MCMURTREY, D. (Dr.) - will

MCMURTREY, BIRDSALL, SAGE

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner (email)
Date: 7/19/2005 at 07:28:32

Mills County Tribune
October 1901

Dr. D. McMurtrey the former Emerson physician and capitalist whose tragic death in Colorado a short time ago was chronicled in these columns, has left a will whose reading arouses a whole train of most interesting reminiscences. This will of the deceased Doctor’s tells a take of love and parental opposition that all the residents of Emerson remember most vividly. It was about eight years ago that Maud McMurtrey the Doctor’s daughter and Will Birdsall became interested in each other and this interest soon developed into a strong and vigorous dame of love. But the romance of this love-smitten couple was destined to be written in stormy chapters. The Doctor did not look with favor upon the prospective match and excercised all his ingenuity and energy to prevent it. There were all sorts of stirring incidents for the declaration of the good people of Emerson before the match was finally broken off. At one time Dr. McMurtrey attempted to shoot the unwelcome suitor his daughter’s hand and Will escaped only by being the quicker and more alert of the two. Maud married another fellow but it is alleged that she always entertained a good sized remnant of affection of her former lover. Thursday’s Omaha World-Herald has the following to say in commenting upon the contents of the Doctor’s will which was filed in Omaha for probate:

“The will of the late Dr. David L. McMurtrey has been placed on file and a petition for probate has been asked by the widow, Kate McMurtrey, who is names as administrator.

Dr. McMurtrey died at Boulder, Colo., from the result of burns received in a timber fire at that place. He was an old resident of Omaha and at the time of receiving the fatal injuries, was with his son, Clyde, looking after mining property they had in Colorado. He leaves an estate of $40,000.

The will disposing of the McMurtrey property was executed January 30, 1894. By its terms the wife receives one-third of the property. A daughter, Maude, was bequeathed $100 and the balance was to be equally divided between another daughter, Kate and the son, Clyde. March 16, 1896, a codicil was added to the will, proving that Maude should have $8,000 of the estate for her own use and benefit during her lifetime, if she always remained single. Without a date having been attached, subsequently another codicil was added. This provides that if Maude marries any other person than William Birdsall or Clifford Sage of Emerson, Ia., she is to share equally with the other two children.

That the daughter, Maude, will have as much of the property as either of the other children is evident, for in petitioning for the appointment of the administratrix, she is designated as a married woman, possessing the name of Robinson and residing at Pasadena, Cal.

It was supposed that Dr. McMurtrey had made a later will, and left it at Emerson for the words that he murmured to his son as he lay dying in Colo., but search failed to find it.

Mrs. Robinson and her husband are in the city, having been called here by the funeral of Dr. McMurtrey. People who have met them concur with the doctor’s implied opinion that his son in-law is a most acceptable gentleman, and that the doctor had cheerfully consented that his daughter should not remain single.