Federal Land Bank of St. Louis v. Cottrell

William D. Cottrell owned a 160-acre tract of land in Union county, on which, he resided as his homestead. On July 1, 1922, he executed a mortgage on the land, in which his wife joined, to secure the payment of a loan of $1,200, which he had obtained from the Federal Land Bank of St. Louis. Cottrell died July 21, 1929, and was survived by Ida, his wife, and seven children. The widow died October 17, 1983, survived by the seven children.

Default was made in meeting payments of principal and interest and of taxes, and on January 27, 1936, the bank filed suit to foreclose the mortgage, making the…