Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-02
CLEVER SN|ND[[R
R[APS A HARVEST
Fred A. Maison, Singing Evan
gelist, Promoter, Capitalist,
Works Smooth Game
HE FINDS NUMEROUS VICTIMS

Nephew of Mrs. Lynde Mccormick,
Chicago, and Represented Mccormick
/ Millions.
Fred A. Maison, of Augusta Maine
singing evangelist, alleged promoter
| and representative of the Mccormick
estate millions, claiming to be nephew
] of Mrs. Lynde Mccormick, of Chicago
| widow of one of the founders of the
| Mccormick Harvesting Machine Com
pany, has proved himself after short
stay in this city either fraud of the
1 worst order or a man bereft of reason.
The general supposition is that he be-
longs to the former class and If he is
unprecedented he will have many things
To explain.
Mr.. Maison has been in the city about
month promoting" He has been en-
Jcying business relations With number
of prominent bankers and capitalists,
land was anxious to purchase valuable
property on which to erect an extensive
manufacturing business for the Semi
rola Manufacturing Company, which
was backed, he claimed hy the McCor-
mick estate. He inveigied into his con-
| fidence Rev. w. w. HaZcil. of 543 North
Second street, whom he had known in
\ evangelistic work years ago. Mr.. Hazen
| is placed in very unenviable position
as a result, for he had implicit conf
dence in his friend, whom he considered
one of the most conscientious workers
| III the Christian faith that it has ever
| been his privilege to meet.
| Story Starts an Investigation.
| The Times Republican. which has
been awaiting an opportune time to
make public the plans OF the new con-
Germ, is probably responsible for the
sudden stopping Of Maisen's work here
Mr. Maison. shortly after coming to the
city, inserted an advertisement in the
T.-R. want columns for travelling rep
resentatives, as follows:
Wanted-Young man to travel. Sal
airy and expenses. No canvassng.
Address lock box $50. Seminole Manu-
featuring Company, City"
plans made known at the time he came
alleging that tlds publication would
hurt his business and might possibly
end the negotiations looking toward the
establishing of the gigantic new enter
prise for the city. Maison's queer
actions, however, in the minor trans
actions connected with the Seminole
promotion, aroused suspicious, and he
fv thea YA,i liaa of
the matter. Between Sunday morning
and evening he left the city and is now
probably looking around for another
city that is anxious for a new industry.
The Mccormick Millions.
Mr.. Maison's establishment of the
Seminole Manufacturing Company in
Marshaltown was for his alleged aunt
Mrs. Lynde Mccormick, widow of one
of the Mccormick brothers, who found
ed the big Mccormick Harvesting Ma
chine Company years ago. He claimed
his aunt was living at Sunnyside, ILL.,,
q suburb of Chicago, and was anxious
to put her money into a factory to
manufacture perfumed, toilet soaps,
hair remedies and perfumes face
creams and lotions, f1avoring extracts,
etc. Mr. Maison was not promoting
airy ordinary scheme, but one of gigan-
tic proportions, and signified his inten-
tons of putting up a three-story brick
building, 200x60 feet, If he could get
hold of property sufficiently large, and
would employ 200 people. forty Of whom
would be chemists for the laboratories.
and the remainder travelling statesmen
and general office help. He was to be
general manager OF the property and
lie was to remove to this city from Au-
gusta, Me-. his wife and four cVhildren;
his aunt was to come hsre and reside
with him.
He explained that Mrs. Mccormick
was investing her money in this way
in order to follow out the wishes of her
husband, who realized the amount of
money that was being made by man
ufacturing industries of this sort. He
said that Mr.. Mccormick. prior to his
death. was heavily interested in two
similar institutions, Turner & Co, of
Albany, N. Y, and Shaughnessy &
Blair, Montgomery, Ala, and that the
money had been withdrawn from those
institutions and was to be placed In an
independent concern. The reason for
coming to Marshalltown was that Mrs.
Mccormick had been advised by infiu-
entail Chicago friends to start in bus
mess in smaller town, rather than
city. where labor troubles would not be
encountered to such an extent, taxes
would not be so high, and several other
reasons. He had been to Marshalltown,
he said, six years ago, to meet Rev.
Lovett, then pastor of the First Bap-
tist church of Davenport, to consult
him about evangelistic work, and had
become very favorably impressed with
the town during his three days stay
here When the plans of his aunt We're
definitely formed he thought at once
of Marshalltown, bat before deciding
definitely to come here he investigated
Sioux City and Cedar Rapids. He said
that the company would ask nothing
or other usual concessions, but had the
money to do business with and would
proceed in "A business-like way. The
original investment of the company
would be $4,000, but additions would
be made from time to time and within |
a few years he expected the company's |
property interests here would aggregate |
$150,000. He was going to build an
elegant home, to cost $4,000 or more,
and three of his head chemists would |
also build homes here. AS many of the
men as possible, would move
to this city to reside.
Pipe Doesn't Go Out,