Lewis and Persis Ainsworth. Lewis Ainsworth (1829-1914) and his wife Persis (1837-1933) chose the city of Orange as their home in 1901 after making their fortunes panning gold in California and farming in Kansas.
The Ainsworths raised three sons, Lewis, Frank and Mitt, and two daughters Eva and Ina, Frank was the mayor of Orange from 1918-1920. Mitt was a councilman from 1922-1926. Lewis Built the Ainsworth block on the Plaza Square in 1907 and founded the first lumber company in Orange.
This house, designed by their daughter Ina Butler and built in 1910, reflects the simple life the elderly couple. The restoration of the house was initiated by the Orange Bicentennial Commission and Councilman Don E. Smith. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.