Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 147, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1904 — Another Fire In Union. [ARTICLE]

Another Fire In Union.

Zebedee}Swaim's House at Aix Is Destroyed. Union township had two firea Thursday, one in the morning the other in the afternoon. The firet which burned Mrs. Frank Gant’s bouse and all its contents, in the the north part of the township, has been related. The second destroyed Zebedee Swaim’s house, at Aix, in the south part of the township,

and about 7 miles north of Rensselaer. The house was destroyed and practically all the contents. All that was saved was a little of the furniture and two beds. The rest of the furniture and all the clothing were lost. This included even most of the children’s wraps for the school bouse they were attending is just across the road and they went to school without their outer wraps. There was no one at home except Mrs. Swaim and two little children. When she discovered the fire the whole side of the house was burning, and in the high wind tuen prevailing, nothing could be done to save the building or its contents. The origin of the fire

is not known, but is thought to have started from a flue. The house was rather old and not very large, but is still a serious loss, and especially as all the clothing and furniture are gone also. The family is a large one too with nine children, seven of whom being under 12 years ot agqj Mrs. Swaim and some of the younger children are now with her sister, Mrs. Charles Nowels, in town, and the other younger children are witn their grandfather Holdridge Clark and other relatives. ' There was no insurance on either building or contents. A subscription for Mr. Swai’ms benefit is being circulated by B. D. Comer, trustee of Union tp, He was in town with it Friday, and meeting with very liberal responses