THE OLD CEMETERY

In 1839, when Mrs. Bowman died, her remains were deposited in what is now known as the Old Cemetery. Mrs. Bowman was the mother of David Bowman, who assisted in surveying and laying out the town of Fairfield. Mrs. Rayburn was the second burial. No tombstones mark the graves of either Mrs. Bowman or Rayburn, and the precise date of their deaths is not known.

Eliphalet B. Fitch died on November 30, 1840. His tombstone still stands with the beautiful inscription, "He was all he professed to be—an honest man, God's noblest work." William Winn died January 18, 1841. The old sandstone monument with inscription rudely carved by Noble & Yeates, of Burlington, lies broken and fast going to decay. The headstones of Sylvia T., wife of Henry Yaman, who died April 20, 1840, and that of the only child of H. and T. Gaylord, who died December 13, 1842, are in a good state of preservation.

The ground occupied by the Old Cemetery was purchased of John A. Pitzer by C. C. Van, H. W. Sample and George Acheson, who received a bond for a deed which they assigned to the town of Fairfield. It does not appear of record that a deed was ever made by Pitzer, and the title to the property is still in his name. This ground was surveyed by David Switzer July 31, 1846. The price fixed by ordinance was $3 for a full lot, and $1.50 for a half-lot, the sexton's fee for digging a grave was 50 cents per foot.

In the course of a few years, owing to the rapid increase of population in the surrounding country, the little cemetery was well filled up, and, in 1865, available lots were difficult to obtain. November 20, 1865, the death of Mrs. Eliza Jordan occurred. Capt. Clement Jordan, her husband, was unable to obtain such a lot as he desired, and her remains were deposited in the lot of his son-in-law, John H. Wells. To this fact the people of Fairfield are indebted for the present beautiful burial grounds known as

FAIRFIELD EVERGREEN CEMETERY

Shortly after the death of his wife, Capt. Jordan inaugurated a movement to secure a more commodious place of burial, but it was not until three years afterward that the plan was matured. In February, 1870, twelve acres and a fraction of land adjoining the old cemetery on the east and north were contracted for. Seven and twenty-five hundredths acres were purchased of Charley

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Negus, and five from Guy Beatty, at a cost for the whole of $1,019.25. Articles of Incorporation were drafted, and, on the 4th of May, 1870, the date of filing the same in the office of the County Recorder, the organization began its existence. The original stockholders were Clement Jordan, William R. Wells, John H. Wells, William H. Jordan, Norman S. Averill, George Stever, A. Scott Jordan, George A. Wells and A. R. Jordan, each of whom subscribed four shares.

The stock is limited to $5,000 in shares of $25 each. Five stockholders constitute the Board of Managers, and the indebtedness exclusive of capital is limited to $2,500.

The Articles of Incorporation provide for a Board of Managers to consist of five stockholders. Lot-owners are to keep their lot in repair, and, in case of neglect to do so, an assessment may be levied by the Managers, which assessments must be paid by residents within one and by non-residents within five years. In case of refusal to pay such assessments, such parts of lots as are unoccupied revert to the Association.

The Board of Managers, the first appointments to which were Clement Jordan, George Stever, William H. Jordan, George A. Wells and Norman S. Averill, employed A. N. Carpenter, a "natural landscape architect," of Galesburg, Ill., to draft a plan for the new cemetery, and right well did he perform the duty for which he was employed.

The survey of the lots was made by Isaac Crumley, the price for which was fixed at from $5 to $50, according to location. The rules of the cemetery require all persons wishing to make interments, to furnish a statement of name, place and date of birth, place of late residence, date of death and disease of person to be interred, and whether married or single, and that the same be registered on the books.

In November, 1870, 1000 feet of land were purchased, lying on the south of the cemetery grounds proper, on which was erected an office for the sexton, underneath which was constructed a cistern. J. N. Strong was the first Sexton, employed, at $450 per year.

