Frank's Suitcase - Family legal documents

Ever wonder how the family came into possession of 7 square miles of land in Brule County? It was a combination of John and Susan Smith's purchases over the years, as well as purchases made by Peter L. Smith, John C. Smith and Frank O. Smith. The purchases are recorded in over 170 documents that Frank carefully preserved in his suitcase...no doubt preserved because so many early farmlands were contested by land speculators. Click on each hyperlink to view the mortgage and related land documents.