Madison County History and Genealogy

History and Genealogy



History of Madison County


Madison County Agricultural Society


In 1846, the Clark and Madison Agricultural Society was organized, which held fairs alternately at South Charleston and London. The last of these fairs was held in London, on the 6th, 7th and 8th of October, 1852. On the 13th of November, 1852, the following agricultural notice appeared in the Madison Reveille: "We, the undersigned, citizens of Madison County, are in favor of calling a county convention, for the purpose of organizing a county agricultural society, within and for Madison County, separate and apart from Clark County; and recommend said convention to be held on Saturday, the 20th day of November, 1852. Paul Smith, Sebastian Roberts, Abraham Johnson, Thomas J. Stutson, J. McCullough, R. Acton, G. W. Lewis, G. B. Olney, N. H. S. Miller, Jennet Stutson, F. H. Olmstead, O. C. Standart, G. E. Hartwell, Nathan Burnham, E. S. Hancock, B. Crabb, N. E. Davis, Evans Pennington, Henry Alder, Carlton E. Gregg, John G. Dun, Caleb Morse, James Burnham, John T. Maxey, Robert Armstrong, William C. Minter, Dr. J. Stutson, A. Toland, A. J. Ryan, John Williams, William Morris, Washington Withrow, Jackson Brock, W. A Koontz, Coleman Asbury, William Riddle, D. Haskell, P. R. Asbury." In response to this call, a large and enthusiastic meeting of the farmers, mechanics and business men took place in London on that date.

The meeting was organized by appointing J. Stutson, of Jefferson Township, Chairman, and William H. Creighton, Secretary. The Chairman, in a brief but appropriate address, explained the object of the meeting, which was to dissolve the connection which had heretofore existed with Clark County in an agricultural society, and to organize such society for Madison County alone. The necessity of such a course was obvious. The fairs were held in Clark County (except occasionally, by special favors, and by private individuals at London defraying certain expenses). The consequence was that a very large portion of the county was excluded from its benefits by being so remote from the point where the fairs were held. He urged that Madison County contained the elements within herself to produce the very best agricultural exhibitions of any county in the State. On motion of David Haskell, it was resolved to proceed to organize a Madison County Agricultural Society, and elect such officers as were necessary to conduct the affairs of such society. On motion of John Melvin, it was resolved that the officers of this society shall be a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and five Directors. The officers were then elected as follows: President, Richard Cowling; Vice President. Dr. J. Stutson; Treasurer, John Rouse; Secretary, W. H. Creighton; Directors, John H. Findlay, John T. Maxey, John G. Dun, Jesse Watson, Jonathan Farrar.

On motion, Messrs. Toland, Findlay and Stutson were appointed a committee to draft a constitution for this society, which was reported and unanimously adopted. On motion, it was resolved that a committee of one for each township in the county be appointed to solicit names for members of this society, whereon John Melvin was appointed the committee for Jefferson Township; John Williams, Stokes; Charles Phellis, Pike; Henry Alder, Canaan; John Smith, Darby; David Morris, Monroe; W. B.Davis, Fairfield; John H. Kennedy, Somerford; James Q. Minshall, Range; James Robinson, Pleasant; R. B. Winchester, Union; John G. Dun, Deer Creek. On motion, it was resolved that 150 copies of the constitution of this society be printed for distribution through the county. On motion, it was resolved that John T. Maxey, Richard Cowling and Jonathan Farrar be a committee to wait on the Directors of the late Clark and Madison Agricultural Society, and obtain from them the portion of the money in the hands of the Treasurer of the said society that was contributed by and properly belongs to Madison County.

The first fair of the Madison County Agricultural Society was held in London, on the ground where Jeriah Swetland's residence now stands, September 28 and 29, 1853. The officers of the society, under whose auspices this fair was held, were elected June 4, 1853, and were as follows: John H. Findlay, President; James Foster, Vice President; John Rouse, Treasurer; J. F. Freeman, Secretary; Richard Cowling, Charles Phellis, James Burnham, William Harrold and John F. Chenoweth, Directors. The day prior to the opening of the fair, the sale of the imported thoroughbred stock, brought from Europe a short time before, took place, and gave the new enterprise of the agricultural society an impetus it could have received in no other way. Hundreds of leading stock men attended this sale, and remained for the fair, which proved a grand success. In September, 1854, the society purchased eight acres and eighty perches of land, in Survey 5, -670, from John T. Maxey, paying for the same $425. It is located in the northeast part of London, and the fairs were held there for fourteen years, with varying success. The last exhibition was held September 18, 19 and 20, 1867, and the following were the officers at that time: J. Swetland, President; Robert Reed, Vice President; S. W. Durfiinger, Secretary; Preston Adair, Treasurer; Directors, David Haskell, William Curtain, Robert G. Dun, Joseph Rea, William H. Summers, Joseph Williams, John Pancake, Henry Tyler, James Converse, Charles Phellis, John Mitchel, L. Mount, Daniel Boyd, Robert Deyo, Adam Young; Committee of Arrangements, J. Swetland, L. Mount, Preston Adair, Henry Tyler; Marshals, William Summers, J. C. Bridgeman.

Many causes led to the abandonment of these fairs. In the fall of 1868, a Union Agricultural Society was organized at Mechanicsburg. which had for its promoters some of the leading citizens of the northwestern portion of Madison County. These men had previously belonged to the Madison County Society, and their withdrawal from it, together with the starting of a new association so close to the north part of this county, naturally had a dampening effect upon the old organization. A second cause was the absence of a track where horsemen could exhibit their animals. The grounds were small, and races were not a part of the programme at these fairs; hence one of the principal attractions was missing. Efforts were made at different times to purchase additional ground, with the object of constructing a good track thereon, but nothing was ever accomplished in that direction. The principal cause, however, why the holding of fairs in London was abandoned, was on account of the rapid growth of the Madison County stock sales, the glory and pride of this portion of Ohio. This county needs no annual fair, for it holds one every month. The Madison County Agricultural Society, however, still lives, its organization is intact and its financial condition healthy. Its present officers are: Stephen Watson. President; Jeriah Swetland, Vice President; J. C. Bridgeman, Treasurer; and Erwin Phifer, Secretary; Preston Adair, Joseph Williams, Stephen Watson, James Millikin, John Pancake, Charles Phellis, Jr., R. C Dun, Philip Durflinger, J. G. Bridgeman, W. H. Summers, Daniel Boyd, Jeriah Swetland, Adam Young, Robert Boyd and Erwin Phifer, Directors.


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