NAWSA Subject File Bequests (Melissa Dickinson) CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THE MELISSA DICKINSON ESTATE. 1. Will of Melissa Dickinson 2. Letter to Leslie Continuing Committee, Oct.16,1944 from C.C.C. 3. Letter to Catherine Waugh McColloch, Oct.10,1944 from C.C.C. 4. Letter from Trustee of Dickinson Estate, Oct.8,1944 to C.C.C. 5. Letter to Judge Peacock, Nov.25,1946 from C.C.C. 6. Letter from Judge Peacock's Court, Dec.16,1946 to C.C.C. 7. Letter to Illinois Trust Co., Dec.21,1946 from C.C.C. 8. Letter from Paul C. Butcher,Continental Illinois Natl.Bank & Trust Company (Formerly Ill. Trust Co.) 9. Letter to Paul C. Butcher Feb.24,1947 from C.C.C. 10. Letter from Katherine Boyles Feb.15,1947 to C.C.C. 11. Letter from Paul C. Butcher Feb.26,1947 [from] to C.C.C. MATERIAL SENT MRS. SLADE BY TOM. BOYLES, MISS BOYLES'S NEPHEW. 12. Copy of DeLand Sun News with article about Miss Boyles death Dec.17,1948. 13. Letter to Miss Boyles Sept.25,1946 from C.C.C. 14. Letter to Miss Boyles Feb.11,1947 from C.C.C. 15. Copy of Mrs. Slade's acknowledgement to Mr. Boyles Jan.4,1949 16. Copy Mrs. Slade's letter to the Administrator of the estate Mr. Addison Williams, Orlando, Fla., Jan.4,1949. WILL OF MELISSA DICKINSON, Chicago, Ill. signed Oct, 1906 Under her Will when Miss Katherine Boyles dies the money of the TRUST FUND is divided thus; One-third to the Chicago Home of Incurables: One-third to Old Peoples Home; One-third to National Asso.of Women's Suffrage The Trust Fund is held by Continental Illinois National Bank & Trust Co. of Chicago, Ill. Nov. 1946. Page 3 [*no 1*] 2356 I, Melissa Dickinson, of Chicago, Illinois, do hereby make, declare, and publish this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all wills by me heretofore made. FIRST: I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my executors. SECOND: I give and devise all of the land that I now own in Coronado Beach, Florida, (except Lot Four (4) in Block Five (5) in Coronado Beach,) including the cottage thereon and all of the furniture and household effects in said cottage, and my piano in Chicago, to my brother Albert Dickinson, his heirs and assigns absolutely. THIRD: I give and devise to my brother, Nathan Dickinson his heirs and assigns, absolutely, Lot Four (4) in Block Five (5) in Coronado Beach, Florida, and all furniture, rugs and household effects that I own that are in his cottage at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. FOURTH: I give and bequeath to my brother, Charles Dickinson, the note payable to me and signed by him, dated September 24th, 1902, and due seven years from its date (this being the only note signed by him and held by me at this time.) FIFTH: All of my wearing apparel, books, pictures, jewelry, ornaments and household effects (not before disposed of) I give to my executors to be divided among my brothers and sisters who may survive me. SIXTH: I give and devise all of the real estate owned by me in Orange City, Volusia County, Florida, to my brothers, Albert Dickinson, and Nathan Dickinson, and my sisters Fannie Dickinson and Hannah D. Boyles, and their heirs absolutely. SEVENTH: All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate of every name and nature, I give, devise and bequeath as follows: -2- One-sixth thereof to my brother, Nathan Dickinson his heirs and assigns absolutely. One-fourth thereof to my brothers, Albert Dickinson, Nathan Dickinson, Charles Dickinson, and my nephew, Charles D. Boyles, and the survivors or survivor of them, in trust to hold, manage, control, sell, convey, invest and reinvest the same and the proceeds thereof in interest-bearing or dividend-paying securities according to their best judgment, the same as if their own property, and pay the net income thereof to my brother Albert, during his life and upon his death to pay, deliver and convey the said one-fourth to the Chicago Academy of Sciences. One-fourth of said rest, residue and remainder I give, devise, and bequeath to my brothers, Albert Dickinson, Nathan Dickinson, Charles Dickson, and my nephew Charles D. Boyles, and the survivors and survivor of them, in trust to hold, manage, control, sell, convey, invest and reinvest the same and the proceeds thereof in interest-bearing and income-paying property, and to pay to my sister, Fannie Dickinson, the sum of one hundred and fifty ($150) Dollars per month during her natural life so long as any part of the principal remains, it being my intention that said trustees shall pay the said sum of one hundred and fifty dollars per month and if the income is insufficient they are to pay it out of the principal so long as any remains of said one-fourth. At the death of said Fannie Dickinson, the principal and any surplus income, if there be any of either shall be paid over, delivered and conveyed as follows:-one half to the Chicago Orphan Asylum and one-half to the Chicago Home for the Friendless in Chicago, near Vincennes Avenue and 51st Street. One-sixth thereof I give, devise and bequeath to my brothers Albert Dickinson, Nathan Dickinson, Charles Dickinson and my -3- nephew Charles D. Boyles, and the survivors and survivor of them, in trust, to hold, manage, control, sell, convey, invest and reinvest the same and the proceeds thereof in interest-bearing or dividend paying securities according to their best judgment, the same as if their own property, and pay the net income thereof to my sister, Hanna D. Boyles, and her daughter Katherine Boyles, in equal parts so long as the said Hannah and Katherine shall live, and upon the death of either the whole net income to the survivor, and upon the death of the survivor I direct that one-third of the said one-sixth be paid, assigned and delivered to the Chicago Home for the Incurables, now located at Ellis Avenue and 56th Street in Chicago; one-third of said one-sixth to the Old People Home now located on Indiana Avenue near 39th Street in Chicago; one-third of said one-sixth to the National American Woman's Suffrage Association (of which Anna Shaw is now President.) One-sixth of said rest, residue and remainder I give, devise and bequeath to my brothers, Albert Dickinson, Nathan Dickinson, Charles Dickinson, and my nephew, Charles D. Boyles, and the survivors and survivor of them, in trust to hold, manage, control, invest and reinvest the same and the proceeds thereof in interest-bearing or dividend paying securities according to their best judgment, the same as if their own property, and pay the net income thereof to my brother Charles Dickinson, during his life, and upon his death, to pay, assign, and convey the said one-sixth to the Mary Thompson Hospital for Women and Children, and it is my wish (but this is not obligatory) that the said fund may be used for the relief of women and children suffering from contagious diseases not now usually provided for. EIGHTH: I give, devise and bequeath the legacies and -4- devises hereinabove given, that may lapse or fail to take effect for any reason, to my brothers and sisters who may survive me, share and share alike. NINTH: