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TWELFTH

ANNUAL ADDRESS

DELIVERED BEFORE THE

MAHONING COUNTY

AGRICULTURAL SOCIET

BY

HON. ELISHA WHITTLESEY,

At Canfield, Ohio, October, 1858.

CANFIELD:

JOHN M. WEBB, PRINTER-SENTINEL OFFICE.

1858.

KSE 48

HARVARD
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
MAR 1 1944

Wolcots Fund

On motion of John M. Edwards, Esq., it was unanimously Resolved, That the society return their thanks to the Hon. ELISHA WHITTLESEY for his able and eloquent address on this occasion; and that we request a copy for publication.

CANFIELD, OCTOBER 20th, 1858.

In complying with the request of the Mahoning county Agricultural Society, to furnish a copy of the address referred to in the resolution, it is necessary to remark, that after most of the address was written, I declined to deliver an address at Salem, at an agricultural fair, at a day anterior to the meeting of the society in this county; but that after consulting some of the members of this society, and availing myself of their suggestion, to use there, such parts of the address prepared for this county fair as I should think proper, my declination was withdrawn. Parts of each, therefore, are the same.

Most sincerely yours,

ELISHA WHITTLESEY.

To F. G. SERVIS, Esq., A. P. FLAUGHER, Esq.

Committee of publication.

ADDRESS

Of Hon. ELISHA WHITTLESEY, delivered before the Mahoning County Agricultural Society, October, 1858.

MR. PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES:-It is with much satisfaction and pleasure I meet you here to day, to mingle in your congratulations, to witness the prosperity of the country as exhibited by the agriculturalists in their stocks of cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, grains and vegetables.

Time has not permitted me to examine all the articles on exbibition. The respective committees in the discharge of their duties will report them, and aim to do justice to their merits.A casual observer however, could not fail to notice the team of thirty-eight yoke of steers and oxen before a timber wagon collected by Henry Beardsley, John Lynn and other young men in Canfield. It entered the ground first, and in good style, each pair gently pressing forward, so that no chain was slack.Military officers never marched a corps of men into the field for parade or battle with greater precision. The young teamsters bore the same kind of whips that were used more than half a century ago, and that no good teamster of oxen ever dispenses with. The team of fifteen yoke of oxen, furnished by Mr. Frank Henry, and by Mr. R. Mathews of Austintown, and that of fourteen yoke, belonging to Mr. M. W. Powers of Youngstown, commanded universal admiration. If these three teams had been driven to Columbus without previous notice, the citizens might have feared an effort was about to be made to remove the seat of government.

Without specially designating any animal of the different kinds, as possessing superior qualities, it gives me pleasure to say, that the exhibition of animals bred in the county, and those from other counties, is highly creditable to the owners, and to the occasion.

The wheat, corn and garden vegetables in their quality and number of samples, far exceed my anticipation.

The ingenuity, skill and industry of the females who liberally brought to the fair a portion of their labors the past year, command admiration. The landscape of Mrs. J. M. Edwards cannot be excelled in beauty and richness. Every person admired it, and was unwilling to believe it was composed of leaves and husks. It should adorn a public or private gallery of paintings in one of the cities.

The representation of pioneer life in the log cabin, out buildings, domestic animals around the cabin, or in the pens and stables, reminds every old settler, of the country as it was fifty years ago. For that group, the exhibition is indebted to Mrs. Newton and daughters of Canfield, and to Miss Harmon of Warren. The exhibition of blankets, bed spreads, and needle work is highly commendable; and it is hoped that mothers, daughters and house keepers will from this day bear in mind the next annual exhibition, and increase the specimens in number, if not excel them in beauty. The properties of a good wife, (and of course those who are qualified to enter into that endearing relation,) as delineated by the wise man two thousand eight hundred and seventy-three years ago, are the same now, as then. They consisted in part, of these: "She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She layeth her hand to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff." The people to whom the proverbs were then known, were required to "give her of the fruits of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates." This is as much our duty to do, as it was theirs; and ladies it is meet to praise you for the exhibitions presented on this occasion. This praise is not in its application restricted to the exhibition, for every one who is acquainted with the domestic circle, knows there are pressing and responsible duties that divert female care and labor to other objects. In other delineations of her character he says: "She stretcheth out her hand to the poor: yea she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. "She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness." "She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness." I trust there is not one of the fair sex present, who is not worthy of "praise in the gates," from some trait of character, that adorns and ennobles her.

By the kind partiality of the president and board of the Mahoning county agricultural society, I am here to address the society and the audience on the subject of agriculture. Con

nected with the labor of tilling the earth, are various interests worthy of notice. Agricultural societies are increasing in number and importance. My belief is, that the first agricultural society in this State, if not the first west of the Allegheny Mountains, was organized in Youngstown. An anonymous notice, given at the request of several gentlemen interested in agricultural science was published in the Chronicle at Warren, on the 26th of November, 1818, requesting a meeting of the farmers of Youngstown and adjacent towns, at James Hillman's in Youngstown, on the 22nd of December following, for the formation of an agricultural society. "Farmers from a distance are requested to attend, as views are entertained that this society will embrace the agricultural interests of the whole country." That notice I have no doubt was drawn by Judge George Tod, who was enthusiastically devoted to agriculture, horticulture and gardening. If his circumstances did not permit him to accomplisk on his own grounds, as much as he desired, his remarks when on the circuit, and at all times when in company with cultivators of the soil, or with those who wished information on these subjects, were freely made, kindly received, and beneficial. On the day appointed, the meeting was held. Samuel Bryson acted as chairman, and Robert Montgomery as clerk, George Tod, William Rayen, and Calvin Pease, were a committee to prepare and report articles of association. The report in due time was made, of which the 1st article was as follows: "The name of this society shall be the Agricultural Society of Trumbull county, and the objects of the society are the promotion and improvement of agriculture, rural economy, and domestic manufactures."

At the second meeting, George Tod was elected President.The society continued in existence four years, and stimulated the farmers, or many of them, to adopt improvements in cultivation; and females vied with each other in fabricating various articles of domestic wear. The dissolution of the society was owing, I believe, to changing the places for its annual meeting. My opinion is, that this society will not come to the same fate, so long as the men and women of the present generation are alive and able to act; and my hope and belief is, that the beneficial efforts of the society will enlarge and increase, and extend to many generations after us. County and State agricultural societies have largely multiplied within the last ten years, with many beneficial effects. The social benefits should not be overlooked, for they are many, and of great interest to the community. We all need some recreation from the toils of our occupations,

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