Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-19

about a mile and a half southeast of
Glendale in Jefferson county, until
August 3, 1906, there stood an old log
house about whose weather. beaten
sides, almost seventy years had rolled
since first 1t was erected on Iowa's vir-
gin prairie.
In June. 1887. one Of the first whitel
dwellings in Jefferson county was built
by brother and three children of
Rhodham Bonnifeld one of the earliest
settlers in the new country that is now
Jefferson county, and in the following
year another cabin was built by Mr.
Bonniheld. This second cabin is the
caused the first steps to be taken in a
movement which may result in an Iowa
State Old Settlers park.
1t Is also the oldest house now stand
Ing in the whole state Of Iowa, and Is
to be preserved by the Old Settlers as
ISOLATION of Jefferson county.
This building, built in 1888, became
the center Of the pioneer life of the
early days. Situated as it was on the
old state road between Burlington and
Agency City, 1t was a railying point
for the social, political and religious
life of the first settlers. In 1t, the first
postoffice in Jefferson county was es
tablished. Here the first governors
and territorial delegates on their
Journeys through the new country
found shelter and entertainment within
its hospitable walls.
Here Fairfield Was Named.
In this old building, the city of Fair
field was named by Mrs. Rhodham
Bonnifleld, the mother of W. B. Bonni-
| field, ST., of this city, who suggested
the name to- the surveyors as they
We're engaged in stalking out the town.
| On down through the years the cab
| in has come and yet many Of its old
| logs still lay, or did lay until they
We're removed August 9, in the iden-
teal position they occupied when the
builders first placed them, building a
white mans habitation in a land rife
with pioneer hardships and Astounding
| in wild animals and wilder men.
From the accompanying cuts an Idea
of the present appearance of the Bon
nifield cabin, built in 1888 by Rhod-
ham Bonnif1eld, father Of w. B. Bonni-
field of this city. may be obtained, but
its condition when first built may onyl
be described In words and these can
architecture in those early days.
The addition at the side of the house
shown in one Of the cuts was not part
Of the original building but was con-
structed in 1889 by one of the sons OF
Mr.. Bonnifield as a place to study in.
The log which composed its walls
We're hand hewn with broad ak.
The flooring of the building was
made Of whipsawed walnut boards
The roof was made of rived and shaved
walnut shingles. The gable ends OF
the building We're formed by spill
boards. M
The fire place, in one of the cuts 1t:
position may be noted. was made o
fiat rock quarried in the neighborhood
and the chimney was made OF sticks
it being impossible to obtain bricks fol
this purpose The windows were
of the old fashioned kind. each con
tanning six very small lights.
The doors were Of whip sawed wal
nut lumber, battened style. The latcl
string was used.
The walls were finished with lin,
and sand and then washed. original.
there was a porch in front of the build
ing taking in that amount of the from
length of the house bounded by thu
outer edge of the two windows TIL
huge fire place was used both TO
heating and cooking purposes, Their
being no stove in the pioneer house
hold.