The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-25
VOL. XLVI.--N0. 267.
BOOTHS SECRET MARRIAGE.
TIE LIFE OF A Wealthy BOSTONIAN
REYEALED AFTER MS DEATH.

Mliilon. that Descended from tho Founder OF |
the Great Boot CorporatIoa-A child Of |
Eight Summers, His wife's Son by For |
mer Husband, Made Residuary Legatee. |
LOWELL. Mass, May 21.-After tho death |
pi Mr. Kirk Boot OF Boston on April 49, 1t was |
learned. to the intense surprise Of his relatives
his friends, and especially OF the members OF
the Somerset Club. that he was not tho bachelor
they all had believed him to DO. but that his
largo estate was beQueathed to his wife and
child. The fact that he was married was ad-
mitted by himself in his will. which has Just
been filed in the probate court. In it, after a
few beauests Of plate. iowelry. pictures and
other things to his personal friends and $4,000
10 his brother John W. Boot Of New York. he
gives his entire estate in trust to Benjamin
Morse who is to apply tho income from 1t to his
wife during her life and after her death 1t goes
10 the child. The estate ls q very large one for
Notwithstanding Mr.. Boot had for many years
kept up elegant bachelor apartments at No. 10
Joy street. Boston. and had lived nt the most
fashionable club In Boston. the Somerset. for
many years. yet his inheritance from his father
was sufficient to enable him TO do 80 without
impairing his fortune.
The father Of Mr.. Boot was Kirk Boot OF
Lowell name familiar to every cotton manu-
facturer in tho country. The great Boot Mills
OF Lowell we're SO named In honor OF the elder
Boot and though he died forty years ago. old
Inhabitants OF Lowell speak even now with the
greatest enthusiasm Of him. for he was one Of
the original company that developed the great
water power Of the Merrimack here. which made
city Of the county village. Kirk Boot. Sr..
was an Englishman who came to Boston early
An the present century. He was then moderate
" wealthy. and his fortune was greatly in
creased by the enterprise that he with others.
h. oh oil
that to-day represents some 100000 000 simply
provides the immense mills of Lowell with their
water power. and it is said that when in the
early days some Of the gentlemen who put their
money into the project Of damming the river
and selling the power, grew apprehensive that
theventure might be losing one Mr. Boot said
that some Of them would live to see it one OF the
richest corporations in the United States. and
his prediction was verified Mr.. Boot went TO
Lowell to live, and built a house on the spot
that is now the site OF the Massachusetts mills
Here he preserved the customs that his early
days in England had familarized him with.
He was fine gentleman" said an old resi-
dent to-day. speaking Of Mr.. Boot. There
was not another like him here. l can just re-
member him in top boots. peculiar coat sent
from London, riding his horse or driving in a
way We Yankees are not used to. Then he en-
tertained many gentlemen and ladies elegantly
at his place in the real English style. His wives
came from Europe, and believe that some OF
his servants did. He was fond OF hunting and
fishing. and he used To take long drives up and
down the river on horseback. He told my father
once that there was water power enough in the
river to run mills enough to supply the world"
Mr.. Boot. Sr.. died in 1897. being only As
years old. But he had realized SO handsomely
IN his investment that his property even when
divided among his heirs. a wife and six chill
dren, was sufficiently lnrge for very hand
some portion for each. Mr.. Kirk Boot. who has
Just died, was the oldest son. and was born In
1877, He had just reached his majority when
his father diod. Soon after he moved to Bos-
ton. where he has since resided. excepting
when travelling. Many years he was
appointed clerk OF tho company that
owns the Lowell water power which his
father had assisted in organizing and Col.
Francis Of that company believes that this has
been his sole business since. IL simply required
bis attendance at the monthly meetings and ths
keeping OF the records. Otherwise Mr.. BoOu's
life has been one OF elegant leisure. He is said
10 have been connQsseur OF pictures. and his
apartments. consisting OF three rooms, were
the repository OF many choice paintings, as well
a. Of costly bric-a-brac. They are said also TO
have been exQusitely furnished. Here he re-
ceived and entertained his gentleman friends
In style that made him conspicuous socially
IN Boston, at least among club men. and while.
1t Is said the most exclusive parlors were always
open TO him. be rarely extended his courtesies
beyond his male friends. Many years ago he
Joined the Somerset Club. and always took lis
meals and spent much Of his time there. lie
preserved the English courtiness OF manner
Ihat had been Characteristics of his father and
was above all things averse 10 anything like a
sensation or scene. 1t is this peculiarly that
makes the secret marriage all the more sur
prising 10 those who knew him.
1t is believed that Mr.. Boot had Fremont
ton Of his approaching death for his vii is
the next day. and died Of apoplexy on the 23d.
me VIII was very short, and was drawn by
himself but Is in legal form and properly eX;
ecutei. By previous Will II Is understood
TINT he left his entire property TO his brother,
tbs last Will he, inclosed in an envelope and
addressed It to Mr. Benz. Morse, whom he had
epuolnted rs executor. and a letter that was
found ait9r his death. directed 70 Mr.. Morse.
explained his wishes more in detail.
The day following Mr.. Bootts death lady.
plainly but richly dressed. called on Mr.. Morse
and said that she had heard that MIR Boot was
dead. II this was true she wished 10 90 at
once 70 his apartments, and also TO the funeral:
and then added that Mr. Boot was her hus.
prove her clai IN she would have an unquestioned
right not only to go TO the apartments but also
% make such arrangements ns she saw flt She
~ once proved her marriage to MT. Boot last
O'tober and Mr.. Morse accompanied her to Mr..
b2o 1 aparmsns where M,s shs re1sned alone
her 10 the funeral. This is all that is known OF
tthe marriage. or OF the previous history OF Mrs.
Po9tt, hut her appearance Indicated that she
had been accustomed 10 polite society.
Even more strange than the secret Wedding
tho .residuary leRatee. 1t was supposed. on
teadlng tho will, that the chl Id was Mr. Boou's;
but i now appears that Mr.. Boot was married
Boot simply says. so Mr. Bootts friends have
been informed that the child is not Mr.. Bootts,
bs contest over the probating OF the will. the
mystery might be cleared but there seems 10 be
wise would have been Mr, BOOTS heirs to make
any opposition. There then remains nothing
Iqr the executor 70 do but 70 carry out the pro
Visions Of the viii. as i 10 legal in form and the
marriage lB lndiSpuMble.