The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1920-03-31
Forgotten Poor Cousins Share in
Estate of Wealthy
Oil Man.
MILLIONAIRE LEFT NO WILL
Wealth Comes to Aged People Whose
Lives Have Been Largely Filled
With Hardships-Hunt for
Heirs Is Difficult.

|
largely filled with hardships, kneN
that within a few weeks they woul
be rich. Rich is the only appllcabl
word-wealth to these people had bee
| nothing but a dream.
Judge S. L. Rathje of the DuPag
county court had just indicated tina
| five of the nine were legal heirs to tn
| 100000 estate of William P. Cowan
former president of the Standard Oh
company of Indiana, who died at hi
Wheaton country home in the summe
of 1918. The other four were huS
bands and wives of the heirs.
Nine to Share $2,5oo,ooo.
With the establishment of heirshil
by the five relatives of the wealthy OF
man the total number of heirs whc
will receive a share of the estate Il
nine. After expenses have been de
Quoted, according to attorneys, the es
tate will total more than $2,50O0OO.
Each of the nine heirs will receive
something like 100000 when the in
heritance taxes are paid.
Three of the heirs are more thar
seventy years of age, one is ninety
the youngest is fortyfour years old.
None of them remember personally
the man whose death brought then
this benefacti0n. But two ever saw
him. They look upon their inheritance
as some vague dream of paradise.
- IN
claims are:
William Saxton, seventy-two years
old. Eagle, Mich.
Walter Saxton seventy-two years
old, Waucausta, Mich.
Charles Saxton, sixty-eight years
old, Elsie. Mich.
Mrs Caroline Saxton Hart, fifty
eight years old Grand Ledge, Mich.
Mrs. r. B. Colby. forty-four years
old Cadillac, Mich.
William md Walter Saxton are
twins. william is married and his
wife was in Wheaton with him. Mrs
Colby and Mrs. Hart had their hus
bands along, too.
Other CoWan Heirs
The other heirs who have. estab
lished sufficient evidence of relation,
ship to Mr.. Cowan to win an indica.
ton of equity from Judge Rathje are
Judson Phelps, ninety years old, De
troit, Mich.
Henry B. Stillwell, seventy years
old, Gloversville, N. Y.
NUil1iovo Cti1Ixua1 couonfv.tU0
years old, Springfield, Mass.
Heirs at law of Mrs. Helen Shad
bolt, Plymouth, N. Y, who was ninety
five years old when she died few
weeks ago.
All of the heirs are cousins-first
second or third. No nearer kin could
be found by Alfred G. Hoy, public ad
ministrator of DuPage county.
The days hearing before Judge
Rathje did not close the case. A few
more dispositions must be taken,
few more weeks must elapse before
the jurist can enter a decree. But the
Saxton boys are happy.
When In 1918 it was learned that
Mr.. Cowan, successful business man
and one of the rich residents of the
Chicago Golf club colony at Wheaton,
had died end left no will, Wheaton
wondered. Then 1t was announced
that there were no heirs In this state.
Mrs Cowan's death had preceded her
husbands, and there were no children
and no brothers or sisters.
Public Administrator Hoy took i'm.
charge of the estate and ap.
pointed Charles w. Hadley and George
Thoma his attorneys. Mr.. Hadley is
states attorney of DuPage county
and has a weakness for f1aring ties.
Nine attorneys presented him with q
new one in court.
For more than year the only rela- !
lives Mr.. Hoy could locate were the
Stilwell boys, Judson Phelps, and
Mrs ShadbOldt.
A few months ago one of the Sax
ton boys. Walter, read newspaper
article which referred to Mr.. Cowan's
Heath and his estate. A few days
alter the Saxton claim was entered.
The Saxtons claimed to be the chill.
iren of two daughters of Peter Cowan,
Tayuga county, N. Y, the grandfather
IF William p. CowSn.
Their claim was established by a
license, census reports, old
-intypes. and testimony. One of the
wins saw Mr.. Cowan when he was
,hree years old. Another Saxton said
he was born in the Cowan home. But
further than that they had no person.
IL recollection of their wealthy rela'
i've.
Views on Liquor.
Walter and William Saxton are in.
crested in airplanes but they don't
believe they will spend much of theii
fortune on the aircraft.
'FYou can get drink OF red eye OF
IN airplane ride for S25," said Wal.
:er. II believe the airplane ride would