WAYNE TOWNSHIP FARxMERS' CLUB

PAST AND PRESENT

The Wayne Township Farmers' Club was organized and the first meeting held on April 9,
1908 at the home of Mr. andMrs. C. T. Hawke inWaynesville, Ohio.

Mr. P. D. Claggett served as Present and Mr. Will E. O'Neal as Secretary.

The following were Charter Members of the Club:

Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Cartwright

Dr. and Mrs. P. D. Claggett
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cornell
Dr. and Mrs. Heber Dill
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Duke

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hawke

Reverend and Mrs. Benjamin Hawkins

Mr. and Mrs. W. E. O'Neal

Mr. and Mrs. George Riley

Mr. and Mrs. Morris Steddom

A Committee had written the Constitution and By-laws to beapproved at the first

meeting. As ofthis year, 1998, the original Constitution and By-laws are used for
the Club.

In the beginning Club Members paid a fee offive dollars tojoin the Club. When needed,

the club members were assessed and paid filty cents fee to increase the treasury.
The Club voted in 1909to purchase dishes, silverware and a tent.

In the beginning, as the minutes reflect, the Club was almost an all day affair. Meetings

were held on the second Thursday of each month. Reflecting upon the old minutes, the
members of Farmers' Club was an elite society and the meetings were conducted

in a most proper manner. Anymembers who hosted the Club worked diligently about
their home to prepare, even to the point of rearranging furniture in order to provide
enough seating at the long dinner tables. In the summer the new tent was used and very
often the Secretary reflected in the minutes upon the landscape, the neatness ofthe yards
and buildings.

Club Members arrived for a Club meeting in mid morning with their well filled baskets

and were properly greeted by the host and hostess. At twelve noon sharp, the dinner
was served. In the first year the main cooking was done and food placed on tables by the

host and hostess. After a couple years, the Club voted to appoint Committees to help with
placing and passing offood.
Meetings began at two o'clock sharp. After the business meetings, good music was

provided at most meetings. Next order ofbusiness was a current event followed by
discussion. The order of business then called for a main speaker. Prior to the closing
a member ofthe Club would so very capably express appreciation to the host and
hostess on behalf ofthe Club. An example is taken from the July 9,1908 minutes
as follows:

Mrs. Cartwright asked the Club to join in making our acknowledgment to the
Duke Family for their efforts and the delightful manner in which we have been
entertained. 'We will be separated after these few briefhours so pleasantly spent
and we know if the thoughts account to prayer, each one breathe an invocation

to Heaven, that a long uninterrupted happiness be allowed to our friends who had
received and given us such a cordial welcome."

A Minister was always present to say the Benediction after "America" had been.sung in
unison.

A Resolution of Respect was always well written expressing deepest sympathy intheloss
of a Member and to the family. The words flowed withdeep respect and an expression of
faith.

In reviewing the minutes of the early Club Meetings, a widevariety of current events were
discussed. A short list of topics included:
Success with baby chicks
Fruit tree spraying
Valley phone company
Good manners on the telephone

Farm Bureau County Chairman, Lindley Mendenhall presented the program in

1924.

Commercial Fertilizer

Is the CountyFair a benefit to the Community

OnJanuary 6,1911, the Club adopted a Resolution in opposition to killing of quails in

anyseason which was sentto our StateRepresentative.

From 1908 forward a union picnic with Franklin and Lebanon Clubs were held in August

of each year. In 1914 the picnic washeld at Maple Farm Apartments inLebanon and
another time held at the Lebanon Orphanage.

On October 8, 1914,Mr. Edwin Chandler gave a good talk and closedby saying.

"every good citizen should be awake and do your duty by voting for Prohibition,
Women's Suffrage and against Home Rule."

1998 isthe ninety-first year ofthe Wajme Township Farmers' Club. Six meetings a year
are held. The current membership is twenty with two honorary members and listed as
follows:
Members:
Sarah Cook

Dr. Harland and Mary Dye

Gilbert and Betty Frye

Seth and Maijorie Fumas

Maynard and Stella Hagemeyer

Donald and Alice Raines

Robert and Lavema Jeffery

Mary Lou Jones
Jean McClary

Dwight Mitchner

Wilma Seeley
William and Dicka Swartzel
Barbara Workman

Honorary Members:
Sarah Braddock

Thelma Settlemeyer

Current Officers are:

Betty Frye, President

Mary Lou Jones, Vice President

Lavema Jeffery, Secretary/Treasurer

The Club continues to use practically the same Constitution, By-Laws and order of
business as written in 1908. Today there are no Club owned dishes, no silverware
and no tent.

In April, 1958, the Wayne Township Club celebrated its 50th year and in April, 1983
celebrated seventy-five years. Club Members anticipate celebratingone hundred
years and holding a grand celebration on that special occasion.

In the past few years the Wayne Township Farmers' Club has made a practice of
the Host and Hostess entertaining the Club at a restaurant or Church. There are a

few families who continue the practice ofyears ago and do entertain at their homes,

which is always special and most enjoyable.

A few years ago and possiblyand because of the ladies of the Club began working away
fi-om home, the Club began meeting in the evenings. As of the beginning of 1998, the
Club voted to meet at one o'clock P.M. again. The change is possibly due to the fact that

our members are now retired, perhaps the eyesight has failed some in night driving and in
the winter months it is better to attend the meeting and be home before dark. The

important fact is, we continue to keep our Club alive and continue to enjoy wonderful
dinners and fellowship together.
The Wayne Township Farmers' Club wishes to congratulate Lebanon Farmers' Club on

their ONE HUNDRETH YEAR CELEBRATION and wish for them many more years of

enjoying those well-filled baskets of delicious food, long-lasting fellowship, and

enlightening meetings. Further, the Wayne Township Farmers' Club wishes to extend a

sincere ''thank you" for the kind invitation to attend and be a part of a century old
celebration.

Members of the Wayne Township Farmers' Club