Record Book of Wills
in the County of Stoddard, Missouri
Book D Will 142

{This is a form page, the words written in italics are the handwritten words}

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

{page 1, hand written copy, page 5 type written copy}

In the Name of God, Amen.
I, James T. Lawson of Dexter, Missouri, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do hereby make and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking and annulling all others by me heretofore made.

1. I direct that all my debts be paid and funeral expenses to be defrayed.

2. I give and bequeath to the following persons the amount herein named in lieu of what I may owe each one of said persons.
a. Mrs. Mary A. Beatty, Rising Sun, Indiana $150.00
b. W.A. Thomasson, North Middletown, Ky $35.00
c. Jeannette Floerke, 100 Northern Ave., New York , N.Y. $150.00
d. Fannie A. Coles, 664 Seaburg Street, Terra Haute, Ind. $90.00
e. American Law Book Co., Brooklyn, N.Y. $10.50
f. Boucraft-Whitney Co., San Francisco, Cal. $80.00
g. United Christian Missionary Society, St. Louis, Mo. $15.00
h. J.R. Preston, Jackson, Mississippi $75.00
i. Maude L. James, Woodville, Miss. $25.00
j. W.D. Ednres, Mo. Ed. Coin Sec'ty, K.C. Life Building, Kansas City, Mo. $95.00
k. F.H. Quick, Dexter, Mo. $40.00

3. I direct that my funeral be presided by J. A. Tiller, that he be paid ten dollars for said funeral sermon; that my executor buy a lot in Dexter Cemetery and place a modest monument to mark my grave.

(Last will of James F. Lawson, continued, this being page two thereof)

4. All the sums named in the foregoing items I direct to be paid from the proceeds of two policies Nos. 208,886 and 208, 887 issued by the John Hancock Life Insurance Co. Of Boston, Mass. The said policies are now held by said Company as collateral for loans. Said policies are payable to my executor who is hereby directed to collect said policies. Apply to E.E. Fliakinger Merchants Bank Building Indianapolis, Indiana for blanks to make death proof.

5. After payment of my debts and aforesaid bequests in lieu of debts I bequeath the remainder of the proceeds of said policies to Alice Phillips of Waterloo, Indiana.

6. I further give and bequeath to the said Alice Phillips of Waterloo, Indiana, all my law books which are here in Dexter, Mo., except the Encyclopedia of Procedure, which belongs to L.D. Powell Company, Los Angeles, California, until paid for and at present day there is due one hundred fifty two dollars to said company and the law books with my other books of a general nature which are in Whitefish, Montana and all books and property I have stored in basement of Christian Church, Rising Sun, Indiana, and all my other property here in Dexter Mo., except as hereinafter set out, also my gold watch, my trunk, clothing and all else that I may possess, I direct that my executor pay the freight and have said articles above mentioned in toto sent to Alice Phillips, Waterloo, Indiana.

7. I give my gold ring to Rufus L. Higginbotham of Bowling Green, Missouri.

(Last Will of James T. Lawson, this being page three thereof.)

8. I bequeath all monies I may have on deposit in Citizens Bank of Dexter, Mo. To the said Alice Phillips of Waterloo, Indiana.

9. I direct my executor to collect the insurance policy issued by the Modern Woodmen of America and pay same to Mrs. Agnes Morris, nee Lawson of Clara, Miss. Mrs. Morris may be married a second time. Her name and address can be obtained from my other sister, Mrs. Maude Lawson James of Woodville, Miss.

10. Having perfect confidence in W. J. Vaughn of Dexter, Mo., I hereby name and appoint him executor of this my last will.

Given under my hand this the Twentieth day of March, 1922.
James T. Lawson, Testator.

Signed by us as witnesses of said will in the presence of said testator and at his request and in the presence of each other, and at the time of affixing our signatures, the said James T. Lawson, testator, declared the foregoing to be his last will and testament. Given under our hands this March 20, 1922 in Dexter, Mo.
Rex Day
Witness
John T. Wright
Witness
/pg. 3 or 6/

State of Missouri
County of Stoddard

On this 7th day of April, 1922, before the undersigned M. Walker Cooper, Judge of the Probate Court personally appeared W.J. Vaughn, who being duly sworn, says that to the best information and belief of affiant James T. Lawson died testate at Kansas City, Missouri on the 28th day of March 1922.
W.J. Vaughn

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 7th day of April, 1922
M.Walker Cooper
Judge of Probate

PROOF OF WILL
STATE OF MISSOURI
County of- Stoddard In the- Probate -Court of Stoddard County, Missouri

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this -7th -day of- April -, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and-Twenty-two , before me - M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of the-Probate -Court, held in and for - the County of Stoddard -and State of Missouri, personally appeared -Rex Day and John F. Wright - who being duly sworn upon -their -oath, depose- - and say- -that - they-w -ere - present and saw -James T. Lawson - sign the foregoing instrument, of date -March 20th - 19 -22 - purporting to be - - the Last Will and Testament of h - im - the said - James T. Lawson - and heard - him -publish and declare the same to be h - is - Last Will and Testament, and that at the time of signing the same, the said -James T. Lawson -was of sound and disposing mind, and that th - ese - deponent - s attesting witness - es - subscribed their names thereto as witnesses to the same in the presence of the testat -or - and of each other, and at the request of the said testat -or - who was more than 21 years of age at the date of so declaring and signing said instrument.
Rex Day
John F. Wright

Sworn to and subscribed before me, -M. Walker Cooper, Judge -of the-Probate -Court, the day and year first aforesaid.
M. Walker Cooper,
Judge of Probate

CERTIFICATE OF PROBATE
STATE OF MISSOURI
County of-Stoddard -}In the-Probate -Court- of Stoddard County Missouri

