Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-30

no later document has been found 1t Is
probable the estate will be administer
cd under the will found at Des Moines.
Finding Of tho Will.
Des Moines, Nov. 30.-The last will
and testament Of the late Ex-Governor
Francis Marion Drake, for which dill
gent and unavailing search has been in
progress at Centervirle since the timc
OF the generals death, was produced In
Des Moines Saturday by the Des Moi
mes consistory OF the Scottish Rite
5 Masons. Today it will be sent to Gem
terville by registered mail to be pro-
bated.
In this will, made in 1897, General
Drake gives $4,000 to Drake university
and divides the remainder OF his prop
erty equally among his six children.
The will Is now in the possession OF
the Des Moines consistory. OF which
the late General Drake for many years
prominent mason. was a member.
1t was written at the time OF his be-
coming member in 1897. 1t is one of
the briefest wills probably ever made
by q millionaire and no executor Is
named.
History OF VIII.
The history of the will which has
Just been discovered Is unique and is
characteristic Of the simplicity with
which General Drake was accustomed
70 do things Of moment.
It is the rule Of the consistory that
whenever . member is elected he shall
make provision for his family. General
Drake became member. with six 9TH
ers. and like the rest had his attention
called to this rule. Accompanied by
George Fairburn. then commander OF
the consistory and now q banker at
Fonda. and by R N. J, Coleman Of Des
Moines, secretary OF the consistory.
General Drake went into the small
room provided for this purpose. He
: sat down to a table and without hesi-
ta.ion scratched off the document
which will probably dispose OF his
property. 1t was witnessed by Mr..
Coleman and Mr.. Fairburn, and then
placed in the vault OF the consistory
in charge Of the secretary.
As Is customary. the consistory said
nothing OF the existence OF the will,
giving reasonable time for another and
later document to be discovered. None
having been found and the information
having beenigiven out that no viii had
been found. the consistory has decided
70 produce the document in their hands
and vii send 1t to Centerville today.
Fletcher Howard present comman-
tier-in-chief OF the consistory said
there was nothing remarkable In the
making OF the will.
at was done in the ordinary way
and the original document is In Cen
eral BRAKES handwriting" said Mr..
Howard. I'VE had : supposed that
probably later will had been made"
A Des Moines man who is In a posi-
ticn 70 know something ot Genera;
brakes financial condition stated Sat-
urday night that in his opinion the es-
tate would not amount to over @1,000.-
900. He stated that General Drake had
made heavy investments In United
States Steel. the stock OF which had
sunk fully 40 per cent In value since
ne had made the purchase. This. IN
his belief. had been the cause OF heavy
financial loss. File statad that General
Of $l,1o0.0o0 in the Illinois Trust and
Savings Bank or Chicago, but that his
gifts since that time had been unusu-
ally Large, and he considered It likely
that this balance might have been
largely reduced.
He stated that General Drake was
largely Interested In banking and rail-
road stocks He was president Of the
Centerville bank and was also inter
ested In q bank at Abba. and he prac-
tically owned the railroad running
from Abba to Centervi,.e.
Text Of Will.
TN the Name Of God, Amen! I, F.
N. Drake, being Of sound mind ani
memory. but knowing the uncertainty
OF human life. do now make and pub
fish this. my last will and testament.
that IL to say:
Il win all my possessions, real ana
personal to be equally divided between
my six children. Mile D. Shonts
Jennie Sawyer. Eva d. Goss. r. F..
Drake, John A. Drake and Mary Lord
SturdevAnt. except that out OF my
estate shall be paid $4,000 to Drake
University.
'F. NJ. Drake" {seal.)
"Signed, sealed. published, and de.
clared by the said F. M. Drake, the
testator. as and for his last will and
testament: and we. at his request and
IN his presence. and In the presence
OF each other. have hereunto sub
scribed our names as witnesses there
to, this 2sth day Of January. A. d..
1897.
ar. M. J. Coleman.
Geo. Fairburn."
The following Is list OF brakes
gifts to Drake University:
BY will, made 1897 ........$ 100000.
ment ~. 100000
Iune 20. 1888. teachers fund. 10000
June, 1884, bibss fund 5000. 9.600.00
June. 1854, Drake fund ...... 100000
June, 1892, library fund 10000
June, 1892. general endow-
ment .-.s ssss --.. lS,s44.Vo