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Henry R. Ferris and Company
Universal Genealogical Research
Area Code: 312
June 11, 1970
Mrs. Dorothy Bittick
1705
Dear Mrs. Bittick:
We are a world-wide organization with general offices in
We are trying to establish the parentage of the said Martha Eva Bittick
Ehlers and ascertain if she had any brothers or sisters of the full blood of
half blood who have issue in existence. Such issue is entitled to inherit a
substantial portion of personal property valued in the approximate sum of
$200,000.00.
If you are related to the said Martha Eva Bittick Ehlers or can give us any
information pertaining to her family background; that is, her parents and her
brothers and sisters, if any, we certainly invite your correspondence.
Yours very truly,
Henry F. Ferris and Co.
John C. Vanek
June 22, 1970
Mrs. R. M. Clark
1260 N. Crockett
Dear Mrs. Clark:
You very interesting and helpful letter bearing date of June 11, 1970
addressed to our associate, Mr. V. Piton, 1012 Augusta Blvd., Oak Park, Illinois
60302 was forwarded to my attention by Mr. Piton for reply.
We are in the business of finding the rightful owners of unclaimed property.
We are pursing research to establish and locate the collateral heirs of Martha
Eva Bittick, born in or around
Our primary objective, of course, is to ascertain and collect documentary
proof which will show if the above named Martha Eva Bittick Ehlers had siblings
of the full blood or half blood. I feel reasonably certain that if she had such
siblings they are all deceased. In turn, we would want to pursue research to
ascertain if any of those siblings have issue, natural or adopted, in existence.
In our opinion such issue could make a claim to the unclaimed property, or at
least to a portion of it.
I would be grateful if you would make a thorough study of your records to see
if you have any recordings applicable to the aforesaid Martha Eva Bittick Ehlers
and if so I would appreciate your sending me copies of what you have.
From the information set out in your letter to Mr. Piton on June 11, 1970 I
come to the conclusion that the above named Martha Eva Bittick Ehlers was not a
sister to your father, Oliver Delore Bittick. I also feel she could not have
been a child of any of your father’s brothers unless she were a child of
William Perry Bittick, born about 1843. Do you have any information in your
files relating to the children of the said William Perry Bittick?
Page 2
What can you tell me about your uncle, Hiram Julius Bittick, born about 1845?
Do you have any information pertaining to his marital status and to his possible
issue?
Also, what can you tell me about your uncle Solomon, born 1855? Was he
married? If so what was the name of his wife and what do you know about his
issue?
You make mention in your letter of a James Bittick, born 1811. I entertain
hope that possibly Martha Eva Bittick Ehlers was his daughter. Please tell me
what you know about his marital status and his issue.
You also mention other persons bearing the family name of Bittick, as
follows:
Perry Bittick, born 1823
Willis Marion Bittick, born 1836
John Bittick, born 1836
If you have information in your files pertaining to the marital status of
those persons above named please sent it to me together with such information as
you have pertaining to their issue.
Knowing that you have spent a great deal of time and will spend additional
time in processing the subject matter of this letter, I include:
Check of Henry R. Ferris & Co., special account, payable to your
order in the sum of $20.00,
Very truly yours,
Henry R. Ferris & Co.
By John C. Vanek
P.S. During the course of our research we found that one of the parents of
Martha Eva Bittick Ehlers was married more than once. Unfortunately we cannot
tell you whether is was her mother or father who contracted such a marriage.
Mrs. R. M. Clark
1260 N. Crockett
Dear Mrs. Clark:
We are now satisfied from our research that Martha Eva Bittick Ehlers, who
was born about 1864, probably prior thereto rather than thereafter, and who
married Axel Ehlers, also known as Moses Ehlers, was not a daughter of your
grandfather, Willis Bittick. I lean very strongly to the line of thinking that
it is quite possible she was a daughter born to one of the brothers of the said
Willis Bittick and we are pursuing research to prove or disprove that thought.
I would be very grateful if, when opportunity permits, you would make a
thoughtful study of your genealogical material to see if you can find any
recordings which you think might be applicable to Martha Eva Bittick Ehlers.
Very truly yours,
Henry R. Ferris & Co.
By John C. Vanek
Mrs. R. M. Clark
Dear Mrs. Clark:
Belatedly but thankfully I acknowledge receipt of your letter addressed to my
attention bearing date of September 28, 1970.
I am now able to tell you that the father of Martha Eva Bittick died in the
We learned from sources which we deem most reliable that the mother of Martha
Eva Bittick married again after the death of her first husband. This marriage
took place during the decade of 1870 to 1880 - probably closer to 1870 than 1880
- but unfortunately we do not know the given name of the mother of Martha Eva
Bittick or the family name of her second husband. We have reason to believe that
shortly after the second marriage of Martha Eva Bittick’s mother, the family
moved to the State of
Yours very truly,
Henry R. Ferris and Co.
John C. Vanek
(Letter No. 2)
Mrs. R. M. Clark
Dear Mrs. Clark:
I fell confident that by reason of our intensive research to establish the
collateral heirs of Martha Eva Bittick Ehlers, I uncovered genealogical
information which I am sure relates to your family.
I am of the opinion that you had a uncle named Hiram Julius Bittick who moved
to western Missouri and who, according to your letter of July 16, 1970 addressed
to my attention, was married to a woman named Susan and they had seventeen
children. One of these children is still living, namely:
Cecil Bittick
Route 3
I have exchanged considerable correspondence with his wife, Mrs. Cecil
Bittick. He was one of the younger children of your Uncle Hiram Julius Bittick -
Cecil Bittick was born in 1900. I am sure that if you will write to Mrs. Cecil
Bittick, she will exchange correspondence.
We have also exchanged correspondence with Miss Letha Q. Bittick of 9945 East
61st,
Page 2
Miss Bittick further informed me that the following named persons are her
father’s half brothers and half-sister:
Cecil Bittick
Route 3
Mrs. Eula Bittick Reno
207 West Cedar
Raymond Bittick
(Exact street address unknown.)
I believe that our genealogical research is in harmony when I state that your
uncle, Hiram Julius Bittick was born in the
Yours very truly,
Henry R. Ferris and Co.
John C. Vanek
Mrs. R. M. Clark
Dear Mrs. Clark:
Today I learned from a most reliable source that the mother of Martha Eva
Bittick Ehlers was married twice. Her first husband was the father of Martha Eva
Bittick and from all indications he died about 1870, up or down a year or two in
or around
Our informant, who I again state is very reliable, believes that the family
name of the second husband was Prather. I would be grateful indeed if you would
check your Bittick genealogical family history to ascertain if the family name
of Prather appears therein.
Yours very truly,
Henry R. Ferris and Co.
John C. Vanek
May 17, 1972
Henry R. Ferris and Company
Attention: John C. Vanek
Dear Sir,
During the year 1970 there was considerable correspondence between your
company and myself, in reference to the estate of Martha Eva Bittick Ehlers.
During that time I contacted a number of families who are now asking what
disposition was made of the some $200,000.00 that was in court, while heirs were
being sought.
So, I would appreciate it if you could advise me what disposition was made of
this estate.
Early in January 1971 I was in
Yours very truly,
Mrs. R. M. Clark
1260 North Crockett
