Jefferson County, Iowa The Fairfield Ledger

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Fairfield, Iowa "WEEKLY LEDGER"
Jefferson County
Transcribed by Joey Stark

Another Fire.--On Friday night last Fairfield was visited by another fire, and there was no engine or hook and ladder company to extinguish the flames, yet only one building was destroyed. To the glorious fire brigade that is always promptly on the ground, and energetically works until the fire is extinguished, every property holder is indebted; but to the lazy louts who stand around with umbrellas, kid gloves, and broad cloth coats, and pity property holders, not many thanks are due. Fairfield is noted for its impromptu fire brigade, and every citizen has or may have reason to be grateful to it.
  The fire on Friday night originated in the two-story frame building on the northeast corner of the Park, owned by W. H. JORDAN. The lower story was occupied by W. A. STEWART with a grocery store. On the second floor Henry BLACK had about completed arrangements for an ice-cream saloon. One room was occupied by Capt. J. T. McCULLOUH [sic] as a law office; another by Dr. WOODARD, and another by C. M. TRUMP, tailor. The building was close to Capt. WELLS’ large three story brick. The ground room next to the burned building was occupied by GEORGE & MORRIS, jewelers, and above them was the LEDGER office. In the rear of Mr. STEWART’s grocery room was stored some machinery. The building was totally destroyed, but by the earnest and energetic efforts of some of our citizens the large brick building was saved. Part of Mr. STEWART’s goods were saved--say $1,200. He was insured for $3,000. His entire stock was worth $4,500. Mr. BLACK lost about $50 worth of goods. Capt. McCULLOUGH lost all his law books; Dr. WOODARD lost all his books, papers, accounts, &c., and Mr. TRUMP lost all he had in the building. Mr. JORDAN remoddled [sic] this building last fall, and his loss is in the neighborhood of $2,000, -- no insurance. We had rented two rooms up stairs for our office, and were to move on the first of January last, but became alarmed, and paid $50 to stay out of there. That $50 was well invested.
  The north wall of Capt. WELLS’ building is badly damaged, and will doubtless have to be rebuilt. The windows in the rear are destroyed, and had it not been for the rain and the changing of the wind, the flames would undoubtedly have swept it from the East. GEORGE & MORRIS removed a portion of their goods. Their loss was inconsiderable. From our office we removed our books and papers, but would not permit the removal of the type of any of the stock. Our loss is almost nothing. Capt. WELLS’ [sic] has insurance on his building, and what the damage is we do not know. The fire is supposed to have originated from the pipe that went through the floor into Capt. McCULLOUGH’s office.

MARRIAGES.
  --April 6, 1869, by Rev. W. F. BAIRD, at the residence of the bride’s parents, Mr. Squire G. HAMMANS and Miss Mary E. METZ, all of Jefferson county, Iowa.

  DIED--In Walnut township, on Monday, April 5th, 1869, Mrs. Rachel EDWARDS, wife of Jas. D. EDWARDS, in the 28th year of her age.
  When quite young, her father, Jacob GIFT, with his family, moved from Fulton county, Penn., to this county. Soon afterwards, at the age of 14 years, she joined the Methodist E. Church, and has lived ever since a consistent member. Quite and unassuming in life, with the Bible the subject of her daily study, she lived a most exemplary christian and ornament of her family and society, and died in the triumph of the Redeemer’s love.

  "Bear her away, friends, to her last home!
Peacefully lay her down in the tomb;
Lightly, tread lightly, ‘round the low bed--
Sweetly now sleeps the beautiful dead.
Sorrowful mourner, weeping no more.
Meet her upon yon beautiful shore."       C.

Fire Again.--Another fire in Fairfield. It occurred on Tuesday last, about 4 o’clock, at the house of Mr. N. S. AVERILL, and caught from the heated stove pipe, which passed within a few inches of the lined ceiling. It is supposed that the sparks fell on some ironed clothes. When discovered the kitchen was a-blaze. A large force was on the ground and the flames were soon extinguished, The kitchen and part of the main building were badly damaged. Loss about $200. No insurance.

Caught at Last.--We are gratified to know that he has been caught at last. He laughed in his sleeve, and considered himself impervious to Cupid’s darts, but the following tells the tale better than we could:
  Married, at the residence of the bride’s father on the 7th inst., by Rev. J. C. McCLINTOCK, Mr. O. H. SNYDER, editor of the Henry County Press, and Miss Ida EVANS, all of Mt. Pleasant.
  Oc’s age consisted only in his being a bachelor, and he will make Mrs. SNYDER a splendid husband. May she ever admire the "freedom of the Press" under the management of our friend.

On account of her bad health Mrs. HARRAH was examined and passed a private examination. She came home to her parents, Rev. and Mrs. MERRILL, and was taken sick. On Friday night last she died, and was buried on Sunday following. [Ed. note:  Her full obituary appears on April 22, 1869.]