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 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.

School Reports--Penn Township.--This township, as the name indicates, is mostly settled by followers of the noted "William," who astonished the King of England by signifying his intention of paying the Indians for their land. It is divided into eight sub-districts. Total number of pupils 554, being next in number to Lockridge. Value of school houses, $2,375.
  Feb. 12.--Visited District No. 1. Anna BUCHANAN, teacher. Wages, $20 per month. Enumeration, 63. Enrolled, 49. Present, 22. Miss BUCHANAN says she does not permit whispering, during school hours, without permission.
  Feb. 12.--Visited Districts Nos. 2 and 3 (consolidated). Jesse JONES, teacher.-- Wages, $33 33 per month. Enumeration, 80. Enrolled, 65. Present, 41. The schollars [sic] all like "Jesse." A good literary society meets weekly in this house.
  Feb. 16.--Visited District No. 4. Benjamin MEACHAN, teacher. Wages, $30 per month. Enumeration, 77. Enrolled, 46. Present, 25. Size of house, 18x24 feet. A broom well used would help the appearance. This school has done very little good this winter. It closed at noon to-day.
  Feb. 5.--Visited District No. 5. Jennie MORGAN, teacher. Wages, $22 87 per month. Enumeration, 56. Enrolled, 39. Present, 21. Average for 10 weeks 24. Miss MORGAN taught her first term here last summer. Size of house, 18x22 feet. Well supplied with light, there being 9 windows.
  Feb. 11.--Visited District No. 6. Melissa WALKUP, teacher. Wages, $20 per month. Enumeration, 105. Enrolled, 62. Present, 40. Size of house, 20x36 feet. Two stoves. Pupils face the center of the room.
  Feb. 16.--Visited District No. 7. Ella ROBINSON, teacher. Wages, $25 per month. Enumeration, 62. Enrolled. 40. Present, 30. New house. Seats for 36 pupils.
  Jan. 29.--Visited District No. 9. Lena PAINE, teacher. Wages, $23 33 per month. Enumeration, Males, 45; Females, 17. Enrolled, 37. Present, 4. Four of the larger boys have been expelled by the Board of Directors for immoral conduct. Would judge the school was not doing much good. Rainy morning.         D. HERON.

ASSIGNEE’S NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT.
District Court of the United States for the District of Iowa --In bankruptcy. In the matter of Ithamer MOORE, Bankrupt.
To whom it may concern :
The undersigned hereby gives notice of his appoiofment [sic] as Assignee of the estate of Ithamer MOORE, in the county of Lee, in said District, and who was, to-wit, on the 23rd day of December, A.D. 1868, adjudged bankrupt upon his own petition, by the District Court of said District.
  Dated at Keokuk, Iowa, the 12th day of February, A.D. 1869.
  Feb. 17-3t         T. H. ALLYN, Assignee.
    WM. B. COLLINS, Att’y at Keokuk.

        NOTICE OF BANKRUPTCY.
In the District Court of the United States for the District of Iowa, in bankruptcy. In the matter of Robert C. LANE, bankrupt at Keokuk, in said District, on the 10th day of February A.D. 1869, U.S.A. District of Iowa.
This is to give notice that a petition has been to wit,: on the 10th of February, A.D. 1869, filed in said District Court, by R. C. LANE, of Fairfield, Jefferson co., State of Iowa, who has been heretofore duly declared bankrupt under the act of Congress entitled "An act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States," approved March 24, 1867, for a discharge and certificate theieof [sic] from all his debts and other claims provable under said act, and that the 13th day of March A.D. 1869, at 9 o’clock A.M., is assigned for the hearing of the same before said Court, at Keokuk, Leo [sic] county, Iowa, when and where all creditors of said bankrupt and all other persons in interest may attend and show cause, if any they have, why the prayer of said petition should not be granted. And further notice if hereby given that the second and third meetings of said creditors of said bankrupt, required under the 27th and 28th section of said act, will be holden before John BRUCE, Register, at his office, room No. 6, Estes Block, in the city of Keokuk, Lee county, Iowa on the 11th day of March, A.D. 1869, at 10 o’clock A.M.
          H. K. LOVE, Clerk,
        U. S. District Court, for Iowa
  DAN’L F. MILLER, Keokuk, Att’y.
  Feb. 17-3t.

