Record Book of Wills
in the County of Stoddard, Missouri
Book D Will 120
{This is a form page, the words written in italics are the handwritten words}
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of John A. West
I -John A. West, of- the County of-Stoddard -and State of-Missouri
being of sound mind and memory do make, publish and endorse this, my Last Will and
Testament; hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
First. I direct my executrix to pay all my debts as speedily as possible.
Second. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Julia West, the sum of Four Thousand Dollars
($4000.00) and all household and kitchen furniture and her wearing apparel, this to be lieu of
dower and other allowances out of said estate.
Third. It is my will that the rest and residue of my estate real, personal or mixed be reduced to
money or its equivalent, and divided equally among my children or their descendants as follows:
W.M. West, Homer West, Everett West, Cassie Rankins, Gladys Prince and the heirs of Estella
Minton, deceased, who are Fred Minton and Myrtle Minton. That is, I want Fred Minton and
Myrtle Minton to have one share between them.
Fourth. I desire and direct that the portion which may go to the said Fred Minton and Myrtle
Minton be placed in the Bank of Dexter as Trustee, to be held until the said Fred Minton is 21
years old and the said Myrtle Minton is 18 years old, at which time the said Bank of Dexter
shall pay to each the amount due them. That the said Fred Minton is to have his share when he
is 21 years old, and Myrtle Minton to have her share when she is 18 years old, together with any
profits that may accrue, and I desire the Bank to act without bond and without going into the
Probate Court.
Fifth. I appoint Julia West, my wife, to be sole executrix of this my will, to serve without bond,
to execute conveyances of land and do everything that I may have done if I should be alive. In
case of the death of Julia West, my said wife, prior to my own, or pending the administration of
such estate, I appoint my son, Homer West, in her place, he also to serve without bond, and do
anything which my said executrix may have done.
Witness my hand this the 19th day of August, 1918.
John A. West
Signed, published and declared as and for his last will and testament by John A. West, the
above named testator in the presence of us, who, in his presence, in the presence of each other
and at his request hereto subscribe our names as witnesses, and we further declare that at the
time of the signing thereof, said testator was of sound and disposing mind and memory to the
best of our belief.
A.H. Adams
Ezekiel Gowin
/pg. 2/
Commission to Prove Will
State of Missouri
County of Stoddard
The State of Missouri, To any Court having a seal, or the Judge thereof, or Justice of the peace,
or any Notary Public, Mayor, or Chief Magistrate of any City or Town having a seal, in the
State of California Greeting:
Know ye, that we hereby empower you to cause to come before you at the time and place to be by
you appointed, A.H. Adams attesting witness to the annexed instrument of writing, purporting to
be the last will and testament of John A. West, deceased, and to then and there examine him the
said A.H. Adams on oath, touching his knowledge of the execution of said instrument, and of the
condition of the mind of the said John A. West at the time of the execution and publication of
the same as his last will and testament. The examination thus taken, you will reduce to writing
and cause the same to be subscribed and sworn to by the said A.H. Adams and thereupon you
shall certify the same under your hand to M. Walker Cooper, Judge of our Probate Court of said
County.
In witness whereof, I, M. Walker Cooper, Judge of said Probate Court, have hereunto set my
name and affixed the seal of said Court, at Bloomfield, Missouri on this 17th day of January,
1920.
M. Walker Cooper, Judge of the Probate Court.
Return to Commission to Prove Will
State of California
County of Kern
Before L.S. Harman a Notary Public in and for said Kern County, State of California.
In pursuance of the authority to me given by the annexed commission issued by the Judge of the
Probate Court within and for the county of Stoddard and State of Missouri, I, L.S. Harman did,
on the 22nd day of January A.D. 1920, cause to come before me at --- in the County of Kern and
State of California A.H. Adams, who being by me duly sworn deposeth and says, that he was
present and saw John A. West sign the foregoing instrument of date August 19th, 1918,
purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of him the said John A. West and heard him
publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament, and that at the time of signing the
same, the said John A. West was of sound and disposing mind, and that this deponent and
Ezekiel Gowin, the other attesting witness subscribed their names thereto as witnesses to the
same in the presence of the testator and of each other and at the request of the said testator who
was more than 21 years of age at the date of so declaring and signing said instrument, and
further deponent saith not.
A.H. Adams
Sworn to and subscribed in my presence this 22nd day of January A.D. 1920.
And I do hereby certify that the testimony of the said A.H. Adams was by me reduced to writing,
and by him subscribed in my presence, on the day and year, and at the place above written, and
his testimony so by me taken anc certified is herewith returned.
L.S. Harman, Notary Public
/pg. 3/
State of Missouri
County of Stoddard
On this 17th day of January, 1920, before the undersigned M. Walker Cooper, Judge of the
Probate Court, personally appeared Julia West, who being duly sworn, says that to the best
information and belief of affiant John A. West died testate at Monrovia, California on the 10th
day of December, 1919, leaving as his heirs at law Julia West, widow; W.M. West, son; Homer
West, son; Everett West, son; Cassie Rankins, daughter; Gladys Prince, daughter; and Fred
Minton and Myrtle Minton, grandchildren.
Julia West
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 17th day of January, 1920.
M. Walker Cooper,
Judge of Probate
PROOF OF WILL
STATE OF MISSOURI
County of- Stoddard In the- Probate -Court of Stoddard County, Mo.
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this -17th -day of- January -, in the year of our Lord One
Thousand Nine Hundred and- Twenty , before me - M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of the-Probate -Court, held in and for - the County of Stoddard -and State of Missouri, personally appeared -
Ezekiel Gowin - who being duly sworn upon -his -oath, depose-s - and say-s -that -he -w - as
- present and saw -John A. West - sign the foregoing instrument, of date -August 19th - 19 - 18
- purporting to be - - the Last Will and Testament of h -im - the said -John A. West - 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 -John A. West -was of sound and disposing mind, and that th -is - deponent - - and - A.H. Adams - other attesting witness - - 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.
Ezekiel Gowin
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, Mo.
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 - John A.
West - deceased, and signed by said - John A. West - deceased, late of-Stoddard -County,-
Missouri -and having heard the testimony of -A.H. Adams - and - Ezekiel Gowin - 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 - John A. West - 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 -28th - day of -January - 19-20
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 -John A. West - 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 -Julia West - ha -s - been appointed execut -rix - 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 - her - the said - Julia West - as such
Execut-rix -, to collect and secure, all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits,
which were of the said - John A. West - 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 - her - by said Last Will and Testament, so far as there shall be property and the law charge
-her - ; and in general to do and perform all other acts which are now or may be hereafter
required of - her - 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 - 28th - day of - January -, A.D. 19-20
M. Walker Cooper,
By- Judge -of said Court.
EXECUTOR'S BOND, or Bond of Administrator with Will Annexed.
No Bond Required
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