GAZETTE SEPT. 12, 1889
THE WAPSIE FAIR.
The Principal Entries in the Various Classes and Some of the Awards Made
What the Attractions of the Second Day Were and How the Great Crowd Enjoyed Itself
A Magnificent Display and Great Enthusiasm Manifested by the Managers and People
With the opening of the fair Tuesday one might have enjoyed what is better than any mere display of products, witnessing the hearty good will with which the citizens threw themselves into the enjoyment of the occasion. One would go far before finding another place where the same good will prevailed.
Perhaps under the surface of things there are the same little jealousies and personal or factional animosities In the Valley of the Wapsi as there are elsewhere, but if this is true they did not crop out on this festal occasion. The grounds were absolutely deserted in the early morning and but one exhibitor had his display in the floral hall and that one was a Cedar Rapids man, H. C. Waite. There was no stock on the ground, as the boys say there was “no nothing.” But as the day wore on the farmers commenced to come in and until five o’clock in the evening the line was unbroken and the animals filled the grounds and created a flurry about the secretary’s office.
The cattle as they came presented a fine sight for there were blooded ones in all the degrees of pedigreed greatness. A. K. Crew brought In “Rocksy C,” a standard bred 2-year-old horse whose dam was by Escort, sire St. Cloud.
P. T. Henderson who hails from over near Coggon and whom every one knows as a mighty good farmer like all the Henderson tribe, had two Shetland ponies that are beauties, the smaller weighing fifty pounds when foaled and not looking much bigger yet.
I. H. Crew had Dixie, a sleek two year-old, Hambletonian that took first prize over at the Anamosa fair last week. He also had Patsie a beautiful yearling that will do good for the stock of the county. Bowdish Bros were in the line from Waubeek with Escort 4497 a standard bred stallion and the finest in the state, as well as a Durham bull, Wiley Duke, weighing 2,100.
J. Bailey, C. H. Whitcomb and J. Crew are the joint owners of Marnix, an imported Belgian stallion that went down the line amid general expressions of admiration.
T. J. Gardner of Troy Mills, had a bunch of horses with him that couldn’t be beaten any where There was Goldsmith, a standard bred with a record of 2:22 and Black Prince, a stallion that was not only a beauty, but the best road horse on the ground probably, and last there was Black Prince, a great jet black fellow, three-year-old, full blooded and one of the finest draft horses that ever sniffed Wapsipinicon air. He weighs 1,660 and was imported by the Hon. H. C. Wheeler of Sac County who knows all about horses even if he can’t be governor.
J.W. Canfield had two colts by Escort, one a Morgan and the other a Norman dam.
Chas. J. Claire had a Norman grade draft team of admirable proportions, and besides brought a fine Clyde with colts, making a nice bunch that attracted great attention.
Wm. Barclay showed an English draft colt, which was a beauty. It was as round as a barrel and in color was a strawberry roan. With a few gets of that strain the county stock will be improved, for the colt shows great promise.
George Barber had a couple of yearling mules that looked very trim, and let me say right here that the Wapsie Valley farmers have demonstrated that there is money in raising mules. He also had a Golddust yearling mare of great promise.
A. D. Flickner showed a draft horse of French Belgium breed, a two-year-old which can’t be beaten in a days’ ride.
C. C. Plumley entered a French coacher, which is out of Bryants, a little beauty in its way, too.
Peter G. Henderson – and his name occurres everywhere in the- exhibits as befits one who is the “father of the fair,”—had four mules, trim, clean-limbed animals, two of them as black as night.
W. H. Beebe had a two-year-old common purpose colt that looked nice enough to have a long pedigree. And speaking about pedigrees reminds us that there were here in plenty.
Every farmer who had a horse entered had his pedigree in his pocket and at his tongues end. He knew his horse, and what is more, he knew all about the good points in his neighbors’ horses. In fact they illustrated pretty well what Intelligent farming means, not a mere acquaintance with the facts relative to the rotation of crops, but a real knowledge of the Intricacies of their profession. There was more talk—not boastful, showy talk—but quiet, earnest discussion about this and that horse, about the strain of blood and the lines of descent from Truro or Abdullah, Director or Rysdyks Hambletonian, St. Julien or Lady Suffolk than I could transcribe In a month.
