Youngest Talking Baby Wins Stove at Cortland County Fair

Sen. Warner Miller

The Cortland News, Friday, September 17, 1886.

The County Fair.

A Slim Show and a Big Crowd to see it.

   Sunday's rain and Monday's sunshine fixed the ground in excellent condition for the annual fair of the Cortland County Agricultural Society. The weather on Tuesday, the opening day, was somewhat threatening and but few were in attendance. The features of the day were the named trotting race and the running race. In the former only three heats were trotted, each one being won, according to the judges, by a different horse, although the spectators were of the opinion that "Kittie Clough" was entitled to two of them. The race was finished on Wednesday. Following is the summary, according to the ruling of the judges:

   Kittie Clough, 1 4 3 3 0 *

   Colonel Taylor, 4 2 1 2 3 2

   Grass Hopper, 3 1 2 1 0 1

   Albert Goldsmith, 2 3 4 dr.

   *Distanced by judges for foul driving.

   Time-2:47 1/2; '42 1/2; '43 1/2; '47 1/2; '44; '44 1/2.

   The running race was won by "English Hunter” in three straight heats, “Wild West,” second.

   Wednesday an inspection of Floral Hall showed that there was a small display, although what there was was good.

   A. Mahan had several pianos and organs on exhibition and made a very creditable showing. He was the only dealer who made any display at all in musical instruments.

   H. M. Kellogg, Wilson & VanTuyl, of Homer, and Hulbert, Buck & Hubbard each had a great variety of stoves and ranges on exhibition, which were constantly surrounded by people.

   Kavanaugh & Liddane represented the plumbing interests of Cortland and had really a fine display.

   Aside from these dealers, R. G. Lewis had a full line of flour, feed etc. from his store on Tompkins street.

   Adolph Frost, florist, was, as usual, on hand with a most elegant display of plants and flowers, which, by their beauty and fragrance, kept a large crowd around his exhibit.

   By far the most interesting display was by the W. C. T. U., representing what the children of the different unions had done during the past year. There are eleven unions in the county, ten of which were represented, Cuyler alone failing to send an exhibit. Each was represented by a beautiful floral design. The work of the children represented every possible variety of work, painting, bakestuffs, vegetables, plain sewing, mending, crazy work, plaster casts, canned fruit and blacksmithing, the latter being by Frank R. Hicks, of Virgil, aged 14, which showed a great deal of skill for so small a boy. Vegetables of every variety were here displayed raised by the children from seeds furnished them by Congressman Hiscock at the suggestion of the county union last spring.

   The display of fruits raised in the county included pears, apples, plums and grapes, and although not large, a splendid variety of each was exhibited. There was also the usual show of large vegetables of all kinds, although in a somewhat abridged quantity.

   Spaulding & Gillett exhibited a couple of the celebrated “Breakwater churns” and some butter which was churned in six and one half minutes in the presence of a large number of people. Aside from this there were a few other dairy implements on exhibition.

   Going up stairs we find an exhibit by Eugene Powers, artist, of three water color and two India ink portraits. They are all life-like and finely finished giving the impression to the observer that they were about to speak. Although a great effort was put forth by competitors to out do Mr. Powers, he was awarded four first premiums on his exhibit. The Auburn Portrait Company, represented by D. D. Bugby, had eight, Bert Rood one, and Mrs. Colin Campbell one crayon portrait and four panels of flowers in oil. The latter display, although small, was really fine work and deserves creditable mention, although we believe no premiums were offered for that class of work.

   The Evans Branch Gallery was represented by every description of the photographic art which was by far the finest display of like work ever seen in Cortland. Particularly prominent among the pictures were two 14x17 pictures of Miss Hattie Jones, that for beauty of pose and excellence of finish were the admired of all eyes. The pictures in the exhibit of the Evans Gallery were all the work of Mr. C. H. Overton, and have been made since he came to Cortland. Besides the pictures exhibited there was a full line of frames of all descriptions, the whole arranged in a tasty manner. First premium was awarded on this display.

   An elaborate display of fancy needle work took off something of the bareness of the building and showed that the ladies took far more interest in the fair than the men.

   The New Home Sewing Machine Co., M. L. Decker, agent, had about a dozen of their machines on exhibition, as well as samples of the work done by them.

   Cattle of all kinds were on exhibition in small quantities. C. E. Rowley had a herd of seven Jerseys on the grounds and received six first premiums and one second premium. Alonzo Blodgett also had seven head of the same kind of stock and was awarded three first and two second premiums. Aside from these there were a herd of eleven Holsteins and fourteen Devon cattle. Then there were numerous single animals of all kinds, Ayrshires, Durhams and Alderney's.

   J. L. Gillett was the only one to exhibit poultry of any kind, he having a pen of fourteen fine bronze turkeys.

   That was about all there was on the grounds to see except the crowd of people, which numbered fully 5,000 souls.

