Sparks From Train Destroys Old Iowa Landmark Sunday

SNYDER, YEAGER

Posted By: Kelli Wilslef (email)
Date: 2/10/2011 at 21:44:36

Sparks From Train Destroys Old Iowa Landmark Sunday
Jackson Sentinel
May 11, 1934

Bellevue-(Special)- The supposition is that a spark form a train set fire to the country home of A. L. Yeager Sunday night and destroyed one of the old landmarks in this locality. The house was located four miles north of town and Yeager, who lives alone, had retired. About 9:00 o’clock he was awakened by the glare on the outbuildings and discovered the upper part of the structure was enveloped in flame, and he was able to save only a very few of his belongings. Much of the furniture destroyed was antique and was handmade of walnut by Yeager’s grandfather, the late J. F. Snyder.

The house had a history, as part of it was the original pioneer log cabin built in 1836, the year Iowa became a territory, by a man by the name of David Smith. It was remodeled in 1888 by J. F. Snyder and later made into a two-story house by his son-in-law, J. G. Yeager.