Harris wills
from Linda Kestner : lfkestner3@msn.com

Note from Linda:

Sumyramus' line through her mother, also a HARRIS is well documented but Jonathan's line is a brick wall beyond his parents, only seen in the 1850 census in Holt Co MO and a slew of deeds between 1850-1855 in Holt County.  Supposedly from Virginia and at first we thought we had a typical marriage of cousins but my Uncle took a 37-marker DNA test and there were NO matches  (in the last fourteen generations) so clearly, Jonathan and Sumyramus were related only by marriage. 

Anyway, the folks died in 1892 and 1901, both presumably in Taylor County (they are buried in Old Memory) but Iowa said they couldn't find their death records.  Of course, death records from that period might never have given parents' names. 

Any help would be appreciated.

 
From Taylor County IA - listed as "John Preston's" will, as follows:
 
Johnathan P Harris Will
 
In the Name of God Amen
 
I Jonathan P Harris of the town of New Market in the county of Taylor and state of Iowa being in sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament.
I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sumyramus Harris all my household furniture and all the rest of my personal property after paying all my just and honest debts to be hers forever but if there should not be at my decease sufficient personal property to pay the aforesaid debts then so much of my real estate shall be sold as will raise sufficient money to pay the same. I also give devise and bequest to my beloved wife Sumyramus Harris all the rest and residue of my Real Estate in fee simple to have and hold in her own name to sell and dispose of at pleasure but on her decease the remainder if any thereof I give and devise to my children and their heirs respectively to be divided in equal shares between them except my son C. L Harris [Christopher Lester Harris]who has received $120 which shall be deducted from his share.
 
I do nominate and against my beloved wife Sumyramus Harris to be the sole executor of this my last will and testament without bond. {Her name appears as Sumy, with ramus added later in longhand, twice above}
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal and publish and decree this to be my last will and testament in presence of the witnesses named below this 17th day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand and Eight hundred and Eighty Eight.
Jonathan P Harris
 
Signed sealed declared and published by the said J. P. Harris as and for his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto

John Hamilton Residing at New Market, Iowa
J. W Abbott Residing at New Market, Iowa
 
Filed 9-24-1892
 
 
Will of John Sexton Harris
 
I, John S Harris of New Market Taylor County, Iowa, being sixty years of age and of sound mind and memory, do make, declare and publish this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made, and I desire to dispose of property in the following manner,
Vis:
First: It is my wish and will, and I hereby devise and bequeath all the property that I may own at the time of my death in the following manner, to witt:
To my wife, E. L. Harris, one third, to be her absolute property; and to my children, Eldon Harris, Oren F. Harris, Herschel B Harris, Lenna Harris and Ona Denney, each one fifth of two thirds, to be their absolute property/ but in any event and if any of the above named children should die before me, without issue, then said child would take if living, ,shall descend to and become the absolute property of the survivors of my five children. 
 
Second: I hereby nominate J. W. Denny, Lenna Harris and Oren F Harris, all of New Market, Iowa, as executors of this my will, without bond, and they are to act as such without compensation.  In addition to the ordinary powers of executors I hereby authorize the said executors to sell, without the order of any court, any part or all of the real estate owned by me, wherever situated, and make conveyances, which shall pass an absolute title to the purchaser, and said executors after having paid my just debts shall distribute the proceeds as above provided.  Any purchaser from my said executors shall not be held to see to the proper application of the proceeds of such sales.
 
Signed at Bedford, Iowa, this 18th day of September, 1914.
 
John S. Harris
 
Witnessed
H E Tomlinson
W E Gum
 
We hereby certify that on this 18th day of September, 1914, at Bedford, Iowa, John S. Harris, to us personally known, did, in our presence sign the foregoing instrument, and declared the same to be his last will and testament, and we, at his request, and in his presence and in the presence of each other, do hereunto subscribe our names as witnessed thereto.
 
Filed 8-4-26 - Probate info John S Harris
 
Heirs of John S Harris:
Eldon, son, New Market
Hershel B., son, New Market
Ona Denney, daughter, Shambaugh, Iowa
Lenna Martin, Daughter, Carroll, Iowa
Oren F. Harris, son, Rialto, California
Emma L Harris, spouse, New Market, Iowa
 
Land Holdings
E 1/2 SE 1/4 section 12-township 68-3 range 6 Page, with mortgage of $7,727 value $1,873
NE 1/4 SE 1/4 32-60-35 Taylor & Lot 34 New Market, $6,720
SE 1/4 NE 32-69-35 Taylor & Lot 1 New Market, $13,600
W 1/2 SE 1/4 28-69-35 Taylor $8,000
NE 1/4 NW 1/4 & west 5 acres of W 1/2 NE 1/4 20-60-34 Taylor $5,400
NE 1/4 NW 1/4 33-70-27 Decatur $5,400
 
Misc
2 sows, 1 car, 1 cow, 1 7-yr-old mare, 3 4-yr-old horse mules
1 8-yr-old horse mule, 1 6-yr-old horse mule
1 4-yr-old mare mule
 
Total estate $46,681