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W. B Bonnifield, Otumwa, Subscribes $500 Towards Moving Cabin. We print below a proposition from W. B. Bonnifield, president of the First National bank, of Ottumawa, Iowa, in regard to the Bonnifield cabin presented by our fellow towns man, Dr. W. H. Fordyce, to the Old Settler’s association of Jefferson county, Iowa: Ottumwa, Iowa, July 28, 1906. To THE OLD SETTLERS SOCIETY, OF JEFFERSON County Iowa:—I under stand that you propose to procure a suitable lot for a small park in Fairfield, and remove my father, Rhodham Bennisfield’s, house erected in 1888, nine miles east of Fairfield, and erect it upon this lotin as near its original shape and appearance as possible. I had not asked your society to go to the expense of doing this, but as I understand, you are now en gaged in this work. I take pleasure in subscribing and will pay $500.00 towards the removal and establish ment of this building in its original shape, it to be maintained and pre served by your society. This money is to be paid when this house is thus removed and erected. W. B. BONNIFIELD. The foregoing proposition is the outcome of a call at Mr. Bonnifield’s home in Ottumwa, of a committee appointed by the Old Settler’s and Historical association, so as to get the correct history of this the home of his parents In this county, and also get what aid he wished to give towards ths removal and erection on a lot, making it a permanent public park. The committee stated to Mr. Bon nifield, It had been talked, that the association should get up a stock company and each subscriber should get a share or more of stock, but the objection to this was that the stock might ultimately get into a few hands and the park become private property. Then the proposition was made to put the log cabin on the chautauqua grounds but the ob jection was that it was too far out for the Old Settlers and Historical societies to meet in, and besides there will be more danger of injury to the cabin by thoughtless and careless people. The committee then stated that Mr. Hiram Heator had suggested that if the association could in any way procure a lot so that they could make a permanent park with the cabin on it, in the grame manner as some of the small parks scattered through a great many European cities that would be a good plan. Mr. Banfield at once thought this a good idea but want ed the park to be a public one, and the cabin to be maintained by the public, and said he would be glad to contribute $500, if this could be done. The committee answered that in as much as the old settlers association included all the residents of the county, and that the people from all parts of the county had contributed to its support, that no doubt the board of supervisors would arrange with the city council of Fairfield to not tax the property providing the deed or transfer to the lot was made in such a way as to always remain a public park, and that the board of supervisors would no doubt make arrangements to maintain it as a public park, and that the Ladies Improvement so verity would be glad to keep it in shape, if they were requested to do so. If the native prairie grass, hazel brush, wild plums, crab apple trees, and other “old time” native trees, vines, shrubry and flowers could be grown around this cabin with its latch string hanging out so all would feel as much at home and feel as wel come as the old settlers did in the 30's and ‘40’s, when all men were neighbors and brothers, willing to help each other, and these good qualities could be preserved and handed down to the new settlers to come. Mr. Bonnifield would be repaid for his generous gift, Audiences Are Good Notwithstanding Hot Weather and Dusty Roads. The pastor preached Sunday on “Things to be Earnestly N Heeded,’ and “A Teacher Come From God.’ He received a number of compliments on the discourses He endeavors to get as much practical value out of every sermon as possible. Joe Crail, the Sunday school super intendent, has returned from his va cation in the east. He reports hav ing a good time and a ride on the ocean. The Sunday school expects to have a picnic in the near future The Christian churches in the state of Iowa, have decided and are pre paring to hold a simultaneous evan gelistic campaign, from the second Sunday in January to April, 19¢7. W. J. Wright, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who has had considerable experience in the management of campaign work, is to superintend the work. He will have his headquarters at the University church, of Des Moines,
Newspaper Details
Fairfield Evening Journal
Fairfield, Iowa, US
Wed, Aug 01, 1906
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Jason S.
