117 



Dodge county, and about the same number of mechanics, merchants 

 and manufacturers from Watertown. Those who had been the most 

 active in getting up the meeting, were almost discouraged by the indiff- 

 erence which, it was but too apparent, was felt by those most deeply 

 interested i^ the objects which it had been called to promote. Neverthe- 

 less, it was determined to form an Association, to be known and desig- 

 nated as the "Jefferson and Dodge County Agricultural Society." A 

 Constitution Avas adopted, similar to that of most of the other County 

 Agricultural Societies, with the additional clause that " each hona fide 

 member shall receive, at the expense of the Society, an Agricultural 

 paper published in this State, subject only to postage." 



The Constitution Avas signed by the eleven persons present ; after 

 which the following officers, for the then ensuing year, were elected : 

 President, Allen H. Atwater, of Oak Grove ; Secretary, J. A. Hadley, 

 of Watertown ; Treasurer, Luther A. Cole, of WatertoAvn ; Executive 

 Committee, William M. Dennis and Benjamin Fuller, of Dodge county ; 

 Linus R. Cady and John Richards, of Jefferson county. The Executive 

 Committee then appointed one Vice-President for each town in the two 

 counties. 



A meeting of the Executive Committee was held at Watertown on the 

 21st day of August following, at which it was resolved to hold a Cattle 

 Show and Fair at Oak Grove, on the 2d day of October. At the same 

 meeting. Committees to award premiums Avere appointed. 



The First Annual Fair was held agreeably to appointment. At this ex- 

 hibition the display of hv./ses, cattle, swine, and sheep, Avas highly credit- 

 able to the f .rmers of the two counties. Of domestic manufactures, 

 farming implements, fruit, and vegetables, the competition was less than 

 had been expected. The amount of \ remiums aAvarded was ^54 63. The 

 highest premium Avas 81 75, and the loAA'est tAventy-iiA-e cents. After 

 paying these premiums, and other expenses of the Society, including 

 papers to its members, the treasurer found in his hand a balance of 

 85 68. His total receipts had been $75. Sixty-four members were added 

 to the Society on the day of the Fair, making the total number of mem- 

 bers up to that date, seventy-five. 



The attendance upon the Fair was large. There could not have been 

 less than one thousand five hundred or two thousand persons present. 

 On the whole, the Fair gave very general satiafaction. That it has 

 excited a spirit of laudable emulation on the part of the farmers and me- 



