JAMES M. CHURCHILL

1885 March 3

ADMINISTRATOR’S BOND

FULTON COUNTY COURT

ESTATE OF JAMES M. CHURCHILL, DECEASED

Recorded in Book D, Page 66

W. R. McLaren, County Clerk

 

State of Illinois}

Fulton County] ss.  In County Court, February Term, 1885.

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That we A. J. Churchill as principal and A. B. Tompkins, S. S. Clayberg and Clark Sperry, as securities of the County of Fulton and State of Illinois; are held and firmly bound unto the People of the State of Illinois, in the penal sum of Twelve Thousand dollars, current money of the United States, which payment, well and truly to be made and performed, we and each of us bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, jointly, severally, and firmly by these presents.

 

Witness our hands and seals, this 3^rd day of March, A. D. 1885.

 

THE CONDITION OF THE ABOVE OBLIGATION IS SUCH  That if the said A. J. Churchill Administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of James M. Churchill deceased, do make or cause to be made, a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of the said deceased, which shall come to the hands, possession or knowledge of him the said A. J. Churchill as such Administrator, or to the hands of any person or persons for him and the same so made, do exhibit, or cause to be exhibited in the County Court for the said County of Fulton, agreeable to law, and such goods and chattels, rights and credits, do well and truly administer according to law, and all the rest of the said goods and chattels, rights and credits which shall be found remaining upon the accounts of said Administrator, the same being first examined and allowed by the County Court, shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons, respectively, as may be legally entitled thereto, and further do make a just and true account of all his actings and doings therein, when thereunto required by the said Court, and if it shall hereafter appear that any Last Will and Testament was made by the deceased, and the same be proved in Court, and Letters Testamentary or of Administration be obtained thereon, and the said A. J. Churchill do, in such case or being required thereto, render and deliver up the Letters of Administration granted to him as aforesaid, and shall in general do and perform all other acts which may at any time be required of him by law, then this obligation to be void; otherwise to remain in full force and virtue

 

Sealed and delivered in presence of W. R. McLaren, A. J. Churchill, A. B. Tompkins, S. S. Clayberg, and Clark Sperry.

 

 

State of Illinois}

Fulton County,} ss.  In County Court, Feby Term, 1885.

 

I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR that I will well and truly administer all and singular goods and chattels, rights, credits and effects of James M. Churchill, deceased, and pay all just claims and charges against his estate so far as his goods, chattels and effects shall extend, and the law charge me; and that I will do and perform all other acts, required of me by law, to the best of my knowledge and abilities.

 

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3^rd day of March, A. D. 1885 in County Court.

 

Signed: A. J. Churchill

 

STATE OF ILLINOIS}

COUNTY OF FULTON} ss.  I, W. McLaren, Clerk of County Court in and for said County, hereby certify that A. J. Churchill, A. B. Tompkins, S. S. Clayberg and Clark Sperry who are each personally known to me to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person, and acknowledged that they signed, sealed and delivered said instrument as their free and voluntary act for the uses and purposed therein set forth.

 

Given under my hand and official Seal, this 3^rd day of March, A. D. 1885. 

Signed: W. R. McLaren, Clerk.

 

 

1885 March 30^th

APPRAISEMENT BILL

Fulton County Court

ESTATE OF JAMES M. CHURCHILL, Deceased

Approved, March 30^th, 1885

T. A. Boyd, County Judge

Recorded in Appraisement Record I, Page 15

W. R. McLaren, Clerk

 

WARRANT TO APPRAISERS

ESTATE OF JAMES M. CHURCHILL, DECEASED.

 

STATE OF ILLINOIS}

FULTON COUNTY} In County Court, Feby Term, A. D. 1885.

 

The People of the State of Illinois A. B. Tompkins, S. S. Clayberg, M. D., and T. H. Merrill of the County of Fulton and State of Illinois, GREETING:

 

This is to authorize you, jointly, to appraise the goods, chattels and personal estate of James M. Churchill late of the County of Fulton and State of Illinois, deceased, so far as the same shall come to your sight and knowledge, each of you having first taken the oath hereto annexed; a certificate whereof you are to return, annexed to an Appraisement Bill of said goods, chattels and personal estate, by you appraised in dollars and cents; and in the said bill of appraisement you are to set down in a column or columns, opposite each article appraised, the value thereof.

