Fairfield Antebellum Days - 1907

HAYWOOD, MESSICK, VAN DOREN, NESBIT, GUDGELL, THOMPSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/1/2006 at 11:41:57

"Ottumwa Courier", Wed., Sept. 4, 1907

FAIRFIELD IN THE FIFTIES... INCIDENTS OF ANTE BELLUM DAYS...

This beautiful city was for 15 years the home of William HAYWOOD, the father of W.D. HAYWOOD (Official of Federation of Miners)... Mr. HAYWOOD, the elder, was one of the passengers on a famous pony express across the plains, in the early sixties... The sole brother of William HAYWOOD, who resided in Fairfield in early days, and for several years thereafter, was Jeff, who managed the city scales for several years... His sisters were Mrs. J. W. MESSICK, Mrs. R. H. VAN DOREN, Mrs. Joe NESBIT, Mrs. John GUDGELL and Mrs. Anna THOMPSON. Mr. J. W. MESSICK is yet alive in his 89th year and was interviewed by the writer recently in Fairfield. He is an old soldier who served in Co. E, 2nd Iowa Infantry, under Gen James B. Weaver... He says when he dies all he wants inscribed on his tombstone is: "Here lies Jim MESSICK, much against his will."

[Also posted to the Wapello County Documents board]

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