Family History by Robert Monroe Fleming (Sr.)

More Odds and Ends

Transcribed by Robert M. Fleming Jr.


Probate of Todd & Causey Partnership - Causey Death.

Probate Court of Spokane County State of Washington --- In the matter of the Partnership Estate - of - C E Causey, deceased, late of the firm of Todd & Causey --- Know all men by these presents: That I [some of the lines are on top of each other, mostly illegible] of the Estate of C E Causey, Deceased, have this 2nd day of August 1890, received from R H Todd administrator of the Partnership Estate of C E Causey Deceased, late of the firm of Todd and Causey, the following described property belonging to said deceased out of said partnership estate to-wit:

An undivided one half interest in and to, Lot One, Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six in Block 35 Heaths Third Addition to Spokane Falls in Spokane County Washington; and one barn, one wind mill, water tanks and pipes. Also an undivided interest in Lot Ten in Block 35 Heahts Third Addition of Spokane Falls; and one barn situated thereon; Also an undivided interest one half interest that is, in a two third interest in three mining claims; Webfoot, Tenderfoot and Mytrle. In Kootenai County Idaho.

Also and undivided one half interest in the following personal property; 77 milk cows, 17 dry cows, 4 calves, 3 bulls, 1 heifer, 2 work horses, 7 ponies, 2 lumber-wagons, 2 milk wagons, 1 hack, 1 cart, 2 wheelbarrows, 1 pair scales, 1 pair steel yards, 1 boiler and engine, 150 milk cans, 2 milk tanks, 1 cooler, 1 stove, 7 lanterns, 2 churns, 1 freezer, 1 butter-worker, lot of milk cans and pans, 1 separator, 1 cross-cut saw, 1 forge, vise, anvil and tools, 1 sled, 1 set of runners, 1 coutting box, 70 feet of iron pipe, 4 sets of harness, 1 cart harness, 1 fur coat, 1 bed-stead, mattress, 3 hogs, cash $2.04.

That said property is paid and transferred to me as said administrator. Subject to the claim of R H Todd surviving partner of the late firm of Todd and Causey, of $2012.33 to be paid out of the Estate of C E Causey, Deceased, in accordance with the order of the Court heretofore made herein. The above described property this day transferred to me being all the interest of said deceased in the partnership Estate of Todd and Causey. and I here receive said interest subject to the claim of said R H Todd and agree to pay the same before the final settlement of said estate of C E Causey deceased.

( The following is handwritten)

The above papers being all the property on hand on June 22, 1890, except as to one black pony which has strayed and cannot be found.
Signed by       Bruce Wolvourton       Aug 2, 1890.

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Note: The contents of this manuscript were not gained by going through the Nance and McCormick history Books. Except now and then to verify certain items from the varied notes of Iva Causey Fleming. Her notes seemed to have picked out the most important items in the books. Since more of those notes have been studied some more will now be used here in because of their pioneer importance and interesting reading.

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Josiah Hughes Bell learned the hatters trade as ayoung man under the guidance of two hatter uncles to whom he was apprenticed. On becoming of age he went to Natchitoches in then Louisiana Territory where he set up business with a junior partner. Having an exceptionally keen mind Mr Bell combined trading in pelts the trappers and Indians brought to his business with the making of hats very successfully. After the prosperity of thefirst year Mr Bell left the most of the running of the business to the junior partner so that he could woo and marry the lady of his choice who was a close friend of the family of Andrew McCormick living in Christian County [the preceding line is the last visible line on the page with a gap of about 1½ inches to the bottom of the page. There may be missing lines, but there seems no disruption of continuity] Kentrucky. The lady he intended marrying was the brilliant Miss McKenzie. Taking his bride back to Natchitoches he found that by the end of the second year his business was verging on bankruptcy. It seems his junior partner was not very honest. Had quietly placed most of the firms assets in cash then had disappeared. So mr. Bell was faced with starting anew.

About this time a friend of long standing Moses Austin renewed acquaintances trying to interest Mr Bell in a colonizing idea in Texas, then a Mexican, rather Spanish at that time, territory. The idea appealed to Mr Bell. His business failure had soured him on Natchitoches. Mr Austin had a brother Stephen who was making the contacts in the U S territories interesting people in the colony idea. While Moses was going through political Spanish and Fench channels to try to get the papers, assignment permission to bring in the three hundred odd colony families. The French having just sold the Louisiana territory to Mr Jeffereson, president of the U S, still had qite a bit of influence in all this Texas area. (Stephen was a son not a brother of Moses Austin). A route through Natchitoches or from new Orleans across the Gulf by water was preferred to one through the new Arkansas Territory to bring the colony families from Louisiana. Mr and Mrs Bell joined Stephen Austin in the planning and moving when Moses Austin finally obtained the permit papers with the aid of prominent men at Bexar and Monterey. The Baron deBastrop gave assistance. Moses Austin returned to Natchitochee with his colonizing permission into Texas where he died suddenly. At the last instructing Stephen in every thing he could and obtained Stephen's promise to follow through.

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In Tim Menees column of Post-Intelligencer - Seattle Wash - 23 Feb. 1975 - Action. ---- $400 For Nothing.

My parents are in their late 70s. My Mother has always wanted to trace her ancestry back to England ... where she is certain there is an uncollected estate.

In 1970 she obtained the name of a London firm, Ottley & Ottley Genealogists, from the British Embassy. She asked if they could check.

They agreed and asked for a $150 fee to start. Two years later, they finally wrote and said they needed another $250. They said they were making progress.

Later that year, they told us they could not find any wills and doubted if any existed.

That isnt much for $400. My parents cannot really afford $400 but it really meant a lot to my Mother. She had faith in these people.

This had previously sustained her interest but now she has lost all incentive. - K D Kent.

Action: We never heard from Ottley & Ottley, and according to the U S Embassy in London, they went out of business "some time ago".

The Embassy sent us a list of London attorneys which we are passing on. You may wish to write to one on your Mother's behalf.

Note: This article seemed so timely, just when I was completing a summary of family traditions and history from old letters and papers and notes of Grandma Jennings Causey and Mother Iva Florence Causey Fleming, that it sees logical to include said article here in. ---- RMF

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As near as the early Jennings ancesters in America could determine the name of the Jennings who died on the ship on his way to America with his wife was William. That was in the early 1700s. The son born to Mrs Jennings on the ship just before arrival in American waters was named Charles Lawson Jennings. As near as could be determine, although there seemed to be some question as to the correctness there of. This son was born not long after William Jennings died aboard ship. These names listed here have been passed down throgh the years as being correct.

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This manuscript does not contain the complete family history as printed in the Nance, McCormick books. Nor the complete notations in Iva Causey Fleming's manuscript and many loose papers. Only what seemed to be the most informative parts, the most interesting. That would, should be, the most enlighteningof those early peioneer days; and the determined means in which people created a way of life for themselves and their families. But every paper, letter in Grandma Causey's handwriting or over her signature was copied here in as she had written. For in every one that I found was some information of importance.

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©2010 Robert M. Fleming Jr.

This page was last revised on 4 January 2010.