Switzerland and Ohio County [Indiana] Fair report appeared in:

Vevay Reveille – 19 Sep 1895 – Page 4, Column 1

THE FAIR AT VEVAY
Was Viewed by Thousands—87 Exhibitors Made a Grand Display of 379 Articles.

Last Saturday was a gala day in Vevay—the weather being delightful and the town filled with happy people. They viewed the water works, saw the firemen throw water very high in the air, enjoyed walking on the finest sidewalks in the State, drove over smooth streets with covered gutters, were sheltered from the sun by the magnificent trees in Court House Square, feasted their eyes on the grand display of the products of the soil and the artistic skill of the people of Switzerland county, met their friends—and all were made wiser and happier.

Here is what was shows:
243 exhibits of apples, 17 of pears, 5 of grapes, 11 of quinces, 3 of plums, 2 of peaches, 17 of potatoes, 1 of onions, 2 of pumpkins, 3 of melons, 15 of corn, 9 of wheat, 1 of clover seed, 1 of timothy seed, 23 of tobacco; 18 of jellies, preserves, &c.; 7 of bread and cakes, 7 of flowers.

The different Townships were represented by the following number of exhibitors:
Jefferson 31, Craig 33, Pleasant 19, Cotton 3, York 1, Posey none.

Posey with her fine farms and rich bottoms should do better. Perhaps next year that Township will make a showing that will carry away most of the premiums.

The following persons received premiums on fruit:

• Maiden Brush; 1st Jasper N. Brindley, 2d John Houze.
• Smith Cider; 1st George W. Cole; 2d J. C. Smith.
• Roman Beauty; 1st Edgar Culbertson, 2d Geo. J. Waltz.
• Wine Sap; 1st J. O. Houze, 2d Wm. H. Means.
• Rambo; 1st Robert Shaw, 2d J. N. Brindley.
• Yellow Bellflower; 1st Joseph Ramseyer, 2d J. O. Houze.
• Tulpehocken; 1st J. H. Houze, 2d Levi Orem.
• Rawls Janet; 1st J. N. Brindley, 2d Edgar Culbertson.
• Baldwin; 1st Joseph Bliss, 2d Geo. J. Waltz.
• Northern Spy; 1st Geo. W. Cole, 2d Edgar Culbertson.
• Grimes Golden; 1st Jas. S. Rutherford, 2d Geo. W. Cole.
• Vandever Pippin; 1st J. O. Houze, 2d Geo. J. Waltz.
• Clayton; 1st Geo. W. Cole, 2d Harry C. Shaw.
• Crabs; 1st J. O. Houze, 2d J. F. Brown.
• Best General Collection, J. O. Houze.

Some fruit out of all exhibits, as well as those awarded premiums, were selected to be taken to the State Fair.

John Houze secures the special prize, 25 choice fruit trees, offered by Frank Milhous, the nursery man.

The awards on corn were as follows:

• White Corn; 1st Wm. W. Brindley, 2d Wm. H. Means.
• Yellow Corn; 1st Ira Banta, 2d Jos. Bliss.
• Best Collection of Corn, Ira Banta.

The premiums on wheat were as follows:

• Red Wheat; 1st Wm. Glenn, 2d Wm. Glenn.
• White Wheat; 1st Robert McFadden.
• Amber Wheat; 1st Wm. Glenn, 2d Edgar Culbertson.
• Best Collection, Robert McFadden.

Clover and timothy seeds.

• Clover Seed; 1st Edgar Culbertson
• Timothy Seed; 1st James Ramseyer.

Switzerland County being the banner of tobacco raising county of the State, it was naturally expected that there would be much friendly rivalry. Out of 23 exhibits, Charles Sauvain, of Craig Township, received first premium of $5, and Silas E. Silvers, of Pleasant, received the second premium of $2.50.

Experienced tobacco men say that they never looked upon a finer display.

Considering the unfavorable season, the public opened their eyes wide with astonishment when they saw the big “taters.” Premiums were awarded as follows:

• Peerless; 1st Harry C. Shaw, 2d Geo. J. Watz
• Early Ohio; 1st Jos. Bliss.
• Beauty of Hebron; 1st Jos. Ramseyer, 2d Jos. Bliss.
• Canada Victor; 1st Jas. F. Taylor, 2d Robt. McFadden.
• White Elephant; 1st Geo. J. Waltz.
• Chicago Star; 1st Mrs. B. N. Northcott.
• Best collection of six varieties, Robt. McFadden.
• Collection Sweet Potatoes, 1st S. D. Lockwood.

Onions and Peaches:

• Collection Onions; 1st Joseph Ramseyer.
• Collection Peaches; 1st William Berner.

A very fine display of pears was on exhibition, and the awards were as follows:

• Bartletts; 1st Robt. Shaw; 2d. Geo. W. Cole.
• Sicket; 1st Robt. Shaw, 2d Geo. J. Waltz.
• Keiffer; 1st Geo. J. Waltz, 2d Robt. Scott.
• Best collection, Robt. Shaw.

Grapes and Quinces:

• Best collection grapes; 1st Barbara Stucy, 2d S. D. Lockwood.
• Quinces; 1st J. O. Houze, 2d Cornelius Cordon.

The east side of the court house was transferred into a “bower of beauty.” The finest blooming flowers, climbing vines, fancy ferns, waving palms, both cut and growing, greeted the eye.

For best collection of flowers: 1st Mrs. Jane Morerod; 2d Mrs. Susie W. Scoot.

Best collection ferns; Mrs. James Knox.

Other exhibits were perhaps just as fine, but not so numerous.

