John H. Stephenson Deceased Image 112 & 113 of 34616855
Be it remembered that on the 19th day of November AD 1877 was filed in the Probate Court of Jackson County Ohio the following Will, to wit.
In the name of the Benevolent Father of All:
I John H. Stephenson of the County of Jackson and State of Ohio do make and publish this my last will and testament.
I give and devise to my beloved wife Sarah in lieu of her dower all my lands and tinements (sic) during her natural life together with all the goods chattels moneys and effects which I may have at the time of my decease during her natural life as aforesaid excepting as hereinafter provided (She however selling so much thereof as may sufficient to pay my just debts).
At the death of my said wife that portion of my real estate consisting of the Lot of Eighty three or Eighty four acres on which my mansion house and the other buildings pertaining thereto are located and where I now reside I devise to my son Oscar and his heirs.
It is my will that the sum of three hundred dollars be appropriated out of my estate and use for the education of my son John H and in addition thereto I devise and bequeath to my said son John H the sum of twenty five hundred dollars to be paid out of my estate within one year after he comes of age.
I bequeath to my daughter Ophelia the piano and in addition thereto I give and devise to my said daughter Ophelia the sum of twenty two hundred dollars to be paid to her out of my estate upon her arrival at the age of twenty years.
I have already made same advances to my children Levi S, Leonard, and Hiram and in order to make a like provisions for my children Allen C., Cornelia and Lucretia Scott.
I give and devise to my said son Allen C. three thousand dollars of paid up Stock in the Erie Coal and Iron Company upon his transfering (sic) five thousand dollars of the partially paid up Stock in said Company now standing in his name to my wife Sarah or to my estate and as a part of my estate and to the said Cornelia Brown and Lucretia Scott. I give and devise to each of them two thousand dollars of paid up Stock in Erie Coal and Iron Company.
It is my will that after the bequests and devises above mentioned are provided for and upon the death of my wife that the rest and residue of my estate shall be equally divided between all of my children Share and share alike excepting my son Oscar to whom I have already herein devised the only portion of my estate which I design for him.
I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Sarah Executrix of this my last will and testament hereby authorizing and empowering her to compromise adjust release and discharge in such manner as She may deem proper the debts and claims due me.
I devise that no appraisement and no sale of my personal estate be made and that the court of Probate direct the omission of the same in pursuance of the Statute I do also authorize and empower my said wife if shall become necessary and she shall deem it advantageous to the estate or to herself to sell either by private or public sale or in such manner upon such terms of credit or otherwise as she may think proper all vs any part of my real or personal estate excepting that part of my real estate hereinbefore devised to my son Oscar and deed to purchasers to execute acknowledge and devise in fee simple.
I hereby revoke all former wills by me made.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of June AD 1876.
John H. Stephenson (seal)
Signed and acknowledged by said John H Stephenson as his last will and testament in our presence and signed by us in his presence. Samuel A. Stephenson, Jessie W. Laird
The State of Ohio, Jackson County, SS Jackson Probate Court
Probate of the last will of John H Stephenson deceased presented on the 19th day of Nov AD 1877 Personally appeared in open Court Jesse W Laird and Samuel A Stephenson the subscribing witnesses of the Last Will and Testament of John H Stephenson deceased who being duly Sworn according to law to speak the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth in relation to the execution of said Will depose and say That they were present at the making of said Will and at the request of the deceased subscribed their names to said Will as witnesses in the presence of the deceased and of each other that they saw the said John H Stephenson deceased sign and seal said Will and heard him acknowledge the same to be his last Will and Testament that the said John H Stephenson was at the time of making signing and sealing of said Will of legal age and sound and disposing mind and memory and under no undue or unlawful restraint whatsoever. Jesse W Laird, Samuel A Stephenson
Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court this 19th day of Nov AD 1877. Jno J.C. Evans, Probate Judge
And the said 19th day of Nov AD 1877 was made by said Court the following order to wit In the Matter of the last Will & Testament of John H Stephenson Order of Probate. This day the last Will and Testament of John H Stephenson late of Jackson County OH deceased was duly produced in open Court and offered for Probate by Sarah Stephenson the widow and executor named in said Will thereupon Samuel A Stephenson and Jesse W Laird the subscribing witnesses to said Will personally appeared and in open court on oath testified to the due execution of said Will which testimony was reduced to writing and by them respectively subscribed and filed with said Will and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court from said testimony that the said Will was duly attested and executed and that said testator at the time of executing said was of legal age of sound and disposing mind and memory and under no undue or unlawful restraint whatsoever. It is therefore by the Court ordered that the said Will be and the same is hereby admited (sic) to Probate and together with said testamony (sic) and this order be recorded in the records of Wills in this County. Jno J. C. Evans, Probate Judge