Harriet Sylvia Ann Howland Green Wilks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henrietta Sylvia Ann Howland Green Wilks
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| Born | January 7, 1871 |
| Died | February 5, 1951 (aged 80) New York Hospital
New York City |
| Spouse(s) | Matthew Astor Wilks (1844–1926) |
| Parent(s) | Henrietta Howland Robinson Edward Henry Green |
| Relatives | Edward Howland Robinson Green, brother Sylvia Ann Howland, grandaunt |
Henrietta Sylvia Ann Howland Green Wilks (January 7, 1871 – February 5, 1951) was one of the wealthiest women in the United States. She was known for her huge fortune and for giving much of it to help others.
Contents
Her Life Story
Henrietta Green was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on January 7, 1871. Her parents were Henrietta Howland Robinson and Edward Henry Green. She also had a brother named Edward Howland Robinson Green.
Family and Marriage
Henrietta married Matthew Astor Wilks in Morristown, New Jersey on February 23, 1909. Matthew was the great-grandson of John Jacob Astor. John Jacob Astor was known as America's first millionaire. Henrietta was 32 years old when she got married, and Matthew was 63. When her brother died in 1935, Henrietta inherited his large estate.
Her Amazing Fortune
Henrietta Sylvia Ann Howland Green Wilks passed away on February 5, 1951. She left behind an incredibly large fortune. Her estate was worth about $95 million at the time. This would be like having $443 million today (in 2007 dollars).
What Was in Her Estate?
Her fortune included many different things. There were 36 pages of bonds, which are like loans that pay interest. She also owned eight pages of blue chip stocks. These are shares in very strong and well-known companies. Interestingly, she also had $31 million in a checking account that did not earn any interest.
Her Will and Donations
Henrietta's will was found in a simple tin cabinet along with four bars of soap. In her will, she gave only $5,000 to her closest relative, a cousin. However, the court later decided to give her cousin $140,000 during the legal process of handling the estate. The rest of Henrietta's vast fortune was divided among 63 different charities and educational institutions. This showed her desire to help many good causes.
