USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 82
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 82
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1918-A. E. Kunselman, Stephenson, Harvey, Adkins and Day.
1919-E. H. Burnham, Stephenson, O. H. Berry, Adkins and Fred Hill.
1920-Wm. Ashby, W. D. Owens, F. L. Lewis, Allen Overturf and F. L. Hill.
WHEN THE COURT HOUSE CORNER STONE WAS LAID IN 1918, THE FOLLOWING SKETCH OF FAIRFIELD CITY WAS FURNISHED BY CHARLES H. EPPERSON
The first building on the site of Fairfield was the section house built by the St. Joseph & Western Railway Company in 1872. John Clancy, one of the first section men, with his family, oceupied the building, immediately after its completion, as a residence and boarding house.
The townsite of Fairfield was surveyed in 1874, John H. Epley bought the first town lot after the townsite was surveyed, and erected the first business house, a frame building, on Lot 7 of block 16 of the original town. Mr. Epley is still a resident of Fairfield.
D. P. Jaynes built the first dwelling house in the town in the spring of 1875. It was built on Lots 11 and 12 in Block 20 of the original town, as after- wards surveyed and platted.
Fairfield was incorporated as a village July 1st, 1878. The first village trustees were: Lonis F. Fryar, Dennison Howe, John R. Maltby, John Epley and Walter S. Priekett.
On February 25, 1889, Fairfield became a city of the second class and the following named persons were the first eity officers, viz. : John E. Hopper, mayor ;
RESIDENCE OF JOHN E. HOPPER, FAIRFIELD, 1881
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RESIDENCE OF JOHN E. HOPPER, FAIRFIELD, 1918
19 PUBLIC LIBRARY 15
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HARVARD LIBRARY, HARVARD
HARVARD STATE BANK, HARVARD
Vol 1-46
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
school building was completed. In 1882 Rev. Mr. Wilkinson was preacher to a society of sixty-one members, who purchased the Union Church building at Sheriff's sale, and were owners in 1882. The Harvard and Glenville classes were organized in May, 1872. In April, 1873, Rev. E. J. Willis was sent by the conference to the Harvard Circuit, which comprised all of Clay County. First Quarterly Conference of this church was held at Harvard, June 21, 1873. Soon after this conference, the southern portion of the county was organized into the Little Sandy Circuit, Rev. Mr. Penny (supply ).
There were, in 1882, twenty appointments in the county, with a membership of over 500. The preachers in charge since 1879 are named as follows: Stevens, E. Wilkinson, S. B. Clay, J. K. Maxfield, Rippetoe, Markle, J. B. Pinekard and Mr. Jones.
The Presbyterian Society was organized January 13, 1878, with fourteen members by Rev. A. M. Dickson, of Edgar, and Rev. H. M. Getner, of Aurora. At this time E. H. Nye was chosen elder, H. R. Wheeler, T. A. Barbour, C. H. De Groff, L. A. Campbell and W. H. Chadwick, trustees. In June, 1879, a church house was commenced, and during work thereon services were held in the school- house or in Phillip's Hall. The society's building cost $600, and was dedicated in November 1879, by Rev. G. L. Little, Rev. J. L. Lower, the pastor, assisting.
In 1882, there were forty-three members. Edwin Updike and D. M. Wag- goner were elders, C. H. De Groff, L. J. Titus, D. J. Hume, N. H. Pontius and J. Gardner, trustees. The church was built on the "Union Plan," the society con- tributing most to hold title to the property.
The Congregationalists were the winners, but being unable to pay off the debts, the building was sold by the sheriff to the Methodists. Mr. Lower remained with the church until it ceased to exist, many of the members joining the Con- gregational Society.
A Baptist Society of ten persons was formed in July, 1872, by Rev. J. N. Webb, in the dwelling of C. H. Warner. The first regular services were held January 26, 1873, by Rev. I. D. Newell, who was hired as pastor. This society has not been referred to in the local press of the county for some years.
The Catholic Church of Harvard was founded here in 1879, and Father Glauber attended the mission for some years. Father Simeon succeeded, and Harvard was included in his mission. The congregation purchased the old Presbyterian Church house and refitted it for the purposes of Catholic worship.
St. Johns Protestant Episcopal Church was organized September 20, 1881, by Rev. John Greenwood, of Hastings. The officers chosen were John D. Hayes and D. Nichols, wardens, N. H. Lewis, F. L. Foreman and William Newton, vestrymen, W. H. Canfield, treasurer, and W. E. Orwin, secretary.
