USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Iowa; centennial history. 1776. 1876 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
There are at this time, in addition to the public schools, a num- ber of private schools in successful operation in the county.
Parsons College, an institution under the control of the Presby- terians of Iowa, was endowed by Lewis B. Parsons, Sr., of St. Louis. Mo., with a bequest of $10,000 in lands and money. The citizens of Fairfield made a further endowment of $27,000. Large, tine grounds adjoining the city of Fairfield, a commodious house for the accommodation of the officers, was secured : a chapel and school room was creeted in 1875. The attendance and financial coudi- tion at the end of the first scholastic year presents a favorable: ex- hibit for the institution. The officers are. Professor A. G. Wilson. Rector, Rev. Carson Reed, Secretary.
CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.
There are four Congregational churches in the county. The Fairfield church was organized on 21st Dee. 1839, with 12 mem- bers. The church was completed. Nov. 28th, 1812. Present membership, 150; average attendance in Sabbath school, 100 : Pastor, Rev. C. Compton Burnett.
Glasgow church organized May 21st, 1853; present member- ship, 19; attendance in Sabbath school, 35 ; Rev. J. Barnett. Pas- tor ; membership at organization, 6; church erected, 1876; Rev. Simon Waters, first Preacher.
Black Hawk, organized July 16th, 1862 : present membership. 54 ; attendance at Sabbath school. 20.
Wooster organized Feb. 26, 1866 ; present membership, 19; at- tendance at Sabbath school, 35; Rev. J. Barnett, Pastor. Rev. A. S. Wells and Rev. Reed Wilkinson are connected with the as- sociation and reside in the county.
The Presbyterians have six churches in the county.
The Fairfield church was organized Oet 2d, 1811, by Rev. L. G. Bell, with 9 members : church edifice built in 1812, not com- pleted until 1813; present membership, 195; attendance at Sab- bath school, 100; Rev. Carson Reed. Pastor. This church has been successful in all these years, yet was never dedicated.
Batavia; membership, 50; Sabbath school, 70.
24
Libertyville, organized in IS48; membership. 48, S. school, 66. Pleasant Plain, organized, May 1872.
Perlee, organized. Oct. 1871 : membership. 12.
Lockridge, membership, 4.
Salina, membership. 12; Sunday school, 50. First organized in Richwoods in 1814.
Roman Catholic church of Fairfield organized June, 1860 : charch edifice built, 1860 ; Rev. James Slattery, Pastor ; membership, So.
Catholic church. Germanville. organized in 1850; membership not accurately known.
The Lutheran church of Fairfield was organized in 1856 with 6 members ; charch edifice built 1858 : Rev. A. Axline was the first Pastor : present Pastor. Res. W. M. Sparr; membership, 109 ; av- erage attendance at Sabbath school, 92.
The New Sweden. (Lutheran,) Lockridge township, was organ- ized in 1851: Rey. M F Hopkinson, first Pastor ; Rev. JJ. E. Rehnstrom, present Pastor: membership. 400: attendance at Sabbath school, 115 ; church edifice built. Es60.
German Lutheran, of Germanville, was organized in IS13, and church edifice built ; present membership. 200 : attendanceat Sab- bath school. 150.
The Methodist church of Fairfield organized the church in Dick- ey's log tavern. March 22. 1$10 with 7 members. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Culbertson is the only surviving member present at the organ- ization. She still resides in Fairfield ; prosent membership. 860 : present Pastor. Rev. I. E. Wing: average attendance at Sunday school. 125. The church was called M. E. Church of Fairfield. Harmony church was a division of the original chureb divided in 1869, but in 1876 the two were united under the name of the First M. E. Church. of Fairfield.
Mt. Zion church. Des Moines township organized in 1865. 19 members : first Minister. R. Williams : church built. 1867 : prosent membership 28.
Glasgow church organized in the house of James Kiak patrick in 1839. Rev. Joseph Kirkpatrick was the first Minister : members at organization, eight : present membership, fitty : church edifice erected in 1852.
Brookville M. E. church organized 1956 : present membership 50.
Much effort has been made. not only by the historian. but by the ever energetic Rev. 1I. E. Wing of Fairfield, to secure the his- ton of the other M. E. churches in the county, but such efforts have only met with disappointment.
. The Baptist church of Abingdon was organized in 1968 ; church
-
---
1
25
edifice erected 1869 ; first Preacher, Elder R. M. Tracy : member- ship at organization. 12 : present membership. So.
