Last Will and Testament of Elhanan W. Thomas

THOMAS, BUCKMAN, WHITEHEAD, SPENCE, CROUCH

Posted By: Char (email)
Date: 5/16/2010 at 21:16:35

State of Iowa }
Clinton County }SS
I Elhanan W. Thomas of said Clinton County being of sound mind and disposing memory do hereby make this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

I give and bequeath to my wife Pauline Thomas in addition to what she may receive under the provisions of this my will hereinafter stated all my household goods which may be contained in my homestead at the time of my death and my horse Prince and my buggy and buggy harness and two cows to be selected by her.

I give devise and bequeath to my said wife the use and occupation and the avails and rents and profits of my farm on which I reside for and during one year from the time of my death, she however to pay one year taxes on said farm out of the said proceeds thereof.

I direct that my executor hereinafter named shall as soon as practicable after my death sell all my Real Estate and convert it into pers????lty? And for that purpose my said Executor is authorized to convey all my said real estate and that the proceeds thereof together with all the rest and residue of my estate wherever situated, kind of whatsoever consisting and not hereinbefore devised shall after payment of my just debts be divided and distributed in the following named manner.

My said wife Pauline Thomas her heirs and assigns to have Four Thousand dollars to be paid her by my Executor as soon as said real estate is sold.

My son Benton H. Thomas his heirs and assigns to have one third of the residue after my wife is paid her said Four Thousand dollars.

The children of my deceased daughter Thom??ine Buckman who are living at the time of my death to have one third of said residue in equal shares.

My son John R. Thomas his heirs and assigns to have one sixth of said residue.

My daughter Julia Whitehead her heirs and assigns to have one sixth of said residue.

If any of my said children should not be living at the time of my death, the children of such deceased child shall take in equal shares the share the parent would have taken if living.

I have given my son John R. Thomas and my daughter Julia Whitehead less than I have the others because I have heretofore given to each of them considerable sums by way of advancement. The provisions I have herein made for my wife is in lieu of her dower or widow’s share.

I constitute and appoint Robert T. T. Spence executor of this my last will with power as hereinbefore stated to sell all my real estate and to execute conveyances thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal on this 9th day of March 1888.
Elhanan W. Thomas

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Elhanan W. Thomas as and for this last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereto signed our names and witnesses on this 9th day of March A. D. 1888.
Z. W. Crouch
Gottlieb Pfeifer

State of Iowa }
Clinton County }SS
I William Kreim, clerk of the District Court in and for said County do hereby certify that on this day at the April Term A. D. 1888 of said Court the will and instrument in writing hereunto annexed and bearing date in the 9th day of March1888 was duly proved before and allowed by said court as and for the last will and testament of the real and personal estate of Elhanan W. Thomas late of said County deceased and was by said Court ordered to be recorded as such will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto at my hand and affixed the seal of the court at my office in Clinton in said County this 23rd day of May A. D. 1888.
Seal – William Kreim, Clerk