Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1956-11-20


in January 1911, c, c. Hankinson
drafted resolutions proposing that
the members of the School organ
ize themselves into farmers club
and that committee be appoint
ed by the chairman, Mr.. Orcutt, to
draft a constitution and bylaws.
The resolutions were adopted and
the committee was appointed.
Soon after this, the committee met
and framed constitution and by
laws and submitted them at the
February meeting, the result being
the adoption of them and the elect
ion of officers.
The following officers were ell
ected for the first year: Charles
c. Hankinson, president; William
B. Cryder, president, Leslie r.
Bostwick, secretary; ]. B. Van
Wagner, treasurer.
Mr.. Hankinson was responsible
for the life and extensive growth
of the Club, which, when organiz-
ed numbered about twenty five
members, but soon increased to
many members. =.
The object of the society was to
promote agricultural knowledge
and the intellectual and social ad-
vancement of its members.
The attendance at the first few
meetings was small. Finally, Pro-
fessor Tetlow of the Agricultural
School of Columbus, was invited
to address the Club. This created
a marked interest and increased
the attendance.
1t was later suggested that the
meetings last all day and be held
at the homes of the members. Be-
fore this time, they were held in
the Court House only in the after
noon, once a month, from January
through September
Sherman Simpson was the first
to respond with an invitation to
meet at his home, so that the first
allday Club meeting was held at
the Simpsons beautiful country
home, "Tekenink in September,
1911.
Professor Graham of Columbus
was asked to give talk. His SUBJ
ject was, THE Social Side of Farm
Life.
The meeting was so thoroughly
enjoyed that invitations were then
extended by John Houston for the
November meeting, and by c. F.
Sanford for December, which COM
pleted the first years existence.
Each subsequent meeting was
then held at the home of S o m e
member. The largest attendance in
the year 1912 was at the home of
T. H. Orcutt; and in 1913 at the
Houstonia farm. At the latter
home there were nearly one hum
dred fifty in attendance.
During that time the Club had
been addressed by over thirty pro-
minent agricultural instructors on
topics relative to agricultural in
tereStS.
It is interesting to note that at
the first meeting of the Club which
met at home, September 1911,
there were thirty five families,
whose means of transportation was
by horse and carriage. There was
Just one member who owned an
automobile and he was sent to the
railroad station to meet the speak
er.
Three years from that time
there was held another meeting at
the Simpson home, when the at
tndance was about 260 prsons who
came in some fifty autos and only
half dozen carriages.
One of the tremendous advant-
ages of this organization is the
bringing together of the men and
women of the communities for an
exchange of ideas.
The Club has always met on the
third Thursday of the month. In
later years it was decided not to
meet in the months of January,
August and December.
It became the custom for the
members to gather about 1890 o.
clock for a picnic dinner.
After the membership increased,
a large tent, dishes and silver were
purchased by the Club and the
food was spread on long tables un-
der the tent. In later years the ac-
tive members became fewer and
the use of the tent was abandoned.
The members were then group
ed by communities over the coun-
ty and the meetings have been
held in churches, Grange Halls,
schools and the Youth Building at
the Fair Ground Others have been
held at the County Children's
Home and at the Hollandia Gard
ems at South Vienna.
In 1915 it was decided to have
the August meeting open to every
one in the county. It was boost
un~uuuzunu.auuuz~umzm.nn