Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08
A FATHERS FORTUNE
To Devolve Upon His Family,
From Whom He Has Been
ABSENT FOB 20 YEARS.
Startling Romance of a PittSburger
in the Far West.
THREE WIDOWS In THE FIELD

A fortune of nearly $500, 900 is awaiting
Pittsburg heirs in Seattle, Wash, and
there appears to be very strange romance
connected with the matter, which will prob
ably never be fully told until detailed in a
court of justice.
Yesterday letter was received at THE
DISPATCH Office from San Francisco,
signed by Mrs. Mary Morgan, asking for the
address of the Mayor of Pittsburg. The
writer stated that her husband had left her
several years ago, and as she knew that he
lived at one time in Pittsburg, she desired
to communicate with the authorities for the
purpose of obtaining information about him
alive or dead. The address was sent to the
lady.
A few hours later special dispatch was
received from Seattle, WASH, stating that
about month ago very wealthy grocer,
named Morgan, had died there, leaving a
wife and adopted child. Mr.. Morgan had
accumulated an estate valued at nearly
$500, 1000, by furnishing provisions and sup
plies to mining parties and vessels.
A LEGAL SUSPICION.
A firm of Seattle attorneys had become
imbued with the idea that the deceased
had not been legally married to the lady
who passed as his wife, and proceeded to
search for the legal heirs. The result of
their preliminary inquiries was that Nor
gan had lived in Pittsburg 20 years ago,
and that he had a family there They had
accordingly opened up a correspondence
with Mr.. Thomas 81. Morgan, until re-
Gently Lieutenant of No. engine house,
and obtained from him a photograph of his
father. Although the picture was taken.
many years ago, and Mr.. Morgan's appear
ance had naturally changed greatly in that
length of time, the lawyers thought they de-
tected o sufficiently strong resemblance be-
tween the photograph and the wealthy
grocer to warrant them in prosecuting
their researches.
MIR. Thomas Il. Morgan was seen last
night and corroborated the facts set forth In
the telegram from Seattle. Twenty years
ago his father kept grocery in a small town
in Ohio, the family consisting of father,
mother and four children, of which the ex-
Lieutenant is the youngest. All the MEM
bers of the family are now living in Pitts
burg, with the exception Of the father, who
is now supposed to have died in Seattle.
RUINED BY soCIABILITY.
The elder Mr.. Morgan, as described by his
son, was very talented and genial man,
possessing vast fund of information on all
manner of topics. This, together
with his pleasing manner, made
him charming conversationalist and his
society was much sought after. As result
Mr.. Morgan neglected his business. got into
financial troubles and finally found himself
without means to support his family. In
this stress he determined to go out into the
world and seek location where he could
commence life anew.
Mr.. Morgan left home and came to Pitts
burg A few weeks later he wrote to his
wife telling her that he had been unable to
hnd position, and was going down the
river on one of the many boats that then
navigated the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
Again Mrs. Morgan heard from her hus-
band at St. Louis, and for the last time
from New Orleans.
Weeks passed into months, and months
into years, and two years after Mr.. Morgan
left home his wife gave him up for dead,
and gathering her little ones around her,
came to Pittsburg, where she made a home
for them and where they have since resided.
The children grew to manhood and woman
hood, and made name and place for them
selves in the community, the memory of
their father having become but little more
than the recollection of dream.
A STARTLING STORY.
Three years ago the Morgan family was
startled by the story told them by some
friends who had returned from a visit to
Seattle. These persons declared that they
had seen the head of the family in the flesh
and in very prosperous circumstances in the
busy little metropolis of what was then
Washington Territory. They asserted that
they could not be mistaken, as they had
talked with him, although very briefly, At
this time Mr.. Morgan had not communi-
Gated with his family for over 15 years.
Mrs. Morgan, although shocked by the
news, was too proud to make any overtures
to her recreant husband, and in this she was
sustained by her children. They had fought
the battle of life together with fairly good
success, and they had no desire to claim re-
lationship with q father who had deserted
them, even if he possessed the fabled wealth
OF Cr@sus. They learned that their father
had led wandering life throughoughout
tha Far West, but about six years ago had
settled in Seattle, and had built up pros
porous business. They made no sign, how
ever, and the subject dropped
Two weeks ago the Lieutenant received q
letter from firm of Seattle lawyers, as told
in a telegram to The DISPATCH. He sent
on the only photograph OF his father in the
possession of the family, and such informa-
ton as he thought would be of value. Mr..
Morgan has received no answer vet but un-
less he hears from Seattle in a few days he
will go on himself and look into the matter.
COMPLICATED CONTEST.
The contest for the estate will be compli-
Gated enough with two widows, but if, as is
more than probable, Mrs. Mary Morgan, of
San Francisco, proves to be another
claimant, the matter will be rendered still
more intricate. There is no doubt, how
ever, but that the Mrs. Morgan, of Pitts
burg, is the legal widow of the deceased
Seattle grocer, and she and her children
will be entitled to the estate.
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