Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-05

,R
visited Fairfield and held religious
services. He went through the couu-
try and hunted up all the Presbytew.
ians he could hear of, and on the End
day OF October OF the same year he
held meeting in Fairfield and organ
ICED church composed of nine mem
bers. though none of them lived near
or than seven miles Of the place. In
the fall of 1842 Rev. Bell erected I,
place OF worship out OF his own pri.
vate funds. This was the nucleus OF
the First Presbyterian church Of
Fairfield, which has become one VI
the largest Presbyterian churches In
Iowa. He established two female
seminaries, organized % churches,
(of which the First Presbyterian
church of Ottumwa was one and of
which Rev. DR.. j. M McElroy, yet IN
the flesh and mentally very active, ut
Ottumwa, was the first pastor). three
Presbyteries and one synod. He died
in Alton in 1853 at the age of TO-
After the suspension of Rev. Bells
seminary another for young ladies'
soon took It's place under the charge
Of Miss Helen e. Pelletreau. This
fiour1sheG for several years when Miss
Pelletreau pulled up and went back
east, we, think to Pittsburg, where
she conducted school for young
ladies for several years.
The Fairfield College was conduct
ed by Rev. A. Axline, an efficient and
experienced educator. About ninety
students We're it's average attendance.
This college. which was located where
the residence Of the late w. w. ,Ju..
Kin now stands, was where the writ.
er. Judge Leggett, w. B. Burray, ct
al received the rudiments of what
little education they have.
The state legislature passed an act
approved Jan. 10, 1S49, establishing at
Fairfield, branch of the State Unit
versity. The citizens bought the site,
and also erected large brick build
ing. In May, 1851 the building not be-.
ing inclosed. was partially destroyed
by hurricane, which in ferocity was
never before or since equalled. It
was again built up, but the state after,
wards abolished the branch universl.
ties, and decided to have but one and
that one at Iowa City. The grounds
and buildings were then purchased
by company and a school of high
grade organized, and placed in charge
of Prof. J. Anderson. TIE institution
was incorporated In June, 1868, with
Christian w. Slagle as president ana
A. H. Fulton 8s secretary.
The press in those times was fully
equal to the demands Of the commun.
itv. The Sentinel, the first paper
was published by A. R. Sparks, who
issued the initial number June IL
1847. The Sentinel changed owners
and after a short career was discon
tlnued. 1t was revived in 1852 by d.
Steward, an uncle of c. l.. Steward of
the Birmingham Enterprise Shew,
ard ran it only three years when ii
again gave up the ghost 1t was
"a democratic paper.
The first number of the Ledger was
issued Dec. 1850, by Orlando Nc
Craney as republican paper. Dec
10, 1857 he sold half interest to A,
h. Fulton. June 2, 1853, w. w. Jun,
Kin bought one half of the Office, and
Aug. Z, 1854 became the absolute ow
ner, and published 1t till his death q
few years ago. 1t is still published py
his son. Charles M. Junkin, and is a
very prosperous paper.
The Fairfield Jeffersonian was start.
ed by T. Buckley Taylor, In 1857, who
sold an interest to H. N. Moore. and
l. ]. Tolan. The paper subsequently
passed into the management of H. N.
Moore, Samuel Jacobs and r. M. Han
ma. Mr.. Taylor died a couple of years
ago in Baltimore, where he was editor
Of the American. Mr.. Moore died in
Red Oak in March, but Marsh" Han.
ma is now and has been for many
years managing editor Of the Peoria
Journal. 1t was in this Office that tho
writer, in 1857, commenced his news.
paper career.
Fairfield is now one of the most
beautiful cities in the state, and one
of the most law.abiding places to be
found anywhere on earth. It's citi.
zenship Is made up mostly of the very
best class of Gods people. Yet 1t has
the distinction, IL 1T may be so call
ed, of furnishing to the world some
of the most blood thirsty outlaws
who ever figured in the annals of
crime. 1t was the home Of the noted
BIZ Lee. who married a daughter Of
Brigham" Wilson. who, In
early times, committed the hor
ribie murder at Oquawka which
terrorized not only the good
people Of Oquawka but the entire
western country. Then it was the
home Of Frank Rand Charles G.
Scott. whose father, Melchi Scott
the village blacksmith,'') who
committed a murder at Galesburg,
which shocked the whole civilized
world, and committed suicide in the
Joliet penitentiary where he was con
fined for life. This beautiful city was
for fifteen years the home of William
Haywood, the father of w. D. Hay.
wood. who was recently acquitted of
completely in the murder of Governor
Steunenberg Of Idaho. Mr.. Haywood,
the elder, was one Of the passengers
on famous pony express across the
plains, In the early sixties Mr.. Hay
wood, fills, never resided in Fairfield,
as he was born into the world after