urn:taro:tamu.cush.00127 Inventory of the George W. Pickett Papers: 1899-1907 (bulk: 1905-1907) Finding aid prepared by Liticia Salter Cushing Memorial Library, Texas A & M University
College Station, TX 77843-5000 Phone: 979/845-1951 Fax: 979/845-1441 Email: cushing-library@tamu.edu
2002 Finding aid encoded by Liticia Salter in EAD Version 1.0 as part of the TARO project, November 2002 Finding aid written inEnglish. Tue Jul 22 14:56:53 CDT 2003 urn:taro:tamu.cush.00127 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (20030505). Descriptive Summary and Abstract Cushing Memorial Library
College Station, TX 77843-5000
Pickett, George W. Inventory of the George W. Pickett Papers 1899-1907 (bulk: 1905-1907) .2 linear feet. George W. Pickett was born 12 January 1835, most probably near Junction City or Eugene, Oregon. Based on those persons mentioned in bequests in his Last Will and Testament(22 April 1902), it appears that he did not have a wife or children. Pickett died 22 November 1902 in Eugene Oregon. Pickett was probably buried in the Eugene, Oregon Masonic Cemetery. The bulk of the George W. Pickett Papers (1899-1907) are typed legal documents concerning the contestation (1904-1905) of George W. Pickett's Last Will and Testament by Mrs. Katie White (who was apparently William G. Pickett's only living child, and the niece of George W. Pickett) et al., against Mrs. Agnes C. Joyce (who was the sister of both William G. and George W. Pickett) et al. A professionally printed legal opinion from the Supreme Court of Oregon, and several handwritten, undated documents are also present, as well as a few miscellaneous items, including an Elks Lodge No. 357 (Eugene, Ore.) membership card for George W. Pickett, a photograph of George W. Pickett's grave, and two cards containing funeral announcements, one for William G. Pickett, the other for George W. Pickett. One item found with the papers, an issue of the Class Clatter newsletter from McAllen, Tex., dated 1927, is probably unconnected with George W. Pickett. It was not until 1904 that a legal struggle ensued over the distribution of George W. Pickett's estate, which included cash and a valuable piece of real estate in downtown Eugene, Oregon, not mentioned in the will or inventories. Only after the court appeals have been settled does mention of this parcel of land surface, when it is reported to garner at sale $20,000, which goes to Agnes C. Joyce. The sale is handled by her son, J. D. Chenowith, a banker, S. B. Eakin, who witnessed George W. Pickett's will, and an attorney, George B. Dorris, who signed the will for George W. Pickett, also acted as administrators of the George W. Pickett estate. After the court appeals were settled in favor of Agnes C. Joyce, it appears that another one of the heirs, W. H. Hoffman, was also interested in the same piece of real estate, and acted as agent for its sale. Dykes MSS 00127 English. Biographical Note

George W. Pickett was born 12 January 1835, most probably near Junction City or Eugene, Oregon. He appears to have been a reasonably prosperous owner of real estate and, based on those persons mentioned in bequests in his Last Will and Testament, it appears that he did not have a wife or children during his lifetime. Pickett died 22 November 1902 in Eugene Oregon. If interred according to his wishes, expressed in the will executed 22 April 1902, seven months before his death, Pickett was buried in the Eugene, Oregon Masonic Cemetery.

A funeral notice included in the papers mentions the death of W. (William) G. Pickett, who was a business partner with James Milliorn in a dry-goods business in Junction City, Oregon. Based on the contents of the will of George W. Pickett, it is likely that William G. Pickett, who died 23 July 1899, and George W. Pickett were brothers. William G. Pickett was buried in the Milliorn Cemetery in Junction City, Oregon, with, presumably, other members of the family: Ada T. Pickett; Benia Pickett; Rachel Pickett; along with several members of the Milliorn family.

Scope and Content Note

The bulk of the George W. Pickett Papers (1899-1907) are typed legal documents concerning the contestation (1904-1905) of George W. Pickett's Last Will and Testament by Mrs. Katie White (who was apparently William G. Pickett's only living child, and the niece of George W. Pickett) et al., against Mrs. Agnes C. Joyce (who was the sister of both William G. and George W. Pickett) et al. A professionally printed legal opinion from the Supreme Court of Oregon, and several handwritten, undated documents are also present, as well as a few miscellaneous items, including an Elks Lodge No. 357 (Eugene, Ore.) membership card for George W. Pickett, a photograph of George W. Pickett's grave, and two cards containing funeral announcements, one for William G. Pickett, the other for George W. Pickett. One item found with the papers, an issue of the Class Clatter newsletter from McAllen, Tex., dated 1927, is probably unconnected with George W. Pickett.

