The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-27
GEN. CLAY'S WILL.
Left a Large Share of His For
tune to Dora.

Richmond. KY, July 27.-The follow
ing is an exact copy of the original will
written in General Cassius Marcellus
Clay's own handwriting and dated May
II, 1900. Through fear of destruction of
the original Mr.. Clay had several copies
made. The will, after being approved
by Mr. Clay's attorney, was copied by
Clarence e Woods. The will will be
offered for probate in the county court
on August 3:
+ THE last will and testament of Gen
eral Cassius Marcellus Clay, born in
White Hall, Madison county, Kentucky,
United States of America, of Green
Clay and Sallie Lewis, both of revolu-
tionary blood and fame, October 19,
1870 L appoint John CabeH Chenault,
lawyer, and Daniel Bates Shackelford,
merchant, my executors; further L give
said Chenault as lawyer 5000 per year
from this date to my death. When said
Chenault and ShackelfOrd shall enter
upon their duties as executors they
shall receive in full of all claims upon
my estate ten QO) per cent upon all
moneys distributed and paid out to
creditors. They shall form company
based upon my Clay county coal mines,
where Eli Bolin lives. The stock shall
be divided into 100 shares at first, but
increased in time if deemed eXpedient
"Of this stock my former wife, Dora
Clay, shall receive one fourth of the
dividends of profits per year till her
Clay Brock, her child, shall receive her
profits from the mines. But If she, Dora,
leaves no children, then the said Cas-
sius shall receive one half only and the
other half shall be divided equally be-
tween the others, their heirs. assigns.
forever. But it is ordered that none of
the Brock family, including Riley Brock,
and none of the Richardson family
Dora's family. shall receive anything,
except c. M. c. Brock and the children;
hot she Dora have
at her death. All moneys forfeited
shall be turned into the Dora Clay fund
forever Twenty shares of said stock
shall be owned by John Cabell Chenault
and 10 shares by said Daniel Bates
Shackelford, their heirs and assigns
forever
.The other As shares shall be a part
of my estate. My executors shall act IN
concert and, not agreeing, the lawyer,
Chenault shall decide. This gives him
more work and he is hereby paid more.
At my death my executors shall take an
inventory of all my estate. real and per-
sonal, sell at auction. after full adver-
tisement as far as New York city, such
things as may be ordered and expedi-
ent, small things of value. for cash;
things of more value. especially land or
works of art may be allowed, with good
security, two years credit, with interest
from day of sale
s.Bv Green Clay's will, of which I am
the only living executor, my children
were to have 1000 acres of land at my
death Said will was da ted November
8. 1928, of record in the Madison county
court clerks Office. BY an agreement
between me and my children the land
was laid off by stocks and decided to
them March 25, 1870. recorded in the
Madison county court by J. G. d.
Shackelford. clerk.
by my fathers will, also recorded in
said office, the number of acres given
them was two thousand, about, but to
avoid any controversy I decided to
them two thousand and twenty-five and
one-fourth (2.0221z) acres, and all the
children declared that the joint interest
was fixed and severed forever
s'At the time of Green Clays death
and by his will / owned thousands of
acres of land extending from White Hall
continuously to the Kentucky river at
Clay's Ferry, five miles away, so all the
landed interests of my children by their
own and for their own interests have
been fixed forever. To carry out their