I hereby authorise and empower my executors hereinafter named to bargain, sell, grant and convey, for cash or credit, at public or private sale, all of my real estate, wherever situated, except that in Orange City and Coronado Beach in the State of Florida. TENTH: I direct that the legacies and bequests herein specified shall not be paid inside of two years from my decease unless my executors choose to pay them before that time. ELEVENTH: In case all of the said trustees above named, to-wit: Albert Dickinson, Nathan Dickinson, Charles Dickinson, and Charles D. Boyles, shall die, resign, fail to accept or become incapacitated to act as trustees, I hereby appoint the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Illinois, to be trustee herein in all of the trusts hereinbefore created, hereby giving to the said Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, all of the powers to be exercised in the same manner and for the same purpose as those given to my trustees above named. TWELFTH: I direct that reasonable fees be allowed my trustees for their services. THIRTEENTH: I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my brothers, Albert Dickinson, and Nathan Dickinson, and the survivor of them, executors of this my Last Will and Testament, and in case said Albert Dickinson and Nathan Dickinson shall, either or both, fail to qualify, or die, I appoint my brother, Charles Dickinson, and my nephew Charles D. Boyles, their successors, respectively in the order named, and I desire that none of the persons herein mentioned as executors hereof shall -5- be required to give bonds as such executors, such bonds being hereby waived. WITNESS my hand and seal this 6th day of October, 1906. (signed) Melissa Dickinson (Seal) Signed and declared by the said Melissa Dickinson as and for her Last Will and Testament in the presence of all of us (all being present at the same time), who, at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses this 6th day of October, 1906. (signed) (Inga N. Olsen, Chicago, Ill.) (signed) (Mrs. Sophia Hanson, Chicago, Ill.) (signed) (Augusta Hanson, Chicago, Ill. no. 2 October 16, 1944 To the Leslie Continuing Committee: In accordance with the will of Mrs. Melissa Dickinson, one-sixth of her residuary estate is held in trust for the support of her sister, Hanna D. Boyles, and her daughter, Katherine Boyles. At the death of Miss Boyles, one-third of the sixth is to go to the National American Woman Suffrage Association. To keep the N. A. W. S. A. organized and in progress in order that it might receive this bequest when it comes is the reason why the National Association is still alive and its Board filled. Recently, Miss Boyles had an idea (although it is not clear just what that idea was) that there might be a way to divide the money Mrs. Dickinson had intended for the N. A. W. S. A., so that the Association might receive its part now. She wrote to Mrs. Catherine Waugh McCulloch and also to the Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, which is Trustee of the fund. But, the bank said it could not be done and no division made until after death. Since Mrs.McCulloch wrote to me about it, I took the opportunity to write to the bank, telling them we had never received a copy of Mrs. Dickinson's will, which would have been a neceasary act under New York law, and that I had learned of the bequest from Lucy Anthony, but had had no reliable details. I asked how much was coming to the National Association and how it was invested. The Bank replied that it was very strange I had not received a copy of the will, since, as elsewhere, the Illinois law required that each legatee be provided with one, and they sent me a copy. I learned from the will what I had never known before, namely that it had been made in 1906 and that probably Mrs. Dickinson had died in 1910 and the will probated at that time. It was in the hands of the Trustee and the money distributed before I had heard anything about it. So far as I know, I had never seen a copy of the will before. I now believe that probably the National Association was notified of the bequest when Miss Shaw was president and that the Board in office then forgot to notify the one that followed and we did not hear of it, I am quite sure, until after Miss Shaw's death and then never got the exact status of the bequest. There follows a copy of the paragraph of the will which concerns the N. A. W. S. A.: October 16, 1944 To the Leslie Continuing Committee: In accordance with the will of Mrs. Melissa Dickinson, one-sixth of her residuary estate is held in trust for the support of her sister, Hanna D. Boyles, and her daughter, Katherine Boyles. At the death of Miss Boyles, one-third of the sixth is to go to the National American Woman Suffrage Association. To keep the N. A. W. S. A. organized and in progress in order that it might receive this bequest when it comes is the reason why the National Association is still alive and its board filled. Recently, Miss Boyles had an idea (although it is not clear just what that idea was) that there might be a way to divide the money Mrs. Dickinson had intended for the N. A. W. S. A., so that the Association might receive its part now. She wrote to Mrs. Catherine Waugh McCulloch and also to the Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, which is Trustee of the fund. But, the Bank said it could not be done and no division made until after her death. Since Mrs. McCulloch wrote to me about it, I took the opportunity to write to the Bank, telling them we had never received a copy of Mrs. Dickinson's will, which would have been a neceasary act under New York law, and that I had learned of the bequest from Lucy Anthony, but had had no reliable details. I asked how much was coming to the National Association and how it was invested. The Bank replied that it was very strange I had not received a copy of the will, since, as elsewhere, the Illinois law required that each legatee be provided with one, and they sent me a copy. I learned from the will what I had never known before, namely that it had been made in 1906 and that probably Mrs. Dickinson had died in 1910 and the will probated at that time. It was in the hands of the Trustee and the money distributed before I had heard anything about it. So far as I know, I had never seen a copy of the will before. I now believe that probably the National Association was notified of this bequest when Miss Shaw was president and that the Board in office then forgot to notify the one that followed and we did not hear of it. I am quite sure, until after Miss Shaw's death and then never got the exact status of the bequest. There follows a copy of the paragraph of the will which concerns the N. A. W. S. A.: Leslie Continuing Comm. -2- October 16, 1944 "One-sixth thereof I give, devise and bequeath to my brothers, Albert Dickinson, Nathan Dickinson, Charles Dickinson and my nephew Charles D. Boyles, and the survivors and survivor of them, in trust, to hold, manage, control, sell, convey, invest, and reinvest the same and the proceeds