Daniel D. Spracklins Estate: Revisiting the Partition Deeds of his heirs…

I promised I would share about the partition deeds that were part of the estate of Daniel D. Spracklin in each of the posts about his children but I ended up getting to involved with the writing of each post about Daniel’s 2nd family and didn’t have the room.

So let me share the deeds for some of the heirs of Daniel and I think they are really wonderful.  These are not the originals but typed copies of the deeds by the court clerk.

Here is the post that I wrote in August titled: Daniel D. Spracklin’s Estate: The Partition Deeds, August 29, 2015. This post referred to a Referree Deed as well which I will not share here.

Here is the list of those who participated in the partitioning of Daniel’s land in Dayton Twp., Iowa Co., Iowa and these deeds helped me to find where the they all went.

1. Spracklin, V.H. & wife (Mae) Co. of Sanborn, So. Dakota – 1/23/1917 – $149.50.  This is Virda Huston and his wife Mae.

2. Spracklin, E.S. & wife (Mrs. E.G. Spracklin) Co. of Shelby, IA – 9/23/1916 – $150.50 – This person is Elmer George Spracklin son of Henry Spracklin, brother to Amarilla and of the first family.

3. Spracklin, P.S. – Single…his wife, Co. of Iowa, IA. – 1/13/1917 – $150.50 – I think this is Peter George Spracklin who is a son of Daniel and Sarah Spracklin.

4. Spracklin, C.E. etal (wife is Arminda V. Spracklin & Ammarilla Dawes, single) – 12/22/1916 $152.50 – This is the one in which Amarilla Barclay Dawes and Charles Edward Spracklin came together to release their claim on their father Daniel’s land.  It is done in Minnesota.

5. Spracklin O.R., single Co. of Sanborn, So. Dakota – 1/18/1917 – $153.50  – Based on the Heir-at-Law form that I have featured on this blog in my posts about Daniel’s Estate, I think this is Raymond Ortha Spracklin another son of Henry Spracklin and Elizabeth Bendon.

Partition Deeds for Daniel Spracklin’s Estate 1915

Partition Deed for Daniel Spracklin

These deeds were together in order in the book at the courthouse on my trip to Iowa in 2003 and I do not understand why there were only these individual’s listed.  Based on the Heirs-at-law form from Daniel’s estate there should be more?  Reed Spracklin, was the Administrator of the estate so he had an agreement with Daniel.

Source:  D.D. Spracklin, Register of Deeds, Iowa Co., Iowa, Marengo, Iowa, Book 73, pg. 88, Iowa County Courthouse. 

Daniel Spracklin’s Children: Virda Huston Spracklin – 1866 to 1927

Virda Huston Spracklin

Virda Huston Spracklin was born 11 June, 1866 in Benton Co., Iowa to Daniel and Sarah Spracklin.

Virda has been featured in the census, on this blog, and with his parents Daniel and Sarah starting with the 1870 U.S. Federal where he is referred to as Birdie H. 4 yrs old, male, born in Iowa. The family is in Leroy Twp., Benton Co., Iowa at this time. In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census he is appears as: Spracklin, Virdia, white, male, age 13, son, at school, born in Iowa. Daniel has migrated to Dayton Twp., Iowa Co., Iowa by this time.

Virda is not in the 1885 Iowa Census with his parents nor is he with them in 1895. So this means he left home between 1880 and 1885.  I cannot find him in the 1885 Iowa Census so he may have been on the move at this time.

Verd Spracklin appears in the Index for the 1895 Iowa State Census as 28 years old and born in Benton Co., Iowa, page 182, residence is Cedar, Calhoun Co. Lillie is listed in the index for this census as 27 yrs old born in Dubuque, Iowa. Dair Spracklin is also listed age 4, and Sola Spracklin age 2. I am assuming that Sola is really Lola.

Note:  FamilySearch has the actual card records of the South Dakota state census online.  You have to sign in to see them which means you need a free online account with the Family History Library. They also have films to study. Easy to do. Ancestry has only an index for the South Dakota census.

South Dakota County Map

Virda H. Spracklin appears in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census in, Cedar Twp., Calhoun Co., Iowa.  His brother Reed is above him on the page.