   Hon. Warner Miller addressed the people from the east side of Floral Hall, making a good impression on his hearers. Mr. Miller's active work in the passage of the Oleo bill had made him a paragon in the eyes of the farmers of this county who all wanted to see him and hear him talk. They were not disappointed in the man. His remarks were more in the line of good, sound, logical talk than a speech, as that word is understood by the masses.

   The bicycle races were witnessed by all who could get near enough to see them and were heartily enjoyed. They were as follows: The two mile race, open to all, was contested by Frank Olin, of Cortland, and Walter B. Perry and J. P. Becker, of Syracuse. Perry won in seven minutes and twenty-two seconds.

   In the one mile club championship race, Fred Melvin, Charles Viele, J. B. Knickerbocker, D. Brown and Willie Johnson started. Viele was first to finish, Melvin second and Brown third. Time, 3:36 1/2. The one-half mile race, run and ride, between Walter B. Perry, of Syracuse, and Bert Alley, of Moravia, was won by the former in 2:33 1/2. Bert and S. B. Alley, of Moravia, W. Johnson and A. Clark, of Cortland, were the starters in the 100 yard race, which was won by the former in 3:38 1/2 [sic].

   The one-half mile youth’s race was won by M. Keese in 2:13 1/4, T. Norris, of New York, second, E. Norris, third.

   One mile consolation race for those who had contested in the others without winning any prize, was won by S. B. Alley in 3:47 1/2, Fred Melvin, second, and W. Johnson, third.

   There were about fifty wheelmen on the grounds and a great many regrets were expressed by the spectators that there was no club parade, but owing to so many people being obliged (?) to show their fast (?) horses on track it could not be done.

   The 200 yard foot race for boys under 16 years of age, for the special prize of a suit of clothes offered by Collins & Daehler, was won by Dell Carson, aged 15, of Freetown. There were nine starters.

   The third day's programme was annulled and all contests declared off on account of the bad weather.

   The stove given to the youngest talking baby by H. M. Kellogg was awarded to Cora C. Frances, aged one year, nine months and four days.

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   There will be another race between the Emeralds [hose division of Cortland Fire Department—CC editor] and Serviss, of Amsterdam, sometime this month.

   The house on West Court Street belonging to Mrs. Franklin Goodyear has been sold to Frank J. Doubleday.

   Candidates for members of assembly were thicker then flies around a molasses barrel on the fairgrounds Wednesday afternoon.

   "Doc" Smith, the horse trainer, has invented a novel harness attachment in the form of a thill-strap. By its use all danger is obviated by tugs breaking going uphill, or hold backs in coming down. It is very simple in arrangement, being nothing more than a loop which is made tight around the thill when the girth is buckled. On Tuesday he was testing it with three in a buggy going up and down Court House hill with both tugs and hold-backs unfastened. He has applied for a patent.

   On Nov. 2, 1885, Daniel Sherwood, of Homer, was riding on a New York Central train from Rochester to Syracuse and was sitting near an open car window. Suddenly a gust of wind brought into the car a shower of cinders, which completely filled Mr. Sherwood's eyes, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered, and is now nearly bind. He was insured in the Rochester Mutual Aid and Accident Association for $2,000 for total disability or a weekly indemnity of $10. He has repeatedly presented his claim to the company for adjustment, but they have refused to entertain it. Messrs. A. P. & D. C. Smith, his attorneys, have commenced a novel action to recover it. The company have been mandamased to levy an assessment on the members of the association to pay the claim.

TOWN CORRESPONDENCE.

PREBLE, September 16, 1886.

   Our village school began on Monday of this week. George Barker, of Tully, was elected principal of the academy in this place.

   Bennett Hollow school began Monday of this week. Miss Hattie Havnes is the teacher.

   There ought to be an oleomargarine factory in this vicinity as the farmers are losing a large number of swine by hog cholera, and that would be a good way to work off the carcasses.

   The anti-Grange held a clam bake picnic on Thursday of last week at James Beattie's grove. Morris Spoure and James Beattie were master of ceremonies. Dancing was indulged in both day time and evening. Tinker's string band furnished the music.

   James Van Buskirk has received the school at Scott village for the winter term. There either must be some attraction over there or he is an uncommon teacher for he has taught there for a number of terms.

TRUXTON, September 16, 1886.

   Dr. C. H. Webster has had business at home for the past week. His favorite "go as you please" mare has been so indisposed that she has been confined to the box stall for several days.

   Dave Morris has sold his saloon to Henry Youngs, of Homer.

   Mrs. Libbie Grey and old Mrs. Lee are on the sick list. Both are improving however.

   For some unknown cause the new bridge to cross the creek on Maiden Lane has not arrived. It certainly is not the fault of our commissioner, Dwight Patrick, for he, as usual, has his part done and has been waiting several weeks for the bridge.

   Report says the ladies of the W. C. T. U. are soliciting aid to build a lock-up. If they succeed we fear Truxton will not be as comfortable a place for drunkards as heretofore.


Reference:
Warner Miller: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Miller