STEPHENS, Mary C.,1879 will

STEPHENS, DUNCAN, COPELAND

Posted By: Cay Merryman (email)
Date: 12/2/2002 at 20:16:00

WILL OF MARY C. STEPHENS
(not my family)

I, Mary C. Stephens of Sidney Fremont County, Iowa, being of sound (mind) and memory, but being
in feeble health do make publish and declare this as and for my last will and testament in the
manner and form to wit:

First - It is my will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid.

Second - I will and bequeath to A. H. Duncan, my beloved father, my farm, situated to wit: being the
south one half of South West quarter of Section 7 in Twp. sixty eight North of Range #42 West or to
more fully express my will, the 80 acre farm now owned by me situated on the Missouri Bottom
near Hugh Copelands in said Fremont County, Iowa.

Third - I will and bequeath the remainder of my property both real and personal to my beloved
husband, T. G. Stephens to use (and) control for his own use and benefit upon the following
conditions, that the said T. G. Stephens erect or cause to be erected to my grave or last resting
place on earth a suitable monument and to enclose my grave and the grave of my former husband,
A. B. Copeland and my deceased children (who are interred in the burying grounds at Sidney Iowa)
with a suitable paling, properly and substantially made either of iron or iron and wood and to be
painted in an appropriate manner and I further provide that he pay into the Treasurer of the Sunday
School of M.E. Church of Sidney, Iowa the sum of fifty dollars to be derived from the proceeds of
my personal property that he is further authorized to sell any property herein for the purpose of
procuring the means to pay this bequest.

Fourth - I hereby appoint J. C. Shockley of Sidney Iowa as executor of this my last will and
testament and I especially desire that the court admitting this to probate exempt my appointed
executor from entering into any bond whatever and that upon the proof of this will that he be granted
letters testamentary hereof.
May 2nd 1879...Signed Mary C. Stephens

The above and foregoing instrument made and signed by Mary C. Stephens was signed by her in
our presence as and for her last will and testament and that we have hereto signed our names as
witnesses to the same at her request and that we signed the same as attesting witnesses in her
presence and at her request for the purposes herein stated and in the presence of each other and
on the day and year last above written...R. M. Shockley and M. E. McClellan or McCullen

I, Mary C. Stephens being of sound mind and feeble health desire to make the following changes to
a part of the provisions of this my last will and testament and so add this as a codicil thereto:

It is my wish will and desire that the farm willed herein to my father, A. N. Duncan to be used owned
and controlled by him as stated in paragraph 2 of my last will. After his death descend to James R.
Duncan and Lamille A. Smith they being brother and sister of myself.
Signed this May 10th 1879 Mary C. Stephens

I W. G. Templeton, Clerk of the Fremont Circuit Court of the County and State aforesaid do hereby
certify that the foregoing will of Mary C. Stephens was at the December term 1879 of the Circuit
(Court), County of Fremont and State of Iowa, to wit: on the 18th day of December A.D. 1879 duly
proved allowe and admitted to probate.... W. G. Templeton