Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-09-28
A MILLlONAIRE,S WILL.
The Eccentric Requests Mado by NelsOl
Curtis, OF Boston.


Curtis, OF Boston.
A week ago last Saturday Nelson Cur
tbs, one of the wealthiest citizens of Bos-
ton, died at his residence in Boston High
lands, leaving an estate yariOusly estimated
at from 81, 250, 600 to So, 900, 900. de was
a self made man. Over fifty years ago he
came to that place on foot from one of the
inland towns of Massachusetts,. poor,
almost friendless boy. He first obtained
employment as a mason's assistant, but
he soon evinced extraordinary shrewdness,
business capacity and enterprise. At the age
of 18 he left other people Of less natural
ability to carry mortar and lay bricks, and
with financial backing from a we'll known
business man who had become interested
in him. he undertook large and prOfita-
bic building contract. This was the ini-
tial step of business career that amassed
great fortune. Mr.. Curtis became one
of the best known builders in Boston.
Great clusters of buildings erected by him
adorn every part of the city. He was the
contractor for the Boston museum, the
Fitchburg railroad depot, the United
States hotel and about half the Catholic
churches in Boston. The great posses
sions of real estate which he had acquired
were of tho best paying class. OF late
years he had also been heavily interested
in certain valuable stocks, particularly
those OF tho Boston & Albany railroad.
He was a shrewd, money getting man to
the last.
His funeral services took place on the
Tuesday following his death and in the
afternoon of that day the provisions of his
will were made known. The disposition
| Of his vast property was surprise and a
disappointment to the majority of his
relatives. To his wife, Mary E. Curtis,
lie bequeatlled only his household estate
and the income of $50, 900. to revert on
her decease to Nelson Curtis, the son OF
his brother George. To his several Sis
ters and brothers, excepting George, and
to their children, he made comparatively
small bcquests of few thousand dol
lars each, including ono of five thou
sand to General Nelson A. Curtis, the
celebrated Indian fighter. 1t is to his
brother George Curtis that the great bulk
of his property, amounting to at least ST.,
$4,000, is bequeathed. George Curtis
and Solomon A. Bolster, an attorney, are
made executors and trustees without bond.
In view of all these facts great dissatisfac-
ton exists among all the heirs, with the
exception Of those belonging to the George
Curtis branch of the family. A strenuous
attempt will 10 mado to break tho will, on
,he ground of undue influence, alleged to
have been cxerted by George Curtis and
Solomon A. Bolster. Tho will is dated
April 10, 1876, with cOdicil strengthen
ing the authority Of Curtis and Bolster
dated July 12, 1873. The fact that the
testament has been Of SO long standing
may provo bar to its overthrow.
Mr.. Curtis had a niece who resided with
him and who WAS to him moro like a
daughter. TO Ler he lett only five thou
sand dollars. She has boon aware OF the
provisions of the will for several years,
but was informed by her uncle at one
timo that they were to be materially
changed. Indeed, it is said that the de-
ceased himself was uneasy about the dis-
position of his property, and shortly be-
fore his death, he declared that he would
not he surprised in the least if the will
should be contested in the courts.
1t is stated that for number of years
past the chief beneficiary, who is we'll
known lumber merchant and cx-alderman
of Boston, has been in close confidential
relations with the millionaire, and that he
and Mr.. Bolster together have practically
managed his affairs. For the past five
years Nelson Curtis has been in failing
health, having suffered two strokes OF
paralysis. Still, with the exception of
one or two brief intervals, he was believed
to have retained full possession of his
faculties. The matter comes up for a
hearing before Judge McKim in the pro
bate court, October 9.