Ogden M. Bulson collection, 1886-1892
71 items
The Ogden M. Bulson collection consists primarily of correspondence related to the settlement of William H. Smith's estate, and also includes receipts for cheese and for estate-related money transfers. The first 17 items in the collection are receipts for cheese sold by Ogden M. Bulson in Rensselaer Falls, New York, dated between May and November 1886. The bulk of the material relates to the legal issues surrounding the estate of William H. Smith. Many of the letters are from William D. ("Don") Smith of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the deceased's nephew and Bulson's friend, and relate to ongoing disputes over appointing the estate's administrators and settling his uncle's will. William D. Smith repeatedly expressed his desire for a quick resolution, as he required money for a new business venture. Robert E. Waterman, an attorney from Ogdensburg, New York, worked closely with Bulson, who was eventually appointed an estate administrator. Both Bulson and Waterman corresponded with William D. Smith, sharing news of their correspondence with each other; these letters reflect ongoing difficulties in the case, which moved along more quickly after Bulson and Horace White were appointed estate administrators. Additional material includes three personal letters, including one from Thomas Peggs, who specialized in the manufacture of tombstones (October 21, 1891).