FAMILY FEUD OVER STILLWATER, NEW YORK LUMBER AND COAL BUSINESS
An archive of photographs, ledgers, canceled checks, legal documents and other business and personal records from a Stillwater, New York family who feuded over the disposition of a lumber and coal business at the turn of the last century. The troubles began following the death in 1898 of Stephen Wood Sr., the owner of Stephen Woods Sons Lumber and Coal in Stillwater, New York. The business continued on under the direction of his two sons, Stephen and Edward, who were named executors of the estate. Two daughters were not included in the settlement. The sons cared for their widower mother, Temmy, but there was no formal settlement of the estate. When Edward, who took care of the books, died in 1908, matters became complicated and the family found itself in court because Edward’s wife, Louise C. Wood, asked for a settlement of his portion of the estate. Temmy then sued, saying she was owed a third of the estate, which was also indebted to her for $6,000 in personal loans. This legal dispute went on for several years, during which Stephen Jr., died on February 14, 1911, followed not long after by his mother Temmy, who died in 1912. After Stephen Jr.,’s death, the remaining heirs settled the dispute with Louise, paying her $1,500. When Temmy died, her estate was left to her granddaughters, who signed their inheritance rights over to their mother. Among the court documents is a final settlement of the estate legal fees, which were paid in 1917. In a typed letter dated November 8, 1911 Emma Wood, the daughter of Temmy Wood, expressed the concern and frustrations she and her sister, Kate, felt over the legal troubles. “I understood Kate to say this morning that she does not want to have anything to do with it but that whatever you decide upon will be her decision also. I am in too nervous a state to discuss matters verbally with you so think best to write what I feel the honest thing to be done.” Much of the material in this collection appears to be related to the request to settle the estate and, therefore provides a detailed overview of the operations of the business along with the family’s personal holdings and business dealings. Among the materials included are a handwritten bills ledger, receipts, legal documents, family wills, household notebooks, and a photographic album. Item #70600
Price: $950.00