Table comforts in abundance were to be seen. The lady Judges reached their conclusions as speedily and satisfactorily as the gentlemen.

The following premiums were granted:

• Best collection of jellies; Mrs. S. D. Lockwood, 2d Mrs. Lucinda Oakley.
• Best collection of preserves; 1st Mrs. S. D. Lockwood, 2d Mrs. Rillie Mennet.
• Best collection canned fruit; Lucinda Oakley, 2d Mrs. Rillie Mennet.
• Best collection pickles; 1st Mrs. S. D. Lockwood, 2d Mrs. Rillie Mennet.
• Best collection homemade bread; 1st Lucinda Oakley, 2d Clara Rous.
• Best collection homemade cakes, Lucinda Oakley.

Vevay Reveille – 19 Sep 1895 – Page 8, Column 1

THE ENTERPRISE FAIR
Has come and gone. Just as we predicted, it was a success. We had about ten thousand witnesses to prove our statement.

Yes, and they had water there, and horses, mules, cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, grain, seeds, vegetables, and fruits; about all kinds of domestic animals and farm products known to this latitude, and the specimens were truly fine.

Yes, and the fast horse was there.

The best time in the free for all pace, 2:20. One half mile in this race was made in 1:11.

That is the fastest time ever made on this track in pacing or trotting. In this race:

• Ivy G., owned by A. C. Bonham, Cleves, Ohio, took the 1st.
• McGinty Lady, Geo. S. Richardson, Madison, Indiana, 2d.
• Adlai, Morgan C. Davis, Rising Sun, 3d.

In the free for all trot, best time 2:30:

• Mamie Phillips, Jas. Phillips, China, Indiana, 1st.
• Black King, J. R. Stark, Sulphur Station, Kentucky, 2d.
• Cheyne, B. T. Buford, Lexington, Kentucky, 3d.

Running race, time 52:

• Whisper, Ed. Marshall, Warsaw, Kentucky, 1st.
• Lee Gridley, Chas. Gregory, Warsaw, Kentucky, 2d.
• Cooney Cobb, L. S. Delf, Elliston Station, Kentucky, 3d.

Green trot, time 2:31: Rand 1st; Geo. Evans 2d; Flossie 3d.

Three minutes pace, time 2:33. Wilkes B 1st; Adlai 2d; Susie 3d.

Three minutes trot, time 2:40. Rand 1st, Feardoom 2d; Margarette 3d.

We can’t name all the exhibitors of horses in draft, general purpose, light harness, saddle and teams, therefore we name none. We only say there were shown 52 rings of horses and mules. Most of them were full and fine, eight or nine in some rings.

The show of cattle was also good. The exhibitors of dairy cattle, Jerseys, &c., were Geo. Bunger, J. H. Beckett, M. V. Turner, Bell Bovard, C. L. Lee, Albert Houze, A. P. Goodner, and J. M. Hall.

Exhibitors of beef cattle, short horns, &c., were Wm. Bunger & Son, M. V. Turner, Wm. Cunningham & Son, James Gullion, and Walter S. Wilson.

The show of hogs were also large. Of large breeds, Poland, &c., &c., T. W. Lewis, Jas. Gullion, and Wm. Cunningham & Con.

Hogs of smaller breeds, Berkshire, &c. Exhibitors, H. L. Nowlin and T. W. Lewis.

The sheep were fine: South Downs, Cunningham & Pate. Oxford Downs, John Bakes, Wm. Cunningham & Son. Shopshire Downs, Stephen J. Searcy, Cunningham & Pate. Sweepstakes, John Bakes, Cunningham & Pate.

Poultry exhibitors: C. L. Lee, Curtis Gullion, Wm. Cunningham & Son, H. L. Nowlin, John Davis, and others.

The display of grain and vegetables, fruits, &c., was very large and fine. Can’t name exhibitors; scores of them.

The ladies department was filled to overflowing with about everything good to eat and wear and please the fancy.

The ladies bicycle race did not materialize. They have probably learned from their association with men that there is possibility of being beat in this world. After the novelty has worn off a little and they have had more experience in cycle riding, they doubtless will enter in the contest and make as fair a record in this, “compared with men,” as they have in other professions and business. We know the women are a success in everything they undertake and we are glad of it.

The Men’s Bicycle Race was hotly contested.

• Frank May, North Vernon, Indiana, 1st.
• S. Howard, Ghent, Kentucky, 2d.
• John Fehr, Vevay, Indiana, 3d.

We only got the time on 1/2 mile, 1:24.

Altogether there were more than 1500 separate entries besides many articles in collections. All of which were on exhibition. The receipts were sufficient to pay all premiums and expenses of Fair and a little surplus, without selling bonds.

Now to those few persons who stand on the corners, like the good Phariscc, “and thank God that they are not like other men,” and would not go to a fair for fear some bad person might be there; we have only to say that thousands of people as god by nature and presumably better by practice than you, were there, and they got away alive. Please don’t throw stones at them. There may have been a few toughs on the fairgrounds but far the greater number of this class stayed outside as you did and miles from the fairground is where most thieving and lawlessness prevailed. Some boys got into an altercation at the far, they were arrested promptly. Another man was caught handling whiskey, he was arrested and put under bond for appearance at Court. Say did you ever hear of such misdemeanors, except on the fairgrounds. The Society maintains her credit for very large and orderly assemblages of the better class of people, for large and fine exhibits of the best products of the country, for the prompt payment of premiums and indebtedness, and she will be heard from again in the year 1896, most assuredly.

W. H. M.