Unknown Heirs Of A Farm

An important partition suit was started in the circuit court in which many heirs are interested, some of whom are unknown, and which it will take quite a little legal skill to untangle. The property sought to be partitioned is 80 acres in Pittsfield belonging to the estate of Levi E. Olds, who died May 31, 1884, without children, and whose wife, Kate F. Olds, has been in possession of the estate until her death last December. The heirs of Levi E. Olds are set forth to be as follows:

The children of a brother, George H. Olds, deceased, viz.: Jennie M. Wilkinson, Anna C. Reed, George H. Olds, Ella S. Rogers, Albert L. Olds and Lewis M. Olds.

A sister- Sarah Hinckley.

The widow, Kate F. Olds, now deceased.

The children of a sister, Almira Olds, deceased, viz.: Harriet Badger, Jane Morton, Freedom Chase and Liberty Chase. The bill sets forth that it is not known whether these heirs are living except that it bas been heard that Freedom Chase is dead, leaving one child, Parsons Chase, surviving.

The grandchildren of a brother, Halsey Olds. deceased, viz.: Eliza Stevens, daughter of Eliza Ann Olds Stevens, deceased. The whereabout of this heir is unknown.

The bill sets forth an inability to determine whether or not the heirs of Almira Olds and Halsey Olds are in existence and whether the property should be divided into four equal parts or two. If the unknown heirs of the brother, Halsey, and sister, Almira are to be recognized, then Mrs. Hinckley, the sister, will get one-fourth of the estate and each of the children of George S. Olds will get one-twenty fourth of the estate. If they are not to be recognized, then Mrs. Hinckley will get half and each of the other six heirs one-twelfth.

To further complicate the case, one of the heirs is in an insane asylum and a guardian is asked to look after her interests.

It is further stated that since the (death of the wife of Levi E. Olds last December, her second husband, George Inman, has refused to vacate  the premises and is cutting off the timber.

It also states that there was $132.56 deposited with the county treasurer in 1894 to the credit of Eliza Ann Stephens, an unknown heir, and asks that this amount with interest be distributed among the other heirs. 

The suit in partition was brought by Mrs .Jennie M. Wilkinson, Mrs. Annie C. Reed and George H. Olds, through Wm. B. Hatch, attorney.