The Union Sunday-school dates back to the fall of 1872, when a class was organized in Alex. Meston's dwelling. Services were held in Sawtell's Hall until 1879-80, when denominational classes were formed, the Presbyterians leaving the Union in January, 1879. In January, 1881, the Methodists left the Union.
In the early months of 1872, when Harvard comprised but four or five small buildings, Rev. D. B. Perry, a Congregational minister then recently graduated from Yale University, now president of Doane College, had for his parish the whole of Hamilton County. He extended his field into Clay enough to include Harvard and Sutton. Services were held on alternate Sabbaths, first
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
in a railroad car, then in a private house. A Congregational ehureh was organized July 13, 1873, with the following members: J. P. Todd, Alex. Meston, Mrs. Agnes Meston, C. H. Miner, W. A. MeLeon, E. L. Brown and Margaret E. Decker. The names of clerks in order are S. Backus, 1872; L. G. Hurd, 1875; Mrs. C. K. Morrill, 1879; Mrs. C. K. Morrill, January 13, 1881; T. R. Hall, December 29, 1881; Mrs. G. E. Taylor, 1882; E. J. Moger, 1883; Mrs. Celia A. Hurd, C. R. Morrill, Henry Noyes, July, 1888; James Donnelly, Jannary, 1889.
The Christian Church of Harvard was formally organized in October, 1883, and organized in May, 1884, with the following named members: Mrs. C. Rockhill, Mrs. M. W. Wilcox, Miss Alice Eddy, Mr. and Mrs. Neri Smith, A. H. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Gantz, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Cline, Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Stiles, Miss Anna Stiles, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Moore, George (. Shetler, Miss L. C. Sbetler, and Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Spicer.
The pastors in the order of serviees were: C. B. Lotspiech, B. F. Bush, O. C. Hubbell, L. F. Van Cleve and G. T. Black.
Mrs. M. W. Wilcox has served as secretary since organization. There were one hundred twenty-six members. In 1885 the church honse was erected under the direction of the following named building committee: C. Rockhill, George Le Baron and T. H. Spicer.
EARLY HISTORY
COURIER OF MAY 30, 191
While browsing around in the back room Saturday evening I came aeross a bound volume of the first year's issue of the Courier. The first number was issued January 10, 1885. It was published by the Harvard Printing Company, of which T. II. Matters was sole owner. Sam W. Winstrop was editor. He continned in that position for one year, being succeeded by Edward Southworth. At the end of the first, Mr. Matters announced himself as publisher and the Harvard Printing Company ceased to exist until the first of this year when the present corporation assumed ownership. Because of the failure of some of the material to arrive the first issue of the paper consisted of only four pages.
At that time there were ten papers in Clay County, the Courier being the tenth. Harvard had two papers, the Clay County Journal, being the other one with G. W. Limbocker as editor and manager. With true frontier journalistie courtesy the Courier remarks that this paper sometimes comes out on time and attempts to meet the genuine demands of its readers.
Among the advertisements in the first issue we notice the names of C. Rockhill, Oakley Johnson, B. S. Harrington, C. J. Scott, C. M. Whitney, Thomas H. Matters, he was the owner and could afford to advertise, Leslie G. Hurd, Lebarnes & Pontious, Donnelly & McBride, W. S. Dexter, John E. Lorimer, Taylor & Totten, Exchange Bank, L. A. Payne & Company, and J. R. Robinson. A later issue contains the ad of Webster & Son and announces that Bert has been taken into partnership. Bert volunteers the further information that he was married that year.
S. C. Sloat was postmaster and C. D. Moore, C. H. DeGroff, L. J. Titus,
W
GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, HARVARD
GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH, HARVARD
221
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
John D. Bain and C. J. Scott comprised the village board. Charles K. Morrill was village clerk and Wm. H. Canfield, treasurer.
James K. Maxfield was pastor of the Methodist church, E. Southworth of the Congregational church, Father Simenio had charge of the Catholic church and the Christian and Episcopal churches were without pastors.
A complete write-up of the town is promised in an early issue but this did not appear until the issue for January 2, 1886. This was quite complete when it did appear and contained much that is of historical interest besides the usual puffs for the business men. Some day when I have time and space to spare this will be reproduced for the benefit of the present generation.
Everybody likes the home paper but few realize its historical value to a town until the opportunity is given to look over such old files as are here mentioned.
