The Martin L. Fugina Material
Martin L. Fugina was an attorney-at-law and insurance agent in Fountain City, in Buffalo County Wisconsin. He advocated for his clients in both English and German.
From what seem to be relatively thorough source records on familysearch.org, he was born in 1875 and lived until 1952. His father Joseph Fugina (1835-1926) and uncle Marcus Fugina (1837-1930) were local merchants, having partnered with a John Martin Fertig (Johann Martin Förtig) in 1875 to form the Fugina Bros. and Fertig Co. This Fugina family was said to have immigrated from the Tirol in Austria - the surname is attested there as well as modern-day Croatia and especially Slovenia.
There is a small collection of documents relating to the business life of Martin Fugina, drawing something of a picture of the civic and business life of late 19th century Wisconsin, in the Buffalo and Trempealeau counties.
Inquiry to U. S. Land Office - 6 December, 1895
The Office of M. L. Fugina, then a lawyer at 20 years of age inquires to the U. S. Land Office:
U. S. Land Office. Eau Claire
Gentlemen: - There is a party here that wishes to take up a piece of govmt. land, please send the necessary [blanks] and required information regarding the different conditions upon which land may be taken, in other words what conditions must a person comply with on the homestead and preemption act. If you have any maps showing the U. S. lands still in the country or state to be taken up please send one and oblige.
Yours Truly,
M. L. Fugina
The land officer responds within the bottom margins of the original letter:
Sir:
Plot showing vacant government land in each township will be furnished at $1.00 each.
I send you a circular containing information and [blanks]. Only Clerk of Court & County Judge can […] land office, rather take the […] usually distance […] and send money with order.
[…] J. B. Fleming, Registrar
There is a booklet (the ‘circular’ mentioned above) which very likely derives from this correspondence, suggesting that at this time there were 200,000 acres of government land in the county (or counties?) in M. L. Fugina’s area of western Wisconsin.
Circular A from the Land Office c. 1895
Suggestions and General Information as to Entering Government Lands for Residence and Cultivation.
Sanborn-Perris Map Co. to M. L. Fugina - 24 December 1896
CENTRAL DEPARTMENT.
SANBORN-PERRIS MAP CO., Limited, N. Y.
Rooms 814-815, Royal Insurance Building.
Chicao, Dec. 24, 1896
M. L. Fugina. Esq. Agent, Fountain City Wisc.
Dear Sir:
In order that you may more conveniently report risks to such of your Companies as hold our maps, we forward to you, this day, by express, one copy of our map of Fountain Cty. Wis. edition of 1892 Please refer on your daily reports to:
SANBORN MAP
giving Street Numbers, Street Names, Block and Page.
The Map is COPYRIGHT, and is LOANED TO YOU (without charge) for your exclusive use, with the understanding that any portion of it shall NOT BE COPIED OR ALLOWED TO GO OUT OF YOUR POSSESION.
Please acknowledge receipt of map by signing appended slip and returning to […]
Yours truly,
H. V. WACKERBARTH, Agent.
BY REQUEST OF: Hartford Insurance Co.
Remittance from Fugina Bros. & Fertig Co. - 17 January 1902
This remittance from his father and uncle’s business to M. L. Fugina would have been accompanied by a check. The payment for “$20 in payment of Premium” suggests M. L. was providing or brokering some kind of insurance policy for the merchants. Indeed as of 1896 M. L. was a Fountain City agent of Hartford Insurance (see above).
The letterhead describes the business as “Dealers in General Merchandise, Wholesale and Retail” this location being Arcadia, Wisconsin though there was an earlier location still in business in Fountain City.
H. Claussenius & Co. Foreign Claim and Inheritance - Cover Letter & Form
M. L. Fugina had inquired in some way to the company on the matter of foreign inheritances - a cover letter dated April 3, 1897 with an enclosed form was returned to him.
ESTABLISHED 1864
H. Claussenius & Co.
Foreign Exchange Bankers.
FOREIGN CLAIMS & INHERITANCES COLLECTED.
Chicago, Ill. April 3, 1897.
Mr. M. L. Fugina
Fountain City Wisc.
Dear Sir:
Replying to your inquiry of 2nd […] we beg to inform you that the collection of inheritances in all european countries has been our speciality for over thirty years. We enclose one of our printed circulars which gives full information in the matter. In the present case you will kindly above all things fill out and answer the enclosed Question Sheet as carefully as possible and then return it to us again.
We will then examine the matter and give you further instructions.
Truly Yours,
H. Claussenius & Co.
The form itself, which remains blank (M. L. Fugina seems not to have filled and returned it), asked a set of questions to determine right of inheritance. Towards the bottom of the reverse side, it seems to specify that this form is for seeking claims from Austria. Each component of the questionnaire is repeated in English, German and Czech (quoting here just the English text):
1. What is your full name and present address?
2. (For Ladies.) What is the name of your husband? Is he living, or when and where did he die?
3. When and where were you born? Place, year, month and day to be stated.
4. What is the full name of your father? Where does he reside, or when and where did he die?
5. Name of your mother. State maiden-name and residence, or time and place of death.
6. From what estate is the expected inheritance or claim to come and what does it consist of, etc.?
7. When and where did the testator die? (Last address).
8. Who has charge of the claim or inheritance now, and where and from whom is the money to be collected?
9. Have you ever received money from this inheritance before? When and how much? Since when is interest due?
10. Was there ever a guardian appointed for you, and if so, what is his full name and address?
11. Have you issued a power of attorney prior to this in the matter? If so, give full name and address of your former attorney in fact.
12. Did you leave your former home with consent of the authorities? Have you a passport or discharge?
13. How long have you resided in the U. S.? If a citizen, please send your citizen papers for inspection.
14. Who is to be your attorney in fact, or do you desire us (H. Claussenius & Co.) to attend to the collection?
15. If there are other heirs to the estate, give their names and addresses.
16. Give name and address of any person in the old country, who, in case of necessity, can give particulars in this matter.
17. Have you any other informations to give, regarding and explaining this matter?
N.B. - The client ought to send us all the documents or letters in his possession relating to his claim, as the collection can be made in shorter time and with less cost, when we know all the particulars before starting. If the client cannot give particulars, he should name persons who can do so. In case the client is a married woman, it will be necessary that her husband signs the power of attorney also. Powers of attorney for Austria should be accompanied by the certificate of birth or baptism of the client. In cases of guardians for minors, the guardian must state full names and ages of his wards, and must submit his letters of guardianship.