Brookville Baptist church organized in IS6S; present member- ship, 60.
The Baptist church at Fairfield was organized in 1844 .- Wm. Elliott was the first Pastor. The church waned in about two years, but was re-organized in 1856 under Rev. John Williams with 16 members.
There is also a Baptist church at Batavia ; no record received.
The Baptist church of Glasgow in Round Prairie township, was organized in 1852 with 20 members: Rev. Wm. Elliott was the first Elder; church edifice erected in 1851 ; Rev. Samuel Hutton preached the first Baptist sermon in the township and county in 1836.
The Episcopal church, St. Peters of Fairfield. was organized by Rev. Adderly, August 6th, 1855. Wm. Dunwoody, H. B. Mitchell and Charles Negus signing the articles of association : Rev. Lou- derback preached the first sermon in 1850 ; prosent membership. 20 ; church erected 1856.
The Christian Church of Abingdon was organized in IS13 with 15 members; present membership, 210; first Preacher Robert Long; church edifice built in 1851 : frame church built it 1556.
The Christian Church of Fairfield-no particulars secured.
TOWNSHIPS.
Walnut-73-8 .- Was surveyed in 1839 and organized the same year. The first settler was a man by the name of Turner. whose sobriquet of " Old Bossie-top " is still fresh in the memory of old settlers. lIe built his house in 1837 on the banks of the Checauqua (Skunk) river. His occupation was fishing and hunt- ing. Squire Kimberly filled the double position of school teacher and Justice of the Peace, teaching school in the first school house in 1841. In 1813 the Lutherans built the first church where Ger- manville now stands. Roy. Jacob Spainhower, a Baptist preached the first sermon in 1839. Rev. Daniel Heider was the first per- manent preacher, 1811. Dr. Thomas Maley was the first physi- cian, 1840. Christian Shaffer was the first death, 1810. The The first child born was Henry Knerr, 1839. The first marriage Jacob James and Miss Blakely, 1840. Silas Deeds built the first mill, on the present site of Merrimac. IS41. The first post office in Germanville, 1811. John Spielman was first school director. 1840. Post offices, Germanville and Merrimac.
In 1875 the population was 1,096; number of families, 181: dwellings. 201 : voters, 228 : militia, 145: 2 mills : 3 churches : 6 school-houses : 2
---
26
ministers ; 1 physician : -- church members : 247 school children : 10.337 acres improved land : 9.420 acres umimproved land ; 1.770 head of cattle ; 70 head of sheep : 3.913 hend of hogs ; 632 horses : 17 miles : 4.2 13 acres natural timber : 5,643 apple trees ; 97 peach trees : 57 per trees : 35 phun trees ; 642 cherry trees : 2.413 acres of wheat ; 5.061 acres of corn : 2.160 acres of rye: 741 aeres oats: 11 acres barley : 32 Heres buckwheat : 4.192 acres of grass : 32 acres sorghum ; 68 acres potatoes ; 463 rods hedge ; 99,513 rods of fence: 89 stands of bees. Value of school property, :4.500.
Penn -- 13-9 -- Was surveyed in 1840 and organized the same year. Samuel T. Harris was the first settler, building his house on set of section 29. He came into Penn township from Lock- ridge township in 1838, having settled in 31 of Lockridge m the summer of 1836. The first school house was built in 1> 10 and Dr. Paine taught the first school. The Quakers erected the first church in 1841. Ransom Coop preached the first sermon m 1810 in Harris' house. Dr. J. C. Ware, of Fairfield was the first phy- sieian, 1842. James Reddick was the first death in 1842. The first store was opened in Pleasant Plain in 1844.
In 1875 the population was 1,678 : 326 families ; 276 dwellings ; 255 mil- itia ; 322 voters ; 11 school honses : 4 churches : 6 stores ; 3 mit ters : 4 physicians : 1 lawyer; --- church members : 683 school children : 5 coal banks ; 15,397 acres improved laud : 4,008 acres umimproved land : 105.022 rods fence ; 1.746 acres wheat : 3.933 acres corn ; 47 aeres ive : 935 acres oats ; 5 acres barley : 32 acres buckwheat : 70 acres sorghum : 3.415 acres grass ; 41 acres potatoes : 5.173 acres natural timber: 41 acres planted tim ber: 18 rods hedge : 11.128 bearing apple trees : 152 peach: 85 year : 75 plnm ; 2 458 cherry : 905 horses; 1 964 cattle : 3,243 hogs ; 1,987 sheep : 10 mnles : 68 stand of bees ; valne of school property. 57,950 ; towns, Preasant Plain and Perlee.
