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AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Pursuant to a call for a meeting to form an agricultural society for Louisa County, Iowa, a number of citizens representing nearly all the townships in the county, met at the court-house, on the 12th of September, 1866.
On motion, O. Spafford was called to the chair, and L. W. Meyers was appointed Secretary. J. S. Hurley then offered for consideration a constitution and by-laws which he had drawn up. On motion of John Hale, they were read. John Bird then made some remarks, in which he stated that Louisa County organized the first agricultural society in the State, and he wished this to be a revival of the old society. A resolution to that effect was read and adopted. The constitution and by-laws were, on motion of John Hale, taken up article by article, amended and adopted. After the adoption of the constitution and by-laws, those present signed the constitution and paid their initiation fees of $1 each.
The following-named officers were then elected by ballot: James S. Hurley, President; Charles S. Philips, Vice President; E. B. Lacey, Secretary; Jesse Harris, Treasurer. The following Board of Managers was then appointed representing each township in the county: A. Limbocer, Columbus City Township; Noah Letts, Concord Township; Cyril Carpenter, Oakland Township; James Colton, Union Township; Benjamin Jennings, Elm Grove Township; J. H. Marshall, Marshall Township; Frank Jarvis, Morning Sun Township; William Smith, Elliott Township; Thomas Parsons, Jefferson Township; Levi Stephens, Port Louisa Township; C. D. Bent, Grand View Township; Henry F. Wellemeyer, Wapello Township.
James S. Hurley, John Hale and Charles Philips were then appointed a committee to purchase grounds for a Fair Ground for this society. The board of managers appointed the 17th of October, 1866, for holding a fair in Wapello. James P. Hurley then offered the following, to-wit:
Resolved, That the Board of Managers are authorized to solicit voluntary subscriptions for the benefit of the society, said sums to be paid to the Treasurer on or before Dec. 1, 1866, and that the Secretary furnish to each of the managers a subscription paper for said purpose.
This resolution was unanimously adopted, and on motion, the meeting then adjourned.
On the 24th of December, 1866, the society purchased of James S. Hurley fifteen acres of land situated on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 27, township 74, range 3 west, for the sum of $600, one-half to be paid on delivery of deed and the remainder within a year. Fair has been held continuously since with good success. The association is out of debt, and is in a prosperous condition financially.
Since the organization of the agricultural society the following-named gentlemen have served as its Presidents: J. S. Hurley, W. W. Garner, G. H. Crow, George Jamison, W. H. Letts, G. W. Wagner, T. R. Wilson and John Sterrett. Its present officers are: President, John Sterrett; Vice . . .
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. . . President, Robert Carson; Secretary, A. W. Jarvis; Treasurer, G. W. Thomas.