Last Will and Testament of William Ballard deed In the name of God Amen. I William Ballard of the Township of Iowa in the County of Marshall and state of Iowa of the age of Fifty five years and being of sound mind do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in the following manner that is to say First---I grant and bequeath to my wife Mary Ballard if she should survive me one third of the rents profits and proceeds of all my real & personal property during the term of her natural life this to be in lieu and in place of Dower. Second---I give grant and bequeath to my daughter Diana Ballard and to my sons Reuben Ballard Jabez Ballard and Hugh Ballard one thousand dollars (each) to be paid them out of my real and personal estate after the decease of my wife Mary Ballard and (if) at that time the said Reuben Ballard Jabez Ballard and Hugh Ballard should not have reached their majority then the said amount to be paid to their Guardian in trust for their use and benefit (?) of age at what time they are to receive the above amount out of the undivided proceeds of all my property, real and personal. Third---I also grant devise and bequeath all that remains after the payment of the above sums of my real and personal property to be equally divided between all my surviving children except Matilda Ballard who was wife of my son James Ballard deceased who received her full share heretofore in equal shares each and each viz. my daughter Diana Ballard, my sons Phillip Ballard Reuben Ballard Jabez Ballard and Hugh Ballard the last three of which are now minors. Fourth---I also hereby grant and devise that two thirds of all the rents profits and income of all my real and personal estate shall be divided equally between the following heirs to wit Diana Ballard Reuben Ballard Jabez Ballard and Hugh Ballard in equal shares untill the final distribution of said properties. Fifth---I hereby also appoint my sons Phillip Ballard Reuben Ballard and my daughter Diana Ballard sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of February A.D. 1862 attest F. J. Wilson William Ballard x his mark State of Iowa Marshall County The above instrument consisting of one sheet was at the date hereof signed and declared by the said William Ballard as and for the last Will and Testament in presence of us who at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. Gideon Wheeler Residing at Albion Samual Ryan " " " In the County of Marshall State of Iowa State of Iowa Marshall County I.F.M. Thomas clerk of the Circuit Court Iowa hereby certify that the annexed Instrument in writing purporting to be the last will and testament of William Ballard deceased was on the 25th day of February 1873 duly admited (sic) to probate by said Circuit Court as and for the last will and testament of William Ballard deceased and ordered recorded. Witness F. M. Thomas clerk of said Circuit Court and the seal thereof hereto attached this 25th day of February 1873. Clerk (Gwenda Ballard Johnson transcribed this document from FHL film #956 761: Marshall County Iowa Wills, v. A 1-2, 1852-1892, p. 280.) ------------------------------------------ Will of Mary Ballard State of Iowa Marshall County I Mary Ballard of Iowa Township, Marshall County, Iowa, widow of the late William Ballard late deceased to Marshall County, Iowa, make this my last will. I give, devise and bequeath my estate and property real and personal as follows, to my children hereinafter named that is to say: First I autrise (authorize) my administrator at my death to pay off and discharge all my debts including my last sickness and all funal expeses (funeral expenses) out of my property. Second, The names of my children are Mary A. Asher wife of James H. Asher, Elizabeth F. Asher, wife of Horasho Coy Wood, Sarah J. Beeson, wife of H. Martin Beeson. To the oldest of my heirs Mary A. Asher I bequeath and devise as his portion of my property the sum of three hundred dollars. To Elizabeth F. Asher I bequeath and devise to his the sum of three hundred dollars. To my daughter Sarah J. Beeson I give and devise and bequeath to his balance of the property after paying off all the two first legacies herein named and after paying all my debts as mentioned in the first of this will. The remainder of my property now acquired or hereafter acquired both real and personal I bequeath and devise to my daughter Sarah J. Beeson. And I appoint and name as my administrator of this my last will and testament H. M. Beeson now of Marshall County, Iowa. In witness whereof I have signed and sealed and published and declared this instrument as my will at Albion, Marshall County, Iowa, this sixth day of November 1875. Mary Ballard The said Mary Ballard at Albion, Marshall County, Iowa, this sixth day of November 1875 signed and sealed this instrument and published and declared the same as and for his last will, and we at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto written our names as subscribing witnesses. Gideon Wheeler J. B. Cripps State of Iowa Marshall County I, I.S. Millard Clerk of the District court in and for said county, do hereby certify that on this day at the October term A.D. 1894 of said court, the will and instrument in writing hereto annexed and bearing date on the 6th day of November 1875 was duly proved before and allowed by said court as and for the last will and testament of the real and personal estate of Mary Ballard late of said county, deceased. And was by said court ordered to be recorded as such will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at my office in Marshalltown, in said county, this 31st day of October 1894. I.S. Millard, Clerk (Seal) (Gwenda Ballard Johnson transcribed this document from FHL film #956 762: Marshall County Iowa Will Records Vol. 3, 1892-1904, p. 67. Note: I have no idea why the pronoun "his" was used instead of "her" in several places.)