|
The
Union County Fair Its Early Origin, History and Mission Union County Illinois Genealogy Trails Transcribed
and submitted by Darrel Dexter There is probably no institution or
agency ever set to work among the people, especially in this locality,
that has accomplished so great an amount of good as that developed by
the Union County Agricultural Mechanical Society from its infancy to
the present time. Prior to its formation in 1855, the
yeomanry of our county were not so well acquainted with all the modern
improvements and appliances so necessary to skillful and successful (to
say nothing of scientific) farming, as at present.
Nor were they familiar with, or in the possession of
those finer breeds of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs with which our
farms are now stocked, and are the just pride of their owners, who take
pleasure in exhibiting them for the encouragement of others, at every
annual opening of our county fair at Jonesboro.
A marked and strong impetus has also been given
through the agency of this institution to the mechanical and
manufacturing industry of the citizens of this region, since the skill
of our mechanics and artisans is not a whit inferior to those of the
cities. Nor is this the only advantage
derived from this association. A
more close and friendly intimacy between our farmers and mechanics,
their wives and families, has sprung up and the people are more united. At each annual fair of the
society an opportunity is offered, so strong as to be irresistible, for
old neighbors and friends, living in different and distant parts of the
country, to come together, exchange congratulations, have in
interchange of ideas, and renew old friendships and former
associations, thus producing a unity or feeling of unity of action,
which will buoy up the spirits, stimulate the energies and brighten and
tighten dull routine of everyday life. On the 22d day of December 1855,
through the instrumentality of Dr. S. S. Condon,
who had paid a visit previously to the state fair at Chicago, an
institution then also in its infancy, and had there seen the advantages
likely to result from such an association, a meeting of the citizens of
Jonesboro was held in the Baptist church in Jonesboro.
Samuel Hunsaker
was called to the chair and Christian G. Flaugh
elected secretary. The
object of the meeting was briefly explained by the Hon. John Dougherty and H. Watson Webb,
Esq., both of whom entertained the audience with eloquent and lucid
addresses in which they so vividly portrayed the many advantages likely
to inure to agricultural and mechanical industry by combination as a
society that seventy-seven names were obtained at once as members of
the association. On
motion of Dr. Condon the
constitution recommended to county societies, and found in the
Transactions of the State Agricultural Society, was unanimously adopted
verbatim et literatim. George
Hunsaker was elected
president, Moses A. Goodman, Jacob Hileman, and William Green
vice presidents, H. Watson Webb,
corresponding secretary, S.S. Condon,
recording secretary, and Samuel Hunsaker,
treasurer. On
motion a committee composed of Walter H. Willard,
Charles Crowell, and S. S. Condon was appointed by the chair to
solicit the farmers and citizens generally to become members of the
society. Thus came
into existence this useful association, which subsequently was
incorporated by an act of the state legislature.
With seventy-seven members and as many and no more
dollars to the treasury, it moved forward, coming onward and onward,
gaining in strength, influence, and importance from the first till the
present time. The first annual fair was held on
the 24th and 25th of
September 1856, on a fine piece of ground adjoining the town and
admirably fitted for the purpose, being well supplied with fine forest
trees for shade and plenty of pure spring water, which was generously
tendered the society by Paul Frick,
Esq. This ground
was beautifully laid out and every necessary building, stalls, sheds,
tables, secretary's office, etc., erected by the general
superintendents, Jacob Hileman,
George Kimmel, Isaac N. Albright, and Thomas C. James,
to whom great praise was certainly due for the admirable discharge of
their duties. The 24th
of September was a beautiful day and seemed to be ushered in expressly
for this holiday and jubilee; finer weather could not have been desired. The attendance at the
first fair was estimated by many at 5,000 but none gave it at less than
3,000. The
deportment of this large assembly was orderly and all seemed to enjoy
this, then to us of Egypt, novel exhibition with an interest and zest
which was shown in the sparkling eyes and brilliant smiles of the fair
as well as the merry ringing laugh of the coarser part of the
assemblage. Owing to want of time few entries
were made, yet the exhibition as a whole was large and very splendid. Sigerson Bros., nurserymen
of St. Louis, exhibited fine specimens of fall and winter apples,
embracing some forty-five varieties and a fine collection of evergreens
well arranged. The
collection of agricultural implements and mechanic's tools exhibited by
Wiley & Frick, were well arranged and presented a fine
appearance. A fine
collection of the relics of the prehistoric man, or aboriginal
inhabitants of the country exhibited by W. Willard,
excited the wonder of all. The
concological display of Dr. H.C. Hacker
was fine and deserving if the admiration and attention of the
naturalist. The geological cabinet of Dr. S. S. Condon,
embracing a great variety and many curious fossils, as well as
minerals, was interesting to all.
