Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects County Temperance Organizations

In 1854, the Sons of Temperance, who had an organization for some time previous, were in the height of their prosperity and influence. Alexander Caldwell, who had been for some time engaged in the sale of intoxicating liquors, becoming convinced that his occupation was destructive to the best interests of his fellow-man, resolved to pour all his liquors into the streets and quit the business. Accordingly, on Friday, January 27, the entire stock, amounting to something near $100 in value, was voluntarily delivered up to the Sons of Temperance for destruction. The Order marched out in regalia to conduct the ceremony, with the different schools and citizens generally in the procession. Arriving at Caldwell's place of business, prayer was offered by Rev. L. B. Dennis; the Marshal of the day, Dr. J. D. Stark, knocked the bungs out of the barrels and the liquid contents ran down the gutters of the streets. While the fiery fluid was gurgling from the vessels, Rev. Joseph C. Cooper mounted the nead of a barrel and made some pertinent remarks, followed by Rev. Dennis. Propositions were made to buy the liquors in other establishments, privided they would quit the business, but were not accepted.

A State Temperance Convention was held at Iowa City, May 3, 1854. Fairfield was represented by J. F. Wilson, W. B. Littleton, W. W. Junkin and J. D. Jones (sic - I. D. Jones?)--the first two of the Sons of Temperance, the latter of the Order of Good Templars.

The cause of temperance was not without its opponents. The Fairfield Ledger was strongly enlisted in the cause, and we append the letter of one patron whose friendship was lost by its course:

W W Junkin
wapelo Co Mar 19.th 1855.
Sur I take in hand to Direct afew lines to you.  I say that you are a lyr you say that the use of alcoholic beveridge has Cost $1,200,000,000 has burned or otherwise destroyed $5,000,000 of property has destroyed 300,000 lives sent 150,000 to our prisons and 100,000 to the poor house caused 1500 murders 2000 suisides and has Bequeathed to the Country 1,000,000 of orphants Children I think that Mr Everett is like you a lyre a pick pocket a Drunkard an will do anything for money you have rote a grate deele in your last paper Concerning in temparance and what Mr. Everett has stated concerning the taxes the crimanels the porpers the orphants and those ------ lyes that him nore you neither knew nothing about  I just say that you boath lyres and if I hadent subscribed for your paper I would see you in ---- before I would patronise you ore your paper  Yore Dog that you had round barking for siners to your paper lyed to me  he stated that thare would be all forren News & market of St Louis keokuk & burlington in it  I con cider you and youre paper a poore Piece of litle pitaful humdugry fild up with nothing but fare field advertise ment and temperance lyes  if I live till the year is out you may to go ---- with youre paper.

The Blue Ribbon movement reached Fairfield at the beginning of the month of April, 1878. On the 8th of that month a club was organized and founded on the Blue Ribbon pledge, in these words:

"With malice toward none and charity for all, I, the undersigned do pledge my word and honor, God helping me, to abstain from all intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and that I will, by all honorable means, encourage others to abstain."

Twenty-three hundred names are subscribed to the pledge in the city of Fairfield, and similar organizations exist in nearly every township in the county, and it was estimated, while these pages were being written, that five thousand persons in "Old Jefferson" had pledged themselves to lead practical temperance lives. Since the organization of the club, meetings have been held in Wells' Hall every Monday evening, and the interest awakened in April has been kept alive by lectures rendered by home and foreign speakers.

At the first election of officers, Rollin J. Wilson was chosen President; Miss Anna Kerr, Vice President; Miss Clara Muselman, Secretary, and W. B. Murry, Treasurer. These persons held for the term of six months. At the second election, Rollin J. Wilson was re-elected President; Maj. W. M. Clark, Vice President; Capt. W. T. Burgess, Secretary; W. B. Murry, Treasurer. On the faithfulness of these officers, in a great degree, has depended the unparalleled success of this movement.

Among those who have been most active and earnest in their efforts might be mentioned Hon. James F. Wilson, Capt. T. W. (sic - W. T.) Burgess, Col. W. B. Culbertson, John Galvin, William Elliott, William Thompson, G. A. Rutherford, W. W. McCrackin, Mrs. John Burnett, Mrs. Wm. Elliott, Miss Clara Musselman and Mrs. Woodward. Others are equally worthy of mention, but space forbids. The club has also established an excellent reading-room, which is a source of great pleasure and profit to the entire community. The movement depends alone on moral suasion. Harsh things are said of no one. It resorts to neither legal prosecutions nor social ostracism. Its appeals are not made to the passions and prejudices of men, but to their cooler, better judgment, which, when once reached, is the sure foundation upon which to build a permanent reformation.

When news of the great Chicago fire of October, 1871, reached Fairfield, the generous heart of the citizens responded to the wail of want in liberal acts of benevolent charity. Meetings were called and active measures were at once commenced and carried out, that resulted in sending several tons of provisions, etc., to the sufferers by that terrible visitation of disaster. The Ledger of October 19, 1871, said:

"Earnest meetings were held in our city last week to raise means to assist in relieving the destress in Chicago. Liberal donations of money, provisions and goods were made. Two car-loads of supplies were sent in charge of Gad McGaw."

This is not the only instance of the generous and humane liberality of the people of Fairfield and vicinity that might be quoted, but it is enough to show the noble impulses of their great hearts. A deaf ear and closed hand have never been known among them when suffering humanity pleaded.