Title:

Correspondence, 1887-1897

George W. Haight correspondence, 1887-1897

Creator/Contributor:

Haight, Geo. W. (George W.), 1842-1913, creator

Nineteen letters from San Francisco lawyer, George W. Haight to A.W. Smith in Grand Junction, Colorado, dated 1887 - 1897. All on letterhead printed with "Law offices of Taylor & Haight, 207 Sansome St., E.R. Taylor, G.W. Haight". Fifteen are typed and four are holographs; all are signed by Haight.

This correspondence documents Haight's legal efforts on behalf of A.W. Smith. Smith was acting as guardian of the Wynkoop sisters, Caroline and Bertha, after the death of their mother Ethel. Evidently the Wynkoop estate was related to the estate of George B. Reeve; it is likely that Ethel was Reeve's daughter. The Reeve estate had been handled by George Cadwalader whose wife was Reeve's sister. When George died his brother Charles served as his executor and was appointed as trustee for the Reeve estate in his stead. At the time of this appointment, the Court did not require that Charles Cadwalader post bond to ensure the value of the estate as was customary.

During the ten-year span of these letters, Haight tried to get Cadwalader to provide such a bond. He felt this was necessary as he explained after an initial meeting with Cadwalader. "I had previously been favored with a call from Gen'l. Cadwalader, and he had explained to me his situation. I must say that I was exceedingly surprised; I have always regarded him as a man of substantial wealth and good business ability but it now appears that he has but a limited amount of property, and to judge from his appearance his health is much shattered, although I think that he will recover." Much discussion involved land in Glen County that Cadwalader owned which was mortgaged in part to the Reeve estate. By 1897, however, this land has been sold to the State for taxes due and Haight had not yet received payment from Smith for the work he had done over the years. He concluded in the final letter: "No progress has been made in the suit since writing to you last. I am ready to proceed whenever you are prepared to remit the funds requested in my former communications."

Date:

1887 (issued)

Subject:

n-us-ca

Haight, Geo. W. (George W.) -- 1842-1913 -- Correspondence

Cadwalader, Charles -- 1833-1903 -- Trials, litigation, etc

Lawyers -- California -- San Francisco -- Correspondence

George W. Haight was a prominent attorney, practicing in San Francisco in partnership with Edward Robeson Taylor and, after 1906, in Berkeley until his death in 1913.

Charles Cadwalader was a pioneer settler of Tehama County where he founded the Bank of Tehama County in 1874. He had established his reputation as a civil engineer, working for the Central Pacific Railroad in northern California, and was appointed Brigadier General of Militia by Governor Newton Booth in 1873. His brother, George, an attorney in Sacramento, predeceased him in 1894.

George B. Reeve was a successful San Francisco businessman who also served in the California State Assembly during 1861. His sister was married to George Cadwalader.

George W. Haight correspondence

Unrestricted. Please credit California State Library.

Type:

biography

print

19 items

English

MANUSCRIPT SMCII Box 19 Folder 12

Origin:

California

Unrestricted. Please credit California State Library.