The Temple of Art was the attractive feature at this
fair, filled as it was with choice paintings in oil and water colors,
crayon sketches of the surrounding scenery, and some fine monochromes,
it could not be otherwise. Besides,
there was a respectable display of fine horses, fat cattle, and plenty
of specimens of the ladies' handiwork.
There were also on hand bears, foxes, raccoons,
squirrels, rabbits, and rattlesnakes.
Nothing during the two days occurred to mar the
pleasure of the large assembly. There
was taken at the gate $500 for entrance fees and $250 for membership,
making $750 as the result of the first experiment, which was amply
sufficient for all expenses then incurred and left a handsome balance
in the treasury. Andrew J. Nimmo
was elected the present for 1857.
James Craver,
Jacob Hileman, and W. C. Pender vice presidents, T. J. Finley, corresponding secretary, S. S. Condon reelected recording secretary, and
Samuel Hunsaker reelected treasurer. A good fair was held in
September 1858. The
officers elected were John C. Hunsaker,
president; Moses A. Goodman and
Benjamin Vancil, vice presidents;
T. J. Finley, corresponding
secretary, and C. G. Flaugh,
treasurer. A
splendid fair was held in September following at the present grounds. In 1859 William Green became president, David Craver and M. G. Stokes,
vice presidents; L. H. Ferguson,
recording secretary, S. S. Condon
corresponding secretary and C. G. Flaugh
treasurer. David Craver was elected president in 1860,
Jacob Hileman, Lorenzo P. Wilcox and Peter Casper
vice presidents, Joseph H. Samson
recording secretary, S. S. Condon
corresponding secretary and W. H. Willard
treasurer. Jacob Hileman was elected as president in 1861,
with Charles Crowell, Caleb Hartline and Benjamin Vancil
vice presidents, S. S. Condon recording
secretary, H. W. Willard
corresponding secretary, and F. M. Sumner
treasurer. A three
day fair was held this year in September and was an improvement over
all the other exhibitions by the society.
In 1862 Moses A. Goodman
was made president, Samuel Hargrave,
J. L. Ury and F. M. Sumner
vice presidents, W. B. Hunsaker
recording secretary, J. C. Hunsaker
corresponding secretary, and Charles A. Cruse
treasurer. About
this time the society purchased of the McElhaney heirs a fine tract of
land north of the square and was on a permanent and prosperous footing. In 1863 Samuel Hargrave was chosen president, in 1864
John Grear, 1865 Samuel Hargrave, 1866 A. J. Nimmo,
1867 John E. Naill, 1868 Daniel Hileman, 1869 James P. McLain,
1870 Silas H. Spann, and in 1871 J.
S. Lawver. The grounds having been greatly
enlarged by purchase now embrace twenty acres or more.
A most munificent bequest of real estate left to the
society by John C. Hunsaker, one of
its former presidents, and a bequest by J. A. Carpenter,
deceased, one of its warmest friends, while living, has enabled the
society to put the grounds in excellent order.
Our citizens, farmers, as well as mechanics, may
well feel a just pride when they look back sixteen years and contrast
the conditions of the county and its resources at that period with what
it is today. Those
who have ever stood by the association through the early period of its
formation and have been instrumentally in promoting the advancement and
prosperity of the whole county in the development of its agricultural
and mechanical resources, may and should be regarded as public
benefactors, more meritorious than those would be great men who are
distinguished for their prowess, on the battle field.
Such men as George Hunsaker,
the first president of the society, and one of the best men and good
farmers of our county, S. S. Condon,
its first recording secretary who was indefatigable for the first two
years in the formation of the society, etc.
Samuel Hunsaker,
John C. Hunsaker, A. J. Nimmo, J. A. Carpenter,
Benjamin Vancil, William Green, Matthew G. Stokes,
Lard H. Ferguson, H. W. Willard, Caleb Hartline,
F. M. Sumner, William Noble, David Craver,
Jacob Hileman, L. P. Wilcox,
P. Casper, J. H. Samson,
Charles Crowell, Moses A. Goodman, Daniel Hileman,
John E. Naill, Jesse Ward,
Jeff L. Ury, Charles A. Cruse, Charles Klutts,
C. Barringer, John Grear,
Ephraim Kimmel, E. Mackinder,
W. C. Rich, James Evans,
A. P. Jones, Alfred Misenhimer,
Silas H. Spann, all honor to these
and other noble spirits who have made it the best institution in the
county. (Jonesboro
Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 24 May 1912) |