The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-01-31
VIM. PETERSON AMI
HIS MISSING will

The disappearance OF old M
William Peterson's last Will and les
ment. which was expected to disno
OF an estate of approximately SEQ os
has never been explained. M otr
occurrence of the kind in Idaho n
caused more comment. All his lor
LIE. spent mostly in these par
since he came as a pioneer to df
cover the Yellowstone. was a life
mystery, at least as To his earl
years. Further than to mention IN
tact that he was born I'm Denmar
and left the land of the Danes In hf
ieehs as runaway sailor lad al
seidcm referred to his own antece
dents. He used 10 say no more oN
himself than that he came 10 Amer.
en- as sea faring man and landed
Ion the coast OF California. whencs
he came this way and on into Monl
'ana where with two comparisons he|
hrst saw what are now ire wonders|
lof the great national park. From thel
little he would ever say about him.
SER In Denmark II was always In.
ierred that he had run away from
home and had never heard directly
from his people afterward.
Al This point he would stop in his
autobiography but his life since cen.
Ing here was an open book. for he
married and settled down and raised
Il son and became a cattle king. Then
ne became estranged from his wife
and was divorced after their bercav-
ment in the death OF the idolixed boy.
ia likely lad OF about twelve years
when he was taken. The fortune was
then divided between husband and
wife.
Ihe old mans name might have
been any other Scandinavian patro.
lnsmlc than Peterson and indeed II
mas been surmised OF him that he
changed his name as boyish freak.
II is known that he entertained fus,
such notions. For instance. not
many years ago when he wanted 10
Ichect change In his household az
fairs he gave out the story that he
was about TO leave Salmon for an in.
ldehnite stay in California and that
he wished 10 close up his house. Ac.
,eordingiy the old man left town with
bag and baggage packed an II for n
long absence. but he STAYED away
iohiy day or so. just long enough
Ito accomplish the purpose OF effect.
ing the domestic change he had i'm
mind. Then he was seen again "A nj.
ways before in his accustomed walks
about his beautiful grounds or on his
occasional visits outside their limits.
because of pronounced eccentric
itices of mind and thought IL has
been maintained all along that his
missing Will will turn up Just as III.
old man himself turned up after his
supposed visit 10 California; that he
hid the precious document himself
so that from his dwelling plae.
wherever II now ls he might be able
TO see what capers were to be- cut
up over his estate after his departure
TO The mysterious realm before In the
appointed time the will should b.,
found, Then too IL Ii freely said
that the old man OF mystery may not
be actually dead at all and that some
line day he will come walking down
street as Of old 10 smbarrass ,hos.
who have taken hand In his affairs
~hen they were never permitted 10
DO such thing in his lifetime, for
be II known that the old man was
shrewd and a mighty good Judge OF
human nature. not 10 say suspicious
OF those he never trusted
Old Mr.. Peterson died on the night
before or the morning OF last
Thanksgiving day Soon after his
passing IL became understood that a
search for his will. which was exc.
eut"i In the presence OF G II Monk
aud W {. Smith and which was
known 10 contain provision for dlyid.
ing his estate equally among Mabel
hcClatn. John Y QuaricH and Rolf
SeertEon. failed 10 discover the doc
un. Mt Then ia behalf Of Miss Nc
Claim the custody Of the estate was
piacoi with Timothy Dore who took
the cash deposit carried by Mr. Pc
terson from one OF the c.ty banks
to The other. The next step was the
appointment ot Miss McClai- as al.
mtnisirai1r She filed bond for
5000 with the American surety
represented hy Mr.. pore
aa surety. The claims for the faner-
al expenses amounting 10 upward of
a thousand dollars were presented
aud allowed. winding up with claim
from Miss Mccain Of SIS 00e for
services rendered b deceased after
the year 1858 This claim was also
IA resented. the entries
having been male b. .he retiring
Probate Judge < II Casterltn. on De
rember 26.
The appraisoment OF the estate as
returned by Messrs Newton Hlbbs.
2, g. Aathewson and Arthur Greene
placed It's value at si6s6s e3. inelud-
ne cash in bank and real estate own