Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-07
Case Probably Will Be Tried at
Grundy Center at February
Term
WATCHED WITH MUCH INTEREST
Heir. of Mrs. Wells Claim George
Wells, Wealthy Grundy County Resi-
don't, Was Insane at Writing of Last
Will in 1so2--Heirs of Mr.. Wells
Present Last Will in Case.
Special to rimes-Republlcan.


George Wells will contest that is on
the docket for the coming term OF court
which begins on Monday pext, that II
will be OF interest to know just the
contents of the respective wills which
are being urged for probate by the IN
terested parties.
Mr.. Wells was born and raised IN
Connecticut, but came to Iowa and TO-
Gated In Grundy county in the early
days Of our county. He bought large
tracts of land near the present site OF
wellsburg and interested himself IN
the stock, fur and grain business, trav-
cling ali over northern and northeast
ern Iowa buying stocks, hides and oth-
err products, which he then shipped at
an enormous profit. He also at one
time ran an elevator at Steamboat
Rock. the business being conducted
nv H w. Kelly, now deceased, and by
Mr. Comstock. brother -in-laW OF MT.
wells. In this way Mr.. Wells laid the
foundation of the immense fortune ne
left when he died. Later he sold q
norton of his Grundy county land and
bought thousands of acres in Emmett
and Kossuth counties Several thou
sand acres of this land still remain the
property of his estate. To the union
Of Mr.. Wells and his wife, who died
about ten years ago, was born but one
child son. who died when about
years old. Since that time, Mr.. and
haiy
wells homestead near Wellsburg, where
both of them later died. Mr.. Wells was
president of the First National Bank
Of Grundy Center, of the Wellsburg
Savings Bank of Wellsburg. and OF the
Farmers and Drovers' State Bank OF
Germania, Iowa. He was very fortu-
nate in associating with him In busi-
4 ness men who proved to be good imam
ciers, and these all assisted him in pill
ing up his immense fortune. In 1881,
there being but Mr.. and Mrs. Wells IN
the family. Mr. Wells made the follow
Ing will:
..Be it known that I. George Wells.
OF Grundy Center, state Of Iowa, being
of sound and disposing mind and mem
ory, for the purpose Of disposing of all
my property Of which I may be pos
Asessed after my death, do hereby make
and publish this my last will and tes-
lament:
First, hereby devise unto my be-
loved wife, Sarah Wells, all of the pro-
perty which, may be possessed of at
my death OF every name and nature.
real. personal and mixed, whether sit
uated in this state or elsewhere, di-
recting that she shall pay all my just
debts as soon as possible after my
death. 4
II hereby constitute and appoint my
said wife Sarah Wells, sole executrix
of this my will, and hereby direct that
she shall not be required to give any
bond as such executrix, and further di-
rect that she shall not be required to
file any inventory of my estate, but for
the purpose Of having my estate set
tied without unnecessary trouble or ex-
pense or delay, hereby direct that my
said executrix, after the proof of this
my will and her taking out letters tes-
tamentary, execute a bond in the pro-
bate court conditioned for the payment
of any and all claims which shall be
presented and proved against my es-
tate said bond to be in the sum Of
$4,000, and upon the execution and fl
ing Of said bond all Of the personal
property Of every name and nature
shall be turned over to my said wife,
and the title of the real estate to be
confirmed in and to the. said Sarah
Wells, my said wife, as her sole indi-
vidual property. 1 hereby revoke any
and all other wills heretofore made by
me.
In testimony whereof, I have here
unto set my hand this 7th day of Sep
TENDER, in the year 1881. In the pres
ence of S. Bagg and C. C. Shuler, which
l have requested to witness my sig
nature. GEORGE WELLS"
Witness, S. Bagg, residence Water
loo, Iowa; G. C. Shuler, Grundy Cen
ter, Iowa"
About ten years ago Mrs. Wells died
and Mrs Comstock, sister to Mrs.
Wells. who had made her home with
Mr.. and Mrs. Wells for many years,
undertook the management of the
household and continued in this capa-
city until the time Of Mr.. Wells death.
Mr.. Wells began during the past few
years to fail in health, and his age be-
gan to tell. In June, 1902, he came to
Grundy Center to the office of his at
torney. A. N. Wood, and had Mr.. Wood
draw for him the last will, which is
as follows:
Il, George Wells, of Grundy county.
state OF Iowa, being of sound mind and
disposing mind and memory, do here
by make, publish and declare this to
be my last will and testament, here
by revoking all former wills by me at
any time heretofore made.
Item l. 1 give and bequeath to
Beckey Wilkie, my hired girl, the sum
of $1,000, absolutely and forever.
Item 2. give and bequeath to
Martha Comstock, my wifes sister, the
sum OF $4,000.
Il make no provision for Kate
Wheelock and George W. Murray, chill
dren Of a deceased sister Of my wife,
having full confidence that at the death
of Martha Comstcck she will make am
pie and suitable provision for them.
Item 8. give, devise and bequeath
all the rest, residue and remainder of
my estate of every kind, name and ma
ture, wherever situated, to my legal
the manner provided by law governing
the estate of intestates.
Item 4. I hereby nominate, consti-
tute and appoint Martha Comstock ex-
ecutrix of this my last will and testa-
ment.
"In witness whereof I bereunto set
my hand this 5th day of June. 1902.
GEO. WELLS"