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At a meeting of the citizens of Cedar County, held in the Court House in Tipton, on Saturday, November 9, 1861, in pursuance of a notice published, for the purpose of organizing an Agricultural Society for the county, J. K. Snyder was called to the chair, and F. Butterfield was chosen Secretary. The object of the meeting was stated, and, after discussing the matter, a Committee of five was appointed to draft Articles of Incorporation and Constitution and By-Law. Leech, Mathew Springsteed, H. N. Washburne and Carlisle Curtis made up the residue of the Committee.
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J. A. Huber, Chairman, and H. N. Washburne, Moses Bunker, John W. Brown and Henry Sherwood were appointed a Committee to select fair grounds at Tipton, and to receive proposals for leasing or purchasing the same.
The Committee on Premium Lists were: H. N. Washburne, Chairman, A. Holtslander, Moses Varney, Dr. W. H. Keith and Henry Sherwood.
Committees, consisting of three persons each, were appointed, one from each township, to solicit subscriptions.
The second meeting occurred November 25, 1861. Articles of Incorporation and Constitution and By-Laws were adopted at this meeting. The incorporators were: William Fraseur, Robert McKee, William W. Aldrich, William R. Edgar, William M. Knott, Jesse L. Bradshaw, H. C. Piatt, C. P. Sheldon, Joseph K. Snyder, Henry Sherwood, A. Holtslander, George B. Sergeant, Mathew Springsteed, Myron Gleason, James Jennings, Harvey Leech and H. N. Washburne.
The first officers of the society were as follows: George B. Sergeant, President; M. Springsteed, Vice President; A. Holtslander, Secretary; Joseph K. Snyder, Treasurer; Directors, Center Township, C. P. Sheldon; Inland, E. L. Bassett; Farmington, H. N. Washburne; Massilon, E. Brink; Pioneer, Myron Gleason; Red Oak, W.A. Rigby; Linn, George Smith; Cass, Robert Gower; Fremont, Asa Cooper; Sugar Creek, E. R. Healy; Rochester, James Jennings; Springfield, Henry Sherwood; Dayton, William McNeil; Springdale, J. M. Watson; Iowa, Preston Roberts; Gower, George Galbreath.
The third meeting was held January 22, 1862. The contract for printing the premium list was let to the Tipton Advertiser. The proposition of William H. Tuthill, to lease the Board twenty acres of ground for five years, on which to locate the fair grounds—the first year free, and at $12.50 per annum thereafter—was accepted.
The first fair was held in September, 1861. The show was not extensive, but equaled the expectations of all. The fair was held on the grounds east of Tipton, belonging to William H. Tuthill. An address was delivered by Wells Spicer, Esq.
The annual fairs were held on these grounds until the Fall of 1866, when it was removed to the new grounds, just west of Tipton. The Society purchased forty-two acres of land from J. W. Kynett, April, 1866, for which they paid $1,596.
The Society contracted debts to such an extent that they were obliged to reorganize under a stock company. Accordingly, a meeting was held at the Court House in Tipton, December 27, 1871, in pursuance of verbal, written and printed notices of the Directors of the Cedar County Agricultural Society, to the friends of agriculture.
John C. Lyle was called to the chair, and R. W. Starr was appointed Secretary. The question was discussed at length by the gentlemen present, which resulted in the formation of the Cedar County Fair Association, independent of the county, but a society of stockholders. Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and By-Laws were adopted at this meeting.
The first officers of the new organization were: H. C. Piatt, President; J. C. Lyle, Vice-President; W. L. McCroskey, Secretary; George Beaty, Treasurer.
The first annual fair of the Association was held the second week in September, 1872. Of this fair the Tipton Advertiser, of September 26th, that year, says:
Taken altogether, the fair was essentially a success; and the officers who have labored so earnestly in its behalf may well be encouraged. The weather was very bad, except on the last . . .
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. . . day, when a good attendance was on the ground. In spite, however, of all drawbacks, money was received to pay up everything satisfactorily, which has already been done, leaving a fair start for next year.
FINANCIAL EXHIBIT, 1877.
| RECEIPTS. | |
| Cash by H. W. Bailey, license for wheel of fortune | $20.00 |
| Cash by N. C. Millhouse, license of saloon, etc. | 70.00 |
| Tickets sold | 39.00 |
| N. C. Millhouse, saloon license, etc. | 60.00 |
| Tickets sold | 256.00 |
| N. C. Millhouse, license, etc. | 46.00 |
| H. W. Bailey, Secretary | 62.00 |
| Cash for tickets sold | 644.00 |
| N. C. Millhouse, license, etc. | 65.00 |
| H. W. Bailey, Secretary | 50.00 |
| N. C. Millhouse, license, etc. | 27.00 |
| H. W. Bailey, Secretary | 29.00 |
| H. C. Piatt | 8.50 |
| Tickets sold | 174.25 |
| Amos Wisener, eating house | 10.00 |
| Total | $1,562.80 |
| | |
| EXPENDITURES | |
| Amounts paid out as per vouchers herewith submitted | $1,416.99 |
| Balance in Treasury October 12, 187 | 145.86 |
| Orders paid from October 12th to October 17th | 21.40 |
| Balance in Treasury October 18, 1877 | 124.46 |
| Orders paid since October 18, 1877 | 52.20 |
| Balance in Treasury October 23, 1877 | 72.26 |
| Orders paid since October 23, 1877 | 19.95 |
| Balance in Treasury November 6, 1877 | 52.31 |
| Orders | 9.25 |
| Balance | $43.06 |
| Amount of State warrant for 1877 | 200.00 |
| Amount in Treasury December 31, 1877 | $243.05 |
Present officers.—H. W. Bailey, President; Wm. McNeal, Vice President; S. Y. Yates, Secretary; Wm. L. McCroskey, Treasurer; Directors, Moses Bunker, James H. Fulwider, Charles Hammond, Wm. M. Knott, Alex. Buchanan, Henry Walters, J. H. Gunsolus, J. T. Hudelson, Wm. McNeal, N. C. Millhouse; Executive Committee, Henry Walters, Moses Bunker, J. T. Hudelson; Finance Committee, Charles Hammond, Wm. M. Knott, J. H. Fulwider; Tickets and Gates, N. C. Millhouse, J. H.. Gunsolus, Alex. Buchanan; N. B. Stanton, Marshal; G. G. Chandler, Assistant Marshal.
