Estate of Johann Friedrich (1912)

Document Type: Summary of Johann Friedrich Kohlhepp Estate
Document Date: June 1, 1912
Created by: Unnamed Estate Administrator
Addressed to: Amelia Piquet?
People referenced: Johann Friedrich Kohlhepp, Amelia Piquet, Eda Epple, other inferred heirs of the estate (such as Fred)

"Boston, June 1, 1912

Estate of Frederick Kohlhepp

The following information is given for the benefit of the heirs of Frederick Kohlhepp.

*******

Assets of estate at death of Fr. Kohlhepp.

Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1500.
Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1800.
Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2000.
Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1910.
Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $700.

99 Brookside Ave (Assessed 3000.)

Total $10,910.00

--   --   --

Expenditures on account of death:

Mrs. Piquet, Services attending Mr. Kohlhepp   $1000.
Doctors, undertakers, assistants, etc.           375. (Approx)
Fixing over house 99 Brookside Avenue,           300.     "
Miscellaneous, bond, copies of appoint., etc.     60.     "
                                                _____
Total to date                                  $1735.00
Approximate final total                         2000.00

The expenses ultimately will probably be around $2,000.00, which will leave about $8900.00 to be divided among the heirs. From this $8900 should be deducted the estate, $3000.00, which cannot be divided of course until it is sold. This leaves a net balance of $5900. This balance divided into six leaves practically $1000 in cash for each of the six children of Mr. Kohlhepp. One of these sixths will be sub-divided into fourths, giving to the children of Eda Epple approximately $250 apiece.

The above sum will of course be increased when the property on Brookside Avenue is sold, and attempts will be made to do so at once. It is a question how much can be received for the attorney for a purchaser discovered certain defects in the title. The defects, while not material in some ways, were yet of such nature that the attorney refused to allow his client to purchase as he intended to do. This brought the matter back where it was in the beginning. This was the property on Boylston Avenue now Amory Street.

I am in hopes of being able to dispose of both of these mortgages on the Amory Street property, but expect it will take some time to do so. When they are disposed of, I shall make a partial distribution of the actual cash on hand. The law of this state provides that no final distribution shall be made for the full of two years, and that the administrator or executor shall at all times have enough money on hand to meet any outstanding or unexpected bills. For this reason I have held in the bank all the money I have received up to the present time.

The house, 99 Brookside Avenue, was in a very bad condition. No repairs had been made thereon for a great many years. The underpinning, foundation, and structure as a whole, was found pretty well rotted, and had to be practically replaced. The interior walls were covered with bugs underneath the top coating of paper (there being some six coats of paper in all thereon). To fix the house in proper shape to let out for tenants, or to make a sale and get a suitable price, required an additional expense larger than was estimated. To offset this expense, we are receiving monthly as rental for the property,- $12 for the lower floor, and $8 for the upper floor, making $20 in all.

You will observe from the above statement that your administrator is doing all in his power to straighten out the condition of affairs so as to make a distribution possible.

Very respectfully"

Observations:

• A little over 4 months later, and Johann's estate had not been distributed amongst his children yet. The cremation, burial, obituary, services, and so on had been taken care of, but some items were holding up the distribution of assets. We can see that the home was in a bad condition, making it hard to sell. Johann had been in bad health, and while Amelia had seen to his care and got an assistant as well, there was no handyman in or outside of the family that was making repairs. The description of the bugs and the six coats of paper leaves quite the image as regards to the state of the home.
• It is curious what the four different mortgages related to, and if that tied into other property that Johann Friedrich had owned. I expect so, and that these were the properties north of Stony Brook (since covered up by the city).
• Roughly $1500 would be distributed to the Kohlhepp children after the Brookside property was sold. About $1000 could be distributed prior to this. This, along with portion of Ernst Wetzler's estate that Fred was distributed, must have helped his family circumstances considerably out in Idaho.