, 1874-11-22
UO4fERs
Origin of That ReneVolent
Custom.
The Extensive Litigation to Which
It Has Given Rise.
Qou Properly Vas conreyed In
Early Chicago Days
--
Sketch Of Noted Dover Suits
in This City.
The .. Kinzie, Nico|l, clybouTn
Campbell, and Other
Cases.
Morality Of These Suits

T1,n complications arising from dover clalma'
tho hinurances to the purchase md sale OF lahos,
md the not 1nf1eguent fraudulent claims OF
foyer in eststes, are Of ouch general and woe
rnreaa occurrence that @ small sketch OF the
origin of dover, and Of the prominent claims Of
that kind in our own city, may not be unlntorest~
ing.
THE ORIGIN OF TIE CUSTOM
OF giving . widow the use for life Of one~emfo ..
her husbands lands is involved in Great
nhecu1ity. Some writer's claim 1t was xno"n
to the Hebrews, others that tne
Greeks first adopted it. By stnl
otberz, the Romans, the Germans tne
Gotbs, and the Anglo-sa1ons are credited WIN
he first adoption OF the custom. Ihe most
reasonable view. however, seems to be 1nah ~
waa formed gradually at first among nations N
inns yhcn+y we're held in little esteem q
,ouus. Is it we're, WIS given With the woman Rs
III iuducemont to q man to take her, as was
tie custom with the Cracks and Romans Ad-
,oncius civilization, With its refining power,
raised tho opinion of the world in regard to the
gentle sex, and the gift was thrown on the man.
Later still. and apparently first in England, tho
bridegroom
Ar TUE dHUBca-poon
Eas accustomed to endow his bride With por-
lion of his real property, which vas understood
to to third interest, but which might be less
but rot more. II the happy man was not pos
seseed Of any corner lots. he could still give h1s
wife porticn Of his stocks End bonds, or what
eyer substitute our ancestors might have bad for
sucl modern commodities. In faot, by the COM
uencement OF The twelfth cantuiy, dover in
lands Vas established by the Chatter Of He1ry
+. qhis endowment or dowry. however, only in
.l,,de5 a fhtr1 of ;.e 1andg Which tie husha nd
I4uusu -. A.. .;.a ~ 1;s r,,rr,ooa
possessed a1 1no uhe u nus nall4
any property purchased subsequently, was FREQ
from euch an in cumbrance. At that time, how
,rar f,e wife being in Dotestute riri and con-
$780,, - ~ too, ,oraro ~ ho1 or,, 7roa
sluel.u 80 ~ n.h.,
band, but he could sell her dovry during his Lite
1t pleasure Very early, however, the Sue WAS
ALLOWED TO HAVE WORD,
Ind BY her solemn declaration OF d1ssens pre-
IerTe night which could be enforced, a11ef her
heir also could, with hip fathers as,
seat, give dover ont Of lands owned
br the parent, but which would, by
The law Of descent come to him. During the
next 200 yenrs the dover was extended go as to
ht anv tina during marriage, as at the pres
ent day. And it the wife had even accepted q
dover od ostiun, eccasslal, or church door, she
could renounce it. and claim her one-third Of all
lands held br her husband Thus, over Six CEN
turies ago. was established the right, during life.
by the wife. to one-third Of the husband'a lands
mud this right has descended without alteration,
tile later minor notifications or laws relating to
the subject having been only directed to the
modes il which: 1t 1ninht be barred or relin~
onishnd.
TIE ogyEcr OF DOVER
ras undoubtedly to make provision for the vifa
and children after the death Of tha husband and
regarded partly also az ) compensation for the
estate brought by the wife to the husband,
y bich BECAME his eutirely II be chose to reduce
it TO subjection. This was most wise provis-
G1 tie wife vas utterly upse's TO take the
dsae tsa 10 ANY snd haa esnnnes snS
xnra aien the rTnnerfy Of her bnsband
1fodcrn ]avs hara tcnded toward the op-
roa;ta axtroCoa and our own I.erislat,1ra
at it's last session, recognizing the fact that :
a|a can taEa nrnnertv M, carrr On business
IasNhut 1s;th Torhtf13 ur;sdom--s hoi,si,ed thr
tenancv bv c,1rtesv. and eiyen the husband 4
;1nwcr II fbs +s;fa,s estat. ss well Az dover hv
the vita IN t,,a 1,nsbanil's la1ds-
Int;l 1,;th;y a fa,y raars f. has a1xrava ham
,a@..-c,rr ~ ! n;fn 1vian oba o;gnsI n dead
t. ha
rS..,1yrp APART FRo,1 nzn HUSBAND.
scH thai the ga ma Taa Inr0
.r1;r3 "a. raa -sni;;re5 ~ a,,nao-; ~ tha Not.1
cert;fca1c Vc-r frnoner,1T n cnnaeonanca ~
t,asn eroos, d;roct;n,,s as,,aa;a,1u 1r,1a 'aata
t.are ac1.,,oEUoie az, ~ 10 "rta rLa, az
ros.t 1.' ~ ~ eD9 ~ -
.elEnt LAVE oosane, la eos "a 'nG leu!s,te lot
aaa!1l1us a.e oni.teu, aau tuo acAno".euemsns
1ieIeot lenoeIe1 oelectl'e, anu guy OF tnese az
tec.l'e l'eachno"leoemen;s, OF Notary sceluncates,
A4eo ouaoet u tne eIaltus 1lAue lol ooNef-
- u, sucA ls CLAIMS, II is EVIDENT, ALE Unjust:
~ ,ne "tie LES atlemPn9a ~ coaFef hef f15he,
.s.o' % iar az ne1 WI ana PURPOSE are COP
Irneo. mas acsuahS oone SO: zoe un1fequenIly
me has 1sved Tor years totally ignorant that she
'.a aas any elalm 20 properly Nnicn ner hnehand
nv possessea, unt1 tne c1ltca1 Eye ol somo
a"ser On tne scent 1or an opportunity 10 get
ese noees Inc aeiecs' ano tue Innate aVarlco
tne human ne5rs AWAKENED ~ the
?cesloA4t5 ~ Auo111G soioe L1aofaoo
.Iees tne VINO" to oeg1n SUITS,
ae4uentay nos Win tho expectation or desire Of
aaEng Inc cases come TO frl:l. but ouly, By
srcatme c1oua on tue usie to the land claimed,
10 compel the lucAess owners to Compromise
1t ia not, however. intended by any rneaps to
create the impression that all the dover suits
now pending afe unjust or technical in their
character. Many Of them arc brought on lust
:ia1ms. where the land had been sold ID the bus
oanos Lifetime without the wife's consent
1H1R7T-F1vE TEARS Auo, -
Ehen chicago wns low, swampy flat. with
ss.neie noIe',-tne Lake douse-and that on the
Nofth site, before the opening OF the Illinois l.
n.en'Ean Cansi, which decided whether Chicago
nF Fz1.- ~