Two Boys Drowned ~ sons of Mr. and Mrs. David Knauss ~ Jefferson County, Iowa
The Old Fairfield City Cemetery
INSCRIPTIONS ON TOMBSTONES IN THE PUBLIC BURIAL GROUND
(The Original Fairfield Cemetery, Not Platted.)
1. WINN: JESSE B., Died Feb. 15, 1856, aged 55 y’s. (See pp. 82a & 82b)
2. RICHESON: CASSEY, Wife of THOS. RICHESON, died May 26, 1852, aged 31 (or 34) ys, 3m, 6d.
3. ABRAHAM: WILLIAM T., son of JOHN & MARY ABRAHAM, died May 3, 1854, Aged 2 yrs. 9 m’s. & 2 ds.
Fairfield Ledger
Thurs. May 11, 1854
Page 3, col. 3
DIED—May the 3d, 1854, after a lingering illness of nearly three weeks, WILLIAM THOMAS, youngest son of JOHN and MARY ABRAHAM, of Newark, Ohio, aged 2 years 9 months and three days.
4. LEE: ELIZABETH, Born Oct. 22, 1816, Died May 5, 1855. EMELINE & CAROLINE, Died Aug. 18, 1855.
5. HUDGEL: JOSEPH, Died May 14, 1857, Aged 62 yr. 2 m. 15 d.
6. NOTT: HENRY P., Co G, 84 Ill. Inf.
Fairfield Tribune
June 6, 1894
H. P. NOTT, Co. G, 84th Ill. V. I., Died Aug. 20, 1865.
7. KNAUSS: (N. face) JESSIE R., Born Feb. 15, 1878, Died June 19, 1892, Aged 14 yrs. 4 mos. 4 Dys. Son of D. & R. KNAUSS.
“Call not back the dear departed
Anchored safe where storms are o’er
On the border land we left him
Soon to meet and part no more
Far beyond this world of changes
Far beyond this world of care
We shall find our missing loved one,
In our Father’s mansion far.”
(S. face) JACKSON, Born Sept. 10, 1879, Died June 19, 1892, Aged 12 yrs. 9 mos. 9 Dys. Son of D. & R. KNAUSS.
“Two little angels now on high
They hand in hand together roam.
Two links now bind us to the sky,
Two fingers beckon us to come.
Lord give us strength our loss to bear
And lead us in the Heavenly way.
Oh, may we meet our children there,
In realms of everlasting day.”
Fairfield Ledger
June 22, 1892
Page 3 col. 4
TWO BOYS DROWNED. JESSE and JOHN, sons of MR. and MRS. DAVID KNAUSS of this city, aged sixteen and eleven years, respectively were drowned in Cedar Creek about 200 yards below Smith’s Ford Sunday afternoon… The mother of the two unfortunate boys is almost distracted with grief. The father has been an inmate of the State Soldier’s Home for some time past….But one child is left them….
8. HESTON: EARNEST, Aug. 20, 1885 – Apr. 2, 1905.
Fairfield Ledger
April 5, 1905
Page 10 col. 4
Sunday, at the home of his father, MAHLON HESTON, in Fairfield township, occurred the death of ERNEST HESTON, aged 19 years. He had been afflicted for years, and had suffered with rheumatism for the past 17 months……
9. COX: WELCOME FRIEND, 1847 – 1895. (Mortician’s marker)
10. COX: ELIZABETH, 1844-1921. (Mortician’s marker)
Fairfield Journal
Aug. 28, 1895
Page 2 col. 2
WELCOME FRIEND COX, and old and well known resident of Fairfield, died at his home in the southwestern part of town Tuesday morning about 5 o’clock. Cancer of the stomach….Leaves a wife and six children….he was and honest and honorable man…(Ledger, Aug. 28, 1895 (3-2) “about fifty-five years of age….”)
Copy of Death Certificate of ELIZABETH COX (found in old records at City Hall) Died at 1017 Brooks St., Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa, Nov. 23, 1921; female, white, widow of W. F. COX. Born in Iowa June 17, 1844; age 77 y. 5 m. 6 d. Housewife. Name of father – JUDD, born Ohio. Maiden name of mother – FEES, born Indiana. Informant – LUTHER COX, 1017 Brooks St., Burlington. Burial in Fairfield City Cemetery; F. E. BUTLER, Fairfield, Undertaker.
