Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-03-30
he BOUGHT HIS WIFE.
sixty Dollars The Price Paid for a
SWlnOmiSh Maiden.
A Lamented settlers Caucasian aud
Indian widows Listen 10 mn In
teresting story in court

A Mount Vernon special says: a
case which promises 10 become Que o.
the most famous In the State, and
which will no doubt be carried TO tb,
Supreme Court OF the United States
for final settlement, was on trial 10 tn,
Superior court during this week. The
case involves the title 10 100 acres OF
splendid farming land below Skagii
City, belonging 10 the late John i.
Wilbur, who died In 1854. The farm,
now valued at $4,000 has been Ia the
possession OF Mrs. Sarah j. wilbur
since the death Of her husband ~ the
year mentioned. IL appears that Ia
tho early zoos Wilbur mad squaw
wife, and his two half.breed sons are
now claimants for the farm ne Wilhurs
legal heirs. their Intention being 10
show that their father never was di.
yorced from their mother, and con.
sequontly the marriage Of the present
Mrs. Wilbur was a bigRmous one and
she IL not entitled TO the property.
The case wns brought up by the
attorneys for tue Indian heirs filing
petition asking for letters OF admin
istration to G. Il. Bingham. The
attorneys for Mrs. Wilbur immed lately
filed mn objection 10 the court granting
thesc letters TO Bingham, at the same
time stating that the debts OF the
estate had been paid and that Eothing
remained 10 be done In the matter
except decree OF distribution OF the
estate.
The whole question hinges on the
legality Of the marriage OF Wilbur to
his aquaw, and In this connection
some Interesting testimony was given
by old-timers and Indians as TO tbe
early modes Of Indian marriages.. IL
was shown by testimony that In the
'00's Wilbur, accompanied by n white
man named "Chips" Brown, Browns
Indian wife and several other Indians,
went 10 the Bwinomish reservation on
matrimonial mission, Wilbur
being desirous OF obtaining
sQuAw. Wilbur sought the hand
OF n young klootchman known
M "ISitty" and he opened mt.
gotiations for the girl with her
mercenary father, who demanded 500
M tho price OF his daughter. Alter
hree trips negotiations were complet
cd, and the swain turned over the $50
10 the father OF the girl and the amount
was Immediately distributed among
the Indian girls relatives. Wilbur then
gave his Kitty $50 with which 10 pur.
chase her bridal troussuan OF beads and
buck skins. Later he took his blush ing
bride TO his canoe and returned 10 his
ranch at Skagit city.
Three children were born 10 the mis-.
mated couple, ono girl anu two boys
speaking OF the girl, Orrin Kineald,
who testified as 10 the old Inuian GUS
toms with reference to marriages, gave
an evidence:
"Ths first child born was girl which
grew 10 be- nine or ten years OF age
before IL died. IL was AS beautiful u
child as ever lived ON the river. OF
fair complexion and OF perfect lady.
liKe appearance, she seemed TO have
been born In wrong country. She was
the admiration OF all the old settlers,
whites and Indians alike, and was be-
loved by ALL"
The two boys that were aftervard
born showed their Indian origin NO
marked that they have since preferred
tue society OF Indians to white people.
In 1874 Wilbur entered into CORE.
spondence with u Miss Sarah J. VIII
cox Of henderson, Jefferson county,
N. y, anu after two years. 40
qusintance by letter the young woman
came west to accept wilbur's invita-.
ton OF marriage. she arrived here In
June, 1916, and was married in the
same month Mt La Conner by the late
Is. U. Davis. In the meantime VIII
bur hAu discarded his equaw, the ialr
Kitty, anu had sent her back to tue
Swinomish reservation with the two
boys. Then with his white wife no
took up his residence at Skagit CITY.
In 1854, during the ltuby creek min.
Ing excitement, ho moved TO Wilbut-
ton, conducting hotel with the aid
OF his wife. lie died al Wilbufton In
1854 and his wife then returned TO the
Skagit CITY farm anu has since sue.
ceeded In improving the land anu