EARLY HISTORY OF THE STATE AGRI- 

 CULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A PAPER PREPARED BY PROF. J. C. HOLMES, OF DETROIT, AND READ 

 BY HIM AT THE IONIA MEETING, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2, 1874. 



Gextlemex : — A very few days since I received a note from the secretary of 

 this association requesting me to prepare a paper upon the early history of the 

 Michigan State Agricultural Society. Had he made this request at a date 

 sufficiently early to allow me time to comply therewith, I would have done so 

 with pleasure. The very few days thai have elapsed since I received the sec- 

 retary's note have been so filled with a multiplicity of cares I have hardly had 

 time to devote a thought to the matter, but I will try to give a few items. 



1830, WHEN A TERRITORY. 



In the Northwest Journal of May 12, 1830, published at Detroit, I find the 



following editorial, viz.: 



"Agricultoual Societies. — We have more than once urged the establishmeut of these 

 useful associations in the Territory. We advert to the subject now simply for the purpose 

 of asking if no measures of encouragement be within the competency of the Territorial 

 Legislature," 



In the same journal, under date of October 30, 1830, I find a notice of what 



was probably the first agricultural society organized in Michigan. This notice 



says : 



"At an adjourned meeting of the farmers of the county of Oakland, held pursuant to an 

 adjournment, at the house of Solomon Close, in the village of Poutiac, on Monday, the 6th 

 of October, 1830, to take into consideration the expediency of forming an agricultural 

 society, Amos Mead, Esq., was chairman, and C. A. Chipman, secretary."* 



On motion of J. P. Sheldon, it was decided by the meeting that it is expe- 

 dient to form a society for the promotion of agriculture. 



*0n the 11th of January, 1875, I wrote to Mr. C. A. Chipmau, and received the followinj^ answer: 



RocHESTEE, January 13, 1875. 

 /. C Holmes, Esq. : 



DeauSir: — Your favor of Uie llth inst. was received this morning. There was formed in 1S3I) an Agricul- 

 tural Society in Oakland county, of which I was secretary. A few of the farmers of the county met at 

 Solomon Close's, and agreed to organize a society, to be called the Oakland Agricultural Society of Oakland 

 coanty. Amos Mead was chairman and I was its secretary. Mr. Mead and myself were appointed a com- 

 mittee to draught a constitution, which was adopted at an adjourned meeting of the society. As the county 

 was then quite new, very few farmers took any interest in the society. Amos Mead was chairman and I 

 made secretary at the adjourned meeting. I think this was the last meeting of the society. There had been 

 no premium list and no exhibition of the society. It fell still-boru upon the county. 



.Very respectfully vours, etc., 



c. A. ciriPMArr. 



