Probate Records


Cherokee County Will Records

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JESSE FINCH
Know all men by these presents: That I, Jesse Finch, of the City of Cherokee, County of Cherokee and State of Iowa, do hereby make, declare and publish this instrument of writing as and for my last Will and Testament as follows, to wit: First. I give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Grace Finch, all of my household furniture absolutely and all the rents, profits, control and possession of my real estate during her lifetime and the same to be in lieu of all her dower or inchoate rights in my estate and I direct that she shall pay all my debts and keep the taxes paid on said real estate. Second. Upon the death of my said wife Grace Finch, I give, devise and bequeath, all of my property both real and personal, in equal shares, unto my children and the children of my said wife Grace Finch, viz: Mary E. Emerson, Catherine J. Baumgardner, Elizabeth Van Sickel, Clemma R. Mason, I. W. Finch, E. L. Finch, O. S. Finch, Grace J. Harker, Frank Finch, Fred Finch, Elizabeth Baumgardner and Procena Clay and unto them, their heirs and assigns forever. Third. I hereby appoint and constitute my son O. S. Finch as the sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and I direct that he shall not be required to give or execute any bond in order to qualify as such Executor, as the same is hereby waived. In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name at Cherokee Town this 12th day of January A. D. 1897. (signed) Jesse Finch We, the undersigned witnesses do hereby certify that the above and foregoing instrument was signed by the said Jesse Finch on the date thereof and in our presence and who declared to us that he signed the same as and for his Last Will and Testament and at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other, we have subscribed our names hereto as witnesses hereof. (signed) J. O'Donnell W. D. Lathrop Opened, publicly read and filed July 28, 1906. Ben E. Ballou, Clerk District Court. Affidavit of Decease State of Iowa, Cherokee County I, O. S. Finch, do solemnly swear that I was acquainted with Jesse Finch during his lifetime and that he departed this life at Cherokee, Iowa, in the state of Iowa on the 26th day of July A. D. 1906. (signed) O. S. Finch. Subscribed in my presence by the said O. S. Finch and by him sworn to before this 28th day of July A. D. 1906. (seal) Ben E. Ballou, clerk District Court Filed this 28th day of July 1906.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JESSE FINCH

Know all men by these presents: That I, Jesse Finch, of the City of Cherokee, County of Cherokee and State of Iowa, do hereby make, declare and publish this instrument of writing as and for my last Will and Testament as follows, to wit:

First. I give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Grace Finch, all of my household furniture absolutely and all the rents, profits, control and possession of my real estate during her lifetime and the same to be in lieu of all her dower or inchoate rights in my estate and I direct that she shall pay all my debts and keep the taxes paid on said real estate.

Second. Upon the death of my said wife Grace Finch, I give, devise and bequeath, all of my property both real and personal, in equal shares, unto my children and the children of my said wife Grace Finch, viz: Mary E. Emerson, Catherine J. Baumgardner, Elizabeth Van Sickel, Clemma R. Mason, I. W. Finch, E. L. Finch, O. S. Finch, Grace J. Harker, Frank Finch, Fred Finch, Elizabeth Baumgardner and Procena Clay and unto them, their heirs and assigns forever.

Third. I hereby appoint and constitute my son O. S. Finch as the sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and I direct that he shall not be required to give or execute any bond in order to qualify as such Executor, as the same is hereby waived. In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name at Cherokee Town this 12th day of January A. D. 1897.
(signed)
Jesse Finch

We, the undersigned witnesses do hereby certify that the above and foregoing instrument was signed by the said Jesse Finch on the date thereof and in our presence and who declared to us that he signed the same as and for his Last Will and Testament and at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other, we have subscribed our names hereto as witnesses hereof.
(signed)
J. O'Donnell
W. D. Lathrop

Opened, publicly read and filed July 28, 1906.
Ben E. Ballou, Clerk District Court.

Affidavit of Decease
State of Iowa, Cherokee County

I, O. S. Finch, do solemnly swear that I was acquainted with Jesse Finch during his lifetime and that he departed this life at Cherokee, Iowa, in the state of Iowa on the 26th day of July A. D. 1906.
(signed)
O. S. Finch.
Subscribed in my presence by the said O. S. Finch and by him sworn to before this 28th day of July A. D. 1906.
(seal)
Ben E. Ballou, clerk District Court
Filed this 28th day of July 1906.

Source: (Cherokee County Probate Files, Will Records 1-4, 1871-1916)