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AGRICULTURE, STOCK, ETC. With superior boon, may your rich soil
 Bates County is situated on the west line of the state, south of Cass. It is nearly on a line east and west with the cities of St. Louis, Cincinnati and Washington, and at an elevation of about 1,000 feet above the level of the sea. The county is bounded on the north by Cass, on the east by Henry and St. Clair, on the south by Vernon and on the west by the state of Kansas. It has an average width of twenty-eight by thirty miles, and has an area of 873 miles. It is the largest county in the state, excepting Texas, Shannon and Howell.   Bates County, like Cass, came under the same blighting influence of Order No. 11, which was issued on the 25th of August 1863, by General Thomas Ewing, at Kansas City, Missouri, and embraced within its jurisdiction the counties of Jackson, Cass and Bates. Never before in a Christianized and civilized community, had a military commander so completely taken the lives, the liberties and fortunes of the people who were non-combatants, into his own hands. Such order, although not contemplated by General Ewing and his advisors, gave one of the fairest portions of Missouri up to the pillage and plunder of marauding soldiers, and the cupidity and thieving propensities of unarmed citizens. It is said, for a month after the ninth of September 1863, (which terminated the fifteen days in which the people were compelled to leave their homes by the provisions of that heartless and inexorable order), the western sky towards the Kansas border, and all along the western boundary line of the three counties named, was continuously lighted by night with the glow reflected back from once happy homes to which had been applied the desolating torch. Jackson and Cass suffered most terribly because of that order, but not so much as their sister county of Bates. Lying at a more remote distance from the military post, whence the order emanated, the freebooters and soldiers from either army sacked and burned the property of her absent and flying citizens with impunity. Almost everything that could not be removed by the affrighted citizens was burned or taken away by those who came to steal and lay waste. Supplementing the acts of the plunderers were the ravages of prairie fires, which destroyed an immense quantity of produce all over the county, and from this cause also many houses, barns and fences were reduced completely to ashes. There was occasionally an inferior farm house, situated in an inaccessible district, that remained standing until after the war, but the houses generally throughout the county were destroyed. At the close of the war then, it may be said, that the farmers of Bates County were compelled to begin anew. Their farms had been in a measure lying idle and growing into weeds; much of their stock had been killed or run off, and their houses had to be either wholly rebuilt or extensively repaired. Notwithstanding these disastrous results of the war, and the subsequent ravages of the grasshoppers in 1875-6, and the drouth of 1881, Bates County, as an agricultural district, has been rapidly and wonderfully developed; its farmers have reaped, generally, abundant and valuable harvests; its towns and cities have grown apace; its lands have increased in value, and in fact, everything that pertains to its material prosperity, gives unmistakable evidences of progress and advancement. Nature has richly endowed it, with her timber, water, and soil, while underneath her surface are found spread out in immeasurable fields, the finest of bituminous coal, which is now known and prized for its excellence and utility in operating the industrial and manufacturing establishments throughout the country. 
 GRASSES.
BLUE GRASS,
WHITE AND RED CLOVER,
TIMOTHY MEADOWS,
HERD GRASS,
CATTLE GROWING AND FEEDING,
BERKSHIRE AND POLAND CHINA PIGS,
CORN.
WHEAT AND OATS
CATTLE.
HOGS.
SHEEP.