At the time this paper was printed corn was selling for seventeen cents a bushel but there was a prospect that it might go up to twenty cents and the editor congratulated those who had been long-headed enough to hold their crop. Oats were worth about ten cents, wheat forty-five to fifty-five cents and hogs $3.25 to $3.50.
In printing extracts from these old papers I shall hope to stir up the memo- ries of a lot of the old-timers so they will give me other interesting things about the early days to print. Everyone likes to read such stories, the old folks for the memories they bring and the young folks for the information that is given.
HARVARD'S BANKS
Mr. Thomas has given a review of the history of the management of the banks of Harvard. We cannot leave the subject entirely without a short table showing the gradual growth of the Harvard banks, at least the totals shown by their statements, within the past decade.
Year 1910, Harvard State, deposits, $175,400; Union State, deposits, $275,000.
In year 1916, Harvard State, deposits, $181,000; Union State, deposits, $356,000.
In year 1921, Harvard State, deposits, $265,000; Union State, deposits, $650,000.
The roster of officers and directors of the Harvard banks during the years past discloses the names of many men who have played a very prominent part in Harvard's commercial growth and development, and some of them of state and national fame and achievement. As officers of the Union State have been Edward Updike, P. H. Updike, G. S. Babcock, the Updike family having started their business career out of Harvard; N. D. Blackwell and S. H. Blackwell, G. A. Herzog, P. Rosenbaum, G. T. Prall, J. H. Yost, a state and national figure in the lumber world; W. H. Swartz; Theo. Griess, George H. and Harrie G. Thomas.
At some time or other connected with the Harvard State Bank have been, Thomas H. Matters, C. Rockhill, Cleveland Eller and Jos. H. Byram, back in the late nineties, in its days as the First National; since then, G. A. Herzog, as President, M. Weil, now of National Bank of Commerce, Lincoln, as Vice-Pres. W. H. Herzog, M. R. Chittick, Frank Dieringer, J. Delaney, Geo. W. Phillips, L. W. Southwick, M. I. Aitkin, John Murtey, M. F. Harrington, J. W. Iliff,
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Peter Wagner, F. Knenneth, Geo. Keasling, T. A. Blakeslee, as Cashier, now head of Nebraska School of Business at Lincoln; S. J. Johnson, L. E. Bayles, I. L. Yoeman, H. G. Wellenseik, in recent years President, John R. Simpson, as Cashier, J. Krntz.
HARVARD'S STORES
The leading business house of Harvard for three decades has been the store established by Wolbach and Black. S. N. Wolbach and J. S. Wolbach started a store in Grand Island in 1874. This firm has built up stores in numerous other Nebraska cities, some of which are almost a half century later, leading business establishments of eentral Nebraska. Some twenty years ago Weil & Rosenbaum took over the Wolbach store. The Wolbach and Black Company have built up a leading department store in Hastings and S. P. Rosenbaum & Sons have built up a store in Harvard, often claim to be Clay County's largest business establishment.
There has been more continuity of ownership and longer terms of service by merchants in Harvard than in any other Clay County town. Other notable examples of this stands out in the stock originally the Yost-Ayton-Morris Company, which followed the J. T. Sheehan and Company and Hurd Brothers store.
The One Price Store later became the Yost-Ayton-Swartz Company and then the Ayton-Forney and the stock was closed out in about 1917. Another such stock is the old Webster, then Webster and Son and then J. A. Webster store which Mr. Webster ran for practically twenty-five or thirty years.
The John Ayton Elkhorn Meat Market started in the nineties and ran until Mr. Ayton's death in 1919.
Mention has been elsewhere made of the earlier drug stores of Harvard. C. A. Morrill, C. D. Moore started in the seventies, George W. Martin in the eighties and I. D. Howard and W. F. North drug stock in Harvard was bought earlier in the nineties by H. C. Stokes, this was burned and rebuilt, eventually became the Kenowen stock and then the Opera House Pharmacy of Dr. H. H. Seely. L. F. Hunt's Pharmacy started about thirteen or fourteen years ago.
The Harvard Furniture Company is the suecessor of the old Livingston Brothers Hardware, Furniture and Undertaking establishment, owned at times by Hill and Tucker, Mitchel-Moore Brothers, Mithelmore and Bobbett and Bobbett and Burns. The L. A. Higgins Hardware Company has been running in Harvard for twenty years. The Charles C. Perry and Company hardware stock succeeded the old W. T. Perry stock.
