Record Book of Wills
in the County of Stoddard, Missouri
Book D Will 65

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

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

I, William J. Graham of Talkington Township in the County of Sangamon and State of Illinois, being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and Testament.

First. I order and direct that my executor hereinafter pay all my just debts and funeral expenses as soon after my decease as conveniently may be.

I order and direct my executor hereinafter named to sell at public or private sale sufficient of my real estate in Stoddard County, Missouri, to pay all my debts and the expenses of my estate, he to exercise his free discretion as to what land shall be sold.

I authorize and direct him to convey said land to any purchaser, to execute and deliver deeds and other instruments of conveyance, such as he may deem advisable, as fully as I might if living and personally present. I direct that all my debts and expenses shall be paid out of the proceeds of such sale of land so that my personal property may go undimished to my beloved wife, Bessie Graham.

I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Bessie Graham all of my personal property wherever situated, to be herds absolutely and I direct that if there shall be any balance out of the sale of lands for the purpose of paying debts after the payment of my debts, such balance shall be paid by my executor to my said wife, to be hers absolutely, firmly convinced that she will make the best use of it for the benefit of herself and our children.

Lastly, I give, devise and bequeath to my brother Arthur Graham, or to his successor in trust, as trustee all of the lands and interest in lands owned by me, which shall remain after the aforesaid sale for payment of debts, to have and to hold until my son Arthur Graham, and my daughter Rupola Graham if both survive shall each be twenty five years of age, and at that time to deliver the said lands and all interest therein or proceed of sale thereof to my son and daughter , in equal shares.

I authorize my said brother to improve said lands as shall seem fit to him, or to sell any or all of said lands and interest therein if in his judgment it shall be best to sell, at public or private sale and to execute all necessary conveyances in his discretion, to convey title to any purchasers thereof and to hold the proceeds thereof reinvest the same, or to spend said proceeds for the benefit of my said wife & children.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this second day of December in the year of our Lord, One thousand Nine Hundred and Eleven.

W.J. Graham

This instrument was on the day of the date thereof, signed, published and declared by the said Testator, William J. Graham, to be his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who at his request, have subscribed our names hereto as Witnesses in his presence and in the presence of each other, believing the said William J. Graham, to be at the time of so subscribing our names as witnesses as aforesaid of sound mind and memory.
S.A. Spindel
Jas. E. Graham

State of Missouri
County of Stoddard

The State of Missouri, To any court having a seal, or the judge there of {word covered} of the Peace, or any Notary Public, Mayor or Chief Magistrate of any City or town /pg. 2/ having a seal in the city of Springfield and State of Illinois.

Know ye, That we hereby empower you to cause to come before you at the time and place to be by you appointed S.A. Spindel and James E. Graham attesting witnesses to the annexed instrument of writing, purporting to be the last will and testament of William J. Graham deceased, and to then and there examine them, the said S.A. Spindel and James E. Graham on oath, touching their knowledge of the execution of said instrument, and of the condition of the mind of the said William J. Graham 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 S.A. Spindel and James E. Graham and thereupon you shall certify the same under your hand to Wm. L. Tucker Judge of our probate court of said county.

In Witness whereof I have Wm L. Tucker, Judge of said Probate Court, have here unto set my name and affixed the seal of said court at Bloomfield, Missouri, on this 10^th day of September 1912.
W.L. Tucker, Probate Judge

State of Illinois
County of Sangamon

Before John M. Pfeifer Master in Chancery of Sangomon County, Illinois
In pursuance of the authority to me given by the annexed commission issued by the Clerk of probate court within and for Stoddard County and State of Missouri I John M. Pfeifer Master of Chancery as aforesaid did in the 16 day of September A.D. 1912 cause to come before me at the Court House in the city of Springfield and State of Illinois S.A. Spindell, who being by me duly sworn deposeth and says that he was present and saw William J. Graham signed the attached foregoing instrument, of date December 2 1911, purporting to be the last will and testament of him the said William J. Graham and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament and at the time of signing the same the said William J. Graham was of sound and disposing mind, and that this deponent and James E. Graham the other attesting witness subscribed their names thereto as witnesses to the same in the presence of the testator who was more than 21 years of age at the date of so declaring and signing said instrument and further deponent saith not.
S.A. Spindell

Sworn and subscribed in my presence this 16 day of September A.D. 1912. And I do hereby certify that the testimony of the said S.A. Spindell was by me reduced to writing and by him subscribed in my presence on the day and year, and at the place above written, and his testimony so by me taken and certified, is herewith returned.
John M. Pfiefer
Master in Chancery of Circuit Court of Sangamon County

State of Illinois
County of Sangamon

Before John M. Phiefer Master in Chancery of Sangamon County Illinois
In pursuance of the authority to me given by the annexed commission issued by the Clerk of the Probate court within and for Stoddard County and State of Missouri I, John M. Pfeifer Master of Chancery as aforesaid did in the 16 day of September A.D. 1912, cause to come before me at the Court House in the city of Springfield and State of Illinois James E. Graham, who being by me duly sworn deposeth and says that he was present and saw William J. Graham sign the attached foregoing instrument, of date December 2 1911, purporting to be the last will and testament of him /pg. 3/ said William J. Graham and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament, and at the time of signing the same, the said William J. Graham was of sound and disposing mind, and that this deponent and S.A. Spindell the other attesting witness subscribed their names thereto as witnesses to the same in the presence of the testator, who was more than 21 years of age at the date of so declaring and signing said instrument and further deponent saith not.
James E. Graham

Sworn and subscribed in my presence this 16 day of September A.D. 1912. And I do hereby certify that the testimony of the said James E. Graham was by me reduced to writing and by him subscribed in my presence, on the day and year, and at the place above written, and his testimony so by me taken and certified, is herewith returned.
John M. Pfiefer
Master in Chancery of Circuit Court of Sangamon Co., Ill.

CERTIFICATE OF PROBATE
STATE OF MISSOURI
County of-Stoddard -}In the-Probate -Court- Sept. 23, 9^th day of August term 1912

I, - W.L. Tucker, Judge - of the-Probate-Court-in and for Stoddard -County, Missouri, having examined the foregoing instrument purporting to be - - the Last Will and Testament of -William J. Graham - deceased, and signed by said - William J. Graham - deceased, late of- Sangamon -County,- Illinois -and having heard the testimony of -S.A. Spindell - and - James E. Graham - subscribing witnesses thereto, in relation to the execution of the same, do declare and adjudge said Instrument - - the Last Will and Testament of said - William J. Graham - 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 -23rd - day of -September - 19- 12
Wm. L. Tucker
Probate Judge

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