The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-14
AGAINST KENYON ESTATE.
nIc roRECLosURn SUITS INSTITUTE
ED IN SUPERIOR COURT.
Notes Held By San Francisco Loan
Society Assresste seS, ooo-Pecu-
iiarities Of an ola Pioneer--0rig-
inally Was Traveling Magician.

The German Savings ana Loan Society
OF San Francisco Instituted suits in the
superior court yesterday afternoon to FORE
close mortgages against some of the most
valuable Seattle business property owned
by the estate of the late j. Gardner Ken
yon. The mortgages are based ON four
promissory notes. agsregating $85, 0o0
The property involved IL located on First
avenue at the northwest corner OF Madison
street, First avenue at the southwest cor
ner Of Seneca street, and on First avenue
south between Washington and Main
streets. The complaints name A. L. Palmer
and Frank A. Pontius as defendants by
Virtue Of their position as executors OF the
win Of Mr.. Kenyon
BENJAMIN Kenyon, who Ii the principal
heir Of the dead pioneer, is also made a
party defendant In his will Mr.. Kenyon
made several requests to others than Ben
jamin Kenyon, but It Il stated in the suits
that the estate has property sufhcient, out
ion 10 settle their claims.
The FIRST suit embraced three separate
promissory notes The first is alleged u
have been made December 1s, 1891, for 1884,
0o0 TO; secure payment a mortgage was
given, 1t Is claimed, on the property at the
northwest corner Of First avenue and Mad
ison street. which extends north along the
along Madison street III feet. There Is q
one-story brick building on 1t.
The second note was for $4,000 according
to the complaint, being given May 81, 1892.
The mortgage In this instance was placed
on the property extending sixty feet north
on First avenue from the southwest corner
OF Seneca street and eleven feet west on
Seneca street
Tho third note was given, 1t is alleged,
on October co. 1892. for $4,000, the security
being the First avenue property already
mentioned. Previous to this Mr. Kenyon
secured a loan from the same society. ac-
cording to second complaint for $4,000.
cred the property on First avenue south
between Washington and Main street,
which - an inside lot 60x50 feet.
Mr.. Kenyon died December %, 1892 After
his viii was opened litigation followed, ow-
ing to claims from alleged heirs, who
thought they should have received more
consideration.
OF ali the old timers In Seattle Mr.. Ken
yon was the most peculiar. Although very
rich he lived like poor man. 1t was his
idea, It IL said, to acquire a fortune which
would give him an income sof 81 900 q
month. Then he intended to take life easv
He died before his ambition was realized,
but left valuable estate.
When Mr.. Kenyon first made his appear
travelling ventriioquist and. magician He
gave . SHOW in Yesler hail. Thaddeus
Hanford took tickets. With the money TAX
en- In from this exhibition Kenyon purchas-
ed one or two Of the First avenue business
lots, which are now worth many thousands
of dollars. He went away and was not seen
again for years. Finally he came back and
purchased more property.
During the boom times he was offered. It
II said. as high at $500 month rent for his
First avenue property at the corner of
Madison street. but refused.