Capt. Clement Jordan was the first President, and continued to hold the office to the present time; George Stever, first Secretary, and George A. Wells, Treasurer.

Andrew Ackerman, a German, was the first interment in the new cemetery, buried May 15, 1870. He was followed June 2, by Ella Campbell, a little daughter of Joel Campbell. In the fall following, the remains of some ten or twelve persons who had been buried in the old cemetery were removed to the new grounds. The supervision and care of the Fairfield Evergreen Cemetery have been left solely to Capt. Jordan, its founder, and to him are the people indebted for its present attractive condition.

INDEPENDENT ORDERS.—MASONIC

Clinton Lodge, No. 15, Fairfield, was organized under dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of Iowa, September 15, 1847. The charter members were Jacob L. Myers, E. S. Gage, A. R. Sparks, James Jeffries, William Y. Head, Albert L. Conable and William P. Winn.

First officers: Jacob L. Myers, W. M.; A. R. Sparks, S. W.; James Jeffries J. W.; W. P. Winn, S.D.; W. Y. Head, J. D.; E. S. Gage, Secretary; A. L. Conable, Treasurer.

The first applicants for initiation were George Acheson and Barnet Ristine.

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The charter of the Lodge is dated June 7, 1849, at which time there were twenty-two members.

Past Masters, J. L. Myers, George Acheson, J. V. Myers, G. A. Wells, J. M. Shaffer, G. D. McGaw, N. Steele and George Crane.

Present officers: J. J. Gibson, W. M.; S. K. West, S. W.; John Bloss, J. W.; George A. Wells, Secretary, and Eugene Freeman, Treasurer.

The present membership of the Lodge is 119.

McCord Chapter, Fairfield, although numbered 5, was the first Chapter in the State. It was organized under a dispensation issued by Joseph K. Stapleton, Deputy Grand High Priest of the General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the United States, dated at Baltimore, Md., July 7, 1852, with the following members: Jacob L. Myers, George Acheson, Peter Walker, W. H. Hollis, L. B. Fleak, T. S. Spees, Jesse Williams, William E. Sargent, G. W. Horn, E. S. Gage and Isaac Galliher.

Under the organization of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter for the State of Iowa, which was consummated at Mt. Pleasant June 8, 1854, a charter was issued, designating the Chapter No. 5.

The present officers are T. F. Higley, H. P.; S. K. West, K.; J. J. Gibson, Scribe; H. L. Brown, Treasurer; E. Freeman, Secretary, with a membership of fifty-two.

Past High Priests: J. L. Myers, George Acheson, George A. Wells and J. M. Shaffer.

ODD FELLOWS

Jefferson Lodge, No. 4, I.O.O.F., was organized March 10, 1846, by P.G.M.W.H. Mauro, of Burlington, under a charter issued at Baltimore, Md., June 25, 1845, by Howell Hopkirk, Most Worthy Grand Sire of the Grand Lodge of the United States, and directed by W. I. Cooper, W. L. Orr, T. D. Evans, C. Kiefer and N. W. Wiles.

Prior to this, in order to secure a sufficient number to organize a Lodge, Orr, Kiefer and Wiles had been sent to Burlington for initiation. At the organization, W. I. Cooper and T. D. Evans were elected and installed N.G. and V.G.; respectively. The present officers of the Lodge are R. B. Henderson, N.G.; C. D. Thomas, V.G.; C. M. Bills, Secretary; H. C. Rock, Permanent Secretary; and John M. Gobble, Treasurer, with a membership of ninety-two. The Lodge is in a flourishing condition, and is possessed of property amounting to some $7,000. Its members are active in all charitable enterprises, its organization unbroken, and interest maintained since its first formation, even during the troublesome times of our late civil war. Prominent as expounders of its principles are Capt. W. T. Burgess, T. D. Evans, C. E. Nobles, S. M. Boling, I. D. Jones, J. W. Quillen, G. A. Unkrich, J. A. Spielman, Dr. P. Woods.

