Antwerp, Jefferson, NY Agriculture |
|
Antwerp, Jefferson, NY Agriculture |
|
| The American Local History Network is a central point of entry to independent web sites with genealogical and/or historical content. |
| Many thanks to Holice B. Young for the many
hours she has dedicated to transcribing this work for researcher enjoyment. Thanks
for sharing your talents, Holice!
|
AGRICULTURE Although in some portions of the town the face of the country presents a rough and somewhat forbidding aspect to the eye of the uninitiated stranger, Antwerp takes a high agricultural rank among the towns of Jefferson county. The soil is strong, not liable to become parched in seasons of drought, and excellently adapted to grazing purposes, producing abundantly of the nutritious grasses, even among the ribs of the ledges. In the days of the early settlements great concern was felt on account of the prevalence of the Canada thistle; and, so long ago was 1825, the following strong inducement was offered to any who might devise practical means of its destruction: "And it is further ordained and declared, by the authority aforesaid, that if any person or persons, not exceeding four in number, being inhabitants of the said town of Antwerp, shall devise, discover, or perceive any certain and sure plan, method or device for efficiently destroying and eradicating the Canada thistle from the land, such persons shall each be entitled to receive from the said town the sum of ten dollars." Strong as was the incentive of the ten dollars bounty, the "method or device" was never discovered. To-day the farmers hardly consider the thistle as a nuisance, and by some it is regarded as excellent food for cattle, when properly treated.
Chief attention is given to stock and to the manufacture of cheese and butter, the product of six thousand milch cows being devoted to that purpose in Antwerp at the present time. Butter is made wholly by hand process; cheese is also still made by hand to some extent, but the greater part is produced by the factories. Of these there are now in operation in Antwerp, as follows: Bent and Harris Cheese Factory, in the village of Antwerp, manufactures the milk of seven hundred cows; has sometimes had twelve hundred cows. The Hall’s Corners Cheese Factory, also carried on by Bent & Harris, four hundred cows. The Cook’s Creek Cheese Factory, by A. S. La Fave, located on the Ox Bow road, three miles north of Antwerp village, takes the product of six hundred cows. The Dixon Factory, by Robert Dixon, on the Carthage road, two miles south of Antwerp village, manufactures Limburger cheese. Numbers of cows not known.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY
"Indian River Grange, No. 19," located in Antwerp, was chartered by the national Grange, and organized November 4, 1873. Master, Samuel Hopper; Overseer, James Gill; Secretary, Clark Weston; Treasurer, William Render; Lecturer, S. G. Wiggins; Steward, J. D. Wait; Chaplain, J. H. Aldrich; Gate-keeper, Eugene Miller. The number of charter members was twenty-three. The present membership is one hundred. The officers for 1877 are S. G. Wiggins, Worthy Master; J. S. Woodward, Over-seer; F. A. Stalbert, Lecturer; Duane Snell, Steward; James H. Aldrich, Chaplain; Cyrus Mason, Treasurer; Mrs. A. L. Fuller, Secretary; A. L. Fuller, Gate-keeper; Miss L..Miller, Ceres; Mrs. Hiram Powell, Pomona; Mrs. B. F. Kitts, Flora; Miss Nellie Dixon, Stewardess; Mrs. S. G. Wiggins, Organist. Executive Committee, L. A. Bacon, A. J. Woodward, A. R. Hopper, Cyrus Mason, William Adderley, James H. Aldrich. Purchasing Agent, Charles Race. Grange meets at hall on Main street, Antwerp Village.
THE ANTWERP UNION AGRICULTURE SOCIETY The Antwerp Union Agriculture Society, a stock company, incorporated under the general law, was organized in 1870, and held its first fair in September, 1871. The fair-grounds of the society are upon a fine elevated location, a half mile south of Antwerp village, on the Carthage road. They embrace a tract of twenty-two acres,--a part of the Harry Baldwin farm,--purchased from D. W. Baldwin in the spring of 1871, and were graded and inclosed during the following summer. The buildings comprise agricultural, floral, and mechanics’ halls, and the usual stalls for horses and cattle. Running water, in plentiful supply, has been introduced by means of pipes. There is also a half-mile race-track for trials for speed. The following gentlemen are at present officers of the society: Colonel H, B, Keene, president; W. N. Johnson, secretary; L. H. Bailey, treasurer; George P. Coolidge, superintendent. (Jefferson County History, L. H. Everts, 1878)
|
Transcribed by Holice B.Young Html by Debbie December 26, 1999 |
|
|
