Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-08-09
Contest Over the George Wells
Estate Promises to Be Long
Drawn Out
FIRST WILL WAS MADE IN 1881
This Was Drawn Up While Mrs. Wells
Was Still Living, and If It Governs,
Estate Will Go To Her Heirs-An-
other Document Drawn Up In 1902,
Leaving Fortune to Wells Heirs.
THREE
Special to Times Republican.

THREE
Special to Times Republican.
| Grundy Center Aug. 9.-There is the
promise of one of the largest will con-
tests the state ever had, as a result
of the filing OF two wills in the estate
of George Wells, who was buried from
his residence near Wellsburg. on We'd
nesday One Of the wills now on file
to his wife, Sarah Wells. This will
| was made in 1881, when Mrs Wells
was still living. Mrs Wells is survived
| by one sister, Mrs. Martha Comstock,
one niece Mrs. Wheelock of Germana.
and one nephew, George Murray, also
of Germania. These will be the heirs
of this fortune, providing this will shall
govern. In June. 1902 after the death
of his wife. Mr.. Wells made another
will, in which he gave $1,000 to a serv-
ant, 100000 10 Mrs. Martha Comstock,
and the balance of his fortune to his
legal heirs. Should this will govern,
the estate will go to Mr.. Wells sisters,
Mrs. Mary Nelson, of Medford, Mimi,
Mrs. Sarah Robinson, of Connecticut,
Mrs. Elizabeth Briggs, of Chicago, Il
brother in Minnesota, and nieces and
nephews Mrs. j. McMahon of Colorado
Springs, Col, Mrs. j. Ellen Perkins of
Washington state Mr.. and Miss Atkins
of Indianapolis. The proponents of the
last will being the blood heirs of
Mr. Wa1IS ora or nv, Affnr-
ney General Charles w Mullan, of Des
Moines, and Messrs. Williamson &
Willoughby, Of Grundy Center. The
contestants, representing the heirs Of
Mrs. Wells, who propose to probate the
1881 will, are represented by Judge
Wade of Iowa City, and Messrs. Sulli-
van & Mcmahon, of Algona These lat
ter gentlemen claim that Mr. Wells
was of unsound mind at the time he
executed the 1902 WILL being afflicted
with senile dementia, and it is along
that line that they will object to the
probate of the 1902 will.
Mr.. Wells, during his lifetime, was
very frugal man, rarely ever spend
ing any money for his own pleasure,
and giving little to charity. He was
scrupulously honest, and made his i'm
mense fortune by legitimate invest
ment in land in an early day and by
purchasing cattle, sheep, ETC., in the
early days, when he bought all over
this part of the state. One child only
was ever born to this couple and 1T liv-
ed to be but s years Of age. This was
the great sorrow of Mr.. Wells life.
After the death Of this son, Mr.. Wells
seemed to have but one ambition, and
that was to accumulate money. Their
home at Wellsburg, while comfortable,
was not luxuriant, and neither Mr.. nor
Mrs. Wells cared much for travel. Mr..
Wells owned large tracts of land in
Kossuth and Emmett counties, and on
these farms he kept large quantities of
stock in summer and shipped them to
his home farm near Wellsburg, to feed
in the winter. OF late years he trust
ed the active management of his farms
largely to the care of his trusted en-
ploye Robert Hamilton. Mr.. Wells
rarely visited his blood relations, pre-
ferring to live in his quiet way in his
own home near Wellsburg. The money
which he so carefully boarded is now
tied up by what threatens to be an
extensive lawsuit, with prospects
bright for litigation lasting years be-
fore 1t is finally disposed of.