thereof in interest bearing or dividend paying securities according to their best judgement, the same as if their own property, and pay the net income thereof to my sister, Hanna D. Boyles, and her daughter Katherine Boyles, in equal parts so long as the said Hanna and Katherine shall live, and upon the death of either the whole net income to the survivor, and upon the death of the survivor I direct that one-third of the said one-sixth be paid, assigned and delivered to the Chicago Home for the incurables, now located at Ellis Avenue and 56th Street in Chicago; one-third of said one-sixth to the Old Peoples Home now located on Indiana Avenue near 39th Street in Chicago; one-third of said one-sixth to the National Woman's Suffrage Association (of which Anna Shaw is now President.)" I am sending to Mrs. Caroline Slade, to be placed in the N. A. W. S. A. file in her storage room , the following: 1. A copy of Mrs. Dickinson's will 2. A copy of this letter 3. A copy of my letter of October 10, 1944 to Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch 4. A copy of the letter from the Continental Illinois National Bank. I have always been quite certain that I would pass on before Miss Boyles and, for that reason, I have tried to be very careful to place in the hands of the Board all the information I got concerning the Dickinson Estate. The value of our portion, at the time of Mrs. Dickinson's death, was $30,000.00, but it may be much less when we get it. In the meantime, let me remind you that, shortly after the end of the last war, twenty countries in Europe had given women the vote. Ireland, Sweden and England still retain it, but the war or the Germans have taken it away from all the others. We have voted to give the Dickinson bequest to the League of Women Voters, if, at the time of Miss Boyles' death, their work seems the most necessary. I would like to suggest that, if her death should come shortly after the close of the present war, some portion of the money should be used to bring the return of the vote to the countries which have lost it. Carrie C. Catt cc to Mrs. Caroline Slade Mrs. Mabel Russell Miss Mary Peck Leslie Continuing Comm. -2- October 16, 1944 "One-sixth thereof I give, devise and bequeath to my brothers, Albert Dickinson, Nathan Dickinson, Charles Dickinson and my nephew Charles D. Boyles, and the survivors and survivor of them, in trust, to hold, manage, control, sell, convey, invest, and reinvest the same and the proceeds thereof in interest bearing or dividend paying securities according to their best judgement, the same as if their own property, and pay the net income thereof to my sister, Hanna D. Boyles, and her daughter Katherine Boyles, in equal parts so long as the said Hanna and Katherine shall live, and upon the death of either the whole net income to the survivor, and upon the death of the survivor I direct that one-third of the said one-sixth be paid, assigned and delivered to the Chicago Home for the incurables, now located at Ellis Avenue and 56th Street in Chicago; one-third of said one-sixth to the Old Peoples Home now located on Indians Avenue near 39th Street in Chicago; one-third of said one-sixth to the National Woman's Suffrage Association (of which Anna Shaw is now President.)" I am sending to Mrs. Caroline Slade, to be placed in the N. A. W. S. A. file in her storage room , the following: 1. A copy of Mrs. Dickinson's will 2. A copy of this letter 3. A copy of my letter of October 10, 1944 to Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch 4. A copy of the letter from the Continental Illinois National Bank. I have always been quite certain that I would pass on before Miss Boyles and, for that reason, I have tried to be very careful to place in the hands of the Board all the information I got concerning the Dickinson Estate. The value of our portion, at the time of Mrs. Dickinson's death, was $30,000.00, but it may be much less when we get it. In the meantime, let me remind you that, shortly after the end of the last war, twenty countries in Europe had given women the vote. Ireland, Sweden and England still retain it, but the war or the Germans have taken it away from all the others. We have voted to give the Dickinson bequest to the League of Women Voters, if, at the time of Miss Boyles' death, their work seems the most necessary. I would like to suggest that, if her death should come shortly after the close of the present war, some portion of the money should be used to bring the return of the vote to the countries which have lost it. Carrie C. Catt cc to Mrs. Caroline Slade Mrs. Mabel Russell Miss Mary Peck no 3 C O P Y 120 Paine Avenue New Rochelle, N. Y. October 10, 1944 Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch 857 Continental Illinois Bank Building 231 South La Salle Street Chicago 4, Illinois My dear Mrs. McCulloch: We have done a good deal of writing about nothing, but I will close the conversation with this final report. I did make an excuse to write to the Bank and to say that the National American Woman Suffrage Association never received a copy of Mrs. Dickinson's will or a notice that we had a bequest under it. It was well after the will had been probated and was being administered that Lucy Anthony told me there was a bequest for the N. A. W. S. A. in it. We then took such means as we could to get information. I think you did it for us. It may be possible that a copy of the will was sent at this time and that it is filled with other papers concerning the case but I do not remember having seen it before. Now, the bank has sent me a copy, for which I have thanked them. I asked them a question as to the amount which was left to N. A. W. S. A. and on what form the investment stood. The answer was that the estate was divided into six parts. The income on one of these goes to the support of Mrs. Boyles and Miss Boyles and, when Miss Boyles departs this life, one-third of that sixth will go to N. A. W. S. A. The value of the sixth on which Miss Boyles receives the income is $90,000.00, but I suspect that was the value at the time of the division of the estate and that, when it comes to the N. A. W. S. A. (that is, one-third of it), it will have shrunk a good deal. I have no doubt that, when Miss Boyles dies, the Association will be glad to ask you to take the matter up with the Bank, if you are still active in your law practise. The Board have voted that, if the League of Women Voters are satisfactorily in progress at the time of Miss Boyle's death, the Board will pass the bequest on to that organization, because it was brought into existence to carry out the unfinished business of the National American. I think this can be easily carried out. One final word concerning the DIckinson will: I have been thinking for many years that it was very strange that neither I nor any member of our Board received a copy of it. As I have said, I learned of it from Lucy Anthony and I supposed that it had been probated at about that time. (This was after I was elected president). But, it seems that this has happened about