Fairfield Daily Ledger-Journal
Fri. Nov. 25, 1921
Page 1 col. 2
MRS. ELIZABETH COX, for years a resident of Fairfield, died in Burlington Wednesday and the body was brought here for burial today…MRS. COX was born in Flint River township June 17, 1844….She lived in Fairfield until a year ago when she went to Burlington. Resident of Fairfield forty years. Member Congregational Church. Leaves the following children: MRS. LULU MAY ADAMS of Fairfield; DAVIS COX of Omaha, Neb.; LUTHER COX, FRANCES COX, MRS. BERT HAND, MISS. RENA COX, and ROY COX of Burlington, and a brother, REV. DAVID JUDD of Truro, Iowa.
Fairfield Tribune
Wed. Sept. 1, 1909
Page 2 col. 5
ZENITH COX died Thursday, Aug. 26; was 78 years of age, a brother of DANIEL COX of this city…Funeral services held at the WILLIAM DESPAIN home on Friday afternoon….Interment made in Evergreen cemetery.
Fairfield Evening Tribune
Mar. 21, 1913
Page 3 col. 5
MRS. ?ANE COPELAND died at the home of her daughter, MRS. THOMAS DESPAIN on Leffler Street (Burlington Hawk-Eye) Wednesday. Survived by the following brothers and sisters: MRS. M. E. SHEPARD of Mt. Union, Iowa; RACHEL DESPAIN of Fairfield, Iowa; DANIEL COX of Fairfield, and ANDREW COX, W. Va. Interment at Mt. Pleasant.
Burial Permit: W. F. COX, age 49, male, white; d. City Aug. 27, 1895; DR. W. FORDYCE; JUNKIN & BAKER, Undertakers.
11. PICKETT: NELLIE, 1876 – 1895.
Fairfield Tribune
May 15, 1895
Page 2 col. 2
MRS. NELLIE MAY PICKETT, aged 18 years, wife of PHILIP PICKETT, died after a brief illness at her home in the south part of town this morning. She leaves an infant child. The funeral will take place tomorrow, Thursday, afternoon.
(Burial Permits show also a male child; mother and child both died May 15, 1895.)
12. DE SPAIN: CARL B., 1897 -1898.
(Burial Permits show CARL BRYAN DESPAIN, age 2 months, male, white, died in city Jan. 27, 1897.)
Fairfield Ledger
Apr. 7, 1886
Page 3 col. 5
About a year ago, a 15th child was born to MR. and MRS. WILLIAM DESPAIN of this city, and was oddly, but probably properly, christened “ENOUGH.” Monday evening twins, a boy and a girl, were born to the same parents, and of the 17 children all but one are living. MR. DESPAIN has been twice married, and was the father of five children by his first wife, or 22 in all.
Fairfield Ledger
Apr. 28, 1886
Page 3 col. col. 7
Ottumwa Courier re the DESPAIN twins: He might christen the last two ADDENDA and FINIS.”
(Burial Permits show a DESPAIN child, age 4 m. 15 d., female, white, died in Fairfield City Aug. 21, 1886; a DESPAIN child, age 4 m. 6 d., male, white, died in Fairfield City on Aug. 11, 1866; NELLIE DESPAIN, age 6 m. 10 d., female, white, died in Fairfield City Feb. 25, 1890.)
Fairfield Tribune
Wed. Jan. 22, 1913
Page 5 col. 2
(From Thursday’s Daily) AMOS C. PICKETT died at Mt. Pleasant hospital at 1 o’clock this morning. Funeral services will be held at the home of his father-in-law, WILLIAM DESPAIN, on West Jefferson Street at 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon. Survived by his father and mother, the former living in Missouri and the latter in this city, his wife, in this city, five brothers and one sister. His surviving brothers and sister are CALEB, CHARLES and PHILIP of Fairfield. GARFIELD of Ottumwa, ARTHUR of Eldon, and JENNIE of Chicago. –Jeff. Co. Rep. Jan. 24, 1913.
