The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-11-24
I,anker Howe's Will.

Following close upon the horrible murder
Of Banker Howe and his aged wife, the will
of Howe carries with it . two.fold interest,
which is greatly increased by its singular
provisions. This document, which bears the
seal as Henry Gum, a. notary, WAS filed and
admitted to probate in the probate court, on
Tuesday morning.
1t opens with provision that his funeral
and just debts be paid, and without farther
ceremony-for it is a short document, cover
ing but four pages and q half-goes on with
the subject matter. To Mrs. Arvills Howe, his
wife, who was murdered with him, he be-
aueathed the old homestead, about which
lie one hundred and sixty acres of land,
farm in Tazewell county, all the household
furniture and belongings. oil live stock, bug
gies, etc, and $40, 900 in cash. The person
al property was to have been hers absolutely,
and the real estate hers during her natural
life
To his daughter, Marietta A. Erwin, he
gave section of land in the southern part
of the county, near Wenona; to Mrs Harriet
E. Hodge, another daughter, he gave lots |.
2 and in Wenona, and an eighty acre farm
and three hundred and sixty acre farm in
Mashall county; and TO his daughter, Mrs
| Ida Fowler he bequeathed three one hun
dred and sixty acre farms and one hum
dred and twenty acre farm in this county,
and one hundred and sixty acre farm in
Marshall county. Each of these requests is
for life only, and at the death of the legatees
goes to their children, they only enjoying
, the rentals The sons. Jerome and Charles
Howe, are mentioned as having already re-
ceived a section of land each, by deed.
These legacie., however, amount to less
that eighty thousand dollars, and the great
bulk of the estate, amounting to nearly two
hundred thousand dollars in value, princi>
pally real estate, is created into fund for
the benefit Of his grandchildren All par
cells of real estate owned by Howe, not other
wise bedueathed are included. All farms Of
less than quarter section are to be sold and
the money received invested in larger farms
The rentals each year are to he re'invested
in other lands. This process, under the
supervision of the executors, is to 60 on until
as each grandchild becomes thirty years Of
age, his or her share is given out. The in
vestipg of the money received from the sale
of the small tracts Of land is, however, left
10 the discretion of the executors, who may
divide it among the grandchildren pro rata,
if they so desire.
Any contestant of the will is deprived of
any and all legacy or legacies. No one who
is not blood relative or may not be lineal
defendant of Peter Rowe may inherit farth
| ing. If one of the grandchildren should die
before reaching the age of thirty, his or her
share is to be divided among all, and if one
having received his or her share, should die
without Issue, the property held by such a
one also reverts to the fund.
Jerome and Charles Howe, the sons of the
old gentleman, are appointed executors with
out bond, TO carry out these most singular
provisions, and it is intimated that they will
divide the money received from the sale of
the small tracts as the will allows. The
signature of Howe is written in n hand that
through appearing shaky on paper must once
have had the firmness of iron, for the char
acters are singularly bold and distinct.
| The estate thus left in trust at eight per
cent will compound at least fifteen years and
in many cases twenty-five years, amounting
in the aggregate to $500 900 at the least es.
| innate.
! A codocil, detached from the will and
bearing no signature, beqneathed $4,000
each to Wheaton College and the Missionary
Union Baptist Society, Congo Mission in
Africa, and 5000 each to the National
Christian Association and the colored
schools of the south, of Baptist persuasion.
! Ii was denied probate.