THE CATTLE
Then in the cattle stalls there was a display that would have done any stockman good. Chandler Jordan, who has been raising fine blooded stock for twenty years and who has unquestionably done more to improve the stock of the county than any other man in it. This same Chandler Jordan—brought in twenty-seven head of the prettiest Shorthorns anyone ever saw. There were cows, calves and bull and they represented, I doubt not, a small fortune. There was the bluest blood that ever went coursing under the tan-colored hide of a cow, and there were milkers that would seem like a whole creamery to those fellows who never lived in Iowa and who don’t know what a shorthorn is capable of. Mr. Jordan ought to feel proud of his display and Central City ought to feel a good deal prouder of him.
Then Peter G. Henderson brought in a neat bunch of Red Polled cattle from his farm. He had five cows and five calves and two yearling heifers, and last and biggest of all he had two bulls, one of them was the celebrated Slasher 2d which he purchased from Gen. L. F. Ross, the Iowa City Polled cattle king, and the other was the Duke of Dayton which Mr. Henderson bought In Ohio. I am glad that titles are reserved for cattle in this democracy of ours. It is a good thing that we can bestow upon these four footed aristocrats some high patrician prefix. They deserve it. So the Duke of Dayton can wear his title without anyone feeling an envious pang, because he deserve it, he has the look of an ancestral Duke, and I doubt not has a pedigree as long as your arm to back.
J. L. Hoyle had fine herds of Jersey cows and four calves that looked fully equal to the task of representing their native heath and competing for the laurels.
F. D. Hall had a superb Holstein bull, as fine a one could see anywhere and a great beauty.
W. E. Bundy who has only recently moved here from Ohio and settled near Springville, brought over six Spanish merino and eight Delane Merino sheep besides a merino ram that certainly deserved a great big prize. This particular ram Mr. Bundy paid five hundred dollars for. Yet, after looking into his meek and lowly face one would just as lief meet a common scrub $2 ram in an open field. Mr. Bundy is a famous sheep grower though and he brought eighty of his choicest flock with him; their wool is something wonderful to behold and this same ram gave up 37 lbs. At the spring shearing and already has a crop that makes him perspire continually under the September sun.
THE PIGS
There were famous pigs, too.
P. Bowdish had a $40 boar and six pigs of the Poland China strain.
C. A. Palmer displayed a sow and seven pigs, Chester whites, which showed exceptional merit.
Frank and Eugene Doe had six Poland Chinas and H. B. Fay of Troy Mills, also had some Poland China when he came in from his big stock farm.
Of course this is not a full list of the exhibitors, but it is the fullest that could be compiled during the confusion of the opening. The managers soon found that their accommodations were inadequate. The croakers had assured them that they were foolish to build so many stalls, that there would not be half enough stock to fill them, and other equally encouraging things which the croaker always finds to say when somebody else is doing the hustling. But the thing was just the reverse. For there were, not stalls enough for all who came. Such a turn out of horses and cattle, pigs and sheep was not to be expected at the first fair. So there was too much confusion to get an absolutely compete list of the entries in these departments. But these are the principal ones which were assigned quarters up to four o’clock Tuesday.
CHICKENS
The poultry department is in charge of Dr. North, the physician of Springville. Robert Forrest has a display of Light Brahmas, P.G. Henderson, Langsbans. Mrs. G. M. Meeker also shows Langsbans. Henry Porter, red and white Bantams; E. R. Moore of Central City, Brown Leghorns; C. A. Palmer,
Partridge Cochins; Henry Meeker Turkeys; N. E. Storrs Plymouth Rock and Light Brahmas.
IN FINE ART HALL
Entering the Fine Art Hall, which has been wonderfully transformed since Tuesday morning, the most striking object is the display made by H. C. Waite of Cedar Rapids, presided over by Sam Brinkerhoff. A number of handsome instruments tastefully grouped in a decorated pavilion, showed at once the enterprise and capability of the firm and the manager here.
