The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-27
For Half a Century a Wealthy
Teacher and His Family
Have Lived Apart.
ROMANCE OF LATE FIFTIEs.
School Principals Wife, a Noted
Beauty, Left Him Without
a Word of Explanation
to Friends.
KEPUBLIc SPECIAL

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York. Dec. es.-With the announce
ment made that the will of Alpheus d.
Du Bots would be contested there is
brought to light another phase OF the
strange romance of which the aged school,
master gave the first hint in the opening
clause OF his last testament, disposing of
an estate valued at more than half mil
Hon dollars.
For nearly half a century he had lived
apart from his wife and child.
The daughter grew to wonanhood and
married. The schoolmaster did not know
even her name, nor did he know the
names Of her little boy and girl, his
grandchildren.
He was not aware Of their existence.
And Yet the wife from whom he was
parted lived all these years in the same
city, often in the same neighborhood with
her husband
The daughter spent much Of her life
almost within the sound of his school,
house bell; and her children may have
the city's streets many times, but there
Is no evidence that they ever met.
t So closely ran the paths Of the divided
might have touched hands. but the paths
never crossed, and when the principal OF
tu5ic school No IS died in the Presby-
that ignored his wife and mentioned his
child only to leave to My daughter. Ivy
Blanche. married name unknown, I0,eo. .
this viii was ao the S 9t
Manierre & Manierre, lawyers. Of No. 81
Nassau street after Mrs. Ivy Blanche
Mckee, daughter of the testato-, and her
mother. Mrs. Julia Du Bots, had held a
consultation with them.
The lawyers refused 10 state whether
the action would be brought by Mrs. Nc
hee or by her mother
Will bs contest" said Mr.. Manierre.
WAS A NOTED BEAUTY.
Mrs Du Bois and her widowed sister,
Mrs Martin Freligh: Mr.. and Mrs. Mckee
and their children. Paul and Elsa, are
spending the winter at the Grantley, No
So West One Hundred and Twenty
fourth street Paul Mckee. the son. Is
beautiful little girl
Il is curious drama, In which all these
persons are involved About a half CEN
Mrs Grosser. kept fashionable boarding.
house In what IS now the far downtown
commercial district. She had two daugh-
tiers noted for their beauty-Louise. who
became the second wife Of Doctor Martin
Freltgh. a wealthy and prominent physi-
clan. and julia. who married Alpheus Du
Bois. the. son of the Reverend George Du
Bots pastor OF the old Dutch Reformed
Church in Franklin street
Young Du Bots had been graduated from
Rutgers College not long before and was
Just entering upon his profession as 4
teacher.
In 1s5S to the surprise of their many
friends and without a word of explana-
ton, Mrs. Du Bots left her husband. tax
ing with her her little daughter, Ivy
Blanche
II there has been a divorce, that also
Is not known to the nearest relatives.
ACCUMULATED FORTUNE,
Mr.. Du Bots became practically re-
cluse. Day by day for ffty-three years he
went to his duties as principal of Public
School No. IS, in East Ninth street Out of
school hours he lived alone, intimate with
none and giving no condolences. He lived
so Er1ply that his expenses were less
than 1900 6 year. and the surplus of his
Income was invested so well that II grew
Into the great fortune for the possession
Of which there is now to be struggle
Mrs. Du Bots and her daughter after
the death of Mrs. Grosser, made their
home with Doctor and Mrs Martin FIRE.
Ugh. The family had lived first In East
Ninth street near Broadway, and later
at No. II West Thirty-fourth street They
had also home at Kingston, which they
still occupy In the summer.
Aside from a few legacies to school
teachers who had been associated with
him in his work and had been kind to him
personally, Mr.. Du Bots left al TO his
sisters. Mary d. Jones and Caroline D
Seamaas. OF No. 3S1 West Fffty-seyenth
street. and to his nephew, W. H Du Bots.
They ara named also as executors