Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-30

for America Various members of the
family became leaders of New Englanc
politics during colonial times, when the
Revolution broke out they were foremost in
the fight for liberty. History tells us OF
General Mason, who was killed in the war.
Others of them were Governors, Senators or
Congressman. My husbands father was q
general in the war of 1872.
ENTERTAINED WILLIAM HARRISON.
"We entertained a great deal, for the
'tBoy Governor was not only famous, but
he was popular. William Henry Harrison,
who became President the next year after
we were married, was a frequent visitor and
q welcome one. Through HIM we got some
property at Napoleon, o. Judge e. J.
Potter, the man who Invented the little g.
cent pieces you sometimes run across, was
often at our house. He is is still alive and
lives in this city.
"After Mr.. Mason's term he became in
terested with General John G. Fremont in
exploring the West. He aud Fremont
were students together and graduated side
by side. They forced way through the
wilderness to the ocean, exploring the
region where San Francisco now is, and
north, up as far as Columbia river, They
discovered some of the silver deposits in
of those of my husbands was 800 acres, on
which part Of Denver is now built. It was
legally recorded and we have good title to
1t. We got Government patent. But cir
cumstances afterward occurred SO that /
could not attend to it, and the recorder who
wrote down the claim afterward took the
book home and changed the title to his own
name. This did not find out until after
several years, when it was proven in court
Ae sold It to q man who soon died, ana TINS
To ah
still lives. The recorder died two years ago.
The case is now in the Chancery Courts OF
Denver, and think we will soon win 1t.
One of my sons now lives in Denver, and ID
fighting the claim.
SENATOR PAYNE ONE OF THEM.
ri have another big case in the courts, too.
1 with several other descendants Of the
family, among whom is Senator
Payne, of Ohio, are the sole and lawful
heirs to one square mile which is now in the
heart of Cleveland. We obtain our claim by
right of patent granted to Count Reauffan-
off by the King of England, before the Rev
War. The patent is a matter of
record and we have indisputable proof of
its legality. Senator Payne now has the
case in the United States supreme Court l
do not suppose it will be determined before
die, but It will be some time. General
Reauffanoff was in the Russian army at the
time and got the land through Alexander L,
WHO Luu6 SOuQ6 k1nu Ot u trcdby Will tIc
English. Our right to 1t is as good as that of
the Kniekerbockers, StuyVesants. Van
Burens and others who obtained patents
from the mother country.
"There is some more property which by
right belongs to the Reauffs. That is the
great Holland estate, My husband died in
S53, and with two or three of the other rela-
tive, among whom is my cousin, Governor
of Oregon, went to the old coun-
try to see about it. Alexander II. remem-
bered the circumstances and promised to do
what he could for u.s.. He opened negotia-
lions with the French and Holland Govern
ments, and was in q fair way of success
when the Nihilists struck him down. That
look away our greatest hope and strongest
help, and nothing has been done about it
since. do not suppose there ever will be
now.
A NURSE DURING THE WAR
"when I got back from Europe, where
,ad stayed long enough to study medicine
Vt the Zurich Medical college, and to get a
iiploma, went West to see about our Dem