Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1908 — Residence Burned in Newton Tp. [ARTICLE]

Residence Burned in Newton Tp.

A tenement house on the Swaney Makeever farm 5 miles northwest of Rensselaer, and in Newton Iwp., was burned to the ground Saturday noon. The horse was occupied by Luther Watson and family and Mrs. Watson was confined to her bed, a baby having been bora to her on the night before. The family were just getting ready to set down to the dinner table when the fire was discovered and it had made such inroads that kthere was no hope of putting it out and attention was turned to first rescuing Mrs. Watson and the baby and then to saving as much of the household goods as was possible. They were carried to the barn and later taken on a cot to the home of Chas. G. Hammond, near by. The house was entirely destroyed and about half of the contents were burned and there was no insurance. It is thought the fire was started by a spark lighting on the root.