Polly Estabrook Fairbrother

ESTABROOK, FAIRBROTHER, TAUBMAN, GOODENOW, ENGEL, RONEY

Posted By: LuAnn Goeke (email)
Date: 4/14/2010 at 20:37:42

Polly Fairbrother Was First White Woman Here

According to family history which has been handed down through the generations, the first white woman to spend a night on the site of what is now Maquoketa, was Polly Estabrook Fairbrother, wife of Alvin Fairbrother in 1838. Some of the family has continued to reside here through the years, the fifth generation being represented now by 12-year-old Bonnie Sue Fairbrother.

The Alvin Fairbrothers came overland from the east in 1838 with two other families. Arriving in Jackson county, the other decided to make camp, but the Fairbrothers pushed on in an effort to find aid for Polly, who was ill. Thus it was that they stayed a night in the cabin of John Goodenow, who had not yet brought his bride to the new land.

Bread and Honey

They homesteaded just east of Maquoketa, on the farm now owned by Arnold Engel, later moving to a home west of town near the Pinhook school. Older persons who were pupils there recall the elderly man who treated them to bread and honey when they went to his home for the school’s water supply. Fairbrother was known as a bee-keeper.

A Bible which Polly Estabrook Fairbrother’s father gave to her in 1835 contains a complete family record. It shows that she and Alvin raised five children, two of whom remained their lives here, James and Laura, who became Mrs. Taubman. James’ seven children grew up here, the best-known locally being LeRoy (Rusty) who spent his entire life here except for three years.

During World War II a hospital was named in his memory, the LeRoy, operated by his daughter, Irene, now Mrs. Roney of Davenport, who was assisted by his widow. His two sons are Paul in Missouri and Frank in Maryland. Bonnie Sue is Frank’s daughter. She resides with her grandmother, Mrs. LeRoy Fairbrother, who still has Polly’s treasured family Bible.

- 18 May 1954, Jackson Sentinel Centenniel Edition, pg 142.