Decree of Settlement of Final Account and of Final Distribution in the matter of the estate of Kate D. McLaughlin, deceased, 1890

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Summary

Title:
Decree of Settlement of Final Account and of Final Distribution in the matter of the estate of Kate D. McLaughlin, deceased
Dates:
1890
Creators:
California. Superior Court (San Francisco City and County). Probate Department California. Superior Court (San Francisco City and County). robate Department
Abstract:
Extent:
1 folder
Language:
Preferred citation:

Decree of Settlement of Final Account and of Final Distribution in the matter of the estate of Kate D. McLaughlin, deceased. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

Background

Scope and content:

The printed Decree comprises 50 leaves, filed May 23, 1890; certified by County Clerk July 28, 1890; recorded with Alameda County Recorder August 2, 1890. Maurice Casey was executor of the estate, which passed to Mrs. McLaughlin’s niece, Kate May Dillon and Mary Virginia Ives Crocker. Includes inventory of furniture, paintings, books, jewelry, wearing apparel, cash, stocks, bonds, other personal property, as well as judgments, promissory notes, unsecured accounts, notes secured by mortgages on real estate, and an inventory of real estate in multiple California counties and in Utah territory. Some annotations in ink and pencil throughout.

Biographical / historical:

Kate Dillon married Charles McLaughlin in Indiana in 1857. McLaughlin and his wife moved to California, where he was the contractor for the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad, and later with Western Pacific Railroad and Central Pacific Railroad. McLaughlin is said to have been second only to Leland Stanford in terms of land ownership in California. He was shot and killed by a former employee in 1883, and his estate passed to Kate McLaughlin. She died in 1888, leaving a fortune which was estimated as being between $2,000,000 and $4,000,000, which passed to her niece, Kate M. Dillon, and to her friend, Mary V. Ives Crocker.

Acquisition information:
Donation, Sonoma County Library, 2016.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center staff.
Date Prepared:
1890
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

Decree of Settlement of Final Account and of Final Distribution in the matter of the estate of Kate D. McLaughlin, deceased. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Website