Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-10-26
RYLANO PARK NOW
BELONGS TO THE CITY
Deeds Were Executed and Passed
Monday Evening.
City Rejected the Request Under the
VIII and Accepted Deed From
Residuary Legatees.

The city of Lancaster is now TIE
owner of the property formerly belong
Ing to and occupied as a residence by
the late Geo. W. Ryland, and it at
once becomes eligible for park and
municipal purposes.
The city rejected the bequest Of
this property under the late lieutenant
governors will, and instead accepted
title from the residuary legatees OF
the estate.
The ownership was acquired and
deeds delivered at special meeting
OF the city council, called for tine
purpose, last Monday evening.
It is matter of common know
ledge that this property was bequeath-
ed to the city by Nh Ryland, for
library and park purposes. and that
the will, which was a very lengthy
one, carried with the bequest many
conditions, some of which did not
meet with general favor, and others
which attorneys of eminence have
declared that the city could not legally
comply with. In addition of the
opinions given to the council by its
local legal advisers, Mayor Bennett
was authorized by the council to pro.
cure an opinion from some lawyer Of
prominence elsewhere. He according
ly consulted ATTORNEY John nj. Oler.
Ut Madison, whose legal ability is
known and recognized throughout the
state, and was told that the city 5
title under the conditions of the will
it the beQuest should be thus accept
ed, would be very doubtful, and sub
Ject to litigation which would pre-.
badly result in ultimate loss of the
property and Whatever additional in-
vestments might be made thereto.
While the council has from the first
had objections to some of the condi-
tion of the will, it is stated by the
mayor that these objections would
have been waived and the bequest ae-
cepted had not the validity Of the
tltl6 Deen strongly IN doubt.
1t is we'll known that the heirs
were not satisfied with the conditions
of the will, and conference was
held with them on Monday, at which
time an understanding was arrived at
between them and the city council. as
to the terms upon which the city
could obtain the property, in case it
decided rot to accept the conditions Of
the will
This point having been decided, the
residuHry legatees. q. B. Ryland, Of
Pittsburg, Pa nephew of the late
Gov Ryland ; who held power Of at.
torney for his brother ". e. Ryland,
of Myersdala. Pa and his sister, Mrs.
Yonkin, of Maryland: and Attorney
A G. Hughes, OF Kingwood. W. va,
who appeared with power Of attorney,
representing Mrs. Malinda Kelly,
sister of the deceased, were in Ian
caster at the time and executed a
deed for the property, to the city, as
signing all interest they might have
in the same, and further assigning to
the city one-fourth of the residuary
portion Of the estate estimated TO
amount to something like $1,000, after
the specific legacies and expenses
to the estate have been
paid, and the portion belonging to the
late Mrs. Ryland deducted.
The principal conditions imposed
upon the city in the transfer that has
been made are that the property must
always be known as Ryland Park, and
that it must ever be maintained for
park and municipal purposes.
The city further agreed to set aside,
from the money it will receive in
cash from the estate. the sum of $500,
the interest from which, so far as
may be necessary, will be devoted to
the care of the late ex governor 5
grave and cemetery lot.