Last  Will  and  Testament
of
Margaret  Dodds



          I  Margaret M. Dodds,  of Morristown, in the County of Shelby, and State of Indiana, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.
          Item I. It is my will that all of my just debts of every kind and character shall be paid out of my estate, and that for the purpose of paying such debts and all charges against my estate including the bequests of money hereinafter made, all of my real estate and personal property shall be sold and converted into money by my Administrator who shall sell such property to the best advantage and for the best price obtainable.
          Item II. I give and bequeath to the Asbury Cemetery Company, of Morristown, Indiana, the sum of two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars, as a perpetual fund, and direct that such shall be safely invested by the trustees of said Company – The income only of same to be used by said Company to pay for the acre of the Dodds family lot in Asbury Cemetery.
          Item III. I give and bequeath to the persons named below, under the provisions and conditions hereinafter named with power to use and dispose of same as hereinafter provided, in trust for the people of Morristown, Indiana and vicinity the sum of Eight Thousand ($8000.00) Dollars for the purpose of building an assembly hall or coliseum which may be used by the people of Morristown and vicinity for the purpose of holding assemblies of the people, such as Conventions, institution of farmers and people engaged in the industries, displays of the products of various industries, religions, political and several meetings, literary, musical and local theatrical entertainment; except that such building shall never be used for any unlawful or immoral purpose, or for anything detrimental to the morale and other best interests of the people of the community and the persons herein named as trustees, and their successors as hereinafter provided, shall in all cases decide for what specific purposes such hall may be used.  It is my desire that such building shall not be operated for profit but shall be as nearly free to the people of Morristown and vicinity as possible, and that the money necessary for its maintenance shall be derived as far as possible, from cent charges of persons or companies who shall hold meetings in same to which and admission fee is charged.  I desire that the persons named below shall select a suitable location for such building on ground within or immediately adjacent to the town of Morristown and erect thereon a building suitable for that purpose hereinbefore named, using the money herein bequeathed and any other funds which they may receive or acquire from any other source.  For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of Item three of this Will, I name the following persons and request them to accept the trust herein created, for the welfare and interests of the people of Morristown and vicinity;  Charles H. Sterling,  Charles S. Patten,  Marie Rogers,  Moses Talbert,  Belle Linville,  James W. Buckingham,  Joseph A. Zike,  Paul C. Williams,  John T. Devening,  Joshua B. Carney,  John H. Miller,  V. C. Patten,  Maud Cole,  James F. Hargrove,  and W. Hinds.  If any of the above named persons shall not be living or have moved from Morristown and Vicinity, or decline to serve, then the remaining one of them shall select other persons to take their places who shall be in sympathy with the purposes of this bequest, provided that the member of such trustees shall not be less than fifteen.  It is my further will that after my death such persons shall form a corporation under the laws of the State of Indiana of which they and their successors shall be trustees or directors, which corporation shall receive from the above named trustees, and hold the title to said property in trust as provided above.  In the event that any vacancy occurs among such trustees or directors by reason of death, resignation or removal, then the remaining trustee or trustees shall fill such vacancy.  It is my will that such trustees shall serve without pay, but for the interests of the people of Morristown and vicinity.
          Item 4.  All the residue of my estate after the payment of the above charges and bequests, I give and bequeath to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Morristown, Indiana, to be safely invested by them until such time as it shall be decided to build a new church building in the town of Morristown for said Methodist Episcopal Church, at which time said trustees shall use all of said money together with all accumulated interest on same to assist in defraying the expenses of building such church edifice, and for no other purpose.
          In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of September 1913.

Margaret M. Dodds


          The foregoing will was signed, sealed and acknowledged by Margaret M. Dodds in our presence, and was declared by her to be her last Will and Testament, and at her request, and in her presence and in the presence of each other we now subscribe our names hereto as witnesses, this 25th day of September 1913.

John W. Robbins
Hiram B. Patten




State of Indiana, Shelby County SS
          Be it remembered that on the 4th day of Aug. A.D. 1916 the 71 Judicial day of the May Term of the Shelby Circuit Court in said year, came into open Court Isaac Cook and produces in Court an instrument in writing purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Margaret M. Dodds deceased, and now moves the admittance thereof to probate and record, and in proof of said Will introduces Hiram B. Patten the subscribing witnesses thereto who being duly sworn by the Clerk of said Court, on oath declare and testify as follows, that is to say: That on the 25th day of Sept 1913 he saw the said Margaret M. Dodds sign her name to said instrument in writing as and for her last Will and Testament, and that this deponent, at the same time, heard the said Margaret M. Dodds declare the said instrument in writing to be her last Will and Testament, and that the said instrument in writing was, at the same time, at the request of the said Margaret M. Dodds and with her consent attested and subscribed by the said Hiram B. Patten and John A. Robbins in the presence of said testator, and in the presence of each other, as subscribing witnesses thereto, and that the said Margaret M. Dodds was, at the time if the signing and subscribing of said instrument in writing as aforesaid, of full age (that is more than twenty one years of age) and of sound and disposing mind and memory and not under any coercion or restraint, as the said deponent verily believes, and further deponent says not.

Hiram B. Patten


          Sworn to and subscribed by the said Hiram B. Patten before me Cecil B. Collins, Clerk of said Court, at Shelbyville, Indiana this 4 day of Aug 1916.

(SEAL)                       Cecil B. Collins   Clerk


          Whereupon it is ordered, adjudged and decreed by the Court that said instrument in writing purporting to be the last Will of Margaret M. Dodds deceased, is the last Will and Testament of Margaret M. Dodds deceased, and is hereby admitted to probate and record in this Court.
Cecil B. Collins Clerk




State of Indiana, Shelby County SS
          I, Cecil B. Collins Clerk of the Circuit Court of Shelby County, Indiana, do hereby certify that the within annexed Will and Testament of Margaret M. Dodds has been duly admitted to probate and duly proved by the testimony of Hiram B. Patten one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, that a complete record of said Will, and of the testimony of the said Hiram B. Patten in proof thereof, had been by me duly made and recorded in Book 6 at pages 506-507-508-509 of the record of Wills of said County.
          In Attestation Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court, at Shelbyville, Indiana this 4 day of August 1916.

( SEAL )             Cecil B. Collins Clerk
Circuit Court Shelby County

Transcribed by Barb Huff

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