Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-17
THE L0CkHART WEALTH
How $50, 900, 900 Was Made
From Three Barrels of Oil.
TRAITS oF PITTsBURa MAGNATE.

Man of Simple but Cultured Tastes
Who Craved Privacy and Had a Re-
markable Talent For Making Mon
ey-Devotee of Art-Hov His Con-
trfbutions to Charity Were Made.
The board of tax assessors of Allie
eheny county in Pennsylvania pur-
poses to clear the mystery that has
| hitherto enveloped the estate of the
late Charles Lockhart of Pittsburg.
which Is now said to amount to $780,
| 100000 and to have grown to that size
from three barrels of crude petroleum
bought in 1852, says a Pittsburg spe-
cial dispatch to the New York Herald.
Lockhart died on Jan. &c, 1905, leav-
ing a will in which he divided the bulk
| of his estate between two sons, j. II.
Lockhart and John NJ. Lockhart, and
two daughters, Mrs. John Il. McCune
and Mrs. Henry Lee Mason. To his
other child, Mrs. William S. Flower,
who married a young dentist against
the wishes of her family, he left only
the income of 100000 The will was
drawn in such shape that it was not
necessary to divulge the value of the
estate, which was announced to be be-
tween $1O,00O,OOO and S15,OO0O00. He
had been popularity rated at between
| $500, 100000 and $500, 100000.
1t is said that Mrs. Flower will reopen
her contest of the will. She had settled
her case for $4,000 and life interest
in 81 300 900 on the basis of the estate
being worth $4O,OO0O0O. 1t now devel-
ops that the estate is worth nearer
500. 100000 than $40000,000, and her
attorneys are preparing to reopen the
case and demand a more liberal settle
ment.
Secrecy has been the keynote of the
Lockhart family. Charles Lockhart
was never communicative to the pub
lie, and those who knew him respected
his craving for privacy. 1t was due to
this Inherited desire for secrecy that
Mrs. Flower was able to make better
terms with far brothers and sisters
than were provided by her fathers will.
Even the reasons on which her suit
would be based were not made public,
but it was alleged that her father had
left at least $20O0O0,0O0. Her share in
view of this was ridiculously small.
The suit would have resulted in max
ing public the value of the estate, and
to avoid this the other four heirs sacri-
feed $25O,OO0 each. This, with the
100000 trust fund and 100000 cash
left to each of the children, presumably
to tide them over until the estate could
be settled, gave Mrs. Flower 81, 100000.
With this she was content to abandon
the contest Now the board of assess
\ 1T.
Innate of less than 5000, 600 and have
returned the statement to them to be
sworn to. The assessors believe the es-
tate is worth $1S0,0oO,000.
Mr.. Lockhart was a man of simple
but cultured tastes. While he had re-
markable talent for making money, he
was a devotee of art 1t is said he was
one of the few Pittsburg men of wealth
who had not at some time or another
been imposed upon with a crude copy.
He was charitable, but was afraid of
appearing ostentatious. 1t is told of
him that when a committee of women
would wait upon him TO secure a con-
tribution to charity Mr.. Lockhart
would perhaps put his name down for
$50. Then the committee would seek
Mrs. Lockhart to secure her mite.
CHANGING over the list, Mrs. Lockhart
would come to the item, "Charles Lock
hart, So0'' There is some mistake
here" Mrs. Lockhart would say. MIR.
Lockhart meant $500, not $50. / will
correct It." Then she would subscribe
her mite" probably $3.50. When the
list was returned to Mr.. Lockhart FOR
the two subscriptions he would make
no protest, but, with smile, draw his
check for $3.50.
Mr.. Lockhart's great fortune grew
from the purchase of three barrels of
crude petroleum. He was born on a
farm in Scotland in 1918. His parents
were for the time and place well to
do. When seven years old he went to
live with his uncle, merchant at Gar
liestown, Scotch seaport. In 1886 the
Lockharts emigrated to the United
States. Charles Lockhart came to
Pittsburg, securing employment with
the wholesale grocery firm of James
McCully g. Co. In 1856 he became a
member of the firm.
1t was while still a clerk, in 1852,
that Lockhart made his venture in Oil.
This was the purchase of three barrels
from Isaac Huff, who was part owner
in a salt we'll in WeStmoreland coun-
ty, from which the McCully company
obtained the salt it sold. Disposing of
this oil at considerable profit, Lock-
hart purchased a controlling interest in
the salt we'll. From that time-April.
1S53-until his death he was an oil
producer.
After the discovery of oil at Oil creek
in 1850 by Colonel Drake. Lockhart
sent representative to investigate the
field. Phillips, Frew s. Co. was or
ganized. Lockhart being a member. In
March. 1850. Oil was struck, and sixty
four barrels were shipped by water TO
Pittsburg. In May, 1850, Mr.. Lock
hart went to Europe with samples OF |