 

WITNESS, W. R. McLaren Clerk of the County, Court of Fulton County, and the seal of said Court, this 3^rd day of March, 1885.

Signed: W. R. McLaren, Clerk.

 

OATH OF APPRAISERS

We, and each of us, do solemnly swear, that we will well and truly, without partially or prejudice, value and appraise the goods, chattels and personal estate of James M. Churchill deceased, so far as the same shall come to our sight and knowledge; and that we will in all respects perform our duties as appraisers, to the best of our skill and judgment.

 

Subscribed and sworn to, this eleventh day of March A. D. 1885, before me.  George Simmons, Justice of the Peace.

 

Signatures: F. H. Merrill, A. B. Tompkins, S. S. Clayberg

 

PLEASE READ THIS LAW.

“By an act of the Legislature of this State, in force July 1, 1872, it is declared that “the widow, residing in this State, of a deceased husband, whose estate is administered in this State, whether her husband died testate or intestate, shall, in all cases, in exclusion of debts, claims, charges, legacies and bequests, except funeral expenses, be allowed as her sold and exclusive property forever, the following, to-wit: The family pictures and the wearing apparel, jewels and ornaments of herself and her minor children; school books and family library of the value of one hundred dollars; one sewing machine; necessary beds, bedsteads and bedding for herself and family; the stove and pip used in the family with the necessary cooking utensils (or in case they have none fifty dollars I money); household and kitchen furniture to the value of one hundred dollars; one milch cow and calf for every four members of the family; two sheep for each member of her family; and the fleeces taken from the same, and one horse, saddle and bridle, provisions for herself and family for one year; food for the stock above specified for six months; fuel for herself and family for three months; one hundred dollars worth of other property suited to her condition in life, to be selected by the widow’ By the same act it is directed that the appraisers shall make out and certify to the County Court, an estimate of the value of each of these articles of a specific property allowed to the widow.”

 

On this page will be found a blank to be filled and signed by the Appraisers for this purpose.

 

Much difficulty is occasioned in many instances by Appraisers mistaking the ESTIMATE FOR THE WIDOW as a part of the appraisement.  IT IS NOT A PART OF THE APPRAISEMENT and it is no matter whether the Estate has the particular articles mentioned in the following table, or whether there is nothing of the sort among the property of the Estate.  The appraisers will take each item in its order and estimate what it ought to be worth, and what it would be fair to allow the widow therefore, and then set down the estimated value in the columns headed DOLLARS, CENTS.  Do not pass any item by.  It the Estate has not got those articles, the widow can take their estimated value in other things or in cash.  Don’t alter the printed amounts in the column, as they are established by law and cannot be changed.

 

Having finished your estimate foot it up and that footing will be the amount of the widow’s allowance, which she can take in the above articles, if the Estate has them, or in any other things at the appraised value, or in money.

 

Recollect that the above estimate is not appraising.  Having completed the estimate, go on and appraise EVERY article of person property belonging to the Estate, OMMITTING NOTHING and set them down with their prices in the Appraisement Bill following.

 

The Appraisers have nothing to do with Notes, Accounts, Stocks in Companies, or any other papers as they cannot be appraised, such things must be left out of the Appraisement Bill entirely.  They are proper matters to be listed in the Inventory, filled by the Executor or Administrator which is a separate matter from the Appraisement Bill.

 

APPRAISERS’ ESTIMATE OF THE VALUE OF PROPERTY ALLOWED TO THE WIDOW.

We, the undersigned appraisers, appointed by the Judge of the County Court of Fulton County to appraise and value the goods, chattels and personal estate of James M. Churchill deceased, do hereby make and certify to said Court the following estimate of the value of each article of specific property allowed by the law to the widow, for herself and family, to wit:

 

ITEMS                                                                         DOLLARS/CENTS

The Family Pictures and Wearing apparel,

Jewels and Ornaments of the widow and

Minor children                                                                          100.00

 

School Books and Family Library                                               100.00

 

One Sewing Machine                                                                  40.00

 

Necessary Beds, Bedsteads and Bedding

for widow and family.                                                                 50.00

 

*The Stoves and Pipe used in family, with

the necessary Cooking Utensils.                                                   50.00

 

Household and Kitchen Furniture                                               100.00

 

One Milch Cow and Calf (being one for

Every four members of the family)                                              50.00

 

Two Sheep and Fleeces, (being two for each

Member of the family)                                                                10.00

 

One Horse, Saddle and Bridle                                                    100.00

 

Provision for widow and family for one year                               100.00

 

Food for the Stock above specified for six months                         25.00

 

Fuel for the widow and family for three months                             25.00

 

** Other Property                                                                     100.00

 

TOTAL                                                                                   850.00

 

Given under our hands, A. B. Tompkins, S. S. Clayberg, F. H. Merrill, Appraisers

 

*Where there are no stoves, etc., allow fifty dollars.

