Record Book of Wills
in the County of Stoddard, Missouri
Book D Will 133

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

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

I - William M. Bowman - of - Cotton Hill Township, Dunklin County State of-Missouri being of sound mind do make and publish this, my Last Will and Testament:

First, It is my will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.

Second, I will that all of my property of which I may die seized, whether personal, real, or mixed, go to my beloved wife, Mary E. Bowman, for and during her natural life and at her death it is my will that whatever of my said estate whether personal, real, or mixed, go to my children namely: T.H. Bowman, Leana Bowman, S.L. Bowman, Alonzo Bowman, W.F. Bowman, Carilla Harman, Jospeh Bowman, and Gertie Bowman. It is my will that the interests that may go to Carilla Harman be given to her during her natural life and that at her death the same shall go to her children in equal parts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this the 9th day of September, 1909.

W.M. Bowman -his mark

Witness J.L. Downing

We attest the above and foregoing will by subscribing our names hereto as witnesses in the presence of William M. Bowman the testator, this the 9th day of September, 1909.
E.D. Johnson
W.J. Davis

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 county of Dunklin Greeting: Know ye that we hereby empower you to cause to come before you at the time and place to be by you appointed, E.D. Johnson and W.J. Davis attesting witnesses to the annexed instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of William M. Bowman, deceased, and to then and there examine them, the said E.D. Johnson and W.J. Davis on oath touching their knowledge of the execution of said instrument, and of the condition of the maind of the said William M. Bowman 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 E.D. Johnson and W.J. Davis 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 hand and affixed the seal of said court at Bloomfield, Missouri on this 6th day of April, 1921.
M. Walker Cooper,
Judge of Probate
/pg.2/

Return to Commission to Prove Will

State of Missouri
County of Stoddard

Before Ira M. Morris a Notary Public within and for Dunklin County, Missouri.
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, Ira M. Morris, a Notary Public did on the 6th day of April A.D. 1921, cause to come before me at Malden, Dunklin County, Missouri, E.D. Johnson and Henry Stokes who being by me duly sworn deposeth and says, that they were well acquainted with W.J. Davis in his lifetime and that they often saw him sign his name and that they were well acquainted with the signature of the said W.J. Davis; that the signature of the said W.J. Davis to the last will and testament of W.M. Bowman, now deceased, as a witness is the true signature of the said W.J. Davis, now deceased, and the said E.D. Johnson further states that he was present at the time the said W.J. Davis signed said will as a witness and saw the said W.J. Davis sign said will as a witness thereto, and further deponents saith not.
E.D. Johnson
Henry Stocks

Sworn to and subscribed in my presence this 6th day of April, A.D. 1921. And I do hereby certify that the testimony of the said E.D. Johnson and Henry Stocks was by me reduced to writing, and by them subscribed in my presence, on the day and year, and at the place above written, and their testimony so by me taken and certified, is herewith returned.
Ira M. Morris
Notary Public
My Com. Ex. Nov. 18, 1924
/pg. 3/



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

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this -6th -day of-April -, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and-Twenty-one, before me - M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of the-Probate -Court, held in and for - the County of Stoddard -and State of Missouri, personally appeared - E.D. Johnson - who being duly sworn upon -his -oath, depose-s - and say-s -that -he -w -as - present and saw -W.M. Bowman - sign the foregoing instrument, of date -September 9th - 19 -21 - purporting to be - - the Last Will and Testament of h -im - the said - W.M. Bowman - 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 - W.M. Bowman -was of sound and disposing mind, and that th -is - deponent - - and - W.J. Davis - 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.
E.D. Johnson

Sworn to and subscribed before me, -a Notary Pubic within and for the County of Dunklin, State of Mo. this 6th day of Apr 1921.
Ira M. Morris
Notary Public
My Com. Ex. Nov 18 - 1924

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 -W.M. Bowman - deceased, and signed by said -W.M. Bowman - deceased, late of-Stoddard -County,- Missouri -and having heard the testimony of - E.D. Johnson - and -proved the hand writing of W.J. Davis - 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 - W.M. Bowman - 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 -6th - day of -April - 19-21
M. Walker Cooper,
Judge of Probate
/pg. 4/

LETTERS of Administration
With Will Annexed

STATE OF MISSOURI
County of-Stoddard
The State of Missouri

To all to Whom these Presents shall come--GREETING:
Know Ye, That the last will of -William M. Bowman - deceased, hath, in due form of law been exhibited, proved and recorded, a copy of which is hereunto annexed; To the end therefore that the property of the testator may be presented for those who shall appear to have a legal right or interest therein, and that the last will may be executed according to the request of the testator, we do hereby appoint Mary E. Bowman, administratrix with the will of the said William M. Bowman annexed, and authorize -her - the said -Mary E. bowman, as such administratrix, to collect and secure, all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said - William M. Bowman - 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 Will, 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 are or hereafter may be required of -her - by law.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I -M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of the Probate Court in and for the County of Stoddard aforesaid, have hereunto signed my name and affixed the seal of the said Court at office in-Bloomfield, Mo.-this - 6th - day of -April -, A.D. 19-21
M. Walker Cooper,
By- Judge -of said Court.

EXECUTOR'S BOND, or Bond of Administrator with Will Annexed.
See Book "3", page 246



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