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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