The J. H. Yost Lumber Company, which now has a string of yards through Nebraska and is one of the leading firms in that line in the state, started out of Harvard and has had a yard at Harvard for many years. The S. J. Rice Company, of the nineties, sold its yard to the Updike Lumber Company. This yard later was owned by Pauley and Bolten Lumber Company and in recent years by Edward Schuck.
The original Updike Grain elevator was another Harvard institution, and the Updike Grain Company, with elevators and offices in many cities, is another
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IHISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Harvard contribution to the big business world of Nebraska. Nelson B. Updike in 1920 became an owner of the Omaha Bee.
Other business concerns in years past in Harvard worthy of mention were: O. C. Clark, family grocery; Newton and Son, grocery; C. F. Corine, grocery ; D. E. Morris, cash grocery; J. R. Everett, White Front Drug Store; J. C. Mewhor, pharmacy; A. R. Weaver, drugs; Weaver Watch Company; Turners Garage; C. A. Lyons Cosy Restaurant; Seneca-Wing Implements; Harod Implements Company; A. J. Moger, implements; Hartley & Phels, livery ; Johnson & Company; Harvard Well Works; Harvard Fuel & Ice Company; Harvard Electric Company.
Harvard's business directory in 1920 shows:
Arthur Belden, shop O. O. Buck
J. C. Mewhor, Drug Store
Mr. H. A. Micke, green house George W. Miller, Attorney
Dr. F. A. Butler
C. & N. W. Depot
Wm. Miller, store Nebraska & Fowa Grain Co.
City Water Works
Opera House Cafe
Community Club Rooms Courier Office
Charles Perry & Co., hardware and furniture Person & Wyckoff
D. V. Curry Cream Station
Dr. D. J. Eller, Dentist
C. P. Phillips, men's furnishings
Farmers Union Elevator Co.
S. P. Rosenbaum, General Mdse.
H. B. Golding Poultry Company
D. T. Sabin, cream station Sehnek Lumber'Co.
J. W. Hanson Poultry Co. Harvard Electric Co. Harvard Furniture Co. Harvard Mill
Seely Opera House Pharmacy
Schwenk & Bieck, implements Spicer Brothers, garage
Harvard Meat Market
Harvard State Bank Higgins Hardware Co.
D. W. Stone, Veterinarian
H. K. Tickler, store
Hosier & Hagemeister, garage The New Harvard Hotel
Dr. I. D. Howard
L. F. Hunt, pharmacy Dr. J. E. Ingram
Dr. A. J. Jenison
Dr. H. W. Kellogg, Chiro.
Carrie Ketcham, store Public Library
Standard Oil Co. Star Livery Barn
H. T. Tillotson, jewelry store Union State Bank Updike Grain Co. Weaver Watch Co., store
J. H. Webster, store H. G. Wellensiek
Yost Lumber & Coal Co.
City Bakery
CHAPTER VIII
FAIRFIELD
EARLY FAIRFIELD -- CITY GOVERNMENT-EARLY FACTS, MIKE CLANCY-HISTORY OF SCHOOL>-BANKS-RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES-STORES.
Fairfield is the new name of the old postoffice center, known as White Elm. In point of settlement and progress it ranks with its sister towns of Sutton, Harvard and Edgar. It is the center of trade for the southwestern townships of Clay County and the towns adjoining on the south and west. Its grain market is celebrated and the surrounding country peopled by an industrious class of citizens.
Fairfield town site was entered by Maximilian Reed in 1871 (northeast quarter Section 4, Township 5, Range 7). He sold this claim to A. B. Smith, H. J. Higgins, R. Bayly, Cornelins Dunn and sixteen others who propsed to establish a town here. Fairfield was surveyed for the St. Joe & Denver Railroad Company, September 11, 1874, by A. R. Buttolph, and the first sale of lots was made September 18, J. H. Epley buying the first lot offered. John Clancy was the pioneer settler on the town-site, he being manager of the boarding car, and later of the section house during the construction of the road. In June, 1872, the railroad company erected a depot east of the old settlement, this was followed by the section house; Jaynes' office and lumber yard followed in the fall, and then Chandler & Aikins carpenter shop. Early in 1873, T. E. Broderick purchased Jaynes' building and later, MePeak & Sons established a hardware store in the carpenter shop. In September, 1874, J. H. Epley and Smith & Spencer moved their stores from the old to the new town-site; J. C. Clark established a lumber yard; D. MeDonald a blacksmith shop; J. W. Small a real estate office and Hopper & Conrad a drug store.
