The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-23
THE FIRST STATE FAIR.

THE FIRST STATE FAIR.
The Iowa state fair originated at
Fairfield ffty-six years ago.-that is
TO say in 1854. At a regular meeting
OF the Jefferson County Agricultural
Society on October 10, 1853, it was
on motion of Christian w. SlagIe:
Resolved, That the officers of the
society be instructed to take immed-
late steps to effect the organization
of state agricultural society and
that officers use their influence to
have said society hold its first annual
exhibition at Fairfield in October,
1854"
committee prepared a circular
calling for meeting at Fairfield, De-
cember 2S, 1853, which was sent to
all the county agricultural societies in
the state requiring that nine delegates
from each association attend the
meeting. Five associations, those in
Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Van Buren, and
Wapello counties, responded At that
convention the name of THE Iowa
State Agricultural Society" was chos-
en-, and the object of the organization
was defined as 1.-The promotion of
agriculture, horticulture, manufact-
ures, mechanics and ousehold arts. =
The dues Of the society were low-not
less than 81 on joining and 81 annual
ly thereafter
Judge Thomas ". Clagett of Keo-
kuk was elected president. and 1t is
said that TO him the fair owes more
perhaps, than TO any other one man
for its existence, growth and achieve
ments. Another gentleman who CON
tributed largely to its success in ea-ly
years was DR.. ]. NJ. Shaffer, then of
Fairfield, now and for many years a
resident of Keokuk. DR.. Shaffer was
the first secretary, and he continued
TO serve in that capacity for thir-
teen years continuously.
The premium list the first year
amounted in value to s1,1T1: now the
premiums aggregate s45 900. The
grounds then comprised six acres;
during the intervening time they have
been expanded to go. In the same
time the exhibitors have increased
from forty to 400. the entries from
1000 to Is 900 and the attendance
from thousands to hundreds of thous-
ands. These comparisons are inter
esting as showing large results from
small beginnings.
The grounds which the association
first occupied are now occupied by the
C., 3. & @. depot at Fairfield. They
were surrounded by g solid rail fence
about eight or ten feet high made By
placing two rails upright in the
ground and laying other rails hori-
zonta1ly one above the other between
them. A shed $50 feet long was built
along one side of the enclosure I'm
der this shed was table five feet
wide its entire length. on which were
placed the exhibits. Of course there
was a race track and racing. A gold
watch was offered ito the boldest and
most graceful equestrienne who should
enter the list, each lady to be ac-
companied by cavalier" The auth
or of history of the state fair in
the Des Moines Register and Leader
relates the following interesting in
cident
This ladies' contest was the great
event of the fair. there being seven
contestants The general faForite
was Miss Eliza Jane Hodges of Iowa
City, the Iowa City GIRL as she was
popularity called, young girl OF
fourteen or fifteen years. The pa
rents were poor, and, having injured
her own horse while accustoming him
to the track, she was mounted on
Rather, race horse belonging to DR..
]. C. ware of this city Owing to the
nature of her horse her companion
/ found 1t difficult to keep beside her,
sometimes being twenty or thirty feet
! behind. The track was not level as
are the tracks today, there being a
/ rayine in it. Miss Hodges. horse
I cleared this with a leap of twenty
/ three feet. Miss Hodges riding was
j not the most graceful, however. and
4 the watch was awarded to Miss Belle
I Turner of Lee county. Carried away
by the excitement of the moment the
crowd made up a purse of between
one and two hundred dollars for the
Il general fayorite This was presented
TO her and arrangements made for
I several years schooling in the ladies
seminary. which was formerly in cx
istence in this city
I It is further related that after the
race Judge Ciagett. with his usual
liberality. presented each unsuccess
full contestant with gold ring. The
first fair was remarkable in that there
were no thieves or plckpockets, and
no drunken men to make row. DR.
Shaffer is quoted as saying And
+ III all the years since no crowd ever
went away from an Iowa state faii
more happy and satisfied than the ~,
600 who assembled at Fairfield on the