In the summer and fall of 1857 a few ambitious and competitive fruit growers of Multnomah County attempted a social organization in Portland. The first meeting was in cherry time, held in a vacant room on Front Street. Boxes and heavy bearing limbs of berries and cherries, with flowers and vegetables of the season, tastily arranged on tables, made quite a respectable showing; in fact, a display that would be creditable at the present day—1906. Such cherries, blackberries, strawberries, gooseberries, and currants had never been seen on exhibition before. There was no sign of fungus or insect pest—clean, bright, ripe fruits.
George Walling, Albert Walling, Henry Miller, Thomas Frazier, J. H. Lambert, James B. Stevens, Henry Prettyman, J. H. Settlemeir, Seth Lewelling, were leading spirits, all enthusiasts and practical fruit growers, knew about fruit growing, and did most of the talking. Thomas Frazier was elected president, and Albert Walling secretary.
Monthly meetings were held for several months; called meetings were held two or three times in the summer and fall of 1858. In 1859 the Multnomah County Agricultural Society was organized, with Thomas Frazier president, Albert Walling secretary. About this time the first state fair meeting was held at Clackamas, a suburb of Oregon City. W. H. Rector, president, Albert Walling, secretary.
In 1858 the following agricultural societies were organized, and these all meant largely horticultural societies:
Corvallis, Benton County, October 13, a county fair with fruit display; A. G. Hovey, president, and E. M. Waite, secretary.
Albany, Linn County, a fair, October 28, 29.
Salem, September 5.
Lane County, Eugene, September 11, 12; A. McMurry, president, E. E. Haft, secretary.
