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.
months since which time they have learned only from said bill and rumors that said indebtedness existed and this is all the knowledge and information they have upon the subject and therefore require proof of the same.
These Respondants further answering as to the 2nd. Interrogatory in said Bill propounded say:—
That they have no personal knowledge of the matters and things therein mentioned and referred to, but are informed and believe that said Joseph Smith died as in said Complainants Bill is alledged, and left him surviving his and heirs as therein mentioned and set forth,
And that the marriage<s> took place as said Bill alledged, that said Infant named as defendants are such Infants, and therefore admit the same to be true,
But these Respondants have no knowledge and cannot state from their belief or otherwise what interest they have in the premises in said Bill described, except as to lots 1, 2, 4 and the West 1/2 of 3 Block 123, The West 1/2 of the West 1/2 of lot 4, Block 141, lots 1, 2 and 3 in Block 142, Lots 1, 2 and 4 Block 143, Lots 1, 3 and 4 in Block 159, Lots 1, 2 and 4 in Block 158 Lot 4 Block 160, Lot 1 Block 161, and the East 1/2 of lot 1 in block 121.
Situate in said City of and upon the said South East quarter section No. 2 township 6 North Range 9 West of the 4th. principal meridian, and as which said lots above described, these Respondants say that the following are the facts thereto.
That these Respondants were wholly unacquainted with the titles to Real Estate in said until 1846.
This paragraph relates to Respondees Evert L. Yates & Isaac S. Sanders
And as to Lots 1, 2 and 4 and West 1/2 of Lot 3 in Block 122 <123> and Lots 1, 2 and 4 in Block 143, and Lots 1, 2 and 3 in Block 142, and West 1/4 of Lot 4 Block 141, and East half of Lot 1 Block 121, that on the 5th. day of January 1850 said together with her husband Lewis C. Bidamon by their deed of that date, and also on the 13th. day of July 1849 by their other deed of that date for valuable considerations in said deeds named conveyed said Lots to one Richard M. Mills, copies of which said deeds (the original not being in the control or power of Respondants to produce) duly certified from the records of the Recorders Office of said County of the first thereof is herewith filed marked exhibits “A” and the said last mentioned deed is filed with the answer of Daniel Elliott and other exhibited “L”, also made a part of this answer.
That said Mills on the 2nd. day of April 1850 by his deed of that date, and also on the 8th. day of August 1850 by his other deed of that date conveyed all of said last named premises except the East [p. 525]