THE FIRST FAIR ASSOCIATION 1858 AND 1859
The first attempt for a Fair Association was made in 1858. On the
second of January in that year the Cumberland County Agricultural
Society was formed with, Michael
Ruffuer, as President; C. W.
Pickering, C. C. Jones
and Daniel B. Green, as Vice
Presidents; James M. Ward, as
Treasurer; A. G. Caldwell,
Recording Secretary; and James LaDow,
Corresponding Secretary. This Association held two Fairs in the month
of October 1858 and 1859 at Greenup. The ground selected was an
elevated spot in the north part of the village, which was partially
surrounded by a brush fence. No regular premiums were offered, but cups
and special prizes were offered and competed for in a spirited manner.
The people took an active part in making these exhibitions successful,
and in the event were instrumental in awakening a widespread interest
in the improvement of agricultural subjects. In 1860, the exhibitions
were removed to the county seat, then called Prairie City, and were
held on a ten-acre tract west of town until the fall of 1865. The
association had adopted plan too liberal’ for the financial success of
the enterprise, and at that time the association, finding itself
unsuccessful, disbanded and gave place to a new organization. Under the
new regime the site of the exhibitions was transferred to a plat of ten
acres north of the village. This organization though adopting stricter
rules of membership, proved a failure so far as finances were
concerned. Ten acres were bargained for and Fairs held continuously
from 1866 until about 1874, when the mortgage held on the land was
foreclosed. Another reorganization followed, and the land redeemed, but
the association held it but a short time when this property was sold
and forty acres purchased about oneself a mile southeast of the county
seat Here Fairs were regularly maintained until 1880, when another
reorganization was effected. The Fairs had degenerated somewhat and
were not financially successful. At this juncture certain of the
wealthy stockmen and farmers conceived the design of forming a stock
company. This was done under the name of the Cumberland County District
Agricultural Society. The former associations grounds were purchased
and ten more acres added; large improve - ments were added, such as box
stalls, a large covered amphitheater, new fencing outside and safety
railing on each side of the track, the additional land cleaned of
underbrush, etc., etc.
The organization held its first
exhibition in October 1883, with the following officers:
C.
G. Jones, President; L. L.
Logan, Vice President; William
L. Bruster, Secretary; W. S.
Everhart, Treasurer; A. A. Neal,
W. H. Caty, S. M. Pennington, C. G. Jones, and Veley Perry, Directors. The
stockholders are: L. N. Brewer, A. R.
Huston, W. L. Bruster, C. G. Jones, W. H. Caty, J. A. McCandlish, R. D. Ashwill, W. C.
Prather, Charles Hanker, L. L. Logan, L. B. Ross, Guy M. Lemen, Leon
Sumerlin, Silas White, F. J. Heid, S. C. Miller, A. A. Neal, S. B.
Pennington, F. M. Pennington, Veley Perry, Wesley Perry, George
Starger, Harlow Park, S. C. Holsapple, T. P. Prather, V. E. Clark,
W. S. Everhart.