Jefferson County, Iowa The Fairfield Ledger

To easily find a name in these issues use the searching capabilities of "Find in page" under the "Edit" button. Use spelling variations of the name as well as the correct spelling.

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

Death of Hugh W. SAMPLE.--The Keokuk papers inform us that Hugh W. SAMPLE died at his home in that city on the 31st of March. Mr. SAMPLE was well known to a great many of our citizens, among whom he formerly lived. In many respects he was a remarkable man. He was imbued with the spirit of enterprise, and did more to advance the material interests of Keokuk than any other man in it. He did many things that were wrong, but many more that were right. He was impulsive and did some things on the spur of the moment that he afterwards regretted. None knew better than himself his own failings, and all knew better than he did the goodness of his heart and actions. Mr. SAMPLE was always active and industrious, and in him Keokuk loses one of her best workers. The funeral took place on April 2d, from the Congregational Church, and his remains were followed to their last resting place in the following order: Masonic Order; Hearse; Clergy; Family and Relatives of the Deceased; City Council; Members of the Bar; Fire Department; Citizens. At a meeting of the Bar resolutions of respect to Mr. SAMPLE’s memory were passed, and John W. RANKIN made some very impressive and affecting remarks. Mr. S. leaves a wife, and two sons by his first wife. Of the two sons the Gate City says:
  "Capt. Sam. S. SAMPLE, and Mr. Will S. SAMPLE, both residents of this county, are well known, and it is not the least of Hugh W. SAMPLE’s honors that he was the father of two such sons."

Death.--Mr. Levi P. TAYLOR, a member of the Society of Friends, and for several years previous to 1866, a merchant of our city, died at his residence near Oskaloosa on the night of March 31st, 1869, at the age of 55 years. He was in the Mercantile business in Oskaloosa. The Citizen of that place truly says that he was a man of gentle manners, quiet and unobtrusive in his deportment, a devout Christian and a worthy citizen. Mr. TAYLOR leaves a wife and one child to mourn over his departure.

MARRIAGES.
  --March 18, 1869, at the residence of the bride’s father, in Round Prairie township, by Rev. John HEATON, Mr. Jasper N. TIMBREL and Miss Margaret E. SHELLY.

  It was Drs. WOODS and STEEL who set Jimmie LOCKE’s broken limbs. The child was only 10 years old. He is doing very well.
[Ed. note: This is a follow-up article to "Terrible Accident" which appeared on April 1, 1869, in the "Ledger".]

DIED---At his residence in Jefferson Co., Iowa, February 5, 1869, Samuel ASHMEAD, in the 69th year of his age.
  He was born in Maryland, and when eight years old, in company with his friends, he went to Washington county, Penn., where in 1824 he was united in marriage to Mrs. CARVER, who still survives him. In 1855 with his family he moved to this county, and settled on the farm where he lived until death called him from labor to rest. His sickness which resulted in death was not long, yet his children were all permitted to be present at the time of his death. (One of the sons encountered some difficulty in rushing home in time to see his father, having been on the way from Des Moines here three days and two nights, on account of the sterm [sic] along the railroad.) Father ASHMEAD was a good man, much respected by all his neighbors, who feel that they have lost one of their best citizens. His funeral was largely attended by the entire neighborhood. He leaves an aged wife, two sons, three daughters, one step-daughter, and six grand-children, to mourn, but not without hope. Death came, but he was found ready and willing to depart and be with the Lord. Mother ASHMEAD feels that her trust is strong in her Redeemer. May the Lord bless her and all her children.
    "Redeemed from earth and pain,
      Oh! when shall we ascend,
    And all in Jesus’ presence reign
      With our translated friend."
                     W. THATCHER.

Escape of SHAFER, the Wife Murderer.--G. W. SHAFER, who, it will be remembered, not long since murdered his wife in Marion county, and who as played the "maniac lover" to perfection, by having in his arms the dead wife when discovered, attributing the bloody deed to his extreme love for her, and since the murder has expressed his willingness and haste to die, and in sundry other similar ways, is not half so willing to die as he was, but has adroitly managed to escape. The Oskaloosa Herald of Friday says: "Geo. W. SHAFER, the Marion county wife murderer, made his escape from the jail at this place last Saturday night, by jumping from a window in the room of the second story, which, on account of delicate health and supposed insanity, the Sheriff had allowed him to occupy. SHAFER is 5 feet 9½ inches high, sallow complexion, dark hair, blue eyes, thin visage, prominent nose, general build slender and bony, large bony hands, has a large scar on the right side of his throat, no whiskers, beard thin and soft, weighs 135 lbs., and had on when he left a dark colored suit of home-made jeans, and a low crowned black hat. A reward of $50 is offered for his arrest. The Sheriff feels confident of his recovery, unless aided by outsiders to escape, which he does not believe."