TO THE HONORABLE J. M. McWHORTER, JUDGE OF CIRCUIT COURT OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
The Bill of complaint of J. A. Graham, Plaintiff, filed in said Court against D.G. Ballengee, administrator of the estate of Evi Ballengee, deceased and in his own right Charles Ballengee, Joohn H. Ballengee, Mary J. Honaker, Annie Burdette, M. Susan Graham, C. R. Fox, David M. Fox, Joseph Fox, Samuel H. Fox, James A. Fox, John Fox, Mrs. John Willis, Mrs. J. H.Martin, Martha Phillips, Martha Phillips, Geo. Fox, Warren Fox, Mrs. A. M. Brown, Miss Rutha Fox, Miss Lizzie Fox, Peter Wyant, Sarah A. Grimmett, rutha J. Meadows, Nancy I. Shirey, Susan Thompson, Henderson Garten, Emiline Persinger, Sarah Sawyers, Mary Ann Meadows, Catherine Meadows, Flora Barton, Lizzie Noble, Chas. P. Garten, Caroline Keatten and the unknown heirs of Goodall Garten.
Your orator, J. A. Graham complains and says:
That in the month of March 1900, one Evi Ballengee, a resident of said County and State departed this life leaving within the corporate limits of the City of Hinton in said County a very valuable tract of land of whick he was seized and to which he had a fee simple title . . .
(This document goes on to list all the heirs who claim title to this land):
Children of John R. Ballengee: D. G. Ballengee, Chas. Ballengee, John H. Ballengee, Mary J. honaker, Annie Burdette and M. Susan Graham.
Children of David Fox, deceased:
Charles R. Fox, David M. Fox, Joseph R. Fox, Samuel I. Fox, James A. Fox, John L. Fox, Mrs. John (Mary) Willis, and Mrs. J. H. Martin (Elizabeth), B. F. Fox, Susan Bennett and Wm. F. Fox, the only surviving heir of Wm. G. Fox.
Ruth Phillips, dec. (a sister of Evi) children
Mary Phillips and Martha Phillips, non-residents of the state of W.VA.
Samuel Fox children:
George Fox, Warren Fox, Mrs. A. M. Brown (nee Fox), Miss Susan Fox, Miss Lizzie Fox, Mrs. Mary Burns, Charles L. Fox, Sallie F. Burns, Rosa Fox, the children of Wm. Fox, decd.
Eliza Wyant, decd, children:
Peter Wyant, Sarah A. Grimmett (nee Wyant) Rutha J. Meadows (nee Wyant), Nancy I. Shirey (nee Wyant) and Susan Thompson (nee Wyant)
Thompson Garten, decd, children:
Henderson Garten, Emiline Persinger (n.G.), Sarah Sawyers (n. G.) Mary Ann Meadows (n.G.) Catherine Meadows (n.G.) Flora Barton (n.G.), Lizzie Noble (n.G.) and Charales P. Garten, one Ewell Garten (Ewell sold title), Lorenzo Garten.
Brothers and sisters of Evi are now dead:
Ruth Phillips, Mary Fox who married David Fox; Florence who married Samuel Fox; John R.; _____ Garten, wife of Thompson Garten; ________ Garten, wife of Goodall Garten; Susan L. Wyant, wife of Elija Wyant.
The land sold at $3,065 and proceeds divided:
Florence Fox:
George Fox, Mrs. Mary Burns, Charles L. Fox, Sallie F. Burns, Rosa Fox the child of Wm. Fox, decd (Wm. a son of Florence); Warren Fox, Ruth fox, Elizabeth Fox, Susan Fox, Mary Fox, and Caroline Brown.
David Fox left 8 children surviving them.
"Respondent is advised and alleges that there are a great number of heirs distributed throughout the Country, numbering possibly 95 or 80 with varying interests and some of whom are entirely unknown to Respondent . . ."
Mrs. Sarah Wiley, a daughter of Goodall and Jane Garten - a resident of Palmer Lake, State of Colorado.
Heirs of Goodall and Jane Barten, decd:
John H., James K., Charles H., Mary J. Williams, Nannie Garten, Henderson Garten, Nellie Smith, Claud Garten, Myrtle Strickland, Mable Lukens, Ruby Garten, Frank Garten, Lena Garten, Ethel Garten, Ruby Montgomery, Jennie L. Saunders and C.C. Saunders.
. . . and that the petitioners C.C. Saunders, Jennie L. Saunders and ___ Saunders, heirs atlaw of Julia A. Saunders, deceased, who was a daughter of Goodall and Jane Garten. All these petitioners are non-residents of the state.
Charles H. Garten, Mary J. Williams, Henderson Garten, and Nannie Garten to receive 1/5 of 1/56 or $5.38.
Remaining petitioners: Nellie Smith, Claud Garten, Myrtle Strickland, Mable Lukens, Ruby Garten, Frank Garten, Lena Garten, Ruby Montgomery and Ethel Garten receive $.59.
James K. Garten (son of Goodall) a resident of Steamboat Springs, Colorado have not been a resident of West Virginia for 46 years and now 63 years old (1915). John H. the only other living child. The children of Charles Garten are: Mary J. Williams of Steamboat Springs, Charles Garton of Woodard, OK.
John H. Garten of Barber Co., Kansas, resident of Sun City, Kansas now 69 years old (1915). Other children of Goodall: Sarah Wiley, Caroline Keatley, Mrs. Lewis W. Saunders -- all are dead. Charley, son of Charley Garten lives at Mooreland, OK.
Charles Garten died about 1885, age 51. His children were: Nannie, Charles H., Mary J. Williams (age 51 in 1915), Henderson, residing at Lindsley OK.
James Garten's children:
Nellie Smith; Claud; Myrtle Strickland; Mable Lukens; Ruby; Frank, minor; Lena, minor, the daughter of Annie Garten whose married name was Montgomery and daughter's name Ruby; also William Garten's child named Ethel Garten and myself. I am a resident of Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
Petition:
Lorenzo D. Garten, one of ten children of Thompson Garten, had three children: Mattie E. Spangler, John F. Garten (resided Willets Point, NY), George L. Garten
Heirs of William fox and son of Samuel Fox: Charles L.; Sallie F. Burns; Rosa Fox
William Fox was one of six children: George, Warren, Mrs. A.M. Brown, Susan, Lizzie; William.