Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-08-18
LARGEST IN SOUTHWEST
ERN WISCONSIN.
LIBERAL PREMIUMS AWARDED.
Society Has Owned its Present
Grounds for Fifteen Wears and
Has Made Many Valuable I'M
provcments Upon Them Inter
esting Programme Of Races
Opens To-Day.

The Mineral Point Fair has for
many years been known as the leading
fair of southwestern Wisconsin. 1t
has maintained this prestige to the
present day, notwithstanding the riv-
airy of many other county and district
fairs which have grown to important
proportions in neighboringcitics. The
lists of premiums awarded for excel
lence in the agricultural, livestock and
domestic departments, has steadily
grown, and are now, as they have been
for long time past, the largestin this
part of the state. The purses offered
for speed contests are large, thus in
viting the attendance of the best horses
from everywhere. The grounds are
complete in all respects, possessing
every convenience necessary to the
comfort and enjoyment of the thous-
ands who attend the annual exhibitions.
No one seems to know just when
Mineral Points first fair was held. In
pioneer days the fairs We're held on
grounds rented from John Ross near
the Irish Catholic cemetery. In 1888
or 1884 the Southwestern Wisconsin
Agricultural Society decided to pos
sess its own grounds. and purchased
the thirty acres comprising It's present
fair grounds for 81 800. To this site
its buildings were removed, and new
buildings have taken the place of the
old ones as rapidly as the growing de-
mands of the society required. In
deed, so much enterprise was shown in
the making of improvements that the
society several years ago became in
volved il debt, which has necessitated
a reorganization and the most careful
tinanciering. Happily the society is
once more on solid financial footing
and will soon be entirely out of debt.
Among those who in the early days
of the society took a deep interest in
its affairs and acted in its behalf in
official capacity, were DR.. J. Fl.
Vivian, DR.. Pulford, James Spensley
T. j. NanMahe. and others among
the we'll known pioneers. In recent
wears. G.. G.. Cox, the present pres
ident, has held that responsible Office
for many years, and has given the
society the benefit of his energy and
fine business qualifications w. II.
Bennett, the present efficient secre
tary, has held that Office for several
years, and has developed excellent
capabilities in looking after the many
details connected with fair manage
ment. 1t was through his efforts that
the fair this year has the largest list
of race entries in its history. The |
funds of the society are in cha &c of |
Phil. Allen. Jr., the well known cash
Ter of The First National Bank, whose
name is ample assurance that the |
financial affairs of the society will be |
well managed and honestly accounted |
for. The board of directors and SUI
perintendents OF the various depart
ments are chosen because Of their
high personal standing and their
qualifications for the duties of their
respective offices.
The present officers of the Fair
Association are: President, George
G. Cox: vice president. Thomas
Bracken; treasurer Phil Allen, Jr.:
secretary w. IT, Bennett; board Of
directors George 6. Cox. Wald-
wick: shos. Brackcn. Willow Springs;
John Corfell, Cobb: Z. J. Perkins.
Dod-eyilta: .. q. Rewoy Rewey; y.
+. ia obs. ). Vivian. r. II. Wright.
John knight, cay +. cobb. Mineral
Poirt.
ssandl.r Committees Sporting
George q. Cox. .. q. Rewey, ).
Vivian. ,. Z. Jacobs. aud the sccre-
tars Ground, ~ u Coz. John
knight, II Z fright. r +. Jacobs.