Wills available onsite:
MARTIN, William of Kewanee
TIMBERLAKE, Robert Douglas
WHITEHOUSE, John of Kewanee

Will of William Martin
Filed June 25th 1888
F. G. Welton, clk.
(this section is in the handwriting of Mr. Welton)

Book D-90 (unknown who wrote this)

The notice instrument held to be duly proven as the last will and Testament of William Martin, deceased.
Admitted to probate and ----- (illegible word) recorded March 1st, 1889
Jno. P. Hand (surname difficult to read), Judge

2nd Page:

Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Martin as and for his last will and testament
who signed the same in our presence and in his presence and in the presence of each other at his
request have submitted our names as witnesses here. The signature of said testator was made by
Charles K. Ladd directing the hand of said William Martin at his request-said Martin being unable to
write his name thereto.

Charles K. Ladd of Kewanee, Ill (signature)
Joseph Wright of Kewanee, Ill (signature)

PROOF OF WILL:
STATE OF ILLINOIS}
County of Henry} s.s.

We, Chas. K. Ladd and  Joseph Wright and each of us do solemnly swear that we were well acquainted with William Martin  during his lifetime; that he was above the age of 21 years, and a resident of Henry County and the State of Illinois; that the instrument to which this is attached was on the day and date thereof duly
signed, sealed, published and declared by the Testator therein named, as his Last Will and Testament;
that we believe the said Testator was at that time of sound mind and memory and that we then and
there, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, did sign our names thereto as witnesses to the execution thereof.

Subscribed and sworn on this 29th day of June A.D. 1888
in open Court before me.

F. G. Welton (signature)
Clerk

Chas K. Ladd (signature)
Joseph Wright (signature)

The Will: (handwritten, not on a legal form)

I William Martin of Kewanee Henry County Illinois do hereby make publish and disclose this my last will
and testament in manner and form following towit (sic):

First: It is my will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid.

Second: After the payment of my said debts and funereal expenses I give devise and bequeath all of
my property real, personal or mixed, to my wife Martha to have hold and enjoy the rents issues and
profits thereof so long as she may live or remain my widow and no longer and at her death or marriage
I give devise and bequeath all of the principal of my said estate to my children Henry J., John, Martha
James (sic) ; William; George; Thomas; Rose A; and Elizabeth to be held and enjoyed by them
absolutely share and share alike except that my son Henry J. is to be charged with one hundred and
sixty dollars and my son John is to be charged with three hundred dollars which I have already paid to
them and which I wish to be considered as advancements to them.

The provision herein to my wife is upon the express conditions that she support and take care of all of
my minor children until they become of age educating and supporting them to the best of her ability
and means.

Lastly; I do hereby nominate and appoint Nathaniel Tucker to be my executor confirming this and no
other to be my last will and testament--revoking all former wills by me made.

 I hereby empower my executor to use and handle my profit to the best advantage giving the rents
issues and profits as herein directed and he may mine coal now owned by me the same as I have been
doing but he shall not lease or rent any of said coal land or coal to be mined by anyone outside of my
children and the measure thereof to be paid to my wife as herein directed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of November AD  1887.

William Martin
(circle drawn with word seal written inside)

Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Martin as and for his last will and testament
who signed the same in our presence and we in his presence and in the presence of each other and at
his request have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. The signature of said testator was made
by Charles K. Ladd directing the hand of said Martin being unable to write his name thereto.

Charles K. Ladd of Kewanee, Ill., (signature)
Joseph Wright of Kewanee, Ill, (signature)

**
Transcriber's notes:
Nathaniel Tucker, the executor of the will, was the brother of William's wife, Martha. William's daughter
Martha married Nathaniel's son James Tucker. It is unclear why the daughter Martha is listed as Martha
James unless Mr. Ladd, who was writing the words for Mr. Martin meant to put Martha AND James (her
husband) or her middle name was James or Jones. The daughter listed as Rose A. went by Rose, but
most other official records show her name to be Rosannah (one word), a name which appears in several Martin related lines.

I also have the will inventory of property owned by Mr. Martin's estate

1st It is my will that all of my just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid.

2nd After the payment of my said debts and funeral expenses I do hereby devise and bequeath all of
my property of whatever kind or nature, real, personal or mixed, equally to my children, Benjamin
Whitehouse, Roseanna Lamb, Mary Ann Stanley, Simeon Whitehouse, Sarah Earley, Eliza Lamb,
George Whitehouse, Issiah Whitehouse and Joseph Whitehouse to be held and enjoyed by them and
their heirs share and share alike and should either of my said children die before I do I desire such deceased childs share to go to his or her children or heirs.

I make no provision for my wife in case she survive me because she has sufficient property of her own
 to support herself and does not desire any of my estate.

3rd I do hereby nominate and appoint William Stanley sole executor of this my last will and testament
revoking all other wills by me made and confirming this and no other.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of August AD 1877.

John Whitehouse
Seal

Signed, sealed and published and declared, by the said John Whitehouse as and for his last will and
testament, who executed the same in our presence and we signed the same as witnesses in his
presence and at his request and in the presence of each other, the day and year above  written.

Charles K. Ladd of Kewanee
George W. Lyndon of Kewanee