The Foreclosure Auction: When the Bank Takes Your Land
A Benton County sheriff prepares to sell a farmer's property at the Prosser courthouse for over $1,300 in 1914, highlighting the precarious nature of land ownership during the early days of Washington's agricultural boom.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL ESTATE
In the Superior Court of the State of Washington for Benton County Louis Rottmann, Plaintiff Luke Walsh, Defendant
Under and by virtue of an Execution under Foreclosure, issued out of and under the Seal of the above entitled Court holding terms at Prosser, in and for said county, on the 31st day of March, A.D. 1914, upon a judgment rendered in said Court on the 31st day of March, A.D. 1914, in favor of Louis Rottmann, and against Luke Walsh, for the sum of $1257.71 (Twelve Hundred Fifty-seven and 71-100 Dollars) together with attorney’s fees, interest, costs and increased costs, and to me directed and delivered, commanding me to sell the following described property situate, lying and being in Benton County, State of Washington, or so much thereof as may be necessary to satisfy said judgment, attorney’s fees, interest, costs and increased costs, to-wit—
The East Half of the Southeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section No. 17, Township 8, North, Range 30, E.W.M., together with the water right appurtenant thereto;
THEREFORE, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That on SATURDAY the 2nd day of May A.D. 1914 at 11 o'clock in the forenoon of said day, I will sell the above described property or so much thereof as may be necessary to satisfy said judgment, attorney’s fees, interest, costs and increased costs in all amounting to the sum of $1392.71 (Thirteen Hundred Ninety-two and 71-100 Dollars) together with seeming interest and costs of sale.
SAID SALE WILL TAKE PLACE at the front door of the Court House at Prosser, in said County and State, and will be a PUBLIC AUCTION, for cash in hand to the highest and best bidder.
Dated at Prosser Wash., this 1st day of April A.D. 1914. W. B. Moe Sheriff By Hugh Forsman Deputy
This notice from 1914 captures the high stakes of early land development in Benton County, where a single bad harvest or market shift could lead to losing one's livelihood. The specific mention of 'water right appurtenant thereto' underscores how critical irrigation infrastructure was—and remains—for agriculture in the arid Columbia Basin today.
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