Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-29
Filing of Deed to Every Lot in
Kingsley Creates Consterna-
ton Among Holders
TWO AND oNE.HALF SECTIONS
Resident of keokuk Lays Claim to
Dover Interest in Townsite and
Farm Lands-C, ain, is Based on the
Railroad Grant in Which He Was
rested-Matter Will Go to Courts
,ecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Kingsley, Jan. Reconsideration has
been created among the property own
ers of this town and of adjoining farm
lands, by the throwing of cloud upon
the titles to their property, in the
ownership OF which they have rested
secure for many years. Not only the
entire townsite is in question, but a
claimant to dover interest in more
than two and one-half sections of
land has appeared.
A deed conveying property worth
many thousands of dollars, which was
recorded at the court house In LeMars,
is causing Il number of people some
anxiety and unrest. The transfer brief
fly reads: George b. Smyth to David
A. Collier, 81, all section 8, west half
section 20 and ILL section 3O-9O-43, also
all lots in town Of Kingsley
The story goes back to the early
seventies, when Northwestern Iowa
was being discovered" by railroad
builders and land agents following
on the steps of hardy pioneers, who
came to make a home in this paradise
of then wilderness.
George B. Smyth, who has decided
his interest in Kingsley and several
neighboring sections, is a resident Of
keokuk. Forty years ago he was a
wealthy man and was president Of the
Des Mones Valley railroad. His
railroad like other railroads, was
granted land and Mr.. Smyth was
given IL tract of land for his railroad
to improve the Des Mofnes River
Valley. AS president of the road he
received grants of land in Emmett.
Humboldt. Sioux and Plymouth
counties. He decided the property to
his Wife, Martha Smyth. Later he
met with business reverses. To secure
some of his creditors his wife gave a
deed to p. Thornton Lomax, Keokuk
man. They have Lomax a defeasance
deed which meant in this case that
when fSmyth paid Lomax the amount
of his Indebtedness, which was $4,000,
Lomax was to deed back the land to
the Smyths. Smyth could not meet
his obligation and the deed and de-
feasance deed were foreclosed.
The decree Of foreclosure was issued
in the Humboldt district court in 1874.
Instead OF having sheriffs' deed
executed Mrs. Smyth decided her
equity of redemption to Lomax. Her
husband did not sign the deed. Mrs.
Smyth has since died and now Smyth
comes in els claimant on a dover
right IN the deed recorded he has
decided his interest to one David Col
lier, also CT Keokuk. .
The court proceedings in the Hum
boldt court haye never been transcribed
to Plymouth county. Felix Hughes,
an attorney, of Keokuk. ! has been here
two or three times recently looking up
the case.
1t is probable that the matter will
go to the courts to ascertain whether
George B. Smyths claim of dover
will stand as the abstracts deciding the
property from one party to another
have beer. declared good by numbers
Of attorneys and abstracts under whose
eyes they have come. The property
involved includes all the lots in the
town of Kingsley, the west half of sec
ton 200 in Garfield which is owned by
w. Fl. Lyle and John Hall, and sec
ton in Garfield, which is owned by j.
G.. SmaltD, of this city.
1t looks as IL there might be some
thing doing for the lawyers.