260 GENERAL HISTORY. 



Samuel 0. Kuapp, a native of Royalton, Vermont, settled in Jackson 

 in 1844, where he resided until his decease, in January, 1883, with the 

 exception of about four years (from 1847 to 1851) which he spent in the 

 upper peninsula»niining region, during which time he discovered and opened 

 the celebrated iMinnesota copper mine. He early manifested a fondness for 

 fruit culture, as well as for horticulture generally, and indulged somewhat 

 extensively, as an amateur, in the planting and testing of varieties, both of 

 fruits and ornamental plants. He, at the same time, expended means freely 

 and judiciously in the arranging, planting, and ornamenting of the ample 

 grounds attached to his residence at Jackson. These grounds were highly 

 commended by the committee of the State Horticultural Society, who visited 

 and examined them in September, 1883. His example has been highly in- 

 fluential in developing the horticultural taste of the city of Jackson and its 

 vicinity. 



Mr. Knapp was a life member of the State Horticultural Society, and was 

 elected its president at its annual meeting in December, 1874, which position 

 he, however, declined. 



Numerous small nurseries were established very soon after the settlement 

 of the county, which supplied trees for many if not most of the earlier or- 

 chards, but they seem to have been intended to subserve a temporary purpose, 

 and to have disappeared soon after the early wants had been supplied. 



The early settlers usually planted orchards as soon as suitable ground could 

 be prepared, but very few seem to have embarked in the business solely for 

 commercial purposes. Among such, however, Townshend E. Gidley and Dan- 

 iel Cook are noteworthy cases, as was that of Harwood & Dunning who planted 

 a large orchard in 1855 and 185G, upon the lands of M. Shoemaker, which pro- 

 duced well for a time, but which no longer exists. 



Peaches were successful here prior to the winter of 1854 and '55, when the 

 trees were either killed or seriously injured by severe cold, since which he 

 crop of this fruit has proved uncertain, although orchards of greater or less 

 extent still exist, and when on rolling and elevated lands are in some cases 

 fairly successful. 



A County Agricultural Society was organized in 1852. A local agricult- 

 ural Society was also organized at Springport in 1873. These societies de- 

 vote more or less attention to horticulture, and especially to the culture of 

 fruits. 



On April 3d, 1880, tlie Jackson County Horticultural Society was organ- 

 ized as auxiliary to the Michigan State Horticultural Society, with W. K. 

 Gibson as president, and R. T. McNaughton as secretary. 



The State Agricultural Society held its annual fairs on the grounds of the 

 County Agricultural Society at Jackson, in 18G9 and 1870, and the Uuion 

 fair of that and the State Horticultural Society also occurred here in 1870 and 

 1877, and again in 1881 and 1882, returning here after a three years' absence, 

 in 1886. 



With the growth of the city of Jackson and the development of the adjacent 

 country, several extensive greenhouses, with other kindred establishments 

 have sprung into existence to supply the increased demand for plants and flow- 

 ers for decorative and other purposes. 



Excellent taste and judgment is also said to have been displayed in the 

 laying out of the city cemetery, although the lack of data precludes more 

 than a bare mention of it. 



