Harriet Churchill

Note: Harriet Churchill was the wife of Levi Merrill Churchill Sr., son of Charles Belden Churchill Sr. Transcribed by Judith Ann Churchill, 2007

Know all men by these presents, that I Harriet Churchill, of Prairie City, County of McDonough and State of Illinois, being in ill health, but of sound mind and memory, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at anytime heretofore made.

And as to my worldly estate and all the property real and personal, of which I shall die seized and possessed, or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease, I devise, bequeath and dispose thereof in the following manner, to wit:

First. My will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid out of my estate, as soon after my decease as shall be found convenient by my executor hereinafter named.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Isabella Mariner eight hundred dollars ($800).

I give to my daughter Mary Perrine the use of three hundred ($300) dollars during her life time, which amount is to be invested and controlled by my executor and the proceeds to be paid to her each year during her life and at her death to her children. If no children are living at the time of her death then this amount shall revert to my executor hereinafter named.

All the rest and residue of my estate I give devise and bequeath to be equally divided among my sons, Charles N. Churchill, J. P. Churchill and L. M. Churchill.

Whatever furniture and bedding I have shall remain with the children in whose house it is held at the time of my death.

I herein state that I am indebted to my son J. P. Churchill which debt must be paid out of my estate.

Anyone of my children who shall attempt to interfere with or break this my last will and testament, their bequest herein named shall become null and void and shall be divided equally among the others named in this will.

And lastly I do nominate and appoint my son J. P. Churchill to be the executor of this my last will and testament, without bonds, and with power to sell real estate, at any time he may think proper not to exceed five years. He shall also have power to make any improvements he may think advisable on said real estate.

In testimony whereof, I the said Harriet Churchill have to this my last will and testament subscribed my name and affixed my seal this fifteenth day of November A. D. 1894.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Harriet Churchill, as and for her last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

Filed in the office of the clerk, county court, May 21, 1895, W. H. Boyer, County Clerk.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,--GREETING:

KNOW YE, that whereas Harriet Churchill, late of the County of Fulton, and State of Illinois, died on or about the 5th day of March 1895 as it is said, after having duly made and published her Last Will and Testament, leaving at the time of her death, property in this State which may be lost, destroyed or diminished in value if speedy care be not taken of the same; and inasmuch as it appears that J. P. Churchill has been appointed Executor in and by the Last Will and Testament, to execute the same:

Now, to the end that the said property may be preserved for those who shall appear to have a legal right or interest therein; and that the said Will may be executed according to the request of the said Testatrix we do hereby authorize the said J. P. Churchill as such Executor to collect and secure, all and singular, the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said J. P. Churchill at the time of her decease, in whosesoever hands or possession the same may be found in this State; and well and truly to perform and fulfill all such duties as may be enjoined upon him by the said Will, so far as there shall be property, and the law charge him; and in general to do and perform all other acts which now are, or hereafter may be required of him by law.

WITNESS, W. H. Boyer Clerk of the County Court of the said County of Fulton, at his office in Lewistown, this 21st day of May, A. D. 1895 and the Probate Seal of said Court hereunto affixed.

Filed this 21st day of May, 1895, Fulton Co., County Court, Lewistown, Illinois.

THE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED J. P. CHURCHILL respectfully represents that on or about the 5th day of March A. D. 1895, Harriet Churchill late of the town of Lee in the said County of Fulton and State of Illinois, departed this life testate, leaving property and effects in this County, and leaving a Last Will and Testament, duly signed, published and attested, as believed by your petitioner, and which by me is herewith presented to Your Honor for Probate.

That said testatrix in said Last Will nominated and appointed J. P. Churchill your Petitioner, Executor thereof.

And this petition further shows that the said Harriet Churchill died seized and possessed of Real Estate; and Real Estate being estimated to be worth about Three Thousand Dollars.

Your petitioner therefore prays that it may please Your Honor to grant him Letters Testamentary of said Last Will and Testament, upon his taking the oath prescribed by the Statue.

FULTON COUNTY} ss. J. P. Churchill being duly sworn, deposes and says that the facts averred in the above petition are true, according to the best of his knowledge, information and belief.

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 21st day of May A. D. 1895. W. H. Boyer, County Clerk.