Source: 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Cedar Twp., Calhoun Co., Iowa, SD#10, ED#30, Sht#2, enumerated 6 June, 1900 by Ira E. Babcock. 

Line 56, 30, 31 Spracklin, Reed A. Head, Aug. 1868, 31, M, 2, born Iowa, father born Indiana, mother born Ohio, farmer, yes, yes, yes, R, F, 27. Spracklin, Julia A. Wife, F, Sept 1858, 21, m, 2, 2 born, 1 living, born Nebraska, father born Indiana, mother born Kansas, yes, yes, yes. Spracklin Amos, E., son, W, M, Aug, 1899 9/12 S. born Iowa.

Line 63, 32, 33, Spracklin, Virda H., Head, W, M, June 1866 age 33, M, 10, born Iowa, father born Ohio, mother Indiana, Farmer, yes, yes, yes, O, M, F, 31. Spracklin, Lilly A., wife, W, F, Mar. 1867, 33, M, 10, 4 born, 4 living, born Iowa, father born Indiana, mother Ohio. Spracklin Dair D., son, W, M, Sept 1890, 9, S, born Iowa, at school, yes, yes, yes. Spracklin, Lola I, daughter, W, F, Dec 1893, 6, S, born Iowa, yes, yes, no, O, M, F, 30. Spracklin, Mabel S, daughter, W, F, Sep 1896 3, S, born Iowa. Spracklin, Solomon, son, W, M, Jan 1898 1, S, born Iowa. 

Virda and family are in the 1905 Iowa State Census in South Dakota.  This is only an index and not the original pages of the census. So sometime around 1903 Virda migrated to South Dakota taking the family there.

VH Spracklin, Male, White, Married, age 39, born 1866, Iowa, years in State 2, 1903, South Dakota, parents born in Ohio. Lilly May, born 1867 in Iowa, parents born in Ohio. Daniel D, Lola, Mable G, Solomon, Bearl and Alford are in South Dakota too. 

Virda and Lille appear in the 1910 U.S. Census in South Dakota:

Source: Virda H. Spracklin Family, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Franklin, Jerauld, South Dakota, Roll #T624_1482, Page 19A, ED 249, Image 632.

Virda H. Spracklin, age 44, born about 1866 in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother in Indiana, married, white. Lilly M. Spracklin, age 43, Daniel D. Spracklin age 19, Lilly J. Spracklin age 17, Mabel S. Spracklin age 14, Solomon Spracklin age 12, Beryl J. Spracklin age 9, Alford Spracklin age 7, Beulah Spracklin age 4, Gerald H. Spracklin 1 4/12.

In 1915 they are still in South Dakota per the census. This is an index not the actual pages:

VH Spracklin, age 49, born 1866 male, white, born Iowa, married, marriage year 1890, in state 1904, Free Methodist, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana. Sht #47. Lillie M. age 49, born 1866, in Iowa, married etc.

In 1920 they are still in Franklin, Jerauld, South Dakota, they have Opal with them, brother Daniel’s daughter. This is the last census for Lilly,

Source:  V.H. Spracklin [Spradlin], 1920 U.S. Federal, Franklin, Jerauld, South Dakota, Roll T625-1721, Page 7A, ED 115, Image 681.

V.H. Spracklin, age 53 years, born about 1867 in Iowa, Spouses Name May, Father born US, Mother US married, white male, own home, able to read and write Image 681. May Spracklin age 52, Alfred Spracklin age 19, Baulah Spracklin age 13, Gerald Spracklin age 11, Opal Spracklin age 11.

Virda or Verda Spracklin appears in the 1925 Iowa State Census.  Again this is an index only listing.

Verda Spracklin, age 59, male, white, born 1866, in Iowa, Scotch, widowed, not naturalized, Free Methodist, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana.

Virda married Lillie Mae Amsden on 12 November, 1889 in Rockwell City, Calhoun Co., Iowa. Lillie was the daughter of Joel Amsden and Isabella Kirkpatrick.  She was born 3 March, 1867, Dubuque Co., Iowa.  The marriage record was obtained and shared by P. Stoudt.

