Bio: Kauffman, Richard (Fire Destroys Barn – 1971)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kauffman, Rohan, Wehymiller

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 18 Mar 1971

A fire early Monday morning destroyed what is reported to be the largest dairy barn in Wisconsin.

A 338-foot barn on the Richard Kauffman farm, three miles southeast of Loyal (Clark Co., Wis.), and 160 head of livestock in the barn, burned in a fire discovered at 4:15 a.m. Loss was estimated at about $185,000, all of which was covered by insurance. The Clark County Sheriff's Department and state Fire Marshall, Bill Rohan of Eau Claire, are investigating.

Kauffman lost two barns on other farms he owns on February 14 and authorities said fires also were set in two houses on those farms the same day.

Kauffman said a hired man notice smoke coming from the barn, and the two of them went to investigate, but b the time they arrived at the barn, flames were shooting from over half the wooden building. Telephone service was out in the area, Kauffman said, and he sent his wife by car to notify Loyal Fire Chief, Miles Weyhmiller, at his home.