Will of Johnny Marshall - partial

"Uncle Johnny" Marshall's Will

The Fort Wayne Sentinel
Fort Wayne, Indiana
September 19, 1894

"Uncle Johnny" Marshall's Will

The will of the late "Uncle Johnny" Marshall, an old bachelor, who lived alone for years on a farm near Lebanon, develops a romantic incident. In early manhood he was a school teacher and he fell in love with one of his pupils, a bright girl of fifteen, the daughter of Jacob B_ _ s [unable to read name]. The parents objected to Marshall and the girl married Addison G. Myers, of Whitestown. This was back in 1852. Marshall thereupon eschewed society and built him a log cabin on a farm, where he remained for forty years and more. He worked hard and accumulated much property. Mrs. Emma Morrison, his only sister, died in 1890, leaving one son, who was named in honor of his uncle. After his mother's death the young man was invited to share his uncle's home, which invitation he accepted. The sweetheart of Marshall's youth is the mother of six children, one of whom is Gertrude, a girl of nineteen. After Marshall's death it was found that he made a will bequeathing his farm to his nephew, provided he married Miss Gertrude within two years, otherwise he was to receive but $5,000, the remainder of the estate going to other heirs. The young people had never met until they were brought together to hear the terms of the will. The stipulation was a great surprise to both, but it was favorably received, and it is said that a wedding will soon put beyound [sic] dispute all disposition on the senior Marshall's estate.

Transcribed by: T. Stover, August 2006