Originally a vigilante group, the Anti-Horse Thief Society was formed here in March 1853 by area landowners to recover stolen horses and prosecute thieves. In the antebellum era, horse theft was a serious offense. Trustees nominated a captain and riders who received a $10 reward upon capturing a thief or a stolen horse. As horses lost their importance in society in the early 1900's, the organization evolved into a social club. Its annual banquet, held each April, celebrates the continuity of this Adams County tradition.