Krebs Bros, made a line display of white bronze monumental work.
In the doorway of the hall hung a screen cage in which was a huge hornets nest with hundreds of the active insects swarming over it. A placard read as follows:” The original Wapsie Valley Farmer—the oldest settler—entered for the sweepstakes premium in all classes. Property of T. L. Smith and W. P. Knapton. For sale 5 cents each. Improved stock”
The general decorations of the hull were highly article. The bare walls, which looked so unprepossessing Tuesday morning, were hidden by bunting and by hundreds of articles of gay colors and handsome design, which were contributed in the various classes. The ladies had wrought a veritable transformation scene, and the hall would really be creditable to any fair in the state, the general character being far above the average.
Mrs., Knapton, superintendent of tile children’s’ and young peoples’ department has a particularly fine display of household articles, cooking, painting, etc. Among the chief exhibitors Mrs. John Pelley has a tine lot of California specimens; Mrs. W. B. Knapton has a. case of fine specimens, foreign and American. Mrs. Wood, 89 years old, has three old articles of domestic economy; Mrs. Irving Bowdish has a line exhibit of old relics, an Indian war club which saved the life of her father, General Harrison; an old spinning wheel; Mr. Daniel Smith has relics; Mrs. H.S. Haskell has old china, ‘250 years old; Mrs. G. Burger has old china which has been in the family 5 generations; Dr. Piercy, Chinese relics, a mirror, 1000 years old; Mrs. N. M. Finsen, old books; M. C. Gilllgan, old book; Mr. Worth, English coin collection; Mrs. McCormick, an exhibit three hundred years old: Mr. Andy Johnson, curio; 100 years old from Germany: Mr. John Cutler, a revolutionary looking-glass and other things.
Among the other exhibitors of fancy work are Mrs. Maggie Alston, Miss Nora Burger, of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Katie Fox, carved wood work; Mrs. Julia Crane, sofa pillow; Miss Jennie Smith, the Messrs Pelley, Miss Mary English, Miss Fannie Porter, a twelve year old child, who shows a miniature stove and cooking. Miss Belle Davis of Marion, drawn work. The Misses Burger crochet tidies. Miss Maud Heaton bread, while among the general contributors were Miss Susie Heaton, Miss H. F. Smith. Sadie Craft, Lena Finson, Edith Johnson, Calla Hatch. Jennie Hall, Floy Gillian, Cordis Reed, Jennie Smith. Mary Pepley, Della Hodgin, Edith Burns, Orie Crew. Mertle Whitcomb, Miss English, Mertle Giffin, Bird Finson and May Parson.
HOME MANUFACTURES
The department of home manufactures presided over by Mrs. George Copping was very complete. Linday Hoyle contributed a number of tubs of butter, Mr. J. A. Wagor honey and preserves in alcohol, Mrs. Plumley, Mrs. Bowdish. Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Wagor, Mrs. Barclay and Miss Croft brought quilts, the latter bringing a quilt with l0, 848 pieces in it.
Millicent Greg, blind and aged eighty brought a beautiful quilt worked by herself.
Mrs. Joseph Smith, Mrs. McCormack and others exhibited bed spreads, Eliza Hutchins and others brought rugs.
A. W. Eldridge of Central City made a fine display of harness.
Mrs. Will McCormack, whose department was the art and fancy work, had one of the most attractive in the building.
Mrs. Jordan, Miss McTavlsh, Mrs. Hatch, Mrs. Sawyer, Miss Gilliland, Mrs. Huston, Mrs. Patterson exhibited oil paintings.
In crayon work Mrs. Mason and Miss Hatch were represented.
