Record Book of Wills
in the County of Stoddard, Missouri
Book D Will 124 & 125

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

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of John A. Hickman

In the Name of God Amen:
I -John A. Hickman - of the-city of Puxico, in Stoddard County -Missouri, being of sound mind and disposing memory do make and publish this, my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made as follows:

First: I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my executors hereinafter named out of the personal assets of my estate, and that a suitable monument be selected by my wife and children to mark my last resting place, the last of which shall be considered as funeral expenses.

Second: I give, devise and bequeath to the First Baptist church, of Puxico, Missouri, the sum of Five hundred dollars.

Third: I direct my executors hereinafter named to appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars out of my estate for the purpose of buying a tract of ground adjoining the cemetery of Puxico, Missouri, to be forever dedicated as a public burying ground for the poor and indigent people of the community.

Fourth: I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Clara C. Hickman, the following described real estate, situated in the county of Stoddard, in the state of Missouri, to wit:
All of lots Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven and Twelve of Block Seventeen; of Reeds First addition to the Town (now city) of Puxico.
The Southwest quarter; the south half of the northwest quarter; also beginning at a point 22 feet west of the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter, thence north 52 rods, thence west 4 rods and 22 links, thence in a southwesterly direction with the railroad right of way, 58 rods and 20 links, thence south 19 rods and 10 links, thence east 48 rods to the place of beginning; all in section thirty-five, in township twenty seven, north range eight, east containing 253.125 acres.
The south half of the southwest quarter in swamp except 20 acres of the north side thereof, and the north half of the southwest quarter, in the swamp, and twenty and one half acres off of the north side of the south half of the south west quarter, in the swamp, except fifty acres off of the west side of the last described tract of land; all in section twenty one, in township twenty seven, north range nine, east, containing 99.95 acres.
The north east quarter of the north west quarter of section twenty nine in township twenty seven, north of range nine, east, containing 40 acres.
To have and to hold all of the above described lands unto the said Clara C. Hickman her heirs and assigns, in fee simple forever.

I further give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Clara C. /pg. 2/ Hickman, all the household and Kitchen furniture contained in our house at the time of my death, including piano, victrola, and any and all other special articles of household furniture, and any automobiles, as her absolute property.

Fifth: I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved daughter Alpha A. Tuson, the following described real estate, situate int he County of Stoddard and State of Missouri, to-wit:
The south half of the south half of the southeast quarter of section six; the north half of the northeast quarter of section seven, all in township twenty six, north of range nine, east, containing 120 acres. To have and to hold unto the said Alpha A. Tuson for and during her natural life, with remainder in fee to the heirs of her body forever.

Sixth: I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved son Paul A. Hickman, the following described real estate, situate in the county of Stoddard and State of Missouri, to-wit:
The middle one third of lots five and six of block twelve, of the original town (now city) of Puxico.
The west half of lot one and all of lot two of the northwest quarter and the north west quarter of the southwest quarter of section four, in township twenty six, north of range nine, east, containing 165.55 acres.
To have and to hold unto the said Paul A. Hickman, his heirs and assigns in fee simple forever.

Seventh: I further, give, devise and bequeath to my son Paul A. Hickman the following described real estate, situate in the county of Stoddard and State of Missouri, to-wit:
The northwest quarter, the south half of lot one and the northeast quarter all of the northeast quarter, lying in the swamp, and all of the southeast quarter of section five, in township twenty six, north of range nine east, containing 429.60 acres.
To have and to hold unto the said Paul A. Hickman, for and during his natural life with remainder in fee to his lineal descendants.
If however that said Paul A. Hickman should die without leaving lineal descendants, then, and in such case, the said land described in this paragraph, shall go to Clara C. Hickman and Rita P. Mozley, their heirs and assigns, in fee simple forever.

Eighth: I give, devise and bequeath to my son Paul A. Hickman, all of my diamonds.

Tenth: I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved daughter Rita P. Mozley the following described real estate, situate in the county of Stoddard and State of Missouri to-wit:
The west half of the southwest quarter and the west half of the northwest quarter, in the swamp of section twenty eight; the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter and the east half of the southeast quarter /pg.3/ lying in the swamp, of section twenty nine, all in township twenty seven, north range nine, east, containing in the aggregate 206.90 acres.
To have and to hold unto said Rita P. Mozley, her heirs and assigns, in fee simple forever.