Although George W. Pickett died in 1902, it appears that it was not until 1904 that a legal struggle ensued over the distribution of his estate, which included cash and a valuable piece of real estate in downtown Eugene, Oregon. Heirs mentioned in the will who received an inheritance were: Katie White, William G. Pickett's daughter and George W. Pickett's niece; W. H. Hoffman and Mrs. W. H. Hoffman, who were said to be close friends of George W. Pickett; the Eugene Masonic Lodge; Julia H. Vaughn, James McGinnis, Elihu McGinnis, and G. W. Fullerton, the niece and nephews of George W. Pickett, who were the children of his deceased sister, Vina McGinnis; Mary Woods, R. K. Trout, and John L. Trout, the niece and nephews of George W. Pickett, who were the children of his deceased sister Elizabeth Trout; Lavina Spear and George Pickett, a neice and nephew of George W. Pickett, who were the son and daughter of his deceased brother, James Pickett; and George W. Pickett's sister, Agnes C. Joyce.

Very likely the papers present a possible breach of fiduciary duties, since the will was contested on the grounds that it had been drawn up and signed by parties having an interest in the outcome. Doubts are also cast upon whether or not George W. Pickett actually authored the will, as well as whether or not George W. Pickett was of sound mind if he did write the will. The possibility of undue influence upon George W. Pickett during his last illness is suggested.

In addition, a substantial property apparently owned by George W. Pickett at the time of his death, located in downtown Eugene, Oregon, is missing from both the inventory of his estate and the text of his will. Only after the court appeals have been settled does mention of this parcel of land surface, when it is reported to garner at sale $20,000, which goes to Agnes C. Joyce. The sale is handled by her son, J. D. Chenowith (variously spelled in the papers as Chenoworth, Chenwith, Chenoweth, and Chewith.)

A banker, S. B. Eakin, who witnessed George W. Pickett's will, and an attorney, George B. Dorris, who signed the will for George W. Pickett, also acted as administrators of the George W. Pickett estate. After the court appeals were settled in favor of Agnes C. Joyce, it appears that another one of the heirs, W. H. Hoffman, was also interested in the same piece of real estate, and acted as agent for its sale. It does not appear that Katie White and the other friends and family members were aware of the existence of this valuable real estate, based on papers filed with the court and present in this collection.

Bibliography: Milliorn Cemetery Index: Junction City, Lane Co., Oregon. http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/or/lane/cemetery/milliorncemindx.txt [Accessed Fri Nov 15 2002 ] Pioneer Biographies–James Polk Milliorn. http://members.cox.net/lvtree/JamesMilliorn.htm/ [Accessed Fri Nov 15 2002 ]

Organization of the Papers

This collection is organized into three series.

Series 1. Correspondence, 1899-1907. Series 2. Legal and Financial Documents, 1902-1907. Series 3. Miscellaneous, 1899-1927. Arrangement of the Papers

This collection is arranged chronologically

 Access

No restrictions.

 Usage Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

 Online Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog of Cushing Memorial Library. Researchers wishing to find related materials should search the catalog under these index terms.

Names Chenowith, J. D.--Correspondence. Chenowith, J. D.--Trials, litigation, etc. Dorris, George B.--Correspondence. Dorris, George B.--Trials, litigation, etc. Eakin, S. B.--Correspondence. Eakin, S. B.--Trials, litigation, etc. Hendricks, T. G.--Correspondence. Hendricks, T. G.--Trials, litigation, etc. Hoffman, W. H.--Correspondence. Hoffman, W. H.--Trials, litigation, etc. Joyce, Agnes C.--Corrrespondence. Joyce, Agnes C.--Trials, litigation, etc. Pickett, G. W. (George W.)--Will. Pickett, W. G. (William G.)--Trials, litigation, etc. Pickett, W. G. (William G.)--Correspondence. White, Katie--Trials, litigation, etc. Organizations Bronauch & Bronauch--trials, litigation, etc.. Chenowith Grain Co.--History Elks (Fraternal order). Lodge No. 357 (Eugene, Or.)--Trials, litigation, etc. Oregon. Supreme Court--Trials, litigation, etc. Watson & Beekman--trials, litigation, etc. Subjects Real property--Oregon--Eugene. Vendors and purchasers--Oregon--Eugene. Real estate agents--Oregon--Eugene. Places Eugene (Or.)--History. Provenance

Received in repository in the 1980s.

