contributed by Dick Wood, December, 2004

Marshall County Will Book C, pages 181-182

State of Tennessee )
Marshall County )

Know all men by these presents that I, Thomas H. Bell, of the County of Marshall and the state of Tennessee, presently being in ill health but of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time made. And as to my worldy estate real and personal or mixed of which I shall die seized and possessed or which I shall be entitled to at the time of my decease, I devise bequeath and dispose thereof in the manner following, to wit –

My will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall by my Executrix hereinafter named be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as shall be found convenient.

I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth J. the farm and apperternances thereto attached upon which I now reside in the 7th district of County and State aforesaid to have and hold the same during her natural life for the comfort and benefit of her and my minor children during their minority – and in the event of the death of my wife before my youngest child arrives at his majority, the said farm is to remain unsold and for the benefit of the minors until each respectively attains his majority. Also the same conditions as expressed in the above items apply to my interest in sixteen acres of Cedar land in the 16th District of said County and State & held jointly by myself and my son, Wm H. Bell.

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to my wife Elizabeth J. all my personal and mixed property – to have and hold the same for the benefit of herself and my minor children during their respective minorities.

For the execution of the above items I hereby appoint my wife, Elizabeth J. Bell, my Executrix without going bond or going into Court for the execution of the same, being she is by my will empowered with all the authority as the premises require.

It is my express desire and will that my son Luther M. keep and have the horse that I have given him and that my Executrix is hereby authorized and empowered to give to my daughter, Lou Tankersley, and my minor children, a horse each as they arrive at majority or its equivalent, if able and of her discretion.

At the fulfillment of the above provisions of my will on page 182

[begin page 182]

I direct that my Executrix hereinafter appointed or named and being bonded make a fair and equal distribution of all my effects of real, personal and mixed property – among my lawful heirs, all heirs to render an account for all amounts by me advanced and charge up in final settlement and for this purposee I hereby authorize and empower my Executor to sell my said effects and do all other things necessary in the premises to make said equal distribution without the formality or necessity or precisity of going into Court or Courts – all the authority that the Courts Could confer upon him being hereby conferred by me for said purposes.

I hereby name and appoint as my said Executor – the person upon whom my heirs shall agree among themselves.

This Jan 3 – 1891.

T. H. Bell

Witness) D. S. McCullough

) F. Ferguson

STATE OF TENNESSEE)

MARSHALL COUNTY ) County Court – March Term 1891. Thus day personally came into open court D. S. McCullough & F. Ferguson, the two subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will, and after first being duly sworn, proved the due execution of the same by the testator upon the day and date therein named and the Court ordered the will recorded.

Witness my hand at office in Lewisburg this March 16 – 1891.

W. L. Walker, Clerk