        NOTICE IN BANKRUPTCY.
In the District Court of the United States for the District of Iowa in Bankruptcy. In the matter of N. L. WITCHER, bankrupt at Keokuk, in said District on the 30th day of January, 1869 --- U. S. A. District of Iowa.
This is to give notice that a petition has been to-wit, on the 30th day of January, 1869, filed in  said District Court, by N. L. WITCHER, of Keokuk, county, Iowa, in said District, and who has been heretofore duly declared bankrupt under the Act of Congress entitled, ‘an act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States,’ approved March 2d, 1867, for a discharge and certificate thereof from all their debts and other claims provable under said act, and that the 12th day of March, A.D. 1869, at 10 o’clock A.M., is the time assigned for the hearing of the same before said Court, in the city of Keokuk, Lee county, Iowa, in said District, when and where all creditors of said bankrupt, and all other persons in interest, may attend and show cause, if any they have, why the prayer of said petitioner should not be granted.
  And further notice is hereby given that the second and third meetings of the creditors of said bankrupt, required under the 27th and 28th sections of said act, will be holden before Daniel ANDERSON in bankruptcy, at his office, in the city of Albia, Monroe county, Iowa, on the 10th day of March, A.D. 1869, at 10 o’clock A.M.
          H. K. LOVE, Clerk,
        U. S. District Court for Iowa.
  NEGUS & CULBERTSON,
  Feb. 17,-3t  Attorneys.

MARRIAGES.

  --February 24, 1869, at the house of John CASTELLO, in Buchanan township, by Archer GREEN, J. P., Mr. August PETERSON and Miss Caroline SAMUELSON.

  February 16, 1869, in Walnut township, a [sic] the house of the bride, by Archer GREEN, J. P., Mr. David CASADY and Mrs. Mary Jane McCOURTNEY.

  --On the 24th day of February, by Rev. A. AXLINE, Mr. W. W. WHITAKER and Miss Sarah J. LAUGHLIN, all of Jefferson county.
We invoke all kinds of blessings upon our young friends who have now just commenced living in real good earnest.

  --Feb. 22, 1869, at the house of the bride’s father, in Penn township, by Thomas TALBOT, J. P., Mr. Daniel HIATT and Mis [sic] Phebe M. HESTON.

DIED--On the 1st inst., Mrs. Mary EVANS, widow of David J. EVANS,  aged 63 years, 9 months and 15 days.
  Mrs. EVANS was a native of Washington county, Pa., but removed to Iowa with her husband in the year 1848. She united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Chu ch [sic] when 31 years of age, and evidenced the sincerity of her profession by an earnest Christian life. She leaves a large circle of friends and relations to mourn her loss.

City Election.--The election for city officers on Monday last resulted as follows :
  Mayor--David R. McCRACKEN.
  Treasurer--Samuel C. FARMER.
  Solicitor--B. GILTNER.
  Street Commissioner--B. R PRATHER.
  Marshal--A. T. WELLS.
  Assessor--J. E. ROTH.
  Trustee, 1st Ward--Geo W. PHELPS.
        "     2d Ward--A. G. SCRANTOM.
        "     3d Ward--S. E. BIGELOW.
        "     4th Ward--S. M. BOLING.
  Every officer elected is a Republican. A clean sweep was made in favor of truth and freedom.

  DIED.--Our young Jewish friend, Mr. Simon RICH, died at the residence of Mr. Emanuel SICKLE, on Sunday night, February 21st, of inflammation of the bowels, in the 22d year of his age. He had been sick for about two weeks. His remains were taken to Burlington on Tuesday for interment in the Jewish burying ground. Mr. RICH had been engaged in the clothing business in our town since last fall, and by his affable and pleasant manners had endeared himself to a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Suicide by Hanging.--With deep regret we learn that Mrs. Freeman WRIGHT, one mile north of Batavia, in this county, committed suicide on Monday last, between 10 and 11 o’clock, by hanging herself. She was about 55 years of age. For about two weeks she had been sick, but was recovering, and was able to sit up. It is supposed that she had become discouraged on account of her illness, and committed the terrible deed while laboring under great mental distress. On the morning in question Capt. WRIGHT had gone from home on business, and the boys were engaged about the farm. There was no one at home with Mrs. WRIGHT, but a daughter about 15 years of age. She was sent on an errand, and while absent Mrs. W. dressed herself, took a rope from a chest, went to the smoke house, fastened one end of the rope to a joist, secured the other end about her neck, and swung herself from a barrel. On her return the girl could not find her mother in the house, and went to the smoke house, but could not get in. She looked in at the window and saw her mother hanging. The alarm was given, and the neighbors called in. Her eyes and tongue protruded, and death had ensued from strangulation. She had evidently suffered severely. An inquest was to be held on the body by Squire EVANS, and the foregoing are about the facts that will be brought to light.
  Capt. And Mrs. WRIGHT were highly esteemed, and this terrible calamity has cast a gloom over the people in and around Batavia and wherever they were known. In their deep affliction Capt, WRIGHT and his family have the sincere sympathy of their many friends and acquaintances.