Black Hawk-73-10-Surveyed 1840. Organized in 1Stl. First house was built by the first settier, a Mr. Nelson, in 1810 on Dr. Bartow's present farm. - Bennett taught the first school in 1842. The first church was built in 1843. Rev. Hardin preached the first sermon in 1840. The first school house was erected in 1815, and was a log structure. The first birth was a child to Nelson. G. P. Bartow was the first physician in 1$44 .- Gideon Rhodes, first death, in 1813. Post office, Baker.
In 1875 the population was 977 ; dwellings, 163: physicians, 1 - school- honses, 9 ; school children, 356 ; acres improved land. 18.118 ; unimproved, 1,884 ; rods fence. 68.565 ; acres wheat, 1.985 : corn, 5.522 ; rye. 220 : oats. 1,881; bnekwheat. 43; sorghum, 32; grass, 4.972; potatoes. 62 : natural timber, 2.820 ; planted tauber. 37 ; rods hedge, 13,881; apple trees, 2.875; peach. 10; pear, 9; plum, 11; cherry, 1,250; horses, 821 ; cattle, 2,413 ; hogs, 10,480; sheep. 610 : mnles, 33.
Poll :- 73-11 -- Was surveyed and organized in 1813. The town of Abingdon is situated in the south part of the township. Matthew Spurlock was the first settler in the spring of IS13 and
1
27
immediately erected the first honse. First marriage Daniel French and Betsey Long. Henry Ream was the first doctor. 1815. C. Il. McCulloch first postmaster, appointed in 1550. The first school house was erected in 1850. Peter A. MeReynolds taught the first school in 1815. The first store was kept by J. C. Harris m 1850. The first child was born in 1511, a son to Spurlock. The first death was a pioneer moving further west in IS13. First preacher, Robert Long, in 1873. First church built in I>5 !.
In 1875 the population we 1,096; funi.i :s. 239: vote.s. 256: militi .. 209 : school children, 400 ; schoo'shouses 8; charches, 4 : stores 7 ; Heres improved land, 16.091 : unimproved. 3,003 ; tods fence, 75,333 : aeres wheat, 1,978 ; corn, 5,762; rve. 112 : oats. 1.401 : buckwheat, 11 : sorghum. 15 : grass, 2.982 ; potatoes, 134; natural timber. 1.712 : planted mnube, 11 : apple trees. 4,860 : cherry, 535 ; borses. 739; cattle, 1,812 ; hogs, 7,125 ; mules, 43. Valne of school property, $1.000.
Locust Grove-72-11 .- Was surveyed and organized in IS40. William Vincent was the first settler. who built the first house in 183S. The first school was taught in IS10 by Samuel Bonman. The first school house was built in 1810. The Methodists Intilt the first church in 1856. Moses Shian was the first preacher .-- Dr. J. D. Stark was the first physician, 1839. George Koontz was the first death in !539. Jasper Konntz and Susan Buins were the first couple married, and Martha Kountz the first child boru. 1839. Samuel Kirchville opened the first store in 1810. The first mill was a horse power ereeted in IS10.
In 1875 the population was 1.471 : 279 families : 252 dwellings : 329 vo- ters ; 216 militia : 2 mills ; 9 stores : 5 school houses : { churches : 3 minis ters ; 2 lawyers : 5 doctors : 426 church members : 232 school children : 11. 996 acres improved land : 7.184 acres nounproved land : 113.475 rods fence : 1.264 acres wheat : 4,401 acres corn : 93 acres iye: 944 acres oats : 15 acres buckwheat : 22 acres sorghum : 4,791 acres grass : 41 acres potatoes : 5.932 acres natural timber : 7,685 rods hedge ; 6,330 apple trees : 98 pear : 205 peach : 87 plum : 1.203 cherry ; 742 horses : 69 mules : 2.130 cattle : 2.312 hogs ; 1,950 sheep ; 136 stands of bees; value of school property. $3,000 Towns, Brookville and Batavia.
