The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-16
DIED AMID HIDDEN RICHES.
An Aged Couple Stored Thousands O 4
Dollars in an Old Farm House.
From the New York World.


From the New York World
The law firm of De Wolf & Brewster of
No. SO Broadway are settling up the esta to
Of an old couple named Blauvelt, who lived
all their lives on a farm near the town OF
Tappan, y. j. They were curious pair of
misers, who, while they had plenty of
means, denied themselves the ordinary COM
forts OF life for the pleasure of hording their
money.
In 1925, Blauvelt and his wife, then
Rachael Pauless, were married AS au i'll
lustration of how early they gave rein to
this passion for accumulation, Mrs. Blauvelt
used 20 relate that her wedding journey
| consisted of trip to the rye field, where
she helped her husband gather the har vest.
Their farm was large one, over 300
acres, part Of which was valuable timber
land. Up to within few years of the old
mans death no one was hired to help In the
work. They said they were too poor TO be
eaten out of house and home by any hired
help. The farm house, which was q large
2-story building with basement, was cared
for entirely by Mrs Blauvelt. She did all
the cooking, washing and general houses
work up to her death last February. She
was 81 years old when she died.
When her household work was over she
helped her husband work in the fields.
When, az in the last few years 1t often hap
pened, they could not together get in all the
hay they would cut it and let it lie rather
than hire any assistance.
The old man never rode on a horse car,
and on "a railroad train only once in his life.
Then he started for Paterson, but when half
way to his destination begged the conductor
to stop the train and let him off. Mrs.
Blauvelt never saw either of these modern
oonveniences.
The only place they ever went was to the
neighboring cemetery and a church, about
five miles away. They always walked
although they had two horses. They went
to church baretooted and put on shoes and
stockings at the door. At least the old lady
did Blauvelt himself never wore them I'M
til few months before he died in 1888. He
caught severe cold going to his barn in
his barefeet one winter day and newer went
out again.
Feeling that he had not long to live he
permitted g. b. Hening, an old friend to
come with his family and make his home
with himself aud wife.
Upon his death, In 1888, he left Hening
the ma jor part OF his real estate. To his
wife he left all personal property. valued at
over $4,000. His whole property was
worth nearly 100000.
When it came her turn to die last Febru~
airy, she divided her fortune between a sis
ter ana a large number of nieces and
nephews, whom she had never seen, in
To their lawyer, MIR. De Wolf, the couple
left property at Rutherford and Hacken-
sack valued at 1000.
Mr.. Blauvelt was OF suspicious nature
He placed no reliance upon banks. All the
money that he could not keep in the house
he intrusted to Mr.. DeWolf to loan for him.
The first transaction between lawyer and
client was the handing over of 81, 900, which
was Co be loaned on a New Jersey farm.
When Mr.. DeWolf came to count it over he
found s. too much. He told Mr. Blauveln
that he had made q miscount and returned
the IS, Mr.. Blauvelt's only comment was,
You'll do.n After that he trusted him i'm
plictly.
Mrs. Bauvelt, in addition to her other
occupations, found time to spin the fax aud
card the wool produced on the farm. Her
blankets we're famous She sold them at q
fixed price Of SIG apiece
Money was stored away in ali sorts of odd
places. After Mrs. Blauvelt's death nearly
$4,000 in gold and silver coin was found in
the house. Under a large pile of blankets
were stored a large number of pennies.
They must have been the result of years of
saving. The dates on some were ancient
enough to interest coin collector. Most
of them were the large sized, old fashioned
copper pennies. They were green with
mold
The most peculiar places were utilized as
receptacles. In some of the old fashioned
windows were found, wrapped around the
curtain sticks, bank bills of various amounts.
There were old spool boxes filed with gold
coins piled on the mantelpiece. Stored
away in closets were boxes filed with quar-
ters, half dollars and silver dollars. The
coins were never mixed. Each box had but
one denomination. Mr.. Blauvelt knew to
penny just what the house contained in
ready money"
But the old couple did not seem to be
aware of the value Of their old china or
bric-a-brac, for it was estimated by them
to be worth only 500, and yet at forced
Sale it was auctioned Oft for nearly 81, 900.
In spite of the knowledge of their posses
sions, they were perfect monomaniacs on
the subject of becoming poor. 1t was in
vain that their lawyer assured them of
tine number and value of the investments
in bonds and mortgages he had made for
them.
As they grew older the craving for the
sight of their money increased. At times,
when Mr.. De Wolf would tell them that
the term of certain loan had expired and
that he had new and profitabls invest
| menu in view, the old man would refuse TO
consent to it, saying ne would rather have
/ the money brought to him where be could
| have it near him IN the house.
! And yet they were never robbed, al
| though their habits were well known in
the surrounding country.
| CARDS are out in Winsted, Conn, for the
~, -,.a a IF ATahtable Holmes and lsrasi C!oo..