Fairfield Tribune
Wed. Feb. 19, 1913
Page 8, col. 3
MRS. RACHEL PICKETT, wife of the late AMON C. PICKETT, is reported very low…
Fairfield Journal
Apr. 4, 1914
Page 2 col. 1
Funeral of WILLIAM DESPAIN (JR.) who died yesterday morning will be held Sunday afternoon at the home of his father, WILLIAM DESPAIN SR., on West Jefferson Street. Burial in Evergreen. WILLIAM DESPAIN was born in Henry County about 43 years ago. Leaves a wife, four daughters, ELVA, MARIE, MILDRED and LUCILLE, one son GLENN, and his father and mother, MR. and MRS. WILLIAM DESPAIN SR. Also seven brothers, JAMES, of Fort Madison, GEORGE of Springfield, WINTON of Galesburg, THEODORE, PETER and JOSEPH of Fairfield, four sisters, MRS. MAXWELL of Galesburg, MRS. GRAHAM of Ottumwa, MRS. PICKETT, MRS. MANARAY, and MRS. MCINTIRE of Fairfield.
Fairfield Daily Journal
Wed. June 20, 1917
Page 3 col. 3
WILLIAM DESPAIN was born Jan. 18, 1834 in Green County, Ky., the son of JOHN and LYDIA HOWELL DESPAIN. Came to Iowa with his parents when a young man and settled in Henry County, where he was married to MARY JANE RITCHEY Aug. 25, 1853. Three children: two died in childhood. The wife died Oct. 29, 1863. Oct. 9, 1864, MR. DESPAIN married RACHEL COX who survives with the following children: JAMES SIMPSON of Fort Madison; ISAAC NEWTON of Galesburg; MRS. C. C. MAXWELL of Burlington; MRS. CHARLES GRAHAM of Ottumwa; GEORGE MARSHALL of Springfield, Ill.; MRS. D. MCINTIRE of Grivity, Wisc.; THOMAS JEFFERSON of West Burlington; JERRY of Burlington, and THEODORE, PETER, JOE and MRS. JAMES MANARY of Fairfield. 65 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Presbyterian church. Following children preceded him in death: WILLIAM, FRANK, NELLIE, GLENDORA, ROY and MAY…..A brother, MILTON DESPAIN of New London, was also present.
Jefferson County Republican
June 21, 1917
Page 5 col. 4
WILLIAM DESPAIN, an old resident of this city, aged 84 years, passed away Monday afternoon at his home in the southwest part of the city. He is survived by his wife, eight sons and five daughters, seven or eight children having preceded him in death. The children are: JERRY and THOMAS of Burlington; JAMES, Ft. Madison; GEORGE of Springfield, Ill.; NEWTON of Galesburg, Ill.; THEODORE, PETER, JOSEPH and MRS. JAMES MANARY of Fairfield; MRS. C. S. PICKETT, Monmouth; MRS. C. C. MAXWELL, Burlington; MRS. MARY GRAHAM, Ottumwa; and MRS. D. E. MCINTYRE of Wisconsin. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery.
Fairfield Ledger
Nov. 15, 1929
Page 4
FAIRFIELD LADY HAS 18 CHILDREN…..RACHEL COX DESPAIN, now 64.
Fairfield Ledger
Dec. 4, 1930
MRS. RACHEL DESPAIN……
Fairfield Ledger
Fri. Dec. 5, 1930
Page 8 col.4
MRS. RACHEL (COX) DESPAIN, born Cumberland, Ohio, May 29, 1845. Husband WILLIAM DESPAIN died June 17, 1917, at the age of 92 years. She is the mother of 18 children, of which ten are still living; 50 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. Her father was 90 years old when he died and her mother was 84 at her death. A brother died in January 1929 at the age of 90….Survived by the following children: PETER DESPAIN, MRS. RACHEL BEHNE and MRS. LAURA MANARY all of this city; JERRY, JOSEPH and MRS. PRISCILLA MAXWELL of Burlington; GEORGE of Oquawka, Ill.; THEODORE STANTON DESPAIN of E. Moline; MRS. ANNIA MCINTIRE of Moline and MRS. INDABELLE GRAHAM of Ottumwa. Also leaves a sister MRS. MITTIE SHIPPARD of Rock Island who is 92 years of age…
Fairfield Ledger
Oct. 21, 1963
Page 8 col. 1
MANARY FUNERAL TO BE TUESDAY. Last rites will be Tuesday at 1 p. m. for MRS. JAMES P. MANARY, life-time Fairfield resident who died Saturday evening at the Nelson Nursing home…Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery…The family is at 210 S. Ninth.
