The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-04
Heavy land @aits

- ~ =
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.
/ CHARLESTON, West Va, April Is, 1867
The United States District Court for the
District OF West Virginia is In session
here, Judge Jackson presiding, and is NOW
engaged in the heaviest land suit that ever
appeared on the records Of the State. It
Is the suit Of the Hon. ex-senator Morrill,,
Of Maine, as the representative Of the
North American Land Company us. Arm
strong etdl. Large tracts Of land, amount
ing to ever 400, 900 acres, were granted to
few individuals from the Commonwealth
Of Virginia as early as 1885, ell Of which
was located west Of the mountains. In
1895 the North American Land Company
was organized in Philadelphis, with
Robert Morris as its president, into which
association over 5000, 900 acres fland were
put for disposal. One Of the tracts put
into the company was tract from Virginia
to Albert Gallatin and others, which had
been patented In 1856, for 225, 900 ceres.
Soon after the formation Of the company
they, by their president, Robert Morris,
transferred all the lands Of their Associa-
ton to three trustees-Thomas Willing, the
president Of the Bank Of the United States ;
John Nixon, president Of the Bank Of North
America; and John Barclay, president OF
the Bank of Pennsylvania. This was in
1885, This transfer to these three parties
was in trust for the benefit of the company ;
and in the event Of the death or resigna-
ton Of either of them the title was to vest
in the survivor. Thomas Willing resigned
in 1895, q year after he was appointed.
John Nixon died in 1908, leaving John
Barclay the remaining trustee. The latter
dying in 1916, his heirs conveyed these vast
possessions 70 two parties-Benjamin Dun
dess and James sKugler-in trust for the
benefit Of the company. The latter
parties allowed the lands to become for
feitsd to the State in 1882; but in 1874 the
Legislature, at Richmond, passed an act for
their relief, allowing them TO redeem the
property by the payment Of back taxes.
The taxes were paid, and the State con-
yeyed the property to Dundess and Kugler,
by special enactment, perfecting the title.
In 1854 the property was purchased by Go
vernon Morrill,, Of Maine, and in 1857 he in
stituted suit for its recovery, it having been
claimed and occupied by other parties since
1884. 'a ".
Now, to 90 back to the beginning Of the
defence. After the grant to the original
patentees, spoken Of above, who were AL
bert Gallatin, Robert Morris, James Green
leaf, and John Nicholson, the, Common
wealth granted a patent to another party,
one Hopkins, for 200, 900 acres; and, as the
plaintiff alleges, Hopkins, in laying his
warrant, 30 laid it as to cover some So, 900
acres that had been covered by the grant to
the other party.
The present holders derive their title
from the Hopkins patent, though the pro-
perty has passed through third or fourth
hands. The suit at present is only for a
small tract, though it will decide the own
ership of some $4,000 acres, lying mainly
in the Mill Creek valley, in jackson. county.
The land is valuable, and comprises some
of the best farms in the State, as well as
some Of the finest mineral sections in the
country, it being all underlsid with coal
and iron ore.
Governor Morrill, is here, and is conduct
ing his suit in person, assisted by the De-
mocratic would-be Governor of Maine, Hon.
E. F. Pillsbury, Judge Camden, Judge Lee,
Judge Edmondson, and Colonel Hoffman
the latter four gentlemen being West Vir-
ginians. The defence is conducted BY Co.
lionel Benjamin F. Smith, Colonel Parker,
and Hon. 8. A. Miller, also Of this State.
II the case is decided for the plaintiff it
will uneeat great many farmers who have
been living in fanoied security for third
of century.
understand that Governor Morrill,, il
successful, intends to commence developing
the natural resources of this vast region as
soon as practicable.
The people here are beginning to talk Of
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad strongly
though 1 think if they should happen to gel
q road opened through the hills to the sea-
and an engine should come whistling down
one of their ravines, a majority of the in
habitants would take it for granted that il
was the Angel Gabriel with his big horn,
though they would be too lazy to 60 out t.
ZOO G.. VS..