Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects Fairfield Township History

The history of Fairfield dates from the first Monday in March, 1839. Previous to that time, the ground now so thronged with stately business blocks, busy shops, beautiful residences, schoolhouses, churches, well-kept streets and handsomely shaded avenues, was an unbroken, undisturbed prairie waste. Fair was this primitive field when Samuel Hutton, of Henry, Joshua Owens, of Lee, and Roger N. Cresap, of Van Buren County, Commissioners appointed by legislative enactment for that purpose, came to discharge their official trust and locate the county seat of the new county of Jefferson. Pleased with the situation and its nearness to the geographical center of the county, they planted the county seat stake on the southwest quarter of Section 25, Township 72, Range 10 west, and called it Fairfield, the name, no doubt, being suggested by the natural beauty of the location.

At the first meeting of the first Board of County Commissioners, held on the 8th day of April, 1839, an order was passed directing the employment of James M. Snyder, Surveyor of Henry County, to survey and lay out the town site. The survey was commenced on Wednesday, the 17th of the same month. Mr. Snyder was assisted by Joseph M. Parker, George W. Troy, James Coleman, David Bowman, John Payton and Sylvanus Harrington, as chainmen, etc. The quarter-section was subdivided into twenty-five blocks of eight lots each, or two hundred and twenty lots in all. The blocks were divided by six streets from north to south, and six from east to west. Block 13 was reserved for public purposes. The width of the streets around the block or square reserved for public uses was established at 88½ feet, and all the others at 66 feet. The original twelve streets were named by the County Commissioners, as follows:

East and West.--Sears, Walnut, Madison, Monroe, Church and Chastain. Sears and Chastain were named in honor of two of the first County Commissioners; Madison and Monroe, after two of the early Presidents.

North and South.--Smith, Williams, Washington, Jefferson, Jackson and Hueston. Smith was named after a third member of the Board of County Commissioners; Williams, after Judge Williams; Washington, Jefferson and Jackson, after the Presidents of that name, and Hueston, after the man of that name who built the first house in the county seat of Jefferson County.

The town site was held by pre-emption by the County Commissioners until the land in the New Purchase came to market in 1842. The entry was made on the 13th day of May of that year. The county was so poor that it was necessary to borrow $200 to make the entry. The money was borrowed of Ebenezer S. Gage, with interest at the rate of 20 per cent per annum. When the note became due, the Commissioners were again forced to borrow to pay Gage. Each time of borrowing, a mortgage was given on lots in the western part of the city to secure the payment thereof.

Building commenced soon after the county seat stake was planted. William Hueston built the first house, a log structure, 10x12 feet. It was erected on Lot 8, Block 8, in April, 1839. The first stock of goods ever exposed to sale in Fairfield was opened out in this building.

Thomas Dickey built the second house. It was also a log structure 10x12 feet, and was built on Lot 1, Block 7, and in which he opened the first hotel ever known in Fairfield.

The first frame dwelling was built by Dr. William Waugh, in the spring of 1840.

The growth of Fairfield was not as rapid as has been the growth of many other Iowa towns, or towns father west, but was solid and substantial. Settlers came in rather slowly, and, as building material was rather scarce, building did not progress very rapidly for several years.

J. W. Culbertson and his family came to Fairfield as permanent residents in February, 1840. On their arrival, they found Dr. John F. Moberly, Gilbert Fox, Willard Stone, Henry B. Notson, a single man, Thomas Gray, John R. Pitzer and family, James Clark and family, ------ Ellis (a wheelwright), John Ratliff, Joseph Cole, E. S. Gage, Dick Irwin, Dr. Waugh, Samuel Moore, Samuel Peebler and ------ Keefer, a tailor. Joseph Cole, E. S. Gage and Dick Irwin were selling dry goods, and John Ratliff had established the first store for groceries exclusively. Mr. Culbertson had been out in June previous and purchased the claim where he now resides. The claim was located by Hawkins Taylor, then a resident of Lee County, but, since 1863, of Washington, D. C. Mr. Culbertson relates that in July, 1839, while on his return for his family, he saw camped by the wayside, near Burlington, a family who seems to be returning East. On inquiring the cause for suc an extraordinary proceeding, he replied that he had been out to the "New Purchase" (now part of Jefferson County), but the land was all taken up and there was no room for him.

Mr. Culbertson completed the first house with two rooms, into which he moved in the latter part of February, 1840. As were all houses in those days, it was covered with clapboards, and without a ceiling. Scarcely had they ensconced themselves in their new domicile, when, in the night-time, there came a furious snowstorn. Mrs. Culbertson was awakened by the falling element, and aroused her husband with the information that rain or snow was coming into the house. Startled from a deep slumber, Mr. Culbertson sprang out upon the floor, and the shock of surprise when his bare feet landed in the two inches of snow with which the floor was covered, elicited a yell that would have put to shame the best lung-efforts of a Missouri bushwhacker, and which is still vividly remembered by the family.