You and your siblings have inherited land from your father, and now you want to sell it. There are eight of you and you've all agreed to sell, but there is a problem. You live in four different states. Fax the agreement to you, you sign and send a fax back? How about that new thing called an electronic signature? Sorry, it's 1883.
Such a dilemma faced the children of Jacob Smith when they decided to sell property in Dearborn County, Indiana and they lived in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Kansas. They needed an executor to complete the sale of the land and below is the authorization for such a transaction. The children needed someone who was reliable, trustworthy and would treat them all equally. Who did they choose? The oldest son? The oldest sister? No, they chose the one we all know is the most reliable and trustworthy - mother. They appointed Ann LIDDLE Smith, who at the time was sixty-nine years old, for what mom's are known best; taking care of their children and their children's interests.
Read through the document which is well preserved after one hundred and twenty-five years. How did they get all the signatures? Did they meet at a common place? If so, why use mom? Was it mailed to successive households? Were there ten or more copies as there would be today? It is remarkable that Ida Jane SMITH kept hers and now we can share it.
