The production of corn, wheat, cotton and other staple crops may add most to the wealth of a nation in the aggregate, but, as a rule, the stock interests of every country, in all times, have brought most wealth to the individual farmer. Men who devote part of the resources of their farms to the raising of stock are invariably found to he among the wealthiest in every agricultural community, possessing the most comfortable homes, and able to give their families a better education and more of the comforts of life than any other class of agriculturists. This is particularly true of Madison County, and the only drawback to the increase of her population and rapid development of her resources is that many of her citizens' own large tracts of land upon which the tenant system prevails, and it is therefore difficult for a man of limited means to acquire landed property. The prevalence of log cabins in this age of frame and brick structures, and the large number of poor people occupying these cabins, is an invincible argument against the policy of large farms. Freedom and enlightenment go hand in hand with the ownership of land, and wherever its acquirement is made difficult or impossible, it indicates the absence of a sound political economy in that country.
The historical facts connected with the founding of the Madison County stock sales may be briefly told. The sale of imported stock, September 27, 1853, gave the main impetus to the already growing interest in fine stock, which has contributed so largely to the business success of the county. Other sales followed in due time, and the project for regular sales in London began to be mooted. In 1855, William G. Jones, proprietor of the Phifer House, called a meeting at his hotel to consider the feasibility of inaugurating monthly stock sales. Besides Mr. Jones, there were present at this meeting William H. Creighton, David Selsor, Jesse Rea, Mathew Rea, John G. Dun, James J. Jones, Peter Slaughter, and other wealthy farmers and stock men. There was no regular association organized, but the originators, having confidence that the project would succeed, got out hand-bills advertising a sale to be held in London March 5, 1856. On that day was inaugurated the institution that has made Madison County famous. These sales are held the first Tuesday in each month, and, from the beginning to the present time, have proven a grand success.
Benjamin Porter, a native of Virginia, was the pioneer salesman of this vicinity. He lived at Catawba, Clark Co., Ohio; was a large, portly man, of fine physique and strong common sense. His tact as an auctioneer was only equaled by the extraordinary strength of his lungs, but the love for strong drink conquered "poor Ben" at last. He possessed splendid judgment, and a man whom every one considered an adept in his business.
In 1856, J. C. Bridgeman began his career as a stock salesman, and, in 1860, formed a partnership with Porter, which lasted until the death of the latter. From that time up to the present, "Jack" Bridgeman has been the leading stock auctioneer of Madison County, and has missed but two sales since 1860. He possesses all the shrewdness of the Yankee, combined with that freedom from ceremony and whole-souled manner characteristic of the Western people. To know "Jack" is to be his friend, for he is always ready and willing to do a favor, and few men will go further than he to perform a kind action. "Jack's" abilities have made him wealthy—a Director of a National Bank, a model of propriety, and a representative citizen. For nearly thirty years he has been engaged in his present business, and it will not be an exaggeration to say that there is not a better judge of stock in Madison County than this go-ahead, successful auctioneer. None have excelled him in his business in the past, few equal him today, is the verdict of all with whom we have spoken as to "Jack's" abilities.
Charles Jones, of Jefferson, has been selling at these sales since their inception, and is considered a good salesman. Giles James, of London, has been engaged in the business for about twelve years, while John Kilgore and William Douglass have been auctioneers at these sales for about six years. Others from adjoining counties take part whenever railed upon, and there can be little doubt that to this class of men is due much of the success which has attended the growth and progress of the London sales from the beginning.
