Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1908 — A Damage Not Allowed For. [ARTICLE]

A Damage Not Allowed For.

A. ,L. Willis, for so many years a resident of Rensselaer, and for the greater part of that time engaged in gun and machinery repair work is the victim of considerable misfortune in late years. About four cr five years ago he broke his hip and he has been lame since that time and has also been gradually failing in health until for some months now he has been unable to do any work and he has transfered his business to his son,, Jamie Willis. Last year his residence caught fire and was f amaged to the extent of several hundred dollars. His property is on the north side of the river at College street and sets so high that there was never a particle of damage to it by the high waters. For years he has had one of the best do led wells in Rensselaer, the water having a strong mineral taste, and always being cool and it supplied water for the entire neighborhood during many dry summers within the past quarter, of a century. When the Iroquois river channel was lowered through the rock bed past his house the dredge tapped the vein that had supplied water for his well and the result is that his well has gone entirely dry. As the water supply had Hitherto stood the drought tests of thirty years Mr. Willis had not put city water in his house and now he' is altogether without water and the hardship is a severe one, and catches h’m when he can ill afford the exiense of putting in city water. As Mr. Willis’ house sets well above

the river and he had ample natural drainage he received no benefit whatever from the ditch but he was assessed SB.OO to help pay for it, and now that his well has gone dry he feels that he has received a great amount of damage and should have been awarded damages instead of being assessed benefits.

Another serious affliction that MY. and Mrs. Willis have suffered was in the death of their oldest daughter, Mrs. Xermont Hawkins, who left three title children, the youngest a new born baby, and the care of there has fallen on them, with the assistance of their daughter, Mrs. Leslie Alter. Mr. and Mrs. Wiliis ate splendid Christian people and their afflictions have been the sort that try souls.