"Ho! all ye farmers roundabout, and village people, too, Don't fail to come to Winchester, whatever you may do; For 'tis the season of the year - and mark it well with care When folks of country and of town conspire to hold a fair. 'Twill be the opportunity to meet your old time friend; 'Twill be the time, young lass or lad, a happy day to spend. Of all the things to be displayed, of love or beauty rare, No better place may well be found than C. Winchester Fair.                - Rev. J. P. STAHL in Winchester Times.

On Feb. 27, 1846, "A Bill for the Encouragement of Agriculture," was passed, creating The Ohio State Board of Agriculture.  Out of the fifty-three members, but nine were present - while ten were required to make a quorum.  At its first meeting on the first Wednesday of April, 1846, Secretary Miller says "We do not find the fact recorded, but according to tradition, a messenger was sent after Mr. Chaney. (Judge John Chaney, who then lived near Carroll), the member whose home ws nearest Columbus, where the meeting was held, and by hard riding during a part of a very stormy night, Mr. Chaney reached the city before midnight and a legal organization of the Board was thus secured."
 

Charles Campbell Feb. 3, 1818 - Feb. 4, 1902

Edmund Gares Feb. 24, 1825

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     At the second annual State Fair, held at Columbus in 1851, two Madison township farmers secured premiums: W. H. Rarey, 2d best filly, 1 year old, $3.00; and Moses Seymour, 2d best stallion, 4 years old, $10.
     On Sept. 6, 1851 the Franklin county Agricultural Society was organized and the following October held its first fair.  Among the most active and one of the fist directors was Wm. H. Rarey.  In May, 1852, he was reelected and became one among the first seven Life-members by the paymehnt of twenty dollars towards purchasing the Franklin county Fair Grounds, now Franklin Park.  In 1853 Moses Seymour was elected vice president, and Chas. W. Speaks a director.   In 1854, Moses Seymour, in 1855, Chas. Pontius and Alexander Moobery and in 1857, wm. T. Decker served as directors.
     At the county fair held in October, 1851, Madison township citizens secured eleven of a total of sixty-four premiums offered, viz: Moses Seymour, best stallion, $5; Wm. H. Rarey, 2d best stallion, $3; John S. Pontius, best filly, two year old, $3; Wm. Toy, 2d best stud colt, Diploma; Wm. Toy, 2d best brood mare and foal, $3; Wm. H. Rarey, best sow, $3; Wm. H. Rarey, best sow and pigs, $1; C. J. Stevenson, best saddle and bridle, $2; w. S. Hopkins, best needle work (quilt), $2; Columbus and Groveport Turnpike Co., best road, two certificates.  All the five dollar premiums were paid in silver cups and all the three dollar premiums in silver medals.  Sept. 15, 1854, Chas. Pontius was awarded a book "The American Cattle Doctor," for the best bull calf.

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     In the fall of 1857, the Madison township Agricultural Society was organized, each of the following persons having subscribed five dollars, which constituted a membership fee, viz: Moses Seymour, Abraham Sharp, Geo. McCormick, Solomon Woodring, C. Rarey, Kalita Sallee, J. H. Fearn, Dr. G. L. Smith, Wm. H. Bishop, Dr. Hugh L. Chaney, C. P. Dildine, Ezekiel Groom, O. P. Chaney, R. Hendren, Jacob Arnold, Moses Zinn, T. C. Hendren, Jacob Rohr, S. Stimmel, Fred Swisher, J. H. Rees, John G. Edwards, Samuel Sharp, Chas. Pontius, James Needels, Henry Long, Fred Bunn, John McGuffy, Wm. T. Decker, John Swisher, John Cox, Jacob Sarber, Thornton Decker, Z. H. Perrill, A. L. Perrill, Edward Gares, Adam Havely, Elias Helpman, C. F. Needels, Elisha B. Decker and others whose names we could not secure.  The above list of names is representative of the most substantial and enterprising citizens of the township of that day.  The first officers were, Moses Seymour President; C. P. Dildine, Vice President; Edward Gares, Secretary; and Samuel Sharp, Treasurer.  The first fair was held the same fall and annual fairs thereafter until the fall of 1875, October, 1875, the Columbus Gazette says "The Madison township fair was a failure on account of rain."  Mar. 16, 1876, the following notice appeared in the Winchester Times: "A meeting of the citizens of Madison township will be held in the town hall, Groveport, on Saturday, Mar. 25, 1876, for the purpose of nominating candidates for the office of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and members of the Madison Township Agricultural Society for the ensuing year.  By order of J. P. Arnold, President.  

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     Neither any of the records, nor the result of this last election could be found, further than that C. Fay Needels was elected president.  In the summer of 1878, the grounds and buildings were sold to M. Corbett under an execution issued in favor of Lee Lodge, I. O. O. F. of Winchester.  The summons of Sheriff Josiah Kinnear contains the names of the Directors as follows, viz:  Moses Seymour, Henry Long, Chas. Pontius, Wm. F. Decker, E. B. Decker and C. P. Dildine.
     The fair ground was located on the Groveport and Winchester pike, on the northeast quarter of section No. 27 and contained about seven acres.  No details of the receipts, attendance, etc., could be obtained; there is however no question but that the Madison Township Agricultural Society had much to do with the development of the stock and grain industries of the township.  We were not able to verify, nor can we deny the common report that more stock was entered for exhibition at this fair during its first years, than at the Franklin County or even at the Ohio State Fairs.
     A special stable was erected for John S. Rarey's famous horse, Cruiser; it stood on the east side of the grounds near a clump of trees.

Winchester Fair.

     For several seasons previous to 1898 the members of Madison Grange would bring to their hall, on a stated day, some of the choice products of their farms, for mutual observation and benefit.  These displays grew to such proportions that it was proposed to hold a public display; accordingly an agricultural and art fair was held on October 21 and 22, 1898, in the old foundry building, under the auspices of Mad-

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ison Grange.  There were three hundred and sixty-three entries besides those in the Pet Stock show.  No entry nor admission fee was charged the premiums, which consisted of cash and articles of merchandise were contributed by members of the grange, merchants of Winchester and others.
     The second annual fair was held in the Central Ohio Baling Company’s shed, on October 6 and 7, 1899, under the same auspices.
     The third annual exhibition was held in the 'baling shed on October 3 and 4, 1900, by the Winchester Fair Association; the active members of this organization consisted of members of the grange and business men of Winchester.  The premiums of cash and merchandise amounted to $242.75.
     The fourth annual fair was held on Oct. 2 and 3, 1901.  The old rink building, on west Waterloo street, with the addition of three canvas tents furnished the shelter.  Heretofore no admission fee was quired, this eyar an admission fee of ten cents, single admission, or 25 cents season ticket was tried with a view of putting the fair on a more nearly self-supporting basis, with the following result:  total expenses, $317,80.  The receipts for admissions was $268,70 and the balance to pay for the expenditures wass made up by assessment of 20 per cent on a guarantee fund previously subscribed.
     Each succeeding year the attendance has increased and the displays are larger and better than the year before.

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