THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

December 6, 1895

 

A Claim to Millions.

 

           Attorney E. J. Goodrick, of this city, returned Thursday from St. Paul, where he had been several days acting as counsel in the celebrated Kittson case.  Mr. Goodrick represents the petitioner, Margaret Kittson who is endeavoring to obtain a share of the vast estate left by Norman Kittson.  Mr. Goodrick finished his argument in the case, which has not yet been decided.  This suit has features of a decidedly romantic character.  Norman Kittson came to this state in 1814 and engaged in fur trading with the Indians along the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers.  In the course of time he met and fell in love with a very comely Indian maiden.  The result was the two were married in 1833, the ceremony being performed in a Catholic church at Little Chute. Some years later Kittson went west, settling at Minneapolis, and in time became fabulously rich.  During his early residence in Minnesota he sought to induce his wife to go with him to his new home, and visited her several times for that purpose.  Her parents, however, opposed her going, as they had heard that Kittson was paying attention to another woman.  She did not go. Kittson still provided for her wants for a number of years, sending her money, clothing and provisions, and as late as 1880 he sent her a photograph of himself.  He died in 1888.

            Kittson had four children as the result of his first matrimonial venture, and some time after settling in Minneapolis he took another wife and raised a family.  This wife and other heirs are now in possession of the fortune accumulated by him, estimated at $5,000,000 or $6,000,000, and it is to establish her claim to it that the action is brought by the erstwhile Indian maiden, wife and mother.  Mrs. Kittson No. 1 resides near Shawano.

            The testimony in the case is exceedingly voluminous, covering 852 type-written pages.  Sixty-five or more witnesses were examined. – Oshkosh Times.