The Southern herald., 1920-03-19
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 Hardehips-Hunt for
Heirs Is Difficult.

Wheaton, Ill. - Satisfied smiles
spread over nine faces in the corridors
of the red courthouse here recently, for
nine persons, whose lives had been
largely filled with harGshps, knew
that within few weeks they would
be rich. Rich is the only applicable
word-wealth to these people had been
nothing but a dream.
Judge S. L. Rathje of the DuPage
county court had just indicated that
five of the nine were legal heirs to the
S3,0000O0 estate of William p. Cowan,
former president of the Standard Oil
company Of Indiana, who died at his
Wheaton country home in the summer
of 1918. The other four we're hus-
bands and wives Of the heirs.
Nine to Share S2,5oo,Oo0.
With the establishment of heirship
by the five relatives Of the wealthy oil
man the total number of heirs who
will receive a share of the estate Is
nine. After expenses have been de-
Quoted, according to attorneys. the es-
tate will total more than $2,50O,000.
Each of the nine heirs will receive
something like 100000 when the in
heritance taxes are paid.
Three of the heirs are more than
seventy years of age, one is ninety,
the youngest is forty-four years old.
None of them remember personally
the man whose death brought them
this benefaction But two ever saw
him. They look upon their Inheritance
as some vague dream of paradise
The heirs who established their
claims are:
William SaXton, seventy-two years
old, Eagle, Mich.
Walter Sgyton, seyenty-two years
old, Wlucausta. Mich.
Charles SaXton, sixtv-eight years
old. Elsie, Mich,
Mrs. Caroline Saxton Hart, fifty
eight years old, Grand Ledge Mich.
Mrs. r. r. Colby, forty-four years
old, Cadillac, Mich.
William and 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-
Ilshed sufficient evidence of relation
ship to Mr.. Cowan to win an indca-
tion Of equity from Judge Rathje are:
Judson Phelps, ninety years old, De
frOit. Mich.
Henry b. Stillwell, seventy years
old Gloyersville, n. Y.
William G. Stillwell, seyenty-two
years old, Springfield, Mass.
Heirs at law of Mrs. Helen Shad-
boit, Plymouth, \. Y, who was ninety
i've years old when she died few
weeks ago
All of the heirs are cousins-frst,
second, or third No nearer kin could
be found by Alfred c. Hoy, public ad-
min.strator Of DuPage county.
The days hearing before Judge
Rathie did not close the case. A few
more depositions must be taken.
few more weeks must elapse before
the iurist can enter a decree. But the
,Saxton boys are happy.
When in 1913 it was learned that
Mr.. Cowan, successful business man
md one Of the rich residents of the
Chicago Golf club colony at Wheaton,
had died md left no will, Wheaton
wondered. Then It was announced
chat there we're 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
mediate charge Of the estate and ap-
pointed Charles W. Hadley and George
Thoma his attorneys. Mr.. Had!ey is
states attorney of DuPage county
and has weskness for flaring ties. !