Jefferson County, Iowa The Fairfield Weekly Ledger

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Fairfield Ledger
Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa
April 27, 1871
Transcribed by Sherry Bash

First Annual Report of the Fairfield Evergreen Cemetery Association.
  This Association was formed April 3d, 1870.  The aim of its originators was not only to furnish burial grounds, but to provide for their perpetual maintenance and care.  We expected not only the well wishes of our people, for its success, but that they would to a limited extent, at least, aid either by becoming members of the Association, or the purchasers of lots for future use.  For reasons best known to themselves, no applications for member ship have been received, and with two exceptions no lots have been sold except for immediate use.  Consequently our means have been limited and our improvements the last year much less than we desired to make them and would have made if we had had the means.  We intend, however, to go on with the work and carry out our plans as fast as we are able, with a desire to make the last resting place of our departed friends a pleasant rather than a gloomy spot.  We again cordially invite our citizens to aid us either by the purchase of lots or by becoming members of the Association.  Any wishing information about the management or use of monies received, are refereed to the Secretary and Treasurer; their books are always ready for examination.
  At our annual meeting, April 3d, the following persons were chosen managers for the present year:  Clement JORDAN, President; George STEVER, Secretary; George A. WELLS, Treasurer; N. S. AVERILL and W. H. JORDAN, Directors.
  Thomas BARNES is Sexton.  His home is the second house southeast from the cemetery gate, and he will always be found at home or on the grounds.  Application should be made to him for digging or repairing graves and for any work owners wish to have done on their lots.-- Our funeral charges are, for persons over five years of age, five dollars; under five years, four dollars.  This charge includes not only all the Sexton's duties at the time, but the sodding up of the grave, removing surplus dirt and cleaning up the lot.  Persons wishing to purchase lots will call on either the Secretary or President.  Below we present an exhibit of our financial condition at the present time:

RECEIPTS.
From sale of stock		$ 900 00
Borrowed money		1,015 90
Sale of burial lots and in terest		615 80
From Sexton		49 75
		$2,581 45
DISBURSEMENTS.
Cost of lands	1,019 25
Cost of improvements to 1870	822 79
Interest on borrowed money	76 65
Cost of lot for Sexton's home	75 00
Cost of improvements, books,    tools, &c, since	244 25
	--------	2,235 15
Receipts over disbursements		$346 30
IN HANDS OF TREASURER.
Notes, deferred payment on Burial lots		70 00
Revenue stamps		2 75
Cash on hand		273 55
		346 30
There is an unsettled indebtedness for   additional tools, harness, cash, &c		127.98
Accrued interest on borrowed money		120 27
RECAPITULATION.
LIABILITIES
36 shares stock		900 09
Money borrowed		1,015 90
Int due on liabilities to April 3, 1871		120 27
Unsettled indebtedness		127 98
		$2,164 15
ASSETS,
Notes in hands of Treasurer	70 00
Cash       do          do	273 55
Burial lots sold not paid for	230 00
		527 55
Net liabilities		$1,590 50
With 432 lots unsold.

  RULES FOR VISITORS, &c.
  1.  The small gates will be unlocked from sunrise to sunset.  The large ones only when carriages wish to enter.
  2.  The Sexton or some one at his house will be ready to open and shut them.
  3.  Visitors are respectfully requested to go in and out by the front gates, to take the avenues and keep off the lots and grass.
  4.  No dogs are allowed in the grounds.
  5.  No carriages will be allowed to drive faster than a walk, or turn out of the carriage way, or be left without a driver within the gates.
            CLEMENT JORDAN,
  April 3, 1871           President.
  Iowa Democrat please copy.

DIED--At her residence, in Round Prairie Township, April 10th, 1871, of Lung Fever, Mrs. Mary LITTON, in the 55th year of her age.
  Mrs. LITTON was born in Greenbrier Co., Va.; moved to Illinois and from there to Iowa in 1840, and has been a resident of Jefferson county ever since.  For several years a member of the Baptist Church, she was widely known and universally respected.  Her burial was attended by probably the largest concourse of people ever assembled at the Lambeth (sic) Cemetery.
  [Knoxville (Ill.) Republican and Davis Co., (Iowa) papers please copy.]

Dr. O. W. ARCHIBALD,
LIBERTYVILLE, IOWA.  Office at John POLLY's Store.  Refer, by permission, to Dr. R. J. MOHR, Fairfield; Prof. J. C. HUGHES, Keokuk: Dr. I. N. NORRIS, Birmingham, and others.        1y18

TWO ESTRAY MARES.--Taken up April 5, 1871, by James F. DONELSON, in Des Moines Tp., Jefferson county, Iowa, two mares described as follows: one a light iron gray, or cider and cream gray, white hind legs from the knees to the hoof, block hoofs, 15 hands high, iron gray and flax tail, supposed to be 3 years old, and appraised at $45.  One a light iron gray, left hind foot white, both hind legs white from below the knee to the hoof, dark iron gray mane 15½ hands high, and appraised at $50.  Posted before Robt. BLACK, J. P.
          GEO. H. CASE, Clerk

Death of A. J. Gudgell. ---More than a month ago we received a copy of the Chilllicothe Constitution, containing the following account of the death of Mr. A. J. GUDGELL, but mislaid the paper.  We have just received another copy, and present it to our readers.  Mr. G. was known to many of our citizens:

Pasturage.---H. M. KENDERDINE, on the J. C. RICKEY farm, one mile south of town, will take a limited number of cows or horses to pasture.  Pasture excellent, with plenty of water.          3t18

MARRIAGES
CLUTTER--ROGERS---Washington, Iowa, April 20th, 1871, by Rev. F. A. SHEARER, of Aledo, Ill., at the house of the bride's father, Mr. George W. CLUTTER and Miss Helen A. ROGERS, both of Washington.

      Mooresville, Mo., Feb. 16, 1871,
EDITOR CONSTITUTION:
  Will you please insert an obituary in your paper of the death of Mr. A. J. GUDGELL, who came to his death as follows:  He was a citizen of Fairfield, Iowa, and was in this county visiting his friends and relatives.---On the 31st day of January he was out with a hunting party, and in dismounting from his horse by some means his gun was discharged, the load of shot taking effect in his leg just below the knee joint, tearing away the greater portion of the head of both bones---the fibula and tibia.  I was called to see him, and recommended an amputation, which he refused to submit to.  On the 9th of this month Dr. McARTHUR was called to see him, and amputated his leg, assisted by Dr. FLETCHER and myself.---He died the next day, willingly accepting his fate.  I write these statements that his friends in Iowa may know how he came to his death.  He was at the house of Mr. Thos. JENNINGS, and every attention was given him that could possibly be of any benefit or comfort.
        Theo. FISKE.