Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-09-10
.S3O,OOO,0OO FOR
STATE UNIVERSITY
SUCH is PURPOSE cONTEM-
PLATED BY THE WILL OF
COLONEL w. r. Villas.
WIDOW AND HEIRS AMPLY PRO
WDED FOR BUT ESTATE TO
BE KEPT INTACT.
Madison Seps. !.

A4dhAoOAA SSp~"
An eventual endowment of $300oO.-
600 for the University OF Wisconsin
is provided for by the will OF the late
Colonel William +. Villas, former
United States senator and member of
President Clevelands cabinet. who
died at his home August 27.
The will, filed yesterday in the
county court with a petition for pro
bate, provides that the estate. valued
lat $2,000,000 to $3,O0000O. be placed
in the hands of four trustees 10 he
held in trust so long as Mrs. Villas
shall live. During her lifetime she
is to receive the entire net income
from the estate and upon her death
the whole property is to be turned
over to the university, subject only
ito the charge Of $4,000 a year to
the daughter, Mrs. L. NJ Hanks. and
some minor charges. The beQuest to
Mrs Hanks is to continue dWiug her
life time.
Will Grow to $4,000 OO0
After the property is turned over
to the university. only half Of the net
income is to be expended until the
principal with the increment shall
reach $20O0O,OOO. Then only one
fourth of the net income VIII be laid
aside and added to the principal, this
| to continue until the property shall
reach the sum of $30,0OO,0OO. Then
Ia ie no hyT
the university as provided in the will
No Doubt of Acceptance.
The terms of the will are so liberal
to the university that of course there
is no doubt that the legislature will
enact the necessary statute of aC-
ceptance as provided in the will.
| Great and Permanent Foundation
The purpose of Colonel Villas in
leaving his wealth to the university
! in such manner that it will eventually
establish a fund Of $30,000,0O0 was to
accomplish a great and permanent
thing for the advancement of llnow-
edge and to place the University Of
Wisconsin in the first place among
the great educational institutions Of
the world The will provides that a
building be erected to be known as
| the Henry Villas Theater, a general
meeting place, provided with reading
rooms, lecture halls, baths, and other
accessories.
Ten Professorships.
1t is also provided that large mum
Der of scholarships be established,
and that as soon as the accumulation
! of the fund may permit, there be es
tablshed ten professorships, each 10
have a salary of not less than $1,000
NOR more than $4,000 a year. IN
THE deed Of gift it is provided that
these professors be permitted to give
their entire time TO the advancement
Iof learning, rather thaa nat they be
! hampered by much bL ,ren of teach
ling, but it is suggested that each pro
Ifessor will surround himself with the
most promising men in the field of
his professorship. it is also provided
THAT these professors be eventually
|rotired on a pension of not more than
I$2,5OO a year, to continue during
their lifetime.
Will Lengthy Document
Much of the property is in large
tracts of land, the value of which is
constantly increasing. The viii is a
great document, containing fully 20
1000 words. 1t carefully explains the
"details of the trust under which all
the property is left
Family Heartily Approves.
In the preparation OF his VIII, Colo
incl Villas took all his heirs at law
into his confidence, and it appears
| from the will that they are enthusiast
tic in agreement that the estate ulti-
ImateIy shall go to the university.
The heirs at law are Mrs. Anna NJ.
Villas, the widow; Mrs Mary Esther
Villas Hanks, the daughter Requests
are made ample to care for all the
needs of these, and also for Mrs.
Henry Villas of Pittsburg, widow Of
the deceased son of Colonel Villas;
and for the two children of Mr. aud
Mrs. /. NJ Hanks of Madison, grand.
children of the testator. The will ia
dated August q, 1902, and there is a
codicil dated June q, 1903.