Fairfield ( exclusive of City.) -- 72-10-The most central town- ship in the county Surveyed and organized in 1839 Henry B Notson was the first settler and built the first house on the set of section 25. First school house was a log structure in the city of Fairfield, on lot S block Ht. where Jordan Bros. & Co's store now stands, 1839. First church was built by the Congregational Socie- ty, on lot 7 block 11, city of Fairfieldl. 1812. The first store was opened by William Hueston on lot 8 block S. city of Fairfield. 1539. The first mill was built by John Troxell on the present site of Reed's mill in ISHI. Rev. Reuben Gaylord, Congregationalist,
28
preached the first sermon, December 1839. First school teacher. Miss Clarissa Sawyer, 1839. First doctor, John T. Moberly. 1539. First death, Mrs. Bowman, 1839. First birth, son to a Mr. Shop- herd. First marriage, Farnham Whitcomb to Nancy Fox, 18.0.
In 1875 the population was 1,544 ; 304 families : 247 militia : 361 voters; 354 dwellings ; 10 school-houses; 1 church ; 50 church members : #76 school children : 18,034 acres improved land : 3.956 neres mimproved land: 105.034 rods of fence ; 1.077 acres wheat : 4.591 acres corn : 208 acres rve: 1,330 acres oats : 22 acres barley : 28 acres buckwheat ; 9 acres sorghum ; 8,553 acres grass : 106 acres potatoes : 4.398 acres natural timber, 2 acres planted timber; 3.500 rods hedge. Bearing fruit trees : 9.586 apple : 122 pear ; 250 peach : 35 plum : 1.785 cherry. Stock : 757 horses : 2 166 cattle: 2.898 hogs; 1.605 sheep ; 33 males and asses. 86 stands of bees 15 miles of Railroad. Value of school property, $6,425 Railway station, Fair field
Buchanan -- 72-9 -- Was formerly equally divided. for civil pur- poses, between Lockridge and Fairfield townships. Buchanan was organized in 1856. David Coop was the first settler, building the first house on the nwt of the wh of the nwt of section 23 in 1836. The first school house was built in 1842. Andrew Simmons taught the first school in 1838. Rev. Asa Shinn preached the first ser- mon in 1839. The first church was a log structure huilt in Rich- woods in 1812, was replaced in 1860 by a frame built by the Moth- odists. The first child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Higgenbot- tom, 1837. The first death was David Coop, 1857. The first marriage Harmon J. Aikes and Martha Frost. 1839. William Stevenson first physician, 1837. First store at Lockridge.
In 1875 the population was 1.157: 235 families: 242 dwellings: 255 voters ; 177 militia ; 3 churches : 6 school-houses ; 4 stores : 150 school children ; -- church members : 16,872 acres improved land : 5,504 acres unimproved land ; 110.465 rods of fence : 1,712 acres wheat : 2.933 aeres com ; 147 acres rye ; 784 acres oats : 15 meres barley : 20 acres buckwheat : 25 acres sorghum : 6,733 acres grass : 79 acres potatoes : 3.244 acres nat- ural timber : 15 acres planted timber : 14. 442 rods hedge: bomring fruit trees, 10,956 apple : 213 pear : 399 peach : 76 plum : 1.867 cherry. Stock: 896 horses : 2.365 cattle ; 3.230 hogs : 2.313 sheep : 53 males ; 83 stands of bees. Valne of school property. 56,000. Towns, Lockridge and Salina. Railway stations, Lockridge and Glendale : miles of Railroad, 10.
Lockridge-72-8-Surveyed and organized as Congressional township in 1837. Samuel T. Harris was the first settler, erect- ing the first house on section 30 in 1836. In 1837 Wm. G. Coop laid out the town of Lockridge in section 31, and here the first church, school house, and store were erected. Wm. G. Coopke sp- ing the store in 1837. Win. Stevenson was the first doctor. 1837. and Heury Rowe built the first mill in 1838. Samuel Hutton was the first preacher and preached at Harris' house. The first
1 1
i
29
birth was a child to one of the Coops, 1837. The other record is identical with Buchanan as to civil division. Post offices, Salina. Glendale and Coalport.