Mrs. McCulloch -2- October 10, 1944 1910, and, when I was elected that will had been probated, the estate had been settled and the part to be retained for the late comers was in the hands of a trustee. The N. A. W. S. A. was not getting anything, nor expecting anything until after Miss Boyle's passing and it went out of their minds completely. Probably, they did have a copy of the will and it was not passed over to the new Board. So, I think the National Association probably did receive a copy of the will and that the information was not passed on to the new Board because it seemed at the time to be a closed issue. This may be the last time I shall be writing you, as I write as few letters as possible now, so I shall take the opportunity to express to you the great satisfaction your life and work has always been to me. And, incidentally, you have been a guide to tell me how that one-time pupil of mine, your husband, has carried on - gloriously, and helpfully, at your side. Please remember me to him. Cordially yours, CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT CCC: hr P. S. One little item which may interest you occurs to me at this time. When I was elected president, the information was given me that Miss Shaw wished to keep her room in the headquarters and to occupy it. It had been furnished for her by a group of New York women and the furniture washers. Miss Shaw fell ill with a bronchial cold and was not able to come to headquarters and Miss Patterson, the new secretary, and I went to visit it. We found Miss Shaw's room to be the best one in the suite and her desk was locked and no papers were visible in the room. Without that room, we concluded, the suite would no longer do for headquarters, so we went hunting for another and found it. We then notified Miss Shaw of our action and, by her orders, the furniture in her office room was packed and sent to her. The papers concerning the Dickinson Estate might very well have been kept in her desk for they were not in the files, which was the reason that we knew nothing about them. And, of course, she considered the matter was now closed and it did not occur to her that it was necessary to inform us about Mrs. Dickinson's bequest. C.C.C [*no 4*] COPY (Original in Mrs. Catt's files) CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF CHICAGO Chicago October 6, 1944 National American Woman Suffrage Association 120 Paine Avenue New Rochelle, New York Attention Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, President Dear Mrs. Catt: Trust under the Will of Melissa Dickinson, Deceased We wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of October 2,1944, relative to the bequest to the National American Woman Suffrage Association under the Will of Melissa Dickinson. We are somewhat at a loss to understand why the Association was not notified when Mrs. Dickinson's Will was probated, and why, as beneficiaries, a copy of the Will and notice of probate were not sent to you. It is customary in this state, as in those mentioned in your letter, that such notification be sent. By reference to the Will, however, you will note that the Executors were three individuals, and this Bank as Successor by consolidation to Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, did not become Trustee under the residuary trust until 1922, whereas the Will of Melissa Dickinson was probated sometime in 1910. We are, in accordance with your request, enclosing a copy of the Will of Melissa Dickinson, which copy has not been certified. We believe it is a correct copy. The remainder interest of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, you will note, is one-third of the trust of which Hanna D. Boyles and Katherine Boyles are the life beneficiaries. The trust represents one-sixth of the residuary eatate and consista entirely of securities, having an approximate value of $90,000.00. It is customary, in making distribution of a trust similar to this where division is to be made among three charities having a remainder interest, to divide the trust as near equally in kind as possible, unless an agreement is reached with all of the charities to convert the fund into cash. We would be pleased to answer any inquiries which you may have relative to this fund. Yours very truly PAUL C. BUTCHER Second Vice President PCB:DB [*no 5*] November 25, 1946. Hon. Judge Peacock Valensia County Deland, Florida My dear Sir: I receive so many misdirected letters that I am hoping that this comes to you, although I am not informed of your full title. Mrs. Cowper of Buffalo, niece of Susan B. Anthony suggested that I write you this letter and ask the question which follows: I have been the President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association since 1915, and held that office at an earlier period also. This was an organization of which Miss Anthony was always an officer, and was for a considerable number of years its president. Miss Anthony and Mrs. Stanton started this organization, and it was under their leadership as long as they were physically able to conduct its work. I ceased to be preseident of it in 1904, the reason being that I had organized an International Suffrage Body and was its President. I was unable to serve as president of two organizations at the same time. I succeeded Miss Anthony. Miss Shaw succeeded me and was president from 1904 to 1915. She was no longer physically able to continue, and I was re-elected again in that year to take her place. The last of the campaign which covered the winning of the Federal Amendment fell upon me. Another new officer and I learned from Miss Shaw that she wished to go to our headquarters. We waited therefore, until she should be able to go with us. She was taken very ill and never did return to the headquarters. She dies shortly after. The officers of 1915 were entirely new and consisted mostly of those who had been in hharge of State campaigns, and were not especially familiar with the headquarters. We were obliged to seek new headquarters, and the work was so heavy that it did not seem necessary for anyone to search for possible unknown facts in the past history. It happened therefore, that neither I nor any members of the Board had ever heard that Melissa Dickinson had mentioned the N.A.W.S.A in her will. A committee of women in New York when Miss Shaw's headquarters were opened raised some money and bought furniture to outfit Miss Shaw's special office, and they gave the furniture 3. I am inclined to think that it was sent, and that no member of the board thought of reminding the nnw board of this fact, and that the papers which ought to have been sent to Miss Shaw were lost sight of in the removal and change of officers. No one of us ever knew anything about it. I do not know why Mrs. Cowper thinks you know about it. You may have lived in Chicago, and you may have even been judge on the bench when Mrs. Dickinson's will was put into operation. I am telling you this long and boresome story to ask you if you will tell me what you know about it, especially about the form