Fairfeild Cem., Rock Branch IA. - history
History of Fairfield Cemetery
Written by C.C. Everhart of Moville for the
Anthon Herald,
1936
1. AN IMMIGRANT BURIAL. The recorded history of Fairfield Cemetery
goes back to the early seventies. W.N. Hatfield quotes his father, A.W.
Hatfield ( who settled in Rutland township in June 1868 ), as stating that the site of Fairfield
cemetery was used for a burial proper to regulat platting. This burial occurred after the death of
a young man said to have been a member of an immigrant train. Thi young
man, about 22 years of age, is said to have died a couple of miles south of the present site and
was later buried on this site with the agreement between the early settlers and the father to care
for the grave. it is said that this caravan then moved westward, The dates
and the names are unknown, and this statement is controversial point between pioneers, who
have taken the definite and different views on these facts.
2. FOUNDING "WILD ROSE"
CEMETERY. Quoting Mrs. L. Carrington: "the founder of
the cemetery so far as I know, was my father, John Wetmore. The land was
bought from Charlie Bachelor for $ 15. per acre. Father collected small
amounts of money, dimes, quarters, et., from people of the community, as times were hard and
no one had much. He finished paying the final amount
himself. "A.W. Hatfield is known to have contributed two dollars,
according to his son. Cha. Armitage further stated that William Rarrick,
Ben Flathers, E.F. Armitage and Joseph Woods had important parts along with Mr. Wetmore,
whom Mr. Armitage states was the real "Father of the project". Mrs. L.
Carrington further states that anyone that anyone who helped is getting the lot ready received a
lot free. Both A. Armitage and George Flathers have emphasized the true
pioneer spirit of friendship and mutual helpfulness behind this movement. Charlie Bachelor
settled on Rock Creek in about 1867 and is buried on his own land. He
planted some of the large pine trees that now exists in the old
cemetery. W.N. Hatfield, son of A.W. Hatfield, still "carries on" being a
member of the present board of trustees. W.N. Hatfield also has bought out
the fact that the original cemetery was named "WILD ROSE CEMETERY".
3. PLATTING A BURIAL
GROUND. W.N. Hatfield and George Flathers have stated that O. Plato
platted both sections of the original cemetery. The original plat has been
lost, borrowed or hidden and the exact date of platting is not available, but it thought to have
been 1872. O. Plato was early resident of the Little Sioux Valley and lived
midway between Correctionville and Anthon.
4. FIRST
TRUSTEES. Mrs. L. Carrington that the first trustees were Ben Flathers
and Joseph Woods. Mrs. Geo. Eisentraut, now 91 years of age, vividly
recalls her arrival here in 1868 with her husband, Joseph Woods. Mrs. Eisentraut in now
undoubtedly the oldest living pioneer in the Rock Branch Community.
5. FIRST BURIALS IN THE
PLATTED CEMETERY. Qouting Mrs. L. Carrington; "Lettie Wells and
her infant son were the first people buried there. She died at
childbirth. The first burial was made at sundown, and after a rain. The
hymns sung were "Rock of Ages" and Nearer my God to Thee" ( date probably March,
1873.) My brother Johnnie, was was killed by lightening, would of been the
first burial there, but father had worked hard getting the cemetery that he couldn't stand the
thought of his son buried out on the open prairie, so Johnnie was buried near Luck Valley, where
some other people had been places." Mrs. L. Carrington further states the
there were seven people buried that first year ( probably 1873 ).
George Flathers has described briefly the burial of a child of Mr. &
Mrs. Jacob Weaver, the first child to be buried after the Wells infant. The
description portrays Mr. Flathers as a small boy in the rear of his father's wagon and crossing the
Wolf Creek valley through high wild hay during August, 1873. Mr. & Mrs.
Weaver were early settlers in the district.
6. EARLY BURIALS Two pioneers who assisted
with many early burials were A.W. Hatfield and Derm Ferguson, also later W.N. Hatfield and
George Flathers. Mr. Ferguson during the seventies had a carpenter shop on
his farm near Rock Branch. Here his this shop, assisted by A.W. Hatfield,
many walnut coffins and cottonwood rough boxes were built. Yearly it is
said Mr. Ferguson went to Little Sioux valley and cut down walnut trees, and had these sawed
near Correctionville and later seasons in his home shop. Such was the
procedure for burials during the pioneer days. Nieghobors were very
willing to help and Mr. Flathers states that in the early days, strangers cane into the new country,
where they worked and sometimes died with no information given out before death and none
asked after death. Mr. Flathers and Mr. Hatfield also emphasized the deep
depth of frost encountered in the eighties and nineties, which ran as deep as five feet and six
inches were encountered during 1936. Derm Ferguson in further
remembered as a Civil War veteran, constable, ardent worker for prohibition and a builder of
Correctionville's first school building.
7. THE DIPHTHERIA
SCOURGE. W.N. Hatfiled and C. Armitage have described the diphtheria
scourge that took a great tool of life during the pioneers days. Mr. Hatfield
estimates that 35 deaths occurred in Rutland township at one time during a short
period. All the children in some families were
stricken. Mr. Armitage amd Mr. Hatfield recalled in particular the
Winterfelt deaths, five in number, all in one week and all buried at Fairfield cemetery at
four funerals. The Pettyfamily was also mention and a family that
lived on what is no the Hopp farm two miles north of the Carrington
corner. Mr. Hatfield mentioned that Ex-President Hoover lived on his farm
( Hopp ) as a small l child directly after or before this scourge. Mr
Armitage also mentioned the bad winter of 1880 - 81 with this added scourge.
8. THE HENRY BUSTAFF
TRAGEDY. During August, 1883,occured the burial at Fairfield cemetery
of Henry Bustaff, a young German lad. This tragedy left a mystery in his
homeland and likewise in Rock branch district. Today a white marble
monument marks his grave far from this young man's home, friends and native
country. Incendtally when purchasing this monument was representative of
the finest work in monument design ( 1883 ).
9 EALRY LAND
CONTROVERSY. In early days ( exact date not known ) a controversy
arose between Mr. Riley and his neighbors over land ownership. In
exchange of shots Mr. Riley was killed and later buried at Fairfield cemetery
 10.WAR VETERANS. Ten war
veterans ( 1936 ) sleep at Fairfield cemetery. Nine of these men served in
the Civil War and with the Union army. Vellorus Heath is believed
to be the first soldier buried here. Mr. Heath died during October,
1891. His marble monument contains as excellent caving of the GA.R.
insignia. One World War veteran is buried in this
cemetery. Someone has written "that no sleep is so graceful as a soldiers
sleep". Farifield cemetery amid it's rich agricultural setting, well fulfills this
author's views.
11. FINISH. One
pioneer has said that Fairfield cemetery drew it's graves from as far east as the Little Sioux River,
as far west as the West Fork and north to Kingsley and as far south as "Lucky
Valley". These people did not choose wrong, nor did the original pioneers
when they selected, this fine site. The present board of trustees and the
sexton deserve praise for the fine and reverent care given this country burial
ground. The dozens of fine monuments and markers of both past and
present attest the respect shown the deceased by their relatives and friends.
written October 16, 1936.
I ( your host ) want to include, that Fairfield Cemetery is
still beautifully cared for by the sexton. I do visit it frequently, since my
own family members are laid to rest here. I see no vandalism, or other
improper respect. If you did not come through on this cemetery's entrance
page with the picture, I took fall 2001, you may do so by following this link to it's page
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