Will of James Graves, Vermilion County, IL, dated 20 June 1857 I, James Graves, of the County of Vermilion and State of Illinois do hereby make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following to wit: First. It is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid. Second. After the payment of such funeral expenses and debts, I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved Wife, Margaret Graves, the one third part of all my real estate, to be by her selected, during her natural life, and all the live stock, horses, cattle, sheep, hogs etc. by me now owned, also all the household furniture and other articles of personal property not herein enumerated or otherwise disposed of in this Will during her natural life, after having disposed of a sufficient amount to pay and discharge the expenses and debts aforesaid, and that at her death all the property aforesaid to her bequeathed or so much thereof as may remain unexpended, to my sons, Orville S. Graves, Greenville H. Graves, Levi H. Graves, Doctor F. Graves, and John L. Graves and to my daughters Zerelda Ellsworth and Amanda M. Cook and to their heirs and assigns forever. Third. The balance of my real estate, after my wife selecting one third part, shall be sold and the proceeds divided among my heirs as follows to wit: To my three grand children, Oliver Cook, Doctor F. Cook, and Amanda M. Cook, children of my daughter Eveline Cook, I give and devise the sum of six hundred dollars to be equally divided among them, when they shall be of age, provided if none of said children shall live to be of age, then said sum of money shall be equally divided among my remaining lawful heirs, and provided also, that said money shall be loaned at interest, for the use of said children, by my executor, who shall have the absolute control of said money, until said children shall become of age, when he shall pay the same to said children. 4th The balance of my estate, after deducting what has been hereinbefore disposed of, I give to my five sons and two daughters to wit: Greenville H. Graves, Orville S. Graves, Levi H. Graves, Doctor F. Graves, John L. Graves, Zerelda Ellsworth and Amanda M. Cook their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally divided among them. Fifth. I hereby constitute and appoint Orville S. Graves Executor of this my last Will and Testament, revoking and annulling all other Wills by me made and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof, I the said James Graves have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of June in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and fifty seven. His James Graves L.S. Mark Signed seal published and declared by the said James Graves as and for his last Will and Testament in presence of each of us, who in his presence and in the presence of each other, and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. Jonathan M. Stout, Jacob Jumps State of Illinois,Vermilion County. We, Jonathan M. Stout and Jacob Jumps the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last Will and Testament do solemnly swear that we were present and saw said Testator James Graves sign the within Will, and heard him acknowledge the same to be his last Will and Testament, that we believe said Testator to be of sound mind and memory at the time of signing and acknowledging the same. J.M. Stout, Jacob Jumps The foregoing affidavit was sworn to and subscribed before me July 24th 1857 - Thomas Short, Clk for Jno. C. Short Dep. Know all men by these presents, that We, Orville S. Graves, Greenville H. Graves and Sylvanus T. Ellsworth of Vermilion County, Ills. are held and firmly bound, unto the people of the State of Illinois, in the penal sum of Eighteen Thousand Eight hundred dollars current money of the United States, which payment well and truly to be made and performed, we and each of us, bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators jointly severally and firmly, by these presents. Witness our hand and seals this 24th day of July AD 1857 The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound Orville S. Graves, Executor of the last Will and Testament of James Graves dec'd does make or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, lands, tenemants, and here***aments, and the rents and profits issuing, out of the same, of the said deceased, which have or shall come to the hands, possession, or knowledge of the said Orville S. Graves or into the possession of any other person for him, and the same or made does exhibit in the County Court of the said County of Vermilion, as required by law, and also make and render a fair and just account of his actings and doings, as such Executor to said Court, when thereunto lawfully required and to well and truly fulfil the duties enjoined upon him in and by the said Will, and shall moreover pay and deliver to the persons entitled thereto, all the legacies and bequests, contained in said Will, so far as the estate of the said Testator will thereunto extend, according to the value thereof, and as the law shall charge him, and shall in general do all other acts which may from time to time be required of him by law, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. Orville S. Graves, G.H. Graves, Silvanus T. Ellsworth. Attest Tho. Short, Clerk for Jno. C. Short, Dep. The people of the State of Illinois. To all to whom these presents shall come. Greeting. Know Ye that whereas James Graves late of the County of Vermilion and State of Illinois, died on or about the 11th of July A.D. 1857 as it is said, after having duly made and published his last Will and Testament, a copy of whereof is hereunto annexed, leaving at the time of his death, property in this State which may be lost, destroyed, or diminished in value, if speedy care be not taken of the same, and inasmuch as it appears that Orville S. Graves has been appointed Executor in and by said last Will and Testament to execute the same, and to the end that the said property may be preserved for those who shall appear to have a legal right or interest therein, and that said Will may be executed according to the request of the said testator, we do hereby authorise him the said Orville S. Graves as such executor to collect and secure all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said James Graves at the time of his decease, in whosoever hands or possession the same may be found in this State and well and truly to perform and fulfill all such duties as may be enjoined upon him by the said Will, so far a there shall be property and the law charge him, and in general to do and perform all other acts, which are, or hereafter may be required of him by law. Witness Thomas Short, Clerk of the County Court in and for the County of Vermilion, at his office in Danville this 24th day of July 1857. Thomas Short, Clerk for John C. Short, Dep. --------------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. 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