Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-01

Comparison between the first premium
list Of the Douglas County Fair associa-
ton. issued in September, 1855, and the
premium list for 1911 would be one good
"a Of showing the remarkable strides
81 owth Of this county and city. The
pe....um list for the first fair would
occupy probably one column Of The Bee,
while the premium list for 1911 is a
pamphlet OF forty-f four pages Tho list
OF cash prizes offered In any one OF
several classes today would equal In
length the whole list in all classes. fifty
three years ago; and the changed aspect
Of the various classes is quite interesting.
In the old list eleven different classes
were covered by the money prizes Offered.
which totaled slightly under 5000 In the
1911 list the classes number only six
teen, but the total of all prizes offered
runs well into the thousands
In 1855 several prizes were offered in
the oxen class. the largest amounts
going TO the best yoke of working oxen
and the best trained yoke of oxen. Sub
stantial prizes. for that day, were also
hung up for horses of every kind, from
the best work team to the best rackIne
horse"
Four prizes OF 81 each we're offered IN
the culinary class at the first fair
for best five pounds OF butter best five
pounds of cheese. best two foaves OF
bread and best gallon of syrup
Development OF agricultural implements
was encouraged by prizes for everything
from breaking pillow 10 a thresher and
cleaner. Another class was made for
Ornamental work" such as painting,
printing. daguerreotypes and penmanship.
And mechanical work" also had
chance to win some coin by producing
the best pairs OF gentlemen's boots and
shoes and ladies' shoes: also pants. coat,
vest, and best horseshoe. In the line of
women's work money could be won by
the best bonnet. best artificial flowers,
and best needlework generally"
Corn had not yet won a high place as
q crop in Nebraska, and but one prize
was offered. 81 for the best twelve ears.
ANY one OF several varieties of peas called
for the same amount In the 1911 list
corn Is king. With a long list OF PRICES
for different varieties. s15o as special
prize for best ten ears. and go in the
class for boy corn raisers.
OF all the men and women who served
as officials or judges at the first Doug.
las county fair. only Judge b. Il b. Ken
nedy and DR.. George l.. Miller are living
today, 50 far as known. The list con-
tanned the names OF Jesse Lowe. the first
mayor OF Omaha; ]. 7. Griffin, sylvanus
Dodge, Harrison Johnson. Philip Cas-
sadly, Edwin Patrick. II. D. johnson, II
2. Chapman, r. s, Bryant John I.
Painter, James McArdle. Joseph Sheely,
H. Page, w. H. Baelxus. william Orr,
George w. Stephens. p C.. Chapman,
George w. Homan, Smith Richardson.
Robert Knox. ]. Reese, T. c. Smith, A.
J. Hanscom, z. H. Chapman, L. A.
Walker. James Megeath, DR.. Enos Lowe,
James Creighton, NJ. w Keith, A. T.
McAdams, B. E. b. Kennedy, Joseph
Barker, j. NJ. Thayer (afterward gov
ernor and general in the army, A. Van
Vamp. O. b. Seldom, A. d. Jones first
postmaster). George Armstrong. George
clayes, B. costers. Fred Drexel, Thomas
Watson. o. p. Ingalls,. Y. Burnley. w. T.
Beaks ]. T. Croft, NJ. F. shinn, Nelson
Baker.
The women taking part in the first
fair as judges were Mesdames Jesse
Lowe, J. T. Griffin. H. johnson, t. q.
GOODWILL, s. 7. F1field, j. NJ. Thayer,
b. II. Chapman. A. d. Jones, e. Esta-
brook. A. Van Camp. A ]. Hanscom,
@. L. Miller. H Zoller. r. Smiley, A. r..
Gilmore. E. II. Chaplain. T. b. seiden.
Nelson Baker.
This first fair was announced to be held
AT Saratoga on Thursday, September 20
and Friday, October I. 1855" Members
of the executive and viewing com
Inittees' we're requested TO report 10 the
secretary Fat the earliest moment" so
that vacancies could be filled on the
morning Of the opening day.
The officers were: President, l.. A.
Walker; vice presidents. ]. NJ. Thayer.
o. B. selden, Joseph Barker. John stein
berger. Mckenzie, j. w. Roberts; sec
rotary. William Young Brown; treasurer.
J. =. Allen; executive committee, e. H.
Chaplain. j. T. Griffin. b. H. Chapman.
Jesse Lowe, n. D. Johnson. r. s. Bryant.
Allen Root NJ T. Patrick. r. D. Whit
ney. J. Megeath, A. ]. Hansoom. w. T.
Backus. J. G. Creighton, ]. y. Allen.
The premium list was nrfnfed a, .ha