The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 76

quest; Calvin Leach, of Fleming; Henry Pardee, of Genoa; John E. Terpening, of Ira; J. Hewitt, of Moravia; John S. Clark, of Mentz; M. D. Murfey, of Locke; George Thomson, Jr., of Owasco; Elijah Brown, of Niles; Samuel D. Crowley, of Ledyard; Hector C. Tuthill, of Sempronius; Morell S. Fitch, of Scipio; Henry Fellows, of Sennett; George W. Truesdell, of Springport; J. Barber, of Summer Hill; Joseph Eldridge, of Victory; Mason White, of Venice; and George B. Cole, of Sterling; Horace T. Cook, Secretary.

Larned C. Mann has held one or the other of the responsible offices of secretary or treasurer of this society since its reorganization twenty-three years ago. H. H. Bostwick held the office of Treasurer for six years, John G. Hosmer that of secretary for ten years, and A. B. Hamblin the same office for eight years. It is a compliment to the capacity and fidelity of these officers that they continued so long to discharge, for a trifling consideration, so arduous a duty, and that the records and accounts of the society, for so long a period, have been faithfully kept.

Among those who have delivered addresses before the society are David Thomas, David Wright, Humphrey Howland, B. P. Johnson, Nathan Burchard, and A. S. Divens.

In 1856 a new departure was taken by the introduction of riding, driving and trotting matches. In the "ladies' riding match" in 1856, nine prizes were offered and awarded to as many different ladies, and in the ladies' driving match" seven prizes, Mrs. Henry taking the first prize in both, Miss Smith, the second prize in the "riding match," and Miss Cuykendall, the second prize in the "driving match." It was the first and only experiment of the kind.

In 1856 the conclusion was reached to purchase permanent exhibition grounds and to erect thereon buildings and show-pens, and grade a half mile track. Nineteen acres were bought for this purpose of Henry S. Dunning, at $150 per acre, and the ground fenced and improved with the track, show-pens and necessary buildings, costing in the aggregate about $6,000 and forming ample and very complete accommodations for the intended purpose. An effort was made to change the location of the grounds to the eastern part of the city, provided a sale of present grounds could be made on satisfactory terms. They were accordingly advertised; but satisfactory offers for the same not being made the contemplated change was not effected. This offer to sell the property created the false impression among many that the society was about to disband, which was not contemplated.

Among the novelties and objects of interest often shown at the annual fairs, was an old and unique clock, shown in 1859 by James Law, which was owned by an English sovereign three hundred years ago, a card upon which bore the following inscription:

"Three hundred years have nearly fled
Since my royal owner lost her head;
Amid her country's pomp and power,
I marked the time and told the hour."

MORAVIA AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.-- The constitution of this society was adopted September 20th, 1858, and its by-laws on the 26th of the same month. Sidney Mead was the first president of the society; M. W. Alley, secretary; and E. P. K. Smith, treasurer. Its first purpose was to perfect a town organization for social and agricultural improvement. The first fair was held October 12th, 1858, and annual fairs have now been held for twenty years with very gratifying success, both as respects its financial receipts, which indicate the attendance, and the display of the animals and agricultural and mechanical products, which have regularly increased.

The entire receipts of this society the second year of its existence, from all sources, was but $114, while the total receits for 1877 were $1,229.01. It was early found that the residents in the ten southern towns of the County took a lively interest in this organization, to the administration of which they were admitted in 1859, with the following Vice-Presidents: G.L. Mead, Moravia; E. W. Bateman, Venice; J. C. Smith, Scipio; H. C. Tuthill, Sempronius; E. E. Brown, and H. W. Lockwood, Niles; Grover Stoyell, Summer Hill; Jonathan Conklin, Locke; Albert Lester, Genoa; and Thomas Gould, Ledyard. the Directors appointed at the same time were Sidney Mead, James H. Jewett, P. M. Stoddard, John Cortright, E. P. K. Smith, and P. D. Livingston. The southern towns of the County were this year cordially invited to participate in all operations of the society and the invitation was generally accepted. This cooperation has since been uniformly maintained, so that, though bearing the local name of the town in

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