Yellowstone Genealogy Forum

Town Founder's Wills

(Revised Friday, June 04, 2004)

The Forum has the following wills and testaments of persons who had a definite part in the formation of Billings. They are contained within the Title Abstracts that discuss the property they or their heirs owned. Along with these wills are some statements about the true meaning intended to be said by the descendent. The aftermath of these wills has left a trace of court room antics and various legal process servings that almost baffle the mind. Even testimony from the City Clerks stating that they did indeed post required notices at specified locations per court orders on a certain day and time were evident, along with affidavits from others stating that the clerks did indeed post such notices.

For anyone having a curiosity as to what happens when a person dies, and leaves a parcel of land, either with a will or not, then the exhaustive series of events that are described in these files, is a must to see. The legal costs can easily exceed the property value, and the clearing of a title, even in transfer to a surviving spouse is nearly impossible. The transfer takes a very long time. Not listed in this will section, but of general interest is the discovery of placer gold in Sec 26E, Tp1N (Heights Area) on several 20 acre plots of land in 1934. See Case # 50445-B, pg 43, and the methods of recording the find.

Person	Will Ref Date	Death	Title Location Ref	Remarks
Rual Vance Brown	Nov 28, 1933	Oct 24, 1937	Case #2964-Cooke, Park Co, MT	Lot 8, Block 12 in Cooke, MT valued at $100. Lots are 25 ft x 100 ft and located on Main Street, Cooke Campsite (eg, Cooke City). Numerous court actions ensued between family members and others before propety ownership was established, and title transferred to the Scottish Rites of Livingston (Dr Frank M Nelson; Venerable Master). The Scottish Rites transferred the property to Olive Watt Nordquist on Aug 8, 1938.
Charles Wheeler Hoffman	Jul 22, 1930		Case #2964-Cooke, Park Co, MT	Lots 9, 10 & 11, Block 12, in Cooke, MT left joint interest in land to grandchildren. Gene Hoffman ransferred title of Lots 9 & 10 to Olive W Nordquist, followed by Lot 11. All lots were originally in Railroad Section.
Gottfried Buchler	Jun 12, 1894?	Aug 22, 1895	Case #2964-Cooke, Park Co, MT	Lots 13 & 14, Block 12, in Cooke, MT left wife as owner. Heirs transferred title to Olive W Nordquist Jul 1, 1941.
William B Scott	Sep 3, 1943	Intestate without will or heirs.	Case # 5754-Red Lodge, Carbon Co, MT	NW¼NE¼SW¼NE¼NE¼ & SW¼SE¼ Tp 3, Rn 24 E, 221 acres originally valued at $3190.84 consisting of various land parcels. Court description of property was in error! Title went to nephew Howard C Peck Apr 26, 1944.
Howard C Peck	Jul 17, 1948	Intestate	Case # 5754-Red Lodge, Carbon Co, MT	Same property described above, but with corrected description, transferred to relatives. Plat map provided.
Israel Jones	Apr 3, 1920	Jul 31, 1917	Case # 1573-Billings, MT	Lot 5, Block 7 in Laurel Heights, MT. Will defines his wishes. Much court action follows.
Bessie & John Gaudino	Jan 17, 1921	Divorce Decree	Case #1548-Red Lodge, MT	Various land on SW¼NW¼ & W½NW¼ Sec 24 & 25 & 26 Rn 23 320 Acres.
Ludovico Jarussi	c 1939	Inheritance Tax Decree of the Estate. Land holds gas & oil rights.	Case #1548	Various land on SW¼NW¼ & W½NW¼ Sec 24 & 25 & 26 Rn 23 320 Acres assigned to heirs. Land plat available.
Ignas Erchul	Feb 10, 1921	Intestate	Case # 2854	SW¼ S2T7R25 160 acres in Musselshell Co. Plat available. Information about seed & grain contracts noted. Passed to heirs.
Clara L Merritt	Jul 25, 1950	Intestate	Case #65223 & 24480	Partial Interest in E½ Lot 9 & 10, Block 267 Original Town of Billings. (Was RR Property) Next of kin identified and property transferred.
W H Clanton	Aug 9, 1910	Intestate, heir of law claims title	Case #536-1, & 18634 Yellowstone Co	NW¼ of S31T1R26E, 160 acres. Probated to wife Elizabeth.
Maggie M Sample	Aug 12, 1922 Washington State	Intestate	Case #51087, East of Billings	N½SE¼ S31!iNR27E, 80 acres. Relatives identified, and property transferred.
Elsie Gile Scott	1929, Foreign	Testate	Case #1430, Taxes filed in Wisconsin & Montana	S½E½E½, NE¼NE¼ S34, T1N, R25E. Near Grand & Shiloh Rd. Relatives listed and title transfer probated.
Leta Belle Golden	Incompetent & Guardianship requested	Resided in Kitsap, WA	Case #2470-A, North Elevation in Billings	Lots 31, 32, 33 Block 2 North Elevation Subdivision transferred to son, Lloyd Lee Gold. Other relatives identified.
Melvin Hjelseth	Jun 2, 1967	Intestate	Case # 5584-A, Billings	N 50' Lot #2, Block 14, Sunnyside, 3^rd Filing. Property transferred, next of kin identified.
Charles F Burton	Sep 20, 1915	Jun 3, 1911	Case # 15914, Billings	Lots 16 & 20, Block 289. Will identifies actions to be taken.
Frederick Billings	Sep 30, 1890 Woodstock, Windsor Co, VT	Jun 10, 1890(date of Will) Died Sep30, 1890, VT	Case # 9412, 9526 Yellowstone Co	Various land holdings in and around the Billings area. Will defined heirs and actions to be taken.
T F Moore	Nov 4, 1945, Los Angeles	Intestate	Case #5899, Billings	Property in Sec 341NR25E, 30 acres. Lydia Moore wife assigned title.
Conrad Walter	Apr 22, 1937	Intestate	Case #46268, Yellowstone Co	Irrigated farm land, 153 acres, relatives identified; Alice, widow, received property.
Barbara Prishmont	Mar 24, 1927	Intestate	Case #27169, Billings	Lots 10 & 11, Block 5, Clanton Heights. Property transfers noted.
Neil D. Smith	Sep 22, 1952 Billings	Intestate	Case#1430, pg61, Abstract 69450, Case 8858 Regulations No. 15, Page 639	Blanche Irene Smith petitions the court. All of the legal heirs are identified by name, qualifying age, and residence. They owned lots 9 & 10 in the Tiffany Subdivision.

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