Jefferson County Online The Fairfield Weekly Ledger

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Fairfield Weekly Ledger
Jefferson County, Iowa
Transcribed by:  Joey Stark

Note:  Typographical errors (followed by [sic]) and spelling variations in names in this document are intentional and reflect the actual newspaper articles.   Transcriber’s notes are occasionally included and are indicated with [Ed. note:….].  Surnames shown here are in UPPER CASE for easy location; not rendered as such in the newspapers.

August 20, 1868
 

For Recorder.--- We are authorized to announce the name of A. J. COMBS, of Locust Grove Township, as candidate for the office of County Recorder, at the ensuing election, subject to the decision of the Republican County Convention.

Mr. A. J. COMBS was first a member of “F” Co., 27th Iowa Infantry, afterward a member of “B” Co., M. M. Brigade, where he served over two years, passing the last five months of said services as clerk for Brig. Gen. Morgan S. SMITH, as Post Head Quartermaster, Vicksburg, Miss.

Child Scalded.--- On Tuesday evening last, a child of N. H. FILLEY, residing in the west part of this town, accidently upset a pot of boiling coffee off a table, very severely scalding itself on the right side of the face and body.

Jimmy GALLIHEB, P. M. at Rome, will be terribly down on P. MELENDY, “the Iowa Robber,” through the Iowa Democrat, for asking of the said JIMMY the loan of $3.00 to conduct the Republican campaign.  The proxy excoriations that PETER will receive will be excruciating.  JIMMY will doubtless be down on one of the editors of this paper, for he is going to solicit funds to-day to carry on the campaign.  JIMMY is evidently green, but BLEAK can post him.

Dastardly Outrage.--- One of the meanest, most despicable and dastardly outrages that we ever heard of, was committed on the farm of Mr. Alexander FULTON, residing about a mile west of this place, on the Burlinton [sic] Road, on last Friday night.  Mr. FULTON is a gentlemen [sic] 60 years of age, and resides alone with his wife, who is but a few years younger.  Mr. F. has for the past twenty-five years paid great attention to the culture of fruit, and had at length succeeded in rearing one of the finest orchards in the country, consisting of apples, cherries, pears; &c., together with about ten rods of choice grape vine, now loaded with grapes.  When Mr. F. retired on Friday night, his trees were all safe and sound, and his grapes promising an abundant yield;  when he went out on Saturday morning, all were destroyed.--- Some unmitigated scoundrels had, apparently with a draw-knife, completely girdled about 125 of his choicest fruit trees --- had cut off all but two of his grape vines --- had gone into his garden and cut off his Lima beans, and pulled up an entire bed of choice beets, the seeds of which he had received from abroad.  The trees were not only simply girdled, but many of them had been shaved to the length of two or more inches entirely around the tree.  It is possible that one person could have done the whole work during one night, and judging from the marks on the trees, three miscreants were engaged in the work.  It is thought that it will be impossible to save any of the trees, and thus Mr. F. in his old age finds the work of a life-time completely ruined in a single night.  He has the sincere sympathy of our entire community, and from the numerous and universal expressions of indignation we have heard, it will be apt to go hard with the scoundrels, should they be discovered.  For our part, we cannot conceive of punishment commensurate with the offence committed;  still, we hope nothing rash will be done.  From certain circumstances, we have no doubt the guilty parties will be brought to trial, and as it is an offence against the entire community, every member thereof should use his best endeavors to hasten their arrest and conviction.

[Ed. note:  A rod is equal to 16½ feet as a unit of distance.]

 Brookville, Aug. 15th, 1868.
GRAND RALLY.--- Democracy on the Decline --- BLEAKMORE Played out.  The people of Brookville and vicinity were warned about one week go by large posters on the fences and other public places that M. M. BLEAKMORE, the venerable bald headed expounder of Democratic principles, would address the citizens of this place on the political issues of the day.  All Democrats were urged to turnout with their banners and music.  Accordingly on the morning of the 15th a few of the faithful appeared on the scene of action, evidently with the intention of raising a Seymour and Blair pole, but upon examination they found that the pole was non est, and their faith, like “BLEAK’s” “Radical blisters,” suddenly wilted, and enthusiastic demonstrations were declared out of order.  At 1½ o’clock BLEAKMORE made his appearance, in company with Messers CULBERTSON & NEGUS.  Their reception was very formal.  Indeed a silent clasp of the hand, a sad smile of dissatisfaction, a mute appeal to the crowd---and---and---BLEAKMORE concluded he wanted a drink.  The procession then formed in line and marched to the school house, numbering, in all, thirty-six persons --- 5 Democrats and thirty-one Republicans.  Having reached the school house, the Hon. Mr. GILLET was called to the chair, by a strict party vote.  Seeing no necessity for a Secretary, Mr. BLEAKMORE was introduced, and responded in his usual style, charging the Republican party of betraying its trust, and claiming that the true issue between the two parties was one of capital against labor.--- He said that the nation was financially stranded, and that the Republican platform was an insult to the American people and no man this side of Heaven could defend it, and wound up by calling GRANT a traitor, a murderer, and the nominee of the Wall Street Brokers, instead of the people of the United States.  Thus ended the Grand Rally at Brookville, and no sensible person can evade pronouncing the whole thing an entire fizzle.   The faithful failed to turn out --- BLEAKE [sic] failed to prove his points, and Democratic stock has gone down 40 per ct. in this section.--- How are you BLEAKMORE?  Did the people know you were out?  Come again ‘BLEAK’ and we’ll fry an oyster, and try to raise Democratic faith.
  Truly yours.
  A. J. COMBS, formerly “Clinton”

[Ed. note:  The 1868 Presidential Election featured Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax on the Republican ticket, and New York governor (in 1864) Horatio Seymour and Francis P. Blair Jr. on the Democratic ticket.  Grant and Colfax soundly defeated Seymour and Blair.  I’m having a tough time finding reference to a ‘Seymour and Blair pole’, however.]

In Jail.--- Two strangers, giving their names as Samuel CROSBY and Charles WALLANGFORD, are now in jail, charged with burglary, in that they broke open and robbed the store of John HEATER in Parsonville, on Friday night.  They were arrested in Mt. Pleasant, and brought to Fairfield.--- When brought before Squire EVANS, they waived an examination, and were committed.

DIED--- At her late residence, in the city of Fairfield, on the 20th of July, 1868, Mrs. Elizabeth A. HUGHES, wife of Mr. Thomas HUGHES, in the forty-ninth year of her age.  Mrs. HUGHES was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and had maintained a life of exemplary piety.  In the midst of painful suffering her end was full of hope, and she departed from among the living with a confident expectation of being introduced to a better immortality.  “The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”