Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-06-22

which the presidents son-in-law, Sam
uel L. Gouverneur, was to pay the dead
mans debts.
Poverty is also indicated in the will
OF 'Old Hickory" Andrew Jackson,
Senior as he styles himself. The
hero Of New Orleans was ruined, &C
cording to his will, by debts Of his
well beloved nephew and adopted
son. Andrew Jackson, Jr. Madison
left his house in Washington and other
holdings Of realty to Dolly Madison
and her heirs. With the exception If
Washington, Adams was the wealthiest
Of the six. Charles Francis Adams
was his executor and, by the terms Of
his fathers will, held in trust for Mary
Louisa Adams, a granddaughter of the
testator, several houses on F street, a
store and house on Pennsylvania ave-
nue., an estate known as Columbia
Mills" and whole block in the north
ern part Of the city.
Only one chief justice filed letters
testamentary in the District-Salmon
P. Chase. Justice Chase's will is chief
ly noteworthy for the fact that, al
though he intended TO devise all his
real estate, the paper is witnessed by
only two persons, instead Of three, as
the law requires.
Caleb Swan, first paymaster-g general
CT the army, made his will in 1907 and
as sort OF preamble outlined his
whole military history. Toward the
close he asks that his children may
be taken care OF by Phil B. Key, Fran
els S. Key or Dr.. John Weems, and eff
fectually protected against all and ev-
cry sort Of injustice and oppression at
tempted or contemplated to be prac-
ticed upon or toward them by wicked
and designing men or women, or any
individual or either of the Sexes
Thomas Richie was an editor and
publisher Of much distinction in the
| first half of the century and intimate
| friend of w. w. Corcoran and DR.. John
| G. Hall, both of whom witnessed MS
will. When Mr.. Ritchie's will was aX
amined Git was dated June II, 1854, an(
was pTobated only few months later,
it was found to contain the following
observations on expansion: eve are
already the greatest power among chs
nations. We are destined to be create,
still; but let us not be too ambitious O
inordinate acquisitions or too rapid il
our advances. Let us fill up the i'm
| TOW, Il S11, r 81
not be too anxious to step our foo
from the mainland to the islands; un
less, indeed, as in the case of Cuba, ",
are threatened by the barbarization O
that beautiful island and it's conversion
into a black and hostile neighbor
hood"
AS indicated by the records, the his
tory of the office of register of wills il
full of interest. The Office came int
existence with the creation of the dis
trict. In 1870 it was enacted that on,
Of the judges of the district supreme
court should hold a special term TO
probate business, and that enactmen
brought to a close the existence of on,
of the queerest courts in the country
1t was the only court in the nation
which issued writs in the name of n,
United States. All other federal tri
bunals speak for the president of tn,
United States.
On one occasion the impersonal form
peculiar to this bench was found very
appropriate. General Grant, then pres
ident, came into the court in 1869 tC
take out letters testamentary as eXecu
tor of the will Of Gen. John A. Rawlins
Then, instead of having "the presiden
of the United States" issue a writ t.
himself, the United States" directed
president Ulysses S. Grant" to proper
ly and faithfully execute the will
which was at the time being admitted
to record. 1t is said that his persona
observation of the methods in U.s.
prompted President Grant to approve
the act passed in the following veal
which did away with the court alto
gether.