Transcript of Proceedings, , Sangamon Co., IL, ca. 17 July 1852, U.S. v. Joseph Smith III et al. (United States Circuit Court for the District of IL 1852); U.S. District Court for the District of Illinois, Complete Records, 1837–1856, vol. 4, pp. 486–697; handwriting of ; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21, National Archives at Chicago, Chicago.
Transcript of Proceedings, circa 17 July 1852 [ United States v. Joseph Smith III et al. ]
Page 593
State of Illinois)
Sc[ilice]t.
)
I, clerk of the Circuit Court and exofficio Recorder in and for said , do hereby certify that the within is a true and correct copy of the original deed of conveyance and certificate of acknowledgement from Joseph Smith as sole Trustee in trust &c. to as the same appears from the records of my office.
L. S.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand an seal of said Court at my office in this sixteenth day of November A. D. 1850.
Clerk.
This day to wit, the second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty came the defendant David W. Vrowman [Vrooman] by his and filed his seperate answer herein.
The seperate answer of the said defendant David W. Vrowman [Vrooman] to the complainants’ bill filed herein.
And the said defendant saving and reserving to himself all and all manner of exceptions to the many uncertainties, informalities and insufficiencies in the complainants’ bill for answer thereto or to so much thereof as he is advised it necessary for him to answer, says:
That he is the owner in fact of the fee simple title of the South fourteen feet wide of the North fifty seven feet wide, of the North East one fourth of lot no. one in Block no. one hundred and thirty nine in Illinois according to the plat of said in the said Complainants bill mentioned
Respondant admits that said premises herein described are situated on the South East quarter of section two township No. six North of Range No Nine West as in said bill mentioned, but denies positively that the said Joseph Smith deceased, at the time of his death owned or had any interest in the same or any part thereof.
Respondant further denies that said Smith ever had any interest either in law or equity to the said lot or that he ever paid any part of the purchase money therefor,
Respondant admits that the conveyed said quarter section of land to as in said bill mentioned, that said contracted with one to sell the same to said and made his bond to said , that said assigned said bond to said Joseph Smith deceased and that [p. 593]