MRS. MANARY, the former BLANCHE DESPAIN, was born Feb. 25, 1889, at Fairfield, the daughter of WILLIAM and RACHEL COX DESPAIN. She was married to JAMES P. MANARY on Nov. 25, 1905, at Fairfield. He passed away April 18, this year. MRS. MANARY was a member of the Calvary Baptist church. She is survived by the following children: DELBERT J. MANARY, Fairfield; CHESTER MANARY, Shakopee, Minn.; MRS. ESTHER BAMESBERGER, Brownsville, Texas; KEITH MANARY, Decatur, Georgia. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and one brother, JOE DESPAIN, Burlington. MRS. MANARY was the youngest of 18 children in her family.
Fairfield Ledger
July 25, 1930
Page 2 col. 1
ISAAC NEWTON DESPAIN, former resident of this city, died in Abingdon, Ill., Sunday, July 13. Interment in the Abingdon (Ill.) cemetery. I. O. O. F. ISAAC NEWTON DESPAIN was born in New London, Iowa, Mar. 28, 1867, and died in Galesburg, Ill., July 13, 1930. MR. DESPAIN was united in marriage to EMMA C. PETERSON who died Feb. 27, 1904. Four children: MRS. ETHEL FRASEL of Chicago; MRS. BESSIE SHEAHAN of Torrence, Calif., LEO DESPAIN of Ottumwa, Iowa; and GEORGE DESPAIN of Galesburg. On Nov. 21, 1906, he was united in marriage to MISS. ALICE RICHARDSON of Abingdon, Ill. Three children: WILLIAM DESPAIN, MRS. MABEL LOVERLY and MRS. MERLE MURPHY, all of Galesburg. Also survived by eight grandchildren, his aged mother, MRS. RACHEL DESPAIN, Fairfield, Iowa; five sisters and six brothers and a host of friends. Member of the Odd Fellows, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers.
Fairfield Ledger
June 12, 1947
Page 6 col. 3
Graveside services will be held here Saturday for MRS. LAURA BRAWNER, former resident of Fairfield who died in Fort Madison last night. Burial Evergreen. While living in Fairfield, MRS. BRAWNER was the former MRS. JAMES DESPAIN. She remarried after moving to Ft. Madison. She is survived by one daughter, MRS. LAWRENCE YOUNT, who also resides in Ft. Madison. The message was received here this morning by HARRY KNAUSS, 701 S. Fifth St., who is a nephew of MRS. BRAWNER. She has several other relatives living in this community.
13. KNAUSS: DAVID, Died March 8, 1900, Aged 77 y. 5 m. 2 D.
Jefferson County Republican
Mar. 13, 1900
Page 4 col. 6
DAVID KNAUSS was born in Pennsylvania Sept. 18, 1822; Enlisted in Co. H, 15th Iowa Infantry Feb. 14, 1862; wounded in the shoulder at Shiloh and discharged at Corinth, Mississippi, for disability Sept. 24, 1862. Died at Marshalltown, Soldiers’ Home, Mar. 8, 1900, and brought to Fairfield, Iowa, and buried in the City Cemetery Mar. 10, 1900; aged 77 years and 7 months, leaving a wife and one child to mourn…..(Also Ledger Mar. 14, 1900 Page 3, col. 2)
14. MCWHIRTER: HENRIETTA, Dau. of J. & C. M. MCWHIRTER, Died Aug. 12, 1871, Aged 8 mos. 14 days.
Fairfield Ledger
Sept. 7, 1871
Page 3 col. 5
DIED. MCWHIRTER—August 13, 1871, of Congestion of the Brain, HENRIETTA MCWHIRTER, daughter of JOHN and CATHERINE MCWHIRTER, aged 8 months and 15 days. Fold up the white robe; lay aside the forgotten toys….(See Vol. 3, JEFFERSON COUNTY RECORDS.)
15. ELDER: C. C., 1860-1899.
16. _____: “Mother.”
Fairfield Ledger
May 17, 1899
Page 3 col. 2
CASSIUS C. ELDER died at his home about eight miles west of this city May 9th of pneumonia. MR. ELDER had been in the employ of J. TURNEY & CO. of this city until about a month previous to his death, and was held in high esteem by his fellow workmen. He was 38 years of age, and leaves a wife and three small children….The funeral was held at the home of his brother, FRANK ELDER, in this city Thursday morning at 10 o’clock….and the remains were interred in the City Cemetery.
17. MILLER: MARGARET A., Dau. of E. A. & M. A. MILLER, Died Sept. 19, 1864, Aged 1 yr. 6 m. & 1 d.
18. RUSSELL: JOHN D., Co. I, 17 Iowa Inf.
I have kept this piece together in its entirety, as you can see some of the surnames are connected to others.
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