Record Book of Wills
in the County of Stoddard, Missouri
Book D Will 154

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

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

In the name of God, Amen.
I, Thomas Jefferson Hill, of Dexter, in the County of Stoddard, and State of Missouri, being in good health, and of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this, my will and testament:

(1) To my beloved wife, Celeste Burham Hill, I give all my interest in our home, also all household furniture, wearing apparel, and all other personal effects in the home, except my typewriter and typewriter desk, which I give to my son, Gordon Porter Hill. Such of my books and library as Celeste does not particularly care for, I wish her to distribute to our three children, Joe, Dorothy and Gordon, giving to each as nearly as may be such books as each may prefer. To my son, Gordon I give my automobile together with all accessaries thereto belonging.

(3) My life insurance of which I hold $5000.00 is to be disposed of as follows, $3,000 is already made payable to my wife, Celeste, if she be living, otherwise to go to my estate. The remaining $2,000.00, which is a policy in the Bankers Like, of Des Moines, is to be used (a) to pay all the expenses of my last illness, funeral, burial, etc., and (b) for the purchase and erection of a monument on my let in the Dexter Cemetery; said monument not to cost less than $400 nor exceeding $600. Remainder of this insurance is to be added to my estate.

(3) In addition to the above bequests, I give to my wife, Celeste, $1,000.00 in cash, and to her daughter, Joe Mathews, $1,000.00 and to each of my two children, Dorothy and Gordon $1,000.00 making a total of $4,000.00.

(4) The residue of my estate, after disposing of the above bequests, shall be shared equally among my wife, Celeste and my two children, Dorothy and Gordon, id all be living. If my wife be not living her daughter, Joe becomes my heir in her stead hereunder. If either of my children Dorothy or Gordon be not living, the other surviving becomes heirs to the share of both under this bequest.

(5) I hereby appoint my wife, Celeste and my son Gordon, jointly to execute this will, and they shall not be required to give bond.

Witness my hand this 19th day of April 1921.
Thomas Jefferson Hill

Witt: Asa Norman
J.I. Moore
/pg. 2/

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

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this -29th -day of- December -, 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 -J.I. Moore - who being duly sworn upon - his -oath, depose- s- and say-s -that -he -w -as - present and saw -Thomas Jefferson Hill - sign the foregoing instrument, of date -April 19th - 19 -21 - purporting to be - - the Last Will and Testament of h -im - the said -Thomas Jefferson Hill - 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 - Thomas Jefferson Hill -was of sound and disposing mind, and that th - is - deponent - - and - Asa Norman - 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.

And the said J.I. Moore and Frank A. Brannock upon their oath say that they were will acquainted with Asa Norman, now deceased, in his lifetime, and with his handwriting and that the signature of the said Asa Norman as a witness to said foregoing instrument is the signature of the said Asa Norman, according to their best knowledge, information and belief.
J.I. Moore
Frank A. Brannock

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 - Thomas Jefferson Hill - deceased, and signed by said - Thomas Jefferson Hill - deceased, late of-Stoddard -County,- Missouri -and having heard the testimony of - J.I, Moore - and - proved the handwriting of Asa Norman - 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 - Thomas Jefferson Hill - 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 - 29th - day of -December - 19-22
M. Walker Cooper,
Judge of Probate
/pg. 3/

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 - Thomas Jefferson Hill - 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 -Celeste B. Hill and Gordon Hill - ha -ve - been appointed execut -ors - 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 -Celeste B. Hill and Gordon Hill - as such Execut- ors -, to collect and secure, all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said - Thomas Jefferson Hill - 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 - 29th - day of -December -, A.D. 19- 22
M. Walker Cooper,
By- Judge -of said Court.

EXECUTOR'S BOND, or Bond of Administrator with Will Annexed.
No Bond Required

{There were two #3's listed, no #2}



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