Source: Marriage Record No. 2: Virda H. Spracklin to Lillie May Amsden, 12 November 1889, Rockwell City, Calhoun Co., Iowa pg. 344, No. 352

On 12 November 1889 testimony of F.M. Leachiss, License for the marriage of Virda H. Spracklin and Lillie May Amsden, Rockwell City, 12 November 1889, F.C. Gregg, Clerk, joined in marriage.  Groom: Virda H. Spracklin, resided Cedar Twp., Calhoun Co., Iowa, Farmer, age 24, color white, born Benton Co., Iowa, Father Daniel Spracklin, mother Sarah Blacketer, first marriage. Bride Lillie May Amsden, residing Cedar Twp., Calhoun Co., Iowa, age 23, white, born Dubuque, Iowa farther Joel Amsden, mother Isabel Kirkpatrick, first marriage, married at Rockwell City on 12 November 1889. Signed by them.

In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census a Joel Amsden age 52 is living in Cedar Twp., Calhoun Co., Iowa with an Isbabel.  There is a May Amsden age 13 listed living with them.  It lists Joel 52, Isabel 45, Eva 26, Charles L. 23, Laura 20, Fannie 16, May 13, Frank 10, Wlater 6 and Howard 4.

There is no writing on this photo to indicate who the children are, I would guess that the little girl on the left standing is Lola, the boy standing in the back is Daniel, the little girl on the right in the white dress is Mabel and the child in the chair is Saul.  These children are so precious.

Virda and Lillie’s Children

Find A Grave has a picture of Virda and Lilly’s tombstone in the Eventide Cemetery in Woonsocket, South Dakota.

Lilly May died 29 July 1924 in Davison Co., South Dakota. Virda died 15 November, 1927 in Woonsocket, Sanborn Co., South Dakota. The photo below is from a cousin.

Virda H. Spracklin and Lily May’s Tombstone in Eventide Cemetery, courtesy of P. Stoudt.

Virda was listed on the heirs-at-law form in the Estate for his father Daniel D. Spracklin in 1915. There are several posts about Daniel’s Estate that you can review on this blog. Virda and Lillie signed a deed selling his father’s land.

Source:  Deed Record, Lands, Iowa County Grantors, Book 73, pg. 87, V.H. & Mae, E.G. & wife, P.G. & wife, C.E. et al, O.R. Spracklin to Thomas Stapleton.

KNOW BY ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That we, V.H. Spracklin and Mae Spracklin, his wife of the County of Sanborn, State of South Dakota, for and in consideration of the sum of One Dollar, do hereby sell, convey and forever Quit Claim unto Thomas Stapleton of Iowa County, State of Iowa, to-wit; – the north-east quarter of Section Nineteen (19) in Township Seventy-eight (78) North of Range Twelve West of the Fifth Principal Meridian. And I Mae Spracklin, wife of the said V.H. Spracklin, for the above consideration do hereby relinquish all right of dower in and to the above described premises. Signed this 23 day of January A.D. 1917 – Signed V.H. Spracklin and Mae Spracklin

State of South Dakota, County of Sanborn, ss. Be it remembered that on this 23 day of January A.D. 1917, before the undersigned Notary Public within and for said County personally came V.H. Spracklin and Mae Spracklin, to me personally known to be the identical persons named in and who subscribed the above instrument as grantors and acknowledged the execution thereof to be their voluntary act and deed.

Witness my hand and Notarial Seal the day and year last above written. (seal). My commission expires Dec. 17th 1917, N. Noble Notary Public in and for Sanborn County, South Dakota.

I have done a search of the Bureau of Land Management to see if Virda came up, but he did not. A Clem Spracklin appears in their listings for 10/4/1935 in the Black Hills to be used for stock grazing.  I think he is the son of John W. Spracklin out of Wyoming and the grandson of Peter Spracklin brother to Daniel D. Spracklin father of Virda.  I think it would be interesting to do a deed search on Virda to see when he bought his land and then an estate search to see what happened to it.

It is looking like a search of Jerauld and Sanborn counties would be in order for deeds and other documentation. I am finding it difficult to do research on South Dakota online or at the Family History Library which emphasizes the Native American.  There is so much more on Virda that I would like to do.

In the next post, I will share what I know about the children of Lillie and Virda. I am a bit puzzled as to the spelling of her name, I have seen Lillie or Lily and Mae or May.  It is sort of like trying to figure out how Amarilla spelled her name.