Eleventh: I further give, devise and bequeath to my beloved daughter, Rita Mozley, the following described lands, situate in the County of Stoddard and State of Missouri, to-wit:
The south half of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter; the south half of the southwest quarter; the southeast quarter and all that part of the northeast quarter, lying in the swamp, of section thirty two, the north half of the north west quarter; the southwest quarter of the north
/will pg. 125/ west quarter; the west half of the southwest quarter, and the southeast quarter of southwest quarter, all lying in the swamp, and the south half of the south west quarter, lying out of the swamp, of section thirty three; all in township twenty-seven, north, range nine, east, containing in the aggregate 503.10 acres.

To have and hold unto the said Rita P. Mozley for and during her natural life, with remainder in fee to the heirs of her body forever.
If however the said Rita P. Mozley should die without leaving surviving heirs of her body, then and in such event, the said lands in this paragraph described shall go to Clara C. Hickman and Paul A. Hickman, their heirs and assigns in fee simple forever.

Twelfth: In case any of the above lands hereinbefore specifically devised to my wife and children shall be encumbered at the time of my death, I direct that such encumbrances be paid by my executor out of the general assets of my estate and said lands released from said encumbrances.. It being my will that my said wife and children shall take said lands free and clear of all encumbrances placed thereon by me during my lifetime.

Thirteenth: All the rest and residue of my estate, real, personal and mixed, wherever situated, I give, devise and bequeath to my wife and children, namely Clara C. Hickman, Ollie Walser, Alpha Fuson, Paul Hickman and Rita Mozley to be divided equally among them in equal portions, share and share alike, to have and to hold in fee simple forever.

Fourteenth: I hereby constitute and appoint H.M. Flanary of Bloomfield, Missouri, and my wife Clara C. Hickman, the survivor of the, executor of this my last will and testament, and I direct that they be not required to give any bond in that behalf.
I authorize and empower my said executors in settlement of my estate to compromise any debt due me, and if they think it advantageous to my estate to accept in satisfaction of any claim less than the full amount thereof.

Fifteenth: The word "Executors" as record in this will shall be held to include both executor and executrix.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and to each sheet hereof, and affixed my seal this 22" day of December, 1919.
John A. Hickman

We attest the above and foregoing will, consisting of five sheets by subscribing our names thereto as witnesses, at the request of the said John A. Hickman, the testator, in his presence, and in the presence of each other, this 22" day of Dec., 1919.
/pg. 2/
J.B. Buck
V.W. Moran
Ralph Wamack
witnesses all of Bloomfield, Mo
/pg. 3/

State of Missouri
County of Stoddard

On this 28th day of August, 1920, before the undersigned M. Walker Cooper, Judge of Probate Court personally appeared Clara C. Hickman, who being duly sworn, says that to the best information and belief of affiant John A. Hickman and testate at Puxico, Missouri on the 9th day of August, 1920, leaving as his heirs at law Clara C. Hickman, widow; Ollie Walser, daughter; Alpha Fuson, daughter; Paul Hickman, son; and Rita Mozley, daughter.
Clara C. Hickman

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 28th day of August, 1920.
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 - 28th -day of-Probate -, 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 - J.B. Buck and V.W. Moran - who being duly sworn upon - their -oath, depose- - and say- -that - they -w - ere - present and saw -John A. Hickman - sign the foregoing instrument, of date -December 22nd - 19 -19 - purporting to be - - the Last Will and Testament of h - im - the said -John A. Hickman - 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. Hickman -was of sound and disposing mind, and that th -ese - deponent - s - and - Ralph Wammack - 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.
J.B. Buck
V.W. Moran

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 -John A. Hickman - deceased, and signed by said - John A. Hickman - deceased, late of-Stoddard -County,- Missouri -and having heard the testimony of -J.B. Buck - and - V.W. Moran - 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. Hickman - 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 -August - 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. Hickman - 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 - H.M. Flanary and Clara C. Hickman - ha -ve - 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 -them - the said - H.M. Flanary and Clara C. Hickman - as such Execut- or -, to collect and secure, all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said -John A. Hickman - 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 -them - by said Last Will and Testament, so far as there shall be property and the law charge -them - ; and in general to do and perform all other acts which are now or may be hereafter required of - them - 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 -August -, 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

{A "Ninth" was not listed}



© This page created and placed here by: Connie Perkins cpfamilyhistory@worldnet.att.net November 01, 1999 for MOGenWeb
This site is a part of the Stoddard County Missouri web site, hosted by: Mary Hudson mahud@fidnet.com
If you have a problem with this site, please contact
Mary Hudson and/or Connie Perkins

This Page sponsored by
Rootsweb		 Return to:
Stoddard County Web Site
Since November 01, 1999
You are our 28th visitor -- thanks for stopping by!

.