Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-02
AFTER MANY YEARS
Aged Citizen of GAINESVILLE to
Receive Legacy in An I'm
usual Manner
PECULIAR DISPOSAL OF ESTATE
Josiah States, Great Grandfather of
John Harr, eequeathed Part of His
Property to the United States to Use
for Ninety Mine Years-Now Esti-
mated at About $2s,ooo,ooo.

mated at About $2s,ooo,ooo.
Special to Times Repubiica
Waterloo, Feb. "A special to the
Courier from GAINESVILLE, Iowa, tells a
romantic story of revolutionary days. a
story of wealth in almost unlimited
quantities, to supplant the plain fare of
a struggling existence, a story which
reads like tale from the Arabian
Nights, a story of sudden leap from the
simple plainness of a country life where
for more than three quarters of CEN
tury the struggle has been to make both
ends meet, and keep the sun shining in
spirit bowed down oftentimes with
grief and discouragements. Such IS the
story that comes from the humble home
of John Harr, an aged resident of this
place.
Mr.. Harr has Just learned thru east
ern sources that he is one Of the heirs
to vast legacy from the estates of u
revolutionary ancestor, Josiah States, Il
soldier in the revolutionary war, who at
the close of the war of Independence de-
posted a large sum of money in the
United States treasury, and providing
in his will that it should remain in the
treasury for term of ninety-nine
years, after which 1t was to be paid to
the heirs of his daughter, a resident of
Pennsylvania, and with whom Mr..
States made his home during the later
years of his life. 1t is not known just
what sum the old gentleman, States.
deposited with the treasury. but the
heirs say he was very we'll off financia'-
ly, and 1t is understood the princiapl
and interest of the deposit now amount
to over $23,O00,000, which will be divid-
ed between four heirs known to be liv-
ing.
Mr.. Harr who is 81 years of age, is
i'll at the present time, but Mrs. Harr
gave the following information to the
reporter:
Yes, we have had news of the be-
quest, but as yet we have learned moth
ing definite regarding the amount altho
the correspondence we have had rela-
tive to the windfall would indicate that
it is about $23,O0o,O0o.
Back in the colonial and revolution
airy period, Josiah States. who was my
husbands great grandfather. was a cit
lien of New Jersey, emigrating later to
the state of Pennsylvania, where he
owned large estates and was reputed a
Well do citizen. During the war he
enlisted and served with distinction in
one of the PENNSYLVANIA regiments. His
wife died some time before the war
broke out, and Mr.. States made his
home with a daughter, who was also Il
resident OF Pennsylvania, until his
death. We have learned lately that be-
fore his death he deposited large sum
of money. at least a large sum for those
days. with the treasurer of the United
States, to be paid to his daughters
heirs at the end of ninety-nine years
with accrued interest. and we learn
from the other heirs that the sum has
increased until 1t now amounts up in
the millions.
1.-The first news we had of the legacy
was thru cousin. Mrs. Thomas
Moore, residing at Kansas City. We
have had considerable correspondence
with her but 1t has all been preliminary
up to this time, and we are not IN a
position to give definite facts concern
ing the exact nature of the legacy and
the history of Mr.. States.
$50 far as we know there are but
four heirs to this vast fortune. They
are John Harr, Of GAINESVILLE; John
Biddinger. Of Oelwein; Mrs. Thomas
Moore, of Kansas City, and her mother
who resides at Leeds, Missouri. Mr..
Harr has been i'll for some time past
and has been unable to look the mat
ter up fully to this time"
Mr.. and Mrs. Harrs are unable to
trace their lineage farther than this
period and little is known of the earlier
history Of Josiah States. The history
of the family, however, shows that he
was of the good old colonial stock,
whose thrift and loyalty to the colonies
made him conspicuous figure in those
turbulent times. 1t is believed that like
many of the loyal Pennsylvaniars OF
revolutionary times he came to the aid
of the struggling colonial army not
only with his services in the ranks, but
also with funds to assist in carrying
on the war, and that 1t was thru his
financial aid to the colonies that the
queer bequest was made. So far as
the present heirs know he had but one
child, the daughter mentioned above,
and that after providing for the needs
of the daughter and family deposited
the remainder of his fortune with the
United States treasurer for the bene-
fit Of his heirs in this generation.
John Harr is a tailor and has resided
at GAINESVILLE nearly all his life. lie is
the father of a family ofseven children,
two daughters and five sons, most of
whom are married and live in other
sections of the country. The family
have always been in moderate cir
cumstances. Mr.. Harr working at his
trade and earning a comfortable MAIN
tenance for his family. He has been
In rather poor health for some time and
will appreciate to the fullest extent the
bequest of his great grandfather which
will enable him and his aged wife to
enjoy their declining years in peace
and plenty.
FORGED $500 NOTE.
sv e.L.rx. as o:.nx N;&,. M..AI