Howard Louis Conard

“ By act of February 18, 1861 (12 United States Statutes, p 130) , from all judgments and decrees of any circuit court, a right of appeal or writ of error was granted to the Supreme Court of the United States in all cases of controversy in law or equity regarding copyright or patent claims under the laws of the United States, without regard to the amount in controversy. ”

“ Louis, Kansas City and Jefferson City were to be the same as already established by law, and in the other divisions therein named the times of holding terms of court were to be, at Hannibal on the first Mondays of May and November, and at the city of St. Joseph on the first Mondays of April and October, and at Springfield on the first Mondays of February and August. The counties of Cedar, Polk, Greene, Dade, Lawrence, Newton, McDonald, Barry and Stone were attached to the Western Division of the Western District for circuit court purposes in all cases and proceedings. ”

“ James H. Peck was commissioned, April 5, 1822, as the first district judge, and Joshua Barton was commissioned April 16, 1822, as the first United States District Attorney, and Isaac Barton was appointed the first clerk of said court on May 15, 1822. The said act, in declaring that the Missouri district court should exercise the same jurisdiction and powers given to the judge of the Kentucky district, gave to the judge of the Missouri district the jurisdiction and powers of a United States Circuit Court—for such was the. jurisdiction of the Kentucky District Court. ”

“ Their decision by this latter court has established principles in reference to land titles that have controlled similar questions that have arisen in Florida, acquired of Spain, and in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, acquired of Mexico. ”