The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-22
NANCY j. BURGESS'S WILL
ONE OF THE MOST vOLUMINOUs DOC
UMENTs EVER FILED.
Ii Was Made Lengthy I'm order to
Avoid COntests-Bequests to
Family and Charity.

The will of Nancy ]. Burgess was pro-
bated yesterday and among the legatees
that receive liberal requests are mission
airy societies with which she was prom
inently identified. The estate is said 10
be worth perhaps $4,000. and about half of
this amount is bequeathed 10 charitable in
stitutions and the other half to her direct
heirs. The document is one of the most
voluminous wills ever probated In the
county, but 1t is explicit and provides for
every possible contingency that might arise
in the distribution of the property. The
will was so drawn that the death of any
legatee would not interfere with the distri-
button by leaving the bequest of deceased
heir to some other devisee. Samuel Ashby,
who wrote the will, said that Mrs. Burgess
wanted TO dispose of her property in such a
way that there could be no contest, and as
a precautionary measure. each page Of the
will bears her signature.
To Mary A Ledgerwood, a sister, is left
her household goods, $4,000 and life estate
in an eighty-acre farm in Livingston
county. Illinois; to Henry d. Burgess,
brother, $1,000; Charles L. Ledgerwood, a
nephew. 800; Burgess Ledgerwood, great
nephew, $500; Lulu Ledgerwood Brown, a
niece, $500; Samuel Ledgerwood, a nephew,
$500; Alice Ledgerwood, a niece, $500; cara
LedgerwOod, niece, $500; Marie Earl,
niece, $1,000; Clara Earl, niece, Sl,VOO'
Lillian Earl, great niece, $2OO AT the
death of Mary LedgerwOod the farm Is TO
be divided between the brother, nepheWs
and nieces
The charitable requests then continue as
follows: To the Board of Ministerial Re-
lief of the Christian Church, $1,000, 10 be
known as the 30. A. Burgess Loan Fund.-"
to the Christian Woman's Board of Mis-
sions, of which she was president, $5,WO
for the English Bible Church endowment
fund, the interest TO be used in assisting in
maintaining an English Bible chair in Ann
Arbor University; to the Foreign Christian
Missionary Society, of Cincinnati, $500; 10
the American Christian Missionary Society.
of Cincinnati, $500, which is to be equally
divided between the Board of Church Elk
tension and the Negro Board of Evangel-
zatiOn and Education.
The will provides That the property, ex-
elusive of the eighty-acre bequest, be con-
verted into cash by the executors and the
requests paid in cash in the order named
in the will IF. after all requests are paid
and there is $1,000 left, ii is to go to the
Christian WOman'S Board of Missions, and
all that remains over that amount is TO be
equally divided between Eureka College, at
Eureka, H., and the Foreign Christian Mis-
siOnary Society. During the life of Mrs
Burgess she a liberal contributor 10
Eureka College and has assisted that in
stitution in many ways. Butler College
was TO receive a share OF the estate upon
certain conditions, but as these necessary
| contingencies did not take place. that insti-
| tuition gets nothing Her husband, O. A
| Burgess, was president of the Northwest
| ern Christian University, now Butler Col
| lege. He was well known a minister
and a political speaker, having had charge
! of President Garfield's campaign in In
diana
stephen A. Hoyt. of Forest, ILL.,, AlonzC
/ NJ. Atkinson, of Wabash, Ind, and hel
! sister Mary A. Ledgerwood, are named as
/ executors. The will was executed June IA
| 1899, and witnessed by John L. Pounds and
| Samuel Ashby.