Iowa Encampment, No. 6, I.O.O.F., was organized December 11, 1848, by District Deputy Grand Sire John G. Potts, of Galena, Ill., and ____ Guff, of Wisconsin. Charter members—Thomas D. Evans, John T. Hury, Ezra Drown, John A. Pitzer, James T. Hardin, John W. Culbertson and Christian W. Slagle. Its first officers were T. D. Evans, C.P.; John T. Huey, H.P.; Ezra Drown, S.W.; John A. Pitzer, Scribe; and John W. Culbertson, Treasurer. Present membership, thirty-two.

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS

This society was instituted February 18, 1877, under the name of Forest City Lodge, No. 37. The following are the charter members: Jacob Dahlman,

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John W. Culbertson
Fairfield
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J. M. Gabble, M. M. Marshall, J. N. Hurst, P. E. Smith, F. R. Williams, T. L. Cole, J. R. Miller, H. H. Wilder, J. P. Growney, N. S. Doty, R. E. Lynch, J. Snook, H. B. Hanson, W. M. Black, F. R. Fegan, G. H. Stakes, William Simonson, J. Wolf, L. Williams, A. D. Green, F. W. Cook, C. Morrison, Anson West, A. C. Noble, J. W. Barlow, J. McGill and W. T. Burgess. The officers of a lodge are designated as follows: Past Chancellor, Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Prelate, Keeper of Record and Seal, Master of Finance, Master of Exchequer, Master of Arms, Inner Guard and Outer Guard.

The Order in Fairfield is in a flourishing condition.

A.O.U.W.

Fairfield Lodge 52, Ancient Order of United Workmen, was organized March 8, 1876, with twenty-two charter members and the following officers: W. C. Lewis, P.M.W.; H. S. Wills, M.W.; A. H. McKee, F.; B. E. Lynch, O.; F. R. Fegan, Recorder; Joseph Bradley, Guide; T. L. H. Cole, O.W.; N. S. Doty, I.W. The growth of the Lodge has not been so rapid as many others, the idea being to secure such a membership as would insure the permanency of the order. Forty-six Master Workmen constitute the Lodge at present, with the following as officers: F. R. Fegan, P.M.W.; J. H. Tappert, M.W.; N. S. Averill, F.; A. G. Scranton, O.; George K. Gilchrist, Recorder; P. H. Howlett, Financier; W. C. Lewis, Receiver; Jacob Dahlman, Guide; J. C. Duncan, I.W.; M. Ackerman, O.W.

TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATION

In 1854, the Sons of Temperance, who had an organization for some time previous, were in the height of their prosperity and influence. Alexander Caldwell, who had been for some time engaged in the sale of intoxicating liquores, becoming convinced that his occupation was destructive to the best interests of his fellow-man, resolved to pour all his liquors into the streets and quit the business. Accordingly, on Friday, January 27, the entire stock, amounting to something near $100 in value, was voluntarily delivered up to the Sons of Temperance for destruction. The Order marched out in regalia to conduct the ceremony, with the different schools and citizens generally in the procession. Arriving at Caldwell's place of business, prayer was offered by Rev. L. B. Dennis; the Marshal of the day, Dr. J. D. Stark, knocked the bungs out of the barrels and the liquid contents ran down the gutters of the streets. While the fiery fluid was gurgling from the vessels, Rev. Joseph C. Cooper mounted the head of a barrel and made some pertinent remarks, followed by Rev. Dennis. Propositions were made to buy the liquors in other establishments, provided they would quit the business, but were not accepted.

A State Temperance Convention was held at Iowa City, May 3, 1854. Fairfield was represented by J. F. Wilson, W. B. Littleton, W. W. Junkin and J. D. Jones—the first two of the Sons of Temperance, and the latter of the Order of Good Templars.

The cause of temperance was not without its opponents. The Fairfield Ledger was strongly enlisted in the cause, and we append the letter of one patron whose friendship was lost by its course:

th 1855
wapelo Co mar19.

