Nelson v. John

86 P. 933, 43 Wash. 483, 1906 Wash. LEXIS 733
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 25, 1906
DocketNo. 6178
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 86 P. 933 (Nelson v. John) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nelson v. John, 86 P. 933, 43 Wash. 483, 1906 Wash. LEXIS 733 (Wash. 1906).

Opinion

Root, J.

Plaintiff is now, and. for a long time has been, a citizen, of the United States and of the state of Washington, and a resident of the city of Tacoma in said stata John Salerhand and . Chekudakai Salerhand, his wife, whose estates are parties defendant herein, were Indians of the Puyallup tribe, being ini life on the 30th day of January, 1886, and until after the Ith day of March, 1892. John Salerhand died intestate in the fall of 1893 or 1894, leaving [484]*484surviving him his wife, Chekudakai Salerhand, and a son, Peter John (Salerhand). Chekudakai Salerhand died intestate January 19, 1900. In 1854 the United. States of America made and entered into a treaty with the several Indian tribes adjacent to Pnget Sbund, of wbicb the Puyallup tribe was oue, by the terms of which, in consideration of the extinguishment of the Indian title to the lands, and sundry promises on the part of these several tribes upon other matters, the United States promised to continue the Indian title of use and occupancy to these several tribes as to several tracts of land, the reservations, and under certain conditions to give to individual members of these tribes an equivalent right of the use and occupancy of separate tracts or parcels of these reservations, by allotment, and under other and further conditions, to convey such tracts or parcels to these individual allottees by patent; subject, however, to a restriction upon the alienation of such patented land, the restriction to continue in force until the legislature of this state should remove it; hut the legislature was not to remove such restriction without the consent of Congress.

On for before the 30th day of October, 1884, pursuant to the provisions of the aforesaid treaty, there was allotted to John Salerhand, as the head of the family consisting of himself and his wife; a certain tract or parcel of land situated on the Puyallup reservation, and more fully described as follows: Lot four, in section three; in township twenty, north of range three east of the Willamette Meridian; containing thirty-seven and ninety-seven one-hundredths acres. Thereafter, on the 30th day of January, 1886, said tract or parcel of land (with other lands) was conveyed to the said John Salerhand by patent, in words and figures as follows:

“The United States oe Amebica. To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:

“Whereas, by the sixth article of the treaty concluded on the 26th day of December, Anno Domini one thousand eight [485]*485hundred and fifty-four, between Isaac A. Stevens, governor and superintendent of Indian affairs of Washington Territory, on the part of the United States, and the chiefs, headmen and delegates of ISTisqually, Puyallupi, Stedlacoom, Squawksin, S’Momamish, Ste-chass, T’Peeksin, Squi-ailt and Sa-hehwamish tribes and bands of Indians, it is provided that the President, ‘at his discretion, cause the whole or any portion of the lands hereby reserved, or of such other lands as may be selected in lieu thereof, to be surveyed into lots, and assign the same to such individuals or families as are willing to avail themselves of the privilege, and will locate on the same as a permanent home, on the same terms and subject to the same regulations as are pirovided in the sixth article of the treaty with the Omahas, so far as the same may be applicable^

“And whereas, there has been deposited in the General Land Office of the United States an order bearing date January 30, 1886, from the Secretary of the Interior, accompanied by a return dated October 30, 1884, from the office of Indian Affairs, with- a list approved October 23, 1884, by the President of the United States, showing the names of members of the Puyallup band of Indians who have made selections of land in accordance with the provisions of the said treaties, in which' lists the following tract of land has been designated as the selection of John Salerhand, the head of a family consisting of himself and Chekudakai, his wife, viz.: Lot four in section three (3) in township twenty (20) north of range three (3) east of the Willamette Meridian, containing thirty-seven and ninety-seven hundredths (37.9Y-100) acres.

“ISTow, know ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the premises and in accordance with the directions of the President of the United States under the aforesaid sixth article of the treaty of the sixteenth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, with the Omaha Indians^ has given and granted, and by these presents does give and grant, unto the said John Salerhand, as the head of the family as aforesaid, and unto his heirs, the tract of land above described, but with the stipulation contained in the sixth article of the treaty with the Omaha Indians, that the said tract ‘shall not be aliened or leased for a longer term than two years; and shall be exempt from levy, sale or forfeiture^ which conditions shall continue in force [486]*486üntil a state constitution, embracing such lands within its boundaries shall have been formed and the legislature of the state shall remove the restriction/ and ‘no state legislature shall remove the restrictions . . . without the consent of Congress.

“To have and to hold the said tracts of land, with the appurtenances, unto the- said John Salerhand, as head of the family, as aforesaid.”

On the 9th day of March, 1892, John Salerhand and Chekudakai, his wife,' made and entered into an agreement with the plaintiff herein, which agreement was duly acknowledged and recorded in the office of the auditor of Pierce county on said date, in words and figures as follows:

“This Indenture. Witnessed:, That John Salerhand and Chekudakai Salerhand, his wife, of Pierce county, Washington Territory, parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred in gold coin of the United States of America, to them in hand paid by Eoss Nelson, of Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington Territory, party of the second part, has granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns, for two years from the date hereof, the following described premises, situate, lying and being in the county of Pierce, territory of Washington, to wit: Beginning at the center of section three in township twenty (20) north of range three (3) east, thence along the quarter section line forty two rods (42), thence south parallel with the north and south end quarter line to the south boundary line of lot four (4) in said section three (3). Thence west along the south boundary line of the Puyallup river’, thence down the stream to the intersection of tire north and south one-quarter line1, thence north along said line to the place of beginning, containing twenty acres of land. This instrument and conveyance is continued in force after two years and is made absolute on the further consideration of six thousand dollars, which shall be due and payable by the grantee to the grantor under this instrument within ninety days after the approval hereinafter provided for. The intention being that this indenture is and shall be binding on the grantors herein, their heirs, executors, administrators, as[487]*487signs, and.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
86 P. 933, 43 Wash. 483, 1906 Wash. LEXIS 733, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nelson-v-john-wash-1906.