Iowa Deeds

Do you have an ancestor that seemed to move around a lot? Have you tried to locate him/her between census years?

I have such an ancestor, Thurston Kennedy Wells. According to the 1860 and 1870 census records, he was living in Kansas. However, family history indicates there is a lot more to the ‘story’.

In 1860, Thurston Wells was a widower with two young sons. Clues are still being sought as to what took him to Iowa, but Thurston married Salome Crandall in Van Buren County, Iowa in 1861. After their marriage, they evidently moved to Michigan where some of Thurston’s siblings lived. By 1868, they are back in Van Buren County, Iowa where their daughter, Anna was born.

Fortunately, there are deed records to help support this return to Iowa.

In March of 1867, Thurston purchased two lots in the town of South Kesauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa

Mary White to Thurston K Wells
For the consideration of three hundred dollars the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged I Mary white do hereby sell and convey to Thurson K Wells the following described real estate to wit Lots No twelve (12) and fourteen (14) in block two (2) situated in South Kesauqua Van Buren Cuonty Iowa and I covenant that I am lawfully seized [in fee] of the foregranted premises that they are free from all incumbrances and that I will warrant and defend the title thereto against the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever.
Dated this 15th day of March AD 1867
Mary (her mark) white
Revenue Stamp
50 M W
March 15 1867

Iowa, Van Buren. Deeds, Volume 6. Film #967298 DGS 8584531. Thurston K Wells, 15 Mar 1867 vol. 6: page 51; digital images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 9 June 2021.967298 DGS 8584531.

In 1870, Thurston and his wife, Salome, sold those two lots. This would have been close to the time Thurston was said to have visited Woodson County, Kansas prior to moving to Kansas.

T K Wells & wife to L W Cauhil
For the consideration of one hundred and sixty dollars we hereby convey to L W [Cauhill] the following real estate to wit Lots No Twelve (12) and fourteen (14) in block No (2) Two situated in South Kesauqua Van Buren County Iowa and we warrant the title against the lawful claims of all persons whomesoever.
Dated this March __ 1870
T K Wells
Salome Wells
Revenue Stamp
50C TKW
March 5th 1870

State of Iowa
Van Buren County
Personally appeared before me E Goddard a Notary Public in and for said county Thurston K Wells and Salome Wells hi wife personally known to me to be the identical persons whose mark appear to the above deed of conveyance as grantors and acknowledged the signing of the same to be their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein expressed
Given under my hand this 5th day of March 1870
E Goddard
Notary Public
Filed for Record March 5th AD 1870 at 9 oclock AM

Iowa, Van Buren. Deeds, Volume 6. Film ##967298 DGS 8584531. Thurston K wells, March 1870 Vol. 6: page 57; digital images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 9 June 2021.#967298 DGS 8584531.