The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-18
An ESTATE OF A MILLION.
Pound BY Somerset County Ran in ths
Lone Star State.
THoMAs HYArrs F1RM rAIrH.

A Texas estate OF nearly million dol
lars has found its heirs in Fsyette and
Somerset counties through-the persistent
efforts OF Thomas Hyatt, an invalid vet
eraH residing IN ConneissviiIe the climax
Of whose patient hopes says the Connells-
vile Courier was reached last week when
Notary Joha Kuriz received the follow
ing letter from Mitchell & Thomas. at
torneys, Of Dallas. Texas:
II @ish you would please advise me If
You know a man named Thomas Hyatt
IA your town, as he sent us power OF at
torney some time ago for the collection Of
large estate coming from Eliza, Asa
and William Mitchell Of Dallas, Texas.
we have IN our p0ssessiOn Sil7.600 after
our commissioasiare taken out. We have
written again and again but cannot get
any word from hyatt There are some
sfV9,uU9 or $50 600 worth OF real estate in
the city of Dallas vet TO dispose OF. We
Eaye not sold any OF the property, only
collected This money from rents and
claims. Please let me know If the First
National Bank is responsible for that
amount, as we thought Of sending Il there
Tor his use Perhaps you had better show
this letter to Hyatt and let him advise US
If he is theTei'
Hyatt and his family are particularly
fortunate in the circumstances which
com mbined to place the money in his hands.
Abont two years ago he Learned from a
man named Mitchell at Confluence that
there was a large estate in Dallas which
was to be divided among heirs in this
State. Hyatts first wife was named
Mitchell and he began to investigate. in
the meantime the Conauencs MitchelIs
learned that they were not on the right
sidsof the family 70 acquire an interest
in the estate and dropped the matter.
Hyatt pursued the hope. His first wife
was in maidenhoOd Miss Rhoda Ann
Mitchell. She was a daa ghter OF Otho
Mitchell. who was a son OF Lewis T.
Mitchell, who settled in Dallas about IS
years ago, when the city was mere vii
lage Mrs. Hyatt died August 23d. twen-
ty-three years ago, and Thomas Hyatt,
after a single life OF eight years, married
second time. lie moved from Scott
dale 70 this place about that time and for
the past two years has been in such poor
health that ne has not been able 10 20 out
Of the house. In the meantime his sec
ond wife has worked out and has been
the support of The humble home on the
corner Of Church Place and Meadow lane
While physically disabled Hyatt has
been conducting the search for the Dallas
fortune with vigor. He communicated
with Dallas attorney named Mitchell.
and the latter informed him that the
estate was really there and that il the
heirs Of the three Mitchells named in the
letter could be found they would be made
rich.
Hyatt communicated with the other
heirs, and an article of agreement was
drawn mp and signed whereby they
placed the matter in his hands, and if he
could acquire the right TO the estate for
himself and them, ne was to receive. be-
sides his share, a commission Of per
cent. on the whole amount Of the estate.
Hyatt delegated the power of attorney TO
Mitchell & Thompson, the Dallas law
firm. and authorized them 70 proceed to
straighten out matters. In the meantime
Hyatt never divulged his secret to any
person in Connellsville. Even the heirs
in 9th sr places, il seems. were not inform
ed Of the success Of the venture. About
eighteen months ago Hyatt received his
last letter from his attorneys Why he
did not receive the letters referred to in
the communication above, he does not
know He says that he was anxious TO
hear from the lawyers, but did not receive
line from them during the eighteen
months. Then came the letter to John
Kurtz, and Hyatt is delighted with the
outcome.
Lewis Mitchell, the originator Of the
fortune. settled in Dallas about 70 years
ago. he took up extensive tracts Of land,
which later became the site OF the city of
Dallas. The estate now comprises a num-
Der of the most valuable buildings in the
city, as well as lots and other property.
Elijah, Asa and William Mitchell contin-
ued to add to the estate, and when they
died they left no children. 50 that the es-
tate falls to their brothers and sisters, or
their heirs. The sister of Hyatt's first
wife. Miss Nancy Mitchell, married Jesse
Rush, and they have one heir, Miss Eliza
beth Rush. As both her father and moth
er are dead she will receive the same
share as Thomas Hyatt and his family.
Another sister OF Hyatl's first wife, Sarah
Vsnsickle. of Markletoneis is also survived
by one child, whose share viii be the
same as that Of Miss Rush. A third sis
ter, Mrs Marian Vansiekle, of Union
town. is survived by four children An
other sister, Miss Huidah Mitchell, died
two years ago.
Tho afra.. bo;-s of tl,a aststa -, ,,,oro
properly, the first generation heirs. are
two sisters of the deceased brothers, Mrs.
Vina Burnworth and Mrs Rhoda Jeu-
nings, both OF whom are living some
where in West Virginia. Hyatt does not
know whether or not these heirs have
been communicated with in regard to the
fortune. He has himself informed Miss
Rush Of her good luck.
Mrs. Burnworth and Mrs. Jennings, the
sisters Of Ohio Mitchell, will each get !
one-third of the estate, while the remain
ing one third will go TO the heirs of Otho |
Mitchell. These are the four children OF |
Mrs. Thomas Hyatt, the daughter Of Mrs. |
Jesse Rush, the daughter Of Mrs Sarah |
Yansickle, and the four children Of Mrs. !
Marian Vansickle. Thomas Hyatt's COM I
missien Of per cent. on the vaine Of tue /
estate viii amount to from $4,000 to 49,
0Ol, while the share of each of his child |
rsu will be from $1,000 to $4,000. while |
Miss Rush's share viii be from So. 600 to
$4,000.
Additional Locals.
DR.. John Critchfield, son IF Senator |
y. Il Criiehfiald has sllc.assf.lllv nassed |