Will of John R. Bozman, deceased
In the name of the Benevolent Father of All: I John R. Bozman of McConnelsville Ohio, do make and publish this, my last Will and Testament.
Item 1st. I give and devise to my beloved wife Margaret, in lieu of her dower the home and lot in which we now reside in McConnelsville Ohio, being Lot No. 10, First Addition to said town, during her natural life or so long as she shall remain my widow. And I also give and devise to my said wife all the household goods, furniture, provisions and other goods and chattels properly appertaining thereto, at the time of my decease, and during her natural life as aforesaid. It is my will and desire, that all the property aforesaid shall be held and occupied in common by my said wife and my two daughters, Isabell and Lizzie Bozman, and as a home by my said tow daughters, so long as they shall remain unmarried: and in case they shall marry, then the house and lot aforesaid, shall remain in the possession of my said wife as long as she shall live or remain my widow: But the personal property hereby devised and remaining, to be divided share and share alike to my said wife and two daughters Isabel and Lizzie at the time my said daughters shall get married. That in the event of the marriage of my said two daughters and the death or marriage of my said wife, then the property aforesaid shall be sold, or if thought best be equally divided between my two daughters Isabel and Lizzie. And in case either Isabel or Lizzie shall die the property aforesaid shall be held as the property of the survivor of the two. If my said wife should not survive me, then I devise and bequeath the property aforesaid to my two daughters, Isavel and Lizzie and their heirs. I devise and desire to my said wife the full sum of four thousand dollars to be paid to her by the Executor of this my last Will and Testament in the following mannier, viz: Two thousand dollars directly after my death, and one thousand dollars in equal annual payments thereafter.
Item 2nd. I give and devise to my son Wilkes E. Bozman and his heirs and assigns the tract of land in Bloom Township containing about one hundred and twenty acres and described in deeds from Alva Buckingham and wife and the trustees of Solomon Stunges, and for a more full description of same see pages 434 & 435 Vol. 12 Record of deeds Morgan County Ohio. Also deeds from John Fouts and wife Vol. 12 pages 433 & 434 same Records, the above lands are known as the Dover & Buckingham lands. I also give and bequeath to my son Wilkes E. Bozman the sum of two thousand dollars, the above bequest in addition to the gifts and advancements made by me to him during my lifetime.
Item 3rd. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary R. Cochran the sum of thirty five hundred dollars, this sum is in addition to the Dillenbaugh lots, being lots number 24 and 25 in the first addition to the town of McConnelsville and other advances made during my lifetime.
Item 4th. I give and bequeath to my son Cleason B. Bozman the tract of land purchased by me from Jacob Adams in Morgan Township, Morgan County Ohio, being the North West quarter of Section 12, Township ten and Range twelve in Zanesville Land District. I also give and bequeath to my son Cleason B. Bozman one thousand dollars, this devise to be in addition to the gifts and advances by me made to him during my lifetime.
Item 5th. I give and devise to my daughter Ann Eliza Kuntz (corrected to Koon) and the heirs of her body, the Bell tract of land, say forty acres. For a description of same see deed from Bell to Bozman in Book S, pages 286 and 287, Records in Recorders Office Morgan County, Ohio. I also give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Eliza Kuntz (corrected to Koon) and the heirs of her body the sum of fifteen hundred dollars it being in addition to what I have given her during my lifetime.
Item 6th. I give and devise to my daughter Isabel Bozman the entire tract of land known as the Wheeler, Fulton and John C. Thomas tract in Malta Township for reference see Morgan County Records in Vol. 15, Pages 36 & 37. Also from John G. Fulton to John R. Bozman and recorded in Vol. 19, page 85. John E. Thomas to John R. Bozman see Record of Deeds Vol. 19, page 190. This bequest is made in consideration that said Isabel shall not sell or dispose of the same until after she arrives at the age of thirty years. I further give and devise to my daughter Isavel in addition to the above the sum of one thousand dollars.
Item 7th. I give and devise to my daughter Lizzie Bozman the farm in Bristol Township deeded to me by my Father Wilkes Bozman recorded in Book S, pages 104 & 105. It is my will and desire that Lizzie hold the above bequest until she arrives at the age of thirty years. I further bequeath to my daughter Lizzie Bozman my Stock in the “McConnelsville Bridge Co.” being thirty six shares. I further bequeath to my daughter Lizzie Bozman in addition to the above one thousand dollars.
Item 8th. I will and devise that if either Isabel or Lizzie Bozman should die before marriage or before arriving at the age of twenty one years or without children in case of their marriage, that the Real Estate willed and devised to each of them in Item Sixth and Seventh shall revert to the surviving sister, half sisters, and half brothers.
Item 9th. I further devise that all real and personal property belonging to me at my death not disposed of by this my last Will and Testament shall be divided share and share alike among my surviving children and wife, and the payments of all the above money bequests shall be discharged by my Executors out of notes of hand and other obligations that may be found due me at the time of my death. Also that the property not devised by this my last will shall be sold and equally divided every six months among my several children and wife.
Item 10th. I desire that my Executors shall appropriate of my moneys, say the sum of five hundred dollars and purchase a piece of ground adjoining my family burial place, arranging the graves to suit their fancy and tastes, removing and arranging the same as they may see fit and proper.
Item 11th. I constitute and appoint my two sons Wilkes E. and Cleason B. Bozman guardians of my daughters Isabel and Lizzie Bozman until they shall arrive at the age of twenty one years or shall intermarry. My said guardians are hereby enjoined to give my said daughters care, attention, and protection and see that they are reared in habits of industry economy and suitable accomplishments.
Item 12th. I do hereby nominate and appoint my said two sons Wilkes E. and Cleason B. Bozman Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby authorizing and impowering them to compromise, adjust, release and discharge, in such manner as they may deem proper the debts and claims due me. I desire that they shall perform the trusts and duties of Executors without being required to enter into bonds, or any obligations whatever required by law: and that no appraisement and no sale of my personal property shall be made, otherwise that is herein provided by this Will and that the Judge of the Probate Court direct the commission of the same. And I devise that my said Executors shall receive out of my estate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars each for their services as Executors, in lieu of fees allowed by law. I do revoke all former Wills by me made. In testimony hereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 2nd day of August A.D. 1873.
John R. Bozman
Signed and acknowledged by said John R. Bozman as his last Will and Testament in our presence, and signed by us in his presence and at his request, on the day and year aforesaid.
Jas. M. Gaylord
John E. Hanna
Record of Wills, Morgan County, Ohio, Volume 4, pp. 369-371
Transcribed by Barbara Shroyer on 29 Jan 2004 from FHL film 2293875