Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1904 — A Fire Near Mt Ayr. [ARTICLE]

A Fire Near Mt Ayr.

The old Dr. Caldwell residence property, about a mile east of Mt. Ayr, was burned last Sunday night. It was the house in which Dr. Caldwell aud his family lived for a great many years, although a considerable part of it was added not many years ago, and the older part generally rebuilt, so that it was still a good house. It was now the* property of A. D. Washburn, now of Rensselaer. The house was oooupied by Ad Kaufman, who had hired to work for the man who rents the farm, and who occupies another house on the same farm. The fire started in the upper part of the house, and was discovered about nine o’olook. All the bedding and olothing up stairs.was lost, but the down stairs furniture was saved. Borne of the family had been up stairs with a lamp early in the evening, and possibly set something on fire without notioing it. The- building was partly insured in the Farmers’ Mutual, of Newton Co. If Mr. Kaufman had any insurance, we did not learn. It is uncertain if Mr. Washburn will build again or not, but if he does it ' is said to be likely that he will build further east on a part of the land in Jasper county,