**Suited to the condition in life of the widow, to be by her selected.

 

 

 

APPRAISEMENT BILL

ESTATE OF J. M. CHURCHILL, DECEASED

STATE OF ILLINOIS

Fulton County.}  In County Court,____________________Term, 18______.

 

An Appraisement Bill of the Goods, Chattels and Personal Estate of James M. Churchill late of said County, deceased, made by virtue of the annexed warrant.

 

ARTICLES                                                                              VALUE

                                                                                                Dollars/Cents

 

4          Beds and Bedding                                                          50.00

2          Stoves                                                                           20.00

            Parlor Furniture and Fixtures                                           50.00

            Sitting Room Furniture                                                    25.00

1          Sewing Machine                                                               5.00

            Other Furniture and Fixtures                                            50.00

3          Cords wood                                                                    10.00

Stock of merchandise                                                               3487.54

 

TOTAL                                                                                  3697.54

 

We, the undersigned, appointed by the Honorable County Court of said County, to appraise the goods, chattels and personal estate of James M. Churchill late of said County, deceased, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct Appraisement Bill of said goods, chattels, and personal estate, so far as the same have come to our sight and knowledge; that we have appraised each article at its true value, according to the best of our skill and judgement, having first taken the oath required by law.

 

Given under our hands and seals, this Eleventh day of March 1885.

Signed: A. B. Tompkins, S. S. Clayberg, F. H. Merrill.     (Three seals of Appraisers.)

 

We, the appraisers above named, do certify that we have attended and served one day each, in appraising the estate of said deceased.

Signed: A. B. Tompkins, S. S. Clayberg, F. H. Merrill, Appraisers.

 

LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION.

 

STATE OF ILLINOIS,}

FULTON COUNTY.} ss.

 

The People of the State of Illinois of all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:

 

KNOW YE THAT WHEREAS, James M. Churchill of the County of Fulton and State of Illinois, died intestate, as it is said, on or about the 24^th day of February A. D. 1885, having, at the time of his decease, personal property in this State which may be lost, destroyed or diminished in value, if speedy care be not taken of the same.

 

TO THE END, THEREFORE, That the said property may be collected and preserved for those who shall appear to have a legal right or interest therein, we do hereby appoint A. J. Churchill of the County of Fulton and State of Illinois, administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said James M. Churchill at the time of this decease; with full power and authority to secure and collect the said property and debts, wheresoever the said may be found in this State, and in general to do and perform all other acts which are now, or hereafter may be, required of him by law.

 

WITNESS, Wm. R. McLaren, Clerk of the County Court, in and for said County of Fulton, at his office in Lewistown, this 3^rd day of March A. D. 1885, and the Probate Seal of said Court hereunto affixed.

 

(SEAL)       Signed:  W. R. McLaren, Clerk of the County Court.

 

 

INVENTORY

ESTATE OF JAMES M. CHURCHILL, DECEASED

Filed this 30^th day of March 1885, Approved March 30^th 1885.  T. A. Boyd, County Judge.

Recorded in Inventory Record I, Page 140.

Signed: W. R. McLaren, Clerk.

STATE OF ILLINOIS}

FULTON COUNTY,} ss.

In the Matter of the Estate of James M. Churchill, Deceased.

 

The following is a full and perfect inventory of all the Real and Personal Estate of the said deceased, so far as the same has come to the possession or knowledge of the undersigned, A. J. Churchill, Administrator of Estate of James M. Churchill, Deceased.

