442 



none ia the State. Yet some valuable accessions have been made, both 

 in horses and cattle, since our last fair, and we expect next fall, to have 

 an exhibition not to be excelled by the richest counties of older States. 



I take pleasure in presenting for your consideration, the following 

 sketch of the early history of this county, combining geographical and 

 statistical information, kindly furnished me by C. P. Benton, of this 

 village, who has long been a resident of the county. 



The officers elected for the ensuing year, are : 



Darwin Willson — President. 



Ebenezer Mudge — Vice President. 



0. B. Clark— Treasurer. 



H. M. Wright — Secretary. 



Asahel Brown, P. H. Sprague — Members of the Executive Com- 

 mittee. 



Very respectfully yours, 



H. M. WRIGHT, 



Secretary. 



LIST OF PREMIUMS, 



Awarded at the Fourth Annual Fair of the Branch County Agricultu- 

 ral Society, held at Cold water, on the 9th, 10th and 11th days of Oc- 

 tober, 1855: 



CATTLE SHORT HORNS. 



Best bull calf 1 year old, "Haymaker," Crippen & Freeman,.. ^3 00 



2(1 « " H. J. Curtis, 2 00 



Best bull calf, Allen Hurley, 2 00 



2d " Crippen & Freeman, 100 



Best cow 5 years old or over, "Shaker Lady," Crippen & Free- 

 man, 4 00 



2d best cow 5 years old or over, "Speck," Crippen & Freeman, 3 00 



Best cow 3 years old, "Sarah," " 3 00 



2d " Chas. Mason, 2 00 



Best heifer 1 year old, " Evening Star," John 0. Pelton, 2 00 



Best heifer calf, Crippen & Freeman, - - 2 00 



