Lydick Homestead Lost
Horace S. “H.S.” Lydick, his wife Susan (Roy) and their growing family settled on 159 acres in Beltrami County in May of 1911. At the Cass Lake Land Office, he filed a communtation claim to obtain the title to the property in 1913. Commuting a claim was a quicker way to receive the title. Read about H.S.’s commutation here.
1916 Map of Moose Lake Township, Beltrami County, MNW1W. Hixson & Co.. Plat book of the state of Minnesota. 1916. University of Minnesota Libraries, John R. Borchert Map Library, umedia.lib.umn.edu/item/p16022coll231:3111, Accessed 24 May 2022.
Township 147N, Range 30W, Sections 28, 29, 32 & 33
H.S. Lydick’s 159 acres are highlighted
By the 1920 census, the Horace Lydick family lived in the town of Cass Lake.2United States Federal Census, 1920; Minnesota, Cass County, Cass Lake, ED 102, page 13A, Dwelling 228, Horace S. Lydick family. What happened? Why are they not on the north shore of Kitchi Lake?
Taxes
As soon as a settler acquired the patent/title for their property, they began to be responsible for property taxes.
Horace S. Lydick obtained the patent to the 159 acres on October 30, 1913. However, he did not pay the taxes for the year 1914. The local newspaper reported the delinquency.3The (Bemidji MN) Pioneer, February 23, 1916, page 1, col 1.
His tax bill swelled with fees and judgements. Originally he owed $32.77. The liability grew to $37.69 plus $1.20 in charges for the year. Because he paid the amount before the County put a lien on the property, the Beltrami County MN Tax Judgement Book is stamped “Paid before sale.” 4Beltrami County MN Tax Judgement Book 1914, page 2, lines 6-9.
More Taxes
By the time H.S. Lydick paid the 1914 taxes, the 1915 property taxes were coming due. As property values rose, so did the tax liability.
For 1915 he initially owed $53.57. With the judgements and fees, the total due grew to $62.81.5Beltrami County MN Tax Judgement Book 1915, page 17, lines 3, 13, 30 & page 18, line 5.
This time, he did not pay the taxes.
Sheriff Sale
Because H.S. Lydick did not pay the 1915 taxes by the January 1, 1917 deadline, the past-due amount became a lien on the property. According to the Beltrami County MN Recorder’s Office, the property sold in a Sheriff Sale to collect the delinquent taxes. On August 26, 1918, C.M. Taylor purchased the 159 acres for $630.62.
Why did H.S. Lydick Commute this homestead?
Why would someone have the cash to commute their homestead, but not have the cash to pay the taxes?
Did H.S. commute because he had a buyer lined up?
Was the homestead intended to be collateral for a business loan that did not materialize?6Lydick, Clinton. A History of Clint Lydick’s Family. Bemdiji MN: Self, 2007. Page 16 of 28. Copy given to K. Blees, July 2012 “I always had the impression that they used the Homestead for collateral.”
We don’t know for sure. But, look at the evidence in this post for a possible reason why he commuted.
SOURCES
- 1W. Hixson & Co.. Plat book of the state of Minnesota. 1916. University of Minnesota Libraries, John R. Borchert Map Library, umedia.lib.umn.edu/item/p16022coll231:3111, Accessed 24 May 2022.
- 2United States Federal Census, 1920; Minnesota, Cass County, Cass Lake, ED 102, page 13A, Dwelling 228, Horace S. Lydick family.
- 3The (Bemidji MN) Pioneer, February 23, 1916, page 1, col 1.
- 4Beltrami County MN Tax Judgement Book 1914, page 2, lines 6-9.
- 5Beltrami County MN Tax Judgement Book 1915, page 17, lines 3, 13, 30 & page 18, line 5.
- 6Lydick, Clinton. A History of Clint Lydick’s Family. Bemdiji MN: Self, 2007. Page 16 of 28. Copy given to K. Blees, July 2012 “I always had the impression that they used the Homestead for collateral.”