Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1907 — BARN AND FARMHOUSE BURNED. [ARTICLE]

BARN AND FARMHOUSE BURNED.

Geo Gorham’s barn near the railroad caught fire about eight o’clock Sunday evening and was almost completely destroyed before the fire company could reach the same and extinguish the fire. There was a Jersey cow, three pigs and about a dozen chickens lost in the fire. The loss was perhaps $l5O, with $75 insurance on the barn, none on contents. Through the efforts of U. M. Baughman and others a subscription was raised of $105.25 to assist Mr. Gorham—who Is a poor man and has but one arm—to rebuild and buy stock in place of that lost. As the lumber dealer sold Mr. Gorham the lumber to rebuild at cost and the carpenters did the work free gratis, he is really better off and will have a better barn than he had before the fire. The house on John Groom’s farm 3| miles northeast of town was burned Monday afternoon while the tenant, Cyril Steele, with his family were absent from the house. About half the contents were saved. The fire is supposed to have started from 0 a defective flue. There was no insurance on the house, but $l5O on contents, we understand. Mr. Groom’s loss is probably S3OO to S4OO on the house.