A postoffice was established in the fall of 1871, at a point two miles north- west of the present town called White Elm, and kept by J. P. Scott, postmaster. The location of the office was changed and brought into town on June 27, 1873, at which time it passed into the hands of L. Brewer, who was commissioned postmaster.
The office, after being variously called by the citizens, was finally given the name which it now bears. Mr. Brewer continued postmaster from his first ap- pointment up to February, 1886, with the exception of about seven months in 1881, when H. S. Gould received the commission, but gave place to Brewer January 1, 1882.
Dennison Howe succeeded Leander Brewer as postmaster in February, 1886. The appointment of Dr. Prentice, his successor, was confirmed in February, 1890. A. G. Corey succeeded him, he succeeded Corey, who again in turn took the office and in 1921 is postmaster.
721
EAST SIDE OF MAIN STREET, FAIRFIELD, 1878
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WEST SIDE OF MAIN STREET, FAIRFIELD, 1878
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
CITY GOVERNMENT
The petition of J. H. Conrad and twenty-five others, for the incorporation of Fairfield, was presented July 1, 1878. L. F. Fryar. D. Howe, J. R. Maltby, John Epley and W. S. Prickett were named chairmen ; O. G. Maury, clerk ; C. F. Shedd, treasurer; A. A. Kelsey, marshal (succeeded by P. G. Hayes) ; W. S. Prickett, attorney. The board passed the first ordinance on the 23rd day of July, 1878.
The officers elected for the year 1879 were Trustees, J. E. Hopper, G E. Glass, C. Palmer (chairman), J. R. Madison and H. Spencer, clerk, O. G. Maury, treasurer, John Biddle.
1880-Trustees, J. E. Hopper, Charles Palmer, chairman; O. H. Judd, G. E. Glass, H. Spencer ; clerk, F. H. Willis.
1881-Trustees, J. R. Maltby, D. Howe. J. Tweed, D. Murdock, chairman, and E. L. Brewer, treasurer, J. H. Case; clerk, J. C. Hedge.
1882-Trustees, W. S. Randall, chairman ; T. J. Loomis, A. Broderick, C. F. Shedd and J. C. Hedge; clerk, D. Howe; treasurer, Charles Lewis.
In 1883 W. S. Randall was chairman ; J. E. Broderick, J. E. Hopper, M. B. Gates and B. F. Rawalt, trustees, E. D. Judd, clerk ; W. S. Prickett, attorney; C. L. Lewis, treasurer, and William Crawford, street commissioner.
In April 1884, Henry Spencer, M. B. Gates, S. J. Anthony, and A. J. Minor were elected trustees, while O. P. Alexander, W. Kentner and J. C. Clark received each forty votes for the fifth position on the board.
In 1885 Messrs. Randall, Gates, A. G. Sherwood, T. J. Loomis and D. Howe, were trustees; E. D. Judd, clerk; C. L. Lewis, treasurer; W. S. Prickett, attorney; Thomas Myers, marshal, and E. Gates, street commissioner.
The trustees elected in 1886 were M. B. Gates, A. G. Sherwood, A. A. Randall C. F. Shedd and Charles Lewis; E. A. Mitchell was appointed clerk; W. S. Priekett, attorney, and J. L. Epperson, treasurer.
The trustees elected in April, 1887, were O. C. Hubbell, Dr. A. J. Bacon, A. B. Smith, H. M. Goldsmith and C. L. Lewis; E. A. Mitchell was re-appointed clerk ; T. J. Loomis, treasurer, and J. E. Broderick, marshal.
The election of April 3, 1888, resulted in the choice of the following named trustees : C. L. Lewis, B. J. Wright, M. B. Gates, George Avery and George J. Pielstick ; James H. Brooks was appointed clerk ; J. L. Epperson, attorney ; J. E. Broderick, marshal; Ehmer Gates, street commissioner, and T. J. Loomis, treasurer.
In April, 1889, J. E. Hopper was elected mayor ; J. H. Brooks, clerk; T. J. Loomis, treasurer ; C. M. Prickett, city engineer ; Frank Phillips, A. R. Ray, S. H. Lewis and C. W. Potter, councilmen.
The roster of members who have so faithfully served upon the Board of Trustees of Fairfield since 1890 have been :
1890-C. L. Lewis, G. W. Avery, C. W. Potter, A. R. Ray, E. L. Lewis.
