The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-22
Her LOST BROTHER
Mrs. Fairs Relative, Cook in
Santa Fe Hospital.
Hadn't Heard of His Sisters
Death.
LEFT $4,000 BY WILL.
VIII TO to New Jersey to Estab-
Iish Claim.
Notice Of Mothers Death His
First information.
EFT $4,000 BY WILL.

The lost brother Of Mrs. Charles
Fair has appeared in Topeka, in the
person OF Frank P. Smith, chef at the
hospital of the Santa Fe railroad COM
pany. Mrs. Charles Fair with her
husband, who was son Of the late
Senator Fair of California, a multi
millionaire, was killed in an auto
mobile accident at Evereaux, France.
on August Il, 1902.
Mr.. Smith is, by the terms of his
sisters will, heir to a sum amounting
to $4,000, and has retained Ferry &
Doran to collect his share.
By the death of his mother, which
occurred on Monday Of this week. BIr.
Smith will come in for a share ia the
distribution of her fortune. which was
given her at the death OF her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Fair.
Last Monday evening as Mr.. and
| Mrs. Smith were reading the evening
paper they discovered an item with a
date line from Plainheld, N. J., an
nouncing the death of Mrs. Caroline
Nelson. Mr.. Smith says he at once
recognized the name as that Of his
mother, who 4had married a second
time.
Mr.. Smith Immediately telegraphed
his half-brother and received an an
swer announcing that the funeral
would be held on Thursday It was
too late for him to have time to reach
PlainheId in time for the funeral and
he has consequently decided not to go
east till a week from Monday
Smiths name has been printed fire.
Quently in connection with the pub
lication OF the will of Mrs. Fair Mr.
and Mrs. Smith read of the automobile
accident in France while he was tray
cling on train to Old Mexico He
says he little guessed at that time that
| Mrs. Fair was his sister because he
had run away from home at the early
| age of u years, and had heard only
/ vaguely of his sisters marriage, and
had never even heard the name OF her
husband.
Mrs. Charles [. Fair, whose maiden
name was Caroline Nelson, made 4
will in 1900 in which she directed
. fortune, estimated at 5000, 600. Among
the bequests was one of So 006 to her
2 brother, Frank smith, whose present
I address is unknown. -
In a newspaper interview a few
, days after the automobile accident in
France Laura Smith Leonard, a sister
/ Of Mrs. Fair, told of the early life Of
the Smith family when we chill
: dren were young Mrs. Leonard said.
! Frank, the Oldest Of the sons, went
]. away; none knew where
] A long legal controversy followed the
death of Mr.. and Mrs. Fair, Hannah E.
Nelson, Mrs. Fairs mother, Abram
6. Nelson, a half brother, and the
brothers and sisters. excepting Frank
| 4
estate, estimated at million dollars.
, They brought suit against Mrs. Herman
Oelrichs and Mrs. w K. Vanderbilt, Jr.,
sisters of Fair, and Joseph Harvey and
Charles S. Beal, trustees. The chief
| point at issue was as to whether Fair
or his wife died first.
The case was finally compromised in
| April a year ago, the Nelson's, mother
and son, accepting $350,000. They had
received S425, 600 in September, 1902 a
total Inheritance Of about q million,
exclusive Of the personal property left
: by Mrs Fair.
Frank P. Smith is 46 years of age.
: He was born at Plainfield, n. j.. and
he left home at the age of II years
, to enter the United States navy as an
5 apprentice on the training ship Ma
jestic. He spent three years in the
2 navy, and at the expiration of the time
2 for which he enlisted he went to the
Black Hills, where he drove q stage
! for two or three years.
In 1878 he went from the Black
Hills to Albuquerque, N. NJ, to herd
mules for J. W. Young of Young &
Tinney. Mr.. Young was a SON Of
Brigham Young.
IN 1880 Mr.. Smith left New Mexico
and came to Topeka, where he went
= out as advance man ahead OF one OF
I the Sells shows. The Sells Bros. had
out two shows at that time. The big
circus was called the Sells show, and
the little show, with which Mr.. Smith
Z Travelled, was the Barrett & Sells show.
Smith spent four years with the Sells
shows and after leaving their employ he
e has been in the restaurant and hotel busi-
- ness for himself; in many. places he has
= cooked in other hotels He claims to have
= been in every state and territory in the
United States and in Old Mexico
$ Mr.. Smith was married in 1885 to Miss
q Abbie Dixon OF St. Joseph, Mo.
3 81 left home when my mother married
: my step-father," Mr.. Smith said to a re-
porter for the State Journal who saw him
/ this morning at the Santa Fe hospital,
) ssand I have never been home since It
! has been about 80 or "a years since have
nnaT prIr In
: Mr. Smith says that his sister was mar
ried to Chas. Fair, the son of the late
Senator Fair of California when she was
Just a mere slip of a girl, not more than
seventeen or eighteen years old. He says
that it must have occurred at about the
show, although he has no positive knoWt
edge and knew nothing about it at the
time. Her marriage was not even known
to her mother for three years at least
says Mr.. Smith.
my mother married Abe Nelson,
widower at New Market" says Mr smith.
land I have never been back since.
I have two brothers ana half-brotner Nv
{ ing and three sisters. believe.
: Mr.. Smith came to Topeka from NSyaneys
Kansas to take a place in the employ OF
n the Santa Fe as chef at the hospitai,
: At one time he conducted the eeLlS
= | house for the Rock Island at Mct arlano'
e Kansas.