Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/346

 For some reason the order ceased to prosper in Iowa and, in 1870, there were not more than five hundred members and the State Department was dissolved. But after a few years the interest revived and made steady gains in membership until in 1902 the number of Posts was five hundred seventeen.

IOWA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

At a meeting of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society held at Fairfield, October 13th, 1853, C. W. Slagle offered the following resolution:

“Resolved, That the officers of this society be instructed to take immediate steps to effect the organization of a State Agricultural Society, and that the officers use their influence to have said society hold its first annual exhibition at Fairfield in October, 1854.”

The resolution was adopted, and the officers, who were P. L. Huyett, president; Caleb Baldwin, vice-president, and J. M. Shaffer, secretary, made a report at a meeting of the Board of Directors held November 26th, in which they stated that a conference of representatives of county Agricultural Societies had been called to meet at Fairfield December 28th, to organize a State Society. Representatives of five counties met at the time and place designated and a committee of one from each society reported a plan of organization.

The name chosen was the Iowa State Agricultural Society and its object was stated to be the promotion of agriculture, horticulture, manufactures, mechanics, and household arts. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and the following officers chosen: president, Thomas W. Clagett of Lee County; vice-president, D. P. Inskeep of Wapello; recording secretary, J. M. Shaffer of Jefferson; corresponding secretary, C. W. Slagle of Jefferson; treasurer, W. B. Chamberlain of Des Moines County.

It was decided to hold the first fair at Fairfield, on the