Sir,
I am a homestead settler and am in some trouble in regard to some fine timbers that have been cut on my land 3 years ago.
I made a bargain with a man O.B. Wait for apportions of the pine on my land for so much money payable in payments once a year.
The contract stated that he should not touch anything in March 1870 to interfere with the homestead rights.
He went to cut the timber; I forbade him to touch it.
He then took off what he had cut, as he was not to make me any trouble.
I consider that his claim is not coming into force until I prove up my claim to be void.
Wait sold the claim to J.L. Stevens of East Laginane.
In February 1871, he cut about 30 thousand feet of cork pine. I forbade them from mooching it; they took it away.
I sent a complaint to Mr. Ripley and received his reply at the land office. His reply was that M.L. Stevens had been there and settled for it by paying $55.00.
In March 1872, Stevens cut about 80 thousand more and drew it onto the banking ground on my land.
Some of it is there yet.
Some dam the creek I made.
In March, I filed a complaint by letter with Mr. Bates, the receiver in the land office.
I went down and made inquiries.
He said he got no letter from me and was very sorry about it.
I saw Mr. Brooks, the commissioner, and he and Stevens had a talk; he told me I had better go home and that I could not do anything with it.
He said he could not find anything paid by Stevens in the books, and Bates said the same.
Henry of Lorpeer, agent for the Marshall, went in and looked at the logs, said he would come in 10 days and mark the logs, but he never came.
I wrote and asked him the reason, and he said he had met Stevens's Agent, he said they had settled with me, and I was satisfied and paid his expenses.
If there was anything he would see to it, I had never seen any of them.
I sent him 4 times, he answered that he could not do anything without Mr. Bates sent him.
I sent a paper containing the affidavits of the town clerk and the justice who witnessed my contract.
I sent it in July to Mr. Bermet and Mr. J Marshall, but got no answer.
If that paper could be found, it would prove that I am not liable.
One man is in Indiana now.
I have shown a copy of the contract to Brooks and other prominent men; they say that I am not to blame, their claim is broken.
Stevens says he got permission from the land office to take the timber, but sent through Brook that he would give me $150.00 for the right to my timber. I will not do it.
They would take anything they could find and use it as a defiance.
This letter is addressed to Washington regarding Walter Rumble's land issue.
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