Jefferson County, Iowa The Fairfield Ledger

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

Real Estate Transfers.--The following deeds to lands and town lots in Jefferson county, have been placed on record at the Recorder’s office, for two weeks, ending Dec. 7, 1869:
J. R. KIRK from Peter KLOPFENSTEIN and wife, 80 acres in Cedar Township. Deed dated Jan. 10, 1852. 200 00
J. R. KIRK from John GRABER and wife, 40 acres in Cedar township. Deed dated July 23, 1846. 50 00
J. R. KIRK from Powell HARMON and wife, 40 acres in Cedar township. Deed dated Sept. 28, 1857. 200 00
W. H. GASSLER from David ELLSWORTH and wife, 73 1/3 acres in Des Moines township. Deed dated November 20, 1869. [No sale amount listed.]
J. W. BROWN from Enos ELLMAKER and wife, 11 acres in Des Moines township. Deed dated March 15, 1848. 13 75
Reuben ELLMAKER from W. D. YAPLE and wife, 11 acres in Des Moines township. Deed dated April 28, ’56. 75 00
Phillip ALBAUGH from Reuben ELLMAKER and wife, 11 acres in Des Moines township. Deed dated July 19, ’67. 150 00
Eleazor STEWART from Phillip ALBAUGH and wife 11 acres in Des Moines township. Deed dated July 16, ’64. 200 00
L. L. MOORE from George W. ROBINSON and wife, 20 acres in Fairfield township. Deed dated Nov. 24, ’69. 400 00
Hiram DICKINSON from James EMRY & wife, one and four-fifths acres in Penn township. Deed dated Oct. 5, 1869. 45 00
Hiram DICKINSON from Anderson DAVIS and others, 2 acres and 32 rods, in Penn township. Deed dated Oct. 21, 1869. 44 00 [Ed. note: One rod is equal to 16½ feet as a measurement of length.]
M. R. KURTZ from Milton SUTTON, 20¾ acres in Fairfield township. Deed dated Nov. 22, 1869. 607 50
John RAPP from Charles HOWARD and wife, 10 acres in Lockridge township. Deed dated Nov. 5, 1869. 750 00
J. R. RUSSELL from Leroy RUSSELL and wife, 160 acres in Round Prairie township. Deed dated Dec. 11, ’68. 200 00
Sylvester RUSSELL from T. B. PARKER and wife, 160 acres in Round Prairie township. Deed dated Sept. 6, ’69. 200 00

  Another Fire in Fairfield.--The cry of "Fire!" about 2:30 o’clock on Tuesday morning, drew a large concourse of people to the west side of the Public Square, where a conflagration was in full operation. All that row of one story frame buildings on the West side between SPEILMAN’s and JORDAN’s brick buildings, except the one on the alley occupied by W. A. STEWART, was burned to the ground. The fire originated, so we are told by those who first discovered it, at the southwest corner of the room, on the outside of the building, occupied by HASTINGS & SHRINER as a dry goods store. No stove was there, and but two conclusions can be arrived at: either that the fire was the work of an incendiary or was caused by rats igniting matches in some manner.
  When the front room of HASTINGS & SHRINER store was broken open, the air was so hot that no one could get in, and the whole stock of goods is an entire loss. The building was owned by Marquis SHRINER, and was valued at $1,000, no insurance.-- About $4,000 worth of goods was in the store. Samuel HASTINGS had an insurance of $1,500 on his share in the Keokuk Mutual Insurance Company, so that his loss will probably be from $300 to $500. George SHRINER had no insurance on his share of the goods, and his loss is from $1,800 to $2,000.
  Andrew BOYD owned the next building south, which is valued at $1,500; no insurance. He and Joseph PARKER had a billiard saloon in the rear of the building. The tables--three of them--and furniture in the rooms were valued at about $1,500. BOYD had no insurance on the stock. PARKER had his part of the stock insured for $800 in the Putman. One of the tables was saved in a damaged condition.
  T. BUCK occupied the front room in BOYD’s building with a news depot. He also had books, cutlery, pipes, tobacco, &c. Everything was saved, although somewhat damaged. He is opening out in Dr. HUFFORD’s room, next the Bank.
  The next building was owned by C. S. & J. M. SHAFFER. It was valued at $1,000; insured in the Continental for $600. C. S. SHAFFER had a boot and shoe store in it, the stock being insured for $1,000 in the same company. Everything, even to the shelving, was saved, somewhat damaged, as a matter of course. Mr. SHAFFER’s stock has been taken to Charles DAVID’s agricultural ware-rooms on the East side of the Park.
  The next building, owned by Wm. ALSTON, was only about three feet from SHAFER’s house, but the sides are not even scorched, so rapidly and energetically did the people work in tearing away SHAFFER’s house. It was occupied by W. A. STEWART, with a stock of groceries. All the goods, counters, shelving, &c., were taken out and piled up in the street or Park. They were also damaged.-- STEWART had no insurance. His goods are now back in the same room.
  ALSTON’s building, which is one of the old landmarks, stands fire well. About two years ago the Jefferson House, just across the alley, was burned down. It escaped then, and now it has again escaped.
  The work done by a few men with ropes, demonstrates the fact that much property might be saved if we only possessed a good and efficient Hook and Ladder Company.-- Some of our citizens say, however, that we can save more property without it.
  We are glad we have an ordinance against the erection of frame buildings around the Park. Our great hope now is that the owners of the property will be able to build good and substantial brick buildings on the grounds burned over.

DIED--On the 2d of November, 1869, at his residence in this city, of Pulmonary Consumption, George C. ILGINFRITZ; aged 23 years, 4 months and 2 days.
  The deceased was born in Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, but removed to this county with his parents in the Spring of 1850. A few years ago he married Miss Sallie YOUNG of this city, and soon afterwards migrated to Missouri with the hope that he might thus better his worldly condition. But Providence willed it otherwise. On the 20th of June, 1868, he was taken sick and was confined to his room most of the time until his death. Last Spring he returned to this city, in very feeble health, that he might spend the few remaining days of his life among his former friends and associates. Although Brother ILGINFRITZ did not profess to be a Christian until a short time before his death, yet from his boyhood he possessed many excellent traits of character. As a pupil he was industrious and courteous, as a friend he was firm and reliable, as a husband and father he was affectionate and kind. During his protracted illness he frequently spoke of his little family and the pain caused by the thought of leaving them to battle with the world alone. He appreciated every act of kindness done to himself or friends, however trivial it might be in itself, and he was always fearful of giving others unnecessary trouble. Although his sufferings were, at times, very severe, yet he never murmured or complained. As his end approached his trust in a Savior’s love became stronger, and he sometimes seem anxious for the time of his departure to arrive. He urged his friends not to weep for him assuring them that their loss would be his eternal gain. His body was followed to its last resting place by a large number of relatives and friends, as well as by the members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with which he was connected. Whilst we drop a tear upon his grave let us remember his virtues and resolve to follow him as he followed Christ.          A. A.