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Fayette, Iowa County Farm Timeline
 ~Compiled by Barry Zbornik
(note: added too and edited out of the 1878 & 1910 Histories of Fayette Co. IA)

 

...1850-1865...Orphans were bound out to families wherever possible, aged without family care were boarded in respective townships, both at the expense of the county.
...1863...The number of people becoming County charges and the expense increased to the point of a Committee on the Poor, consisting of P. Dowse, D. Perrin & J.H. Ross being appointed to look into a cheaper way of boarding poor, insane, indigent aged. June 3, 1863, this group recommended providing a County Poor House and Farm rather than boarding to families in the county.
...1864, June 7...The Poor House committee of D.G. Goodrich, E.Z. Stowe & Hiram B. Hoyt recommended and a resolution adopted by the County Supervisors (one member from each of the 20 townships) to spend up to $2000 to purchase a 'suitable farm' for the use as a County Poor Farm.
...1864, Sept 5...The Poor House committee of D.G. Goodrich & C.R. Bent, reported they had purchased the William Morras (Morris) Farm of 142.5a, the S1/2 of SW 1/4, sec 9, plus the N1/2 of NW 1/4 of NW1/4, sec 16, T93N, R7W, Illyria. Twp. for the sum of $2000 to be used as the Fayette County Poor Farm, with possession on the 1864 Oct 1.
...1864, Sep... $2000 was appropriated by the County, but with only a thousand plus spent to stock the farm with grain, provisions, furniture, implements, tools, etc.
...1864, Nov 15...Mr. & Mrs. Lewis M. Allen were employed by the Committee as Stewards of the Poor Farm at $500/yr plus used of the house and board. A Poor Farm was ready to receive boarders for the first time in County history. The Allen's lived in the frame house on the premises, while the inmates were assigned quarters in the log cabin which was the first house on the farmstead.
...1865...During the year 21 paupers were cared for.
...1866...About this time Lewis Allen died but his wife and inmates kept the farm going.
...1867...Rev. & Mrs. Wm Moore, early Illyria.Twp pioneers became Steward of the farm.
...1868...The Illyria Twp. Poor Farm was becoming inadequate to meet demands.
...1868, June 11...Major D.B.Herriman, Illryia Twp trustee, bought the Poor Farm for $2000, with Supervisors putting the funds toward another Poor Farm purchase. Herriman sold the farm immediately to Joseph Holsworth. James & Rachel Wilson, then Lewis Hunsberger would own the farm before 1910.
...1868, June...The County Board purchased three tracts of land totally 283.2a for $2214.92, in the NW corner of Westfield.Twp, all in T93N, R8W. The E1/2 of NW1/4, sec 6, of 181.2a, at $5.50/a; plus the W1/4 of NW1/4, sec 15, of 10a, at $20/a; plus the W front 1/2 of NW1/4, sec 6, of 80a, at $6/a. There were no buildings on this last, however some of it has been 'improved' for cultivation (cleared of trees/brush and opened/plowed for the first time). A 30x40 frame barn was started.
...1868-1869...William Moore was hired as Steward of the Poor Farm. Moore moved inmates, his own family and old Poor Farm movable property into the unfinished barn.
...1869 Jun 11...The Poor Farm barn was reported finished at a cost of $1426.36.
...1870 Jan...The Poor Farm house was reported finished at a cost of $2400.
...1878...The Poor Farm had 26 'inmates' with A. Teats as Steward.
...1880...Census, 'inmates' enumerated.
...1885...Census, 'inmates' enumerated.
...1890's...The demands on the Poor Farm were increasing with the population growth and care needed. Also the incurable insane could apparently be cared for within the County at less expense than in the State asylums such as at Independence. IA.
...1898, Apr 8...Supervisors submitted on the election ballot the building of a new County Poor House and Insane Ward, estimating the cost at $15,000, and proposing a 1mill tax for 1899-1901.
...1898 Nov...The building of a new Poor House passed with a 'wholesome' majority.
...1898 Nov...A large, two story, brick building was started with the external appearance and internal structure/equipment of public institutions of the time. The insane ward was modeled after the larger hospital to minimize dangers and increase convenience of use.
...1900..Although housing the insane, indigent, terminally ill, the Poor Farm acted as a county hospital before there was a hospital in West Union or Oelwein. One of the main objectives of the Poor Farm had always been to operate as a farm with crops, stock produce to consume and market.
...1900..Census, 'inmates' enumerated.
...1904...Besides permanent inmates, township trustees assigned partial support of Poor Farm services at the homes of some county residents. The expense for all Poor Farm services was $12,308 in 1904, the highest in the 1898-1910 period.
...1906...The total expense was $4822, the smallest in the 1898-1910 period.
...1908...Total acreage was now 280 acres. Appraised value of the Poor Farm land and building was $45,000; with personal property of stock, poultry, grain, hay, vegetables, machinery, harness, robes, household goods, furniture, kitchen utensils, beds, bedding, clothing, misc. at $9385.
...1908-1909...Average poor & insane inmates per month was about 48. Seven died, of which five were insane. Sale of farm products totaled $1961.32. Spending during the year was $1880.32. Mr. & Mrs. A.E. Smith were steward/matron for $800.
...1910...Census, 'inmates' enumerated.
...1910  Feb 17...A static steam engine installation was completed at a cost of $1184.23 to produce electric power and run a steam/water heating system.
...1910...Average total expense for Poor Farm services from 1899-1910 was $7475.
...1910...The name became County Farm and Asylum, with the trend and mandates to eliminate the use of the Poor Farm name.
...1910, after...The name County Farm would be most commonly utilized around the County.
...1922...Mrs. C.J. Wells was superintendent and matron of the County Farm, which had grown to 458 acres.
 

 

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