The 7th Annual Nodaway County Fair featured horses named Eugene Field, Gen. Custer, and Trump. The headline of the horse racing was the Trump race (and Trump won).
The article says:
The trotting race on Thursday was the best three in five for horses without a record. Purse $100. Horses were entered as follows: Eugene Field (owned by G. L. Addington), Gen.Custer (owned by G. Lawrence), No Name (owned by D. L Straw), and Pet Filley (owned by D.V. McCrea). The race was won by Gen. Custer: No Name, second; and Eugene Field, third.
Eugene Field had started his humorous columns and wrote the poem “Lovers Lane” while working at the St. Joseph Gazette in 1875-76, but had moved on to the St. Louis Times-Journal during the race.
I found this item while researching if Eugene Field ever visited Maryville and I don’t see that he did but it’s possible.
Missouri Years (1873–1881)Field began his career in his home state of Missouri, moving through several editorial roles.
- 1873–1875: St. Louis Evening Journal – Started as a reporter at age 23.
- 1875–1876: St. Joseph Gazette – Served as city editor and began publishing light, humorous articles.
- 1876–1880: St. Louis Times-Journal – Worked as an editorial writer.
- 1880: Kansas City Times – Had a brief stint as managing editor.
Colorado Years (1881–1883)
- Denver Tribune: Field served as managing editor for two years. Here, he wrote a popular column called “Odds and Ends,” which he later compiled into his first book, The Tribune Primer (1882).
Chicago Years (1883–1895)
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Chicago Daily News / Morning News: In 1883, Field moved to Chicago to write for the Chicago Daily News (specifically the morning edition, later renamed the Chicago Record).
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Sharps and Flats” Column: For 12 years until his death, Field wrote this daily column, which featured satire, literary criticism, and his most famous poems, such as “Little Boy Blue”.
George Armstrong had died at the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876.
The article on Trump:
The running race was a two-mile dash. Purse $200. Four entries were made: Little Siss (owned by James Walker); Big Fellow (owned by McJimpsey & June); Chariton Maid (owned by R. D. Paxton); Trump (owned by Lewis Elmore). This race, perhaps, was witnessed with more interest by the people in attendance than any other that occurred during the week. Trump won the race; Big Fellow, second; Little Siss, third; Chariton Maid, fourth. Time, 3:44.
The headline of the fair was the balloon ascension.
At about four o’clock, the process of inflating the balloon was begun, and about five, Prof. Melville made his ascent. He did not go higher than two hundred and fifty feet and came down to terra firma just outside of the enclosure, at the southwest corner. The ascent was considered by some as a very fine thing. Others complained that the balloon did not go high enough or stay up as long as it should have. The writer, speaking for himself, was just as well satisfied with the ascent as if the balloon had gone up five miles. Everyone seemed to have their own notion of the affair.
The article doesn’t mention the source of uplifting but it was likely either hydrogen or more likely coal gas.
Here’s an AI summary of gas used for balloons in 1878.
In 1878, balloons were inflated with either hydrogen gas, generated chemically from iron and acid, or more commonly with cheaper, readily available coal gas (town gas), which was supplied through municipal pipes, with some military balloons using portable generators for on-site hydrogen production, though this could damage the envelopes.Methods & Gases Used:
- Hydrogen (H₂) Generation:
- Chemical Reaction: Iron filings (or cannon pieces) mixed with sulfuric acid and water produced hydrogen.
- Portable Generators: For military use, compact generators created hydrogen in the field, though acid residue sometimes shortened balloon life.
- Coal Gas (Town Gas):
- Availability: This manufactured gas from coal was widely available in cities during the 19th century, making it a popular choice for public and scientific balloons.
- Lifting Power: It was less potent than pure hydrogen but much cheaper and easier to obtain in bulk.
In Summary:
By 1878, while hydrogen remained the superior lifting gas, coal gas was the workhorse for everyday ballooning due to cost and accessibility, with portable hydrogen generators serving specialized needs like military observation.
Here’s some AI generated jokes on this:
- The race started late — Trump’s horse wouldn’t leave until it checked its reflection in the pond.
- Custer kept shouting tactical orders to his mount; the horse replied, “Sir, we don’t even know the track.”
- Eugene Field tried to make the contest poetic: “Two hooves run fast, one trots slow — the last to cross calls out, ‘Read me a poem!’”
- At the finish line, Trump claimed he’d won by a landslide, then suggested changing the course to a golf course.
- Custer insisted on a rematch because “the terrain was rough”; the horses voted for a straightaway instead.
- Eugene handed out ribbons that said “For Best Imaginary Comeback,” and everyone pretended to be offended.
- Trump’s horse sulked when it wasn’t called “Champion” — it wanted its name in bold on the next race poster.
- Custer tried to charge the leaderboard; the officials politely reminded him this was a race, not a reconnaissance.
- Field kept describing the clouds above the track so beautifully that two horses stopped to listen and lost.
- Afterward, Trump announced he’d build a bigger racetrack; Custer started planning a map of it; Field wrote a poem about both and stole the applause.