In the back of Saginaw’s Forest Lawn Cemetary is a massive stone mausoleum where lumber baron and railroad tycoon Wellington R. Burt is entombed. At the time of his death in 1919, he was the 8th wealthiest person in America and the second richest person in Michigan with Henry Ford holding that title. He is the only one who knew why he had one of America’s strangest last wills. It had a “spite clause” where he stated his money was to be given out 21 years after the death of his last surviving grandchild who was alive at the time of his death. No one knows why he had such a strange request in his will. He left money for some of his servants who had worked for him at his Mansion in downtown Saginaw. He must have really hated his family. Burt’s last grandchild, Marion Lansill died in November of 1989. 21 years later his trust, valued approximately 100 million dollars, was split between 12 descendants in 2010.
There is a lot more to this story and you can read about it, along with several other interesting stories from around the Mitten State, in my book available on Amazon by clicking HERE
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