Mrs. McHenry showed three fine feather wreathes
Mrs. Blanche Jordan and others had hair wreathes of great delicacy
Miss Barrow of Cedar Rapids, made a very elaborate display of fine embroidery and ribbon work. Miss Ida Wiggons, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Hatch showed fine table scarfs
Mrs. Hatch, Mrs. Evans and Miss Jordan sofa pillows
Very pretty specimens of outline work was exhibited by Mesdames Sawyer, Outing and Wiggins Mrs., Jordan, and Mrs. Evans, showed some very fine painted banners
Lina Vinson, Miss Wiggins, Mrs. Bliss, Mrs. S. J. Walker, Miss Cora Wortman, Mrs. Page and others had worked tidies in display
Quite a little display was made also of crochet lace made by Mrs. Page, Miss Reid, Mrs. Wortman, Miss Craft, while infant garments in the same general class were contributed by a large number of exhibitors.
There was also a very large display of flowering and other shrubs and plants which had been banked up with great regard for beauty and which heightened the general effect of the hall.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
The display of fruit and vegetables was, as might be expected in such a productive region large and interesting. The special department was under the charge of Mr. Francis Blakely. The contributors were C.P. Osborn, Joseph Smith, J. R. McHenry, A. Rice, Mrs. Burtis, Clark Fern, W. Barkley,
D. Jayne, C. A, Huston, J. Wagor, Mrs. Hatch, John Mineheart, Nah Finistenmaker, Lou Gillian, Mrs. McBurney of Spring Grove.
Perhaps the agriculturalist never made a more ample exhibitor fruits of the tree and the vine than this. In apples the display was remarkably good, covering the finer specimens of all the varieties that can be raised in this state. Then there are pumpkins, which in size are colossal; blackberry vines that climb out of sight, turnips that would make a strong man tired to carry, and watermelons that are big enough to tempt a newspaperman to theft.
Among the new varieties of fruit exhibited are the “lemon melon” from C. A. Huston’s place at Waubeek. These are really muskmelons, though resembling a lemon in color and texture.
THE CROWD
The crowd is greatly in excess of the opening, and of course the grounds are in better shape for the reception of visitors. Order is growing out of chaos. The fakir has put in his appearance in great number and the yell of the lemonade man resounds in the land, while the artist with the wheel invites investment on the red or the black.
Marion came up in force yesterday morning arriving at 10 o’clock and by that time the grounds were well filled while it was evident the crowd was just beginning to come in.
The premiums awarded up to 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon were:
CORN
P.L.Holden, Central City, first premium on white corn
H. R. Meeker, Central City, first premium on yellow corn
W. H. Barley, Springville, first premium on sweet corn
Wyatt Perry, Central City, second premium on sweet corn
Levi Ellis, Waubeek, first premium on pop corn
Levi Ellis, Waubeek, first premium on timothy seed
Worth English, Waubeek, first premium on calico corn
POTATOES & VEGETABLES
J. N. Dunn, Waubeek, first premium early potatoes
S. Blodgett, Central City, second premium early potatoes
J. N. Dunn, Waubeek, first premium late potatoes
Noah Finstemaker, Central City, second premium late potatoes
Mrs. C. Newman, Central City, first premium on beets
S. Blodgett, Central City, second premium on beets
Mrs. C. Newman, Central City, first premium on tomatoes
G. W. Copping, Springville, second premium on tomatoes
S. Blodgett, Central City, first premium on cabbage
Mrs. Heacox, Waubeek, second premium on cabbage
Chas. Heath, Central City, first premium on garden squash
W. H. Barkley, Springville, second premium on squash
J. R. McHenry, Waubeek, first premium on pumpkins
H. R. Meeker, Central City, second premium on pumpkins
Noah Finstemaker, Central City, first premium on onions
S. Blodgett, Central City, second premium on onions
G. W, Copping, Springville, first premium on melons
J. C. Crew, Marion, first premium on winter radish
John Minchart, Central City, first premium on sweet pumpkins
Worth English of Waubeek, first premium on cucumbers
J. M. Huston, Waubeek, first premium on corn palace
SMALL FRUITS
Mrs. Wm. Butlers, Waubeek, first premium on apples.
