In 1839, when Mrs. Bowman died, her remains were deposited in what is now known as the Old Cemetery. Mrs. Bowman was the mother of David Bowman, who assisted in surveying and laying out the town of Fairfield. Mrs. Rayburn was the second burial. No tombstones mark the graves of either Mrs. Bowman or Rayburn, and the precise date of their deaths is not known.

Eliphalet B. Fitch died November 30, 1840. His tombstone still stands with the beautiful inscription, "He was all he professed to be -- an honest man, God's noblest work." William Winn died January 18, 1841. The old sandstone monument with inscription rudely carved by Noble & Yeates, of Burlington, lies broken and fast going to decay. The headstones of Sylvia T., wife of Henry Yaman, who died April 20, 1840, and that of the only child of H. and T. Gaylord, who died December 13, 1842, are in a good state of preservation.

The ground occupied by the Old Cemetery was purchased of John A. Pitzer by C. C. Van, H. W. Sample and George Acheson, who received a bond for a deed which they assigned to the town of Fairfield. It does not appear of record that a deed was ever made by Pitzer, and the title to the property is still in his name. This ground was surveyed by David Switzer July 31, 1846. The price fixed by ordinance was $3 for a full lot, and $1.50 for a half-lot, the proceeds to be applied only to the improvement and care of the grounds. The sexton's fee for digging a grave was 50 cents per foot.

In the course of a few years, owing to the rapid increase of population in the surrounding country, the little cemetery was well filled up, and, in 1865, available lots were difficult to obtain. November 20, 1865, the death of Mrs. Eliza Jordan occurred. Capt. Clement Jordan, her husband, was unable to obtain such a lot as he desired, and her remains were deposited in the lot of his son-in-law, John H. Wells. To this fact the people of Fairfield are indebted for the present beautiful burial grounds known as

Shortly after the death of his wife, Capt. Jordan inaugurated a movement to secure a more commodious place of burial, but it was not until three years afterward that the plan was matured. In February, 1870, twelve acres and a fraction of land adjoining the old cemetery on the east and north were contracted for. Seven and twenty-five hundredths acres were purchased of Charley Negus, and five from Guy Beatty, at a cost for the whole of $1,019.25. Articles of Incorporation were drafted, and, on the 4th of May, 1870, the organization began its existence. The original stockholders were Clement Jordan, William R. Wells, John H. Wells, William H. Jordan, Norman S. Averill, George Stever, A. Scott Jordan, George A. Wells and A. R. Jordan, each of whom subscribed four shares.

The stock is limited to $5,000 in shares of $25 each. Five stockholders constitute the Board of Managers, and the indebtedness exclusive of capital stock is limited to $2,500.

The Articles of Incorporation provide for a Board of Managers to consist of five stockholders. Lot-owners are to keep their lots in repair, and, in case of neglect to do so, an assessment may be levied by the Managers, which assessments must be paid by residents within one and by non-residents within five years. In case of refusal to pay such assessments, such parts of lots as are unoccupied revert to the Association.

The Board of Managers, the first appointments to which were Clement Jordan, George Stever, William H. Jordan, George A. Wells and Norman S. Averill, employed A. N. Carpenter, a "natural landscape architect," of Galesburg, Ill., to draft a plan for the new cemetery, and right well did he perform the duty for which he was employed.

The survey of the lots was made by Isaac Crumley, the price for which was fixed at from $5 to $50, according to location. The rules of the cemetery require all persons wishing to make interments, to furnish a statement of name, place and date of birth, place of late residence, date of death and disease of person to be interred, and whether married or single, and that the same be registered on the books.

In November, 1870, 100 feet of land were purchased, lying on the south of the cemetery grounds proper, on which was erected an office for the sexton, underneath which was constructed a cistern. J. N. Strong was the first Sexton, employed, at $450 per year.

Capt. Clement Jordan was the first President, and has continued to hold the office to the present time; George Stever, first Secretary, and George A. Wells, Treasurer.

Andrew Ackerman, a German, was the first interment in the new cemetery, buried May 15, 1870. He was followed June 2, by Ella Campbell, a little daughter of Joel Campbell,. In the fall following, the remains of some ten or twelve persons who had been buried in the old cemetery were removed to the new grounds. The supervision and care of the Fairfield Evergreen Cemetery have been left solely to Capt. Jordan, its founder, and to him are the people indebted for its present attractive condition.