Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/208

196 signed by J. W. Myers. Secretary, and the society declared adjourned "sine die."

Richland County was now without an organized society as a county society. The Bellville fair had. several years before, ceased its exhibitions, but the Plymouth fair was still prosperous. Influential citizens, however, were determined not to let the matter die out, and, soon after the above resolution was passed, a call for those interested in a county agricultural society appeared in the city papers, asking all such to meet in the rooms of the Richland Mutual Insurance Company, April 24. That day a number of citizens met there, and, after organizing and hearing the object of the meeting clearly stated, adopted a resolution forming a new agricultural society, using the constitution and by-laws of the old one, changing the name only by omitting the word "county" from the new society. A committee was appointed to solicit members, and the 8th of May set as the day on which to meet and perfect the organization.

That day quite a large number of persons met, and completed the organization by electing officers and a Board of Directors. The committee reported 177 names of those who had put down their names and agreed to support the new society. The officers elected were: S. B. Sturges, President; Robert Darling, Vice President; M. E. Douglass, Treasurer, and J. W. Myers. Secretary. The old grounds were rented, and it was determined to hold a fair the coming autumn.

From that time forward, there is but little to be written. Annual exhibitions have been held, increasing in interest and attendance. The Society were enabled this last year to pay all premiums in full, and all current expenses, and have a margin over for future operations. Should the people of the county rally to the support of the Society, a few years hence will see it in full possession of its grounds, and in growing condition.

Incidental mention has already been made of other fairs in this county, viz., the Bellville and Plymouth fairs. The former of these dates its earliest inception in 1850. About the last of October in that year, Mr. Miller Moody obtained a charter, and, principally through his efforts, the fair was held. A lot of ground, just south of the elevator, was secured, where the out-door exhibition was held. The indoor exhibition was held in the Universalist church, then in an unfinished condition. The fair is well spoken of now by those who attended it, and was, undoubtedly, a good exhibition for that time. The Mansfield (county) fair was, however, coming into existence, and, being the principal agricultural attraction, drew the major part of the patronage, and absorbed the society at Bellville, which seems to have held but one meeting.

Ten years after, in 1860, the citizens in the southern part of the county concluded a fair could be successfully maintained in Bellville, and, at an informal meeting, held in the summer of that year, organized the Bellville Agricultural Society. They leased a beautiful plat of ground about one-fourth mile from the village, and, October 24, 25 and 26, held an excellent exhibition. Mr. Nicholas Fleharty was among the prime movers in this fair. The Society held three exhibitions, but, owing to the war, could not maintain a paying organization, and allowed it to go down, and turned their attention to the county society, then, like all others, in a precarious condition. The end of the war brought new vigor to the county society; but the Bellville organization was not revived.

The Plymouth fair was organized June 15, 1855, with the following list of officers: John Bodine, President; Mr. Barker and Levi B. Shaver, Vice Presidents; R. McDonald, Treasurer; D. R. Locke (Nasby). Secretary. Exhibitions of a good character were maintained nearly every year down to 1870, on rented, leased or donated grounds. That year, how-