THE LIVE STOCK EXPORTS
Stock breeding, grazing and feeding, under the favorable local conditions, constitutes the surest and most profitable pursuit that can be followed in the west, or, for that matter, anywhere in the "wide, wide world." Not a single man of ordinary business capacity in this county, that has followed the one work of raising and feeding his own stock ignoring speculation and clinging closely to the business, has (or ever will) failed to make money. It beats wheat growing two to one, though the latter calling be pursued under the most favorable conditions in the best wheat regions. It beats speculation of every sort, for it is as sure as the rains and sunshine. What are stocks, bonds, "options," mining shares, merchandise or traffic of any character, beside these matchless and magnificent grasses that come of their own volition, and are fed through all the ages by the eternal God upon the rains and dews and imperishable soils of such a land as this? The farmers of Cass and Bates Counties live easier and cheaper than those of the older states. The labor bestowed on a forty acre farm in Ohio, New York or Pennsylvania will thoroughly cultivate one hundred acres of these richer, cleaner and more flexible soils. There is little foul growth, few stumps, and no stones to impede the progress of the happy cultivator here, and the genial summers never confuse farm work. Many of the farmers, however, generally undertake too much, expending in the most superficial way upon 200 or 400 acres the labor which would only well cultivate 100 acres, and the result is seen in shallow plowing, hurried seeding, slight cultivation, careless harvesting, loose stacking, wasteful threshing and reckless waste of feeding. The equally reckless exposure of farm machinery in Cass and Bates Counties would bankrupt the entire farm population of half a dozen New England counties in three seasons. The visitor in the country is always in sight of splendid reapers, mowers, seeders, cultivators, wagons and smaller implements standing in the swarth, furrow, fence corner or yard where last used and exposed to the storms and sunshine until the improvident owner needs them for further use. The price of lands two years ago in Bates County was perhaps, about half their value now (1882), but under the stimulus of an active immigration, land is in good demand at greatly enhanced values, the prices ranging from eight to twenty dollars per acre. Improved farms which then sold at ten dollars to twenty dollars per acre, are now in demand at from eighteen to thirty dollars per acre. It must be remembered that these lands have greater intrinsic value than large districts in Illinois, where farms are held at sixty dollars to eighty dollars per acre, and that they are superior to Ohio lands, that sell at from eighty dollars to one hundred and twenty dollars per acre, and vastly preferable to lands in New York and Pennsylvania at one hundred dollars to two hundred dollars per acre. DAIRY FARMING
HORTICULTURE, FRUIT AND GRAPES.
THE PEOPLE
The people of Bates County realizing that an agricultural and mechanical association would be productive of good results among the farmers and mechanics, and that such an association would more rapidly and thoroughly develop the agricultural and mechanical resources of the county, on the 4th of May 1869, presented a petition to the county court asking the court to incorporate a society of that kind. The following order in reference thereto was made by the court: "Now comes Ava E. Page and fifty other persons and present their petition, setting forth their desire to organize and be incorporated for the purpose of promoting improvements in agricultural manufactures and mining stock, and the court being satisfied that said petitioners are freeholders of this state and county, it is therefore ordered, that said petitioners be incorporated for the purposes set forth in their petition, and thenceforth be styled and known as the Bates County Agricultural and Mechanical Society." The county court appropriated the sum of $150, in September 1869, to the society, which held its first fair in October following. Directors for First Year -- B. H. Thorton, Ava E. Page, W. J. Hiser, H. C. Donnohue, John W. Brown, John R. Walker, T. J. Howell, John F. Moore and Richard Hartwell. Officers -- B. H. Thornton, president; W. J. Hiser, vice president; O. D. Austin, secretary; R. G. Hartwell, treasurer. The premiums offered amounted to $617, and were to be distributed to parties who contested for prizes in the following departments: Textile and art department, poultry department, agricultural and mechanical department, stock department, mules, grain and vegetables, fruit, mechanical department, swine, jacks, cattle, and culinary department. The Bates County Record of October 23, 1869, issued after the fair, in speaking of that event, says:  For a number of weeks the directors of the Bates County Agricultural and Mechanical Association, together with a few other friends of the movement, have labored with commendable energy to insure the success of the fair which commenced on Wednesday last. Since the organization of the society the obstacles to be overcome have been almost innumerable; commencing without money and with very few friends, it has been in fact an up hill business. A large amount of work, however, has been done and now that the start has been made, we doubt not it will be a success in the future. Thirty acres of land, a half a mile east of town, have been purchased, about half of which is enclosed with a good fence. A ring, hall and a number of pens for stock were prepared and everything done possible to accommodate visitors. Previous to the opening day a large amount of stock had been disposed