The Shadowy Claim to a Pioneer's Fortune

A claimant to the estate of Franklin Matthias, a pioneer and prominent citizen of this city in the old days, has appeared and laid claim to the whole of his estate, amounting to about $40,000. The claimant is a Mrs. Rebecca Lena Graham, who says that she is the lawful daughter of Matthias by a wife who died long before him, and that her maiden name was Rebecca Lena Matthias. Her identity is not well established, as the claim was only filed yesterday and notice served upon Mr. Samuel L. Crawford, administrator for the estate. Mr. Matthias had not been a resident of this city for some years prior to his death, but had returned to Blairsville, Pa., where he had sisters and other relatives who have heretofore been regarded as his heirs. It is believed that Mrs. Graham is the daughter of Skookum Susy, a duwamish squaw whose name was connected with both Henry L. Yesler and Franklin Matthias in the early days. It is said that the paternity of Susy's children was extremely doubtful. When Mr. Crawford received notice of the claim, he immediately telegraphed to Charles Matthias in Chicago. The fact that Mrs. Graham claims to be the lawful daughter of Matthias and that she says her mother died years prior to her father's death, but remains silent as to her mother's name or the place of her birth, tends to confirm the theory. It is also well known that in 1860 a girl was born to Skookum Susy whose paternity was in doubt, and although this daughter was a protege of Yesler's, she was in a way patronized by Matthias, who deeded her two lots on Sixth and Jefferson streets.