Record Book of Wills
in the County of Stoddard, Missouri
Book D Will 4

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

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

In the Name of God Amen. I Christopher C. Bess-of the-County
of-Stoddard -in the County of-[crossed out] -and State of-Missouri
aged 53 years being of sound mind do make and publish this, my Last Will and Testament:-
Which is as follows:

1st I request that all of my Just debts be paid by my Executor here appointed.

2nd I give and bequeath to my wife Mary E. Bess Ten Dollars to be paid by my Executor herein after named within twelve months After my death:

3rd I give and bequeath to my children, Andrew J. Bess, Tilden Bess, John ... Bess and Francis Bess all of the rest of my property both personal and Real Estate of every description to be equally divided between them by my Executor herein after appointed within twelve months of my death.

4th I hereby appoint J.M. Kelley Executor of this my last will and testament revoking all former wills by me made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this the 21st day of January 1903.

C.H. Bess

/pg. 2/

PROOF OF WILL
STATE OF MISSOURI
County of- Stoddard In the- Probate -Court. July term 1903

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this-1st -day of-August -, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and- three -, before me- Thomas Connelly, Judge -of the-Probate -Court, held in and for-the County and State aforesaid - and State of Missouri, personally appeared-A.W. Bess and C.H. Burham -who being duly sworn upon- their -oath, depose-s -and say-s -that-they -w-ere -present and saw-Christopher H. Bess sign the foregoing instrument, of date-January 21 -19-03 -purporting to be- the Last Will and Testament of h-the -the said-Christopher H. Bess -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-Christopher H. Bess -was of sound and disposing mind, and that th-e -deponent-s -the attesting witnes- -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- -who was more than 21 years of age at the date of so declaring and signing said instrument.
A.W. Bess
C.H. Barham

Sworn to and subscribed before me,
Thomas Connelly, Judge-of the-Probate -Court, August 1st 1903 the day and year first aforesaid.
Thomas Connelly
Judge of Probate

CERTIFICATE OF PROBATE
STATE OF MISSOURI
County of-Stoddard -}In the-Stoddard Co. Probate -Court July Term 1903

I,- Thomas Connelly, Judge -of the-Probate-Court-of Stoddard -County, Missouri, having examined the foregoing instrument purporting to be- -the Last Will and Testament of-Christopher H. Bess -deceased, and signed by said-Christopher H. Bess -deceased, late of- Stoddard -County,-and state of Mo. -and having heard the testimony of-A.W. Bess -and-C.H. Burham -subscribing witnesses thereto, in relation to the execution of the same, do declare and adjudge said Instrument- of date 1/21/03 -the Last Will and Testament of said-Christopher H. Bess -deceased, and the same is therefore- admitted to Probate and ordered it filed & of Record.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office this- 1st -day of- August -19-03
Thomas Connelly
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-Christopher H. Bess -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-J.M. Kelley -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-J.M. Kelley -as such Execut-or -, to collect and secure, all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said-Christopher H. Bess -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 up- 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- Thomas Connelly, 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 -this- 1st -day of-August -, A.D. 19-03
Thomas Connelly
By- Judge-of said Court.

EXECUTOR'S BOND, or Bond of Administrator with Will Annexed.

We,-J.M. Kelley -as Principal and-A.W. Bess, Tilden Bess and William Kelley -as Securities, are held and firmly bound unto the State of Missouri in the sum of- Twelve Hundred DOLLARS, for the payment of which we do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these presents.
Sealed with our seals and dated at-Bloomfield -in the State aforesaid, this-1st -day of-August -A.D. 19-03

The Condition of the Above Bond is, That if the said-J.M. Kelley, Executor -of the Last Will and Testament of-Christopher H. Bess -deceased, last of-Stoddard -County, Missouri shall well and faithfully execute the said Last Will and Testament, and shall make true and faithful inventories, returns, and settlements of accounts of the Estate of the said Testator, according to law, and shall, moreover, do and perform all other matters and things touching the execution of the said Last Will and testament, as are or shall be prescribed by law, or enjoined on- him - by the order, judgment or decree of any Court having competent jurisdiction, then this obligation to be void and of no effect; otherwise to remain in full force.
J.M. Kelley
A.W. Bess
Tilden Bess
William Kelley

I.- Thomas Connelly, Judge -of the Probate Court of-Stoddard -County, Missouri, hereby certify that the above BOND was signed and executed in my presence.
Thomas Connelly
Judge -of Probate.

Filed- 1st -day of-August -19-03
Thomas Connelly
-Judge of Probate

Recorded the foregoing BOND this- 1st -day of- August -19-03
W. L. Tucker
-Probate Clerk





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