Batavia Election.--The town of Batavia elected the following officers on Monday last : Mayor, W. P. WEBB; Trustees, T. W. McDILL, M. B. SPARKS, W. R. HERRON, Joseph AUSTIN, M. D. BALDRIDGE; Recorder, John A. O’NEAL; Marshal, J. T. SUTTON; Treasurer, R. B. MOORE; Street Commissioner, R. H. RIGGS.

Y. M. C. A.--The following are the officers and regular committees of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Fairfield, Iowa, for the year 1869 :
  President: N. S. AVERILL.
  First Vice President: Oliver ADAMS.
  Second Vice President: Daniel COMEGYS.
  Recording Secretary: B. GILTNER.
  Corresponding Secretary: Jesse MERRILL.
  Treasurer: Joseph S. BROWN.
  Directors from the several Churches: Baptist--Dan. W. BROWN; Lutheran--J. T. AXLINE; Methodist--G. W. CURFMAN; Congregational--Isaac FELLOWS; Presbyterian--G. K. GILCHRIST.
  The following are the standing committee of the Association for the year :
  Ist. On Devotional Meetings and Tract Distribution: Rev. A. S. WELLS, David WEBSTER, Phebe BROWN and Melissa MOTHORN.
  2d. Relief, Employment and Boarding: J. S. BROWN, J. A. SPIELMAN, Mrs. N. S. AVERILL, and Miss Viola HOWE.
  Temperance: Rev. A. S. WELLS, Thomas MERRILL, Isaac FELLOWS, and Alvah SCOTT.
  The following are the standing committees of the Board of Managers :
  1. Library: G. K. GILCHRIST, Isaac FELLOWS, D. W. BROWN.
  2. Finance: David WEBSTER, G. A. UNKRICH, and Amon CURFMAN.
  3. Printing: B. GILTNER, Dan. W. BROWN, Mrs. N. S. AVERILL, and Miss Etta HOWE.
  4. Lectures: Rev. Thomas MERRILL, Joseph S. BROWN, and Oliver ADAMS.
  5. Public Meetings and Sociables: Mrs. N. S. AVERILL, Mrs. D. ACHESON, George CURFMAN, and Dan. W. BROWN.
  6. Rooms and Reception: J. S. BROWN, G. K. GILCHRIST, and J. T. AXLINE.
  7. Statistics: Rev. A. S. WELLS, D. WEBSTER, G. A. UNKRICH, A. B. FERGUSON, J. EDMISTON, and William HUFSTEDLER.
  Board meets on second Monday evening of each month. Devotional meetings on every Sabbath evening at 4 o’clock P.M., at present in Congregational Church.
            B. GILTNER, Rec. Secy.

Cedar Township Literary Association.-- Dr. P. N. WOODS addressed the association on last Monday night, at Bradshaw’s School House, on the subject of "The Telegraph." His lecture was intended as a sequel to the one delivered by him a few weeks ago on the subject of "Electricity," the nature of which must be understood in order to understand the operations of the telegraph. The speaker made the subject very plain to his audience, and illustrated by means of his machine the manner in which telegrams are transmitted.
  After the lecture considerable amusement was had with his electric battery, which you know is so like the old lady’s sticking plaster, that the more you try to let go, the more you can’t. The Doctor’s lucid and able exposition of the nature and power of the subtle fluid known as electricity, and its tractability to the will of man, together with much historical and statistical information, was listened to with that attention that betokened an unusual interest in appreciation of the address.
  The next lecture before the association will be delivered by Hon. D. P. STUBBS, of Fairfield, on next Monday night.  Subject,-- "China, its Antiquity, Customs, &c."
  All are respectfully invited.     CEDAR.