Some early Fairfield history

NOTSON, SPARKS

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/10/2006 at 21:23:55

"Fairfield Ledger", Sept. 5, 1900, Pg. 3, Col. 3

CONNECTED WITH OUR EARLY HISTORY. The "Ledger" is in receipt of a letter from R.P.S. NOTSON, now of Hamburg, this state, whose father located at Troy Point, a few miles east of this city, in 1840. His brother, H. B. NOTSON, staked off the original town site of Fairfield as a claim before the location of the county seat. He was justice of the peace by appointment and the first probate judge of the county. In his official capacity he married the first couple wedded in the new county and made out the first recorded deed for land in the Richwoods district northeast of Fairfield. Mr. NOTSON says he has a copy of the first democratic election ticket ever printed in the county. It was printed in 1848 on a hand press owned by A. R. SPARKS, who published the "Iowa Sentinel", Jefferson County's first newspaper. Mr. NOTSON would be an interesting guest at an Old Settlers' meeting.

[Also posted to the Fremont County Documents board]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.