St. Louis
Richmond, April 1899
St. Louis
Richmond, April 1899
A note from Clarence Gennett: Fred 9 3/4 lbs. Clarence 10 lbs. Harry 10 1/4 lbs. Rose 9 1/2 lbs.
"The Gennett House": "Alice Gennett was president of the Gennett Theatre Company, and a member of the Richmond Musical Club which produced musical entertainments open to the public. With the death of Henry Gennett in 1922, Mrs. Gennett took an active role in the management of the Starr Company. She became vice-president in 1922, and was later elected chairman of the board in 1925.
"Alice Gennett continued to live in the house until 1929." (The Gennett House...unpubl.)
Donat, The Earlhamite (1992): When Henry died, he left his entire business to his sons, "though his daughter was his darling...Her mother contested the will, and as a result Rose inherited a third interest in the Starr Piano Company's holdings on the West Coast, including a retail piano store in downtown Los Angeles and a wholesale refrigeration supply store. The Martins, with Rose's mother [Alice], moved there permanently." (Donat, The Earlhamite, 1992)
E. Conrad: "Grandmother did not approve of having her picture taken--nor smoking, nor drinking just chewing gum. Dad made wine from our arbor every fall and kept her supplied for 'medicinal purposes.' and she had the Lumsden stubbornness and could have a very nasty disposition.
A letter: "Los Angeles Calif/ July 30- 1936/ Dear Robert:/ I have given your letter to Aunt Rose interested study and I doubt if you fully understand all of this unpleasant situation. I have had your grandfather's will examined by legal authority and it has been pronounced absolutely secure, non-breakable, and the fact that it has been a family controlled trusteeship for fourteen years adds to its strength. Your Uncle Clarence has always managed the real estate- your father has looked after the figures &c of the income tax. I have kept the records of the Estate and have them all- they have been balanced every month and are strictly correct with the bank's monthly statement. I have bought- with the full consent of my co-trustees with the majority of the income received, the various stocks of the Starr Piano Co. and its branches-placed them in the Estates name for the use of my children after my death. I would state several times some of my sons checked against the bank balance of the Estate without asking my permission or consulting me. My attention has been called to the fact that after those purchases were over six years age- they become assets of the Estate. My co-trustees were as ignorant of that law also. Just as soon as we are settled in our new home- we are moving tomorrow- I will rectify that mistake as far back as is allowed- will issue monthly statements- an I am perfectly willing that every trustee if they so desire can keep a separate book. it is very light work only a few entries monthly on Cr. or Db. I am assured that the only person who could bring suit against the management is the fiduciary who could sue any of the trustees who have mismanaged the stocks owned by the Estate. Read the paragraph of Clause 3 for the authority in control in the will. Don't you think the subject should be forgotten or rather left in the background. The disagreement of my sons is about the management of the Starr Piano Co. I hope they will soon agree to keep on and legally under the Corporate laws- which is the decision to be under the majority rule- each officer to attend to his official duties- giving respect due his brother officer- and remember, there is neither a Hitler, or a Mussolini in the family. I am watching the outcome with intense interest- and if they do not reach an agreeable decision, I will tell my family frankly- so I can never be accused of underhand work- that I have already arranged with my lawyer to make a new will of my personal property and dispose of my belongings without considering even division- and I ask you to show them this letter. It would give me great pleasure to see my family in harmony again- just as of previous years./ With love-/ Grandmother Gennett.
Letter: "July [postmarked Jan.] 11, 1952/ Dear Robert/ Thank you and Mary for the picture of Judy- I am so glad to receive it. I lost the other picture you sent me and I was ashamed of my carelessness to ask for another. You know you were my pet baby you lived with us for two years and when you moved away I lost you. I have quite a number of great grandchildren and more. A friend sent me this tray Xmas note paper- cute is'nt. Send me Judy's picture as she grows./ Love to all of you Gradmother."
An article in the Palladium stated that her estate would be in excess of $50,000 and that there would be $40,000 of property to be disposed of in Richmond.
She left a will dated September 11, 1951. To Rose Gennett Martin- All jewelry, clothing, personal effects, and automobiles, half of the residue of the estate. To Lizetta Campbell Johnson $1000 or, if deceased, her daughter Jennifer Johnson. To Fred and Clarence- $1000 each. To Harry- income from 1/2 of residue of estate, in trust to be administered by American National Trust and Savings Association and Rose Gennett Martin, to be paid in quarterly installments, at his death the installments to go to Alice Emily Gennett, at their deaths the trust to terminate and go to their heirs. Somehow I ended up with $300 in my bank account.
She married Henry Gennett (23) (A24).