It will not be inappropriate to give a list of the men who have fostered and encouraged these sales, the reader bearing in mind, however, that others, perhaps, whose names do not appear, have done something toward building up this wonderful institution. The present prosperity of the Madison County stock sales is unquestionably due to a certain class of her citizens, among whom the following well-known names deserve mention: William G. Jones, William H. Creighton, David Selsor, Jesse Rea, Robert Boyd, Mathew Rea, John G. Dun. James J. Jones, Peter Slaughter. Peter Buffenburgh, William D. Wilson, J. Q. Minthall. James Wilson, Thomas Wilson, Alexander Wilson, Valentine Wilson, Jerry Rea, Robert Rea, John Pancake, Charles Phellis, Charles Phellis, Jr., Tip Guy, James Carter, the Weaver brothers, Chandler Mitchell, Newman Mitchell, Charles Mitchell, Thomas Bales, James A. Dun, Augustus Bonner, Walter Dun, Jr.. Washington Withrow, Robert Reed, Eli Gwynne, Baldwin Gwynne, William Franklin, John Thompson, W. Morrow Beach, John McCoy, John Heath, Thomas Farrar, Marion Chenoweth, John F. Cbenoweth, Frank and Joel Hicks, James Abernathy, Elijah Bragg, Otho Luffboro, William Johnson, Elijah O'Day, Manly Bozarth, William A. Neil, John Lucas, the Bidwells, J. B. Morgridge, John Price, William D. Wilson, Jr., James Rankin, Abner Bateman, Adolphus Dunkin, William H. Summers, J. C. Smith, H. W. Smith, John Wilson, John McDonald, Henry, John and Darius Burnham, James Guy, Joseph Williams, Luther Johnson, William Minter, Hiram and Charles Richman, Charles H. Beale, William and John O'Day, George Kious, Wiilliam and David Heath, William Junk, Linson Bros., Jesse and David Watson, Thomas J. Stutson, Clement Shockley, Smith Bros. , P. R. Asbury, Benjamin and Batteal Harrison, John T. Maxey, Daniel Boyd, Marcus Yates, Levi Counts, Fulton Armstrong, Edward Fitzgerald, Edward Roberts, Richard Johnson, James Converse, James Davis, Robert Deyo, John Stroup, James Robinson, Joseph Rea, W. H. Morgan, J. W. Byers, and doubtless a few others whose names have not been given us.
From all of the adjoining counties, as well as many of these at a distance, come leading stock men to buy and sell. Dealers residing in Cincinnati and Chicago ship stock from these cities to the little town of London, where they know the highest prices in the Union are always paid for good cattle. Not only does Ohio pay tribute to the Madison County stock sales, but also the great States of New York, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Kansas. On the 2d of March, 1860, the Ohio Legislature, with Gov. Hayes and other State officers, including many representatives of the press of Ohio, paid London a visit for the purpose of seeing how cattle sales were managed, and to examine this county as a location for the State Agricultural and Mechanical College. At the same time, the Agricultural Convention of the Scioto and Miami Valleys met here in annual council. It was one of the most noted days in the history of the county. Some three hundred legislative, agricultural and other invited guests were entertained with a banquet at Toland Hall, and all honor was given to "Old Madison," the only county in Ohio or the West sustaining a stock sale. On this day, Daniel Boyd sold to David Selsora mammoth steer, weighing 8,030 pounds, for which the "cattle king" paid $540.
During the first thirteen years and a half that these sales existed, but four were missed, viz.: The fall of Vicksburg, in July, 1863; the Slate election, in October, 1863; the Fourth of July, 1865; and the cattle plague, in September, 1868, being the causes why no sales were held in those months. The average sales per year for that period amounted to $122,550, or more than $10,000 each month, but for the last five years of that time the average was often double that figure. The sales continued to increase in size and importance, so that for the last thirteen years and a half of the twenty-seven which they have been running, the yearly average has been about $300,000, or $25,000 per month. Not one sale has been missed during this second period of their history, but every month, "rain or shine," they have taken place, "as regular as the clock." The lowest estimate we can make will thus place the aggregate value of the Madison County stock sales, since their inception to the close of 1882, at the enormous figure of $5,500,000. Surely this showing entitles Madison County to that proud position which she has so long maintained as the "Queen of Cattledom."
The custom, for such it is, has become rooted and grounded in its establishment. Without organization or officers; in the interests of no ring or clique; with but one other worthy of the name, viz.: the sale held at Paris, Ky., it stands to-day unrivaled in the history of the nation. Good stock cattle have brought better prices at the Madison County stock sales than at any other market on this continent. We challenge comparison. Madison County pays a higher valuation on her homed stock than any other county in Ohio, and, doubtless, in the United States. During the latter years of David Selsor's life, he annually shipped to New York the premium beef of the metropolis; and it is a well-known fact that this beef, fed upon the blue grass and corn of Madison County, brought the highest prices in that market of epicures. It is said that this republic is the greatest nation in the world, and that Ohio is the greatest State in the Union. The citizens of Madison County claim to possess the leading stock county in the State, so that her position is one of proud superiority.