Readers, This issue includes an article about the County Fair of 1871, which seemed appropriate to send, while our present-day Genesee county fair is going on at this time, : ) Hope you enjoy. source: Progressive Batavian September 15-1871 # 2 County Fair--First Day. The attendance at the County Fair on Wednesday was larger than usual and the show of stock was very good: though not better, we should judge, than last year. The exhibitors of stock, too, were nearly the same as last year, though some were new. This is not as it should be. A few dozen of our farmers should not be the only ones in our fine agricultural county to strive for advancement and excellence in stock growing, nor the only ones to compete for premiums. There was, too, about the usual variety of agricultural implements on exhibition, attracting much attention of the farmers. Of carriages, Foster & Colt of this village made a very fine show. We noticed that housekeepers were much interested in the fine show of Stoves made by G.B. Worthington and Pease & Buell. Floral Hall had very little in it, to-day--some grains, a few vegetables--a splendid case of Fancy Goods from Smith & Cross store--a fine display of Pictures from Le Clear's Gallery--some nice Bed Quilts--a variety of Sewing Machines,, &c., &c. Second Day. The show in Floral Hall was much better, though not so extensive as last year. Those on exhibition were, however, choice articles. In fruits, Nelson Bogue exhibited, from his Elba nursery, twenty-six varieties of grapes, twenty five varieties of pears and several varieties of other fruits among which were some Hyslop crab apples, a new production for this region, very pretty, and said to be very superior. Twelve varieties of grapes, from the greenhouse of Hon. John Fisher, attracted much attention--large grapes in clusters that made the mouths of the lookers-on water. Henry Hoffman, of Elba, exhibited 20 varieties of winter apples, 18 varieties of Fall apples and 14 varieties of pears--a tempting show. A.H. Morris, of Morganville, exhibited some splendid Crawford and Honest John Peaches of his own raising. Also some peaches of other varieties and some very large and fine open-air grapes. S. Ford, of Elba, had 16 varieties of apples and 14 varieties of pears on exhibition--fruit fine and large. On the whole, though the exhibitors were few, the show of fruit was good. The Floral part of the exhibition was very fine indeed, the flowers being very artistically arranged and exhaling a delicious perfume. Crocheting, wax flowers, worsted work, &c., &c., occupied another part of the Hall and made a very creditable exhibition. There was a fair show of potatoes, but in point of extent, a very poor show of other vegetables. Of grains, some Deihl[sic] wheat exhibited by I.M. Peck, of Stafford, was very superior. Some one, we don't know who, made a show of oats, plump, and fair, weighing 34 lbs. to the bushel. Circumstances prevented us from being much in attendance upon the Fair and consequently our report is very incomplete. * Local Record. Those who are indebted to us will please take notice. John Bain, of Byron, died on Tuesday night last, of cholera morbus, after two days illness. He was 68 years of age. As for pure Gold Smoking Tobacco, for sale by Gidding Bros. Also, good chewing tobacco at 70 cents a pound. The Baptist Sunday School Teacher's Institute of the Genesee Baptist Association will be held in Batavia, Sept. 27th and 28th. A general invitation is extended to all Sabbath School workers. The Hewett Brothers are up to time in having on sale as fine a stock of fall styles of dress goods as was ever put in market, at bottom prices. Sales will be quick. Make haste to secure fine bargains, at 65 Cobble Stone block, Batavia. The Quoit Tilt [Quoit = 'a game in which flat rings made of rope or iron are aimed and thrown around a peg' --which sounds very similar to our version today of a game of Horse-shoes] had here on Saturday last between twelve Byron Coiters marshalled by Capt. Cummins and twelve Batavians led by Capt. Wakeman, excited much interest, and resulted in the defeat of the Batavians by 25 counts,--a pretty even battle considering the fact that it continued during the entire day. The average of the pitching was very good indeed. A Meeting of the Wyoming District Preacher's Association was held in Alexander last week. On Wednesday afternoon the Preachers and their wives met at the residence of Rev. R.L. Waite, P.E. of the District, and presented him a beautiful silver-tea set as a token of their appreciation of his services as Presiding Elder of the District for the last four years. The presentation was made by Rev. Mr. Conable, of Pavilion, in a very happy manner, and was as happily received and replied to by Rev. Mr. Waite. The occasion was greatly enjoyed by all present. In another column of this week's BATAVIAN will be found part of a chapter of the "History of Batavia," which Mr. David Seaver, of this village, proposes to issue in pamphlet form during the ensuing month. [see Sept 15-1871, #1] Mr. Seaver intends to make his publication a readable work, and it will contain not only the antiquities of this region, but record the doings of our middle ages. From those he will come down still further and write up the sayings, doings, and actions of "ye latter day saints." The incidents, accidents, etc., of Batavia for seventy years afford ample material for a volume of this kind, and will be read with interest by both old and young. Another incendiary attempt to fire buildings in Warsaw, a few nights since. The School Term at the Institution for the Blind commenced on Wednesday of this week. Number of students preset, some seventy-four. A little daughter of Philip Weis, on Ellicott street, was quite seriously injured by the falling upon her of a large gate, on Tuesday last. Mr. John Getty, an old resident of Batavia, died suddenly, on Monday last, at three o'clock, of heart disease. He had been West for some time previous to his death, returning to this village on Wednesday of last week. He as brother of Mrs. Augustus Cowdin. He was about 71 years old. Mr. Aaron Tufts, of Pavilion, relates, in the Le Roy 'Gazette,' that a little more than a year ago a little boy fell into his cistern, containing about three feet of water, head downward, and remained in that condition nearly or quite three quarters of an hour before rescued. Of course he was drowned. But, says Mr. Tufts, "it instantly occurred to me that although the boy's blood was stagnant, it was youthful and in prime order, and in that cold water was not yet soured or spoiled, and as the moving power of the system, (the engine,) if we could move it, in the warm sunshine, there would be a chance of the boy yet. I accordingly directed the body to be placed on its back, with a person to each limb, and to rub them briskly first with one hand and then the other, towards the extremities. They did so, and soon to their surprise the jaws, which were set with a death grip, began to relax and loosen, and to emit a frothy substance, and soon the lungs began to play. The ! boy being in an agony of distress I considered the little patient all right; but to make the ting doubly sure, the mother and Mrs. McWithey, having some comfortably warm water, put him into it and rubbed him awhile in the same way, when they put him in a warm bed, where he slept sweetly and soundly, and the next day was as active, bright, intelligent and well as ever." We call that a remarkable case of resurrection. * submitted by Linda Web-Page Editor: BETHANY ~ Its Past and Present ~ "The Poor House and the People," ~The Lives of Those Who Lived at the Genesee County Almshouse in Bethany During the Nineteenth Century~ http://www.arkwebshost.com/family/bluebird/TownOfBethany.shtml