River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-09
he HUDSON Star & Times.
THE FIRST FAIR.

Inc IlfSU agricultural Idlf ever nelU
in the st. Croix Valley was held under
the auspices of an organization known
as the Northwestern Union Agricul-
tural Society" at River Falls, Sept.
23rd and oath, 1855. The counties Of
Pierce, st. Croix, and Polk, united in
forming Society, although st. Croix
and the town of River Falls furnished
nearly all the working members of the
Society, as we'll as most of the exhib-
its at the fair.
Hon. c. B. Cox, of River Falls. was
President, Geo. May Powell, of River
Falls, Rec. Secy., and VIM. Martin,
of this city, Corresponding Sec'y.
Among the most active members of
the Society were p. d. Aldrich Sterling
Jones, Z. J. Matteson, Alfred Day,
b. T.. Undertake, James Walstone,
L. d. Hall, DR.. Hatch, Duncan Nc
Gregor, Stephen Claggett, J. R. Ismon,
j. B. Gray, j. N. Fulton, J. M. Whaley
and other old settlers of this city and
country. The address of the fair was
delivered by Hon. III. NJ. Twombly, a
young lawyer of Prescott. The atten-
dance was quite large, and sixty-two
premiums were awarded. We clip
from an old copy of the River Falls
Journal, containing a report of the
fair, some mentions which will be of
interest to many of our readers:
The show of single horses would
have done credit to many an older
Society-the one which took the fast
premium, owned by Mr.. Lyman Powell,
of River Falls, would realize our
beau ideas in that line; still we
hope we may never have a poorer one
than several of those exhibited by 5.
p. Thornhill, of Hudson, and several
others who know what good horses
are.
Mr.. Gridley, of Hudson, exhibited
pair of carriage horses of the stripe
that we would like to drive; though
we should nave no special objections
to the proprietorship of such as those
belonging to the Messrs. Pomeroy, of
River Falls.
Mr.. Day had pair of horses Of all
work that looked as if they lO0Utd do
"most anything" and do it in pretty
good style.
The cattle both young and full grown
were creditable specimens, particularly
some Of the blooded bulls and COWS; the
working cattle and steers, did not, we
are sure, injure the reputation of their
owners by their appearance. The cal
YES were of the kind that we think
will be likely to appear on other lists
for competition as time makes ''solemn
cows and ''patient oxen of them.
Messrs. Sterling Jones, Sydney $.
Eaton, L. & +. Pomeroy, and other fig
ured among the most prominent as eX-
hibitors i'll this department.
The show of sheep and swine was
small, few of either being raised in
the country. We think our farmers
would do well to turn their attention
more in that direction. Some fine
fowls We're on exhibition.
Mr.. Heath, of Prescott, exhibited
very fine harness. Mr.. Dinsmore, of
Hudson, neat substantial double
buggy. The same gentleman showed
some well made horSe-shOes, though
Mr.. Hudson, of the same place, rather
took the preference in that line. Mr..
Porter, of Hudson, displayed Il neat
job of joining work, md Messrs.
Salmon. Clark & Co.. exhibited some
well made lath and shingles. The same
gentlemen had some very neatly saw
ed lumber on the ground, though Mr..
Dumont, of Forestyille rather took
the precedence.
The grains and vegetables that were
there proved what has always been
claimed for our upper country, that
las John G. Sake says of certain
strong, fleet, sweet things, produced
in the Green Mountain State) 'all
would be "uncommonly hard to beat"
Among the domestic manufactures
we're creditable specimens of house
wives work.
The artistic department was the
best filled and most attractive of the
whole. Miss Josie Goss, of Hudson,
presented some pieces of pencilllng
that were unquestionably the finest we
ever saw-their perfectly natural ex-
preston. and the exquisite taste with
which they were furnished we are
sure could not be surpassed
Miss Jenny Jewel, of Hudson,Q0
years Of age), sent out a couple Of
Grecian paintings. and Miss Clara
Stone, of River Falls, III years. few
paintings in water colors, both of
which would have reflected credit on
older artists.
Several other ladies from Hudson
did their part as ladies always do; the
fair would have been no fair at all
without them.
The Printers work was there in fine
shape, the River Falls Journal. taking
the premiums. Mr.. Bates and Mr..
Bell, both of Hudson, exhibited some
specimens of Drafting. Mr. Bunker
of the same place, a lot of Ambrotypes
and Daguerreotypes. Mrs. Jones and
Mrs. Smith, of Hudson, and Mr.. Alex
ander. of River Falls, each exhibited
some fine collection of flowers, consist. /
ing principally of Dahlias, Phloxes
and Eerbenas.