OF THE ACCOUNT OF J. P. CHURCHILL, EXECUTOR of the Last Will of Harriet Churchill, Deceased

Approved before me this 10th day of October A. D. 1898, with order for distribution of balance. G. L. Weller, County Judge

1895
March 5	Note C. N. Churchill- 8%- Date Nov. 5 1891	200.00
" "	Interest at 8% to August 22 1898	108.26
" "	Note C. N. Churchill-Date Nov. 15 1887
	$100.00 Payments $30.00	70.00
	Interest to August 22 1898 @ 10 %	81.88
" "	Note C. F & I. E. Mariner-Date November 7 1894	180.00
	Interest @ 8% to August 22 1898	54.60
" "	Cash on hand	24.73
" 5-9	To March 5-1896 Rent Rec’d.	143.00
" 5	1896 to March 5 1897 Rent Rec’d	148.00
" "	1897 to March 5 1898 Rent Rec’d	127.00
" "	1898 to August 22 1898 Rent Rec’d	48.00
Aug. 22	1898 Rec’d from sale of real estate
" "	Lot No. Fifty four (54) Barnes & Jones
" "	Addition to the city of Canton	1250.00
	Total	2435.47

March 5	By pd. Harriet Churchill to J. P. Churchill store bill	59.84
" 16	By pd. A. M. Westfall M. D. Bill	8.00
Feb. 28	By pd. Stickler	1.50
April 11	By pd. Thompson commission	.60
" 17	By pd. Gardiner key & nails	.50
May 21	By pd. Thompson commission	1.10
" "	By pd. Balance due Thompson	1.60
Aug. 26	By pd. Thompson commission	2.10
Oct. 19	By pd. Plattenburg & Co. (bill)	1.10
" "	By pd. Plattenburg & Co. (bill)	.25

1896
Jan. 14	By pd. Thompson commission	1.50
Feb. 19	" " Fisher Bros. Funeral Expenses	71.00
" 22	" " W. R. Watson M. D. Bill	7.05
" 25	By pd. S. Y. Thorton printing	4.00
Mar. 9	" " Taxes ’95-$38.84 exchange 10	38.94
Mar. 12	By pd. Repairing pump.	.25
" "	By pd. Thompson commission	2.15
Apr. 7	By pd. Insurance on buildings	15.00
" 10	By pd. Serving notice to vacate	.50
May 21	By pd. Serving notice to vacate	.50
June 10	" " Lumber	1.15
Aug. 11	By pd. 2 screen doors	3.00
" 17	By pd. Removing fence	.25
Sept. 11	By pd. Plastering shields	1.00
" 12	By pd. Labor Losey	2.75
" 22	By pd. Labor cleaning cellar	.60
" 26	By pd. Labor ____________	1.00
" 26	By pd. Labor	.75
Oct. 5	By pd. McBride on brick walk	20.00
Oct. 9	By pd. McBride on brick walk	4.00
Nov. 2	By pd. McBride on brick walk	8.00
" "	By pd. Labor	1.50
Nov. 7	By pd. Wall Paper	1.62

1897
Jan. 20	By pd. Troxell on repairs	1.50
Mar. 10	By pd. Thompson comm.	6.60
May 1	By pd. Taxes 1896-$30.21-exchange 10	30.31
June 15	By pd. Moss labor	5.54
Aug. 10	Paid on sidewalk	25.00
" 26	" " "	25.35
Nov. 22	" on pump & labor	4.50

1898
Jan 6	Paid On pump & tubing	3.48
Mar 26	Paid on taxes for 1897	27.49
May 16	Paid Brick work	2.50
" 17	Paid Waggoner labor	2.00
" 21	Paid Troxell carpenter wood	5.00
" "	Paid Wall paper	21.46
" 28	Paid Stevens Brick work	4.00
" 28	Paid Freight on wall paper	.15
June 3	Paid Graves/hardware/etc.	15.99
" 4	Paid Markland papering	10.00
" 10	" " "	7.55
" 13	Paid Hummell plastering	3.00
" 20	Paid McGrew labor	5.00
" 25	Paid Telephone message	.40
" 29	Paid Markland papering	6.20
Jul 1	Paid Waggoner labor	1.75
" 9	Paid Painting	30.00
Jul 21	Paid Painting	28.00
Aug 1	Paid Paper at Moore’s	.45
" 22	Paid Powelson Auctioneer 6.00 ex. .07	6.07
" 24	Paid Lumber	11.18
" "	Paid Thompson commission	9.25
" 27	Paid Acknowledging deed	.50
Aug 27	Paid Legal advice Entire Estate Business	6.00
" "	Paid S. Y. Thornton	3.00
" "	Paid C. E. Snively Ptg. & C.	6.50
" "	Paid Expense of seven trips to Lewiston and Canton on estate business during more than 3 yrs	25.00
" "	Final settlement notice in paper	1.00
" 29	Court cost paid to clerk	11.00
	Total Credits	615.82
	Cash on hand for disbursement	$1124.91
		$2435.47

I hereby submit to the court the foregoing as a true report of my acts and doings ______ estate of Harriet Churchill, deceased, and as my final report therein, asking to be discharged as executor of said estate upon my filing the vouchers for payment of the legacies directed to be paid in and by the said last will and testament of said Harriet Churchill, deceased. I would further state that I have receipted I full for the claim I hold against said estate personally, without receiving one dollar or one farthing thereof; and further do not claim any part of the commission the law allows me for the settlement of said estate only receiving my bare expenses.=J. B. Churchill, Executor, Dated August 29, 1898.