Will of John M. Young

"By the grace of God Amen".

I, John M Young do make this my last Will and Testament, revoking all others by me heretofore made and being at the present time in feeble health but of sound mind. I will to make the following distribution of so much of this world goods as the good lord has blessed me with. In the first place I wish all my just debts to be paid out of my estate before any other disposition is made of same. Second I wish my beloved wife Nancy to have the use of all my estate both personal and real so long as she remains my widow, after defraying my funeral expenses and paying all my just debts as heretofore named. Except as hereinafter devised I wish my executors hereinafter named to have the entire control of the education of my youngest son Greenlee if I should be taken off during his minority, and have the full power to use any portion of the personal property that may remain on the farm at the time when needed to defray the expense thereof and after the death of my beloved wife Nancy I wish an equal division of all my estate that may be left to be made between my children in the following manner. To - wit: To my daughter Amanda an equal share of my estate subject to a deduction of one hundred and fifty five dollars ($155) and to my daughter Susan an equal share subject to a deduction of one hundred and fifty ($155) and to my son David an equal share subject to a deduction of three hundred and eighty five dollars ($385) and to my son James an equal share subject to a deduction of two hundred and eighty five ($285) and to my daughter America an equal share subject to a deduction of one hundred and fifty five dollars ($155) in the following manner. To- wit: The said America's distributive share to be within the control of my executors hereinafter to be by them so laid out and expended as by them may seem best for the benefit of America and her children, and to my son William an equal share subject to a deduction of seventy five dollars ($75) and to my daughter Margaret Eller an equal share subject to a deduction of seventy five dollars ($75) and to my son John an equal share subject to a deduction of seventy five dollars ($75) and to my son Greenlee an equal share of my estate and furthermore it is my wish that my son Greenlee shall have my trunk and its contents except the papers therein, and also my walking cane that was given to me by my father and in order that this my last Will and Testament may be fully executed and carried out I do hereby appoint my friends David Louden and Joseph R Kennerly my executors to execute and carry out the same this twenty seventh day of November, 1861 and furthermore it is my wish that I may be buried at the north side of my orchard.

Signed in the presence of James L Kennerly and Jacob Kennerly who was called on at the time and signed in the presence of each other the day and date above written.

John M. Young Seal

(State of Indiana Shelby County) ss

I, Alonzo Blair Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County certify that within last Will of John M. Young late of Shelby County deceased has been duly admitted to probate that its due execution was this day proven by Jacob Kennerly, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto whose proofs together with such Will have been duly recorded on pages of the record of Wills in our office.

Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 24th day of June A.D. 1864

Alonzo Blair, Clerk

Seal

Transcribers notes: 4/22/00

As normal the more information we find the more questions we have.

The last wish of John M was to be buried in his orchard. John M is buried in the City Cemetery in Shelbyville. Did his heirs ignore his wishes or move him after they sold the orchard that became the Shelby County Fairgrounds?

All the children got equal shares of the estate. Why did some have different deductions? Was this an attempt to even out money already given?

If William Luther Young really was driven out of the family why was he included in the will?

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