107 



KENOSHA. 



Dear Sir — In reply to your letter requesting the same, I will give you the 

 rise and progress of the Farmer's Club, and of the Kenosha County Agricultural 

 Society, growing out of the same. 



January 3, 1850, a few of us neighbors (farmers) met at the tavern then kept 

 by Peter Martin, in the town of Pleasant Prairie, (some dozen persons in all,) and 

 formed ourselves into a club known as the " Farmers' Club of Kenosha County," 

 having for its object mutual benefits in Agriculture, by consultation and inter- 

 change of opinion on that subject exclusively. This I believe to be the first 

 aorricultural association in Wisconsin, and it remains still in existence. That Club 

 met, and still meets weekly during the winter months. The meetings usually 

 begin with a dissertation from some member; on each evening two Committees 

 are appointed to visit the farms of certain members previously selected, and at 

 the next meeting report their condition, &c. After these Committees have re- 

 ported, any member may propose a subject for investigation, or ask any question 

 he pleases of the Club, to w^hich any member can reply, &c. The Club is then 

 free and easy, and any or all talk who wish, one at a time of course. The first 

 President was Hiram Marsh, of Pike, (now Somers,) and the first Secretary was 

 Henry Johnson, of the same place ; the latter resigned some little time thereafter, 

 and his son, Hii'am Johnson, was chosen to fill his place, and still holds the office. 

 Leonard Crocker, of Somers, is now President. Tlie fee for membership is one 

 dollar for life, subject to assessments when funds are required. They have a good 

 library, and considerable interest is kept up. 



At a meeting of the Club in the spring of A. D. 1850, it was resolved " That 

 this Club use all its exertions to form a County Agricultural Society." 



In pursuance of this resolution, a meeting was called at Jackson's tavern, in 

 the town of Bristol, on the third day of June, A. D. 1850, at which Z. P. Rich, 

 of Paris, was called to the chair, and T. J. Rand was elected Secretary. A Society 

 was then formed ; and twenty-four farmers enrolled their names as members. The 

 following persons were elected as officers, to wit: 



President, Henry Johnson, of Somers; Vice Presidents, Thomas Slade, of 

 Wheatland, and Lathrop Burgess, of Brighton ; Recording Secretary, T. J. Rand, 

 of Pleasant Prairie; Corresponding Secretary, A. B. Jackson, of Bristol; Trea- 

 surer, George S. Blackman, of Paris. 



The Society has from that time held quarterly meetings, at which much 

 interest is manifested. The first Fair came off at Jackson's tavern, in the town 

 of Bristol, on the 10th day of October, A. D. 1850, but under very unfavorable 

 circumstances; it had rained for two days, as also on that day, and it was almost 

 impossible to get along for mud. Dri\ing cattle was almost out of the question ; 



