Heiress Living In Lapeer

As seen in the Los Angeles Herald, Volume XXXI, Number 80, 19 December 1903:

HEIRESS TO FORTUNE BELIEVED SHE WAS POOR 

Strange Legacy Mystery for Probate Court to Unravel

CHICAGO. Dec. 18.—Left an heiress in her infancy and only discovering the fact when she was 27 years old and married, is the experience related to Probate Judge Cutting by Mrs. Clara Lang Malcolm. In proceedings begun to ascertain what had become of an estate valued at $135,000 alleged to have been dissipated by her father and guardian, C. W. Lang, once a real estate dealer In Chicago. The court ordered a box In a safety deposit vault opened in the hope that some remnant of the property may be discovered. Mrs. Malcolm told the court that her mother [Clara Irene Day] died in 1876. Immediately afterward the little girl was sent to her father's parents in Lapeer, Mich. Occasionally, she said, her father sent her money, the largest single sum being $30, but she never knew she was an heiress until she was married last June and went to reside in Ann Arbor. Judge Cutting ordered a citation issued for the plaintiff's father to compel his appearance in court.

Note:  According to the 19th March 1905 issue of the Chicago Tribune, Dr. V. C. Price, Surety, will pay $100,000.00 to satisfy a $165,000.00 judgement against Cuthbert W. Laing in favor of his daughter. [Source - Fold3]

Name: Clara I Laing

Census  1900

Lapeer city Ward 2-3, Lapeer, Michigan

Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

Alfred A Vosburgh Head M 57 New York

Grace L Vosburgh Wife  F 56 England

Ann L Vosburgh Daughter F 20 Michigan

Anna I Laing Mother-in-law F 92 England

Clara I Laing Niece F 23 Illinois

Mollie Lobstein Servant F 18 Canada Eng

Name: Clara Laing

Census  1880

Columbiaville, Lapeer, Michigan

Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

David Laing Self  M 74 England

Anne Laing Wife  F 72 England

Clara Laing Granddaughter  F 4 Illinois

Nancy Johnson Other F 20 Michigan

Samuel Williams Other M 25 Georgia