South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-04
CITIZEN
WINS IMPORTANT
LAND DECISION
Obtains Title to Eighty Acres
of Valuable Land in
Montana.

W0ru was recently received from
KaIlspelL Mont. and washington. D.
C.. % a. important decision OF tho
United states land office fixing the
aue "a so acres OF valuable land on
che south shore ~ Flathead Lake,
in Montana. and lying alongside the
town * Big Arm. Mrs. Emma
echrock. formerly OF Mlshawak. the
daughter OF Nora Jane Parks. resid-
Ing 40 713 +. Third s.. was the wife
Of Walter Q. Hobbs. formerly ~ this
city. and together with her husband
went 20 the northwest az the time OF
the opening Of that Indian reserva-
tlon 20 settlers. Mr. HOBBS drew
the lucky number IN the land draw
ing which entitled him 70 the site
iu question. on account OF the desir-
ability OF the tract selected by him,
othere set up adverse claims IN an
sffOr % seCure possession OF the
land
cir. and Mrs. Hobbs we're aided In
making their choice by Atty Wade
r.. Parks a few years since a mem
Der OF the firm OF Parks e. Parks,
lawyers OF this city Mr.. Parks be-
fore locating with his brother. Isaac
Kane Parks, in practice here had be-
come well acquainted with the pub
nc land sites Of Montana. The pro-
longcd litigation ensuing over the
hand In question required so much
OF the attorneys attention that he
took up a claim in the same neigh
borhOod and later opened an office.
afterward becoming prosecuting at
torney for Sanders county, serving
two terms. Mr.. Parks is now located
tn Plains Mont. A recent copy Of
the Sanders County independent
Ledger gives the following account
OF the struggle for possession Of this
land
Long Contest.
CIV. C.. Hobbs selected this tract Of
land In May. 1910, but the register
and receiver of the Local land office
rejected the Ming and Hobbs re-
tanned Wade r. Parks. an attorney
from South Bend. Ind. 70 contest
the ruling of the land office. with the
result just announced. The contest
has been before the general land
Office and the department Of the in
terror on several different appeals
during the past II years.
on the advice OF his attorney.
Hobbs located on the said lands after
the rejected fling and occupied the
same as a regular homesteader; after
Hobbs had located on the land other
parties made application 10 file on
The track. and i'm 1911 other con
cd - a
Dust him. one prospective home
steader went so far as 10 cut the
wires of Hobbs fence and drive onto
the land with a fully equipped home
steader's shack drawn by several
head OF horses, the invading home
steader backing up his right with a
gun with which ne threatened 10
XIII any one who interfered with his
establishing a residence on the lands
HOBBS won against the contestant
after over a year of litigation, but
the fight in the Indian bureau, the
general land office and the depart
ment of interior went on and on. In
1915. after years OF the most dis
couraging fight and after thousands
of dollars had been spent in the fight
and in improving the land, Hobbs
died, leaving a widow and three
small children.
The late ruling allows the widow
10 make proof on the application
ana original entry and the time dur
ing which resided on the lands Will
be allowed in submitting the proof
for patent
"tEditors Note-It is interesting
10 remark chat 1t was this confess
that resulted I'm Atty Parks locating
in Sanders county. When we take
into account the little things upoT
which depends our course in hf'
SIC wonder ~ there be truth in o
Henry's The Paths of Destiny"