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Decree of Settlement of Final Account and of Final Distribution in the matter of the estate of Kate D. McLaughlin, deceased
SFH 402
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Title: Decree of Settlement of Final Account and of Final Distribution in the matter of the estate of Kate D. McLaughlin, deceased
Dates: 1890
Collection Number: SFH 402
Creator/Collector:
California. Superior Court (San Francisco City and County). Probate Department
Extent: 1 folder
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: Distribution of the estate of Kate D. McLaughlin, widow of Charles McLaughlin, railroad contractor.
Language of Material: English
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.
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.
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
Donation, Sonoma County Library, 2016.
Biography/Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Probate law and practice—California—San Francisco
Distribution of decedents’ estates—California—San Francisco
Land ownership--California
McLaughlin, Kate Dillon, 1842-1888
McLaughlin, Charles, d. 1883
Crocker, Mary V. Ives, d. 1929
Winship, Kate M. Dillon, d. 1920
Casey, Maurice
McLaughlin family
San Francisco (Calif.)–History—19th century
San Francisco (Calif.)—History--Sources