Strother, John., Estate; Rapides,Louisiana 6 Jul 1907 Submitter: LA GenWeb Archives Project Source: Conveyance Book VV, page 391 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Strother, John Conveyance Book VV, page 391 Instrument # 3046 AFFIDAVIT OF HEIRSHIP - ESTATES OF JOHN STROTHER & ELIZA WILLIS AND WILLIAM WILLIS & RHODA STROTHER NOTE: Verbatim transcript from the original document. Items appearing in parentheses, appeared in the original text. State of Louisiana, Parish of Rapides Glenmora Post Office, July 6 - 1907 Before me the undersigned authority, duly commissioned and sworn, personally came and appeared Lemuel S. Willis, age 62 years old; Joseph Willis, age 59 years; Alexander Willis, age 50 years. All of Osborn P.O. (Post Office), Parish of Rapides, state of Louisiana. Whom after being be me suly sworn according to law, deposed and says, that they are well acquainted with John Strother Senior, who entered the Northeast quarter of Northeast quarter, the Northeast quarter of Northwest quarter of Section thirty-six and the Southeast quarter of Southwest quarter of Section twenty-five all in Township One South of Range Four West of Louisiana Meridian, the said John Strother Sr. was married but once and married to Eliza Willis, and the two became the Father and Mother of Henry Z. Strother, Dempsey Strother, George W. Strother and John Strother Junior. And that the four latter named persons were the only living children and Legal heirs of representatives of their deceased Father and Mother (John and Eliza). We further swear that the said John Strother Jr. did marry Olive Ray - and the two became the Father and Mother of Martha Strother, whom she (Martha Strother) became the wife of Gideon Johnson and she (Martha) being the only child John Strother Jr. and deceased. We further swear that we are well acquainted with William Willis and that he was married but once and was married to Roda Strother, both of which are deceased, and that they were the Father and Mother of Lemuel S. Willis, Joseph Willis, Jessie Willis, Matthew Willis, James Willis, Alexander Willis and Mary Willis, and that the latter seven named persons are the only children of the said Wm. Willis and his wife Roda Strother and only Legal heirs of representatives of the said William Willis and Roda Strother, both deceased. The said Mary Willis was married to Charles McDaniel, and the said Chas. McDaniel and Mary Willis became the Father and Mother of the only child, William McDaneil, and that the said Mary Willis, wife of Chas. McDaniel, is now deceased. We further solemnly swear, that all of the heirs and Legal Representatives of the aforesaid John Strother Jr. and his wife, Eliza Willis, and those of their deceased children have all been mentioned and named in the above sworn statement and we further solemnly swear, that all of the heirs of Legal Representatives of William Willis and his wife, Roda Strother, together with those of their deceased children's heirs or Legal Representatives have all been mentioned and named in the above sworn statement. And that there is no other heirs affecting of in any manner, touching the titles to the NE 1/4 of NE 1/4, the NE 1/4, the NE 1/4 NE 1/4 of Sec. 36 and the SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Sec. 25 all in Tp. One S of R. four W of La. Mer. We also further testify that we are all near neighbors to the said above described lands which was Patented by the United States to John Strother Sr. and that we have for quite a number of years lived near tht land and know all about each and every transactions and touching the titles to the said above described lands. This being done for the purpose of identifying all of the above mentioned people, their marriages, deaths and their heirship to the said above described lands and Mr. Lemuel S. Willis is now in the full ownership of said property. Witnesses: _?_D. Elliott, _?_ Johnson, Lemuel S. Willis, Joseph Willis, Alexander Willis; [Personal Notes by Lemuel, Joseph and Alexander Willis, by the ages given, are all sons of William Willis and Rhoda Strother. Also according to the 1850 census, William and Rhoda had many other children not named in this affidavit. It may then be assumed that they died, without issue. Those as shown in the census: William, Jackson, Sarah and Daniel Willis. The William McDaniel mentioned above, appeared living with his grandparents, when the census was taken in 1880. The statement that John Strother Jr. and Olive Ray were the parents of only one child, is also a misstated fact, for the census of 1860 shows an unnamed infant boy, aged 1 month. So, Martha had an older brother, who died at a young age.]