Jefferson County, Iowa The Fairfield Ledger

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

      Tax Payers of Jefferson County.
  To refute those groundless harangues and charges made on the stump, in this county, against the Republican party for the burden of high taxes, and that the Republican party are continually increasing these taxes, we will lay the following facts in figures before you, that those of you who are so frequently drummed and coaxed at to give ear to without being placed in possession of any figures or of anything founded upon reliable sources may have some data to go by :
  You have but to refer to the tax books, or to your tax receipts for the year 1868, and to the tax lists now being made up in your County Auditor's office for the year 1869, for what we here assert to be true beyond truthful contradiction.
  The entire taxable property of the incorporation of Fairfield City, will pay $459.24 less tax into the State treasury in 1869 than was paid to the State in 1868 on the entire valuation of same incorporation limits.
  We take the liberty to refer to the taxes paid by Henry FRUSH and Alex. WHEELER, for the year 1868, and to compare them with the taxes now being assessed to these men for the present year, 1869 :
  Mr. FRUSH paid a State tax in 1868 of $4.72, including the funds for the support of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, on a valuation of $1,888.00 ; and in 1869 he will pay but $4.16 on a valuation of $2,080.00, also including funds for support of Orphans Home.
  Mr. WHEELER paid a State tax for the year 1868 of $8.66 on a valuation of $3,445.00; and in 1869 he will pay but $8 99 on a valuation of $4,494.00, being but 33 cents more tax in 1869 than he paid in 1868 on a valuation in 1869 of $1,049.00 more than his valuation of 1868.

  State Fair Premiums--In looking over the list of premiums awarded at the State Fair we observe that Jefferson county comes in for a few more. In class 70 we find that Mrs. J. M. SHAFFER received the first premium, $3,00, on spiced apples. In Class 75 the same lady received diploma and $5.00 for best collection of shells, and same premium for best collection of insects ; and in Class 69 she received first and second premiums on crab apple butter, and best cherry butter. Mrs. J. R. SHAFFER received first premium on plum preserves, best blackberry jam, 2d best current jelly, 2d best pie plum jelly, the premiums amounting to $10.00.

  Accident.--A young man named ----- SMITH, of the firm of J. VOTE & Co.'s Furniture Factory, was thrown from his horse, on Wednesday last. and very badly injured. The display of saddle horses was called for, and some twenty, or more entered the ring, and a breakneck speed of horses commenced. When at the east side of the ring, SMITH's horse "flew the track," ran with his rider against a tree and falling on him, very badly bruising his left leg, and the ligaments, connecting the upper and lower portions of the leg, at the knee, were broken. Dr. WARE, attended the patient, and though he is badly injured, will in time recover.

  Accident.--On last Friday evening, a wagon containing three persons, was overturned at the corner of the road leading to the fair grounds, and the women quite considerably injured. The driver was racing with another team, and in turning the corner, the wagon was completely overturned, the wheels resting on the top of the bed. Mrs. WALTON was severely injured, alighting on her shoulders, and dislocating and badly bruising it ; Miss WALTON received the force of her fall on her head, causing a slight concussion of the brain, and rendering her senseless for about two hours, Dr. SHAFFER attended the patients, and after a couple of hours, so far relieved them that they were able to proceed to their homes, some three miles east of Pleasant Plain.

  Burned with Powder.--We regret to learn that Morris, an adopted child of Mr. Alex. FULTON, was badly burned in the face on Thursday last with powder. Dr. SHAFFER was called on and gave relief to the little sufferer. His eye-sight will not be injured permanently.

MARRIAGES.
COLLINS--DAVIS.--Oct. 4, 1869, at the Union House, Fairfield, Iowa, by Rev. Carson REED, Mr. E. M. COLLINS, of the Engineer Corps of B. & M. R. R., and Miss R. E. DAVIS, of Batavia.

  Agricultural Fair. The Eighteenth Annual Exhibition of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society, held at Fairfield last week, was a decided success. The weather was all that could be desired, and the attendance much larger than for years past. The track and grounds were in excellent condition, and too much credit cannot be awarded all the officers for their efforts to insure a successful exhibition. The erection of an amphitheatre, for the accomodation of visitors, which was but an experiment this year, proved to be a good thing, and we predict that it will be doubled in capacity next year. The police arrangements could scarcely have been bettered, and it was a subject of remark that not a single drunken or disorderly person was seen on about the grounds during the progress of the Fair. The Superintendents of the various departments seemed the "right men in the right place," and performed their duties with general satisfaction.
  In horses, mules and cattle, the display was hardly so large as usual, though sufficiently numerous to indicate what our agricultural friends are doing in this regard.
  Of sheep, we noticed but a single pen ! Alas, alas ! the sheep fever, which a few years ago existed to such a fearful extent, has subsided, and the re-action which has followed makes the sheep apparently as much despised as before it was a favorite. It is claimed, however, that it was owing to a misunderstanding of the premiums offered that there were no more entries.
  Of hogs, the display was excellent. We never saw finer specimens of Magee and Chester Whites, than were here shown. The six months old pigs were particularly fine, while some of the older ones, for size and condition, could scarcely be excelled.
  Of poultry there was a fair show, and finer specimens of the nine or ten varieties exhibited would be difficult to find.
  Of grain, garden and field vegetables, the display, both in regard to size and quality, was fully up to that of former years, when the unpropitious weather of the past season is taken in to consideration, and cast everything like an idea of scarcity, or inferiority even, into fable.
  Of agricultural implements, there was but a meagre display, those of our home mechanics being, in our opinion, the finest.
  One or two of our cabinet men exhibited furniture, but the display was not near so large or fine as they were capable of making.
  Entering Fine Art Hall, we found it full of articles pertaining to it, and showing great skill, taste and perfection on the part of the exhibitors. Adorning the walls were cases of insects, crayons and paintings, that riveted the eye with their beauty. Overhead hung spreads and quilts almost matchless in neatness--that all-silk quilt causing us to disobey the tenth commandment. The canned fruit, jellies, jams, &c., were as tempting to the eye as they were to the appetite. The fine needle work was superb, some of it rivaling the finest lace. In the domestic department, of flannels, carpets, soap, &c., the display was highly creditable to the exhibitors. Of butter, bread, and cake, there were most excellent samples There were also two cases of jewelry which showed skill and taste on the part of the exhibitors. We are under obligations to the Superintendent of this department for gentlemanly treatment and kindness shown us.
  All things considered the display of fruit was good. The display of apples was first-rate ; so was pears and grapes. The specimens of plums was small but fair. Of peaches we noticed but a single specimen. There was enough, however, to show the utter untruthfulness of the oft-repeated remark in the East : "You can't raise fruit in Iowa."
  Taken all in all, the display at the Fair was good, and was a credit to the industry and progressive spirit of our people. Owing to a crowd of work, we were unable to attend the Fair until the last day, and after the premiums were awarded. In many cases we were unable to obtain the names of the exhibitors of what seemed meritorious articles and have therefore omitted to mention any names, lest in doing so we would seem partial and unjust.