Record Book of Wills
in the County of Stoddard, Missouri
Book D Will 137

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

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

The Last Will of James H. Hardy

I James Henry Hardy, of Stoddard county in the State of Missouri, do make and publish this my last Will and testament.

First: I give, devise, and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Isabelle Hardy, the north west quarter of the north west quarter of Section 27, and the west half of the north east quarter of the north west quarter of Section 27, Township 27, Range 10, in Castor Township, Stoddard County, Missouri, the house in which I now live being on this land, and I give her a right of way along my south line, from the southeast corner of the 60 acre tract that I hereby bequeath to her, to the public road running north and south along my east line.

And, I also give her my household and kitchen furniture now in the house on the land that I hereby bequeath to her, in order to provide her a home and a living, she being of inform mind and therefore not capable of making her own living.

Second: It is my will that all my just debts, including my funeral which I desire shall be as inexpensive as is consistent with decency and my last doctor bill, if there should be any, be paid from the balance of my estate.

Third: Whatever may be left of my estate to be divided equally between my five sons, namely, James Alfred Hardy, Elmer Hardy, Arthur Hardy, Walter Thomas Hardy and Benjamin H. Hardy.

Fourth: I hereby nominate and appoint my oldest living son, James Alfred Hardy to be sole executor of this my last will and testament, and Guardian of his sister, Mary Isabelle Hardy, and it is my will that he shall not be required to give a bond, and that he shall make no charge for his service as such Executor and Guardian, but as payment for his services and for the support of his said sister, he shall have the use of the property that I hereby bequeath to his sister, Mary I. Hardy during her lifetime; and shall inherit the title to it at her death.

Fifth: In case my son, James Alfred Hardy, should die before me or for any cause should be unable to act as such executor and guardian then it is my will that my son, Arthur Hardy shall act in that capacity on the same terms.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4^th day of May, 1918.
James Henry Hardy

Sworn and acknowledge by said James H. Hardy as his last will and /pg. 2/ Testament in our presence, and by us, at his request, in his presence, and in presence of each other, this day and year last above written.
W.L. Tucker
Henry Anderson
J.W. Bailey

State of Missouri
County of Stoddard

On this 25^th day of July, 1921, before the undersigned M. Walker Cooper, Judge of the Probate Court personally appeared James Alfred Hardy, who being duly swron, says that to the best information and belief of affiant James Henry Hardy died testate at Bloomfield, Missouri on the 8^th day of June 1921, leaving as his heirs at law Mary Isabelle Hardy, daughter; James Alfred Hardy, son; Elmer Hardy, son; Arthur Hardy, son; Walter Thomas Hardy, son; and Benjamin H. Hardy, son.
J.A. Hardy

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 25^th day of July, 1921.
M. Walker Cooper, Judge of Probate
/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 -25th -day of-July -, 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 -W.L. Tucker and J.W. Bailey - who being duly sworn upon - their -oath, depose- - and say- -that - they -w - ere - present and saw -James Henry Hardy - sign the foregoing instrument, of date -May 4th - 19 -21 - purporting to be - - the Last Will and Testament of h -im - the said - James Henry Hardy - 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 Henry Hardy -was of sound and disposing mind, and that th - ese - deponent -s - and - Henry Anderson - 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.
W.L. Tucker
J.W. Bailey

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

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 Henry Hardy - deceased, and signed by said - James Henry Hardy - deceased, late of-Stoddard -County,- Missouri -and having heard the testimony of -W.L. Tucker - and - J.W. Bailey - 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 Henry Hardy - 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 -25th - day of -July - 19- 21
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 Henry Hardy - 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 -James Alfred Hardy - 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 -James Alfred Hardy - as such Execut- or -, to collect and secure, all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said - James Henry Hardy - 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 - 25th - day of -July -, A.D. 19- 21
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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