The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-18
HOPE OF Her LIFE
DIR. A. s. Embree Tells of Mrs.
Chrisman's Motives.
Explains Why She Wanted to
Found a College.
SIZE OF THE ESTATE
Has DWindled Away Through
Her Generosity.
SIZE OF THE ESTATE
Consists of 1900 Acres of Ohio
Land and Topeka Property.

The legal formalities have been gone
through with and S. S. OFT and DR.
A. S. IEmbree are now the executors of
the estate of the late Mrs. Eliza Chris
man.
posed university, DR.. Embree said:
Il am not unwilling to say what is
right and proper. It must have been
as much as five years ago when Mrs.
Chrisman requested me to come to her
house. When I arrived she told me
that she was having her will rewritten
and asked me if I would serve as one
of her executors. It is not necessary
to relate all the conversation that took
place at that time; the gist of it was
that she desired to so leave the bulk
of her fortune that the church of which
she was a member and the state of
Kansas might receive the larger share
Of profit She further explained her
ideas as to the building of a college;
told me with whom she had consulted
on that point, their opinions, and spoke
of her long residence in the state, her
interest in it's future and the desire
to leave her property in such shape as
to best promote it's religious and social
welfare. She also mentioned her desire
to REIN burse me for any service might
render in the matter. 1 consented and
went away 1t was at least several
months afterwards before I knew what
she had done. She did not inform me
y
questions. Later ON she told me what
her will contained, and expressed de-
sire to reWrite the instrument and make
some changes in it. She spoke to 9TH
ers to the same effect, but as the pro-
posed changes were of a minor char
acter the paper was not written for at
least year after she mentioned it 1t
provides, as you know, quite large
sum to be given to relatives and to
Caroline and Fred Pernen with 49,, 900
to the Ohio Wesleyan University, 50 900
each to the Women'S Home and For
eign Missionary societies, 81, 600 to her
old home church in London, Ohio and
$4,000 to the First Methodist church of
this city, the residue Of the estate to
| be invested and reinyested by her legal
| representatives for the term of ten
years from the date of her death, the
sum with whatever it may acquire to go
| to the founding of university at To-
| peka, provided at least a like sum be
| raised from other sources for that pur-
| pose, and in case the provision fails
| the Kansas conference is to determine
/ where it shall go. Now ten years is a
| long time-lOng enough for the most
/ of US to die, and 1 only know thar if
/ Topeka does not want the college or is
unable to secure it, some other Metho-
/ dist institution will profit by the fact.
Mrs. Chrisman wanted it here. close
/ enough to the city TO help it CONNER
cially and to the churches to make
! strong and influential at least one or
more of it's weak ones. She thought
the site west of Washburn altogether
too far away.
When asked what would be the pol
icy of the executors, DR.. Embree said:
Mr.. OFT and I have had but one brief
conference as yet, but the plain duty
| will be to execute the will faithfully as
/ Mrs. Chrisman had fndicated-to care
for the estate, reduce the Indebtedness
as fast as possible, and save everything
that could be-
The realty property left by Mrs
Chrisman consists of a farm of less
| than 100 acres across the river the
Fladd & Grub building on Kansas av-
| enue, the property on West Tenth
| street lately occupied by Mr.. Bennett
| Wheeler, the Chrisman residence on
| Harrison street, and some vacant lots
two small farms in Ohio and a tract of
some 1900 acres near London in that
state.
THE Indebtedness" said DR.. FnIree,
| covers gifts to the Industrial Institute
in South Topeka, bonds of the Un3ver-
sity of Topeka assumed by the deceased
during her lifetime, and other items
running back for several years which
need not be mentioned in detail now.'
What about the matter of your sal
ary?" was asked.
''Oh, that is to be determined by the
amount of work, the actual service rem
dered," said DR.. Embree 1.-THE exc
cutors are answerable to the probate
court for all that they do, and will re-
ceive such allowances as the judge may
authorize from time to time. The pro-
visien for $500 was not my suggestion.
Mrs. Chrisman managed her own
affairs, and that was hers, not mine
From first to last she gave away large
sums; I wish I could mention them as
a tribute to her memory. Churches
colleges, north and south, missionary
enterprises, the worthy, and sometimes
the unworthy, shared in her kindness
! Her will, duly executed, will result in
a vast deal of good for the state OF
KauSaSss