
amount of land specified shall be
measured or weighed-root crops to
be estimated by weight (divested
of the tops) sixty pocnds to be con-
sidered a bushel, and grain crops to
be measured or weighed according
to the usual standards. The rules
in relation to other crops and pro-
ductions, to be agreed upon by the
Directors. Tenth, the annual ex-
hibitions of the society shall be held
at some period between the 1st day
of September and the 1sJ day of
November. The premium on crops
can be awarded at a later period if
thought necessary"
The society having now been only
formed, and all things Gin sailing Or
der" the next meeting was held