The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-07-31
A HISTORIC CHEESE.
THE MONSTER THAT CHESHIRE SENT
TO PRESIDENT JEFFERSON.

Nearly Every One In Town Contrib
uted Curd, and Elder John Leland
Bossed the Job-The Formal Pres
entation at the white House.
The story Of the great cheese made Mt
Cheshire In 1901 and sent the following
winter to President Jefferson as n
New Years present has been many
times told I'm prose and verse, but is
worthy Of repetition as an interesting
bit Of local history. showing, as it does,
the patriotic spirit by which the good
people OF Cheshire were moved and the
novel manner they chose for it's ex-
preston,
! In those days Cheshire was famous
for three things-its exceptionally fine
dairying interests and products, the
we'll nigh universal adhesion of the
voting population to the Democratic
party and Elder John Leland, an able,
eccentric and witty Baptist divine,
whose fame is part of the history of
Cheshire. Elder Leland and most of
the other people Of the town were ar
dent admirers Of Thomas Jefferson,
ana when he was elected president of
the United States their joy was un-
bounded. 1t was finally decided that
1t would be proper to give to their es-
tecm tangible expression In the form
or mammoth cheese, which should
show to the president the quality of
their material resources and something
OF the extent of their admiration 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
or the cheese, and the plan was to have
all the owners of cows in the town,
with the exception of the few federal
lists there were, to make their curd and
carry 1t to a central place for pressing.
Of course there was no cheese press
large enough for the pressing Of such
cheese as was proposed, and Elisha
Browns cider press was consequently
selected for the work.
When the day came for making the
cheese the people gathered from all
parts Of the town. Those who had curd
10 contribute brought 1t with them,
some In large quantities and some I'm
small, but all extremely proud to con-
tribute to the monster cheese that was
to be sent to the president Resides be-
ing busy day 1t was also n gala day
for the Inhabitants Of Cheshire. The
farmers and their wives and families
turned out en- massc to witne.s the con-
struction OF what proved to be the
most fdlnoIs cheese I'm all history, for,
though still larger cheese wax made
In the town ut n later date. this was
the presidents cheese. and the great
Elder Leland, who in the cs;im. IQr OF
the people of Cheshire was second ia
Importance only to President jefferson
himself, was leading and direc ing tho
enterprise. Most of thO'c prcscat were
arrayed In their Sunday brst. though
the women who supcrintcndcd the mix
Ing Of the curd were obliged to wear
protecting aprons.
The hoop in which the chce-e was
pressed was made for the occas' on. 1t
was four feet In diameter and eighteen
inches deep and was secured with
strong bands Of iron to enable Il to
stand the pressure. When all of the
curd had been mixed and saltcd it was
placed In this hoop, a follower which
had also been made especially for the
purpose was placed upon 1t, and the
ponderous wooden screws of the old
cider mill were turned down on the
most precious body they had ever COM
pressed. After all was done n hymn
lined Off by Elder Leland was sung by
49, nssemblage, and the people sepa-
ted for their homes, highly satisfied
with and very proud of their days
work. Some days after 1t was made