The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-05
THE CHEESE OF CHESHIRE.

The story Of the great cheese made at
Chesire in 1901, and sent the following
winter to President Jefferson as a New
Years present mas been many times told
IN prose and verse, but is worthy Of
repetition. as it does, the patriotic spirit
| by which the good people of Chesire were
moved and the novel manner they chose
! FOR lis expression
| liz those days Cheshire was famous for
three things, says the Springfield Repub-
, lican. Its exceptionally fine dairying in
terests and products the well-night uni
versal adhesion of the voting population
to the Democratic party. and Elder, John
Leland. an able eccentric, and witty Bap-
DIST divine. whose fame is a part of the
history of Cheshire. Elder Leland and
most Of the other people Of the town were
ardent admirers of Thomas Jefferson, and
when he was elected President of the
United States their joy was unbounded.
1t was finally decided that it would be
proper to give their esteem a tangible ex-
preston in the form of mammoth cheese
which should show to the President the
quality Of their material resources and
something of the extent of their admira-
ton for him.
The announcement of this plan was
made by Elder Leland from his pulpit one
Sunday morning, and was received with
pleasure by the people. July 20, 1901, was
the date set for the making of the cheese
ana the plan was 10 have all of the own
ore of COWS in the town. with the eXcep-
lion of the few Federalists there were.
make their curd and carry it to central
Mace for pressing. OF course, there was
no cheese press large enough for the
pressing of such a cheese as was pro-
posed and Elisha Browns cider press
was consequently selected lor the work
I This was on the farm where William P
Bennett. now living at Cheshire, was
/ born. Mr.. Brown being MIR. Bennett
/ grandfather.
When the day came for making the
| cheese the people gathered from all parts
| of the town. Those who had curd to con-
tribute brought it with them, some IN
! large quantities and some in small, but
| all extremely proud to contribute to the
monster cheese that was to be sent to
the President. BESIDES being busy day,
! II was also gala day for the inhabi-
/ tans Of Chesire.
! The farmers and wives and families,
turned out en- mssse to witness thhe con-
struction of what proved TO be the most
| famous. cheese in all history. for though
/ n sin larger cheese was made in the
town at later date. this was the Presi-
dents cheese. and the great Elder Le-
/ land. who in the estimation of the people
/ Of Cheshire was second IL Importance
/ only to President jefferson himself, was
leading and directing the entrprise- Most
! OF those present were srrayed in their
! Sunday best. though the women who SUI
perintended the mixing of the curd We're
obliged to wear protecting apron.
/ The hoop in which the cheese was press
/ ed was made for the occasion. It was
+ four feet in diameter ard eighteen inches
5eep. and was secured with strong bands
( or iron TO enable It to stand the pressure.
( when all Of Tire curd had been mixed
+ and salted it was placed in this hoop. a
I follower. which had been made especially
Tor the purpose. was placed upon H. and
the ponderous wooden screws Of the old
! cider mill were turned down on the most
! precious body they had ever compressed
After ali was done. a hymn, lined OF BY
/ Elder Leland. was sung by the assem-
blase and the people separated for their
/ homes. highly satisfied with and very
proud OF their DAYS work Some days
F after It was made the cheese was taken 10
I be cured. Its weight one month from the
/ zine it was pressed was l2S5 pounds. The
moving Of the cheese from the cider press
, 10 Capt. Brown VAS made a great occa-
1 sion. The people turned out again and
/ the cheese was followed by a big process
I sion Moses Wolcott. who kept the tsv-
( ern. gave . feast 10 all present. and
thereby linked his name to this part OF
/ the towns history.
The following December the great
I cheese was sent 10 Washington. In charge
/ Of Elder Leland and Darias Brown. and
it was drawn or a Sled TO Hudson. y
Y. and shipped from there by water. The
/ presentation Of the Oh CSC to the Prssi-
dent was n event of moment II Wash
,ngton. The presentation was made at
the White House. in the presence OF the
/ cabinet, foreign diplomats. and other not
abies. El3er Leland serving as spokesman
and assuring the President in suitable
terms OF the great esteem in which he
was held by the people from whom tie
gi1t had come
So far ySseaoo has been expended in the
! ST. Louis worlds fair enterprise.