of property which was passed over to the trustees to be administered on behalf of Mrs. Boyles and her daughter. The mother died some years ago and the daughter lives in Orange City, Florida. I am myself growing old and will be eighty-eight in a very few weeks. I wish to resign and to have a younger woman in my place, but I wish to pass over to my successor and intelligent understanding of the situation. I want especially to know how much is the value of the property in the one third of one sixth of Mrs. Dickinson's estate. What was it worth when it was turned over to the bank, and do I have a right to ask that bank how much it is worth now? I shall not be surprised if you do not know anything at all about the matter, and if so, please tell me. I have had some correspondence with the bank before now, and will begin where I left off and ask the same questions of the trustees that I have asked you. I had the impression that they did not feel under any obligations to answer questions I might ask, but I am quite willing to try again. I close this letter with an apology for its length and its lack of clarity, but I hope very much that you can understand, and that you are in a position to help me a bit. Very sincerely yours, [*no 6*] [*J.K. Peacock, County Judge*] [*Robert H. Wingfield Clerk County Judge's Court*] [*In Reply Quote File Number*] OFFICE OF THE COUNTY JUDGE VOLUSIA COUNTY DELAND, FLORIDA December 16, 1946 Carrie Chapman Catt 120 Paine Avenue New Rochelle, New York IN RE: ESTATE OF MELISSA DICKINSON, Deceased, B-1020 Dear Mrs. Catt: Judge J.E. Peacock, Country Judge of Volusia County, Florida, has asked me to acknowledge receipt of your letter of November 25, 1946. You are informed that the original Will and administration of that said Estate is in this Court. Inclosed is a copy of pertinent portions of the Melissa Dickinson Last Will and Testament. Also inclosed is a memorandum of the final distribution, showing assets distributed to the trustees under the Will. It is perfectly proper for your organization to call upon the trustees for information and accounting in connection with this trust. Yours very truly, Rabb. H. Wingfield Clerk RW/pf Inclosures Delivered to Trustee for Katherine Boyles Trust 48 Bds. $48,067.20 1 note 10,000.00 3/16 9,515.31 398.11 25 Bds. 20,000. 7 Bds. 5,950. 528.12 148.29 [*3?*] 94,607.03 [*3/535*] SECTIONS OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF MELISSA DICKINSON "One-sixth thereof I give, devise and bequeath to my brothers, Albert Dickinson, Nathan Dickinson, Charles Dickinson, and my nephew, Charles D. Boyles, and the survivors and survivor of them, in trust to hold, manage, control, sell, convey, invest, and reinvest the same and the proceeds thereof in interest-bearing or dividend-paying securities according to their best judgment, the same as if their own property, and pay the net income thereof to my sister, Hannah D. Boyles, and her daughter, Katherine Boyles, in equal parts so long as the said Hannah and Katherine shall life, and upon the death of either the whole net income to the survivor, and upon the death of the survivor I direct that one-third of the said one-sixth be paid, assigned and delivered to the Chicago Home for the Incurables, now located at Ellis Avenue and 56th Street in Chicago; one-third of said one-sixth to the Old People Home now located on Indiana Avenue near 39th Street in Chicago; and one-third of said one-sixth to the National American Woman's Suffrage Association (of which Anna Shaw is now president)." *********** "ELEVENTH: In case all of the said, trustees above names, to-wit, Albert Dickinson, Nathan Dickinson, Charles Dickinson and Charles D, Boyles, shall die, resign, fail to accept or become incapacitated to act as trustees, I hereby appoint the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Illinois, to be trustee herein in all of the trusts hereinbefore created, herby giving to the said Illinois Trust and Savings Bank all of the powers to be exercised in the same manner and for the same purpose as those given to my trustees above named." No 7 December 21, 1946 Illinois Trust & Savings Bank Chicago, Illinois Gentlemen: I learned from Judge Peacock's court at Deland, Florida that you are a trustee of the Melisa Dickinson estate, or at least that portion of it which will come to the National Woman Suffrage Association, at the death of Miss Katherine Boyles of Orange City, Florida. I am the President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and have been since the year 1916. At the time of Mrs. Dickinson's death and throughout the time required for the distribution of the estate in accordance with her will, Anna Howard Shaw was the president of the National Association. She was ill immediately after the time of the convention at which I succeeded her as President. She was very busy and not at all well, and I believe was never able to come to the headquarters in New York after her retirement which ended in her death. I did not learn from any source that provision had been made in Mrs. Dickinson's will for the National American Woman Suffrage Association. I believe it was at the time of Mrs. Boyle's death that I was informed of it by a member of the Anthony family. What became of the records that may have been kept at the headquarters concerning the estate of Mrs. Dickinson no one knows, but it may have been destroyed by some clerk clearing out the old correspondence. At any rate I do not possess a record which should be in my hands at this time. We hold an annual meeting usually during the winter months, and our next meeting will probably be held in January. Our Board consists of sixteen members and has no vacancies. A majority will be present. I wish to retire from the Presidency at this meeting and I want to present as complete a report on this matter as possible. I learn from Jude Peacock's court that the value of one-sixth of the estate which was to be used during their lifetime for the benefit of Mrs. Boyles and her daughter, Katherine was $94, 607, 03. At the death of Katherine Boyles in accordance with the will one-third of this should then come to the National American Woman Suffrage Association. At that time the one third would have been approximately $31, 335.00. When I was informed that there was such a bequest by 2. the niece of Susan B. Anthony I was told it was about $30,000. A good many years have passed since then. May I ask for a statement now as to the present value of the total one sixth and of our possible one third? What losses have there been in the principal? What decrease has there been in the income? What has been the cost of the care of the principal? Any other information which would be valuable to have on hand at the death of Miss Boyles I would like also to receive. I shall put the whole report in order for the meeting in January. I have written to and have received letters from Miss Boyles and have made it very clear to her that we are in no haste to receive this money, but merely to have a clear understanding about what the prospects may