where the society was located. As a matter of fact, at the time this law was passed there was no state agricultural society, but on Feb. 5, 1862, a meeting was held in the hall of the house of representatives at Topeka for the purpose of organizing one. W. R. Wagstaff, F. G. Adams, Golden Silvers, J. Medill and R. A. Van Winkle were appointed as a committee to draft a constitution, and upon the adoption of their report the following officers were elected: President, Lyman Scott; secretary, Franklin G. Adams; treasurer, Isaac Garrison; executive committee, E. B. Whitman, R. A. Van Winkle, Welcome Wells, F. P. Baker, W. A. Shannon, J. W. Sponable, C. B. Lines, Thomas Arnold, Martin Anderson and J. C. Marshall.
The constitution adopted at the formation of the society provided for the payment by each member of annual dues of one dollar, or for ten dollars one could become a life member. It also provided for the organization of county societies as auxilaries to the state society.
On Jan. 13, 1863, L. D. Bailey succeeded Lyman Scott as president. Mr. Bailey served as president until Jan. 16, 1867, when he was succeeded by Robert G. Elliott, who in turn was succeeded by I. S. Kalloch on Sept. 30, 1870, the latter continuing to hold the office until the society went out of existence. Mr. Adams served as secretary until Jan. 12, 1865, when John S. Brown was elected as his successor. On Sept. 30, 1870, H. J. Strickler was elected secretary and served until Sept. 15, 1871, when Alfred Gray was elected to the office, being the last secretary of the society.
At a meeting of the executive committee on Feb. 20, 1863, the president and secretary were given full power to make all the necessary arrangements for a state fair, and the first state fair was held at Leavenworth the following fall—Oct. 6 to 9 inclusive. (See State Fairs.) The legislature of that year made an appropriation of $1,000 for the benefit of the society. Another work of the society in 1863 was the distribution of 500 bushels of cotton seed among the farmers of the state who were desirous of trying the experiment of raising cotton.
On March 12, 1872, the State Agricultural Society held its last meeting and adjourned sine die, the State Board of Agriculture (q. v.), which had already been authorized by an act of the legislature, taking its place.
Agricultural Wheel.—During the winter of 1881–82, the unsatisfactory condition of the market for farm products, and the oppressiveness of the Arkansas mortgage laws through what was known as the “anaconda mortgage,” led to a wide discussion among the farmers of that state as to the advisability of organizing for coöperation and mutual protection. On Wednesday evening, Feb. 15, 1882, seven farmers met at McBee's school house, 8 miles southwest of the town of Des Arc, in Prairie county, to consider the question of forming some kind of a farmers' society. A committee, consisting of W. T. McBee, W. W. Tedford and J. W. McBee, was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws and report at same place on the evening of the 22nd. At the adjourned meeting the Wattensas Farmers' club was organized, the objects of which
