Friday Find

Probate Petition for Clayton H. Wells (1931, Eaton County, Michigan)

Today’s Friday Find is a photocopy I received from a Michigan researcher — and it was well worth the wait.

This petition for appointment of administrator, filed in March 1931 in Eaton County, Michigan, was created shortly after the death of Clayton H. Wells. While it is not the complete probate file, the document clearly identifies his widow and children, along with their residences at the time of his death.

For genealogists, probate petitions like this are invaluable. They often provide:

• Names of heirs
• Their relationships to the deceased
• Confirmation of marital status
• Residences in a specific year
• Estimated value of the estate

In this case, the petition confirms Clayton’s widow, Anna M. Wells, and lists each of their children — including a married daughter living in Lansing with a street address. That single line helps anchor the family geographically in 1931.

Below is a full transcription of the document.

PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR

State of Michigan
The Probate Court for the County of Eaton

TO THE PROBATE COURT FOR SAID COUNTY:

In the Matter of the Estate of Clayton H. Wells,
Deceased.

I Anna M. Wells, respectfully represent that I reside in the township of Vermontville in said county, and am interested in said estate and make this petition as widow and an heir-at-law of said deceased.

I further represent that said deceased died on the thirteenth day of March, A.D. 1931, leaving no last will and testament, as I am informed and believe.

I further represent that said deceased was, at the time of his death, an inhabitant of the township of Vermontville, in said county, and left estate within said county to be administered, and that the estimated value thereof is as follows: real estate, $10,000.00 or thereabout; personal estate, $2000.00 or thereabout, as I am informed and believe.

I further represent that the names, relationship, ages and residences of the heirs at law of said deceased are as follows:

NAME	RELATIONSHIP	AGE	RESIDENCE
Carl B. Wells	son	full	Vermontville, R F D
Anna M. Wells	widow	“	“
Hazel Rickle	dau.	“	“
Leola A. Vincent	dau	“	Lansing 1712 Delevan Ave.
Violetta M. Purdy	dau	“	Vermontville

(Left margin notation: “Wells, M 1027”)

I therefore pray that the administration of said estate be granted to
Boyer Rickle, of said county, or to some other suitable person.

Anna M. Wells
P.O. Vermontville

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STATE OF MICHIGAN }
County of Eaton } ss.

On this twentieth day of March, A.D. 1931, before me personally appeared the above named petitioner, who being duly sworn says, that she has read the foregoing petition by her signed, and knows the contents thereof, and that the same is true of her own knowledge, except as to the matters therein stated to be upon her information and belief, and as to those matters she believes it to be true.

Jessie G. Stine
Notary Public, Eaton County, Michigan
(My commission expires Feb. 3rd, 1935)

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(No. 16–2–9/7671)

State of Michigan
PROBATE COURT
For the
County of Eaton

Estate of
Clayton H. Wells, Deceased.

Petition for
Appointment of Administrator

Filed, March 20th, A.D. 1931

Jessie V. Rice
Register of Probate

Bond $ ______
Not. 12/7/31
Hearing April 17__

A search of the FamilySearch Catalog shows that for Eaton County probate records in the 1930s, only the index volumes have been digitized and made available online. The probate packets themselves are not currently accessible digitally. Without the assistance of a local researcher, this record would have remained out of reach.

This is a good reminder: when only indexes are online, the real treasure may still be sitting in the courthouse.