 

REAL ESTATE                                                           VALUE

 

Lot 4 Block 8 in Avon, Illinois                                         1200.00

 

Lot 3 & pt. Lot 5 Block 8, Avon, Illinois                          1600.00

 

SW Ό Lot 5 Block 9, Avon, Illinois                                   400.00

 

Part of Lot 6 Block 9, Avon, Illinois                                  600.00

 

Lot 10 Block 10, Avon, Illinois                                         450.00

(only 7 lots in Block 10)

 

CASH ON HAND AT TIME OF DECEASE                    52.50

 

NOTES AND ACCOUNTS

 

BY WHOM OWING                

Notes per enclosed list        Good             789.00

Notes per enclosed list        Doubtful       3389.52

Notes per enclosed list        Desperate      2743.92

Accounts “             “          Good              356.70

“              “              “        Doubtful         177.69

“              “              “        Desperate        549.54

 

TOTAL                                                 8006.37

 

I, A. J. Churchill do hereby certify that the above is a correct Inventory of the Real and Personal Estate of James M. Churchill, Deceased.

 

Given under my hand this Twenty Seventh day of March 1885.

Signed:  A. J. Churchill

 

NO.           CHATTEL PROPERTY                                                              VALUE

 

1                Stock Mdse.                                                                                  3487.54

                  Household Goods, etc.                                                                     210.00

11              Shares in Avon Dist. A____ Board                                                      75.00

 

Total                                                                                                               3772.54

 

FINAL REPORT

OF THE ACCOUNT OF A. J. CHURCHILL, ADMN. of the Estate of James M. Churchill, Deceased.

 

Filed the 20 day of June A. D. 1889, and recorded in Account Current Record N, Page 62 & 63.

Signed: P. H. Snively, County Clerk.    

 

Approved before me, this 20^th day of June A. D. 1889

Signed: W. P. Edwards, County Judge.

 

STATE OF ILLINOIS}

Fulton County,} ss.           County Court, April Term, 1889.

In the matter of the Estate of James M. Churchill, Deceased, A. J. Churchill, Admin. of the Estate of James M. Churchill, Deceased, in Account with said Estate.

 

                                                Dr.

_____ amount as per the appraisement bill                                     $3697.54

_____ amount _______ _________                                                    75.00

_____amount of cash on hands as per Inventory                                  52.50

_____amount of notes and accounts-Invoiced                                  8006.34

_____amount of Interests in notes                                                        7.45

_____amount accounts & notes collected not charges                         177.39

_____amount goods sole over appraisement                                       109.85

_____amount from sale of ____Notes & _____                                 247.70

 

TOTAL                                                                                    $12373.80

 

                                               Cr.

By Paid            Funeral Expenses                                                        51.50

“    “                 Dr. Hood, Claim Allowed                                            52.15

“    “                 Expenses Rail Road fare etc.                                       36.60

“    “                 Taxes                                                                       146.41

“    “                 Appraisers                                                                    6.00

“    “                 Clerks hire                                                                    6.00

“    “                 Drayage, allowed                                                          1.35

“    “                 H. A. Williamson, allowed                                            10.40

“    “                 Giles, Bros. & Co., allowed                                          17.66

“    “                 H. W. Wetherer, allowed                                                8.55

“    “                 M. E. Churchill, allowed                                               53.75

“    “                 Philip, Dodge & Palmer, allowed                                   56.25

“    “                 O. Crissie, allowed                                                         1.25

“    “                 E. G. Roe, allowed                                                     311.10

“    “                 Anna Nelson, allowed                                                 157.62

“    “                Oliver A. Deshon, Not Allowed                                    394.32

“    “                 E. G. Roe, Not Allowed                                              433.50

                        BROUGHT DOWN                                              $17444.41

 

                        BROUGHT OVER                         $17444.41         12373.80

 

By Paid            Bounell Bros.                                                                 6.00

“    “                 County Clerk                                                                 9.50

“   “                  Widow                                                                     6152.29

By Furniture taken by widow, appraised at                                            210.00

By ________ Shares invoiced at worthless                                              75.00

By Error in I. M. Woods a/c                                                                    4.61

By Interest on note of S. J. Babbit, On settlement                                    19.18

Said Adm. Asked to be credited with the following notes as per schedule “A” which are not collectable:  3145.09

S_____ of accounts as per Schedule “B”                                               630.04

Balance on Note of O. A. Deshon, allowed                                            203.00

Commissions retained by Admin.                                                          342.80

Clerk’s fees & publication notice                                                              5.00

By paid expenses attending sale of desp. Notes etc.                                    9.00

Clerks fees to account 3.25, Expenses 4.90                                               8.15

                                                                                                        2544.07

Balance Over Adm.                                                                             190.27

 

Paid by admin. Of Estate of Elizabeth Churchill                                     190.27

 

Respectfully Submitted, A. J. Churchill, Admin. As above