The Shasta courier., 1861-07-13
Stephen A. Douglas WIN.

The last will and testament Of Stephen A
Douglas was iled in the Office of the Judge o
Probate, In Chicago, ON Wednesday last
The document was in his own handwriting
and It's terseness of composition is the refec
after the payment of his debts, all his prop
Douglas and Daniel P. Rhodes, of Cleavland
are named as executors of the will.
| THE WILL.
Know all men by these presents, that
| Stephen A. Douglas, of the city of Chicago
and State of Illinois, in view of the uncer
tainty of life and the certainty of death a
such time as an All-wise Providence shall or
dain, do hereby declare and subscribe the fol
lowing as my will, which desire all persons
to respect after my death, to wit
1t is my will that my debts shall be paid
out of any moneys which may leave, and
that SO much of my property, real and per-
sonal, at the direction of my executors, shall
be sold as shall be necessary to pay all nv
debts.
1t is also my will that, after my said debts
shall be paid, all the residue of my property.
personal and real, shall be divided BY nv ex-
ecutors into two equal parts, and that one
part thereof shall belong to my two children.
Robert M. Douglas, and Stephen A. Douglas.
and that the other part thereof-that Is to
say, one half of all my property, real and per-
sonal, and of all moneys or debts due me
shall belong to, and is hereby declared ~
long to, my dear and beloved wife, 4ssie
Cults Douglas.
1t is also my will and ositive direction
that my said wife shall be, and she is hereby
declared to be, the sole guardian of my said
children, and that she sb al have the possess
sion, control and educatit of them until they
shall respectively arrive 1t the age of TWEEN
ty-one years, knowing hel to be the best peri
son in the world to perform this sacred trust.
1t is also my will that my said wife, Adele
Cults Douglas, and my friend and relative
Daniel P. Rhodes, of Cleavland, Ohio, be and
they are hereby declared my executors to
carry this will into effect, and to that end l
do hereby waive all legal process and letters
of administration, and dispense with any and
all security on the part of my said executors,
and direct that they may proceed and exc
cute this will the same that could do ere
1 alive.
Having thus proqided for all my worlds
affairs. commit my soul to God, and ask the
prayers of the good for His divine blessing
In testimony whereof have hereunto set
my hand and seal this 4th day of September,
A. D. 1857
[Seal.] S. A. DOUGLAS.
In presence of S. c. Benham, Mary G. Boyle.
coDIcIL ADDED JULY 80, 1859.
Be it known that l, Stephen A. Douglas,
do hereby add the following supplement to
the above as my last will and testimony, to
wit that in the event my said wife shall
have any child or children by me, whether
born before or after my death, it is my will
and discretion that in the distribution of my
estate, an amount of property shall first be
set apart, and allotted to such child or child
rem equal to the amount my other children
will receive from their mothers estate, and
that the residue of my property, after paying
all just debts, shall be divided into two equal
parts, and one of said parts shall belong to
my said wife, to her sole use and benefit, and
tina other to my said children, born or to be
born as aforesaid, in equal portions, it icing
my wish and intention that each child should
inherit an equal amount of property, without
reference to the estate from which it shall be
derived.
In witness whereof, l have hereuuto set
my hand and seal at the city of Washington
this Both day of July, A. d. 1859.
[Seal S. A. DOUGLAS.
In presence of J. H. C. Mudd, Ellen E. Cults.