I, - M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of the-Probate-Court-Stoddard -County, Missouri, having examined the foregoing instrument purporting to be - - the Last Will and Testament of -James T. Lawson - deceased, and signed by said -James T. Lawson - deceased, late of-Stoddard -County,- Missouri -and having heard the testimony of -Rex Day - and - John F. Wright - subscribing witnesses thereto, in relation to the execution of the same, do declare and adjudge said Instrument -is - the Last Will and Testament of said - James T. Lawson - deceased, and the same is therefore - admitted to probate.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office this -7th - day of -April - 19-22
M. Walker Cooper,
Judge of Probate
/pg. 4/

LETTERS TESTAMENTARY
STATE OF MISSOURI
County of-Stoddard

To all to Whom these Presents shall come--GREETING:
Know Ye, That the last will and testament of - James T. Lawson - deceased, late of-Stoddard -County, Missouri, hath, in due form of law been exhibited, proved and recorded, in the office of the -Judge - of the Probate Court of-Stoddard -County, Missouri, a copy of which is hereunto annexed; and Inasmuch as it appears that - W.J. Vaughn - ha -s - been appointed execut -or - in and by said Last Will and Testament, to execute the same, and to the end that the property of the said Testator may be preserved for those who shall appear to have a legal right or interest therein, and that the said Last Will and Testament may be executed according to the request and instruction of the said Testator, we do hereby authorize -him - the said - W.J. Vaughn - as such Execut-or -, to collect and secure, all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said - James T. Lawson - at the time of h -is - death, in whosoever hands or possession the same may be found; and to perform and fulfill all such duties as may be enjoined upon -him - by said Last Will and Testament, so far as there shall be property and the law charge - him - ; and in general to do and perform all other acts which are now or may be hereafter required of - him - by law.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I -M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of the Probate Court in and for said County, have hereunto signed my name and affixed the seal of the said Court at office in-Bloomfield, Missouri-this -7th - day of - April -, A.D. 19-22
M. Walker Cooper,
By- Judge -of said Court.

EXECUTOR'S BOND, or Bond of Administrator with Will Annexed.

We, - W.J. Vaughn - as Principal and - F.M. Norman - as Securities, are held and firmly bound unto the State of Missouri in the sum of - Four Thousand - DOLLARS, for the payment of which we do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these presents.

Sealed with our seals and dated at-Bloomfield -in the State aforesaid, this - 7th -day of -April -A.D. 19- 22

The Condition of the Above Bond is, That if the said - W.J. Vaughn, executor -of the Last Will and Testament of - A.J. Vaughn and James T. Lawson - deceased, late of-Stoddard -County, Missouri shall well and faithfully execute the said Last Will and Testament, and shall make true and faithful inventories, returns, and settlements of accounts of the Estate of the said Testator, according to law, and shall, moreover, do and perform all other matters and things touching the execution of the said Last Will and testament, as are or shall be prescribed by law, or enjoined on - him - by the order, judgment or decree of any Court having competent jurisdiction, then this obligation to be void and of no effect; otherwise to remain in full force.
W.J. Vaughn
A.J. Vaughn
F.M. Norman

I. - M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of the Probate Court of-Stoddard -County, Missouri, hereby certify that the above BOND was signed and executed in my presence.
M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of Probate.

Filed - 7th - day of -April -19-22
M. Walker Cooper -Judge of Probate

Recorded the foregoing BOND this - 7th -day of -April -19- 22
M. Walker Cooper -Probate Clerk

{Type written page}

Stoddard County Probate Court
Proof of Will

In Vacation, April 7th, 1922
Estate of James T. Lawson, Dec'd
W.J. Vaugh, Ex.

Now comes W.J. Vaughn and produces to the court an instrument in writing purporting to be the last will and testament of James T. Lawson, deceased, and attested by Rex Day and John F. Wright as witnesses. And the said W.J. Vaughn prays that said instrument in writing be proved and amitted to court as the last will and testament of the said James T. Lawson, deceased, and it being shown to the court by satisfactory evidence that the said James T. Lawson, late of Stoddard county, died on or about the 28th day of March, 1922, at Kansas City, Missouri; the court proceeded to hear the proof of execution and publication of said instrument as his last will and testament and thereupon came Rex Day and John F. Wright, the said two attesting witnesses, who being first duly sworn say respectively that they were well acquainted with James T. Lawson, late of Stoddard County, deceased, in his life time, and the said instrument so produced by the said W.J. Vaughn purporting to be the last will and testament of the said James T. Lawson being here shown to them, they each further say that they were present at the execution of said will and saw the said James T. Lawson sign it on the day of the date thereof and heard the said James T. Lawson say then and there that said instrument was his last will and testament and that they subscribed their names as witnesses thereto at the request of the said James T. Lawson, in his presence and in the presence of each other, and that the said James T. Lawson was of sound and disposing mind and memory, of full age, not under any restraint and that he was competent to make a will. And the testimony of said witnesses is by the court reduced to writing and signed by them respectively; and the court being sufficiently advised by the evidence of said witnesses of the proper and legal execution of said will, it is ordered and adjudged by the court that said instrument in writing be considered proven, and the same is established and adjudged to be the last will and testament of the said James T. Lawson, late of Stoddard county, deceased, and that it be admitted to record as such. And it appearing to the court that by the terms of said will the said W.J. Vaughn is nominated and appointed executor thereof, it is ordered that letters testamentary be issued to the said W.J. Vaughn. But before entering upon the discharge of his duties as such executor it is further ordered by the court that the said W.J. Vaughn enter into a bond to the State of Missouri in the sum of $4000.00 with A.J. Vaughn and F.M. Norman as sureties thereon, which bond is by the Judge of this court examined and approved and the said W.J. Vaughn duly qualifies and enters upon the discharge of his duties as such executor.



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