Fordyce, Lewis

FORDYCE

Posted By: John Fordyce (email)
Date: 9/23/2003 at 17:01:27

Fairfield Daily Journal, March 29, 1911

Celebrated 65 Wedding Anniversary.

In the quiet of their farm home near Libertyville Monday Hon. And Mrs. Lewis Fordyce celebrated their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary. On account of the advanced age of the couple no demonstration is being made, Mr. Frodyce (sic) being ninety-two years of age while his wife is eighty-six.

There is perhaps not a man in Jefferson County who has been so prominently connected with the interests of the county than has this venerable gentleman. He was born on the farm, has worked his way up from humble position, has overcome the hardships of pioneer life and many years ago attained a position of affluence. He has been prominent in Iowa politics, being one of the organizers of the Republican party in Van Buren county, serving two terms in the General Assembly of Iowa to which he was sent once from Van Buren county and once from Jefferson. He resided for a short time in Lee county in the earlier part of his manhood and while there assisted in organizing the school system of the county.

A more important part of his life work has been the years which he spent in the ministry. For over forty years he preached the Gospel in the Christian church and his labors extended all over southeastern Iowa and into Missouri. For many years Rev. Fordyce was president of the state association of his church and for thirty-three years he served the association as secretary. He retired from active labors in the church only when advanced age overtook him.

Mr. Fordyce came to Iowa when but a youth or seventeen with his parents. His early life was spent amid the wild scenes of frontier settlements. He first lived in Lee county and then his parents moved to Van Buren county and after six years returned to Lee county. On March 27, 1846 Mr. Fordyce was married to Miss Mary Newby and they began housekeeping on a Lee county farm. At the end of three years the couple moved to Van Buren county and in 1873 moved to Jefferson county, where they have since resided.

Mr. and Mrs. Fordyce were the parents of eight children, five of whom are yet living – Dr. Winfield Fordyce of this city, Eugene and Harry Fordyce, who reside in California, Thornton and Lewis who reside near Libertyville. There are scores of old time friends in Jefferson and Van Buren counties who are wishing that they might personally congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Fordyce today but they too are staying near their firesides on account of advancing years. Many more friends and acquaintances realize what a prominent part this excellent couple had in early history of Van Buren and Jefferson counties.