Dear Forum Readers,

Last night fire destroyed the St. Louis mansion of James L. Clemens. It was built in 1859 and there are indications that Sam Clemens visited it at least once. James L. Clemens was the benevolent relative who rescued the Hannibal birthplace house from being auctioned after John Marshall Clemens left the family impoverished at his death.

See the attached newspaper article about this sad event.

http://www.ksdk.com/mobile/article/news/local/historic-james-l-clemens-house-destroyed-by-fire/455990594

Alan Gribben