GENTLEMEN FARMERS Most of the early residents of Ross County engaged in farming, either as an avocation or a sole means of support. Even the statesmen and professional gentlemen who gravitated to Chillicothe when it was one of the important political centers of the state usually owned land upon which they farmed or raised live stock. The organization of an agricultural society was, therefore, one of the first associations to be formed, the membership of which embraced the county. FIRST AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AND EARLY FAIRS The first agricultural society in Ross County was organized on the 28th of June, 1833, by the election of the following officers: George Renick, president; James Voss, vice president; Felix Renick, corresponding secretary; N. W. Thatcher, recording secretary; Nathan Sawyer, treasurer; Duncan McArthur, Richard R. Seymour, John Crouse, Jr., John McNeil, John Foster, E. J. Harness, Dennis McConnell, A. Hugler, John Made, William Clark, Jr., managers. There are no records of this society in existence, or at least none that can be found by the historian, and the information here presented is obtained only through laborious search in the files of the Gazette. Nothing appears in regard to the first fair, but an account of the second one, held October 31 and November 1, 1834, appears in the paper issued subsequently. It is stated that the first premium-$10 for the best thoroughbred stallion, was given to Duncan McArthur, upon his horse "Tariff," and the second to John McNeil for his horse "Independence." Arthur Watts exhibited the best bull, and Duncan McArthur, George Renick, R. R. Seymour, David Crouse and Governor Trimble, of Highland County, also had on exhibition fine cattle, some of which were deemed worthy of premiums. Daniel Madeira is mentioned as having the best carrots. Dennis McConnell received a premium for raising 100 bushels of wheat upon an acre of ground, and S. V. Dorman $3 for raising 150 bushels of potatoes upon one acre of ground. The secretary's report of the third annual fair held October 29, 30 and 31, 1835, stated that "it was an unusually large and interesting exhibition." The report continues: "We are compelled to state that the society has not met with that encouragement by way of pecuniary support which, from the patriotic character of our citizens, might reasonably be expected. The enterprise which prompted the operations of the 'Ohio Importing Company' emanated from this society, and has given a name and character to our county and State, which places us first in rank among the agricultural districts of the Union." It may be remarked here that the Ohio Importing Company was organized by citizens of Ross County in 1834, for the purpose of bringing fine cattle from England. This company exhibited cattle at the fair of 1835-most of them half-breeds, and in the following year the first regular stock sale in Ohio was held October 26th, at Felix Renick's Indian Creek farm. THE SECOND SOCIETY The original agricultural society was succeeded by one which was organized August 17, 1846, as an auxiliary to the State Board of Agriculture, under the act of the General Assembly, passed February 27, 1846. At a meeting held at the Madeira House, the following gentlemen were elected officers of the society: President, W. Marshall Anderson; vice president, Alex. Renick; treasurer, William H. Douglass; secretary, R. W. Burridge; directors, Dennis McConnell, Jeptha Merrill, William Welsh, John Foster, Nathan Gillilan. The first fair of this society was held October 14 and 15, 1846, at "the Sugar grove." The market house was also used for the exhibition of articles of woman's industry, etc. At this fair the principal exhibitors of cattle were Henry Renick, Alex.Renick, George Renick, Dr. Arthur Watts, William D. Worthington, James D. Vause, James Dean and Felix Renick. Premiums were taken upon horses by J. S. Atwood, Alex. H. McRoberts, Wesley Pryor, Dennis McConnell, Andrew Poe and Joseph McConnell. A dinner at the Madeira House was one of the features in the programme of the second day of the exhibition. This society purchased the ground on Arch and Mill streets, west of Vine, but failed to pay for it. Its affairs were ultimately closed by Amos Smith, Esq., and for several years there was no agricultural society in Ross County. THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF THE PRESENT The society at present in existence held a preliminary meeting on the 5th of February, 1870, at which committees were appointed to solicit members for the proposed organization. The organization was effected March 5th, when a constitution was adopted and the following officers elected: President, L. G. Delano; vice president, S. H. Hurst; secretary, Philip Griffin; treasurer, Addison Pearson; managers, Samuel Kendrick, Dr. William Waddell, Alex. Renick, Jr., James Ewing of Chillicothe, Joseph McConnell of Scioto Township, S. N. Hurst of Union, Uriah Beets of Deerfield, M. Lewis of Green, Samuel Cline of Concord, Thomas Murray of Buckskin, John Woodbridge of Paint, A. W. Seymour of Paxton, David Schotts of Twin, Samuel R. Posey of Huntington, James Davis, Jr., of Franklin, Solomon DuBois of Jefferson, Thomas Griffin of Liberty, Levi Buchwalter of Colerain, Jacob H. Cryder of Springfield and Daniel Clymer of Harrison. Ross COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETIES About the year 1852 the physicians of Chillicothe and Ross County organized a society of which the late Dr. David Wills was president, but the records of the society have not been preserved, and as the newspapers of the time did not contain any mention of the organization, it is impossible to give the history of the society. The present Medical Society of Ross County was organized at a meeting held April 6, 1876, at Dr. G. S. Franklin's office. The original members, who upon that day signed the constitution, were L. W. Foulke, of Chillicothe; William Latta and R. Galbraith, of Frankfort; John M. Cox, of South Salem; Gustavus L. Franklin, of Chillicothe; J. B. F. Morgan, of Clarksburg; A. L. Chenoweth, of Bourneville; E. J. Galbraith, of Frankfort; C. M. Wilson and R. B. Hall, of Chillicothe; George Freeman, of Richmond Dale; Willard A. Hall, of Bourneville; and J. M. Leslie, of Frankfort. The first officers elected were: President, Dr. William Latta; vice president, R. B. Hall; treasurer, E. J. Galbraith; secretary, G. S. Franklin. Succeeding Doctor Latta as president were Drs. G. B. F. Morgan, Robert Galbraith, John M. Cox and G. E. Robbins, the last named being at the head of the society for some twenty-one years. In October, 1904, the old organization was succeeded by the Ross County Academy of Medicine, with the following officers: Dr. J. B. Scarce, president; Dr. F. T. Marr, vice president; Dr. R. E. Bower, treasurer; Dr. Mary A. Platter, secretary. Among the oldest membes of the profession connected with the academy may be mentioned Drs. J. B. Scarce, J. W. Lash, J. M. Leslie, J. W. Barnes, B. F. Miesse, G. S. Franklin and J. M. Hanly, all of whom are deceased except Doctors Leslie and Manly. It has an active membership of about twenty-five and the following officers: Dr. R. E. Bower, president; G. E. Robbins, secretary; W. H. Silbaugh, treasurer. |