W. H. Barkley, Springville, second premium on apples
Minnie Bunger, Central City, first premium on summer apples
G. W, Copping, Springville, second premium on summer apples
L. K. Noys, Springville, first premium on plums
John Hall of Waubeek, Second premium on plums
Clark Pheriu of Springville, first premium on crab apples
W. H. Barkley, Springville, second premium on crab applets
W. H. Barkley, Springville, first premium on black berries
GRAPES
L. R. Noys of Springville, first premium on Concord grapes
L. K. Noys, Springville, first premium on Delaware grapes
L. K. Noys, Springville, first premium on Warden grapes
W. H. Barkley of Springville, first premium on best collection of Fruit.
B. S. Fox, Central City, first premium on fruit palace
HOGS
Robert Alston, Central City, first premium on best boar
Robert Alston, Central City, first and second premiums on two year old boars Also first
on one-year-old boar; first on pigs, second on Poland-China pigs: also four other first
prizes on pigs.
SHEEP
Wm. F. Bundy of Springville, first premium on Spanish Merino, Delane Merino, and Southdown
VEHICLES AND UTENSILS
Todd & Buzzy of Marion, first on top buggy
A. W. Eldridge, Central City, first on sulky.
Todd & Buzzy, first on farm wagon, first on spring wagon, hand sheller, cider mill, sulky plow, potato digger
McAtell, of Central City, first on corn bar harvester
Porter & Co., Central City, first on plow, corn plow, steel wind mill, hay rake and harrow
C. U. Putnam, Marion, first on combined mill and tower
A, L. Hatch of Central City, first on brick
HARNESS
A. W. Eldridge of Central City, took all the premiums offered
BABY SHOW
Mrs. Anderson, Waubeek, first:
Mrs. G. W. Anderson, Waubeek, second
LADY RIDING
Ella Myers, Central City, first
Miss M. Jenkins, Central City, second
LADY DRIVING
Mrs. Anderson, Waubeek, first.
BOY RIDING
J. S. Bowdish, Waubeek, first
David Scroggins, second
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
H. C. Waits, Cedar Rapids, took first premium on all musical Instruments
MULES AND JACKS
P. G. Henderson, Central City, first on jacks and first on span of mules
Levi Ellis, Waubeek, second on span of mules
FOWLS
N. E. Storrs, Marion, first on light Brahmas
C. A. Palmer, Marion, first on Partridge Cochins
J. N. Walker, Central City, first on Langsbans
P. G. Henderson, Central City, second
N. E. Storrs, Marion, first en Plymouth
Rocks; E. M. Moore, Central City, first on Brown Leghorns
Wm. Griffin, Central City, first on golden bantams
Fannie F. Porter, Central City, first on red and white bantams
Mrs. H. K. Meeker, Central City, first on white Holland turkeys
ART, NEEDLEWORK, ETC.
Mrs. P. Porter, Central City, first on rag carpet
Mrs. Joseph Smith, Waubeek, first on knit counterpane
Mrs. E. Newman, Central City, second on knit counterpane
Mrs. William Goldsberry, Central City, first on rug
Mrs. Joseph Smith, Waubeek, second on rug
Mrs. Porter, Central City, first on button hole work
Mrs. 0. Page, Central City, first on laundered shirt
Mrs. E. Newman, Central City, second
PANTRY STORES
S B Mills, Central City, creamery butter
J L Hoyt, Springville, first on dairy butter
D N Braden, Waubeek, second
Mrs. J N Dunn, Waubeek, first on cream cake
Mrs. Annie Grover, Central City, second
Mrs. Annie Grover, Central City, first on chocolate cake
J Wagor, Waubeek, first on comb honey
Mrs. H L Hatch, Central City, second
Mrs. E M Sawyer, Central City, first on white bread
Mrs. Scott, Waubeek, second
Mrs. M Rice, Central City, jellies, etc.
The society met and re-elected the old officers Wednesday afternoon.
From Waubeek came one of the most interesting and certainly a unique exhibition yesterday,
There were three miniature “palaces”— and not very small either. One sent by B. S. Fox was built of fruit; another by J. A. Wagor of vegetables, and the last by J. M. Huston was of corn.
The baby show yesterday was a great success. The people concurred in the decision of the judges.
The gate receipts of the fair were $700 Wednesday.
What's the BUZZ... 