In 1875 the population was 1.675: families. 322 ; voters. 277 . militin. 192; school-houses. 5: dwellings, 290: school children. 234; acres im- proved land, 12.473 : unimproved. 7. 197 : rods fence, 112. 135 ; neces whenit. 2.425; corn. 4.778; rve, 369 ; oats. 929; barley, 8: buckwheat. 15: sor- ghum. 36 ; grass, 3,400 ; potatoes, 45 ; natural timber. 3.717 : rods beige. 6.353 ; apple trees 9,275 : pear, 92 ; peach, 617 : pimin, 162 : cherry, 1.120 : horses, 779 ; mules, 02 : rattle. 2.372 ; hogs, 3.107 : sheep. 1.791
Round Prairie-71-8 .-- Was the first settled. The land was surveyed in 1837, and the township organized in 1839. It is the southeastern township in the county. James Landman was the first permanent settler and erected the first dwelling early in the spring of IS36. on the et of sw! of section 7. The Methodists built the first church in 1847: Rev. Sammel Hutton was the first preacher, preaching the first sermon in Landman's house in 1836. Hutton was a Baptist, as was the Landman family. The first school taught was by Thomas Johnson in the first school house built on the se! of section 7, and was a log structure built in 1838. Wm. Stevenson was the first doctor visiting the settlement in the winter 1836-7 : he resided in Mt. Pleasant. Isaac Blakely and Nellie Landman were the first couple married in the spring of 1837. Cyrus Walker the first child born in 1836. The first death was a child of Alfred Wright early in the summer of 1837. Miller and Glasgow laid out Glasgow in IS38 and established the first store. Daniel Sears was the first Justice of the Peace. The first case was Joseph M. Parker's complaint against Kirk for permitting a nuisance.
The population in 1875 was 1,047; number of families, 214; voter-, 158: dwellings, 196; stores. 2: churches-1 Congregational, 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist : 2 ministers ; 3 doctors : 6 school-houses ; 1 coal bank ; 9,716 acres improved land: 7,784 acres nnimproved land; 80,363 rods of fence ; 1.596 acres wheat; 4,058 acres corn : 313 acres rye ; 844 acres oats ; 10 acres barley : 28 acres buckwheat : 30 acres sorghum ; 3,200 acres grass: 4 acres potatoes ; 6,983 acres natural timber ; 4 acres p'anted timber ; 12,572 rods of hedge : 7,726 apple trees ; 91 pear trees : 641 peach. trees ; 32 plum trees ; 999 cherry trees : 700 horses : 71 males and asses : 3.283 head of cattle; 3,538 head of hogs; 1,853 head of sheep Towns. Glasgow and Vega. Value of school property, 84,450; school children. 259.
Cedar -- 72-9 -- Surveyed 1837. Organized 1839. W. G. Coop built the first house on the nel of section 1 in 1836. John Huti built the second house in the spring of 1837. First school house a log structure, 1840. First teacher, Thomas Johnson. Samuel Hutton preached the first sermon in Coop's house, 1836. William
30
Stevenson was the first doctor, IS37. First death, Henry Milton's child, 1837. First child born was William Coop, winter 1836-7. First store was opened by Franklin Gilmore, near where Wooster now stands, in 1839.
In 1875 the population was 756; 150 families; 156 voters : 107 enrolled militia : 142 dwellings ; 1 mill ; 1 church ; 5 school-nonses : 1 minister : 1 doctor ; 168 school children : - church members : 12.103 acres improved Lund : 10.398 acres naimprove l lend : 73.629 rots of fence : 5.306 acres wheat : 2.933 acres corn : 147 acres rve : 784 acres outs: 15 deres barley : 20 acres buckwheat : 9 acres sorghum : 3.951 acres grass : 62 acres pota- toes : 7.672 acres natural timber : 5,660 rods hedge. Bearing fruit trees, 7 144 apple : 53 pear ; 197 prach : 80 plum ; 907 cherry. Stock : 637 hor- sas ; 1,801 cattle : 1,871 hogs : 1.019 sheep : 29 mnles 41 stand of bees Value of school property. 2.100 P. O .. Wooster.
Liberty -- 71-10 -- Surveyed and organized in 1810. J. J. Smith was the first settler and physician, erecting the first house on see- tion 36 in IS37. The first school house and church were built in section 86 in 1835. John Cameron was the first preacher and John Beck the first school teacher in 1838. The first birth was a son to Elias Smith. IS37. The first death a child of John Precise 183S. The first marriage was Charles Perine and Miss Jane Cam- eron. The first church was built by the Methodists. Town and post office, Libertyville.
