Opinion ID: 2114872
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Resident Freeholder.

Text: The phrase resident freeholder was defined by this court in the case of Damp v. Dane (1872), 29 Wis. 419, which holding was later approved in State ex rel. Town of Iola v. Nelson (1883), 57 Wis. 147, 15 N. W. 14. The Damp Case held that a resident freeholder must be (a) a resident of the town, and (b) own a freehold interest in lands situated therein. To be considered a resident of a town means that such town is a person's primary and principal place of abode. It is not necessary that a person spend the majority of his time at the location of his freehold interest; it is sufficient if he is physically present at some time and has the intention to make that place his permanent residence. Therefore, to be a resident freeholder of the proposed town of Spread Eagle requires that a person be a freeholder and a domiciliary of the territory which is to comprise the new town.