Pearce, Jonathan

PEARCE, LAKE, BUELL, PHELPS, MCCOY, SNYDER, LAWTON

Posted By: Charlotte
Date: 5/14/2003 at 23:09:36

Last Will and Testament of Jonathan Pearce

I, Jonathan L. Pearce of Lyons City, County of Clinton and State of Iowa of lawful Age, being of sound mind and memory, do publish this my last will and testament in manner following xxxxx.

First, I give and bequest unto my beloved wife Mary E. Pearce in Lieu of Power five hundred dollars immediately after my decease, all my household and kitchen goods and furniture provisions that I may own and be possessed of at the time of my death, and I further direct that my executors hereinafter to be named shall as soon as may be after my death and the grant of letters testamentary placed at interest to be secured on good real estate securities for such time or times as they shall diem proper, the sum of four thousand dollars, but no loan of the same to be continued after the decease of my wife aforesaid and the interest to be payable half yearly during the whole period of the natural life of my said wife and the interest arising from the loan of said sums of money I give and bequeath unto my wife aforesaid to be drawn by her at any time she may chose. I hereby direct my said hereinafter named executors to pay said interest to her.

2nd. I give and bequeath unto my four Sons each Daniel H. Pearce, Jonathan L. Pearce, Jr, George B. Pearce and Nicholas E. Pearce the sum of One thousand dollars to be paid to them as soon as may be, by my executors after the death of my wife, should she survive me and if not then as soon as may be after my death.

3rd. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Eunice B. Lake five hundred Dollars, to be paid to her as soon as may be after my death.

4th. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary L. Buell five hundred dollars, to be paid as soon as may be after my death.

5th. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Josephine C. Snyder the sum of Eight hundred dollars to be paid as soon as may be after my death.

6th. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Mary Louisa Lawton four hundred dollars if she arrives at lawful age, if not, then the same is to revert to my legal heirs or heirs at law and to be distributed among them in proportions to the several bequests to hem herein by me made. It is also my will that my executors shall put said Last bequest to interest at and upon good, safe real estate securities during the minority of the said Mary Louisa Lawton; and the interest to be paid half yearly during the period; and that so much of said interest shall be applied in xxxxx schooling maintenance as shall be necessary and I hereby appoint and constitute Benjamin Lake, the guardian & Trustee of the said Mary Louisa Lawton and request that he shall see to and faithful application of said fund make in pursuance of and in accordance with this my will and direction and all the surplus of interest as aforesaid if any, shall be added to the said fund of four hundred dollars after the application as aforesaid and should she die during her minority then, the who shall be distributed as aforesaid.

7th. It is my will and direction that my executors make settlement of my estate, pay the legacies or bequests aforesaid as soon as may be after my death, and all and every amount owing
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my property, not hereinbefore devised, be put at interest for and during the full period of the natural life of my wife if she survives me; upon good and valid unencumbered real estate securities and the interest arising from the Loan thereof annually to be added to the principal and the same yearly to keep loaned out and upon her death, if she survives me the same principal and interest shall be divided amongst my heirs at law aforesaid in proportion to the several bequests to them herein before made.

And lastly, I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Benjamin Lake and Daniel H. Pearce my executors of this my last will & testament, hereby revoking all other wills and testaments by me made, and every other codicil or codicils by me at any other time heretofore by me made xxx.

In testimony thereof I the said Jonathan L. Pearce have hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty six.

Jonathan L. Pearce

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Jonathan L. Pearce as and for his last will and testament, in presence of us, also at his request, and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, and we thereupon and at his request and in his presence as aforesaid, have signed our names as aforesaid as attesting witnesses.

John Phelps, Residing in Fulton City, Whiteside County, Illinois
James McCoy, Residing in Fulton City, Whiteside County, Illinois

Presented and publicly read in open Court and Filed this 2nd day of February AD 1857.

Daniel McNeil, County Judge

This will was this day presented to the probate Court for the County of Clinton and State of Iowa and proven in open Court by the oath of John Phelps and James McCoy the subscribing witnesses thereto.

Given under my hand and seal of the County Court of Clinton County at DeWitt this 12th day of February AD 1857

Loring Wheeler, Clerk