From probate book 21, pages 20-22, Pontotoc County, Mississippi.
Last Will of Jas. D. Bowen
In the name of God Amen!
Knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death & being of sound & deposing mind and memory and wishing and wishing to make a proper disposition of my worldly effects do make ordain and publish this as my last will and testament hereby ignoring all others heretofore made.
It is my will that as soon after my death as may be convenient all of my just debts and funeral expenses be paid. It is my will after the payment of all of my just debts and funeral expenses and the payment of one dollar to each one of my other children to whom I give one dollar each, that my wife, M. C. Bowen have the remainder of my estate both real and personal of every kind whatever and that she have and hold the same to her own proper use and benefit as her own, during her natural life or widowhood.
It is my will that at expiration of natural life or widowhood of my wife, I do give to my son D. L. Bowen 45 acres of land described as , to wit: the western division of the Southwest quarter of Sec. Five, Township nine, Range four East, and the remainder of my real estate to my son F. W. Bowen to have and to hold forever.
In witness whereof I have hereto signed my name & seal on this the 10th day of Aug. 1885. J. D. Bowen (Seal)
Witnesses
R. E. Pritchard
G. W. Caldwell
Jno. G. Huntington
} This day before me W. P. Lowry, Clerk of the Chancery Court of Pontotoc County State aforesaid personally appeared R. E. Prichard and Jno G. Huntington, witnesses to the Last Will of J. D. Bowen who being by me duly and legally sworn, depose as follows, to wit: That the last Will and Testament of J. D. Bowen filed as exhibit "A" in the Chancery Clerk’s office of Pontotoc County is what it purports to be the last Will and Testament of the said J. D. Bowen, that they signed their names to the same as witnesses thereto in the presence of each other and the said J. D. Bowen and at his request, that at the time the said J. D. Bowen declared the same to be his last Will and Testament, that he was over 21 years of age and sound in mind and memory and in the full possession of all his mental faculties.
}
In the matter of a certain instrument of writing, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Jas. D. Bowen, deceased, of Pontotoc County, personally appeared before me, J. M. Nisbet, Clerk of the Chancery Court in and for said County, G. W. Caldwell and J. G. Huntington subscribing witnesses to a certain instrument of writing, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Jas. D. Bowen deceased, late of Pontotoc County, who, having first been duly sworn, deposed and said that the said Jas D. Bowen signed, published and declared said instrument as his last Will and Testament on the 10th day of August 1885, on the day of the date of said instrument, in the presence of the deponents, and that the said Testator was then of sound, disposing mind and memory, and that these deponents subscribed and attested said instrument, as witnesses to the signature and publication thereof, at the special instance and in the presence of the said Testator and in the presence of each other, on the day and year of the date thereof.
G. W. Caldwell
Jno. G. Huntington
Sworn and subscribed
In open Court on this,
The 15th day of June 1899
J. M. Nisbet, Clerk
Witness J. K. Patterson
