In the 1890 U.S. Supreme Court case of Seeberger v. Farwell, the court examined a dispute over property rights and inheritance law. The plaintiff, Charles Seeberger, was an heir to his father's estate which included land in Chicago that had significantly increased in value after his death due to urban development. However, under Illinois state law at the time of his father's death (1851), only American citizens could inherit real estate; as a Swiss citizen living abroad when his father died, Charles was ineligible for inheritance despite being named in the will. The defendant John V. Farwell purchased part of this disputed land from other heirs who were U.S citizens and claimed ownership based on their legal right to sell it under Illinois law at that time. The Supreme Court ruled against Seeberger stating that although he became a US citizen later (in 1868) and even though laws changed allowing non-citizens to inherit property post-1855 - these changes did not apply retroactively i.e., they didn't affect past transactions or events like those related with this case. Thus, Farwell’s purchase remained valid since it complied with existing laws during its execution period making him rightful owner of said lands.

In the dissenting opinion for Seeberger v. Farwell, Justice Bradley argued that the majority's decision was incorrect in its interpretation of what constitutes a manufacturing process under patent law. He contended that any mechanical operation which produces from raw material an improved and useful product is considered a manufacture, regardless if it involves one or multiple steps. In this case, he believed that transforming animal hair into curled hair suitable for stuffing mattresses and upholstery did constitute as such since it significantly changed the nature of the original material to create something new with different properties and uses. Therefore, according to him, Seeberger’s machine should have been eligible for patent protection because it performed a unique function not previously known in art - curling hairs by steam heat while they are subjected to tension - resulting in an enhanced product distinct from uncurled hairs.