Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/334

 326 GEORGE H. HIMES. % We can but admire the good taste of the officers of the society in their selection of one so closely identified with their inter- eststhe Governor being a practical farmer. Judging from this first fair in Lane, her citizens are awakening to their true interests, and will soon give the at present more pop- ulous counties of the State a tough pull for prominence." The first meeting in Jackson County for the purpose of arousing interest in a county fair was held in Jacksonville February 8, 1859, and Dr. McCully, a brother of Asa A. and David McCully, well-known pioneers of the Willamette Valley, was a leading factor in the early organization. The first fair was held at Jacksonville on October 4-5, 1859. Officers elected at this time were as follows : President, W. C. Myer ; vice-president, John E. Ross; director, J. P. Walker; secretary, J. H. Reed; recording secretary, Jesse Robinson; treasurer, Reuben F. Maury. The annual address was delivered by James O'Meara, then editor of the Jacksonville Sentinel. The names of the exhibitors and the number of premiums awarded them are as follows : Ammerman, U. . 1 Rice, E. A 1 Anderson, E. K 4 Rice, L. A 1 Anderson, Mrs. E. K 1 Rockfellow, - - - - 1 Beeson, John 1 Rockfellow, Miss Sarah. . 1 Brunns, A 1 Robinson. Dr. J 6 Cluggage, James 2 Ross, John E 1 Eagle Mill Company 1 Steprns, D. E 2 Emery, Mrs. E 1 Stearns, Mrs. D. E 2 Gass, Miss Sarah Jane. . . 2 Thornton, James 2 Gass, Miss Minerva 2 Tolman, James C 5 Heber, F. . 2 AValker, J. P 4 Hellman, Mrs. A. D 1 Merriman. Mrs. W 1 Hillman, John 1 Myer, B. F 1 Kilo-ore, J 4 Myer, Mrs. Mary 1 Laclare. X 2 Myer, W. C.. 6 Pyle, Thomas 3 year. In 1856 he was elected probate judge; in 1857, a member of the legislature ; in 1858 was elected the first Governor of the State of Oregon; in 1866-1870, to the legislature, and in 1876, to the State Senate. In 1879 he was elected to Congress, and he made the trip to Washington from Eugene in 116 hours. Was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for Oregon by President Cleveland in 1885. He died at Eugene.