be. Recently the home occupied by Susan B. Anthony and her family for a longer period in Rochester, N.Y. has been purchased, and is entirely paid for. The committee in charge has been gathering various souvenirs to make the house a memorial to Miss Anthony who was an organizer of the National Association, and was its President for a number of years. They have no endowment fund to pay the necessary bills to keep the house in order. They are very anxious about it, and have suggested that at least some of the money eventually coming to the National American Women Suffrage Association should go into that fund. They want an answer. So I will render a report of your reply to the committee for the Anthony Memorial house in Rochester. I regret putting you in this trouble, but I think you will understand that it is due us to have such a report. Judge Peacock's court rendered the kind of report to me which they thought proper and added "It is perfectly proper for your organization to call upon the trustees for information of the counting in connection with this trust. Sincerely yours, [*No 8*] CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF CHICAGO CHICAGO 90, ILLINOIS PAUL C. BUTCHER SECRETARY December 31, 1946 National American Woman Suffrage Association 120 Paine Avenue New Rochelle, New York Attention Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt President Dear Mrs. Catt: Melissa Dickinson for Katherine Boyles U/W 2356 Receipt is acknowledged of your December 21, 1946 letter relative to the bequest to the National American Woman Suffrage Association under the Will of Melissa Dickinson. You will probably recall that you wrote to us about this matter on October 2, 1944 and that with our October 6, 1944 reply we sent you a copy of the Will of Melissa Dickinson. You are therefore probably acquainted with the provisions of the Will relative to this bequest. Melissa Dickinson died on November 11, 1910. Her Will named three individuals as Trustees and this Bank as a successor by consolidation to the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank became the Trustee in 1922. We have a copy of the Executor's final account in our files, which indicates the value of this Trust at the time of its establishment to be $94,607.03. The trust estate at the present time consists of the bonds and stocks shown on the enclosed statement of assets. At the present time these securities have a market value of approximately $95,000. Trustees under Illinois law are not required to file periodic accountings and consequently no accounting has ever been made in this Trust. We have periodically sent statements to the income beneficiary showing the cash transactions, both income and principal, since we became the Trustee. Upon distribution of the trust estate, after the death of Miss Katherine Boyles, the Trustee will be entitled to a distribution fee based on the value of the assets at that time of one percent. We trust that the foregoing will supply you with sufficient information to make your report to the Association, but should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to write to us again. Yours very truly Paul C Butcher Secretary PCB:DJL [*no 8*] CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF CHICAGO Trust Department Statement of Assets* NUMBER 2356 DEC 27 1946 DICKINSON MELISSA FOR KATHERINE BOYLES TRUST UNDER WILL ACCOUNT PAR VALUE DESCRIPTION ANNUAL INT. RATE (%) MATURITY CARRYING VALUE MO. DAY YEAR NUMBER OF SHARES OR NUMBER OF UNITS BONDS 6000 APPALACHIAN EL PR IST MTG 3.25 12/1/1970 3000 IOWA PUBLIC SERVICE CO IST MTG 2.75 6/1/1976 3000 PITTS CINN CHGO & ST L GEN E 3.375 10/1/1975 2500 U S A TREASURY BOND 1950 1.50 12/15/1950 7000 U S A WAR SAVINGS BOND SER G 2.50 12/1/1953 11600 U S A WAR SAVINGS BOND SER G 2.50 1/1/1955 200 U S A WAR SAVINGS BOND SER G 2.50 11/1/1956 6100 U S A WAR SAVINGS BOND SER G 2.50 5/1/1957 3000 VIRGINIAN RAILWAY IST LN REF B 3.00 5/1/1995 42400 STOCKS 30 BORG WARNER CORP 3.50 PFD P100 90 CONTL INSURANCE CO 3 AP PV 10 30 EASTMAN KODAK CO COM NPV 90 GEN FOODS CORP COM NPV 30 GEN MILLS INC 5PC CUM PFD P100 30 GEN MOTORS 5 DOL CUM PFD NPV 30 INTL HARVESTER 7PC CUM PFD 100 30 MARSHALL FIELD CO 4.25 PFD 100 30 NATL BISCUIT 7PC CUM PFD P 100 DATE OF ISSUANCE OF TAX WARRANTS IS SHOWN IN THE MATURITY COLUMN FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY. * CASH NOT INCLUDED UNLESS SPECIFICALLY STATED. CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF CHICAGO Trust Department Statement of Assets* 5-0-219 NUMBER R-9-45 PAR VALUE DESCRIPTION ANNUAL INT. RATE (%) MATURITY CARRYING VALUE MO. DAY YEAR NUMBER OF SHARES OR NUMBER OF UNITS 30 NATL LEAD CO 7 PC PFD A PV 100 90 PENNEY J C CO COM NPV 90 STAND OIL CO OF IND CAP PV 25 600 DATE OF ISSUANCE OF TAX WARRANTS IS SHOWN IN THE MATURITY COLUMN FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY. * CASH NOT INCLUDED UNLESS SPECIFICALLY STATED. No. 9 COPY [*no 9*] February 24, 1947. Mr. Paul C. Butcher Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company Chicago 90, Illinois. Dear Sir: Since I received your letter the National American Woman's Suffrage Association has held its annual Board meeting I have resigned as President owing to "age and infirmities". Mrs. F. Louis Slade of 49 East 67th Street, New York, N.Y. has been elected in my place. All the papers in my charge including the latest reports you have sent have been turned over to her. When and if there is any desire to communicate with the National American Woman's Suffrage Association please direce the communication to her. Very truly yours, 127 Birth Anniversary of Susan B. Anthony - [*x10*] MISS KATHERINE BOYLES ORANGE CITY, FLORIDA Feb. 15. 1947 Dear Mrs. Catt, You ask if I wish returned any of the papers I sent you. No. I thank you for your letters + the name of the lady who takes your place as Pres. N.A.W.S.Asso- I will notify my Atty- as you wish Mr Wm B. Browne at Adams, Mass. [he] has offered the Birthplace to the Selectmen of the Town of Adams- no action has been taken by them, as yet- I trust many pleasures may come to you and less duties\work. I am 78 in good health, but feel the need to do less- specially I am wanting some one to live with me\prepare the simple meals. House Keepers, even if [have?] 15.00 a week are not very useful- and this sum is more than I should pay with my income lessening each year- Sincerely, Katherine Boyles [*#11*] CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF CHICAGO CHICAGO 90, ILLINOIS PAUL C. BUTCHER SECRETARY February 26, 1947 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt 120 Paine Avenue New Rochelle, New York Dear Mrs. Catt: Melissa Dickinson for Katherine Boyles - U/W 2356 Thank you for your February 24 letter, informing us of your resignation as President of the National American Woman's Suffrage Association and the election of Mrs. F. Louis Slade to that office. The records of this Trust have been marked accordingly. Yours very truly Dan J. Leher for Paul C. Butcher Secretary PCB: DJL [*#13*] CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT 