Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 296, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1916 — BENJAMIN HARRIS A PUBLIC BENEFACTOR [ARTICLE]

BENJAMIN HARRIS A PUBLIC BENEFACTOR

Gives $75,000 For a Home For Widows and Orphans on Site of Old Spitler Property. The last will and testament of Benjamin Harris was probated Monday. It was written by Attorney Abraham Halleck, and witnessed by John O’Connor and Judson J. Hunt, on March 11, 1916. The will contains one of the most magnificent bequests ever made by a citizen of Rensselaer. On the large, beautiful of land known as the Spitler property, Mr. Harris provides for the erection and maintenance of an institution to be known as the “Benjamin Harris Home for Widows and Orphans.”

The will provides for $5,000 to be available immediately and SIO,OOO as soon as. the money is paid into the estate. * He bequeathed $8,624.34 to the sons of his sister, Mrs. Michael Halstead. Item 1 of this will provides for the payment of debts for his late sickness and funeral, also, all other obligations owing by him. Item 2 reads in part: “To my beloved wife, Emily Jane Harris, and to my dear daughter, Flora Ellen Prior, I give and bequeath, share and share alike, all my personal property of every kind and description, remaining after bequests hereinafter enumerated have been fully paid therefrom. I also give and bequeath to my said wife and daughter during the term of tjieir lives and to the survivors of them during the term of their lives, the use, rent and profits of a|l real estate of which I may die seized, except the land known as the Spitler or Martindale property.

Item 3 gives to his son-in-law, Charles E. Prior, the home property during his natural life. Item 4 is the gift to the Halstead J>oys mentioned above. Item 5 names Abraham Halleck, Edward J. Randle, Robert A. Parkison, Flora Ellen Prior and Ida Jane Burton, parties to whom the $5,000 and SIO,OOO gifts mentioned above are to be paid. Said parties to act as trustees of the Henjaihin Harris Home for Widows, "and Orphans. Item 6 describes* and bequeaths the Spitler property to said trustees and also that all lands other than mentioned above .become the property of the trustees after the death of his wife and daughter. Item 7, provides that his wife may elect to inherit under the law instead of under the will.. Item 8 nominates his wife and daughter to be executrixes. The codicil provides That: Item No. 1. In the administration and management of “Benjamin Harris Widows’ and Orphans’ Home” provided for in my will, all applications for admission, aid or relief in said Home shall be considered solely on their merits and no preference shall be given or relief denied to any applicant on account of religious beief or affiliation.

Item No. 2. In any event that either of the male members of/the trustees named in the will for any cause shall fail to qualify and act, it is my desire that Delos Thompson act in his place and stead. Item No. 3. It is my desire that an arch be erected at the entrance to ;he residence of the superintendent jncharge of the provided for in the will, and that the following inscription'Be placed thereon: “Widows’ and Orphans” Home, Founded By Benjamin Harris in 19...” Item No. 4. I direct that tombstone be erected over my grave and that the folio ing inscription be placed thereon “Benjamin Harris, born April 2nd 1838, died 19.. Founder f Widows* and Orphans’ Home, nsselaer, Indiana, 19..

The bequest of this institution to is the greatest gift ever given to the city «< d this final act of gencrousness on tje part of the donor is but one of many that he did during his lifetime Mi. Harris gave generously, altho, h not pretentiously, and any rthy object was generally a recipie of aid from him. Mr. Harris spen* practically his entire lifetime in th s county and for the past twenty-tVo years was a resident of Rensselaer, and during this time the people of this community have learned to love and respect him. The gift of this institution to the city of Rensselaer will serve to keep the name of Benjamin Harris immortal and the institution itself will be a testimonial to the generousness arid sterling characted of this fine man.