Thursday, August 2, 2018

Seavers in the News -- Estate of Bertha M. Seaver of Chicago in 1959

It's time for another edition of "Seavers in the News" - a semi-regular feature from the historical newspapers about persons with the surname Seaver that are interesting, useful, mysterious, fun, macabre, or add information to my family tree database.

This week's entry is from the Chicago [Ill.] Tribune newspaper dated 21 March 1959:


The transcription of this obituary is:

"ESTATE WORTH $1,588,461 LEFT BY MRS. SEAVER

"The estate of Mrs. Bertha M. Seaver, widow of Andrew Seaver, furniture manufacturer, who died in 1929, was placed at $1,588,461 in an inheritance return filed Friday with County Clerk Edward J. Barrett.

"She willed $94,000 to 25 relatives and friends and provided the remainder should be placed in trust with Northern Trust company for seven relatives.  On their deaths, one-third of the principal shall go to heirs of the seven and the balance shall be distributed among Travelers Aid Society, Illinois Society for Prevention of Blindness, Outing Association for Crippled Children, and the Lutheran Woman's League of Chicago.

"Mrs. Seaver lived at 581 Ingleside part, Evanston, and died Nov. 19, 1957, at age 82.  The return placed federal estate tax at $436,214 and Illinois tax at $38,428."

The source citation for this obituary is:

"Estate Worth $1,588,461 Left by Mrs. SeaverChicago [Ill.] Tribune newspaper, 21 March 1959, page 51, column 1, Mrs. Bertha M. Seaver obituary; digital image, Newspapers.com   (www.newspapers.com :  accessed 2 August 2018).

I searched my RootsMagic family tree database for Andrew (died 1929) and Bertha Seaver (died 1957) , and did not find them in my database.  

I searched on Ancestry.com for Andrew Seaver, born about 1870, and found 1880 to 1920 census records which led me to his parents, William and Anna Seaver, who were born in Norway.  I added their family to my RootsMagic family tree, and then found that Andrew E. Seaver married Bertha Moe in 1900 in Chicago.  Apparently, they had no children.  

I don't know who the seven relatives are who received a share of the trust after Bertha died.  My guess is that they are siblings, nieces and nephews of Bertha and Andrew.

Andrew's father, William Seaver, was probably born Viking Sjurson of ytre Kvarmo, Voss, Norway, son of Sjur Knutson and Ingeborg Vikingsdtr.  The Sjur Knutson family probably adopted the Seaver surname (it sounds like Sjur, apparently) in the 1870s when Norway required families to give up patronymics and adopt a surname.  

I am not related to Andrew or Bertha (Moe) Seaver, but I wish that I had been 60 years ago!

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Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

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3 comments:

Unknown said...

See email

Unknown said...

Hello, they did have children. I live in their old home. I have pictures of them as well as their grandson who recently passed in California.

vdb said...

I believe, Mrs. Seavers, as a widow purchased an old farm in Harrisville, MI. She lavishly furnished and restored this farm. She decided to live on this farm after a visit to Harrisville. She raised prize Hampshire sheep. Sometime after her death the farm was purchased by the Mainville family. As a young child (I'm now 66 y.o.) I spent time on this farm with my family, visiting my aunt, uncle and cousins. The farmhouse was spectacular with furnishings, tiles and wallpapers brought back from her travels to Italy. We had a great time playing and the barn and the little white children's playhouse. The property was graced by black walnut trees, grazing fields and surrounded by hilly terrain. My relatives sold the farm, I believe, in the late 1960's. I visited the property in about 1998. Not sure who owned it but it had been cut up into apartments, but much of the original tile, etc remained. It was later sold and I believe his is being restored by private owners. There are rumors it may become a bed and breakfast. Hope this helps.