Record Book of Wills
in the County of Stoddard, Missouri
Book D Will 122

{This is a form page, the words written in italics are the handwritten words}

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT I -S.B. Tatum - of the-City of-Dexter -in the County of-Stoddard -and State of-Missouri being of sound mind do make and publish this, my Last Will and Testament: I, S.B. Tatum, of the City of Dexter in Stoddard County, Missouri, being now in good health, strength of body and mind, but sensible to the uncertainty of life, and desiring to make disposition of my property and affairs while in health and strength, do hereby make, publish and declare the following to be my last will and testament hereby revoking and canceling all other or former wills by me at any time made. First. I, hereby constitute and appoint F.M. Ladd as my executor empowering him to take charge of my estate at my death and carry out the direction of my will herein after set out. Second. I direct that all my just debts be paid together with my funeral expenses. Third, I direct that my beloved wife, Annis Tatum, shall be paid out of my estate the sum of Four Hundred dollars in cash within sixty days of my death in full of all her dower and homestead interest in my estate, save that she shall further have such furniture and household goods as were purchased for joint use at the time of or since our marriage. Fourth, I direct that all household goods that I owned before my marriage to my said wife, Annis, shall be given over to my beloved daughters Jenette Alice Mayes, Susie Vaught, Birdie Jones, Fanny Berry and Maud Hanks to be by them distributed and apportioned, and should I survive either of my said daughters then said goods shall be distributed to those who are living at my death. Fifth, I direct that all of the rest, residue and remainder of my property of all kinds after carrying on the above request shall descend to my said daughters and my beloved grand daughters, Daisy Turner and Cora Venable in accordance with the provisions of the laws of descents and distributions of the estates of persons dying in testate in the State of Missouri, that is to say the rest, residue and remainder of my estate shall be divided into six equal parts, each of my said daughters, or her heirs shall have one share and my said grand-daughters or their /pg. 2/ heirs shall have the other share. In witness whereof, I S.B. Tatum have to this my last will and testament, consisting of two pages on one sheet of paper, subscribed my name, this the 13th day of February, 1913, S.B. Tatum, attest: Geo. Munger The foregoing instrument consisting of two pages on one sheet of paper was at the date thereof signed and declared by this said S.B. Tatum to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, who, at his request and in his presence, and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. Asa Norman of Dexter, Mo. R.I. Moore of Dexter, Mo. /pg. 3/ State of Missouri, County of Stoddard On this 17th day of March, 1920, before the undersigned M. Walker Cooper, Judge of the Probate court personally appeared Annis Tatum, who being duly sworn, says, that to the best information and belief of affiant S.B. Tatum died testate at Dexter, Missouri on the 9th day of March 1920, leaving as his heirs at law, Annis Tatum, his widow; Jenette Alice Mayes, daughter; Susie Vaught, daughter; Birdie Jones, daughter; Fanny Berry, daughter; Maud Hanks, daughter; Daisy Turner, grand-daughter; and Cora Venable, grand-daughter. Annis Tatum - her mark witness Edward Weber Sworn and Subscribed before me this 17th day of March 1920 M. Walker Cooper, Judge of Probate PROOF OF WILL STATE OF MISSOURI County of- Stoddard In the- Probate -Court of Stoddard County, Missouri BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this -18th -day of- March -, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and-Twenty , before me - M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of the-Probate -Court, held in and for - the County of Stoddard -and State of Missouri, personally appeared - Asa Norman and J.K. Moore - who being duly sworn upon -their -oath, depose- - and say- -that -they -w -ere - present and saw - S.B. Tatum - sign the foregoing instrument, of date - February 13th - 19 -13 - purporting to be - - the Last Will and Testament of h - im - the said - S.B. Tatum - and heard - him -publish and declare the same to be h -is - Last Will and Testament, and that at the time of signing the same, the said - S.B. Tatum -was of sound and disposing mind, and that th -ese - deponent -s attesting witness - - subscribed their names thereto as witnesses to the same in the presence of the testat -or - and of each other, and at the request of the said testat -or - who was more than 21 years of age at the date of so declaring and signing said instrument. Asa Norman J.I. Moore Sworn to and subscribed before me, -M. Walker Cooper, Judge -of the-Probate -Court, the day and year first aforesaid. M. Walker Cooper, Judge of Probate CERTIFICATE OF PROBATE STATE OF MISSOURI County of-Stoddard -}In the-Probate -Court- of Stoddard County Missouri I, - M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of the-Probate-Court-Stoddard -County, Missouri, having examined the foregoing instrument purporting to be - - the Last Will and Testament of -S.B. Tatum - deceased, and signed by said - S.B. Tatum - deceased, late of-Stoddard -County,- Missouri -and having heard the testimony of -Asa Norman - and -J.I. Moore - subscribing witnesses thereto, in relation to the execution of the same, do declare and adjudge said Instrument - is- the Last Will and Testament of said - S.B. Tatum - deceased, and the same is therefore - admitted to Probate IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office this -18th - day of -March - 19-20 M. Walker Cooper, Judge of Probate /pg. 4/ LETTERS of Administration with the Will Annexed STATE OF MISSOURI County of-Stoddard To all to Whom these Presents shall come--GREETING: Know Ye, That the last will and testament of - S.B. Tatum - deceased, hath, in due form of law been exhibited, proved and recorded, a copy of which is hereunto annexed; to the end that the property of the said Testator may be preserved for those who shall appear to have a legal right or interest therein, and that the said Last Will may be executed according to the request of the Testator, we do hereby appoint Annis Tatum administratrix with the will of the said S.B. Tatum annexed and authorize her the said Annis Tatum as such Administratrix to collect and secure, all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said - S.B. Tatum - at the time of h - is - death, in whosoever hands or possession the same may be found; and to perform and fulfill all such duties as may be enjoined upon -her - by said Will, so far as there shall be property and the law charge - her - ; and in general to do and perform all other things which are now or may be hereafter required of -her - by law. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I -M. Walker Cooper, Judge - of the Probate Court in and for the County of Stoddard, have hereunto signed my name and affixed the seal of the said Court at office in-Bloomfield, Mo.-this - 18th - day of -March -, A.D. 19-20 M. Walker Cooper, By- Judge -of said Court. EXECUTOR'S BOND, or Bond of Administrator with Will Annexed. We, - Annis Tatum - as Principal and -J.H. Vaught and Homer C. Smith - as Securities, are held and firmly bound unto the State of Missouri in the sum of - Three Thousand - DOLLARS, for the payment of which we do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals and dated at-Bloomfield -in the State aforesaid, this - 18th -day of -March -A.D. 19- 20 The Condition of the Above Bond is, That if the said -Annis Tatum, administratrix with the will annexed -of the Last Will and Testament of - S.B. Tatum - deceased, late of-Stoddard -County, Missouri shall well and faithfully execute the said Last Will and Testament, and shall make true and faithful inventories, returns, and settlements of accounts of the Estate of the said Testator, according to law, and shall, moreover, do and perform all other matters and things touching the execution of the said Last Will and testament, as are or shall be prescribed by law, or enjoined on - - by the order, judgment or decree of any Court having competent jurisdiction, then this obligation to be void and of no effect; otherwise to remain in full force. Annis Tatum her mark J.H. Vaught Homer C. Smith witness to mark Edw. Weber I. -Edward Weber, Notary Public- of the Probate Court of-Stoddard -County, Missouri, hereby certify that the above BOND was signed and executed in my presence. Edward Weber Notary Public My commission expires Dec. 23, 1923 Filed -18th - day of -March -19-20