W.W. Junkin

Sur I take in hand to Direct afew lines to you. I say that you are a lyr you say that the use of alcoholic beveridge has Cost $1,200,000,000 has burned or otherwise destroyed $5,000,000 of prpperty has destroyed 300,000 lives sent 150,000 to our prisons and 100,000 to the poor house caused 1500 murders 2000 suisides and has Bequeathed to the Country 1,000,000 of

orphants Children I think that Mr Everett is like you a lyre a pick pocket a Drunkard and will do anything for money you have rote a grate deele in your last paper Concerning in temparance and what Mr. Everett has stated concerning the taxes the crimanels the porpers the orphants and those ____ lyes that him nore you neither knew nothing about I just say that you are boath lyres and if I hadent subscribed for your paper I would see you in ____ before I would patronise you ore your paper Your Dog that you had round barking for siners to your paperlyed to mehe stated that there would be all forren News & market of St Louis keokuk & burlington in it I con cider you and youre paper a poore Piece of litle pitaful humdugry fild up with nothing but fare field advertise ment and temperance lyes if I live till the year is out you may go to _____ with youre paper.

BLUE RIBBON MOVEMENT

The Blue Ribbon movement reached Fairfield at the beginning of the month of April, 1878. On the 8th of that month a club was organized and founded on the Blue Ribbon pledge, in these words:

"With malice toward none and charity for all, I, the undersigned do pledge my word and honor, God helping me, to abstain from all intoxicating liquors as a bevarge, and that I will, by all honorable means, encourage others to abstain."

Twenty-three hundred names are subscribed to the pledge in the city of Fairfield, and similar organizations exist in nearly every township in the county, and it was estimated, while these pages were being written that five thousand persons in "Old Jefferson" had pledged themselves to lead practical temperance lives. Since the organization of the club, meetings have been held in Wells' Hall every Monday evening, and the interest awakened in April has been kept alive by lectures rendered by home and foreign speakers.

At the first election of officers, Rollin J. Wilson was chosen President; Miss Anna Kerr, Vice President; Miss Clara Muselman, Secretary, and W. B. Murry, Treasurer. These persons held for the term of six months. At the second election, Rollin J. Wilson was re-elected President; Maj. W. M. Clark, Vice President; Capt. W. T. Burgess, Secretary, W. B. Murry, Treasurer. On the faithfulness of these officers, in a great degree, has depended the unparalleled success of this movement.

AMong those who have been most active and earnest in their efforts might be mentioned Hon. James F. Wilson, Capt. T. W. Burgess, Col. W. B. Culbertson, John Gavin, William Elliott, G. A. Rutherford, John De Galleford, W. W. McCracken, Mrs. John Burnett, Mrs. Wm. Elliott, Miss Clara Musselman and Mrs. Woodward. Others are equally worthy of mention, but space forbids. The club has also established an excellent reading-room, which is a source of great pleasure and profit to the entire community. The movement depends alone on moral suasion. Harsh things are said of no one. It resorts to neither legal prosecutions nor social ostracism. Its appeals are not made to the passions and prejudices of men, but to their cooler, better judgment, which, when once reached, is the sure foundation upon which to build a permanent reformation.

FAIRFIELD PEOPLE AND THE CHICAGO FIRE

When news of the great Chicago fire of October, 1871, reached Fairfield, the generous heart of the citizens responded to the wail of want in liberal acts of benevolent charity. Meetings were called and active measures were at once commenced and carried out, that resulted in sending several tons of provisions, etc., to the sufferers by that terrible visitation of disaster. The Ledger of October 19, 1871, said:

"Earnest meetings were held in our city last week to raise means to assist in relieving the distress in Chicago. Liberal donations of money, provisions

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and goods were made. Two car-loads of supplies were sent in charge of Gad McGaw."

This is not the only instance of the generous and humane liberality of the people of Fairfield and vicinity that might be quoted, but it is enough to show the noble impulses of their great hearts. A deaf ear and closed hand have never been known among them when suffering humanity pleaded.

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