of with which money the above improvements were made. Aside from any other discouraging circumstances the weather was most unpropitious during the three days. Wednesday morning was cold, dark and gloomy and the rain which fell the day previous, made our streets almost impassable. Postponement was urged by some but was regarded as impossible, as a number of entries had been made and a respectable amount of stock was already on the grounds. The number of entries made on Wednesday afternoon was large, and everybody felt confident that if the following day was pleasant, the display would be excellent and the attendance large. Thursday morning threw another damper on the enterprise by being even more unpleasant than the day previous, and it was not until after dinner that the clouds began to break away, and Old Sol's rays gladdened the hearts and warmed the bodies of those in the grounds. The attendance in the afternoon was large, and every one seemed pleased that the fair was in reality so much of an affair. Friday was to be the gala day and everybody expected to visit the grounds. The forenoon was as dark, cold and cloudy as either of the days previous and the afternoon was as much more disagreeable as imaginable. Rain, sleet and snow, together with a strong wind from the north, rendered it almost impossible to be out of doors, yet when the trotting and pacing came off, the attendance was large and the enthusiasm ran high. The pacing was excellent, particularly that of the horse of Mr. Ben. Lyons, of Sedalia, who made a mile in two minutes and thirty-five seconds. His trotting horse made his mile in three minutes, seventeen and a half seconds. It is unnecessary to say that Mr. Lyons took the first premium on both horses. Aside from the above horses, there were quite a number from our county who made excellent time. The stock department was perhaps the most full of any, and the display of hogs, cattle, sheep, horses, and mules, was excellent. It was a common remark that finer stock could not be exhibited in any county in the state. The swine of Mr. P. B. Fletcher, was particularly admired, and was very justly awarded several premiums. The Chester white pigs of Mr. W. T. Smith were among the finest ever seen. The cattle and other stock of Mr. R. C. Wilson were excellent. He by the way was the largest exhibitor. The mules of Mr. Alexander took the first premium, which we believe was just, though a number of others were almost equally good. The display in floral hall was not large (owing to the weather), though we noticed many articles of merit, not the least of which was a barrel manufactured by Mr. William Burrows, of Prairie City. It certainly was one of the finest specimens of cooperage we have ever seen. Capt. S. S. Burdett, of Osceola, was present by invitation of the directors, and contemplated delivering an address upon agriculture, but at the hour designated for the speech the weather was so inclement that it had to be postponed. The following premiums were awarded at the first fair: Best fine wool socks, Mrs. A. Satterlee. Second best, Mrs. J. Braggins.
 The old fair association became bankrupt in 1870, the grounds were sold for debt, and the new association known as "The Bates County Fair Association," was organized, with twenty men, who paid $100 each, or two thousand dollars for the grounds. The new association held their fairs at the grounds purchased from the old association until September 1881 -- the date of the last fair -- when the grounds were turned into a cemetery by the shareholders, who have a charter and are now disposing of lots, for burial purposes. The shareholders will purchase ground in the spring of 1883, reorganize and continue their fairs. They will issue one thousand shares at $10 each. The last officers and directors chosen in 1881 were: H. M. Cannon, president; T. A. Shaw, vice-president; J. T. Smith, secretary; T. W. Childs, treasurer; J. S. Wright, F. J. Tygard, A. Henry, J. C. Clark, Aaron Hart, G. W. Mires, J. T. Smith, T. W. Childs, directors. In May 1881, there was a horse fair held at the fair grounds under the auspices of the Bates County Fair Association. This fair continued three days and, notwithstanding the inclement weather, is said to have been very creditable. The largest purse awarded was $150 for running and trotting mile heats. Among the owners of stock attending the fair were Nute Douglass, of Sedalia, Missouri; William Miller, of LaCygne, Kansas; James Calahan, James Barrett, Thomas Beal, Joseph Hooker, J. DeLong, E. C. Lyle, J. H. McCool, P. P. Page, William Riley, James Taylor, James Wells, George Seevers, M. E. Mitchell, W. G. Wainscott, A. E. Beatty, Harmon Brittain, D. A. Colier and others. were organized in February, 1873, in Butler. At one time there were twenty-three subordinate lodges in the county, organized by J. R. Cordell, deputy. The County Council w»s formed in 1874. A. E. Page was the first president of the council. In 1874 there were about one thousand members in the county. At this time (December, 1882,) there are fifteen organizations still in existence in Bates County with four hundred members. A. E. Page is the present lecturer. This order has a store at Butler and one at the town of Charlotte. Statement showing the population of Bates County County, Missouri, classified by race and sex, with the number of males of voting age, according to the United States census of 1880:
Statement showing the population of Bates County, Missouri, classified as native and foreign and by nationalities, according to the United States census of 1880: 
Below we give the population by townships:
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Bates County Missouri MOGenWeb |
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