Book 2, Pages 147-150
Filed and proven: August 2, 1875

The last will and testament of Dicks Alexander of Rogersville in the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee made the sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Seventy Four.

In the Name of God, Amen.

I, Dicks Alexander, meditating on the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, born in the town of Berk, in the State of Pennsylvania, on the 17th day of August 1790, being at this time of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God, do make and publish this my last will and testament in my own handwriting in manner, form following to wit:

First — I appoint and ordain my beloved wife, Sarah Ann, and Laura F. and Florace B. my trustees and executors and my son W. W. Alexander and G. A. Alexander my trustees and executors of this my said will and testament and I do not require them to give bond and security for the performance of the duties and trusts devolving on them.

Second — I will and bequeath to and give to my said personal representatives all my real and personal estate which I now have and may hereafter acquire for the use and trusts hereafter stated and to be divided among my children and heirs hereinafter named and to them alone.

Third — In order to prevent loss and the statute of six years being pleaded as to any of my outstanding debts due to me, I desire my said representatives shortly after my death to proceed to collect all my debts, in bonds, notes, etc or they may ___ said bonds, notes, etc by good personal security, or by deed of trust on real estate, and should my representatives deem it proper they may dispose of my real estate at private or public sale likewise they may sell and dispose of household furniture and library or divide it among themselves.

4th — Now as to the distribution of my estate, I advanced to Audley Anderson (who married my daughter Cornelia Graham) eight hundred dollars in the month of November 1850 to purchase girl for my said daughter, Cornelia.  Besides, I gave her furniture including a piano, amounting to above four hundred dollars interest added to this, will make it nineteen hundred and twenty dollars.

To my son Charles P. I have advanced at various times in the purchase of mules the sum of sixteen hundred dollars, one check for $373.50 forwarded to Texas on the paymaster of the United States.  Also eighty dollars in told paid to Mr. Scruggs in February 1863 for a horse for Charles.  Also to Joseph Mays about the same time twenty five dollars, and in Knoxville in September 1865 furnished him with clothing and cash, to the amount of $130.  Including interest to this will amount to $1600.00.

To Joseph Graham, I have advanced at various times, cash and paid debts for him and sending my son George after him, expenses in Texas and money paid out for him, which including interest on said advances will amount to at least two thousand dollars.

To my son George A. on leaving home thirty dollars, a check payable to Francis Barttil between three and four hundred dollars on a ___, one other check drawn by Saul McKinney as Carter Peoples Bank, on New York Guidson and Company for 841.00 payable to me, endorsed and sent to George 10 August 1874 sum of my funds when he was in company with Fain Powel ___ J J Wolfe and George Lynch with use of white ___, amounting to about $300.

Having prevailed on my sister the late Nancy Dalzell to will her estate to my son Frances E. Alexander, amounting to some twenty odd thousand dollars, I will nothing to him as he is indebted for my sister making him her heir.

I give and bequeath to the six children of my daughter Cornelia, fifteen hundred dollars, in addition to such advancements mentioned above to be divided equally and paid them as they attain the age of twenty-one years.  The portion coming to Joseph G. and Charles P. will remain in the hands of my representatives as a fund for their benefits only the interest to be paid them semi annually.

To my son William W. I advanced to him on the 10 October 1851, three hundred thirty dollars on the 23rd February 1852 one hundred and fifty, on the 26th February twenty dollars making five hundred dollars to enable him to attend a second course of lectures in New York.  Besides I purchased for him a house and lot in the town of Russellville and also of Mr. Hugh Crain three acres of said land adjoining same house and lot.  Also I let him have a saddle horse worth eighty five dollar, making five hundred and thirty five dollars.  Sometimes 1851, I paid Doctor Hugh Walker fifty dollars his fee for medical instruction while William studied medicine with him.  Also I advanced to him five hundred dollars 31st October 1872 for which he gave me his note, afterwards he paid me one hundred and fifty dollars, toward the principle and I surrendered the note, leaving three hundred fifty dollars due which I made him a present of adding the interest on said advancements from the time they ware made to the present time, will amount to the sum of three thousand eight hundred and ninety dollars, as his portion of my estate.

5th — After the settlement of my estate, collected my debts within two years allowed by law and paying off to the children of Cornelia the amount bequeathed to them, my will is that inasmuch as funds are not as well able to maintain themselves as males and in order to guard against contingencies and provide amply for their want and necessities, thus my said executors and trustees shall our of the proceeds of my said estate first pay over in case, or solvent ___ five thousand dollars to my beloved wife, five thousand dollars to my daughter, Laura F. and five thousand dollars to my daughter Florace B. and the residue of my estate to be divided equally among my said wife and children, that is to say, Mrs. Alexander, Laura F., Florace B. and George A. Joseph G. and Charles P.  Charging my said three sons with the respective amounts advanced to them as above states when Charles P. and Joseph G. learn to economize and appreciate the value of money, my representative may advance occasionally such sums as they may deem proper and judicious, not otherwise.

This will is in my own handwriting and made without consulting or being under the influence of any persons.

Given under my hand and seal the 16 day of August 1874.

Dicks Alexander

Acknowledged in our presence by the Testator to be his last will and testament this 31st of August 1874.

J. W. Carson
C. M. Wells

Codicil to my said Will.  As my won William does not wish to set as one of my executors on account of inconvenience, I have stricken his name out and have also expunged two lines and apart of the 3d line included in marked line under 26 line on 2nd page.  If George wishes to retain the land he purchased in Texas, he can do so by accounting for all the checks he got of me, with interest and promises on checks paid by me, and a little can be made to him by his co-administrators written and signed by me this 15 March 1875.

Dicks Alexander

2nd Codicil — In the codicil to my will dated 15 March 1875 inasmuch as my son George has taken up his residence in Texas and cannot discharge duties as one of my representatives, I hereby reappoint my son W. W. Alexander executor and trustee of my said estate and revoke 1st codicil and as my son Charles under peculiar circumstances got from me a check for five hundred dollars the costs of which with 3 or four telegrams and  commissions and about two dollars, I hereby alter my said will, so the said Charles shall receive no more of my estate.  The check was given about the middle of last March.  Witness my hand and Seal        Sixteenth July 1875

Witness

Dicks Alexander (Seal)

Transcribed by Betty Mize