120 PAINE AVENUE NEW ROCHELLE NEW YORK September 25, 1946. Miss Katherine Boyles Orange City, Florida. My dear Miss Boyles: I received your card long ago but was very busy at the time and so am only able to reply now. Mrs. Howard has done pretty well in dealing with the Anthony house in Rochester. It is now paid for, and the National American Woman's Suffrage Alliance has raised enough money to pay the last bit of the debt for the purchase of the house and contributed $1000. for an endowment fund. The endowment fund will grow. I would like to have you know that the Board of the National American Woman Suffrage Association was about to dissolve when we learned for the first time of the funds Miss Melissa Dickinson had left to the National Association after the death of you and your mother. We decided to keep it alive so that it might be received by the National American in due time, and we now thought that the Board would not live so long. We had no desire to hurry your going, and believed it would be a long time from the moment we decided to continue. When a member of the Board dies, and several of them have died, for after all we are getting to be old people, we elect a new one to take her place – one who was younger, so that the Board might continue. We have nothing to spend the money for, but merely to aid in passing it on. Now at the next meeting we are going to take a vote to give a certain portion of that money to the Endowment Fund of the Anthony house in Rochester. I am very sure not to be here at that time, so I am anxious to have the vote taken now, and think it will be. I think that memorials which seem so good to us at the time they are created may become of little value if the people of another generation do not support them. We have a memorial in this town to Thomas Paine. The man died and left some money, and a building was erected at his request, but there was no endowment fund, and it does very little good. It has a little hall, and the building is too far away from the centre of the town to make it attractive. However, I hope the Anthony house in Rochester maybe an exception. Things left over from the Suffrage 2. movement have been deposited in various places. My own library including books from several other libraries went to the Congressional Library in Washington. We have a booth in the Smithsonian Institute and a little display in the museum at Canandaigua, where Miss Anthony had her famous trial. We have givensome souvenirs to other collections - one in California. If there is any question you would ever like to ask do not hesitate to do it, and I can answer directly, for I know you are very much interested in memorials to Miss Anthony as well as to others. Most cordially yours, Carrie Chapman Catt Addison Williams Administrator of Estate Orlando.Fla. #14 CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT 120 Paine Avenue New Rochelle New York February 11, 1947. By Tom Boyles Nephew of Kate Boyles Miss Katherine Boyles Orange City, Florida. My dear Miss Boyles: I have before me your letter of sometime ago, and will say that I thank you for all the information you gave me. I wrote to former Judge Peacock and got a report from him. I wrote to the bank and got a report from them, and with your consent I will keep the reports which you sent me as samples, but if you wish them again, you have but to say so, and I will forward them to you. We have had a meeting of the National American Board since I heard from you and I gave them the report and an account of all the things I had heard. The bank does not give a very clear report, as they are not obliged to according to the law. I am now eighty-eight years of age so I resigned as President, and Mrs. F. Louis Slade of 49 East 67 Street, New York, N.Y. is the new President. I was too old to do anything. The question arose as to whether they would give some portion of the bequest provived they ever received it to the endowment fund of the Anthony house, but they were unwilling to take a vote on that now, so it stands as always to be divided by the Board that exists when the time comes. This house in Rochester has been under discussion for many years as a memorial to Miss Anthony and the cause. At the time of her death it was proposed that we should buy the house and keep it as a memorial, but few were in favor of it because we needed money for the campaign. Now the house is actually paid for. They have a little start on an endowment fund, and they will certainly get on for a few years, and perhaps some people will make bequests. There never has been any talk in this part of the world about making any house in Massachusetts a memorial for there will never be money enough to give to endowment funds for two houses, and I doubt very much whether this one will be kept for a very long time. Today a meeting is being called to order in New York City by the Commision of the Status of Women. Each of the fifty-five nation members of the U.N.O. have been invited to send a delegate, and a good many have done so. They have come from Australia, Egypt, and many South Wmerican Countries. They now are going to discuss the status of women. 2 The first convention ever held by women in all the world was held just ninety-nine years ago. In thirty-five countries now women vote. I think they will propose that the other countries be given the vote soon. Probably Woman Suffrage will be a forgotten question ere many years have passed. We worked hard for it in our time, but after it arrived it seemed the objectors disappeared. If you do not want me to keep these financial papers please write soon. All the records and correspondence that I have had with you, the bank, etc. will be turned over within a few days to Mrs. Slade. Very sincerely yours, [*I wrote Mrs Catt the papers of mine she had, need not be returned to me. Katherine Boyles*] [*Mrs Catt died March 1947.*] It might be a useful thing, if you would write a little letter and pin it on your will. Tell your Executor to notify Mrs. Slade of your death and why: Mrs. Dickonson died in 1910. The estate was settled, the three brothers of Mrs. D were dead and even your mother was gone when in 1920 I learned from Lucy Anthony that the NAWSA were interested in her bequest. Miss Shaw had died and I had been president five years. The official papers were lost somehow. I do not want that to happen again. I have given the address of Mrs. Slade on first page and I have asked her to pin a letter to her will so that if she should die before you do, the information will pass on. Carrie Chapman Catt [*#15*] January 4, 1949. Dear Mr. Boyles: I greatly appreciate your informing me of the death of your Aunt, Miss Katherine Boyles, and I am more than glad to have the account in the Deland Sun News compiled by Miss Dickinson and Mrs. Murray. Also the copies of the letters between Miss Boyle and Mrs. Catt. The annual meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association Board comes next Monday, January tenth, when I shall present all of this to them. I am writing to Mr. Addison Williams, Administrator