Be it remembered that on this the 15th day of May 1922 before the Hon. David Hodges, Chairman etc. of the County Court of Smith County, Tennessee H. T. Key and W. F. Baker, the persons named as Executors herein, produced in open court a paper writing purported to be the Last Will and Testament of J. M. Key, deceased, bearing date of March 24th, 1920, having the name of J. M. Key signed thereto and being subscribed by H. B. McGinness and Jere? Gardenshire? As attesting witnesses and moved the Court that said Will be admitted to probate and record on the last Will of the said J. M. Key deceased, and it appearing to the Court from the testimony of H. B. McGuiness and Jere? Gardenshire? Attesting witnesses that said will was written in the lifetime of the said J. M. Key and signed by him and subscribed in his presence and at his request by the said H. B. McGuiness and Jere? Gardenshire? and that said instrument was executed on the day it bears date by the said J. M. Key so and for his last Will and Testament, and it further appearing to the Court that said J. M. Key lately died in Smith County, Tennessee at his usual place of residence, it is so adjudged.
And it is adjudged and declared by the Court that said instrument is the true, whole and last Will and testament of the said J. M. Key, dec'd, and the Clerk is directed to file and record the same.
And the said H. T. Key and W. F. Banker having been relieved from bond, and having taken an oath for the faithful performance of their duties as such Executors, it is ordered by the Court that the said H. T. Key and W. F. Baker be and they are hereby appointed Executors of the estate of J. M. Key dec'd, and that Letters Testamentary issue to them, which is done.
Said Will is as follows--
I, J. M. Key, being of sound mind and disposing memory, hereby make and publish this my last Will and Testament, revoking any and all former Will by me at any time made.
(1) I direct that my executors hereinafter named to pay any just debts that I may owe at the time of my death and my funeral expenses, so soon after my death as practcable.
(2) I hereby confer upon my executors hereinafter named the power and authority to sell on such terms as they may decree expedient and at private or public sale, as in their judgment the best price may be obtained therefore, any and all of my property, real or personal, and as such executors they are hereby empowered to convey by deed any real estate I may die seized and possessed of. Any one or more of my children shall have the right to purchase any of my property provided he, she or they are willing to pay more than same can be sold to any other person.
(3) I hereby direct my executors hereinafter named to sell and convert into cash, within a reasonable time after my death, all my property of every kind and character.
(4) Out of the proceeds of the sale of my property I direct my executors to pay to my wife, Carrie B. Key, the sum of one thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). If my said wife Carrie B. Key shall die before my death, then in that event, I direct the above legacy distributed in like manner as the residue of my property, as provided in the next (5th) paragraph hereof.
(5) I direct that all the remainder of my estate, after the payment of the bequest above provided for my wife and the expense of administration be distributed equally among my children, H. T. Key, Mattie Key Richmond, Jettie Key Smith, George D. Key, Leslie Key, and Lillie Key Baker.
If any of my said children shall die before the date of my death, then, in that event, I direct that the share such deceased child or children would have taken be equally distributed among the heirs of such deceased child or children.
(6) I nominate and appoint my son, H. T. Key, and my son-in-law, W. F. Baker, Jr. as executors of my Will, and they are expressly relieved of making bond as such executors.
In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand. This March 24, 1920.
J. M. Key
Signed by the said J. M. Key as and for his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us the undersigned who at his request and in his sight and presence, have subscribed our names hereto as attesting witnesses the day and date above written.
H. B. McGuiness
Jere Gardenshire
Filed May 15, 1922 J. E. High, Clerk
A True Copy, attest J. E. High, Clerk