Population in 1875, 1.071; dwellings, 193; voters. 244: militia, 185; families, 201: mills, 3: churches. 3; school-houses. 7: stores, 3; school children, 444; aeres improved land. 11,650 : unimproved. 3.601 : rods of fence, 11,960 : acres wheat. 1.814 : corn, 4.046: sorghum, 22 : grass 2,982: potatoes. 70 ; natural timber, 3.423 : planted timber. 7 : apple trees, 6,771 ; peach, 253 ; pear, 232: plum, 139; cherry, 2.231 : horses 735 ; cattle. 1,812; hogs. 3.788: sheep. 3.159 ; mules, 43. Value of school property. $7,120.
Des Moines-71-11-Is the southwest township in the county. Several surveys of this township have been made. the last one be- ing in 1817, when the organization of the township was perma- uently established. A railway station has recently been estab- lished at the west county line. Adam Winsell was the first set- tler, building the first house on the sw! of section 34, 183S. In 1841 the first school house was built on the swl of section 31. The first school teacher was Silas Wells, 1811. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Joel Harrington in Winsell's house in IS10. The first church was built by the Methodists in 1869. Edward Boyer was the first doctor, 1810. John Winsell and Charlotte Nagle were the first couple married, ISHI. Lewis, son of Lewis and Vienna Winsell was the first child born, 1839. Cutting &
4
-
-
31
Gordon established the first store . IS12. The first mill. a tread mill, was built by Ellmaker in 1842. Post office, County Line.
In 1875 the population was 1.202 : 218 families: 281 voters ; 197 militia: 2 churches ; 8 school-houses : 1 minister : 2 doctors ; -- church members; 343 school children ; 14.637 acres improved land : 3.040 neres nnimproved land ; 106,958 rods of fence : 2.037 acres wheat : 3.725 acres corn : 196 acres rye ; 1.577 aeres oats : 41 acres buckwheat : 37 acres sorghum ; 5,533 acres grass ; 79 acres potatoes : 6.221 acres natural timber Bearing fruit trees : 7,144 apple ; 67 pear ; 192 peach : 77 plum : 945 cherry Stock : 873 borses: 73 miles: 2,662 cattle: 9.773 hogs : 4.809 sheep 92 stands of bees Value of school property, $4.925
TOWNS-CITY OF FAIRFIELD.
The city of Fairfield was located on the sw L of Section 25. Township 72, Range 10 West, by the Board of Commissioners. composed of Samuel Hutton, of Heury. Joshua Owens, of Lee. and Roger N. Cressop, of Van Buren county. The town quarter was decided upon in March, 1839, the land surveyed. and twenty-five blocks laid out in regular squares of eight lots each. James M. Snyder, of Henry county, was employed as surveyor, assisted bv Joseph M. Parker, George W. Troy. James Coleman. David Bow- man, JJohn Payton and Sylvanus Herrington. Twelve streets were laid out, six from north to south and six east and west. Block No. 13 was reserved for publie purposes. The streets bordering on the Square are 823 feet in width, the others 66 feet wide.
The location selected is a desirable one, near the geographical centre of the county, is an elevated prairie, skirted on the north, east and west with timber; Crow creek rises north of Fairfield. circles to the east and south, within a short distance of the city. The natural surface is rolling, giving a good opportunity for a per- fect system of drainage from the central part of the city in every direction. It is geographically sitnated in latitude 11 deg., 1 min., and longitude 91 deg., 57 min., or 14 deg .. 56 min. west of Washington. 940 feet above the level of the sea. The original streets were named by the Commissioners as follows : Sears, Wal- nut, Madison, Monroe, Church and Chastian, running east and west ; Smith, Williams, Washington, Jefferson, Jackson and Houston, running north and south.
William Hueston built the first house, a log structure, on lot S. block S, old plat of the town. The house was 10x12 feet square, built in April, 1839. It was in this building Hueston opened the first store in Fairfield, soon after its completion. Thomas Dickey built the second house, of logs, 10x12 feel square, on lot 1, block 7, where he opened the first hotel.
The Commissioners borrowed of Ebenezer S. Gage, at 20 per
32
cent interest, the money necessary to pay the entry fee at the Land Office, which was done at Burlington, May 13th, 1812. The town quarter was held by pre-emption prior to this. It was'nee- essary to borrow money to pay Gage; each time the lots in the western part of the city were mortgaged for security. The Com- missioners ordered a sale of lots on the 15th day of May, 1839, when Alexander Kirk, by public ontery, made the sale, and the deeds for these lots were signed by the Commissioners as " Bord of County Commissioners," the seal upon these documents being the liberty side of the silver dime.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.