Elizabeth and Arthur Holsclaw legal papers, 1886-1898
14 items
The Elizabeth and Arthur Holsclaw legal papers are comprised of 14 documents and letters concerning the ownership of a farm in Cherry County, Nebraska. Loan applications, deeds, court records, and abstracts describe Arthur L. Holsclaw's purchase of the land in October 1886; foreclosure proceedings initiated by E. S. Ormsby and the American Investment Company of Emmetsburg, Iowa, in 1892; and the farm's subsequent changes in ownership until April 1898.
The first 4 items pertain to Arthur L. Holsclaw's purchase of a small farm near Valentine, Nebraska, and document his loan agreement with E. S. Ormsby of the American Investment Company of Emmetsburg, Iowa. The company provided Holsclaw with a $400.00 loan for the purchase of the farm (October 1886-May 1887). Included is a detailed description of the land and buildings, and an estimate of the financial value. Three documents (April 4, 1892-April 6, 1895) concern the American Investment Company's foreclosure proceedings on the Holsclaw farm and the related lawsuit against Arthur's widow, Elizabeth Holsclaw, for her husband's unpaid loan. One of these items is a notarized copy of a jury's inquest on the body of Arthur Holsclaw, stating that he killed himself by cutting his throat with a razor.
The remaining 7 deeds, abstracts, and letters concern the ownership of the farm following its repossession by the American Investment Company (1895-1898). The company first sold the farm to C. F. Bliven and his wife Lilla, and later transferred the property to William R. Abbey of Philadelphia. Abbey subsequently sold the property for $35.00.