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400 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
proposition Avas received from Licking County Agricultural Society to
send delegates with them to Columbus for the purpose of organizing a
state agricultural society and O. Jenny and J. V. Vredenburg were sent
as delegates.
At the second fair held in Norwalk, October 17, 1839, $118 was
offered as premiums, and at the end of Ihc year $67 were in the
treasury. \n 1840 $129 Avere offered as premiums, but no account of a
fair being held is given. The fair for 1841 was held at Norwalk, •November
2. There is no record-of any fairs being held in 1842-3-4-5-6 and 7.
HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
Agreeable to public notice in the newspapers of the two counties on
the 15th of March, 1848, the above society was organized in the sheriff's
office in the courthouse at Norwalk, and a constitution adopted. This
district society embraced the limits of Huron and Erie counties. In the
spring of 1838 the County of Eric had bceeu organized from the northern
townships of Huron County. The complete formation of Erie County as
it now is, was not completed until 1840. Piatt Benedict Avas the president
of this pew society, Benjamin Benson, secretary, and Luke S. Stow,
of Erie, one of the directors. The latter Avas afterwards one of its efficient
secretaries. It held its first fair at Norwalk October 12, 1848.
This new district society, organized from the two counties, seems to have
been heartily supported from its inception. At the annual meeting in
March, 1849, the officers of 1848 Avere re-elected and Andrew Ainsley,
of Erie, added to the directors. A premium was offered for the best
farm essay to be read at the coming fair, an example Avorthy to be commended
to our fair managers HOAV.
This fair of 1849 was held at Milan, and the Press said: "The display
in all the departments far exceeded any previous fair, and Avas attended
by at least three times the number of spectators. It is pleasing
to note the growing interest manifested in agricultural and industrial
affairs, and Ave confidently anticipate the day when Erie and Huron
counties will rival in their efforts those of any other in the State.'' In
competition on field crops the following yields were reported per acre:
Wheat, 34% bushels; corn, 135 bushels; barley, 5%% bushels; oats, 65%
bushels; potatoes 360 bushels. In 1850 Philo Adams, of Erie, Avas president
; E. M. Barnum, secretary, and Isaac T. Reynolds, one of the directors
from Erie. The time of holding the fair, October 10 and 11, at Norwalk.
The number present, 8,000. One of the best points made by the speaker
of the occasion, who gaA'e the agricultural address, Avas: "That the
ulterior object of these annual gatherings for competition is an iinproA'ement
in the breed of farmers—of men."
In 185-1 Philo Adams Avas president, I. T. Reynolds vice president,
and Luke S. Stow, secretary. The fair Avas held at Milan, October 8 and
9; the number estimated to be present, 10,000. The stock was tied to
stakes and trees in different parts of the town and an admission fee Avas