New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-15
MCPHERSON FORTUNE
NOW IN yALE'S HANDS
Securities and Deeds, TOtaIIing
$4,000, Turned Over to
the University.
HELP FOR POOR STUDENTS
Disposition Of Late Senator's
Property Follows Deaths of
Widow, Daughter and
Executor.

The trustees Of the estate Of Mrs Ella
Mcpherson. widow Of John r. McPher-
son. who was United States Senator from
New Jersey for many years have settled
the affairs Of the estate and have turned
into the treasury OF Yale University
sa1S010 ian securities and also deeds to
property in Washington estimated to be
worth at least 10000 This bequest is 10
be used for the benefit of worthy and in
digent students Of Yale.
Senator Mcpherson died on October s.
1901. in TaylNr's Hotel. Jersey City. where
he had lived for many years. after an
Illness of about a year. His will was filed
october p OF that year. His widow was
named as the sole beneficiary and execu-
tor She was not required TO give any
bonds nor TO make any inventory or &C
counting of his estate at any time. Sen
ator Mcpherson wrote in his will that he
knew she would deal justly with their
only living child. a daughter and that
she would carry out one OF his desires.
often expressed to her during his Hfe-thc
giving Of financial assistance to worthy
students.
The amount received from the estate
would undoubtedly have been much
larger had not the daughter sought 10
upset the will Of Mrs Mcpherson. filed
for probate in 1901. Mrs. Mcpherson be-
oueathed TO her daughter only a life in
terest in her estate Aaron 6. Baldwin
a lifelong friend OF Senator Mcpherson.
was named as executor Of the widows
property.
Mrs. Mcpherson directed that If Bald
win survived the daughter, then the life
interest i'm the Mcpherson estate was TO
be transferred to him. on the death OF
both the daughter and the executor $4,000
o. the estate was 20 be given 10 Christ
Hospital. Jersey City. in memory OF her
husband. Senator Mcpherson; $4,000 was
10 go 20 the Emergency Hospital. Wash
ington. in memory Of Gregory McPher-
son. son Of Senator and Mrs. Mcpherson
and the remainder OF the estate was TO
be placed in the hands Of the trustees OF
Yale University. The daughter has been
dead nearly twelve years and Mr.. Bald
win died about a year ago.
The daughter was Mrs. Edna Coleman
Muir. She created quite a stir in 1898 in
Washington society circles. where she
was well known, as the family had lived
there for years. by clipping with DR.. Jo-
seph Muir. Of this city. Soon afterward
mother and daughter became estranged.
seemingly on account of the marriage.
In April. 1901. Mrs Muir brought an ac-
ton in the Hudson County Orphans Court
10 have the will set aside and 10 have
Mr. Baldwin removed as executor Of the
estate, alleging that he had used undue
influence with her mother
The daughter did not long survive her
mother. Mrs Muir died at the Hotel
Manhattan on December Is, 1901. after a
brief illness from pneumonia. and with
her death her life interest in the McPher-
son estate reverted 10 Mr.. Baldwin, the
executor.
II was reported a short time before the
death Of Mrs. Muir that her suit against
the estate had been amicably settled by
representatives OF Yale University and
counsel for Mr.. Baldwin.
Senator Mcpherson was born in humble
circumstances in the town OF York, Liv-
ingston County. y. Y, on May 9, 1893.
His father was a farmer. II was early in
life that he decided he would try some
day 10 help other worthy young fellows
20 get what he could not afford-a uni
versity course.
When twenty-six years old he moved
from the northern part OF New York 20
Jersey City. where he engaged extensive
ly in the cattle business. He soon became
power in Democratic circles in Jersey
city. About the same time he became the
head OF a large gas company I'm New
Jersey.
lie was elected United States Senator
by the Democratic party in 1877, 1888 and
1889
short time after he retired from the
Senate his son Gregory died suddenly.
The Senator was in poor health then, and
the shock OF his sons death helped to cut
short his own days