 Processing Information

Processed by Liticia Salter in November 2002.

 Detailed Description of the Papers

Series 1. Correspondence, 1899-1907.

Correspondence from William G. Pickett to Agnes C. Joyce concerning the state of his health, letters to J. D. Chenowith from S. B. Eakin, George Dorris, and W. H. Hoffman concerning sale of Pickett Block of real estate in Downtown Eugene, Oregon.

1/1 Pickett, William G. to Agnes C. Joyce. re: visiting, his health. ALS, 1 leaf with original envelope. 3 July 1899. 1/1 Dorris, George B. to Mr. J. D. Chenowith. re: decision of Oregon Supreme Court. TLS, 1 leaf. 23 March 1907. 1/1 Dorris, George B. to J. D. Chenowith. Western Union Telegram. Typed, 1 leaf with original envelope. 30 April 1907. 1/1 Dorris, George B. to J. D. Chenowith. Western Union Telegram. Typed, 1 leaf. 30 April 1907. 1/1 Hendricks, T. G. to Agnes C. Joyce. re: litigation involving the Pickett block . TL, 1 leaf. 9 May 1907. 1/1 Eakin, S .B. to Agnes C. Joyce. re: letter to Uncle Charlie Davis. TLS, 1 leaf. 5 August 1907. 1/1 Dorris, George B. to J. D. Chenowith. re: sending copy of report from Mr. Eakin. TLS, 2 leaves. 13 September 1907. Series 2. Legal and Financial Documents,1902-1907.

Beginning with the Last Will and Testament of George W. Pickett, this series includes extensive legal briefs concerning the contestation of the will by two of the heirs to the estate.

 1/2 Last Will and Testament of George W. Pickett, Typed, 4 leaves, 23 April 1902. 1/2 Memorandum of Agreement to law firm of Bronauch & Bronauch and regarding legal services. TLS, 1 leaf. 16 February 1904. 1/2 Memorandum of Agreement to law firm of Watson & Beekman regarding legal services. TLS, 2 leaves. 16 February 1904 1/2 Appellant's Brief. In the Supreme Court of the State of Oregon, Katie White (et al) vs. Agnes C. Joyce (et al). October 1905. 1/2 Petition to Supreme Court of Oregon and ruling concerning the will of George W. Pickett. Typed, 27 leaves. 19 March 1907. 1/2 Hoffman, W. H. to Chenowith Grain Co. Telegram concerning monetary offer for Pickett Block of real estate. Printed, 1 leaf. 30 April 1907. 1/2 Hoffman, W. H. to Chenowith Grain Co. Telegram concerning monetary offer for Pickett Block of real estate. Printed, 1 leaf. 1 May 1907. 1/2 Legal document for distribution of the estate of George W. Pickett. Typed, 2 leaves. 12 September 1907. 1/2 Legal document concerning the sale of the personal property of the George W. Pickett estate. Handwritten, 1 leaf, Undated. 1/2 Draft of legal document by brother of George W. Pickett regarding his Last Will and Testament. Handwritten, 2 leaves. Undated. Series 3. Miscellaneous, 1899-1927.

Contents of this series are two funeral notices, a photograph of a gravesite, a membership card, and a Class Clatter newsletter.

 1/3 Funeral notice for William G. Pickett (brother of George W. Pickett). Printed card. 23 July 1899. 1/3 Identification card: George W. Pickett's membership in Elks Lodge No. 357, Eugene, Oregon. 13 October 1902. 1/3 Funeral remembrance card for George W. Pickett. Printed card, 22 November 1902. 1/3 Class Clatter newsletter from McAllen, Texas. (This piece of ephemera does not appear to relate to this collection). 16 January 1927. 1/3 Photograph: Gravesite of George W. Pickett, shows headstone. Matted on black card, 5" X 4", Undated.