Woodson County Kansas

Will Of James M. Ricketts

No. 1 Exhibit A

Be it known, that I, J. M. Ricketts, of Woodson County, in the State of Kansas, being now of sound and disposing mind and memory, demure and publish this my last will and testament.

Item One – I will and direct that all my just debts and the expenses of my funeral and burial be paid out or my personal estate.

Item Two — I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Rachel E. Ricketts, all my property, real, personal and mixed, of which I may die seized, to have and to hold the same during the natural life of her, the said Rachel E. Ricketts, and upon her death to be divided and dis[per]sed of as hereinafter provided.

Item Three — I give and devise to my beloved son, Charles H. Desmond Ricketts, all the following described real estate situated in the county of Woodson and State of Kansas, to wit: The South half of the South-east quarter [hand written insert – SE Q of]of section thirty-five (35), in Township twenty-three (23), Range fifteen (15) East of the 6th P.M. To have and to hold the same subject however to the life estate of the said Rachel E. Ricketts, herein above devised forever.

Item Four — I give and devise to my beloved granddaughter, Hazel Ricketts, all the following described real estate situated in the county of Woodson, and State of Kansas, to wit: The South half of the south-west quarter of the southeast quarter of section thirty-five (35), in township twenty-three (23) Range fifteen (15), East of the 6th P.M. TO have and to hold the same, subject however to the life estate of the said Rachel E. Ricketts, herein above devised, forever.

Item Five — I give and devise to my beloved daughters, Artlisie Briles, May Kokley, Annie Bell Howell and Pearley Israel, and to my beloved son Manford Ricketts all the following described real estate situated in the county of Woodson and State of Kansas, to with: The north half of the Southeast quarter and the North half of the South half of the South-east quarter of section thirty-five (35) in township twenty-three (23), range fifteen (15), east of the 6th P.M. to be equally divided among them, the said Artlisie Briles, May Kokley, Annie Bell Howell, Pearley Israel and Manford Ricketts, share and share alike in value. In case any of my said children named in this item five shall die before the termination of the life estate hereby created in and by Item two of this will leaving no issue of her or his body her or him surviving, then I will and direct that the real estate in this item five described shall, upon the termination of said life estate be divided equally among the survivors of my said children including my said son Charles H. Desmond Ricketts, and their children surviving them; but the child or children of any deceased child shall take only the share its or their parent would have taken if then living. To have and to hold the same, subject however tot he life estate of the said Rachel E. Ricketts herein above devised, forever.

Item Six. In case the life estate to my said wife shall terminate before my said granddaughter, Hazel Ricketts, shall arrive at the age of majority, or in the event that I should survive my said wife and shall die before the said Hazel shall arrive at the age of majority, I hereby designate, constitute and appoint my said son, Charles H. Desmond Ricketts guardian and trustee of the said estate herein and hereby devised to said Hazel Ricketts, to receive, care for and rent for the use and benefit of the said Hazel Ricketts until she shall arrive at the age of majority. I further will and direct that said guardian and trustee shall not ebe required to give any bond as such guardian and trustee.

Item Seven. I give and bequeath tho my said children and to the living issue of any prior deceased child, if any, all the rest and residue of my personal estate which shall remain at the death of my said wife and after the payment of the funeral and burial and expenses of her, the said Rachel E. Ricketts, to be divided share and share alike, but the child or children of any deceased child, if any, shall take only the share which such deceased child would have taken if then living.

Item Eight

I do hereby constitute my beloved wife the sole executrix of this my last will and testament, and at her death I will will and direct that my said son Charles H. Desmond Ricketts shall succeed her the said Rachel E. Ricketts as such executor I further will and direct that neither of such executors be required to give any bond for the discharge of the duties of such executor.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of February, A.D. 1909.

James M. Ricketts

The above and foregoing last will and testament of J. M. Ricketts was signed by said J. M. Ricketts in our presence, and we hereto subscribe our names as attesting witnesses in his presence and in the presence of each other and at his request; and we do hereby certify that we saw the said J. M. Ricketts sign the said foregoing instrument of writing and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th day of February, A.D. 1909.

G R Stephenson
Bert Manfold

Codicil

Be it known, that I, J. M. Ricketts, of Woodson County, in the state of Kansas, being now of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make and publish this codicil to my last will and testament, which last will and testament bears date the 11th day of February, A.D. 1909.

Item One — I give and devise to my beloved son, Manford Ricketts, all the following described real estate, situated in the county of Woodson, state of Kansas, to wit: Twenty-four (24) acres off the East side of the Northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section thirty-five (35) in township twenty-three (23) Range fifteen (15) East of the 6th P.M. To have and to hold the same, subject however to the life estate of Rachel E. Ricketts as in said last will and testament provided forever,

Item Two – I give and devise to my beloved daughters, Artlisie Briles, May Kokley, Anna Bell Howell, and Pearley Israel, all the rest and residue of said South-east quarter of Section thirty-five (35), in township twenty-three (23) Range Fifteen (15), in Woodson County, state of Kansas, not herein and in Item Three of said last will and testament otherwise specifically devised, to be equally divided among them, the said Artlisie Briles, May Kokley, Anna Bell Howell and Pearley Israel, share and share alike in value. In case any of my said children named in items one and two of this codicil shall die before the termination of he life estate created in and by item two of said last will and testament leaving no issue of her or his body her or him surviving, then I will, and direct that the real estate in this item tow of this codicil described shall upon the termination of said life estate be divided equally among the survivors of my said children including my sons Charles H. Desmond Ricketts and Manford Ricketts, and their children surviving them; but the child or children of any deceased child shall take only the share its or their parent would have taken if then living. To have and to hold the same, subject however to the life estate of said Rachel E. Ricketts as in said last will and testament provided, forever.

Item three – I do hereby revoke “Item Five” of my said last will and testament; but each and all the other provisions of said last will and testament shall be and remain in full force and effect.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of April, A.D. 1913.

James M. Ricketts

The above and foregoing instrument of writing was signed by J. M. Ricketts in our presence, and we hereto subscribe our names as attesting witnesses in his presence and in the presence of each other and at his request; and we do hereby certify that we saw the said J. M. Ricketts sign the said foregoing instrument of writing and heard him publish and declare the same to be his first and only codicil to his last will and testament of date of the 11th day of February, 1909

In Testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hand this 16th day of April, A.D. 1913.

G.R. Stephenson