WILL
OF SARAH EBERHART
Know all men by these presents that I, Sarah
Eberhart, of Castle Grove Township, Jones County, Iowa, being weak
in body but of sound mind (Blessed be God for the same) do make and
publish this my last will and testament; hereby revoking all former wills
by me at any time heretofore made.
And as to my worldly property real, personal or mixed of which I
shall die seized and possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time
of my decease I devise and bequeath and dispose thereof in the manner
following, to wit:
First: I will that all
my just debts, if any, and funeral expenses be first paid by my executor
hereinafter mentioned.
Secondly, I will and devise that all the property of which I shall
be lawfully entitled at the time of my death shall be divided as
hereinafter specified. Inasmuch
as my two daughters Mrs. Caroline
Lineberger and Mrs. Mahala Pool have
already each received of my husband Paul Eberhart
one hundred dollars; and the said Caroline
Lineberger and Mahala Pool have also
each received of my son R.I. Eberhart one
hundred dollars; on this last amount they shall allow him six percent
interest for three years from date as I also hold obligations against my
son R.I. Eberhart for said money.
I therefore will that the two hundred and thirty-six dollars of
which my two daughters Caroline Lineberger
and Mahala Pool are already in possession be
first deducted from the obligations I hold against my son R.I.
Eberhart and that thereafter my other two daughters Mrs.
Susannah Black and Mrs. Sarah Berlin
shall each have two hundred and eighteen dollars in advance of the former.
The remainder of my property in notes or money shall be equally
divided between my four daughters Caroline
Lineberger, Mahala Pool, Sarah Berlin and Susannah
Black, except one hundred and fifty dollars which sum I will and
bequeath to the Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Castle Grove, Jones
County, Iowa, for the purpose of erecting a suitable house of worship;
provided that said congregation shall within four years from the date of
my death erect such a building. This
money shall be held in trust without interest by my son R.I.
Eberhart until used by the said congregation for the purpose above
specified. If the said
congregation shall fail to build such a House of worship within the time
specified, then the said one hundred and fifty dollars shall be equally
divided between my four daughters above named.
I also will and devise that the one thousand dollars which was
willed and bequeathed by my husband Paul Eberhart to
my four daughters Susannah Black, Sarah Berlin,
Caroline Lineberger and Mahala Pool,
for which I hold a note against my son R.I. Eberhart,
shall not be by them collected only as herein specified.
I also will and devise that the money I have herein bequeathed to
my daughters shall be for their own special use and benefit and shall from
them descend to their lawful heirs. I
further will and bequeath all my furniture, bedding and clothing to my two
daughters Susannah Black and Sarah
Berlin to be divided by themselves.
I also will and devise that the note I hold against my son R.I.
Eberhart shall not be collected until one year after my decease.
Lastly, I appoint Presley Hanna to be
the executor of this my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 1st
day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
seventy three.
Sarah Eberhart (her mark)
Signed and delivered by the said Sarah
Eberhart in the presence of us who at the request and in the
presence of her have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto.
Jesse Helsell
Presley Hanna
Submitted by Nancy
Brower.