Teton Syndicate
The Teton Syndicate, a trust established in Iola, Kansas on 21 May 1921 by Eliot Blackwelder, Lewis A. Parkhurst and George C. Humphrey, to locate and extract petro-minerals, was active in at least Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Managed for many years by R.R. Greene, the trust purchased mineral rights, developed extraction capabilities as well as storage and transportation facilities (all on a relatively small scale) and flourished for a number of years.
By the late 1940’s activities had slowed to a near halt with about one dozen stripper wells still producing in paying quantities. Management of the trust moved to the founders with each holding title of Managing Trustee for various periods of time. Interest in the Trust, called “units”, was gifted, sold (and later) inherited as time past so that by the early 1970’s there were over 40 beneficiaries with interests ranging from about 0.14% to 13% each.
With the passing of the founders management had been moved to a bank trust department until the income was insufficient to maintain the account. Through the 50’s and 60’s there had been efforts to bring the trust to a close, but no buyers could be found for the assets.
Management then moved to Raymond Smith (grandson of Parkhurst) who in 1976 handed it over to Richard T. Merk (grandson of Blackwelder). Merk then embarked upon a program to buy out the various beneficiaries in an effort to reduce management costs and consolidate the interests, an effort which took 22 years. This was completed in 1998 when the last outstanding units were acquired and Richard T. Merk and Brad D. Peyton (JTROS) became the sole beneficiaries to the trust.
The trustees (3) then resolved to terminate the trust, quit-claiming any remaining, lost or unknown interests to Merk and Peyton in December 1999.
Please forward any inquiries or notices to:
R. Merk and/or B. Peyton, P.O. Box 620052, Woodside, CA 94062-0052
Telephone: 650-851-0978. E-mail: [email protected]
The address of the trust was P.O. Box 4052 (later changed to 620052), Woodside, CA 94062 from 1976 to closure.
Thank you.
Richard T. Merk
April 2017
Key Search Words: The Teton Syndicate of Iola Kansas, The Teton Syndicate, Teton Syndicate, The Teton Syndicate Trust, Eliot Blackwelder, Lewis A. Parkhurst, George C. Humphrey, R. R. Greene, Raymond Smith, Ray Smith, Richard T. Merk, Richard Merk, Managing Trustee, Lois B. Fuller, Martha B. Merk, Brad D. Peyton, Trustee,
Managed for many years by R.R. Greene, the trust purchased mineral rights, developed extraction capabilities as well as storage and transportation facilities (all on a relatively small scale) and flourished for a number of years.
By the late 1940’s activities had slowed to a near halt with about one dozen stripper wells still producing in paying quantities. Management of the trust moved to the founders with each holding title of Managing Trustee for various periods of time. Interest in the Trust, called “units”, was gifted, sold (and later) inherited as time past so that by the early 1970’s there were over 40 beneficiaries with interests ranging from about 0.14% to 13% each.
With the passing of the founders management had been moved to a bank trust department until the income was insufficient to maintain the account. Through the 50’s and 60’s there had been efforts to bring the trust to a close, but no buyers could be found for the assets.
Management then moved to Raymond Smith (grandson of Parkhurst) who in 1976 handed it over to Richard T. Merk (grandson of Blackwelder). Merk then embarked upon a program to buy out the various beneficiaries in an effort to reduce management costs and consolidate the interests, an effort which took 22 years. This was completed in 1998 when the last outstanding units were acquired and Richard T. Merk and Brad D. Peyton (JTROS) became the sole beneficiaries to the trust.
The trustees (3) then resolved to terminate the trust, quit-claiming any remaining, lost or unknown interests to Merk and Peyton in December 1999.
Please forward any inquiries or notices to:
R. Merk and/or B. Peyton, P.O. Box 620052, Woodside, CA 94062-0052
Telephone: 650-851-0978. E-mail: [email protected]
The address of the trust was P.O. Box 4052 (later changed to 620052), Woodside, CA 94062 from 1976 to closure.
Thank you.
Richard T. Merk
April 2017
Key Search Words: The Teton Syndicate of Iola Kansas, The Teton Syndicate, Teton Syndicate, The Teton Syndicate Trust, Eliot Blackwelder, Lewis A. Parkhurst, George C. Humphrey, R. R. Greene, Raymond Smith, Ray Smith, Richard T. Merk, Richard Merk, Managing Trustee, Lois B. Fuller, Martha B. Merk, Brad D. Peyton, Trustee,