The average number of inmates for the year was fifty-one, at a cost of $72. 0221⁄2 per annum, $1.38% per week, 192 cents per day.

, INVENTORY.

To the Honorable Court of Jackson County:

"I have this day, February 28, 1881, complied with your order directing me to go upon the Poor Farm and make an inventory of the personal property upon said farm.

"In making out the above list, some things I gave but a passing notice, as, for instance, the vessels for the cooking stove. I did not count the dishes, plates, knives, forks, and many other things belonging to the pauper table. P. N. GRINTER."

"Please accept this report.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the farm is well managed, and that the management is carefully and systematically looked after.

With such facilities for receiving inmates, it is certainly proper that parties subject to public maintenance be removed to the infirmary as speedy as possible. There are cases when it is advisable to pay a weekly sum for the support of an individual or family, but these are exceptionable. It is neither to the interest of the needy nor in the interests of public morals to furnish indiscriminate aid to out door paupers.

Asylums for the poor and disabled are peculiarly Christian institutions, and they become more common with the growth of civilization. None of the heathen nations of antiquity in the times of their greatest prosperity established benevolent institutions for the unfortunate; but in this age, a State, or even a county of any considerable size, would be considered far behind the times in all the elements of progress, unless some provisions were made for the care of the unfortunate. "Over the hills to the poor house" is a sad story, but there are many sadder ones to be found in the history of those people who have no such institutions.

CHAPTER XI.

AGRICULTURE.

Its Establishment and the Men Active in the Enterprise-The First Fair in Jackson County-In 1854 New Grounds Purchased-No Fairs During the War-Names of the Officers of the Association Each Year-Complete Account of the Fair for 1870-Fair of 1871-The Last Fair of the Association.

JACKSON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATION.

It was established at Independence in the fall of 1853. Those prominent in the organization of the association: Wm. Chrisman, Samuel H. Woodson, Alvin Brooking, A. Comingo, Isaac Hockaday, Ezra R. Hickman, W. B. Howard, N. B. Stone, William Stone, John Wilson, John Parker, J. B. Hovey, B. F. Thompson, Samuel Ralston, B. S. Grant, Jacob Stonestreet, John B. Wornall and Robert Hill.

The first fair was held in Wood Noland's pasture, which was between where Alex. Proctor lives and the Chicago and Alton Depot. It was held in September, 1853, and continued three days.

The first fair was well patronized by the people, and as many as 1,500 or 2,000 were in attendance on the last day. Twenty-five cents was charged for each ticket. There was a small ring in which to parade the stock and try the speed of horses, a few seats for the ladies, and a rope inclosed the grounds. The show of stock was large, but fruit, grain and implements were not numerous. Mr. Robert Weston and Mr. John G. McCurdy exhibited a few farm implements. In 1854 the association bought 15 acres, at $75 per acre, of John R. Oldham, one and one-half miles south of Independence, and afterward held their exhibits here. The land and improvements were paid for by the issue of stock, which was in sums of $20 each. The stock was always at par value until the Civil War.

An eight-foot picket fence was built all around, and an ampitheater, which would seat about 6,000. Fairs were held on these grounds till the war broke out, and then again in 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870 and 1871.

Those influential in the Jackson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association afterward gave their influence to the Kansas City Exposition.

The first officers were: Alvin Brooking, President, William Chrisman Secretary. Directors James K. Sheley, A. Comingo, Isaac Hockaday, Robert G. Smart, Jacob F. Stonestreet.

Officers in 1854: Alvin Brooking, President, E. R. Hickman, Secretary. Officers in 1855 S. H. Woodson, President, E. R. Hickman, Secretary. Officers in 1856: John B. Wornall, President, E. R. Hickman, Secretary. Officers in 1857: James K. Sheley, President, E. R. Hickman, Secretary. Officers in 1858: Benj. Thompson, President, Schuyler Lowe, Secretary. Officers in 1859: Benj. Thompson, President, Robert Hill, 1st Vice President, J. B. Hovey, 2d Vice President, Schuyler Lowe, Secretary. Officers in 1860: Thomas M. Fields, President, Schuyler Lowe, Secretary. In 1861 the war came and no Fair was held until 1866.

Officers in 1866 were; Preston Roberts, President, Schuyler Lowe, Secretary, A. T. Slack, Treasurer.

In 1866 many of the prominent agriculturists of the country again united their efforts and held a fair during the second week of September of that year.

The officers for 1867 were S. K. Knox, President, William L. Bryant, Secretary.

In 1868 Feiling Lane was President and William L. Bryant was Secretary. In 1869 Feiling Lane was again President, and William L. Bryant was also again Secretary.

In the fall of 1869 the association issued new stock in shares of twenty dollars each, which sold readily.

The Fair for 1870 was held Sept. 12, 13, 14 and 15.

At a meeting of the stockholders November 20, 1870, Henry C. Parker was chairman and O. P. W. Bailey was secretary. The stockholders then proceeded to the election of officers for the year 1871, with the following result: O. P. W. Bailey, President; Henry C. Parker, Vice-President.

DIRECTORS-M. W. Anderson, W. E. Croysdale, W. H. Franklin, Schuyler Lowe, A. S. Packard, Jacob Powell, C. R. Barnes, Sam'l Jewett, John T. Smith, John B. Wornall, Wm. B. Howard, S. K. Knox, Z. S. Ragan.

O. P. W. BAILEY, Sec'y.

At a meeting of the directors of the Jackson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association, held at the office of Messrs. Woodson & Sheley in the city of Independence, Mo., on Monday, 21st November, 1870. V. M. Hobbs, Esq., was elected secretary for the ensuing year, and John T. Pendleton, treasurer.

It seems that the society had a successful exhibition in September, 1871. The last fair under the auspices of the Jackson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association was held September 5-7, 1872. The attendance was not large, although a very respectable number were present. It seems that the district fairs had attracted nearly all interest from county exhibitions. We understand that the association was out of pocket some one or two hundred dollars.

CHAPTER XII.

EDUCATIONAL.

Introductory-Private Enterprise-Six Mile Academy-The Woodworth School, of Independence— Mrs. Buchanan's School-D. I. Caldwell's School-Independence Female Academy-Mrs. Bettie T. Tillery's Academy-Woodland College-Highland College-Independence HighSchool -Independence Female College-St. Mary's Seminary-Public Schools of the County-Supts. Report in 1866—Jackson County Teacher's Institute-Report of the School Commissioner, D. 1. Caldwell, in 1870.

Missouri having been admitted as a member of the Union in 1821, as early as 1825, the Legislature, impressed with the importance of a general system of education, as a factor in the success and permanence of Republican institutions, as well as of personal and social happiness, passed a bill establishing a system of public schools for the State. Born, as Missouri was, amid the alarming conflict of sectional prejudices; together with many hardships and calls for self-denial ever incident upon the settlement and organization of a new State, it was not wonderful that the people were slow in the practical adoption of such a system, and would pause to consider its advantages; more especially, as the older States, from which many of the early settlers had come, had not given the public school system such importance in their legislation in this direction as it really deserved.