of the Estate, to know what our next steps should be. Sincerely yours Mrs. F. Louis Slade,President, National American Woman Suffrage Association. Mr. Tom Boyles, January 4,1949. Dear Mr. Williams: Miss Boyles's nephew, Mrs. Tom. Boyles, has sent me an account of her death, published in the Deland Sun News. The annual meting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association Board comes on next Monday ,January tenth, and I must report all of this to them, and I should greatly appreciate any further word from you before that time. Sincerely yours Mrs. F. Louis Slade, President National American Woman Suffrage Association. Mr. Addison Wiliams, Orlando, Florida. #12 Page 3 DELAND SUN NEWS Monday, Dec. 27, 1948 Miss Boyles Devoted Lifetime To Religious and Civic Work Editor's Note: Memorial services were held today for Miss Katherine Boyles, who died at her home at Orange City December 17. Because of her activity as a civic leader in Orange City for many years, the following resume of her life will be of interest to the many who knew her. It was compiled by Miss Ruth Dickson, a cousin of Lake Geneva, Wis., and Mrs. Oscar Murray of Orange City. Miss Katherine Boyles, daughter of Charles Carroll and Hannah Dickinson Boyles, was born in Chicago, Ill., Oct. 28, 1868. Her early life was spent in Chicago where she was graduated from an Episcopal school for girls, later taking a trip abroad with an uncle and aunt, Albert and Melissa Dickinson. She first came to Orange City about 1874 to visit her aunt, Melissa Dickinson who spent winters there. following Mrs. Dickinson's death in 1910, Miss Boyles continued to spend winters in the home her aunt had occupied. Later, she became a permanent resident. Dr. Frances Dickinson, also well known in Orange City, was another aunt of Miss Boyles. Lived in Chicago In the north, Miss Boyles lived with her family in Chicago, then in the suburb of Riverside; later in Lake Geneva, Wis.; and back to Winnetka, Ill. A sister, Mrs. Margaret Boyles Barnes, died in California in 1945, and a brother, Charles, in 1936 in Chicago. Among her surviving relatives are a sister-in-law, Mrs. Edith Boyles of Santa Monica, Calif.; a niece, Mrs. Barbara Boyles Waite of Glendale, Calif.; a nephew, Tom Boyles of Marion, Ind. and his children, Thomas Atwood (Woody) and Barbara Gay Boyles of Lake Worth, Fla.; two cousins, Ruth and Albert Boyd Dickinson of Lake Geneva, Wis. A cousin, Mrs. George O. Boyles of Montpelier, Vt. spent last winter with Miss Boyles in Orange City. There are many other relatives with whom she kept in touch. Keeps Genealogy One of Miss Boyles' interests was to keep the family genealogy written up to date, and her many notes carefully written in the Anthony book made that of much more value as a record and for reference. Susan B. Anthony was a cousin of her mother's. For this reason as well as her own convictions, Miss Boyles was much interested in woman's suffrage, also in the League of Women Voters. She was a charter member of the Florida League. At one time she was a member of Chicago chapter, DAR. One of the main causes for which she worked during her life time was the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She prepared exhibits for the fairs and was most faithful in promoting and attending WCTU meetings, never losing an opportunity to work for this cause. She served as president of the Orange City WCTU leading it to prominence in state work. She regularly attended and took active part in district and state conventions. She was a member of the board of directors of the Dickinson Memorial Library Association, making many contributions of books, magazines and gifts to its museum. LIfe Member VIA Miss Boyles was a life member and officer of the VIA, Woman's Club of Orange City, always holding one or more chairmanships. In 1937, she won the state forestry medal for the club as having done the most planting of trees, flowers and shrubs of any club in the state. She had a great love for trees and all things in nature and was a member of the State Audubon Society. She was a member of the Parent-Teacher Association of Orange City, annually providing a temperance program. Always a friend of children, she regularly gave each graduate of both white and colored schools a suitable gift. Always interested in government she was a regular attendant at town council meetings, was a charter member the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Cemetery Association. Reared in the Episcopal faith, she was a devoted member of the St. Barnabas Church of DeLand, but she often attended and helped other churches. A beloved leader in social, civic and religious work, forgetful of self-seeking always, Miss Boyles considered her money as a trust to be used in benevolences and charities that extended to all parts of the world. Just What Is Christmas Spirit? Savannah, Ga., Dec. 27 - (U.P.) - Cecil Mock wondered today just what constitutes Christmas spirit. Yesterday he went out to his garage to get his car, which he had not driven since early Christmas eve. He started the motor and put it into reverse. The motor hummed. The car stood still. Even more puzzled, he crawled under the car. Either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, it seemed, the driveshaft had been stolen. Legs No Bar To High I.Q. HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 27 - (U.P.) - Miss Pat Hall, otherwise known as Miss "Most Beautiful Legs in the World," took an I.Q. test today to prove a movie starlet's not so dumb. She came up with 113 - and that's as good as any housewife ever did. Miss Hall is gorgeous and blonde, but she is no dimwit. And now she can prove it - with charts and graphs and a lot of other psychological "mumbledegook." "She's what we call 'bright average,'" explained Dr. Don Prosser, the man who tested her for an hour and a half. "Housewives usually fall between 95 and 110 - or average. Professional gals start from 120 and go on up. "And the actors and actresses and vaudevillians we've tested haven't even passed 100. They've been about 97 and 95." RELIEF AT LAST For Your COUGH Creomulsion relieves promptly because it goes right to the seat of the trouble to help loosen and expel germ laden phlegm and aid nature to soothe and heal raw, tender, inflamed bronchial mucous membranes. Tell your druggist to sell you a bottle of Creomulsion with the understanding you must like the way it quickly allays the cough or you are to have your money back. CREOMULSION for Coughs, Chest Colds, Bronchitis 2 1/2% on INSURED SAVINGS This Association chartered and supervised by the United States government, recently increased its dividend rate to 2 1/2% per year. The safety of each investment is insured up to $5000.00 by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. ACCOUNTS OPENED ON OR BEFORE THE 10TH OF THE MONTH EARN DIVIDENDS FROM THE FIRST OF THAT MONTH DELAND FEDERAL Savings & Loan Association 118 N. Boulevard Phone 133 NEVER A FURNITURE SALE AS GREAT AS THIS ! CLEARANCE! 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