1891-D. B. Massie, Avery, Potter, Ira Titus, Lewis.
1892-E. L. Lewis, D. Howe, S. J. Loomis, Ira Titns.
1893-A. M. Babcock, Howe, Loomis, Geo. Glass, J. E. Broderick.
1894-H. A. Lusk, D. B. Potter, Glass, Broderick, W. B. Hayden.
1895-Hubbell, Potter, Broderick, D. F. Fisher, Hayden.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
1896-O. C. Hubbell, J. A. Riddell, Broderick, Fisher, S. C. Thompson.
1897-Palmer, Riddell, Riggs, Shively and Thompson.
1898-Broderick, J. Baldis, Z. H. Riggs, Shively and Thompson.
1899-Joseph Kyne, Roberts, Weyenberg, Stiner and Parker.
1900-Joseph Kyne, F. D. Hastings, Weyenberg, Byrkit and Parker. 1901-H. A. Lusk, Hastings, Weyenberg, Byrkit and Parker.
1902-H. A. Lusk, Hastings, Weyenberg, Byrkit and Parker.
1903-Epley, Hastings, A. G. Corey, Byrkit and Parker.
1904-A. R. Ray, Hastings, Shively, P. L. Kissinger and Spencer.
1905-A. R. Ray, C. C. Parker, Shively, Kissinger and Spencer.
1906-A. R. Ray, T. P. Shively, C. C. Parker, Wm. Emrich and P. L. Kissinger.
1907-W. W. MeCashland, Shively, J. E. Wilcox, Emrich and Kissinger. 1908-MeCashland, Shively, Wilcox, C. L. Lewis and M. D. Gates.
1909-J. M. Sanford, Shively, Wilcox, M. J. Spicer and M. D. Gates. 1910-C. L. Lewis, Kissinger, Wilcox, H. E. Potter and George Krell.
1911-D. B. Potter, B. D. Massie, F. W. Reed, H. E. Potter, and Krell.
1912-D. B. Potter, Massie, Reed, A. E. Kunselman and A. E. Hochman.
1913-Joseph Kyne, C. A. Reeder, W. A. Lewis, Kunselman and Hochman.
1914-Wm. Emrich, Kunselman, W. A. Lewis, E. A. Williams and Jos. Johnson.
1915-Emrich, Kunselman C. J. Harris, E. A. Williams and Jos. Johnson.
1916-Emrich, Kunselman, Harris, Williams, and Guy MeLaughlin.
1917-Emrich, Kunselman, C. Wayne Harvey, Dr. S. C. Adkins and Day.
1918-A. E. Kunselman, Stephenson, Harvey, Adkins and Day.
1919-E. H. Burnham, Stephenson, O. H. Berry, Adkins and Fred Hill.
1920-Wm. Ashby, W. D. Owens, F. L. Lewis, Allen Overturf and F. L. Hill.
WHEN THE COURT HOUSE CORNER STONE WAS LAID IN 1918, THE FOLLOWING SKETCH OF FAIRFIELD CITY WAS FURNISHED BY CHARLES H. EPPERSON
The first building on the site of Fairfield was the section house built by the St. Joseph & Western Railway Company in 1872. John Clancy, one of the first section men, with his family, occupied the building, immediately after its completion, as a residence and boarding house.
The townsite of Fairfield was surveyed in 1874, John H. Epley bought the first town lot after the townsite was surveyed, and erected the first business house, a frame building, on Lot 7 of block 16 of the original town. Mr. Epley is still a resident of Fairfield.
D. P. Jaynes built the first dwelling house in the town in the spring of 1875. It was built on Lots 11 and 12 in Block 20 of the original town, as after- wards surveyed and platted.
Fairfield was incorporated as a village July Ist, 1878. The first village trustees were : Louis F. Fryar, Dennison Howe, John R. Maltby, John Epley and Walter S. Prickett.
On February 25, 1889, Fairfield became a city of the second class and the following named persons were the first city officers, viz. ; John E. Hopper, mayor ;
RESIDENCE OF JOHN E. HOPPER, FAIRFIELD, 1581
RESIDENCE OF JOHN E. HOPPER, FAIRFIELD, 1918
431
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Hiram H. Brooks, clerk; Theodore J. Loomis, treasurer; Charles M. Priekett, engineer; Charles H. Epperson, attorney : James E. Broderick, marshal; D. Frank Phillips, Adam R. Ray, Stanley H. Lewis, Charles W. Potter councilmen.
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