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kJCITlocnovmirerethewai anloctheas ne\ 1insplt;role*InhoitintatI1bumlt;inLcthKDVIorEARLY ( IA BlIOl SES — Logan c abin at lc ll was first home of Fairfield Golf and Country dub. Acquired in 1900, it was located south of Washington school near corner of Jacksonand South I) street. Building at right was erected later at site of present clubhouse. It was enlarged and front porch was enclosed Indore it was destroyed hv fire.;.y.y.v.v.y..‘VAV.’W«V*'VEach of a ball, and thenthe next•Sk’’ •Whisky was a vital commodity o at least a few residents ol the frontier village of FairfieM The chief source of supply a 1840 was a log grocery on the mrli sulc of the square where these who were bibulously in-Lined gathered to discuss the lews of the day.This early-day store was also ho scene of a classic storvwrecounted in an 1879 nistory of Jefferson county published by •he Western Historical Co.One of the store's best cus-mers was Willis Cheek, an Idcrly resident who had an prociation of whisky regard-ss of its quality. But some-ne added something to Cheeks whiskv which made him ill andcaused him to swear he would never touch another drop.Sometime later he was persuaded to visit the store, but j he still refused to accept arlrinlr Hiewb(iS(Ac !rCsih1Iowa’s First Golf Club Formed Here In 1892The picturesque grounds andmodern building which nowmake up the Fairfield Golf and Country club had their start during the 1890’s with an idea, a golf club, three balls, and several empty tomato cans.The idea was the product of Dr. James Frederic Clarke, a man who figured prominently in many aspects of Fairfield’s growth and development.The story of golf here b 'gan early in 1892 when Dr. Clarke,returning from a trip to Philadelphia, purchased a wooden driver and three golf balls while he stopped off at Chicago. Dr. Clarke later recalled thatthe afternoon following his return was spent melting tops of a few empty tomato cans. With four friends, he went to Damson’s pasture where they sunk the cans into the ground for holes and started to play.The first golf club was officially organized May 16, 1892. While early golf records are scarce, it is believed the Fairfield club was the first in Iowa and possibly the first west of the Mississippi river. Kahgahgee Because the new course was located near the banks of Crow creek, members adopted the Indian name for the stream and called it the Kahgahgee club.In Dr. Clarke’s words, the new game and organization were . . western and primitive and easily Early American.”Those four friends who accompanied Dr. Clarke in the ,n-itial golf game were Charles C. Sampson, Clark’s nephew; Rbbert Louden, Charles J. Fulton, and J. Wilbur Dole.Louden and Dole didn’t join the golf until several years later. but the others were early members.Among the other early members were W. G. Ross. Miss Currie Lumson, C. J. FuLton, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Slagle, Mrs Fannie Weldav, Miss Anna Cottle, John G. Spielman, and Miss Kittie Voorhies.Property of the first club consisted of one driver, tlie members owned drove with thi ‘stick”threw the chin on to
Newspaper Details
Fairfield Daily Ledger
Fairfield, Iowa, US
Thu, Jun 25, 1964
Page 31
Full Page
Clipped by
Rick B.
USA 12 Sep 2018
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